8.28.2012

Bowed.


Kate Spade Hilda Cardigan.


 

Kate Spade Amanda Dress.



Kate Spade Jessie Top.

Niagara Falls New York Outlet Mall

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good bargain. I am willing to go out of my way to make sure that I get a good deal on designer clothes. This past week I decided that this would mean a 24 hour mad dash from Toronto to Niagara Falls New York to the Outlet Mall there.

This was an adventure, so my husband and I rented a Dodge Avenger (drives great & good on gas) for our trek. We decided to cross using the Lewiston-Queenston bridge on the way there and that was a mistake. Although it is free, there is construction on the highway leading to the bridge and at the crossing itself. We ended up waiting for two hours here, so make sure you listen to the radio to see what bridge to take. On our way back we used the Rainbow Bridge, and even though it cost $3 it was worth it. Take the Rainbow Bridge to cross between Canada and the United States; it was faster and the border guards were nicer.

After our border wait we went straight to the Outlets to make the most of our day. We stopped at the Olive Garden for lunch, it is right beside the outlets. I ordered the soup and salad, and my husband had the chicken alfredo. The food was delicious and what you generally expect from an Olive Garden. We were disappointed with the wait time (20 minutes at 2pm with half the restaurant empty) but the service was pretty good. Totally full, we went to the mall.

There is a variety of stores to choose from: Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Coach, Brooks Brother, the Gap, Banana Republic, BCBG, J Crew, Oakly, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bare Escentuals, Barneys, Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Nine West and Aldo. I was particularly pleased with Kate Spade, J Crew and Banana Republic. I was let down by the collection at both J Crew and Brooks Brothers-- there was not a wide selection and higher end items were non-existent. I was extremely disappointed with the Gap. The store was a mess, the clothing was poor quality and the selection was disgusting. They did not even carry their normal jean collection or dress pants! I was absolutely horrified and left disappointed and empty handed.

My overall impression of the Outlet Mall is good. I had a nice afternoon, ate tasty food and found a few bargains! I would recommend going through the week because there will be less people and maybe in an "off season". By that I mean mid September/October or in January through March. I would recommend an overnight trip because if you're Canadian you can bring back $200 worth of goods without paying 13% HST. Good deal all around!

8.25.2012

South of Temperance

This post is a first for my blog, I am going to review a restaurant I visited this past week. While on vacation in Toronto, Ontario a few friends and I went to South of Temperance. This is a trendy little restaurant in the Financial District of Toronto. The restaurant is located on the corner of Adelaide and Young Street.


We made reservations for a party of 6 at 8pm on a Tuesday. Members of our party had been there before on a weekend and it was really busy, but last week the place was empty and reservations were unnecessary. I ordered a "Drunken Arnold Palmer" which arrived quickly and was very pleased with it. For those that don't know, an Arnold Palmer is a drink made of 50% iced tea and 50% lemonade. The drunken was a shot of vodka. Mixed with plenty of ice, it was delicious!

As a vegetarian, the menu was rather limited. The waitress was helpful and pointed out what was vegetarian and I settled on the Apple Cheddar Salad. I was pleased with the salad; crisp greens, tasty goat cheese, and white grapes! I was very pleased with my salad until half-way through I realized there was a piece of plastic sitting near the bottom. I alerted the waitress and she informed me it was a bit of plastic from a drink decoration. My salad was re-made and I was given a more plentiful salad than the first time. I was also given another Drunken Arnold Palmer for free as well. I found this interesting because when my bill came, I was charged only for the first Palmer. Since we are talking $9 for a non-fancy drink, I would have preferred getting my entire meal for free. I was also unimpressed that I had to pay for anything, this is a fancy place and its client is "SUITS". I figured they would have treated me a bit better.

The other members of my party had varied dishes: BBQ burger, chicken wrap, and a salad. The consensus on the quality of the food was that it was OK. It was nothing special and if you were going to go for anything other than drinks or appetizers I would recommend going somewhere else. But I would recommend that Drunken Arnold Palmer, it was delicious.

Overall, I would rate South of Temperance a 7/10. It was a great night, good service but expensive for what you get and the kitchen was obviously not very organized. I'd recommend going for a drink on their patio but nothing more!

8.18.2012

Style Watch: Michelle Williams.

I have always been a fan of Michelle Williams, from when she played a misfit teen on Dawson's Creek to her role in Blue Valentine. Williams is a gifted actress, quite beautiful and a swanky dresser. All of these qualities aside, I like Michelle Williams because she comes off a classy, well adjusted woman and mother despite being under intense media scrutiny. I appreciate this in a Hollywood actress most of all and I hope you do too. To celebrate Williams in a lighter way, I'd like to share with you some of my favourite photos of her and her outfits!




 

 



Academic.

The summer is coming to an end and it is time for the fall semester to start. I am very excited for this school year, not just because I will be going through OCIs, I am also taking some excellent courses and I will ALMOST be done with my post-graduate education. As you get older, it is less fashionable to carry your things in a back pack. I have been looking on the web for different handbags that could be used instead of a backpack and found three I like by Dooney & Burke. Take a look and let me know which one you would choose!



Dooney & Burke Large Tassel Bag in natural.



Dooney & Burke Tall Double Gusset Handle Shopper in black.



Dooney & Burke The Medium Winston in Cognac.

8.17.2012

Astronomy.

Although I haven't had my ears pierced since I was a teenager I still find myself perusing the earring section at stores I like. If I had my ears pierced this is what I would wear.

 

Club Monaco Christina Stud.

Chic.

I have long been a fan of the Canadian brand Club Monaco. It is a trendy brand that sells chic and expensive clothing. Buying a few pieces of clothing from here will set you back quite a bit, but I have several pieces from Club Monaco and they have stood up to significant wear over the past two years. These are a few pieces from the summer collection that I really like.


Club Monaco Ava Sheath Dress.

 
 

Club Monaco Jennifer Tank Dress


 

Club Monaco Lani Silk Dress.



Club Monaco Medora Ribbon Sweater.

Feather & Flight.

I have been meaning to post this J Crew dress for a few weeks now. On my first look at this dress I thought that it was perfect for a modern wedding. Now, I think that it could be worn to a cocktail party. It is the perfect length to wear to a formal event and it has a great texture and is a more couture look. I saw a dress similar to this earlier this year in the H & M conscientious spring/summer collection but I like this J Crew one better.


J Crew Embroidered Feather Dress. 

What do you think, can this white dress be worn after labour day?

8.16.2012

Lemon Zest.

I signed up for the J Crew newsletter a few weeks ago and I have been inundated with emails about sales they and having and new arrivals. Having some spare time I decided to go through their newly arrived fall collection. There were quite a few pieces that I liked and I hope that you will like them too.

Overall, I really like J Crew's fall collection. There are some rich and deep colours that are perfect for fall. As always, there are many classic pieces (like the two dresses below) that everyone will like. As well, the Collection Sequin Colourblock Top is chic and perfect for wearing out at night. Take a look on the website and let's hear what you think in the comments section!



 J Crew Director Dress in Stretch Wool in dark grape. I would wear this dress to a job interview, to a business office office and with the right hair, make-up and accessories out for the evening.






J Crew Tippi Sweater in Argyle in Blue Burgundy Red.



J Crew Fashion's Night Out Tee in white. For a classic tee shirt this is really a fantastic piece. As always it is great quality and fashion for a cause! I like tee shirts like this to be baggy and over-sized, so I would recommend going up one size.



J Crew Collection Sequin Colourblock Top in lemon zest. What can I say about this top? I absolutely adore it, right down to its name!! I am a sucker for sequins so anything that looks classy and can pull this look off is a must have. I would recommend getting this top if you have deep pockets. But, if you are more like me, I will be waiting to see if it goes on sale later this year. 



J Crew Hacking Jacket in Herringbone in dark grape. This blazer is inspired by British riding jackets and is really elegant. I like that this blazer is structured, has fashionable pockets and comes in some very trendy colours.

Sharp.

I have long been a fan of Starbucks coffee and the brand. I first started drinking lattes when I was young and enamored with fancy $4 coffees. Now, I shop at Starbucks because I enjoy a good hot beverage in a swanky cafe.


My favourite drink is the non-fat sugar-free vanilla latte. I always get a tall because I am conscious of both the cost and calories in larger versions. Whenever I read an article about how to save money or lose weight it is always cutting back on your fancy coffee drinks! After reading an article about this today I decided to find out the nutritional content of my favourite $3.45 drink.


After customizing the size and type of milk used in my Latte this is the nutritional content I found. I am happy with what I found and how easy it is to find out the calorie count. I am happy with the sodium count and that there is protein and a delicious 75mg of caffeine. The only thing I am concerned about is the amount of sugar, a whopping 27g! However, I was unable to customize my vanilla to sugar free so I may be getting less sugar than what is shown here.


My favourite baked good to get with my latte is a Very Berry Scone. Unfortunately, this delicious scone is only available in the United Kingdom and not Canada or the United States. It's a real shame because I am going to miss it at the end of the summer. What is so delicious about this scone is the delicious berry in the middle of the scone and the brown sugar dusting the top! I almost never get it when I am at the local Starbucks; not because of calorie watching but because it is always sold out! Everyone loves this delicious scone and I highly recommend getting one if you're in England.

Legacy.

Today it hit me, the summer is coming to end and its turning into fall. When I was out shopping today I happened by the Coach display and was pleased with what I saw. I usually shy away from Coach bags because the distinctive logo is a turn off. Coach is trying to appeal to a different audience or maybe the creative directors realized they should lay off the branding craze. That is why I was pleased to see several bags that I adore.

 
Coach Legacy Colourblock Leather Candace Medium Carryall.



Coach Legacy Leather Tanner Tote.



Coach Haydee Loafer.



Coach Tristen Heel.

8.15.2012

Three.

Today's post features three pairs of shoes that I like by Nine West. I have long been a fan of Nine West shoes and I am pleased that they continue to be a quality and relevant product.

I remember the first time that I went into a Nine West boutique. It was about six years ago at the Toronto Yorkville store on Bloor Street. I remember walking in to the store and loving the elegant and chic displays of beautiful shoes. The sales people were very friendly and I left with my first pair of sparkly purple pumps. When I bought the pumps I was sure that the sparkles would come off and I would be looking for a new pair of pumps in a couple of months. However, to this day I have those pumps and they are in great shape. I really recommend buying Nine West and I hope you enjoy my picks.

 

Nine West Flax Pumps in nude.



Nine West Panto3 Flats in black.



Nine West PerfectPR boots in black.

8.14.2012

Illustrate.

I was browsing the American Vogue website and found some delightful fashion illustrations. While I am not artistically inclined, I have always loved these types of pictures. Honestly, they remind me a little bit of historic fashion mags. That's right, before photography and Photoshop became what it is today, magazines used these types of illustrations. Which one is your favourite?!






To see the full spread on Vogue.com click here.

8.13.2012

Four.

As I am slowly putting together my fall outfits I am coming across many pieces I like. Today I'd like to share five bottom pieces.


10 Crosby skirt by Derek Lam.


Davis Skinny Pant by Kate Spade New York.






8.11.2012

Belted.

I have many shift dresses and tunic shirts and have been searching for the perfect belt to cinch at my waist. I find that while I love the "potato sac" look, as I grow older I am looking for more a fitted look. What do you think?


Black leather belt by Banana Republic.



C-buckle Textured belt by Banana Republic.

I like both of these belts because of their simple and chic look. The reviews online state that buyers had been surprised of the width of these belts. I think that they missed the description that said the belts should be worn at the waist. In other words, neither are meant to be worn at the hips. 

On another note, Banana Republic is currently having a sale on top of these belts already being discounted so if you're looking for a belt, it's a great time to buy. Also, Banana Republic offers a 25% discount off of its full priced merchandise for students and military members with photo ID. If you're looking to upgrade your wardrobe it might be time to get into a Banana Republic store.

8.10.2012

Polished

Please take a look at these delightful shoes from a new brand that I discovered recently, Elizabeth & James. The brand is co-designed by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen and it is their take on modern fashion. Take a look at these designs:


Elizabeth and James Gavin Loafer in bordeaux.



Elizabeth and James Stela pumps in Cream Multi. The pumps are made from croc embossed leather and are made in Spain.

8.08.2012

Review: Country Club Plaza

Two years ago I had the pleasure of spending a summer in Missouri. I know what you're thinking, why didn't I spell it "Misery" as most joke? Well, I genuinely loved living in Missouri. I lived close enough to Kansas City that on the weekend we'd venture to the city and explore. Which brings me to my next point, why does everyone make fun of Kansas City? It's awesome. There are art museums, a raging jazz night life, lush public parks, a delicious farmer's market with baked goods, and to the point of this article, Country Club Plaza.

Country Club Plaza is a lovely, open-air shopping district. The district is styled after European boulevards with spacious sidewalks, gorgeous fountains, and in the summer, live music. Even if you're not looking to shop, walking around is a treat.


As you can tell from this photo, there is a J Crew store! I have fond memories of this place, the sales staff were always polite and they have a nice sale rack. Another stores that I like here are Banana Republic. On one visit when I walked in I received a scratch ticket for 50% off my total purchase price. It was a great deal! Other great stores include: Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, Halls, Burberry, H & M, The Gap, Brooks Brothers, Sperry, and Forever XXI. Country Club Plaza is great for shopping and always had good deals when I visited. If you're in the area or looking for a short weekend getaway I would recommend visiting Kansas City and stopping at Country Club Plaza.

The Cheesecake Factory

In case the lovely shopping has convinced you, there is also a fantastic movie theatre, and great restaurants. Maybe it's because I am not from the south, but I loved going to The Cheesecake Factory. I ate there two or three times and always had delicious food! The portions, even for lunch, were huge so I would recommend splitting a meal with someone. There are also Figlio Italian Restaurant, a California Pizza Kitchen, and a cupcake shop called Cupcake A La Mode. Whatever your palate, I am sure that you'll find something you like.


There is also a Starbucks which I went to a few times. My favourite visit was in the winter when there was snow in the air and my husband and I got a salted hot chocolate and a chai tea latte. We sat inside to warm up before going back out to finish our shopping. During another summer visit, I had an iced tea and we sat outside in on the terrace. Lovely memories!

Overall, my experiences shopping at Country Club Plaza were wonderful and I highly recommend this shopping district to anyone who enjoys a day out!