blue peacock...

Last Friday, I sat across the table from Patience Cole at Starbucks, chatting about style and hair accessories. It's always awesome to meet an entrepreneurial woman in Saint John who is passionate about what she does- and I've had the pleasure of meeting many within the last year!

Patience creates unique hairpieces and started her own business, Band Geek, a couple of years ago. Patience's face lights up as she talks about her work and pursuing a career she loves. She uses non-typical and creative materials to create her headbands, sold at local stores in KV as well as her online Etsy Store. Patience kindly made me the headband featured with the outfit below- she created the piece by getting ideas from the outfit posts of my blog.   

The Outfit

• Head band- c/o Band Geek (Feb '11)
• Top- Kensie- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Dec '09)
• Leggings- C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Nov '10)
• Boots- Aldo (gifted from my parents, Dec '09)
• Necklace- Splurge (Halifax, May '08)

Her latest project involves helping to raise funds towards the rescue and relief efforts in Japan. Taking inspiration from Japanese prints, fashions, and fabrics, for every headband she sells from this collection, $1 will go to help those in Japan who have lost so much. Be sure to check out Band Geek's current selection of head bands and hair accessories and stay tuned for Patience's Japanese styled pieces. 

Writing this blog over the past year as given the opportunity to meet so many great people, Patience being one of them! I especially love meeting creatives in the city with a mutual interest in fashion and style.

Valentine's Day...

A little belated, but here is my outfit from my Valentine's date with B two weeks ago. (I also cannot believe how fast February flew by..and that we kick off the month of March tomorrow.) Essentially, I just wore the same outfit I wore to work that day; it seemed appropriate for a dinner date at Church Street. To tell you the truth, this wasn't exactly the outfit I started my day out in... I was actually wearing my Eve Gravel skirt that morning, rushing around to get out the door and in a manner that only a really clumsy person can achieve I managed to catch one of my skirt pockets on a door knob and practically tear the pocket off! (I know, sounds ridiculous!) Thankfully the skirt has since been to Asha's Alterations (my usual choice for tailoring, fixes, alterations) and looks good as new!

   

The Outfit

• Black long sleeve tee- H&M (Toronto, Sept '10)
• Beige skirt- Kensie Girl (Liquidation World, March '10)
• Black leggings: C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Dec '10)
• Beige knit socks: American Apparel (Halifax, Feb '11)
• Boots: Town Shoes (Halifax, Oct '07)
• Feather earring: Little Burgundy (Montreal, June '10)
• Animal print coat: Joe Fresh Style (SJ, Oct '10)
• Black Snood: C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Jan '11)

This week is shaping up to be a busy one! I'm looking forward to events such as the Fashion Social at the Canterbury Lounge (I had an awesome Saturday evening of dancing there this weekend with lovelies that include Kate, Kiera, Chantale, Nadine, Barb, & Candice!) and then the See Me gallery hop that was rescheduled for this Friday! Will I be seeing you at either of these events? Hope so!

Sean McGrath Photo Shoot (Part 1)

Saturday afternoon I met up with local photographer, Sean McGrath, for a photo shoot in uptown Saint John. This outfit he shot atop the Brunswick Square parking garage. As you notice the wind blowing through my hair and my skirt, I can tell you it was not a warm breeze! I likely looked ridiculous dancing and spinning around to keep warm in between shots! The photo shoot was a lot of fun and flowed seamlessly. Sean was great to work with!

Photography by Sean McGrath

The Outfit

• Dress: Lush- LuLu*s (ordered online, Jan '11)
• Top: C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (gifted from my sister, Dec '10)
• Olive tights: American Apparel (Halifax, Sept '10)
• Oxfords: Aldo (Halifax, Sept '10)

Check back tomorrow for "Part 2" for the photos of the second outfit Sean shot on Saturday!

And don't forget: you have 1 more day to enter to win a ticket to the Fashion Social hosted by Silver Daisy Designs! The event is to be held at the Canterbury Lounge next week on March 3!  

Colonel Mustard...

...did it with the candlestick in the observatory!

I know, you must be incredibly tired of listening to me whine about the snow, cold, and the blistering wind on the east coast here. Because of yesterday's weather, outfit photos outside were a no-go...there was no way I was taking off my coat and mitts!

And speaking of outfit photos, I'm excited to have local photographer Sean McGrath snap my outfit photos (featuring a few new wardrobe additions) this Saturday! This weekend is fairly jam-packed! Saturday I'm subject my hair to a long overdue cut and colour, followed by the afternoon's photo shoot. That evening I'm looking forward to a girls night out uptown, anticipating that we'll end the night with a few dance moves at the Canterbury Lounge. Sunday morning, I'll be pulling myself out of bed bright and early and lugging my previously-loved items to Rhoda's for Out with the Old & In with the New! (I still need to do a final pull of items from my closests...the fact that closet is plural is largely why I need to clean out my closet again!) Hope to see you there!

The Outfit

• Sweater: Kensie- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Sept '10)
• Dress: ModCloth (ordered online, Jan '11)
• Leggings: C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Oct '10)
• Boots: Aldo (ordered online, Oct '09)
• Necklace: Banana Republic (Freeport, Nov '10)
• Headband: Club Monaco (Halifax, July '10)

Also worth mentioning: are you going to The Salty's (celebrating Saint John's social media community) tonight at the Saint John Ale House? (The event runs from 5pm-7pm). I'll be jaunting across town to get there after work today! Check out all the talk generated about these media award nominees on twitter via the hastag #saltys.

Don't forget to check back later today to find out the winners of the Silver Daisy Designs Giveaway! Thanks again to the lovely Kate Lordon sponsoring this giveaway by providing the beautiful jewellery set and giftcard to her store! I've also got another surprise for you all tomorrow...

au revoir caméra...

I know today was supposed to be part two of my shoe collection...but mid-way through snapping photos of my flats my camera froze and went "belly up" so to speak. There was no reviving it, I tried all my options.

I can't particularly remember if there was even a warranty, although I do have my receipt, so it's back to Futureshop today. However, I doubt I'll receive any news that will be of any good to me. Even if it is covered and the send it away, I cannot go a day without my camera of course. I suppose this could be the universe's way of telling me it's time to upgrade and tackle that New Years Resolution sooner than I intended... but as badly as I need to upgrade my camera (eventually), my cash flow may not allow it at present.

So, I'll have to post-pone part 2 of my shoe collection. Instead I've slid in another outfit post in its place. I received this lovely dress from one of my sisters for Christmas. I decided to style the dress into a daytime appropriate look, but didn't want to conceal the ruffled one strap under a cardigan or sweater. Instead I pulled on a delicate tee with capped sleeves on under the dress.

The Outfit

• Dress- C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (gifted from my sister, Dec '10)
• White t-shirt- American Apparel (Halifax, Spring '07)
• Grey hosiery- Secret- Walmart (SJ, Dec '10)
• Silver Bracelet- Coach (gifted from my sister, Dec '10)
• Earrings- Banana Republic (Freeport, Nov '10)
• Boots- Aldo (gifted from parents, Dec '09)
• Purple pumps- Guess (gifted from my sister, Dec '10)

You'll notice my footwear changes throughout the photos: from tall brown boots to pointed purple pumps. And this reflected my change in footwear throughout the day. Travelling in and out over the course of the day, I wore the more seasonally appropriate boots and then slipped on the pumps prior to attending a meeting.

Well, wish me luck with my camera! One thing's for sure...I'll need to come home with some type of camrea- I guess we'll see what happens. Can't believe this is the second camera that has died on me in just over 6 months...

soon to be in a sea of needles...

Does anyone still have their Christmas tree up? No? I'm the only one?

Ok, so my laziness has gotten the better of me. Well, and it's been a busy start to the new year, but I can't say I'm looking forward to that rain shower of fir needles when we go to move the tree. I swear, I look at this tree and it sheds needles in response. Anyways, that's the mission for...tonight. (We've been saying that since, well, Sunday.)

In today's outfit post I'm sporting a few things that Santa left under the tree for me!...a warm North Face jacket with a faux fur trimmed hood, a brown/bronze crossbody Fossil purse, and a brown cowl neck C'est Moi sweater. The first few outdoor shots were taken outside Urban Deli on the first day of shopping after Christmas. B was brave enough to hit the stores with me in search of some sweet Boxing Day sales and then we popped into the Urban Deli for lunch.

And here's the rest of the outfit, sans jacket...

The Outfit

• Coat- North Face (Christmas gift from parents, Dec '10)
• Crossbody purse- Fossil- Manchester Shoe Salon (Christmas gift from B, Dec '10)
• Sweater- C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (Christmas gift from my sister, Dec '10)
• Vest- American Eagle (SJ, Fall '09)
• Jeans- Dish Jeans- Pseudio (SJ, Fall '09)
• Boots- Aldo (Christmas gift from parents, Dec '09)

Oh! And I have to make one modification to my New Years Resolutions. I still plan to colour/highlight my hair, but I can't do anything too wild or edgy for a cut just yet...I forgot that I need to keep a more classic cut until my wedding day in June!

How are you all making out with your resolutions? Please, do share!

  

one of new fav designers...

Early this week, I shared an inside look at the Grand Opening of The Black Dog Boutique. Today I thought I'd share my latest purchase from the lovely store on Germain Street. This time of the year, with all the great deals and great finds that stores are offering in the spirit of giving, it's really hard not to be tempted to buy ourselves a gift or two too! I know I've fallen guilty to this!

Everytime I think I've finished my Christmas shopping, I think of something else I need to pick up! I'm mostly finished, but just need to pick up a few things today. I hope to do it early to avoid the crowds and crazy traffic. Oh, the intensity that comes with last minute shopping!

The Outfit

• Sweater- American Eagle (SJ, Sept '09)
• Tank top- American Eagle (Fredericton, Winter '07)
• Skirt w/ belt- Eve Gravel- The Black Dog Boutique (SJ, Dec '10)
• Leggings- C'est Moi- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Dec '10)
• Boots- Town Shoes (Halifax, Nov '07)

What I love about this Eve Gravel skirt (aside from the fact that it's from a Canadian designer!) is that not only was it a perfect fit, but it also has pockets! (I love anything with pockets.) I was initially drawn to the pattern. The nice part about this design is that the skirt almost reaches my knees, which also makes it appropriate for work. I usually try to choose pieces that can be styled for work as well as evenings and weekends. This great skirt also comes in a fantastic cheetah print. There are so many lovely pieces Jill is carrying at The Black Dog Boutique, and I have to say Eve Gravel's are my most favourite! Check out her Fall/Winter 2010-2011 line here.