Fashion, Holiday Style

My Fave Dress Picks for NYE

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I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and you’re enjoying the holiday season. Can you believe we will be in to a new decade in a few days?! 2020 is around the corner and it’s going to be a great year.

Whether you’re going out or staying in New Year’s Eve is something to celebrate.Have you picked out your dress for New Year’s Eve yet? Here are few of my favourite dresses for NYE.

My first pick is this black mock neck dress from Dynamite Clothing. I love the silver studded detail and the puffed sleeves give it a great finish. I paired this dress with a rhinestone buckle belt and some door knocker earrings. I really wanted to accentuate the silver in this dress. I also like that this dress is velvet, it’s a great fabric for Winter.

My second pick is a little unconventional for NYE but I think the colour and fabric are so classy. This satin one shoulder dress is an elegant choice if you want a break from the sparkle and shine of typical NYE dresses. I love the royal blue colour (the dress also comes in black) and the one shoulder detail of this dress. The draping in the front also make it figure flattering. I accessorized this dress with some embellished tights and rhinestone door knocker earrings.

P.S. I’m currently running a giveaway for a Dynamite Gift Card, details can be found on my instagram page.

If you want to go the more traditional route then this dress is for you. This gold dot printed dress is perfect for NYE! I like this dress because it’s stylish, comfortable and the gold dots look like confetti against the black fabric. This dress also photographs really well and has a sophisticated chic look to it. In this photo I paired it with some black tights and black pumps but you could also pair this dress with gold pumps for a really festive look. I picked this dress up last year at Le Chateau but it’s back again this year and under $100!

Which dress do you think I should choose?

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Lifestyle, Wine & Dine

Christmas in a Cup: Mulled Wine

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Hello! I’m back after a long hiatus. This Fall was a particularly tough one for me and my family as I lost both my grandparents within a span of two weeks. But I’m back at it and what better way to get back to blogging that sharing one of my favourite Christmas cocktail recipes.

Mulled wine is a drink that’s synonymous with Christmas. I like to think of it as Christmas in a cup. It’s a great warmer on a cold winter day. The thing I like the most about this drink is the way it makes your house smell when you’re making it. The blend of spices along with the wine gives off the best aroma and makes your home smell inviting and festive 🙂

Here’s my recipe for Christmas in a Cup -Mulled Wine

  1. 1 (750 ml) bottle of dry red wine – I usually use a Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. 1 orange, sliced into rounds.
  3. 1/4 cup brandy – this is optional but it does add a bit more flavour to the drink
  4. 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar – I used brown sugar
  5. 8 whole cloves.
  6. 2 cinnamon sticks.
  7. 2 star anise

To make Mulled Wine combine the wine, orange slices, brandy, sugar and spices in a large sauce pan and simmer on a low heat for at least 15 minutes. Makes sure the heat is set on low as you don’t want the mixture to boil and the alcohol to evaporate. I like to let it simmer for about half an hour but you can allow it to set for up to 3 hours, if you’re that patient.

Once you get the aroma of the wine and the spices use a ladel and strainer to pour the wine in to glasses (you can also use mason jars for a more rustic look) and enjoy with a piece piece of Christmas Cake. I picked up these mini mason jars mugs at the Dollar store but I’ve linked some similar ones below.

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9 to 5, Fashion

Fall Transition Workwear

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I’m back . . . after a long hiatus. My last post was in June, yikes! Can you believe we are at the end of August already? It’s almost Fall, one of my favourite seasons. What I love about this time of year is transitioning in to my Fall wardrobe and picking up new pieces for the cooler weather. This year I’ve been focussing a lot on workwear and versatile pieces that can wear well in to the Winter.

I am currently loving all the Fall workwear at Dynamite this year. I picked up all the pieces in this outfit from their Fall collection.  One trend I’m noticing this year is plaid. Once again we are mad for plaid and these skinny high waisted pants are no exception. I like how stretchy and versatile these pants are. They are a quite snug to begin with but have some stretch to them so resist your instinct to size up and stay true to your size with this item.

I paired the pants with a fitted camel turtleneck. I like how soft and comfortable this top is when you wear it. Camel, caramel and soft browns are another popular trend this Fall and this turtleneck is a perfect way to incorporate the trend in to your transition wardrobe.

To finish off the look I added a black blazer for contrast. It also picks up on the black stripes in the plaid pants. For a more neutral look you can add a camel blazer and stick with the soft brown tones on top.

I accessorized this look with a pair of timeless leopard print pumps for a little sass. For a more conservative look you can always wear a pair of black pumps. If you want to go the more edgy route this pair of leopard print mules is a great alternative as well.

Are you looking forward to Fall? If so what are your favourite Fall fashion trends?

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Fashion

Polka Dot Midi Dress

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I’m so thrilled with the great Spring weather we’ve been having lately (finally!). Spring and Summer are my favourite seasons for dresses. I was happy to come across this adorable polka dot midi dress at Suzy Shier. I normally don’t go for clothing in orange as I find it doesn’t look that great with my skin tone, but this dress was an exception. I love the polka dot pattern and the pleat details in the skirt of the dress. I also like that this dress has an enhanced waist to give it more shape. This dress is so comfortable to wear and it looks so classy. You can also find it in a darker green colour (I bought it in both colours).

I paired this dress with a straw clutch I picked up last year and my favourite Sam Edelman block heels in a nude colour. I also added some white bauble drop earrings I bought last year from Suzy. I’ve linked some similar items at the bottom of this post.

What’s your favourite style of dress for Spring/Summer?

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Fashion

East Meets West – Fusion Fashion with Frida’s Attic

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Spring has finally arrived and although it certainly hasn’t felt like it this week, I decided to take some photos outside in the name of an East meets West photoshoot. I’ve been meaning to do this shoot ever since I received a beautiful hand made clutch from Frida’s Attic last Fall.

I was fortunate enough to connect with Frida’s Attic founder and owner Adriana on Instagram last year. I’m so excited to be working with this Ottawa based entrepreneur. Her focus is slow fashion in a trendy world. Adriana sources pieces from her native Mexico and all the items in her collection are carefully selected by her personally. I’m a huge fan of the vibrant colours and intricate designs of her clothing and accessories. You can read more about the collaboration I did with her last year by following this link – Collaboration with Frida’s Attic 

I’ve always wanted to do an east meets west fusion fashion shoot. The moment I received my clutch from Frida’s Attic I knew exactly which eastern piece to pair it with. The colours in this clutch complemented one of my sarees perfectly. I don’t get to wear sarees very often in Canada so it’s taken me a while to get around to shooting this look. I love how seamlessly these two pieces blend together. It almost seems like I picked up the saree and the clutch at the same place. I chose this saree because of its bright colours and beading. This entire look reminds me of a warm Summer day, although it was very cold and windy outside. I put on a brave face for these photos 😉

I admire the slow fashion concept behind Frida’s Attic and the fact that the pieces can be worn with so many different styles and genres of clothing. This particular look is just one of the ways you can incorporate Frida’s accessories in to your wardrobe. I paired this clutch with a saree but you could also carry it with jeans and a white tee or a Summer dress. It’s a great statement piece as well.

If you liked this look check out Frida’s Attic online and on Instagram.

What are your thoughts on fusion fashion?

 

 

Fashion

Floral Print Dress

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Is it Spring yet? One thing I love about Spring fashion is floral prints, so I was happy to come across this floral print dress at Suzy Shier. It’s no secret that Suzy Shier is one of my favourite stores for dresses. I love the fit of this dress. It’s snug in the shoulders and waist and lean in the skirt as well. I also like the cut out detail on the shoulders. I must admit I was a little apprehensive when I first saw this dress on the hanger, it’s not something I would normally pick up but I really liked the way it looked when I tried it on.

This dress is perfect to go from the office to the cocktail lounge. I paired it with a ruched sleeve knit blazer in coral. I wanted to accentuate the peach tone of the floral print on the dress. The colour of this  blazer also reminded me of Pantone’s colour of the year for 2019 – Living Coral. In keeping with my coral accent I added a pair of faux suede coral pumps I picked up last year.

Will you be wearing Pantone’s colour of the year this Spring?

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Fashion

Valentine’s Day Work Outfit

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It’s almost mid February, which means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a week day, Thursday so most of us will be at work during the day. I find it’s a bit of a challenge to be festive and keep things professional at work so I was thrilled when I found this Valentine’s Day outfit that’s perfect for work.

I found this great dotted ruffle dress at Suzy Shier. I love the look of this dress. The red in the print gives it a festive feel without being too over powering. I wanted to accentuate the red in this dress for a Valentine’s Day look so I accessorized by adding a pair of red pumps and a satchel purse. Alternatively I also paired this dress with a red wrap coat that I picked up at Suzy.

What I love about this dress is that it’s a practical and versatile addition to my work wardrobe as opposed to a novelty item. You can also dress this piece up or down. I was going for a more work appropriate look but you could wear this dress to after work cocktails or even with a jean jacket in the Spring. I also like that this dress has a DVF inspired look to it.

Are you planning on wearing red to work this Valentine’s Day?

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Lifestyle, Travel

California Trip Highlights

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If you’re following me on Instagram or Facebook you probably know that I was in sunny California two weeks ago. I’ve been so busy since I got back that I’m just getting to this highlights post now.

We had a great time in California and enjoyed a much needed break from the cold weather. It was my first time there although my better half had been there many times before.

We were there for 5 days so we decided to plan out each day and make an itinerary to maximize our time there. We were able to fit in so much in to our short time in California so I’ll only be sharing some of my highlights.

Our first day was set aside for travel and actually getting to Los Angeles. We stayed at a hotel on Sunset Boulevard which was a great location for us with many food spots and easy access to other areas of the city.

Day Trip to San Francisco

We decided to take a semi-private flight via a company called Jetsuitex and I really loved this experience. Jetsuite has its own hangar at Burbank airport so you skip the long lines and intimidating security checks that you deal with when flying commercial. You basically arrive about 15 minutes before the flight, sit in a lounge and board when the plane arrives. The on-board amenities are great too with a full bar services along with healthy snacks. After this relaxing flight we spent the day exploring San Francisco and headed back to LA in the evening.

Dinner at Nobu Malibu

We spent our third day exploring downtown Los Angeles and headed to Malibu for dinner. We’d heard really good things about Nobu Malibu so we decided to check it out. We loved this Japanese restaurant. The view from the patio was great even at night. The service was amazing as well, probably the best I’ve had at a restaurant.

Rodeo Drive

How could I go to L.A. and not visit Rodeo Drive right? I was totally having a Pretty Woman moment here. I absolutely loved this part of the trip. We had a great time walking down Rodeo and checking out all the posh shops. Throughout this trip we also treated ourselves to some stylish rides. For Beverly Hills we rented a Porsche using an app called Turo. It’s an affordable and convenient way to rent a car of your choice.

Another highlight of this trip was the food. We literally ate so much all the time. My favourites were fish tacos, happy hour treats and of-course a hamburger from In-n-Out! We also checked out the rooftop restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria. I really enjoyed this rooftop as it had awesome views of the city and the hills.

I hope you enjoyed our trip highlights. Have you been to California before, if so what was the best part of your trip? Leave a comment and let me know.

Fashion

White Jumpsuit

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I’m back after a small break and yup it’s still winter. Luckily I was able to escape the cold and head south of the border to Los Angeles for a few days. I did a bit of shopping here in Canada before my trip and one of the pieces I’m obsessed with is this white jumpsuit from H&M.

I love jumpsuits and rompers for spring and summer so when I saw this in store I just had to grab it. I wore this jumpsuit for a day of sightseeing around Los Angeles. I liked this piece as its comfy and chic.

WhatI love about this piece is that you can dress it up or down. I paired this jumpsuit with some nude sandals and a tan cross-body bag for a casual yet chic look. For a more formal look you could pair it with darker sandals and accessories as well. I think this jumpsuit would be perfect for spring or summer day or even an evening out. Are you a fan of jumpsuits?

I had such an amazing time in Los Angeles and will be sharing more about my trip in the next post. I also had a special photographer, my better half with me on this trip so I hope you enjoy the photos.

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Fashion

Plaid Neutrals for Winter

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Can you believe it’s already the second week of January already?! Winter is definitely here and two things I’m loving this season are plaid and neutrals.

Neutrals never really go out of style and they’re always great to tone down an outfit. I was thrilled to find this adorable skirt with a plaid inspired print. I like how this skirt incorporates pink, brown and black stripes which make it easy to pair with a wide range of tops and accessories.

I styled this skirt with a simple black turtle-neck and otk boots. Side note – OTK boots are a Winter go-to for me. They’re great with skirts or pants and keep your legs warm in the freezing winter temperatures.

What are some of your favourite trends this Winter?

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