What I Wore: Boyfriend Jeans Forever

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I’ve had these boyfriend jeans for what seems like forever, and you know what? They are still in style! Le bf hates them with a passion…probably because they are so beaten up, and aren’t the most flattering jeans out there (in his opinion), but to me – they are perfect. I mean, what’s not to love? They are comfy, and go with pretty much anything and everything. This, my friends, is what I call a keeper.

What about you? Do you like boyfriend jeans? Would you ever wear them? Let me know in the comments.

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Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part Two

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Welcome to part two of our Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide! If you are still on the hunt for that perfect gift this holiday season, make sure to check out our experts’ picks for some fun and fresh gift ideas. Whether you are looking for something stylish, practical, or simply adorable, we’ve got you covered!

1. Ryan Michael Cheung, Online Editor, FLARE Magazine

This dapper FLARE editor sure knows what he wants. Ryan’s simple and classic wishlist items are just as understated and cool as the man himself. So if you are shopping for Mr. Cheung this holiday season, grab him a Casio-inspired Neuvo watch in bronze, a Tivoli Audio Model One Radio, or some letter-pressed stationery from Terrapin Stationers, and watch his face light up.

In turn, Ryan will be giving some pretty kick-ass gifts of his own! “I had my jet-set friend Andrew in mind when creating this bag for the December issue gift guide. I upgraded the classic Banff style with a can’t-miss-hit of oxblood (easy to spot at baggage claim) and preppy monogram to make it personal,” – shared Ryan. And who wouldn’t love a personalized Roots bag?! I know I would! He’ll also be taking a friend to see the Christmas classic The Nutcracker, as well as gifting a copy of Vogue’s latest book – The Editor’s Eye to a “fashion addict” friend.

As for Ryan’s top three places to shop for gifts, he counts Drake General Store, Restoration Hardware, and Club Monaco among his favourites, so take note.

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2. Talia Brown, Stylist

“Growing up in the North, Holiday spirt was sprung with the dusting of the snow, the smell of the fire and the taste of good old fashioned cocoa. Here in Toronto you, can feel and see the joy in the streets, the eye candy of the window displays and of course the music that just becomes part of the movement. The hustle and bustle,the busyness of the shoppers, all in good spirit, of course.”

When I first met Talia, I was smitten with her sweet and bubbly personality, and her talent for styling. This holiday season, Talia is wishing for a perfect pair of rag & bone ankle booties, a Chibi Lady purse by ela in rose gold, and a gorgeous lace dress from LOVER. Ever the stylist, the three pieces go really well together and make for an amazing holiday outfit. Here’s hoping she gets it all!

On Talia’s shopping list this season are adorable (and yummy) gifts that she’ll be sharing with her loved ones, like the Peppermint Bark from Williams-Sonoma, the limited edition Missoni x Holt Renfrew stuffed animals (they are the cutest!), and luxurious lipstick from YSL, perfectly matched to her girlfriends’ personalities.

Talia will be doing some holiday shopping at MoRoCo Chocolat, The Cashmere Shop, and Bicyclette this holiday season.

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What I Wore: Prized Possessions

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Last weekend, my blogging bestie Sharon and I set off on a little roadtrip to Buffalo to do some Christmas shopping, and pick up some things that we both purchased months ago…like my new precious Chanel brooch. Having ordered it from Saks back in August, I was ecstatic to finally be able to get my hands on the tiny treasure. So ecstatic in fact, that I ended up wearing it to brunch the very next day…along with my new bejewelled DVF clutch that I picked up from Saks Off 5th during the same Buffalo trip (for a steal!!!). Score and score!

Along with my YSL arty oval ring, and Margiela with H&M booties, this outfit is pretty much a collection of my most prized (physical) possessions…ones that I will surely treasure for years to come.

Do you have special pieces that always make you happy and jazz up any outfit you wear? Tell me all about them in the comments!

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What I Wore: Winter Florals

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I’ve already warned you about this Club Monaco skirt…you’ll be seeing it A LOT. I have a tendency to get obsessed with one or two pieces and then wearing them all the time. No, seriously…ALL THE TIME. And this skirt is no exception.

This time, I paired it with a silk floral blouse from Joe Fresh, and my new fave Margiela with H&M booties for a simple and elegant daytime look.

What do you think? Share in the comments.

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What I Wore: Wild Child

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How I wish I had long blonde flowy locks right about now! I think those would go just dandy with my new white faux Mongolian fur vest from H&M. I would be all Nordic beauty – cool and fierce (yes, I did). But blonde hair or not, I won’t let it stop me from rocking this vest this season. It adds a much-needed layer of warmth to my outfits, and I love how soft and cuddly it is. Paired with my new paisley-printed Joe Fresh cords, this has got to be one of the softest/comfiest outfits ever. Very huggable. Free hugs, anyone?

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What I Wore: Blue and Yellow

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The gloomy days are here, and all I want to do is wear rainbows and sunshine. Which in this case translates into a blue coat worn with yellow pants. Bright enough for me. This coat is from Old Navy…and if I’m not mistaken, it costs all of $30 right now, so if you are looking for a cheerful peacoat that will brighten up your day without breaking the bank, this is it. You are welcome.

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What I Wore: Blue

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I’ve been saving this brocade peplum suit from H&M for a special occasion, and last week’s Day 1 of Toronto Fashion Week was just special enough for me to bust out my blue suede suit. I get that it’s H&M, and for some of you, probably not all that special, but if you’ve been reading this site long enough, you know that for me, it’s not always about the labels. Yes, I love my Chanel and Prada…but I’m also majorly addicted to H&M. So in my eyes, this suit is without a doubt something special.

I also wore my latest necklace from LOFT…which opens this month to Yorkdale Shopping Centre, and I couldn’t be more excited! One more option for awesome office separates, beautiful jewelry, and shoes? Yes, please!

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What I Wore: Desk to Dinner

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When I was asked to style this Banana Republic skirt to take me from desk to dinner, I obviously said yes! Pleated and orange, this skirt is a super versatile combo of the two of my most favorite things!

And this outfit might just become my fave this fall – crewneck sweater cinched at the waist over a flowy skirt. Appropriate for work, cute enough for dinner and drinks, and super easy to throw together! It’s a winner in my books.

If you had to style this skirt, how would you wear it? Share in the comments!

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What I Wore: Ba-na-nas

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Some days all it takes to make me happy is a burst of color on a blah day, and these banana yellow H&M trousers do the trick every time! Also, how cool is my new HBC Signature Collection watch by Timex?! I get compliments on it everywhere I go…and I don’t have to look for my phone every time I want to know what time it is…there’s a watch for that!

So tell me, do you wear colorful trousers to work? Or is your office too conservative for that? Share in the comments.

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Stylish Road Trip: INTERMIX Somerset Collection Mall

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The second day of our Stylish Road Trip to Troy, Michigan started nice and early. After a quick breakfast at our hotel, Kim, Sharon, and I wasted no time…we had places to be! More specifically – Somerset Collection Mall! Having never been to Somerset before, I had no idea what to expect…but the moment we entered the shopping centre’s massive gleaming lobby, I knew I’d love it there.

Split into two parts (high-end South, and more affordable North), Somerset Collection is a shopper’s paradise. With stores like INTERMIX, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, LOFT, among many others, it’s no surprise that the girls and I ended up spending close to 11 hours at the mall. Yes, you read that right – ELEVEN HOURS of shopping…straight! And that’s not counting our late-night visit to Target! Yup, that’s just how we do.

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And though we spent hours at Somerset, one of my most memorable experiences that day was definitely shopping at INTERMIX! With a huge selection and a great mix of my favorite brands, I’m pretty sure we spent at least 3 hours with the lovely and stylish INTERMIX team. They were incredibly helpful, and so much fun to hang out with, that time just flew by! And getting treated like royalty was icing on the already awesome YSL/Proenza/Missoni cake. Not only did the girls and I get exceptional customer service, we also received goodies, sweets, and champagne too! I could definitely get used to that!

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Luckily for us, there’s an INTERMIX store in Toronto as well…so next time I am in need of a perfect pair of Rag & Bone jeans, or another YSL arty oval ring, that’s where I’ll be!

After a whirlwind shopping experience at INTERMIX, the girls and I continued our tour de Somerset…but I’ll leave that for the next post. In the meantime, check out some of the drool-worthy pieces we found at INTERMIX! Like that YSL cuff on major sale…or that sleek Equipment blouse…Can you tell I’m going through a withdrawal here?

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