holiday wish-list...

My mom and sister right now are braving the Black Friday crowds across the US border. I almost went with them, if it wasn't for an expired passport (which I forgot about until there wasn't sufficient time to reapply). Of course a trip such as this means serious shopping, so making my holiday wish-list was prompted when my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas.

Plus, with all audio in stores being hijacked by Christmas music already, the crazy snow storm we had 2 days ago, and the fact that Santa comes in exactly a month from today it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas. So I thought I'd share with you what I have on my list!

1. Bowler Hat

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

3. Collar necklace 

4. Marc by Marc Jacobs watch

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses

6. Sequin skirt or leather shorts/skirt

7. Rebecca Minkoff bracelet

8. House of Harlow necklace

9. J.Crew sweater

10. Urban Decay eyeshadow palette

11. Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings

I also asked for a handful of clothing items from Joe Fresh (this blouse, this top, and this dress for starters)- I browsed the last collection at the Superstore after a workout earlier this week and had to exercise restraint from walking out with half of the store! The great thing about items from Joe Fresh are how affordable they are- which makes for great gifts without breaking the bank!

I still like a surprise, so I put way more items on my list than I actually expect to receive. I was never that child digging in the closets or under beds looking for the presents before Christmas...that's how my sister discovered there was no Santa! (Haha.)

What's on your holiday wish-list? 

love for marc jacobs & a shopbop giveaway!

Lately I've been refocusing the way I look at my wardrobe and sticking to a stricter budget. I'll admit it: I have no shortage of clothes, that's for sure, yet it's incredibly difficult to keep up on every emerging trend and beautiful item that may cross my path or get pinned on Pinterest! So as of late I've committed to a closet that contains more quality over quantity. I've learned that if you try to keep up on every passing trend, your closet will be over-stuffed and your wallet bare. I'm saving my hard earned pennies now to increase the quality in my closet.

What I'd love to be able to obtain would be a few beautiful designer or unique pieces. Right now, many of the items on my wishlist come from Marc by Marc Jacobs. I've been browsing the pages of Shopbop, all the while taking note of my favourites (and adding them to my Christmas list)!

 

Fortunately for you, my lovely readers, the holidays and gift giving have come a little early! Shopbop has kindly given readers of my blog the opportunity to win a $100 gift card to spend on their website! The winner will have $100 to purchase anything they wish from Shopbop, whether it be (perhaps) a Marc by Marc Jacobs duffle bag, a BB Dakota faux fur vest, or a House of Harlow necklace.

To enter this giveaway, please complete the 3 following mandatory steps to be eligible to win:

1. Follow Maritime Shopaholic via Facebook
2. Visit Shopbop and browse their inventory of beautiful items
3. Comment on this post and tell me what item you would choose from Shopbop if you were to win the $100 gift card! 

Bonus entries- complete any or all for extra chances to win!

(Be sure to leave an additional, separate comment for each one completed.)

1. Follow Maritime Shopaholic on Twitter
2. Follow Shopbop on Twitter
3. Follow Maritime Shopaholic via Bloglovin'
4. Follow Maritime Shopaholic via Google Friends Connect
5. Tweet about the giveaway: "Enter @mshopaholic's #giveaway to win a $100 to @shopbop! http://bit.ly/tuBATT" Let me know your twitter handle or the link directly to your tweet in your comment.
6. Click here and share the link of this giveaway on your Facebook page. Let me know your name as on Facebook in your comment to get credit.
7. Visit Shopbop and let me know your favourite Marc by Marc Jacobs item they carry.

You can earn up to 8 entries in total.

Contest will remain open until 5pm AST Thurs, Nov 24.

Winner will be chosen by random and announced on the blog Mon, Nov 28.

If you have any questions regarding the giveaway, please email me at maritime.shopaholic@gmail.com

Work It Wednesday...

I decided to participate in the weekly "link-up" organized by fellow blogger, Jill of the Good Life (for Less). Entitled Work it Wednesday, you show 1 style or garment applied in 3 different outfits. I decided, this week, to choose an element of style that I've been loving this fall: the tie neck blouse. If it was in my current budget, I'd love to own and wear a piece of Rachel Zoe's fall collection. So (using Polyvore) I've created 3 sets that show 3 entirely different ways to style the Rachel Zoe's Natalie plunge blouse for 3 different events:

Rachel Zoe Natalie plunge blouse

Shopbop | Bergdorf Goodman | Far Fetch

(Above: satchel (similar), pants, shoes, vest, earrings, bracelets)

(Above: skirt, belt, shoes, watch, clutch, earrings, bracelet, tights)

(Above: vest, jeans, bracelet, boots, bag, hat)

Has a tie-neck blouse been on your list of fall must-haves? 

Please feel free to leave your comment below to let me know what item is on the top your must-have list for Fall right now.

Check outwhat items Jill and other participating bloggers decided to work and remix this week for Work it Wednesday

3 things: 3 fall trends to love!

So the fall shopping has begun. For some reason, despite the fact that I don't have a "convenient" back-to-school reason to shop anymore once September hits, I still always have a list of needs and wants. Here are 3 items that still top that list right now:

  

1. Coloured Denim

Photos & Prices from Piperlime & American Eagle

a) Paige Denim $179.00  |  b) J Brand $176.00  |  c) American Eagle $44.11

People may have heard me talk about how much I've been in love with J Brand's red jeans over the last couple of months. I hesitated on this purchase just because I couldn't bring myself to spend $176+ on a trend I wasn't entirely sure would last multiple seasons, despite the fact that I love them. I did spring for J Brand's olive cargos for a pricey detail last year, but these are a pant that have already lasted multiple seasons of still being relevant. To solve my indecisiveness over the matter, when American Eagle was having a 40% off sale this past weekend, I came across a red jegging on their website- sold!

Another colour for denim that I can see being popular for fall would be in a burgundy- although you may still have to hand over a larger fee for those too, word on the street says that Joe Fresh will be bringing in a more affordable pair...

2. Tie-Neck Blouses

Photos & Prices from Piperlime

a) Ark & Co. $49.00  |  b) Marc by Marc Jacobs $278.00  |  c) Rachel Zoe $295.00

This style of blouse always makes me think Rachel Zoe therefore I wasn't surprise to see it in her collection for fall! (Despite the fact the it's a big hit for fall, the fact that it's reminiscent of RZ to me is enough to sell me on it.) Although the Marc Jacobs and Rachel Zoe blouses are among my favourite, there are more affordable blouses on Piperlime that I would likely give in to first because they wouldn't be as harmful to my bank account.

  

3. Hiker Booties

Photos & Prices from Piperlime

a) DV by Dolce Vita $89.00  |  b) Enzo Angiolini $139.00  |  c) Lucky Brand $129.00 

Actually, I'm a little torn between the hiker bootie (featured above), riding boots, and motorcycle boots for fall. Frankly, I am just craving a new pair of boots! I'll end up buying them locally though, rather then online. The hiker bootie is incredibly cute though- it mixes rugged and feminine and I like that sort of oxymoron combo- it means you could sport them with jeans, or wear 'em with a skirt or dress! If I don't go for a flat pair of boots this fall, I'll be keeping the heel to a minimum or a wedge- much more practical, thereby increasing my future cost-per-wear!

Alright, now that I've shared a few fall must-haves, I have 2 questions for you:

1. What particular pieces are you excited about this fall?
2. Does anyone (in the Saint John area) want to go in on a Piperlime order with me...? :)

TTFF (2): Fancy Footwear

A girl always loves an excuse to buy shoes! There have been a few new styles in stores and gracing the pages of magazines that have caught my eye. I've even opened up to styles I've never thought I would wear before. That's one of the things I love about fashion. The experimental nature of it. Check out below some of the latest trends in footwear and then I will let you know what I am dying to add to my shoe collection!

Open-Toed Booties

The open-toed bootie is a look that seems to have emerged slowly from either open toed pumps that grew into boot form or the gladiator heel that evolved into the caged heel that then morphed into a version appropriate for the cooler weather of fall. Last year I wasn't really feeling ankle boots, but this year I'm hooked!

Open Toe Booties by MaritimeShopaholic

Featuring shoes from Vince Camuto, Sam Edleman, Nine West, Steve Madden, Aldo

Closed-Toe Booties

The reason why I separated open and closed toe booties was because of the climate in New Brunswick. Open toe booties....a trendy, edgy way to wear a boot in warmer weather...but here, I might freeze my little toes off come October. A closed-toe booty might go the longer stretch and present more opportunities to be worn outdoors.

Closed Toe Booties by MaritimeShopaholic
Featuring shoes from Spring Shoes, Fendi, Aldo, Nine West, Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, Christian Louboutin 

Clogs

I have to admit, since the time they started to re-emerge in Spring 2010, clogs haven't really grown on me. Although I personally don't prefer the chunky look myself, some bloggers have managed to incorporate the shoe into their ensembles and really make it work for them.

Clogs by MaritimeShopaholic

Featuring shoes from Juicy Couture, Aldo, Sam Edelman, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Steve Madden, Nine West

Oxfords

Oxfords, otherwise known as Balmorals, are a menswear inspired shoe that has been updated since their origin in the 1800's. Fashion is all about recycling ideas afterall. This laced flat shoe has received many versions of a make-over and can be paired from everything to pants, crops, skirts, and casual dresses.

Oxfords by MaritimeShopaholic

Featuring Shoes from Aldo, L.A.M.B, Nine West, Givenchy, Steven by Steve Madden, Steve Madden, Christian Louboutin, Spring Shoes

This fall I have my sights set on a pair of booties and a pair of oxfords. I decided it would be more practical to go with the closed-toe booty, although I do love the look of the open-toed versions. I'll likely stick to neutrals to maximize cost-per-wear- so likely one set of shoes will be brown, the other black.

What shoes are you looking forward or buying/wearing for fall?

rock chic

Last Friday, I had a few drinks with Shauna and Carolyn before we headed up to the usual watering hole, our city's irish pub O'Leary's. Before I headed across town to join the other girls, I was pulling articles of clothing out of my closet, trying to decide what to wear. Our original plan was to head down to the boardwalk and have a couple drinks on the patio, but as I was getting ready to get out, the clouds opened out and down came the rain.

I figured sitting outside was likely going to be a little too wet after the cats and dogs started to come down. I wasn't entirely sure if I should still dress as warmly as I had planned to before. I had a tutu skirt on one side of my bed and a pair of skinny jeans on the other. I usually like to dress up in a skirt every chance I get. Eventually I went with the jeans, figuring it was more practical, whatever we ended up doing. I decided layers was the best way to go and I pulled out a leather cuff I hadn't had a chance to wear yet. I piled on the necklaces and went with an edgier look.

The Outfit

1. Silk tank with beading- Matty M- Winners (Toronto, Dec '09)
2. Grey blazer- RW & Co (SJ, May '10)
3. Pin-stripe vest- RW & Co. (SJ, Sept '08)
4. Skinny jeans- Nissi Jeans- Pseudio (SJ, April '10)
5. Black heels- Guess- Winners (Toronto, Sept '08)
6. Metal flower ring- PGal's Closet (Rothesay, Aug '10)
7. Heart locket- Splurge (Halifax, Spring '08) 
8. Big link necklace- American Eagle (SJ, Dec '09)
9. Long multi-charm necklace- H&M (Toronto, Dec '08)
10. Leather wrist cuff- male accessory section @ H&M (Dartmouth, July '10)

Finally planning to check out the recently opened Canterbury Lounge this weekend! Can't wait!


Please help me win a Marc Jacobs purse! Click here to visit Chictopia's Facebook page and "like" my comment on their wall (you have to "like" Chictopia first). To enter the contest we had to leave a comment with our 5 essential items in our bag. The girl with the most "likes" of their wall comment will win a Totally Turnlock Percy Bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs! I have until this Sunday (August 15) to seek all the help I can get! If you have a minute, please help me out!

i need your help!

Please help me to win a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag that Chictopia is giving away to a fan!

I am absolutely in love with this Totally Turnlock Percy Bag (that retails for $198.00). For me to enter this contest I had to comment on their Facebook wall my 5 essential items in my bag. I have until Sunday, August 15, to have people LIKE my wall post! Please help me out by taking a moment to follow these 2 quick steps:

1. Visit the Chictopia facebook page and "like" Chictopia (if you're not already a fan like me)
2. Click "like" on my comment (written under Chelsea Alexandra Mason)

That's all there is to it! Thanks so much!

Check out my looks on the Chictopia website by clicking here!