Real post to follow, I promise!

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!

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.

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

Talk soon and happy weekend everyone!

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?

PS. Happy Friday!

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!

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.

Photos by Alicia

PS. Sock bun!

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!

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!

Clockwise from top: H&M weekender bag; Zara scarf, trench; Estee Lauder make-up bag; Ray Ban sunnies; Dolce Vita boots; American Eagle jeans; Jacob belts; custom loafers (from Vietnam!); Gap leggings; tank top; H&M bracelet; Michael Kors watch; H&M necklace; Club Monaco necklace; custom button-down; J.Crew crewneck; Gap cardigan

One of my very favourite things about going away is the planning and packing involved before you even leave home. While unpacking is a completely different story (depressing, really), I love the process of picking items and creating outfits for a specific destination. Whether it’s for a casual weekend to Victoria, a weeklong vacation in Cuba, or a five-month trip to SE Asia, every time I think about packing my blood starts to flow just a little bit faster. On Sunday morning I jetted off to Cranbrook, BC for a long-overdue visit with my parents and grandparents, and decided to share my essentials for a little weekend trip.

I always try to pack items that I can mix and match; basic shapes and a cohesive colour palette ensure that this is always possible. I could wear the button down on its own, with the cardigan, or layered under the burgundy crew neck, and any of these could be worn in combination with the jeans or leggings, and either the loafers or boots. This gives a number of looks with varying levels of casualness, fit for any occasion that a weekend with the (grand)parents could throw at me. I also like to bring a few pieces of jewelry (and a signature watch) to further change and elevate my outfits. As they teach you in business school, keep is simple, stupid!

PS. Stay tuned for Parts II & III!