What I Wore

What I Wore: CHANEL Cruise Cuba Graphic Tee

1 September, 2016 Nelia

A while back I wrote about the amazing CHANEL Cuba Cruise 2017 collection, and the one piece I really (REEEEALLLY) wanted to get my hands on was the colourful graphic tee. Well, dreams do come true, because I finally got to wear one to the CNE last weekend! And while the collection won’t be hitting the boutiques until some time in November, I predict that this t-shirt is going to be one of the hottest items, and will most likely sell out immediately. So if you’re really serious about owning one, make sure to call your SA and ask to put one on hold in your size.

I love that graphic tees are making a high-fashion return. As you can see, I was inspired by the runway show styling, and paired my tee with a tweed pencil skirt, but of course, you can wear yours with denim or leather, under a blazer, or over a dress, dress it up or down. These tees are super versatile and a little retro, and I’m officially obsessed.

Do you like the graphic tee trend? Share your thoughts after the jump!

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Travel: Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ

29 August, 2016 Nelia

After a couple of stressful weeks at the office, le bf and I packed our bags, jumped into a shiny new 2017 Lincoln MKZ, and set off to Prince Edward County for 2 days of R&R. We’ve never been to PEC before, mostly because I’ve always dreaded the 2.5 hour drive, but after hearing amazing things about The County, we finally decided to see what all the hype was about. Thanks to top-notch navigation, easy-to-use SYNC® 3 system, and Bridge of Weir™ leather-trimmed seating, the ride was fun and enjoyable. We stopped at the Big Apple for snacks and photo ops, took a quick detour to check out Laveanne lavender farm, and before we knew it, we were pulling into Drake Devonshire’s parking lot.

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Drake by the Lake, and they were all true. From our beautiful room complete with quirky art and comfy bed, yummy food and lovely lake views at the restaurant downstairs, Drake Devonshire had everything we needed for a restful getaway. The hotel’s perfect location allowed us to explore PEC, while being close enough so that we could return to the Drake any time we needed a break or a change of clothes. I loved our leisurely drives past picturesque farm houses and green corn fields, and I loved the retractable panoramic glass roof on our Lincoln MKZ, which made it feel like we were cruising around in a convertible.

Even though Drake Devonshire is located a few minutes away from a local Wellington beach, the highlight of our trip was definitely Sandbanks Provincial Park. White sandy beach, clear lake water, and plenty of space to stretch out made for a lovely place to lay down our towels and relax. We spent two days there, swimming and sunbathing, and I really didn’t want to leave. Though when we did have to leave, we were super thankful for the cooled leather seats – felt amazing, especially since the car was parked in full sun for several hours.

Since we were on vacation, the rest of our time in PEC was spent eating. We loved our dinners at The Hubb and East and Main, ice-cream at Slickers, and everything in-between at Drake Devonshire. We really wanted to try the wood-fired thin crust pizza at Norman Hardie, but sadly they didn’t serve it on the days we were around. Next time for sure!

On our final day in The County, we drove to the stately Claramount Inn for massages – the best way to start a morning, if you ask me. Zen and super relaxed, we had our last delicious breakfast at The Drake, and then we were back on the road. Just like our drive to PEC, our trip home was quick and comfortable. The ride was super smooth, and since my iPhone was synced to the entertainment system, we had the awesome mix of Backstreet Boys and NSYNC as the soundtrack to our road trip. Perfect way to end our mini-vacation.

Have you ever been to Prince Edward County? What were the highlights from your visit? Share in the comments.

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What I Wore: Vilamoura Nights

22 August, 2016 Nelia

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Before booking our villa in the Algarve, we weren’t quite sure about staying in Vilamoura. Everything we read about it seemed to scream TOURIST TRAP, and so we hemmed and hawed, until everything else on Airbnb was gone, and the last remaining villa option we had was in Vilamoura. So imagine my delight upon arrival, when I discovered that our villa was situated in one of the more picturesque parts of town, surrounded by greenery and bougainvillea aplenty.

Sure, Vilamoura is an undeniably touristy place with beach bars, golf clubs, and a ton of resorts, but it wasn’t a bad thing. On our trip to the Algarve, we visited many authentic places, but we were always happy to return to our comfortable and touristy little town. If you’re not sure about where to stay, I can’t recommend the area near Old Village, Vilamoura highly enough. With several great restaurants nearby, a small grocery store a quick walk away, and beautifully landscaped grounds all around, this was the perfect place to call home during our time in the Algarve. I’ll share more recommendations from our trip in a separate post, so stay tuned.

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What I Wore: Bye, Falesia!

10 August, 2016 Nelia

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The worst thing about vacations is being back at the office, feeling like you could use another couple of weeks off. This is me right now, looking at the photos from my trip to Portugal and feeling severely homesick for a place that isn’t even home. Bizarre, non?

These photos were taken at Praia da Falesia aka Cliff Beach near Vilamoura in the Algarve. Falesia is one of several beaches that my friends and I were lucky enough to visit during our trip. It is a lovely and well-manicured beach, with all of the modern amenities – from swanky bars where you can grab a bottle of bubbly or some fried calamari, to beach umbrellas and loungers for rent, to all kinds of water sports within arm’s reach. Falesia Beach is also quite expansive, stretching to nearly 7km in length, which means there’s plenty of space to set up camp without feeling cramped.

This beach was closest to our incredible Airbnb villa in Vilamoura, and we spent two blissful days there, playing in the waves, dancing in the sand, and drinking all of the champagne, with views of the Atlantic on one side, and breathtaking cliffs on the other. It wasn’t the most beautiful beach we’ve visited on our trip, but it was certainly the most comfortable.

Have you ever been to Praia da Falesia? Share your travel stories in the comments!

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What I Wore: First World Problems

6 July, 2016 Nelia

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When I first spotted this dress over on H&M app, I knew I had to have it. Everything about it from the watercolour rainbow stripes, to the Issey Miyake-like pleats screamed “must-have”, and so I dutifully made daily visits to H&M, only to walk away empty-handed (well, maybe not empty-handed, but without this dress in tow). So when I finally spotted a few of these dresses on a lonely rack, I grabbed my size and never looked back.

I wish I could say that this was a rare occurence, but the fact is, I stalk things at H&M all the time. Between the time I see something I want on the website, and the time it actually hits the stores, I end up spending countless lunch hours trekking back and forth between my office and the store, cursing the lack of H&M online shopping in Canada. I know that Canadian e-commerce is coming this year…but I literally can’t wait. First world problems, I know…but how amazing would it be to be able to buy your fave H&M (and H&M Home) things online from the comfort of your couch?!

What about you? Are you excited about the upcoming H&M Online Shopping launch? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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What I Wore: Similar, But Different

29 June, 2016 Nelia

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You may have noticed that I’ve been wearing a lot of white dresses lately…which means I’m either in a rut or I’m obsessed with LWDs this summer. Let’s go with the latter. In my defense, all three dresses I recently wore are very different – the first one is worn off-the-shoulder and has long sleeves, the second is a breezy t-shirt dress with lace, while this one is a cami-style maxi. Similar, but different.

I guess, since the weather has been so beautiful lately, a crisp white dress feels appropriate and almost necessary. I wear these dresses with cute sandals for dressier occasions, with white sneakers (I’m partial to Stan Smiths) for casual strolls, and with ankle booties if the other two shoe styles feel a bit “been there”. Regardless of what I pair it with, LWD is the easiest garment to wear in the summer (perfect for lazy people who want to look put-together). So if I’m wearing yet another LWD in the next outfit post, just assume that it’s my summer uniform…I’ll try to keep it exciting with accessories.

So tell me, do you have something that you keep buying over and over again…similar, but different? Share in the comments.

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What I Wore: Summer Loving

20 June, 2016 Nelia

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I’ve been on the hunt for a perfect white summer dress, and I finally found one at Old Navy, of all places! It was super unexpected, as I don’t visit their stores very often, but after randomly popping in one day, I found a treasure trove of LWDs. This one is my dream white dress – light cotton fabric, loose but flattering shape, and a touch of lace. It’s currently on sale, and comes in black too. You’re welcome.

Another summer item I had a tough time locating was a black straw boater/bolero hat. My head is too big for most “one size fits all” hats, so when I saw this Janessa Leone stunner in size L, I clicked “Add To Cart” immediately, and I’m so glad that I did. It goes with every summer outfit I own, and the wide brim will protect my face from the sun.

Between these two must-haves, my pizza and pretzel inflatables, and all of the one-piece swimsuits that I picked up over the last few months, I think I’m totally set for the summer. Bring on the sunshine!

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What I Wore: Power Ball 2016 – Pleasure Principle

6 June, 2016 Nelia

Just look at those inflatables behind me, happy and unaware of the night ahead of them. By the end of Power Ball XVIII: Pleasure Principle, most of those animals would be deflated and Inflatable Culture installation taken apart, creating numerous colourful photo-ops for partygoers throughout The Power Plant. As I mentioned in this post, Power Ball is one of my favourite parties of the year, and this year’s event did not disappoint. Apart from the inflatables, other art installations included Ungentrified by Lorna Mills – a collage of gif-like raunchy video clips, Opium Den by Karen Tam – “response to stereotypical portrayals of Chinese in the West”, complete with a gong and lanterns, Anaglyph by Jordan Sodenberg Mills – mirrors that created trippy 3D reflections, perfect for surreal selfies.

After checking out the installations, I devoured some delicious bites by Parts & Labour, and tried a non-alcoholic jello shot, which luckily wasn’t one of the chicken broth flavoured ones. It seemed that everyone in town was at the party, and I spent the rest of the night socializing and trying not to trip on my Erdem gown. It was definitely a night to remember, and I am already dying to find out what the theme for next year’s Power Ball will be.

So tell me, did you attend this year’s Power Ball? What was your favourite installation? Share in the comments!

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What I Wore: Langdon Hall

30 May, 2016 Nelia

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I wore this outfit last weekend at Langdon Hall, where I spent a couple of days with Garnier Canada and a group of fellow Canadian bloggers as part of our #SkinActiveRetreat. A separate post about the retreat is coming soon, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share this outfit post, seeing how I’ll most likely be living in this entire look all summer long.

This off-the-shoulder dress is pretty new to my wardrobe but it’s already a favourite – so easy to dress up or down, and breezy enough for even the balmiest of summer days. As for my footwear choice, these were the only shoes I brought with me on the retreat, showing just how versatile a pair of stylish white sneakers can be. I paired them with denim shorts, floaty dresses, and yoga pants, and not once did I feel out of place or under-dressed. This particular style is so comfy, I can literally walk for hours without any discomfort. Perfect shoes for travelling, if you ask me.

So there you have it, my summer staples – easy off-the-shoulder white dress, a pair of Adidas Originals Stan Smith kicks, and a gorgeous country house to frolic about. What are you summer must-haves? Share in the comments.

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What I Wore: Surprisingly Washable

25 April, 2016 Nelia

Sponsored Post
Have you ever needed to wear something only to realize that it needs to be dry cleaned? Well, last weekend it happened to me. As I was prepping my outfit the night before a friend’s wedding, I realized that the silk H&M Studio dress I was planning to wear was not in wearable condition and needed to be cleaned STAT! Dry cleaning wasn’t an option (too late!), and so in my desperation I looked at the inside care label only to realize that despite its silk composition, the dress was surprisingly washable! Who would’ve thought?! And so I happily marched downstairs to the laundry room, threw in a Tide POD along with the dress (inside a delicates bag), and just washed it. As you can see, the dress was in perfect condition after the wash – fashion crisis averted!

When you start paying attention to those care labels, you’ll learn that a huge portion of your wardrobe is most likely surprisingly washable too. With #TideChic movement you can save a ton of money on dry cleaning bills, while giving your clothes the TLC they deserve. I’ve been using Tide PODS ever since they first launched, and the convenience as well as excellent results got me hooked…I don’t think I could ever go back to regular detergent. Downy Fabric Conditioner is another fave; it protects clothes at the fiber level and keeps them looking like new, extending the life of your favourite pieces…and it leaves them smelling so good!

So next time you throw that dress in your dry cleaning pile, make sure to check the care label and see if it’s washable…you may just be surprised! But don’t just take my word for it! Comment below if you’d like to try Tide PODS and Downy Fabric Conditioner for yourself, and you could win one of 3 #TideChic prize packs*!

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What I Wore: CHANEL Cruise Cuba Graphic Tee

Travel: Prince Edward County with Lincoln MKZ

What I Wore: Vilamoura Nights

What I Wore: Bye, Falesia!

What I Wore: First World Problems

What I Wore: Similar, But Different

What I Wore: Summer Loving

What I Wore: Power Ball 2016 – Pleasure Principle

What I Wore: Langdon Hall

What I Wore: Surprisingly Washable

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