Covet & Acquire

What it is: A new fragrance collection from the luxury haircare brand Oribe.

In addition to the brand's signature scent, Cote d'Azur, the release includes two additional elixirs: Desertland and Valley of Flowers. 

Beauty bonus: The glass bottles, complete with resin top, are simply stunning.

Beauty bummer: None, in my opinion. 

Overall: This elegant selection of eau de parfums is addictive. From the iconic Oribe scent Cote d'Azur — a mix of Calabrian bergamot, jasmine and sandalwood — to the two new scents, the fragrances are elevated and interesting. 

Desertland, which features notes of juniper berry, lavender, pine and cedarwood, is green and inviting. The juniper and cedar notes make for a nice, unisex mix. 

Valley of Flowers, with its Bulgarian rose, jasmine, peony, amber and musk is a beautiful bouquet.  The flower notes are undeniably dominant, but the base of musk adds a warmth and richness to the fragrance. Truth be told, this eau de parfum is the favourite in this release for me. 

Would recommend? Absolutely.

Price: $156 

Retailer: Oribe.com

What it is: From the small leather goods lineup, the Chanel 19 Wallet on Chain features the eye-catching elements of the full-sized Chanel 19s, without the full size (and price!). 

The bag measures 4.8 inches x 7.6 inches x 1.4 inches and features the "trio of chains" the design is known for. 

Much like the iconic 2.55 handbag, which was designed by Gabrielle Chanel and was revealed in Chanel boutiques in February of 1955, the Chanel 19 handbag gets its name from its release year. Yep, you guessed it — 2019. 

My take: From the moment I spotted the Chanel 19 bag, I knew I loved it. I love the size, the shape, the trio of chains, the chain-detail double-C logo .... the list goes on (and on!). 

I hummed and hawed about buying a 19 for the first season, and as any Chanel lover knows, that delay cost me. So, when I finally went to purchase one, the prices had gone up so much that I paused ... again. 

Faced with info that the prices were likely going to go up again, I admittedly panic-bought this WOC. It was closer to the amount that I was hoping to spend — and it allowed me to still get the look of the Chanel 19, without the increasing price. 

Truth be told, I'm not sure I made the right decision. And I'm still kicking myself for missing out on the Chanel 19 waist bag, which I looked at in the boutique several times, only to pass on it. I'm now searching resale sites in the hopes of finding one. 

Having said all of the above though, I do love this WOC. I love the crochet detail — and, of course, the style. It's perfect for dressing up or down.

My only complaint about this petite purse is the chain length. It's a lot longer than I would like it to be. I tend to wrap the chain under the flap in order to wear it the way I like to (see it on here). 

Would recommend? Yes, unless you really have your eye on the full size. Then, I'd save. 

Where to get it: Chanel boutiques

While you're here, check out more of my handbag reviews! 

You know when you put on an outfit and think, "Yep, this is it." 

That's exactly what happened when I stepped into this look. It hits all the style marks: it's comfortable, chic, can be dressed up or down ... the list goes on, really. I also swapped out the look for heeled black sandals for a recent dinner on an almost summer night-like evening. 

As I start to populate my calendar with a few more in-person events, I'm trying to put together looks that I can effortlessly wear. And this blazer-and-knit-pant look is just one such ensemble. 

In fact, I liked it so much that I found a few pieces to recreate it in a lighter colour palette (think: beige and off-white) as well. It's sure to be a combination that I'll be wearing on repeat this season — and beyond. 

Blazer: Aritzia | Pants: H&M | Boots: Doc Martens

Truth be told, I hadn't heard of the home goods company Parachute until recently. But, now that I have, I'm so glad that I did. 

The American brand, which started as a direct-to-consumer offering a few years ago, has since grown to include several bricks-and-mortar stores in the U.S. 

This month, the company also expanded into Canada with an e-commerce platform free of duties — and a partnership with Hudson's Bay. 

I welcomed the company's Vintage Linen Bed Cover and two matching shams into my home and now I'm hooked. The linen material is perfectly soft, and the Sienna colour adds an earthy touch. Next on my list, is a set of sheets in a mustard hue to really elevate my bed situation.

Sweet dreams, indeed. 

I never thought I'd wear a head-to-toe periwinkle blue workout outfit. And yet, here we are.

And I like it. ;) 

From the Canadian brand Knix, this athletic wear look features all the elements I look for in workout — OK, and workday — clothes. Think: supportive, stylish and make me feel sleek.  

The HiTouch leggings feature a fabric with a 3D technology that allows for support and compression of the thighs, calves and glutes (thank you!). I usually steer clear of light colours when it comes to leggings, but I find these are not at all see-through and the fabric is nicely smoothing.

Paired with a matching sweater, I'll surely be among the most stylish on my regular walks and bike rides around the neighbourhood.  

Leggings and hoodie: Knix c/o

I'm always on the hunt for cool new earrings to add to my stack. 

When I spotted these Bold Pearl Hoop Earrings from Mejuri while I was shopping for wedding-day jewelry, I knew I had to have them. 

Featuring natural pearls on an open, gold vermeil hoop, they are elegant and unique. 

I love pairing them with a few other hoops — plus a few diamonds for added sparkle — to create an ear stack that's, in my opinion, endlessly chic. But, then again, I'm a little biased. ;) 

Shop a few other favourite pearl hoops below: 

Happy Friday and thank you for stopping by! 

The American company, which is part of Gap, Inc., creates size-inclusive activewear (sizes range from XXS to XXL) options that are billed as being "made for women, by women." 

This week marks the expansion of the B Corp-certified brand into Canada. 

I recently had the opportunity to test drive the Salutation legging and the Conscious Crop and I was impressed with the feel, the fit and the performance of the pieces. Tried in a size M — for reference, I wear a size 10 in Lululemon — I found they fit well and were super supportive. 

The tank top, specifically, is fantastic. As someone with a larger-sized chest, I love that it comes with a built-in bra support and also offers cup sizes ranges. Finally, a cute workout tank that's supportive without being ... squished. 

I've also got my eye on this chic jacket and relaxed shirt for cross-over athletic/athleisure wear this fall. 

Will you be shopping the new Athleta collection? 

Top and pants: Athleta (gifted) 

I started collecting jewelry when I was a teenager. 

I would save the dollars earned in my job cleaning horse stables in order to buy a sterling silver piece from Tiffany & Co., amassing an impressive collection of designs (if I do say so myself) throughout the years. 

While I still have all those pieces today, my focus has since shifted away from sterling silver — to gold. A bigger investment, to be sure, I've adopted a slow-and-steady approach to building my gold jewelry collection. 

And, along the way, I've found a few tips helpful to guide the curation of my collection:

1. Buy brands — Like every expensive purchase, buying gold jewelry is an investment. And, I like to think of it as one that can hold its valuable (within reason, of course) over time. 

Having said this, I try to buy pieces from renowned jewelry brands whenever I can. Why? Because they are sure to hold their value better on the resale market due to the brand connection versus a non-branded gold piece, which will only sell for roughly its weight value. 

Having said this, I do have gold  layering chains from generic jewelry stores and also pieces from up-and-coming brands that I've loved too much to pass up on. Jewelry is, after all, intensely personal, so if I love it, I buy it. I'm not exactly worried about investment value with pieces like these. 

2. Steer clear of costume — I'm not a fan of costume jewelry, even if it's designer. If I'm going to go the non-precious route, I'd rather buy fun-and-funky accessories that don't fall into the jewelry category.

3. Stick to diamonds and gemstones — When I'm buying jewelry, I never purchase the pieces that feature CZ or crystals. Instead, I opt for semi-precious stones and gemstones such as citrine, morganite, sapphire — and, of course, diamonds. These pieces are sure to become keepsakes in a collection for years to come.  

4. Going for gold — When it comes to gold, I opt for only vermeil — gold over sterling silver — or solid gold varieties. I have pieces ranging from 10-karat to 18-karat solid gold. Gold fill (gold over brass) or gold tone (gold metal over a base metal) metals don't seem to work well on my skin because I seem to have an acidic skin pH, which makes many of the coated styles tarnish or turn my skin green. 

5. Buy the best that you can afford — Trust me, I'd love to buy the chunky gold HardWear necklace from Tiffany & Co., but it's simply not in my budget right now. Instead of going out and buying a dupe, I'd rather skip on the look and save for the real thing. If it's truly not feasible to save for, I'll admire it from afar, keeping it on my when-I-win-the-lottery type of wish list, and instead find quality jewelry pieces that are in my current budget and fit my long-term jewelry collection goals.  

Shop a few of my favourite gold pieces below: 

It's almost sweater season! 

So that means it's the perfect time to stock up on one — ok, or maybe a few — cosy new knits. 

I recently purchased this simply chic tie-waist cardigan from the Max Mara Leisure line. 

From the longer length and perfect mocha hue, to the rib knit and the waist detailing, I knew I had to have it. (For those who are curious about the sizing/fit — I sized up and went with an XL).

I envision wearing it all fall long with a pair of wide-leg pants or straight-leg jeans before layering it over a turtleneck come winter. 

It's sure to be a go-to this winter — and for many more to come. 

Shop a few more of my favourite sweater selects below! 

What it is: An olfactory ode to the historied hotel in the south of France, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, this fragrance is billed as floral, woody and mineral.

When it comes to late-summer style, few things are as perfect as a matched linen set. 

From the textile choice — linen, so light! — to the effortless coordination, I love an ensemble like this for these very hot days we're having. 

This Jonas Two Piece design from Reformation hits all the high style notes thanks to details such as puffed sleeves, a cropped top and a perfect-length midi skirt. Plus, the pretty light-blue-and-white print is extra dreamy. 

I'll be wearing it to any outdoor gettogethers I have as summer comes to a close, and will definitely be trotting it back out when the season returns next year. 

Shop the look, along with a few other favourite sets from the brand below: 

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here, which means it's the perfect time to stock up on a few new pieces for fall — and take advantage of discounts on go-to goodies, too. 

I recently previewed the sale at the Nordstrom store in Vancouver. And, let me tell you, it's full of good finds! 

I tried on a few favourites during my shopping, picking up a black dress from Leith and a pair of ReDone jeans (an item that had been on my list for a long time!). 

To help you sort through all the sale goodness, I've picked a few of my favourites. Happy Shopping! 

My go-to tip for looking pulled together — no matter my budget — is to wear a monochrome outfit.

A tone-on-tone ensemble always looks chic, regardless of the colour. 

Sure, some garment cuts and fabrics can cheapen the overall appearance of an outfit, but by and large, I've found that, so long as the pieces all match (and pair together, of course), it's going to look good.

Case in point: this tank top and jeans combination. The pieces in the pairing are both from H&M, coming in at roughly $45 for both, yet it looks far more expensive (IMO, at least). 

Elevated accessories like my new go-to Fendi Baguette bag serve to further enhance the overall look. 

Need more proof that pairing monochrome pieces is the ultimate way to make an outfit appear more luxe? Here are a few past posts to further underscore the idea. 

Shop a few of my favourite monochrome items below.

What it is: The iconic Fendi Baguette bag was originally released in 1997. The creation of Fendi designer Silvia Venturini Fendi, the handbag was originally designed as a shoulder bag with a short strap, allowing the handbag to fit snuggly under the arm. 

The handbag, a fast favourite with fashion fans, became a cult classic thanks to its chic design. 

And, its appearance in pop culture, including the memorable episode of Sex and the City where Carrie Bradshaw had her (divine!) purple sequin Baguette stolen during a stickup on a NYC street, certainly didn't hurt its popularity. 

In 2019, the Fendi Baguette was relaunched by the Italian fashion house, with the iconic handbag reimagined in different sizes, colours, materials, boasting varying strap lengths and more. 

My take: A Fendi Baguette has long been on my personal wish list. (Little known fact: the Fendi B Bag was one of my first vintage designer handbag purchases!)  

This year, after several years of coveting it, I welcomed a Baguette into my collection. This bag is literally a dream come true. Crafted from beige canvas with leather trim, and the iconic FF motif, the style is perfectly versatile and timeless. 

I've been wearing it on repeat lately, and I can't believe what a great companion it has been. The size is perfect for carrying all the day's essentials including lipstick, keys, a small wallet, sunglasses and a cell phone. I have also popped my small Canon camera in there too. 

I love the two strap options. The cross-body or shoulder style is the perfect length, in my opinion. Not too long and not too short! And the small leather strap makes holding the bag in hand an easy option.

While I haven't had this bag for too long yet,  I can already tell it's going to be a highlight of my regular handbag rotation. And, truth be told, its versatility and wearability may just have me putting another colour-way/material onto my wish list. One day. ;) 

Would recommend? Yes! 

Where to buy: Fendi boutiques, Fendi.com 

This is an outfit that just makes me want to MOVE. 

It's not just the chic sage colour, or the fact that it coordinates quite well together. It's the fact that it's both of those things — and it's also comfortable. 

I'm over wearing athletic wear that doesn't feel right. Whether it's as sports bra that ... well, isn't quite sporty enough, or leggings that pinch in all the wrong places, I've found I have an increasingly unforgiving approach to clothing these days.

And that goes for all clothing — not just workout wear. 

These seamless sport leggings from H&M have become a new go-to. They have a decent fabric weight, a comfortable high waist, and they come in several super cute colours. I've got my eye on the heather purple next. 

I paired the look with a similarly hued tank top from the brand (admittedly, I've found choosing the correct bra for this top to be a challenge) and then threw on a few of my outdoor sport go-tos including an oversized shirt tied around the waist, my Allbirds sneakers and a baseball cap. 

Safe to say I'll be stepping out for my summer sweat sessions in this look for the foreseeable future.  

Top and pants: H&M c/o | Shoes: Allbirds c/o

Shirt (worn around waist): Power of My People c/o