Happy Halloween

Firstly, I would like to send my thoughts and prayers out to all of those who have suffered through the wrath of "Hurricane Sandy". Mother Nature can be quite cruel at times and my heart goes out to the families who have been affected. I made it back from my trip just in time for Halloween. I always loved this holiday as it meant bags and bags full of candy! Now I look forward to any leftovers once the children have all gone home for the night. While I would love to wear this dress from Topshop today...... I will make do with my pumpkin earrings.

www.shinystyle.tv

My View....Aruba

I am going to hate to leave this place. I'm off to enjoy my last day in Aruba. It is going to be another relaxing day with a very long walk. Here is my view for the day and what I will be wearing.

Sunny Days.....

I don't want to rub it in as I believe the weather back home is a little cool but dressing for hot weather is so much easier than dressing for cold weather! It is HOT HOT HOT here so today it's all about the maxi dress, sandals, minimal jewellery and sunglasses.

Quote Day

I'm lying on the beach today, thinking about how so many women are not satisfied with their bodies (present company included). I don't think anyone loves everything about their own body, we are always striving to look like someone else. Maybe we should embrace what we have and just forget about everyone else. Focus on the one thing you love about yourself.....Thought this quote was fitting.

Off to the Sun and Sand......

I have been fortunate enough to have had many opportunities to travel over the past few years. There is nothing better than getting away, wether it be for a mini 4 day trip or a 10 day adventure. Seeing different things  and experiencing different cultures is amazing. I am off TODAY for a mini sun and sand vacation & am excited to feel some warmth. If there is one thing I have mastered it is what I call my "travel bag" this may be a purse you decide to carry on the plane or a knapsack however, it is essential! I love my Michael Kors travel bag as it is big enough to fit everything I need but not too big that it doesn't fit under the seat. (hate having to get up and manoeuvre around people every time you need to get something out of your bag).  Here is a list of must haves that I carry with me:
1. Pashmina - this is a MUST regardless of time of year, most planes tend to be cold, this can also double as a blanket.
2. Socks - I always carry a pair of warm fuzzy socks - (only if I am not wearing socks already). If you are wearing flip flops socks are great as they feel like you are wearing slippers and keep your feet warm.
3. Eye Mask - essential for overnight flights. I once sat near the bathrooms and even though the plane was dark every time those doors opened the light would wake me up.
4. My iPad - I love my iPad, I have the option of reading, playing games, listening to music, watching a movie.....etc you get the idea.
5. Gum/Mints plus a snack - Always a good idea you never know how long you will be stuck without something to eat.
6. Lip gloss / Brush -  always makes you feel a little better if you can comb your hair & put on lip gloss.
7. If you don't bring carry on and checked your bags and are heading somewhere HOT always throw your bathing suit in your bag, trust me if you arrive somewhere tropical and your suitcase doesn't, at least you can throw on your bathing suit and head to the beach. (No one wants to have to try and shop for a bathing suit when they are under pressure to do so!)

World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto

This week is "World MasterCard Fashion Week" in Toronto. I unfortunately never made it to any of the shows but have been keeping up on what's being shown and how it can be incorporated into our wardrobes. Here are three trends and how we can wear them.

Black Jumpsuit shown at Tanya Taylor. A less pricey version from Zara for $80.00

www.torontosun.com

Chestnut Skinny Pants shown at Holt Renfrew. A less pricey version from Smart Set for $57.00

www.torontosun.com

Geometric Patterns at the Jean Pierre Braganza show. A less pricey version from Mexx for $75.00

www.torontosun.com

Online Shopping

There are so many great discount on-line shopping sites, they are great if you want to buy that trendy pair of shoes but don't want to spend a fortune on something you may only wear one season.  I came across one and now get updates emailed to me every day. This takes a lot of willpower to refrain from purchasing all of the great items at discounted prices! They have tons of well known brands and lots that I have never heard of as well. They also carry everything including household items, kids clothes, jewellery  and candy...what could be better? Check it out "www.beyondtherack.com". Both of the shoes below are $29.99.

Thrift Shopping

I have not been thrift shopping in many many years. I decided it was time again, so I  hit the thrift shops to see what I could find. I was pleasantly surprised and came out with quite a few items. Below is a tan blazer that I paid $6.99 for and a graphic long sleeve top I paid $2.99 for. Not bad and well worth the trip!!

Rain Rain Go Away....

It has been pouring rain for the past 9 hours at least, with no end in sight, and I realized that I do not own a pair of rain boots. With all of the options out there, gone are the days of your only choice being the ugly black rubber boots. Here are a few to consider in all price ranges.

                                                                             

Amazon  -  $40.00

Old Navy - $23.00

                   

Michael Kors  -  $144.00

  

My Grandmother's Dress

I unfortunately never got to truly know my grandmother. She passed away when I was too small to remember much. When I look at old photos and see how stylish and regal she was, I wish she was still around as I am sure we would have been kindred spirits. The only thing I have from my grandmother is a dress that her mother made for her honeymoon in 1936. Somehow this dress has lasted and when my mother gave it to me I was shocked at how well it was tailored and the fact that it fit me like a glove. My hope is that one day I will have somewhere to wear this dress and know that my grandmother is looking down on me with a smile.

Quote Day!

Today is my BFF's Birthday (Happy Birthday!!) so in honour of her I chose this quote. As women get older they often tend to tone down their fashion choices. There is nothing better than seeing a more mature woman who still dresses with style and on trend.

Printed Jeans

Another huge trend this year has been printed jeans. This could be anything from polka dots, florals or animal prints. I love the look of python and recently purchased this pair. I am showing them dressed down for more of a casual look, but would also wear them with a sparkly top and boots for a dressier alternative.

Target & Neiman Marcus!

To celebrate 50 years of design Neiman Marcus is teaming up with Target to offer a limited time Holiday Collection (starting Dec. 1st). There are some amazing designers included in this partnership and reasonable prices. Check out some of the pieces below. Scarf from Marc Jacobs, Sweatshirt from Proenza Schouler, Sweater from Rag & Bone and a Lunch Box from Tory Burch. In Canada we have to wait until spring to shop at Target so if you want to check out any of these items you will need to do some cross border shopping.

www.target.com

www.target.com

www.target.com

www.target.com

Coloured Denim

I am loving all of the coloured denim right now. I already own a pair of the electric blue but recently decided to purchased a pair of red. Love the look of red with black but it also works great with white and I may even pair them with my leopard blouse. Here is a look I took from "Fergie".

Arm Candy

The possibilities are endless. Throw on your watch and then just start piling on your favourite bracelets. No two looks will ever be the same. You can also mix high end pieces with low end pieces. Here are a couple of my looks.

My Oprah Dress

6 months ago today I got to check something off my bucket list. For 20 years I had wanted to go see Oprah in Chicago, I kept putting it off, and then she announced it would be her final year and I knew there was no way I was getting tickets. I was upset and figured I would never get the chance. So when I heard she was coming to Toronto back in April I made sure I got tickets! I went so far as to get up at 4am to stand in line with thousands of other women (and a few men) as seating was first come first serve. I had to RUN and almost got knocked over several times by women old enough to be my grandmother, it was chaos but myself and 3 friends managed to get great seats. It was truly an inspiring day and one I will not forget anytime soon. Every time I see the dress I wore that day hanging in my closet it makes me smile and I will forever consider it to be my "Oprah" dress. Now if only I could meet her.......

Bathing Suit for under $2!!!

I can almost always find a good deal when I go shopping, but even I could not believe what I found yesterday. I popped into Old Navy to buy some clothes for my son and before leaving did a quick scan of the women's department. I always check the clearance section first because you never know what you will find. Well I managed to find a bikini for under $2! Each piece was .97 cents so came to $1.94. This has got to be one of my top ten deals for sure.

Bad Hair Week!!

I'm having a particularly bad hair week/month and I know it is because I am long over due for a haircut (which I have now booked). It does not help when your hair grows like a weed. In any case as it is Sunday / Quote Day I found this one to be perfect. ENJOY!

Jennifer Aniston

I wondered if it was possible to take a picture of a someone's style I love, like Jennifer Aniston and see if I could replicate her look with what I already had in my closet. Her easy going style and effortless chic is amazing. Here is what I came up with. (sorry her pic is somewhat fuzzy - I am technically challenged!) This would be a great travel outfit.

Earring Storage

Over the years I seem to have collected tons of earrings. Trying to store them and be able to actually see what you have is a challenge. So now I store them in these clear containers I bought for a $1 at the dollar store. They hold 15 pairs each and have a lid so can be closed and stacked. You can sort by colour which makes it really easy to find what you are looking for.

Cardigans!

If your not quite ready to dive into your coat closet, Cardigans are a great alternative! Here are two that I wore this week. Just can't bring myself to start wearing a coat until at least the middle of the month.

Dreaming of.....

It is cold outside, and I am definitely dreaming of this vibrant Dior Couture coat, worn so well by Leelee Sobieski. Not sure why so many of us (myself included) buy black coats when there are so many other colours to choose from. I think the next time I purchase a new coat I will ensure to stay away from black and opt for a more colourful option.

www.harpersbazaar.com

Boot Season

Looks like boot season is definitely upon us. The week-end was freezing and I'm pretty sure my flip flop days are over.  If your like me and have several (won't say exact #) pairs of boots you are probably sick of them looking like this......

The best solution of course are these wonderful contraptions that fit in your boot.

The only problem with these are they can be pricey if you need to buy SEVERAL pairs. Now if you only have one pair of great boots then I would opt for buying a set of these. But, again if you would need to buy enough of these that you could rather invest in another new pair of boots, what I suggest is what I use, gift wrap rolls. Everyone has at least one roll of gift wrap and the nice thing is they can be cut to any size you need. The best rolls are of course the X-Lg ones at Christmas time. Just stick them in your boots and they will stand tall and proud!

Go Wild

Another big trend this year is animal print - Leopard - in particular. I love this look as long as it is not overdone. A big mistake is to go overboard, think top, shoes and purse all matching. What works better is to pick one piece and go with it. I recently purchased a dress that again, I can wear year round. Im looking forward to wearing it alone with sandals in the summer and can dress it up with tights and boots for the winter. Whatever you choose have fun with it and GO WILD!

Quote Day....

Love this.....

Trench Coats

The Trench Coat is another item I believe to be a staple, that should be in your closets. It is a great transition coat that can be worn in the fall on all of those cool rainy days. It can be worn with dresses or casually with jeans. The one I bought a couple of years ago, I bought because of the details. I love the collar and the ruffles around the sleeves. Whatever style you choose and there are hundreds! You should definitely consider adding this to your wardrobe.

Christian Siriano for Payless

I am not really a big fan of Payless, although it certainly serves it's purpose and is a great option for low cost shoes. My days of shopping there definitely dwindled over the years, however, I have to say one of their smartest moves was introducing designer footwear that is affordable. Christian Siriano is an American designer who won the 4th season of Project Runway and has since launched his own line, in 2010 he brought in revenue over 1.2 million. I purchased a pair of his shoes last year and love them! So while it may be a while until I get a pair of the other Christian (Louboutin) shoes, I will be happy with these.

Baby Pink

One of my amazing friends welcomed a baby girl into the world yesterday. So in honour of her I decided to wear Pink! I'm on my way to the hospital and cannot wait to smell that new baby smell. I am so happy for my friend and if her baby girl is as kind and lovely as her Mom then the world will now be a much better place.

Burgundy...the new Black??

Burgundy is a huge colour for this fall / winter season. Some are calling it the new "Black". So I decided to go Shopping in my closet, which around here means digging in your closet for things you may not have worn for awhile (in this case at least 5 years), reclaiming them and bringing them back to life. So here is some inspiration for all things Burgundy, as well as my find from my closet!

www.Huffingtonpost.com

Deals & Steals...

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to find a great deal. It is way easier to walk into a store and just buy something for full price, but what is fun to me is finding hidden treasures along the way. I have been very lucky in the past and found some amazing things. I truly believe that no matter what your budget is you should be able to have fun with your wardrobe. Here is one of my more recent deals. I found this necklace for under $5.00! It is whimsical and a little crazy but I can't wait to spruce up an otherwise dull outfit with it.

My Leather Pants

Back in 2001 I spent months and months trying to find a pair of leather pants. I was obsessed and determined and eventually fell in love with and purchased a pair of black leather Calvin Klein pants. They were more money then I had ever spent on pants but I loved them and wore them many times. A few weeks ago I found them hidden in the depths of my closet, surprisingly they still fit but now lacked the right cut and style.  I know I will have to dispose of them at some point but am not quite ready. In the meantime I am now dreaming of a pair of Michael Kors faux leather leggings. They are a big trend this year and would be great for the fall and winter.

michaelkors.com