Crop Star

When it comes to fashion, there are some trends I bypass entirely (ie. culottes), and some I latch on to right away (ie. crop tops). This little white top from last summer made a return appearance for our trip to Cuba, this time paired with one of my favourite skirts ever, a midi/maxi (mixi?) I picked up in a post-Christmas Anthro sale. I love long skirts but I often find it tricky to decide what to wear them with -- so often, a tucked-in t-shirt can look kind of awkward when it bunches up around the waist, I find. So thank God for crop tops! And I love that this plain white one is the perfect backdrop for a big, statement necklace.

Crop top - H&M

Necklace - Aldo

Skirt - Anthropologie

Bag - Kate Spade

Sandals - J. Crew

Sunglasses - Forever 21

Lipstick - Posh Pink (Lancôme)

Grey Days in Gardens

As you may have guessed from this post and this one (and even here, I guess), coats are kind of my thing. Some people lust over handbags, others favour shoes, but for me, a good coat trumps all. I only buy one new coat a year, but I keep my little collection in constant rotation (this H&M number, for example, is five years old but I have no intention of discarding it anytime soon). It's actually my favourite item to wear this time of year because it has an almost springlike feel to it -- as soon as Christmas is over, I'm always ready to ditch the red and plaid in favour of a lighter look.

Coat - H&M

Hat - Topshop

Tights - Penneys

Boots* - Steve Madden

Gloves - Accessorize

Lipstick - Posh Pink by Lancôme

*eeee I never noticed how grey these boots are (I totally thought they were as black as my tights, and in hindsight probably wouldn't have worn them with this outfit...)

Festively Nautical

While I'm fond of the classic nautical-inspired combination of blue, red, and white, there's something just so intrinsically summery about those colours together that it puts me off wearing them this time of year. However, if you exchange the blue and red for navy and burgundy (and add a dash of sparkle somewhere), you've got yourself a look that's decidedly more festive and wintry. And hey, I'm even getting a head start on 2015 with my marsala-coloured jeans ;)

Sequin-collared Breton tee - Banana Republic

Blazer - Dynamite

Coated jeans - H&M

Boots - Steve Madden

Silver cuff bracelet - Forever 21

Nail polish - La Moss by Butter

Lipstick - mix of Rebel (MAC) and Majella (NARS)

10 Items: Sparkle

I love, love, love anything sparkly -- it's just so fun, so festive, so decadent. While it's obviously a style well suited to parties/nighttime, I equally love the look of a sequinned piece casually worn with low-key basics for day (think sparkly trousers with an oversized sweatshirt, or a glittery top with boyfriend jeans). 

What's your favourite way to wear sparkle?!


1. BCBG Dress / 2. H&M Jacket / 3. River Island Skirt  / 4. Alice + Olivia Jacket  / 5. New Look Shorts 
6. Calypso St. Barth Top / 7. Case-Mate iPhone Case / 8. H&M Dress / 9. BCBG Leggings / 10. Anya Hindmarch Clutch

Slouch City

In this post, I mentioned my love for my new sweater/dress from H&M...now, here she is in action! For me, I find there's no happy medium when it comes to wearing new clothes -- I either wear them to death or not at all (case in point: while I've easily worn this sweater maybe 25 times since I bought it a month and a half ago, I've yet to wear the white shirt I bought on the same day even once. Oops). 

It may not be the most flattering thing I own (it's a far cry from my favoured fitted waist look), but because it's so delightfully comfy I'm willing to overlook the fact that it kind of makes me look pregnant (and handless).

Sweater dress - H&M

Leather trousers - H&M

Hat - Topshop

Boots - Steve Madden

Bag - Chapters/Indigo

Necklace - Aldo

Lipstick - Pinkberry (Estée Lauder)

Casual Lace

While the weather has taken a decidedly cool turn (yay!!), I'm still clinging on to some of my more summery items, just paired with heavier pieces. Actually, I find I get the most wear out of this lace dress when the weather is that bit crisper, because I can only wear it with tights (it's suuuper short and would be kind of indecent otherwise), and I feel that dark tights can look a bit heavy in the dead of summer. 

Parka - Aritzia

Floral scarf - H&M

Lace dress - American Eagle

Brown tights - Penneys

Boots - Steve Madden

Lipstick - Kate Moss 08, Rimmel

Neon Pops

Even though fall is (nearly) here, I can't shake off my love of brights just yet, so I'm still incorporating them into my outfits--just in smaller doses and tempered with darker pieces. This leather jacket is one of my favourite items of clothing, and I'm excited to be able to wear it again after months of sweltering, 30+ weather. I bought it in March when I was over in Ireland, after nearly a year of searching for the perfect leather jacket. I was looking for something that was buttery soft, with subtle zips, and sleeves that weren't too short (this is actually my biggest problem when looking for jackets/coats). The moment I tried this one on I just knew it was the one! (And, most importantly, it also happened to be within my budget, which was fantastic as even faux leather jackets can be so expensive). 

Leather jacket - River Island

Scarf - H&M

Lace skirt - Forever 21

Black top - Penneys/Primark

Tights - Gap

Boots - Steve Madden

Lipstick - Grace, Hourglass

5 Favourite Shops: Budget

I'm excited to introduce a new series today: 5 Favourite Shops! Here, I'll be giving a breakdown of my top stores in a variety of categories, from the best budget places to check out to the pricier spots that I can really only window shop in most of the time. 

For today's instalment, I'm going to share my favourite budget stores (which, to be honest, are where most of my clothes come from). When it comes to purchasing on-trend, budget-friendly pieces to update my look, these are my go-tos.

Penneys/Primark

Where: This budget retailer has its roots in Ireland (where it's branded as Penneys), but can be found all over the UK and parts of Europe, too (where it's called Primark). 
Great For: Everything! My go-to place in Europe for basics like t-shirts, pyjamas, tights, and underwear at insanely cheap prices. (Trust me when I say that in terms of quality and selection, their lingerie section can rival that of Victoria's Secret). Obviously, some of their stuff will look its rock-bottom price tag, but I own some big item pieces from Penneys (ie. a black brocade coat I've worn a gazillion times) that I always get compliments on. 

H&M

Where: This Swedish company is pretty much everywhere now.
Great For: I've yet to go into an H&M and not be able to find at least 10 items I'd be very happy to take home--in terms of selection, trendiness, and wallet-friendly prices, they're tops. For me, I find they're great for summery dresses, pretty skirts, and interesting tops (as well as basic tees and the like). They have a good swimwear section in the summer, and I love how most of their bikini tops come in actual bra sizes. 

Forever 21

Where: Founded in the US in 1984 by a South Korean couple, Forever 21 can now be found all over North America and parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. 
Great For: Most styles are catered to, from girly-girl to boho to edgy. As to what I like to buy there...well, let's just say that half of my 50+ skirts have a XXI tag. While their dresses can be hit and miss (sizes tend to run a little on the small/short side), I find their skirts usually fit well, and the selection is incredible. They're also great for jewellery, accessories, and other random little necessities like make-up bags. 

Old Navy

Where: The cheapest of the Gap Inc. trifecta, Old Navy is found across North America.
Great For: They do seasonal stuff really well, like pretty sundresses and shorts in the summer, and cosy pyjamas and sweaters around Christmas. Great for colourful, cheap and cheerful basics, as well as work-out gear. (And I'm also a fan of their shoes).

American Eagle Outfitters

Where: Founded in 1977, this chain is found throughout the US and Canada.
Great For: When I was a teenager in the early 2000s, American Eagle was the place to shop at (and I remember thinking how expensive it was!). These days, I find I'm a bit old (and big!) for a lot of their stuff (ie. their skimpy tops and teensy skirts), but I'm still a fan of their jeans--they're good quality, not too pricy, and many of them come in a longer leg length. 

Top of the Crops

While I'd been intending on trying out the crop top trend since early spring, it wasn't until recently that I actually managed to acquire one. White, affordable, and with some sort of sleeves were my only requirements...but somehow that trifecta proved difficult to find. But just when I thought my summer was going to be crop top-less after all, I happened upon this little white one on mega sale at H&M for under $5. White may not be the most practical colour (knowing me, it'll be stained within 2 seconds of putting it on), but it's the most flattering if you're fair: it makes even the ghostliest skin look (kind of) tanned.

Crop top - H&M

Maxi skirt - Topshop

Sandals - J. Crew

Sunglasses - Aldo

Lipstick - Rimmel Kate Moss #08

White nail polish (fingers) - Loft

Blue nail polish (toes) - Barry M Cobalt Blue

Flexible Lace

Layering a jumper/sweater over a dress is a simple way of getting more use out of your dresses and prolonging their wear right into the cooler months. It's also a great way of making a dress more daytime-appropriate, as Vicky demonstrates here. What appears to be a white lace skirt is actually a dress with long sleeves and a high neckline - a bit dressy for a 9am lecture, but instantly more casual when worn with a jumper and scarf.

Mint jumper - H&M

Melon scarf - BCBG

White lace dress, worn as skirt - Zara

Black tights - Express

Brown leather boots - Aldo

Earrings - Forever 21

Lipstick - "Candy Pink" by Revlon

Wild Horses

Printed shirts have been kicking around for a while, but their charm seems to have increased as of late with the absolutely adorable designs we've been seeing in shops this season. In addition to the ubiquitous plaid and gingham, our hearts have been stolen by shirts strewn with owls, polka dots, apples, elephants...and horses, as Vicky models. Whether you wear your shirt loud and proud, or take a more subtle approach by having it peek out from a jumper or cardigan, this is an easy way of adding a dose of cute to an otherwise staid outfit.

Horse print shirt - H&M

Grey knit jumper - Gap

Black leggings - H&M

Tan leather boots - Aldo

Lipstick - "Nude Attitude" by Revlon

Nail polish - "Blue Moon" by Barry M and "Cloudless Sky" by George at Asda