a year in outfits

Fashion is such a big part of my life, and living in Canada where you really feel four different seasons, allows me to express myself through fashion in all different kinds of weather. I love being a blogger; being able to find inspiration in fellow bloggers and throughout all facets of my life and the fashion industry, and being able to share my own personal style and thoughts through this platform. This year has been so different from past ones for me. I went through some changes and discoveries of myself and what I want to do in life and for a career; I started dating the most amazing boy; I really got a sense of who I was as a person, and my personal style definitely changed over these last 12 months. That's not to say that I have everything figured out 100% yet, but I am definitely many steps closer and I can't wait to keep discovering new things along the way. I thought since we are entering a new year, it would be fun to go back through some of my favourite outfits and shoots of 2015 and share them with you. Enjoy!

anniversary in niagara

(Some beautiful Christmas decorations along the Falls at night)

All summer I kept saying how I wanted to take Phil to Niagara Falls. He hasn't been since he was very little, and after I went with my sister at the end of June, I remembered how much fun it was and couldn't wait to go with him. We never got a chance to go in the summer, and I was thinking of what would be a great first anniversary present for him, and a friend of mine gave me a great idea when she told me that Groupon was having some amazing deals on hotels in Niagara Falls, and that there's a bunch of stuff you get with the booking of the hotel. So I looked up some different options and finally decided this would be a fantastic anniversary present, and to be able to get away from work for a little bit as it's getting crazy for the holidays.

holiday sweater

Last holiday season I made a post about the "ugly holiday sweater", and it seems the style has only gotten more traction since then. Not only do more stores and companies carry the sweaters, but I also see people wearing them in their everyday life, unironically, and not only for "ugly holiday sweater parties". This year I really wanted a holiday sweater, of the so-called ugly variety, but I wanted it to be something that was actually very cute and that I could wear throughout the month of December.

statement coats

Layering up and staying warm in the winter is very tricky. You don't want to look too puffy (like Joey in that episode of Friends), but especially in Canadian winters, you need definitely need to keep warm. The struggle really sets in when you want to find a functional coat in a nice, statement hue, but the puffy parkas are only available in greys and blacks. (You can never go wrong with a grey or black coat, but let's face it, those colours don't exactly make a statement now do they?) We also spend most of our winter time in our coats, so why not stand out, even in your million layers?

red lips, red doors

The end of October until right into November this year had pretty great weather in Toronto. Except for a few really cold days, there wasn't much wind and I was usually good with a chunky sweater and light coat. The longer I can wear layering pieces and light fall jackets (before bundling like crazy and having to throw on my parka before I leave the house), the happier I am, and the more ready I am to welcome the Holidays when the time finally does arrive.

kate spade

(Cedar Street Harmony Crossbody bags in the most gorgeous colours)

It's very rare that I get invited to or hear about an event (no matter how big or small) and I'm actually not working or already have plans, and I am able to attend. However, I'm so happy this was not the case last Thursday evening, when I heard about the Kate Spade and Elle Canada event at their Cumberland location in Yorkville in Toronto. It was a chance to see their November collection, which had their first batch of Holiday looks, as well as shop the line with 25% off! My friend from work who I knew would also be super excited about this event had the day off as well, so it ended up being the perfect evening.

outfit of the day

Since the weather is changing again, I thought it would be a perfect time for another Outfit Of The Day post, where I go through some of my Instagram ootd's from the past season. It isn't as cold as I would've thought it would be by November this year, which I'm glad for because it's allowing me to get more use out of my autumn wardrobe. Those few days the first week of November here in Toronto were amazing with that 20 degree weather, but it did give me that feeling of Spring time and I'm not quite ready for that, as I do want to enjoy the holiday season; the coziness, the snow, and hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.

print mixing

Two of my favourite prints, plaid and leopard, are two very classic prints, and they also two very standard prints for Fall. One of my favourite styling tricks, and something that will up your style game so easily, is mixing prints. Especially when one is a neutral print like leopard, and the other is in such a soft, muted hue, like this olive green, mixing prints is so fun and easy.

halloween fashion

(Skeleton bracelet I got last Halloween, from Aldo Accessories)

[I usually post later in the week, but I wanted to post this Halloween fashion post earlier to help with ideas for last minute Halloween outfits or costumes.] Last year was probably the last year I dressed up for Halloween. Let's face it, when you're in your 20's, if you don't go to a club, bar, or party there isn't really a reason to. It makes me sad because not only do I love dressing up, but I also love getting into the Halloween spirit. It might be because October is my favourite month and Fall is my favourite season, but I just love the feel of Halloween. That's why I love the semi-new trend of Halloween-inspired clothing, and accessories, that have appeared on the fashion scene over the last little while.

fall denim

Yup, you guessed it, another denim post. I just can't help myself. Denim is my obsession and my uniform. It is so versatile, and there are basically infinite possibilities because there are basically infinite styles of denim. I never used to be an everyday denim person (I usually saved it for days when I actually wanted to put some effort into my outfit, as I used to find jeans uncomfortable and dressy), but now I pretty much wear a different style of denim every day and they are definitely my go-to look when I don't want to or can't put a lot of effort into my outfit. Although I definitely don't follow the rule of "no white after labour day", I've decided to stick to blue and black denim for this post, because I love the way they look with fall colours (burgundy, orange, etc.).

apple picking

When I say that October is a busy month for me, that's a huge understatement. It's my sister's and my birthdays, my boyfriend's birthday, and my Grandparents' anniversary (this year they're celebrating 55 years, so we're doing a big celebration). There's a convention for one of my favourite shows that I go to every Thanksgiving weekend, going out to celebrate birthdays with work people (which I spoke about last week here), and inventory at work. And of course, Halloween and Thanksgiving, the latter of which I celebrated for the first time this year with Phil. Add to all of that the fact that October is my favourite month and that I always want to do a million fall activities, but I always feel like the month goes by too fast and I never have time to do them.

early birthday outfit

Last year we realized there are 4 people at work that all have birthdays in October (including myself), and thought it would make a fun tradition to go out for dinner with everyone sometime during the month (I talked about last year's dinner here). So this year we decided to have our dinner last weekend, even though all our birthdays aren't until later in the month (mine is on the 22nd).

dress/pants

(Banana Republic, Fall 2015)

One of the trends that are carrying over to fall that I wasn't too sure about at first was wearing a dress over pants. I know I disregard a lot of styles because I just know I won't be able to pull it off because of my body shape, but for this one I thought even for tall, modelesque people, surely this can't look cool, or even good? But seeing street style photos just showed me how wrong I was.

transitions

I bought these pants back at the beginning of the summer, as I was craving a pair of floral, flowy pants I could easily just throw on with a t-shirt and head out the door (which these pants allowed me to do perfectly). But I also loved that even though there are vibrant flowers on the pants, the background is navy, and therefore I would be able to wear them in the Spring as well as the Fall, with something a little cozier than a t-shirt.

autumn wish list

It's that time of year again, my favourite season and favourite season of fashion. And let's face it, while Autumn doesn't officially start until next week, we've all been expanding our fall wardrobes and even taking some items out for a spin already. So I can't help but get super excited for fall and all the fashion that it has to offer. That's why I've compiled a list of what I believe every woman should have in her fall wardrobe; some items I already own while some I'm still on the hunt for!

summer highlights

(A view of the city on the ferry ride to Toronto Island)

I have to say, this summer was wholly and completely the most amazing summer I've had in a really long time. I did so many things, some planned and some not planned (I told you about my list), but I never felt pressured for time or to get stuff done. And of course I had such amazing people to share the summer with. Yes, I complained about the cold weather, and I complained about the really hot weather, but I think that as long as you're with people you love and have fun with, it doesn't really matter what you do or how you spend your time. I'm fortunate enough to have all of those things, and I want to share with you all about my summer!

outfit of the day

Since summer is nearly done (can you believe it's September already?!) I thought I would share my outfit of the days from the last few months to end off the season.

pre fall palette

Working in a fashion retail setting has its ups and downs. Around March/April we start to receive Spring items, which get me so excited for the warmer weather to arrive and really inspire me. But in July/August we start to receive Fall items (sweaters, scarves, boots), and while Fall is one of my favourite seasons, it does get a little depressing since we're still in the midst of Summer. But of course there are always those transition items that you just can't resist, like this romper.

summer nights

Although it's very close, summer is not quite over, and there's still plenty of time to take advantage of the weather and fun activities. I find people (including myself) sometimes find it stressful to dress up for nights out in the hotter months, as you want to dress light and fun, but not look too day-timey. Usually accessories and especially shoes and bags, can help you dress up an outfit, but also don't be afraid to wear something a bit darker and heavier, if it is for a more formal occasion.

Towards the end of the summer I tend to wear lots of light colours, since I know I won't be able to in about a month's time, but I also don't wear a lot of bright colours because I usually reserve those for the high summer. I love this outfit for a semi-dressy evening out for dinner, perhaps for a celebration. The dress itself could go either way (casual or dressy) depending how you accessorize, so for this particular look I opted for fancy accessories in a gold tone.

Dress: Chicwish

Necklace: Jane Norman

Bag: Saint Laurent

Pumps: Jimmy Choo

This summer I tried very hard to not wear as much black, and while I definitely didn't cut the colour out completely, I was pretty successful. For an outfit like this, I would've typically worn the romper with black shoes and a purse, but I love the look without black as well, especially for a night out in the summer. If you're worried about it being too much pink, the shoes are more of a beige and so they act as a neutral, which just makes the romper pop even more. But you could always do a light grey or white shoe and accessories if you prefer. You could wear this type of outfit with a white blazer for a dressier night as well, but throw on a denim jacket and you could also wear it for a more casual dinner or movie. (As you can probably tell, denim jackets are my go-to cover up in summer!)

Romper: Nelly

Earrings: Colette Hayman

Rings: Accessorize

Bag: Kate Spade

Sandals: H&M

As much as I love dresses and rompers and all things flowy in the summer, there are nights when I want to dress up and stick with pants. I tend to go for white jeans this time of year because they are lighter and give out a more summery vibe. I find white jeans are the black jeans of summer; they still go with everything, and you can dress them up or down. If you want to really dress up your white denim, go for an all-white look, with black and silver accessories. The colour palette is so classic and chic. I just added pink pumps and lipstick for that extra bit of summer colour, but neutral would also work.

Top: Coast Stores

Jeans: Tory Burch

Necklace: Style Moi

Bracelets: Guess

Clutch: Whistles

Pumps: Christian Louboutin

Lipstick: Clinique Chubby Stick

As much as I talk about not wearing black in the summer, black is classic, and you shouldn't be afraid to rock it in the warmer weather. A black jumpsuit is perfect for a summer night; go for a style like this for an event, or a just a jersey one with thin straps and a denim jacket for something a bit more laid back.

Jumpsuit: Stella McCartney

Necklace: Robert Rose

Ring: Effy Jewelry

Bag: Saint Laurent

Shoes: New Look

toronto island

Last week my sister and I took a little trip over to Toronto Island via ferry just to spend some time outdoors, away from the busyness of the city. Little did we know there was going to be a heat wave that day (I rarely check the temperature before I leave the house in the summer; all I know is it's hot and sunny and therefore I'm wearing shorts and skirts), and although we were a bit dehydrated and almost got heat stroke, it was still such a fun day spent with each other and revisiting the place we used to go to so often as little kids.

simple fringe

As I've said before I'm not the biggest fan of the 70's look that has been quite literally everywhere this spring and summer (mostly because I can't pull off most of those looks). But, as I've also said before, this summer I really started getting into some simple boho looks that aren't too over the top, and really loving it. I've now gotten used to the flowy dresses, long bohemian necklaces, and sandals, but still the fringe trend is something I'm having a little trouble getting on board with. I'm a simple girl with simple style, and therefore I'm always looking at how to make the crazy trends more my speed and wearable for me.

weekend highlights

(Me in the town of Elora, Ontario; photo by Elana Emer)

This is my second weekend highlights post within two weeks, and both weekends were jam packed with amazing and cool things enjoyed with so many people I love, and I could not be more grateful. I may have said this before, but I always feel like every summer I have a list of things I want to do but I always feel like I have the entire summer to do them so I always end up putting them off. Around the last week or so of August I look at my list of things to do and realize I've barely done any of it and while I still had a pretty good summer, I didn't take advantage of the weather and time off I had. So this summer my boyfriend and I actually made a physical list of things we want to do and places we want to go, and are trying our hardest to do at least one thing a week in order to do everything on the list before the summer ends. And I have to say it's working out really well and I'm having the most amazing summer so far!

classic summer prints

It seems every season we invest in brand new trendy pieces that we always say we'll wear again and again, but somehow only last us through the season. However, in reality, a lot of trends and prints come back in style year after year, with a subtle twist. So I'm going to show you some classic summer prints that you should invest in, and if you already own these prints, you should break them out of your closet and put a 2015 spin on them.

weekend highlights

This weekend was one of the most eventful and fun weekends I've had in a very long while. I usually don't do much on weekends other than work and see a movie every once in a while, but this weekend was so amazing.

summer office outfits

No matter what kind of office environment you work in (conservative, laid back, etc.) come summer, you definitely want to add some interest and oomph into your outfits. No one wants to be putting on bland grey pantsuits when the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it's 30+ degrees (plus humidity). Even if you have to wear pants and a blazer, you should be able to express your summer style, even while at work. So I've decided to help you with your summer office outfits inspo.

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?

all white boho

I've never been a huge fan of the boho style on myself. I can definitely appreciate it on someone who has the style and body for it (I'm short and curvy so very flowy things don't always flatter me well), but the most boho I think I've ever gone is throwing on a simple kimono over a tank and jeans (please refer to this insta from last summer).

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.

off the shoulder

One of the simplest, sexiest trends to pull off (pun intended) this summer is the off the shoulder look.  Simple because not only can you find off the shoulder pieces in almost any store you go into, but off the shoulder tops and dresses are also super easy to wear and create an outfit around. And sexy because you get to show off that little bit of skin, leaving the rest to the imagination (and in my opinion, the shoulder is one of the sexiest parts of the body to show off, second only to the upper back).

long weekend highlights

(My Grandparents, cousins, and I in front of the Festival Theatre in Stratford)

I was fortunate enough to have this entire weekend off, and since it was a long weekend for Victoria Day, that ended up being Friday-Monday with absolutely no work. And since I worked the whole weekend last weekend, you can imagine how excited I was to just sit back and relax.

cool spring day

Amongst all the hot and humid days we've had over the last week or so, the day I went to the Mamma Mia X Inglot launch it really cooled down. The sky was grey, it was a tad windy, and let's just say I had to make some tweaks to the outfit I had planned. In the end, I'm happy it was a little cooler, and that it's been cooling off this week as well. I feel like we skipped right over spring this year and headed into summer weather, and as I've said many times before, spring is one of my favourite seasons for fashion. Not quite shorts and tank season yet, spring weather lets you wear jean jackets and flowy pants without getting overheated. But I did want to share with you the outfit I wore to the Inglot event.

mamma mia X inglot

Apologies for being so MIA lately, but as you recall I've been going through some transitions and have had to put some stuff on the back burner (mostly writing). But I am starting to get back into the swing of things, and you can count on at least some posts coming to you over the next few weeks. But the first post back I wanted to share with you was the Mamma Mia X Inglot Gimme! Gimme! Glitter Collection launch event I went to on Tuesday.

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.

spring colours: pastels and army green

Well, it's that time of year again. The time of year when Spring emerges, and pastels along with it. Pastels are always, always trendy for Spring, and no matter which hue of pastels are being shown, you can never go wrong with classic colours, like pink, blue, yellow, and purple. Another colour that is also always, always trendy for Spring is army green. Think earth tones, fresh grass growing, and of course, the army green cargo jacket that is literally always on the spring fashion scene.

WMCFW day 1 review

I know I said I wasn't going to post links to my My City Gossip articles anymore, but since I don't have my day 1 outfit photographed to show you, I figured I would at least post my day 1 review.

stylicious

I'm constantly on the lookout for apps and organizational tricks that will make looking at my clothes and putting outfits together a lot easier, and also fun. So when a friend told me about the app Stylicious I instantly downloaded it and got started. In short, the app lets you create outfits using your own clothes. And the reason I'm telling you about this app when I am, is that it's been so convenient lately to help me plan my outfits for World MasterCard Fashion Week!

early spring

You have no idea how happy I am that this week has been not only above 0 degrees, but mostly above 5 as well. Most of the snow has melted, I was able to go for a run outside, and I've just been in a better mood overall this week. I am hoping, hoping, hoping that it stays like this for the next couple weeks at least, especially for World MasterCard Fashion Week, which is coming up so soon!

winter to spring: sweaters

A staple in everyone's closet for colder months is by far sweaters. Whether you're a turtleneck, cable knit, or cardigan kind of girl, you can't deny you have enough to get you through the November to March (ish) months. And one of my favourite ways to style sweaters is with more delicate pieces that you would wear in Spring and Fall, like flowy skirts and thinner pants. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I love contrasting masculine and feminine pieces, and sleek and chunky pieces.

TOM outfit day 2

This is the other outfit I wore to TOM last week. It was pretty cold, so this day I created an outfit mostly around a coat, because I knew I'd want to keep it on. I'm loving the oversized coat look, so I wore one of my mom's coats.

TOM outfit day 1

Last week (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) was Toronto Men's Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2015. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend most of the Wednesday and Thursday shows, and I just wanted to quickly share the outfits I wore to the shows. This was Wednesday's outfit, and Thursday's will be posted on Thursday of this week.

oscars: best looks

Well, one of the most anticipated nights in Hollywood (in terms of awards and fashion) has come and gone. I was really excited for the Oscars this year, because unlike other years, I actually saw a lot of the movies that were nominated. I also fell in love with a lot of new faces (Felicity Jones, I'm looking at you) so it was also really exciting to see them off-screen! And I especially love me some Neil Patrick Harris.

street style trends to watch for

With TOM starting this week, I'm super excited to see all the street style and trends being worn to the shows and events. Check out my article for My City Gossip for this week to see what trends I'm especially excited to see!

quote of the week

Happy Friday everyone!

lust must

Maybe it's that lately I've been more into the minimalist style, or just that I'm over my cocktail-ring-everyday-of-the-week phase (I still break them out for special occasions), but I've been loving simpler, stacked rings. So take a look at my article for My City Gossip this week!

statement booties

As with any statement piece, statement boots elevate any outfit, no matter the occasion. And the best part about statement boots is that there are so many different styles; printed, metallic (which you know I love), or even just a bold colour.

tea time

One of my favourite new obsessions is tea length skirts. It's probably a combination of the fact that maxi skirts are way too long on me (because of my height) and the fullness of the skirt, but I think this style skirt is just beautiful. I am not afraid to admit that I have picked up 3 tea length skirts over the past month or so, and can't wait to photograph them and share them with you, once the weather warms up (even a bit).

grammys: best looks

While the Grammys are no Oscars, fashion and celebrity-wise, it is one of the bigger award shows and it did get me very excited for the Academy Awards at the end of the month! I'm sure many of you have been on countless social media sites, online magazines, and have listened to radio and television stations talking about the red carpet fashion gossip, so I won't bore you with more.