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
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