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Holidays 2017: Best Gifts From Our Favourite Stores

21 November, 2017 Nelia 4 Comments

If you still haven’t started your holiday gift shopping, don’t panic. Black Friday is the best time to get deals on everything from hostess gifts to treat-yo-self goodies. And since one of the biggest sale days of the year is quickly approaching, I wanted to share my fave gift ideas from my most-frequented shops. My number one Black Friday (and Boxing Day) strategy includes a bit of pre-planning, favouriting all of my must-haves in my internet browser, and then buying it all online once sales are in effect. So go ahead, check out the fun gift ideas below, save your faves for later, and don’t forget to get something awesome for yourself!

1. Shopbop

Shopbop Sale is already in effect, and you can get up to an additional 30% off sale and regular-priced items until Nov 26th with promo code MORE17. My fave things to buy from Shopbop are usually the things that never go on sale, like Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots, and vintage CHANEL bags, but it’s also a great time to stock up on essentials like pretty undies and luxurious pajamas.

2. Sephora

Sephora is obviously a great place to shop for beauty, but what sets it apart is its selection of fab limited-edition gift sets. If you have a true beauty obsessive on your shopping list, treat them to a chic Armani Palette or the dreamy Naked Vault Volume IV…there are so many cool gift sets to choose from! My personal fave thing to order from Sephora (for myself) are the Caudalie sets – such a good deal compared to buying each thing separately!

3. Hudson’s Bay

I am still kicking myself for missing out on one of the recent Bay Days sales on Dyson vacuums, but thankfully, more hot sales will keep coming in the next few weeks. This year, I’m picking up some beautiful L’Occitane gifts from Hudson’s Bay, HBC PJs, and holding out hope for deals on anything from SMEG!

4. Indigo

Indigo is literally my happy place – any time I need a pick-me-up, I head on over to a store near my house to find my next fave book. This year, I highly recommend Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman (the movie is a masterpiece but so is the book). There are also a ton of gifts for anyone and everyone on your shopping list – from Fuji Instax Smartphone Printer to glam Jenny Bird earrings.

5. Holt Renfrew

1. Diptyque Constellation Candles ($145) 2. Charlotte Tilbury Naughty & Nice Magic Box ($250) 3. Twilly d’Hermès Eau de Parfum ($147) 4. Tiffany & Co. Piggy Bank ($170) 5. Me To We Choker ($50) 6. CHANEL Brush Collection ($234) 7. Holt Renfrew 2017 Holiday Bear ($55) 8. Bastide Bath Oil ($65)

If you haven’t been to Holt Renfrew on Bloor St lately, I highly recommend a visit – there are so many special activations and pop-up shops to discover, you’ll have a blast while getting things checked off your shopping list. There’s the CHANEL Gifting Studio with awesome freebies and exclusive items; a Tiffany & Co. pop-up shop with the chicest gifts around; there’s the Bandier pop-up where you can find sporty gifts for your loved ones or a perfect workout outfit for yourself. Either way, you are guaranteed to find a luxurious prezzie or five for your nearest and dearest.

Happy Shopping, everyone!

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What I Wore: Soft and Cozy

23 February, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

As February comes to a close, I look around my closet and realise that I’ve been pretty much wearing the same few pieces all winter long – same few sweaters paired with denim or work pants, and same few sweater dresses worn with fleece-lined tights. It’s not super creative, but I guess it’s a winter uniform that keeps me feeling warm and looking put-together during the cold winter months.

This season, I was very lucky to find a few of those perfect knitwear pieces that I get complimented on time and time again, and that I can totally see myself wearing for years to come (with a little TLC), which is why I’m so thankful for Ultra Downy Free & Gentle Liquid Fabric Conditioner. Truth be told, fabric softener is a fairly new discovery for me. For years, I didn’t see the importance of using it, until someone put it this way: detergent is like shampoo for your clothes, while fabric softener is like conditioner. You wouldn’t skip conditioner after shampooing your hair, so why not follow the same logic when washing your clothes?!

Once I started using Downy Fabric Conditioner, I noticed a huge difference in the way my clothes (and especially knits) look and feel. I no longer have to worry about washing my favourite knitwear pieces, because Downy Fabric Conditioner protects clothes at the fibre level to reduce damage from daily wear and frequent washing, which can prematurely age your clothes. When fibres are conditioned, they’re protected against stretching, fading, and pilling, giving you an extra season or two out of your favourite pieces. Even knitwear pros at We Are Knitters trust Downy Fabric Conditioner with their knits!

Thanks to Downy even my most frequently worn (and washed) sweaters look like new, and hopefully will continue to do so year after year.

What about you? Do you use Downy Fabric Conditioner to protect your knits? Share in the comments.

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Style Guide to a Smooth Valentine’s Day

1 February, 2017 Nelia 1 Comment

It’s no secret that Valentine’s Day is one of my favourite days of the year. I live for the cutesy boxes of candy and chocolates, can never say no to a cheesy teddy bear or two, and want to buy (and wear) heart prints all day every day during the month of February. Regardless of whether I’m coupled up or blissfully single, Valentine’s Day has always been my jam. Needless to say, I don’t mess around when it comes to planning my Valentine’s Day outfit and activities. Below are some of my personal Valentine’s Day tips, in case you need a few ideas.

1. #ChooseToSmooth
While I don’t generally encourage people to go out bare-legged in February, Valentine’s Day is certainly an exception to the rule. Wintertime can be quite rough on skin in general, and while some people use this time to let their leg hair grow wild, I find that shaving my legs regularly helps keep my skin nice and smooth, especially when I use Gillette Venus Swirl razor and shave gel. Venus razors are specifically designed for women’s curves with 5 individually adjusting Contour blades, and give me a quick (but long-lasting) shave, while gently exfoliating the skin all at the same time. And even when I’m too lazy to use the shaving gel, the water-activated MoistureGlide serum provides enough glide for a smooth and comfortable shave. As a result, my legs look and feel great during those rough winter months whether I’m grinning and baring it for Valentine’s Day, doing Barre on weekends, or just lounging around the house with le bf.

2. Plan Ahead
If you plan to go out on Valentine’s Day, then making a reservation ahead of time is key. Most restaurants will have various Valentine’s Day specials, but if you take too long, your options may be quite limited. If you’d like to try something new, Lavelle (where these photos were taken) is one of the city’s most beautiful new restaurants, with super romantic views of the city and a Valentine’s Day menu to drool for. Pre-buy your tickets online, and enjoy a (stress-free) romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.

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What I Wore: CHANEL Cruise Cuba Graphic Tee

1 September, 2016 Nelia 8 Comments

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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What I Wore: Summer Loving

20 June, 2016 Nelia 2 Comments

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: Pins and Brooches

25 March, 2016 Nelia 4 Comments

I picked up this T by Alexander Wang bomber during The Outnet’s clearance sale, and loved the simplicity of it. But when it came time to wearing it, I found that it was missing something…turns out it was missing several pins and brooches. After arranging a few of my faves on the jacket, it finally looked complete!

The rest of the outfit came together like a charm thanks to a few stand-out accessories – my new fave Bulova watch – so elegant and timeless, my old fave fuzzy Prada clutch – a perfect match to Odessa Paloma Parker’s Shrimps stunner, and the most amazing choker from Jenny Bird – the one you probably have seen a million times on my Snapchat (@styleblogca if you want to check it out). With other accessories, this would’ve been a completely different look, but I am pretty happy with the way this one turned out. What do you think?

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What I Wore: Hawaiian Lu’au

18 January, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

Feels a bit wrong sharing outfit posts from Hawaii while it’s snowing outside, but I’m thinking that a little escapism never hurt noone. I already wrote about our excellent hotel stay in Maui, and mentioned the fun that we had at the Drums of the Pacific Lu’au. Well, this is what I wore that night – a pleated Club Monaco dress roomy enough for all the food, yet pretty enough to go with the lovely orchid lei. I loved how it moved with each step…almost like a grass skirt during a hula dance. It’s definitely a new fave and I can’t wait to wear it again when it’s warm enough to pull it out of the closet. Is it June yet?

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Holidays 2015: Gift Guide

17 November, 2015 Nelia 1 Comment

Christmas is just over a month away, which means you’ve got just enough time to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. For someone the perfect gift might mean a bespoke bag, while someone else might be dreaming about a cordless vacuum cleaner (seriously guys, Dyson V6 Animal has changed my life!). This year, I put together a shoppable gift guide, with my fave things like ceramic cat mugs from Etsy, adorable housewares from Indigo, philosophy holiday gift sets, and CHANEL everything. I hope it gives you some ideas and makes your holiday shopping a little easier. Happy Shopping!

1. CHANEL Small Patent Calfskin Wallet
2. CHANEL Round Runway Sunglasses
3. Lanvin iPhone 6 Case
4. ela handbags M.I.L.C.K. Clutch with Chain
5. Apple Watch Hermès
6. Hugo Boss Bespoke Bag
7. Coach Glitter Passport Case
8. Jenny Bird Pearl Choker

1. Drake General Store Holiday Happy Hour Gift Pack
2. The New York Times 36 Hours Guide: World
3. Triple C Backup Phone Charger
4. TOMS Sunglasses
5. Comme Des Garcons PLAY Converse High-Top Sneakers
6. Drake General Store Work Week Sock Pack
7. Kenzo Logo Sweatshirt

More gift ideas after the jump!
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What I Wore: Scarftervention

1 October, 2015 Nelia 2 Comments

I am a huge procrastinator, and because of that, I have a stockpile of outfit posts from this summer (some from as far back as MARCH!) waiting to be posted. So now that it’s actual October and freezing outside, I am finally starting to publish my summer outfit posts…as one does. Sorry if it’s not relevant for you…but hopefully some of you are in warmer countries, where October feels the same as July in Toronto, in which case please ignore all of the above and enjoy.

This is obviously from back when I still had grey hair (which I now kinda miss), and was obsessed with this H&M red scarf. If you follow me on Instagram, then you probably saw this scarf numerous times already, because I pretty much wore it on a daily basis for 2 months straight. Now that my hair is pink and rainbowy, red doesn’t seem to suit my look as well, so the scarf has been retired…for now. It’s not a bad thing – if not for my new hair, I may have needed a scarftervention…plus people kept asking me if I was hiding hickeys. I wasn’t…most of the time.

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Holidays 2014: Gift Guide

17 November, 2014 Nelia 7 Comments

For some reason, this year, I am woefully unprepared for winter’s arrival, but since it’s practically end of November and there’s snow on the ground, I guess it’s time to snap out of my denial and start shopping. Full disclosure: I have yet to buy any presents, but I do have some ideas as to what I’ll be picking up for my loved ones this holiday season. And just in case you’re in the same boat, I thought I’d share some of my fave holiday gift ideas with you.

I glimpsed most of these back in July, during the annual holiday previews, and I have to say that this year in particular, those previews came in super handy. I got to learn about the existence of cool adult onesies, played with the Big Love Ball, and tried on the gorgeous Thomas Sabo infinity ring; I self-medicated with the all-natural Saje Pocket Pharmacy, and sipped on Inniskillin sparkling icewine. In short, I got to preview and test out a lot of the picks below, and I hope that this gift guide gives you some ideas for your holiday shopping this season. If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, and presents for him, her, and the kids, then this is a great place to start! Happy Shopping!