|Style| Floral Week - Bomber

Today’s look is the final look in my Floral Week series. Over the course of the last few seasons, there has been a heavy sportswear influence.  It’s a chic and comfortable way to dress up some of the simplest pieces.  Today’s look revolves around the floral bomber.  

This jacket is everything.  It’s a lightweight printed chiffon.  The ribbing detail is a great nod to it’s classic bomber counterpart.  It feels sporty because of the fit, but the print dresses it up a bit and definitely makes it more feminine.

bomber and dress - Forever 21+ | shoes - Call It Spring | necklace - Stella & Dot | glasses - Vintage

I paired the bomber against this grey militant racer dress.  I like the contrast of the easy, plain dress and the dominating print of the jacket.  I completed the look with slip-ons and some printed rimmed, over-sized sunnies.  

Thank you for joining me over the last week!  This series was really fun to put together and I hope you enjoyed it!  This is probably not the end of floral prints on the blog, but it was a playful way to kick off the Spring season!

|Style| Floral Week - Colour Pop

Well the weather the last few days has made it seem like Spring is on the retreat.  It’s been chilly, gloomy and rainy (and hailing) in Toronto over the last couple days, which is why I feel like we need something a little light and bright!  Floral Week continues with a colour pop!

This skirt is a favourite that I picked up from Eloquii during the winter.  I knew I wouldn’t regret a buy-now-don’t-wear-for-months piece when I saw the colour.  The brightness is a welcomed contrast to my largely noir wardrobe.  I especially like that the lace of this midi skirt looks like an abstract floral. It's a modern take on a traditional floral lace skirt. 

white top - Forever 21+ | skirt - Eloquii | bracelet and shoes - Call It Spring | bag - Forever 21 | earrings - Topshop | necklace - COVET BY BIFFI (Custom) | ring - Vitaly Design

To keep the bright ideas flowing (see what I did there), I’ve paired this midi skirt against a white burn-out detailed floral cropped top.  I love the sheerness of this top.  It’s enough that there are spots where you can see your skin, but not so much that it’s too revealing.  I think it’s a super versatile piece that works here, but would be great with jeans for a more laid back vibe too.

All Dressed Up...And Nowhere to Go

I finished off the look with some simple white slip ons and this great embossed clutch.  I feel the bag is such a great and simple addition to this look and makes it even more playful.  I went with casual slip on for a more sport-luxe feel.  

I hope this has brightened your spirits and inspired you to still be playing with colour and florals, even though the weather is less inspiring.  Come back tomorrow for the last look in this series.

|Style| Floral Week - Bodycon Skirt

Welcome back floral fans!  We continue Floral Week with another adorably flower influenced piece.  Today it’s all about the bodycon skirt.

While I’m not one to rock a lot of bodycon pieces, I love this skirt!  It’s made of an ultra soft and stretchy printed floral fabric that doesn’t leave me feeling revealed or like I’m in a sausage casing.  That being said, it’s still very close fitting.  That’s why I paired it with a an off-white loose fitting woven shell, that I bloused at the skirt’s waistband.  I love that the floral element in the skirt is done in a horizontal stripe, which is a nice nod to nautical, in a fresh way.  

skirt and cardigan - Forever 21+ | top - Torrid | shoes - Call It Spring | necklace - Mirror Image | ring - Vitaly Design | earrings - COVET BY BIFFI

While Spring finally feels like it’s here to stay, there are still those nippy days.  Whether the weather is rainy or breezy, a long cardigan is a great way to top off an outfit that’s all Spring playtime!  And there’s nothing wrong with a little floral on floral action, so I finished the look off with some mixed media floral flats.

|Style| Floral Week - Kimono

Kicking off with Coachella, festival season is upon us.  Nothing says fun in the sun and eclectic spring/summer fashion like a music festival.  Sadly I couldn’t make Coachella, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t inspired to incorporate florals into a festival look.  

I dig the hippie-ish vibe for festival wear.  Here I paired a very easy slip-style tunic, under my floral kimono.  I like this kimono because it’s bright, fresh and lightweight.  While this floral is a little louder, it’s grounded in black, making it a perfect pop piece against an all white backdrop.  The lace on the tunic also softens the whole look from being too boxy.  

kimono - Forever 21+ | tunic - Torrid | boots - mblm (Penningtons) | hat - Urban Outfitters | ring - Vitaly Design | bracelets,earrings and sunglasses  - Aldo Accessories | flash tattoos - Addition Elle | fringe bracelet - Stella & Dot | necklace - Little Burgundy

It wouldn’t be festival inspired without a few key elements.  Enter the large brimmed hat, a stack of bracelets and some very large sunnies.  I also added a few temporary tattoos, just because I’ve been wanting a excuse to wear them.    

Keep an eye out tomorrow for more floral fun to come.

|Style| Floral Week - Mesh Dress

We all know how it goes, ‘April showers, bring May flowers”.  Well that may be true in nature, but not in fashion.  The ‘flowers’ are already here!  I hope you all enjoyed the post that launched Floral Week yesterday.  Today we continue with a cute dress that is a anything but gloomy on a rainy day!

I love this mesh floral frock.  I found it sad and lonely on a rack of sweaters one day in February.  It said early spring time event, or date night to me.  I love the almost iridescence that comes from the layered printed mesh.  It’s a darker floral, which I like, since I find most florals to be a little more loud, especially in plus sizes.  

dress - Forever 21+ | flower ring - H&M | watch - Guess | rain boots - Call It Spring | necklace - Stella & Dot

I’m a big fan of the shape of this dress too.  We will see more dresses like this, this season.  The elastic at the waist gives you some versatility.  You can wear it at the waist, like a skater dress, or blouse it up for a little more fullness at the bust.  Dresses like this are also easy pieces to wear, and a great canvas to showcase some larger accessories.

|Style| Floral Week - Swimwear

I know what you’re all thinking, “florals, for spring?  Groundbreaking...”  We all know that quote, but the truth is, florals are everywhere for spring!  They’ve been popping up in shops since mid February, but sadly there was nothing spring like about the weather until just last week.  Now that the beautiful weather seems like it’s here to stay and not just being a fashion-tease, I wanted to celebrate with a fresh burst of colour!  Every day this week I will be posting a new look focused around a fun floral piece. 

To start off the week let’s just bare it all!  I have been shopping online for a hot weather vacation destination.  Obviously along with that, has come some swimwear shopping as well.  Since my vacation isn’t happening for months, I couldn’t resist getting into the spirit early with a little photo shoot.

swimsuit - GabiFreshxSwimSexy (swimsuitsforall) | shoes - Call It Spring | necklace - Aldo Accessories

Like so many, when GabiFresh launched her latest collection of swimwear for swimsuitsforall, I had to have it!  I fell in love with this beautiful, retro-looking, palm leaf print one piece.  The band at the waist, the cup detailing and the convertible straps!  Yas queen!  I feel like a bombshell in this.

swim top - Forever 21+ | cover up - Addition Elle | swim bottoms and shoes - Torrid | earrings - COVET BY BIFFI

Admittedly I’ve never worn a bikini (or fatkini).  When I found this swim top online, I wasn’t sure now I was going to feel about it.  After putting it on, I was feeling myself!  It’s longline, which is why I think I feel so comfortable in it.  The colours are bright and fresh and just make me long for the beach.  And I wouldn’t be surprised if you see me rocking this as a top with a maxi skirt later this summer.

Keep an eye on the blog tomorrow for another floral look.      

|Beauty| Mother's Day LUSH Treats

As a lover of all things that smell and feel amazing, I was thrilled to get a chance to try out some of the new products from LUSH.  With Mother’s Day just around the corner (May 10th - get on it!), it’s no surprise that this fresh cosmetics brand has some incredible new products to spoil your mums with!  I choose the Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb, Rose Bubble Bar and the Yummy Mummy Body Conditioner to try out.

Nothing says luxury like a hot bath, especially when there are rose petals floating around the tub with you.  LUSH has made bathing with them an even more luscious experience by adding an explosion of rose petals to the Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb.  As the fast fizzing outer layer dissolves a burst of red whirls out.  The bomb leaves the bathwater milky, with the beautiful sent of rose oil, rosewood, orange flower absolute and neroli.    

It wouldn’t be a Lush bath if bubbles weren’t involved!  I love bubble baths, always have and probably always will.  Not only is the Rose Bubble Bar oh-so-cute, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving.  You can break a piece off and crumble it under running water and save the rest for other bath times to come.  While the bar is a precious bathroom accessory, the skin-softening ingredients like cocoa butter and Rosehip need to be experienced!  So if you do get this for your mom, make sure she doesn’t just decorate the bathroom counter with it (like I know my mom would try to do).  

Though I am not a mummy, I see no reason why I can’t be yummy!  As a fan of LUSH’s other Body Conditioners I knew that I would fall in love with Yummy Mummy.  The fresh sent of strawberries, the ultra moisturizing feeling of murumu butter and fair trade cocoa butter have got me hooked!  Not only does it hydrate your skin, but you can use it to shave your legs with!  What mom wouldn’t love a multi-tasker?

You can grab these great gifts alone, or as part of a pre-made Mother’s Day gift, all cute and wrapped up for your moms (or yourself!)  I know if you try these, or the other goodies from the Mother’s Day range you will fall in floral, fresh love with LUSH.  And if you gift them to your mom, she might just love you a little more too!    

All this talk of roses and the smell of spring has got me inspired to go floral!  Check out the blog all this week for Floral Week!  

**All bath time goodies c/o LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, all opinions are my own

|Events| GLAMWJ Presents: My Super Sweet (16 x 2) - The Whatever Edition

Every year to celebrate my birthday, I have a themed party.  It all started when I turned 24 and threw the first Gettin’ Loose and Messy with Jessie.  Since then it's taken on the word Presents, followed by whatever theme I'm feeling.  Since I was turning 32, I thought why not spend the night 'rolling with my homies' and revisit my teen years!  I give you Gettin’ Loose and Messy with Jessie Presents: My Super Sweet (16 x 2) - The Whatever Edition!

Two of my favourite movies are having their 20th anniversaries this year so I thought it would be fun to pay homage to Clueless and Empire Records with a 90s themed house party!  Given that this wasn't the first GLAMWJ, my friends weren't bugging and totally killed the theme!  Kelli, a friend from fashion (Ryerson) actually made her Cher outfit that day, from scratch!  I, on the other hand went vintage, and rocked a velvet longline jacket that I wore in high school.  Everyone looked like total Bettys and Baldwins - no Monets here (and no virgins who can't drive).  I'm Audi.   

|Style| Bust[ing] into Spring with Déesse

When Addition Elle launched their new lingerie collection, Déesse in early March, I was really impressed.  The word Déesse - meaning goddess in French, is so fitting.  The collection is delicate and ultra femme.  The fabrications are refined, soft and beautiful.  The colour palette is whimsical and very spring.  And one of the best parts is that there’s a bra for everyone woman, and her needs (with sizes ranging from 38C - 44DD).

When the Flawless T-ser hit stores I was in love!  The bra is perfection.  It’s both comfortable and sexy.  It’s smooth and soft, with an almost cooling feeling to the touch because of the material used.  It hugs the body, and comes high enough in the back to smooth and support (bras with 4-hooks or more are always a plus!).  The straps are wider, but not matronly looking.  The colour choices ranged from the basics of nude and grey, to bright lavender and a fresh sky blue - all in the same heathered fabric.  After I tried one on, I was hooked, and got all four choices!

The Déesse collection is in stores now and is a permanent part of Addition Elle’s lineup.