Lake Louise Travel Diary: Winter Wonderland
So I'm writing this from the beautiful Fairmont Lake Louise as I'm half asleep/ half excited to share my adventures with you guys. These were shot yesterday during our traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride along the frozen lake. It's not something I ever thought I'd be doing in my whole life but it was so cute and fun to do. Stay tuned for more adventures soon!
xo, Nathalie
IN GOOD COMPANY. With Brittany from Thrifts and Threads, Stephanie from SS Life & Style, Michelle from Take Aim, Jill from The August Diaries.
*Thank you Roots decking me out in warm winter accessories. Click for hat and scarf.
LUXE GIFTS FOR HER
Once a year I think it’s nice to spoil with something a little different and something very special. The below items range in price but they’re all luxe in their own way. Happy gift giving!
xo, Nathalie
Frank & Eileen Mary shirt dress. Christian Louboutin Anjalina heels.
LUXE WEAR
Frank & Eileen makes some of the most beautiful button up shirts. They’re classics with a modern twist and cut perfectly for a woman’s body. Fabrics are woven in Italy and then shipped to sunny California where they’re made. She’ll love the versatility of a shirt that can be dressed up, dressed down and can be paired beautifully with a pair of Loubs, because what girl doesn’t have these on her wish list? The iconic shoe will get her noticed everywhere and she’ll think of you overtime she wears them.
LUXE FRAGRANCE
Dyptique and Jo Malone make such beautiful gifts. Diana and I will be gifting each other the same set of Jo Malone candles for Christmas because we’re so obsessed. A travel sized cologne is also a good gift for the woman on the go. Diana, Michael and I all keep one in our bags.
Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer, Serum, Eye Cream and Stemcell Glam Lip Balm.
LUXE SKINCARE
If you really want to impress her with skincare goodies, pick up these pieces from Rodial’s Bee Venom line up. The moisturizer, serum and eye cream, will melt beautifully into her skin and leave it feeling well balanced. The lip plumping lip balm might be a good add on to help her achieve Kylie Jenner lips without the fillers. I haven’t seen it lip my lips yet, but it is a damn good balm.
Daniel Wellington timepiece, Classy Sheffield and Classic Bristol.
LUXE TIMEPIECE
Ok so this one isn’t exactly luxe to the max but that’s ok. I’ve seen a wide variety of women sporting these timepieces. What I like is how everyone makes it their own based on their personal style. I just recently acquired the Classy Sheffield which features Swarovski crystals as numerals. It has a nice bit of sparkle without being too overt.
*Save 15% off on your daneilwellington.com purchase by use code WOAHSTYLE at checkout.
LUXE OUT
Chanel. Just get in there go pick something up for her. Just a little something. Anything.
Chanel goodies, $$$ - $$$$$.
7 Gifts For The Guy Who Has Everything
There comes a point were gift giving becomes more and more challenging, especially when the guy in your life already has everything he needs. I compiled this gift guide with the help of Geoff based on items he's been gifted recently and has ended up loving. I think there's something here for every man - dad, bro, cousin, colleague and hubby. Keep reading for gift inspo.
xo, Nathalie
Dewar's 12 year old Scotch Whisky. Nomad Coffee Club subscription. Roots cotton plaid scarf (similar here).
COZY NIGHTS
A bottle of scotch whisky will never be turned away at our home. We'll sometimes have a glass after work and cozy up on the couch with Netflix. Geoff normally drinks his on the rocks but I like mine neat. Since we're talking cozy drinks, Nomand Coffee Club offers subscriptions for a new roast of beans to be delivered straight to his door every month. Sign him up for 3 months or more, he'll love it. Finally, let him wrap up in cozy with a warm plaid scarf, the quintessential winter accessory.
Get 15% off your entire purchase on danielwellington.com with code WOAHSTYLE from now until January 15, 2016.
THE GIFT OF TIME
He'll really dig the no-fuss, minimal design on these Daniel Wellington watches. You can buy additional wrist straps for him so he can change up the look of his watch down the road. Geoff just recently acquired the Classic Glasgow wristband and he's been loving it. The Dapper series has a more elegant look and features Roman numerals, a date display and blue hands. From now until Jan 15th, I'm offering 15% off your entire purchase on danielwellington.com with code WOAHSTYLE.
THE GIFT OF TRAVEL
Do something crazy and spontaneous and if you can, gift him a plane ticket to somewhere you've never been before. Geoff and I are flying out to Banff and Lake Louise tomorrow and we can hardly wait! If you can't splurge on an entire trip, a passport holder makes an excellent, unexpected gift. Trust me, he'll love it when he uses it next!
Stolen Riches laces are the gift he didn't know he needed until now. At $20, they're perfect for stocking stuffers or as an add on gift.
THE GAME CHANGER
You wouldn't normally think of shoe laces when you're shopping for Xmas presents but trust me, these are a major game changers and his fancy new footwear will get him noticed at the office. In the pic above, Geoff's Varvatos lace-up boots feature the original laces and below, he's changed them up to the Moville Green boot lace from Stolen Riches. The brown and black Cole Haan oxfords already have SR laces on them, but below in the below pic how the brown pops to life with the green speckled laces. Finally, his Adidas Stan Smith's got a make over with these maroon sneaker laces. So, are you convinced yet?
THE GIFT OF AWESOME SKIN
Hopefully he won't turn his nose up at receiving moisturizer as a gift with a name like Dragon's Blood. This hyaluronic moisturizer from Rodial hydrates, protects and plumps skin. I've been trying to get Geoff to use moisturizer for years now and I'm finally breaking him down with this product.
The legging trend
The obsession with cozy knits and leggings continues. It must have to do with the weather because I'm always compelled to wear cozy clothes this time of year. The only upside is the lack of snow, which means I can wear heels with anything I want.
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
ERIS & THREAD, The Muse knit (25% off with promo code WOAHSTYLE)
HUE LEGGINGS, leggings
THE KOOPLES, leather moto jacket
ISABEL MARANT, ankle boots
GUCCI, Boston bag
Gifts Under $20: Natural Skincare
In my 20's, I was obsessed with giving elaborate gifts to show I care. The recipients always looked a little overwhelmed and I was always left wondering if they actually liked their present. In my 30's, I learned that thoughtfulness and quality counts so much more than the value associated with a gift. Nathalie and I love natural skincare for different reasons. She, because she loves animals and the environment. And me, because I have sensitive skin. Don't worry, I care about animals and the environment too, I'm not a monster.
With that said, these are some of our favourite natural skincare products that are under $20. They make fabulous stocking stuffers, or paired together for an amazing, larger gift. We use all of these products regularly (even daily), and some of our favourite people are getting these for Xmas this year (shh!).
Happy gifting,
Diana
Consonant Natural Foaming Face Wash, $18.00
Natural Soap Bars (available in oatmeal, lavender, mint and grapefruit+rosemary)
Set of 3 comes in holiday packaging, $5.00-$12.00
Dealkalizing Deodorant, $12.00
Bath Bombs (available in decongest, hydrate, muscle relief, relax), $9.00
kaia naturals juicy bamboo natural facial cleansing cloths - available in holiday packaging, $15.50
Must Have Core Pieces: The Modern Classics
I'm the kind of person who spends more money on accessories than clothes but that's probably because I'm a basics girl at heart. Skinny jeans, leggings and t-shirts are the back bone of my closet because they're so easy to dress up and dress down, depending on how I accessorize myself. I never really find myself saying "what am I going to wear?" but I usually ask "what shoe am I going to wear?"
I favour quality over quantity and prefer to invest in well made t-shirts, sweaters and leggings. Right now I'm really digging the ones from Eris & Thread, a brand that's homegrown and operating straight out of Toronto. They're all about the modern classics and feature beautifully cut knits, tees, and scuba jersey. Here I'm wearing their Ingenue black tee paired with navy leggings for a bit of colour. I like the feeling of being comfortable and moving around the city with ease which is why I'm drawn to pieces like this more and more each day. What are your go to pieces right now?
STYLE TIP FOR THE BUSY WOMAN:
I've actually been doing something really naughty recently. On the days I go to bootcamp after work, I go into the office dressed in leggings and a t-shirt. I throw a cozy cashmere knit over top to "dress" it up and pair my outfit with black ankle boots. I look office appropriate and when it's time to hit the gym, all I have to do is change into sneakers! ; )
PS - I wear a sports bra under my tee. The ultimate in lazy girl dressing.
xo, Nathalie
PROMO: Eris & Thread is offering 25% off right now to my readers with promo code WOAHSTYLE. The offer runs from now until Dec 22nd at 4pm so get shopping!
WHAT I'M WEARING
ERIS & THREAD, Ingenue black t-shirt (25% off with promo code WOAHSTYLE)
HUE LEGGINGS, blackout leggings in navy
THE KOOPLES, leather moto jacket and leather zip gloves
3.1 PHILLIP LIM, black patent leather ankle boots
ARMANI, sunglasses
REVIEW: L'Oréal SUPERSTAR MASCARA & EYELINER
I'm the kind of person who loves big luscious lashes but I don't care too much for falsies because no matter what, I always mess them up. For the last few years I've been using the same mascara but I've recently become more adventurous and stepped outside of my comfort zone. I figure, part of the fun of having Beauty page is testing out new products and seeing how they compare in real life vs. the ads.
The latest eye makeup to hit my (ever growing) cosmetics bag is the Voluminous Superstar mascara and liquid liner from L'Oréal Paris. I have normal/ oily skin it's always challenging for me to find eye makeup that doesn't smudge all over my face. This duo held up after a night of partying AND after an intensely sweaty bootcamp class. I think it's safe to say the Superstars preform well. Keep reading for more.
L'Oréal Voluminous Superstar Mascara
Like I said before, I LOVE mascara and what I'm looking for is simple - long, thick lashes without clumping, smudging or flaking. This new mascara delivers on all of my expectations but I find you do have to use it a certain way in order to get the best results.
Step 1: Prime your lashes with the hourglass shaped brush to separate and help fatten them up. Work on one eye before moving to the next so that you give the primer time to dry. Don't worry, it doesn't take long. You'll know when you're ready for step two when the white primer turns "clear" on your lashes.
Step 2: Sweep a few strokes from root to tip with the curved mascara wand. I immediately noticed how long and thick my lashes looked with just one coat of mascara. My lashes were separated and defined without looking clumping and most importantly, without flaking all over my face by the end of the day.
I find this mascara does what my old mascara did in 3 coats, but better. The blackest black colour is richly pigmented, but it's not so highly pigmented that it leaves me with racoon eyes after I wash my face. (Mine is the normal formula. I don't wear water proof mascara.)
Multiple layers of this mascara is best when it's still wet to avoid clumping. I should also mention that I like to beef up my lower lashes with a coat of mascara. They are naturally long so sometimes I have a bit of smudging, but not aways. It just depends on how I apply the mascara to my lower lashes. I dab instead of pulling the wand down on my lower lashes to avoid smudging. Overall, I find this mascara is excellent and defines, thickens and lengthens in two steps.
Pros:
- Defined lashes
- Lengthening, after 1 coat
- Thickening, even after 1 coat
- No clumping (1 coat)
- No flaking (yay!)
Cons:
- Extra drying time for primer
- Some clumping after multiple coats
- Minimal smudging (on lower lashes)
L'Oréal Voluminous Superstar Eyeliner
Adele's eyeliner is always so on point and I only wish mine looked like that! This liner allows for the perfect cat eye to go from thick to thin with the flick of a wrist. To be honest, I'm set in my ways when it comes to creating my winged line and what I look for in a liquid liner is staying power and ease of use. The felt tip on this Superstar is comfortable to apply the colour pay off is perfect. It went on smoothly even when I was wearing a ton of iridescent eyeshadow - a sign of a good eyeliner if you ask me. It holds up well throughout the day but I find I do need a primer for the best staying power.
Cons:
- Smudges on my oily skin without the use of a primer.
Pros:
- Crisp lines
- Easy to use
- Comfortable
- Superb colour pay off
- No flaking
To get into the holiday spirt, I'll be gifting two L'Oréal Voluminous Superstar Mascaras and Eyeliners. Think of it as one for you and one for your BFF, sister or mum. It's up to you. Keep your eyes peeled for my IG contest soon!
*All opinions of are my own. View disclaimer for more info.
The Teddy Bear Bomber
A cozy teddy bear bomber jacket for a chilly December day is everything I need right now. I've been sick for almost two weeks now and while I'm still recuperating from this nasty sinus infection, I'm not 100% yet. Comfortable clothes are a must for me and this Chaser jacket gets a big fat checkmark from me.
xo, Nathalie
WHAT I'M WEARING
CHASER, vintage faux fur bomber jacket
ERIS & THREAD, the ingenue black tee
THE KOOPLES, fringe bag (budget here)
RAG & BONE, distressed zippered jeans (budget here)
3.1 PHILLIP LIM, patent leather ankle boots (budget, on sale)
ARMANI, sunglasses (budget here)
Gifting: Sportswear Accessories for Him
For some reason, I always find it daunting to buy presents for the opposite sex. For example, I've been married for eight years now and my husband admitted to me recently that I "shop for myself" when I gift him something. (Case in point: the Tivoli radio I bought him was on my wish list forever. Whoops.) He's guilty of it too but in a different way. One year he gifted me snow boarding mittens (I don't snow board) and an alarm clock (I use my iPhone). It still makes me laugh when I think about it now. I think the secret to gifting is to remove your wants and needs from the equation and actually think about the other person. Admittedly, easier said than done.
My preferred gift for dudes this year seems to be the scarf. When my brother turned 30 in September, I gifted him a really beautiful Paul Smith scarf. His personal style is very simple but he loves scarves and his collection probably trumps mine. I'm also thinking of getting Geoff a luxurious scarf for Xmas because he's not the kind of person to buy himself one, but he's always wanted something he could have "forever".
I think this reversible wool scarf and hat from Lacoste make an excellent gift for dad, the bros, your hubby/ bf and your close guy friend. I've worn this scarf myself but Geoff really took a liking to it and claimed it as his own. (Merry Xmas honey. Just kidding!)
Since we're talking accessories, a backpack (similar here) is a cool gift to think about for the tech guy in your life. Just imagine gifting this with an assortment of his favourite candies!! It's an unexpected added touch and he'll really appreciate it.
xo, Nathalie
These reversible wool scarf and hat are so cute together, yet still appropriate for manly men!
A quick trip to the dollar store means you can fill up his backpack will all sorts of his favourite goodies!
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