To Vogue Or Bust | A Vancouver Fashion and Personal Style Blog by Alexandra Grant

Tropical Transitions

2013-05-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M heels & ring, Club Monaco clutch, sweater c/o Subtle Luxury, Element pants c/o

Billabong Vancouver, necklaces c/o Keltie Leanne Designs & Brooklyn Designs

After spotting these Element pants on my lovely friend Jen at Billabong Vancouver's private shopping party earlier this week, I knew I had to pick them up for myself. Lightweight, printed pants have become a new obsession of mine - perfect for biking, summer strolls and the perfect day-to-night piece.

Though we're not getting full-blown summer heat yet, with a light cashmere sweater, these pants are perfect. What piece are you defaulting to while transitioning into the summer?

Roaring Twenties

2013-05-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Club Monaco skirt, bag c/o Mary Nichols, flats c/o Tieks, sweater c/o Left on Houston,

rings c/o lia sophia & Pandora, necklace c/o Poshlocket

I know this has been floating around the web quite a bit lately, but if you haven't watched Meg Jay speaking at TED Talks yet, do yourself a favour and watch it now. 20-somethings these days do face a lot of peculiar obstacles/challenges that previous generations didn't: we're overeducated, underemployed, hyper-connected and in general, many of us think our "adult lives" are things will happen in the future, and rightfully so...whether we're taking on yet another internship or headed back to school for a masters degree, it seems like that entry into adulthood is still so far off.

Having said that, this doesn't mean that this decade has to be years that are spent just floating around, "discovering" ourselves. As much as it's okay to not have everything figured out now (or even years from now), I really believe that you should still live every stage of your life with intention and with some sort of direction.

Jay's talk has had some backlash for being "scolding" but I really disagree - I think it's not only refreshing but necessary to have someone encourage myself and my fellow 20-somethings to not wait for life to begin once 30 rolls around.

So whatever age you are, give it a watch and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Turquoise and Coral

2013-05-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

Dress c/o Vamastyle, bag c/o P L E N + Y, shoes c/o Miz Mooz,

necklaces c/o Brooklyn Designs & Keltie Leanne Designs

It's hard to believe it was only a few days ago that it was warm enough to wear this stunning Vamastyle dress since it's become so rainy and miserable since then! I keep forgetting we're just at the very beginning of the summer because as soon as the rain showed up, I had an immediate "summer lost" feeling...I need to bear in mind that we still have another four months (hopefully) of at least intermittently sunny weather to look forward to!

As always though, I'm loving Vamastyle - I find their pieces are so easy and comfortable to wear yet they also feel instantly "together" - exactly how you want to feel around the summertime.

Hope you all had a good weekend and if you're a mum, that you had a great Mother's Day yesterday!

The Uniform

2013-05-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M blouse & heels, vintage shorts, necklace c/o Brooklyn Designs, bag c/o Mary Nichols,

bracelets c/o Keltie Leanne Designs

Last night was definitely one of my last "summer nights" for awhile....we have lots of rain in the forecast, which is GREAT. My sister and I made the most out of it though - we watched the sun go down and relaxed with some Vancouver Island brewery beers and it was lovely.

This is my "make the most of the little sun we have left" look. Nothing gets more summer-esque than worn denim, breezy white and a pop of colour - I think I'll go on the record now and say this will be my official summer uniform once the sun decides to return.

What's your go-to look for the summer?

Tea Roses

2013-05-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Tea n Rose dress c/o Boutique Onze, Rebecca Minkoff bag, H&M wedges,

bracelets c/o KV Bijou & Keltie Leanne Designs, necklace c/o Brooklyn Designs

I don't think I could think of a more perfect summer dress: red ("my colour," as my mum says), floral, femme and comfortable. This little number from Boutique Onze will undoubtedly be on heavy rotation in my closet, and already proved to be the perfect lounge-in-the-park piece last night when I had a cider and relaxed with a couple friends on the field (including Emaan, who took these pictures...thanks girl!).

I'm currently in the middle of a crazy apartment hunt and it is driving me mental...of course I should have expected this, but literally every place that I've stumbled upon and liked has just one major detraction: not enough space, not enough light, not the best location, etc etc. You can't always get what you want, but what I need is good lighting, a balcony, great location and a good utilities plan...so rental gods above?? Please help me.

Phosphorescence

2013-05-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

Billabong shirt c/o West 49, H&M skirt, bag & heels,

bracelet & necklace c/o Poshlocket, beaded bracelet c/o KV Bijou

Pretty much had the best weekend: so much sun, beaching, cider, pizza, relaxing, etc....it was amazing. If you're following me on Instagram you might have seen my perma-outfit for the whole weekend: a bathing suit. It really officially felt like summer and it was so nice. Right before diving into full-on beach mode though, I had an amazing sushi dinner date with my girl Jen.

Since I'm completely obsessed with anything and everything neon right now, this fluorescent yellow henley by Billabong from West 49 was a must. The perfect thing to give a tomboy touch to an otherwise femme look. Love that West 49 has so many of these types of pieces: surf or board-inspired basics that fit seamlessly into my wardrobe.

Hope you all have a great kick off to the week :)

A Very Tieks Weekend

2013-05-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

My love affair with Tieks has been well-documented on the blog. I honestly wear these Italian leather flats at least 4-5 times a week, and if I do ever opt for heels, I'm never without these foldable flats in my handbag in case my feet need a rest at some point or another.

I was thrilled when the wonderful team at Tieks (seriously, you'll never meet a nicer group) asked if I wanted to work on a fun little collaboration - since I wear my Tieks without fail throughout most of my weekends to take me from shopping to brunching, I thought....why not highlight this obsession in A Very Tieks Weekend?

Whether I'm going out for casual drinks on Friday in my Unmellow Yellows, staying comfortable but chic in a ladylike outfit with my Leopard Prints on Saturday or adding a touch of femme to a menswear-inspired look for brunch on Sunday via my Wild Coppers, I can honestly find endless ways of reinterpreting and restyling these amazing flats.

Be sure to check out Tieks' Facebook page to see the feature! Hope you're all having an amazing Saturday - I'm off to the beach 'cause it's seriously so beautiful out in (obviously) my Tieks.

Relaxed Menswear

2013-05-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Club Monaco pants, necklace c/o Keltie Leanne Designs, bag c/o Roots Canada,

shoes c/o Hush Puppies, Persol sunglasses c/o SmartBuyGlasses Canada,

bracelets c/o KV Bijou, Poshlocket, INPINK

As much as I love a beautiful dress or super-femme skirt, my day-to-day this year has been a whole lot more tomboyish than in years past. Though I'm mostly just going with what feels right, I kind of feel like this is the way to do it: show restraint during the week and keep it comfortable, than know how to take it up a notch for events or big nights out in really femme and beautiful pieces. It's the same with makeup: if you show up to work every morning with a full face, it kind of detracts from those big nights out when you really want to make a big impact and put some extra effort in.

These Hush Puppies loafers are not only a perfect fit with this tomboy aesthetic, but they're also just unbelievably comfy. So plush and airy - the perfect thing for weekdays when you're running around.

This weekend won't be about running around at all, though - the weather's going to be unbelievable and I'm fully intending on sitting on a beach aaaaall weekend long. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend yourselves!

Down Under

2013-05-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

Romper c/o Vamastyle, Rebecca Minkoff bag,

Persol sunnies c/o SmartBuyGlasses Canada, Michael Kors heels

Some people are Anglophiles, others are Francophiles...I'm an Aussiephile. One of my lifelong dreams has always been to move to Australia - why I don't know (well, other than the natural beauty, surfing and the fact that I feel like Canadians/Aussies have a natural affinity for one another), but it's been something I've wanted to do for years. Since Vamastyle's fresh and feminine pieces are inspired by Australian summers, I very quickly fell in love with all of their easy-to-wear designs. This romper is a particular favourite - I'm having a love affair with orange lately and this particular shade is stunning.

Do any of you share a similar dream to move away and live somewhere else for a year or longer?

Stripes on Tracks

2013-04-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M top & skirt, flats c/o Tieks, necklace c/o Poshlocket, bag c/o Roots Canada

Black and white and a little bit striped...with just a hint of neon! I actually wasn't intending to work these flats into this outfit at all but as I was about to step out the door in my favourite new pair of black heels, it all just felt a little too classic. While any of you who have read my blog for awhile know I definitely lean more towards the classic side of things, I still feel like there always needs to be that little jolt of the unexpected to really make a look feel whole.

Speaking of the unexpected, this might be the most shit-fashion-girls-say type of thing to say, but I think I am officially/definitely going short (hair-wise, that is). After soliciting advice/opinions from everyone for about a month or so (thanks for putting up with me for those of you who follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook), I feel like I'm finally comfortable enough to go there. As decisive as I can be in some aspects of my life, I've had so many horrendous experiences hair-wise that I really have some huge fears when it comes to mixing up things with the mane.

What was the bravest or most unexpected thing you've ever done appearance-wise?

Paint it Black

2013-04-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M dress, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Coach studs, Sam Edelman wedges,

ring c/o Pandora, Persol sunglasses c/o SmartBuyGlasses Canada

Remember how I mentioned recently that I have this odd, specific-to-my-wardrobe phenomenon in which any slight inkling for a particular style or piece snowballs into a full-on obsession? For awhile now, I've been acutely aware of how few basics I have in my closet. I'm lucky that my job is more about being fashion-forward and comfortable than "office-friendly," but I still definitely feel the need to wear more basic yet elegant classics now more than ever.

Since realizing this a month or so ago, I've been on a rampage...now I have a complete overabundance of basics. It's getting ridiculous actually.

Anyway, I bought this dress with the intention of making it a good every day office piece but it's way too short (I usually don't bother trying on in-store, bad habit). It will, however, be the perfect dress for weekending all summer! It also fills the void in my closet for black pieces - seriously need to get on the "black goes with everything" train at some point or another because I'm seriously concerned that I'm a freak of nature. Isn't it weird that it feels unnatural when I wear it?

Anyway, I hope you all have the most amazing weekend! I'm going to my friend Nashlyn's album release party tonight - excited! Her band's Emberfield, check them out!

Little Brooklyn

2013-04-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

Michael Kors heels, bag c/o Roots Canada, jeans c/o James Jeans, blouse c/o Zara Canada,

Birks bracelet, Coach earrings, ring c/o Pandora, necklace c/o KV Bijou

To say I love my new Roots bag from their Pop Art line would be a massive understatement. In the few days since receiving this luxurious leather number, I've toted it around effectively every day. The Little Brooklyn, as the is called, is literally the perfect size for my day-to-day life: enough room for a notebook, wallet, cell phone and the countless array of pens and lip balms I always have rattling around in my bags, but also petite enough to still feel ladylike and easy.

If you're looking for a new addition to your bag collection, definitely stop by Roots' Pop Art page: as modern and sophisticated as the bags are, the real pull for me is Roots' always exceptionally luxurious raw leather, sourced from one of the most amazing tanneries in Italy. Definitely an investment worth making!

Anyway, I really wanted to let this stunning bag take front and centre in this look, so the rest of my outfit is pretty restrained: some fave skinnies from James Jeans, muted grey heels and a soft, floral silk top from Zara Canada. All in all, the perfect look for a day that consisted of Jen and I gorging ourselves on macarons and cake at Thierry - still pulled together but comfortable enough that no one can see the little food baby I had growing (I really have always found the "food baby" thing kind of gross but it so aptly captures what was going on with my poor distended belly here).

Girl Power

2013-04-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

Dress c/o Zara Canada, H&M heels, clutch c/o Mary Nichols,

ring c/o Pandora, Coach studs

I sat on the Digital Influencers panel at Founders Collective, a recent event celebrating local female entrepreneurs and innovators, this past weekend. While as usual, I have no idea what I even said/if it was anything worth absorbing, I was very inspired by all the amazing advice and insight that the other women had there. As it happens, right before heading over to the event, I'd had coffee with the lovely Jen of her waise choice (who gave me these stunning Coach studs as a birthday gift...of course she has impeccable taste in gifts!) and we were chatting about how when it comes to setting high/lofty goals and really demonstrating a lot of drive, it's the women in our lives who seem to be really moving forward full-steam.

Of course, I know of tons of guys around my age who are doing incredibly, but it does seem like now more than ever, almost every woman I'm close to has an incredible amount of ambition, innovation and motivation to succeed. It could just be that I've been lucky enough to surround myself with inspiring women, but I'm curious...do you feel like there's been an influx of ambitious women in your life as well?

Kick It Into High Gear

2013-04-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M tank, bag & heels, Twenty8Twelve leather jacket,

necklace c/o lia sophia, jeans c/o James Jeans

Are these James Jeans skinnies not the coolest?! LOVE the cool detailing on them. This is already common sense I'm sure, but whenever there's a standout piece like this, other styling can really just be left to a minimum...just a simple tank, jacket and accessories.

If it looks like I'm hardly able to walk here, it's because a group of us at Obakki have been doing a four-day-a-week bootcamp challenge and I'm dying! I've always been an athletic type and weightlifting has always been a big part of my routine, but this is beyond...all I know is whatever we're doing, it's definitely having an effect on me because I'm effectively immobile! I'm all about sustainability when it comes to exercise and nutrition but doing a bootcamp like this is such a great way of revamping your routine and when done with friends/work, a great way to team build! And I also have a feeling that come next week, we'll be even more set to tackle our next four days of workouts...it's always that first week into a routine that's the hardest.

Just one little update: I've been following the story in Boston all morning and I just want to send all my thoughts and prayers to everyone in the city - I can't imagine what it might be like to have to deal with all of this right now and I hope any of you or anyone you know in the city is safe and sound at home.

Sailing Stripes

2013-04-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Cardigan c/o Left on Houston, jeans c/o James Jeans, Club Monaco T-shirt,

clutch c/o Mary Nichols, long necklace c/o Keltie Leanne Designs,

short necklace c/o Brooklyn Designs, heels c/o Joe Fresh

Taking some time to cut back on posting in order to lead a more balanced life has already begun to reap some rewards - some perks have been expected (I feel more relaxed and am sleeping more) while others I wasn't anticipating (taking the time off has opened my eyes to a whole task list that I must have buried deep in my memory...like my press page....I really should actually get that up and running soon).

This extra time for reflection has me thinking: is it better to post more frequently and to get more content out, or does it make more sense to scale back and focus on housekeeping, leading to a more tightly run and functional site? Obviously, I'm leaning more towards the latter these days, but I'm curious...do you tend to gravitate towards blogs that are really just beautiful sites, or would you rather a blog that's maybe slightly less "pretty" design- and functionality-wise but that produces tons of great content?

Anyway, thanks to my much rehabilitated sleep schedule, I'm all for doing less but doing it better lately, but that hasn't always been my philosophy and I'm curious if my opinion will change down the road again.

One thing I can be certain of: I love Left on Houston sweaters. This is the third sweater I've featured by the Canadian brand (see the other two here and here) and the love affair is still going strong. Though Vancouver is the mildest city out of all of Canada's major cities temperature-wise , it's still downright chilly most spring days. A little lightweight number like this is a necessity - the fact that it's stylish as well as practical is just an added bonus!

Good Things Come in Threes

2013-04-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M blouse, Rebecca Minkoff bag, shoes c/o Joe Fresh, Maison Scotch c/o P L E N + Y,

bracelets c/o Keltie Leanne Designs & KV Bijou, necklace c/o Brooklyn Designs,

Persol sunglasses c/o SmartBuyGlasses Canada

I didn't realize it until it was a day late, but this past Saturday was To Vogue or Bust's three year birthday! It's so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I've been doing this for so long - I'm still learning so much and almost every day there's a new challenge I haven't come across before. In other words, I still feel like everything's so new to me constantly, but I think that's why I love blogging so much. I would never want to feel settled anyway so this is really the perfect home for me!

Just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for engaging with me and being part of this space - it means so much. I could go on and on about what blogging has brought to me, but to keep things short and sweet, becoming part of this community has completely changed my life in unimaginably positive ways. So thank you again for sharing, interacting and supporting! I hope To Vogue or Bust is still kickin' another three years down the road :).

This Rebecca Minkoff bag was actually a gift from the boy for my birthday, but let's just consider it a joint gift for myself and the blog instead, okay? My feelings about this bag summed up in one word: LOVE. I will quite literally wear this obsessively and I love how it's chic yet approachable - kind of my whole mantra about styling in general, really. Matt...you did good!

Parisian Chic

2013-04-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

H&M skirt, heels, bag & blouse, necklace c/o Brooklyn Designs

This look came together with Inès de la Fressange's Parisian Chic style guide in mind - classic yet femme, elegant yet unforced. Everything's essentially elevated casual. I know Parisian chic isn't exactly something that's really a city-specific notion anymore (I lived in France when I was younger and though I would say the French are on a whole more fashionable, it wasn't a mandate or anything that everyone uphold this chic standard) - what it has become is a badge of effortless cool, an attitude more than anything that communicates that as much as you care about looking good, you're not dressing for everyone else. If you haven't read Fressange's book, do! So many style guide books but every time I read Parisian Chic, it's like doing a really effective cleanse...I love the idea of getting back down to basics and reteaching yourself what should be basic guidelines for dressing.

Anyway, thanks so much to everyone for your lovely birthday wishes on Wednesday! I would have to say it was the best birthday of my adult life to date - whether it was a lunch date with friends or the sun chasing the torrential morning rain away or your wonderfully kind comments, it was all-around an amazing day, one that made me feel very lucky and blessed! Thanks again!

And with that, it's now my turn to make everyone feel the exact opposite of lucky and blessed at karaoke tonight...I'm kind of a karaoke freak, meaning I'm horrible. Absolutely horrible. I've quite literally been cut in the middle of "my set" before (it was "Greased Lightning," if you're curious). PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND TALENT WHEN THEY HEAR IT. Anyway, if you hear what sounds like a woman in a tremendous amount of pain + the rough melody of "Isn't it Ironic," just follow your ears and there I'll be, centre stage!

It's My Party

2013-04-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Jeans c/o Fidelity Denim, heels c/o Joe Fresh, bag c/o Mary Nichols,

necklace c/o Keltie Leanne Designs, Club Monaco blazer, H&M tank

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY WHA WHAAAAAAAT!!!

I'm not really..."coy" when it comes to the big ol' me day, as I like to call it. I go out of my way telling strangers that it's my birthday to get freebies, extra niceties, etc...whether it's the barista at Starbucks or the bus driver, I have no shame. Well, I have no shame as a general rule in life, but it really goes out the window today. If there's ever a day to really milk it though, this would be it, right? Right?! Okay so I'm deranged BUT whatever....IT'S MY BIRTHDAY NO ONE CAN JUDGE ME.

I've been treated very well in the lead up to my birthday, which includes receiving these stunning Fidelity Denim printed skinnies. Love doesn't begin to describe it...I love that they bridge the gap between femme and tough, delicate and graphic. Will be wearing these to bits without a doubt.

Anyhoo I'm off to harass random customer service professionals to see what free coffees or drinks I can score!! Wish me luck!

Reprogram

2013-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Jeans c/o Gap Canada, sweater c/o Left on Houston, bag c/o P L E N + Y,

shoes c/o Miz Mooz, necklace c/o lia sophia

So last week, I basically hit my wall - since starting work full-time, I've been trying to keep up the frequency of my posts and to make a long story short, it's basically proven to be impossible. Anyway, I feel like instead of scrambling to get however many posts out a week, I'd rather cut down a little bit for the next little while in terms of how often I post and focus instead on doing the other blog-related things that aren't necessarily about output, but about engaging...catching up on everyone's blogs, spending a lazy hour on Pinterest repinning inspiring pics, etc.

So in other words, while I may not be posting as much over the next month or so, I will be spending a lot more time reconnecting with all of you lovely bloggers whose blogs I so love and all in all, just leading a bit more of a balanced life!

I took the first step towards reaching that balance this past weekend - no Twitter, no Instagram, no Facebook. It wasn't that much of a shock to my system, really...the coffee dates, morning-after candy feasts, lazy lunches and super successful shopping sprees more than made up for the restrictions I placed on myself social media- and blog-wise.

I did take some time to throw on one of my favourite new pieces though - for at least another two months, Vancouver's going to experience alternating spurts of cloudiness, rain and much-needed sunshine, so this Left on Houston sweater not only gives me some stylish shelter from the less-than-desirable elements, but its loose knit is also perfect for the sunny patches we'll hopefully receive!

I also love it because it's a perfect compliment to this persimmon red tone I've been obsessed with. If you've read the blog for awhile, you probably already know about my obsessive tendencies...I'd say it comes in month-long cycles.

Anyway, I'll see you all Wednesday...a little more rested and relaxed than I was last week :).

Hitting Pause

2013-04-05T09:37:00.001-07:00

Image via Pinterest

I've let myself get a bit rundown and uninspired lately. I'm taking this weekend off to regroup mentally and encourage you all to take some much-needed rest yourselves...in the long run, we could all undoubtedly do with a bit more R&R and self-reflection, right?

Have an amazing weekend lovelies!

Spring Fever

2013-04-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

Nine Bird dress c/o Fossello's, Diane von Furstenberg heels, sweater c/o Splendid,

bag c/o Danielle Nicole, jewelry c/o Keltie Leanne Designs

These Diane von Furstenberg heels were a maaaajor steal that I scored a couple nights ago at the media preview of one of Marshall's first Canadian locations. I managed to rein in my spending and stop at the shoes, but I could have easily slid right down that slippery slope and gone into full-on shopping spree mode.

I have a feeling these shoes will become my new go-to's for spring - beautiful raspberry tone, perfect heel height and so insanely comfortable! Have you secured any major spring finds yet?

Brite-Lite

2013-04-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Dress and sweater c/o Joe Fresh, bag c/o PLEN+Y, thrifted necklace,

bracelets c/o JewelMint & Keltie Leanne Designs

I'm making a conscious effort to incorporate more black into my wardrobe, I swear. I have a serious problem...I honestly struggle with incorporating neutrals into my closet. Why is this happening? Isn't black supposed to be every woman's best friend? Gawd.

Purple Stain

2013-04-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Jeans c/o James Jeans, top c/o Club Monaco, bag c/o Mary Nichols,

Michael by Michael Kors pumps, jewelry c/o Keltie Leanne Designs

The last and final look from Keltie Leanne Designs and I's spring, oceanic-inspired lookbook (see the first three here and here and here)! Be sure to check out the lookbook in full on Keltie's site - love how it all came together, and love each and every piece in her spring line!

This past weekend was so relaxing, peaceful and calming...and it made me realize not only how important it is sometimes to do nothing, but to do nothing productively. I remember one time a few months ago I decided I needed to hit pause for a night, so I forced myself to just put on the TV and do nothing...not touch my laptop, not touch my phone, nothing. I ended up feeling horribly guilty at the end of the night and not in the least bit satisfied or recharged, having just wasted hours on some particularly mindless TV (probably RHOV). The main difference between that time and this past weekend was the way I unwound. This weekend, it was all about hanging out with family, reading, napping, getting some sun...in other words, things that may not be directly productive work-wise, but that helped me relax in a much-needed yet far more substantial way than just staring blankly at the TV.

My main mission this month is to do more of that: carve out some time once a week to just truly relax without frying my brains. More books, pampering, tea, baths...the good stuff. My birthday is literally next week so I feel like that can be my little present to myself!

Completely Thrifted

2013-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thrift shopping for years. Since I was the tender age of 14, I’ve been hooked on the thrill of the chase, sifting through Value Villages for my next treasure whenever I could get the chance. Without a doubt, at least two-thirds of my all-time favourite pieces have been thrifted.

Take this stunning vintage dress, for example—I love that it’s Canadian-made (we actually have a great design heritage here), on-trend for spring in a pastel palette, seasonally pitch-perfect with its beautiful floral print and $11.95. In fact, the most expensive part of this whole look was really my bag. This chic, wear-with-everything leather beauty came in at a whopping $19.95. My rugged men’s belt ($7.95), dainty layered necklace set ($4.95) and sweater ($4.95) rounded out the outfit at $50. So for the price of a week’s worth of lattes (I drink a lot of coffee), I have a full outfit that I’m proud to wear now and in seasons to come. The components of the look will get worn in heavy rotation as well: each piece is on-trend yet works cross-seasonally. Each is great quality and what’s more, each is unique to me now! I quite literally will probably never bump into someone else in the same thing.

If you’re new to thrifting, it can sometimes be intimidating and difficult to navigate at first. Here’s my best tip: take one piece that jumps out to you and then go through the store section by section, piecing together a whole outfit around the first piece. You can do this a few times if you’re going for a major haul! I find having one item to anchor your search helps you hone in on what you love best.

So as Macklemore says, “If you’ve got $20 in your pocket, go hunting!”

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Value Village - the thrift superstore! Find thousands of quality used clothing items, housewares, books and more...at amazing low prices! You’ve got to see it to believe it!

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Value Village via Glam Media Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinion or positions of Value Village.

Easter on the Sunshine Coast

2013-03-31T11:14:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter from the Sunshine Coast! A few snapshots from our incredible, sun-filled weekend. I am quite literally changing colour up here - the sun has been out in full-force and we have been lounging about in our bathing suits, sipping beer from the local craft brewery, playing with the dog and stuffing our faces. Pretty much, it's been the best weekend EVER. How have all of your Easter weekends been??

Just an FYI, I'll be featured on eBay.ca's fashion section tomorrow - stay tuned! Hope you're all having an amazing time with friends, family and (of course) chocolate!