How To Rock A Suit in 2019
WHAT I’M WEARING
Wool coat: Aritzia Stedman coat, sold out. (Similar here.)
Suit: Zadig & Voltaire striped Volly blazer and striped trousers. (Currently on sale.)
Beanie: Zara, sold out. (Similar here.)
Sweater: Acne Studios white knit, sold out. (Similar here.)
Bag: Saint Laurent small LouLou bowling bag, sold out. (Similar here.)
Sunglasses: Bonlook Way glasses, $145.
Shoes: Saint Laurent white canvas sneakers.
I truly believe we’re fortunate to be living in a time with anything goes in fashion. Sure, trends will come and go but when you add some timeless staples to your wardrobe, you’re basically set. Allow me to elaborate.
I was doing a massive closet clean up the other day which resulted in either selling, storing or donating a ton of stuff. As I put summer clothes and skinny jeans into vacuum sealed bags, it occurred to me that a majority of my sell pile consisted of dresses and skirts. As I get older and become more aware of my comfort level and pushing my sartorial boundaries, I've come to terms with the fact I’m not a dress person. They look great on a lot of people but somehow I never feel quite myself in a dress.
So what are the options for women attending an event where evening attire is required? Well, why not a suit? Men wear them for work, to weddings, galas, and they look so dapper and put together. Who’s to say that in 2019 women have to continue to wear dresses for such occasions?
With that thought in mind, I happen to come across a simple, but beautifully tailored, pinstripe suit on one of my shopping excursions. This one from Zadig & Voltaire has metallic threads woven in the stripes so it’s more contemporary. The exposing cuff on the trouser makes it playful and versatile in that it can be dressed up with a beautiful heel or dressed down a simple white sneaker as I’ve worn here.
Honestly, I never considered a suit to be an alternative for a dress until now. Seriously, what took me so long?
We all know that suits aren’t going anywhere. It’s just a matter of injecting your own personal style and having fun with it.
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LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
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Makeup Over 30 - Tips on How To Always Look Radiant
Looking for the right makeup is hard but looking for the right makeup in your 30’s is even more challenging. It’s a matter of finding something that will make your skin look fresh and radiant but never cakey. Cake is bad at any age but after 30 it can enhance line lines and make the skin appear older. UGH.
One of my secrets to faking glowing skin is to mix a few drops of an illuminating highlight to my foundation. In the instance of NARS limited edition Super Radiant Booster (in the shade Isola Rossa, a universally flattering rose gold shade), I like to add a bit to the tops of my cheeks before and after foundation. The result is more glow from within and less YouTube beauty guru aliens-can-see-my-highlight-from-outer-space.
There are other things I do to fake a good glow:
- using concealer only where I need it
- wearing a natural finish foundation
- lightly setting my makeup with a touch of loose powder
- layering a rosy blush to the apples of my cheeks
- and always misting my face with a good setting spray when my makeup is done
Less is more at this stage and how I apply my makeup makes a HUGE difference.
NARS FOUNDATION SHADE RANGE
Six additional shades (not featured here) can be found exclusively at Sephora.
RELATED STORIES: NARS MAKES FINDING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION SHADE A BREEZE!
In addition to the limited edition Super Radiant Skin Booster, NARS has released the Skin Deep eyeshadow palette featuring gorgeous nude shades that should suit everyone. The shadows have a good range of formulas that span from matte to shimmery and metallic shades.
I feel I should mention that this palette somehow feels an extension of the Atomic Blonde palette, a personal fave of mine. While SK features twelve nude/brown shades, AB features four eyeshadows and two contours in nude/brown. Regardless both are lovely and the overall formulas are what you expect from NARS, long-lasting, rich colours and velvety application. The SK palette is limited edish so keep that in mind if it’s on your wishlist.
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All photography by Nathalie Martin.
This post contains affiliate links and PR samples. All opinions are my own.
PREPPING MY WINTER CLOSET FOR SS19
WHAT I’M WEARING
Wool coat: Aritzia Stedman coat, sold out. (Similar here.)
Blazer: Robert Rodriquez double breasted yellow plaid blazer. (Similar here.)
Sweatshirt: Acne Studios men’s collection, sold out. (Similar here.)
Pants: Robert Rodriquez yellow plaid flared trousers. (Similar here.)
Shoes: Isabel Marant Mirvin shearling mules, sold out. (Similar here.)
Bag: Balenciaga flat clutch, sold out. (Similar here.)
Hat: Acne Studios ivory face beanie.
Sunglasses: Bonlook Jerry sunglasses, $145.
I was recently leafing through one of those special editions of VOGUE featuring the spring 2019 runway collections and was surprised at what I saw. From vibrant magenta, green, bright blue at Balenciaga to rich jewel-toned royal blue, teal and mustard at Givenchy - it’s clear that anything goes for S19. Colours and textures (like velvet and leather at Saint Laurent) we’d typically associate with fall are now popping up all year round and I’m okay with that. One thing is unanimous though and that’s the return of yellow. Seems like every fashion house has a preferred shade and I’m living for it.
I’ve been on a bit of a plaid binge recently and I haven’t been able to find the right pieces till now. I fell in love with the yellow plaid of this Robert Rodriquez blazer immediately. Upon learning it was actually part of a suit, I got excited and added both pieces to my shopping cart right away. I like how it’s so unique and works beautifully as a set but also as separates (as per my most recent outfit post where I’m wearing the jacket with a black hoodie, denim Alexander Wang vest and a pair of Levi’s.)
Nothing makes me happier than buying something I truly admire. Knowing that yellow is THE colour for spring 2019 is just the icing on the cake.
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LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
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Must Have Denim for 2019
WHAT I’M WEARING:
Coat: Topshop teddy bear coat, sold out. (Similar here.)
Sweater: H&M navy sweatshirt, sold out. (Similar here.)
Sunglasses: Bonlook Jerry sunglasses, $145.
Bag: Louis Vuitton toiletry pouch 19, 460.
Jeans: Rag & Bone Hana jeans, $100.
Boots: Alexander Wang Lyndon boots, sold out. (Similar here.)
In between my new found love of neons and my on going obsession with Pinterest, I seem to have fallen in love with neutrals. Yes, I’m talking camel, brown, beige, and ivory. While I’ll always be person who loves head to toe black and good pair of skinny jeans, the truth is I’d been craving an update for some time now.
This outfit shows a step towards branching off and trying new things while still being true to my personal style. It’s all about being fearless and not giving a shit about what’s trending on Instagram or anywhere else. It’s just about dressing for me so that I’m comfortable, happy, and confident. This look may be super casual and the laid back, but I’m experimenting with cropped flared jeans for the first time and I’m loving the silhouette.
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LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
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Ditch Your Winter Coat & Try Layers Instead (Or Don't)
WHAT I’M WEARING
Jacket: Robert Rodriguez plaid yellow blazer, sold out. (Similar here.)
Cashmere Turtleneck: Unknown brand, cut off tags. (Similar here.)
Hoodie: Frank & Eileen Tee Labs front zip hoodie, $228.
Denim Vest: Alexander Wang, sold out. (Similar here.)
Jeans: Levi’s 711 skinny jeans.
Shoes: Loewe patent leather & velvet kitten heel boots, sold out. (Similar here.)
Hat: Balenciaga logo beanie.
Sunglasses: Bonlook Way sunnies, $145.
Bag: Saint Laurent small LouLou bowling bag, sold out. (Similar here.)
Let’s be real, winter sucks. I don’t snowboard and I don’t ski but I do enjoy a good winter wonderland hike every now and then. Unless it looks like a snow globe outside, I don’t want any part of it. Even though I have the warmest and coziest parka (c/o Rudsak), there does come a point where I just want to ditch the parka and head out the door.
On a chilly -4°C day, I decided to try a little experiment. I threw some thermal layers under my jeans and cashmere turtleneck, layered up with a denim vest, a hoodie, blazer, and then a wool beanie to see if my body would be well insulated against winter.
As we headed out, I was confident it would work. After all, I swear by Uniqlo’s HeatTech and wore it on both trips to Iceland and I was never cold. For sure it would withstand winter in the city.
But no, my experiment failed as soon as I stepped out of the car. The cold wind got to me and I was shivering like crazy and my toes were freezing in my velvet Loewe boots.
We headed for a coffee to warm up but I was fed up and wanted to go home. Sure, it felt great not to overheat in my parka but it definitely wasn’t worth freezing my butt off because ditched it.
I’ll save you the trouble guys, stick to a proper winter coat okay. Just make sure it’s as chic as it is warm.
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LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
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Why You Need A Statement Coat This Winter
WHAT I’M WEARING:
Coat: Helmut Lang wool coat, on sale here.
Sweater: Zara furry brown sweater, sold out. (Similar here.)
Pants: Zara brown cords, sold out. (Similar here and here.)
Shoes: Prada brown suede mules, sold out. (Similar here and here.)
Bag: Loewe striped small hammock bag, sold out. (Similar here and here and here.)
Glasses: Bonlook Class sunglasses, $145.
Winter is drab, boring, and it seems to always be way to long. Sometimes wearing all black is just too much which is probably why I’ve been so obsessed with colour. A statement coat like this neon pink alpaca number from Helmut Lang is just the thing to lift my spirits. Yes, it’s bright AF so be prepared for looks as you rock this one around town.
If you love the look of it but you’re not sure how to wear it, consider head to toe neutrals, as I’ve done here. All black is always a classic option - whether you dress it up or dress it down. Finally, how about all grey? Think joggers and a grey hoodie with a chic pair of white canvas sneakers for a cozy look on the weekend.
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LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
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Balenciaga Logo Sweater
WHAT I’M WEARING:
SWEATER: Balenciaga cropped logo sweater (worn inside out).
COAT: Rag & Bone reversible wool coat, sold out. (Similar here.)
HAT: Levi’s x Mickey, sold out. (Similar here and here.)
JEANS: AGOLDE jeans. (Similar here.)
BOOTS: Alexander Wang Lyndon boots, sold out. (Similar here.)
BAG: Saint Laurent small LouLou bowling bag, sold out. (Similar here.)
I’ve recently been investing a more in my clothes and focusing on higher end statement pieces that will make a bigger impact on my closet. This Balenciaga sweater was up there on my list and I’m so glad I splurged on it. While the sweater itself is actually grey (you can see it here), I turned it inside out to rock the black side for this super casual, cozy outfit. I got the idea to reverse it from the sales associate who sold it to me, and I agree, why not have some fun with it.
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LOGOMANIA ACCESSORIES
RELATED POST: EMBRACING BALENCIAGA’S LOGOMANIA
As you guys know my style is pretty casual but that doesn't I want my outfits to look boring. I always like a little bit of contrast, whether it’s in colour or texture, to bring everything to life. Since my coat and sweater are both black and wool, I went for a pair of light wash distressed denim to keep the look for being too heavy. I accessorized with my Levi’s x Mickey Mouse baseball hat, which is a similar colour to my jeans, to bring it all together.
LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
This story contains affiliate links.
How To Style a Sweatsuit
WHAT I’M WEARING:
Jacket: IRO Paris patent leather moto jacket, sold out (Similar here.)
Sweater: Zara grey hoodie, sold out. (Similar here.)
Pants: Zara sweatpants, sold out. (Similar here.)
Hat: ACNE Studios ivory Pansy face beanie, $200
Shoes: Saint Laurent Paris white canvas sneakers, $600.
Bag: CHANEL patent leather jumbo bag.
Sunglasses: Saint Laurent Paris blue squared glasses.
In attempt to be as cozy as possible but still look presentable, I decided that sweats and patent leather are meant for each other. I picked up these soft joggers at Zara recently, along with the matching hoodie. The patent leather jacket is IRO Paris and it happens to be one of those lucky sale scores from Winners. Of course no sweatsuit ensemble is complete without an ACNE beanie and white sneakers à la Saint Laurent.
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LUXE FOR LESS
Photography by Geoff Martin.
This story contains affiliate links.