vitamin J

Daily Dose: Lacy days

2015-03-09T16:03:00.001-06:00

I have a thing for lace skirts. I have about seven, and most of them are black. I gravitate towards them in the store and even when I remember the ungodly amount of lace skirts I have, I still want more.

They just seem so flexible to me. But how, you say, could a sultry little black lace skirt ever be flexible? Aha, I say. It all depends on how you wear it. A lace skirt can of course be sexy, as is their natural state. They can also be very girly, in a more demure silhouette or a pastel colour. They can give you shades of 80's rock goddess paired with something spiky or in leather.

Lace can add a great layer of texture to your outfits without too much clutter or being overly trendy. It's also everywhere-- there's lace dresses, skirts, tops and H&M even has a pair of lace pants on their website which are simultaneously intriguing and terrifying.

Nude camisole - Sears - Size S - ~$20

Lace camisole - Ricki's - Size XS - ~$5

Lace skirt - Urban Outfitters - Size XS - $10

Opaque tights - Ricki's - Size S - $16.50

Black pumps - Uno - Size 6 - ~$60

Black cardigan - Urban Outfitters - Size XS - $20 (also sadly pilled to death by yours truly)

Total ~ $131.50

Daily Dose: Mon Cherie

2015-03-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

So I dropped my laptop recently on my foot, and I had thought my foot received the worst of it until I realized this weird jumpy mouse problem is not, in fact, transient. Its wreaked havoc on my sanity; I now live in a world where I open up three instances of a youtube video trying to click on a Skype link and the audio echoes with just a slight delay three times. And this happens all the time.

But enough about me. Wait no. Nevermind.

I found some very old (years old) outfit photos on my hard drive and since these days I mostly dress by picking stuff up off the floor that is 1) warm-looking and 2) not see-through, I thought I'd post them since they're much less depressing than a rotation of scrubs and black things that are also fuzzy.

I went through a serious beret phase a couple years ago. This red one is still my favourite as it is red and also has a little bow. This is my best interpretation of what I think french people look like as informed by the internet.

On a wishful note, hopefully I will be able to post a review soon of a dress that eShakti kindly sent me ages and ages ago. I've been postponing it as I was hoping to take better photos to do this review justice, but after a last-ditch effort to contact my previously lined-up photographer, I've decided to just bite the bullet and do my best with my trusty tripod and pink point-and-shoot. One day I will learn about photos or acquire this mystical entity known as a photographer boyfriend. One day!

Red camisole - Ricki's - size S - ~$10

White cardigan - Costa Blanca (now defunct?) - size XS - ~$20

Skirt - Siren's - size S - ~$15

Tights - Ricki's - size S - $16.50

Black patent pumps - Uno - size 6 - ~$60

Red beret - Aldo - one size - ~$10

Total Cost = $131.50

Daily Dose: Short Stories

2014-08-21T20:30:00.000-06:00

I don't know how all these fashion bloggers take such fantastic outside photos. Take today, for example-- I didn't even wear a photo-worthy outfit, because I knew it was going to rain, and I knew I was going to get very wet. So I give you this very underexposed indoor photo from sometime in the past:

You can even see a lamp cord. (I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH AT REMOVING ALL SIGNS OF REAL LIFE FROM PHOTOS YOU GUYS.)

I would say I probably wear more shorts+tights outfits than shorts+bare legs ones. I live in a pretty cold climate, but I also kind of love shorts, so adding some tights is a great way to get more mileage out of them. Pairing with brighter colours helps keep the look from getting too dark and dreary.

Leopard camisole - Siren's - size S - $5

Red button down shirt - Garage Clothing - size XS - $18

Shorts - Joe Fresh - size 2 - $5

Belt - Forever 21 - size XS/S - $4.80

Boots - Old Navy - size 7 - $23

Tights - Urban Planet - size S - $10

Total Cost = $65.80

Daily Dose: Sweetheart

2014-08-18T20:31:00.004-06:00

It's been a long time, blog. I've missed you.

For a while there, I-- gasp-- stopped caring about dressing up nicely. I was having some trouble career-wise, and it was seeping into what originally was an escape from work. I was sad. My clothes were sad. (There were lots of fancy sweatpants involved.)

About a month and a half ago though, I managed to make a switch in my career specialty and have since incredulously watched as my desire to take photos of myself returned! I still wear the fancy sweatpants a lot though. (No regrets.)

This is an older outfit from last fall (!) that I had kicking around on my computer. My mom begrudgingly complimented my sock bun as marginally better than the atrocity I usually pile onto my head. I really like this skirt-- it's got beautiful lace detailing and is just a little bit sparkly, but my favourite part of the outfit is the belt. Heart cutouts!

Sweater - Gap - size S - stolen from younger brother after mom shrunk it in the wash

Skirt - Forever 21 - size S - ~$18

Belt - Forever 21 - size S/M - ~$6

Flats - Suzy Shier - size 6 - ~$10

Bun band(?) - Icing by Claire's - no size - $2

Tights - H&M - size S - ~$7

Total cost = ~$43

Style Supplement: The vitamin J guide to pastels

2014-05-10T21:20:00.000-06:00

Even though there's still snow EVERYWHERE, stores refuse to care and are stocked with loads of pastels.

I probably have something of every colour in my wardrobe but pastel tones, by far, are the most infrequently found. I find pastels difficult to wear and difficult to style. They often look too old, too young, too frumpy, too saccharine and sometimes just too uncool. Pastels in spring are ubiquitous, and I've been experimenting with my most feared colour group lately. I present to you, dear reader, my findings/ramblings, grouped by colour, in something I call 'The Vitamin J Guide to Pastels'.

OVERALL TIPS

Balance in all things

from LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's 2011 collection

Pastels have a tendency to get too cute too fast. Since the colour reads feminine and/or juvenile, make sure to balance this out by not wearing too much pastel in one outfit and to wear sleeker and edgier shapes. Minimize ruffles, bows, flowers and other feminine details. Pair with leather, denim and other more rugged and masculine-type materials. Try simple shapes like basic collared shirts, skinny jeans and pencil skirts with few details.

Tone it down

from RW&Co Spring/Summer 2014 collection

The easiest pastels to wear are desaturated ones. For example, instead of baby blue, try one that reads more as ice blue or blue-grey. Desaturated pinks and browns can often read as neutrals and are easier to style. You can also go the complete opposite way and choose more saturated and brighter tones, which I find are also easier to wear. There's less risk of washing yourself out and brighter colours generally look less juvenile.

Cross those seasonal barriers

from Le Chateau Spring/Summer 2014 collection

Pastels epitomize spring, so it can be hard to wear these colours in other seasons. An easy way to do it is to pair with black. This automatically gives off a sense of more grounded, serious femininity and is a favourite combination of mine for job interviews. Pairing with any darker colour will do the trick-- brown, navy and burgundy are great colours to try.

SELECT COLOURS

MINT

Mint has been everywhere recently! Its definitely a great choice as its on-trend and often does not read as a true pastel. You can wear a lot of mint without it getting overpowering, so feel free to experiment with dresses, skirts, pant, etc. However, I recall mint first being exciting about three years ago, so I feel its on a downwards trajectory as a trend. My advice is to pick up a few things if you like the colour, but don't go overboard as I don't think it'll be super hot in the coming seasons.

Easy pairings: black, grey, white, bronze, gold

BLUSH

Blush is a great, easy pastel to wear as it can be treated as a neutral and never really goes out of style. Be careful of how different shades work with your skin colour-- some can make you look washed out.

Easy pairings: black, grey, brown, cobalt, navy, magenta, gold, bronze, silver

LILAC

I haven't seen too much lilac in-stores, but I have a feeling that in upcoming seasons, it will be like mint was last year. With lilac, definitely stick to less frilly and feminine items; menswear-inspired pieces like collared shirts and blazers would look great. You can also try a more desaturated colour with grey undertones for an easier to style piece.

Easy pairings: grey, beige, camel, cobalt, navy

ICE BLUE

Like lilac, I feel like ice blue will be a bigger colour given some time. Blue reads more masculine, so this is the one colour you can go with more feminine details without it being overpowering. Chambray's also a great choice that is technically light blue, but reads more rugged than pastel.

Baby blue personally terrifies me as I grew up in the 90's. I would avoid baby blue (and baby pink) as it currently reads dated and instead go for something either more or less saturated.

Easy pairings: charcoal, navy, white

GREY

Not technically a pastel, but I included it as it’s a great colour to incorporate along with pastels for spring. It’s a good neutral that’s less heavy than black but is more graphic than brown shades, and thus plays well into the graphic, black and white look that’s currently trending for this spring. Grey looks great with texture, so try it in velvet or silk.

THE REST

Yellow and spring green aren't quite as hot this season. I feel that except for the coral that usually pops up around this time, cooler tones predominate. White isn't a pastel, but is always, always in for spring and summer and works with most pastels very well.

The great thing about pastels is that you can find one that will work for you. What's your favourite pastel tone for Spring/Summer 2014?

Stay tuned: Spring (maybe) coming soon

2014-04-02T09:34:00.001-06:00

In addition to a terrible winter that will never end (G. R. R., it got here before Winds of Winter!), I'm separated from the majority of my wardrobe and my computer has died. I managed to completely kill the processor, ostensibly with too much awesome, but my photo-editing capabilities have died with it along with a bunch of posts. Now, I've been planning loads of posts, but just having trouble with the pictures to go along with them, due to the aforementioned issues. I'm fed up with not posting though because I have loads to talk about! I'm hoping in the meantime, with the dearth of accompanying illustration, you all will be charmed my my wit and way with words. :) (Hey, an emote can't hurt either, right?)

Let's talk about the weather. All of Canada and the US has been inundated with a really, really terrible winter this year. Although the stores are full of spring and summer collections on schedule, the weather, at least in my neck of the woods, hasn't been cooperating. Like, at all. So what's a girl to do? Let me tell you.

The Vitamin J Guide to Telling Winter to Shove it (Through Fashion)

1. Buy some cute winter accessories at a serious discount

Ah, the joys of off-season shopping. Except this time, you can wear your purchases right away! I recently picked up a bunch of scarves originally priced around $20 for less than $3 a piece. i found that pair of heart print gloves marked down 75%. And I wore these things the same week. I generally pick up lots of winter things anyways, since my winter season is so long, so it was nice to have a cute little pick-me-up that would come in handy later in the year as well.

2. Wear warm weather dresses with tights

I swear by fleece-lined tights and leggings. These babies make it so that even if your dress is made out of the thinnest cotton ever, your legs will still feel toasty. Cardigans perform the same function for your arms. If you can't find fleece-lined tights in your colour of choice, wear black ones and layer a coloured opaque pair over top.

3. Pin on a flower

In your hair, on a lapel, on a belt, anywhere! I'm currently really digging the sock bun and metallic flower combo at the moment.

People still stuck under sheets of snow-- what are your ways to incorporate spring into your clothes while it's still miserable outside?

HANG IN THERE GUYS!

2013-04-10T19:07:00.003-06:00

The title should actually be directed towards me, as I am allllllmost there -- just hang in there vitaminJ, you'll be done soon! (The seriousness of this situation dictates that I use my blogger/rapper name.)

What will I be done with? MEDICAL SCHOOL. There's been so much stuff to take care of as I near the end of this slog that I haven't been able to post much. I have a write-up on how to wear pastels in-progress that I keep opening up, staring at and then closing again. I have been taking outfit photos though, and I have actually been drawing my outfits as well (OMG). I've been having trouble figuring out a good time-efficient way to draw things for the blog, but I think I've got it!

Essentially, I just wanted to let everyone know that I plan to be back with some great new posts (+ drawings!) very soon, and to also give some insight into whats been up with me lately.

See you all very soon,
vitaminJ

Daily Dose: The girl in the green scarf

2013-02-19T23:04:00.001-07:00

I have been reading a lot lately. My brother kindly found me an iPad mini and so far I've read through A Song of Ice and Fire and the Shopaholic books. Obviously both clothing and dragons excite me immensely. I don't quite know why the Shopaholic movie changed the colour of a Very Important Scarf to green (it was blue in the books), but that's OK. Green scarves are better anyways.

I really like this scarf-- the colour's great, and it's big and floofy enough to wear like a shawl when I get cold (which is always). I've actually used this scarf as a blanket in a movie theatre to great effect. Unfortunately, it made everything else it rubbed against green, plus it's care tag told me it was dry clean only, but I did a quick hand wash and it's much less bleed-y now!

More than the scarf, I am happy about this dress. I wanted it when I saw it initially, but it was around $50, which for me, was too much. I happened to walk into the store one day and find it on super sale and immediately snapped it up! I find sweater dresses great for work and for my climate and they're super easy for those days that you don't feel like working too hard to get dressed.

I actually never bought these shoes-- a friend asked me if I was a size 7 once and it turned out that she used to be a size 7 before her pregnancy, and wasn't after... basically making these shoes a gift from her baby. Which I'm OK with.

What sort of tricks do you have to stay warm and fashionable?

Grey sweater dress - Dynamite - size XS - $11

Green scarf - Le Chateau - no size - ~$7

Black fleece-lined tights - Ricki's - size S/M - $16.50

Grey rose bracelet - Claire's - no size - $1

Grey booties - gift - size 7

Total cost = $35.50

Daily Dose: Kimonos

2013-02-06T15:40:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but I tend to fluctuate in my use of accessories. Lately, I've been crazy for necklaces and nothing else! My belts and bracelets and scarves are languishing in their drawers, crying out, 'wear me, wear me!' I pulled out a belt for the first time in a long while, and it reminded me of my belt phase. I have resolved to try to not get stuck in accessory phases (we'll see how long that lasts).

This is an outfit from the aforementioned belt phase. It really reminds me of a kimono because of the flowy jacket-thing and the obi belt, although I am aware it is nothing like a kimono if I'm honest with myself.

The jacket-thing (I still don't really know what it is) was a cheap buy because I was intrigued. I have become very fond of my jacket-thing, because it's super comfortable and I love the way it drapes. It has a pattern but it's very subtle, so it's not too hard to pair with other things. And of course, I'm wearing my much-beloved liquid leggings. Have I told you how much I love my liquid leggings? I thought not. Finally, the outfit's finished off with a pair of nude pumps. I do really like nude pumps for their versatility and leg-lengthening effects, but I've found it's quite difficult to find the right nude for you. Nude doesn't mean a sort -of beige coloured shoe, but rather one that matches your skin tone. Being browner than much of Canada, I went on quite the hunt for these, but I think they're exactly the right shade for me! If you want to invest in a pair of nude shoes, please take the time and effort to find something as close to your skin tone as possible! It looks super chic when you find the right ones!

I added up the total cost of this outfit for interest, and thought it might be cool to post the total costs of my outfits from now on, since I post the prices of the items anyways. Is this of interest to anyone?

Grey lace-paneled tank - Smart Set - size S - $4.99

Floral kimono jacket - Smart Set - size XS - 4.99

Cognac obi belt - Aldo - size S - $5.99

Copper bracelets - from India

Liquid leggings - Suzy Shier - size S - $7

Nude pumps - Aldo - size 7 - ~$40

TOTAL COST OF OUTFIT = $62.97

Daily Dose: Tweed zebra

2013-01-31T20:09:00.001-07:00

I used to be very against wedges. I didn't like the chunkiness, but since then I have come to embrace wedge heels. I do think you need to be careful and pair more delicate things with them to counteract the chunk though! I think these zebra print wedge booties are the most outrageous pair of shoes I've got; my cousin came over one day and asked me why I owned a pair of hooker shoes. BECAUSE.

Along with my zebra print shoes, I'm wearing my favorite pretend leather leggings. I find that the interesting texture makes everyday outfits a bit more fun and adds some edge. They're much more versatile than I originally thought! This shirt is much more difficult to wear for me; its got a lot of different design elements, so I find its best to wear it with simple items.

This little tweed number is one I found at RW&Co, which is great for finding suiting and special occasion dresses for really cheap! Sometimes they run crazy promotions, and I think I got this jacket for about eleven dollars! This necklace is my most recent purchase from this outfit. I like how it looks a bit like lace, but its really made of metal!

Lately I've been really into monochrome outfits mostly in black, white and grey. How have you been feeling about colour these days?

Cowl neck tunic - RW&Co - size XS - ~$5

Liquid leggings - Suzy Shier - size S - $7

Tweed cropped jacket - RW&Co - size 00 - ~$11

Zebra print wedge booties - Forever 21 - size 7 - $18

Grey lace paneled tank top - Smart Set - size S - ~$4

Lace detail bib necklace - Claire's - one size - ~$5

Daily Dose: Rust and Feathers

2013-01-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

I've got a giant backlog of outfits, which I'm thankful for, because for the past few days, I've been meaning to snap some photos of what I've been wearing, but always end up thinking, 'Eh, I'll do it tomorrow'. TOMORROW NEVER COMES.

Lately, I've noticed that I tend to purchase most of my items from the same few stores, but that this group of stores will change every once in a while. Lately I've been purchasing a bunch of things from the Canadian retailer Smart Set. They have killer end-of-season sales, and I recently picked up a bunch of studded camisoles that I love for five bucks each. The rust-coloured camisole that I'm wearing above has lace panelling down both sides, which really adds a needed punch to a basic layering piece. I bought it along with some other coloured siblings back when Smart Set was having its spring/summer end-of-season sale. I think they were even cheaper, coming in at about $4 each.

Because of all this camisole buying I was doing, Smart Set decided to grace me with a $10 off card which had no minimum purchase. I could not believe it. I promptly went and purchased this feather necklace which cost me $4. (Do you see a theme here?)

I have to tell you about this non-descript black boyfriend cardigan I'm wearing too. It's not particularly fashionable, but I have worn the thing to death, and it's so pilly it really needs to be thrown away. But I can't make myself get rid of it! Have you ever had an item like that?

Rust camisole - size S - Smart Set - ~$4

Feather necklace - one size - Smart Set - $4 with 'gift card'

Skirt - size XS - Dynamite - ?

Cardigan - size XS - Urban Behaviour - $25

Plush-lined tights - size S/M - Ricki's - $16.50

Pumps - size 7 - Nine West - ~$50

Style Supplement: How to shave pants (or deal with stubborn lint)

2013-01-26T21:48:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Toronto! I just had my first interview in this area, and had some free time this evening. The clothes I brought for this trip are based around a palette of mint, rose, black and grey. I brought a pair of grey fleece leggings with me, but they looked terrible after being worn constantly under... everything while I was in India. (Also my brother wore them for a while. India was cold man.) They were covered in lint and pills and were generally gross. I tried a lint brush to no avail, so it was off to Google. I learned of something called a 'sweater shaver', but thought that was too complicated. Now, dear friends, what else shaves things? That's right. A razor.

HOW TO DEAL WITH STUBBORN LINT AND PILLS

1) First try washing your item and see if that helps.
2) If it doesn't, use a lint roller or some tape if you wanna be MacGyver-ish about it.
3) If you still can't get those fuzzy balls of frustration off, grab a disposable razor. Now run the razor along the surface of the item in short strokes, as though you're 'shaving' it. The pressure you should apply depends on the material of your item and what you're trying to remove. With my fleece leggings, I found I had to press fairly hard to get the lint off, and it didn't ruin the material. Try it out on a less visible area first.

Success! I was very, very skeptical about this and couldn't believe it when it worked. But it does! Who needs a sweater shaver now? (As a disclaimer, I've never used a sweater shaver and I have no idea exactly how well it works.)

Try it and let me know it it works for you!

Style Supplement: What to wear for an interview

2013-01-23T22:31:00.002-07:00

It's that time again! I've got three interviews coming up in the next two weeks which will decide my fate forever. So I'm gonna try to look awesome.

I always find interview dressing difficult as the whole interview process can be so stressful. To put it in perspective, having one to approximately fifteen interviews over the last few years, I can say that most of the time, no one really cares what you wear as long as you meet the baseline criteria of looking clean, presentable and professional. But-- I hear you say, we are fashionable! We need to look good! And I totally agree.

Image from J.Crew.

Wearing a polka dot sweater with slim leg pants and pointed cap toe shoes in a monochromatic colour scheme is chic perfection!

I find that there are two major interview outfit missteps: 1) being inappropriate and unprofessional and 2) being boring. I think most people know how to avoid the former, and the most common problem is the latter. Being professional is easy, but being professional and stylish is something else altogether.

HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL

There are some general guidelines that are good to follow to avoid this particular misstep.

1) No cleavage.
Also make sure you don't have to pull at your shirt to keep it from sliding down. Gaping blouse buttons (even just a little bit!) are also a no-go.

2) Skirt hems should hover around the knee.
While I don't agree that your hem has to be at the knee or lower, I think it should still be around the knee somewhere. An inch or two above is fine, and really helps those of us who are a bit shorter look taller.

3) Clean and iron/steam everything!
The quality of your clothes should be impeccable! Make sure everything's clean with no stains or holes, and ensure you have no strange wrinkles or creases. If your pants have a crease, make sure its nice and sharp.

HOW TO BE STYLISH

There are a lot of guidelines I think are trotted out for interview outfits that extol how to be professional but end up being much too restricting, and everyone ends up looking the same and suspiciously like a waiter. While you don't want to be too revealing or too crazy, I think showing some of your style is an important part of making you feel good and broadcasting a bit about yourself to your interviewers. Here's some guidelines I don't like:

1) Wear a collared shirt.
Not a necessity! I don't know about you, but wearing a collared shirt with a suit makes me very much feel like serving staff. Collared shirts aren't really my style, and when I do wear one, I generally like to wear it in a different way than with a suit.

2) Wear a black or grey suit.
Unless your interview dress code is very strict (which I think is true for only a handful of situations), don't feel restricted to wearing a black or grey suit. Unorthodox suiting colours are very much on trend right now and can be appropriate. I wouldn't advise a bright red or green suit, but something like a cream or rose colour would be great for a spring/summer interview, and burgundy, navy or camel would be great for the fall and winter.

3) Avoid too much bling.
So I have recently realized I have an addiction to shiny. Being sparkly is like the number two most crucial component of my personal style, so this one hits close to home. I often see it being advised to avoid too-big jewelry, embellishments and sequins. However, I think you can definitely incorporate some of these things into your interview outfit appropriately. At my first residency interview, I wore a grey sequined slouchy t-shirt with a black pantsuit. I felt awesome and although I looked professional and appropriate, I also thought I stood out in a good way. It's important to not go too over-the-top; try more muted colours and limited embellishments.

4) Wear nude hosiery.
Just a quick word-- in all but the most conservative of environments, this is an antiquated rule, and no one should feel obligated to wear some nude pantyhose. It's OK, I swear.

That's it! What are your go-to interview pieces?

Retail Therapy: A guide to the January end-of-season sale

2013-01-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

I deeply apologize for the long stretch without posts! I was doing my MTU rotation (the horror!) and then buggered off to India for three weeks. I had to go to an internet cafe to get on the web while I was away, which was rather quaint, but made it difficult to blog. Also, India was cold. It was confusing.

My second day back, true to form, I got off work early and walked across the street to the mall and SHOPPED. There were some things I saw repeatedly on sale, so I present my quick and dirty guide to the January end-of-season sale.

Stores are getting rid of their fall and winter merchandise at this point (one or the other or both, depending in how fashionable a place you live in). The kinds of things that are going to be on sale are cold weather wear and sparkly, party things for the most part. Darker colours and jewel tones will be marked down, to make way for the lighter, brighter shades of spring and summer. Of course, that covers a lot of merchandise. Here's some things to watch out for and scoop up for a discount this month:

1) Boots
You don't need snow to wear boots. Boots and booties will be on sale; get some for next winter, or choose lighter shades like tan and cognac to wear in the spring and summer.

ALDO

AEROSOLES

NINE WEST

2) Sequins
As the holiday party season has ended, spangly things are not as much in demand. Sequined tanks and camisoles make excellent layering pieces, and although not for the faint of heart, sequined shorts and leggings are a great, fresh way of incorporating a bit of sparkle into your look. Baroque was big for Fall/Winter 2012, and you might be able to find some black pieces with gold stud detail because of this. Although on trend, this colour combination is classic, so if you choose your pieces well, they won't date.

GAP

EXPRESS

3) Scarves, gloves and hats
If you live in a colder climate, stock up on chunkier and warmer scarves at this time. Wool and wool blends help keep you warm! Gloves in a bright colour look great with a black coat. You may think you can't wear hats, but this is not true! Toques are classic and functional and everyone can wear one. Beanies and berets look fresh and young, and if you keep the colours bright and the material crisp, it will look feminine and French as opposed to casual and too young. Cloches have seen a recent resurgence, and floppy hats are a classic, ladylike look (felt winter ones will be cheaper right now). Fedoras have fallen off trend into that spot where they can easily look dated, so are best left at this time to advanced hat-wearers.

LE CHATEAU

H&M

SPRING

4) Peplums

Peplums were very much on trend for the past year or so, and if you like the silhouette and it fits in your wardrobe, you can pick up a peplum top or jacket on the cheap since I've seen a ton on sale! Watch for where the seam hits-- the closer to your natural waist, the better. Experiment with necklines and sleeve lengths and try some different materials like lace or velvet. Although its a very distinct silhouette and could tend towards looking dated soon, if your style is romantic, bombshell, ladylike or retro, peplums fit right in, and as long as you wear peplums with fresh items, I can see them being stylish for a long while.

EXPRESS

SUZY SHIER

5) Sweaters

Oh sweater, how I love thee. Sweaters have been popping up all over lately as a more on-trend cover-up than the cardigan. Look for ones that feel nice to the touch, and if you can spend a bit more for wool or cashmere, do so. Don't buy anything that's already pilling in the store. One of my favourite ways to wear sweaters these days is with the sleeves rolled up and paired with a full skirt and bib-length necklace. Instant chic!

EXPRESS

SUZY SHIER

What did I buy so far this January? Sequin and peplum tops, some scarves and a pair of long gloves. I practice what I preach (this month, at least). What have you purchased so far during end-of-season sales?

Daily Dose: Modern day geisha

2012-11-11T23:39:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I bought my mum three scarves. She has worn them exactly zero times, and I stole one and wore it once. Here's what happened.

These scarves were on clearance at H&M, and I love their big, fringe-y shape. The pattern is also lovely, consisting of Japanese-inspired florals and females. The scarf was the main focus of this outfit, but I paired it with these gold-painted jeans I found at Urban Outfitters on the clearance rack. I'd been looking for metallic jeans, but most were gold-on-black, which is way too rocker for me. I appreciate the painterly feeling these have a bit more for my personal style. Finally, I put on a gorgeous pale pink velvet blazer that I'd been drooling over for a while, but hadn't bought because it was rather expensive. And then my mum (of the aforementioned scarf aversion) bought it for me for my birthday!

Blazer - Jacob - size 0 - $150

Jeans - Silence & Noise via Urban Outfitters - size 27 - $10

Scarf - H&M - one size - $3

Shirt - H&M - size XS - $15

Pumps - Aldo - size 7 - $40

Daily Dose: Anthropologist

2012-11-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

First off, I apologize so very much for the long break with no posts! Work/school is currently crazy busy with very long days and no laptop access. I'm also currently applying for residency programs, which is taking up a lot of my time and thinking power. Unfortunately, things will be busy for a bit longer but I think I'm over the worst of it at this point.

This outfit reminds me of something that comes straight out of Anthropologie; I think it's the vintage-y vibe. Nothing in it actually comes from Anthropologie, of course.

I really, really love this skirt. It's a sparkly wool midi, which, by the way, is awesome. I love sparkly woolly stuff. I paired it with a striped 3/4 sleeve tee, after shamefacedly realizing I didn't have one. This houndstooth blazer is one of those that has the old-school professor elbow patches on it. It's actually from the Zara kids department and a wee bit too big, but I've made peace with that and tend to wear it open and with tighter fitting things (the exception being this lovely Olsen-esque outfit, of course). And finally I put on socks. With pumps. If that doesn't remind you of Anthropologie, then I'll try harder next time. :)

Skirt - Joe Fresh - size 0 - $10

Shirt - Smart Set - size XS - $7

Scarf - H&M - one size - $3

Blazer - Zara kids - size 13/14 - $20

Socks - ?

Pumps - Suzy Shier - size 7 - $12.50

Daily Dose: Green thumb

2012-08-29T12:43:00.000-06:00

I have recently discovered maxis. I don't know what it is, but they drive my usually logical brain into an irrational frenzy where I feel like I must have many, many maxis AT ALL TIMES. After reflecting, I've decided it's the length and swooshiness of the maxi that makes it so desirable. It's my grown-up way of dressing like a princess. (Also swooshiness.)

I apologize for looking like life beat me up after school in this photo. The boyfriend asked me why I looked so sad in all of my blog posts, and I told him that was my model face. This is not America's Next Top Best Friend! (Anyone remember that amazing season?) I agree with him though and will try to smile more.

I got this maxi dress in Ottawa while Forever 21 was having a BOGO sale, and it ended up being dirt cheap. Maxis don't really fit my life here in Canada, but I like to put them on and pretend I'm wandering the beaches of LA. Basically, I'm glad I found a few for cheap! They also work wonderfully for those lazy weekend afternoons where you don't really want to be bothered with clothes but need to wear them to be socially appropriate. (Is it just me? OK.)

I didn't accessorize too heavily to keep the beachy, carefree look intact. The bangles are part of my large collection from India, and the shoes are great, comfortable wedges I bought quite a while ago before wedges become so darn popular.

Maxi dress - Forever 21 - size S - $4.50

Bangles - from India

Wedges - ? from Soft Moc - size 6 - ?

Daily Dose: Blue suede shoes

2012-08-26T21:32:00.000-06:00

So I think suede shoes are supposed to be fall and winter appropriate. However, I'm not sure in which fall and winter that would be true. Canadian winters are (in my neck of the woods) rather wet, cold and full of snow. Suede + snow = not a good idea. This does not stop Canadian shoe stores from being full of suede boots however. I try to keep my suede/microfibre shoes to a minimum as I'm scared to wear the things outside, but sometimes there are just those pairs that I think are too good to pass up.

I've worn this skirt a million times since I bought it. I guess it would be categorized as a 'tulip skirt', where there are pleats or gathers on the front. This probably exaggerates my hips as a pear-ish shaped person, but I don't care. I love this skirt. I also love this blazer and have maybe worn it a million and one times. It seems like it would have too much going on, with the poofy shoulder, the pleats at the torso and the leopard-print lining, but all together it just works. It's a great neutral blazer with a great pop at the sleeves with the leopard.

I thought these tights were going to be a lovely opaque sky blue so I was a bit disappointed initially that they were a bit sheer. But after wearing them for a bit, I really like the look! Not as useful for the aforementioned Canadian winters, but cute, so who cares?

And so we come to the the blue suede shoes of the title. They don't look like much above, but I assure you they are quite fabulous. They're one of those pieces that gets compliments, and I like how they add a pop of colour to any outfit.

Tank - Smart Set - size S - ~$2.50

Skirt - Urban Behaviour - size XS - ~$15

Blazer - H&M - size 2 - ~$15

Tights - Joe Fresh via Superstore - size B - ~$1.50

Booties - FeetFirst - size 6 - ~$20

Daily Dose: Garden party

2012-08-22T23:08:00.000-06:00

Everyone loves this dress. I don't know what it is about it; the colour, the silhouette or the flowers, but it sucks everyone in and makes them beg for mercy and someone to save them from the overall twee-ness of it all. The day I wore this outfit I got two compliments from random ladies at the library. Score!

I love this dress too. It manages to be a full-skirted shift-sort of thing, which is, in my eyes, kind of amazing. I haven't seen a silhouette like it since. These shoes are slightly red now, after I wore them with a pair of horrendously bleedy red jeans. They fulfilled my itch for white shoes though, and have the slightest wedge heel, which is nice for my poor, flat feet.

The cardigan is something I was initially unsure about. I'd seen a few lace cardigans on bloggers before, but they were from Target and I currently don't have Target. (Next year!) And wouldn't you know it, I saw some walking through a Forever 21. I wasn't sure about this colour, but I'm glad I got it, as it goes with more than I thought it would, and summer's been warm this year, so I've been glad to have an item of clothing that covers the shoulders but doesn't actually provide any real coverage whatsoever. There's some sort of statement on clothing and function or lack thereof in there if you look hard enough.

Dress - H&M (Garden Collection) - size 4 - ~$15

Cardigan - Forever 21 - size S - $4

Ballet flats - Call it Spring - size 6 - ~$12

Headband - Likely the dollar store - no size - <$1

Daily Dose: Daytime sparkle

2012-08-19T01:42:00.001-06:00

I have a confession to make: I don't really like jeans. You know whenever there's an interview with a celebrity or something and the interviewer asks them what their favorite outfit is? And they invariably say a white t-shirt and jeans? I find that the most BORING outfit possible. I am obviously a maximalist.

Mostly I am currently finding plain old jeans played out, especially bootcuts. And now I present to you an outfit featuring bootcut jeans.

Seriously, that's three outfits in a row with these pink pumps? Something like that. I was inspired to pair sequins and plaid after seeing a great outfit featuring both on the You Look Fab forums. I have a hard time putting together outfits with jeans, and this one is no exception. I'd like to try sequins and plaid again to see if I can improve!

This sequin tank is one of four I own, and although sequins might seem a bit much, my tanks are in frequent rotation. I think it's just an easy piece to include to punch up an outfit! This blazer is an old one I found a long time ago on Orfus Road on a trip to Toronto. We don't have Wet Seal in Canada (to my knowledge) but this blazer was mysteriously sitting alone in a giant Urban Planet outlet. I think a long string of pearls, real or fake, is an excellent item for anyone to own. They're just so versatile, and often when I can't think of what to wear with an outfit, pearls are the answer! These jeans are a remnant from my grungy undergraduate student days, but there's nothing I like better than trying to make strange old pieces found in the back of my closet work. xD

Tank - size XS - Gap via Gap Generation (outlet) - ~$10

Blazer - size XS - Wet Seal via Urban Planet (outlet) - ~$10

Jeans - size 26 - Aeropostale - gift

Pumps - size 6 - Spring - $40

Daily Dose: Midis and me

2012-08-15T22:09:00.000-06:00

I was excited about midi lengths when they first appeared. I don't think it's the best length for me, as I'm pretty short and can't really afford to look shorter than I am. Unfortunately, midis are renowned for their shortening properties. I, of course, totally disregarded this and bought a few anyways.

I love this wool midi. It's super comfortable and nice and toasty in the winter. (Yes, I absolutely wore this outfit before summer started here. Don't judge me by how late I post my outfits.) It's also a little bit shiny, and you know I'm all over that. I paired it with a polka-dotted camisole I've had for a long while, and is right on trend what with the dots and all. I didn't think I'd use this belt as much as I have, because I thought the shape was too 'western' and not too current. BUT I WAS TOTALLY WRONG. It's been such a workhorse! Ditto for this (p)leather jacket. It's a gorgeous cognac colour and was dirt cheap and it goes with everything. The lining is starting to come apart but I don't care, because I love it that much. And finally, these pumps, which I've posted an outfit with already. They're not very comfortable, but they sure are pink and pretty.

I look like such a downer in all my photos. I promise I'm not. It's just my fashion face, and apparently my fashion face is not amused.

Camisole - Fairweather - size S- $10

Midi skirt - Joe Fresh - size 0 - $10

Belt - Smart Set - S/M - ?

Leather jacket - Stitches - size S - ?

Pumps - Call it Spring - size 6 - $40

Daily Dose: It's a Man's World

2012-08-13T10:02:00.000-06:00

When you can't find the perfect over-sized white button down shirt, the solution is always to steal one from your brother. You don't have a brother? That's OK. Steal one from someone else's brother.

My brother discarded this particular dress shirt with disgust for a reason I don't quite remember. He gets a lot of shirts tailor made from India, and the process goes something like this:

1) Describe desired item to cousin who resides in India.

2) Hope for the best.

In this case, it didn't work out for him, but I decided to give the shirt a try. The torso's actually not too bad, as my brother is super skinny, but the arms were horrendous. Rolled up however, they look pretty decent!

I love these liquid leggings to death. So much so that my mother actually told me to stop wearing them so I wouldn't put holes in them. I like how they add an edge to anything they're paired with. And unlike how I imagine leather pants to feel like, they're not stiff in the least and are fairly breathable. I decided to punch this outfit up a bit with some red microfiber wedges and I feel like the overall look is a little bit classic and a little bit rock n' roll.

You may ask what happened to illustrating my outfit posts. Fear not! I will continue to illustrate posts, but I found that it was taking me too much time, and I wasn't posting often enough for my liking. All my photos were piling up! So I'll try photos for a while, with some illustrations thrown in.

Shirt - tailor made in India, stolen from younger brother - technically free for me

Leggings - Suzy Shier - size S - $7.50

Belt - Aldo - size S - $5.99

Wedges - Call it Spring - size 7 - $25

Daily Dose: The Roaring Twenties

2012-08-11T22:30:00.000-06:00

I've been the "set designer" for my school talent show for the past two years. I use the term loosely because my sets are usually made out of poster paper, spray paint and copious amounts of duct tape. This last year, our theme was 'the Twenties', and thus came the first and likely last time in my life where it was OK to dress up as a gangster/flapper. Gangster undercover as a flapper? Or flapper undercover as a gangster? You decide.

I haven't put up a full-length photo of myself before because my hair and make-up (or lack thereof) are always terrible. But I'm trying something new, so I decided to just go for it! I'm trying to find a good way to process photos through Photoshop as well, as my photo-taking spot isn't very pretty. I tried going outside once but it was too cold and there was grass engulfing my shoes. So until I find a good outdoor spot, I'm gonna go with this. I'm going to be experimenting with some of the design aspects of the blog, so please bear with the potentially varied look of upcoming posts! Also, please do let me know what you think of how my blog posts are laid out and how my photos and illustrations are presented during this time!

This dress (I know it's barely a dress, but it's longer than my arms! It counts!) was one of my online Forever 21 purchases. A commenter told me I looked like a cupcake in it, and of course I had to keep it after that. I added the hat because who passes up the chance to wear a fedora to a 20's-themed event? Not me. And finally these shoes have giant bows on them and I have had more than one little girl comment on how much she likes them.

Dress - size S - Forever 21 - $14

Blazer - size 0 - RW&Co - $10

Tights - size 12-16 - H&M (kids section) - $5

Pumps - size 7 - Urban Behaviour - $15

Necklace - one size - Smart Set - $4

Fedora - one size - Le Chateau - ~$10

Daily Dose: Oh Baby

2012-08-02T12:08:00.000-06:00

I haven't been too happy with the sketches I've been posting up here lately. I just feel a bit... embarrassed, I suppose. I had originally thought that I would draw all the images for the blog digitally, but I have now realized I really suck at digital drawing. Back to the lovely feeling and ashy graphite wrists that come with pencil and paper!

I wore this outfit a long time ago (I'm not going to tell you how long because I am more embarrassed about that) to my cousin's baby shower. I was a Very Important Lady at the shower and also happened to be the most overdressed, but everything turned out alright because the punch was delicious. I have dreams about that punch to this day.

This cousin's sister, also my cousin, bought me a dress from H&M for my birthday a while back. Unfortunately it was about 4 sizes too big. Fortunately, I was able to exchange it for this one, which is right up my alley-- solid colour, flared skirt, small detail (there are buttons up the back of the torso). I paired it with a colour-blocked belt I ordered online from Forever 21 and went matchy matchy with the cardigan and pumps.

Dress - H&M - gift (kind of?)

Cardigan - Kersh via The Bay

Belt - Forever 21 - $5.99

Bangle - H&M - 1/3 of a $2 set

Tights - Joe Fresh via the grocery store

Pumps - Spring - ~$30

DIY: Singin' the Blues

2012-07-29T23:13:00.001-06:00

I'm really terrible with DIY and craft projects. I love making things, but I have a bad habit of starting projects and then abandoning them partway through and starting something else. I've got a few projects on the go and a lot of ideas for more projects. To my credit, I've finally finished one!

I've seen a lot of beautiful neon necklaces all over the internet and I was hit by a serious longing for one, particularly Tom Binn's beautiful painted rhinestone necklaces. There's been a lot of DIYs of painted rhinestone necklaces too, and I've been meaning to try my hand at whipping up something for myself. I've been accumulating cheap jewelry for a while, and pulled this one out to practice on. I was originally planning on making it multicoloured, but then I remembered a sky blue necklace at Forever 21 that I sadly left behind when I purchased it's fuchsia twin. So I decided I had to have a sky blue necklace RIGHT NOW and that was basically the thought process behind this project.

There's not a whole lot to say about the process. I started with a silver rhinestone necklace that I picked up for cheap and a bottle of blue nail polish that was on sale at H&M. I started out carefully painting the rhinestones, but then decided that everything was going to be blue and just went at it. The only reason I chose to do this in nail polish rather than real paint is because that's what I had on hand. I think that if I was to do this properly, I'd use spray paint on a necklace like this that has a lot of nooks and crannies to get an even coat. It's passable as it is right now, but definitely not perfect!

I apologize for the wildly varying graphic design-- I'm trying to figure out a good look and will hopefully settle down once I find a good, honest typeface.

I actually painted in the rhinestones I left white and painted the back of that strand blue as well as I wanted a more matte and graphic look. However, I did this after I took photos!

Here's the necklace in action:

Necklace - $2 - Ardene's

Nail polish - $2 - H&M

Total cost of project = $4

See what I mean about the random silver strand? I thought it would be cute, but I think it just looked odd, so it's now also blue.

What do you think? Overall an improvement?