Eight things that have really been inspiring my style so far this year

Back at the very start of 2015, I kicked off the new year by penning a post in which I shared twelve of the things (one for each of the upcoming twelve months of the year) that were inspiring my style at the moment. I've thought back to, and drawn inspiration from, that post many times in the roughly 1 2/3rds of a year that have passed since then and am constantly delighted by the fact that each of those twelve fashion elements continues to shape and drive my personal style to this day.

Naturally, they're not the only ones that are doing as much as we start to head into the final weeks of summer, I thought it would be a lot of fun to share a brief overview of eight different things (again, one for each month that we've experienced so far this year) that have been speaking loudly and clearly to me from a sartorial standpoint so far throughout 2016.

1. Stripes

For much of my adult life, especially if we're talking the horizontal version, I largely avoid strips and didn't think that they worked all that well for me, but in the last year or two, I've been noticing a real pull towards them all of a sudden. In particular, I'm finding myself smitten with narrow vertical stripes and/or pieces that combine both vertical and horizontal lines in the same garment. I'm also discovering that stripes can work for me, especially if they're fairly thin and in flattering colours.

Earlier this year I picked up a great 1950s striped dress that I simply had to have the moment I saw it, as its colour palette instantly caused a fun fall time outfit to spring to mind and I can't wait to share such with you here in the near future. So, in short, strips and me are on good terms these days and I'm genuinely happy about that fact.

2. Vintage cartwheel/platter hats

It's scarcely a state secret that I utterly and completely love vintage hats of all types, but did you know that in recent years, I've been gravitating more and more towards especially wide brimmed cartwheel and platter styles? I find that they tend to work wonderfully well for my face type and that they suit the sorts of fashions I'm leaning all the more towards as I progress through my 30s.

Were it not for the super steep shipping prices to send such generously proportioned styles (and really, most things in general) to Canada these days, I'm sure I'd own many more than I presently do. Fortunately I do have a lovely little collection of such and as you may have noticed from some of my recent outfit posts this year, they're getting a lot of use these days.

3. Muted colours

I've already chatted about my current (huge!) passion for "all the vintage muted colours" here in at least a couple of posts this year (such as this one), so I won't do my impression of a broken record. In short, I'm currently madly in love with vintage 1940s, 50s and early 60s garments in earthy tones, be they solids or (especially) patterns, and don't foresee this interest waning anytime soon.

4. Colonial area fashions, decor and crafts

For as long as I can recall, I've felt a strong pull towards the general styles, art, and decor of America and Canada's earliest days, and in particular, am refereeing styles up until the end of the 18th century when I speak of colonial era influences.

Though such can be a bit tricky to interpret overly literally in the context of mid-century fashion, subtle touches (beyond just pilgrim collars, like those on the 1950s frocks pictured above, and shoe buckles), can be had, such as classic fabrics that call to mind those used in the 17th and 18th centuries in North America, traditional looking hand stitched details, certain styles of shawls, and various others.

In this instance, it's less about dressing as though I was from that time period (as fun and exciting as such would be!) and more about letting the general aesthetic of such weave itself throughout various areas of my life and wardrobe alike.

5. Elizabeth Taylor's look during the mid-1950s to early 1960s

From her immensely chic short hairstyles to her elegantly gorgeous attire and her perfectly on point make-up, just about everything that Liz sported during this period is right up my styling alley and has influenced me for many years now, continuing to so all the more in this decade of my life

6. Leaf themed jewelry, accessories and prints

A natural - pun intended - extension, one might say, of my current interest in muted hues and patterns featuring such, I've really, really been digging leaf and fern themed/printed fashions, especially - perhaps not surprisingly to anyone who knows me well - those of a autumnal nature. I certainly won't be retiring my beloved florals anytime soon, but they've been joined by more leaf themed pieces this year and I'm pleased as punch about that fact.

7.Claire McCardell's work

Mid-century American fashion Claire McCardell's work has long resonated with me (especially her way with wrap dresses and draping). Innovative and stylish, McCardell championed a (by the standards of the day) leisurely look and was especially keen on sport and swimwear, as well as a distinct American style that was both refined and playful at the same time.

Though tragically, her life was cut short due to cancer when she was in her 50s, Claire McCardell was able to leave a very lasting impression of the mid-century fashion scene and is a name that deserves to be known and appreciated by fashion fans everywhere (plus she was an engaging author, whose book, What Shall I Wear?, is one of my favourite written about contemporary style during the fifties)

8. Celestial stars

I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawn to star imagery and fashions pertaining to such (and of course absolutely adore the real twinkling deal, too), but in recent years I've been going all the more wild for such and would love to add another celestial print garment or two (I have a lovely vintage star print dress already) to my closet in the near future. Who knows, perhaps their landing there is already - *cough, cough* - written in the stars! :)



{To learn more about a specific image used in today's post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

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Now granted, for some people, such is strongly the case, but I think it's very important to make the distinction that what we wear doesn't always equate to what is actually inspiring us - at least not in glaringly obvious ways. It's totally possible to draw inspiration from something, but not to channel it literally in your wardrobe (or home decor, for that matter).

With some of the eight entries above, it's easy for me to weave them into certain ensembles, but for others - such as my passion for colonial era styles - such is not always overly feasible, but that doesn't mean that these things don't hold sway over us and/or that they aren't manifested in subtle, no less important, ways.

Sometimes simply reading about and/or looking at images that speak to us can drive our style and that is one of the most exciting things about inspiration itself. We're free to interpret and run with it however our heart desires (at least within the scope of our means).

I wouldn't say that my style has undergone any radical changes in recent months, though I do notice various subtle things evolving on that front as I get older (including certain points that I raised in this post), and also in part thanks to the various elements that are inspiring me at any given moment.

For example, while I still love (and own a delightful little collection of such) hair flowers, I haven't felt pulled towards wearing them very often lately (florals crowns though, big time!), nor have I been rocking many square shaped necklines, as I've come to realize that such (much like collar-less styles and v-necks) are not always overly becoming on me.

Little things, but ones that I take notice of, just as I do those style elements step in to take their place in terms of what I may opt to wear more often.

I've said it before, but I will happily say it again. Our closets should continue to evolve as we do. It's easy to grow stagnant in what we wear, but continually seeking and recognizing inspiration, as it strikes, can be a powerful tool in combating such.

As we delight in this final month of summer and head into my all-time favourite season, fall, I look forward to seeing how the eight things shared here today continue to influence what I wear, how I'll interpret them in the outfits I share here, and what other fun/beautiful/unique elements will shape my style in the second chapter of 2016 and beyond.

Naturally, I'm sure many of them will enjoy at last a moment or two in the spotlight here. After all, if a vintage fashion blogger can't readily share what's inspiring them on their own site, who can! :)