Classic Black & Graphic Pops
Head to toe black, graphic patterns and a matcha green tea latte. Is there really anything else for a cold rainy morning? Exactly.
Dior glasses
Birds Of A Feather bracelet
Vitaly Design bracelet
Fjord all black Munan watch
Miu Miu slip on sneakers
LOCATION: Odin Cafe & Bar, Toronto
Marc By Marc Jacobs Don't Panic tote
Aritzia cocoon coat
Mackage leather jacket
Brandy Melville tank
Rag & Bone legging jeans
Volare Timepiece
Thanks so much to Klasse14 for this awesome contemporary watch called Volare (which means "fly" in Italian). With a seamless black leather band and curved brushed steel face, the watch is truly like nothing I've seen before. It is oversized which makes it unisex and excellent for sharing with my hubby, who is constantly lusting over my watches.
Old Montreal Travel Diary
You’ll have to excuse my lateness on getting the rest of my Montreal travel diary up. To be completely honest, I threw off my entire blogging schedule while on holiday and it’s been tough to get back to the routine. Here we go!
HOTEL
My hubby and I stayed at the Le Place d’Armes Hôtel & Suites in Old Montreal knowing that was the part of the city we were interested in. The location was superb, right across the street from the Notre-Dame Basilica and within walking distance of some of the best restaurants, cafe's, art galleries and shops - including Ssense and Rooney.
Our room was equipped with a posh bathroom and one of the most comfortable hotel beds I've ever slept in. I usually have a hard time sleeping when I'm not in my own bed but I clunked right out during my stay.
The hotel itself was very clean with friendly staff. Two restaurant bars are located in the hotel, Suite 701 Lounge and Kyo Bar Japonais, but we never got around to visiting either because we were too busy exploring the city. The only annoying part of our stay with Le Place d’Armes was the street construction that had us circling the area in our car in absolute frustration trying to drive up to the hotel. Between the countless one way streets and closed roads, we were on the brink of heading back to Toronto. Their website hadn't mentioned street construction and in my opinion, it's their responsibility to notify their patrons of such things online.
EAT
Pretty much every restaurant I've ever eaten at in Montreal has been amazing, so this visit we felt pretty comfortable with whatever crossed our paths.
MAISON CHRISTIAN FAURE
We headed out to brunch at the much hyped about Olive et Gourmando, just a 5 min walk from our hotel. Much to our dismay the restaurant was closed (Sundays and Mondays) so we walked around the streets in a hungry daze before something caught our eye. We turned onto Place Royale and there it was, Maison Christian Faure, the patisserie I had just been reading about the night before!
At $18/ pp, we enjoyed a brunch that included a latte, pastry, eggs Benedict (or in my case, steamed veggies), fruit salad, and french toast with caramel. It was divine and just uploading these pictures is making me relive one of our fondest food moments on our holiday. Even the decor was as delicious as the food! Yup. I just said that.
LE CARTET
From French posh to Montreal hipster, we brunched at Le Cartet the following day. The vibe was laid back but still put together and I wished so badly that I was a freelance blogger living in Quebec at that moment because Le Cartet would be my makeshift office. Heaven!
Geoff enjoyed a dish of beans, eggs and various meats served on a cast iron skillet while I had the fruit crepe platter served with a side of yogurt and granola (which went to Geoff since I avoid dairy when possible). The food was filling and oh so good and if you're ever there, the freshly squeezed orange juice is a must have!
SHOP
After brunch we headed off to Rooney, a clothing boutique just 10 mins from our hotel. From the most amazing clothes to shoes, accessories, apothecary, magazines and books for both men and women, Rooney is an absolute must visit if you're in the area. I swore to myself (and Geoff!) that I would't be shopping in Montreal but I broke that promise when I saw the most amazing suede leather jacket in the window display.
We had the pleasure of meeting the owners while we visited and they were so friendly and passionate about clothes that I know I'll have to stop by and say hi (aka shop!) on my next visit to Montreal. They currently only have their men's collection on rooneyshop.com, but the women's category is coming soon so stay tuned.
031715 Shop WoahStyle!
How long do you usually hold on to your unworn fashions and when do you know when it's time to let go? The rule of thumb is that if you don't wear it for a year, get rid of it. I don't know if I entirely believe that and I generally give it about 2-3 years before I kick something out of my closet. If I'm not wearing it enough, I know it's time to go.
As long as I can remember, I've always been fashion obsessed (aka. shopoholic). To keep from becoming a hoarder, I got into the habit of purging every season to keep my closet clean and well curated. Out with the old, in with the new right? In my college days I used to donate all of my preloved clothes but as I got older and started investing in my closet, giving away my clothes was no longer an option and I began selling them.
If you follow me on IG, you'll know that I recently opened a shop, @woahstyle_shop. Everything I list is from my personal closet. I buy only authentic items and you'll never find a fake at casa de WoahStyle. If you're interested in anything you see, please send me an email to nsm.woahstyle@gmail. First come, first serve. Paypal only. Worldwide shipping. Tell your mum, tell your friends, tell everyone so my clothes, shoes and bags can find a loving new home. Sorry for the shameless self promotion but if I don't do it, who will? ;)
xo, Nathalie
Madewell Paris t-shirt. XS. 100% linen. $20.
Jbrand black cropped zippered jeans. Size 26. $50.
Aritzia oatmeal ribbed sweater. Size XS. Cashmere/ silk. SOLD!
Oak + Fort light grey knit sweater with hi-lo hemline. XS. SOLD!
Madewell striped 3/4 sleeve zippered back shirt. S. $30.
Jil Sander sneakers with neon yellow detail. Purchased on Shopbop. Size 6.5. $110.
Zara black chain ankle boots. FW14 collection. Worn 3 times. Size 6.5. SOLD!
Zara black glitter Chelsea boots. FW14 collection. Worn once. Size 6.5. $40.
Alexander Wang black Marte ankle boots. Purchased on Ssense. Size 7. $220.
Alexander Wang Alpha Shopper tote: black linen / leather. Purchased at Barneys NY. $110.
Alexander Wang Rockie: burgundy nappa leather with rosegold hardware. Purchased on Ssense. $575.
Alexander Wang Diego: inky purple pebble leather with brass hardware. One of the first generation AW bags! Purchased on Shopbop. $430.
031514 J'adore Dior
J'adore these new-in glasses from Dior! They were an unplanned purchase but once I put them on, I knew they were meant to be. Call me easy but I just love them! They're bold and sophisticated and with those fierce gold temples, they're absolutely to die for. My glasses collection just got real.
Dior acetate glasses
Valentino kitten heeled rockstuds
Tom Ford lipstick in Wild Ginger
Chaser linen tank with V back, Mendocino
031415 Shag Baby
Every now and then, I need a good fashion fix and the only way I can feel satisfied is by wearing a big bold statement piece. I just picked up this beautiful shag-cardigan-jacket-monster-thing from Mendocino, on sale for $35! Fabulous score if you ask me, even if my husband won't want to be seen in public with me wearing it. It's one of those pieces that will be much more appreciated by the girls. #manrepeller
SELLING
My Alexander Wang black glossy Marte Oxford Ankle Boots. Size 37 (size 7 US). Asking $250 plus shipping. Excellent condition. Email: nsm.woahstyle@gmail.com
SELLING
My Alexander Wang inky purple Diego bucket bag with brass hardware. This is one of the first generation Diego's, excellent condition. Asking $480 plus shipping. Email: nsm.woahstyle@gmail.com
Mendocino shag cardigan
Mendocino linen tank by Chaser
Lisbeth Jewelry necklaces
Zara jeans
Kelly Wearstler cocktail ring
Alexander Wang ankle boots
Alexander Wang Diego bag
Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses
030415 3 Shoes to Pack for Vacay
I'm pretty good at packing for a holiday and usually I can fit everything I need into a carry-on for a two week vacay. The secret is in creating capsule collections with your clothes so everything works together. Colours should compliment each other to get the most out of your limited wardrobe while you're away.
The same rule should be applied to shoes but this is when I have a really hard time narrowing down my choices. Footwear is my go-to accessory and it's rare that I wear the same shoe twice in a row. (I swear I don't have an extensive shoe collection, I just like to change it up!)
My three shoes to pack for holiday go a little something like this:
- Something super comfy for walking.
- Something dressy.
- Something casual.
Regardless, everything you pack should be versatile. I like pieces than can be dressed up and dressed down (minus the Nike's but then again... never say never!).
In a perfect world I would pack about two pairs of shoes for each day while on holiday but I'll have to do with these three on my 5 day vacation to Quebec. Well, four if you count the North Face hiking boots that are not in the pic. They're my "just in case a blizzard hits" shoe. You never know with the Canadian weather this time of year! Make sure your footwear choices prepare you for everything!
Finally, how cute is this amazing kitty tote bag from Target? I picked it up today for $10! I figure it can go on holiday with me and when I get back, it'll become my new gym bag for bootcamp because yes, I'm that ghetto. But that is if Marvin let's me borrow it! #legitcatlady
Target, Mossimo cat tote
Nike Free Run sneakers
3.1 Phillip Lim ankle boots with kitten heel
Alexander Wang black ankle boot
030215 Goodbye Acne! Hello brushegg!
You might remember that I went on a little makeup brush binge recently and ended up buying about 14 new brushes! The downside of that is that now I have double, er, triple the amount of brushes to clean! I don't know about you guys but I'm insanely anal retentive about cleaning my makeup tools.
Let's rewind for a sec to when I was a young teenager discovering makeup for the first time. All was fine and dandy until pimples started showing up on my face fast and furious. It was probably hormones, but looking back now all of those dirty powder puffs laden with makeup grime and germs were majorly to blame! Gross, I know. Not my proudest moment but to my defence no one talked about cleaning brushes then - not Vogue, not YM, not my silly friends, and definitely not my mum, who even now in her 60's has a beautiful clear complexion. (Thanks dad.)
Sadly it took me a while to make the connection that dirty brushes = pimples and knowing what I know now, it's all about makeup hygiene. Taking the time to clean my brushes is of outmost importance to me, which is why I reached out to the amazing team at brushegg and to bring you guys this fun collaboration.
BRUSHEGG REVIEW
I have to say, these adorable egg-shaped cleaning tools are appropriately named. One side of the "egg" is a smooth curve bearing the brushegg logo. The opposite side has little raised bumps at the top of the "egg" while the rest of the surface consists of these straight ridges to help easily clean makeup brushes.
As per the brushegg directions, I just dropped a bit of cleaner on the ridged surface and ran the wet brush over it and watched it get clean fast! (For the cleaner, I use a mild natural hand soap or facial cleanser.)
The "egg" fits snugly over my fingers so I could comfortably hold it with one hand while running my brush over it with the other hand. Easy peasy. We got this picture just in time because the brush was clean before I knew it.
I always dry my brushes by laying them on their side. I suggest to lay them on a clean towel and let the bristles hang over the surface so that the air can fully reach the bristles and properly dry them.
TIPS
- Never dry your brushes upright, bristles facing up. The water will trickle into your brush and ruin it. Also, never use a hair dryer to dry your brushes for the same reason. Instead give your brushes plenty of time to air dry once you've washed them. I like to wash mine after I do my makeup in the morning so that they're fully dry for the next day.
- Don't forget the handles. Give them a little wash with soap and water to make sure your whole brush is clean.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WASH MY BRUSHES?
The package on the Sonia Kashuk makeup brushes I bought say every day. brushegg says at least once a month. I like to wash mine once a week but every two weeks works too. And remember, if you start getting pimples, you're probably due for a washing.
BRUSHEGG PROS
- Works like a dream! Even my hard-to-clean foundation brush was sparkling clean again!
- Well priced at $10 / 1 egg.
- Cute colours, pink, mint, purple, black.
- So easy to use.
- Deep cleans brushes quickly.
CONS
- Honestly. NONE!
GIVEAWAY TIME!
I'm giving away four brusheggs! Enter on Instagram by posting the picture above and follow the directions exactly to qualify! Don't forget to hashtag!
- Contest is open to Canadian and US residents only.
- brusheggs will be shipped directly by WoahStyle.
- Winners will be notified by Instagram on Tuesday March 10, 2015.
- Enter as many times as you wish.
- Good luck!
030115 Happy Blogiversary WOAHSTYLE!
I'm excited to announce WoahStyle's first year blogiversary!!! (Bring out the champagne & cupcakes!) Thanks to everyone who reads my blog and supports my fashion endeavours and shoe obsession. You guys are the best! I'll keep this post short and sweet and let the #ootd do the talking but first...
I've teamed up with some of my favourite brands and designers so that you guys can celebrate with me! I'll be doing giveaways all month long to say, thank you dear readers. : ) Stay tuned!
xo,
Nathalie
PS - I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to drop me a note in the comments below, or on IG, and tell me what you want to see more of on WS. Thanks!
WoahStyle Turns 1! Happy Blogiversary!
Aritzia Coat & Sonore Dress
Mackage leather leggings & moto jacket
3.1 Phillip Lim ankle boots
Chanel glasses
ABOUT THE NECKLACES
I'm wearing pieces by Lisbeth Jewelry, a Vancouver designer who just recently relocated to Toronto. The designs are light, airy and versatile and they're perfect for layering. Shown here are the Rosa, Luna, Lucy and Gray necklaces. Thank you!