Barrel jeans are everywhere this spring and summer. They’ve slowly been creeping in for the past couple of years, with the early fashion adopters well versed in styling them, and have finally hit the mainstream. You can grab a pair at almost any retailer, at a vast variety of price points, and I’ve rounded up some of my favs. For me, spring and summer is the perfect time to don a pair, as I like the look of them when paired with sneakers, flats, and sandals. For us shorter gals, look for a pair with a shorter inseam, as hemming a pair that is much too long for you will change the shape of the pant and won’t read the same.
The Everlane The Way-High Curve Jean is high on my list. I have yet to give them a try, but one of my favourite bloggers, Shannon Pulsifer of Itsy Bitsy Indulgences, wears them constantly, and they look amazing. The best part is that they come in two inseam lengths, so they’re short girl friendly too (stick with the 27″ inseam).
What I love about this trend is that there’s options for how exaggerated you want to go with your look. The Citizens of Humanity Micro Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans are a great place to start if you’re looking to dip a toe in the trend. The give that slight barrel leg effect without too much extra fabric. As per the brand, the price tag is also a lot heftier, but those who wear Citizens know how fantastic the quality is.
The GAP High-Rise Barrel Jeans are another user friendly way to participate in the trend this spring and summer, and I absolutely love this tan colour. I hopped on board with this pair and can’t wait to don them all season long. The price point is unbeatable, and they come at three different inseam lengths. I went with Petite to get that cropped look I love, but they also come in Regular and Tall inseams.
With AGOLDE being one of the undisputed denim masters these days, I had to include the AGOLDE Luna Pieced Barrel-Leg Jeans in my round up. The price point is high, but quality is unmatched. I’ve seen tons of fashion gals wearing this style and they look unbelievable. In Calgary we have numerous local boutiques that carry AGOLDE, and I would definitely head there before ordering online.
Ever have the one that got away, the Pistola Eli High Rise Barrel Jean is that for me. I tried them on in this fabulous Ecru denim, but didn’t pull the trigger and have been thinking about them ever since. They have a more cropped inseam at 27″, so it may not work as well for my tall girls. Pistola has another pair of barrel jeans, The Wes, that have a 30″ inseam, incase you love the brand and want to stick with them.
Abercrombie has proved themselves a contender in the denim market and they didn’t miss the mark on their Abercrombie Mid Rise Barrel Jean. They come in multiple washes, multiple inseams, and the price point is accessible. Truly, what more could you ask for? They also have fabulous sales where you can scoop up your denim for unreal prices. For those timid on whether they want to try the trend this might be a great place to start, where you’re not investing a huge amount of money on a trendier item.
Lastly, the GOAT of barrel legged denim, the Free People We the Free Good Luck Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans. These are the pair that put the barrel denim on the map for me up to a couple of years ago. They are much more exaggerated than many of the other pairs I’ve shown, and the inseam is quite cropped on them at 26″, although it looks as though on their website, some of the washes now come in long at a 29″ inseam. I originally tried them on last year, but the boutique was down to their last couple of pairs, and the pair I tried on was a couple of sizes up from what I typically wear. Quality felt great, denim was a heavier weight, and the price point was amazing. If they had my size they would have come home with me.
Current/Elliot Denim Shirt, Aritzia Effortless Pants, Zara Trench Coat, Chanel Flats, Saint Laurent Handbag
We’re currently experiencing a heat wave here in YYC, as I’m sharing photos from last month, when we had the chilliest June, shorts not optional. The actual first day of summer was so brisk my daughter insisted she wear her winter parka to school. A touch dramatic, I would say so, but I also donned a Fall/Winter rated coat. To be honest, the older I get the less I love the +25 degree weather. Anything under that I thrive, but once it creeps up I become a sensory overloaded mess. I’m already feeling guilty about how much time I will be spending indoors in my air conditioning this week, although I fully plan on running bright and early in the mornings. I also looked into the outdoor pools the second I heard they opened back up, and I imagine there will be slurpee runs galore this week.
I’ve been trying hard to pull items from my closet to pair in ways I typically don’t. As much as I would love to shop as abundantly as I did pre-kids, to hop on for the vast majority of trends, and have new pieces constantly coming in the mail, it truly isn’t realistic for me at this point in time. I would say these three pieces, the Effortless Pants, my trusty trench and my denim shirt are the most worn items from this spring. All three can be dressed up, worn casually, and truly go with everything. I paired my denim shirt tucked into my tailored pants, when typically I would wear it open over top a tank or tee with denim or leggings. Small styling moments like that can easily increase the versatility of the pieces in your closet, without having to make a new purchase. Lightweight pieces like a denim shirt are also great as spring/summer jackets in lieu of actual jackets when the temps heat up. Or in the case of Calgary this week, no jacket at all.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
Abercrombie Sloane Pants, Abercrombie Tee, Adidas Samba Sneakers, Valentino Handbag
The long weekend has come and gone, showcasing a “typical” long weekend in Alberta, which meant snow and rain. I ditched the kids and the hubby and drove down to Montana, all by myself ( ok, just one way, I got a ride home, but I digress). For anyone who knows me well, they’ll know just how big of a deal that is for me. The past few years have been riddled with big life changes and challenges, and my anxiety was at an all time high. For me, anxiety has always manifested in the discomfort of driving. So, for years after my son was born, up until the past year and a bit, driving has been my greatest struggle. So many times when the kids were young, I felt isolated and alone, I would pack them up to take them to the zoo or the mall, just to get out of the house. I would arrive at our destination, not knowing how I made it there, and spending the time we were there in a state of numbness, worrying about how I was going to drive home. I avoided going almost anywhere if it meant I had to drive, and highway driving was an absolute hard no. I would avoid driving in the winter months as much as I could because there weren’t as many places to pull over if I felt like fainting, which was pretty much the entire time I was in the driver’s seat. I spoke at length to my therapist and family physician. I implemented tools and tricks that they passed along. Slowly, as life has settled down, I’ve gone from surviving to thriving, and my anxiety towards driving is nearly gone. I got teary eyed near the end of the 7+ hour drive this past weekend, just so grateful for where I’ve landed, for the amazing humans and family in my life, and a little bit for the gal I was, struggling on the daily seven years ago.
Hands down one of my favourite looks is a monochromatic one. Specifically, I’ve always loved light hued monochromatic looks. Head to toe taupes, tans, and camels and creams. As someone who has always gravitated to black, I’ve loved from afar, as I never had the pieces in my closet to recreate the looks. I’ve recently been conscious about adding items in a lighter colourway, being careful that the underlying tones are similar enough to be able to mix and match the pieces together. I started with these amazing Sloane trouser pants from Abercrombie, and I’ve built out from there. I wore them through the winter, pairing with a tan wool coat, and love that I can participate in a light ensemble moment. You don’t always have to rush out and buy an entire look, but you can always build towards one. Whether your entire wardrobe needs a revamp or just a certain cluster of ensembles, you can build it thoughtfully piece by piece, you just have to start somewhere.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
H&M Ribbed Tank, AGOLDE Denim, Zara Blazer, Zara Slingback Flats, Chanel Handbag
Halloween has been tucked away (let’s be honest, it got tucked away in the early morning hours on the 1st) and I’m giving myself a couple of weeks before it’s go time for decorating. I try to wait until after Remembrance Day in Canada to put the goods up, but I have to admit, making it past then hasn’t always happened. October was a whirlwind of appointments, school activities, viruses and hockey, and thus far, the calendar in November is showing multiple days of down time. I am someone who does not thrive on constant “busy-ness” and I absolutely need unscheduled time to decompress and recharge. I’m looking forward to enjoying the month of November, the anticipation of the holidays, the cozy snowy days spent indoors, and getting into a groove for the last couple of months of the year.
Amongst all the trends that come and go, for me, there’s certain ensembles that follow a fool-proof equation for a classic look. When you’re in a style drought, a rush, or a fashion emergency, this formula fits for almost every type of occasion. It’s important to have an updated fit in the pieces, this outfit would not read the same if I was wearing skinny jeans paired with a fitted blazer. As we come into the cooler months, swap the ribbed tank for a chunky sweater, crisp white shirt, or long sleeve tee. Replace the flats with a boot or a heel and you’re ready to go. Or for a more relaxed put-together look, throw a hoodie under your blazer and a pair it with some sneakers. Honestly the options are endless and the formula simple.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
Abercrombie Bodysuit, AGOLDE Denim Shorts, Zara Blazer, Zara Slingback Flats, Rebecca Minkoff Belt
This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving with today being a holiday across the country. I always like taking a few moments to reflect during the weekend, and even during the darkest of years, there’s always been things to be thankful for. In a world where up can become down in an instant, where the news of the world can be absolutely paralyzing, and life can change in the blink of an eye, I’m so thankful. Thankful for my family, for friends who are more family than friend, for the health of myself and everyone in my orbit, and for the beauty of life, little and big. The older I get the more sentimental I get, about how beautiful this life can be, despite, or perhaps because of, the hardships that come along throughout the journey.
I love sneaking in shorts through September, pairing them with Fall pieces such as blazers and sweaters gives less of a summer feel and a much more distinct transitional touch. We’ve been absolutely spoiled with the temperature of the weather this weekend, and you better believe I’ve been baring my legs all weekend long. The best part of an ensemble such as this is how easy it is to switch the shorts over to a pair of denim or trousers as the temperature drops, making for an easy get ready formula. I think we can all agree, that that is a good thing.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
