Happy New Years!

Happy New Year's everyone!

How are you ringing in 2014? I chose the Dolce and Gabbana FW2013 collection as my inspiration. If you remember, the collection was full of baroque themes and deep red lace dresses. I was instantly reminded of the collection when I saw this top at Anthropologie, and knew I'd need it for the holiday celebrations.

 Anyways, I hope you've all had an awesome year,  and that 2014 treats you well. Good luck on your resolutions – we'll see how my clean eating works out!

Top: Anthropologie (similar here, here, and here)

Bottom: Wilfred Free (similar here and here)

Shoes: Barbie (old) (similar here)

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All Saints + Theatre

I loved this dress from All Saints when I first saw it in the flagship store in Seattle - so much so that I was willing to pay about $350 Canadian for it. I think I can safely say it was my first real designer purchase (of my own).

Since the dress is silk, and I'm a klutz, I don't wear it too often. It did get a fair amount of use though during the holiday season, taking me from the theatre to Christmas parties. My friend and I always go to the theatre or ballet for Christmas. This year we went to see Theatre Calgary's A Christmas Carol. I've seen it previously, when I was much younger, and I've got to say, it was absolutely stunning this year. The special effects were amazing – there were fireworks, and it even snowed on the audience! Well done!

Dress: All Saints

Coat: Banana Republic

Accessories: Swarovski cuff (similar here)

Shoes: Barbie for Town Shoes (old) (similar here)

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Sunday Baking ~ Gerbeaud

Gerbeaud is one of my favourite desserts, originating from Hungary. It's a cross between cookie and cake – layers of jam and walnuts sandwiched between multiple layers of cookie dough. The dessert is famous in Hungary, and Cafe Gerbeaud is the place to go if you want to get it (or any other dessert, seriously, they're one of the best cafes in the country).

 Making everything is pretty time-intensive. My family uses a special grinder to grind the walnuts fine enough so they're not gritty in the final product. Running the nuts through a food processor risks turning them into walnut butter.

A layer of apricot jam goes on top of the first layer of dough. Melting the jam helps it to spread more evenly.

And a layer of walnuts on top of the jam. Repeat the process three times.

Once it's baked and cooled, add a thick layer of chocolate (dark is the best) on top.

Trust me when I say this is totally worth the 16 hours it takes to make.

Knits and Denim

I hope everyone had a happy holiday season!

After all the holiday madness (with more to come for New Year's) I just dressed down to do all my boxing day shopping. When I'm in jeans, I try to go for a Californian cool vibe, or something a bit bohemian. I still haven't quite figured out my favourite denim looks, but hey, I'm trying.

Top: H&M (similar here, here and here)

Bottom: Joe's Jeans

Shoes: Steve Madden (old) (similar here and here)

Accessories: H&M rings

And for those of you who've looked this far, a silly picture, since I don't normally dress this casual!

Linked up with - Simply Lulu Style - Style Elixir - Penniless Socialite - DCInstyle - Everyday Fashion and Finance  - Simply Just Lovely - 

Cozy

A knit is all you need for winter, and I'm obsessed with them this year. I feel like knit pieces automatically give you that cozy feel I love when the weather gets cold, bonus points if they hang and drape nicely (I have a really hard time finding ones that do).

I'm also super picky about the materials my clothing are made of. I'm not a fan of polyester or acrylic at all, and try to stay away from them as much as possible (all though natural materials blended with them are fine by me, as long as it's more natural than plastic). The unfortunate part — all those 100% acrylic sweaters are super soft and seem to drape and flow better than natural fibres. To me, acrylic means plastic, and that means that after a few washes, that softness goes away and it starts to feel a bit plastic-y. I have heard that some acrylic knits don't do this, and are actually good quality. Does anyone know about this, or am I doomed to cashmere if I want anything to drape well?

I love the bright pop of colour these shoes add to an otherwise neutral outfit. Such a statement shoe!

Super skinny jeans and a stiletto heel (seriously, I got stuck the heel on these stuck in between the grooves of an escalator once) are the epitome of French chic to me. Not to mention a super easy outfit to through together.

Oversized jackets are perfect to drape over your shoulders and layer with. They also epitomize French street style for me.

Jacket: Zara (similar here)

Top: Gap

Bottoms: J Brand (old) (similar here)

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini

Accessories: Aldo and H&M rings

Linked up with - DCInstyle - Everyday Fashion and Finance - 

Holiday Gift Guide 2013

The holidays are upon us and I haven't even started shopping, minus my sister since she actually told me what she wanted this year. Does anyone else have indecisive friends and family who say, "Oh, I don't know," or, "Anything is fine," or, "You don't need to get me anything?"

So helpful, right? 

Here's a couple ideas to hopefully give you some inspiration for those less than helpful friends and family.

I Am Malala - Anthropologie Gold Monogram Mugs - Michael Kors Watch - French Women Don't Get Facelifts - J.Crew Embellished Sweater - Banana Republic Vintage Chandelier Earrings - Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - Moleskine Classic Planner - Urban Outfitters Macaron Box

Mori Girl

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday. I'm still posting some older photos I took a few days before our giant snow storm. Mother Nature is cruel and I can no longer get away with bare legs. However, on the slightly warmer days (after last week, -15°C now feels like summer), I can get away with this dress and thigh high socks.

It was my first shopping experience in Sapporo, and when I saw this dress, I knew I had to test out my new credit card. It's so unique with the mix of similar prints (the front is a larger checked print than what was used in the back) and layered hem. I absolutely adore this dress and I can never wear it enough.

This dress is probably my favourite purchase from my stay in Japan back in 2009. I wear it at least once a month, and it transitions between seasons beautifully. Plus it makes me feel like a forest elf. The Japanese call that particular style mori-gyaru, which directly translates to forest girl. Mori-gyaru is a specific subculture and street fashion that gained popularity in Japan in 2007.

The mori girl is said to love the smaller things in life, appreciating the little things among the daily hustle and bustle. Typically, the style is to dress in long, flowing skirts and dresses, earthy colours, and quaint accessories, while hair and makeup is kept very natural.

This particular fashion style was a great influence on my personal style when I was first starting university and really experimenting with what I liked fashion-wise. Since then, my style has greatly changed (I went from idealizing mori girls, to dressing super girly, and now I'm finding a mix between girly, French-chic and Californian-cool (or so I hope)).

Top: From Japan (similar here and here)
Dress: From Japan
Shoes: Roberto Vianni (old) (similar here and here)

Linked up with - Style Elixir -

School Uniform

Hello again and happy Monday. Sorry for the super long hiatus this time.
Today is officially the last day of class, which means I'll actually have time to blog again! Thank god, because it's addicting and I missed it. 

I'm lucky in that I've continued to take photos for the blog, despite the mass amount of school work I unexpectedly had. Seriously, I thought it would all be done two weeks ago, but no, it just kept on coming. One more semester plus an internship and then I'll be done!

When school gets busy enough (and when I get tired enough) I end up in a uniform —black leggings or jeans (depending on how much I've eaten the day before) and a long sweater. Basically, on my super lazy and bloated days, I'll pair an oversized sweater or tunic with black leggings. If I'm not bloated I through on my ultra-skinny Rag & Bone coated jeans.

This bag is a new staple of mine, thanks to the expandable zippers. At first I didn't think it would fit everything for school since I had been taking my laptop more often than not as the semester was winding down, but it did. Laptop, iPad, notebooks, it fit it all, and the handles didn't feel like they were struggling with the extra weight either! 

I love this long sweater from Aritzia. It's a super cozy cashmere blend that keeps me warm when my classrooms are freezing. I swear they turn the heat off once winter sets in! This top tends to slide up, so I prefer to wear it with jeans rather than leggings, or else it doesn't look classy at all. 

I also try to wear heels when I'm in leggings, just to dress them up a bit. Then again, I just try to wear heels a lot.

Top: Talula (old) (similar here and here)

Bottoms: Rag & Bone (old) (similar here)

Shoes: Spring (similar here)

Bag: Danier (similar here)

Accessories: Michael Kors watch (old) (similar here)

Linked up with - Simply Lulu Style - Style Elixir - Penniless Socialite - The MRS. & the MOMMA - Hunters of Happiness - Perfectly Coutured -