5 Must-Haves for Fall
To be perfectly honest, I'm over summer and ready for fall. When I met Kim Kardashian's makeup artist, Joyce Bonelli, last week, the fall vibes were real. That morning as I got dressed, I opted for a pair of black skinny jeans, a colourful tweed top from Zara and my trusty Saint Laurent platform boots from last season. Low and behold, Joyce and I were wearing the exact same YSL boots and I couldn't help but smile over my twin-moment with someone from the Kardashian crew.
I believe one should update their wardrobe with small touches as opposed to doing an entire over haul. Remember those back to school commercials where kids get a brand new closet just because it's September? Ya, I never really stood by that. Good clothes and good style are timeless and will only need minor tweaks and updates along the way.
Since I'm already in fall mode, I thought I'd share my top 5 Must-Have items for fall this season. Of course, take it with a grain of salt because, at the end of the day, you gotta do you. Everyone's body and tastes are different and what I think looks good on my frame, might feel foreign and uncomfortable on someone else. Remember, fashion, like beauty, is about having fun and feeling like your best self. :)
1. SUNGLASSES
I'm a little sad and embarrassed to admit I recently broke a pair of my favourite sunglasses. They fell to the ground and half of plastic arm broke at the end. Needless to say, a sunglasses update was necessary. I went with these new Carrera Bound sunglasses with the aviator vibes, gold frames and red rim around the lenses because hi, if you can't tell already, I love red. Unlike my broken sunnies, these new ones are slightly oversized which I love because I feel like I can get away with wearing less makeup when I go out. Also, I'm secretly still in love with the whole Olsen-twin-oversized-sunglasses thing.
2. HATS
If you've been paying attention to Zara's fall campaign shot by Steven Miesel, you'll have noticed the models all wearing this chic little newsboy cap. I was on the waiting list for this hat three times before I was finally able to get it. Three times! I love the Parisian vibe of it so much that I picked it up in two colours. It's an inexpensive way of updating my wardrobe and it'll keep me warm when the weather starts to get chilly.
3. CHECKERED OVERSIZED BLAZER
Oversized checkered blazers always remind me of the 80's, teased hair and the term "working woman". Well, they're having a big moment this fall so ditch the gingham and get out the checkered pattern. Mix it with a pair of jeans for a more casual look or add a matching pant for a chic dressed up look that's perfect for work. ;)
You might remember this blazer from my Summer Sale Haul video. I scored it for $50 at Zara and it quickly sold out. They have a similar version out right now that's still available.
4. SLIDES & MULES
Gucci, Prada, Zara, oh my. Designer or not, slides are still holding a big place in my heart for fall. I bought a couple of pairs on sale recently and I already have my eyes on a luscious pair of brown Prada mules with a curved chunky heel. Slides go well with everything and can easily be dressed up, or down, making them a truly versatile piece of footwear. I'll be rocking my gold Gucci's until the weather gets too cold and it's time to cover up my bare ankles. Alternatively, I could invest in a cute pair of socks...
5. LIPSTICK
Believe it or not, one of my favourite things about fall is changing up my makeup. That's right. We all know the power of makeup and nothing makes me feel more pulled together than a bold lip.
In the summer I go for brighter lip hues but come fall, it's time to bring out the russet lipsticks, burnt orange glosses, and deep wine mattes. In this post, I reached for one of Bite Beauty's new Amuse Bouche Liquified lipsticks in the shade Braised. I'll be reviewing and swatches these bad boys on my lipstick blog so make sure you check back tomorrow.
DISCLAIMER:
This post is sponsored by Carrera sunglasses. All photos and opinions are my own.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
Love it or hate it? Testing new beauty
The beauty world is forever changing and there's always a large emphasis on newness and "life changing" formulas. Brands promise to get rid of wrinkles or give you plump lips but we all know that isn't the case. Even so, I can't help myself and I get carried away trying out new products all of the time. Some are products that are sent to me by the brands, and others I purchase myself. Even with my short list of ride or die beauty products, I always want to know what's happening in the beauty world so testing new products is a way of life for me.
Below are items I'm testing, whether I hate them or not, mixed with a couple of products that I will continue to repurchase.
1
I learned about this Kiehl’s Ultra Facial moisturizer when I attended Makeup by Mario's Masterclass. He says he skips the primer and preps skin with a highly emollient lotion. I love this product so much I use it on my décolletage and backs of my hands.
2
This brightening mask from Herbivore contains pineapple and papaya enzymes to gently exfoliate and slough away dead skin cells. Use it at night though and follow up with an SPF in the morning because it will leave your skin sensitive to the sun's rays.
3
Chloé Love Story is floral and sultry for date nights. For some reason, it doesn't last long on my skin but I love the scent nonetheless.
4
Darphin’s HydraSkin Light moisturizer is one of my holy grail skincare items that I can't do without. Even though it's light in texture and weight, it has the hydration of a cream without the greasiness so it's perfect for all skin types.
5
Even though it's been around for ages, I'm new to this Jo Malone Basil & Neroli scent. It's an intoxicating unisex scent that layers nicely with other fragrances from the brand.
6
I love skin to look like skin when I wear makeup so I have different tricks to get rid of an over-powdered face. An easy way to get the skin to look dewy and natural is to pat a bit of Glossier’s Balm Dotcom on the cheek bones. I also like to dot a bit on my eyelids if I'm not wearing eyeshadow to bring dewiness to my entire face.
7
Dior’s Lip Glow Pomade is a staple for any lip balm addict. It's hydrating and feels nice on the lips but I wish it was a bit cheaper. Biotherm makes a similar product that retails for $10 less.
8
Eve Lom’s iconic cleanser gets rid of makeup and has a lovely "natural" scent but its main ingredient is mineral oil, therefore, I’m not the biggest fan. Mineral oil is a distillation product of petroleum and is super cheap to produce. Considering Eve Lom's cleanser retails for $100, you can understand why it's hard for me to get behind this product. Skin care guru, Caroline Hirons made a cleanser for Pixi that's better than Eve Lom's that's gentle and more effective at removing even the most stubborn makeup like waterproof mascara and red matte lipstick for $25 (USD). It's hard to find in Canada but if you're ever in the States, check Target and make sure you pick up Caroline's cleanser.
9
My all time favourite Jo Malone scent is English Pear & Freesia. It's such a happy, celebratory scent and I only use it on special occasions. One of my dear friends bought me the candle and I love it so much, I have yet to light it.
10
Yves Saint Laurent makes a lovely sheer lip balm that's perfect for summer. The packaging alone is beautiful and feels like a work of art in itself. Make sure to check out my new lipstick blog, LipSick.me, for a full review on the YSL Volupté Tint-in-Balm.
11
Le Petit Marseillais is a well-loved brand from France that has just arrived in Canada. It is the #1 selling body wash brand in France and I get why - the naturally scented cleansers are gentle, calming and feel luxurious for a drug store product. My favourite scents are Cotton Milk & Poppy (lightly floral), White Peach & Nectarine (lightly sweet and fruity) and Orange Blossom (lightly sweet and floral).
12
Chanel’s lip balm is another in my daily skincare routine. I keep this one on my vanity because it’s so chic but also, it's a beautiful product. At $50 for 0.35 oz, it's definitely a splurge but in my opinion, it's so worth it!
is a well-loved brand from France that makes the nations #1 selling body wash. The naturally scented formulas are gentle, calming and feel luxurious for a drug store product.
DISCLAIMER
The following was provided as PR samples: Eve Lom, Le Petit Marseillais, Chloé Love Story, Darphin and YSL Beauté.
All opinions are my own.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as compensation.
Travel Diary: Chillin' with EOS in NYC
I love NYC so when I get a chance to travel there and hang out with an awesome brand like EOS, it's win/win. I was there for another 24 hour press trip and I thought it would be fun to document my stay in the photo diary you see here. I hope you guys enjoy the layout and getting to know more about the new EOS Crystal lip balm, launching this September.
WHERE TO STAY:
The Ludlow Hotel, 180 Ludlow Street, NY, 10002
WHERE TO EAT:
Dirty French for wicked avocado toast, 180 Ludlow Street, NY, 10002
NoHo SoHo for dinner and tasty cocktails, 9 Crosby Street, New York City, NY 10013
Getting tattooed by JonBoy + DIYing my Vans jacket
As a freelance fashion blogger, I get invited to events, have a chance to meet interesting people and find out about new product launches or store openings. I thought it would be fun to bring my camera along to the next event...
On Thursday July 27th, I got an opportunity to interview celebrity tattoo artist, JonBoy at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto. He’s know for his small, delicate tattoos and has inked Kendall Jenner, Justin Beiber and Hailey Baldwin amongst others.
Having the chance to chat with him about his work was humbling. I especially enjoyed the last question I asked him about giving people advice who are trying to make it. It’s one of my favourite questions to ask people that I deem successful and I truly enjoyed his answer. It’s to the point and you can tell that he really stands by his words. I mean, just look at where he is now!
After the interview, I headed to my next event to DIY a jacket with one of my favourite brands, VANS. With a little inspo, and my mad DIY skills (haha), I was able to create a really cool jacket that I love wearing!
I really hope you enjoy this video and as always, thanks so much for watching!
xx,
Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
Aritzia t-shirt.
Vans denim jacket.
Lisbeth small delicate necklace and stone ring. http://bit.ly/2hm8QtY
Vans old skool sneakers.
Alexander Wang tan Diego bag with rose gold hardware.
Free People cap.
Bracelets: David Yurman & Valentino.
WATCH MY VIDEO
WHAT I'M WEARING IN MY VLOG
Queen of Hearts black boxy sweatshirt http://bit.ly/2wkfO58
Jenny Bird necklace
Lisbeth small delicate necklace http://bit.ly/2hm8QtY
Vans checkered platform slip ons
Bracelets: David Yurman, Valentino and Hermes
DISCLAIMER
Special thanks to Yorkdale for the opportunity to interview JonBoy.
Special thanks to Vans for holding a great event and allowing my to DIY my own jacket.
My post is not sponsored.
VIDEO: My shopping fails
When it comes to shoes, I always follow my gut and buy what I love, vs. what's new and trendy. I'd like to think I make good choices but sometimes, shopping fails happen. In my latest YouTube video, I'm showing you six designer items I regret buying. If you pay close attention, you'll notice the main factor for me is comfort. I can't stand the thought of taking a minute to do up buckles or needing help from my husband to get my shoes off. Hit play and you'll see what I mean.
I hope you guys enjoy the video and that you'll subscribe to my channel. Also, don't forget to give it a thumbs up to help me grow. I plan on making more videos like this because so far, you guys have responded really well and I'm so over the moon happy that I can connect with you guys on another platform. Thank you!
xo, Nathalie
Life after Instagram
My morning routine goes like this; I roll over, grab my phone, and hit play on Shane Dawson’s latest YouTube video. His weirdly funny videos always make me laugh uncontrollably. He's original and entertaining, and by the end of his video, I’m usually wide-awake and ready to get my day going.
Since there was nothing new from Shane this morning, I found myself watching one of those drama YouTube channels instead (another guilty pleasure of mine). The topic was originality and copy cat content creators.
That got me thinking about the Instagram community and how much of what we’re seeing is fake. Recently, Instagrammer Amelia Liana has been under a lot of scrutiny for fabricating her travel photos and Photoshopping busy landmarks like the Taj Mahal, where it’s seen without the scaffolding and usual crowds. A lot of people are angry that her picture perfect depictions aren’t reflective of real life and I don’t blame them. I recall a photo she posted a while back in a beautiful blue gown in a New York cross walk with nearly empty streets - an unusual moment for NY, even at 7 am which according to her caption, is when she captured the moment. I paused on her photo and found myself wondering how she was able to get nearly-empty street shot from one of the world’s busiest and over populated cities. Upon closer inspection, even the sky has been clearly edited to “match her feed”. Whether or not she photoshops herself in front of landmarks, and how chooses to edit her photos is totally up to her. It’s apparent that a lot of thought and planning goes into her photos and that she’s very happy with her work as an influencer. She even addressed the Photoshopping allegations on her blog and the words “I’m sorry” are nowhere to be found.
I’ve been following Amelia on IG for a couple of months now, curious to see if I’d be inspired by her dreamy travel photos. Instead, I’ve found myself genuinely confused by her elaborately expensive, picture-perfect life but maybe it’s because I’m not her audience and her content doesn’t speak to me. Only a small percentage of the population is able to live such an extravagant life of first class travel and designer shopping and while yes, it’s part of her job, I started to wonder, what life would be like after Instagram? What if she had to get a 9-5 job and what would her potential employer think of her based on her feed? What does that mean for the rest of us smaller influencers and are we making ourselves unemployable by living out these highly curated lives online?
It’s interesting to think about these things and put it into perspective. It’s important to remember that Instagram isn’t real life, and often what we’re seeing is a well-curated version of the way someone lives. In a sense, it’s kind of like the movies with fantasy, unicorns, and cotton candy coloured skies. I for one have an aversion to IG accounts that are too show-offy, that promote excess, and over consumption. My favourite accounts inspire me to style the same piece of clothing in a ton of different ways and inspire me to buy a new lip balm because they product knowledge to back up their endorsements. Or in the instance of Shane Dawson, they're just flat out funny and that’s fine too.
WHAT I'M WEARING
ZARA rattan bag, striped top and zippered jeans.
SAINT LAURENT metallic striped platforms.
TOMS sunglasses.
HERMES and ALEXANDER McQUEEN bracelets.
My Topshop off the shoulder dress
Let me tell you a little story about this adorable off the shoulder dress I'm wearing here. I got it recently at Topshop and fell in love with it right away because it's such a timeless style and it's not super short. In my twenties, I preferred super-short dresses but these days I want a little more length for modesty purposes.
Anyway, I thought it looked cute until Geoff and I went out and shot this series here. Then I can home to edit and nearly fell off my chair!
No thanks to my strapless bra, my boobs liked 10 times their normal size because the damn thing kept slipping down my torso and made it look like I had weird saggy bubble boobs. (Come on ladies, who's been there?) Also, it looked like I had eaten 5 burritos. I probably should have worn some nude Spanx to hold in my burrito belly but mainly because my blue underwear was visible in some of the shots.
To say the least, it was a disaster. I was a disaster! I deleted the unflattering pics and decided to move forward with the most flattering angles and share this post anyway.
Look guys, sometimes blog posts are a lie but you know I always try to keep it real with you. Fashion comes and goes but at the end of the day, it's so important to feel good and comfortable in your clothes. Pulling at your dress or picking a wedgie through ill fitting pants isn't cute. But you know what is? Feeling good. That's why I wore this dress this one time and returned it the next day. Thank goodness for return policies. (And cameras because my mirror lied to me.)
WHAT I'M WEARING
TOPSHOP Bardot dress.
ZARA suede market bag.
VANS white high tops, Nintendo edition SK8-HI.
JENNY BIRD medallion necklace from a few years ago.
LISBETH delicate round necklace.
FERRAGAMO sunglasses.
HERMES and DAVID YURMAN bracelets.
How to shop online sales like a pro
Alright, guys. So at this point, I think it's obvious that I have failed my shopping ban. My wardrobe was getting a little stale and I felt like I needed to add a few key pieces to get myself hyped up for summer. Since fall is just around the corner, I choose pieces that would transition well into autumn but can be worn now as well.
If you recall from my I Quit Shopping post, one of the reasons I wanted to cut back was to focus more on travel and to upgrading our house. Well, I'm thrilled to say that Geoff and I have booked our vacation to Iceland this October and we're close to finishing our basement! As soon as that's done, we're going to work on the master bathroom and then reno the kitchen as well!
Seeing as there are lots of life plans happening, I want to keep my shopping to a reasonable budget so I was very strategic about what I got. Most importantly I waited for the sales because hi, who likes paying full retail? I got my Manolo's for over half off and all of my Zara haul on sale! Even my Balenciaga bag was 50% off! Lastly, I scored an amazing pair of Saint Laurent platform sandals in metallic stripes on super sale as well but you'll have to wait for another post to see those.
TIPS FOR SHOPPING SALES
1.
Find out when the sales are! If you don't know, a simple Google search should help.
2.
Make a wishlist of the items you want.
3.
Get there early!
If you're an online shopper, log in when the sales start to get first dibs. Zara's sales (which are on now) always start at midnight so I was sure to log on at 12:00 on the dot to get what I wanted.
4.
If you're an in-store shopper, get there early to make sure they have the style and size you want. Stores are also more organized in the morning meaning shopping is easier. Have you ever been to Zara at the end of the day during sale season? DISASTER!
5.
Designer sales are my favourite! I frequent SAKS and SSENSE for my stuff and I was able to score both my Manolo's and Saint Laurent sandals for over 50% off during their second round of markdowns!
Watch my sale haul!
Honest look at the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette
Hello and happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend and are excited for another week!
If you guys follow me on Instagram, you'll know I attended the Masterclass by Makeup by Mario and had a chance to meet him as well. (Shoutouts to Artis Brush for sending me as one of their partners!) I was a good little student and took lots of notes during Mario's Masterclass, which I plan on sharing with you guys in some upcoming videos where I'll cover brows, eye makeup, foundation, etc.
Today though I want to look at Urban Decay's new Heat Palette. To be honest, I wanted to have this post up before the palette hit stores but honestly, I had a hard time getting into it until now. Don't get me wrong, I love warm colours, in particular, orange and reds, so this palette got my heart racing when I first heard of it. When I got my hands on it though I felt differently. The colours are more subdued than I was expecting and the purples left me confused. Purples generally don't look the greatest on my olive skin so I stay away from them for the most part.
Anyway, after a few attempts with the new Heat Palette, I finally created a look that I'm really happy with. It's appropriate for both daytime and night time wear depending on how you wear your lip. Pair the look with a neutral lip for day and for night, a deep russet lipstick will be perfect for adding oomph.
Honestly, I really like this palette now that I finally got a grasp on how to use the shades together. Of course, attending a Masterclass taught by Kim KW's personal makeup artist totally helped! I really don't think I could have been able to create this soft smokey eye look before hand.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Alkaline (deep wine) and Torch (sienna)
Limited edition, part of the Urban Decay Heat Collection
$25, available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and where ever UB is sold
Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette
Permanent Collection
$66, available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and where ever UB is sold
12 new, amber-hued neutrals—including warm browns, burnt oranges and rich siennas. From a super-smooth red-brown matte and a glimmering copper to a deep, shifty bronze, this palette has everything you need to create sultry daytime looks, intensely smoky nighttime looks and everything in between.
Comes with a duo head synthetic bristle eye brush.
Shades included:
OUNCE (ivory shimmer)
CHASER (light nude matte)
SAUCED (soft terra-cotta matte)
LOW BLOW (brown matte)
LUMBRE (copper shimmer w/gold pearl shift)
HE DEVIL (burnt red matte)
DIRTY TALK (metallic burnt red)
SCORCHED (metallic deep red w/gold micro-shimmer)
CAYENNE (deep terra-cotta matte)
EN FUEGO (burgundy matte)
ASHES (deep reddish-brown matte)
EMBER (deep metallic copper-burgundy)
EASY SOFT SMOKEY EYE
1.
Start by lightly swiping OUNCE all over the eyelid from brow bone to lash line.
2.
Dip the small tapered brush from the palette and dip it into LOW BLOW, SAUCED & LUMBER and apply it to the inner corner of the eye until about the middle of the eyelid. Work in layers to build the colour intensity to the colour you want and to keep the look soft and smokey. Keep the colours low on the crease for a subtle look.
3.
Now dip the flat part of the brush into HE DEVIL, DIRT TALK and CAYENNE and apply it to the outer corner and take it to the middle of the eyelid. Again work in layers to build the colour up. Add a bit of EN FEUGOand ASHES to the outer corner and blend to keep the look soft.
4.
Using the ALKALINE 24/7 eye pencil, liner the upper lash line and keep it close to the lashes. Add a bit of brown liquid eyeliner to intensify the lashes even more.
5.
Curl the lasehes. Now add a bit of SAUCED and CHASER to the lower lashline and blend. Add OUNCE to the inner corner.
6.
Line the upper and lower lashline with a brown eye pencil. With a smudge brush blend the brown on the lower lash time to diffuse any harsh lines and to keep the look soft.
7.
Add some mascara to the top and lower lashes. You can also add more eyeshadow to the outer corner of your eyes if you want more drama.
MAKEUP BY MARIO TIP: Apply your eyeshadow in layers, taking the time to blend as you go along. This will prevent mistakes and prevent fallout as well.
DISCLAIMER: The Naked Heat Palette and eye pencils were provided as a PR sample.
All opinions are my own and completely honest.
Makeup, photography, and artwork by Nathalie Martin.