Spark Sessions: Fashion & Beauty Blogger Conference

On the weekend of November 15th and 16th, in Toronto, I will be attending a fashion and beauty blogger conference. If you have always wanted to start a blog but have just never taken that leap, have started a blog and it's still in the beginner stages, or if you've even had a blog for a while and just want some more tips and tricks, you won't want to miss this weekend!

There will be networking opportunities with brands, PR professionals, and other fellow bloggers, and that kind of real-time, face-to-face networking is something that can't be replicated over the internet or email (no matter how much we bloggers love our computers). You can check out the Spark Sessions team here!

The agenda for the weekend includes workshops such as how to turn blogging into a full time job, good things to know about ad networks before you sign with them, and also about getting contributors for your blog. You can see a schedule and a list of all the workshops for the weekend here.

I'm super excited to not only meet fellow bloggers but to also get a chance to network and chat with them, as well the amazing and influential people on the directing and managing team. The greatest part is is that the focus is on Canadian blogging. When an opportunity like this comes up, it's pretty hard to pass on it, so grab a friend, fellow blogger, or go solo (you'll meet enough people and make enough friends!) and get your tickets (here) before they sell out. Can't wait to see you all there!

WMCFW: Day 4 Outfit

So after the little weather mishap on Day 1, I started "building" coats into my outfits for the rest of the week. However, on the Thursday it ended up being so gorgeous out, I ended up stripping off all my layers (a poncho and blazer), and enjoyed the sunshine! I thought this side street filled with gorgeous fall colours was the perfect background for my burgundy and leopard ensemble (so totally fall). I love that some of the pieces are so boho (like the hat, poncho, and fringe bag), and then there's really sleek, tailored pieces (the blazer, skinny jeans, and pointy-toe heels); they just play so well off of each other.

Top: Old Navy

Blazer: H&M

Poncho: Winners

Jeans: Forever 21

Hat: H&M

Bag: Winners

Sunglasses: Joe Fresh

Shoes: Call It Spring

My City Gossip: Halloween Part 3

For the final instalment of easy Halloween costumes for My City Gossip I tell you how to make awesome costumes out of stuff right from your closet for the last minute!

WMCFW: Day 1 Review

The week started off with a bang. I had to go a bit early to pick up my media pass, as I was unable to during the weekend, and with that I received a goodie bag with really cool stuff inside (but honestly I think the bag itself was my favourite part!). Since I was early, I got to just hang out until it was time to go in for the first show. It was amazing watching everyone mingle and take photos outside the tents.

The very first show of the week was Sid Neigum, and you know when you're out shopping for something specific and you fall in love with the first thing you see, but you keep looking anyways, and at the end of the day you end up buying the first piece because it was still your favourite? That's how I felt about Sid's show. It was so tranquil and mesmerizing, with the very simple, laser cut pieces, in super simple tones (white, grey, and black). There was live harp music being played and the pace and volume went along with the looks. The garments started off in a white hue, long and flowy, and the music was soft and lullaby-esque. Then, the transitional grey garments came out, in a bit of a tougher fabric, while the music got a bit louder and faster. Finally, the garments turned to black, and were mostly shorter (the skirts), and a bit torn and distressed, while the music got even louder and faster. The whole show felt like the audience was in a dream state, and as I said before, it was my favourite throughout the day!

(All photos from here)

The Pink Tartan show I am officially renaming "That 70's Show", because that show was filled with fringed and tasseled pieces in full white and then black outfits. There were flared pant legs, open backs with sashes tied at the neck. And then came the uber 70's prints! If I had to describe Pink Tartan's Spring line in two words, they would be "sophisticated boho".

(Three left photos from here)

(Three right photos from here)

I love the start up and awards shows where there's a panel of judges, a handful of finalists, and the winner is chosen on the spot and basically awarded great help (in the form of a bursary and mentorship) to get their business and designs off the ground. I did a degree in Entrepreneurship and so I know how hard it is to really get something going, and how important it is to have such influential people supporting you.

And it's great for the audience because we get to see little snippets of the finalist's collections. Sid Neigum showed for this again, and as I said before, he was still my faouvrite. He even won the Mercedes-Benz Start Up contest!

(The other finalists)

(The winner, Sid Neigum (middle) with two of his models)

Joe Fresh was supposed to show on the runway at 9pm, and when we got to the tents that day the show wasn't on the schedule. He ended up having a party instead of a runway show, and it was invite only so unfortunately I wasn't able to go (I had such FOMO going through Instagram). But I did spot Mr. Mimran front row at the Pink Tartan show (obviously), and because the day ended earlier than planned, there was time for a delicious dinner with some pretty awesome girls, so it wasn't a total disappointment.

(All photos are from me, unless otherwise indicated)

WMCFW: Day 3 Outfit

Day 3 of fashion week was actually my birthday, and so I wanted to wear something a bit more fun. I ended up opting for a printed skirt and added a statement necklace and ring (go big or go home) in the same colour family (purple, of course). And I finished the look with my favourite purple lipstick! 

Top: H&M

Skirt: Target

Jacket: Dynamite

Necklace: H&M

Ring: Michael's

Bag: Topshop

Sunglasses: Joe Fresh

Shoes: Call It Spring

Photographer: Elana Emer

WMCFW: Day 4 Review

Here is the review for day 4 of Toronto Fashion Week that I wrote for My City Gossip!

WMCFW: Day 2 Outfit

I will be blogging through the weekend to bring you reviews and outfits from Toronto Fashion Week as quick as possible. I can't believe the week is over. It's a little bittersweet, because on the one hand I need to catch up on some sleep (and some work), but on the other hand I've met and spent time with such cool people this week it's going to be weird not seeing them everyday! But let's go back to day 2 for a look at my outfit!

During day 2 there was to be an event celebrating the style of Minnie Mouse, so of course I dressed up. I channeled my inner Minnie with the white blouse and red blazer, and also the polka dot tights. But I put my own spin on the look by making it a little edgier with the leather shorts, statement necklace, and red lips. I just needed to add a little faux fur coat for making my way to and from the tents because it was pretty chilly and rainy outside.

Blouse: Zara

Blazer: H&M

Necklace: Topshop

Jacket: H&M

Tights: H&M

Boots: H&M

Bracelets: Pandora

Bag: JNB

Rings: H&M, Queen St. boutique

WMCFW: Day 3 Review

In terms of reviews for fashion week, I'll be writing the day one, two, and five reviews right here on my own blog, but the day three and four reviews on My City Gossip. Sorry for going a bit out of order, but because I've been exhausted at the end of the days, I haven't had a chance to finish my review of day one, but day three was already due for My City Gossip so I figured I'd post this one in the mean time. You can click the link above, or on the picture below to read the article!

WMCFW: Day 1 Outfit

Obviously like any fashion-obsessed person, I had my outfits for fashion week picked out about a week before (well, a week before is when I finalized them; I'd been working on what I was going to wear probably since the beginning of the month), but if I learned one thing on the first day of fashion week it was that you can plan all you want but Mother Nature ultimately makes the choice of what you will wear. 

The plan was to wear a sheer white cross-over blouse with a heavy fur vest (I loved the contrast between the two, especially with the boyfriend jeans), but because it was so cold and rainy I had to add a little leather jacket under the vest and change from my open-toe black booties to these tan ones. But, as you can see, the outfit still turned out pretty cute and I was definitely warm enough in all my layers. The only complaint I have is that I had to lug around my big umbrella, and that we had to move this little photoshoot inside the house, where the lighting was definitely not as good as outside.

If you remember my Instagram of when my sister's friend did my hair with the wrap around braids, that day I knew I wanted her to do my hair like that again one day for fashion week. We figured we'd start the week off right and do it on the first day of shows. It also ended up working out that my hair as up since the rain and humidity would've made it frizzy. Anyways, here is my outfit from day 1 of Spring/Summer 2015 fashion week!

Blouse: H&M

Fur Vest: Zara

Jeans: Bluenotes

Bag: Old Navy

Boots: Old Navy

Ring: Topshop

Lipstick: Mac Cyber