Style: Retro Purple Haze!

Heya! I was browsing in Joe Fresh recently and was pleasantly surprised with the cute dresses and skirts that are available, at amazing clearance prices. I fell in love with this dress as soon as I saw it. And when I tried it on, I knew I had to buy it, especially once I noticed it was on sale. The bodice fits perfectly, and I love the retro "feel" of the full skirt and cut of the dress. I also adore the pattern, and of course, the purple colour.

Beauty: Almay's Subtle Pretty!

Heya! I've always known about Almay Make-up, and even tried some of their products in the past. I wasn't really impressed with them, so I've never tried Almay again. But several weeks ago, I met Almay PR Representative Kelsey, at the Fashion and Beauty Blogger Conference Spark Sessions. She introduced me to some of Almay's products, the history of the company, and the great love story of Fanny May and Alfred Woititz, the founders of Almay.

Style: Nice + Naughty Cheer!

Heya! When I found this cozy sweater and fun warm novelty socks from Urban Outfitters, I couldn't resist styling a Christmas themed outfit. So I braved the Toronto Ice Storm aftermath, to show this fabulous (and warm) outfit!

Style: Grande Sexy: Coffee + (Faux) Fur!

Heya! I don't normally post on the weekend, but this week has been so crazy hectic: trying to fit in work, holiday events, Christmas shopping, baking, and making a gingerbread house (yes, I made a gingerbread house), that I ran out of time to post on my blog! But I had to share this fabulous outfit I bought at Homegrown Boutique in Yorkville a few weeks ago. 

I've always wanted to stop by and check this store out, being a place that features Canadian designer fashions. Armed with a $50 gift card I received from Spark Sessions and a resolve to find a sexy and chic dress, I finally had an excuse to buy myself a Christmas gift. 

Exhibit: Experiencing The Evolution of David Cronenberg!

Heya! A few weeks ago I visited the new exhibit at TIFF Bell Lightbox called David Cronenberg: Evolution. This exhibit is one of the coolest and strangest exhibits I have ever been too in a long time. But knowing David Cronenberg films, I wouldn't expect anything less. I knew I was in for something unique when I noticed the weird face morphing photo booth outside the exhibit, which is free for anyone to try. 

Makeup Review: Naturally Beautiful: Vasanti Liquid Cover Up!

I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting beauty and make up products. For almost a year now, a friend of mine has been pushing me to try Vasanti, a new line of cosmetics and skin care . I just ran out of my liqid foundation when I came upon their booth at The National Women's Show (Read about my day at The National Women's Show here), so I decided to sample Vasanti's liquid foundation. I met with Make up Artist Carley, who colour matched my skin tone, and tried the liquid cover up - foundation and concealer-in-1 in Liquid V1 on me.
 

Style: Keeping It Mod With Yellow Butterflies!

Heya! Now that it's cold outside, and is going to stay that way for a while, I have to get creative on how I wear dresses and skirts in the winter. I want to stay warm and stylish, but don't want to look boring by wearing black tights all the time. That's why I am so happy I found this amazing online company called Zohara. They sell fabulous tights and leggings in  very cool colours, designs, and patterns. The tights are so comfortable and last a long time. I still have the first pair I bought! They are so chic and versatile. Perfect for a visit to the AGO or a night of cocktails with friends on King Street West. I first came across this company at one of my trips to The National Women's Show (to find out more about my visit to The National Women's show go here).  

Style: Swag Style With Smart Set!

Heya! Have you been to +SmartSetFashion recently? I love the Fall and the new Holiday Collections. Full of rich colours, like deep burgundy and emerald green, charming animal prints, bedazzled and be-sparkled lace and beaded tops and skirts. All the items I tried on were so comfortable and fit amazing! It was hard to decide what to buy!

I fell in love with so many pieces that I decided to style two looks using the gift card I received as part of the swag bag from Spark Sessions, Canada's first and only Fashion and Beauty blogger conference.

Event: My Annual Date With My Favourite Woman!

Heya! One weekend in the fall, for over 10 years, I have a standing date with one of my favourite people.  Almost every year, my Mother and I, attend The National Women's Show at The Toronto Convention Centre. Some years, other friends and family have joined us, but this year it was just the two of us, like it was at our first visit several years ago. My Mom doesn't live in the city, so she makes the treacherous trek into a city she doesn't know, on the bus and train. She spends the weekend with me and it turns into a shopping/girl movie weekend. We both look forward to it every year.

My Mom and I at The National Women's Show

Waiting in line at The National Women's Show

Style: A Casual Statement!

Heya! I put together this new outfit for a casual afternoon spent with friends. We went out for brunch at a bistro along Bloor Street West and then window shopping and browsing in the great shops along Bloor Street. I wanted to remain casual and comfortable but still wanted some chic allure to the outfit. I layered a bright comfortable pullover over a plaid shirt that compliments the bright green. It was a cool afternoon, so the layering kept me warm. I paired the tops with some very comfortable distressed boyfriend jeans. To add some interest to the look, I introduced a shock of new colour with a statement Shop For Jayu necklace. Low heeled boots and a structured purse completed the outfit. 
 

Exhibit: Exploring What David Bowie Is!

Heya! A few weeks ago I entered the world of David Bowie at the one of the AGO's newest exhibits David Bowie Is. This exhibit was originally put on by the Victoria and Albert Museum in England (one of my favourite museums), where it shattered attendance records. Now making its North American debut in Toronto, I strongly urge everyone to go see what David Bowie Is.  

I was extremely excited to visit this exhibit. I caught a glimpse of David Bowie's character, when I saw him perform in concert many years ago, and was looking forward to exploring more of his world.

Event: Spark Sessions: A Very Unique Experience!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a very exciting event downtown Toronto: Spark Sessions, Canada's FIRST and ONLY Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference. What an amazing and unique experience! Sparks Sessions was organized by some of Toronto's top bloggers with panelists and speakers from all aspects of the Social Media and Blogger Industry. The opening keynote speaker, that began the conference with a bang, was none other than Jeanne Beker. Her passionate and inspiring speech about being "fearless, to never give up, to have a unique voice and inspire the world", set the tone for the entire weekend.

My Style: Hot Burgundy Leather!

Marshall's Leather Jacket + H&M Dress Outfit

Two really hot trends right now, is the colour burgundy and anything made from leather. Put the two together in one garment and you have a very stylish and fashionable piece of clothing. 

 
I recently bought this burgundy leather bomber jacket at Marshalls for only $35! It's actually quite warm and matches my burgundy boots and GUESS purse perfectly. I wore all these pieces with a basic tank dress from H&M. To add some "pop" to the look, I added home made (not by me) knitted arm warmers and a bright green scarf, I picked up at last years National Women's Show, for only $5. 

Shoe Trends: What Men Want!

A few months ago I read an article from The Huffington Post. I thought it was quite interesting and funny, and I wanted to share it with you. To read the original article go here.

Wedge Sneakers

The Huffington Post reported that a poll taken by couponscodes4u.com revealed that the least attractive shoe is.... drum roll please...... the wedge heel. Really! I personally think Uggs should be #1, but I'm not a man. I've featured many of these "least attractive" shoe styles in previous posts. And I love them! I've got a lot of compliments on them, many of those compliments have been from men.

Style: Looking Cool While Staying Warm!

Heya! With coat weather here, it can sometimes be hard to keep warm while still looking great. That's why I've come up with some great tips that help me to look cool while staying warm! Here are some of my tips: 

A fabulous coat is the first thing you need to create a fashionable look. Preferably a coat that does not hide your curves.

Event: WMC Fashion Week: Subdued Beauty + Stunning Gowns!

Two weeks ago, it was that time again! That magical time of WorldMastercard FashionWeek in Toronto. Bloggers come out from behind their computers, designers emerge from their sewing machines, buyers and writers swap their sensible loafers for sky high stilettos. It's a wonderful time of year when the fashion elite mixes with the street style mavens of the general public! It's almost as fun as Halloween! 

Style: Canadian Tuxedo!

 

Recently +WorldMastercard FashionWeek  was here in Toronto and +MasterCard Stylicity sent out a challenge to the public to celebrate their unique Canadian fashion and style their own version of the classic Canadian Tuxedo. 

Style: Pink Skulls + Black Leather!

Heya! With Halloween less than 24 hours from now, I decided to style another Halloween themed outfit. I went a little bit sexier with this one, for those ladies who want to go out and celebrate this scary day, but without the costume.

Beauty: I'm Gellin'!

Heya! I've mentioned it before, but I'm kind of a nail polish junkie. I love me some coloured, tricked out nails! But lately, with my full time job, working on my blog, and everything else life is throwing at me, I've have not given the attention to my fingernails that they deserve. And when I do spend time painting them, with my active lifestyle, the next day they are chipped. And all the work on spent on them goes to waste. I love the idea of gel nails. Colour that will last on my nails for up to 2 weeks, but to find the time to fit in a manicure appointment is hard, and can be costly. I needed a solution to this dilemma. So last week I cashed in my Optimum points at Shoppers Drugmart and decided to try the Sally Hansen at home Gel polish kit! 

 

Exhibit: Visiting Ai Weiwei's World?!

Heya! Last week I visited one of  the Art Gallery of Ontario's latest exhibitions: Ai Weiwei: According to What? And I have to say I was moved, shocked, and marveled at the magnificence and bravery of this Chinese dissident artist. 

 

 

My Style: Cozy + Spooky!

With Halloween right around the corner, I decided to do a "spooky" themed outfit. For those of you, not dressing up in costume, this Skull sweater I got from Winners is a perfect piece to wear on Halloween. 

Style: Tribal Style!

Heya! Lately I've been experimenting with mixing different patterns in one outfit. I usually shy away from wearing patterns head to toe, especially different ones. But as I stated, I'm experimenting:)

 

Event: All Night At Toronto's Giant Museum!

Nuit Blanche Art Event Recap

Last Saturday, the city of Toronto turned into an all night art museum, free to the public from sunset to sundown. This yearly event, called Nuit Blanche, is one of the reason's I love this city. I've been participating in Nuit Blanche since 2007, the year I moved back to Toronto. And I have enjoyed this event every year since.

This I Build For You, Performance and Installation by David R. Harper

Plastic Bags Sculpture by Pascale Marthine Tayou

Beauty: To Shine Or Not To Shine!

Heya! There is something you may not know about me: I am a nail polish fanatic! I own over 100 bottles of nail polish in a variety of shades. I also like to try new polish ideas on my nails like different shapes, contrasting tips, or just some sparkle! It's one way I can show my wacky side while at work. And no outfit is complete without a coat of colour on the fingernails (and toe nails for open-toed shoes:).

A few weeks ago, a friend told me about a fabulous nail product: matte top coat! Now, not only do I have endless colour combinations for my nails but now I can do everything with a matte effect as well!

For this post, I used Revlon Colorstay Wild Strawberry and Gosh Matt effect Top Coat

Style: Spanish Style!

H+M and Forever 21 Outfit

I love the new fall trends I've been seeing over the past few weeks. There is a lot of Spanish influence in some of the new collections I see in stores. I love the burgundy colours, large hats, and fringe trimmed clothing! I decided to bring all these fashion elements together and create one fabulous look.

Explore Toronto: Serenity Now!

  
Sometimes I find it hard to get some peace and feel grounded living downtown in North America's fourth largest city. I love Toronto and it is my favourite city in the world, but sometimes a girl has just got to get away! If I don't have the time or the means to leave the city for a weekend, I find myself walking the winding path of The Toronto Public Labyrinth downtown in the heart of Toronto. I walk the pathway towards the centre, just letting my mind empty of all the worries and questions that have been bothering me that week. Once I reach the centre, I just stand there and take deep breaths, feeling myself calm and content. Once I follow the path out and reach the end of the Labyrinth, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, more happy and able to see things with a better perspective.

Style: Summery Fall Style!

Heya! With the weather still sunny but starting to cool, it can be hard to transition some of your favourite clothing pieces into a Fall Wardrobe. I love the outfit I wore to The Danier Leather Fall Fashion Show I attended several weeks ago and I can still where it now. (You can read all about The Danier Leather Fall Fashion Show here). The weather then is very similar to what it is now: sunny and warm, but can get cool once the sun sets. That's why I love this Shoshana Kuper dress I bought at The Coal Miner's Daughter Boutique on Queen Street West during The Summer Fling Shopping Event (you can read about The Summer Fling here).

Celebrity Style: Emmy Style!

Heya! So in case you didn't know, the Emmys were on last Sunday night. I'm generally too busy to watch a 3 hour long rewards show. I usually just catch the highlights the next day on YouTube. But I do love to watch the Red Carpet Pre-Show. Seeing all the glamorous people dress up and wear amazing gowns, gowns that I could never afford! It's also a good way to spot the upcoming trends that the rest of us will see in stores very soon. A few trends I noticed on The Red Carpet, were lots of jewel tones like bright purples, cobalt blues, and emerald greens. 

Alyson Hannigan in Marchesa

Carrie Underwood in Romona Keveza

Allison Williams in Ralph Lauren

Tina Fey in Narciso Rodriguez

Mayim Bialik in Oliver Torlento

Sarah Hyland in CH Carolina Herrera

Beauty: Faking It While Keeping It Real! + Giveaway!

I have been finding that there is just not enough time in the day to do everything I need to do. Between working a full time job, keeping up with my blog, making time for family and friends, and trying to fit in everyday errands, my good nights sleep suffers and it has been showing in my eyes. 

 

 I've decided to try some different beauty products to help with the dark circles under my eyes and make me look more alert, when all I want to and is take a nap. I've heard a lot of good things about Benefit Cosmetics Fake Up concealer and They're Real! mascara, and after watching the promo video for They're Real! mascara, I decided to give them a try (watch the video here or go to my facebook page).

Style: Graphic Cool!

Heya! I have been recently wearing a lot of graphic t-shirts. You can add some trendy flair to any outfit with a graphic tee and they are a fun way to express yourself and the world around you. They can be dressed up or down and styled so many different ways. Graphic tees have endless possibilities! Here are 2 of my newest additions to my wardrobe: