LilliChantilly

vday

2012-02-11T14:59:00.000-05:00

Whether you're going on a date, hanging out with the girls or having a pampered "me" day, I hope you have a blast! Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

bundled up

2012-02-11T14:46:00.000-05:00

Got this super-warm knitted scarf a couple of years ago from H&M and it's still one of my favourites. When the weather gets unbearably cold, this is one of the scarves I grab for. It's a circle/infinity scarf, very long so I wrap it around my neck twice. It can also be used as a hood or poncho- very versatile!

playlist

2012-02-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

tea time

2012-02-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Enjoying a cup of tea after a long day at work. TGIF!

contrast

2012-02-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

I haven't had the time to take proper outfit pictures, but I managed to take a couple of snapshots with my phone before heading to work. I love wearing all-black from top to bottom and adding a bit of contrast with a non-black blazer. It's my go-to look especially when I have no idea what to wear or when I'm in a rush. This wool-blend blazer (my Mom's old blazer handed down to me), is perfect for the winter season. It's very warm, chic and practical. I've worn it on a night out and to work. Blazers are so versatile, which is why I love them. You can never have too many!

cashmere

2012-01-28T18:31:00.000-05:00

While shopping for work clothes, I came across this turtleneck cashmere sweater from Marshalls. I don't know why I never owned anything cashmere before, but now I'm obsessed!
Finding work pants (or pants in general) that fit has always been a challenge for me. But I found a great selection at Marshalls (very similar to Winners). Lots of great finds, but it'll require some time and patience!

a new chapter

2012-01-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

I feel like I haven't blogged in ages. These past two weeks have been super busy, and yet, exciting at the same time. I just started a new job- a great career opportunity for me- and I am ecstatic about it. My style has been shifting more towards the "corporate" side; and although I enjoy dressing up for work everyday, I look forward to the weekends when I can be a bit more fun and creative with my outfits. I'm glad I can do both. Blog posts may not appear as often as they used to, but I am going to try to blog every week. You'll probably see me more on Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to drop by and say hi :)

coffee date

2012-01-22T16:47:00.000-05:00

Top - Jacob

Cardigan - Mac & Jac

Pants - Talula

Scarf - HappyScarf (gifted)

Earrings - House of Harlow

Bag - Rebecca Minkoff

Nails - Zoya "Vanessa"

Met up with the girls for coffee. This scarf has been my greatest companion during this winter season. And this past week has been super busy for me as I traded in my casual clothes for business attire- if you follow me on Twitter, you already know what I'm talking about! Update later! :)

You can now follow me on facebook!

2012-01-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

I recently signed up for a Facebook page cleverly titled, LilliChantilly. I'm hoping it will act as a "behind the scenes" to this blog. I've been having fun updating it. Make sure to "like" my page if you want to see updates from this blog, previews, photos, and more. I love that Facebook is like a blog and Twitter all in one- minus the 140-character constraint! #iliketoramble

Click here to "like" LilliChantilly on Facebook

all wrapped up

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

Top: Talula (Aritzia)

Pants: TNA (Aritzia)

Scarf: HappyScarf (gifted)

Nailpolish: Essie - Vanessa

Loving this scarf (link), and how well it compliments a plain, monochromatic outfit. We haven't gotten much snowfall (which is shocking for Toronto, and considering it's January!), but I can't complain. We did, however, experience some frigid cold temperatures in the -20°C, so you can bet I wore some long-johns and thick scarves (am I ever seen without a scarf on anyway?).

twenty twelve

2012-01-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

(top - Sears; belt - vintage; jeggings - Talula, Aritzia; bracelets - David Smallcombe; watch - Skagen; bag - Rebecca Minkoff; nails - China Glaze Empowerment, and Sally Hansen Strobe Light)

A bit late, but here is my New Year's Eve outfit. This silky top with shiny, scale-like detail was one of my purchases from Boxing Day- a great find for only $9! I was surprised to have found it from... drum roll, please... Sears! If you haven't heard, the company is closing over one-hundred stores and everything is priced to sell. Not bad for just nine bucks! And my favourite accessory of the night- the wine, of course ;)

Favourites of 2011

2012-01-04T12:21:00.000-05:00

Last year, I went into great detail about every single product on my Favourites List. This year, I'm going straight to the point and listing them out for you. Some of my favourites are repeats from last year, and some are new loves. For reference, check out my Favourites of 2010. It's interesting to look back on and compare what has/hasn't changed in a year's time.

MAKEUP
Foundation: MAC MSF Natural, Bare Minerals Foundation, Origins VitaZing
Concealer: MAC Select Cover-up Concealer (I always say the key to making this full coverage is to let it set - depot a small amount on the back of your hand or on a clean surface before applying/blending), Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
Bronzer: MAC Bronzing Powder (Golden), NARS Laguna Bronzer
Blush: MAC Stereo Rose, MAC Mineralize Blush in Hand Finish, NARS Torrid (this one was tough - I will definitely do a top 10 favourites soon!)
Cheek Highlight: MAC MSF in By Candlelight
Brows: MAC Impeccable Brow Pencil, Anastasia Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes
Brow Highlight: Sephora eyeshadow in Aspen Summit, NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Eyeliner: MAC Blacktrack Fluidline, Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero
Eyeshadow base: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Eyeshadow: MAC Style Snob, NARS Pleasures of Paris palette, Urban Decay Book of Shadow Vol. III
Mascara: Benefit BADgal Lash, MUFE Smoky Lash, Barry M 3 in 1
False Lashes: Ardell No. 10
False Eyelash Glue: Duo Adhesive (Dark Tone)
Lipstick: Barry M in A Touch of Magic, MAC Hue, MAC Snob, MAC Pervette (I will do a top 10 favourites for this as well)
Lipgloss: YSL Gloss Pur #2

SKINCARE
Makeup Remover: MAC Wipes, Ponds Cleansing & Makeup Removing Towelettes, Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil
Cleanser: Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil (all Boscia cleansers in general, they are my favourite!)
Treatment: Ole Henriksen Truth Serum (morning), Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel (night)
Exfoliator: Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub, Clarisonic Mia (used with cleanser)
Moisturizer: Ole Henriksen (currently using their Sheer Transformation, but have tried almost all of their moisturizers and loved them all!)
Eye Cream: MAC Fast Response Eye Cream
Lip Balm: Nivea Lip Care, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine

OTHER
Eyelash Curler: Shu Uemura
Makeup Brush: MAC 109, Sigma Kabuki Brush (or F45)
Nailpolish: OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, Barry M Nail Paint #279 Bright Pink, MAC Abalone Shell, Deborah Lippmann Stairway To Heaven (a new favourite)
Hair Treatment: Frederic Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream, Hana Shine Shield Thermal Protectant
Shampoo: Phyto
Shower Gel: Korres
Perfume: Bvlgari Jasmin Noir, Paco Rabanne Lady Million, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, YSL Parisienne

And I think that's it! If I forgot anything, leave a comment below and I will add it to the list. I like writing these lists every year because I don't really experiment enough with makeup and products to write favourites posts every month. I like having an annual list because it's all there for you to see, and you know if it's on the list, it has to be great! I hope you and your loved ones had a great New Years! Best wishes for 2012!

vince x silk

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

Top: Vince

Pants: Talula (Aritzia)

Boots: Menta & Pimenta (Winners)

Earrings: House of Harlow

Found this gorgeous Vince silk blouse while shopping on Boxing Day- it feels like a dream! I always find Boxing Day a funny concept. I'm not quite sure why we have one to begin with since it is the day after Christmas when presents have already been handed out. But, a sale is a sale, and I'm all for it! Boxing Day has become an annual tradition for my family and I. We spend the whole day together shopping; and these sales usually go on for an entire week, so it really has become a week-long adventure for us. I look forward to it every year.

black x navy

2011-12-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Shirt: Jacob

Cardigan: Isabella Rodriguez

Jeans: from Winners

Scarf: HappyScarf (gifted)

Watch: Skagen

Nails: A combination of Zoya Vanessa,

Sephora by OPI Under My Trench Coat,

and Hard Candy Sugar Daddy

Black and navy do go together... it's just how you put it together. Some consider it to be a fashion faux pas, but personally, I am a fan; and I'm not one to follow the "rules" to a T. The way I like to incorporate the two colours together is to include neutral-coloured pieces into the mix- in this case, my shirt and jeans.

I am still rocking my holiday nails, as I think I will be for a while longer. The holiday spirit has yet to leave me! Bring on 2012. Happy New Year, everyone!

christmas day

2011-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Some pictures taken on Christmas day. It's been a long time coming, but I finally got a new laptop. I am typing on my new Macbook Pro as we speak! We also got a new camera. I am a Canon girl, and this PowerShot Elph 300 HS sure takes the cake! It is a nice upgrade from our old point-and-shoot with all of the features and filters you'd find on a DSLR. And the highlight of my night- a Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. Clutch from Jeff. I'm in heaven!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. I can't believe Christmas is over already! We're still blasting Holiday music at home. Call us crazy, but we're not ready for it to be over yet... well, there's always New Years!

christmas outfit

2011-12-26T23:25:00.000-05:00

Top: Forever 21

Velvet leggings: Forever 21

Necklace: Etsy

Nailpolish: Zoya - Vanessa

Eyeshadow: MAC - Style Snob

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday! This year's holiday outfit features a shiny top from Forever 21- particularly their Love 21 line (link). It has a nice textured feel and button detail on the back. I always considered Forever 21 clothing as "disposable", but I find that their Love 21 line is much better in quality. Maybe it's just me. It's definitely a lot more sophisticated and mature, which I like. Disposable, but cute, affordable and perfect for "now".

merry christmas

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday!

oh christmas tree

2011-12-24T11:14:00.000-05:00

(top: Forever 21, jeans: Rock & Republic, belt: Nine West, scarf: HappyScarf - gifted, watch: Skagen, clutch: vintage)

We were late with the Christmas decorations this year, so instead of putting up our usual big tree, we opted for a baby one instead. And to make things feel more festive, I've been playing Michael Bublé's Christmas album on loop.

For this casual outfit, I paired a basic cream button-up top with some jeans, fastened with a brown leather belt; a beautiful silky scarf (link), and a vintage clutch. On the nails, I came up with this holiday design after experimenting with some nailpolishes. I hope to recreate one of these designs very soon (hopefully tonight!).

Have a very Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

Inspiration

2011-12-20T13:41:00.000-05:00

(Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Stacked bracelets, clutches, leather, lace, sequins, and fur. I love looking through Tumblr for inspiration!

Follow me on Tumblr

winter survival checklist

2011-12-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

(HappyScarf - gifted, TNA Cowichan Sweater from Aritzia, Ugg boots, and Starbucks - my fav: Chai Tea Latte)

Every year, when winter rolls around, I go into "survival" mode. It's a time when practicality becomes priority for wardrobe. And over the years, I have created a "mental checklist" of winter essentials that I swear by:

1. TNA Cowichan Sweaters from Aritzia. They are made of 100% Lambswool and are perfect for when the temperature goes into the minuses. In those extreme cases, I also like to layer shirts underneath for added warmth.

2. Super warm scarves. My family and I have quite the collection of scarves; they literally take up an entire closet. They are practical, but also one of the easiest ways to liven up an outfit. My current go-to scarf is this one from HappyScarf (link). I love chunky scarves for this season!

3. Warm jackets (with a hood!). Investing in parkas is probably one of the best decisions I made for Winter. My favourite, is this green parka by Talula Babaton from Aritzia. This- over my sweater and layered shirts- is the perfect combination. I still remember how I survived Winters while wearing this getup, even when the temperature was pushing -30°C!

4. And probably the least glamorous items on this list: Long-johns and sweatpants. Oh yes. When the weather gets unbearable, I have to make due. Luckily for me, my mom got me some warm, chic, fitted pants from Aritzia and they have become my "staple". Any kind of fitted pants will do. I have worn them like crazy during the Fall and Winter seasons. In the frigid-cold weather, I like to wear them over long-johns. It makes the biggest difference in the world.

5. Juicy Couture socks and Uggs. These socks are my favourite for the Wintertime. They are very soft, thick and warm; and I love that they go up to the knee. They are also cute, which is a plus. Also, Uggs, Uggs, Uggs... the dreaded debate. Long story short, I used to think that Uggs were ugly (go figure), but the second I tried them on I immediately fell in love with them. I love them because they are practical and super warm. No more frostbite for me!

6. And finally, the obvious mentions: Hats and mitts. My favourites are made by Talula, and can be found at Aritzia (as it seems like everything else I mentioned in this post!). And Starbucks, of course, is equally as important. :)

To see pictures of this look, click here (last year's post).
Stay warm & Happy Holidays! :)

cream and silk

2011-12-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

(button-up top and velvet leggings: Forever 21, pearl earrings, Skagen watch, Rebecca Minkoff MAB, nails: OPI Lincoln Park After Dark w/ Deborah Lippmann Stairway To Heaven, eyes: Barry M Trio Eyeshadow palette #3)

My (very) understated holiday outfit. I know I wear the heck out of these velvet legging, but how could I pass them up for a holiday party? I paired them with a silky cream-coloured button up with black trimming (here); and my favourite jewel-toned handbag for some added colour. On the nails, it is a repeat of Deborah Lippmann's Stairway To Heaven- except this time, applied over OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (click here for a better look). And on the eyes, I went with a glittery smokey eye. I used the Barry M Trio Eyeshadow palette #3 (shown here). This is probably the first time in years since I've worn a blackened smokey eye. Brings back fond high school memories. J

Quince Bistro

2011-12-12T19:22:00.000-05:00

Dinner at Quince Bistro with some friends. Great atmosphere, food and service. I ordered the Potato Gnocchi and it was really good! Pasta is one of my favourite things to order when I'm at a restaurant. I could eat it every day. Seriously.

on loop

2011-12-09T18:53:00.000-05:00

seated

2011-12-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

Bandeau: Wilfred

Tank: Riller & Fount

Suedette jacket: Winners

Jeggings: Talula

Bag: Etienne Aigner

Heading out for dinner and a movie with some friends. I stayed neutral with the outfit, but added a couple of festive touches with my suedette jacket and cranberry-coloured handbag. I like playing around with different textures and adding a "pop" of colour to my outfits. It makes things a little more interesting.

red my mind

2011-12-02T13:44:00.000-05:00

(top and velvet leggings: Forever 21, scarf: HappyScarf - gifted, hat: H&M, watch: Skagen)

My mom has been wearing festive colours almost everyday, so I figured I would dig out my bright red shirt to match (similar). It's cold enough now for thick, chunky scarves (here) and warm winter hats. And for an added festive touch, I paired the outfit with some velvet leggings. I love going to the malls and seeing all of the pretty Christmas decorations... and of course, eating lots of yummy treats too!