SIMONS OPENS IN THE GTA
I remember the first time I went into Simons. My friends and I packed into my Volkswagen Beetle and we drove to Montreal for a long weekend. The entire time we were there it rained so bad that my umbrella ended up breaking. Looking for a new one, I walked into Simons and became so memorized by the clothes that I forgot to buy an umbrella. For the remainder of the trip I was a sopping mess but that was fine because it was the trip that started my love affair with MTL.
Lucky for us in the GTA, Simons has just opened their first store in Mississauga. Road trips to Montreal are no longer mandatory to get our fill of cool, on trend clothes. With a range for women and men, their brand extends to their own private labels like Twik and Icone, as well as contemporary lines like Acne Studios, Carven, Comme des Garçons PLAY and, Vivienne Westwood, in addition to home goods like linens, bathroom and kitchen accessories. Basically shopping mecca for the likes of people like me.
Even though the store just opened, I'm looking forward to visiting again but with Geoff in tow this time. I introduced him to the brand last year and he hasn't stopped talking about it since.
xo, Nathalie
This post is sponsored by Simons but all opinions are my own.
White tunic and long bomber from their private label Twik for spring 2016.
All in store photography by Jeremy Kohm.
I WHIP MY HAIR BACK AND FORTH: NEXXUS EDITION
Off to get my hair did pre-ballet.
I love dance, but don't confuse that with dancing, because I can't. Sometimes I'll try and it genuinely upsets Geoff and the cats. : S
When I was asked to attend The Four Temperaments & Rubies & Cacti at the National Ballet of Canada presented by Nexxus Salon Hair Care, I was excited for a few reasons.
"Funny, ironical and outrageous" is how this mixed billed ballet has been described. How crazy compelling is that?!
Getting to see Principal Dancer Heather Ogden in action. She's amazing!
A night out on the town is the perfect excuse for getting my hair DID and my outfit ON.
Having an opportunity to put the Nexxus' Oil Infinity Oil Infusing System to the test.
In case you guys are wondering, Nexxus and The National Ballet of Canada have partnered together to represent "Hair That Lives to Move". It makes so much sense when you think about relation of hair and dance when it comes to movement and fluidity.
With that being said, I have thick, unruly, Latina hair. Aside from liking the way it looks, the reason I have short hair is because I just can't deal with the maintenance of long hair. I have the kind of hair that doesn't care if it's the most important day of your life, it's gonna turn on you and bust out frizz at the slightest hint of humidity or rain. That's why quality products are key, and guys, the Nexxus Oil Infinite line is KEY.
The Nexxus Oil Infinite line is designed to help regain control of unmanageable hair with pure, renewing ingredients. The line consists of an Oil Infinite Shampoo, Oil Infinite Conditioner and the Nourishing Hair Oil. You can read more about the formulations here. They're available mass, drug and grocery retailers between $13.99 and $19.
WIN A SET OF NEXXUS HAIRCARE!
For a chance to win some Nexxus goodies of your own, simply leave a comment below or check out my Instagram post and leave me a comment. It's that easy.
This post is sponsored by Unilever. All images and opinions posted here are my own.
Colour Me Tan with Jergens® Natural Glow®
Confession time: I used to love tanning. As a kid, I'd spend summers in Miami and I would spend hours baking in the sun, sometimes without sunscreen. I'm lucky because I have olive skin that doesn't burn, but I cringe when I think of all the permanent damage under the surface. Ugh.
That's probably why I'm so obsessed with skincare now. I make sure to take care of my outer layer from head to toe. But I can't lie - I still love the look of a tan, but I'm not willing to do anymore damage to my skin. Over the years, I've tried dozens of self-tanners and I've always been disappointed. Sometimes they're sticky, or they smell weird, or worse - they leave you orange! Not sexy.
When Jergens® asked me to be part of their Natural Glow® influencer program and participate in their #GlowAndShow campaign, I was super excited. I grew up with the brand, and I still use a lot of their products regularly (love you Soothing Aloe Moisturizer). I've heard great things about their Natural Glow® line and was eager to try it out. Well, I've been using it for a few weeks and you can see the results for yourself. Pretty awesome, huh?
BEFORE
AFTER
Application was seamless and the smell is none offensive, which was a huge relief because the self-tanners I've tried in the past have always been iffy in this area. And it's subtle but noticeable, like I spent 4 straight days chilling at that Mandarin Oriental pool in Las Vegas drinking margaritas as they play Calvin Harris all day long. A girl can dream.
A plus that came out of this that I didn't expect is that my clothes look more vibrant. Now that it's spring, I find myself wearing a lot of stark white outfits and lighter colours. Now that my skin is a little tanned, my clothes just pop. I also look healthier, which hi, everyone wants.
I've tried "high end" self-tanners in the past, and I can't say any of them have justified the price point. Jergens® Natural Glow® usually retails for under $15 and lasts for quite some time, so it's definitely worth picking up. I'd argue that it's even better than some of the self-tanners that I've tried that cost two, even three times more.
You can pick up entire the Jergens® product line up at Well.ca (who I've been shopping with for years - one of my fave online retailers).
Make sure to check out my posts on Instagram and make sure to check out @JergensCA for new products and amazing offers.
xo, Nathalie
[This blog post was sponsored by Jergens® but all the opinions are my own]
BOMBER JACKETS FOR SS16
Happy Sunday! Did anyone else sleep in this morning or was it just me? I figured today is a crucial rest day since the madness of Toronto Fashion Week begins tomorrow. With that being said, I decided to do a little bit of shopping to freshen up my look.
This whole outfit was subconsciously inspired by these "Blackcats" custom Converse by @elicserelliott. He'll be at Town Shoes, Eaton Centre, today from 12-5pm today customizing Converse so make sure you stop by! Personally I wanted cats on my sneakers seeing as I have two little black cats of my own. Crazy cat lady much? I think so.
Earlier in the week, I did a bit of online shopping and picked up this heavily distressed plaid shirt from Zara. The hemline is completely frayed, which I love. I also just got this amazing bomber jacket from Mackage's SS16 collection. In case you guys haven't been following fashion week around the globe, bomber jackets are HUGE this season! As for the bag, you might have seen me carrying it in red (here), but that one was borrowed. I loved it so much that I needed it in black for my own collection. (Thanks Mackage!!) Finally, the jeans, v-neck and baseball cap are not "new in" but you guys know that I believe in investing in good quality basics and that I'm not really one for fast fashion. ;)
So there you have it, I know this look is uber casual considering we're entering TFW, but I think in the past I've always "tried too hard". This year I'm going to dress for me.
xo, Nathalie
THE MEN'S CLUB
Loafers, oxfords and brogues. Shoes borrowed from the boys are always fun when they have a feminine twist. I got these Chanel patent leather loafers last year and they still remain a favourite. Below I put together a list of some amazing finds from this season complete with grommets, spikes and horsebit details in patent leather and silver finishes. Dare I say there's something for everyone?
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ALEXANDER LIANG
TRENDING: COLOUR CORRECTING
If you read the beauty section of my blog regularly you'll know that I suffer from bad under eye circles. To be honest I've been using orange concealer for as long as I can remember in hopes of getting that "8 hours of sleep" look. While colour correcting isn't anything new, every brand out there has just launched a new product to help us obtain that flawless look. Naturally I was intrigued to see if my complexion could improve, so I went to Sephora and picked up concealers in a plethora of colours. Keep reading to learn what colours are best for cancelling out redness, dark circles and how to brighten a dull complexion.
xo, Nathalie
MARC JACOBS BEAUTY COVER(T) STICK COLOR CORRECTOR, $52
COLOUR: Lilac and pink
TO CANCEL OUT: Dullness
I'm a big fan of Marc Jacobs Beauty and I've been wanting to try this stick corrector since it launched. It's rather pricey at $52, but it definitely surpassed my expectations. The stick form calls for quick application and the formula itself is lightweight and blends like a dream. I tested it on half of my face pre-workout with foundation over top to see how it would hold up. One sweaty hour later, the side with the corrector was brighter and more awake than the none corrector side. Overall I love this product and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get rid of a dull complexion.
BECCA BACKLIGHT TARGETED COLOUR CORRECTOR, $34
COLOUR: Red
TO CANCEL OUT: Dark spots and deep blue & green under eye circles. Ideal for medium to dark skin.
I've seen YouTube tutorials of people using red lipstick to combat dark circles and thought it was weird. Then Becca launches their new corrector in the shade Papaya and of course I have to try it. Though I'm still unsure how I feel about it and the results are decent, not ground breaking. To erase dark circles, start by applying the red concealer first and blend, then apply foundation and a regular concealer. In case you're dying to get it, it's currently sold out on Sephora.com but I got mine in store over the weekend. Alternatively, you can use red lipstick like a YouTuber.
URBAN DECAY NAKED SKIN COLOR CORRECTING FLUID, $35
COLOUR: Lavender
TO CANCEL OUT: Sallowness and dullness
Similar to the Marc Jacobs corrector stick, this one by Urban Decay also brightens up a dull complexion and cancels out sallowness. This formula is thicker and therefore has fuller coverage and is best used on small areas, like around the nose, where as the MJ formula is good for a full face. The average person probably only needs one lavender corrector, so I'd say go with the MJ. It's just nicer.
GIORGIO ARMANI MASTER CORRECTOR, $39
COLOUR: Orange
TO CANCEL OUT: Dark circles
This orange corrector was my holy grail for years and to be honest, I'm not sure why I stopped using it. The formula is pretty lightweight, with good coverage and blends in nicely. Concealer sits beautifully on top of the Armani corrector and looks pretty natural when all is said and done. The down side is that it's pretty expensive, but a tube will last you half a year. Keep in mind that peach and orange shades are best used on fair/ medium skin. Come to think of it that's probably why I stopped using it, because I needed something with full coverage...
COLOUR: Green
TO CANCEL OUT: Redness
My complexion is olive so the only time I experience redness is when I have a pimple. This NYX concealer offers the most coverage and highest pigmentation out of all of the correctors here, but don't be fooled because that's not necessarily a good thing. I find it challenging to blend this one out because it's so pigmented. It's not my fave formula but for $8, I'm willing to keep it around for emergency pimple cover ups. If you have a lot of redness or spots, I'd recommend the MJ or Urban Decay correctors over this one.
BLEND, BLEND, BLEND
A good quality makeup brush will blend concealer flawlessly and help makeup last longer. I love both the Marc Jacobs No. 2 foundation brush and the Artis Oval 7. Both are pricey but they're good quality with dense bristles for superior blending and they don't shed. If there's only one brush you could have, I'd say get the Oval 7. It blends foundation to a flawless finish and works bronzer and blush in like magic. I'll do a full review on the Oval 7 soon so check back. (I got mine at Bergdorf's in NY but it seems to be sold out online. If you're desperate for an Artis brush, I'd recommend the Oval 6 over the Oval 8. It'll blend around the eyes and nose much easier.)
Colour Correctors Concealers from left to right: NYX green, Marc Jacobs Beauty Bright Now, Urban Decay Lavender, Giorgio Armani Orange and Becca Papaya.
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I QUIT
I did it. I finally quit my day job!
Bring out the champagne or Campari (LOL) because this calls for celebration!
This whole time I've had a clear vision of what I want WoahStyle to be in the future and it's paid off. In the upcoming months you can look forward to seeing more beauty posts, product reviews and, tutorials. I'll bring you guys more informational posts post about trends and how to style your current wardrobe. I'll also be posting more often (yay) because I want WoahStyle to be an information hub of all things fashion, makeup and lifestyle.
Happy Sunday, thanks for reading and go out and enjoy the beautiful day!
xo, Nathalie
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MICHAEL BIRO, GLOBAL GARÇON
ORGANIC SKINCARE FOR TROUBLED SKIN
Imagine my surprise and delight when I'm going through the Sephora site a couple of weeks ago and I see my all time favourite skincare brand under the What's New section. I'm talking about the home grown, Toronto based, natural skincare line Consonant. I've tried a ton of skincare in the last year and they continue to be on the top of my list.
Mostly recently I was chatting with a colleague of mine (oh hey Anita!) about how her skin has been freaking out. This is a woman who wears no makeup and has beautiful skin that I can only wish to achieve with foundation and concealer. Anyway, I've seen my own skin go through various stages of freak outs from stress, the weather and my age. (Yes I'm in my 30's and proud.) So here I am, pretending to be a skincare guru and shit, trying to diagnose Anita's skin and I have this "aha moment" and tell her what she needs is Consonant.
Their Ultra Moisturizing cream is the best thing you could ever put on your face. I have oily/ combo skin and I love this cream like I love my cats. The cream absorbs into the skin right away leaving it well hydrated. Take it a step further with their HydrExtreme serum, the holy grail of all serums. This stuff has gotten me through some severe winters and has even balanced my skin back to normal when I apply it to blemishes. It's like a little miracle serum that nourishes the skin.
Finally, everyone- young, old, male, female, needs a good SPF in their skincare regimen. I've raved about this product for the last 2 years and I still stand behind it. The Perfect Sunscreen is just that, perfection. It acts as an amazing makeup primer when mixed with a pump of moisturizer and HyrdExtreme. Seriously try it and let me know what you think.
As for Anita and her troubled skin, I hooked her up with some extra Consonant goodies I had lying around. I'm sure that her skin will be back to normal soon and that she'll be hitting up the Sephora counter for the full sized versions.
xo, Nathalie
NEW YORK STREET STYLE
Packing for a 48 hour trip to New York was a little daunting in the sense that I wanted to take everything with me and yet I was limited to what I could fit in a carry on. I'm always inclined to pack more than I need "just in case" but also to shoot my outfits for street style photography. I mean, part of the fun in traveling is bringing you guys new content right? After some thought and careful editing, I packed a couple of jeans, leggings, some tees and of course a leather jacket. Shoe wise I went with my trusty ankle boots and these amazing red lace up heels from Town Shoes. I was drawn to this shoe immediately because they're so feminine and have that beautiful lace up detail that's so on trend right now. Even though I'm a shortie standing at 5'4", I feel like these shoes make my legs look super long, which is something every short girl wishes for. They made their debut in NY and next up is Toronto Fashion Week! Where do your shoes take you? ;)
xo, Nathalie
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Diana Aldea
LOCATION: Chelsea, New York City