Winter Woes

Photos by Kyler Kelly

Restoration Hardware faux fur hat/F21 sweater/Primark jeans/Zara booties

Winter blahs. Need I say more? I'm deep into the winter semester and wouldn't you know it? Every day I have class just happens to be -20 with a nipping wind. Just great. I wish I had more time for blogging, but between work and school, it's hard enough to even put together a little punchy outfit let alone take some pics. But I'm taking a cue from Debbie and throwing on a statement hat. And along with my go-to remedy for any drab outfit (a red lip for the win!), I'm feeling 40 degrees warmer already.

                                                                                    

The Wanderer's Closet

Le chateau pull-over/F21 top/Urban Planet pants/Toms shoes

It doesn't matter where I go or how many times, it is never not a struggle to fill the ol' valise. Whether it's for a few days, or a few weeks, whittling one's closet down to a few essentials is a challenge for even the most seasoned voyagers. There are so many things to consider: where are you going, for how long, what is the weather like, what is the culture like, what doesn't wrinkle too much, what's comfortable, what doesn't take up too much room, what can be worn with three different shirts? A favourite combo of mine for my recent sojourn to the Emerald Isle was these blue harem pants and simple white peasant top. Comfortable? Check. Easy to roll up into a backpack? Check. Stylin'? Check! Just check me out hiking through the Gap of Dunloe. I may never be the thermal hiking gear type of person, but I find my version works just as well.
                                                                                  

Tropical Dream

I was inspired recently by a pair of lia sophia earrings (called "Flamenco" no less) to go a little bit tropical, a little bit wild and a little bit electric in terms of a makeup look. And I'm loving it! There's nothing more fun in the summer than packing on tons of colours, whether it's your hair, your clothes, your makeup or your salad! Here's a quick how-to:

Prime your lids and dust a nude/beige base shadow all over before applying colour. Start with a really bright emerald green (shimmery or matte, I went with shimmer) and cover your entire lid going passed your outer lashes by just a bit. Follow with a bright royal blue (can be shimmery or matte, I went with matte) just on the outer half of your lid on top of the green. I also dabbed on a bit of a navy blue with sparkles on top but just a touch. Don't worry about it being messy at this stage, you just need to get the colour on there.

If this is as crazy as you're feeling, you can start blending the blue with the green where they meet and blending out the edges so they aren't as harsh and call it day. Or you can keep going and also line your lower lash line with the same colours (green on the inner half and blue on the outer half) and dab a bit of light green shimmery shadow on the inside corner of your eyes as a highlighter. This is where I stopped for my look, but if you're really feeling like standing out, finish with some black liner on your upper and lower lash line and a few coats of mascara before topping off the earring-inspired look with a bright fuchsia lip colour.

lia sophia earrings
Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Fuchsia Fusion
Sephora Collection Medium Shopping Bag Makeup Palette
                                                         

The Masquerade Ball

 Photos by Kyler Kelly

Fashion means a lot of things to me. The way I see it, the body is a canvas. It's there for me to decorate and adorn, to wipe clean and create something new the next day. 

As Debbie once put so eloquently, people are never just one thing. You should never limit yourself to one idea of a person. Forget "this isn't me"... if you like it, it's you and you should rock it with confidence! Fashion to me, means self-expression and the exploration of your many alter-egos. Remember how fun it was to play dress-up when you were little? Well, it never really gets old. And I, for one, love pretending that I'm a spy at a masquerade ball, sent to seduce the French Ambassador for all his state secrets. Cause let's face it...besides Nobel Price winning mathematician, there's pretty much no scenario more ludicrous for me. Still, it's fun to pretend.

Topshop dress/thrifted necklace

(The mask is from Venice)

                                                                

Pretty In Pink

 Photos by Kyler Kelly

I got this fuzzy pink sweater in Korea and I'm actually kind of bummed that I haven't been able to wear it much this winter. For some reason, the heat is on full blast at our office and I've had to sport short-sleeves on a daily basis or risk heat stroke. 

However, due to my, shall we say...frugal nature...I do keep my apartment at a chilly 18 degrees so I whip out this darling sweater on those weekends at home. Side-note: if you know me, you're probably confused since I tend to start shivering if the mercury dips below 24, but it costs a lot to heat a whole apartment ok?

Anyway, I just love the idea of pairing this sweet, baby pink sweater with an equally sweet, baby blue skirt, chilly as my legs may get. And let's face it. Even if I wore wool pants, I'd still need to throw on a robe and huddle under two blankets to keep warm!

Sammydress skirt/thrifted+gifted bracelets/Aldo handchain 

(Necklace was purchased in Taiwan)