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CHANEL Resort 2018 Collection – Modernity of Antiquity

10 May, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

I’ve been meaning to write about the CHANEL Cruise 2018 show for a few days now, but life and work got in the way…until now. Unlike many of the CHANEL resort shows, this year’s Modernity of Antiquity collection was presented in Paris instead of the destination which inspired the designs. But of course, that just meant that the Grand Palais was transformed into Karl’s vision of Ancient Greece, complete with weathered columns and crumbling rocks, sparse greenery, and a headless statue of Venus (a copy of Coco Chanel’s own statue that I was lucky to see at her rue Cambon apartment in Paris). The collection itself was both very true to the spirit of CHANEL, but with many subtle (and not to subtle) nods to its Hellenic inspirations.

The palette consisted of neutrals and blues, punctuated by pops of gold. It’s not my personal preference when it comes to clothing, but I did appreciate the intricate vine embroidery and vase-inspired prints. Traditional CHANEL tweeds were transformed into chic togas, strappy heels had Greek columns for heels, and plenty of covet-worthy jewels were on display – from dainty chokers to stacked cuffs and armbands. Standout accessories included a gold coin clutch, gilded laurel leaf sunglasses (NEED!!!), and statement belts, though my personal favourite was probably the metallic backpack in what appeared to be pleated leather. Just like with the CHANEL Cuba collection, I predict the CC logo t-shirt to become yet another best-seller, both wearable and so uniquely CHANEL.

What did you think about CHANEL Cruise 2018 collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

More photos after the jump!
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What I Wore: Seven Magic Mountains

1 May, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

By now, I am sure you’ve seen dozens of photos from Seven Magic Mountains – the larger than life (temporary) art installation by Ugo Rondinone just outside of Las Vegas – but here I am with more…simply because the colourful rocks truly were incredible to see in person…and I had to show you my new favourite dress. Getting the shot involved waiting around for waves of people to subside, running over to the nearest vacant rock formation as quickly as I could, while my husband snapped away. We probably should’ve arrived at sunrise to avoid the crowds, but who wakes up that early in Vegas?! Not us.

We shot these photos on our way to Palm Springs from Las Vegas, taking the scenic route through the Mojave National Preserve instead of the boring highways, and were rewarded with endless Joshua trees, cool rock formations, and the open road – driving for miles with no other cars in sight. If you ever make the drive, I highly recommend taking this route, it will take longer to get to your destination, but the journey will be seriously worth it.

But back to my dress. Though I said good-bye to my unicorn locks, I’m still dressing like one…especially when in California. Which is why when I saw this tie-dye-inspired watercolour-dreams slip dress, I knew I had to have it. I ordered it from ASOS, and while sadly it was slightly too big, exchanging it wasn’t an option (so expensive!), so I wore it as-is…and though I probably flashed a few Joshua trees while twirling around in the desert, I am kinda digging the loose look of this maxi…and of course, the slightly-faded pastel print. I am sure I’ll wear it a lot this summer, even if the setting won’t be quite as picturesque.

So tell me, have you visited Seven Magic Mountains yet? Planning to? Share in the comments.

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Wishlist: CHANEL Fall 2017 Bags and Accessories

29 March, 2017 Nelia 2 Comments

Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to put a rocket ship in the middle of the Grand Palais and still make it about fashion. With space as inspiration, the CHANEL Fall 2017 collection certainly left me star-struck. Astronaut, planet and constellation prints, moon and star jewelry, iridescent tweeds, and even textures imitating planetary surfaces were all part of the dreamy “Ground Control” collection. And while the majority of the pieces were created in a classic palette of black, silver and white, the dreamy midnight blue tweeds studded with beads and pearls (and reminiscent of starry skies), as well as metallic green leather pieces added the exciting pops of colour to the collection.

For me, the standout accessories included the adorable rocket minaudiere, the beautiful CHANEL SPACE constellation clutch, and the star and moon brooches and necklaces. It seems that backpacks are also firmly back as part of CHANEL’s regular offering, as several styles of backpacks were shown on the runway – larger and sportier than the classic quilted leather ones of prior seasons, so perfect for interstellar exploring or the more mundane air travel. Most models rocked various versions of the square-toed glitter boots on the runway, paired with the embellished wool headbands and Brigitte Bardot-inspired hairstyles – lending the show retro 60’s vibes…and perhaps a cheeky nod to the 60’s Space Race.

Scroll through the gallery below and let me know which pieces caught your eye, and whether you loved the stellar CHANEL Fall 2017 collection as much as I did.

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Shopping: Buying Your First CHANEL Bag

9 January, 2017 Nelia 2 Comments

If you’ve been following this blog for a few years, you know that I am a huge CHANEL fangirl. Over the years, I’ve gotten many emails from readers who also love CHANEL and want to buy a bag, but for a variety of reasons haven’t pulled the trigger just yet. Questions range from “when is the best time to buy” to “how can you afford all these bags”. Well, today’s post is all about buying your first (or second, or tenth) CHANEL bag, and how to do it without going broke and having to eat ramen for a year. If you’re the type of person who believes that it’s insane to spend thousands of dollars on a designer bag, then this post is definitely not for you, but if you are seriously considering this major purchase and need a few helpful suggestions, then keep reading.

1. Choose Your Style
A classic CHANEL bag is an investment. Year after year, prices of CHANEL products continue to rise, and with each increase, it becomes more and more difficult to get your hands on a coveted bag. Back in 2008 a friend of mine picked up a medium CHANEL 2.55 bag for around CAD 2,000.00. At the time, I thought she was crazy. Fast forward to 2010, and I was picking up my own 2.55 wishing I’d done it much sooner. The lesson here is that if you can afford a bag now and know exactly which style you’re after, then waiting around is not the best strategy. As ridiculous as the price may seem initially, these bags are supposed to last you a lifetime (with proper care) – an heirloom for your future kids, and a bag that looks great on 20 and 80 year olds alike.

But in order to commit to spending a ton of money on one item, you first need to know which style you are crazy about. Are you a classic flap girl, always dreamed of having a CHANEL Boy bag, or are you more of a backpack girl? Choose a style that suits your personality, and one you can foresee yourself proudly wearing a few years down the road. Carefully consider the colour of hardware (silver, gold, gunmetal), the length of the strap (do you prefer cross-body, over the shoulder, or both?), the type of leather (lambskin is more fragile, caviar is less scratch-prone), reissue or classic, and of course the overall colour (black is a no-brainer, but maybe you’ve always dreamed of one in colourful tweed). Go to a nearby boutique and ask to see a few bags. Try them on, look inside, see how versatile each bag is and whether it’s comfortable to carry. Don’t be shy, it’s better to be 100% certain that the bag you’re buying is the one for you, especially when it’s your first.

2. Save Up
If you’re not one of the lucky few who can afford to buy a bag right away, then saving up is key. Go to your bank and open a savings account with automated weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly contributions. Little by little, your savings will add up, and perhaps with the help of your yearly bonus (or maybe lotto winnings?) some day soon you’ll be able to march into the nearby CHANEL boutique and finally buy the bag of your dreams. It should go without saying that if you’re saving up for a big purchase, then another way to save your pennies is to reduce the number of times you eat out and get take out coffee. Bringing lunch to work may seem like a chore, but in the end, you’ll be able to save faster. Another way to beef up your CHANEL fund is to ask your friends and family for CHANEL gift cards for your birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or whatever other holidays you celebrate. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch, let me just say that CHANEL gift cards are available in many denominations – you can get one for as little as $20! So if you’re comfortable telling your parents, your spouse, or your friends that you are currently saving up for a bag and would appreciate a gift card from CHANEL in lieu of other gifts, I am sure they won’t judge (or maybe they will, but that’s a different story). This is especially handy for those of us who are really tough to buy for, so really, it’s a win-win for everyone.

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What I Wore: Langdon Hall

30 May, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

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: WMCFW Outfit Roundup

24 November, 2015 Nelia 2 Comments

I’ve been meaning to share some of the street style photos of my outfits from WMCFW, and while it’s been over a month, I really love these photos, so I guess better late than never? This season, with my hair a shocking shade of blue, I had to be careful not to dress too crazy while still staying true to my playful spirit. Naturally, I gravitated to black and complimenting shades of blue, but I also ended up wearing colourful stripes one day, because why the heck not? Let me know which look is your fave in the comments.