STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ twenty

KYLIE JENNER

http://kalifornia-klasss.tumblr.com

Need I really say more? This girl is living my dream life. Designer handbags for days, absolutely gorgeous, a Kardashian but not always in the spotlight like her sisters, flawless yet effortless style, a lipstick collection that dreams are made of, a runway model, has a collection with her sister for PacSun AND her black and white bedroom is what I imagine heaven to be like. I feel so weird being this obsessed over a sixteen year old, but seriously how could I not be?

source: zimbio

source: kendall-and-kylie-konfessions

sources: nicolemarietalks, happiness1o1, celebuzz, caitlinobrien, caitlinobrien

source: twistmagazine

* All thoughts and opinions are my own, photos are referenced back to their original sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ nineteen

DEMI LOVATO
Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato

Every time I see a magazine with Demi on the cover, I have to pick it up and read through it. I have to soak up as much knowledge as humanly possible on this woman. I read every internet article I can find about her, and I listen to her latest album, Demi, on repeat. I think it's safe to say that I have a bit of an obsession with her right now and I think everyone I know personally can back me up that statement. There is just something so addictive about her. She's a multi-talented, fashion superstar and she's an insanely strong individual - oh, and she only turned 21 recently. I really wish I had someone like her to look up to when I was younger.

Let's put her music and flawless sense of personal style on the back burner for a second and discuss her strength, shall we? Even if your knowledge on Demi is minimal, chances are you've heard a little bit of what she's been through. She was victim of bullies in her adolescence, she grew up in the limelight and she has suffered from a handful of mental health issues. Demi has received rehab treatment for bulimia, self harm, self medication and was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. If you've ever suffered from any one of those you know how hellish it is and how excruciatingly difficult it is to speak about it. She could have easily just faded into the background and let those addictions and conditions take over her life. She could have suffered in silence for even longer but after an incident and an intervention from her family and friends, she got help and she is now devoting her life to help young girls, and boys, know that they aren't alone. She encourages them to stay strong, and to encourage them to seek help as well. She does this through her music, through media and social media outlets and she is even a contributing editor for Seventeen Magazine, where she discusses mental health.

Now that I got that out of my system, let me gush about her style. She is definitely the most rockerish out of the most recent Disney "Princesses" and I believe that her personal style really resembles my own. She often wears head-to-toe black, leather, spikes with a bold pattern thrown in here and there. I would love to take a peak at her lipstick collection because her lips are always painted in the most beautiful tones, and her eyebrows are something that I dream about at night. Her style is fairly easy to mimic as well, seeing as she is often spotted wearing outfits completely made out of Topshop pieces.

"Never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want, and to do what makes you happy. That's my life motto." - Demi Lovato

Demi's wrist tattoos || source: demilovatics

sources: sugarscape, bkaprimadonna, usmagazine, prommafia

sources: digitalspy, style.mtv

Sources of information on Demi: Fashion Magazine, Wikipedia, demilovato.com, MTV Style, Seventeen Magazine

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ eighteen

ANDRE 3000
André Lauren Benjamin

There are so many stylish men in Hip Hop right now. The big three that immediately come to mind for me are Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and of course, André 3000. I could write a full length post on each of those men, and I more than likely will, but today we're going to focus solely on André 3000 and his dapper style.

What I admire most about André's style is the way he can add personal and eccentric touches on sophisticated looks. Although he often wears a suit, he pairs his suits with pieces like loud prints, hats, bow ties and suspenders. This is a man who isn't afraid of colour, prints or thinking outside the box. The most memorable outfit of his, for me anyway, is the green and plaid ensemble he was absolutely rocking in the video for Hey Ya. Of course he's had a million and one other memorable outfits, as well as hit songs, but if you were to mention André 3000 around me that would be the first image that comes to mind.

In 2008 André created his own fashion line called Benjamin Bixby. Although the line was short lived, I believe it made a big impact on the fashion world and certainly caused a change in his personal style. In my opinion it was that brand as well as his personal style choices at the time that made him stand out as a fashion icon.

His style is an inspiration to me because he shows that you can add a personal twist on any look, even the most sophisticated. He isn't afraid to show his true colours and he doesn't seem to have a comfort zone. He always wears everything with such grace and confidence and those are definitely some style goals that I wish to achieve in my lifetime. 
Look at Scottish guys wearing kilts - you could look at them and laugh, but the way they carry themselves, how can you? You can wear some of the weirdest things and be cool. If you believe in it, that's what makes it cool. - André Benjamin 

sources: stupiddope, fashionbeans

source: guestofaguest

* All photos are refrenced back to their original sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ seventeen

VICTORIA BECKHAM

aka Posh Spice

I don't know why it took me so long to write this post, it seems like an absolute no brainer for me. Victoria Beckham has been one of my style icons for as long as I can remember. Being born in 1991, I grew up with the Spice Girls. They were one of my first ever favourite groups; I had all of their CDs, their Barbies and I even saw Spice World in theatres. That movie is still one of my favourites, but anyway, I digress... Everyone in the nineties had to have a favourite Spice Girl, whether or not you were a die hard fan like me, and my favourite was always Posh Spice. With most girls my age choosing either Baby or Sporty Spice to be their personal heroes, Posh was a rather unpopular option. But, after all of these years, I stuck by my choice with pride.

There is just something so undeniable about her style. Whether she's wearing the little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress or the little Gucci dress, she wears it with such confidence and ease. I love how she can turn a look as casual as a black t-shirt and dark wash jeans into something dramatic by wearing sky-high stilettos. I strongly believe that watching her as I was growing up influenced all of the black clothes in my wardrobe. She's interesting in the sense that she can constantly wear that shade, but she can wear it in a million and one different ways. Victoria Beckham is a celebrity that pays more attention to classic pieces than pieces that are on trend, and that's what I admire most about her. Her style will never fade because of this.

source: telegraph

source: omg.yahoo

source: huffingtonpost

* All photos are referenced back to the original sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ sixteen

KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN

Here's a little known fact about me: I love the Kardashians. Although Khloe is technically my favourite of the family, Kourtney's personal style stands out the most to me. Here's why:

I have yet to see another person in the public eye mix vintage looks so seamlessly with modern and high street pieces. Every look she pulls off shows a bit of old world charm and a ton of class. She is also fantastic at finding pieces that work with her petite frame and even when she's dressed down she looks absolutely stunning. I also have a huge soft spot in my heart for preppy clothes, and she rocks that "Kalifornia Kasual" like no one else.

The proof is in the pictures.

source: fanpop

sources: thestyleandbeautydoctor, babble, thefrisky, fashionglobes2013

sources: fashionbombdaily, public

* All pictures are referenced back to the original sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ fifteen

MINDY KALING

Mindy Kaling is one of my icons in so many different ways. My love for her style is a given, but I adore her personality, her determination and her sense of humour. I was never a huge fan of the American version of The Office, but I used to watch it just for her and her character's relationship with BJ Novak's character. Kelly and Ryan were beyond funny and I loved their final scene in the series finale. In my opinion she's one of the funniest comedians out there right now and it's hard not to fall head over heels for her. She's one of those celebrities who you'd love to just hang out with and be best friends with.

I think that women and really lucky right now to be surrounded by such amazing female comedians. Actresses and hosts like Ellen, Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are gracing the screens more and more, and are actually the stars, for the most part, in their own hit TV shows. That is so fantastic. These women bring a sort of edge to the world of comedy that I find was missing before. No matter who you are, you can relate to at least one of these people. This is turning into a bit ranty on a topic other than fashion... anyways... BACK TO THE MAIN POINT.

Mindy's style always amazes me. I love the colours she picks, the cuts of her dresses and the sheer elegance she displays. She does rock a mean casual outfit too and her handbag collection is something that dreams are made of.

sources: poptower, celebrity-gossip, geof, vulture

sources: topoften, celebuzz

*All photos are linked back to the appropriate sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ fourteen

I'm happy to say that I'm reintroducing my "Style Icon Saturday" posts. If you're new to the blog and are unsure of what that means, here's a little bit of a break down: Every Saturday I will post about someone whose style I admire. They can be famous, male, female, plus size, someone I know personally and I can even write about brands or specific runway shows that I'm loving at the moment. I believe that it is a great way to showcase the inspirations behind my own personal style, to introduce you to some people with fantastic style who don't have their own blog and mostly, to start getting on track with having some sort of structure and schedule with this blog. I hope you enjoy this post as well as future posts, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in my comment box or send me an email.

Okay, now back to the post!

CHRIS MACMARTIN
This young gentleman right here is one of my absolute favourite human beings. Chris is my cousin, one of my closest friends and one of my biggest inspirations. He puts his heart and soul into everything he does, be it his music (he and his barbershop chorus, Toronto Northern Lights, are gold medal champions as of this year!) or his fashion choices. We aren't currently living in the same city so I knew that next time he came home for a visit we had to find some time to see each other and I had to snap pictures of one of his legendary ensembles. As you can tell from the photos below, this is a man who isn't afraid of colour. He is the total polar opposite of me in that sense; I really have a thing or two to learn from him. When I asked him about his choice of colours in this particular outfit he had this to say, "I used navy as a neutral to do colour blocking. It's fun and summery, and can be used with a variety of looks."

Chris is currently a sales associate at Banana Republic, so staying on trend is pretty much in his job description. He has just about every colour of polo under the sun and his collection of suits is constantly growing. Some of my fondest memories with him were when we used to go shopping across the border in the United States. I like to believe that we fed off of each other during those trips and that we helped each other build upon our personal styles.

To check out his personal website and to find out more about his music/projects, click here. 

CARDIGAN/ Banana Republic POLO|CHINOS|BELT/ Gap
GLASSES/ Ray-Ban SOCKS|WATCH/ Hugo Boss SHOES/ Aldo

* All pictures were taken by me. Sorry that they're so contrasty, it was beyond sunny that day.

Rest in peace, Amy Winehouse

14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011

I can't believe that it has been two years since this woman left us. Amy Winehouse has been one of my favourite artists for years and I remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. To say that I was heartbroken when I found out would be an understatement. In all honesty, I'm still in mourning. I wore all black today with heart shaped Union Jack earrings to pay tribute to her life, and I'm 100% serious when I say that. Her music is the equivalent to an old friend for me, her albums Frank, Back to Black and Lioness: Hidden Treasures, are always there for me when I am feeling down and out. I'm still in shock that we will never hear another new work by her.

Amy Winehouse had an original style, in every sense of the word. Her voice was unique and her fashion choices definitely made people turn their heads. Her hair and makeup were nothing short of iconic and I admire the fact that she wore what ever she wanted and didn't let others change her as her fame grew.

The world will never know another talent like her. A lot of people I've spoken to about her have a poor attitude towards her, they act as though she is just another tragic story. When I bring her up in conversation with most people, they try to shift the conversation to her drug issues, they try to devalue her life and her music because of it and they are a genuinely shocked when I stand up for her. I just want to clarify that I am not turning a blind eye to her many issues (most of them to do with drugs), I just believe that there is a lot more to her than her demons. I'm not saying that she is a fantastic role model either but everyone deserves respect, especially in their death. Amy Winehouse made a great impact on this world and she did a lot with her young life. She was a remarkable talent and the world misses her a great deal. We will never know another talent like her.

You Know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse off of her album Back to Black.

My Facebook status a few days after her passing.

source: nme

sources: openair, lastfm, mirror, independent

* All pictures are referenced back to their original sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ twelve

MARC JACOBS

I have a very weird relationship with his brands. It's something like an obsession, it's almost a sickness. I fantasize daily about Marc by Marc Jacobs accessories and Marc Jacobs ready-to-wear pieces. My undying love for this man's work is definitely no secret.

I have watched the Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2013 RTW show about a dozen times and I'm still blown away by it. Monochromatic looks and stripes hold a very special place in my heart, and in my opinion no one does those looks better than Marc Jacobs.

I am always lusting over certain pieces from his lines. Right now it's the MBMJ clear cross body bag, tomorrow it may be something different all together. I fear that one day I will just turn into a giant walking advertisement for his brands, but I really can't help it. It's like an addiction, really. I haven't put my finger on what exactly it is about it all, but everything he does is just so visually appealing to me. My interest right now is mostly focused on Marc by Marc Jacobs and that's mainly because the prices are more within my reach. I hope to one day say that about his main brand, and I would die to have a piece from his work with Louis Vuitton. 

I am fortunate enough to own a few items from MBMJ and his main line. I did buy them all secondhand but they are all authentic and I love that I got them all for a fraction of the cost. My favourite pieces that I own are the black leather clutch and the royal blue Natasha Q bag. I do wear my black MBMJ bag more often than not though, it's just so big and it holds everything.

"I love to take things that are everyday and comforting and make them into the most luxurious things in the world."
- Marc Jacobs 

source: the-talks

Marc Jacobs work with the Louis Vuitton brand (source: thetimes)

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2013 RTW (source: thesatorialist)

My current collection: Marc Jacobs scarf, black Marc by Marc Jacobs Twisted Q Riz bag, Marc Jacobs Latin ring, Marc Jacobs black leather clutch, royal blue Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Natasha Q bag

* All images are referenced back to their original sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ eleven

EMILY HAINES
If you don't know who she is (if you don't apparently live under a rock, she is everywhere and everything), do yourself a giant favour and listen to Metric, Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton and her works with Broken Social Scene. She is an amazing Canadian talent and she'll change your life. Check her out and thank me later. 

source: smh

When I think about Ms. Haines' I picture allgoldeverything, sequins, leather, short dresses and booties. She is nothing short of a rock star. (her stage presence is out of this world, too)

I have loved Metric for years and years, and I have watched her personal style evolve along the way. When I first got into them she was mostly rocking jeans, t-shirt and the occasional baby doll dress. She looked amazing then, but she became more of a badass with time. I'm honestly contemplating making a What Would Emily Haines Do bracelet because every time I try to get ready for a party, event or a bar, she's the first person that comes to my mind. 

sources: coolspotters, crushable

I first saw Metric live right before their fourth album, Fantasies, was released. I remember exactly what she was wearing and that image is forever burned into my brain. She is the reason for my addiction to all things gold and glittery. She is the reason for my love of short boots. She is the reason that I am forever on the hunt for the perfect leather jacket / vest. She introduced me to the world of shorts. 

I owe Emily Haines a lot of thanks. I have seen her perform in four different cities, more times than I can even remember, and a lot of my favourite memories revolve around those trips and shows. Metric / Broken Social Scene / her solo works have always meant the world to me and her fashion will always excite me. 

sources: noteable, ew, zimbio

* None of these pictures belong to me and they have all been referenced back to the appropriate sources.

If this is the first you've ever heard of her, please check out some of her works. This is a list of my personal favourites/

Metric: Soft Rock Star, Twilight Galaxy, Combat Baby, Hardwire, Empty, Hustle Rose, Collect Call

Broken Social Scene (songs that she's on): Anthems For A Seventeen-Year-Old Girl, Almost Crimes, Sentimental X's

Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton: Rowboat, Our Hell, Reading In Bed, Crowd Surf Off a Cliff, Doctor Blind

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ ten

SOLANGE KNOWLES

JUST. LOOK. AT. HER.
The way I see it is when you're so closely related to someone like Queen Beyonce, you have two options. You can either fade into the background and accept your fate OR you can be so fabulous that you can stand alone as an individual and make a name for yourself. She took the higher road and when I see her, I don't see her as a sibling standing in the shadows of her older sister. I just see her, in all of her glory, and I am loving every second of it. You'd be a liar if you told me that you didn't watch the "Losing You" video on repeat for weeks. That video, and song, took over my entire life for about a month.

What I love the most about her is that she has the ability to wear the most daring and artistic pieces, she layers statement piece upon statement piece, and she has the confidence to wear colours I can only dream of. These are all reasons why she is one of my fashion icons and one of my biggest style crushes right now.

source: refinery29

sources: shine.yahoo, baronessteaclub, hellobeautiful, off-glass, celebrityscoop24

sources: instyle, myfashiontricks, latimesblog, afropunks

* None of these pictures belong to me and they have all been referenced back to the appropriate sources.

STYLE ICON SATURDAY/ nine

LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010

I was going to wait until February to do this post, but I couldn't wait. I'm going to try to tone down the dramatics on this post so you all can take me a bit more seriously. (Key word: try)

Alexander McQueen is my absolute favourite designer. To put it in simple terms, his pieces take my breath away. In my opinion he has one of the most beautiful, haunted and creative minds to ever grace the fashion world. I'm not quite sure what you're doing with your life if you haven't seen one of his runway shows. (It's hard to pick a favourite but A/W 98 is inspired by Joan of Arc and is amazing, it's a good place to start) This is a man whose art has been displayed in museums, and it was displayed for just reasons. Everything he's worked on, from couture to ready to wear, is so intricate and detailed. You can physically see the passion and heart that went into everything he's accomplished. A couple of years ago I fell head over heels in love with his classic black and white skull scarf and I'm fortunate enough to have received one for Christmas last year. I just about passed out. Every time I wear it I feel as though I'm wearing a bit of fashion history and I love that I can pay tribute to this extraordinary man. 

I love how popular he, and his works, are now. I love watching red carpet specials because I know someone is going to be rocking something from the legendary brand. I truly believe that Sarah Burton is doing a fantastic job keeping his legacy alive and the way I see it is that everything she does is something he would be proud of. That's saying a lot, those were huge shoes to fill and I was nervous about it - but she is rocking it.

"Clothes and jewellery should be startling, individual. When you see a woman in my clothes, you want to know more about them. To me, that is what distinguishes good designers from bad designers." 
- Alexander McQueen

source: vogue.fr

source: savage beauty exhibit metmuseum

source: a/w 2009 elephantjournal

* None of these pictures belong to me and they have all been referenced back to the appropriate sources.