Get To Know Me with 10 Random Facts
- I have a full time job outside of blogging. I won't tell you where I work but I will tell you that I work for a TV station in a creative position. I also work at the same place as my BFF of over 20 years.
- Blogging is my second full time job. I schedule my blog shoots on the weekend in between going out with my hubby, friends and family and enjoying life. Seriously, I work a lot!
- This post is one of the three shoots that we did in Guelph this past weekend. The building featured here is the same building as my last post. One side was black, one side rainbow. A quick change in my car and voila, 2 blog posts! ;)
- My photographer is my husband. He's my biggest supporter and he's as invested in WoahStyle as I am. My secondary photographer is my BFF. She curses me every time I ask her to take my OOTD. That aside, she's equally as supportive and this blog wouldn't exist without her.
- I haven't eaten meat, chicken or fish in about 3 years and I don't miss it! I weaned myself off slowly after reading Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals, and went full vegan after reading Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Life for environmental and health reasons. Dairy occasionally sneaks into my diet (macarons!) but I intend on going back to a clean eating lifestyle soon. That means no dairy and no cheating! (Look up Jared Leto the chegan.)
- I have two black cats. I LOVE BLACK CATS!
- I've never been one to work out and I've coasted through life with a fast metabolism. Last month I signed up to bootcamp and it has changed my life! I go about 3-4 times a week now and I love it! I'm stronger and I feel healthier than ever before! Go muscles!
- Spanish is my first language and I learned english as a young kid when we moved to Canada. Now I speak perfect english and Spanish with an accent. It's embarrassing!
- My BFF and I had our own business once upon a time. We designed & made iPod cases and sold them worldwide. Our stuff was featured in Flare Magazine, The Toronto Star and on a local cable TV station. We were cool kids back then!
- I can't sing and I can't dance for shit but I'm Latin. No racial stereotyping here!
The Art Of The Mash-Up
I was up very early today and right now I should be in bed but first, time for a blog post along side my nightly tea. This outfit is a testament to the fact I'm always mixing pieces in subtle ways. The leather shorts have a sporty hem line and elastic waist that makes easy to pair with anything. The blouse is a recent Aritzia buy that I loved so much that I had to get it in black as well. My sandals are Alexander Wang circa 2012 that I acquired at the beginning of my Alexander Wang obsession. They don't exactly go with blue YSL Sac De Jour but honestly, does it really matter? To top it off, literally, I'm wearing my paper fedora hat from F21. The art to mixing it all is about keeping a tight colour story and pairing cuts and textures that work together. The hat and blouse have a cool summery feel where as the shoe and shorts have sporty-ish vibe. As for the bag, well, it's Saint Laurent so no one's gonna question that. *Wink* And with that, I bid you all a goodnight!
xo, Nathalie
The Charlotte Boot: Kate Bosworth X Matisse
If you guys follow my Instagram you'll know how obsessed I was with the Kate Boswoth X Matisse Charlotte boot. When they finally arrived in my mailbox I was over the moon thrilled and nothing, not even summer and +30 degree weather was going to stop me from wearing these bad boys. On a recent trip to Guelph we found the remains of an old Mill where I knew we had to stop, drop and blog while wearing my latest acquisition.
xo, Nathalie
SHOPPING TIP: One thing I should mention about the Charlotte boot is that it is true to size. I'm usually a size 6.5 but can also pull off a 7, especially in a pointed toed shoe. These are a 7 and are just a bit too big. I'll wear them with an insole for sure but it's the extra long tip of the shoe that makes it a little uncomfortable to walk in and prevents them from being 100% awesome. Don;t size up and make sure you stay with your proper shoe size.
Bag, YSL Baby Sac De Jour
Watch, Daniel Wellington
Bracelet, The Peach Box
Shorts, One Teaspoon (exact)
Linen Tank, Chaser (silk version here)
Boots, Kate Bosworth X Matisse Charlotte Boot
Review: Benefit's They're Real! Killer Colour Collection
Happy Wednesday all! If you follow my blog regularly you'll recall that I attended an event for the launch of Benefit's Killer Colour collection last month. You'll have to forgive me for the delay in getting this post up but to be honest I was looking for the right way to photography this exciting new line. When a weekend at my in-laws house came up, I knew I had found the right backdrop!
So here's the deal, Benefit has expanded their line of They're Real! products to include four new coloured gel eyeliners in blue, brown, green and purple and two new mascaras in brown and blue. The emphasis here is on colour my friends but we're not talking about Rainbow Brite here. These are glamours, subtle, day-wear-friendly shades that you can play around with and go as dramatic or as soft as you please.
Above you'll see the full colour pay off of Beyond Green, Beyond Blue, Beyond Brown and Beyond Purple. You can show as much or as little colour as you want depending on how thick you draw on your eyeliner. Also consider creating an ombre effect with your eyeliner by starting off with one shade and finishing with another.
It looks brighter on the wand than it does on my lashes but this blue mascara is the perfect shade! For a subtle look: apply only to the tips of your lashes. People will notice a pop in your eyes but they won't figure it out unless they really look at you! For a more dramatic look: Start by drawing a bold-winged-line using your Beyond Blue eyeliner and then finish with a few strokes of blue mascara to your top lashes. Instant POP!
I was never a fan of brown eyeliner until I started using the Beyond Brown liner and now I love it! As for brown mascara, I could do without. Blondes or redheads might feel differently I'm sure but as a dark eyed brunette, this product does nothing for me.
This eyeliner is completely sweat and smudge proof. Even on the days when I have an intense boot camp class my eyeliner stays in place. With that being said, because the staying power on this liner (and mascara!) is so damn good, I do recommend you pick up They're Real! Remover. I've tried different makeup removers with this collection but this one always seems to work best.
The new Benefit They're Real! collection matches my Isabel Marant sandals! I had to share!
APPLICATION TIPS
I've read some reviews were people are disappointed with They're Real! liner and I think I might have felt the same if the ladies at Benefit hadn't taught me how to apply it properly. First off, create a base. I like to use a light wash of either creme or powder eye shadow so the liner has something to adhere to. Now that you're ready to apply your liner start with short strokes or small stamping motions along your lash line. Keep in mind, this is a gel liner so it applies differently from a liquid (pen) liner or even a pencil. If you follow the tips on how to apply this properly I think you'll be really happy with it!
Bonus Tip - This liner dries fast so try not to layer too much on one spot because that's were the "flaky" look comes from.
These liners and mascara's are Sharky approved! If you guys are looking for a further review on They're Real!, make sure you read my review from last year, when my hair was shorter and my eyebrows were thinner. Eek!
How To Style It: The Black Leggings
Hello and happy Monday all! I'm excited to share this post with you guys because not only is it causal chic (as my friend Holly from Petite Flower describes my personal style) but it's also comfortable and uber affordable (as long as you don't focus on the bag and shoes). Tee hee!
The leggings are by Matty M and cost about $20. They're perfectly opaque so you don't have to worry about flashing your underwear to the world. They have a wide elastic waistband for comfort and retain their shape really well. Trust me, I wore them all day and felt free, almost like I wasn't wearing pants at all!
I think there's a lot of versatility in a legging where it can take you from day to night although my outfit falls somewhere in the middle. I chose a black crepe tunic because I prefer a longer shirt when wearing leggings so I don't feel incident. My patent leather Chanel loafers add some sophistication to the outfit as does my Givenchy Pandora bag. It's all about the mix of high end and low end am I right?
xo, Nathalie
Leggings, Matty M
Tank, Aritzia (exact)
Chain Necklace & bracelet, Birds Of A Feather (exact)
Shoes, Chanel Patent Leather Moccasin Loafer
Bag, Givenchy Pandora in size small (similar here)
Cruise Life
Just this Friday my hubby (aka, the WoahStyle photographer) and I embarked on a little cruise of Toronto. The boat, you guessed it, Captain Matthew Flinders. We boarded at about dinner hour and by 7pm we were out to sea. Er, I mean lake... Drinks and dinner were served and the DJ played terrible music that had us laughing really hard. I'd recommend the cruise to anyone looking to do something different, anyone celebrating an occasion and of course any tourist visiting the city.
The attire of the night was all about soft pretty colours which is unusual for me but when on a cruise, I may as well dress the part. My high waisted dusty rose Stella McCartney trousers kept me warm at night when the temperature dropped on the boat and I kept the accessories simple by reaching for my nude Givenchy heels and Bambi Antigona pouch, two of my favourites. I should tell you that my Mackage leather jacket wasn't far behind and as soon as the sun went down, the jacket went on.
Thank you to the crew on the Capt. Matthew Flinders for your hospitlaty. We had a wonderful time!
xo
Givenchy Antigona Bambi clutch
Rose Gold iPhone 6+ case, Felony Case
Glasses, Armani
Bracelets, The Peach Box
Cruise c/o Mariposa Cruises
White lace blouse, Mendocino
Trousers, Stella McCartney
Nude sandals, Givenchy shark lock
Repurchases + Natural Skincare by Consonant
First off, Happy Canada Day fellow Canadians! I'm excited to be spending a quiet day at home relaxing and catching up with some blogging. I also have some exciting news to share with you guys which involves my favourite Canadian skincare brand, Consonant Skincare. Read on to find out more! ;)
Recent repurchases from Consonant:
- Natural Foaming Face Wash: I ran out of this amazing face wash before I had a chance to repurchase it and started using an old cleanser from Bliss. The result, 5 pimples in 2 days! My skin cleared up when I started lathering up with Consonant again. Happy skin, happy blogger!
- The Perfect Sunscreen: Everyone needs a good sunscreen and this one is natural and organic. I've turned a few friends and colleagues onto this stuff and it's a favourite amongst all of us!
- Ultra Moisturizing Organic Face Cream for Dry Skin: Non-greasy, natural and quick absorbing. I mix it with my sunscreen and HydraExtreme every morning rain or shine.
- Ultra Firming Organic Eye Cream: It's light, non-greasy and doesn't cause that yucky milia. I can't fathom ever using anything else.
- HydraExtreme: It's not an oil but a serum that's 100% natural. I use it mixed in with my moisturizer every morning and night. It's also excellent for healing the skin and I use it to get rid of pimples and scars.
The Deluxe Gym and Travel Kit
An adorable travel pouch with all of your Consonant Skincare necessities. Available in Basic and Deluxe options along with the luxury of having your pouch custom monogrammed (for an additional $10). I highly recommend the deluxe as it's easy to grab and go when traveling. Body wash, body lotion, face wash, lip balm, hand cream and face cream are included in cute little travel sizes that have been Transport Canada and FAA carry on approved.
My must haves from left to right: face wash, sunscreen, face cream, lip balm, hand cream, HydraExtreme, eye cream and clay exfoliating bar.
For a full review on Consonant Skincare, make sure you check out my archives here.
And now it's your turn dear reader! I've teamed up with Consonant to bring you your very own starter kit! One lucky winner will be getting a Detox Kit and a $100 gift card. The contest is open to Canadian and US residents. To qualify, follow @woahstyledotcom and @consonantlife and tag a friend on the giveaway post. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on Instagram on July 15th. Good luck!
Weekend Editorial
In a small town called Clarksburg we found this cute little bridge over a river that was so picturesque we couldn't help but shoot this series for the blog. My hubby and I shot this last weekend on our mini road trip before rain-mageddon hit Toronto. I'll leave this post short and sweet dear readers as I've been really busy this month and I just need to rest up. Enjoy what's left of the weekend.
xo, Nathalie
Necklace, Lisbeth Jewelry
Sunglasses, Armani
Jeans, Rag & Bone
Zippered tank, Mendocino
Givenchy Pandora, small size
Isabel Marant Metallic Gail Cholita Sandals
Watch, Klasse 14
Wrist Wrap, Stolen Riches
How To Style It: The Little White Dress
It seems like I'm obsessed with all things lace and embroidered this summer and when I saw this beautiful little number at Mendocino, I knew it had to get in my closet! The dress itself is the epitome of pretty but as you know, my personal style is far from precious so I had to find a way to toughen it up. Nothing says hardcore like a good leather gladiator sandal so I went with them and then built my outfit over to my handbag next. My Givenchy Antigona Bambi pouch is still a favourite of mine and helps break up the pretty embroidery from the dress, again adding that edge that I was looking for. The pocket square wrapped around my wrist is turning out to be my favourite accessory this summer and I love how it adds a casual vibe to the whole look. So what do you guys think? Can a pretty white dress look transcend to edgy territory?
xo, Nathalie
Clutch, Givenchy Antigona Bambi pouch
Wrist bandana, Stolen Riches crown pattern pocket square