|Style| DARExSUZYPLUS Part 2

jacket, dress, booties and bag - Suzy Shier+

A few weeks ago, you took a behind-the-scenes look at the DARExSUZYPLUS collaboration that I was selected to be a part of. DARE Magazine enlisted the help of myself and fellow bloggers Assa (My Curves and Curls), Thera (Cloud 14+) and Karen (Curvy Canadian) to help showcase the fall collection from Suzy Shier+. 

I am so excited to share these photos with you! This look is featured in the newest issue of DARE Magazine now. The feature showcases each blogger in their signature Suzy Shier+ look. This project was extra special for me, since I got to work with a few of my favourite ladies, of course being in DARE and working with my bf, Elliot, who shot each of us for the spread.   

As I’ve said before I love fall dressing. Everything is richer, softer and has more texture.  I fell in love with this windowpane printed shirtdress the moment I entered the plus size section of Suzy Shier. It’s just the right amount of structure for this trend-focused print.  I’m also a sucker for a dolphin hem, giving that nod to men’s tailoring in a shirtdress.  This denim jacket is the perfect topper to any fall look, but especially here. It takes the dress from sweet and polished, to a little more street and edgy, which is more my speed. I also love the little leather details on the pockets, which give the jacket a little more definition. I completed my look with some fantastic suede-look booties, a girl’s best friend in the fall and a great convertible crossbody/clutch purse with gold accents. 

Check out our feature in the new issue of DARE Magazine.

If you’re falling for the new collection as hard as I have, then you are in luck. Join me, Assa, Thera, Karen and DARE Magazine in store at Suzy Shier+! We will be at the Dufferin Mall location on Monday September 21st, from 5pm to 7pm for a mix and mingle event full of style tips, a fashion show, nibbles, prizes and more! Join us to have a closer look for yourself and some other exciting surprises to come. Hope to see you there and be sure to check out the newest issue of DARE to see all of the other bloggers‘ looks. And make sure to check out Suzy Shier+, both in store and online, for affordable on-trend fashions ranging from $12 to $56, in sizes 1X to 3X.

|Profile| On The Verge

As a teenager growing up in Guelph there weren’t many cool places to shop.  As a person that’s always been drawn to fashion and accessories, when I found the gem that is On The Verge, it instantly became my favourite place to shop, downtown.  

On The Verge is a cute little gift and clothing boutique in the heart of downtown Guelph.  Every time I head home to visit my parents, I make a point of stopping in to see what’s new.  One of the last times I was home, I noticed that the shop was no longer along the main downtown strip.  I admittedly freaked out...and ran to my phone to see what had happened.  Turns out, On The Verge is not gone, it just moved to a new and improved location.  Curious to see the new store, I made it my first stop during my last trip home.  

The best way to describe the new On The Verge is to call it a quirky teenager that grew up into an interesting yet uniquely refined adult.  It’s a cute mix of housewares (true story, every shower curtain I’ve ever had, has come from On The Verge), clothing, shoes and accessories.  They also have an amazing card wall with the most special and one of a kind cards.  What I like best about the shop is that no matter when I come in, the place is always full of new things that bring a smile to my face.   

Meds with shop owner Cathy

I had an opportunity to chat with shop owner Cathy Cole and her adorable shop greeter, Meadow, affectionately known as Meds (as in the best medicine).  Cathy showed me around and spoke to the new displays that she refurbished herself, and the hand picked lines she carries.  One thing that I’ve always appreciated about On The Verge, is the attention to local and Canadian designers and lines.  Speaking to Cathy you can hear the passion in her voice and love she has for her shop.  

If you find yourself in downtown Guelph, be sure to check out On The Verge, at 5 Quebec Street.  There is so much charm within it’s walls, that you can’t help but fall in love with it.   

|Events| Fat In The City X PRiMAALA Shopping Event

Our hostesses for the evening - Rachel Holt, owner of PRiMAALA and the ladies of Fat In The CIty, Jill and Aisha

Blogger friends!  Always nice catching up with these ladies!  

Last Wednesday I was invited to a fun event put on by the ladies of Fat In The City and PRiMAALA, to kick off World Pride, here in Toronto.  It was a great evening filled with awesome ladies, fabulous clothing, nibbles, drinks, lots of conversation and laughter.  The event brought together blogger friends, ladies new to PRiMAALA and shop familiars.  It was a fantastic way to meet some new people and celebrate the start of World Pride!  

Rachel and I

Outfit Of The Day:
kimono - Forever 21 | dress and leggings - Old Navy | shoes - Aldo

Pride themed looks, created by Rachel

Happy Pride to everyone!

|Style| The Hostess With The Mostess...

Some of my favourite pieces of the evening

The first thing you should know about me is that I’m an accessory junkie.  I love ‘em, can’t get enough of ‘em.  They give me a sense of joy, complete a look and there is something for everyone.  Also, growing up plus size, accessories, bags and shoes were alway my way of following trends and being “fashionable”, when clothing options were limited.  If there’s one thing my mother taught me, it’s the importance of a good accessory.  But I can never have just one!

As a fashion and accessory designer, I find myself constantly looking for new brands and checking out trends.  A girl’s gotta know what’s out there.  That’s why I was so excited when Krystine contacted me to host a Stella & Dot Trunk Show.  Since I had never heard of Stella & Dot before, I became curious.  

Krystine and I met briefly at Consign Your Curves back in October.  As on of my Instagram followers, Krystine noticed my constant nail and accessory posts, and thought I would make a perfect candidate for a hostess.  Any reason to have a girl’s night at my place, drink some wine and have some treats while looking at sparkly pretty things, sounds like my kind of party!  

Think of a Trunk Show as an advanced level tupperware party for the fashionable set.  A hostess welcomes her friends and family to an intimate evening with a Stylist, where you get to play and try on samples of all the goodies you can then buy and have sent to your home!  I was totally in!  

Colourful baubles for spring

Last night I hosted a Spring Stella & Dot Trunk Show.  It was the perfect excuse to catch up with girlfriends and to clean my house like an old European grandmother that was told the Pope was coming over for dinner.  Within a few minutes Krystine transformed my living room into a cute little accessory boutique.  It was only a few hours, but so fun and easy.  Everyone, including myself, all bought items (some even planning to buy online next payday!).  And no surprise, as a host, there are some rewards coming my way!  Between this and my upcoming accessory collection I am going to need a bigger vanity!

If you’re interested in checking out Stella & Dot online you can be my extended guest and shop HERE.  And please contact Krystine to host your own party!  

Stay tuned to see what I bought from the Trunk Show and what goodies I got with my hostess perks!  

|Events| IMATS Toronto 2013

shirt, cardigan and necklace - Addition Elle | leggings - Old Navy | boots - Lane Bryant

IMATS!  I have waited too long for this.  I’ve always wanted to go, but either I’ve been too late or away while the Toronto edition was taking place.  IMATS, stands for International Makeup Artist Trade Show, or the Biffi version of a kid in a candy store (although I also like actual candy stores).  Imagine - makeup brands from all around the world, all the tools of the trade and for the most part everything is reduced in price and/or tax free!  Serious damage can be done!  

I purchased my tickets in August and have been waiting ever so patiently for November 9th to arrive.  I enlisted the shopping support of my girls Maram and Jordyn to come with me (so I wouldn’t spend all the money) for the ultimate day of makeup and makeup related things.  The amount of people all excited and crowded around each vendor was overwhelming.  But there is power in numbers, and the three of us (well four plus my photographer bf) successfully made a dent in my budget.  (Budget means you spent all the money you brought right?  And using your credit card once...).  

While there we even had a chance to sit in on a fall forcasting/drag inspired makeup lesson from Courtney Tichman, the global brand manager and lead makeup artist for Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC).  It was a great way to break up our shopping session and to get some tips that the queens use to amp up the drama.  I also got the chance to meet Courtney (while wearing Black Metal Dahlia Metallic Lip Tar).  This also prompted my friend Maram (a girl with more foundation in her vanity than the cast of Ru’Paul’s Drag Race) to OD on OCC.  

With Courtney Tichman

Makeup Forever model

I may have spent more than I brought, but I am very happy with my goodies.  It was nice to grab a few things that I have been eyeing for a while, but not sure if I should order online.  I’m down with ordering clothing online, but I’m so much more tactile when it comes to makeup and tools.  I know what fabrics feel like, so I’m comfortable, but the consistency of a concealer?  The density of a brush’s bristles?  I need to get my hands on it!  I was also not at all disappointed by IMATS itself.  All the YouTube beauty gurus that I follow always mention it and it’s a big deal in the industry, so I had high hopes.  It was fun, informative, gave me variety and no matter where I looked something awesome was happening.  My bf was in a photographer’s dream with all the body painting and transformations happening around him.  There was something for each of us and I think we each walked away happy and looking forward to the next one.

My IMATS haul