Polo in the Park 2018

Have you heard about the city’s most fashionable fundraiser? If not you’re missing out. I finally made it out to Polo in the Park this year and the event did not disappoint. The 2018 edition of this fundraiser which benefits Wounded Warriors Canada and the Rotary Club of Ottawa South was held on Saturday July 7th.

The Venue
I spent a lovely day outside at Wesley Clover parks. The event was so well organized and provided attendees with a relaxing and fun filled day in the park. There was visible signage as you approached the park entrance and a triage desk to direct drivers to the appropriate parking spots. The organizers even had golf carts to drive people from the parking area to the main event area.

The Experience
Tickets went on sale earlier this Spring and I just had to take advantage of the early bird pricing. The event offers many different ticket packages and options. I chose the VIP experience as I was taking advantage of the early bird discount. I must say it was well worth the extra cash. VIP guests had their own parking area closer to the event and golf carts to drive you up to the VIP tent. Inside the tent there were tables and chairs with goodie bags ready and waiting for us. Guests were presented with lunch and a tea service catered by the Brookstreet Hotel. The VIP tent also had the best views of the fashion show, hat contest and the polo match.

In addition to the polo there were also some vendors and stalls, a silent auction and a photo booth. This was a family and pet friendly event.

The Clothes
All guests were encouraged to put on their best hat and come out for a day in the park. There were so many people sporting stylish outfits and fascinators, it was a treat to see them all. The hat contest was a truly inclusive event which had many different categories including; DIY hat, Colts and Fillies (for kids), Dapper Dan, Too Hot to Trot and Hattitude. As I had opted for a more conservative look that day I did not enter the hat contest, although admission was included with my VIP ticket.

The Match
The main event was a battle of the sexes polo match between the ladies from Three Wild Women and the gents from the Ottawa Business Journal. This was a riveting experience for me as I’d never seen a live polo match before. The gents prevailed over the ladies in the end but the match was full of drama and excitement with some gents falling off their horses and some close calls where the score was concerned.

My Outfit
I opted for a more mainstream look for the event as this was my first year attending. I decided to wear my favourite polka dot dress from Suzy Shier which I paired with white wedges and a white fascinator. I brought along my picnic basket bag which I picked up on my latest trip to Sri Lanka as I thought it went well with the event and the venue 🙂

The Verdict
I loved attending Polo in the Park this year and I’m looking forward to the event in 2019. The event chair Monique and her team did a fantastic job putting this event together. Polo in the Park is something that’s definitely worth checking out if you live in Ottawa or are planning on visiting next Summer. What’s more fun than dressing up, enjoying some time outside, watching a polo match and supporting some great charities?!

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Canada Day Outfit Inspo from Suzy Shier

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Canada Day Outfit

Yikes! It’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been so busy with life in general that I haven’t had much time to sit down and actually write a post. I have however been keeping up on Instagram 🙂

Time has flown by so fast, can you believe Canada Day is less than a week away?! I don’t know about you but I always go all out with my outfit for Canada Day. It’s the one day of the year where you can wear your red, white and maple proudly and unabashedly!

I found the most adorable Canada Day dress at Suzy Shier and I’m just thrilled to be able to share it with you. What better way to celebrate Canada Day than by wearing a dress from one of the country’s oldest and best known retailers. Fun fact – Suzy Shier was founded in 1966 and has been around for over 50 years with over 140 stores across Canada!

This red and white printed dress is the perfect way to show off your Canadian pride. The butterfly details in the print are so feminine and the dress is super comfy to wear. It’s light and airy just like a butterfly, I love the way the skirt of the dress flutters when the wind catches it. My dress is part of Suzy’s High Tea collection that’s currently available in stores and online. This collection focuses on feminine florals and prints with a splash of red for colour.

I  liked the vintage look of this dress and decided to play in to the vintage vibe when I styled it. I paired this dress with an adorable picnic basket bag that I picked up on my travels (I’ll share more about my most recent trip in an upcoming post). For accessories I added my favourite pair of white wedges with a bow detail.  In keeping with the vintage flair I added a fascinator that I found at Unique Accessories last year.

How are you showing off your Canadian pride and celebrating Canada Day this year? Wearing red and white perhaps?

Inniskillin Winery Tour

Wow it’s been a while since my last post! This past weekend was a long weekend and boy was it a busy one. I decided to get away for the weekend so I spent the Victoria Day Long Weekend in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake. I’ve been to Niagara Falls many times but I wanted to get away from the crowds and the hustle of this touristy location. NOTL is the perfect escape from the city and the crowds but it’s best known for its wineries and is one of Canada’s most famous wine regions.

I wanted to tour some wineries while I was there and I’d heard good things about Inniskillin, a Canadian winery which is famous for its Ice Wine. I got there just in time to miss the general winery tour so I opted for the Ice Wine tour. This particular tour focused on the winery’s famous ice wines and gave tasters a chance to sample 4 ice wine varieties. My favoruite was probably the sparkling vidal ice wine.

My tour guide Lynn had been in the business for 24 years and working as a guide for 17 years. She was very knowledgeable and ready to answer any questions about the wines, the wine making process and Inniskillin as a brand. She led our group through a tasting of Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Vidal Ice Wines. My favourite part of the tasting component is when she gave us some chocolate to try with the Cabernet Franc – together they taste like a chocolate covered strawberry!

The weather was just warming up last weekend so we enjoyed a beautiful day outside. For my day at the wineries I chose this striped midi length belted dress from Suzy Shier. This dress is part of their Sweet Americana collection and is so comfortable to wear. It’s cotton and breathes well on a warm day outside. I like the vintage inspired (pardon the pun) look of this dress with a sinched in waist and flared skirt. To accent the tan colour of the belt I added a pair of Lucky Brand wedge heels and a classic rattan bag, that’s all the rage for Spring and Summer.

Have you visited the wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake? If so which one is your favourite?

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Striped Off The Shoulder Top

striped top weekend

striped top weekend outfit

striped off the shoulder top pearl buttons

malibu skye box bag

malibu skye box bag

bamboo box bag

weekend outfit

If you’ve been following my blog or you’ve read my bio you’d know why my blog is called The Weekend Fashionista 🙂 Weekends are when I get to experiment with fashion and try out new looks.

I think I’ve found a favourite weekend outfit!  How cute is this striped off the shoulder top . Stripes are definitely in for Spring and Summer and this top is on trend!

I like the menswear and work wear inspired look of this top. It almost looks like a work blouse with the pinstripe pattern and pronounced cuffs. The pearl buttons give the top a feminine flair. This top is cotton so it’s very comfortable and easy to wear. It sits loosely on the body for a relaxed fit.

For a relaxed weekend look I paired this blouse with some white jean capris, a pair of kitten heel sling backs and a bamboo bag. If you loved the Ark bag from Cult Gaia you’ll love this box bag from Malibu Skye.

I think this outfit is great for running errands, grabbing a coffee with friends, going out to brunch or just people watching and enjoying the warmer weather. Most people like to dress down on the weekend but dressed down doesn’t mean badly dressed right? I’m particularly fond of this outfit as it’s the perfect mix of casual and chic. What do you think?

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Polka Dots for Spring

 

Yay it’s finally feeling like Spring in Ottawa this weekend! I don’t know about you but I’ve been noticing polka dots on just about everything in stores right now. I think I found the perfect polka dot dress for Spring this year. How adorable is this sage polka dot dress from Suzy Shier.

This dress is under $50 and has a V neckline and a tie around the waist for a classic silhouette. I find the dress almost has a retro feel to it.  The sleeveless design makes it perfect to pair with a light cardigan for a cooler Spring day. For this look I paired the dress with some white wedge heels with a bow detail at the front, white beaded earrings and my Cult Gaia Ark bag.

Does this dress by any chance remind you of another famous polka dot dress? I couldn’t help but think of Julia Roberts’ polo dress from Pretty Woman when I saw this dress in store.  Of course hers was brown and this is sage 😉 Speaking of polo I’m considering attending an event taking place in Ottawa this Summer called Polo In The Park. This event takes place on July 7, 2018 and tickets are currently on sale! Check out their website (linked in this post) for details. The event is held in support of two charities, Wounded Warriors Canada and the Rotary Club of Ottawa South. Have you attended Polo In The Park before? If so how was your experience? Let me know in the comments below.

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Printed Bell Sleeve Top

 

I don’t know about you but I’m loving all the new Spring florals and pastels that are out in stores right now (even though I can’t wear them yet). If you follow my blog you probably noticed that I shop at Suzy Shier – a lot! I’m thrilled to share another fab Suzy find. I found the cutest printed bell sleeve top in Suzy Shier’s Eastern Airs collection.

This top comes in pastel green, a classic Spring colour with splashes of pink and creme in the print. The design on this top is reminiscent of the Chinoiserie chic trend that was all the rage last year. I love the feminine print of cranes and flowers on this top. The double bell sleeves are a fun frilly accent and give the top a light and airy feel. Goes perfectly with the crane print don’t you think? This top also has a tie in the back to keep it in place. You can adjust the back tie to your linking for a loose or tighter fit.

For a fun frilly Spring look I paired this top with a pair of white jeans (a Spring must-have) and some taupe ankle boots. I also found the perfect earrings for this top at Suzy Shier. If you haven’t checked out their accessories yet you’re missing out! They have many adorable styles to choose from at very reasonable prices!

I wore this Spring outfit to the pop-up flower market at the Rideau Centre. I thought it matched the the setting perfectly 🙂

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My Favourite Spring Dresses from Suzy Shier

Tropical Print Shirt Dress

Floral Wrap Front Dress

 

Red Floral Wrap Dress

In case you haven’t noticed or you’re new to my blog, Suzy Shier is one of my favourite places to shop. I make it a point to shop a lot of Canadian retailers and Suzy is definitely at the top of my list. I always end up leaving with something whenever I visit one of their stores. I’m totally loving their Spring collection this year especially their Spring dresses. I’ve put together a collection of some of my favourite Spring dresses from Suzy Shier

1. Tropical Print Shirt Dress

The first dress I came across was an immediate favourite. This tropical printed shirt dress is perfect for an early Spring getaway or a Summer Saturday. Palm print is one of my all time favourite prints, go figure I’m from an island right?! I love the tropical feel of this dress it’s like an instant vacation and makes me so happy! I paired it with theses bright yellow earrings and a straw bag from Forever 21. This bag is a must have for Spring and Summer. It’s only $25 and can transition from a shoulder bag to a clutch so you get 2 bags in one 🙂 My dress was also reasonably priced at just $39.

2. Floral Wrap Front Dress

I found a cute and comfy floral wrap front dress that works well for the office and after hours cocktails. I like the muted green and pink pastels in this dress. This dress has a bit of spandex blend in it so it stretches to fit your body but is comfortable enough to wear throughout a workday. I also found a matching necklace and earrings in-store at Suzy Shier. The green and pink jewels on the necklace complement the colours on the dress perfectly, it’s almost like these pieces were made for each other 🙂 The necklace is $18 and the earrings are just $10! The dress is a steal at $39.

3. Red Floral Wrap Dress

Red is a colour that is totally on trend this Spring and I’m so thrilled to have found this red floral wrap dress. This dress is so feminine and frilly that you’ll love being the lady in red. This is a versatile dress that can be styled as a formal or casual piece. I opted for a casual look and paired it with a straw pom pom clutch. The dress and clutch also went perfectly with my wooden watch from JORD (don’t forget to enter my giveaway ;)). Keeping with the muted nude tones of my accessories I added a pair of wedge heels from Lucky Brand. My dress again cost just $35!

Three dresses for under $40 each!  I was so pleased to find these three dresses and the best part is they were on sale! Suzy Shier regularly has 30% and 40% off sales and offers a great loyalty program – the Prestige Card. If you haven’t signed up yet you should as prestige card members save an additional 10% off on every purchase! Have you been to Suzy Shier lately? If so what are some of your favourite Spring pieces?