Black, brown and spotted all over

Dress: LOVE / Scarf: Aldo / Leggings: American Apparel /
Earrings: Forever 21 / Rings: Peoples Jewellers / Bag: Rebecca Minkoff / Boots: Aldo /
I woke up this morning with the sorest muscles I've ever had. I hardly slept a wink last night and have a massive headache... I'm hoping it's just a little dehydration because I refuse to get sick right now! I pushed myself to get up, get ready, and am heading out shortly to grab some tea at David's Tea and spend some time with a friend (and the other little lady behind a new site I'm launching next month called YOW GOT STYLE). I'm hoping it helps me snap out of it... plus I'm addicted to David's Tea!

Today I'm wearing a black pleated dress from LOVE with my shiny American Apparel leggings and cognac riding boots from Aldo. I've thrown on a cheetah print scarf my sister forgot at our place when she moved out (she's totally going to see this and request I bring it home at Christmas) and my Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C bag. I'm loving my RM bag more and more as it gets worn in and loses its initial shininess. It's most definitely one of my favourite purchases - ever.

My in laws are coming up next weekend for Canadian thanksgiving, so I'm looking forward to that. The weekend after, I'll be heading to Montreal for some much needed fall shopping. I can't stop browsing for clothes online and am getting so excited for autumn to get into full swing! Hope you're all having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by and reading today's post. Bye!

Beauty Review: Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush

Notes: Champagne, Pink Pepper, Apricot Blossom, Pink Passion Flower, Marigold, White Freesie, Ambergris, Musk, and Cashmere Wood.
Style: Light, Floral, and Youthful
Price: $68 for 1.7 oz

Vera Wang's Lovestruck Floral Rush is a new addition to the VW lineup. I'll be honest and say, right off the bat, I'm not a huge fan of the fragrance. I like floral, but it's a sweeter floral than I think I could handle on a regular basis. It's not horrible news, however, as this means one lucky reader is going to receive the full sized bottle in my October fragrance giveaway. :)

The bottle is really cute and would make a lovely addition to the top of your dresser. Unlike some fragrances I feel I need to hide in a drawer because of the less than attractive bottle, this one is fun and feminine and the actual fragrance looks very similar to Vera Wang Princess.

The price for this perfume is great. It's priced at approximately $68 for 1.7 oz, which is nearly 50% less than what other luxury fragrances cost. The exact price will differ depending on where you're located, of course, but it's reasonable enough to warrant a purchase if you're a Vera Wang fragrance fan. Stay tuned throughout the end of September for a couple more fragrance beauty reviews and to see what else I love and what else I'll be offering up to my readers. Just because something isn't "me" doesn't mean it isn't "you"!

Ziba Collection Jewellery: 'Black Vintage' Necklace

Black Vintage Necklace: Ziba Collection Jewellery* /

I was contacted a few weeks ago by Ziba Collection Jewellery and asked to review one of their pieces. You know I'm a hardcore fan of black and white (I'm working on introducing more colour into my wardrobe, I promise) and I was happy when I was able to select the Vintage Black Necklace from their website. The necklace is listed at £90 and while I'm not overly familiar with what sort of pricing is the norm in the UK, it's without a doubt more expensive than something I would typically buy, considering it's a fashion piece/costume jewelry.

As far as the quality goes, it's very similar to something you might buy from Aldo Accessories - in a good way. I've had wonderful experiences with Aldo jewelry and found this necklace to be very similar. It has glass stones, a good weight, and all the chain links are in tact and are strong enough to handle a little movement. There's nothing worse than getting a necklace stuck on your jacket or something and then having it break!

You may notice in the last picture, there is a glass stone missing from the black charm. This is how it came, so I really can't say if it's an instance of force causing the gem to fall out or if it was just a manufacturer oversight. Either way, everything else was fully in tact and I received quite a few compliments on the unique piece. It almost has a Chanel feel and the gold-effect is that of a warm gold, so it's ideal for the fall and winter seasons.

My verdict? You should check Ziba Collection Jewellery out, because their pieces are very cute and trendy. There are different price points, but most of it may be slightly out of reach for those on a budget. Keep that in mind when visiting, but definitely still have a visit. If nothing else, you'll enjoy some fabulous photos and jewelry inspiration.

Sunday in the market

Now that I live right smack dab in the middle of downtown, I'm taking full advantage of having a fresh produce market literally a block away. Today I headed out to grab some vegetables, loose leaf tea, bread and fish and snapped some photos on my journey. Since this is more of a lifestyle post, I'm not going to force it upon you here on my homepage. If you do want to read it, click the image above!

Beauty Review: Love, Chloé Eau Florale

Notes: Orange Blossom, Pink Pepper, Iris, Lilac, Hyacinth, Wisteria Blossom, Powdery Musks, Talc, Rice Powder
Style: Light, Sensual, and Iridescent
Price: $90 for 1.7oz

I have to say, this is one of my favourite new beauty finds. Love, Chloé* is a fresh and feminine scent perfect for the office but strong enough to bring you into the night. Personally, I'm all about super feminine scents. As much as I love woodsy, ambery fragrances on men (well, the one man in my life) I don't feel as though I can wear them with any success. At the same time, my stomach turns at the smell of something super sugary (Prada Candy is about as sweet as I can go) and it can be difficult finding a floral that isn't too, well, flowery (Marc Jacobs Daisy is one of my favourites, but I fall in and out of love with it regularly).

Love, Chloé is what comes to mind when I think of a floral loving woman's "signature scent". It's easy on the nose, you can actually experience the different notes throughout the day instead of being bombarded with a blast of fragrance right off the bat, and it's priced pretty decently. Yes, it's more expensive than a no-name Target or Shoppers Drug Mart perfume, but it is Chloé and is lower priced than many other luxury fragrances.  

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to share a couple more fragrance reviews with you. With fall arriving, I've felt it's time to introduce a new fragrance into my scent line up and love being able to share my trials (and errors!) with you here on my blog. I love my staple Chanel, but changing things up is always fun. Look out for a review on Calvin Klein Eternity Aqua, CK Shock for Her, Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush, and perhaps a few others. I'd like to thank Coty PR for being absolutely wonderful in sending me full sized samples and want you, my readers, to know I'll be happily gifting scents that just aren't "me" in a giveaway next month... if you want them! Let me know in a comment. :)

Style 2 Ways: Metallic Stripe Tunic Dress

Dress: London Times* / Tights: Hue / Shoes: Nine West / Necklace: Ziba Collection Jewellery* /
Handbag: Coach / Ring: Aldo Accessories / Hair: TIGI Pro Fat Curl Stick (review here) /

Dress: London Times* / Tights: Secret Legwear* / Boots: Aldo / Necklace: Etsy
Cardigan: H&M (old) / Bracelet: JewelMint* (review here) /

This striped, metallic tunic dress is the second piece I was sent by London Times last week. It has a slightly heavier weight than the one featured in this post and is ideal for fall layering. I've removed the belt it came with (a simple light grey pleather belt) as it's a rare occasion I enjoy a belt and have paired it with with some matte black tights, black leather shoes from Nine West, and "vintage black" necklace from UK fashion jewelry company, Ziba Collection Jewellery. This look is an easy look to take you from day to night, because the metallics of the dress can be limited or highlighted depending on how you accessorize and with what other pieces you pair the dress. The first few photos are obviously a look which highlights the shiny, fun feel of the dress and the second bunch are more casually styled. I love it both ways!

For the second and more casual look, I've thrown an ancient cardigan from H&M over the dress and added some teal/grey tights from Secret Legwear (available at Wal-Mart!) and cognac riding boots from Aldo. With this look, you're ready for a day trekking through downtown, doing a little grocery shopping, and catching up with friends. What I love about styling the dress more casually is your ability to layer, layer, layer. When I head out later, you can bet I'll throw on my favourite scarf (a unitone print would look spectacular with this dress) and a natural suede cross body Topshop bag.

As for what I'll be getting up to tonight, I'm going to check out the city's first ever Nuit Blanche. The first event began in Paris many years back, and has since spread across the world and is finally coming to Ottawa. It's about time! It will be so exciting to head out into the market well past sundown and see the streets alive with more than just drunken college kids. I'll be checking out the haunted painting exhibit at Victoire (I do love myself a good haunted house) and plenty of others. If you're out for NB in Ottawa and see me, come say hi! I'd love to meet you and avoid the rain together.

Have a great Saturday, everyone. I've got to get back to building our Henriksdal chairs to go with the Bjursta table we recently picked up and then on with my day. Check back this week for a second post including a more in depth review of my lovely gift from Ziba Collection Jewellery.

Fall Shopping Must Haves

Leather Pants: Rich & Skinny, $250 (look for faux at Forever 21, Mango or Zara)

Snakeskin Flats: Wanted, $39

Herringbone Peplum Skirt: Topshop, $45

Chelsea Boots: Asos, $56.91 On Sale

Gold Chain Bracelet: Juicy Couture, $98 (look at Aldo Accessories, Forever 21 or H&M)

Red Ombre Leopard Print Scarf: Mulberry, $465 (look at Target, Joe Fresh, Forever 21 or H&M)

Leather & Shearling Motorcycle Jacket: Acne, $1200 (opt for faux at Forever 21, Zara, Mango, or Asos)

Multi Metal Spike Bracelet: Asos, $14

Oxblood Coated Trousers: Dorothy Perkins, $49 (get even cheaper at H&M)

Faux Fur Coat: Juicy Couture, $690 (look at Vera Moda, Macy's, Topshop, Asos, or Forever 21)

Orange Skull Print T-Shirt: Romwe, $24.99 /

My windows are closed, I've got my eye on the electric heat baseboards, and am craving anything woolly and warm. Fall's arrived, my dear friends, and I couldn't be happier. Since I was little, it's been my favourite season. On a side note, Halloween has always been my answer to the question, "What's your favourite holiday?". Yes, I know it's not technically a Holy-day or even a day we get off work or school, but there's just something about it that makes it the day I look most forward to year after year. OK, back to my point about it being fall. I recently wrote about donating and consigning a ton of my clothing I collected throughout university and now realize... I have next to zero fall and/or winter clothing. Help!

To solve this awful dilemma, I'm planning a fall shopping trip to Montreal in October. In an effort to spend smarter and come away with everything I need to conquer this autumn season, I'm compiling a list of fall wardrobe must haves well in advance of my trip. I hate going into a shopping day feeling unprepared and overwhelmed, as that's when unnecessary spending is most likely to occur and I'd really rather not travel back to Montreal to return things I know I will decide I don't need upon my return home. The reason I'm sharing this on my blog is a) planning your shopping trip as best you can is a fabulous way to keep a watchful eye on your finances and b) I would love your input!

Thus far, I've got the following on my list: faux leather motorcycle jacket, faux leather pants, three blouses (black, white, rose or nude), two skirts (one peplum, one heavier weighted fabric), ankle boots, a pair of fashion flats, faux fur vest, and a few versatile t-shirts and dresses. You can check out the collage above to see exactly what I'm envisioning and let me know if I'm missing anything in a comment below! There are so many awesome fall trends at the moment, it's hard to narrow it down. I'm hoping to find a thrifty pair of trousers in oxblood red or bordeaux purple from a store like H&M or Forever 21, and know I'll fall victim to just about anything with studs. It's a good thing I'll have my husband there with me, as he also came to a similar wardrobe realization and is in need of a few updated pieces!

While there, I'm also going to try my hand at a few well known vintage and consignment shops (one has a basement full of vintage Chanel blazers and Hermes silk scarves... I die) and hope to pick up a couple interesting pieces while at it. I'll be bringing my camera with me for my October trip, so let me know if you'd like me to do a post on the trip. I'm not sure how interesting Montreal is to you and would hate to bore you with my french escapades if it's totally off topic. 

Style 2 Ways: Houndstooth Shift Dress

Dress: London Times* / Necklace: The Bay / Bracelet: Aldo / Ring: Le Chateau /
Earrings: Pagoda / Shoes: The Bay 

Dress: London Times* / Blazer: Aritzia / Necklace: Ebay / Rings: Le Chateau & Ebay /
Socks: ASOS / Shoes: Aldo / Earrings: Aldo

This lovely little number was sent to me by London Times, an affordable yet high quality clothing company in the USA. I first spotted them in US Style's Fall Fashion special and am so thrilled to get to style a couple different pieces and share them with you all! As I've mentioned, I'm really switching gears with my blog and will soon be undergoing a site redesign, moving over to Wordpress (pray for me, won't you?! I've heard it's a pain) and am going to try to focus on sharing tips as to how to build a solid wardrobe with affordable and versatile pieces. You can expect a few more posts that show you how to style a particular item at least two ways, as I really do believe in getting the most out of every single purchase you make. What better way to share that belief (as well as how to make it work for you) than to actually do it here on the blog?

This black and white houndstooth shift dress features a dropped waist, pleated skirt, and short sleeves. It's the perfect transitioning piece to take you from late summer into fall and even into the depths of winter. Today, I've shown you two ways to style it. For the first look, I styled the dress for day wear. It would be a great look for at the office, going to meetings, or grabbing brunch. It's feminine and polished, but still fun because you can layer a few extra pieces of jewelry on while keeping your shoes and bag neutral.

The second look is something I would definitely wear to work, but most people would find better suited for the weekend, an evening out to dinner, or an afternoon full of shopping with friends. It has a school girl vibe but is toughened up with a metal spike necklace (from Ebay!), black knee high socks, chunky heel suede booties, and some clunky rings in colours like black and turquoise.

When building an outfit, I like take two "investment" pieces and then add accessories, shoes, and everything else using pieces I've been able to save on; either through a great sale or through fabulous sites like Ebay or Etsy. For these particular outfits, I would have fudged my rule of thumb just a little when going to add a handbag but, overall, I was able to create two totally different outfits with two totally different feels, all based around a dress that costs only $88. Which look do you like best? Let me know in a comment!

Army green jackets & leather sleeves

From left across: Olivia Palermo in Zara, Zara Jacket, River Island Leather Look Sleeve Army Jacket, ASOS Leather Sleeve Blazer, Veda Jasper Jacket in Army (sold out), Urban Outfitters Staring at Stars Faux Leather Sleeve Surplus Jacket
I've been sort of crazy about mixed media for Fall/Winter lately. Most of all, I'm craving an army green jacket with leather (Okay, faux leather) sleeves. Above are some of my faves, the best of which is from Zara. Leave it to Olivia Palermo to totally sport this trend well before its time and forgive me for catching on late!

I'm a huge fan of this particular piece because of its versatility. It's easy to throw on with an everyday or casual outfit (think dark wash denim or black tights) but is also a fabulous addition to your black bandage or ottoman dress with lace up booties. You can wear it with a huge, chunky scarf or unzipped exposing a chunky light gold necklace for a little more #chictothenextlev.

An army green jacket with leather sleeves is now officially on my F/W 2012 shopping list and I'm just hoping they're not all sold out when I hit Montreal for my October shopping trip of dreams. Between H&M, Zara, Mango, Forever 21 and the department stores there are surely enough to go around. Right?!

What do you think of this style of jacket? Are you a fan or is it simply too grunge? I'd love to get a feel for what you like, so let me know in a comment or tweet me @theskinnyblonde. Thanks for reading!

Dress up your jewelry storage

Image One Source / Images Two & Three Source / Image Four Source - Coveteur / Image Five Source

Organizing your clothes and accessories is the number one way to make the most of your clothing budget.  Having a neatly laid out wardrobe allows you to shop your own closet and avoid purchasing something new when it's really not needed. Plus, it will make you feel calm and, therefore, able to resist the urge to leave your home and venture elsewhere... like the mall. I understand this is easier said than done.

I say I'm a neat freak and in certain cases it's true, but I seriously slack when it comes to jewelry storage. Every so often, I'll come across a piece of jewelry I had completely forgotten I purchased in the first place. Exciting? Yes. Frustrating when I realize it would have been the perfect accessory for a recent outfit? For sure.

My husband and I are moving downtown this upcoming Friday and I have vowed to become better organized. I've rid my closet of all the things I honestly don't wear (through consignment and donations to local charity shops) and I'm starting off by creating new organizational systems instead of throwing everything into the closet and planning to figure it out later. First up? Jewelry.

I've found the above photos while browsing some of my favourite lifestyle and domestic blogs. I really like the idea of picking up a couple clear bracelet displays and having them out on my vanity. They're like little works of art and are pretty easy to find... especially online. I'm also totally in love with the bottom right photo and the idea of displaying certain pieces (probably those I wear slightly less than my favourites) as art on the wall. I'm still looking into how to best make a jewelry-storage frame but I think it would go something along the lines of wrapping a piece of foam in fabric and setting it in a thick black wooden frame. I'm not a huge DIYer, but this is something I'd find patience to do.

Do you have any jewelry organization or storage tips? I'd love to find some new domestic blogs, so feel free to link me to as many as you can think of in a comment. I'd appreciate it, and so would my often neglected jewelry collection.

What's inspiring me.

You know those images that just make you stop, stare and reevaluate everything you've been thinking lately? Moscow artist Anka Zhuravleva's work does that for me. There's something incredibly dark but superbly beautiful about each and every one of her images. They remind me of a dream filled girl sort of thrusted into adulthood and a world far more complex than need be. While I spend some time switching gears with my blog (we'll start the redesign shortly) you'll enjoy some more budget-friendly fashions and versatile outfit posts but also a few more inspiration posts than you've been used to. I hope you enjoy them and hope these images spark a little bit of imagination within yourselves, as they certainly sparked mine.

The image above on the right is called Falling Into Dream and is one of my favourites. It's a little haunting, but I think anything that's truly gorgeous is.

Faux Fur for Every Budget

NYC Diaries: Day Three

I'm typing this while sitting in the airport waiting for my delayed flight to Toronto. It's been an exhausting two days and I'm so ready to unpack my things and crawl into my comfy bed with my husband and dog. My feet ache, my carry on luggage is bursting at the seams, but I enjoyed myself in NYC and am happy to have made the trip. I'm not going to post a full recap of the event since I know a million (OK, that's a slight exaggeration) other bloggers will probably do just that and you can find the information you're looking for - if you're looking for IFBCON information - there. :) For those of you who asked what hotel I was staying at while in the city, I actually stayed at the Eventi Hotel on 6th ave. It's a few blocks from Penn Station, as well as all the big shops including the Manhattan Mall and world's largest Macys off Broadway. I'd definitely recommend it, just so long as you can find a nightly rate deal. They even brought me up hair spray, razors, and an umbrella when I realized I forgot these must-have essentials.

You can see a quick glimpse of what I wore for Day Two of IFBCON in the top left picture. Forgive me for not bringing my SLR, but I can't imagine carrying around a single extra piece of luggage than I already am. I have "handle burn" on my right shoulder from lugging around my bags! Like I mentioned on my Facebook page, I'll be making the move over to Wordpress this winter and plan on introducing a more website-feeling blog. It'll still be my voice, my opinion, and my style, but you can expect to see more focused content and additional features like video, services, and just plain more.

Oh, and after having been a mere 20 feet away from Coco Rocha, Derek Blasberg, and Iman (THE Iman) I am now dealing with a severe case of Imustbecomesuccessfulitis and IwishIwerethatgoodlookingcontagium. If you know the cure to either, do leave me a comment below.

NYC Diaries: Day Two

Image via www.heartifb.com

Day One at the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference was exciting, though a lot was still left to be lusted after. The conference is taking place in New York's prestigious SoHo community and is bigger than ever before. While I thoroughly enjoyed meeting other bloggers and brands, listening to the panelists, and bearing witness to one of the funniest and most awkward interviews I've seen featuring a certain Coco Rocha and Derek Blasberg, I feel as though us bloggers' primary questions have gone unanswered. And, please, let me know if I'm just delusional.

All the answers given seem to be sung to a similar tune, one that goes a little something like "create unique, original content"..."develop your personal voice"... and "figure out what's right for your blog". Yes. Most of us do know these points. I grew slightly frustrated as Day One came to a close because, while the networking is unparalleled and the experience as a whole is superb, we're here to learn and not to be told the same thing over and over. I realize there's no magic formula for blogging success. Personally, I don't intend to ever make a career out of blogging. I love it, but if you know me you know my goal is to work in fashion entertainment or PR. For those who are in search of ways to make their blog their full time job, I would hope my frustration is shared at least slightly.

What could have been better? Well, it would have been nice to see examples of the panelists' work and to learn how they started out and crafted their brand and voice. It's one thing to walk away from the day feeling inspired and seeing a handful of top bloggers who are really killing it in the industry, but it's another (far more beneficial) thing to walk away feeling as though you can really relate to that group of bloggers and have a more concrete notion of how similar tactics can be applied to your own blog. Oh, and I'd have loved to see Chiara Ferragni as a keynote speaker. She's a fashion blogging pioneer, for crying out loud!

Don't get me wrong, IFB is a fabulous resource for all bloggers - hobbyist and professional. The line up for Day Two already has my heart quickening and I'm really looking forward to it. If nothing else comes from this post except my own feeling of relief for getting my yearning for something a little more off my shoulders, so be it. However, if someone from the IFBCON team happens to hear of my request for more applicable teachings - or of others' - then all the better. Goodnight New York City and goodnight world. Tomorrow, I get to figure out the subway system. *Winces*

NYC Diaries: Day One

Today was a day full of traveling, waiting, traveling, and waiting. When I arrived at the airport in Ottawa, I was told I could hop on the earlier flight to Toronto since there was still room and I was early. Naturally, I accepted. Once I arrived in Toronto, however, I wasn't able to get on the earlier flight to NYC so I had to wait a longer than wanted amount of time. I suppose it could have been worse, however. It was my first time flying into the Toronto City Airport and, basically, the airport is right on the water and you look straight into downtown. It's insane, and much better and more scenic than the usual massive airport with lines upon lines and carpeted hallway upon carpeted hallway. After my wait, I boarded the flight to NYC and buckled in for what I know is going to be a crazy, information-packed two days.

I checked into my hotel (I'm not going to say where I'm staying for privacy reasons, but will let you know once I've checked out... it's not that I think my readers are crazy, but I'm not silly enough to think there isn't a single crazy out there somewhere!) and am now deciding where to go for dinner tomorrow night and what movie I'm going to order to watch while I snuggle up in my comfy bed tonight. If you have any suggestions, go ahead and tweet me! I could use a little internet company.

Tomorrow is day one of IFBCON. I'm so nervous, excited, and know it's going to be a remarkable - yet incredibly intimidating - experience. I mean, Iman and Coco Rocha are going to be there. Enough said. I'm mostly looking forward to learning from what huge bloggers have to say and to walking away with newfound inspiration, friendships, and lifelong memories. *Cue the sappiness*.

I'm now waiting for my room service and planning my meals for tomorrow so I don't have to resort to the 5 item late night menu ever again. Oh, and I'm enjoying a $5 bottle of water because I forgot to stop at the convenience store down the street and don't want to go back outside. Classic. Night, world!