I’ve spent my fair share of time complaining about Vancouver, but one thing I like is how well-dressed everyone seems to be here. Sure, there’s a proportion of be-yoga pantsed rich girls, who seem to think that overpriced sportswear can and should be worn in non-sports settings, and dull MEC-fleece wearers, but unlike in Toronto, where I would mentally mock the ensembles of my fellow transit-riders (especially the trying-too-hard to look hip hipster set), here I’m constantly admiring the outfits of people on the bus and around campus. Yesterday I saw this adorable hipster couple on the bus downtown, and the girl looked crazily like a young Sophie Marceau; she was wearing this great chunky plaid tweed thing coat that zipped really far on one side, like a double-breasted coat but without the second row of buttons. Instead of mocking, I’m coveting. I don’t think it’s because I’ve gotten less critical. I think it’s probably because of the weather — you don’t have to dress as warm, so you can spend more money on cute. (I explain every thing about Vancouver in terms of climate.)

So it’s nice when people compliment my own clothes. I was totally doing my lazy “Clinton says it’s sophisticated” combination of black and brown — brown boots with brown-and-black argyle hose and a black skirt. In the afternoon on my way home from Starbucks (oh, Christmas Seasonal Drinks, how I love you), one woman stopped me to ask me where I got them, to which I wistfully replied “H&M, it’s a store in Toronto.” She said she had been trying to find a pair like that for her daughter, she saw some patterned ones in a catalog that were like $200. Mine…cost maybe $10. Then, more awesomely, I was walking a little nervously down Seymour around 9; I clacked confidently past these stoned gay guys and then I could here them talking about me. “Nice hose,” one of them said. “You think so?” “Yeah, the hose really works with the boots.” I grinned under my hood as I hurried up to meet the guys at the movie.

Less charming: the two separate incidents of dudes “Hey baby”ing out their car windows at me in four blocks. I just don’t get it.