"I'm gonna pop some tags, only got ($60) in my pocket ..." :P
When the team behind Value Village reached out to me with the opportunity to take part in their $60 Challenge, I was unsure of how to respond.
No stranger to second-hand goodies (over-share alert: growing up the youngest of three girls in an one-income household where money was stretched pretty tight, left me very well acquainted with thrift stores), I was intrigued by the idea ... but a bit nervous.
To be honest, it has been years since I hit the thrift shop for anything other than home decor trinkets (umm, vintage sterling-silver perfume bottle trays, anyone!?) and books (a no-brainer).
Because, you see, to be a successful thrift store clothing shopper, you have to be willing to spend hours — sometimes over the course of several visits — in order to unearth true treasures.
But trust me, they're there.
So, after much thought — and a heads up to the V.V. team that this wouldn't be an overnight post (far form it, actually!) — I embarked on an adventure to find the most cheap-and-chic look that was, well ... also totally my style.
And this is what I came up with:
1 x Italian silk tunic top @ $4.99
1 x pair of (amazing!!) wool pleated culottes @ $6.99
1 x pair of vintage Salvatore Ferragamo flats @ $29.99
For a grand total of $41.97, not including taxes.
Challenge: Completed
I had so much fun hosting the Le Château Meet the Blogger event at Guildford Town Centre yesterday!
From the fantastic in-store team (thanks again for everything, ladies!!), to the styling sessions with shoppers — it was an afternoon full of fall fashion fun.
Speaking of fall fashion, I couldn't help but snap a few photos of some of my favourite seasonal pieces including chunky knits, equestrian-inspired boots and an amazing gold cuff
(majorly on my want list!).
Thank you again to everyone who came out to the event, and congratulations to Anya, the winner of my in-store $200 gift card giveaway!
Sweater, skirt and shoes: Le Chateau c/o
Le Château Meet the Blogger event at Surrey's Guildford Town Centre: Details + GIVEAWAY
September 24, 2014
I'm so honoured to be hosting another styling event for the lovely team at Le Château this Saturday.
(See photos from the previous two Meet the Blogger events here and here.)
This time, the event is moving out into the Fraser Valley (see ya later, Vancouver!) for an afternoon of shopping and fashion fun at Guildford Town Centre in Surrey.
I will be focusing on building back-to-work wardrobes for fall — so come on out so we can shop together AND so you can enter my free giveaway to win a $200 gift card to Le Château!
Here are all the event details:
What: Le Château Meet the Blogger event
Where: Le Château at Guildford Town Centre
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 from 1-4 p.m.
Hope to see you there!
And get in the Le Château mood with a look at a few of my fave new fall styles:
You know when you're shopping in a store and an item just speaks to you? It's a bit like an out-of-body experience, am I right? #Ibelieve
But all jokes aside, that "ah-ha" moment was exactly what happened for me with both this wool knit sweater and this ridiculously amazing handbag.
I'm confident that one look at this impossibly chic Wilfred by Aritzia Durandal jumper is all it would take for most people to want to buy it, but the bag? That's a whole other story.
I happened upon this beautiful handbag during a trip to Paris this summer (see more pics here and here) and (despite what my savings account would advise), I just had to have it.
Denim? Sheep shearling? A sheriff's star? While some may consider it kitsch, I say sign me up!
Part of the CHANEL Paris-Dallas 2013/14 Métiers d'Art collection, it's the perfect combination of western chic and fashion-loving crazy.
It makes me smile every time I take it out of its box ... which is a good thing because the dent it left in my savings certainly doesn't. :P
Happy Monday lovelies and thank you for reading!
Bag: CHANEL | Sweater: Aritzia | Culottes: Forever 21 (last seen here) | Heels: Zara (old) | Jewelry: Dear you, Pretty things, Michael Kors and Tiffany & Co.
What it is: A lip moisturizer fortified with vitamins E and C, coconut oil and hyaluronic acid that instantly smooths and hydrates lips. Petroleum, gluten and paraben-free.
Beauty bonus: Available in a cool blue or sweet pink packaging, these tiny spheres are perfect for pout perfecting on the go.
Beauty bummer: As with all eos Spheres, the rounded applicator ball takes some getting used to.
Overall: Truth be told, eos lip balms aren't usually the ones I reach for when my lips are feeling parched — but I find myself wondering why they're not each and every time I use them.
And this latest release from the eos family is my favourite one yet.
I loved the coconut milk-infused pink sphere, which left my lips feeling smooth and hydrated without even a hint of waxiness — and sans any sickly sweet pina colada taste. #win
Would I recommend: Yes, especially if you're a diehard fan of this line!
Price: $3.99
Where to buy: Shoppers Drug Mart and other mass beauty retailers
It's no secret that I love GAP denim (see examples of my adoration for the all-American company's baby blues here, here and here!), so I was super excited when the GAP Canada team offered me the chance to test drive a pair of the new 1969 black jeans.
While they didn't have any new noirs in my go-to Sexy Boyfriend style (yet!), they did have an amazing selection of skinnies in various denim weights, grey-to-black washes — and several stages of distress.
After much deliberation (choices, choices ... :P), I opted for these super-stretchy Legging Jeans. They fit like a glove, flatter my boot-ay and they seem to go with everything. Something tells me I'm going to be wearing these bad boys a ton in the near future.
Jeans: Gap c/o | Top: Merona | Scarf: c/o Brunette Showroom | Bag: Mansur Gavriel | Flats: Topshop | Jewelry: Dear you, Pretty things, Tiffany and Co. and KV Bijou c/o
Shop more GAP black denim:
Stripes? Culotte shape? Black and white? — These pants are legit my new faves.
I'm so not afraid of the shift toward a wider leg trouser. In fact, I'm fully embracing it.
I think the pinstripe pattern adds interest and height, while total #normcore add-ons such as faux-Birkenstocks (firkenstocks, anyone?) and a bucket bag anchor these larger-than-life pants firmly in the everyday.
Are you embracing the new wider shapes?
Happy Monday and thanks for reading!
Top and pants: Zara | Bag: Mansur Gavriel | Shoes: Aldo (get the real thang here) | Sunglasses: Le Chateau c/o | Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. and Dear You, Pretty Things
I'm so happy (and lucky!) to call beautiful Vancouver my 'hood.
From the food and fashion, to the outdoor fun and first-rate beauty, Vancouver is an amazing place that I'm proud to call home.
So when the Bench Canada team asked me to be a part of their new #LoveMyHood campaign, there was no way I could say no.
So, what's the big idea behind the #LoveMyHood campaign? Bench Canada is asking fans to snap a photo in their cities wearing their favourite Bench hoodies and share them to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #LoveMyHood.
In addition to being a super cool way to share your sartorial stories, the company is also planning to give away a $500 gift card AND two round-trip tickets to a fave Canadian city — to one lucky winner with a stellar snapshot.
What are you waiting for! Get out there and show how much you love your hood!
Hoody and tee c/o Bench Canada
Photos by Matthew Burditt Photography
Top: Zara | Bag: Mansur Gavriel | Pants: Big Blue c/o Plenty | Sunglasses: c/o Le Chateau | Sandals: Michael Kors | Necklace: Topshop | Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. Atlas and Michael Kors
If you follow me on Instagram (which I hope you do!), you probably know that I've just come back from a few weeks away — first in Toronto and then in New York.
This time away for work is the reason I haven't been very good about posting lately. (I'm sorry!)
Anyway, NYC is one of my favourite cities. I love the energy, the excitement, the fashion, the pizza, the shopping, the sights and sounds — the list goes on and on.
If I'm lucky, I visit once a year just to soak up a bit of the city's infectious energy. If you haven't already been, I highly recommend a trip.
Happy Friday, lovelies and have a wonderful weekend!
What it is: A cream-to-powder "booster" blush that amps up your natural flush.
Beauty bonus: The innovative cream-to-powder formula leaves cheeks feeling soft, but skips the tacky, greasy feeling some cream blushes leave behind. Score one for the team, Benefit!
Beauty bummer: This is a touch down! There are no glaring beauty bummers with this blush.
Overall: This blusher can be applied to bare cheeks for an all-day stay or as a last-minute refresh.
The packaging is something from our youths (Polly Pocket anyone?!), which we love.
And the color itself is subtle, smooth and surprisingly matte — which makes it great for the fall transition ahead and a more understated, less shiny summer feel.
Would I recommend: Yes
Price: Approximately $36
Available: Sephora, Shoppers Drugmart
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