167/ DARE TO WEAR

I’m instantly drawn to silhouettes that I’ve been told to steer clear of. I love big, boxy, oversized pieces of clothing that swallow my body whole. I’m extremely inspired by people who constantly break fashion moulds and go against the grain. I yearn to wear stripes that make me look wider, or shorter, depending on the direction. I lust over itty bitty crop tops, that I've been told my entire life aren't made for ~fat girls like me~, paired with extremely wide leg trousers. 

People always try to tell me that fashion has its own set of rules but I’ve never been one to play by them. Fashion is better when it is unexpected. Personal style can be uplifted, remodelled and reworked until it is living art. That's something that I truly believe. That concept is what I base my entire blog on and that's what runs through my mind when getting dressed every morning. Although my personal style is definitely more minimalist than maximalist I try to play with minimal designs until I make them my own - that's what I'm comfortable with and that's what makes me happy.

I live to wear anything out of the ordinary. 

I long to make a statement with my clothing. 

I love to give the (metaphorical) finger to those who said I shouldn't or that I can't wear what I like.

TOP/ Torrid (similar) JACKET/ Addition Elle (similar) CULOTTES/ H&M+ (similar)

BOOTS/ Union Bay (similar) HANDBAG/ Rebecca Minkoff

Photos by Laura Kidd

146/ BACK TO BASICS

I have a weird relationship with basics. On one hand I see their role in fashion and I understand their purpose. On the other hand they confuse and even frighten me. How am I supposed to feel like myself when I look like everybody else? That's what goes through my mind when I put on something simple like a white top paired with blue jeans.

I do, however, try my best to make every ensemble my own by mixing in a handful of interesting features or textures. The raw hem on the jeans pictured below is my favourite trend in denim right now. I absolutely love how effortless and carefree it is. The blouse that I'm wearing is about two sizes too big and I love the oversized silhouette against the tight skinny legs. Of course it wouldn't be one of my looks without dashes of pink here and there so I went for a (subtle) pink lip, a fuzzy bag charm and hot pink nails. I really feel as though I've made this classic look my own.

And isn't that what personal style is all about? Taking something that has been done a million times and making it your own? I feel like I've come a long way through my personal style evolution revolution. I'm proud to say that this is the happiest I've ever been with my wardrobe and because of that I feel extremely comfortable and confident. It is such a great feeling. It is extremely difficult to find your own personal style, especially when you're plus sized, but that's a different post for a different time.

TOP/ Penningtons JEANS/ Old Navy SHOES/ Birkenstock

HANDBAG/ Longchamp via consignment BAG CHARM/ Ardene

Photos by Sue Waugh

SIXTY-TWO/ insomniac

I'm currently writing this as I'm "sleeping" over at my best friend's house. I put sleeping in quotation marks because they're really doing more of the sleeping, I'm more of a night owl. It can be quite lonely or boring at times but hey, at least I'm doing something productive right now... right?

I've been wearing this jacket pretty much non stop since I bought it a couple of weeks ago. I know everyone owns one like it and it is in no way unique, but I really don't care. I absolutely love it. The pleather sleeves look insanely cheap but I think that they give the piece a certain charm. Maybe I'm crazy. I love how the pockets are big enough for me to fit bits and bobs like bus transfers, lipsticks, change and my cell phone. I also love how its not 100% black.

I've been wearing the jacket with my Burberry scarf because it's honestly so cold here and the scarf keeps me so warm. I've been mixing up my bottoms, shoes and handbags to keep the ensemble looking fresh.

Today I decided to pair it with my MICHAEL Michael Kors skinny jeans and beaten up Converse for sort of a casual feel. I just threw on my Marc by Marc Jacobs bag because it had everything I need in it and I was in a bit of a rush to go out and meet my friends.

My friends and I spent the day doing my two favourite things - shopping and eating. We checked out the new H&M that finally opened up in Ottawa (I might do a post on all my findings later) and got lost in the giant mess that is Bayshore Shopping Centre while trying to find our parking lot. We finished the night with a makeshift buffet of different kinds of junk food (pizza, wings and the like) and hot chocolate with mini chocolate chip biscotti.

JACKET/ Last Kiss SCARF/ Burberry London JEANS/ MICHAEL Michael Kors 

SHOES/ Converse BAG/ Marc by Marc Jacobs ACCESSORIES/ Various 

LIPSTICK/ Raspberry by Joe Fresh

* Photo credit: Laura Kidd

* Disclaimer: I decided to name this blog post 'insomniac' because insomnia is something that I truly suffer from. I understand that it is a very real disorder and that if affects many people's lives. I do not wish to glamourize it it any way and I'm sorry if the title comes across as that in any way. Insomnia is a horrible condition and I really wouldn't wish it upon even my worst enemy. If you follow me on Twitter, Tumblr or if you know me in real life, you'd know that I've suffered from this for years. I despise every second of it. It truly is torture but I felt as though the title reflected what I'm going through and gave a bit of insight as to why I'm the only person under this roof that is awake and the reason why I'm updating my blog at 1:40 in the morning as opposed to you know... a healthy time.

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