SUSTAINABLE Fashion: FALL TRENDS You Already Have In Your Closet
Sustainability is high on my list of concerns these days with everything that’s happening around the world. We all have a responsibility to do our part, and no gesture is too small for the sake of our beloved planet.
This season I’m challenging myself to be more thoughtful than ever about what I’m buying and focus more on using what I already own. Sometimes it’s just a matter of putting an outfit together in a new way, rather than buying a new outfit.
I want to challenge you all to look in your closets and take inventory of what you own because chances are you already have fall’s key fashion trends waiting for you.
Keep reading to learn more about what’s hot this season and be sure to follow me on Pinterest (@woahstyle) for daily outfit inspiration.
Image Source: Pinterest @woahstyle
NEUTRALS / CAMEL
Most of you will already have some gorgeous camel sweaters in your closet. Whether you’re wearing one piece as an accent colour or going for a full head-to-toe monochromatic look - neutrals are the way to go for fall.
SQUARE TOE SHOES
Bottega Veneta has made square toe shoes the IT silhouette of the season. Whether it’s sandals or square toe boots, this will be a really fun way to freshen up footwear.
THE LEATHER EFFECT
Leather is a staple for fashion enthusiasts. This season we’re continuing to see the leather pant, in addition to skirt, dress, and even blouse. There are plenty of vegan alternatives out there, with brands like Nanushka making easy-to-wear, quality faux leather.
OVERSIZED BLAZERS
Oversized blazers will continue to dominate. This season wear it differently - tie a belt around the waist, or, wear it as a coordinating suit with a pair of sneakers. Accessorize with a hat, a cool pair of sunglasses, and all of a sudden the blazer you wore all summer will feel new again.
Fall fashion is all about layers after all so take full advantage and have fun!
Images sourced from Pinterest.
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@LIPSICK | Trying out Laura Mercier's Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick
How To Get A Sun-Kissed Glow All Year Round with Laura Mercier
Love it or hate it, summer is winding down and if you live in a northern climate like Canada, then you know that soon that sun-kissed glow will soon fade.
If you’re like me, you slather on the SPF all year round and stay out of the sun which means that summer glow is faux, faux, faux.
Laura Mercier has just released the limited edition Sun-Kissed Veil makeup - a universally flattering lightweight bronzing balm that can be applied to the face and body. The creamy texture glides on the skin and leaves a sheer bronzed, illuminated finish.
It can be applied with the fingertips, or with your favourite dense bristle brush and is suitable for all skin types.
SHOP MY LOOK
Laura Mercier’s Sun-Kissed Veil comes in a marbled blue oversized compact, with a pattern that’s reminiscent of the ocean.
It’s part of the limited edition Mediterranean Collection, which also contains:
- The Glace Touch lip gloss tubes (available in four sheer shades, Dreamer, Laissez-Faire, Nomade, and Oasis).
- The Velour Extreme Matte Lipsticks (available in four shades, Cabana, Soulful, Seaside, and Optimist, pictured above).
- And, the Caviar Stick Eye Colour (available in four shades, Mystic Gold, Azure, Poolside, and Off The Grid).
The Mediterranean Collection is available at Nordstrom, Saks, and thebay.com in Canada.
SHOP THE LAURA MERCIER Mediterranean Collection
Glace Touch lip gloss tubes
SHOP MY ACCESSORIES
Photos by Nathalie Martin.
Disclaimer: Laura Mercier products provided as PR samples. All opinions are my own.
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Big Surprise, CAMEL Will be HUGE this Fall
We all know that fashion is forever changing and evolving and it’s only natural to shake things up after seeing so much neon for the last couple of seasons.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love lime green and plenty of designers like Acne Studios and Saint Laurent have incorporating bright hues into their fall/winter 2019 collections.
But I’m calling it now, neutral camel tones will dominate our closets for autumn 2019.
SHOP MY LOOK
Luckily there are some key pieces we can all consistently rely on to remain staples in our wardrobes. For example - the leather moto jacket, cashmere sweaters, a black wool coat, and the trusty camel blazer.
This season, however, camel will rule, whether in a head to toe monochromatic look or just by adding one accent piece here like I did with this Zara blazer (exact piece here for $139 CAD).
It’s time to take your camel suits, blazer, and coats out of storage because fall will be here before we know it.
WHAT I’M WEARING
BLAZER, Zara Camel Blazer, $139 (exact here) I sized up to a medium with mine.
TANK, Zara ribbed black tank (exact here)
PANTS, Frank & Eileen Tee Labs Trouser Joggers (exact here)
SHOES, Balenciaga BB Kitten Heel Mules (exact here)
BAG, Loewe Striped Small Hammock bag (exact, preloved here)
SHOP CAMEL BLAZERS & COATS
Photos by Geoff Martin. Video/GIF by Nathalie Martin.
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Designing As a Couple: How Our Opposing Aesthetics Built Our Cozy Space
Image Source: Elle Decor, Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan home
A lot of time, effort, and patience was involved in designing my current living room space. First, it took us nearly a decade to find a couch we could both agree on.
Originally I wanted blue velvet, with a powdery pink velvet couch being a close second choice. He wanted something a bit more masculine and timeless.
We were on opposing ends with our style and it took us a couple of years after getting married to truly understand and respect each others aesthetic.
Image Source: my personal Instagram @_NathalieMartin
From there we learned that a mid-century modern aesthetic speaks to both of us. It’s the perfect harmony of masculinity and femininity allowing me to layer in my quirkiness via home accessories.
It also features lots of warm-toned wooden details - perfect for my husband who dabbles in woodworking and has designed some of the furniture in our home.
Image Source: my personal Instagram @_NathalieMartin
For me, the mid-century modern aesthetic provided me with a neutral canvas to inject my personal style. Similar to my principle of putting an outfit together, I start with a foundation of quality basics - in this case, a tailored, button-tufted brown leather sofa, a simple marble coffee table, and a solid wall-mounted shelf.
Accessories are key in how I bring a space to life and I use art, colour, rugs, pillows, and plenty of colour and texture to layer in everything that I truly love.
Image Source: Jonathan Adler, Full Dose Coasters
For us as a couple, it’s about creating a space that’s balanced with both of our aesthetics, again him being more classic and mine being more eclectic.
Image Source: my personal Instagram @_NathalieMartin
There is this one piece of art in our living room by Roy Ahlgren called Homage to The Cross that I adore more than anything. Every time I look at it, it makes my heart soar. I know I may sound a little exaggerated, but it’s the best and most honest way to describe how this particular piece makes me feel.
My husband, however, could care less, seeing it in more simplistic terms as a cross, but I see it for its complexity and creativity.
Luckily, he respects my eye and my love of art enough to let me have this one, but he’s no pushover and if he dislikes something, he’ll let me know.
SHOP JONATHAN ADLER HOME ACCENTS
My Three Components For Designing A Space - buy pieces you love, go for quality, think about long term use when making big purchases like a dining table or couch.
Image Source: Elle Decor, Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan
ON FINDING YOUR AESTHETIC
It can get a little overwhelming when making a bigger purchase like a sofa or dining room table so how do you know when it’s the right piece? Well, I want to tell you that it’s really as easy as following your instinct and buying what you love and truly makes you happy.
Image Source: The Bay, Jonathan Adler Le Wink four piece coaster set
I’m big into Pinterest (follow me here!) and when I went back into my secret mood board called “dream home”, I immediately noticed some commonalities. I’d been pinning mid-century modern inspired homes for years!
Interestingly enough, a lot of the spaces I was pinning featured the exact Herman Miller Bubble Pendant lamp that we now have hanging in our living room!
Image Source: my personal Instagram @_NathalieMartin
Of course, my inspiration wasn’t just limited to Pinterest. When I visited The Ludlow Hotel in New York for the first time, I felt like I had just stepped into my dream space. I took note of the elements that I loved and brought the concepts into my home.
The leather couch for example accented with the black and white striped wool rug. It was also a pairing I had once seen Nate Berkus put together and I was so taken by it that I printed out the image and had it on my mood board for many years.
Image Source: Nate Berkus via Pinterest
From Pinterest to magazines and travel, inspiration is everywhere. It’s just a matter of paying attention to what you’re drawn to, to bring those elements into your home.
I don’t focus too much on how things go together because I’m consistently drawn to the same colours and patterns. Somehow, it always ends up working.
SHOP MID-CENTURY MODERN INSPIRED FURNITURE
Image Source: Pinterest
HOW TO PULL EVERYTHING TOGETHER
As mentioned earlier, it took us a couple of years before we finally understood our common aesthetic as a couple. One of the first pieces we bought when we finally really got serious about decorating our space was a marble coffee and side tables. We happen to score them on sale and we knew that they were neutral enough to go with anything else that followed.
The tanned leather couch came next. It was comfortable to sit in and most importantly for my husband, it was long enough for him to fully extended his legs when napping - not always an easy find with a 6’1” frame.
Image Source: Jonathan Adler Dora Maar vases via Wayfair
I’d already had tons of art from years of collecting, so from there, it was just a matter of grouping everything into colours that flowed well.
My main gallery wall features a mix of photography and art prints and so I used pink as my accent colour to tie it all in. Keep in mind that having one prominent colour or pattern will bring even the most eclectic space together.
SHOP ECLECTIC HOME ACCESSORIES
FOUR DESIGN RULES FOR DESIGNING A SPACE
FIND YOUR AESTHETIC. If you have a partner, find that balance together. You want to build a personal space that’s relaxing to come home to and brings joy.
TAKE YOUR TIME AND HAVE PATIENCE. I’ve been collecting art prints for over a decade before it all finally came together and I was able to finally create the gallery wall I’d always wanted.
ENJOY THE PROCESS of acquiring things that will bring your home together.
GO FOR QUALITY AND BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU BUY. Even if it costs a little more, it’s worth it if you intended on keeping your pieces for a long time. There’s nothing that irks me more than wobbly chairs and lumpy couches. In my opinion, poorly made stuff is a waste of money that will inevitably fall apart and end up in the landfill.
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How Jeans + T-Shirts Have Simplified My Everyday Routine
Whenever I’m in a rush and need to head out the door quickly, there are a couple of go-to items that I consistently fall back on - sneakers, for comfort and practicality, an oversized t-shirt, preferably one by Balenciaga, and finally, a pair of jeans. (But let's be honest, it's more like sweatpants these days.)
Truth be told I used to spend a lot of time picking my outfits each morning back when I worked in an office. I was a set designer for a television channel at the time, but I also happened to have just launched my blog and Instagram, which meant fresh outfits were important for the sake of creating new content.
SHOP MY LOOK
Interestingly enough, now that I work from home as a freelancer I find myself reaching for the same uniform day in and day out, oversized t, sweatpants, and sneakers. What can I say? Vera Wang and Karl Lagerfeld had uniforms so there must be something to it.
This is how I see it - as much as I love fashion, there are just some days where I'm more preoccupied with my work or enjoying a day off with my family, so glam takes a back seat. And that's okay! I just do my thing and put my spin on a basic t-shirt and sweat pant combo and head out the door to live life.
LUXE FOR LESS
Photos by Geoff Martin
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CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Intense New Oversized Bottle
Just in time for fall, one of my favourite perfumes has just released an oversized edition its woody, amber scent.
The 200ml bottle of CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Intense Perfum is a “warm, soft and feminine ambery accord with Venezuelan tonka bean and Madagascan vanilla heightens the sensuality.”
While the “an extreme and luminous concentration of Indonesian patchouli reveals a voluptuous dimension.”
The scent is sultry and mysterious, warm yet feminine and definitely gets the attention of my husband.
In addition to the oversized bottle, CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Intense Perfume has extended the fragrance collection to include a Velvet Body Oil Spray, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Hair Mist, and the Twist & Spray purse sized bottle.
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“I wanted to remain close to the original formula, while giving it a whole new dimension. I wanted to increase the proportions of fractionated patchouli. Push it to the limit.”
- Olivier Polge.
SHOP MY FAVOURITE CHANEL FRAGRANCES
Photos by Nathalie Martin
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Fall Must-Have: The Leather Trouser
With fall just around the corner, I’m getting really excited about wearing hoodies, sweaters, and yes, leather pants.
It’s all about leather weather in my eyes and I already have a ton of outfits that I want to wear with my these trousers. Here I wore it with an oversized Balenciaga shirt, though it looks equally as amazing with a simple white tank, a black sweatshirt, or even a camel coloured blazer, which means these leather trousers are the ultimate fall must-have.
If you prefer faux leather, check out these ones from Nanushka. They’re ridiculously soft, easy to care for and best of all, they’re high quality so they’ll last season after season.
WEAR LEATHER PANTS WITH …
A CAMEL BLAZER
A BLACK HOODIE
A WHITE TANK
SHOP MY LOOK
LUXE FOR LESS
Photos by Geoff Martin
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Trying Pantene’s New Sulfate-Free Rose Water Collection
A couple of years ago I was excited to try this incredible smelling sulfate-free shampoo that I had received from PR. The bottle retails for around $50 and was the hottest thing in sulfate-free hair care at the time.
I stepped into the shower, excited to lather up only to find nothing happened. No lather whatsoever. It felt like a cream had taken the place of my normal shampoo and somehow this cream was supposed to wash my 4-day old hair. Um, Okay.
I let my hair air dry like normal only to find that my roots felt weighed down with shampoo residue. The whole experience didn’t exactly leave me with clean hair which was extremely frustrating, to say the least.
Since that experience, I’ve stayed away from sulfate-free hair products because I just assumed they don’t work on my thick hair.
As you might already know, I’m a BIG fan of Pantene so when I was sent a bottle of their sulfate-free Rose Water collection, I was intrigued but didn’t want to get my hopes up.
I tried the Rose Water shampoo for the first time just shortly after getting a fresh balayage knowing that the formula is:
- colour safe
- sulfate-free
- paraben-free
- dye-free
- hydrating
- rich in antioxidants
Plus I trust Pantene and have always had a positive experience with their shampoos and conditioners.
To my surprise, the Rose Water shampoo worked into a luxurious lather in my hair. The shampoo is clear and smells subtly of rose water, which I love.
After shampooing, I worked the Rose Water conditioner into my hair and let it sit for a minute before rinsing it away, along with my tangles. This formula is said to instantly release nutrient-rich hydration leaving hair replenished, shiny and smooth. I kid you not, Pantene makes some of the best conditioners around and this one didn't disappoint.
Okay, so it passed the lather test. Seeing whether or not my hair was actually clean once I dried was the next test.
Once dry, my hair felt clean, hydrated, and soft. No residue weighing down my roots either. Pass!
For a few months now I’ve been alternating between the Rose Water collection and my other Pantene fave, the Smooth & Sleek collection. My balayage colour is still in check and I’m really happy with the health and manageability of my hair.
I have to say that Pantene’s Rose Water collection outperformed that high-end $50 bottle by a long shot. It didn’t leave my hair weighed down with a film like the other brand. I also didn't have to sacrifice the lather in my shampoo and still had the benefits of a hydrating, antioxidant rich formula. There were no compromises and it worked as effectively as expected from Pantene.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pantene. All photos and opinions are my own.
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