You’ll have noticed that it’s been a bit word-heavy ’round here the last couple of weeks, so for balance, today’s post will rely on photos. I’m almost finished my next Book Post, but today is just me, walking in the neighbourhood, wearing clothes. . . 😉
Above and below, what I wore Friday evening to walk 4.5 kilometres to a favourite Korean restaurant for Dolsot Bibimbap (see this Instagram post from January 2020 if you’d like to see that that looks like). The first time we’ve eaten this favourite dish there for over a year. We walked the 4.5 kilometres home as well, so comfort was important (Yes, we have a car, although we seldom use it. City parking can be a hassle, plus walking is good for fitness and for encouraging conversation without insisting on it. Easy and companionable date structure, in other words.)
I was lounging in this pink sweatshirt dress on Sunday morning when Pater announced he was going to the Farmers Market at the neighbourhood park. I decided to go with him, but was too lazy to change. Luckily, my neighbourhood is very relaxed, style-wise. It trends younger and creative/artistic, with thrift and consignment shops dotting the retail streets. And I told myself that the Stan Smith Adidas (and the very cool hand-made, appliquéd, rough-linen bag I splurged on last year as the perfect going-to-the-farmers-market tote) made the look “Intentional” . . . and that my bare knees were acceptable. . .
And then this simple linen shirt-dress is what I changed into later in the day, because it got too warm for sweatshirt dress-ing.
The black trainers do not represent the best “styling” for the dress; rather, that footwear choice represents deference paid to foot support and comfort for my late-afternoon long-ish walk. I will also admit that those pockets are affecting my “Lewk” here, weighted down as they are with my keys, sunglasses, mask, and iPhone. . . I really don’t like to carry/wear a bag when I’m walking, if it’s at all avoidable, much preferring to keep things in my pockets.
But who’s going to be looking at what I’m wearing, after all, when the streetside gardens are so beautifully clad . . . I mean, check this out:
Whoever designs and maintains this sidewalk border at a low-rise apartment building near my home manages to stop my camera and I almost every time I walk past. This gardener clearly has a brilliant eye for colour and texture as well as a solid sense or knowledge of what plants will do well in the climate and in their particular location.
For the most part, simple, easy-grown perennials for maximum impact, but also punctuated with colourful coleus plants that are more tender. Not sure if these get over-wintered or, more likely, new ones planted out each year. . .
And a few blocks away, these mandalas of seedheads on the wild fennel. . .
Spiky acanthus in a tiny boulevard plot planted and tended by a volunteer gardener. . .
So, seriously, who’s going to notice what a certain late-afternoon walker is wearing?
Right?
But just in case you were interested, I snapped these shots before I headed out the door (I mean, what better way to strengthen my Vulnerability Muscle?!), and now I have a Monday morning post, done and dusted, and I’m ready to hear what you’re up to. I promise to have that book post up very soon in case you’re looking for Summer Reading inspiration.
xo,
f
Your walking outfits are much smarter than mine. Such is the joy of city walking, it’s an outing at the same time. Your rust-coloured dress with those yellow and red flowers… would look fierce. I’m a fan of black-eyed Susans. Do you call them black-eyed or brown-eyed?
P.S. What a breeze it is to comment on your site now!
Author
It’s true! City walking has been “an outing” for me throughout these months of restrictions, a bit of an excuse to dress . . . differently, if not “up” 😉
Also true: I could just plop myself in that garden and fit right into the palette. I call them Black-eyed Susans, except that I tend to call them Rudbeckia. . . We have a few growing in containers here, just beginning to bloom. . .
And p.s. I’m glad to hear that. . . it’s definitely a breeze to Approve and Reply to comments since the move to WordPress.
I love your dress and sneakers looks. They feel timeless, and wholly you, to me.
Author
Thank you! I have to admit that during the summer, Birkenstocks would feel even more wholly me, but I keep having problems with my Achilles/plantar fascitis, and I’m trying to mitigate however I can (short of going fully orthopaedic!)
Fabulous flowers & a very generous gardener entertaining the passers by . We usually keep our best displays for the back garden & forget the pleasure we can give strangers . We have a box ‘ cloud hedge ‘ at the front of our property & people driving by have stopped to praise it . Not everyone notices the cheeky ‘ bottom ‘ Max clips into it !
Author
Ha! I don’t remember that cheeky “bottom” featured in the photos you sent me for that blog post a few years back. Now I’m curious! 😉
Even after living in my home for over 20 years there are still things to discover on my walks. Today went down new streets having left my car at the garage for repair. So many of the gardens were just amazing, just a riot of color! Hoping to find a pair of comfortable sandals for walking this week to take on my vacation which starts Sunday. I know I have waited until the last minute but it was uncertain that this trip would happen. Possibly some superstition involved.
Author
It can be fun to walk our neighbourhoods by changing our route even just by a block or two.
Hope you find the perfect pair of sandals! I’ll keep my fingers crossed all goes well for the launch of your vacation.
Cool,relaxed,urban and comfortable…I really like your looks
Re: Birkenstocks and Achilles fascitis (I’m sorry to hear it)….yes,there are so many sandals,shoes and sling backs that I would wear and be more me- but,it’s all about lemons and lemonade…. Stay comfortable and healty and take care
Beautiful flowers!
Dottoressa
Author
Thanks Dottoressa! Yep, lemons and lemonade, absolutely!
Healthy,sorry
D.
Comfortable footwear is so important these days. If we want to continue to be mobile, we have to pay attention to our feet. I love the colours of that garden.
Author
Walking is so important to me and I dread the thought of having to curtail it. I know you understand.
I love your walking outfits, and the dress and sneakers especially. I am all about comfort lately, and function, but that does not mean function without style. I think you have that combination, ie. stylish comfort down perfectly. Wish I could walk to the farmer’s market. But I got out for a couple of extra walks this week and that felt good.
Author
Thanks! I’m glad to hear you managed a few walks. Hope the recovery is going well, but I’m guessing there may be chemo still? Take care.
Hi Frances – I love that shirt dress and the pockets – full of wonderful treasures if it was me would be shards of pottery or stones ( I have a favourite spot on a walk where I collect old pottery bits – always wonder why it is there – so think maybe was a throw out /dump from an old house – I digress)
Those flowers are so pretty and the jewel colours look so lively.I find myself smiling when I pass happy flowers.
On your lewk – the black shoes look grand to me- quite edgy and very suited to your neighbourhood.
Margaret x
Author
Thanks Margaret! — So funny you would post this, as I only had one pocket (wide-legged, asymmetrical linen pants, and the lack of that second pocket has been driving me nuts for 10+ years 😉 on my walk yesterday, and had to be very careful with the feather I found and tucked in between my phone, keys, and mask . . . kindred spirit, although no chance of pottery bits here.