The Patterned Suit

Hello Everyone, 

I hope your holidays were good and everyone is safe and sound!

I’m extremely excited for this post because I was on a serious search for a patterned suit, however, not just any patterned suit. This suit had to be one with a great fit and with a striking presence to it, without making me look like a walking vintage couch. So, there it was at The Hudson's Bay Company.  I pounced on it immediately, but quickly backed away when I saw the hefty price tag. However, the price was not the only thing I was wary of, it was the fact it was patterned. The concept of a pattern is to decorate a form, so therefore, you definitely would be on display with this one!  I recently went back after discovering it was on sale and thought; “I have been a very good girl this year! So, Merry Christmas to me!"

 There are many advantages to a patterned suit, you can make a huge statement and wear the complete suit or you can break it up, to jazz up other items in your closet. However, such a bold statement can make you feel vulnerable if you are not prepared for the attention and are not ready to tell the world "look at me". In the past I was reluctant to try on these big statement outfits, but I have realized that we all possess unique attributes and gifts and everyone deserves a 'look at me' moment. Embrace what makes you unique and don't be afraid to stand out in the crowd.

So, what do you think of the suit? What items have you recently purchased or were gifted to you  that you're super excited about?

 Until Next time,

Outfit Information:

Blazer: Hudson's Bay (Rachel Roy)

Trousers: Hudson's Bay (Rachel Roy)

Dress Shirt: Thrifted

Heels: Thrifted 

Necklace: c/o Joseph Nogucci  (here)

Faux Fur, Smart Set & Joseph Nogucci

Hello Everyone,

So glad to be able to step outside with heels again without the risk of slipping and maybe breaking an ankle. The weather has been really mild today, to the point that the snow is melting, hence the not so great scenery. However, no complaints here from me, I don't mind the slush as long as it stays warm! Today’s post is jammed packed with some of my favorite things; today is thrift style Thursday and this week’s theme is faux fur!! This fur vest was actually a cropped jacket that I transformed into a  vest.

Next, I was reintroduced to Smart Set (clothing brand) at the blogger's conference I attended a few weeks ago.  The brand has completely re-invented itself into a hip clothing company catering to stylish professional women.   When I walked into Smart Set there was colour, texture, patterns and prints, which is a huge change from the past. One of my favourite colours is oxblood,so when I saw this blazer and blouse I knew I had to have it, and paired it with these oxblood coloured jeans. FYI, the zippers on the back of the jeans do not zip all the way up, they stop a bit above the ankles.

Lastly, I paired everything with this necklace and bracelet set by Joseph Nogucci---a  local Toronto brand. The outfit required something more subtle, rather than a big statement necklace. I adore the anchor symbol and see it as a representation of being grounded, which then keeps you focused on your goals and mindful of your achievements.

What do you think of the outfit? 

 

 

Please check out the other participants of Thrift Style Thursday and see how they rocked faux fur:

Spoolish // Being Zhenya // Sandpaper Kisses // Buttonsandbirdcages // The two cent chick //

Alligatortoe // Snippetswithalex 

Outfit Information

Faux fur vest: Thrifted 

Anchor necklace and bracelet: c/o Joseph Nogucci (see here)

Blazer: c/o Smart Set

Blouse: c/o Smart Set (see here)

Colored Jeans: Guess (old)

Heels: Thrifted 

Bag: Kijiji

Hello Winter!!

Hello everyone,

The snow has definitely hit my part of the world, and it is determined to leave nothing uncovered. Although the snow leaves everything looking so magical, having the strength and patience to leave the house and battle with it, is already getting harder to do. However, when I do manage to leave my home, my main concern is making sure I'm bundled up and warm. I easily wear 3-4 layers of clothing or more. A good tip for winter dressing is investing in items that can be used to layer underneath your shirts, pants, and other clothing. Some good examples are thick tights or leggings that will help you keep warm and look less bulky. When putting this outfit together, I layered a faux fur vest on top of a cardigan to keep warm and to play with texture. I'm also wearing black leggings underneath my black pants. Hope you enjoy this laid back winter look, and I shall be back very soon.
What are your go to winter items?

Lip Colour: Revlon Colorburst: Standout (205)

Outfit Information 

Hat: Blue Notes
Vest: Dynamite (similar here)
Cardigan: Thrifted
Pants: American Apparel (here)
Boots: thrifted
Scarf: thrifted
Bag: thrifted

Christmas Gift Guide for Her and Him

Hello everyone!

Christmas is quickly approaching and if you are anything like me, you have yet to start your Christmas shopping or  are still  stumped on what to buy your loved ones. You could take the safe route and grab that gift card or you could continue to search for that perfect gift. Here is a quick  'for her' and 'for him' gift guide that may spark some inspiration. All the links are provided below which lead to the website with that exact item.

When shopping for women I find it kind of difficult. I tend to get distracted and end up buying for myself instead. I generally, try to stay away from clothing items except for things like pjs and robes because the fit for those items are pretty straight forward. 

This year, try looking for accessories such as umbrellas and jewellery, or try beauty or skin care products. Gift sets are also great, like the Benefit cosmetics one, which allows that person to enjoy several items than just one. I personally really love the Porefessional product that comes in this kit. I also just discovered the MaskerAide facial masks that are great stocking stuffers for someone who prefers eco-friendly, vegan, and paraben free products. Lastly, do not forget those tech savvy women, whose wish list may consist of an iPad, and other high tech devices. Hint! Hint! to my family and friends reading this post!

When shopping for men, I always find it easier and quite fun.There's only a few times per year that I get to head over to the men's department to discover what they have. The men in my family are pretty laid back and sizing is never an issue, so  I can look and make an educated guess. I was also notified of a brand called Bonobos that specializes in menswear and when I went to their website (click here); I was really impressed with their items. They do have store locations across the United States but they also offer shipping! When I went on their website there was an extensive gift guide that really helped me come up with some great gift ideas and can make the search for that perfect gift that much easier.

What are some of your go to gifts this Christmas season for the women and men in your lives?

1. Kate Spade New York Umbrella // 2. J Crew Fanned leaf necklace // 3. Forever 21 Robe // 4. MaskerAide facial sheet Mask // 5. Apple iPad mini // 6. Clinique " Happy" Fragrance // 7. Benefit Cosmetics Make up kit

1. Bonobos: Livingstone cardigan // 2. Bonobos: Suffolk Scarf // 3. Bonobos: Bill Clip // 4. Multi-Tool 5. Apple iPad mini // 6. Bonobos: Wallet

Until Next time, 

Sincerely Miss J

The Luxe Sweatshirt

Hello everyone!

Hope everyone is doing well, and that those who attended the Black Friday sales last week survived the frenzy.  I heard the crowds and lines were hectic as usual. Things have been hectic for me as well,  I had exams this week and last week, which took up a huge portion of my time. However, they are now finally over and I can breathe easy.
Today's outfit is all about the luxe sweatshirt. The luxe sweatshirt trended a lot in the fall season with major fashion houses releasing their own versions, such as Givenchy releasing their  Givenchy's Bambi luxe sweatshirt . The luxe sweatshirt is a more glamorous and chic take on the humble sweatshirt. When I first saw this sweater last year, I had to have it. The sweater is a cross between edgy with the spike accents and cute with the cat face design.
My apologies for missing this week's Thrift Thursday, but do check out the other participants; this week's theme was polka dots. I shall be back really soon with some exciting things to come, so please stay tuned!

Please check out the other participants of Thrift Thursday and see how they rocked polka dots

Spoolish // Being Zhenya // Sandpaper Kisses // Buttonsandbirdcages // The two cent chick //

Alligatortoe // Snippetswithalex 

Outfit Information

Blouse: Thrifted 

Sweatshirt: Mode Star

Pants: H&M

Heels: Thrifted 

Bag: Winners (DKNY)

Holiday Glam

Hello everyone,

Tis the season to flaunt your holiday glam looks! When I think of holiday glam, I think of sparkles, beading and sequins. So what fun  it was to have this week's theme for Thrift Thursday be holiday glam.This outfit is versatile enough to be dressed up or down, and can be worn to Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas parties and gatherings,  or a semi-formal New Years eve event.  I purchased the top at a hip secondhand store in downtown Toronto. The skirt is actually a dress, that I purchased a while back, but I decided to throw the beaded top over  the dress to make it look like a skirt. I decided also to pair the outfit with boots for a more causal look and because it' s really cold here.
What are your thoughts on the outfit? What are your go-to items to add holiday glam to your look?
Also, I want to wish all my American readers a Happy Thanksgiving , please be safe.

Please check out the other participants of Thrift Thursday and see how they rocked their holiday glam look

Spoolish // Being Zhenya // Sandpaper Kisses // Buttonsandbirdcages // The two cent chick //

Alligatortoe // Snippetswithalex 

Outfit Information

Leather Jacket: Guess

Top:The Black Hole (vintage store)

Dress:Urban Behaviour

Boots:thrifted

Handbag: thrifted

Faux Leather,Leather and Winter Weather, Oh My!

Hello Everyone, happy Thursday!!

Although, it’s still Fall, Winter weather has slowly been sneaking up on us here in the North. Therefore, my new best friends are warm coats capable of shielding me from dropping temperatures. Therefore, today’s thrift Thursday theme is outerwear.

I don’t own many thrifted outerwear items but this coat caught my eye. I love it, because it’s versatile. I can wear it with a causal outfit or dress it up without compromising warmth. I wore this outfit the second day of the conference with modifications. The day of the conference, the weather was warm, so I wore booties. I also wore a larger black handbag instead of the over the knee boots and a red handbag. This look consists of a faux leather skirt and leather knee high boots that give the outfit an edgy look. 

 

Please check out the other participants of Thrift Thursday and see how they rocked their outerwear look

Spoolish // Being Zhenya // Sandpaper Kisses // Buttonsandbirdcages // The two cent chick //

Alligatortoe // Snippetswithalex 

Outfit Information

Coat: thrifted

Blazer: Urban Outfitters

Shirt: Dynamite

Skirt: thrifted

Boots: Zara

Handbag: Winners ( DKNY)

Spark Session: A fashion & Beauty Blogger conference

Greetings everyone,

This year I decided to attend the first annual Spark Sessions fashion and beauty blogger conference, which took place in Toronto at the Centre for Social Innovation from Nov. 16-17. I never imagined myself going to an event like this for blogging, but it made sense for individuals to gather together with similar interests and exchange information, so I opted to go. The conference was two days full of networking and hearing from expert panels. They covered many diverse topics, from branding to Public Relations. We also heard from two iconic Canadian women, Jeanne Beker and Elaine Lui, also known as lady gossip, who shared their wisdom about the industry. During the event we also had a chance to sample some amazing makeup products and chat with some representatives  from the conference’s major sponsors: Smart Set, Almay cosmetics, Tria, Benefit cosmetics, Blossom lounge, Charming Media, Pure + simple, Spa finder, Fresita, and Bio Seaweed Gel. Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments were included and on Saturday there was an after party, which included manicures and cupcakes! Lastly, we received some amazing swag bags, full of goodies!

This conference held true to its name by sparking inspiration and good conversation for many bloggers at different levels. It also opened my eyes to the whole technical side of the industry, and how much bigger this community really is. Enjoy the pictures and scroll to the end where I will share some tips that I learned from the event to all my readers. I encourage you all to attend this conference last year, and if you are not living close by, I encourage you to make the effort to attend one in your area.

5 Tips to take your blog to a new level

1.      One word: social media. Utilize it to reach out to more people, but make sure you connect it back to your blog

2.      Take risks-- “"If you are looking for success...you have to color outside the lines and blaze new trails"-Jeanne Beker

3.      You and your blog are brands, so be aware of your conduct

4.      Aesthetics and content are important

5.      When wanting to work with a brand, do not go to the brand directly, find the PR  company behind the brand.

Until Next time

Sincerely Miss J 

Picture Provided by Gretchen