Oh the weather outside is...not very frightful, actually :)

✯ Day 361 of Vintage 365 ✯

In a country famed for the abundance - and the rather staggering volume of - snow we receive annually as a nation, it always comes as surprise when whatever corner of the country I'm calling home at the moment remains green (or nearly so) once the calendar hits and rolls on past the official start of winter.

While much of the nation has received plenty of the white stuff so far this year (my home province of British Columbia very much included), Toronto has remained relatively snowless so far this season (which is in stark contrasts to most of the other winters I've lived through here).

Though we're not exactly giving Florida a run for its money in the temperature department by any means, it is quite unusual to be so close to New Year's and not be buried up to our eyeballs in snow!

I'm the first to admit that the weather is akin to a spectator sport for many in Canada, so much so that most of us see nothing small talk-ish about bringing up this topic with strangers and our nearest and dearest alike, and I fully I realize that it's not exactly the most riveting of subjects to many in other parts of the world (unless its doing something rather extreme or unexpected that is - like if snow suddenly fell here in the middle of July!).

There are pros to not walking up to avalanche-esque volumes of snow each morning; it makes navigating sidewalks and roads (assuming they're not overly icy) worlds safer, and can also mean that fashionistas get to enjoy sporting footwear other than clunky, workhorse snow boots when outdoors for much longer than usual.

Yet - and clearly, this must be my Canadian DNA - I can't help but crave snow, at least initially, come the nippiest season of the year. While my health prevents me from being able to partake in most winter sports (or summer ones for the matter), there's nothing to stop me from looking the part of a seasoned snow bunny come December and January - especially when I've got wonderful vintage images like the one of Wanda Hendrix below to inspire my cold weather wardrobe.

{Beautiful actress Wanda Hendrix looking radiantly cheerful and set for a fabulous day of swishing down the slops, in this lovely winter photograph from 1950. Image via Carbonated on Flickr.}

 

As, at the end of the frosty day, this is still Canada, I know that there's a snowball's chance, if you'll pardon the pun, that the whole winter will play out on such a dry note. Indeed, it wouldn't surprise me in the absolute least if I woke up tomorrow and there was a foot of snow glistening like a sea of diamonds on the balcony.

Regardless of when Old Man Winter really gives it his all this season, the temps are still on the shy side of freezing and there are plenty of occasions to dress nearly as heartily as though one was headed out for a day on the slopes - or, as I prefer, to look glamorous in front of a roaring fire at the ski lodge, cup of hot cocoa and vintage fashion magazine in hand.