Anndore House Staycation with Bonlook
I’ve needed corrective lenses since my early teens. The optometrist said I would only need them for a few years but my prescription hasn’t changed much since then. Around the time I got married, I switched to contacts because I didn’t want to wear glasses on my wedding day and I also wanted to see Geoff when I walked down the aisle. Anyway, that didn’t last long. I chucked them all after waking up with a wicked case of pink eye one morning. Even though I was religious about washing my hands and sterilizing my contacts, bacteria invaded my eyes to the point where I couldn’t even open them. I haven’t touched contact lenses since. These days even my sunglasses have my prescription.
Beauty essentials; CHANEL 3D mascara, eyeshadow, and hand cream. For skincare I’ve been using Eve Lom’s cleanser and Olay’s Daily Facial Cleansing Cloths for removing makeup, followed by their new facial Mist. For my hair, I’ve been love, love, loving, the T3 SinglePass Curl.
For our staycation with Bonlook we stayed at the Anndore House in Toronto, just around the corner from the Yorkville area. Even if you don’t have a chance to stay at the hotel, I would highly recommend their restaurant, Constantine. Breakfast and dinner here is divine and we plan on going back soon. The staff is friendly and helpful while the decor is gorgeous.
CHANEL’S No 5 is probably my all time favourite scent. It’s beautiful, unique, and elegant. The purse spray is excellent for travel but the limited edition red bottle is so exquisite I’ll probably keep it on display long after it’s gone.
Decisions, decisions. I’ve amassed quite the glasses collection from Bonlook. Because I wear prescription glasses and sunnies I might as well have fun with them. Just like I don’t wear the same shoes everyday (it’s a quirk of mine), I’ll change my frames up often.
Bonlook also has blue light protection lenses which shield eyes from the blue light of computers. Geoff happens to be one of those lucky humans with 20/20 vision but he works on a computer all day so he picked up a pair of these and loves them.
An impromptu shopping session with Michael led me to this stunning cropped Balenciaga sweater. It was already on my radar and the fact it happened to be the last one in the store sealed the deal. The grey and black makes it a seamless addition to my wardrobe and I love how it looks with my new Way sunglasses from Bonlook.
RELATED POSTS: EMBRACING BALENCIAGA'S LOGOMANIA (featuring Bonlook)
RELATED POSTS: HOW TO WEAR CORDS THIS WINTER (featuring Bonlook)
This post is in collaboration with Bonlook. All opinions are my own.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
This story contains affiliate links.
Balenciaga's Logomania
WHAT I’M WEARING:
SWEATER: Balenciaga cropped logo sweater (I sized up and got mine in a 38).
WOOL COAT: Aritzia Stedman pinstripe coat, on sale $175.
HAT: Zara neon green beanie, sold out (Similar here.)
PANTS: Aritzia Jallade crepe trousers, $128. (Worn without the belt.)
SHOES: Saint Laurent canvas court shoes, on sale here.
GLASSES: Bonlook ‘Way’ frames, $145.
I didn’t see myself falling for this trend but I should have know better. Considering how I’m always drawn to bold graphic patters, I couldn’t help but be drawn to this Balenciaga statement piece. The wool knit is perfect for this time of year and the fact the brand made it reversible gives me more options. As the SA from Holt’s said “It’s like a two for one sweater” because this piece is totally reversible.
Logomani is alive and well in my heart. While I normally wouldn’t splurge so much on a sweater, I wanted to treat myself to something special on my birthday, which happens to be today. I’ll be looking forward to a low-key dinner with Geoff later in evening. I’m thinking Chinese takeaway and celebrating with a bottle of Moët. Yum.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
This story contains affiliate links.
How To Wear Cords This Winter
WHAT I’M WEARING
WOOL COAT: Aritzia Stedman pinstripe coat, on sale $175.
SWEATSHIRT: Frank & Oak, $60.
CORDUROY PANTS: Sandro Paris, on sale here.
SUNGLASSES: Bonlook Jerry aviator sunglasses in Terra, $145.
BAG: Saint Laurent small LouLou bowling bag, sold out. (Exact bag in ivory here and similar here.)
SHOES: Saint Laurent canvas court shoes, on sale here.
Who thought cords and a sweatshirt would ever be my go-to’s? These Sandro cords are high-waisted and wide legged so they look super chic. They’re also incredibly versatile and can be styled with a silk blouse and a pair of kitten heels during the holidays. The sweater is from Frank & Oak, a Canadian clothing brand that I’ve been low key loving these days. I even got Geoff hooked on their clothes as they cater to both men and women.
I decided to splurge on these Saint Laurent canvas sneakers only after realizing that white court shoes are my go-to whenever I travel. Let’s face it, kicks are comfortable and go with everything. I even happen to be wearing the same Adidas Stan Smith’s as Alexander Wang’s sis-in-law when I went to his runway show in New York this past summer. BTW - she pointed it out to me. Just saying. LOL.
As with shoes and bags, I love playing around with different glasses to make a statement. These aviator frames from the Montreal based company Bonlook, are prescription and cost a reasonable $145, all in, frames and all. Considering how expensive prescription glasses can be, I love that this company has taken the initiative to create affordable, stylish lenses. I find the ‘Jerry’ frames I’m wearing in this post to be the perfect blend of vintage and contemporary so I picked them up in both sunglasses and regular lenses.
Photography by Geoff Martin.
This story contains affiliate links.
Winter Wardrobe Staples
WHAT I’M WEARING
JACKET: Rudsak Mythos leather moto jacket with shearling collar, on sale $600.
WOOL COAT: Rag & Bone, sold out. (Similar here.)
T-SHIRT: Frank & Eileen, LAB219 cotton short sleeve shirt, $92.
HAT: Acne Studios wool Pansy face beanie in ivory, $200.
SUNGLASSES: Saint Laurent, from SAKS Off Fifth, $215. (Exact pair here.)
WOOL PANTS: Aritzia Chambery trouser, $148.
BOOTS: Alexander Wang Lyndon combat boots, sold out. (Similar style from FW18 here.)
LEATHER BACKPACK: Givenchy, sold out. (Similar star backpack here and with Givenchy logo here.)
I opt for layers on a mild winter day but will typically reach for a proper parka when it’s freezing out. A long wool coat and a leather jacket not only looks chic and effortless but also keeps me warm. I love this moto jacket from Rudsak, called the Mythos, because it has a removable shearling collar that adds texture and elevates my otherwise casual look. (It’s currently on sale and available in three colours. I won’t lie, I was tempted to get one with the white shearling collar, currently under $450, but my size sold out.)
I’m wearing Aritzia’s Chambery wool pleated pant in black/charcoal. I was instantly drawn to the bold pattern when I saw them online but they happen to be sold out. Luckily I was able to place a special order and got them before nearly selling out again! Upon publishing this post it seems like there’s only size 4 in stock. Grab them fast if that’s you!
I love the contrast of a good combat boot to make this otherwise monochrome outfit pop. Not only are they supremely comfortable but they’re also very warm. I got my Alexander Wang Lyndon boots at SAKS Off Fifth for about $250 if you can believe it! Probably one of my best finds of the year!
Canadian winters are cold and brutal so accessorizing with beanies is more about practicality than anything else. This one is from Acne Studios and I had been wanting one for years. Not knowing what to get me for my birthday this year, Geoff decided it would make a good gift. I couldn’t agree more!
Photography by Geoff Martin.
This story contains affiliate links.
My Travel Beauty Routine + What to Pack
Question; do you have a packing list or do you just wing it every time you travel?
Under the Notes app in my iPhone I have a packing list, although I never seem to use it and inevitability I forget something. It's only when I'm in the hotel when I realize that I’ve only packed one pair of socks, forgot my PJ’s, or didn't bring a hairbrush.
But it’s the time I forgot to pack foundation that really annoyed me because I was on a press trip and needed to look pulled together.
BEAUTY TRAVEL HACK: carefully placed concealer will be your savior if you ever forget foundation.
SKINCARE ROUTINE
I can pack my outfits quickly because I know my style well. I describe it as rocker-chic casual with a bit of leather mixed in for glam.
Packing my beauty routine on the other hand seems to take an eternity. Even though I have my pre-packed skincare bag ready at the drop of a hat, I always dump it out and do a quick inventory check to see if anything needs replacing.
BEAUTY TRAVEL HACK: Hold on to those samples! They'll save you money and time in the long run. Have a pre-packed bag full of sample-sized beauty products ready to go so you don’t forget essentials like serum, moisturizer, cleanser, etc.
SKINCARE PACKING LIST
Waterproof make-up remover
Facial cleanser
Serum
Olay Brightening Eye Cream
Lip balm
Olay Fragrance-Free WHIPS with SPF 25
Olay MIST. (Keep this one in your handbag so you can mist your face and keep your skin hydrated on the plane.)
Olay Clay Stick Masks (These masks are revolutionary because you apply them straight from the stick to your face. No accidental spills in your makeup bag!)
HOW I KEEP MY SKIN GLOWING WHILE I TRAVEL
I can’t stress the importance of water and keeping your body hydrated. Planes have such bad air quality and travel can be exhausting.
I also try to eat well to keep my immune system up and my skin balanced. Otherwise keeping your skin glowing during your travels is actually pretty simple.
1. Always take your makeup off at night, no matter how tired you are.
2. Moisturize night and day and make sure you use you’re using SPF. (You all know I love my Olay WHIPS with SPF! I even have Geoff using it.)
3. Use a face mask to draw out impurities from your travels. Between the plane and the pollution of city life, it’s a good idea to detox your skin have some "me time" after a long day. Draw a hot bath, slather on the new Olay Pore Detox Mask and fire up some Netflix. Your skin will thank you because it’ll be soft, clearer, and glowing.
BEAUTY TRAVEL HACK: Keep a face mist in your handbag to keep your skin hydrated on the plane. Much more subtle than sheet masking on the plane. ;)
All of Olay’s new Clay Stick Masks are super easy to apply making it perfect mask when traveling. They’re formulated with Kaolin clay to draw out impurities and glycerin to keep skin hydrated and soft.
The Pore Detox Mask contains black charcoal making it idea for the T-zone since it reduces the size of pores.
The Fresh Reset Mask is a micro-polishing mask that gently buffs away surface clogging cells and transforms tired skin into a calm, fresh looking complexion.
The Glow Boost Mask transforms uneven lackluster skin into a natural healthy glow by removing the buildup of dead skin cells.
Olay Face Mask Sticks are available at Wal-Mart stores and walmart.com
MY MAKEUP BAG
Packing my makeup bag is a whole other beast and the thought of leaving my eyebrow pencil at home is enough to make me cry. From forgetting foundation to that time I forgot my eyelash curler, I’ve learned that having doubles of everything is ideal when traveling often.
MAKEUP PACKING LIST
Foundation, concealer, and powder
Eyelash curler + waterproof mascara
Eyebrow pencil + setting gel
Rosy pink blush + bright pink blush for get that healthy flushed from within look
Nude lipstick + red lipstick for a night out
I hope that sharing my travel beauty helps you perfect your own routine. My packing list might seem like a lot but keep in mind that sample size products are best when it comes to saving space. And remember to take care of your skin when traveling! Bon Voyage!
This post is sponsored by Olay. All photos and opinions are my own.
The Best Conditioner for Battling Hair Static & Dryness
Winter is just around the corner and we all know that does to our hair – STATIC. DRYNESS. DULLNESS. UGH.
Tackling static is one thing but in combination with winter accessories like hats, scarves, and coats, it’s a lot to consider. Or you know when it gets too warm indoors and you go to pull your sweater off over your head and whoosh, static mayhem, hairs flying everywhere for the rest of the day, sticking to your face and making it impossible to focus.
I personally have another winter hair issue all together. I have this terrible habit of tucking my hair into my coat. Don’t ask why but it’s a comfort thing. I have this idea that if I don’t then my scarf or my handbag will damage my hair form tugging on the strands. In actuality I’m probably just introducing friction to my hair therefore damaging the ends and turning everything into a big static’y mess. (I really need to stop.)
WHY DOES STATIC HAPPEN IN HAIR?
To help me with this question, I tapped into Pantene’s Principal Scientist, Dr. Jeni Thomas who told me that static is caused by lack of moisture - low humidity from indoor heating and harsh winter weather outdoors.
She also explains, “Proteins in our hair fibers give hair a natural charge, but this charge is dissipated by hair’s internal moisture. When it’s cold outside or with electric indoor heating, humidity levels are exceptionally low – our hair tries to match those levels, which means it becomes stripped of static-blocking moisture.
Add a touch of friction, like taking off your scarf, and SPARK! Instant annoying static electricity. Suddenly hair is sticking out in all directions. That happens as the electrical charge on one strand repels the charge from the neighboring strand, pushing each other away from like two opposing magnets rather than flowing together.”
HOW TO GET RID OF HAIR STATIC
Conditioners like the Repair & Protect collection from Pantene help keep static away thanks to the micro-moisturizers in the formula that hydrate every strand. “Pantene conditioners are formulated by carefully balancing moisturizing ingredients that regulate the hydration levels of hair and penetrate each layer of the hair fiber” says Dr. Jeni Thomas.
So now that you know how Pantene works to beat static, make sure that you’re conditioning from root to tip in the shower to keep those fly-aways away. ;)
Here’s to healthy, static-free hair this winter!
WHY DOES MY HAIR LOOK DULL IN WINTER?
Hair can look dull when there’s damage along the shaft and it doesn’t reflect the light on the strands. Pantene’s conditioners features “smart-technology” that targets the damaged parts of the hair.
Since I’ve been growing out my hair I’ve found that I not only tuck it into coats, but sweaters, AND it’s constantly getting caught on the shoulder strap of my handbag.
I kid you not, the damage is evident when I condition with something other than Pantene (look I have two bathrooms and right now only one of them is stocked with Pantene and the other one has a $30 bougie conditioner and shampoo that leaves my hair looking lack luster and frayed.) What can I say? Pantene is where it’s at.
Suggested reading: How To Combat Dry Winter Hair
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pantene. All photos and opinions are my own.