How To Style It: The Cargo Pant
Weekends are all about comfort and relaxation but that doesn't mean you should be caught in your pjs or or gym clothes outside of their prospective environments. Enter - the uber chic $55 cargo pant! They sold out the first time around and lucky for us Mendocino has just restocked them. I'm thrilled to have gotten my hands on a pair!
These cargo's are pretty versatile go well with so many summery shirts. I went for a crepe fabric crop top (also Mendo) with side slits for my weekend wear. It's still a casual look but it's just a little more dressy than a standard t-shirt or cotton tank (which you all know I'm a fan of). The key to wearing cargo's without looking like you've fallen into a time warp is to elevate your accessories. I went with classic timeless pieces and chose my mini Gucci Boston bag and gold Tod's fringe sandals that are super comfortable and so-this-season. Small gold jewelry stands out nicely against the black ensemble and connects the brown bag and gold shoe to the whole outfit. So what do you think? Are cargo's now on your mind too? ;)
Gold fringe gladiator sandals, Tod's
Mini bag, Gucci Boston
Glasses, Armani
Bracelets, OST New York
Black cargo pants, Mendocino
Black crepe crop top, Mendocino
Watch, Daniel Wellington
Necklace, Lisbeth Jewelry
TOP 10: Festival Survival Guide
With festival season just around the corner, I thought it wold be a good idea to put this survival guide together for both my sanity and yours. I'll be attending Bestival in just a couple of weeks and I can't wait! If you have any tips, let me know because I would love to hear it.
FASHION
1. THE MINI: I love mini skirts, tiny dresses and short shorts. Nothing makes me happier in the summer than showing some leg so I'll be applying the same rule to Bestival!
2. FLATS: I just picked up these adorable tanned gladiator sandals. They're comfortable and on trend for SS15 but of course I'll also have my Birks on standby because nothing beats those!
3. ARM CANDY: Bandanas, rings and bracelets galore, the more the merrier. Just keep on stacking sister!
4. THE BAG: I love cross body's in general but even more for events when I need to be comfortable and hands free. Tote bags are also excellent for summer and I can't wait to use my new TOM's tote for picnics, farmers markets and of course, festivals (duh).
HAIR & BEAUTY
5. HAIR: Braids and messy buns are easy, casual and uber cute when you're spending the day outdoors. Since I have short hair I prefer a hat. It keeps my hair from becoming big and frizzy and protects my scalp from sunburn. Have you ever had that? It hurts so bad and I never want to go through that again!
6. MAKEUP: Keep it light but have fun. Skip the foundation and try a tinted moisturizer instead. Tinted lip balms, coloured eye liners and sweat proof mascara (like Cover Girl and Benefit) are just the ticket to help you survive through the day. If you want to have a bit more fun with your look, try coloured eye liners. I was lucky enough to get an advance on the Benefit They're Real coloured Liners and they are AMAZING! It stays in tact even after my intense bootcamp class so I think it's safe to say it'll survive Bestival.
HEALTH
7. SPF: An awesome SPF and a wide brim hat are a must have if you're going to be out all day. Also keep in mind that the sun's harmful rays are still out even when it's cloudy.
8. H2O: Keep hydrated and drink lots of water. Under all of that sun and outdoor festival activity, your body needs it and will thank you for it.
9. EAT WELL: It might sound weird but when you have a sensitive stomach like mine and you eat vegan diet, you have to think ahead sometimes. I make my own trail mix or granola (to control the sugar content) and munch on fruits and veggies. Also try to stay away from caffeine, sugar and alcohol if you can. The cleaner the better.
10. HAVE FUN! Sit back, listen to the music and relax. It's all good now!
Dress, bag, sandals and hat, Forever 21
Ring, Bracelets, Forever 21
Sunglasses, Armani
Pocket square worn as wrist wear, Stolen Riches
May Favourites: Lace Crop Tops, Army Blazers & Saint Laurent
May was a bit of a funny month temperature wise with chilly weather and hot humid days that left us craving a dip in the pool so my monthly faves are all over the place. I was really happy to grab this army jacket from Zara recently and I’ve been wearing it with everything! I dress pretty casually for work and I think blazers and good shoes are so important to help bring my look together. It's amazing how a nice jacket can make a t-shirt and jeans feel instantly dressed up and more sophisticated.
This lace top has become such a favourite of mine that I had to go out and buy it in 2 colours. I know it’s a bit mental but when I really like something, I pick it up in every colour that I love and this just happens to be white and black. For a day time office look I layer a tank underneath to keep the look more conservative. For the weekends I ditch the undershirt all together and reveal some skin. Oh – and I should mention that every time I’ve worn this top I’ve gotten a million compliments everywhere I go. I think it’s safe to say this is a must have item for SS15!
On the weekends I wore my Zara gladiator sandals A LOT! They’re not appropriate for the office by any means so I keep these specifically for the weekends. I love the statement that they make with the most basic of outfits. I wish they were more comfortable and had been less expensive for what they are, but I have been wearing them so much that the cost per wear totally evens out. Mango and Aldo both have similar pairs if you’re looking for something less expensive.
Accessories wise I think it’s safe to say that I couldn’t get enough of my Saint Laurent Baby Sac De Jour. It’s small, easy to carry and really versatile, regardless of the blue and black colour blocking. It’s the kind of piece that makes every outfit look better and it’s been my best purchase this year.
That '70s Vibe
It's a cold & rainy Sunday in Toronto but luckily I have this summery post to share with you guys. My new Toggery t-shirt inspired this '70s-esque look that I'm so obsessed with at the moment. It's fitted and low cut and has a slight vintage vibe that pairs perfectly with my high-waisted denim shorts. To dress it up a bit I chose my army inspired blazer and Saint Laurent studded Baby Cat loafers and Baby Sac De Jour bag. I call the look '70s Modern.
Denim Shorts, Mendocino
Blazer, Zara
T-shirt, Toggery Brand
Shoes, Saint Laurent Studded Baby Cat Loafers
Bag, Saint Laurent Baby Sac De Jour
#KillerColour
Thanks so much to Benefit for inviting me out to the launch of their new Killer Colour eye makeup collection last night at Ripley's Aquarium! I wore basic black and white but had fun with my accessories and went for bold colours compliment the launch. Red, white and blue isn't always patriotic right?
Makeup: Sexy Summer Glow
I stopped by Target recently (in the US of course dear Canadians) and took a chance on a few makeup pieces that have become major game changers for me. Seriously MAJOR!
I'm all about that healthy bronze glow these days and less about the winged black eye liner & red lips that I wore all winter long. My foundation is dewy (thanks to La Neige BB Cushion Foudation), my cheeks are (faux) sun kissed and my lashes are a mile long.
LA NEIGE BB CUSHION
I first heard about this foundation from a random YouTube channel and decided I needed to try it for myself. It's a bit more expensive than I would have liked at $34 USD (at Target) but it does come with an extra refill, making the price a little easier to swallow. In my opinion I took a major chance buying this product considering that I'm never 100% happy with my foundations.
The foundation itself is easy to apply and gives me that natural, dewy, no makeup skin that I’ve been craving. It also layers nicely which is perfect on the days I need more coverage after a sleepless night. I’m usually medium warm beige so I bought the Medium / Dark shade, which is just a tad darker than my face but acts as the perfect summer shade. I’ll probably switch to Medium during the winter months. Overall I’m really happy with this foundation! It wears well all day, and I love how the yellow undertones matches my skin beautifully.
THE CORALS
For a little bit of colour I picked up some coral coloured makeup to add a sheer flush over lips and cheeks. Maybelline’s Baby Lips Crystal in Gleaming Coral is moisturizing and adds a sheer wash of colour. A little too sheer for my liking so what I do is layer it on over top of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Morocco, an intense bright orange-red that I lightly dab on my lips to. I use Benefit’s Cha-Cha Tint on my cheeks for a light flush. The trick is to dab a little on the cheeks and then pat it in with your fingertips. A little goes a long way so you just need a bit of product. If you want more colour, just add a bit more and work bit by bit so you don’t end up with clown cheeks. I like to layer it on overtop of my bronzer/ contour powder for extra definition.
COVER GIRL THE SUPER SIZER
I love Cover Girl mascaras and the entire series of Lash Blast has never failed me so when I saw this on sale, I knew I had to try it! (Didn’t hurt that Katy Perry was in the ads with her ginormous lashes!). What surprised me was the super skinny brush that looks almost skimpy but don’t be fooled. A single coat gave me super long, thick lashes that almost looked like falsies and a second coat gave me massively dramatic lashes. I love how CG mascaras wear – they never smear or clump and they easily wash off with soap and water. I have no cons about this product and I have to say it’s my new fave!
Black on Black: Leather & Satin
I love the subtlety of mixing textures when I'm wearing black and for the most part, I don't even think about it when I'm getting dressed. Here I'm wearing my leather Mackage shorts that have that amazing sports luxe aesthetic. I paired it with this brilliant 'Shoe Addict' t-shirt from Doll Memories that has the Valentino Rockstud and Manolo Blahnik shoe illustrated on it. To accessorize, I went with my new fave gladiator sandals along with my satin baseball cap that is summer staple. The Saint Laurent Baby Sac De Jour adds a pop of colour and keeps the black feeling modern. How do you like to mix textures and do you dare wear all black in the summer?
(More on how to wear black in the summer here.)
TOP 3 TIPS: HOW TO WEAR BLACK IN THE SUMMER
The little black dress is one of those pieces that has been discussed a million times over - it's a piece that every woman needs, it should be flattering your body shape, it should be good quality, yada yada, yada. Instead of telling you what you already know, let's talk about how to wear black in the summer. You guys know know how much I love black but I lately I've been feeling like head to toe black is too heavy for the warm sunny weather. I mean, my mood feels lighter in the summer so shouldn't my clothes reflect that? Read on for my Top 3 Tips on how to wear black in the summer (and not look like a goth).
3. BREAK IT UP
Sure we're talking about head to toe black but don't be afraid to break it up with a bit of colour through your handbag, shoe or jewelry. In this case I chose my Gucci Boston Bag with the heritage stripe and neautral brown canvas. I like how the bag adds warmth to the otherwise sleek black outfit.
2. INTO THE LIGHT
Sheer fabrics, eyelet details and lace are a great way of making black feel light and airy. Earlier this week I posted an outfit wearing a black lace crop top that is epitome of summer and even if I wore it with black jeans, it would still feel just as ethereal as white. (Well, maybe like 90% ethereal.) In this post my dress is solid black but my gladiator sandals have a lightness to them that show skin. Think outside of the box as to how you can make your outfit feel lighter.
1. SHOW SOME SKIN
Okay girls and boys, summer is the time to show off your best assets so don't hold back! I'm petite with a slender frame so I can pull off mini skirts without looking like a ho. At the same time, it's all about the balancing act. For example the sleeveless mini dress I'm wearing has a high neckline so it doesn't feel like I'm showing too much skin. Go ahead and bare it, just don't go overboard and keep it classy and tasteful.
Bag, Gucci Small Boston
Sunglasses, Quay Australia
Black mini dress, Mendocino
Gladiator Sandals, Zara
Moody Spring Layers
From bright and sunny in my previous post to dark and moody in this post. Spring in Toronto is all about unpredictable weather and I actually really enjoy how it changes from day to day. Chiller temps mean layers and these One Teaspoon jeans are spring/ summer appropriate but still keep my legs covered on the cooler days. The black tank is from Mendocino's house brand, OYOO, and is such a good staple piece but with a twist - it has a deep V neckline in the front and back and has what I call a reverse high-low hemline that features a longer front and shorter back. It's the perfect piece for layering with this beaded Free People jacket that has been in my closet for many years now. I don't know about you guys but I love spring layers. It almost makes me wish the weather was like this all year round.
Jeans and black tank, Mendocino
Beaded jacket, Free People
Black leather gladiator sandals, Zara