Wednesday, 12 September 2012

nyfw ss '13 pt.1

Here is part 1 of my faves at New York Fashion Week SS '13. Loving all of the leather, chiffon, and colours like seafoam, yellow, blush and fuchsia pinks. Also noticing a great deal of 60's influence as well as inspiration from India (I loved Marchesa's take).

Click on any image to enlarge.

Rodarte




Prabal Gurung


Marchesa




Monique Lhullier



Jason Wu






Christian Siriano



Alexander Wang



Belstaff



Diane Von Furstenburg





Rachel Zoe



Pierre Balmain

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

blouse

blouse

I must say, that blouses are one of those go-to items in my closet that I wear again and again, in any season. I love Forever 21 for their selection and prices, all in trendy looks. I recently bought a sheer, nude blouse with cut-out shoulders which I've already worn a few times. Tucked into a skirt, open over a tank, with jeans or leggings, tied at the waist with shorts or one of your Fall/Winter layers... the possibilities are endless.

I do prefer the sheer blouses over cotton, since they are so easy to care for. I hand wash, hang on a hanger and don't even need to iron them (a steamer would be good though). They are light and easy to travel with too! Another place I have found some cool blouses is at Thrift Stores (for example, a vintage YSL), so check there for some unique pieces.

I'm loving the peach on peach ones above, or anything with embellished collars. I am thinking about going to Michael's craft store to see if they have supplies I can use to embellish some that I already own to spruce them up. I'll let you know how that goes.

Forever 21
forever21.com


Forever 21 sequin top
forever21.com


Forever 21 sheer top
forever21.com


Forever 21 long shirt
forever21.com


Forever 21 sequin top
forever21.com


Forever 21 blouse
forever21.com



Forever 21
forever21.com



Forever 21
forever21.com


Forever 21
forever21.com


Sunday, 26 August 2012

camo

camo

It's backkkk. Did it ever really go away? I guess it kind of did. Camouflage everything! Coats, pants, bags, laptop cases, tops, etc. I'd say this is a trend that you can probably easily find at thrift and vintage stores. I also love army surplus shops for the real-deal.

Topshop featured a lot of camo in their Fall 2012 campaign. I lovvvve the look of mixing such a casual jacket with a pretty skirt or fancy shoes:


These Forever 21 pants are nice, with just a hint of camo print. To me, it makes them look a bit more modern, and for only $29.80 they are such a good deal! 


As usual, Zara is on it, I think their pieces are some of my faves. Those pants (below, right) are so hot! These all range from $59-79.90

Or steal a look from the boys (or get these for your man!), these Ralph Lauren Camo Cargo pants are on sale at The Bay for only $39.99, and the T is from Zara for just $29.90



















There's even camo IPhone/IPad cases! This one is from Zara for $19.90


Links to the looks in the collage (top):
forever21.com


ASOS top
asos.com


Jacket
$110 - topshop.com


Military style jacket
topshop.com



Camo legging
topshop.com


Printed bag
topshop.com


Camo Laptop Case
forever21.com


Current/Elliott Multi Zip Stiletto Jeans
$210 - piperlime.gap.com

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

flesh-toned

flesh-toned

I've been loving this trend for quite a while now. I bought a special edition Sephora nail color in "Going Nude Eh" after Christmas. This colour was part of a collection designed by the amazing runway Nail artist Sophy Robson (http://sosoflynails.tumblr.com/).

I used the colour on a couple of photo shoots and I loved how easy it was to apply and how it made the models hands look clean and chic. I recently put it on my toes and loved it so much for a nice, neutral look when you are wearing sandals and open-toed shoes for the Summer.

I had a tough time finding it at the time, but now there are tons of flesh-toned polishes out there (check out the links below for some of them). I'm also really loving a nude-coloured/beigey nail with a dark, pastel or neon French tip.

Here is another idea which is a neon pink heart on a flesh-toned nail...

Thursday, 26 July 2012

re-cleanse

cleansingThe summertime has been catching up to me, and after several nights of drinking too much, snacking too much... I have decided to do a little re-set on myself. It's definitely time to refocus on a healthier diet, 80% of the time. Here is what I have been doing to get a kick-start in the right direction...

First of all, I really had to re-cut out the sugar that I was starting to sneak back into my diet. Those Iced Capps, darn you! It is so true that eating sugar and refined carbs increases your appetite and just leaves you wanting more! I made the decision after a weekend of eating too much crap and feeling gross. So this past Monday, I woke up and had a "Cleansing Drink" consisting of water, lemon juice and a dash of apple cider vinegar. I had this drink 2 times that morning.

Next I made a Vega shake. I bought it recently after being quite impressed with the ingredients and what it does for your body and health. These shakes have protein, greens, vitamins, minerals, fibre, omegas, antioxidants, probiotics, are 100% vegan... so I was sold. I figured this would be a good place to start after the cleansing drink. I bought 3 flavours, the first I made was the Tropical Tango, with my own twist:

2 Tbsp Tropical Tango Vega Smoothie powder
1/3 of a frozen banana
1/4 of a frozen peach
1 teaspoon of unsweetened coconut flakes
4 large ice cubes
3/4 cup almond milk
3/4 cup cold water
... blend. I think that this would also taste good with pineapple!

Next I made a soup. I like how easy soup is on your system, especially if it's a healthy one! This is the recipe I tried this time (where I just threw everything I could think of in a pot)

4 chicken breasts (bone in, skin on)
garlic/fresh ginger/salt
chicken broth and water to cover
1/2 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup dry barley (brown rice or whole wheat pasta works as well)
Combo of the following veggies: yams, celery, carrots, fennel, onions
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 fresh mint leaves, sliced

I fried the chicken breasts with some salt on them, added the ginger a garlic to lightly brown. Next I covered in broth (about 2 of those tetra containers), plus a little water if needed. Then throw in the rest of the ingredients, add or omit any you wish. Bring to a boil and let it simmer.

I ate this soup for lunch and dinner (actually I made such a large pot that I have been eating it for 3 days LOL). I like to add chili flakes or Tabasco sauce for some heat as well. I left the chicken breasts in tact, but shred some each time I prepare a bowl. This soup would also be great for vegetarians by omiting the chicken, using a veggie broth and adding protein such as tofu, tempeh, chick peas or various beans.

I really did feel that a day of eating like this did help get me on the right track. I followed up by drinking a cleansing tea in the evening, by using ginger, honey, lemon, mint tea bag as well as lemon ginger tea bags. It was so refreshing! You can make a large batch to keep in the fridge to drink hot or cold anytime.
Ginger, lemon and mint are very good for the stomach, they aid digestion and ease stomach discomfort. So having these ingredients in the soup and tea is quite nice for clearing your system. 

Here are some of the other ways I am trying to get my "sweets" in without going crazy on the sugar:

  • Fruit platters: berries, melon, grapes... summer is such a great time for fresh fruit. I find preparing a little variety on a plate makes it more fun!
  • Larabars: they are very basic, all natural and good for when you are craving something sweet (the base is made of dates and peanuts). 
  • Raisins: organic are best
  • Popsicles: I was thinking about blending brewed fruit teas with fruit... I have to make these
  • Sugar-free Jello/Juicy Gels: I limit these because they have artificial sweetener
  • Iced coffee: leftover coffee, blended with almond milk and stevia, sometimes with a dash of cocoa
  • Protein Pancakes: I make these differently all the time, I can now make them without measuring anything! Here is the basic recipe: 1/2 cup oats, 6 egg whites, 1/2 cup cottage cheese. I like to add cinnamon, 1/2 a banana, 1/2 cup of almond milk and 2 tsp's of chia seeds. Sometimes I add cocoa and stevia when I am craving something chocolately.

Hope that helps, I will continue checking in on health and wellness. I did find that looking back at my older blog posts also helps me remember what I was trying at different times and what was working for me. Let me know if you have any ideas or recipes you would like to share!

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