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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Yellow Gingham Dress

 

yellow gingham dress

yellow gingham dress

yellow gingham dress

yellow gingham dress

yellow gingham dress

yellow gingham dress

It’s finally feeling like Summer in Ottawa! Yellow is a colour  I always associate with Summer. I’m not sure if it’s because there’s lots of sun in the Summer (fingers crossed) or because it’s such a happy time of year. Either way it’s virtually impossible to be sad when you’re wearing yellow right?

I was thrilled to find this cute and comfy off the shoulder yellow gingham print dress at Old Navy. This dress has a fun and feminine feel to it with the off the shoulder ruffled top and the lace detailing at the bottom. I love the yellow gingham print, it’s just perfect for a Summer weekend or BBQ. The dress is made out of a linen and rayon blend fabric so it’s light and fits loosely on the body.

I chose to style this dress as part of a casual outfit and I was so pleased to find this adorable pineapple straw clutch at Old Navy as well. Straw bags, pom poms and tropical accents are trending this Summer and this bag combines them all!  To complete this outfit I added a pair of white wedges and some white beaded earrings. My goal in putting this outfit together was to pick up on the colours in the dress. The clutch picks up on the yellow and the earrings and shoes accent the white in the gingham print.

This is probably one of my favourite outfits for Summer as I’m a huge fan of bright colours and sunshine 😉 What’s your favourite Summer colour? Mellow yellow perhaps?

 

 

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Multi-colour Striped Maxi

striped maxi

It’s official – it’s time to stripe up your life! Multi-colour stripes are the hottest trend for Spring and Summer right now. Stripes are everywhere and as we transition in to Summer bright colours are making an appearance too.

I found this cute multi-colour striped maxi at Forever 21 and it makes me so happy! I love the bright, bold colours on this dress. The wrap style of this maxi allows to you adjust it to fit perfectly. The straps are also adjustable and can be loosened or tightened as desired. The dress drapes well and is fitted at the top with a bit of flare a the bottom. It literally flows with you when you walk and it’s so much fun to wear. You’d definitely be tempted to twirl in this dress, I sure was 😉 For some reason multi-colour or rainbow stripes make me think of the circus, perhaps the bright colours you’d see on the big top?

I was equally thrilled to find a pair of earrings that matched the colours in the dress perfectly! My beaded duster earrings (also from Forever 21) cost under $10 and add to this fun and colourful Summer look. To finish off this look I added a pair of majenta block heel sandals.

I think this look would be perfect for dinner alfresco at a bistro or for a fun summer event or concert. To convert this outfit to a festival look you can dress it down by opting for flats instead of heels or even a slip on sandal.

What do you think of bright colours and bold stripes for Summer? Is it a hit or a miss?

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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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Marquee Noir Collaboration

 

You’ve probably noticed a few posts on my Instagram and Facebook accounts where I mention Marquee Noir. I’m really excited to share my collaboration with Marquee Noir with everyone! You’re probably wondering just what Marquee Noir is right?

Marquee Noir is a Canadian clothing company based in the GTA. They make sweatshirts, t-shirts and caps all bearing the names of Canadian cities or slogans. What’s really interesting about their merchandise is that they often have the airport code of Canadian cities along with the coordinates for each city printed on them. What a neat idea! I thought it was novel which is why I purchased the YOW sweatshirt. Their apparel is great for showing your Canadian pride or just looking chic at an airport or in the air 😉

The best part about this company is that they plant a tree for every order they receive. I love the fact that their fashions have a purpose. Shipping is quite fast too especially within Canada and you can track the progress of your order. Their customer service team is always ready to answer questions and address concerns.

I’m super excited to team up with this Canadian company and offer all my friends and followers a 15% discount on their Marquee Noir orders.

Just use the promo code: WKND

Happy shopping!

 

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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Beaded Boho Bag

Is it Spring yet? It certainly doesn’t seem that way but I’ve been shopping with warmer weather in mind and just had to share one of my fave pieces for Spring 2018! I picked up this bright and colourful beaded boho bag at a market in Dubai and I think it’s just perfect for Spring and Summer. If you’re new to my blog you can read all about my Dubai adventures in my Dubai Diairies series.

I’ve noticed that the boho chic trend is totally in this Spring and this bag fits the bill perfectly. I love how the bright beading adds a pop of colour to my outfit. The bag comes with a removable strap which allows for it to be worn as a shoulder bag, a cross body or a clutch. I opted for a more casual weekend look and paired the bag with white jeans and a soft sage coloured t-shirt. I liked the bold colours int he bag and I wanted to reflect that in my jewelry so I added a pair of purple beaded earrings which I picked up at H&M. Not only are these earring so in right now but the beading in the earrings goes perfectly with the beading on the bag.

As I mentioned earlier I picked up this bag at the Old Souk in Dubai. I had to negotiate the price a bit but it cost be around $30 CAD which I thought was a steal! If you’re a fan of beaded bags too I’ve added links to some similar pieces below 🙂

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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?

 

Floral Bodysuit and Jogger Pant Combo

 

 

Nothing says Spring like pastels and florals right? How cute is this bodysuit and jogger pant combo? I found the sweetest floral bodysuit at Dynamite! I love the muted colour of this bodysuit. It’s so soft and feminine. The wrap front gives it a dressier look and I would even wear this bodysuit to work. I also found a pair of super comfy jogger pants. I’m liking the comfortable chic trend that’s emerging this Spring and this jogger pant (also from Dynamite) fits the bill perfectly. What I liked about this pant is that it’s a pull on, there’s no drawstrings or zippers to worry about. The pant has some stretch to it so it fit well over the bodysuit. I paired this combo with a pair of super cute sling back kitten heels. These shoes are so comfortable, and stylish. This reminded me of a perfect Spring outfit that could go from workweek to weekend 🙂

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Wooden Watches: This Spring’s Must-Have Accessory

It’s officially the first day of Spring! I don’t know about you but I’m ready for Winter to be done! In hopes of better weather, I’ve already started shopping for my Spring wardrobe. I love all the spring accessories I’m seeing in-stores lately. I’m currently loving this wooden watch from JORD.

My watch is part of the Frankie Series by JORD and I chose the Zebrawood and Champagne combo. I love the warm tone of the Champage face and the markings on the Zebrawood band and links. The best part about this watch is how lightweight it is. The wood is so light and smooth that you barely realize it’s on your wrist, unlike stainless steel or metal watches than can weight your wrist down and even cause skin irritation. This timepiece is a truly unique and functional piece of jewelry. It’s also a great conversation starter and statement piece. You’ll definitely stand out from the crowd with this accessory.

If you loved the wooden and bamboo bags that were all the rage last Spring and you’ve alreayd picked up some straw bags for this Spring well then the only item you’re missing is a wooden watch from JORD. With its minimalistic design and wooden links this watch goes so well with any Spring bags or shoes. It’s subtle enough to blend in yet novel enough to get noticed – so you can really pair it with anything, which is one of the features I love about this watch. I wore my watch with a floral blazer from Dynamite that’s just perfect for Spring. I paired the blazer with a pink cami and light jeans to give my outfit a muted pastel look. My watch fitted right in with this on trend outfit and matched perfectly with this circle bag I picked up at Simons.

If you love the wooden watch trend as much as I do I’ve got great news for you! I’ve teamed up with JORD to give one lucky winner $100 off their very own JORD watch! You can enter the contest using the link below. If you follow me on Instagram you can also find the link in my bio You’ll also get a promo code for 10% off your order just for entering 🙂

JORD GIVEAWAY


Luxury Wooden Watch

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