3 Minute Thread: Sheila

"Put a brooch on! Wear rings on every finger. Dye your hair blue. Some of it will work, some of it won’t and that’s okay."

I got chatting to Sheila in my comments section last year, when she said some nice things about what I wore in 2024. I clicked her profile and discovered that her style is far more bold and exciting than I could ever hope to be. So here she is reminding us that getting dressed should be fun!

Who are you?

I’m Sheila! I’m a Gen X woman from Canada’s west coast who loves clothes. I am a secondhand and in-person shopping advocate and supporter, and self-expression through fashion is the message I hope to radiate. I’ve been blogging my daily outfits on Ephemera since 2008 – that’s over 4.5K outfits. I joined Substack in summer 2024 and have loved finding a new audience full of wonderful Fashion People.

What are you wearing?

I’m wearing a men’s Kenzo sweatshirt with a sparkly black top underneath, paired with a wrap skirt by Kate Spade and a floofy underskirt by Luc Fontaine, plus boots by John Fluevog (called the Original Sabado). Everything is secondhand except for the John Fluevog boots - I saved up gift cards from my friends, husband and coworkers to buy them, and I easily own 40 pairs. Fluevog is a Canadian-owned and operated company that pays their employees a living wage, and I’ll support that every day. Plus their shoes are cool as f*ck.

Why did you choose this outfit?

The sweatshirt is new-to-me so I wanted to wear it right away – I never save things “for good.” I also like a casual look for the office on Fridays (yes, this is casual for me), with a funky twist. The skirt is one I’ve had for years – I’m a fan of black and white patterns, and although this flared cut isn’t really my jam anymore (style is a river, ever changing), I love the quality of it and that I can easily “toughen” it up.

Where did you wear it/ where are you planning to wear it?

I wore this to the office! I work in the IT field as an administrator, and am grateful that my company supports and celebrates my sartorial choices. I also popped out to buy some snacks for the weekend, and rode the bus home. I’m always the dressiest person I see, and no one ever says boo. Oh, that’s not true, a busker admired that my blue hair matched my outfit. “It’s like I planned it,” I said.

What’s the best style lesson you’ve learned over the years?

That 99% of people REALLY don’t care about you or what you wear – so don’t be afraid to try. Try different colours, try new cuts, try tucking in this and tying a scarf on it. Put a brooch on! Wear rings on every finger. Dye your hair blue. Some of it will work, some of it won’t and that’s okay. Learn from your missteps and move on. Next outfit! And really, it’s just an outfit.

One person you think has great style?

Tilda Swinton is not afraid to experiment, or to stand out – I’m drawn to risk-takers when it comes to fashion. Janelle Monáe’s looks are always captivating and full of interesting detail.

Best life hack?

Listen to your gut. Trust your intuition.

Your favourite person to follow?

I have too many to list and I won’t play favourites.

One recommendation to read/ watch/ listen/ see or do?

Please support local brick-and-mortar businesses in your community, and buy secondhand when you can. Put your money back into your community. Small changes in our behaviour make a big difference!

Follow Sheila on Substack for more outfit inspiration! And subscribe to Threads of Conversation for interviews, essays, podcast episodes and more.

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