Style Blog | Canadian Fashion and Lifestyle News

Blog about Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Shopping, and Everything That is Stylish

Gadgets: Fitbit Alta HR Review


If you know me IRL, you know that I am slightly obsessed with Fitbit fitness trackers. Every day I try to hit at least 10K steps, I check my sleeping stats religiously, and get into somewhat heated stepping competitions with friends and family on the app. But as far as obsessions go, this one has helped me get off the couch, become more fit, and yes, lose weight.
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2765551″]
My first Fitbit tracker was Fitbit Alta, I loved its sleek design and how inconspicuous it was. I could stack a few bracelets around it to dress it up, or wear it as-is and not feel like I had a fitness tracker on – it was pretty perfect. Then, a few months ago I tried Fitbit Charge 2, and with this tracker I could also monitor my heart rate, helping me get a more precise reading of my daily calorie burn, and helping me track exercise better.

But while I loved the functionality and features of Charge 2 (Guided Breathing Sessions were a huge bonus!), with its wider screen and band I found myself missing my thinner tracker. What I really wanted was to wear my Alta, but with all of the benefits of heart rate readings too. Well, my prayers have been answered with the new and improved Fitbit Alta HR – it still offers the same stylish design, but this time with a PurePulse Heart Rate monitor built-in, so I can track low-step exercise like Barre better, keep an eye on my resting heart rate changes, and get a better overall understanding of my fitness level.


These days my Fitbit Alta HR is on my wrist every single day – from work to sleep and everything in between, and I truly can’t imagine how I ever functioned without it. It made me a more active person, and it fits my personal style – what more can you ask for?


Fitbit tracker was provided free of charge. All opinions are my own.

Shopping: 5 Pieces Worth Splurging On

Investment-Pieces-Bag

I often get questions from friends and readers alike, asking me to cover what I consider investment pieces – expensive clothing and accessories that aren’t a waste of money. And while  most of the usual “investment” pieces aren’t really that great of an investment if you are looking to make a monetary return, in my opinion, sometimes it pays to spend a little (or even a lot) more on something that will make you happy for a long time, something of superior quality and craftsmanship, something that you could eventually pass down to your grandchildren. So if you are looking to buy something of substance, here are my top 5 pieces worth splurging on, and brands to invest in.

1. Quality Bag

A great quality bag is a must-have for any (and every) working woman out there. Unlike men, we really do need a place to stash our wallet/lipstick/compact/iPad/iPhone/book/snacks/keys/life…A woman’s bag is something that gets used day after day, so why not make it a great one? A timeless high-quality bag is definitely my number one investment piece to consider. Yes, a cheaper one would certainly do the job, but if you consider cost-per-wear (total price paid divided by the number of times the item is used), even a pricey purse could be affordable. If you love your bag, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll wear it everywhere and with everything. And given the quality of your investment, you’ll have it for years to come instead of being used up and thrown out like a cheaper version.

If you are going to make the leap and buy an expensive bag, you should consider its longevity. You don’t want to buy a super-trendy piece, only to realize that it’s totally passé three months later. Invest in a classic shape, and a solid colour. It doesn’t have to be “boring” black (although black is the most versatile), but make sure to pick a colour that you could pair with a few things in your wardrobe, and one that would make you smile too.

Brands To Invest In: Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Hermès, YSL

Investment-Pieces-Statement-Accessory

2. Heirloom

Whether it be a luxurious timepiece, or a pair of  in-your-face of sunnies, every woman should have a statement accessory to make her outfits pop. Investing in a piece of jewelry, or an accessory that will surely become an heirloom some day down the road is much better than spending the same amount of money on a pile of fast fashion baubles that will break or become discoloured after a couple of uses.

One of my fave pieces in my jewellery box is a turquoise YSL Arty ring. Every time I wear it, I get compliments left and right, and I have yet to find an outfit I couldn’t spice up with that pretty cocktail ring. Same goes for my classic Chanel brooch – so far, I’ve pinned it to my blazers, shirts, and sweaters, but it can also be worn as a necklace, and a faux belt buckle. Don’t you wish your mom or grandma passed down something like that to you?

Brands To Invest In: Cartier, Tiffany and Co, Chanel, Prada, YSL

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

What I Wore: School’s Out For Summer

Here’s a quick look at what I wore to Lisa and Wendy’s Hip & Urban Girl anniversary at SCHOOL. This Missoni skirt is by far, one of my most favorite Winners finds ever. It wasn’t cheap, but since I can wear it as a skirt and as a dress – this double duty makes it worth every penny. And the colors, the knit, the pattern…love it all so much!

And once again…the Levi’s denim jacket. It’s practically second skin to me, especially with this ever-changing weather – it keeps me warm, while looking cool. Right? RIGHT?

What I Wore: Skirt worn as a dress – Missoni (Winners); Denim Jacket – c/o Levi’s; Belt, Friendship Bracelets, Rings – H&M; Bag – c/o Ecco; Shoes – Zara; Turquoise Ring – YSL; Bracelet – BCBG

Photos by Sharon Ng-Hayes

What I Wore: Fancy Pants

When I saw these pants at Macy’s (old lady section) earlier this month, it was love at first sight. Damask print? Check. Ankle lengh? Check. Breezy cotton for the summer? Check. Perfection in one old-lady-pant package. Don’t you think? I think, life is too short to be wearing boring pants. So from now on…my mission in life is to wear as many “fancy” pants as possible. So far so good?

I Wore: Pants – Charter Club for Macy’s; Tank Top – H&M; Denim Jacket – c/o Levi’s; Shoes – BCBGeneration; Necklace – Forever21; Bracelet – Urban Outfitters; Backpack – Chanel; Sunglasses – Ray Ban

What I Wore: Summer Uniform

Remember my winter uniform? Well, this is my summer one. For the times when I’m too tired, too lazy, or simply have one of those “nothing to wear” days, this is what I put on. Simplest formula ever: dress (maxi, mini, midi, whatever) + denim jacket + sandals + Ray Bans…tah dah!

I’ve been getting tons of compliments on this denim jacket. And I’ve also been wearing it pretty much non-stop for over a month. It’s Levi’s – the classic trucker jacket. I have the same one in a darker shade of blue as well. You can never have too much of a good thing, right?

So, I’m curious to know. Do you have a summer uniform? What’s your easy-breezy-summer–dressing-formula? Share in the comments.

I Wore: Dress – Old Navy; Jacket – Levi’s; Bag – c/o Ecco; Shoes – Zara; Sunglasses – Ray Ban

Levi’s Fall 2011 Preview

Earlier this month, Levi’s team held a preview of their  Fall 2011 collection at the Thrush Holmes Gallery in Toronto. As an avid Levi’s lover, I was really excited to see what’s to come in the fall.  5 distinct lines were shown: 

Water<Less: Making jeans, and creating various washes of jeans is very water-consuming. Levi’s Water<Less jeans reduce water usage by an average of 28% per pair and up to 96% for some styles. Another cool thing about the Water<Less collection is that t-shirts and other articles of clothing are dyed with water which was used in creating the denim! Now that’s what I call multi-tasking.

Curve ID: You already know that I am a huge Curve ID convert, and for Fall 2011, the selection of Curve ID jeans is better than ever, with cool zip detailing, more silhouettes, and great new washes.

Commuter: The Commuter collection was hands down one of the coolest I have seen in a while. Designed for a downtown commuter, pieces from this collection are as comfortable as they are innovative, with large jacket pockets, 3M reflectivity, some are even water resistant, dirt repellant, and…wait for it…offer sanitized brand technology. A denim jacket that repels bacteria and can hold a u-lock? Pretty amazing!

Flare: The original flare was born in 1969 as part of Levi’s For Gals line, and for Fall 2011, the company is re-introducing the popular silhouette. The orange tab on the back pocket indicates a retro style brought back from the archives. Definitely on my must-buy list for fall.

Taper: For guys, the fall silhouette has an extended rise and a slim, tailored leg, offered in both denim and non-denim fabrics.

My favorite pieces from the lines included a cool denim tunic, retro flares, and the navajo-printed tops, which I could actually use right about now – too bad I’ll have to wait until fall to get my hands on them.

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

Shopping: Levi’s Curve ID

Last week, Johanne of Fashion in Motion and I were whisked away to the magical shopping playground of Yorkdale to try on some jeans from Levi’s Curve ID line, courtesy of Matchstick and Levi Strauss & Co. It was all very Pretty Woman meets Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants…only there were no ladies of the night, and we didn’t have to share the same old pair of jeans…Ok, so maybe it wasn’t exactly like PW or SOTP, but what it was…is awesome!

Thanks to my newfound denim fairy godmother (Yorkdale Levi’s manager Grace), I got measured to find out what type of Curve I am, and though the online quiz  deemed me a Demi, Grace said that I was probably more of a Bold. Based on the fitting, I got to try on a few different styles, both in Bold and in Demi – straight, skinny, skinny boot, and bootcut.

While trying on Bold Curve jeans, I found that, indeed, as Grace stated earlier, my assets (pun intended) popped more. With Bold, I found that the waist was higher and the jeans hugged me in all the right places, while making my “humps” stand out, a la JLo. They fit snug, but not too tight, with no gaping at the waist. 

Demi Curve was more demure on me than the Bold, less in your face, and more relaxed. I found that this fit really flattered my waist, made my legs look longer, while visibly shrinking my thighs. And since these jeans still fit me like a glove, hugging and enhancing in all the right spots, Demi Curve got my stamp of approval. 

Just out of curiosity, I tried to squeeze into a pair of Slight Curve jeans, with mixed results. My behind looked better than ever (in my eyes), but the resounding opinion of our Ya-Ya Denim Sisterhood was that it made my bum look smaller, not rounder. Either way, the waist on the Slight Curve pair was far too low for my liking, and as much as I loved the divine softness of the fabric, I had to let it go. For girls with smaller behinds and a straight figure, however, these would be just perfect. Alas, not for me.

Levi’s Curve ID fit program was specifically designed to enhance women’s figures and curves, not to hide them, with wonderful knowledge that not all women are made the same. And for that, I am sincerely grateful. It might take a while to find that perfect pair of jeans that you know you’ll love forever. But with friendly and knowledgeable service at Levi’s, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t stop by and check out the Curve ID line. And if you’re just too lazy to try on new jeans, here’s an extra incentive for you – the sales guys are super cute and helpful! Now get that gorgeous booty off the couch, and head on over to Levi’s for your very own Custom Fitting now! It might not change your life, but it will certainly change the way you shop for jeans…possibly forever.

If you would like to try Levi’s Curve ID for yourself, head on over to Elle Canada Facebook Page to enter their denim giveaway bonanza! Elle Canada will be giving away 1 pair of jeans daily for 1 month (March 14th-April 12th). Amazing, right? Best of luck, and if you do end up falling in love with Curve ID, make sure to drop me a line!  

WHAT I WORE

LET’S GET SOCIAL!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.