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Holidays 2018: Gift Guide


Shopbop
I love Shopbop for many reasons, but the amazing selection of high and low must-haves is what keeps me coming back again and again. If you’re looking for perfect holiday gifts, there’s no better time to get your Shopbop on. You can get up to 75% off sale and up to 25% off full-price items until November 25th, using promo code MORE18. Think vintage CHANEL and Hermes pieces that never go on sale, toasty cashmere, silk pillowcases, chic PJs…there are stylish gifts for every budget and every wishlist! And don’t forget to treat yourself while you’re at it.


Holt Renfrew
Holiday sales at Holt Renfrew are pretty epic. Over the years, I’ve treated myself to some lovely designer finds at a fraction of the original price, and this year I hope to continue this tradition. But while holiday shopping for yourself can be super satisfying, Holt Renfrew makes it super easy to stock up on prezzies for everyone on your list, from fashion lovers to tiny tots. There are sweet Parisian indulgences (Angelina Chocolate, anyone?), luxurious beauty finds (Diptyque gift sets, limited-edition CHANEL perfume, oh my!), stylish offerings from Canadian brands like Smythe, and too many heart-stopping pairs of shoes to count. Holt Renfrew is truly a one-stop Canadian shop for those unforgettable magenta-wrapped gifts anyone would be thrilled to find under their tree.


Indigo
Whenever I’m shopping for hostess gifts, presents for the little ones, or some cute but useful stocking stuffers, Indigo is my go-to. My faves this year include Becoming by Michelle Obama, cozy reading socks, a chic mirror compact that doubles as a cell-phone charger, the latest Fitbit Charge 3 (it comes in rose gold!), Jenny Bird pins, and one of the hottest gifts this year – the gravity blanket (for those with anxiety issues or trouble sleeping). Lots of pre-Black Friday sales are happening at Indigo at the moment, so it’s a really great time to get your shop on and save some money on those holiday presents.


Shoppers Drug Mart
If you collect PC Optimum points, then holiday shopping at Shoppers Drug Mart is a no-brainer. You can buy some really great presents, while earning points to treat yourself later. At a recent holiday preview, I spotted some wonderful gift ideas like magnetic makeup brushes by Quo, a wide selection of designer fragrances, luxurious beauty advent calendars (like this huge one from Artdeco), sleek electric toothbrushes, and so much more! There are plenty of gifts for kids, tech geeks, makeup lovers, hosts and hostesses, husbands, boyfriends, the mailman…you name it. And best of all, a lot of these gifts are available online, and plenty of stores are open 24/7, letting you shop around the clock.

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What They Wore: Holt Renfrew Footwear Hall Launch Party


Last week, Holt Renfrew revealed their spacious, newly-renovated Bloor Street Footwear Hall in Toronto with a chic shopping party, complete with delicious hors d’oeuvres, elderflower cocktails, and a fun portrait studio helmed by George Pimentel himself. We got to check out the shiny new Gucci and Christian Louboutin boutiques within the Footwear Hall, browse the stylish bags and shoes from brands like Aquatalia, Acne, Balenciaga, Chloe, Valentino, and lots more! The renovated space boasts 7,800 square feet on the mezzanine level and offers plenty of plush seating perfect for trying on as many shoes as your heart desires.

If you still haven’t visited the new Footwear Hall, make sure to stop by the Holt Renfrew Bloor St location and put a pair or two on your wishlist for Santa!




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Shopping: Holt Renfrew Contemporary Treehouse


Spring can’t come soon enough, but for now, I am slowly but surely assembling my dream spring wardrobe, so that when the temperatures finally hit the double-digits, I’ll be ready! Plus, I am so sick of sweaters and coats, that shopping for dresses feels somehow therapeutic. The other day, I got to preview Holt Renfrew’s newly updated women’s contemporary floor at their Bloor St location, and it was everything I needed and more for spring. Inspired by the “architectural structure, warmth and magical escape of treehouses”, the floor has been transformed into a bright and inviting space, featuring visual elements such as chipboard finishes, ash veneer beams, and wooden vignettes…and stocked to the brim with a ton of cool new contemporary brands.

There’s an abundance of cool denim brands like RE/DONE (my fave!), Outland Denim, Grlfrnd, Mother Denim, and so much more. It’s the perfect one-stop-shop for those looking to invest in a new pair this season. As someone who lives in dresses in the summer, I was immediately drawn to racks upon racks of beautiful spring frocks. I tried on printed silk dresses from RIXO London, boho maxis from BA&SH, and the playful styles by Ganni..and I loved them all!

If you’re looking for a new bag this season, there are several uber-chic options from cool brands like Staud and Cult Gaia – accessories with a ton of style and reasonable price tags. I already wrote about this spring’s ethically-made H Project arrivals, which you can also find at Holt Renfrew’s Contemporary Treehouse.

If you haven’t visited the Bloor St location in a while, make sure to stop by soon – from the CHANEL Coco Game Center on the concourse level, to the Contemporary Treehouse on the top floor, there’s lots of exciting things to see and do at Holt Renfrew on Bloor St…and with the new Colette Grand Cafe coming soon, it’s about to get even better.



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What I Wore: Cute Winter Boots


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Breaking news! I finally found affordable, waterproof winter boots that look cute! After spending the entirety of December and most of January slipping and sliding in my stylish boots (or having to wear my clunky winter boots when the weather got really bad), I was determined to find a pair of waterproof leather boots with a non-slip rubber sole and faux fur lining, with a modest heel and at least knee-high, so I could wear them with culottes…but they had to be cute and versatile and also inexpensive (because I tend to ruin shoes almost immediately). That was quite a wishlist to fulfill…I considered La Canadienne – a Canadian brand I love, but all of the styles I liked were just out of my budget, and so I had to keep looking…until I found another Canadian brand – Blondo!

Let me preface this by saying that this is absolutely not sponsored, I simply fell in love with Blondo’s stylish selection of waterproof boots, and once I received my boots in the mail, I was super impressed with the quality too. So far, I picked up two pairs – a pair of ankle booties and these over-the-knee suede boots. Both are super comfy, waterproof, insulated, and they make every one of my winter outfits so much better. No more ugly winter boots for me. I honestly have no idea why I’ve spent so many winters in non-waterproof boots with slippery soles, the winterized Blondo boots were just as affordable and just as cute!

What’s your winter footwear strategy? Do you prefer the clunky winter boots? Do you know another footwear brand that makes cute winter boots? Share in the comments!





I Wore: Coat – Sonia Rykiel (The Room); Boots – Blondo (Naturalizer); Sweater – H&M; Bag – CHANEL

Shopping: ERDEM x H&M Collection Lookbook is Here!

HM_Erdem_Collection_Floral_Suit_2017
The ERDEM x H&M Collection will be arriving in stores and online on November 2nd, and now that the lookbook and official collection images are finally out, we can all start strategizing! Considering that prices for this collection go up to around CAD300, I will have to be very careful…otherwise I may end up spending way too much on this one. First of all, I NEED that floral suit, sequin slip dress, and hoodie…but I am also super into that Victorian blouse, leopard print coat, bow earrings, and strappy heels…Aghh…so tough to decide!!

Which pieces are on your wishlist? Share your faves in the comments!

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Beauty: Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick


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Last week, I attended the launch of the new Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick at Chocolates X Brandon Olsen (literally my fave chocolates in the city!). Before learning more about the collection, we had the chance to make our very own chocolate bars with cocoa butter in lovely shades of Bite’s lippies. Suited up in our Bite Beauty lab coats, we got down and dirty with cocoa butter, dark chocolate, hazelnuts, and other delicious ingredients, to make our dream chocolate bars.


Once our creations were put in the fridge to harden, Bite Beauty Founder Susanne Langmuir introduced us to the new lipstick collection. Just like the chocolates we were making, Bite Beauty liquid lipsticks are created by hand in small batches in Toronto, using natural ingredients like monoi butter and coconut oil, which leave lips feeling healthy and nourished. The new liquid lipsticks have a semi-glaze (satiny) finish and come in 12 highly-pigmented modern shades with fun names like Braised, Flambé, Eclair, and Marsala. After trying a couple of shades, I am so impressed with how rich and long-wearing the pigments are, and unlike with other liquid lipsticks, my lips don’t feel dry or sticky during and after wearing Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick, on the contrary, they feel nice and hydrated! And while I already have quite a sizeable collection of lip products, the liquified lipstick shades are just so good, I’ll be wearing Flambé and Candied throughout the summer and Marsala, Braised, and Whip come fall.

Are you excited about Bite Beauty’s new liquified lipsticks? Share your thoughts in the comments.




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ERDEM X H&M Collection Is Coming This November!


So excited right now!!! It was just officially announced that ERDEM x H&M Collection is hitting the stores on November 2nd, and I hope you are ready for line-up madness, because this collection looks LIT! Sorry, I don’t usually use words like “lit”, but I simply had to. A dreamy Baz Luhrmann teaser film was released today, and you can catch glimpses of the collection in it – the signature Erdem florals, a leopard print faux fur coat, printed silk PJs, pleats, and more. I can’t wait to see the lookbook and make my shopping wishlist…I anticipate that I’ll be adding a few party frocks (and that printed PJ set) to my closet come November.

The ERDEM x H&M collection will also mark the first time that the Canadian-born, London-based designer will be creating a menswear collection. “I’m so happy to collaborate with H&M, and to explore my work on a whole new scale including a menswear collection which I have never done before. It’s also such a thrill to work with Baz Luhrmann, on of the most important storytellers of our time”, says Erdem.

As a huge fan of Erdem Moralioglu and his designs, I am now super excited for November! Are you? Share in the comments.


Photo Credits: H&M

What I Wore: The First Long Weekend in May


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Victoria Day long weekend is just around the corner and for many Canadians this weekend marks the beginning of cottage season. While le bf and I aren’t cottage-owners, our usual Victoria Day long weekend plans involve packing our bags, renting a car, and driving to a hotel in Gravenhurst for a few days of sunshine, hiking, and swimming. Depending on the weather, my packing list for these trips is fairly uncomplicated – sweatshirts and comfy denim for chilly evenings, a dress or two for dinners out, a swimsuit, sunglasses, my fave HBC beach towels, beauty essentials, and a couple of easy to pack Tide PODS for clean laundry in a pinch (no musty towels for us!).

And since Victoria Day is the unofficial kick-off to cottage season, I partnered up with Tide to share the Cottage Laundry Care Guide for any upcoming weekend getaways you may have planned. Check it out after the jump!


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What I Wore: #BeNice


With Canada turning 150 this year, Roots has created the #BeNice campaign to celebrate Canadians who make this country a better place to live. You can nominate someone who deserves the title of Canada’s Nicest Person by sharing your stories on Facebook or Instagram and tagging @rootscanada with hashtags #BeNice and #RootsIsCanada. Canadian Olympic Champion Adam Van Koeverden will select the top 10 finalists, and it will then be up to the public to vote for who they believe is the nicest. The winner will be announced on June 20th, and will be recognized with a $10,000 donation to his or her charity of choice.

“We want to acknowledge those who embody Canadian nice – the kind of nice that takes guts, courage and strength,” says Van Koeverden. “We’re calling on Canadians to nominate nice and let us know who goes above and beyond to champion what they believe in to really make a difference.”

And while we’re on the topic of “nice”, Roots has also created the nice Button set ($3), with 100% of profits benefiting WE’s Indigenous Youth Empowerment Programming. For more info on Roots’ #BeNice campaign, upcoming events, celebrations, and art installations check out www.roots.com/nice!


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What They Wore: Fogo Island Shop Event at Holt Renfrew


I’ve been loving Holt Renfrew’s H Project pop up shops for a while now, but I’m particularly obsessed with everything H Project’s Uncrate Canada has to offer, including the new Fogo Island pop up offerings. Last week, I attended an event hosted by Alexandra Weston in honour of Holt Renfrew’s Fogo Island pop up shop with special guest, Zita Cobb, Founder of the Fogo Island Inn and CEO of the Shorecast Foundation.

Speaking to the attendees, Zita Cobb referred to patchwork quilts as a “perfect metaphor for everything we are doing here. This little patch could be Fogo Island…one patch alone will not keep you warm in the winter. If you figure out how to stich yourself to the other patches and keep stitching and stitching, you have a quilt…..I want to say to Alexandra and your team, you are really wonderful stitchers. Thank you so much for stitching us in.”

The Fogo Island pop up will be available at Holt Renfrew Bloor Street (with some pieces available online) until early May and will stock a variety of vibrant quilts, delicious artisanal jams, and handcrafted home decor – all made on Fogo Island. So if you are looking for a unique gift with meaning, make sure to stop by and shop this lovely collection while you still can. And while you’re at it, check out the rest of Holt Renfrew’s Uncrate Canada offerings – I am obsessed with the Obakki and Laura Siegel dresses they have in stores right now. 





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WHAT I WORE

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