153/ WHAT I WORE TO THE OTTAWA VINTAGE SHOW

I attended the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show last weekend with my best friend, Laura, and our good friend, Michael. Unfortunately I didn't come home with any goodies this time around, but we still had blast!

It took me forever to get dressed that day. I'm usually the kind of person to throw something on in a hurry so if you give me a little bit of wiggle room to try to put thought into an outfit, it's going to take a life time.

140/ ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

I spent last weekend in Toronto and this is what I wore on the car ride there.

I have been on my fair share of road trips; I have fond memories of driving to the east coast with my parents when I was a child and I've made the trek out to Alberta a couple of times as well. That's not even to mention the countless times that I've traveled to upstate New York with my mother and Montreal/Toronto with my friends. With that being said, road trips are definitely not for the faint of heart.

There's a lot of nothing. And waiting. And siting. And staring out of car windows. And coffee. Lots of coffee. And things can go wrong... things can go very wrong.

My best advice? Make sure you're on the trip with people that can turn any event into an exciting one. For me, that means my best friends. The drive to Toronto from Ottawa isn't a very long stretch (only about 5hrs in total) but that can seem like eternity if you're with the wrong people.

Here's another tip: WEAR. COMFORTABLE. CLOTHES. I don't care who you are - if you're uncomfortable for a long period of time it will 100% show up in your attitude and no one wants to be stuck in a car for several hours with someone who's in a foul mood. 

For this trip I decided to wear my favourite black skinny jeans with a ridiculously high waist, a flowy sleeveless blouse and my favourite denim moto jacket from Eileen Fisher. I felt chic but I was also at ease the entire drive. I'm also that disgusting person who likes to take their shoes off in a car so I went for a pair of sandals that I could remove on the sly when no one was paying attention. #sorrynotsorry

The colourful bag from Milly that I brought with me is a bit deceiving; it looks tiny on the outside but fits everything you need and more. My purse essentials while on a trip? Hand cream and lip balm. I dry out like a raisin and I need to be constantly moisturizing. Identification is always a good thing to have on your person as well and I always always always try to carry cash with me for unexpected expenses. Sunglasses are a necessity too - you can fall asleep when the driver isn't playing Beyonce and no one's the wiser. Also they're good to keep the sun out of your eyes or whatever.

JACKET/ Eileen Fisher TOP/ H&M+ JEANS/ Forever 21+ (diy raw hem)

BAG/ Milly SHOES/ Birkenstock SUNGLASSES/ Ardene

Photos by Laura Kidd

131/ GREEN CHRISTMAS

This is a look that I've been wearing a lot lately. It has been unseasonably warm where I live; although it is a bit off putting (and a bit frightening... cough global warming) I have been taking advantage of the mild temperatures because I know in my heart that winter is coming.

Believe it or not, these pictures were taken on Christmas Day, the first green Christmas I have ever experienced. This holiday season was a bit strange for me in a bunch of different ways but all-in-all it has been great. I'm truly #blessed for everyone and everything in my life.

My brother, who lives out west, came home for a few days so we went on a handful of adventures together. Pretty much everything in Ottawa is closed on Christmas Day so we just grabbed brunch at one of the only diners open downtown and he took a few pictures of some Ottawa landmarks to remind him of home.

It was warm enough to head outside in a light jacket so I threw on my coated denim moto jacket from Eileen Fisher. I almost passed on this piece when I first saw it in store but I'm glad that I finally decided to buy it. Eileen Fisher is one of my all time favourite brands but the price point is out of reach for me at this stage in my life, so I try to lookout for the brand in different consignment shops around the city. This jacket feels so luxe when I wear it and it instantly makes me feel like a rockstar - two things that I definitely look for in a piece of clothing.

There was still a bit of a chill in the air so I threw on a blanket scarf. It has been extremely rare to see me without a blanket scarf lately, and although I've built up a bit of a collection for myself recently, the one pictured below is my absolute favourite. I bought it on a whim from H&M and I haven't been able to take it off since.

If you know me, you know how lazy I am when it comes to dressing. For the rest of the outfit I threw on a shapeless high-low dress that I found on the clearance rack of H&M for $10 and the ASOS Curve shiny leggings that I wear just about every day.

I could write an entire blog post on the boots that I'm wearing - I was eyeing the black ones in this style at H&M for ages but I couldn't justify the $60 price point. They eventually went down to $25 - but they only had my size in the burgundy. I bought them, I haven't taken them off since, and the rest is history.

JACKET/ Eileen Fisher DRESS/ H&M+ LEGGINGS/ ASOS Curve

SCARF/ H&M BAG/ Madewell et Sezane BOOTS/ H&M WATCH/ Michael Kors

Photos by Derek Waugh

ONE HUNDRED & FIFTEEN/ faux pas

Hi my name is Rosie and for my next trick I'm going to be committing one of fashion's biggest faux pas! Here I am, in all my glory, wearing leggings as pants!! *gasp*

I'm not sure if it really counts as a faux pas seeing as my blouse is long enough to cover my bum but either way I don't really care. Rules, in my opinion, are made to be broken. It's definitely not the most risque look I've gone for but I still felt a bit self-conscious throughout the day.

My main goal for this look (that I admittedly threw together in about 1.5 minutes) was comfort. I had an extremely long day that day and this look had to take me from work in the morning to out to a board game lounge at night, and everywhere in between. I think it did a great job at that and I really owe it all to my crisp white blouse.

Although I threw the outfit together in less than two minutes, despite the fact that I'm wearing leggings as pants and forget about the Nike trainers - I looked chic and I felt confident (for the most part) and I owe that all to the white blouse and blazer combo. I'm a sucker for classics and I think that those are two very versatile pieces that everyone needs in their wardrobe. A blazer and a white blouse can literally spruce up any look, even one that is pantless and paired with trainers.

BLAZER/ Lord & Taylor TOP/ H&M+ LEGGINGS/ ASOS Curve 

SHOES/ Nike HANDBAG/ 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli

SCARF/ via Consignment 

Photos by Laura Kidd

ONE HUNDRED & TWELVE/ back to black

We only said goodbye with words, I died a hundred times.
You go back to her and I go back to black.
- Back To Black by Amy Winehouse

This is a look that I wear to work more often than not. Although I enjoy working mornings, I'm not a ~morning person~ by any stretch of the imagination so I love clothes that I don't have to think about while getting dressed. Dresses are often my go-to because they take the least amount of effort but still look great. I paired this basic black dress with a lot of flashy silver jewelry and a bright pink lip to make it look like I was ready to take the day by storm. If we were to run into each other on a weekday, I bet you dollars to donuts that I'll be wearing some variation of this outfit.

On my last outfit post I showed you a look that was completely outside of my comfort zone but in this look, I return back to black.

SWEATER/ via Burlington Coat Factory DRESS/ Forever 21+
LEGGINGS/ ASOS Curve BAG/ Madewell et Sézane 

SHOES/ ASOS WATCH/ Michael Kors NECKLACE/ Aldo Accessories

Photos by Aurelia Cerquozzi

ONE HUNDRED & TEN/ better late than never

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here in Ottawa and it seems as though spring is here to stay. I wore this casual outfit to work and then to hangout with a couple of my friends. We spent the afternoon grabbing macarons, coffee and hitting up the mall.

This look is definitely a huge leap outside of my comfort zone. If you're familiar with my blog (or with me in real life #PoorYou) you're used to seeing me in head to toe black but when I saw this stunning white top on a random rack at Macy's I fell in love. The fit is so flawless and it is so unlike anything else I own, I just had to buy it. I know I say this about every new piece that I buy but it is sincerely my favourite thing in my wardrobe at the moment.

White clothing has always scared me. I love* coffee but it seems to have a magnetic attraction to my clothes. Also throw in the fact that I am a complete klutz and it is a recipe for disaster. That, my friends, is why I stick to a strict uniform of dark colours only. I'm proud to say that I have worn this top a total of TWO TIMES now and I haven't spilled a drop on it. I feel as though I deserve an award for that. Am I finally becoming an adult?! I do realize that it is just a matter of time for when the spill finally happens but I'm embracing this change of pace for the time being.

Also can I just mention how perfectly my bag matches the 'N' on my shoes? I made sure to point that out to just about everyone I spoke to yesterday. It's one of the reasons I bought these shoes to begin with. It is such a unique neon coral so when I saw the shoes at DSW and my initial thought was my beloved Kate Spade bag. Don't you love when things like that just come together perfectly?

TOP/ Alfani Woman JEANS/ Jessica Simpson SHOES/ New Balance 

HANDBAG/ Kate Spade SUNGLASSES/ H&M WATCH/ Michael Kors

Pictures by Aurelia Cerquozzi and Liza Peralta

* Is there a more powerful word than love? Because I feel like saying that I "love" coffee is the understatement of the year. I live for coffee. I need it to survive. It courses through my veins. The way to my heart is truly through a piping hot Americano.

PS: How cute are Aurelia and I!? We finally have a picture together!!! Special thanks to Liza for making that happen.

ONE HUNDRED & NINE/ about last night

Last night was spent celebrating my good friend, Aurelia. Today is technically her birthday but we grabbed some drinks and tapas last night from a cute little place called 10fourteen in Wellington West alongside a handful of her closest friends. I had a lot of fun munching on delicious food (honestly we ordered close to everything on the menu #sorrynotsorry) and just chitchatting about anything and everything.

For my outfit du jour I decided to go for a simple all black look (surprise, surprise) with hints of iridescent accessories. I paired my new Lord & Taylor blazer with a leather lapel with my go-to black chiffon top and ripped jeans for more of a rock star vibe. The look all came together with my iridescent loafers from Miista and a killer necklace that I scored from H&M for only $2.50. I carried this outfit over from grabbing brunch with friends in the morning, to a short stint at work in the afternoon, to drinks with friends in the evening.

BLAZER/ Lord & Taylor TOP/ Goodwill JEANS/ Forever 21+
 SHOES/ Miista (via consignment) HANDBAG/ Zara WATCH/ Michael Kors
LIPSTICK/ Too Faced Melted 'Violet'

Photos by Aurelia Cerquozzi

NINETY/ girls night

Last Friday my friends Laura, Lisa, Aurelia and I decided to treat ourselves to a little girls night out. It wasn't anything too extreme or wild but we had a blast just lounging and chatting. We went for drinks and tapas at a spot down in Little Italy called The Moon Room. I had a champagne/gin based cocktail (which was to die for) and we shared bacon wrapped olives, some candied pecans and a cheese platter - all of which were out of this world. I loved how tiny and intimate the place was and the staff was extremely knowledgeable of everything on the menu.

The plan for me that day was to go to work, shop around with Aurelia, get ready at Laura's, go do drinks and eventually sleep over at Laura's place (I live pretty far to go home and get ready after work) so I was living out of a backpack for that day and the next. I assembled my bag in a mad dash that morning (as per usual) but I have to say, I loved what I ended up wearing. I'm basically a cartoon character in the sense that you can find me repeating outfits 90% of the time. In fact, I've blogged essentially this exact outfit before but I'm a firm believer in "if it's not broken, don't fix it". This outfit is as reliable to me as an old friend and I also believe that every one needs that one fool proof outfit that they can throw on and feel fabulous in a pinch!

BLAZER/ via Burlington Coat Factory DRESS/ Forever 21+ 

LEGGINGS/ American Apparel BOOTS/ Forever 21 (borrowed from Laura) 

BAG/ Zara (via consignment) WATCH/ Michael Kors (via consignment)

Photos by Laura Kidd and myself

SIXTY-FIVE/ the ottawa vintage clothing show

This past Sunday was the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show here in the capital. If you don't remember my post from last year, I'll catch you up to speed: the Vintage Clothing Show is a sale that happens once a season and it brings all of Ottawa's most fashionable under the same roof. There are tons of one of a kind goodies to be found for unbelievable prices. Click 'read more' to see the rest of the post and to see what I wore.

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.

FIFTY/ distressed jeans

This outfit was a huge step outside of my comfort zone for so many reasons. For starters, I never wear blue jeans anymore. Other than these, I've only ever had one other pair that I was in love with but unfortunately those no longer fit. I also see jeans as way too casual and I never know what to pair them with. Unlike most people, I see the blue in the jeans as a legitimate colour and not a neutral, so I try to pair them with like colours. I usually get frustrated and give up and wear my trusty black skinny jeans or a pair of leggings instead. The other way in which this outfit is outside of my comfort zone is the fact that I'm not wearing a stitch of black. This is the first time in years that I haven't worn one piece of black clothing and I have to say, I didn't really miss it. I love how laid back and comfortable I felt in this look and I wouldn't be shocked if it becomes one of my regulars. I can bring it into the fall by adding a scarf and a jacket for warmth.

These jeans are flawless. I have yet to find a pair of pants as comfortable as these, and I wish I ordered like three other pairs. They're from Forever 21 so the quality isn't the greatest but these aren't jeans that I will be wearing very often. The dress code at my work is fairly lax but I wouldn't feel comfortable working in a pair of jeans as distressed as these. These jeans will be reserved for weekends, running errands and hang outs with friends, and I look forward to wearing the life out of them on my days off.

TOP/ Addition Elle JEANS/ Forever 21+ SHOES/ Minnetonka
ACCESSORIES/ Ardenes WATCH/ Michael Kors (via consignment)
BAG/ Marc by Marc Jacobs (via consignment)

* All pictures 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.

FORTY-TWO/ ombre

The last time I dyed my hair was SEVEN years ago. This is a startling fact for me because for starters, how did I get this old? and secondly, what was I so afraid of? I'll be the first to admit my hair history is a bit gruesome and I was always taught to learn from the past and to try to never repeat it, but I'm so happy I took this risk. Laura dyed it for me and we stuck with just the tips for this time around. To be 100% honest with all of you, we first bleached it and then dyed it purple. The purple has since washed out and all that's left is the bleach. Don't get me wrong, I actually do like the blonde but my heart is still set on purple and it will be redyed ASAP.

As for my outfit, the majority of it actually comes from the United States. I go on many cross border shopping trips with my mother and that's where I usually find my favourite pieces. (I'll do a post about the differences between shopping in the States and shopping in Canada eventually.) These pants were an awesome JC Penney find and the Calvin Klein blouse is something I grabbed from TJ Maxx. I bought both my jacket and Toms in Canada though and they are two pieces that I could truly not live without. If you don't own at least one denim jacket, I really don't know what you're doing with your life... I suggest you find yourself one (thrift stores always have a ton!), you will be living in your denim jacket for years to come. You may even recognize the jacket from these posts - 1, 2. I also spoke about Toms a few time on this blog as well. They are an absolute necessity in my wardrobe. I have a few pairs of them now and I dare you to find a more comfortable shoe. I've tried a countless number of alternatives because I used to absolutely hate how they looked but I'm proud to say that I'm completely turned around on them.

SUNGLASSES/ Ray-Ban (consignment) JACKET/ Old Navy TOP/ Calvin Klein 

PANTS/ Worthington SHOES/ Toms BAG/ H&M (consignment)
WATCH/ Michael Kors (consignment) 

* All pictures were taken by Laura Kidd.

THIRTY-NINE/ black, white and red all over

At the end of this week all of my friends will be done their exams, and to me that means summer is right around the corner. The weather today was absolutely amazing, it was sunny with just the right amount of heat and it's making me so excited for warmer weather and summer nights. I hung out with a few of my friends and all I needed to wear was just a light jacket. It's shocking to me that just last week I was still wearing my winter coat. I am in love with this scarf print jacket that I nabbed off of eBay. IN. LOVE. The print reminds me of vintage Versace and the colour makes it the perfect piece to make my usual uniform of black and white pop. My white top is new as well and it is to die for. I love the detailing, the sheerness and the fact that it's 100% cotton (!!!!). I of course paired this outfit with white and gold accessories, my favourite gold glitter Converse and basic black skinny jeans to give the outfit more of a laid back and comfortable feel. I know in a month and a bit I'm going to regret saying that I'm excited for summer (I can't stand the heat/humidity) but with gorgeous days like today, it's hard not to be.

JACKET/ eBay TOP/ New Look PURSE/ Marc by Marc Jacobs (consignment)
 JEANS/ New Look WATCH/ DKNY ACCESSORIES/ Various
SHOES/ Converse (gifted)

* All pictures were taken by Michael Tundo.

THIRTY/ harem pants

I spent the day with my two best friends and we did the most girly things imaginable, from getting our nails done, to shopping, to doing our eyebrows, and so on and so on. It was fantastic, sometimes you just need to treat yo self. (Tom Haverford would be pleased)

This is what I wore.

Although these are technically my second pair of printed harem pants, I still have a bit of a fear of them. I just feel like they have the potential to look very stylish but once false move and you look like you're trying to wear pyjama pants in public. When I saw these at Winners I knew that they had to come home with me. I bought them a size bigger than I usually take to give them a sort of oversized, slouchy, harem look to them but the legs are very long on and therefore they look odd in certain shoes. I'm still trying figure out the kinks, but they're more than worth it. They're bold, black/white (best colour combo) and super comfortable. The positives outweigh the negatives in this case. Paired with my new pointy deep purple / black nails makes me feel like a rockstar in the absolute best way. I wore the pants with a cropped black velvet top and a black tshirt. For accessories I wore a a gold spiked cuff and various rings, to sort of finish off that rockstar vibe. I do apologize about the black and white photos, the lighting in my room is horrendous and despite our best efforts, the colours were all messed up. I think the black and white adds a bit to my monochromatic outfit anyways, but I'm sorry nonetheless. 

VELVET JACKET/ Thifted (no label) TOP/ Forever 21+ PANTS/ Joules and Leonard
ACCESSORIES/ Various

* All pictures were taken by Laura and Lisa Kidd.

TWENTY-FIVE/ birthday suit

Today is the day that I turned twenty-one. Being in Canada, and seeing as the drinking age in my province is nineteen, it wasn't that big of a deal. But with me being the queen of birthdays I had to at least do something with my friends. We all got together and went out to my favourite bar and danced the night away. All in all it was an amazing night and I owe a lot of thanks to my best friends. They are such fantastic people and if I've said it once, I've said it a million times: I absolutely adore them and I truly don't know what I would do without them. It's one of those things that is said often, but can never really be said enough. I mean this from the bottom of my heart; these people have become (closer than) family to me.

I'm pretty lame and I ordered this shirt awhile ago but refused to show any of my friends before my actual birthday party. I'm absolutely, 110%, in love with it. I love the spiked shoulders and I'm dying over the dramatic high-low cut. Also it's black, so in other words it's perfection. I felt like a witchy punk rock queen the entire night and I did not mind one bit. I obviously had to pair it with black on black on black and my classic Dr. Martens boots. I finished off the look with minimal silver accessories and my favourite pink cross-body bag from H&M. 

TOP/ ASOS SKIRT/ American Apparel BOOTS/ Dr. Martens ACCESSORIES/ H&M

All pictures were taken by Laura Kidd and Michael Tundo.