AGOLDE Denim, Zara Blazer, Mason Turtleneck, Vince Chelsea Boots, Chanel Handbag
What a ride this Fall has been so far. It was an autumn dreams are made of, beautiful weather well into October, which is so unusual for Calgary. Then the snow and cold hit, and hit hard. The past three weeks our household has been fighting every illness out there. Colds, stomach flu, coughs, intense fevers, all have made their way through here. I feel like I haven’t been able to start thinking about the holiday season. Last year my tree was up November 12th, and this year, the mere thought of how much work it is to get everything unpacked and up is enough for me to put it off indefinitely. Truly hoping for a holiday season filled with good health, friends and family. And if we’re being honest, a weekend to myself. Alone. By myself.
Like many of you I’ve been struggling with what to wear day to day. Since social media and trends have dictated much of what I own “out of style”, it’s been overwhelming. (Side Note: I don’t agree with the drastic opinion on what is ‘out’ since we emerged from 2020. There are many items in my closet that are deemed ‘out’ that I’m still wearing, loving and feeling fab in). Since many of us can’t run out and completely revamp our wardrobes, I’ve been slowly updating by adding in pieces that will hopefully last a few seasons. Oversized blazers, straight leg denim, and classic/basic tops, all in neutrals that can be worn together. I’m not in a season of life where I can purchase items that will only last a single season, or that I’ll only wear a couple of times. Anything coming in needs to be a workhorse, pulling double duty at all times. This ensemble is an example of what I would reach for on the regular. For a day out by myself running errands I would switch to a sneaker and tee and keep the blazer and denim. For a girls night out I would add a cropped faux leather pant and pump and keep the blazer and turtleneck. That’s what we call double duty.
Abercrombie Dress, Charlotte Olympia Pumps, Escada Handbag
10 years ago I pressed Publish on the very first blog post of Centre Street Style. I remember every detail leading up to the moment like it was yesterday. I recall jumping the fence to the golf course with the photographer of my blog, my big brother, to get that very first fashion shot. I remember whipping up a batch of cookies and setting the table as a preview to what sorts of things would be featured on my site. Over the years there has been fashion inspiration, beauty tips, recipes shared and entertaining, my goodness was there entertaining. The beginning was chaotic, eventually I followed an editorial calendar and we had an amazing system for the fashion photos. There was nothing better than pressing Publish for the newest post to go live.
Starting the blog gave me a sense of purpose and the authenticity of what I put out there resonated with many of you. The dreams I had of starting a boutique upon returning to Calgary from Vancouver slipped away, and contributing in some small way to the fashion realm online really filled a void. I started off strong, posting 4-5 days a week, attending blogging conferences in New York and LA, growing my readership, securing partnerships, and then life happened. Divorce, pregnancy, babies, postpartum, financial loss, loss of my support system, and marriage again. Much of the past few years has been lived in anxiety and survival mode, which doesn’t grant time for creativity. It was always hard to know what to share publicly and what to keep private, and as a private person, I’ve kept the struggle to myself.
I could have never started this without the true talent, who came along for the ride, was always up for the shoot, who put in hours and hours and hours of unpaid work into the photos for the blog, 4-5 days a week in the beginning. He was a huge sounding board for ideas, locations for shooting, and even as his life became more full, he was always willing to take some shots. Thank you doesn’t cut it, and I’ll be eternally grateful to my big brother, for without him, Centre Street would have been but a fleeting dream.
To my new photographer, who has allowed me to slowly get back into posting these past three years, her talent and friendship has been such a gift. I can’t wait to see what we come up with moving forward, the sky is truly the limit.
I truly believe the best is yet to come. I don’t know why I’ve held onto this space on the internet all these years, questioning each time the renewal was sent out. I’ve spent quite a bit of time perusing over the last ten years of work on Centre Street, and one thing remains true. I love fashion, love it. I love hosting my friends and family and creating experiences they’ll remember. I love sharing my make up tips and tricks with others, and I love the cathartic nature of baking, and eating it, obviously. So I journey on, in my most authentic, messy, human, perfectly imperfect way, I carry on. And I hope you’ll come along with me.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
H&M Hoodie, Zara Blazer, Lululemon Leggings, Marc Fisher Boots, Aritzia Superpuff
As I sit writing this post it’s currently snowing outside, and the temperature is dropping by the minute. While we’ve been blessed with a relatively mild winter, there have been stretches of temperatures that have dipped well below -20 Celsius. These photos were taken in such weather, and I wanted to document an ensemble that was both warm and fashionable, which seems like an oxymoron in the fashion sense. I had four layers on my top half, wool socks, a toque and mittens, because in -20 weather, exposed skin freezes my friends, and there’s nothing chic about that. I think fashionable warm weather wear has always been a struggle, and I’ve played into that over the years. I used to brave below freezing temperatures sans coat to be able to document a ‘winter outfit’, and then immediately bundle up afterwards. I feel like it started back in Junior High, where bundling up with toques and mittens and parkas wasn’t ‘cool’. I still see it all the time, kids walking home looking ‘cool’ possibly in the early stages of frostbite. Every year I get older I tolerate the cold less, and keeping warm has become of the utmost importance to me. Honestly, these days when the temperature is subarctic, you’ll find me donning my sleeping bag coat and winter boots, my fashion statement will be my toque.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
H&M Shacket, J. Crew Hoodie, Spanx Leggings, Reebox Sneakers, Chanel Handbag
As my children get older and I get more moments to myself, it gives me time to ponder what is ahead. I started this blog 10 years ago this July, and I had great aspirations. I wanted to offer styling and fit tips, outfit inspiration, round ups of items I would recommend, recipes I had tried and loved, make up tips and hosting experiences. Life has changed so drastically in the past ten years, I know it’s cliche, but ten years ago feels like an entire lifetime ago. Divorce, financial loss, children, moving, loss of support systems, all of it impacted and hit in different waves and times over the past ten years, and I went from pouring my energy into my little space on the internet, to not logging in for months on end. Often times I wondered why I was hanging on to this space, this little corner on the web known as Centre Street Style. I’ve watched as many small blogs I used to tune in to daily have folded or switched solely to Instagram (which is just not my jam). Every year as I click on the payment button to renew my domain, admittedly not always so wholeheartedly, I question why I’m holding on. But there’s been a shift, I don’t know if it’s my children becoming more independent, or feeling settled for the first time in over five years, or that it’s my Emerald Year as a Pisces. For the first time in a long time I have a compelling desire to manifest, to create, to pursue and to act on all of it. And I hope there will be something of value for you, my reader, to keep coming back. Perhaps a recipe to try, motivation to shop your closet, inspiration to try out an ensemble, a tip or trick to put in your arsenal, or an idea for your next hosting experience.
These photos were taken back in the Fall, the most gorgeous we’ve had in a while, and it was an outfit worn on repeat for early morning school drop offs, weekends at the rink, and running errands. I love the ease of throwing on items with more of a comfort factor, but some sense of ‘put-togetherness’. Cost per wear of these faux leather leggings is pennies per wear at this point. They immediately elevate even the most casual of ensembles, shackets and sneakers included. I was late to the shacket game, I have a hard time buying into trends these days, especially if they’re only around a season or two. But this particular one from H&M was surprisingly high in quality for the cost. It gives off Anine Bing Shacket vibes, without the $600 price tag. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
Wolford Bodysuit, Abercrombie Denim, Vince Coat, Jimmy Choo Combat Boots
I don’t know when I stopped being the person that meticulously wrote out a list of resolutions. I used to love the New Year, and on New Year’s Eve I would take some time to sit down and physically write out 5-10 resolutions for the upcoming year. It’s been ages since I did so, I feel like it was most likely on the heels of a particularly tough year, and the only thing on my agenda for the upcoming year was to keep my head above water. And even that seemed daunting. This year is the first in a very long time that I feel ready to name some goals and throw all of my energy at them. Though I refuse to label these goals as resolutions, I do have to admit, this is the first January in a long time that feels fresh and hopeful, and filled with possibility.
At some point during the past two years we were told side parts and skinny jeans were ‘out’, and as someone who has donned a side part and skinny jeans for the past decade, at least, it felt like a personal attack. I’ve had discussions with girlfriends, as women in our 30s and 40s, what the heck are we ‘supposed’ to be wearing these days?! Frankly, the side part is staying, and so are the vast number of skinny jeans in my closet, but I have been playing around with some straight cut denim as well. I had yet to try a pair of Abercrombie denim, but they came recommended by a girlfriend, and the quality for the price point is great for trying a new style without breaking the bank. What I really need to do is carve out some time to physically go and try on a variety of brands and styles to determine which fits best, but in the meantime, this particular pair has been on heavy rotation.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
