126/ DAYTIME OTTAWA

This past Thursday Daytime Ottawa invited both Laura and I on the show to discuss thrift, vintage, and consignment shopping. They were having a Bloggers special and we were honoured to be apart of it. (Special thanks to Marilou from 20 York Street for setting this all up - you're the best!)

If you're familiar with Laura's blog, you'd know that she's something of a thrift queen. She has an eye for picking out gorgeous one of a kind pieces; dressing well is something that we're both very passionate about and it's definitely something that we bond over. I love shopping for secondhand pieces as well but my hunt tends to gravitate towards more staple or high end pieces. During the segment we discussed the differences between thrift, consignment and vintage shopping and what the benefits of each are.

Getting dressed that morning was something of a struggle for me. I tried on just about everything in my closet and I hated everything. I eventually settled on this lip patterned cropped sweater from Addition Elle that I haven't worn yet layered on top of a dress from Forever 21+ that is an old favourite. I obviously paired that with my ASOS Curve leggings because I'm a creature of habit and I tied it all together with a pair of fabulous oil slick brogues that I scored at a consignment shop. I actually ended up being really pleased with this look! I found it to be very comfortable and a good representation of my personal style.

I'm really proud of how Laura and I performed on live TV. I'm not overly confident in my speaking abilities and public speaking is my idea of hell. I was nervous to go back and watch the interview later but we both spoke well; you can tell that we were well versed on the topic and that it is something we're truly passionate about. 

If you're a Rogers costumer you can view the entire episode here.

SWEATER/ Addition Elle DRESS/ Forever 21+ (worn as a skirt)

LEGGINGS/ ASOS Curve SHOES/ Miista (via consignment)

WATCH/ Michael Kors (via consignment)

Photos by Laura Kidd

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

EIGHTY-NINE/ forever 21 x bayshore

Forever 21 just opened up at my favourite mall in the city, so you all know that I HAD to be there for the second they opened their doors. We already have another in location, but that one is smack dab in the middle of downtown and I don't really care for the mall that it is in. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just personal preference.

Laura, Aurelia and I woke up super early this morning to ensure that we were some of the first people in line. They had promised to give out $21 gift cards to the first people in line and they did not disappoint. We got in line at around 7AM and we were among the first ten people there. When the clock struck 9AM, the doors open and music started to blast from the store. We entered and got our gift cards and we booked it in different directions to find what we're looking for.

I have to say, the Bayshore location in Ottawa is simply beautiful. It is only one floor (the one downtown is two floors) but it houses a large section for shoes, accessories, menswear and my personal weakness - plus sizes. I made out like a bandit by only spending a tiny amount of my own money. I wasn't thrilled with the plus size selection at this time. Although some of the pieces were beautiful, they weren't exactly my style. I can't wait to return in a few weeks to check out their new arrivals, though.

Clothing wise, I only picked up a basic cami. Those are a staple in my wardrobe and I truly cannot live without them. I picked up a few accessories and socks that I can't wait to wear! I didn't snap any pictures of the store itself because my battery was completely drained but I did grab some of my friends while we were waiting in line and a picture of my purchases as well.

waiting in line | Aurel gathering half the store to try on haha

my purchases (not pictured: basic black cami)

EIGHTY-EIGHT/ inspired by versace

I've had this Versace inspired bomber jacket for well over a year now and I seriously can't get enough of it! I absolutely adore the pattern on it, the soft silky material and how it has the ability to bring every outfit to life. I got it on impulse off of eBay for less than ten dollars and I'm so glad that I did. It has truly changed my life. I feel so tacky when I wear it, it's amazing.

For this look I decided to pair the jacket with a pleated maxi skirt for added interest but kept it pretty simple and casual with a plain white tee. The daisy necklace was a gift from my best friend, Laura's, recent trip to England and I will cherish it forever. Her nickname is 'Daisy' and it is so Marc Jacobs-esque I could die.

T-SHIRT/ Giant Tiger JACKET/ eBay SKIRT/ Lane Bryant BAG/ 3.1 Phillip Lim 

SHOES/ Dr. Martens NECKLACE/ Gifted from England

Photos by Laura Kidd

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.