FANCY FOR CHEAP: HOW TO SHOP DESIGNER SALES

I remember an article on Yvette's blog (aka, Ms. YoLee) a while back where she was talking about the thrill of "the hunt". The shopping hunt that is. It made me realize that I've subconsciously shopping like this for as long as I can remember. Sure, I have a small wish list of non-sale items I want to add to my closet but I feel like it's rare that I actually pay full price. For the most part, I'm a sale shopper and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

From spending too much time shopping (online & IRL) I learned that most designer items will go on sale if you wait. It's a bit of a gamble because sometimes things sell out and it's not always easy to pin point which piece will be the "it" item of the season before it's gone. For example, last year I really wanted Isabel Marant's Jaeryn sandals. They sold out while I was waiting for them to go on sale and I was really upset. The same thing almost happened this year and in fact they had sold out but I found a returned pair on Ssense.com late one night while I was browsing their site. Considering the limited availability of the sandal I didn't mind paying full price too much, but I still cringed when I saw my total at the checkout. 

Aside from buying that rare full priced item here and there, I much prefer shopping the sale section. It might be a little ghetto or taboo to admit out loud but like I tell my hubby, I like to think of it as smart shopping and investing well. For example, if I buy a designer bag for half off and use it for a season or two, I can later sell it on consignment and get my money back if I get tired of it. Plus I never know what sale goodies are going to come my way, hence thrill of "the hunt". I bought my pink Saint Laurent glitter boots on sale and I had been wanting them forever. I swear my heart skipped a beat when I found them for $300 brand new! Givenchy, Isabel Marant, Jil Sander and Valentino are other designers I've picked up on sale and came across them when I was least expecting it. 

So there you have it. A little shopping secret from me to you. Keep your eyes open and be patient because those Valentino Rockstuds you always wanted could be yours for half off! ;)

xo, Nathalie

Word to the wise: Shopping sales can be tempting so only buy what you love. There's nothing more annoying than buyers remorse especially on final sales.

Be sure to shop sales through a reputable place. I prefer high end department stores and the end of season sales on SSENSE.

MY SALE SCORES:
Gold criss cross sandals, Gucci, 50% off, Holts
Skinny jeans, 3x1, 80% off, Marshalls
Falabella denim star bag, Stella McCartney, 45% off, Holts
Silk top (in blue here), Elizabeth & James, 50% off, SAKS
Sunnies, Salvatore Ferragamo, gifted (similar here)
Necklaces, Lisbeth Jewelry, gifted
Larsson & Jennings Norse watch, sponsored/gift

LWD

I love me a little white dress and in fact, I love little dresses of any sort. I picked up this one from Zara a few weeks ago and loved it for the fact it's easy and breezy for the hot humid weather. The little frills around the skirt can make the dress easily look too young which is why I paired it with some of my favourite sophisticated accessories. Plus the accessories suddenly take it from being just a white dress to making it more me.

First, up - gold slippers. These are the quintessential shoe for the summer and I swear the gold leather goes with everything. I think they're supremely comfortable and since I bought them I've been wearing them almost everyday.

I felt compelled to tie a black bandana around the handle of my bag. I think it makes my overall outfit less precious and more rebellious.

I'm always mixing metals- gold shoes, silver hardware on my bag a rhodium plated and silver earrings. I'm also wearing layered gold necklaces from Vancouver born, Toronto based designer, Lisbeth Jewelry. If you haven't checked out her collection yet, make sure you do. 

Will you be wearing a little white dress this summer and if so, how will you be accessorizing?

xo, Nathalie

FAUX TANNING WEEK: THE TRIED, TESTED & TRUE

Faux Tanning Week is finally here and I'm super excited to dive into this series! I've been working on this story for the last month, testing every single product that you guys see here. There's a mix of items that were sent to me alongside some items that I purchased myself so that I could talk to many different products on the market right now because I really wanted to be as diverse as possible for you guys!

Throughout the week I'll be giving you tips on the best application, how to prep the skin properly to get an even tan as well as which products look most natural and are least scented. For those who are reluctant to commit to using a self tanner, fear not because I'll also be talking about how to use bronzers in order to achieve that bronzed goddess glow that you can rinse off in the shower at the end of the day.

Check back daily because there's 5 days worth of content starting tomorrow!

xo, Nathalie

THE NEW DENIM ON DENIM

Doing a new take on denim on denim with this Stella McCartney Falabella star bag paired with my Zara mini skirt. A mint pair of Vans looks super fresh with denim and they're perfect for walking around the farmers market. I was influenced by my style crush, Lizzy VD Ligt, and topped off the look with some Comme des Garçons stripes. 

Finally, Happy Fathers Day to all of the dad's out there! I don't normally talk about my family and personal life but I to take a sec to say thank you to my father for always being there for me. He gave me his cheezy sense of humour, love of animals and his love of music. He had mix tapes in his car and records in the house and was constantly playing The Beatles, CCR, The Eagles and Bob Marley amongst so many others. He's the one who took me to my first rock concert when none of my other friends where allowed to go. Both he and my mum have always encouraged my creative side so I know without them, I might not be doing this today. Happy Father's Day Pops!!

xoxo, Nathalie

Hanging around St. Jacobs Farmers Market with bestie Global Garçon. 

WOAHSTYLE UPDATES & GELATO

Countdown to the weekend is on! Looking forward to more gelato filled adventures with my besties and just vegging out after a long week. Of course there's always blog related work to be done and I'll be prepping a new series called SELF TANNING WEEK! I can't wait to share my secrets, tips and must-haves on how to achieve a perfect summer glow without the suns harmful rays. 

Stay tuned for a week filled with new content and be sure to check back this weekend because I will be posting new content on what to wear to the farmers market and how to have a relaxing spa Sunday at home!

Happy Friday! 

xo, Nathalie

Chillin' with bestie Michael aka; fashion blogger, Global Garçon. So much for Instagrammable ice cream pics. Our gelato lasted all but 2 minutes before it turned into a soppy melted mess. The shit we do for IG. 

I picked up this LBD from Jcrew Factory this past weekend. I wanted something easy to wear during the hot summer months. I sized up by 2 sizes for that "effortless oversized" look. Black is sold out online but pale blue and red are still available.

Brown leather sandals, Alexander Wang
Little black dress, Jcrew Factory
Mini Dionysus bag, Gucci
Red Bandana, picked it up at the Selena Gomez Revival Tour (when I met her!)

TRENDING: THE WRAP SANDAL

I can't resist a good pair of shoes. They can make or break an outfit and elevate basic jeans and t-shirt into something spectacular. This season we're seeing a lot of wrap sandals but this trend is far from new. My mum used to wear them in the 70's and when I was 15, I stole a pair from her. They were these nude leather wedges with red beads along the toe. The actually remind me of those Aquazzura's sandals everyone is obsessed with. I wore them so much that they eventually broke and I had to retire them. Fast forward to present day and I'm all about the wrap sandals again.

HOW TO WEAR THEM
I like to wear my wrap sandals with skirts, shorts or cropped jeans. Basically anything that shows my legs. The beauty of the wrap detail is that it slims and elongates the leg. They're ultra-feminine and really hot without trying too hard. 

WHICH PAIR IS RIGHT FOR YOU
With lots of options out there, I prefer the wrap sandals with the smaller heel. For everyday life I prefer a shoe 2" and under so these ones by Steve Madden are perfect. Taupe is a must-have shoe colour this season but it goes beyond SS16 because it's a neutral. For example, I'm wearing my sandals with black and red, which can be pretty harsh colours during the summer but the softness of the taupe suede and the feminine shape help make my outfit more lighthearted. Now if you're a high heels kinda girl, there are plenty of stiletto options out there for you. 

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
Honestly, if this is a shape you're into, I say go for it and invest in a pair of wrap sandals this season. I've collected a few pairs over time, including the ones I pilfered from my mum (which I still have btw). I wear my wrap sandals because I love them, not because they're on trend. 

xo, Nathalie

Take a 75% off with my Steve Madden coupons or shop this look here!

*This a sponsored post. All photos and opinions are my own.

UNDER MY UMBRELLA-ELLA

Rainy day fun with Gucci! Who says the rain has to put a damper on the way we dress? 

I must confess though that I did buy the clear umbrella for the occasion because.... I have a thing for umbrellas. Come on! Are you really surprised considering how accessories obsessed I am? LOL.

xo, Nathalie

Off the shoulder silk top & necklace: Club Monaco
Jeans: Rag & Bone (similar here)
Embroidered shirt worn as jacket: Sanctuary Clothing
Watch: Nixon
Mini Dionysus bag & gold slippers: Gucci

Larsson & Jennings Redux

You guys know me by now. I'm the kind of person who loves accessories. I don't shy away from gold shoes or pink sparkly boots and when I see glittery, shiny anything, I salivate just a little too much. I feel the same about the littles - my monogramed agenda, my glossy patent leather card holder and my Larsson & Jennings watch. They're personal items that make me feel good when I look at them but they're more than just pretty, they're a functional part of my day to day life. 

For this collaboration I teamed up with larssonandjennings.com/ca/ to introduce their new Norse collection. Something about the rectangular watch face seems more classic and timeless to me versus the usual round. Details aside, LJ makes some of my favourite watches. Just ask my BFF, she swiped my last one and under the guise of borrowing it but it's clear she has no plans on giving it back. This is a woman who hasn't worn a watch in years. Very telling to Larsson & Jennings design wouldn't you say?

I've worn a watch pretty much everyday of my life since I was young. My watch has always been an extension of my personal style and I just love how something as subtle as the leather of the strap or the dials can make a big impact in its design. 
 

THAT MONOGRAMMED LIFE. Larsson & Jennings surprised me by embossing my initials into the strap meaning my BFF won't be swiping this one anytime soon! Sorry Diana!

This post is sponsored by Larsson & Jennings. All photos and opinions are my own.

COVER GIRL x KATY PERRY FULL COLLECTION

Let me just start this article by saying that I'm not the biggest Katy Perry fan out there. Sure, she's got some catchy songs, and I think she's pretty cute, but I'm far from being a die-hard fan. Regardless of what you think of her, you can't deny her makeup is always flawless so I was pumped when her entire Cover Girl collection landed on my desk. 

Ya see, I love CG mascara like nothing else. Search the words "cover girl" on my blog and you'll find articles dating from the beginning proclaiming my love for it. Could the Katy Kat Matte lipsticks live up to mascaras? Let's see. 

From black to nude, Katy's lip collection has a solid range of pretty colours. I'm actually surprised because so many celebrity collabs don't hold much weight to them. Black and lavender aside, the 11 shade lipstick collection features pinks, corals, reds and mauves that are flattering even on my olive skin tone. 

The formula is more creamy than matte with a bit of a sheen, but they apply well feel good on the lips. I wouldn't exactly say they're long lasting, but when paired with a lip liner, your lipstick should still be on even after downing a venti iced coffee.

At under $10 a tube, they're much cheaper than Bite Beauty's Amuse Bouche, with some similar colours found in the Katy Kat collection. My personal faves are; Catoure, Maroon Meow, Crimson Cat and Cat Call.

Before getting the Katy Katy media kit, I thought Perry's collection was limited to lipstick. I'm thrilled she extended the line to mascara because COVER GIRL MASCARA IS THE SHIT! *Ahem.

Okay. 

Available in Black and Perry Blue, the brush on these is unique with its twist design of long and short bristles to coat and separate lashes evenly. Thank you Katy!

BEAUTY TIP: Add a touch of blue mascara to the tips of your lashes for a subtle pop of colour. It makes it more wearable during the day.

I don't know if Katy and Cover Girl plan on extending the line at any point, but I hope they add nail polish to the mix because I have a feeling she would design a killer collection! 

xo, Nathalie

*In collaboration with Cover Girl. All opinions and photos are my own.