Leather Orchid

Headband Hairstyles.....

2012-08-29T13:53:00.001-04:00

I think that we all have those days where it seems as though your hair just doesn't want to work for you. Seemingly working against you and any style your trying to put it in. One of my favourite ways to combat unruly hair is by adding a headband. Wether Im just using a simple black elastic band or adorning my hair with a statement piece. It is so simple to just throw your hair up when your having a bad hair day but by adding a headband to it you can change the entire look. Its almost as though you planned it all along and aren't disguising a rough day! My regular go to styles when Im in this predicament are a high slicked back pony tail with a simple black elastic band. Throwing my hair into a funky messy bun and adding a band for a little more umph. So simple, so easy, fast and still looks put together.

Much Love...

All photos via Pinterest.

Work wardrobe...From basics to fun accessories!

2012-08-24T09:02:00.002-04:00

Dressing for work can be difficult. Trying to balance work appropriate with fun while showing your personality. But just because your dressing for work doesn't mean it has to be boring. By creating a work wardrobe with some great basics that are still stylish and fashionable you have the perfect starting point for your 9 to 5 wear. Here is a great wardrobe to start off from that includes great neutral tones and some fabulous fit! Pencil skirts in neutral colours may seem understated but nothing looks better than a great fitting skirt. Make sure this form fitting beauty is not too tight or too short. Just above the knee or below would be perfect for the office. Every woman knows that a great staple in your wardrobe is a classic pair of black slacks. Look for a straight leg (and again not too tight) this will keep the slacks modern and versatile. Shoes...your basic wardrobe should have a couple pairs of neutral shoes. I think they are perfect for that day when your running out of the house. Grab a pair of these and they will always match your outfit. Basic black pumps are not only a great staple but are forever classic! Nude heels will not only elongate your legs but are so effortlessly perfect. Last a comfortable pair of flats. Don't go too casual here, there are so many options with flats your bound to find the perfect pair that are both comfortable and dressy.

The ever classic button down top. A crisp white button down is a long time basic and perfect for any working girl! Add a little flair to the classic style buy wearing a flowy fabric in a neutral tone. Also another great option for the button down is a pull over. Taking the beloved classic up a notch.

Lastly a great fitting black blazer. Not only will this never go out of style it is a working wardrobe must! (in my eyes)

A fun and simple way to add some fun and colour to your wardrobe is by incorporating bright blazers! Choose your outfit and add a bright or patterned blazer. Instantly with one simple addition your outfit has a whole new look and feel!

Once you have your basics for your work wardrobe you can play with the look and add tons of interest and dimension by playing with jewelry and accessories. Add a pop of colour with your shoes, bracelets, earrings or purse. An outfit can instantly be transformed into something completely new by just adding a few accessories.

Much Love!

all photos via polyvore.

Lauren Conrad for Kohl's Fall 2012...

2012-08-09T10:24:00.000-04:00

I Know there have been a few other blogs who have made mention of Lauren Conrads new lookbook for her Fall 2012 LC for Khol's but I had to also share. Not only are the clothes stunningly feminine but they are completely wearable for everyday life. I do not think there was one piece that I did not love and want in my closet. With the gorgeous fabrics and flowy pieces they are bound to be comfortable as well. I adore the new Fall line and I equally adore her hair. Long flowing loose waves with the perfect ombre. I could not help but stare at her hair in every photo as I was going through the new line.

On another note the end to this week is going to be quite busy for me and I am not going to share any news yet as I don't want to jinx things and nothing is official. But a quick note that I may not have a post up here tomorrow. So that said I wish you all a beautiful weekend and I will see you next week with (cross your fingers) some exciting news!

Much Love...

All photos via Pinterest.

Conquered my struggles and weight gain! Outfit Post

2012-08-08T09:58:00.000-04:00

With this blog I have been somewhat hesitant to share too much personal information. Partially to keep some of my life private as well as unsure that people would really want to know. That being said this is a little more personal than usual but I am so happy and to be honest quite proud of myself.

After my mom passed away in April of 2010 I began a hard battle with a horrible bout of depression. It honestly seemed as though myself and my life were ripping apart at the seams and I couldn't hold it together. I new I needed help and with that I sought help from my family doctor who referred me to some others. I was however put on a strong dose of anti-depressants as well as sleeping aids as nighttime seemed to be the worst. I talked through my problems and issues and brought back up many things from the past. It seemed though that things would never go back to the way they were.

While dealing with the depression and being on the medication I gained weight. I guess its a well known fact that many anti-depressants have this terrible side effect but I could not afford to be off the medication as it was helping me through my struggles. The weight gain became its own struggle in and of itself. I was horrified that I had become the biggest I have ever been and I hated it.

Eventually I was able to lower the medication and stop taking the sleep aids. (The sleep aids were also another form of anti-depressants and are one of the worst for weight gain) I slowly started to regain my shape again. It looked as though my body was bloated with water. I hated getting dressed and looking at my clothes that no longer fit.

The jeans that I am wearing in this photo I have not been able to wear since June or July of 2010. I have not even attempted to try them on in the past 2 years as I knew they would not fit. They are the smallest pair of jeans I own and I kept them as a push to regain the body I had and lose the weight I had gained. Today for some reason I decided to try them on and was amazed as I slid them past my butt and was able to actually do them up.

So I can finally say I kicked the weights ass and have lost the weight I gained in about 5 months. I am so happy to finally be where I was (although maybe a tiny tiny bit bigger). I am going to try and lose a little more and putting those jeans on was the push to make me do so!

What I'm wearing:

Sunglasses - RayBan Wayfarer. Find them here.
Top - Flowy white tank by Vivienne Tam.
Jeans - American Eagle skinny jeans. Find similar here.
Bag - American Eagle Deux Lux grey purse. (purchased the other day from Winners so I couldn't find it online.
Shoes - Turquoise platform stilettos by Qupid.
Jewelry - 3 piece studded ring set from Forever21, Gold cross ring from Forever21.
Watch - Nixon in Small Player. Find it here.

Much Love!

I will love you til the end of time...Outfit Post...

2012-08-02T08:42:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous outside. During the day it was sunny and nice and warm but not too hot. (Perfect for having our windows open, we get quite the breeze through our house) As it got a little later in the day it cooled down to the perfect temperature. I could say perfect over and over in this post but thats what it was. After dinner we decided to go grab a coffee and have a little walk and I could not have asked for a better night.

What I'm wearing:

Sunglasses - Rayban Wayfarer.

Top - Basic grey tank from The Gap.

Belt - Brown leather braided belt that came with a shirt I bought.

Skirt - Nude maxi skirt by Cynthia Rowley.

Bag - Black leather envelope clutch made by myself.

Ring - Gold bauble ring from H&M.

Shoes - Silver flip flops from Aldo.

Much Love and Happy Hump Day!!

The Top Knot....

2012-08-01T09:59:00.001-04:00

Leave it loose, pull it tight, add a braid. The top knot is not only the perfect solution to a 'bad hair day' but there are endless possibilities with this fun little (or big) bun. Use a sock to create the donut shape, or just messily throw it up. (Although for the sake of your hair try not to wrap your hair elastic too tightly around your hair as this will cause breakage of those beautiful locks). Whatever way you chose to wear it I love the top knot and lean on it often for those days when I have to rush out the door and a simple pony tail just isn't doing it for me. What do you think about the top knot? Love it or hate it?

Much Love...

All photos via Pinterest.

Striped clutch DIY...

2012-07-31T10:11:00.000-04:00

I made a couple leather clutches a few weeks ago out of some leather fabric I had laying around un-used. I decided one needed to have a little colour and I had seen a few of these self painted clutches so thought I would give it a shot. What have you DIYed lately?

Tape off the bottom portion of your bag being sure to press the tape down firmly so you do not get any bleeding of the paint.

Paint the bottom portion of the bag in white for a base coat. Since the leather is black and I am planning on using light colours for my stripes a base coat will allow the colours to be true and not have any black show through.

Once your paint has fully dried remove your original piece of tape. Apply two more pieces one that will be directly on the painted line of your first colour and a second about half an inch above.

Again apply your base coat of white paint to this thinner line.

Apply your colour when your base coat has dried. I applied two coats of each colour to make sure they were solid colour with no white showing through. Once your paint has fully dried remove it and voila! You can apply modge podge or a clear sealant over the bag so that your paint wont get ruined over time and use.

Much Love!

Casual weekend...Outfit Post.

2012-07-30T11:10:00.003-04:00

What I'm wearing:

Sunglasses - RayBan in Wayfarer.
Top - Sheer black tank from H&M.
Belt - Brown leather belt from Tommy Hilfiger. (ancient!)
Pants - Guess jeans.
Shoes - Brown leather wedge sandals from Aldo.
Ring - Bronze oversized metal ring from Forever21.
Bag - Coral clutch from Winners with gold details. I adore this bag so much. I think it has become my new favourite for summer. I am using it mostly as a clutch but it also came with an adorable dainty gold chain for a strap. When using the strap its so long it can be used as a crossbody bag which is perfect for little outings when I want to be hands free.

Much Love!

Epitome of a girly home! Friday Love...

2012-07-27T10:26:00.001-04:00

Stark white, pops of bright colour, girly and all with a little eclectic mix thrown in. I came across this beautiful home tour via Style at Home and I had to share it with you. The owner of this adorable, stunning space is Marlie Waks, sister of the design editor of Style at Home Jessica Waks. The two paired up and designed a space that would be perfectly in tune with Marlies personality. They also wanted to reflect Marlies love of white rooms and furniture. Throwing in loads of colour to contrast the neutral pallet this condo is the epitome of a girly home. I adore the colours, pink and orange with pops of yellow. What girl wouldn't love to live here? And those Chanel prints above her couch? Love!

Much Love and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

That time of year again....Outfit Post....

2012-07-26T10:24:00.001-04:00

I want to start off my apologizing for my sheer lack of posts in the past week. I don't recall if I mentioned it on here or not but it was my birthday on Tuesday. I swear it has felt non stop since Sunday Night and has not slowed down until today. Sunday night started with a birthday dinner at my parents house which was great! I honestly cannot recall what went on Monday except I got my birthday gift from my parents and hubby (Blackberry playbook, more to come on this later) I don't recall what else but it must have been busy as I didn't post a thing. Tuesday was the big day and the husband(were not officially married yet but after 6 years and a house together boyfriend doesn't seem appropriate) took the day off work so he could spend it with me. So we went out shopping and spent the day together which I adored. Following our little outing we had a couple friends over for another birthday dinner.

Even Wednesday was crazy busy with lots of running around. Which included the purchase of my new sticker for my car. I swear I walked out of the building and couldn't believe how fast you can lose $80. I will stop there as I hate this portion of owning a car. Other than that it was another glorious day. With the birthday celebrations done I am looking forward to relaxing and not eating anymore birthday cake!

What Im wearing:

Sunglasses - RayBan in Wayfarer.
Top - Flowy loose filigree skull tee. Birthday gift from the man. I am not at all sure where he picked this up, it has a name I have never heard of and when I ask where he got it of course he doesn't remember.
Pants - Silver jeans in Tuesday. Find them here.
Shoes - Black suede booties from Aldo.
Bag - Coach Madison op art sateen Maggie. Find it here.
Ring - Gold cross ring from Forever 21. (another birthday gift from the man and I adore it!)

Nude and Coral manicure....Tutorial...

2012-07-20T10:05:00.000-04:00

Through different seasons I always end up finding my new favourite colour for that time of year. At the beginning of Spring this year I came across a nude polish by Loreal titled Walk on the beach. I cannot begin to describe how much I adore this shade. The polish itself is so great, its not too thin so two coats is perfect coverage and it dries fairly quickly with the perfect amount of shine. I have a feeling I will be wearing this polish throughout the entire year. Another colour that I am obsessed with this summer is titled Club Havana by Wet n' Wild. I cannot believe the quality of this polish after spending less than $3 for it. The polish is very pigmented so with skill one coat would be sufficient. The colour is a beautiful mix of coral and a subtle orange. I do not think I would ever be daring enough to slap on an orange polish but this one is perfectly in between.

Last night I got my nails filed and ready for a fresh coat of polish and it seems I am always torn between these two shades I have trouble deciding which one to go with. Both! So the only thing I could do was wear both shades in a French manicure style and I adore the two shades together just as much as apart.

Much Love and Happy Friday!!

DIY Chevron Clutch Tutorial...

2012-07-19T10:09:00.003-04:00

For this DIY I was overly excited to see the finished product I failed to take step by step photos! I will do my best to explain my process in writing along with the photos that I managed to remember to take. It is a very simple DIY with minimal steps. The hardest part is getting the chevron stripes to be geometrically accurate. As well the taping process is a little time consuming but putting in the effort and time will ensure that your stripes are measured perfectly! This DIY would work perfectly with a clutch, wallet or any other bag you want to use. I would suggest using a bag that has more structure to it as it is much easier to work with and paint.

1. Create a chevron template out of a thin cardboard. This will help immensely in the taping process ensuring that your stripes are all the same width and shape.

2. Use a small piece of tape to secure your template in place on your bag and begin taping your line. Right along the bottom and top line of your template. Trim any access at the ends where your tape meets at inside and outside corners. This will ensure you have sharp corners. I made my template one inch to match the same width of the tape. (You can see in the photo below I was left with an area at the back where I had to make a thinner stripe) Make sure you press the tape down firmly to the fabric as to not allow any bleeding.

3. Once you have taped all of your stripes onto your bag you can start painting. I painted using very thin coats. Using thin coats will make sure that you do not have any paint streaks and lines. (those paints lines from using a brush) The photo below shows the bottom stripe with one coat of paint while the top line shows two coats.

4. Let your paint dry before moving on to the next coat. (which takes only a couple of minutes with the Martha Stewart paint that I used (the paint is multi surface craft paint in Grey Wolf) I ended up doing 3 coats of paint which was the perfect amount of coverage and since I used very thin coats it wasn't too thick.

5. Once your paint has fully dried carefully pull off all of the tape from the bag and voila! You have a custom chevron clutch!

You can spray your coat with a clear sealant or use a thin layer of modge podge to insure that with use you won't get any scratches in your paint.

Much Love...

Everybody knows that a broken heart is blind...Outfit Post...

2012-07-18T08:56:00.000-04:00

It was terribly hot outside today to the point where it was hard to breath. Although it has cooled down a tiny bit tonight I cannot believe I decided to venture out in jeans. With the humidex it felt like 47 degrees! Don't get me wrong I love heat and love summer and it can stay as long as it likes but all I can say is wow. That being said I stayed very casual today with little to no accessories other than my two tiny silver bracelets (that I never really take off).

What I wore:

Sunglasses - Ray Ban in Cockpit.
Top - Navy blue cotton button up tank from RW&Co.
Bag - I found this cute little white clutch at the thrift store the other day, added a grey chevron pattern to it and Im in love. (tiny tutorial to come)
Pants - White skinny jeans from H&M.
Shoes - Brown leather sandal wedges from Aldo.

Title lyrics - The Black Keys - Little black submarine.

Laughter captured in a photo....Outfit post outtakes...

2012-07-13T08:50:00.001-04:00

Summer, how much I love it I could honestly not even begin to describe. This year has been absolutely amazing so far. With so much time spent with friends and family in this beautiful weather I could not ask for anything more. Also I feel like such a little kid right now as I am counting down the days to my birthday, even know getting older is sometimes a little scary (mind you Im not that old lol) I enjoy my birthday each year. Not only is it usually a fun celebration but its a time to get together with the ones I love and have a blast! This being said 11 days til the big day.

When going through the photos and editing I always find myself laughing at a lot of the photos that were taken. "What the heck am I doing there?" I try not to pose to much in my photos, I tend to feel more comfortable to just moving and walking around. When I pose, they look posed and I end up looking ridiculous. When I am just being myself they turn out so much better. (mind you not all) As you will see from these photos they also capture my true silly personality. It seems everytime I head out to take photos I end up laughing hysterically at something. So here are a few outtakes, and some that made it from previous outfit posts.

See....What is going on in the above picture? I love being able to laugh at myself. (I think this may have been the aftermath of a huge bug landing on me)

Much Love...and Happy Friday!

Celebrity Style...Audrina Patridge...Im in love

2012-07-12T09:21:00.001-04:00

I honestly don't know of anyone who rocks a wardrobe full of basics as well as Audrina Patridge. I love how casual her clothing style is yet how edgy and feminine it remains. The amount of basics in this womans closet must be out of control and I wish I could have them all! A while back I did a post about the celebrity stylings of Rachel Bilson and how much I adore her fashion choices as well. Audrina certainly takes the cake for everyday wear, as her styling looks so effortlessly fabulous. Which celebrity closet would you like to adopt as your own?

Much Love...

All photos via Pinterest.

DIY Cap Toe Pumps...

2012-07-11T10:23:00.000-04:00

For this project I chose to use Martha Stewart Crafts multi surface acrylic paints. A regular white for the base coat as I wanted the green to really pop. The main colour I used the same Martha Stewart multi surface in Sea Glass. I love this almost sea foam, mint green colour! Against the dark brown of my shoes it really pops!

1. Tape off the toe of the shoe pressing down the tape firmly so you do not get any bleeding. If there is a noticeable sole (or even a small one in my case) tape that as well to make it easier to paint without any slips.

2. Paint each toe with a coat of white paint for the base coat. I did not worry about it being perfect I just wanted to make sure there was enough coverage.

3. Add two coats of your colour of choice and remove the tape before it dries. And voila! Your very own personalized cap toe shoes. How easy was that? I had a little bit of bleeding onto the sole of the shoe but with a little nail polish remover and a Qtip it comes off so easily.

Much Love...

It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. (outfit post)

2012-07-10T07:23:00.000-04:00

What Im wearing:

Sunglasses - A great go to pair of vogue oldies.
Top - Vivienne Tam white tank.
Bottoms - Coral skinny jeans. I bought these jeans this weekend and am in love with the colour of them!
Shoes - Colour splotch pumps by Naughty Monkey. I adore these heels, I love the bright colours and the little leather bow on the back.
Belt - My beloved brown leather belt by Tommy Hilfiger.
Bag - Black leather envelope clutch. I made this bag today and am so pleased at how it turned out. I have never made a bag before, nor have I sewn with leather so I was nervous. Pleasantly surprised at the end result.
Jewelry - Necklace - Gold leaf from Forever21. Ring - gold bauble from H&M.

Title lyrics - Mumford and Sons - The Cave.

Much Love...

A Legendary Lensman...Arthur Elgort

2012-07-06T13:42:00.000-04:00

With a lively and casual style to his photographs Mr. Elgort is a legend in the photography business and looking at his photos you can see why. I love how relaxed they are, so much fun and less structure than the norm, Arthur Elgort's photos rise above in my eyes.

Cindy Crawford.

Kate Moss.

Kirsty Hume with Donovan Leitch.

Haylynn and Lida.

Warren photographing Nadja.

Coco Rocha

Linda Evangelista.

Much Love....and HAPPY FRIDAY!

All photographs via photographerslimitededitions.com

Lusting Over: Floral Shorts

2012-07-06T08:36:00.000-04:00

I have my eyes open for the perfect pair of floral shorts. It seems like I find a style I like but am not thrilled with the floral pattern, or a pattern I like and not thrilled with the style (you get the point). With that being said the hunt still continues but I thought I would share with you some adorable pairs I came across online.

1. Frey hem short from Delias - $30. 2. White denim short from Delias - $25. 3. TNA conductor shorts from Aritzia - $70. 4. Neon rose cutoffs from NastyGal - $68. 5. Full bloom shorts from NastyGal - $68. 6. Pleated floral shorts from Forever21 - $16. 7. Floral denim shorts from Forever21 - $20.

Much Love...

My favourite little nooks and corners around my office...

2012-07-05T10:51:00.000-04:00

The title really does speak for itself here but, sitting in my office I was glancing around as usual at my favourite little nooks and corners. From my white lion, vases and pictures, to a letter I found from my mom. Throughout our home I have my favourite items and corners, some with sentimental value and others are just pure lust for objects!

Above: The earrings I am wearing today posed at the bottom of my favourite picture frame
Below: Again the same little posed earrings, my wallet from my coffee run earlier and well a magazine, these seem to be strewn around every so often.

Above: One of my favourite things to look at when I am missing my mom, I have this letter from her pinned on my cork board and sometimes it makes me miss her more, other times it makes me smile brighter.
Below: My absolute favourite picture of my mom, how cute is this with the doggie in the background.

Much Love...

How To: Distressed Denim DIY

2012-07-04T14:53:00.000-04:00

You don't have to wait for your jeans to get worn out and distressed from wear, with a couple tools, some spare time, old jeans and a tiny bit of elbow grease you can achieve the perfect distressed look. By using a serrated knife, exacto knife and scissors you can achieve quite the array of distress to jeans.

Not really shown in the picture above, when making cut off jean shorts run the knife along the bottom of the shorts to give a great frayed look.

I love how the serrated knife gives a more subtle fray and just frays the surface of the fabric without going right through.

By using the exacto knife you can create a more frayed area on the shorts that will go through the fabric.

Add fun interest to the pockets as well!

Much Love...

Outdoor Space Inspiration

2012-07-03T11:45:00.000-04:00

I have said this before but Pinterest is the greatest site to go for all sorts of inspiration and I have been drooling over some of the outdoor spaces that I have seen recently. This Spring/Summer we have really been trying to update and finish our backyard and it is coming along quite nicely. There is however so much more that we want to do and Im sure more to come after that with all the amazing photos I am coming across. Here are a few of my favourites, you can find the rest here.

All photos via Pinterest.

Happy Canada Day Weekend!!!

2012-06-30T13:52:00.001-04:00

As you may know I am Canadian and am quite proud to live in such an amazing country. I started the long weekend off yesterday by the pool swimming and tanning for quite a few hours and slacked pretty hard on the sunscreen front which resulted in quite the sun burn. My skin is so pissed off today I don't even want to venture outside although its beautiful and hot. I will enjoy the outdoors tonight watching early Canada Day fire works that are put on in the sub division that we live in. The fireworks are literally in the field next to our house so we watch them from the comfort of our backyard which I enjoy immensely. So wether your Canadian and celebrating this weekend or not, have a wonderful weekend regardless of where you are!

Photo via Shayne Gray photography.

Little Black Blazer...

2012-06-29T09:20:00.000-04:00

I had good intentions of doing a fifth outfit post this week of 'how to wear a black suit jacket/blazer how ever time totally got away from me. I swear this week went from busy to beyond insane. I am fairly certain that I overloaded my plate with things I wanted to get done this week. I took it upon myself to overhaul our patio furniture which was a nice teak table and chairs and bench when we first got it a couple years ago. I did however always want a nice stark white set so....with a lot of painting in some crazy hot weather I finally finished yesterday. I spent a good 5 hours or more every day working on it and honestly don't want to see a can of paint for a long time. So with that said I found some great black blazers online and here are a few of my favourites and where you can get your hands on them.

1. Bloomingdales Aqua fitted girlfriend blazer - $115. Find it here. 2. Forever 21 sequin collar blazer - $39. Find it here. 3. Nasty Gal caged back blazer - $68. Find it here. 4. Forever 21 long lapel blazer - $35. Find it here. 5. Forever 21 shawl collar blazer - $33. Find it here.

Much Love....HAPPY FRIDAY!

All photos via links above and pinterest.

Black Suit Jacket Number Four....Studded Skulls and White Jeans

2012-06-28T09:29:00.000-04:00

I had one outfit in mind when I thought of doing this weeks themed outfit posts and I have yet to wear it. Its kind of like packing, people say "Only bring what you need" or advise to bring one planned outfit per day you are away. I NEVER pack like this, for the main reason of I never know what I am going to want to wear on any given day. That being said I have grabbed pieces for the planned outfit and I always end up changing my mind. Today I chose a relaxed black tank with a gold studded skull and a pair of comfy flared white jeans. (Again with the white ha)

What I am wearing:

Sunglasses - Ray Ban in Wayfarer. Find them here.
Jacket - Black cropped sleeve suit jacket from Dynamite.
Top - Black tank with studded gold skull from H&M.
Jeans - White high waisted flared jean by Mavi in Gwen.
Shoes - Black platform pumps by Qupid.
Bag - Black clutch with gold accents by Tommy Hilfiger.
Earrings - Tacori studs c/o Tacori, Harlings, Style Republic

Much Love...