Monday Musings: Out and About
Happy Monday from beautiful Vancouver, BC. A reader questioned a summer outfit I showed a few weeks ago, which included jeans. I knew it was appropriate for people who live in coastal climates, and my outfits over the weekend proved it.
Cashmere in June
We woke on Saturday to a slightly drizzly day with low-hanging fog and temperatures hovering in the low 50s. I remember Juneuary in Vancouver very well and have packed for it.
I could have donned a light tee and linen pants, but I would have frozen my backside off, so I opted for jeans, sneakers, a chambray shirt, and my cozy oversized Quince cashmere cardigan. Returning to the Pacific NW has given me a new appreciation for our different wardrobe needs based on location. My bag is by Longchamp and is as old as the hills. I snatched the scarf out of a sale bin before our trip to Mexico in the spring.
Sunday, we woke to bright sunshine and gorgeous temps. It still wasn’t linen weather, so I opted for another pair of jeans, sneakers, and a striped button-up shirt in neutral shades of beige and white.
You will notice two tiny Sephora bags in my hand. I won’t say it’s my very favorite store to visit, but I am able to spend hours on end there, browsing and sampling…much like at a book store which is truly my happy place.
I replenished my Tower 28 mascara and also fell for another brand I could easily become obsessed with. I’ll share more on that after I test it out. I didn’t think anything could knock my Illia mascara off its favored pedestal…but this mascara has! I tossed out my eyelash curler after using this for a few weeks, and my daughter bought her own after trying mine.
It’s cruelty-free, clean of nasty ingredients, and an Allure Best of Beauty award winner. There’s something unique about the arc of the brush-type wand that makes my lashes look long, curled, and not clumpy.
Hair
I had a haircut scheduled for this week, which is obviously not happening, and it certainly can’t wait several months until we get home. It’s suddenly feeling so out of shape I’m going to have to find someone here. I’m feeling the urge to put some layers back in or lob about 3″ off the bottom. I don’t remember when or why we decided to grow my few layers out, but I think I need them back.
Outfit Inso
I know many of you aren’t on the social media platforms that I am, so here are a few of the outfit collages I shared there last week.
BRACELET SET – RAFFIA BELT – CORK BLOCK HEEL SANDALS
PEARLIZED HOOP EARRINGS – BRAIDED MARKET TOTE – LEATHER SANDALS
Is the weather beastly hot where you are, or do you get to wear some layers? I’m finding the variety in temperatures pretty refreshing.
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
We’ve also had a slow start to spring/summer here in southern Ontario, so I’ve been wearing my white jeans more often the last few weeks than I have the last few years. Our summers are very changeable now, so I have a wide range of linens as well as heavier cotton options.
I would think Vancouver would have a great selection of really good hairstylists. I’m looking forward to seeing your new “do”. I have a cut booked for next week and I’m debating whether to go a bit shorter (it’s chin length now and back to it’s original wavy texture) and more layers. I’ll probably decide as I walk into the salon 🙂
I love your hair!!! I’ll probably decide when I walk in too.
I’ve loved your “new” hair cut as you have transitioned to gray. You always manage to make it look elegant. Our hair issues are identical. I’ve recently had my stylist give me light layers around the face to pull the hair off my face while still keeping the bob shape. Hope you find a good stylist. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 Have fun.
Hi Jennifer and welcome to Vancouver! Hope you enjoy your stay here and I look forward to your posts regarding your experiences in my City!
Hoping you will share some boutiques and stores you love and Canadian fashion. ❤️ We sure miss our Nordstrom!
I do hope to find some fun ones. I already know how sad it is that Nordstrom is gone.
Very good point about one’s wardrobe needing to be determined by one’s geographic location. We’re in the thick of drizzly June gloom, after a long bout of chilly May gray. No way am I giving up my jeans based solely on the calendar!
Have a wonderful time in Vancouver!
The weather is so strange everywhere this year! Gotta roll with it which means layers to me.
Living in Seattle area, I wear denim all through the year. I just have a pale blue for summer rain and dark denim in the winter months! Change out my sweaters and tops. I have been loving white denim lately, though.
I have the brunette version of your hair. Every time I decide to grow it out, I end up adding back in the layers and going shorter. In my dreams, I have the sleek, fuller hair of my 30s, but the reality is, it’s gone and not coming back! Now, I need to find a new hairdresser, also, so I sympathize with that — I find word of mouth the best referral, and I’ve been known to follow people whose haircut I like to ask where they got it.
Mine has certainly gotten thinner but the texture has also changed so much since I stopped coloring it. I’m going to just have to trust someone. Never easy with my hair.
Enjoy the cool weather. Here in Texas it is hot and humid early this year. My hair is styled like yours and same color. I just had mine cut to chin length ( it was about to my shoulders), and lightly layered. I find it easier to style now, and not so flat and limp.
I am going to Sephora today for that mascara. My eyelashes are short and thin.
Looks as if you are having a great time with your family in Vancouver. It certainly looks different from my visit in 1978. As for the weather, we are two weeks into winter and it was 22 degrees celsius on the weekend and ended up wearing my denim skirt and short sleeve tee shirt. Am hoping for some cold weather soon so I can wear my winter splurges – a fake fur coat, trench coat and a beautiful jacket I bought in Rome. Good luck with your hair cut. A new hairdresser can be stressful.
It is stressful finding a new hairdresser but it will be worse if I trim it myself. Sounds like fun winter pieces!!
So do you like the Ilia or Tower 28 mascara better?
Thanks, I enjoy your posts so much!
That’s like choosing a favorite child😉
Right now, it’s the Tower 28.
I end up wearing layers all year long. We joke that in Ohio you can get all 4 seasons in a single day. But my main reason for layering in summer is so I don’t freeze in the air conditioning at work. I get funny looks from people as I carry a fall/winter coat on a day that is supposed to be nearly 90 degrees, but I’ll take them over shivering all day long.
I hear you!! AC can be brutal.
I can’t wait to see what you do with your hair! My is almost exactly like yours and I am having the same thoughts about doing something with layers (always tricky with fine hair). I’m going to wait and see what you do.
I wore light layers successfully for years but it was tricky and only one stylist got it right.
Thanks for the Quince cardigan information! I love an oversized cashmere cardigan and the price is great! I ordered their cotton tiered maxi dress to try as well 🙂
I love Quince! Great quality at fabulous prices.
I purchased my first Quince item this month and am so impressed. I love my new navy knit cotton sweater blazer! Great quality. Definitely my new place to go for sweaters!
Their quality is great!!
I enjoyed seeing all your outfits although it made me imagine how horrible it would be if I had to show all my daily outfits! Our summer weather in NC has been surprisingly slow to arrive this year which has allowed me to wear jeans and sweaters longer than usual. Summer dressing here usually means wearing as little and loose as possible. Hope you enjoy those lovely Canadian temps.
Cannot wait to hear about mascara. I have blond eyelashes. Have worn mascara for more years that I wish to reveal! Mascara that I have sworn by for years is now clumping my eyelashes together into spikes. Let us know!!
This is my second tube of the Tower 28 and I love it.
Welcome to Vancouver! I hope you will drop in to Simons for some fun shopping at a Canadian store.
Have fun!
Leslie
My husband and I are headed to Vancouver, BC next week for a two-week vacation, and so I’ll be following your posts closely as I decide what to pack. I’m hoping to get some sunshine and warmth but right now it looks like the June Gloom rules! I’ve read that July and August are forecast to be beastly hot her in Northern CA so I’m going to enjoy the coolness while I can!
Any Vancouver shopping/dining/fun ideas will be welcome!
I read the same about Northern CA weather so we are happy to have escaped it.
Hi Jennifer- I love reading your posts! They are so very informative, inspirational and uplifting! I was wondering if you could give me any information about the beautiful dragonfly scarf you are wearing in the top picture? I just love it! Thank You, and thanks again for all the great posts! Lorna L
I found it at a tiny boutique in a sale bin and it has no label! I’m so sorry. I think I paid $9 for it.
Good morning! This reply really for yesterday’s post. Noticed you were wearing a Push thumb brace when driving. I use one due to CMC arthritis in thumb joint in dominant hand. Had the arthritis in nondominant hand too but had the surgery to remove bone in the joint. Arthritis all gone now. Love that Push brace! Enjoy your time away. Beautiful area!
Yes, I wear it when my arthritis acts up. It works so well.
Happy Monday morning Jennifer, I have returned from Denver after having a wonderful 4 days visiting our daughter and attending a family wedding. I laughed so hard and read your post to my husband about you liking drive a long distance. I also, do the same 😂. Never heard of Tower 28 mascara, might give it a try.
Good morning!! Your trip sounds so lovely, Pat.
Enjoy your stay in your happy place!
Living in the Midwest, I certainly understand the challenges of changing weather. This week, the forecast ranges from high temperatures in the 50’s to the 80’s. Just happy that I’m not visiting, so have options. The temperature swings are miserable when traveling. Often. we have some of our warmest days in September, when I’m over my summer wardrobe and long for fall garments. But as my mother used to say, “If the only thing to complain about is the weather, you have a good life.” And I certainly do.
Enjoy Vancouver!
That’s a great comment from your mother! And so true.
When you live near mountains, be prepared for anything weather-wise! It’s beastly hot and smoky right now, so I’m avoiding the outdoors.
Enjoy your trip. I never get tired of the coast.
The fires have been so beastly!! Stay safe.