Is it just me or does fashion seem to be much more liberal in the spring?
Not liberal in terms of shorter hemlines but unconventional in a sense, like pairing wacky patterns and bright colours.
Mint and floral may be too bold for fall fashion, however in spring they are a splendid combination.
Want to steal my look? Shop Zara for my floral pants and Aritzia for my minty-coloured blouse.
photos by Tara-Kay Palermo
Dressing androgynous makes me feel sexy.
This might seem strange because wearing manly, baggy clothing hides the body parts you are supposed to reveal, like a little leg or cleavage, to be attractive.
But, what makes me feel sexy is feeling empowered. Something about the way my boyfriend fit jeans sag and the loose comfort of a casual T-shirt make me feel strong and confident.
Luckily for me, the fashion pendulum has swung towards a more minimalistic, grungy, androgynous look this season. So essentially it has never been a better time to raid your boyfriend’s closet!
Steal my look by pairing Jbrand boyfriend fit jeans with the perfect men’s T-shirt by PYA Black Label.
Photos by Kimberly Ivany
Someday I will make the drive down the coast from Vancouver to California for Coachella. I want to fulfil my dream to flail about with all the stylish hippies and sway with wannabe flower children.
Unfortunately since I am still a student I am stuck in exam hell while it seems like everyone is going to be jamming their hearts out in Cali.
But, just because I can’t attend doesn’t mean I can’t pretend!
In Coachella spirit I made my own amethyst necklace and paired it with a pleated maxi skirt for a boho chic look.
Photos above by Tara-Kay Palermo
It might seem bizarre to cuddle up with a fur shawl while walking along the water on a sunny spring afternoon, but runway designers like Prada, Givenchy and Celine threw out the rulebook and incorporated fuzzy creatures into their spring collections.
As noted in Vogue magazine, Prada’s brightly coloured fur shawls, Givenchy’s furry sunglasses and Celine’s fuzzy sandals are just some of the items previously relegated to fall collections, until now!
We’ve had discussions at school about how changing weather patterns, call it global warming if you will, have virtually allowed fall wardrobes to become spring wardrobes and visa versa.
This means that the fuzz on the spring runway is just as much for shock value as it is for practicality. Embrace the trend and you will be reaching for your sunglasses AND your favourite furry accessory this season!
Photos by Tara-Kay Palermo
As much as I tell myself spring is just around the corner, I know there is a great chance that Ontario will experience another snowstorm (like the annoying flurries today). However, the impending doom of a white out won’t stop me from prematurely flirting with spring fashion trends.
Obviously us Canadians aren’t able to wear block heeled sandals just yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start playing with other spring trends that are appropriate for the slushy, snow rain outside.
Two easy spring 2013 fashion trends to try right now are boyfriend fit jeans and electrifying neon hues.
I paired my J Brand jeans with a sleeveless neon blouse, layering it with a sweater to stay toasty, and added another pop of neon with a necklace from J. Crew to pull the outfit together.
Adding a neon accessory to complete your look is probably the easiest way to stay on trend this season whether the weather is warm or not!
Thanks Tara Kay Palermo for playing photographer and taking some great pics!
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Before I jump into blogging about how awesome it was to do a mini photoshoot for Costa Blanca on Thursday, I have to explain how I was able to waltz in and terrorize the store.
I recently started interning with a super cool PR company here in Toronto, which only two weeks in is already giving me so much insight into the fashion industry. I’m really excited about all the experience I am going to gain and everything I am going to learn while interning.
So long story short my internship is how I was able to style and photograph my lovely model Tara-Kay in Costa Blanca attire at the Eaton Centre a few days ago. We had so much fun and we found a lot of great pieces to mix and match. Tara-Kay couldn’t help but purchase a few items!
Florals and brights from the Spring 2013 collection are now hitting the Costa Blanca stores and I would recommend popping in to check out the new merchandise because you might be able to find an inexpensive piece that you can look forward to wearing when the weather warms up!
I’m not sure if it is because of the way they glisten, their raw, natural beauty or their said ability to connect you to a higher power, but when I came across a crystal pendant on Nasty Gal not too long ago I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
When I was in Mexico over the Christmas break, a man was selling crystals in a makeshift market near the beach and I took it as a sign that I should buy one. But, I didn’t really become curious about crystals, beyond the fact that they look pretty around my neck, until I read an interesting article in the U.S. edition of Elle magazine that mentioned the healing powers of stones and minerals.
When I got back to Toronto I was interested in looking for a place to find out more about crystals. Luckily, my friend Alex is also going through a “crystal phase”, as we now refer to it, so we decided to check out the Rock Store near Bloor St. and Bathurst St. last weekend.
As we opened the door to the store we were engulfed in a cloud of incense and drawn inside by all the colourful glittering rocks. Purple amethyst, pink moonstone and black obsidian were just some of the crystals or minerals to choose from. All of the stones have different properties and therefore different powers.
I may sound a tad bit crazy so I’ll end with saying that whether you’re into the magical, spiritual side of crystals or not they are definitely a great piece to add to your accessory collection this year. Click here to see the one on Nasty Gal that sparked by desire to purchase one in the first place.
Glittering chandeliers, rusty antique chairs and bright coloured wool coats in the windows of stores along my route to school always catch my eye.
Despite the fact that I am on Queen Street almost everyday, I had never visited the boutiques far West near Roncesvalles Avenue until today. Today a friend and I spent more time than we expected in Stella Luna at 1627 Queen St. West.
Stella Luna has a great selection of retro, vintage and recycled items with decades of stories to tell, but the owner Crispian Underwood is what really brings character to the boutique.
Underwood is very friendly and knowledgeable about her vintage merchandise. She says she is quite selective when it comes to selling items at her boutique.
“Just because it is old doesn’t necessary mean I want it. The pieces need to be something that speak to us,” says Underwood.
Underwood has clearly figured out what speaks to customers since her store has successfully been in operation for over 17 years.
I found more than a few pieces that spoke to me, so I had to narrow it down to a lovely hat and a boucle style jacket (seen in the pictures below).
Even though it is a bit out of the way, Stella Luna is worth a visit since it has some interesting items for sale at a moderate price and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find something that speaks to you too!
When I think of putting on my Sunday best, I think of a demure pleated skirt and neatly pinned back hair. However, this past Sunday I wanted to wear what makes me feel my best and lately that is far from church appropriate, since that means sporting my tight leather pants.
This rocker chic fall trend I flippantly added to my wardrobe has become one of my favourite pieces. I love pairing my pants with my edgy Jeffrey Campbell shoes. But, to avoid looking like a band groupie, I like to keep it preppy and tidy on top.
An easy way to stay warm, look trendy and professional is to wear a buttoned up shirt underneath a knit. Since the weather was so unseasonably beautiful this weekend I was comfortable in this outfit without a jacket as I further explored Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue.
There are so many awesome vintage stores in this area and they all have great shoes, handbags, hats, belts and clothing. I ended up purchasing a pretty black eel skin brief case, that just so happens go perfectly with my pants. Originally I was skeptical about the versatility tight leather pants, but I keep finding different things to pair with them.
I just can’t get them off me… literally.
