May 22 2013
Leave a comment
Fashion, travels, Outfit

Weekend Getaway: Sasquatch

DSC_0393 - Copy

Well friends, it’s nearly time. In less than 24 hours I will embark on a glorious road trip to The Gorge, Washington to witness the genius musical stylings of Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Azealia Banks, Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis, The Postal Service, and The XX (among others!), at Sasquatch Music Festival. It’s a trip I’ve been looking forward to for months, both for the epic performances and the chance to rock some serious music fest style. I may have gotten a wee-bit envious of all those Coachella-goers back in April…

For my weekend I really wanted to strike the perfect balance of stylish and practical (there’s no use in looking great if you’re freezing and miserable!), so I decided to pack a lot of basics (tanks, jeans, long sleeved button-downs) that I could layer while still staying true to my personal style. The one thing I didn’t necessarily like from the Coachella ladies was that it seemed like they were all trying to dress like a flowerchild-hipster-rocker-hippie, and while cute, it ended up feeling a bit tired. It is for that reason that you will never find a flower crown upon my head, but rather a menswear-ish panama hat. No maxi dresses; just jorts (that’s jean-shorts, for the uninitiated). Going along with practicality, I’ll be rocking sensible (read: flat) shoes, sunglasses/other modes of sun-protection, and bags that will allow me to swing and savor everything around me without interruption. I put together some potential outfits, but who knows? I may just end up rocking the exact same outfit all weekend. So sue me.

Happy Sasquatch!

Outfits

DSC_0403 - Copy

DSC_0405 - Copy

DSC_0414 - Copy

DSC_0423 - Copy

DSC_0452 - Copy

DSC_0481 - Copy

Tagged , , , , ,
May 16 2013
1 Comment
Blogging

Bloglovin

Time to start utilizing all resources… so why not Follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Real post to follow, I promise!

Tagged
May 08 2013
Leave a comment
Fashion, Outfit

Summer is Coming

DSC_0088

Zara trench, loafers; Gap knit; J.Crew scarf; American Eagle jeans; thai Ray-Bans

It’s May. It was 25 degrees here in Vancouver last week. What? Is this real life?

As a born and raised Calgarian, it’s still a little shocking to realize that this is in fact real, and in some places it’s actually pleasant during this time of year. With summer officially on the way in (knock on wood!), here’s one last outfit from slightly cooler weather a couple of weeks ago. What I love about it is that by changing certain elements (cut-offs for jeans, tee for sweater) I can still keep the polished vibe without having to think too hard. Simple summer is the best summer.

Happy Hump Day!

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Apr 22 2013
Leave a comment
Home

Nice Spaces

DSC_0309

Rebecca Minkoff bag; Zara heels; Ikea cupcake-holder turned jewelry display

After years of grumbling about chores and cleaning my room only after my dear parents requested it, I finally had the revelation that a clean home is a happy home. (Cue exasperated sigh from mom and dad.) Living on my own in Vancouver I instantly find myself in a better mood when my apartment is clean and tidy. As the physical clutter and dust dissipate, so does my stress. Taking this idea and running with it, I’ve also started ‘curating’ little areas in my room by placing specific photos, knick-knacks, shoes etc together for effect. Call it feng shui if you must, I just call them nice spaces.

DSC_0322

DSC_0313

DSC_0328

DSC_0320

DSC_0290

David Dixon heels; Steve Madden bag; Burberry & Chloe  perfume

DSC_0287

DSC_0286 DSC_0291

Tagged , , , , ,
Apr 19 2013
Leave a comment
Blogging, Life

A Moment

Hi all, just wanted to post something quick and explain for the lack of posts this week. Like so many others, when I found out about the Boston Marathon attacks on Monday I immediately felt nauseous, numb and close to tears. Obviously (and unfortunately), horrific events like these are not completely out of the ordinary. In the last few years the phrases Sandy Hook, Aurora, and Gabby Giffords bring to mind some terrible acts of violence. I’ve never reacted in such a physical and emotional manner, but for some reason the event in Boston really resonated with me. Maybe it was because I know people who live there (who were actually very close to the blast sites), or maybe it was because the idea of running a marathon is so accessible. Quite a few of my friends are avid runners, in fact, a number of them will be participating in this weekend’s Sun Run here in Vancouver. For what ever reason, Monday was an extremely hard day for me, and I’ve been a little off since. Promise to have some new stuff up for next week, but it was nice to have this time to reflect and even grieve a little.

Talk soon and happy weekend everyone!

Tagged , , , ,
Apr 12 2013
2 Comments
Fashion, Outfit

The Interview

DSC_0241 - Copy

Gap button down, crewneck sweater; Nixon watch; H&M floral trousers, necklace, envelope clutch; J.Crew scarf; Zara trench coat; custom loafers; Vancouver Olympics padfolio notebook

Ah, the interview; a phrase sure to strike fear into every young adult, new grad, and unemployed individual. I too used to cringe at the thought of them, but after four years of extensive prep and practice (thanks Peter B!) I’m now confident, cool, and collected when posed with a flurry of self-awareness questions. (“My greatest weakness is that I’m a perfectionist!” Yeah… Don’t say that.) My favorite part of interview prep is always the outfit planning and I thought it might be fun to share my thought process for picking out the above ensemble for a recent meeting at J.Crew.

As I was applying for a job in a creative industry I decided to punch up a classic button-down/crewneck look with some bold prints. With the floral trousers as my focus, I chose a subtle grey checked shirt and a polka-dot scarf to mix with the more basic trench and sweater, and went with polished flats and a simple clutch to round out my look. I also went with a simple watch and a bright necklace to break up the grey on grey and tie in with the colourful floral print. The most important thing for interview dressing is to wear something that is reflective of the position and company, but also showcases a bit of your personal style. My goal here was to show my bright personality and affinity for menswear-details, while still staying true to the branding of J.Crew.

What do you think? Did I hit it on the mark?

DSC_0271

DSC_0254

DSC_0257

DSC_0262

DSC_0259

PS. Happy Friday!

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Apr 11 2013
Leave a comment
Blogging, Inspiration

Happy Hundred!

DSC_0332

Well kids, it’s official. My humble little blog/occasional travel diary made it to 100 posts. Trust me, I’m just as surprised as you are! It’s kind of funny looking back at some of my older posts, especially since I feel like I’ve just gotten a real feel for things in the past few months. Takes a while to find your groove!

I’d just like to say a quick thanks (no Oscar speeches here) to a couple of lovely ladies for continuing to inspire me in blogging and in life.  Alicia of Alicia Fashionista, who has taught me so much and brings me along to help out with really cool projects (like this feature in The Province!); Laura of Dedicated Not Addicted, my amazing friend who just completed her first fitness competition; and Eden of Nouveau Paradis, who has been with me since the beginning of my blogging journey and is always there for a laugh/cry/hug/chat. My thanks to you.

Here’s to the next 100!

Tagged , , , , , ,
Apr 09 2013
Leave a comment
Fashion, Outfit

The Rast

DSC_0058

William Rast leather jacket; J.Crew knit; Jacob button-down; Club Monaco cords; Ray Ban sunnies; Michael Kors watch; Forever 21 flats; vintage messenger bag

I can’t even tell you how intimidated I was to wear this beautiful William Rast jacket when I first got it. It was easily the most expensive thing I had even owned and I was therefore terrified of doing anything that might mar its buttery exterior. Not gonna lie, I’m pretty sure that it sat untouched for a full month before I built up the guts to rock it. Since then it has become one of my favourite ways to add a touch of bad-assery to an otherwise typical, preppy outfit (not that there’s anything wrong with prep!) and I find myself reaching for it year round. This is leather done right.

DSC_0067 - Copy

DSC_0074

DSC_0077

DSC_0079Photos by Alicia

PS. Sock bun!

Tagged , , , , ,
Apr 08 2013
Leave a comment
travels

Weekend Getaway Part III

DSC_0175

In burgundy Rebecca Minkoff bag: Frank Lloyd Wright business card holder; Rebecca Minkoff change purse; J.Crew wallet; agenda, pen, notebook from Chapters

In vintage messenger bag: Amazon kindle; Gap pouchette; Nexus phone; Burts Bees peppermint lip balm; Apple iPod + headphones; Lenovo IdeaPad laptop

In the first getaway post I covered what I pack in my main bag, but what you bring along in your carry-on is just as important. As an avid reader (I ripped through 25 books during my 20 weeks in SE Asia last year!) the Amazon kindle is my absolute favourite, and I can’t even think about travelling without a killer soundtrack on my iPod. As a self-described list enthusiast, I also find it’s nice to have a notebook and pen on hand, but don’t forget about basics like your wallet, phone, and lip balm. I like to bring a bigger shoulder bag that fits my laptop (or iPad, depending on the trip length) as well as my purse. By going all Inception on your carry-on (it’s a bag-within-a-bag!), you can still bring your luggage on board without exceeding the two-item limit, and once you get to your destination there are a plethora of bag options to choose from. They say variety is the spice of life, and I’d have to agree.

A final reminder! Don’t forget chargers for your electronics, any prescriptions (I keep mine in my change purse), and your passport (if travelling internationally). I didn’t include these things in my photos, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. There’s nothing worse than getting to the airport and realizing you forgot one of these all-important items; it could make or break your trip, so be sure to remember ‘em!

DSC_0176

DSC_0184

DSC_0185

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Apr 03 2013
Leave a comment
Beauty, travels

Weekend Getaway Part II

DSC_0203

Clockwise from top: Jill Sander eyeglasses; floss; Lush solid shampoo; bronzer; blush; foundation; moisturizer; toner; face wash; deodorant; cotton pads; spare contacts; hairbrush; Estee Lauder make-up bag; eyelash curler; Maybelline mascara; eyeliner; toothbrush; concealer; toothpaste (All face/makeup products excluding mascara from Clinique)

For travelling tips day two I decided to delve into the sometimes-tricky area of toiletries. As often as possible try to pack light enough that you don’t need to check a bag; I take mine on board as much as I can and it saves me so much time on either end of the flight. To do this you need to make sure to bring travel-sizes (50ml) of all your toiletries (I got mine as samples from the Clinique counter) or bring solid versions (like my shampoo bar from Lush). I usually don’t bring hair tools, but if you can’t part with them look for travel versions of hair-dryers and straighteners (I’ve seen some good ones at Sephora). Lastly, be sure to put all your liquids in a Ziploc bag and you’ll be cruising through security like a pro.

I kept my make-up extra simple for this trip and brought along foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, eyeliner, and mascara. A good option to throw in for some extra drama is a tube of your favourite red lipstick, a little pop of colour goes a long way for dressing up an otherwise casual look! As I mentioned last time, K.I.S.S!

DSC_0208

DSC_0212

← Older posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 321 other followers