dreary mondays...

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Let's face it: Monday is the jerk out of all the days of the week. For many of us, it's the rude, abrupt, shove back into the daily work grind after the weekend's relaxing festivities. And if that wasn't bad enough, on a Monday that is damp and rainy, it can be a chore even rolling out of bed.

My Monday this week, in all honesty, wasn't that bad aside from Mother Nature's idea of "switching it up" after a beautiful weekend weather-wise. I spent the day getting organized for the rest of the week, running errands, and collaborating with Perfumes Plus' make-up artist Laura for an upcoming post on Brunswick Square's blog. (Have you checked out this week's post on statement jewellery trends?)

The Outfit

• White jeans: iT jeans- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, May '11)
• Flats: Sam Edelman- Winners (SJ, April '10)
• Tank: Free People- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Feb '10)
• Cardigan: Toggery- The Black Dog Boutique (SJ, July '11)
• Necklace: Silver Daisy Designs (SJ, May '11)
• Bracelet- Joe Fresh- won in Rebecca's giveaway (March '11)

In this post I'm also trying out some new blue eye colours from Gosh and Lise Watier that I picked up over the weekend. I wanted to do my make-up in that soft water colour that I've been seeing popping up over early summer: pastels aqua and mint have been on my favourites colour pallet to incorporated into my summer wardrobe! 

Although Mondays are always the best day of the week, usually the remaining weekdays bring something good. Such as yesterday when my package from Amazon was delivered to my doorstep. I was beyond excited to rip it open and find the first 2 seasons of The Rachel Zoe Project (if you haven't watched this, you need to) as well as the very first book written by one of my favourite bloggers, Jessica Quirk of What I Wore! Look for that book review coming up on Monday!

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nautical nostalgia...

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Who can resist a sale? I'm certainly no exception when it comes to a woman's typical response to the temptation of discounts, especially when it involves one of my favourite stores! A couple of weeks ago, Je Suis Prest Boutique announced a secret 25% off sale to their Facebook followers. Did you get the chance to take advantage of the opportunity? Perhaps use it as an excuse to purchase a new summer dress or a cute top?

 

I've had my eye on a purple Alternative Apparel hoodie for the last couple of months- and now I happen to be wearing it while typing up this post! (It's so incredibly cozy- I may even love it more than my Lululemon hoodies and am feeling an urge to also get the black or grey one!) I've also heard so much talk about Toms over the last year or so, and with Je Suis Prest now carrying them in stock, I was sold on these nautical blue ones when I put them!

 

 

The Outfit

• Tank top: BB Dakota- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Feb '10)
• Cardigan: Joe Fresh Style (SJ, April '11)
• White crop jeans: iT jeans- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, May '11)
• Shoes: Toms- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, June '11)

 

Although I may appear ready to hit the deck for a day of sailing, we actually just went up to Fredericton for my grandmother's 80th birthday and had brunch at Crowne Plaza, followed by hanging out on the back deck of my grandparents' well groomed and gardened back yard.

It seems the nautical look is always finding it's way back into our wardrobes- I even just bought a cute navy blouse last week with tiny anchors on it!

 

  

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white denim...

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I'm thinking with all the rain we've been seeing the last few weeks, mother nature owes me a sunny day come my wedding at the end of next week! (Knock on wood.) The countdown is on...so many things to do in preparation, but I'm a little all over the place in completing them. I'm just crossing things off my mental to-do list one thing at a time...as the day gets nearer, I seem to be hearing "what do you have left?" a lot more frequently (which I find a bit overwhelming!)- although I don't have any doubt it will all get done in plenty of time.

With the stress of planning this wedding as come much retail therapy. I'll admit it. It's sort of similar to the way I dealt with getting through grad school: I shopped to add a little balance.

On Monday I shared with you the new incredibly comfortable wide leg trousers I'm in love with (shall we say, the wide leg version of the jegging). On the same day, I picked up this pair of cropped white denim and come to find they were a perfect fit. Like most women, I have my own challenges finding the right bottoms, so when I find a pair I like they have to come home with me. So in the end, I just couldn't choose between the wide leg trousers and the cropped white jeans. My solution: I bought both of 'em

The Outfit:

• Sweater: Joe Fresh Style (SJ, May '11)
• Tank: Free People- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, February '10)
• White crop jeans: iT jeans- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, May '11)
• Sandals: Steve Madden- The Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, April '11)
• Necklace: Forever 21 (Bangor, Nov '10)
• Leather cuff: ESquared- Silver Daisy Designs (SJ, May '11)

I also fell in love with this leather cuff in robin's egg blue made by the lovely ladies of ESquared Jewels. These girls are some talented! I'm finding I seem to have an affinity towards pretty pastels and "Easter colours" this spring, despite the fact that they are not the most popular trending colours this season. Sometimes you just have to go with what you love!

 

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the new jegging

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Since the revival of 70's style, I've been seriously craving wide leg jeans. Not just a boot cut or flare with a fitted thigh- I wanted the real deal, but they seem challenging to find. Last Saturday I sat on the ottoman by Je Suis Prest Boutique's changing rooms watching and weighing in with my opinion as the Katies tried on pretty summer dresses. Then Joy, as she is oh so good at doing, holds up an item that she suggests I may like.

Although I had been determined to stay out of the changing room myself (because it all goes down hill from there!), I couldn't resist trying on these soft wide-leg trousers that mimicked denim. Essentially they were jeggings in wide-leg form: stretchy and comfortable. Of course, as soon as I got them on, they were as good as sold. As far as pants go, I've been a jeggings and skinnies girl for some time now, but I can tell you these are going to get plenty of wear within my wardrobe!

  

The Outfit

• T-shirt: American Eagle (SJ, April '10)
• Vest: American Eagle (SJ, Fall '09)
• Trouser: !iT jeans- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, May '11)
• Shoes: Aldo (Moncton, April '11)
• Necklace: Splurge (Halifax, May '08)

If you haven't gotten around to it yet, don't forget to enter The Urban Shoe Myth Giveaway! And for those of you who already jumped at the chance to win $100 towards a new pair of shoes, there's a few more ways you can gain additional entries!

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high waters...

Half the time I begin typing up a post, I probably talk about the weather. Which might be the go-to topic to strike up when you have little else to say, but it definitely has relevance when reflecting on my outfits and why I've chosen them.

Living in the Maritimes, our weather can be quite variable and you can never trust the forecast until about 5 minutes in advance. And there are times I'll look at the Weather Network pulled up on my laptop screen and glance outside to see that the two don't even match up! I live in the foggy city where things can go from cloudy to brilliantly sunny, fair to pouring rain. But the worst has to be the cold wind we've had with all the rain over the past couple of days! Layers (and a waterproof one on hand in case) are a necessity this time of year.

Mother's Day brought about an overcast day that deceivingly warm. B and I ran some errands, grabbed our usual Starbucks and took a drive out to Rothesay to the Renforth Wharf. When we got out the car, there really was no wharf in site...as it was buried below the high waters.

The Outfit

• Cardigan: American Eagle (SJ, Sept '08)
• Vest: American Eagle (SJ, Fall '09)
• T-shirt: American Eagle (SJ, Fall '10)
• Boyfriend jeans: iT jeans- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Aug '10)
• Necklace: H&M (Toronto, June '10)
• Shoes: Aldo (Moncton, April '11)
• Ring: Silpada (jewelry party, Summer '10)
• Nail polish: "Peachy" by Gosh- Shoppers Drug Mart (SJ, May '11)

I've gotten quite a few compliments on this lovely coral shade I'm sporting on my nails, but I'll have to admit I totally took inspiration from Kate (O My Heart) when I saw her wearing it in a post last week!

I really can't wait to see some sun- then perhaps I won't be so insecure about showing off my pale legs and manage to part with my pantyhose!

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style of destruction...

Prior to this summer, I had never bought an article of clothing that already came with holes or tears in it. And usually, when I had a piece that developed a hole, it was time to say fair well to that shirt or pair of pants. I've seen plenty of destroyed denim in my day but never tried on a pair until my IT! boyfriend jeans. I fell in love with them for their cool, casual, and comfy appeal.

But then I did something I never thought you'd ever find me of all people doing. I tried on a black tee that already looked like a cat had brutalized it. And I loved it. I've always try to be so well put together and matchy-matchy but one thing that the world fashion has taught me, is that you don't always have to follow rules so rigidly: try new things, be creative, try something a little out of your own norm.

When I first saw the Alternative Apparel shredded v-neck tee in Je Suis Prest earlier this summer, I really didn't think it was for me. Then, sometime later, I spotted Urban Revision's artsy form of the stredded tee on Breakfast at Sak's blog, and it gave me a new perspective. It's edgy: it makes me feel a little rocker-estque.

The Outfit:

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  Black destroyed tee- Alternative Apparel- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Aug '10)
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  Skinny jeans- Nissi- Pseudio (SJ, April '10)
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  Hooded cardigan- American Eagle (SJ, Sept '09)
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  Necklace- H&M (Toronto, Dec '08)
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  Sandals- Clarks- Winners (April '10)

That night we were heading out to the boonies to a party at my friend Shauna's (complete with fireworks!) 

What are your thoughts, would you buy a pre-destroyed item of clothing? Or is it just not for you?

no need to sacrifice comfort for style!

Let's face it. We can't be fashionistas everyday- common it's reality. Flip open a gossip rag while waiting in line at the grocery store....even the celebs who can afford make-up artists to make them look flawless and stylists to pull an outfit for them are real people too. We all have those days where we don't have the energy or just don't have anywhere in particular we need to be. I am not going to deny that you are very likely to run into me in the grocery store, the drug store, Walmart, or Starbucks in a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie (I own 10 hoodies- all in different colours). Mine you, on the other hand, there's no need to look like a disaster either. (At least make sure what you pick up off the floor is clean before putting it on, put your hair up or put a brush through it, and wipe off last night's make-up- this being the bare minimum.)

The reason I'm speaking of the low maintenaince, low profile look is because there are many days where I would just be more comfortable in a pair of my Lululemon cropped yoga pants rather than pulling on a tighter pair of jeans. Last Saturday I just discovered the alternative that won't sacrifice ultimate comfort, but allows you to still put together an outfit you can wear to a social outting.

My new favourite denim: the boyfriend jeans. I know, I know...this is a trend I'm a little behind on, but I tyically like my pants form fitting. Many things are on sale right now from the spring and summer stock (25-25% off!) at Je Suis Prest Boutique. I grabbed a few pair of sale jeans, deciding that I'd really like to try to destroyed denim. I loved a skinny jean that didn't fit me quite right, but when I pulled on the boyfriend jeans for the first time, I wasn't sure of the fit. Thanks to Joy & Meg at JSP who talked me through the process and how they fit! I decided this is something good that I've been missing out on!

The Outfit:

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  Destroyed boyfriend jeans- !iT Jeans- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Aug '10)
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  Black v-neck tee- American Eagle (SJ, Spring '09)
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  Black leather cuff- H&M men's accessories (Dartmouth, July '10)
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  Straw fedora- Urban Outfitters (Montreal, June '10)
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  Sandals- Clarks- Winners (SJ, April '10)
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  Key necklace- Charm Diamond Center (SJ, May '10)

I wore this outfit out ot my parents' house for a late lunch to celebrate my sister's birthday. Older people don't seem to understand why we like to buy our clothes with holes already in them and therefore I got a bit of grief for it. But hey, they also don't understand why I'd fork almost $100 dollars for a pair of jeans! Probably a good thing I didn't tell my family I actually spent money on a t-shirt with holes in it too (also from JSP)? I thought my parents might become concerned their daughter couldn't afford to feed herself if I showed up with both items on at once!