H&M cardigan
Mango jeans
Zara sandals (similar)
Maris Pearl Co. bag (c/o) (similar)
Chanel cardholder
Lineage House hairclip (similar)
Stella & Dot ring
Location: The Great-West Life Building – Winnipeg, Manitoba
It’s been so long since I first read the statement, “Make it simple but significant,” that I don’t remember where I saw it, or to whom the quote was attributed, if it was attributed to anyone at all. It didn’t matter. The statement resonated so strongly for me that it immediately became part of my vocabulary. I fall into the trap of thinking I want complex, elaborate things – outfits, holidays, events – all too often, because they look fabulous. But in reality, I crave simplicity. Many of us do, I think. But we conflate the idea of simplicity with plainness. In reality, simplicity doesn’t have to be plain or boring.
Saying that, of course, is easier than actually making something simple but significant. Especially if you’re a planner, like I am, it’s entirely too easy to spend time considering and reconsidering every possible contigency and overdoing whatever you’re planning as a result. To mitigate my natural tendency to go overboard, I try to stick to the rule of three in whatever I’m doing. The rule is pretty simple: three things, whatever things those are, are all you really need. When it comes to clothes, that means three colours – for me, black, white and beige. If I’m planning a holiday meal, no more than three courses. The same principle can be applied to almost anything. Doing just three things, and doing them really well, is always better than doing a dozen things just to do them.
Three things, done well, is simple but significant.
I confess that I’m much better at applying the principle to my outfits than I am at applying it to other aspects of my life. Probably because I have a lot more practise. I get dressed everyday, and share outfit photos every week, while I plan maybe one celebratory a year, two at the most. To date, I’ve never actually thrown a party that would qualify as simple but significant – but I’m working on it, because I know, in the end, that simple things feels more satisfying for me.
Case in point: this outfit. It wasn’t one I planned. The sweater was on top of the sweater pile on my office chair. (I know it’s a terrible habit, I do keep a stack of sweaters there in case I get cold or want to change halfway through the day.) I dug out the jeans because I hadn’t worn them yet this year – that was all, I just wanted to take them out on the town. The sandals are the same ones I’ve reached for all season. The same goes for the stacking rings. Since I didn’t really feel like carrying a big bag, I pulled out this net one, threw in my cardholder and… that was it. I didn’t overthink any of it, I just did it. And it worked. Better, even, that many of my thoughtfully planned outfits.
That, in and of itself, is significant.
