That's Soo...North Country Girl

Hello all of you wonderful people! It is time for the second edition of "That's Soo..." I've said it before and I will say it again, it is a funny name - I know! However, I think it totally does justice to the nature of this feature. It is inspired by those instances in which we go shopping with friends or family and they pick out and hold up an item and say "you have to get this - it is SOO YOU!" As if there is something about the item in itself that oozes your personality and style to them. In this feature I want to explore this phenomena and the idea of signature style. It's fun to explore on your own but it's even more fun to explore with friends so I thought we could learn more by getting some of my very favourite fashion bloggers to answer some questions on the topic! We have already learned a lot about Kate of Postcards From in last months feature!

This time around I was itching to feature Michal of North Country Girl. She has been a favourite of mine since I started reading her blog months ago. I love the way she mixes unexpected patterns and colours together and pairs vintage with contemporary to make just the most wonderful outfits! She is truly a gem and was nice enough to answer a few questions:

What are some of the types of items people tend to think are 'sooo Michal'? Has anyone ever been way off?

Friends and family tend to associate me with anything vintage, which is fine by me. If it's 20+ years old, I want it- it doesn't really matter what it is. (Ok maybe that's not entirely true.) I'm also in love with the American Southwest, and my friends will always point out Native American inspired patterns, or cowboy prints to me. The other day I was vintage shopping with my best friend and she pulled out this ridiculous 1980s short-sleeved sweatshirt with cowboy and cactus appliqués on it. It was definitely a "this is soooooo you" moment. Hahahaha. It is entirely over-the-top, but of course I bought it anyway! I'll have to show it off on my blog one of these days...

Do you think you have a signature style? If so, what are some features of it?

I’m not sure I have a signature style yet- that is, I still have so much fun experimenting with different decades and trends that it’s hard to nail me down. I try not to go a day without wearing something vintage/thrifted, so I guess that’s a part of my signature. I also love color! I admire those who can stick to a modern muted color palette, but it’s something I could never do. I like wacky novelty prints too much!

Have you had different styles over the years? That is, what was 'sooo Michal' in years past?

Yes, definitely. I went through a stage when I was ten or eleven where my fashion sense was null. I was a nerdy little bookworm who wore sweatpants and stretched out t-shirts. I should actually credit my brother, Dillon for helping me out of that stage. He was always fashion forward, and my mom loves telling stories of him marching me back upstairs because “you can NOT wear that.” For the most part, in high school I dressed like my friends. I wore band tees, jeans and chucks. In my late teens I started thrifting and I was hooked! With the influence of vintage clothing, my style has changed a lot, but a great band tee still holds a special place in my heart (and naturally I still own my chucks from when I was 14).

Lastly, if you could pick one person who you thought really had a signature and 'sooo them' style who would it be and why?

I’d definitely have to say Maria, of Lulu Letty. In the early days of my fashion blog obsession, I remember happening upon Lulu Letty and scrolling the pages for hours. It was as if Maria had stepped straight out of a storybook. She has this perfect “Classic Americana” style and she always mixes menswear and feminine pieces impeccably. When I first decided to start North Country Girl, I told Maria about it, and I received the loveliest response. She was also my first follower which really meant a lot to me! That’s what I love so much about the fashion “blogosphere”- it’s incredibly friendly and supportive, and there are so many ladies (and gentlemen) with unique styles.

Thanks Michal for your fantastic answers and thanks to all of you guys for reading! If you guys enjoyed this feature, check out last month's That's Soo...Postcards From and check back every month for a new feature.

Have you guys had experiences with friends, family, or readers picking up on your signature style? Ever had people get it totally wrong?

The Bunny Trail

Here comes Peter Cottontail hoppin' down the bunny trail, hippity hoppin' Easter's on it's way, bringing every girl and boy baskets full of Easter joy, things to make your Easter bright and gay...

outfit deets: shoes - c/o Big Buddha // tights - c/o We Love Colors // dress - F21 // cardi - H&M // bag - thrifted

Happy chocolate egg day lovelies! It's been a long time since I have done an Easter egg hunt, or painted eggs... but I still remember how fun it was to paint those eggs in pastels and how fulfilling it was to make my basket heavy with the chocolate eggs and bunnies my parents left scattered around the living room. Of course, up until a certain age I didn't know it was my parents leaving the delicious chocolate found in behind the legs of couches, under the coffee table, in between books and in drawers. I thought it was Peter Cottontail from the song my mom and grandmother always used to sing around Easter.

Anyway, I had a bit of a lack of a real Easter this year so I bought some chocolate eggs for Dale and I and dressed up like a Easter egg myself. I was satisfied enough! Especially because yesterday was such a gorgeous day. Dale and I went for a walk around one of the many gorgeous parks near his house and took some pictures. I love the new tights I got from We Love Colors. They were too perfect for Easter and I got them just in time. I am excited to pair pastels with neutrals this spring.

Can we talk about my backpack? I had been on the prowl for a backpack that gelled with my wardrobe for far too long now and about a week ago I found this gem while thrifting! I feel like I should have owned this backpack my whole life. It's a little bit tricky though in the way that it's a floral print because I wear floral a lot and floral is hard to do with another floral but I guess wearing it will be a good excuse to try and NOT wear some florals for once.

What are you guys doing for Easter? I recommend listening to that Gene Autry song on repeat. It's what I plan on doing whilst I finish up my very last essay of the semester and probably order Swiss Chalet for dinner with my brother. Yay.

Happy Easter lovelies.

xo Robyn

Here it Goes Again

outfit deets: shoes - big buddha // tights - H&M // dress - F21 // cardigan - thrifted

In the past two months I have now worn this dress three times on the blog! That must be some sort of a record. I just love the living poop out of this dress. Ahem. Anyway, my friend Julia had a dinner party last night and I wanted to wear something cute and casual. I'm still feeling sickly and I wanted to be comfy so I threw this together and it worked out great! I've worn this dress so many times because I love how comfortable and versatile it is. The way I can dress up the girliness of it it or dress it down is just so awesome. Plus the peter pan collar rocks, of course. It was great in February and it is still great in April.

Here is how I have remixed the dress over the past couple of months:

I think this dress was something like 25 or 30 dollars so I am really getting a bang for my buck in the cost per wear department!

Just a quick Saturday afternoon post. I plan on doing more of these remix type posts in the future, too.

Talk soon!

xo Robyn

Short Cuts

outfit deets: shoes - c/o Big Buddha // tights - We Love Colors // shorts - vintage // tee - H&M // flannel - vintage // jacket - thrifted

Hey peoples! Once again I feel the need to acknowledge my absence. One more week until exams are over though, and then I will have the whole summer to blog freely and get my shop back up and running!! Oh yah, and I also have to find a real job.

Yesterday was a big day for a couple reasons. First, I got my fringe back! Ah! Second, I wore shorts. Double ahh! I tend to stay away from shorts because I am too conscious of the way they make my legs look but this vintage high-waisted number is just too good to not wear and you know what? I don't hate how they make my legs look! I am excited to wear this look in the summer without the tights and layered jacket/cardigan/flannel. Can you imagine? Shorts and t-shirt weather? SO excited.

Anyway back to my hair! Dale's mom took me to her hair-dresser yesterday and treated me to a cut and colour (I just had some subtle high-lights done). It was super fun and her hairdresser was a total riot so it was a great experience and I am happy to have bangs again! Plus, they had the OPI shatter nail polish that I have been looking for in the salon so I was excited to scoop that up!

I have missed you all and I can't wait to get back in the swing! How have all of you been? I hope fantastic!

Happy weekend lovelies!

xo Robyn

Nan's Cap

outfit deets: shoes - c/o Big Buddha // tights - We Love Colors // dress - F21 // cardigan - thrifted // beret - Nans

I'm in the home stretch of this semester! Three more exams and one more essay to go within the next two weeks. One of those exams is tomorrow so, once again, today's post is going to be a quick one. On the weekend Dale and I ventured out to Unionville to buy some chocolate and take photos. I love that place, it's so pretty and quaint with all the cute little churches and old houses turned into restaurants and shops. There are so many great places to take photos around there! We've actually taken outfit photos there once before. I was particularly fond of this church so we stopped to snap some quick photos. The sun wasn't exactly agreeing with us so I was pretty squinty the whole time and it was very windy so my hair was all over the place but ah well, such is life!

I've been finding a lot of Nan's things around the house lately. When I was cleaning out the closet I found a cute little sequined purse of hers tucked away in the very back. I think I remember playing with it when I was little. I like to think she left it back there as a little present for me. I also found some of her berets in the basement a little while ago and I have been wearing this black one a lot recently. Thanks Nan!

Oh yah, I think I am going to take more outfit photos from behind bushes from now on. Such a good look.

Alright. Back to studying!

Talk soon lovelies,

xo Robyn

Adventures with Nat

Hello you wonderful people, you! As I mentioned in my last post last week I met up with Nat of Juxta-Posing for a regular ol' hoot and a holler. It was super fun! We hung out for a bit and did a little swap and then decided to try and take outfit pictures in the middle of Yonge and Dundas square. The light wasn't right there though and we were becoming quite the spectacle so we decided to relocate to the quad at Ryerson where there was more shade and less gawkers! We could comfortably goof around and take some dorky photos there.

Nat looked ah-mazing in her "sexy big bird" shirt from H&M (her words, not mine! haha). I was wearing some new favourites (H&M skirt and F21 cropped sweater) and going for a little bit of a French theme with the stripes and beret.

Anyway, look forward to more remixes with Nat's clothes soon! I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your weekend.

xo Robyn