MY STYLE: SPRING FAVOURITES

Happy first week of spring, everyone! With last week’s dumping of snow, I thought we would never get here. But alas, the sun is staying out a few hours longer, the birds are chirping, and Easter is just around the corner. To get in the mood for the season, I thought I would share a few of my favourite spring fashion pieces.

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Flats: Flats are my fashion best friend. And although I wear them year round, I’m always excited when spring rolls around because I can finally wear them without hearing people ask “Aren’t your feet cold?” It’s a beautiful thing! Spring is also when I typically refresh my collection with a few new pairs. To me, spring cleaning is all about making room for pretty new things in your closest, am I right?

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Cheerful Colours: With the amount of black I own, you might think this is an odd choice. But I do love a brightly coloured piece, and the warm spring weather always seems like the perfect time to add some cheer to your wardrobe. My go-to spring colours are usually pinks, peaches and oranges, with the odd splash of teal in the mix. What are yours?

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The Shades: With the days getting longer and the sun getting brighter, you can’t forget to protect your pretty peepers. I tend to gravitate towards cat-eye or vintage inspired frames, as they add a little fun and whimsy to your look. And when you’ve been brunching too hard on a sunny Sunday morning with your gal pals, throw on a pair and nobody will be the wiser. Insta-style!

Do you add the same pieces to your spring wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below!

 

MY STYLE: SUMMER ESSENTIALS

Ice cream trucks, drinks on the patio, and concerts with the gals; we’re only a week into summer and it’s already shaping up to be a good one! With all this fun going on, the last thing I want to do is spend too much time in my closet wondering what I should wear. So I’ve put together some of my summer essentials to make dressing up in style a breeze!

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1. Maxi Dresses: If I could live in a maxi dress all year round, I probably would. I love that you can stay totally casual in a maxi dress, or jazz it up for any occasion with the simple addition of some beautiful accessories. This lovely paisley patterned dress from Old Navy can easily go from beach to dinner in a flash.

2. Sunglasses: You can always find a pair of sunglasses in my purse and in my car – I don’t go anywhere without them. These pink, cat eye shades from Torrid are super cute and make me feel like a movie star – even on the days where I’m simply running around doing errands.

3. Sandals: Goodbye boots and wool socks. Hello, stylish sandals! During the colder months, my socks are the first things to come off when I get home from work. So, when I can finally walk out the door in sandals, it’s a joyous occasion! These beauties from Stuart Weitzman have everything I love about sandals: they’re slingback, wedges, with an open-toe.

4. Nail Polish: Don’t forget to make sure your toes are ready for their summer debut! Pink is one of my go-to shades because it looks great on virtually all skin tones, and OPI always has a great selection of my favourite hue. I’m currently crushing on “What’s The Double Scoop?” from their Retro Summer collection.

5. Sun Hats: Protecting your skin during the sunny, summer months doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. This sun hat by Vera Bradley will keep you shaded and cool while its striped wide brim adds a fun touch to your look.

What is on your summer essentials list? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

MY STYLE: FALL PONCHOS

In my early twenties, I worked part-time at Penningtons, one of the few Canadian retail clothing stores that carried 14+. If I wanted to find trendy, age appropriate pieces for my wardrobe, I would look to the company’s MXM brand (who remembers MXM?!); it was limited, but I always tried to make it work. Fast forward ten years – I’m now in my early thirties, MXM is no more, and the options for trendy, plus size fashion are seemingly endless (this deserves a happy dance).

On the journey to a more stylish wardrobe, I’ve come across some wonderful local shops. Topping my list of favourites is Your Big Sister’s Closet. If you live in Toronto and have yet to stop by this boutique, you must get your fashion-loving butt over there asap! Shop owner, Karen, will make you feel like a million bucks, at a price that won’t break the bank! During my recent visit, I fell in love with a beautiful black and white knit poncho. I saw it in the window display as I drove by en-route to finding my parking space, and knew I had to try it on as soon as I stepped inside. So I did. And it was every bit as wonderful as I had imagined it would be! There was no doubt that this piece would make its blog debut along with me in my first ever fashion photo shoot. I’ve styled the poncho in three different ways to showcase its versatility for the fall; from casual to night on the town. Which look is your favourite?

Shop Look 1:  Jacket: Reitman’s Plus Size Faux Leather Jacket (similar) / Skirt: Reitman’s Denim Skirt / Boots: Addition Elle High Heel Boot (similar) / Addition Elle Opaque Stretchy Tight / Earrings: Ardene

Shop Look 2: Leggings: Addition Elle Cotton Spandex Legging / Shoes: Ardene White Leather Pointy Flats / Ring: Ardene  / Bracelets: Addition Elle / Sunglasses: Avon

Shop Look 3: Pants: Torrid (similar) / Jacket: Old Navy Peacoat (similar) / Shoes: Attitude