White on Black

This past weekend was the fashion and beauty summit BeautyCon held out in sunny Los Angeles, and I was fortunate enough to get a chance to check it out!

I wanted to wear something simple and relaxed for the day, yet still look chic and polished. I ended up going with a minimalistic white top and some high waisted leather shorts, topped off with a statement necklace.

Deighton Cup 2014

I've always coveted the beautiful and intricate hats that are commonly seen at daytime events in Europe. However, there aren't too many places in Vancouver that one can don a fascinator without attracting stares of puzzlement or criticism.

The annual Deighton Cup event seeks to be different by encouraging chic fancy hats and dapper suits with pocket squares. Held at the historic Hastings Racecourse, it was a charming afternoon of stylish outfits, fine cocktails and lively entertainment.

Pop of Pink

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the beautiful sight of cherry blossom trees blooming all around the city. The delicate pink petals floating throughout the air paint Vancouver in a wash of romance.

It's a shame that they only last for a few weeks, but I suppose that's what makes them so special and celebrated. Their fleeting nature adds weight to their beauty and reverence.
  
I felt inspired to put together a bright spring-time outfit with loud splashes of color.
  
Experimented in shooting with my Nikon 55-200 mm camera lens, which I barely ever use due to neglectful laziness.

W Skin Care - Microdermabrasion + LLLT (Cold Laser)

If you follow Lainey Gossip, you'll know that she loves and raves about Lorinda Zimmerman's W Skin Care services as the anti-aging and facial miracle worker. I recently had a chance to try out their famous double blast treatment at the original Vancouver location, and loved the experience. It's known to attract Hollywood actresses who actually fly down from LA just for the day for appointments. The unique combination of microdermabrasion and Low Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) is heralded for its effective yet natural looking results.

I am very wary of youth-seeking treatments like botox or fillers as they have the tendency to come out looking too severe and obvious in that "you've had work done" way. Which is why I really like Zimmerman's restorative approach to skin care. Non-invasive, and more focused on enhancing the skin's natural radiance vs. dramatically changing one's face. Less Real Housewives and more Kate Bosworth.The clinic was bright and airy with a gallery-esque feel. Signiture Northwest Coast art pieces displayed throughout the serene space. 

Mad about Plaid

When I was in junior high, I was dying to get contacts. I thought glasses were clunky, and an immediate indication of your nerd level. But after years of wearing soft lenses 7 days/week, I've learned to love and look forward to those few days a week where I just let my eyes breathe.

Here's an outfit I wore with my deep brown wayfarer frames and comfy plaid flannel shirt.



 

Valentine's Day Nails

Decided to do a Valentine's day themed nail look for today.

Leather Vests & Top Knots

I've recently fallen in love with the loose high top knot. It's just such an easy and effortless way to pull your hair into something presentable but still chic. Not as polished as a classic bun, but looks great and takes only minutes to do.

Keratin Hair Smoothing: Salon Haze

During the holidays, I was approached by Salon Haze to come check out their fairly new West Broadway salon. They invited me for a complimentary hair service to review on my blog. Since I wasn't looking to get my hair cut or colored, I opted to try their keratin smoothing treatment.

Privilege Clothing Holiday Soirèe

What I wore to the Privilege Clothing Holiday Soirèe event.It was a delightful evening of hot chocolate, cake pops, shopping and mingling with fellow style enthusiasts.

A big thanks to Privilege Clothing for the beautifully wrapped party favours and gift card!

My Sweater's Wearing a Sweater

Sweaterception.

DIY Floral Crown Tutorial

Channeling my inner Lana Del Rey for my first ever tutorial on the blog.

I've been meaning to try creating this for the longest time, and have finally gotten around to really doing it!

Sifting through the countless tutorials online, I found that most can actually be quite complex and time consuming. But through my own performance, I've come to discover a really quick and simple way to efficiently create a pretty floral crown.

Continue reading to see how!

Stripes & Leather

I wore this black and taupe striped top backwards, and tucked in and around my skirt to create a crop top look. The shirt was a little sheer, so I paired it with a simple black bandeau.

Mix n' Match Mondays

We don't always have the amount of time and money to allot to our wardrobe as we'd like, so it's really helpful to be able to multi-purpose a piece whenever possible.

I love trying to find new and creative ways to wear things you've worn before to create a fresh look. The top is from my Sheer Color Blocking post, and the scalloped white shorts are from Summer Heat.

Windblown High Low

A silky high low skirt looks so much prettier when it's fluttering in a slight breeze.

Modern Ballerina

Wearing this tutu-esque top with  a classic top bun (supplemented with a rolled sock) makes me feel like an embellished ballerina.

White on White

As the summer continues, I find myself with an ever-growing collection of  clothing in white.

I think something about the shade just proclaims fresh.

Sheer Color Blocking

An outfit I wore for the EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking festival.





I didn't take too many pictures inside, but managed to snap a few of the food.



If you've never been, the festival is definitely worth checking out. Tons of different vendors, and a huge selection of food to sample. There are free ones available, but most of the more substantial offerings cost tickets.

You can buy packs of 20 tickets for $10, so it comes out to be 50 cents a ticket. Most items are anywhere from 2 - 8 tickets (or $1 - $4).

Color Block Shirt: Topshop  |  White Denim: Forever 21  |  Black Stam Bag: Marc Jacob

My Fair Lady

Whenever I put this hat on, I instantly feel more elegant and lady-like.

I have always admired the spectacular hat game they have going on at the formal social gatherings in Europe.

Beautifully structured couture hats that are more like pieces of art than head gear... Kate Middleton must have the world's most gorgeous accessories closet.

Sadly mine is just the basic black felt hat, but I do think it still adds that touch of lady.

Green Textured Dress: Urban Outfitters  |  Brown Leather Boots: Tory Burch  |  Black Felt Hat: H&M  |  Black Stam Bag: Marc Jacob