Work to weekend

Cobalt blue blazer from H&M / Mustard yellow shorts from Forever 21 / Floral dress (as a top) from Shein / Peeptoe booties from Guess

Every weekday, I'm cooped up in corporate clothes, sometimes wondering if the extra half-inch of my shoulder I'm bearing is too much for my conservative office. When Friday evening comes, I welcome to this opportunity to show off some leg. When I know I'm going straight from work to a social event, I just want to change quickly, without the hassle of having to lug around my change of clothes after. So, I came up with a way to incorporate my Casual Friday outfit into my Friday night out.

It's simple - I just tucked the dress into my shorts. Okay, it's a little bulky, but with some loose fitted boyfriend shorts, there was room to spare anyway. It's quick, easy, and I don't have to worry about something falling into the toilet while I change in a bathroom stall. 

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

In the interest of coasting

Custom graphic t-shirt c/o SnapMade / Floral skirt from Urban Outfitters / Denim shirt from AE Outfitters

I'm often asked what came first, this blog or my interest in fashion. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I started this blog because I loved the social digital world and wanted a little piece of it. While I didn't start because of my desire to showcase fashion like most people, I've grown to really admire the industry. I'll admit that I'm by no means an expert voice, but what is an "influencer" anyway? Is it someone who knows all of Karl Lagerfeld's history? Someone who can quote Anna Wintour at any moment? Someone who always has the most up-to-date trends in her closet? Who knows. The best I can do is keep learning as I go along. After all, if you think you are the utmost expert in an area, you're wrong. There's always something we don't know. But why does that have to be a bad thing? 

I've been using "I don't really know what I'm doing. I just pretend I do" for about 5 years now as a sort of life motto. I like to think of it as a heightened "fake it 'til you make it" type. But since pretending to know something is kind of a daunting task, I use it as motivation to keep learning so I'm not pretending anymore. Then I'll find something else that I'm not an expert in, learn that, and so on. Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Thanks for 5 years of allowing me to be tastefully clueless.

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Bossy calendar

White floral blazer / Navy blouse / Beige skater skirt from TJ Maxx / Slingback mules from Winners

Seasonal trends are a weird thing. For the first few weeks in September, it's been unseasonably warm with super summery temperatures. In Canada, we basically have 8 months of winter, so I welcome this warmness and sunshine with open arms. But walking around in white and a skirt feels very out of place. I see people in leather jackets, dark jeans, and black dresses that weren't there in August.

The temperature hasn't changed. The only thing that's changed is the month. So am I the one who's dressing weird? I understand that there are fall/winter trends. But don't those only apply when it's, y'know, feeling like fall/winter? Contrary to popular belief, I don't let a calendar tell me what to wear. 

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

How to: Make florals less girly

Black denim shorts / Floral top from Mango / Satchel from Aldo / Dr Martens floral high top boots / Coiled necklace / Black and gold bracelets / Gold and black cuff

Florals have been on trend for a while, but not all of us want to look like we stepped out of a soft meadow from the 50's. Yes, flowers in their essence are pretty and delicate, but with the right styling, you can strike a balance between vintage charm and modern edge.

Starting off with a super feminine floral top as an example for your base, the key is to contrast textures. Try pairing the top with some leather or distressed denim shorts from H&M. Instead of subtle accessories, try some chunkier jewelry, like stacked bracelets or a bold metal necklace. Finally, tie together the look with an ankle boot. I usually opt for classic black, but I'd even try mixing florals with this floral Dr Marten boot found at Union Jack Boots that is pretty much the epitome of edgy and pretty.

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Modern 90's

Long wool coat / Navy striped shirt from Gap / Floral dress from Sheinside / Tall boots from Le Chateau

90's nostalgia is a weird concept to me. I don't know about you, but I was a 90s kid. And as an 8 year old, I really didn't give a hoot about what was in style during that decade. It was just a few years ago, and still now, that I'm discovering shows from the 90's. And in the same way, I'm just starting to discover fashions that were popular in the 90s. I'm not re-discovering them, nor do they make me feel nostalgic. Instead of going full 90's today, I grabbed one item from the past and mixed it with a more modern look. Complete with boxy shoulder pads, this jacket has been hanging around at home for a while. I thought that it looked drab and unfitted (like a lot of items from the 90s), but paired with a straight dress and a belted t-shirt, it adds a more fitted silhouette to the look. So I guess if we're pulling out a fashion dictionary, this would fall under "90s-inspired". But to me, I call it "too cheap to buy a new coat so I found an old one that I wouldn't normally wear and made it prettier".

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Accidentally on purpose

Chiffon floral shorts c/o Lovely Wholesale / Beige blouse from Necessary Clothing / Wedges from Pac Sun

This is one of my new favourite looks: the half-buttoned shirt. I'd like to tell you that it was my genius idea where I didn't button up the last few buttons on purpose to show off the colour of the top underneath, but I'm not that creative. I think I got distracted while I was getting ready, realized I was late, and ended up walking out the door like this. But the look works, so I have no issues. I was actually out for lunch with the boyfriend the other day and he noticed that I didn't line up the buttons with the holes properly. "So...is this some kind of new fashion statement or did you just put on your shirt wrong today?" Yeah...I'm kinda glad that I can use fashion as an excuse for my absent-mindedness.

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Floral blazer

Floral blazer c/o Lovely Wholesale / Hot pink top from Jacob / White denim shorts from West49 / Brown wedges from Pacsun

Floral blazers are one of those things that I've been reluctant to buy. Once they go out of style, they become absolutely tacky and unprofessional. But I've been saying this for the past 3 years and florals are still in style. It might go out of fashion soon, but in the meantime, it's definitely a head-turning talk piece. 

In other news, let me brag about my shoes. They were 95% off or some ridiculous number like that. When I first tried them on, they had a tag that said that they were on sale for $13.99 so I thought...well hey, I might as well get them for that cheap. So I go to the cashier and she tells me that they're $3.99. Now, I have no idea what kind of insane sale this was, but I was very happy about it. I actually had to keep myself from bursting out loud laughing from joy. It was like one of those cheesy commercials about the shopper being stupidly excited about low prices. 

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Everything in transit

Floral dress c/o Lovely Wholesale / Scalloped bag from asos / Lace sneakers from H&M

Ever get so nostalgic that you forget where you are? It's my first summer away from Ottawa in three years. Toronto is nice and all, but there's nothing quite like living close to a river while still being within walking distance to downtown. Luckily, I've found Dundas (a western suburb of Hamilton). Downtown is lined with unique little shops and food places tucked into cute small town architecture. Strolling through the streets, it reminds me so much of Ottawa's Glebe. Sometimes, I'll have glimpses of "whoa wait, where am I again?" In a good way. It's the feeling of familiarity. Hopefully, getting a chance to visit familiar surroundings will help with distracting forms of nostalgia. Like when I'm at work and a song from an Ottawa-area band comes on. Then I find myself staring off into the distance reminiscing, which is probably not good for productivity. Hopefully to my coworkers, I just look like I'm deep in thought...

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Person vs. nature

White blouse c/o Lovely Wholesale / Floral shorts from Persunmall / Green bag from Persunmall / Initials ring from Onecklace

Summer is finally here and I am basking in its glory! Mostly. When it comes to being outdoorsy, I'm more of a 'sit at a restaurant by an open window' kind of person. And even then, I might complain if the sun is beating directly on me. So for me to go on a hike through a dirt road trail, it's a big deal. Long story short, the worst part of hiking is the point where I realize that I have to turn back and walk the distance again, but being absolutely exhausted at this point.

The worst thing about summer for me though, is the mosquitoes. For some reason, I tend to swell up from mosquito bites. Last summer, I ended up limping across my graduation stage because my ankle had swelled up to the point where I couldn't walk properly. I don't know why I attract freakishly strong mosquitoes, but I've already been bitten this summer by a mosquito that stabbed through my sweater. Yes, you heard me right. I mean, way to go for persevering, but dear mosquito, please persevere away from me next time.

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'

Slip dress

Lace trim slip dress c/o Sheinside / Combat boots / Studded bag 

After about 20 years of school, I finally have a full-time job. I'm still not really sure how to handle this situation. For the past decade, it's been drilled into my head to do well in school to get a good job. But no one really talks about what happens after that pinnacle point when you finally abandon school for work.

All I know is that right now, I've re-organized my closet into three categories: "Work clothes", "Definitely not appropriate for work", and "Maybe this will be appropriate if I throw a blazer over it". I do hope that this slip dress falls into the third category. Hands down, my new favourite dress. It's super comfy, the lace details are gorgeous, and I love how the thin straps at the back add an extra touch of uniqueness.

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'