A shacket (that's a shirt-jacket) again?
I know, I know. But, what can I say? It's suiting up to be the MVP product of the early fall season.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I'd been looking for a a chic shacket in faux leather for some time. And I found the perfect fit in this Le Chateau option. So much so, that I picked it up in two hues: black and camel.
The perfectly oversized pieces have a casual feel, while also being easy to dress up. I took a more elegant approach to this ensemble by adding culottes and heels — as well as a Chanel bag — to finish the look.
Will you be wearing shackets this season?
A combination of a shirt and a jacket — think: perfectly oversized and layer-able — the style feels so effortless and chic.
One the top of my fall fashion procurement list, was a faux-leather (ok, or maybe even leather) version. So, when I spotted this one from Le Chateau — for less than $130 dollars, no less — I knew I had to have it. In two colours, of course.
This is my first look with the camel-toned hue. The faux leather is so soft. I literally had to look twice to ensure that it was, in fact, not real leather. I can't wait to wear it layered with a turtleneck once the weather cools down. It's going to be an MVP, for sure.
Stay tuned later this week for how I styled the black version!
Bridal shower on a budget: Tips to throw a stylish event without spending a bunch of cash
September 2, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada
After all the planning — and, I think, a pretty successful party — I wanted to share a few photos, as well as a few tips for throwing your own event on a budget.
Tip #1: Decor on a dime(s)
In order to cut down on waste, and save money, we decided to decorate the event with items that were already in our own homes. Thankfully, between my mom, sister and I, we had several stylish pieces that worked well together.
I have an obsession with handwoven rugs, so I secured the large rug from my living room to an oversized wood frame for the backdrop. Then, we used circle towels, outdoor blankets and Turkish rugs for the seating, along with poufs and pillows that we already had. We used cinder blocks and six lengths of 2x10 boards for the low table.
For the florals, we again used vases and dried florals that we already had. I bought the bunny tails at Michaels and then split the bunch between a few small vessels for added effect, which cost about $23.
For the few items we didn't have, I scoured Facebook Marketplace to find a few things that were pre-loved, and therefore much more affordable than retail. One thing I did splurge on was a vintage Moroccan pouf from a friend's business called Coe112. Offering artisan pieces with a past, the pouf was just too perfect to pass up, and it now has a happy home near my couch.
Tip #2: Embrace the DIY
You can't throw an event on a budget without doing a little DIY. For this party, we bought a package of wall art papers from the dollar store, and then used frames we already had, temporarily displacing the photos and art that usually live in them. We secured these to a cedar hedge on the property and added a tray of paper props for an easy photo wall to get photos of the bride-to-be and event attendees upon their arrival.
Another DIY I did for this event involved the gifts and paper goods. I run a small Etsy shop that sells metallic-foil wall art, so I used my foiling machine to make the place cards and thank you gift tags. Then, I made homemade soaps for gifts for the guest along with sachets of dried lavender that I had cut from our own garden.
Tip #3: Friends with benefits
We knew we wanted to have some form of entertainment for guests, so we asked a friend who is looking to start a wine tasting event business to run a small tasting. We bought the wines and charcuterie items that she suggested, and paid her a small fee to attend. It was a fabulous way to keep guests entertained and engaged — while also offering her a chance to practice her business plan. (If you're looking for a sommelier event idea in Vancouver, I'd definitely recommend Petite Chateau!)
Tip #4: Small bits and bites
Lastly, food and drinks can get pretty pricey when you're hosting an event. That's why we went with a set plate of nibbles to accompany the wine sips. We also offered a fruit-infused water and a few sodas for those who didn't want to go the wine route.
We baked a mini four-tier cake, which we served at the end of the event, decorated with dried roses from the garden. Having the event just after lunchtime and before dinner meant that guests weren't expecting a full meal, so the nibbles that we provided seem to satisfy everyone without requiring a full spread of selections.
Do you have any party tips? If so, I'd love to hear them.
This look is so quintessentially summer. Lovely linen garments, a shady sun hat — and my current obsession: peaches.
Usually, I spend my summers eating as many local strawberries as I can find. But, this warm-weather season, it's all about the fuzzy peach. But, who am I kidding, I'm also stopping at the roadside stands to pick up strawberries right alongside the peaches, too. So, I guess it's an equal-opportunity summer fruit situation.
I wore this Reformation Yucca two-piece set recently for one such local shop. I may have been a little overdressed for the venue — a fruit stand on the side of a busy road — but it felt just right. And, oh-so summer.
Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!
This is my third (and final!) look from my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale haul.
In addition to the off-white midi dress and the faux-leather pants, I also picked up this cashmere sweater from Halogen.
While it's still a bit too warm to wear right now, I can't wait to throw it on once the weather cools down this fall. Cashmere sweaters are a constant in my fall and winter wardrobe. They effortlessly elevate a simple pair of jeans and boots — and they're so soft!
Safe to say, this warm-toned piece will be a welcome addition to the collection.
Even though I'm still sticking close to home, I've found myself drawn to clothing that makes me feel like ... well, like I have somewhere to go.
Case in point: this square-neck dress in rose-print chiffon from Le Chateau.
Sure, I wore it during an afternoon that saw me sitting at home leafing through a few favourite fashion magazines. But if felt right.
I'm all about dressing for how I feel. And, if I feel like wearing a dress on a day when my itinerary or to-do lists is all-but clear, well that's just fine with me.
Happy weekend, everyone!
As promised in my previous post, I'm sharing look #2 from my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Haul.
Featuring these Straight Leg Faux Leather Pants from the brand Leith, I can wholeheartedly say that I'm obsessed with this look. It's chic and comfortable — mind you, not entirely appropriate for 80+ degree weather heat. (Hello, sweat!)
But, I can imagine myself wearing a variation of this look, with these pants as the sartorial star, of course — for the cooler-weather season ahead. And, marked down at pretty much 50% percent off the original price, I can feel pretty good about doing so, too.
Will you be shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale when it kicks off today?
Top and sandals: Le Chateau | Pant:s Nordstrom
Bag: Prada
I recently stopped by Nordstrom in Vancouver to check out the Early Access of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
For those who don't already know, the sale sees select fall fashions and accessories in the store — ranging from in-house brands such as Halogen to vendor brands including Frame, Smythe, Vince and more — temporarily discounted up to 50 percent.
While the Early Access (for Nordy Club Ambassadors and cardholders) runs through Aug. 18, the full sale kicks off Aug. 19 and goes through Sept. 3. The wild thing is that, after that, all the items go back up to full price. So, basically, you need to (relative, I know) shop the deals while you can.
When I saw this sleek midi dress from the in-house brand Leith I knew I would end up leaving the store with it. I styled it for a glamorous stroll around the yard. And I look forward to finding more ways to wear it come fall ... yes, even if it's still just around the house.
Stay tuned for a few more of my sale finds this week! Will you be shopping the sale?
What it is: A perfume absolute from Atelier Cologne that's billed as a 'fruity floral'.
The fragrance, which boasts a mixture of 15% pure perfume, features notes of the Osmanthus flower from China, along with cedarwood and lemon.
Beauty bonus: It smells like summer!
Beauty bummer: On our skin, we found it a tad light-wearing.
Overall: This fragrance offers an elevated summer scent that had us dreaming of warm-weather getaways to exotic locales. Kind of fitting as we're all still stuck at home — so those types of escapes are still just a daydream.
Rather than suntan lotion and coconut, the scent features bright, interesting notes that smell unlike most fragrances we've tried before.
Unfamiliar with the scent of the Osmanthus flower, we were impressed with the softness of the night-blooming flower's scent in this unisex release. Mixed with the cedarwood and citrus, the overall effect is one of a nighttime stroll through a small lemon grove on Capri. *sigh*
Would recommend: Yes
Price: $195 for 100 mL
Retailer: Sephora
Garnier Fructis Repairing Treat Shampoo and Conditioner: A quick review
August 7, 2020 Vancouver, BC, Canada
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What it is: A 98 per-cent naturally-derived formulated shampoo from the drugstore staple Garnier.
Beauty bonus: Silicone-free and vegan, this is a conscious choice as well as a budget friendly one!
Beauty bummer: For thicker hair, this combo left something to be desired in the moisture department.
Overall: Smelling fresh and not too overpoweringly sweet — even with the full-on fruit connection — we found the scent of this product didn’t leave us smelling like a candy store.
This shampoo-and-conditioner combo worked well for one of us but not for the other. For fine hair, it was nourishing without feeling too weighed down. But, for the thicker-haired among us, this wasn’t the case. The conditioner was too light for those tresses.
Would recommend? Probably
Price: $6.77
Where to buy: Drugstores and mass retailers nationwide
One of my favourite outfits when I was a kid was a pair of hot pink-flecked grey bike shorts and a perfectly oversized LA Gear t-shirt.
I recall wearing it for a rare family vacation to Disneyland, during which I was very pleased to have the ensemble immortalized in photos and on videotape (yes, tape).
So, when I got a pair of bike shorts recently from the Canadian brand From Rachel, I immediately felt like, no matter which way I styled them, I would be paying homage to that beloved look.
Unsure of how well I could pull off a more literal athleisure look with this short style, I opted to go more elevated, pairing it with a pink, Jacquemus-inspired blazer from Aritzia. The effect was polished and trendy — and just the right amount of throwback to the look that young me loved oh-so much.
Are you wearing bike shorts this season?
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