Riverside Stroll

F21 jumpsuit
H&M hat
Sandals from India
Old handbag

I live close to the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal and every summer, it's teeming with swimmers, fishermen, joggers....just about every outdoor activity you can think of, you're bound to come across it just by strolling along the river. They even have kayaks you can rent and I think I saw a beaver once while kayaking down the river. It was an exciting day.

On those muggy Montreal summer days, there's nothing better than a promenade down to the river in something as light and airy as this cute floral jumpsuit I picked up earlier this season. I threw on a wide-brimmed paper panama hat and my favourite sandals from India and I was ready to beat the heat.

                                                          

Heading Out For A Spot of Tea

Hey Frockers, just sharing some quick pics from a recent outing to afternoon tea at Birks. It's quite an affair. You enter the prestigious jewelry store downtown and low and behold, up a small flight of stairs on your right is a small dining room where you can enjoy some rich sandwiches, desserts and tea while overlooking a sea of diamonds. We just managed to catch the blossom trees too, which seem to only bloom about a week, two if we're lucky, every year. All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Vintage pumps and handbag/dress from China
                                                                    

F21, Our BFF

F21 jeans, jacket/Restoration Hardware faux fur scarf/Zara booties/Louis Vuitton handbag

It's every frugal fashionite's best-kept secret that's actually not so secret. I'm talking Forever 21 y'all! Along with Zara, H&M and a slew of other designer-inspired discount boutiques, F21 offers basic and trendy garb for much less. Is the quality the best there is? No, and I don't think anyone shopping there is under that impression. It's a place to take some fashion chances without the guilt of spending your entire shopping budget on a single shirt. Go ahead and experiment with the peplum silhouette, crop tops and floppy fedoras. F21 is the place to do it.

I'm a strong believer that despite the fashion industry's elitist and exclusionary undertones, there's no reason why average Joes and Janes can't partake in making some style magic, simply because they can't afford $1000 shirts. Forget $1000 shirts....I don't even have the stomach or the means to drop a hundred bucks on a single top, no matter how many angels spun the threads from golden looms. The guilt would just keep me up at night....

Don't get me wrong. If we can afford it, there's something to be said for supporting our local designers and boutiques. They are attempting something I would never have the balls to do and supporting a principle is something that's worth a few extra bucks. But for those of us who can't, we are pretty glad we still have some options.
                                                                   

Even More Street Style

Photos by Kyler Kelly

Kate Spade handbag/Michael Kors boots/Restoration Hardware scarf/coat from China

                                                  

GUESS Spring 2015 Preview

I recently popped into the GUESS Spring 2015 shindig to see what we have to look forward to after the deep freeze coming up and it just made me pine for Spring all the more. Pastels, neon, bright pink and yellows, maxi dresses, distressed denim, polka dots and of course, florals are waiting for us at the end of the tunnel...

Here are a few pics of some of the upcoming trends to keep you warm through the winter!

Photo courtesy of GUESS

Photo courtesy of GUESS

Photo courtesy of GUESS

Photo courtesy of GUESS

Photo courtesy of GUESS

Photo courtesy of GUESS

***CALLING ALL FROCKERS***

We are in the running for Made In Blog's Best Blog Awards in two different categories: Fashion and Beauty.

If you've enjoyed our blog, please take a moment to vote for us by November 26th 2014. You can vote once in each category by clicking on the icons below.

                                                                        

Modcloth: The Online Retro Heaven

Modcloth dress, skirt, handbag, headband, swimsuit



**This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links.

Frockers, if you've been following the blog from the beginning, you will remember how much I love ModCloth. It is one of my all-time favourite online retailers. If you check out their website, I think it's pretty clear why. They have all the cutest indie, vintage and retro-inspired pieces that you can find anywhere! They have everything from clothes to accessories, handbags and shoes to home décor and gift items. And I think because they are an online store, they really put everything into the shopping experience. You can chat with a ModStylist while you shop if you have any questions or need some help and they have a blog section where you can check out their looks on real people and see tons of extra fun stuff like DIY and makeup tutorials. And they are one of the few online retailers I've seen that have a variety of Plus Size Dresses. Diversity of sizing is important to me since I have trouble myself, fitting into the standard S, M, and L. Amirite ladies? And if you need some cool Halloween inspiration, check out their new Halloween Shop! 

Happy shopping, Frockers!
                                                                  

A Royal Affair

Le Chateau dress/Delilah fascinator/lia sophia necklace (c/o)/vintage handbag/old wedges

Le Chateau vest/Simons shirt and bow tie/Mexx trousers/Browns dress shoes 

It may not have been a royal wedding, but that wasn't going to stop me from whipping out my lovely fascinator for the very first time. Seriously, it was collecting dust on my dresser, I've had it for so long and never worn it! I mean it's not exactly a skinny jean in terms of versatility and cute-but-casual wear. And I am the first to don some sequins to school or the office, but going to Stats class in a fascinator would be a bit too crazy, even for me.

But I was recently invited to a lovely fall wedding and decided to take this baby out for a test-drive. And what a scenic drive it was! I paired it with a lovely retro-inspired Le Chateau dress that coincidentally was almost exactly the same colour. Normally, I hate being so matchy-matchy, but this time, it felt right. In this fashion fantasy, I could practically be on my way to Prince Harry's wedding or something!

Pulling off such a statement look is a delicate operation nonetheless. I wanted to go more muted on the other accessories, namely sporting a simple black wedge and minimal accessories. The lead actor in this story is definitely the headpiece, everything else is a supporting character. The necklace (gifted by lia sophia), was the perfect mix of glam, class and restraint. And my favourite tapestry bag added a nice muted pop of detail and vintage vibe to complete the look.

I have to say, this fascinator might be the hardest fashion piece I've ever had to pull off. But I love a good challenge! And like I always say, at the end of the day, it's really all about confidence.
                                                                

The Golden Rule

Photos by Kyler Kelly

Sammydress frock & handbag/F21 belt & headband/vintage heels/old cardigan

To be honest, metallics aren't really my thing, unless we're talking eyeshadow of course! If you're the same, a fun way to incorporate a hits of metal into your look is with a stylish belt, pretty headband, or chic handbag. I am partial to both silver and gold tones (and lately I've been kind of obsessed with rose gold, but that's a story for another post) and in this look, adding pops of gold really add an extra element of fun to a pretty but plain nude dress. The warmth of the gold compliments the frock perfectly and if you look closely, there is no metal on my headband, only beads and sequins. But the way it adds shine and reflects light certainly does the trick! And although the belt is large and wide, the minimalistic design mimics the simplicity and elegance of the dress, and keeps it from overwhelming the outfit. I finished the look with a cream-coloured quilted handbag avec metallic strap and called it a day.

Sometimes, it's all in the accessories.