Covet & Acquire

What it is: The first foray into beauty for Hermès sees the French brand introduce a curated collection of lipsticks.

Available in matte and satin finish, the line includes permanent shades such as Orange Boite (yes, inspired by the iconic boxes) as well as a few limited-edition seasonal releases.

Beauty bonus: From the packaging to the soft scent of the formulas, these lipsticks are pure luxury.

Beauty bummer: At $87 each, these lipsticks are (predictably) pricey.

Overall: Fashion fans who can't get enough of  Hermès will likely be overjoyed to discover the house's latest métier.

From the petite orange boxes that the lip products come packaged in, to the super-pigmented lipstick formulas contained within — which boast a subtle smell created by house nose Christine Nagel — these lipsticks are a fun, fashionable addition to the luxury beauty market.

We enjoyed the selection of hues that we tried. They all provided good colour payoff, felt comfortable on lips and wore well throughout the day.

But, it was the limited-edition shade Violet Intense, a deep purple hue in a creamy satin finish, that was the sweetest surprise. The colour is like a deep, juicy blackberry. Dramatic? Yes, but in all the right ways.

We can't wait to see how the beauty line develops from here.

Would recommend: Yes, for both lipstick lovers and Hermès fanatics.
Price: $87
Retailer:  Hermès

I'm in my third week of working from home. And, during that time, I've rarely ventured much beyond my front door.

Save for a few trips to the grocery store or feed store for my horses, I have stayed at home. While I feel that, overall, I'm coping quite well with the limitations, this week, I'm feeling a little squirrel-y.

Don't get me wrong, I'm going to #stayhome so that I can help #flattenthecurve ... but I'm also going to have to come up with few coping strategies for when I'm feeling particularly shut in.

So far, I've noticed that getting dressed in something other than leggings helps my overall outlook. And, yes, sometimes that has meant I get way more dressed up than I need to be. Wearing this stylish (and comfortable!) black Valerie Dress from Reformation is the perfect example of that.

I've also established a nice morning routine that is beginning to feel familiar. And I'm sure that, over the next few weeks, I will find more patterns and pieces that will help me feel like this is all more 'normal' than it really is.

If you have any coping strategies, I'd love to hear!

This photo was taken, unsuspectingly, during my last meal out before the self-quarantine and subsequent citywide lockdown in Vancouver.

I was enjoying a cappuccino before a lovely lunchtime meeting with a friend at Caffe La Tana. 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you've likely seen my hash tag #covetandacquireeats. Given the colourful array of flat lay-style food images, it's very clear that I enjoy a meal out every now and again.

In fact, I usually eat at a local restaurant one day a week. It's an end-of-week treat for my boyfriend and I. And, truth be told, two weeks into this lockdown, I miss it.

I will never taking a simple dinner out at a neighbourhood restaurant for granted again.

In fact, once this over, I'm going to eat at as many local restaurants and cafés as I can in order to show my support and appreciation for all that they bring to our community — OK, and to my personal food feed.

I hope you're all doing well (as well as is possible, that is) during these difficult times. 

What it is: A new lipstick formula from Dior that boasts "shimmering colour" mixed with hydrating care. Available in 15 shades.

Beauty bonus: After season after season of drying matte lipstick formulas, we love the idea of a lipstick that promises to deliver 24-hour hydration. Plus, the sparkly star imprinted on the centre of the lipstick bullet is super cute.

Beauty bummer: If you like the ultra precision of a liquid lipstick or a super-matte formula, this one may migrate too much for your liking.

Overall: We found there was a little bit of a trick to these luxe lipsticks.

Upon initial application, we loved the texture and level of hydration this formula provided, but weren't super pleased with the way the product wore. It was a tad difficult to keep it in the lines, and it didn't seem to wear evenly.

Where we found these balm-like lip products really shone was when they were reapplied. Adding a second coat seemed to smooth the patchiness quite a bit, and we found the second layer helped bring out the desired pigments and long wear.

True to its promise, lips felt soft and moisturized.



Would recommend: If you're a diehard Dior fan who is looking to add a little shine in your life, yes.
Price: $49
Retailer: Holt Renfrew; Sephora.com

I've been working from home all week — a luxury I'm very grateful to have in my line of work.

While my first reflex, sartorially speaking, while working from home has been to throw on a comfy sweater and leggings every morning — especially given that social distancing means I haven't gone anywhere beyond these walls, except for one trip to the grocery store — I'm planning to push myself to get dressed every once in a while.

If nothing more, it's an attempt to make things feel more 'normal' than they otherwise feel right now.

Plus, pieces like this blue blazer and matching mock-neck top from Le Chateau are giving me all the spring vibes right now. As silly as it may seem, they're making me feel a bit more optimistic about the days to come. And, given all the uncertainty, every little bit helps.

Are you dressing up while working from home? 

There's no other way to put it: these are some wild times.

With the ongoing global health situation changing, seemingly, by the minute, I haven't felt much like creating content to post on my blog or social channels. I think I've honestly gone to post these three photos — featuring these fabulous boots from the Tezza x Aldo collection — to Instagram three or four times over the past few days and have struggled to hit 'share' because I, quite simply, don't know what to say.

These are such challenging and unprecedented times. I think many of us can say that we've never lived through anything like this in our lives up to this point. And, it's scary.

But, we must stay informed (via reputable sources!). Be empathetic. Listen to the provincial and federal health mandates. Embrace the idea of 'social distancing'. And trust that, together, we can make it through this.

For the foreseeable future, I will be sticking close to home. No social dinners. No weekend getaways. And, far fewer outfit photos snapped, well, pretty much anywhere other than my house. Because, now's not the time for that.

Now is the time to stay put, to look after ourselves (and others!) and to hope that, with diligent actions adopted by all, we can help the hardworking healthcare workers get ahead of this seemingly impossible novel coronavirus curve. Then maybe, just maybe, life can return to what it was before.

I've never really been big on hair accessories.

Most hairbands give me a headache (yes, literally), and bows and clips have always felt too finicky for my style.

But, as soon as I saw these supersized scrunchies from the Vancouver-based brand A Bronze Age on Instagram, I knew I had to buy one.

Slightly reminiscent of those oversized hair bows from the '80s (you know, the ones spotted on relatives in old family wedding photos), these coif accoutrements offer an easy way to add a chic, editorial element to an outfit.

I picked up the XXL size in black silk, and I'm trying to convince my sister to let me wear the organza offering for my role as a bridesmaid in her wedding this summer. Stay tuned to see how that works out!  

What it is: A paraben, phthalate, sulphate, chemical sunscreen and artificial fragrance-free sunblock from the derm brand Alumier MD that is also cruelty free.

Beauty bonus: Despite it being called a “clear” formula, we found it had a slight tint, which we found colour corrected our skin ever so slightly. (Nice!)

Beauty bummer: None.

Overall: As this sunscreen is a physical one (meaning it sits on skin) as opposed to a chemical one (which absorbs into skin), this may sway your decision. We find there is a time and a place for both options.

While this one would not necessarily be one we would grab if we were going to follow the application with a full face of foundation — but, we would grab this for a fresh-face kind of day where we go more minimal with the makeup.

The niacinamide and hyaluronate formulation helped this sunscreen feel very hydrating and calmed redness throughout the day.

Would recommend: Yes. For those who can’t wear chemical sunscreens, this is a good choice
Price: $48
Where to buy: Select skincare professionals; alumiermd.ca

Happy International Women's Day!

I'm so happy this day has become something that's far beyond just a 'social media day'. The momentum behind celebrating women has seemed to increase exponentially in recent years. While we still have a fair ways to go to ensure women are celebrated every day instead of just on IWD, I love that the conversation has grown to include so many people/brands/platforms.

It feels like we're making important moves in the right direction.

The Vancouver-based company Brunette the Label is the perfect example of a company that's aiming to continue the conversation about women beyond just one day. The brand's founder, Miriam Alden, is dedicated to empowering women through her fun slogan sweaters — going big on the idea of women supporting women.

That's why I felt this 'Babes Supporting Babes' hoodie was the perfect piece to wear on IWD — the brand is also donating 100 per cent of its net proceeds on IWD to the charity One Girl Can.

For me, International Women's Day is a day when I like to pause to reflect on all the wonderful women who have helped me (and continue to help me) so much in my life. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

I chose to shoot this look alongside my mare, Pink, a wonderful, strong-willed, opinionated and talented horse that has taught me so much about myself as we've grown together as riding partners during the past five years.

Because, fabulous females come in all shapes, sizes, colours — and species. Horses, too!

This colourful silk scarf was part of the recent H&M Studio Collection Spring/Summer 2020 release.

The beautifully bright release featured fun prints, flowy silhouettes, structured suiting pieces and more — so, safe to say, the majority of the collection sold out quickly.

But this small silk piece from the release prompted me to think about how I should wear silk scarves more often. The luxuriously soft squares can add so much interest and colour to an otherwise simple look. They're like a piece of jewelry ... but made of a textile.

So, without further ado, here are three ways that I would wear a square silk scarf like this one.


1. Neck knot

A simply chic way to tie on a scarf like this. I love this way when worn with a turtleneck or buttoned-up blouse (worn slightly open, of course). The vibe I get from this is French chic — and effortless.


2. Hair tie

I've been loving low buns and ponytails lately. So, this simple hair tie addition is a no-brainer for me. The style adds a touch of whimsy to an otherwise very effortless (read: easy) hairstyle.


3. Cowgirl neckerchief 

This way is a bit more sassy than the other two. It gives me all the chic cowgirl vibes. I love that it's more prominent than the other two. A bit more in your face, yes. But also so fun and, if I may say, badass.


How would you wear a silk scarf? 

I've been all about colour lately.

While I've typically leaned more toward neutral hues in the past, these days, I've been having so much fun trying out new colours and shade pairings.

This recent take on a pantsuit is the perfect example of this.

While the two suiting separates weren't necessarily designed to go together, when I spotted them hanging in Le Chateau recently, I thought 'why not?'.

The saturated hot pink of this blazer plays against the red of these wide-leg pants. At first glance, they actually look like they're a perfect pairing, but upon closer inspection, the colour difference becomes apparent. And that's kind of what I love most about this look. It has a little element of sartorial surprise.

Do you like red and pink together? 

What it is: From the OG natural-based beauty brand, Fresh, comes their bestselling toner.

Beauty bonus: We are not huge fans of kombucha (sorry, guts!) so we were pleased this didn’t have the zingy scent of the drink.

Beauty bummer: The delivery of this toner left just a little something to be desired for us — maybe a spritzer would work better?

Overall: We are sometimes hit and miss with toners, but this one has completely changed our routine.

We can see why this product is a cult favourite!

The fluid absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling perfectly prepped for moisturizer. In less than a week, skin looked more dewy with less fine lines for longer during the day.

Would recommend? Yes! It has been a game changer (improved hydration and tone!) in our routine.
Price: $88
Where to buy: Sephora

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay

In my 'forever' home, I'd love to have a mud room. A place to take off my coat, shoes, barn boots, etc. — and to hang my hat or handbag (literally and figuratively) at the end the day.

But, in my current carriage house, I don't have that luxury. Space is at a premium, so I had to find an option that did double ... or triple duty in the small space behind my door.

So, I started a manhunt bench-hunt to find the perfect coat rack with a storage bench. I found the one pictured at a local discount furniture warehouse.

With this compact design, I'm able to hang several coats and bags on the rack, while my shoes are stored mess-free in the box underneath. And I usually keep my keys in a basket on the bench. So far, it has been an essential part of my home.

Looking for something similar? Here are a few other small home coat racks with storage that caught my eye.

I love jewelry. In fact, I would go so far as to say I have a slight obsession with it.

And, I really like to buy it for myself.

I've never been one to wait until someone purchases the perfect piece for me. OK, unless it's that piece of jewelry, in which case I will wait for the right one to come along. ;)

But, in the case of chic everyday pieces, I love Pandora because the designs are affordable, stylish and they're easy to pair with my other favourite jewelry items. I'm wearing a few pieces in the pics above, and shop a few of my current favourites below.