All posts tagged: style

I Heart StyleLikeU

It’s not everyday that you get to meet your Instagram crushes, but that’s exactly what happened to me earlier this year when the amazing pair behind StyleLikeU materialized before my eyes at a press event. Helmed by mother-daughter duo Elisa Goodkind and Lily  Mandelbaum, the StyleLikeU mission seeks to empower people to discover a sense of unique personal style and, in turn, create a society that values and encourages individual expression. What I love about their work is how it focuses on being different as a good thing – cuz it is. Which is probably because I grew up feeling very much different – cuz I was. Anyhoo, I had the privilege to write about their endlessly gorgeous & newly available book True Style is What’s Underneath. It’s a full-on manifesto overflowing with inspiration for your closet and your spirit, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in personal style, self-acceptance and/or looking to ignite a creative spark. One of my fave quotes in the book is this nugget from Amy van Doran: “I had no chance of being normal, so I always …

Coat Tales… à la Canadiana

Pink! Curls! Legs! Silver! Isn’t this shot everything?! Loved styling this fall fashion story with amazing Canadian-designed coats. Photography by Alvaro Goveia / Makeup & Hair by Diana Carreiro / Canadian beauty by Anna, Elite Models / Styling by me. Thanks Jute Magazine for running it! Clothing credits below… Look 1: Ellie Mae pink coat, Browns boots Look 2: Sentaler purple trench Look 3: SØSKEN checkered coat, MICHAEL Michael Kors boots Look 4: Sentaler moto coat Look 5: SØSKEN yellow coat, Browns boots Look 6: Rudsak red moto and slip dress

No Safe Shades!!!

Because on the first day of summer, I wanna wear all the brights!   Here’s credits for everything in the vid: Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Lavender Jam, $30, Sephora Susana Monaco Philomena Dress, $203, Shopbop Banana Republic Italian Suede Accordion Bag, $215 H&M Textured Skirt, $60 Timex Weekender Fairfield Watch, $95 J. Crew Tie-Waist Romper, $149 Birkenstock sandals, Arizona (pink), $129, and Madrid (yellow), $99, mybirkenstockshop.ca Oscar de la Renta earrings, US $425, Net-A-Porter French Connection Celia Sequinned Dress, $90 (green) and $80 (pink) Stella McCartney The Falabella Mini Bag, US $1055, Net-A-Porter Zara PomPom Sandals, $90

Budget Dresses to Buy Now

I had a real hankering for a wardrobe update last week and fully intended to satisfy my sartorial craving with a pretty top of some sort. I had my eyes peeled for something off the shoulder or printed, you know, anything that felt new & now. I gave it a real good effort but for whatever reason, price point or dissatisfactory fabric, it did not happen. However, in my travels I came across this dress, above, that did everything I asked of it. My demands were: easy-to-wear cut (ruching = buh bye belly), not-so-basic detailing (asymmetrical reads as cool) and budget-friendly price (under $100). I wore it out the next day, which is always a good sign. In fact, Jenn Rogien, the costume designer for Girls AND Orange is the New Black (NBD!), once told me that if you buy a garment and don’t want to wear it immediately that you should return it. It’s just not speaking to you strong enough and will end up being a waste of space in your closet. Wearing my winning frock (you’ll find the particulars below) only …

My Greedy Gift Guide

My holiday shopping is all wrapped up, which leaves just enough time to indulge in my own wish list. Hence, the title of this post and a gift guide of five prezzie suggestions. A few lean more towards want than need. A couple are things I already own and love – and therefore never want to run out of. And yes, while these are things I shamelessly admit to lusting after for myself, I guarantee any stylish gal you know wouldn’t be mad to receive them. Happy Holidays! 1. Gimme A Chic Coat! With Mother Nature being on her best behaviour it only seems fair to reward her by stepping out in an eye-catching lightweight coat. I like my outerwear packed to the gills with personality, so this printed one is right up my ally. H&M Pattern Coat, $60       2. Gimme Gorgeous Skin! As a clay mask aficionado I can attest to this being a must-have beauty product. It’s splurgy, for sure. But its ability to suck the gunk out pores while leaving skin super hydrated is worth every penny. If she likes skin care, she’ll …

Back to Black

Ok, so, sticking to black for holiday dressing isn’t anything new (it’s basically the ‘Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking’ festive equivalent), BUT I swear that updated silhouettes, textures and details make the go-to neutral as exciting as ever. We’re going well beyond the LBD. See slideshow below to peep my favourite options which include sexy jumpsuits, body skimming fits that are more covered than not, oversize lace and sequins in new shapes (j’adore that kimono wrap dress!). Don’t forget to add statement jewelry, I’m big on big earrings at the moment, plus a deliciously dark lip colour and any style of flashy footwear. I’ll be in silver flats, FYI. Best Health Nov/Dec 2015 Photography: Genevieve Charbonneau / Hair & Makeup: Cia Mandarello Art Direction: Jackie Shipley / Styling: me!  

Yoga, Girl, Yoga

This image of Caley Alyssa Yavorsky, yogi supreme, in an incredible backbend yoga pose has been seared into my brain since I came across it in Self magazine last summer. I think it’s a jaw-dropping image of beauty and strength, and I find it majorly inspiring. So much so that I may or may not have nabbed the pic as my avatar image on my MindBody app log-in. It’s all about visualization, people! Am I anywhere near as flexible? Hells no. But I’m working on it, and have been committed to hot yoga for the past few years. I remember thinking “I’ve never sweated this much in my life, I love it!” during the very first class I tried. Now it’s all I do in terms of a workout and I can’t imagine life without it. Going to class and sweating to death keeps me sane and kicks my butt. Every. Single. Time. At the beginning of November I decided to embark on a 30-day yoga challenge, which, no surprise, is an attempt to hit the mat every day for a month. It had been a couple …