Foreign familiarity

Black check scarf c/o Dresslily / Green winter coat from StyleWe

First of all, I'd like to say that if you're going to Iceland in late September like I did, do not try to be stylish. It's not worth it. "I'm Canadian. I'm used to bad winters. How bad could it be?" Serves me right for thinking that I could get away with a women's blazer and jeans, trying the effortlessly cool. Turns out I was just cold. Maybe it was just my timing, but it was super windy. And rainy. And sunny. And hail-y. Be practical because the weather changes quickly. Now that I'm back, I'm laughing at how I was freezing from getting caught in the rain, yet I have tan lines from spending too much time at Blue Lagoon. But I suppose that's part of the appeal - the unpredictable beauty of the elements and nature. 

I'm a bit of a cranky traveller. I scoff at people who take photos trying to hold up the Leaning Tower, and grumble at how hard it is to get through crowded streets of people stopping every few steps. Here at Black Sand Beach, it's different. It's a little isolated, but well-known enough to attract the tourists. As the majority of people crowd the area right off the parking lot, a few of us wander off to the side. None of us speak the same language, but the generic gestures of "Take a photo for us?" are familiar. Then unexpectedly, the tide comes in and we all scramble to get as high as possible to avoid soaking our feet. Once the tide recedes, we look around to each other and laugh. I gotta say, knowing that you've shared a memorable experience with complete strangers, acknowledging each others' sense of whimsy, is kind of a beautiful thing. 

Fields of gold

Colorblock sweater c/o Dresslily / Green peacoat from StyleWe / Black leggings from Joe Fresh

Does anyone else think that clothing has just gotten awful over the past few seasons? Going into stores is the worst. The amount of times that I've pulled a great coat from off the rack, only to turn it around and have something stupid like "Boy, Bye" written on the back, is unacceptable. Or what about that moment when you go to buy a chunky sweater, only to realize that it has a ridiculous cutout in the back. Do companies realize that sweaters are actually supposed to be warm? 

I'm so glad I was able to find this awesome colorblock sweater. It's cozy, functional, and a little funkier than the boring plain tops that dominate my closet, without being graphic cat t-shirt levels of funky.

If anyone wants functional or funky, head over to Dresslily for their new arrivals by using discount code "DLAnniversay" to save:

• $3 on all orders over $25 USD
• $6 on all orders over $50 USD
• $12 on all orders over $100 USD

Over easy

Olive T-shirt dress c/o Tobi / Ivory sweater dress c/o Tobi / Black lace bandeau from H&M / Wearing NYX Deep Purple lipstick

I was talking to a coworker the other day about how she was agonizing over what to wear for an office event and how easy it must be for guys to just pick a suit and go each day. This is one of those situations where she was looking for someone to listen to her rant, instead of offering solid advice, so I agreed.

But in reality, no. Looking put together can be super quick and effortless as a woman. Throwing on a dress? That's even easier than putting on a suit! So that's why I've lined my closet with mostly versatile pieces that look casual and comfy on their own, but can always be dressed up with a blazer and a good pair of heels. When I know that all my pieces go together, it's hard to ever be poorly dressed.

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Could've been the wine

Off the shoulder sweater c/o Tobi / Plaid skirt from Suzy Shier / Gold necklace from H&M

I'm a strong supporter of the "work smarter, not harder" notion. And part of that is knowing how to go about your day-to-day life with minimum effort for maximum results. Even the smallest things can make a big difference. Like that trick where you leave a knife at the edge of the sink if you plan to use it again so you don't have to wash as many utensils. Or buying a thick oversized sweater so you don't have to wear a bra underneath.

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The weekend suit

Blue velvet top c/o DressLily / Nike Lunar Stelos / Boyfriend jeans from Joe Fresh / Black blazer from H&M

As much as I like having seemingly endless choices of what to wear, I find myself envying how easy it is for guys to throw on a suit and recycle outfits on loop. The other day, someone asked me what kind of suit I would wear if I had the option then. After a bit of reflection, I realized that I have a weekend suit - something that I wear on Casual Fridays that carries me through to the weekend. 

I started off wearing this outfit on Fridays because it's a good mix of polished and comfortable (when I change into my work heels). But why stop there? Why does grocery shopping on a Saturday mean that I have to look like I rolled out of bed? 

I think it's funny when people say that I look put together because they have no idea how much laziness really goes into what I wear. I live in these boyfriend jeans when I can because they provide enough eating space to conquer a buffet. Don't be fooled by the blazer - I'm fake fancy. 

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The sea was angry that day

Boxy striped blouse c/o Zaful / Denim shorts from Target / Sequin bag c/o Dresslily

My recent buys and finds lately have been quite boring. When you spend 5 days a week in a stuffy office, I get more bang for my buck when I buy work clothes over weekend clothes. Blazers in every colour, straight cut pants...boring. So when I saw this blouse, it had been the first time in a while that I had genuinely been excited about clothing. A shirt that I can tuck in and dress up during the office, then dress down for the weekend? Yes please.

Also in an effort to mix fun into my work wardrobe, I've been obsessed with accessories to add a subtle punch to my outfit. And I'm not talking about statement necklaces. When all the "how to add fun to your work wardrobe" guides suggest "bling", guess what - it's not unique anymore. This sequin bag is my new go-to for a truly unique accessory. I love how it adds a classy touch to a boring or casual outfit without being too overwhelming.

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Light packing tips for a functional and stylish travel wardrobe

Whether you're looking to pack light for the sheer ease of it or packing light to shop your way through a trip, you don't want to start your vacation with a heavy luggage full of clothes and shoes. Packing for a multi-country vacation with varying temperatures can be tough, but all you need are a few key layering pieces to make it through.

Travelling through Paris, Rome, and Barcelona in two weeks, I was bracing for rain, chilliness, heat, and general touring around. Here are key items that I packed in my medium-sized suitcase (with room to spare):

1. Outerwear: Leather jacket, blazer
A leather jacket is always great because it keeps you dry, warm, and trendy. but for those days where it was warmer or I wanted to be dressier, a boyfriend blazer goes with anything and acts as a great layering piece under or over other items.

2. Shoes: Ankle boots, canvas sneakers
Ankle boots are really the best because they can be worn in rain, dressed down, and dressed up. Touring around with soggy feet isn't fun for anyone. And there's really no question that you'll be doing a lot of walking, so be prepared for it. I packed a pair of lightweight canvas sneakers that easily fit into my luggage and don't bog me down while I walk.

3. Bottoms: Jeans, tights/leggings, skirt
I opted for boyfriend jeans because I wanted to eat my way through Europe with maximum comfort. I also packed a pair of dark jeans for a more polished casual look. Leggings also allow for comfort while touring around and go great with a tunic and those ankle boots mentioned above. Also, have a skirt on hand in case you want to go extra dressy or if you run into an unseasonably warm day.

4. Tops: Lightweight sweater, heavy sweater, t-shirt, blouse
Bearing in mind that I was travelling during the autumn when weather can be rather unpredictable, I wanted good layering pieces for a cozy chic look. As I mentioned with the other pieces, a dressier item is always great to pack, especially because it can always be dressed down if you're not going anywhere fancy.

5. Accessories: Scarves, hat
Leave your wide-brimmed floppy hat at home if you don't want it to lose shape in your suitcase. I'm talking about a cozy beanie here that you can smush into a corner of your suitcase if it isn't necessary. Scarves are always super trendy, so I brought a silk one for style and a knit one for warmth. Both pair effortlessly with the other items that I brought.

Pack light without looking like a tourist. And buy everything else along the way. Happy travels!

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Tell it to my visions and my mind

Faux leather jacket c/o Dresslily / Double sided plaid scarf c/o Dresslily / Black combat boots

It went from an unseasonably pleasant 20 degrees to just above freezing in just under a week. Which means that despite being bundled up, I still managed to get sick. So unfortunately, this means no nice outdoor photos while I recover. Because it ain't fun sitting through a meeting trying to be professional with a red nose and phlegmy voice.

The upside of my week was that someone said that my jacket looked "fly". Now I don't know how much of the hip general population is still using that term, but that's a win in my books. So I know that retailers like Dresslily have gotten a bit of a bad rep lately for being poorly sized. I'll admit that this jacket is definitely not my normal size - I ordered a Large. I'm normally a Small or Medium. But my normal measurements showed up in the sizing chart under Large, so I took a chance. And the size is exactly what I expected.

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Kissing coffee cups

Red bucket bag c/o Zaful / Striped blouse from Ricki's / Grey patterned skirt from Suzy Shier

As I was going through these photos, I was thinking "Hm, I really should've added a bold red lip to complete the look." But you know what? I haven't worn lipstick in a year. Why? Because the first thing I do on a weekday is grab a cup of coffee that smears the majority of my lipstick off. Then, I'm left with disgusting lipstick residue on my cup that I feel like I'm eating with every sip after. 

"But Sabrina, why don't you just prime or bite a tissue first?" Hello, it's the first thing in the morning. My priorities are injecting myself with caffeine. I don't know about you, but extra steps in my beauty regime are not on my mind. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I wait until someone talks to me so I know that my lipstick has been seen before it comes off onto my cup. Sometimes you gotta count the small victories... 

I'd also like to highlight my experience with Zaful. Like many other sites, this site has an instant online chat function. Usually, I roll my eyes and assume it's some smart bot or unhelpful contract worker. So I half-heartedly asked what the brand print on the bottom of the bag said (because of image on their site said "Fashion Bag" and no one wants that). To my pleasant surprise, a rep came back with a photo of the bag in question with the print in close up! I double checked, and the photo file name was actually the date, which means that this wasn't some randomly stored picture. This person LITERALLY got up to find the bag in stock, took a photo, and sent it to me. I was so blown away by this experience. I don't always talk about companies in such detail, but after that, I was really happy to do this Zaful review.

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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. 

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A free ride when you've already paid

Cobalt blue blazer from H&M / Striped dress from Vero Moda / Thin black tie (aka. a thick piece of ribbon)

I'm basically a walking Alanis Morissette song. Many things in life are uncertain, but the one thing I can always count on is "irony". 

The other day, I was at my boyfriend's place, rummaging through the cabinets for a snack. The only thing I found was a box of half-eaten expired crackers. Ignoring his warning not to eat expired food, I proceeded to tell a story about how I bought a box of expired crackers right off the shelf last week by accident, and everything was tasty and fine. Two crackers into the current box, I notice a little brown spot on my cracker. Then I noticed its legs. 

It happens with bigger things too. Like, I'm in the communications industry but I don't actually like talking to people. Or purging all my old clothes, only to have the 90s/early 00s come back into style. 

But that's all probably a little too wordy to put into a song though. 

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