Starts with red plaid and fur...

There is something so unequivocally winter (and stereotypically Canadian) about plaid and fur. Since winter has no plans on leaving anytime soon, I've adapted the age old adage, "if you can't beat them, join them".

This fun plaid top is elevated by edgy detials like a leather trimmed neckline and side zippers. It's the perfect complement to an otherwise more conservative (faux) fur scarf.

Add a sleek pair of over-the-knee boots to the equation, and I was ready to brave the icy sidewalks this past weekend.

Hope you're staying warm!

Top: Zara

Coat: Babaton Howell Coat (from Aritzia, currently on sale)

Bottom: Zara
Boots: Michael by Michael Kors

Bag: Prada

Sunglasses: D&G

Gloves: Holt Renfrew

Starts with Black and White...

Happy Thursday! Doesn't it seem like the cold weather just crept up and surprised us?

Despite the colourful leaves outside, something about Fall evokes images of monochrome ensembles for me - maybe it's because I'm a summer girl at heart, and winter always feels gloomy and grey.

On the bright side however, the great thing about a monochrome ensemble is the freedom to play with patterns and textures. This also helps elevate the outfit and prevent it from being too flat.

For a friend's engagement party last weekend, I layered a soft patterned silk shirt underneath a leather-trimmed cape. Cropped trousers and a croc-print clutch helped further tie the pieces together.

My trick to monochrome dressing is to add subtle pops of colour to provide visual interest. For this evening, I chose a sparkly neon-accented necklace and my trusty cobalt pumps (I seriously can't get enough of these!).

It's been a while since my last post, but I hope you're doing well! I'm really trying to not let work take over so much :)

Have a great day!

Top: Joe Fresh shirt (available here), Barney's Co-op cape (old)

Bottom: Gap

Shoes: Zara

Clutch: Danier

Necklace: J.Crew

Starts with a leather peplum top...

Happy Monday! My best friend is getting married this summer, and while we'll be in formal frocks for the big event, the ever important final girls-night-out this weekend required something edgier.

This panelled faux leather peplum top is the perfect mix of feminine and rocker-chic. Paired with bright blue shoes, and a neon statement necklace it was also functional and comfortable when worn with shorts.

A simple croc-textured clutch completed the look.

However you spent your weekend, I hope you enjoyed times with friends!

Have a great week!

Top: Forever 21 (available here)

Bottom: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Zara

Jewelry: J.Crew necklace

Bag: Danier leather (old, similar here)

Starts with Inspiration: Flat Sandals

This picture of Ivanka Trump in Rome with her darling daughter Arabella perfectly epitomizes relaxed-chic for summer. Especially gorgeous are the flat sandals on her feet - just perfect for warm city weekends!

High, medium, and low-priced options below.

See by Chloe Patent Trim Sandals (on sale here)

J.Crew Elsa Piped Metallic Sandals (available here)

Zara Studded Metallic Flat Sandals (available here)

Image credits: Hello Magazine (picture of Ivanka Trump), Shopbop, J.Crew, and Zara.

Starts with a neon scarf...

Happy Monday! What a glorious weekend it was. The weather was gorgeous and I got to spend quality time with my hubby as well as my family for Father's Day. It was definitely a neon type of weekend.

This neon scarf was a bit of an impulse purchase. While I have many scarves in my collection, I have few that are in a true pop-out colour. At the risk of too much neon (is there ever such thing as too much of a good thing?) I paired with with a similar, albeit subtler, hue.

Hope you had a lovely weekend, and you got to enjoy some QT with the family as well. 

Have a great week!

Scarf: Gap (similar here)

Top: Ann Taylor

Bottom: Zara (old)

Shoes: Tory Burch

Starts with Inspiration: Blue Suede Pumps

Ever since I added a pair of blue suede pumps to my wardrobe (seen here and here), I've been consistently impressed with how versatile this colour truly is. The perfect alternative to black for Spring, this colour complements everything from denim on a Saturday to slim cropped dress pants for work.

Left to right: Manolo Blahnik (available here), Ann Taylor (here), Zara (here)

Image source: Polyvore

Starts with a cargo jacket...

Hello! Hope you had a great weekend. If you celebrated Mother's Day, I hope you had a wonderful time with her and your families!  

In addition to spending time with my own mother and my  mother-in-law, I also had another special event this weekend. Back in January, I wrote about signing up and training for my first 10 km race. This weekend, I ran it and managed to achieve my goal time! I definitely felt a great sense of accomplishment, and am already looking forward to being even faster next year!

Top: J.Crew jacket (here), Club Monaco t-shirt (here)

Scarf: J.Crew

Bottom: Citizens of Humanity "Avedon Slick" skinny jeans

Shoes: Zara

Handbag: Louis Vuitton

Starts with blue suede pumps...

I've recently became a huge fan of cobalt blue, and nothing pleased me more than these ultra-feminine pumps in an unexpected bright blue. Though this weekend was still a bit chilly, incorporating brighter colours into my wardrobe helped remind me of sunnier (and warmer) days.

I paired my bright shoes with an equally bright complementary colour. This lightweight cashmere sweater is perfect for this time of year, and though it's hard to see in the pictures, they feature a very unique detail - leather elbow patches!

Hope you're having a good week so far!

Shoes: Zara (available here, luxe version here)

Top: Pink Tartan sweater, Barneys Co-op cape

Bottom: Gap

Jewelry: J.Crew necklace

Starts with Inspiration: Floral blazers

If you’re looking for evidence that April showers bring May flowers, look no further than the three lovely blazers above. The perfect topper to a white t-shirt, jeans, and bright flats, a little botanical inspiration goes a long way when the rain is pit-pittering at your window.

High, medium, and low-priced options from left to right: Stella McCartney (available here), Paul & Joe Sister  (available here), and Zara (here)

Images from Polyvore

Starts with a blue patterned blouse...

This top was purchased years ago for a friend's birthday party, and this weekend while looking for something to wear to another friend's baby shower, I found this tucked away. Styled with a shiny statement necklace for contrast, metallic belt to add shape, and fitted blazer for warmth, this old piece was reinvented and ready for another party.

A purple bag was added to provide additional pop while neutral shoes were used to anchor the ensemble without being too overwhelming. 

Hope you had a great weekend and are enjoying your week so far!

Top: Zara (old, similar here and here)

Jacket: Banana Republic

Bottom: J.Crew

Bag: Botkier

Shoes: Elizabeth & James

Jewelry: Gucci watch; Gap, Tiffany & Co and Hermes bracelets; All Things Tinsel necklace (Etsy)

Fashion News: Zara online shopping for Canada starts tomorrow!

Finally the wait is over - Zara will be offering online shopping starting tomorrow! For people like me, this is a welcomed announcement. I always seem to fall in love with pieces that just happen to be out of my size. With online shopping, perhaps there's hope yet? Happy shopping!

Image credit: Zara

Starts with a camel coat...

Happy Monday! It was an absolutely lovely weekend here - so mild in fact that I finally got to shed my down parka and slip into my camel coat! My hubby and I went downtown to the St. Lawerence Market and enjoyed a feast of delightful treats for brunch. We had peameal bacon breakfast sandwiches from Carousel Bakery, fried calamari and French fries from Buster's Sea Cove (they also have an amazing food truck!) and Portuguese custard tarts from Churrasco's. If you ever get the chance to visit the market these are "must-do's"! 

I've been searching for a classic camel coat for what seems like forever. In fact, last year, I had ordered a similar coat from J.Crew at 40% off. Unfortunately however, it was delivered to my front door while I was at work, and got stolen! Luckily, J.Crew has reissued their stadium-cloth boulevard trench (select colours now on sale with an additional 30% off!) and I was able to get my second chance this winter.

I hope however you spent your weekend you were able to enjoy the mild weather. Have a great week!

Coat: J.Crew (select colours on sale with additional 30% off)

Pants: Aritzia (also seen here and here)

Shoes: Prada

Bag: Prada

Fur wrap: Zara (old)

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