outfit of the day

A while ago I started a new segment called "Outfit Of The Day", where I share some old Instagram outfits with you. I just wanted to share some of my Spring 2015 outfits with you, now that it's almost summer. I'm also super excited that the weather is finally starting to feel like it too, after all the grey skies and chilly days the past few weeks. I'm so ready for sun and hot days, and I would even take a little humidity if it meant finally feeling like it's summer. Are you excited to break out your summer outfits?

currently coveting

From left:

H&M; Darling; New Look; Maurices; Chloe

Maybe it's because of my height (5 feet on the dot), or because I know they're not very practical for work (they're not very easy to move around in, especially in a very fast paced, physically demanding environment) but I never really pay much attention to maxi dresses. That is, with the intent of buying them. I always admire them, and even put outfits together in my mind for them, but I know I'll never really bring myself to buy one because it's just not very practical for me right now.

spring 2015 wish list

I've said multiple times how it's hard for me to choose between Spring and Autumn for which is my favourite season. In September, when I'm ready for the coats and scarves to be worn again, my favourite season is Fall. And in February/March when I just can't wait any longer to stop wearing my big, puffy winter coat, I insist that Spring is my favourite.

Mauve Over

One of spring's most popular colour trends for this year is shades of purple, specifically lavender. When I first heard this I was ecstatic, because purple is my favourite colour (as I'm sure you could tell from my blog). I don't necessarily wear a lot of purple (it's not one of the colours that looks the best on me), but it being a colour trend means that I will be able to see it pretty much everywhere and gaze upon its magnificence, which is something I enjoy.

The amazing thing about purple is that is looks good with literally almost any other colour. So you can add accessories or jewelry in another colour if you want to keep your outfit simple (like the pink bag above), or you can colour block and pair your purple piece with another colour (my favourites are yellow, pink, and pastel blue). Here are some of my favourite purple pieces right now!

1. Skirt: Zara

2.  Shorts: Ragged Priest via Topshop

3. Watch: Timex Originals via Hudson's Bay

4. Swimsuit: Target

5. Necklace: Etsy

6. Heels: J. Crew 

7. Romper: Rare via Topshop

8. Bag: River Island via ASOS

Also, it seems the purple trend is making it's way into more than just clothing and accessories...

Nicole Richie

Demi Lovato

Kelly Osbourne

Black And White And Red All Over

This season, black and white is literally everywhere. I love the idea of mixing prints, though I rarely have the pieces (or guts) to actually do it in my own outfits. So when I bought these pants and top, I knew I had to give it a go. And how better to top off a black and white outfit than to add splashes of red?

I found the trick to mixing prints is to keep them the same colour (black and white) or at least in the same colour family, and to mix smaller prints with larger prints (I did big stripes on top and a smaller circular print on the bottom).

Top: Zara

Pants: Old Navy

Clutch: JNB via Marshall Rousso

Necklace: Vintage

Sunglasses: Old Navy (old)

Shoes: Call It Spring

Lipstick: MAC Cockney

Embellishment

If you remember around the holiday season, I wrote a post about embellished sweaters and how they were taking the fashion scene by storm (read the post Sweater Weather 2.0). Well, it's well into spring now and guess what? The embellishment trend is still with us, transforming typical, every season pieces into dazzling looks you should have in your closet this year!

Embellished pieces allow you to add a bit of glamour and chicness to any outfit. Even if all you want to do is throw on a jumper and pair of jeans, if you trade in a plain cotton sweater for an embellished one, it will transform your outfit. Everyone wants to have that effect where you look fabulous and everyone thinks you spent hours getting ready in the morning, but really you just threw on the first thing you saw in your closet. Embellishment is just another secret in that art.

One, Tulle, Three, Four

I am absolutely obsessed with tulle. I guess it makes me feel like a princess or something, I don't know. I just love the way it looks when you put an outfit together, and bring it out of the ballet and fairy tale contexts and into the real world.

Tulle skirts are generally worn during the Christmas or New Years time of year, but with the beautiful pale and pastel colours they come in what could be more perfect for spring? Especially with the warmer weather, you wouldn't need to wear stockings with it, like you would in December.

A tulle skirt can be dressed up for a party or event, or put with a more casual top for a day look or a night out with friends. I love when the skirt is paired with a basic jersey top, because it makes it look so versatile.

Keep it casual by also pairing it with a moto or bomber jacket.

I also love when it's paired with a denim or plaid top, because the structure of the shirt contrasts with the tulle in such an awesome way (you wouldn't normally think to pair the two together).

Monochromatic tulle skirts

Dressed up...

...Or down...

(AKA pairing it with a jumper)

And how could I forget...

Rock Me Gently

This look is the perfect mix of rocker chic and gentle spring fabrics and colours . I love how the light colour and fabric of the skirt (which is actually a dress) contrasts with the hard, dark leather jacket. It's perfect for the early spring weather, when it's very sunny out but still a little chilly.

I find myself loving the crop top trend, and yet not always wanting to wear high-waisted bottoms with one, so pairing this cropped sweater with a skirt was perfect (because it's actually a dress, it didn't have to be worn high on my waist). I wanted to keep with the rocker theme with the aviators, and the studs on the purse, and then the colours in the necklace matched the purse so perfectly I had to throw it on! I also felt like this look was very 1950s high school girl; I felt like a mix between Danny and Sandy from Grease!

Sweater: H&M

Dress: Forever 21

Jacket: Suzy Shier

Shoes: Call It Spring

Necklace: H&M

Ring: Tiffany & Co

Clutch: Red Carpet Collection; Town Shoes

Lipstick: Sephora Desire

Easter Pastels

"Easter Sunday is the time to shed the darker, drabber colors of winter and mourning and to bring out the brighter colors that celebrate the arrival of spring and the rebirth of hope on the earth" - Colorcombos.com

I love the Easter time of year because, it's one of probably two holidays that have fashion and colour trends that go along with it (the other being Christmas). So even though I don't celebrate Easter, I still love to partake in wearing the spring-coloured pastel trend that seems to go along so seamlessly with the holiday.

The colours we typically see for Easter such as on eggs and baskets are yellow, pink, blue, and green. So we also usually see a lot of garments in these colours in the early spring. Here are some of my favourites. I also love how there are different shades of a technically "pastel" colour, as you'll see below. This way, if such a muted hue doesn't flatter a certain person all that much, they can still wear pastels but in a different shade.

Yellow

Pink

Blue

Green

But we also see pastel versions of other colours too, such as purple and orange or off-white, especially this season with purple being a huge trend. Here are some of my favourites.

Purple

Off-White & Orange

Happy Easter everyone!