Wear Me: The Black Tight

This garment right here is my winter staple. If I’m wearing a skirt, shorts or a dress I’ll most likely be wearing tights. I have olive skin but in the winter I’m also known as Casper the not so friendly ghost. Tights are the best way to cover up pasty legs and to make your outfit look put together and a little more upscale. With so many styles and finishes to them it’s hard to sometimes choose which pair go best with what look you’re trying to garner but this post should help take some of the guesswork out of it.

Black matte are by far my favourite, and most versatile but knit, polka dots, sheer and other finishes are nice touches as well. The hardest part of throwing on a pair of tights for me is to not look so Forever 21 and more J Crew. The key to that is keeping the overall look chic and not cutesey. Using monochromatic pieces, neutrals, chunky knits, overcoats and trenches, and sleek shoes are your best bet. Layering dresses with kits, stacking the knee socks, pairing tights (only) with dresses and adding a ton of jewellery will take you in the direction you probably aren’t looking to head in. Think less tween party goer and more Mary Kate couldn’t find her pants that day. Just with a little more thought.

Here’s a little inspiration – plus links to my picks.

 

      

      

 

    

    

 

       

   

 

You can shop them here:

ShopBop

Nordstrom

J Crew

Aritzia

Revolve Clothing

xo

J’Adore: Diptyque ‘s Rose Collection

This post is so long overdue that I am actually ashamed of myself. The soft, classic scent of rose is one of my absolute favorite smells ever. A little contradictory because I tend to seek out more original concoctions that the classic no nonsense fragrances. This is definitely the exception.

I have a sufficient collection of Diptyque candles I think. But I’m always adding. So I guess sufficient may not be the right word, especially not for a product hoarder like me. I love everything about them – from the luxe heavy glass, the elegant yet simple design, the throw of the scent and the fine, nature inspired fragrances.

Speaking of hoarding, these Diptyque candles play right into my love for a classic rose scent – but they’re anything but simple.

Roses

A clean rose. Part of Diptyque’s “Floral” collection. It’s soft yet so crisp, kind of like walking by a rose bush and catching the scent wafting through the air. Oh yeah.

Rosa Mundi

I didn’t think I could relish the scent of roses any more than I did before I laid nostril on this. Described as the ancestor of old roses, including the centifolia. It garners it’s name from Rosamund Clifford – mistress of Henri II. Legend has it that the king, to protect it from intruders, has planted around the hunting lodge that housed their love, a maze of boxwood. But nothing helped, and the queen poisoned the belle. His grave, each year, was the king of flowers by these sumptuous roses. The history behind most Diptyque candles are what makes them that much more luxurious and covetable. Housed in opalescent glass (just like the one below) the fragrance is one to be rivaled. I wish I could tote this around with me everywhere I went. *Unfortunately, because it was an exclusive scent, I can’t seem to find it at any of the luxury retailers like Saks, Nordstrom, or Barney’s. If you come across it, let me know…

Rosafolia

The newest addition to the rose scented collection this candle gives me visions of a royal rose garden, with ivy crawling up every structure as far as the eye can see. Rose with hints of galbanum and geranium. The Turkish rose is the prettiest petal soft scent but a distinct divergence from the typical scent of rose. Honestly, I haven’t smelled anything like it. And the packaging – fit for a Queen.

I’m not being a pretentious ass when I say that I firmly believe that Diptyque candles are far superior. Sure, there are other candles that smell great but the look, the longevity, the recyclable glass jars and the overall scent are unbeatable.

You can peruse them here. There isn’t one fragrance you won’t find suitable for your nasal delight.

Diptyque Paris

 xo

Reviewed: Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

I know this is later than fashionably late but I got this palette for Christmas and didn’t get a chance to review it until now.

I was meaning to make the purchase myself but failed to deliver. I blame memory and the Wildfox collection at that time.

It should come as no surprise that I love this stuff. Urban Decay straight up delivers when it comes to neutral, matte, pigmented shadows…

Packaging: Keeping in line with the first palette, its streamlined and subtle with a neutral tone. Pretty much akin to the shadows inside. It has an almost suede like feel with a slight sheen – again I like that it contains a mirror and definitely get use of it when I’m on the go.

Formula: Oh yeah. I love getting the most out of my shadows and these are pigmented. Like, bold, intense, show up and stay late color. They boast a Pigment Infusion System – a blend of stuff that makes the shadows their velvety and rich formula. Plus, they’re nice and easy to blend too, kind of like a gradient. I like to think they’re almost buttery in texture. and it definitely helps create good dimension with by fusing well with each other.

Colors: They’re cooler than the previous set in Basics and are taupe hued. They’re neutral enough to wear day to day yet can make up a mean smokey eye. The 5 shades are exclusive to this palette only and can flatter both warm and cool toned skin. Specifically it contains Skimp (a pale nude satin), Stark (nude pink matte), Frisk (a warm grey matte), Cover (muted reddish grey matte), Primal (neutral brown matte) and Undone (a deep smokey brown matte).

Verdict: How can you not have this in your arsenal? It’s affordable, contains 5 full sized shadows perfect for transitioning from day to night and is one of the most highly rated eye palettes out. You can get it here – Urban Decay Naked2 Basics

(Sorry – so crooked).

xo

Friday Favorites: Weekend Edition

I’m spending my Sunday editing some new purchase posts, only getting out of bed to work out, and giggling with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Hope your’s is just as Hashtag #lazysunday

Favorite Item

Mirrored Tray

My sister got me this tray for Christmas. I was looking for a mirrored tray for my perfumes and vanity decor and she went a step farther by having it monogrammed. Amazing. It looks super high brow and I’m not ashamed. The size is perfect for holding what I wanted to display…

You can shop a similar one here – Mirrored Dresser Top Trays

Favorite Look

Waves

I haven’t used my Sultra wand since this summer and I can’t seem to comprehend why I retired it for so long. I was getting a little tired of my hairstyle – I almost always curl it at the ends for fullness – so I decided to switch it up. So pleased. Beach waves never go out of style, especially when you don’t want to look too overdone. I already have a full of face of makeup so keeping the hair a little more casual is a nice balance. The wand looks intimidating at first but it’s become second nature to me. I usually wrap my hair around a couple times and then leave the ends so that I don’t end up looking like Curly Sue (Google her).

You can try it here – Sultra Waving Wand 

Favorite Beauty Product

Sephora Collection Flatter Yourself Contouring Brush Set

I ordered this brush set a couple weeks ago and was going to do a full review but haven’t had enough time to really get up close and personal. It was an exclusive and I’m a sucker for an exclusive – mainly because I get anxiety over the fact that there is a product out there that if not purchased, will be out of reach forever. These are the types of regrets I simply cannot live with. Anyway, the bristles are remarkably soft and high quality and the set of 3 is complimentary and nice for creating a basic contour (as well as buffing and blending liquid makeup). Not to mention, they come with blotting papers, a sleek little pouch and a contour guide. Overall, it contains a stippling brush, a buffing brush, and and angled blush brush. I’m getting used to using the stippling brush because I’ve never used one before, but the buffing and blush brushes I can work with like a freaking pro. Love.

You can shop it here – Sephora Collection Flatter Yourself Contouring Brush Set

Favorite Purchase

Wildfox Onesie

No you shut YOUR mouth. Yeah. I got a onesie with cat ears on the hood. What startingly amazing thing have you done recently?

Favorite Food

Teavana

I, along with most of the female population, have vowed to get back into my healthy eating habits for the new year. I’m not into resolutions but I figured now was as good a time as any to detox by body after I indulged the sh*t out of Christmas. I started feeling a little Chipmunk like after hoarding every treat placed in front of me. Ya feel me? So – in addition to upping my workouts and monitoring my food intake, I’ve started hitting up loose tea. In no way am I ridiculous enough to believe that this is a food replacement (refer to: Favorite Food) but I didn’t feel like tweaking the title.  I picked up a fancy little holiday set right before Christmas and am actually shocked at how much they satisfy my sweet tooth. The set embraces the scents and tastes of the holiday season, and you can’t beat pumpkin spice and peppermint in one setting. Specifically, it contains 4 holiday teas which consist of Pumpkin Spice Brûlée, White Chocolate Peppermint, Chococaramel Sea Salt, and Spiced Apple Cider. I haven’t tried them all but so far I love the white chocolate peppermint and chococaramel sea salt. Probably because they’re the most indulgent sounding. Pathetic.

I don’t believe that this set is still available but you can get a ton of similar ones here – www.teavana.com

Favorite Pastime

Voraciously Reading

I’ve been trying to catch up on all the books sitting in my iBookshelf. I download them like they’re going to vanish within seconds – big up to purchase anxiety, yet again. Although I love reading on my iPad, there are some books I feel are worth buying in physical form. Coffee table books and books having to do with style and fashion are a must have tangible good. They look pretty and class up the joint, plus you can mark off and go back to them without having to scroll through hundreds of pages. I’d been wanting to read Sophia Amoroso’s #girlboss for months now. I’ve been a loyal Nasty Gal investor (read – shopper) and am always open to a little inspiration and advice, especially from such a powerhouse. I’m halfway in and am marking off pages worthy of anecdotes that need to be drilled into my head. Her uhf*ckwithable attitude is infectious, I’ll make sure to do a book report review when I’m done. I also purchased The Glitter Plan, which is Pam Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor’s rise to infamy with Juicy Couture. Since Juicy is now fading into the outlet abyss and they’ve recently launched their new, more high endline – Pam & Gela, I was interested in reading their memoir. Yes Please is another can’t miss read. I am crushing hard on Amy Poehler. She is genuinely funny and offers up some really deep musings that you have to read a couple times to ensure she isn’t just f*cking with you. Idol status. Those are the 3 books I’ve started reading so far. I’ve also just purchased Serena by Ron Rash , Dead Stars by Bruce Wagner, and Paper Towns by John Green. There isn’t enough time in the day…

Here’s a list of book adaptations hitting the big screen this year (and as everyone knows – the book is always better than the movie).  21 Books to Read Before They Hit The Big Screen in 2015

Favorite Outfit

Ripped Denim

Excuse the shitty photo quality. I was just getting home from work and realized I didn’t take advantage of the cloudless day for a superior outfit pic. These black skinnies are from Zara (I believe I purchased them back in October). They’re not as skinny in the shin area, and I find that a lot of denim fails me in this area because I have smaller shins. Other than J Brand which fit like second skin, a lot of denim I’ve tried and even purchased falls short here. Anyway, the wash and the strategic shreds are great. I actually DIY expanded the knee rips (with my own two hands and all) so that they’re a little more edgy and not as clean looking. Paired them with a pair of Jeffrey Campbell lace up flats (mimicked off Aquazurra) and had a bit of Kurt Cobain meets Olivia Palermo.

Happy Weekend

xo

Purchased: Lush Loot

I’ve slowly been accumulating a nice little Lush boutique in my own washroom. Most of them are purchases I made this past December and some are gifts. Lush is one of my favourite skincare and bath lines and to really bring my point home, I don’t mind the scent saturated stand up store. I’m a fan of smelling like a 80 year old woman whose accidentally spilled half a bottle of Chanel onto her body so the somewhat overpowering scents don’t bother me. Not to mention – it’s a type of Hansel & Gretel witch – I know which path to take when I’m looking for it in the mall.

Anyway, here’s what I’m hoarding:

Vanilla Puff Powder 

This little bottle of fairy dust is nice for post showering scenting. I like using it after I’ve worked out (and bathed of course, I’m not that ratchet) in my hair and on my hairline, especially if I have’t washed my hair that particular day. It smells like baking vanilla (not perfume-y vanilla) and is really nice on the skin as well. Talc, vanilla, jasmine and tonka keep your skin soft and smooth, helping to retain moisture.

Snowman/Sweetie Pie Bath Jelly

This was something new and foreign to me, as I’ve been using shower gels for the last few years instead of more solid bar style soaps. This wobbly, wiggly jelly is an ingenious take on bar soap. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want to pay for something that would just break apart and diminish slowly into the drain. My initial thoughts were clearly imprecise. They both smell amazing. Snowman is a mix of bergamot, buchu, and Sicilian lemon – think mango creamsicle and Sweetie Pie is a blend of blackcurrant  and sour cherry with a seaweed base and iridescent shimmer. Snowman is sold out (as most of the holiday goods are) but you can still grab Sweetie Pie.

Bubblegum Lip Scrub

This pink cotton candy lip scrub made my list of 2014 favourites. I love the smell, and the grains are significant enough to actually get rid of the dry skin on your lips. A God send for lipstick abusers like me. Made up of Fair Trade sugar & jojoba oil, the smell is straight up carnival cotton candy and it leaves your lips perfectly primed for your cycle of abuse in the am.

Rose Jam Shower Gel 

Just when I thought that my infatuation belonged to Snow Fairy, I meet Rose Jam. If you don’t already know (I mention it incessantly) I have a thing for anything rose scented. When they’re remixed with different notes? Lust. Case in point- this gel is a blend of vanilla pod, goji berry juice & argan oil. It’s rose but with a blend that makes it that much more different. Indulgent.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

The Holy Grail of Lush scents. Bubblegum and sweet vanilla mixed with actual legit fairy dust. Right? Smells like candy. How can you not fall into a deep compulsion?! It’s sold out at most stores but you can still get it online. Oh, and that scrub I mentioned? I believe that’s Snow Fairy’s first born child.

Pink FUN

This is a form of Lush’s bath bomb style bubble bars. I haven’t tried it yet – but bath night will be scheduled accordingly. The smell is a mix of vanilla and tonk a for a candy scent. It was part of a bath set I got for Christmas (also containing Sweetie Pie and the Bubblegum lip scrub). More so geared towards children, but what they can have, I want 10 of. I’m an asshole in that way.

Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

Oh yassss. Gimme all of that. Another heady, exhilarating form of rose fragrance in a container. Mimiced after an actual hair conditioner, this stuff is meant to be applied after shower and then rinsed off. Cocoa butter, cupuacu butter,almond oil and argan oil make up this decadent shower lotion. I’ve worn it apres shower and didn’t rinse it off because I’m a rebel and because I wanted a stronger smell. I’ll stick to the rules next time though because Lush does stand by it’s rose scented subtle after scent…

Snow Fairy Sparkle

Shocked yet? I managed to secure most of the Snow Fairy scented products Lush has to offer. I told you the infatuations as real. The massage bar is one of my favourite Lush products.They’re soft, leave your skin stupidly moisturized, last forever if stored properly and smell incredible. This particular one has a fondant filled center with shea butter & shimmery silver luster. It’s smooth and leaves your skin baby soft. Definitely a must have. PS – They sell tins for immaculate storage too.

Let me know if there’s something you think I should try…

xo