Starts with draped pants...

Happy weekend! And may I add, "long time no see!". This summer has been surprisingly busy. While the upside is that there has been a great balance of work and play to keep things interesting, the downside is that time quickly passed by before I realized how long ago my last post was.

Tonight, some dear friends joined my hubby and me for dinner in Toronto's Distillery District. If you've never been, this is definitely one of my favourite places to visit in the summer. And if you're searching for a new restaurant to try, I highly recommend Cluny (their veal meatball and salmon tartar are heavenly). 

For a casual day-to-night outfit that suited both the heat of the afternoon and the breeziness of the evening, I opted for a pair of comfortable draped pants in crepe material. The thicker fabric give these pants more structure, and less of a pyjama look in my opinion.

Because the pants are voluminous, I opted to keep the pairing simple and streamlined. A long necklace and racer-back silk tank helped ensure the look didn't overwhelm my petite frame. To complement the overall softness of the ensemble, I carried a structured handbag.

The tank and subtle silver accessories were complemented by a metallic pop from the sandals. 

Hope you're having a great summer so far!

Top: Ann Taylor (old)

Bottom: J. Crew (other colours available here)

Jewellery: Gucci watch, Tiffany & Co bracelet and necklace

Shoes: J.Crew

Starts with a blue sequined dress...

Happy weekend! Quick outfit post from a friend's wedding today (note the amazing champagne bar behind me!). 

This sequined blue dress was first worn for my company holiday party in December. I'm obsessed with the sparkly navy colour (my go-to alternative to basic black) and the low-cut back. Because of the attention-grabbing fabric, I opted to pair this with subtle black ankle-straped sandals, a classic handbag and small rhinestone earrings. 

Dress: Mendocino (similar here and here)

Bag: Chanel

Shoes: Club Monaco

Starts with Fall Basics...

Hello! Fall officially arrived last week and this mild weekend was perfect for bringing out my Fall basics.

A casual draped sweater, skinny jeans classic, statement scarf and classic black bag

are all seasonless pieces that will easily take you from early Fall days to cooler winter months by adding a few layers.

To add some pop to an otherwise neutral ensemble, I added a pair of lovely calf-hair ankle strap heels in an Autumn-appropriate berry hue.

Next on my Fall shopping list? A versatile camel pea coat (I'm eyeing this one here). What are your Fall basics?

Top: Smart Set

Bottom: Paige

Scarf: Alexander McQueen

Bag: Chanel 

Sheos: Sam Edelman "Okala" heels (available here)

Starts with an A-line dress

Happy Tuesday! Quick post today - what to wear to a sunset cruise in celebration of a friend's engagement? A simple but feminine A-line dress in one of my favourite colours.

Of course, no party is complete without a touch of neon to brighten an otherwise neutral palette. 

Hope you're having a great week so far!

Dress: Theory (also seen here and also loving this version here)

Jewelry: J.Crew

Shoes: Ann Taylor (old, loving this perfect-for-Fall version here)

Starts with a fresh face...

Monday mornings are notoriously hectic for me. So when I've hit the snooze button a few too many times, I rely on a few trusted products to help me look (and feel) more awake. As the saying goes, "fake it 'til you make it", right?

1. 

Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat (available here): A few dabs blended beneath the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, and cheekbones are all that are needed to add brightness to the face.

2.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo (available here): The ultimate secret for those not gifted with naturally luscious brows. This fine powder is perfectly natural looking when applied with Anastasia's angled spooley brush.

3. 

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner (available here): Long-lasting and perfectly versatile, a thin line works best for day, while a thick one adds more drama for nights out.

4.

Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation (available here): I've been a devoted fan of this for almost decade. This sheer powder complete with SPF literally makes the skin glow and creates a smooth, even look.

5.

Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow (available here): rich pigment and long-lasting colour make this palette another go-to product. My favourite is "Earth Reflections" which is a great combo of browns and champagnes. I also lightly dab and blend two spots of the champagne colour right at the inner corners of the eye to further to create a more "awake" eye.

Image source: 1, 2, 4, 5, from Sephora; 3 from Chanel

Starts with a sweater coat...

Mother Nature was deceptively cooperative this weekend by bringing Spring-like temperatures. It was the perfect opportunity to bring out one of my long-favourite pieces, a draped collar sweater coat. I started by adding a belt in the morning to dress-up for a brunch date and then left it open and more relaxed for an afternoon of running errands. 

I paired my sweater coat with my go-to faux leather leggings and stacked black and gold accessories, which helped add a bit of edginess to an otherwise very feminine and laid-back look.

 There is truly nothing as versatile and timeless as a well-made sweater coat. This particular version has an oversized draped collar, which provides dimension and movement and has lent itself well to being reinvented and worn again and again over the years.

What items in your wardrobe do you find yourself reaching for time and time again?

Top: Theory sweater (old,similar version here), Club Monaco t-shirt

Bottom: Aritzia

Belt: Joe Fresh

Jewelry: Hermes and Gap bracelets, Michael Kors watch

Starts with a little black dress...

The Little Black Dress. It's the ubiquitous staple on every "Wardrobe Essentials" list and it never never goes out of style. I purchased this strapless dress from Club Monaco thirteen years ago. It has clean lines and almost no embellishment at all, save for the satin tuxedo stripe down the side. The simplicity of this dress provides a neutral palette for dressing-up and dressing-down and it has gone from high school semi-formal (you read that right!), to cruise ship formal, to multiple weddings, and most recently,to my company holiday party. Even though its zipper finally broke a few weeks ago, I caved and had it fixed - I just can't let this go!

Dress: Club Monaco (old)

Shoes: Elie Tahari

Jewelry: Cards & Presents (Queen St. West, Toronto) necklace, Tiffany & Co bracelet

Purse: Chanel

Starts with with a leather top...

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend!

I love, love, love leather details. I think they add a great unexpected twist to pieces, and really helps add some edge. This green faux-leather sweater is currently one of my favourite pieces and it can be worn dressed-down for weekends, or paired with wool cropped dress pants for work. The plain front lends itself well to adding a statement necklace, but the leather detail also works well on its own.

For this particular weekend I paired it with a geometric statement necklace and a slim leather jacket. This jacket has actually been a staple in my wardrobe for a number of years. Its clean lines complemented by its eye-catching stitching helps keep it timeless while being chic.

I can't wait to find more ways to wear leather this season!

Top: Zara ( here, or similar here)

Jacket: Mackage for Aritzia

Bottom: J Brand

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Bag: Chanel

Jewellery: Tiffany & Co gold necklace, Club Monaco black necklace (old), J.Crew bracelet

Starts with tangerine accessories...

Fall's ode to tangerine is either a blessing or a curse depending on your comfort with bright colours. For colour-phobes (like me), it's a good push to try something new. That's not to say you have to go all out at the gate - here are a few ways to incorporate tangerine (or as I like to call it, "electric persimmon") into your ensemble.

Novice

Starting small with accessories in this stand-out hue is a good, albeit more conservative approach to incorporating colour. 

For the truly faint of heart, a tangerine bangle is a good start:

For the determined novice, a statement necklace in this stand-out hue:

Intermediate

Ready for more? A tangerine scarf is the perfect way to elevate an otherwise neutral ensemble.

Colour Pro

Finally, a tangerine cardigan paired with golds and browns will make any Fall day seem sunny. Because of the cardigan's stand-out colour, I've opted to keep accessories simple to let the colour really speak for itself.

Jacket: Zara (old, loving this luxe version here and this fun version here)

Cardigan: J.Crew (currently on sale)

Blouse: J.Crew

Jewellery: Tag Heuer, Hermes, Tiffany & Co, custom pearls, J.Crew

Sunglasses: D&G

Scarf: J.Crew

Belt: Gap

Bottom: J.Crew

Boots: Cole Haan

Starts with dressy shorts...

Add a silky blouse and a statement necklace...

My current obsession is the Azalea necklace from J.Crew. The detailing and weight are phenomenal for a costume piece and  it provides the perfect amount of "pop" for an otherwise neutral outfit. 

Close-up of the amazing detail on the necklace:

Only one more day until the weekend! Happy Thursday!

Blouse: J.Crew

Tank: TNA (similar here at an awesome price)

Bottom: Zara (old)

Belt: Abercrombie & Fitch

Bag: Chanel

Jewellery: J.Crew (currently sold out, also loving this one here), Hermes, Michael Kors

Shoes: Kors by Michael Kors

Image credit (Azalea necklace): J.Crew