021114 Style Inspo: Isabel Marant
These Zara faux leather pants remind of me everything Isabel Marant because of the five pocket denim style. I just love them! I wore them with my Isabel Marant Angie boot, a pretty black top from Aritzia, a salt & pepper wool coat and accessorized with a grey knit beanie and wool fringe scarf. It's all playing playing with textures and layers here.
Aritzia Jacoby wool coat
Aritzia black Beaudry blouse (exact)
Zara faux leather jeans (exact)
Isabel Marant grey & navy Angie boot
Salvatore Ferragamo frames
Oak + Fort beanie
Diesel Studded belt (similar here)
Alexander Wang Fumo clutch (exact)
021015 Hello, I'm Shoe Obsessed. This is my Story.
When the very stylish Michael of globalgarcon.com tagged me to share my shoe story, I was really excited considering how much I love my shoes. So many of my shoes have a story but these 3.1 Phillip Lim shoes really stand out in my books.
3.1 PHILLIP LIM PAGE LOAFERS, 2012
I first saw these shoes in an issue of Elle Magazine back in 2012 and it was love at first sight! There was a photo of this fabulous editor wearing a black rabbit fur vest and printed pants. All I cared about was her amazing shoes!
For the next few months I stalked Ssense and Shopbop on the daily looking for this shoe. I didn’t know what they were called. I just knew that Phillip Lim was the designer. Five or six months later they finally arrived at Shopbop.com and I nearly died. I ordered them right away and regretted it right after. I’d just paid the equivalent of 1 shoe in customs and duties. Ugh. When I finally got my order, I had every intention of sending them back because I felt so foolish about the import fees. But I didn’t. I had waited half a year for these shoes and they were finally mine! I couldn’t let them go!!!
The first day I wore them I was so happy but OMG did they ever hurt! Every step I took was brought on by sharp pains on the sides of my feet. I was crippled after wearing them for a couple of hours and I could still feel my feet throbbing later that night while in bed. To make a long story short it took a couple of years, (yes years!) to break these beauties in. Even now I can’t wear them for too long because they will eventually hurt but I do love these damn loafers! Between the wait, the absurd import duties and the pain, it was all worth it.
3.1 PHILLIP LIM QUINN LOAFERS IN GUNMETAL, 2013
Before Instagram I was a magazine junkie spending way too much money and time going through issue after issue trying to get my fashion fix. I think I saw the metal Phillip Lim Quinn loafer in an issue of Flare and my jaw dropped open. I ran to the computer to order them online. Ssense was sold out of my size but there they were on 31philliplim.com. UGH. More important fees!
For the next couple of days I obsessed with finding them through a Canadian retailer (with no such luck) in hopes of avoiding custom fees. I also googled the hell out of “silver shoes street style” to make sure that I was making the right choice for my closet. I ordered them and it was heaven until I wore them. What is it about PL shoes?! The Quinn loafers hurt for a short while but I persevered. I felt like a rock star wearing my silver loafers and I needed to break them in fast!
I’m so glad I got them because Phillip Lim hasn’t released this colour since. The Quinn style gets carried over season after season but the finishes are always different. These have become one of my favourite pair of shoes and I totally mean it when I say every girl needs silver shoes.
My Phillip Lim collection now includes three pairs of shoes and two handbags.
020915 The Silk Blouse
When Kate from Doll Memories emailed me about a collab, I was already familiar with her designs having seen them on the lovely Ruby of RougeCloset.com. Being a sucker all things cute and well made clothes, I said yes right away. It was hard to choose but I ended up getting the Night Butterflies blouse since they reminded me of the Givenchy magnolia print which I'm so in love with right now.
When I posted this adorable silk blouse on IG last week, everyone was surprised saying that it's a different look for me. The beauty about fashion is that it's always evolving. Dressing the same way all of the time can get boring and predictable and in case you haven't noticed, I'm all about trying new things this year and updating my look. That's why I'm drawn to Doll Memories. The hand drawn prints are whimsical and the cuts on the clothes are classic and sophisticated and can be dressed in so many ways and I'm always a fan of versatile clothing. Remember what I said in my previous post on styling different pieces - it's all about staying true to your personal style.
I love Hedi Slimane's free spirited, rock and roll influence and I think it really speaks to my personal style. With him in mind I styled my cute butterfly blouse with my zippered Rag & Bone jeans, my favourite Alexander Wang ankle boots, a cropped black leather jacket from Mackage, my studded Givenchy Pandora bag and my wool hat from Target, a lucky find for $16.
My jacket, boots and bag have silver hardware but I opted for brass and gold tones in my jewelry. This Jenny Bird palm cuff has become an absolute favourite of mine and I scored it shortly after I put myself on a shopping diet. Clearly that didn't last long! The black onyx necklace is by Lisbeth Jewelry, another Toronto designer who's pieces can only be described as free spirited and sophisticated. The pinkie ring was a gift from my mum when I was a child. I'm almost embarrassed that it still fits.
For all of those hesitant about trying something new, don't overthink it and just go for it. Fashion is all about fun and if you're looking for something new and unique, have a look at Doll Memories.
*Doll Memories silk blouse
Mackage leather jacket
Rag & Bone zippered jeans
Alexander Wang black ankle boots
Givenchy small studded Pandora bag
Chanel glasses
Lisbeth Jewelry necklace
Jenny Bird palm cuff
Target wool hat
MAC bright pink lipstick in Impassioned
020815 How To Style: The Sequin Pants
Having always wanted sequin pants I ran to my nearest H&M when I heard these bad boys where on sale for only $10! Granted they are one size too small around the waistband so they're a bit tight but the legs fit perfectly so why not?
Don't get overwhelmed with thoughts of how to style sequin pants. Simply dress them as you would anything else in your closet and stay true to your personal style. I love t-shirts so I choose a heathered grey one to go with my pants and kept the look monochromatic. Throwing my navy faux fur overtop keeps me warm in the winter and gives the outfit some luxe texture. A black leather jacket would work here as well.
To accessorize I went with my black Givenchy Pandora bag (mine is the small size). I like the clean modern structure of this bag that makes a statement without competing with the sequin pants. For shoes I followed the same rule of clean and modern lines and chose my black 3.1 Phillip Lim kitten heels. Remember, it's about complimenting the pants and not competing with it.
I hardly wear belts but here a belt adds a nice break since the pant and shirt are similar almost the same colour.
I love the mixed metals of silver and gold from my Bulova bracelet watch (a gift from my parents). Mixing metals is a fun way of playing with jewelry and it keeps the look from being too perfect. The devil is in the details.
This Zara faux dur is my go to on the weekends. It dressed up even the most basic out outfits and goes with pretty much everything!
Zara Faux Fur
Aritzia heathered grey shirt
Free People belt
H&M sequin pants (I cuffed mine)
3.1 Phillip Lim kitten heel boots
Givenchy small black Pandora bag with studs
Lola's Vanity rings
Stila Custom Blush in Coral
Benefit Hoola
Sonia Kashuk contour brush No. 17
Sonia Kashuk blush brush No. 02
Nars Audacious Lipstick in Rita
Bulova Watch
Salvatore Ferragamo black glasses
020615 Target Cosmetics Must Buys
Alright dear friends, before Target is gone for good, here are a few things that I highly recommend. They are my all time favourite cheapie cosmetic finds that won't disappoint. With the liquidation that began Thursday, all cosmetics are 30% off right now so I'm stocking up on some old faves and some items that won't be available in Canada once Target leaves. And remember friends, be courteous to each other and the staff while your out there. Liquidation isn't an excuse for forgetting your manners.
I've just discovered these Velvety Matte Lip Crayon's by Sonia Kashuk, under $8, and I prefer these to the Nars Audacious lipstick that I bought last month. I've been wearing Poppy Nude (an orange red) for about two weeks now and I get compliments everywhere I go. I also picked up Coral Nude (an orange coral) for a more subtle are look but only bought one of those. The staying power and vibrant colours on these crayons are beautiful so go pick them up!
Lipliners are a must for me and I love the one by Annabelle called Demure. It's the perfect nude that it's too brown or pink so that means it doesn't alter the colour of my lipstick. At under $4 at Target, I wish I'd stocked up on more but they all seem to be gone. Consider yourself lucky if you get your hands on some and stock up!
I read about the No.1 Powder Brush, $19, by Sonia Kashuk in Allure magazine who called it one of the best. I've been using this one for a couple of weeks now and I love, love, love it! It distributes a nice thin layer of powder which means no more cakey face. The bristles are also super soft and so far they haven't shed once. Since I loved the No.1, I also grabbed the No.2 Blush Brush, $17 - another goodie that applies my Stila blush beautifully. Finally just grabbed the No.17 Multi-Purpose Powder Brush. Since the bristles are angled, I figured this brush would be excellent for contouring my cheekbones.
I came across this Cover Girl mascara over six years ago and I've been re-buying it since. At the time I was looking for a drugstore dupe of Dior's Diorshow Mascara and found this. The lashes I get from the CG Lashblast are thick, long, separated and NEVER SMUDGE!!!! My skin is on the oiler side so a lot of eye makeup smudges but this stuff stays put. I apply 2 coats to the upper lashes and one coat to the lower lashes and it stays on all day till I wash it off. Right now I'm not using makeup remover and Consonant face wash just gets it all off. LOVE IT!
I heard about the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer on a YouTube channel and ran out to grab it after hearing it's a dupe or Nars Radiant Concealer. I love my Nars and I swear by it but I'm also concealer obsessed and couldn't resist trying this one. It's creamy and has excellent coverage that lasts. I apply mine with my Beauty Blender sponge and I love the flawless look I get. Oh - and don't forget to set it with powder using your No.1 Sonia Kashuk brush so your concealer won't go anywhere! (I'm using shade 20 Sand, a light shade on the yellow side for my medium olive skin.)
For brows I love my Annabelle Eyebrow Crayon in Medium Brown. Even at the end of the day my brows are still on my face and the colour looks so good. I just love this pencil. Again, it's $4 at Target so stock up now because all Annabelle products are double the price at Shoppers!
Okay so this one isn't a cosmetic but it's a super adorable carrying case, by Orla Kiely Etc, that is perfect for travel. They are perfect for my ever growing makeup collection and will make me happy on my next trip. And before you all say anything about the pattern and colour on these cases I have to tell you something. I actually really love cute things like Hello Kitty and Totoro and the colour pink, almost as much as I love black and leather and gold!
If you guys have any amazing drug store finds that you can't live without, let me know. I'm always looking for new goodies.
020415 Box of Hearts
If you read my last post on the Butter Avenue spring tasting you'll know that I was lucky enough to sample some amazing off-the-menu and on-the-menu items. To clarify, you won't be seeing savoury waffles in their stores anytime soon, but the Valentine's Day treats are available for special order.
For those who haven't tried Butter Avenue macarons yet I should mention that their patisseries taste even more phenomenal than they look! I'm not just saying that because they've spoilt me with macarons but I honestly mean it. Go try them and let me know what you think! ;)
Thank you again Butter Avenue. Love you guys!! xo
Heart Shaped French Macarons and "All My Heart" cake by Butter Avenue, Toronto
Chanel perfum bottle gold foil print by I See Noise, Vancouver
020315 Butter Avenue Spring Tasting
I want to start this post by saying thank you to Calvin Su and Chef Tina Su, for inviting Geoff and I to a wonderful evening sampling their spring tastings menu. Alongside some other very talented Toronto bloggers and Instagram-ers, we joined Calvin and Chef Tina (siblings in case you're wondering) for some artisan brewed coffee, special savoury waffles and ate one of the most beautiful (limited edition) heart shaped raspberry, lychee cakes ever! It's released especially for Valentines Day btw. I hope you'll enjoy this special behind the scenes post because the magic of Butter Avenue is real and now we love it even more!
xo, Nathalie
Vacuum brewed coffee provides an excellent way to bring out the full flavours of the Vanilla & Chocolate Guatemalan coffee that was served. Each small pot took about about 10 mins to brew but we didn't mind. It was fun to watch and delicious to drink!
Being the only vegetarian there, Chef Tina still made me feel included by serving me a special dish of beautifully marinated veggies to go with the waffles. Everyone else got smoked salmon with raspberry vinaigrette.
To cleanse the palette we were served a Pink Refresher of pink grapefruit and lemon. Sweet and slightly tangy. Yum!
While the whole evening was so fun and special this is kind of where I lost it! Chef Tina assembled the "All My Heart" cake in front of us. Fresh raspberries and lychee filled with raspberry cremeux were gently placed on a cake made of creme d'amande rose and raspberry spirit. A heart shaped macaron tops off the cake that's perfect for two. After the cake was assembled we sat down for a taste and instead of a piece, an entire cake was brought out for each of us to take home! Amazing!
Along with our cakes we all got a "Box of Hearts" French macarons to enjoy for the next day. The box of 6 contains 66% dark chocolate, raspberry and vanilla caramel. It is limited edition and was available for order starting now. I'll be calling Butter Avenue to grab a few of these before they're gone. Oh - and in case you're wondering why you don't see heart shaped macarons often, it's because they're very difficult to make. That just makes them even more desirable and special if you ask me.
For Valentine's Day orders call Butter Avenue directly at their order desk at 647-341-8686.
020215 Calm After The Storm
Who would have thought that I'd have so much fun kicking snow around in the forest. It's not my usual fashion post but when it snows, get out there and have some fun! (That is till your toes freeze from wearing inappropriate rubber shoes!)
Roots pompom beanie | Armani sunglasses | Tom Ford lipstick in Wild Ginger | Zara faux fur coat | Mackage jacket (worn under) | Aritzia wool fringe scarf and knitted mittens | Alexander Wang Diego bag | Rag & Bone zippered skinny jeans | Michael Kors rubber moto boots
012915 Falling In Love Again
Chanel Blush | NARS primer | Sonia Kashuk No.1 powder brush | Fjord Munan Watch in silver - Get 50% off fjordtimepieces.com with discount code LOVEWOAHSTYLEDOTCOM | MBMJ Quilted iPad Mini Case (see below for more) | Saint Laurent Babycat Studded Loafers | Birds Of A Feather bracelets | Lola's Vanity rings | Logiix Blue Piston Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Marc Jacobs was one of the first designers who's clothing truly resonated with my own style. I was going through my own grunge stage when he was sending the supermodels of the 90's down the runway of Perry Ellis in flannel shirts and ripped jeans. Remember that?
Fast forward to my first real job working as a Marketing Assistant. So much of my closet consisted of MBMJ at the time. They clothes and accessories were fun and versatile and I loved everything! Marc Jacobs was with Luis Vuitton and his success blew up. Not too long after, MBMJ became predictable and boring and I fell out love.
But something happened recently. Now that he's left LV his designs are back! His current accessories collection for MBMJ has my heart racing again and I have a mile long wish list of so many things that I'm coveting. Welcome back Marc. I've missed you!
