149/ FLORAL DRESS

I don't really know what else to say other than I love this dress. I bought it on sale at H&M yesterday and I could not wait to show it off.

I wore this look to work today and although the weather was a bit too chilly to wear the dress alone, I said to hell with it and did it anyway. SANS JACKET, might I add. Will I ever dress appropriately for the weather? Probably not but whatever. I paired this magnificent floral midi dress with my Dr. Marten boots to make the outfit a bit more ~Rosie~ and to bring a bit of an edginess to it. I'm a huge fan of this look so just a warning to my friends in real life - I will be wearing this ensemble to death and I'm not at all sorry about it.

DRESS&BAG&NECKLACE/ H&M BOOTS/ Dr. Martens

LIPSTICK/ NYX Lingerie

Photos by Sue Waugh

ONE HUNDRED & SEVEN/ little black dress

I'll admit it - these pictures were taken at the same time and place as my last outfit post but who cares? I froze my butt off posing for these pictures and I really just wanted to show you all this dress! I had ordered it awhile back from Forever 21 and this was the first time I actually had a chance to wear it.

Aurelia had come to pick me up Saturday afternoon for a coffee/shopping/whatever date and by the time she arrived, I still wasn't sure what to wear. I already had this dress on but I was in a panic that it might be a bit too short. She convinced me otherwise (what are friends for? am I right!?) but I threw on my trusty leggings just for good measure.

I do really like this dress and when I look back on these pictures, I'm not really sure what I was afraid of. The length seems great and I love how it is a modern take on the classic ~little black dress~. I'm hoping to get a lot of wear out of this piece when it finally starts to warm up! I'm thankful that I have friends who aren't afraid to give me a kick in the right direction when I need one. If it wasn't for Aurelia confirming that I have nothing to worry about when it comes to this dress, who knows how much longer it would have sat in my closet collecting dust. I'm not saying that I can't make up my own mind when it comes to my own style choices but a little bit of reassurance can go along way when you're feeling self-conscious or uneasy.

DRESS/ Forever 21 LEGGINGS/ American Apparel SHOES/ Dr. Martens
HANDBAG/ Balenciaga WATCH/ Michael Kors

Photos by Aurelia Cerquozzi

ONE HUNRED & SIX/ faux

When this coat first came into my possession I vowed never to take it off. I wore it day after day, and then the seasons changed. The temperatures plummeted and it became too cold to wear my favourite coat. It was eventually tossed into the back of a closet and pushed to the back of my mind. I would have forgot that I owned it completely if I hadn't stumbled across an old picture of me wearing it.

It is still a bit too cold for me to justify bringing this coat back into heavy rotation but it was pretty nice out today so I thought "the hell with it!" and I just went for it. Yes, I was shivering but I looked fabulous while doing so.

I paired the faux fur trim jacket with all black everything else and my Balenciaga Part-Time handbag for a preppy, timeless, Blair Waldorf-esque vibe.

COAT/ Jones New York LEGGINGS/ American Apparel

SHOES/ Dr. Martens HANDBAG/ Balenciaga

Photos by Aurelia Cerquozzi

Older post ft this coat

FIFTY-SIX/ OFW S/S'14 day two

I had a lot more fun on the second day of Ottawa Fashion Week. The setting seemed a lot more relaxed and way more casual than it did the first night; my guess is that everyone was a little on edge the first night and they were unsure of what to expect, but who knows the actual reasoning behind it. Laura and I, along with her friend Aurélia and a local photographer Gabrielle, showed up (fashionably) late and only caught the last few shows. But oh. my. god. they were fantastic.

My favourite of the the night was Beaucoup Fashion House. I've never seen or heard of them before but they're definitely on my radar now. I highly suggest that you check them out. They showcased a lot of shiny black, greys, purples and soft grunge pieces. My favourite looks were a tunic length sleeveless white blouse with a contrasting collar as well as a plaid dress paired with metallic black/gold moto jacket. All of the pieces were definitely on trend and most importantly, wearable.

My other favourite show of the night was Y!D.N.A. by Andy Nguyen. Y!D.N.A. is always a crowd favourite and it's easy to see why. Drastic silhouettes, monochromatic colour palettes and surprising twist are always to be expected during Andy's shows. This season he kept the audience of the edge of their seats by laying out a cover on top of the runway. The cover appeared black from where I was seated, but it turns out it was a shiny silvery tone. The models were all decked out in black ensembles, except for one lucky model wearing a head to toe silver short suit. All of the models were wearing tiny crowns upon their head. The showing was short but sweet and ended with confetti. I can't wait to see what this label has in store for us next season.

As for my own outfit, I decided to look a little bit crazy. I was so bored with my outfit from the previous night I decided to wear my eye-catching chartreuse duster from H&M paired with my Beetlejuice-esque skinny jeans from Forever 21. Laura encouraged me to wear black lipstick to polish off the look, and I'm so happy I took her advice. I feel the lipstick added much needed drama to the look. I paired this look off with my trusty black worn-out Dr. Marten boots because they're something of a safety blanket for me - I feel like I can do anything, or pull off any look, just as long as I'm wearing my docs.

DUSTER/ H&M TOP/ New Look JEANS/ Forever 21+ 

ACCESSORIES/ Various BAG/ H&M

pretending to be a model on Y!D.N.A.'s insanely cool runway

not sure why I'm not smiling || Laura and me with her empty glass of wine trying to be classy

selfies of Laura and me || between shows boredrom || Beaucoup Fashion House showing

an amazing violinist showcasing his talent in the Mirari Studio

Favourites from Beaucoup Fashion House

Y!D.N.A.

* Outfit photos were all taken by Gabrielle McKay || Edits, Mirari Studio photo and runway photos were done by me.

FIFTY-THREE/ houndstooth

I was so excited to write a post about the fact that it's finally transitioning into fall weather here in Ottawa... and then I did something stupid, I checked the weather for next week. It's going to be unseasonably hot, reaching a high of 39 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. That's beyond ridiculous, most of the people I know have long put away their summer wardrobes. The past week has been a tease with gorgeous fall weather, with it being just cold enough to throw on a jacket and maybe a scarf, but still warm enough to enjoy doing things outdoors.

I bought this blazer at Value Village a few months ago but I never got a chance to wear it. It's super thick and has big, but amazing, shoulder pads. It was definitely a part of an 80's power suit at some point. I plan on wearing it like a jacket because of the thickness and the length. For this look I paired it with all black (of course) and gold accessories to make the single gold button pop. I decided to wear my classic black Dr. Martens to go with the 80s vibe and also to give it more of a casual feel. I absolutely love the fit and the bold print of this blazer and I plan on wearing it a ton when the fall weather finally settles in.

BLAZER/ Thrifted (no brand) PURSE/ H&M TOP/ Thrifted (no brand)
LEGGINGS/ American Apparel BOOTS/ Dr. Martens (thrifted)
ACCESSORIES/ Various WATCH/ Michael Kors (via consignment)

* All photos were taken by Sue Waugh.

FORTY-NINE/ chartreuse

Can you believe that I almost didn't buy this duster? The colour is just a huge step outside of my all black comfort zone and although I love it, I didn't think I would have the guts to actually wear it. It did take a bit of convincing from my friends for me to actually take it home with me and I'm so happy that I did. I don't think I can find the proper words to explain just how fun this piece is to wear and it is just so flowy I feel like an absolute goddess while wearing it. 

DUSTER/ H&M DRESS/ Old Navy LEGGINGS/ American Apparel
BOOTS/ Dr. Martens (thrifted) SUNGLASSES/ Ray-Ban WATCH/ DKNY 

* All pictures were taken by Michael Tundo.

TWENTY-THREE/ dr. marten love

My collection of Dr. Martens is growing, slowly but surely. I consider myself very lucky because I've never paid full price for a pair. Don't get me wrong, I totally think they're worth the $120+ price tag and I wouldn't mind paying it if I had to and if I had the funds, but I've always lucked out with finding them secondhand.

The first pair that I ever owned are my black boots. My friends found them for me one day when they were at Value Village. They were only 14 bucks, they were my size, and they were in next to mint condition. I had to literally beat them with a hammer to stretch them and wear them out, but they fit like a glove. I wear them almost daily and I've worn them in the snow and cold, and I've worn them in the heat and humidity. They are without a doubt my go to boots and it's rare to see me without them. My feet can barely stand wearing anything else because they're just so comfortable. Some days I do switch it up though and wear my shoes by Dr. Martens. I bought my doc shoes off of somebody I know; she was looking to get rid of them and she knew I was desperately looking for a pair and bam, $20 later, they were mine. I love them and I generally wear them with outfits that don't really go with boots but I still need to comfort of docs. My most recent pair came into my work (I work in a consignment shop) on Monday. They're mint condition black velvet floral docs with a thinner sole, and they're so perfect I could cry. They're super comfortable and they aren't as bulky as my pair of Dr. Martens boots. I couldn't believe my eyes after seeing the price tag of only $40, I knew they had to come home with me.

All total I spent about $74 on my three pairs of Dr. Martens. This is an amazing steal seeing as a single pair brand new can cost double that, if not more. I feel like I've become a bit of a loser when it comes to footwear. When I was younger I'd wear any shoe, even if it didn't fit me. Heels, flats, sneakers, ect - I had quite the collection. Now I'm building up my collection of comfy shoes that actually fit! I never thought I'd see the day... I find myself buying a lot of shoes secondhand because they usually have very little wear on them and you can find fantastic brands for a quarter of the price they are new. Every time I go into a thrift store the shoe section is where I check first and I'm always on the hunt for new docs! 

All pictures were taken by me. This post is in no way affiliated with Dr. Martens, all thoughts are my own.

TWENTY-ONE/ birthday wishlist

Christmas is a huge deal at my house.  I'm sure my mother likes to think of herself as Mrs. Claus and when I say she goes all out, you have to believe me. Today is November 18th and we currently have not one but two Christmas trees up and fully decorated - and it doesn't stop there, we have another tree and more decorations to be put up. But, before Christmas comes the real holiday, my birthday! (December 16th, mark your calenders!!)

I've decided to compile a bit of a fantasy wish-list for both occasions. I say fantasy because all I truly want from my parents is a bit of money to go towards tuition for when I (hopefully) start college (again) in September, and for the rest of the people I'm close with to be happy and healthy. I know, lame right? I'm usually a lot more materialistic than this. Well, I guess this is growing up.

What are some items on your holiday wish lists? Or are you like me and have absolutely no idea? If you don't celebrate Christmas, what are some items you're dying to get your hands on within the next couple of months?

1) Marc by Marc Jacobs Purse 2) Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Wingman' wallet 3) The North by Stars on Vinyl 4) Printed leggings (images from New Look) 5) Hello Kitty Forever (F21) scarf print pillow 6) Lipsticks (image) 7) Jager (image) 8) Marc by Marc Jacobs watch 9) Red velvet creepers by Agyness Deyn x Dr. Martens 10) HP laptop

FOURTEEN/ leopard pants

On any given day you will likely find me wearing allblackeverything with a leopard print statement. I'm not sure why, but it's what I feel the most comfortable in. From bras, to shoes, to pants, to tops, if it comes in an animal print I probably own it. Even my hair straightener has a zebra pattern. Right now these leggings are my everything and when I pair it with my newly made black denim vest and Dr. Martens shoes I feel like a complete badass. 

VEST/ American Apparel (used to be a jacket) TOP/ Forever 21 LEGGINGS/ Forever 21+

SHOES/ Dr. Martens BAG/ Gifted ACCESSORIES/ Various WATCH/ DKNY

All pictures were taken by Michael Tundo and Laura Kidd.

EIGHT/ denim cutoffs

I am one of the luckiest people alive.
I'm constantly surrounded by such amazing and inspiring people, I don't even know where to start... My friends and family have been so supportive and helpful when it comes to this blog. Many of them have taken pictures, showed their own families and friends, driven me to different locations to shoot and even helped style some of these outfits. I could not be more grateful for everything these people are doing for me and I'm overwhelmed by the response I'm getting about this blog. All of the likes, replies, comments, reblogs, follows, tweets and asks... it's all so amazing. So I would like to thank you all for everything, truly.
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On Monday my friends and I decided to just dick around this vast open area in South Keys. Although it is still extremely cold in Ottawa, Monday was like a preview into what summer would be like for me. It was just so careless and limitless. That area, Conroy Pit, is of course where we took the outfit pictures as well.
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I feel as though the outfit in this post is something I will be wearing a lot of this summer as well. I have to admit: I am in love with cut offs. I only have two pairs at the moment, but they are probably my two favourite pieces of clothing I own. They're just so effortless and look amazing paired with tights. I also love the complete control you have while making them. I feel as though shorts, especially for bigger ladies, are either way too long or incredibly short. When you make your own, you can decide the length and you can also add your own one of a kind touches like studs or lace. This crop top is a great lightweight material and is a great way to keep cool during the summer heat.

SHORTS/ F21 (diy cut offs) TOP/ Addition Elle WATCH/ Michael Kors TIGHTS/ Addition Elle

NECKLACE/ Borrowed from Lisa BOOTS/ Dr. Martens (thrifted)

All pictures were taken by Michael Tundo.

SEVEN/ orange scarf

This week has been so amazing, I really don't know how to describe it.
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For starters, I've been working a lot — meaning I'm making more money for summer festivals, trips and of course a summer wardrobe. I also took a day trip last Friday down to Montreal with my best friend to see one of our favourite bands, Death Cab For Cutie. We saw them perform in Montreal last August but this time left me breathless. They performed in a large ornate Catholic church, probably the oldest church I've ever been to. I felt a little uncomfortable being in a church, seeing as I'm not the least bit religious but I suddenly felt at home when they began to play. Their performance was flawless and they were even backed by an orchestra. The day after was record store day and unfortunately I had to work but that didn't stop me from getting a record. My amazing friends found me Alexisonfire's (my favourite band) RSD release - it's a record with the first three songs they've ever recorded, with a written letter from my favourite member. They only produced a thousand copies and I now own one. I am beyond happy with how this week is going and I hope this luck continues throughout the summer. 
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As for my look, I'm wearing my black jeggings from American Eagle. I love how stretchy these "jeans" are and how the hit me right at the ankle, but they do not stay up! I have to wear a belt with them... so I really don't wear them all too often. The weather here has been crazy lately and even though it's the end of April, Ottawa woke up to a fresh blanket of snow this morning. I had to haul out my winter coat from storage! I really don't mind though, this just means I can keep wearing my Dr. Martens for a couple of more weeks and I can slack off on buying summer clothing just a littttttle bit longer.

JEGGINGS/ American Eagle TOP/ Old Navy SCARF/ Rikochet Resale BOOTS/ Dr. Martens (thrifted) 

PURSE/ H&M COAT/ Addition Elle

All pictures were taken by Laura Kidd.

FIVE/ introducing my docs

Yesterday I spent the morning running around the ByWard Market with Talin. It was really neat to experience the shops, crowds, vendors and everything in the daylight. For those of you that don't know, the ByWard Market is a place in Ottawa with a ton of street vendors selling everything from maple syrup to clothing, and it is filled with cute shops and restaurants as well. It also has a ton of bars and clubs so it really does come alive in the nighttime as well. 

Seeing as I was born and raised here, I never really take the time to look around there. I know which stores I need to go to (or which bar), I get what I need and I get out. It's really a shame because it's such a beautiful area. I truly felt like a tourist yesterday walking around with my camera and experiencing some cute shops and cafes for the very first time.

Okay, now on to my outfit! I have been lusting over Dr. Martens for YEARS now. I'm really not sure why I didn't go to the store and just buy them... I've always just waited. One of my best friends owns a pair and I used to borrow them every chance I got because they're just the most comfortable boot imaginable. Well I finally got them. For fifteen dollars, none the less. One of my friends was shopping at Value Village when he spotted them in my size. When he told me I just about had a heart attack. He snatched them up for me and I could not be happier. I finally have a pair of docs to call my own. Don't I have the greatest friends?

This shirt is probably one of my favourites too. I ordered it online from F21+ and it fits like a dream. The rust colour is just so perfect and I love the rhinestones. I've worn it countless amounts of times now and it is still in perfect shape, which is kind of weird for F21 - especially with a material so sheer and delicate like this one. I love the way it dips in the back too because I wear a lot of leggings and I don't have to worry about my bum showing. 

SHIRT/ F21 SKIRT/ Thrifted BAG/ Winners (not sure which brand) ACCESSORIES/ Talin Design BOOTS/ Dr. Martens (thrifted) COAT/ Old Navy SCARF/ American Apparel

 

All photos were taken by Talin Hagopian Waugh of Talin Design.