when you’re living in a dreamworld

Jacket: old (similar), Dress: Free People (similar), Over-the-knee boots: Carlos Santana (old)

Although the weather has gotten a bit warmer over the last week or so, there’s no denying that it’s still the dead of winter here in Toronto. Mother nature loves to play tricks with us by giving us a few days of sunny, 15 degrees Cesius weather followed by a snow storm. Typical.

I’m not gonna lie, this outfit was definitely not the most appropriate to be wearing outside in the middle of winter with all the ice and snow on the ground. But I didn’t care. Putting on this fluffy white coat made me feel like I was sleeping on a soft cloud, and I love how it paired with the ethereal and dreamy vibe of this dress.  Because this dress is so short, I had to pair it with over the knee boots to keep myself more covered up (and also to keep warm!).  All in all, this outfit is SO my style. So much so that I would say that it’s probably my favourite outfit that I’ve featured on this blog so far. I’m obviously in love with anything bohemian, but I also love how this outfit plays with different textures – the fluffiness of the coat, the gauziness and lightness in the material of the dress, and the suede material of the boots.  As soon as  I put on this outfit, I felt 1000x better and just more myself.  I guess in a way, just like how music can automatically change our moods and make us feel better, fashion is also a form of escapism for me. Despite the current situation whether it be the crappy weather or if I’m just having a bad day, putting on a fabulous outfit always helps to lift my spirits and put me in a better mood.

Speaking of escapism, that’s the central theme of this week’s song – Dreamworld by Rilo Kiley. Do any of you guys remember Rilo Kiley?! I found myself randomly listening to them again this past week, and I’ve never felt more nostalgic. You may not be able to tell from my musical tastes nowadays, but back in late elementary school and middle school, I was really into emo pop punk (because who wasn’t), and a bit of early 2000s R&B and hip-hop. Come high school, I started discovering more indie/alternative artists, and Rilo Kiley actually happened to be one of the very first bands of that genre that I ever listened to. Anyways, I found myself listening to them again recently and I’ve fallen in love with them all over again.

Dreamworld is from the last album that Rilo Kiley put out in 2007, but is one of my faves from them. The song explores a “dreamworld” state, a state that I think most of us find ourselves in sometimes. When we are in a less than pleasing or uncomfortable situation, we find ourselves ignoring the reality of it and instead, pretending to live in this better world that we have fantasized about in our minds.  I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to live in this dreamworld, because I believe it’s a representation of our hopes and aspirations. As long as they do not simply become just our expectations (and we can still distinguish between what’s real and what’s not), we cannot be disappointed.

But if you’re ever just having a bad day and need a little distraction, just try listening to music that you enjoy, watching your favorite movie, or putting on your favorite outfit! Guaranteed that this simple form of escapism will make you feel 1000x better too!