Pink & Blue.

This is the cute spring dress from the gap that I am thinking about buying.

Harbour Jersey Half-sleeve Dress in pink stripe.

Cardigan.

With the last gasp of winter over the weekend, I am pleased that the weather has turned pleasant! The temperature has reached 10 degrees celsius and I didn't have to wear a scarf with my coat. In warmer weather I like to wear sweaters or cardigans instead of jackets. To this end, I bought a cute cardigan from the Gap that was on sale. It was a wonderful deal, and the Gap online and in-store is still having wicked deals! I picked fuchsia because I thought it would look great with my darker clothing.

Gap Cardingan.

April Fools.

Although April Fools Day was yesterday, the weather has played tricks all weekend. It has been grey and warm, sunny and cold, and sunny and snowing! Despite the frigid temperature, the sun has been out and shining. This means that I have pulled out my trusty sunglasses. I have only had two really great pairs of sunglasses in my life. The first was a bright yellow pair from Nine West that I ended up breaking and repairing twice, before finally putting them to rest. The second pair is the ones I have now; they are also from Nine West and I hope to get several more years of wear out of them. Because one can never have too many pairs of sunglasses, I thought I'd post some. In the spirit of being frugal, I have included both high end and mid-range designers.

Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses DL69 in purple.

 

Steve Madden S5319 in black.

 

 Steve Madden S5248 in pink.

 

D&G DD8065 in black and grey.

Spring Dresses.

Banana Republic is having a one-day sale on its dresses! Use BRSPRING30 to take 30% off dresses. I decided to take a quick look at the dresses they have in stock as I haven't looked at their website in a while. I was pleased to find trendy colours and prints and great silhouettes. I am a huge fan of shift dresses, although they sometime look a little off on my body shape. I like the mint colour and the paisley print the best, and I will definitely try them on the next time I am at the mall.

Banana Republic Ponte Knit Square-Neck Sheath.

Banana Republic Paisley Print Dress. 

Banana Republic Carrie Printed Sheath.

Oynx.

I've been having a very busy week and have been taking comfort in browsing online. I am looking forward to going back to England in six weeks and I am looking at the shops online. Here are some of things that I am really into right now.: spring skirts, watches, and comfortable sandals.

J Crew Daisy Lace Mini.

Fossil Ladies’ Goldtone Link Watch.

Birkenstock Women’s Mayari Sandal in Onyx.

Trending.

I bought a couple of fashion magazines last week and have been slowly making my way through them. Trends that I really like are strips, checker print and dots. I looked up a few of the recommended clothes online and can see that these striking trends are going to be around for the next couple of seasons. Take a look and let me know what you like best in the comments!

Bebe Strapless Colourblocked Dress $129.
Bebe Stripped Multi Zip Skinny Jean $129.
Gap Printed Shift Dress $79.95.
Kate Spade Checkered Davi Capris $248.
Kate Spade Mariella Dress $448.
J Crew Embroidered Scout Chino $93.50.

Mexx.

I consider myself a smart shopper and am always interested in customer reward programs. I have two rules about such programs: (1) never pay; and (2) make sure they don't sell your private information.

When out shopping two weeks ago, I saw a sale sign at Mexx and ventured inside. I have several pieces from Mexx-- mostly dresses-- but find the stores are usually hit or miss. I was pleased to find some socks for a good deal and at the check out I learned about Mexx's new rewards program. There are three levels (Linen, Velvet & Silk) which give you points for every dollar you spend. After you spend so much, you receive coupons. Once you reach Silk level, Mexx will pay for custom tailoring on your purchases. Since suits tend to be boxy on me and require tailoring, this is a great incentive!

After signing up in store and filling out my information online, I have two $10 coupons and several hundred points. I am looking forward to a shopping trip soon where I can use my coupons.

 I think my first purchase using my Linen card will be this blazer...

New York Fashion Week: Victoria Beckham for Fall

I have profiled Victoria Beckham before as a style icon and today, I'd like to showcase some of her fall 2013 designs. Victoria has stated that this collection is "more affordable", but still meant for women with expensive tastes. She also said that she focused on fabrics and texture... which is evidence with her use of wool. The collection features mostly solid colours and colourblocking. I think that these outfits are a tad conservative in a very vibrant design period, but they are classic.

         -- JJ

On The Move.

With fresh snow and frigid temperatures, I am dreaming of a vacation. I would settle for anywhere south, but I would love to go back to Georgia for another visit. When I was there in January, the weather was a balmy 23 degrees  and I was warm!

I received an email for J Crew today about their spring collection and this delightful tee-shirt was featured. I must admit, on a lazy Saturday I like to wear a tee-shirt with a fun print on it. This one fits the bill because of its anchor design and my love of travel.

 J Crew Bon Voyage Tee. 

           -- JJ

Checked.

Trend Alert! I have recently noticed a few celebrities wearing checkered clothing. I think it is absolutely adorable, and a strong statement for women to make. Take a look and tell me what you think.

 

Louis Vuitton Damier Sequins Dress.

Louis Vuitton Scuba Small Damier Dress.

Louis Vuitton SS13. 

Trendy Professional.

As you may know, I am a law student and am avidly building a student-turned-professional wardrobe. I have been buying different types of blouses that I think will work well in private practice. I am often stuck between whether button downs or silk blouses are what is preferred. I guess I won't know until I start working as a lawyer what is most appropriate.

Right now, I am falling down on the side of non-button down blouses. I like this type of blouse because they are more feminine and still look neat. I have long liked Equipment blouses for their professional look and clean lines. This blouse is one of my favourites!

Keira with contrast Lapel Peacoat with Black Contrast Lapel.

Tips On Saving Time in the Morning.

During the winter I find it very difficult to get out of bed in the morning. When my alarm goes off, it is still dark out and I am not motivated to get out of bed. Lately I have been using these tips to help me make the most of the mornings and give me an extra snooze button of sleep!

1. Plan your outfit the night before (or even on the weekend). 

Planning what you will wear ahead of time will cut down on indecision in the mornings and will make you feel less rushed. I have recently started to plan my outfits on the weekend for the full week ahead. Since I enjoy planning my outfits, it's a fun activity on a cold weekend day.  I also like to pick five or six outfits in case I don't want to wear a particular outfit on a certain day-- sometimes it's just too cold to wear a dress in the winter!


2. Pack your bag the night before.

When I have an early class or appointment, I know that I will not be working on anything before I leave (unless, of course, it's an exam). I often tell myself that I'll read an extra case or will take more notes, but the truth is I won't. Having recently recognized this about myself, I started packing my backpack or purse the night before I have an early class. In doing so, I do not have to worry about forgetting a textbook, casebook, pencil case or my wallet! It gives me a few extra moments in the morning to enjoy my coffee and the news before I head out.


3. Set out breakfast essentials and coffee the night before.

My biggest morning time saver is preparing breakfast and coffee the night before. It's really easy to decide what fruit I will eat, prepare it in a dish, pour a glass of orange juice and put out my bowl for porridge. I also like to set out my coffee cup, and pour water into the coffee maker. I almost always eat the same thing for breakfast in the winter, so it's really easy to determine what bowls and cutlery I will be using. Doing all of these things takes about five minutes in the evening, but really makes my mornings easier. I am less rushed and do not have to make any decisions about what I will be eating. This also helps to maintain a healthy diet because I  make proper and well reasoned food decisions in the evening when I am not rushed for time.



4. Start percolating coffee before getting in the shower.

You'd be surprised how putting the coffee in the filter and turning on the coffee maker before getting in the shower boosts your morning productivity. Alongside setting everything out the night before, this will speed up your morning! When my coffee is ready for when I'm out of the shower and I can sip while getting ready, my morning vastly improves. If you like caffeine half as much as I do, this might be the best tip for you!



5. Wrap your hair to dry in a  towel while getting ready.

This tip is pretty common sense, when you get out of the shower wrap your wet hair into a towel turban and secure it on the top of your head. I have used this trick since I was young, and it significantly reduces the time it takes to dry my hair in the morning. I like to keep my hair wrapped while I put on my makeup to let me hair dry even more. I have also read that letting your hair dry 75% before blow drying prevents breakage and heat damage.

My Life On Parade.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of shopping in a Kate Spade boutique. The boutique was really lovely and carried handbags, accessories and clothing. I was pleased to see the black and white striped dress that Taylor Swift was photographed wearing last year. In hindsight, I wish I had tried it on. After all, the dress was on sale for half the price.

After delighting in the latest handbags and duds, I wanted to post about what I liked the most!

Kate Spade Checkered Franny Coat.

Kate Spade Colourblocked Blanche Dress.

Kate Spade Parker Place Margie.

Kate Spade Sawyer.

Weekend Casual.

Sadly, the weather has returned to normal January temperatures and I am cozying up in over-sized sweaters and casual pants. I decided to throw together a casual look that I could wear on a cold January weekend.

Zara Twist Knit Sweater.
Zara Skinny Jacquard Pants.
Zara High Heel Studded Ankle Boots.

Summer Lovin'.

I've always found it amusing that spring clothes are sold when there is snow on the ground. This year, I have been enjoying the prints and bright colours that are showing up in Spring Collections. I wanted to share with you, two bold pieces from Club Monaco.

Harper Dress.

Ophelie Shift Dress.

Inspiration.

The weather has been unusually mild for January. The snow is melting, and the thermostat is rising. I have been wearing two new jackets that I bought in December planning to wear this spring. I have found another delightful coat-- crisp lines and vibrant colours-- that I think is perfect for spring.

Boulevard trench in windowpane wool.

Final Sale: J Crew

As we all know, my favourite store is J Crew. I receive a ton of emails about new products and promotions. Today, I received an email about a further 30% reduction on all final sale items. I have perused the sales and picked out a few items that I would wear for a casual weekend.

J Crew Collection Fair Isle Turtleneck.

J Crew Signature Tee.

J Crew Sequin Bird Top.

Let it snow.

 


























The weather outside is frightful.... When I arrived back in Canada this week, I was greeted with two feet of snow and -20 C weather. On top of that, I am experiencing some heating difficulties in my apartment. Hopefully that will be resolved soon, but I am currently cozying up in warm sweaters. In light of the cold snap, I wanted to post some sweaters that I thought would be nice on a cold day like today.

J Crew Factory Instarsia Charley Sweater in Anchor.

J Crew Factory Classic Crewneck Cardigan in Antique Floral.

J Crew Factory Stripe Cotton V-Neck Sweater.

I would also like to highlight that J Crew Factory is having a New Years Sale for 15% off final sale items. The code is "NewYear". Enjoy shopping!

Blowout.

Shopping on boxing day is one of my favourite activities. This year, I was unable to go because I was not in Canada. While England also has big boxing day sales, I am staying in a charming town with few shops. I have been checking out some boxing day deals online and below are the best deals from Mango.

1. Mango Chiffon Tail-hem Maxi Dress.
2. Mango Double Layers Straight Cut Dress.
3. Mango Crystals Chain Bracelet.
4. Mango Chiffon Ruffle Top.
5. Mango Two Tone Sequin Tee-Shirt.
6. Mango Cropped Super Slim Fit Trousers.
7. Mango Contrasted Bow Ballerinas.
8. Mango Stones Wide Ring.

Winter Wonderland.

Happy Holidays! This year, I have had the opportunity to spend the holidays in England. I have had a wonderful time and am wishing I had a bit more time off. I love going to my local tea room for afternoon cream tea and have become a huge fan of clotted cream! When I left Canada, the weather was pretty miserable; slush and wet snow. Although English winter weather can be dreadful (think grey and raining), the temperature has been above zero and I have been scoping out some lovely winter jackets appropriate for a wet and mild winter.

ASOS Oasis Military Car Coat.

ASOS French Connection Clean Line Tailored Coat.

ASOS A Wear Tweed Pea Coat.

ASOS Mango Kate Collarless Military Coat.