Hippy Dippy Trippy

If you've ever watched an episode of What Not to Wear (it's okay, we've all been there) you've likely heard the term hippy dippy trippy. It's not normally used to describe a good looking outfit - and it's definitely not a style that I aspire too - but there's something about this shirt that always makes me think of that phrase.

Regardless, it was a hot Friday afternoon and it was the only thing in my closet that was calling out to me.

So here I am, in all my hippy dippy trippy glory.

To compliment the bohemian flare of the shirt I threw on my new espadrilles - a great addition to the shoe family if I do say so myself - not only are they comfortable, but they are gorgeous.

The colours in this shirt are just so bright, beautiful and upbeat, it's so hard NOT to wear it throughout the Spring and Summer.

Blouse & Tank - SmartSet; Jeans - Mavi; Espadrilles - Aldo

Perfect for twirling around town on a Friday afternoon.

Fashion Conundrum

Alright blogosphere, twitterverse, all you fashionable people of the interweb, I need your help.

I inherited this custom-made skirt:

I love it. It fits perfectly, is an appropriate length for work. It's just all around cute.

However...

The waist band is cream, not white.

Blouse - Smart Set; Skirt - inherited; Shoes - Aldo

This has COMPLETELY thrown me off. It doesn't work with a white shirt, and I've tried a black blouse but I don't love that either. I've tried multiple times, but I have yet to wear this skirt out of house.

So blogosphere, twitterverse, fashionable people of the interweb, I ask you.. 

how would you style this skirt?

Blogger Profile: Tinfoils Tiaras

Meet Emily. A fixture of Ottawa's fashion scene, this girl loves a bargain. When she's not hunting through Ottawa's thrift stores, she's a stylist and blogger for Lilac Lingerie - and that's just in her spare time. She documents her life, her outfits and so much more on her fantastic blog Tinfoils Tiaras. Here Emily gives us the low-down on her quirky blog, her fashion inspiration and her distaste for Uggs. Meet Emily.

Name: Emily

Age: 23

Occupation: Masters of Social Work student & Blogger/Stylist for Lilac Lingerie

Blog: Tinfoils Tiaras

When and why did you first start your blog?

I started my blog in August 2010 because summer was ending and I needed a creative outlet to keep me busy during the freezing cold and blah Canadian winters.  I’ve always loved fashion and I wanted a way to keep track of my daily outfits, from the fabulous to the never to be repeated!

How would you describe your blog?

I would describe Tinfoils Tiaras as quirky, fun, imaginative and free-spirited.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from other fashion bloggers, window displays at my favourite shops and recently I have been drawing inspiration from my own closet (thanks to Kendi Everyday’s 30x30 remixing challenge which encourages you to shop from your own wardrobe!)

Who are your style icons?

I love Rachel Bilson’s feminine style and Emma Watson’s edgy clothing.

Describe your personal style.

I would say I’m a little bit of everything rolled into one but I’m the most comfortable when wearing a great pair of heels, fun accessories and a cute skirt or dress.  I don’t think any of my friends have seen me in sweatpants, trainers or hoodies (unless I’m off to the gym!)

Where are your favourite places to shop?

In Ottawa I love Frou Frou for dresses, AMH Style and Rikochet Resale (both consignment shops) for anything and everything, thrift stores for unique accessories, Victoire for a splurge and Aldo or Spring for shoes.

What are your favourite trends this season?

I’m not a huge follower of trends, I tend to wear what I look good in (regardless if it’s on trend or not) and since I do a lot of thrift and second hand shopping, it’s hard to find clothing that is in style.  I do however own a few floral pieces and since this pattern is on trend, I will be sporting lots of flowers this season! If styled properly, I also really like the colour blocking trend as I’m a big fan of mixing and matching bright clothing.

Style/Beauty Pet Peeves?

My biggest beauty pet peeve is unpainted fingernails/toenails.  It drives me bonkers because it’s something that’s so easy to do and it really pulls together an outfit.  My style pet peeves are tights as pants, Uggs and Crocs (there’s never an excuse!)

What do you never leave home without?

A great pair of shoes!

Where will you be in five years?

In five years, my boyfriend and I hope to be settled in California with a house, our two cats (and depending on the circumstances maybe a baby on the way!) I would love to be working as a social policy analyst for a women’s rights organization, doing something fashion related on the side (as a wardrobe consultant or personal shopper). I have big dreams and I always try to reach for the stars!

Check out Emily's blog Tinfoils Tiaras and be sure to follow her on twitter @tinfoilstiaras.

All images courtesy of Tinfoils Tiaras.

Nature of the Beast

Nature always plays a factor in outfit choice.

Usually it's the weather that you're dressing to accommodate; however, this week I was dressing for a different natural reason.

I was the victim of a mosquito attack over the weekend, so outfit choices this week has been very interesting. First of all, as all the bites were in the lower-leg/ankle-area I couldn't shave my legs - so skirts were out. Then, it was hard to find a pair of pants that wouldn't cause me to overheat throughout the day, but that also wouldn't rub against the bites making them worse. It's been horrible.

So, after the first agonizing day I came home, slathered myself in After Bite and I put on the only outfit I could think of that would discourage me from scratching.

So here you have it, the most embarassing nature inspired outfit I've ever had to wear.

It was hideous.

But it worked wonders.

Tank - SmartSet; PJs - Old Navy; Socks - American Apparel

I'm giving these bug bites lots of tender love and care, in hopes that they go away as soon as possible.

Isn't this the ugliest ensemble you've ever seen?
Share your sartorial horror stories...

Peachy Keen

For months I had been searching for my belt. I knew it had to be somewhere, but over the course of 16 weeks I tore through every nook of my apartments (yes, plural. I moved cross-country in the middle of this search, but I never gave up) and it was nowhere to be found.

Then...

One Friday night, the boy came over to take me out for Friday night drinks and as I opened the door he handed it to me. Apparently, I had left it behind when I came to visit over New Years and it had been in his car ever since.

To celebrate it's return, I decided to wear it.

I decided to make the belt stand out by pairing it with a baggy peachy-orange blouse (one that looks ridiculous on my petite frame sans belt - it's a match made in sartorial heaven).

To negate any cowl-neck wardrobe malfunctions in the office, I wore a tank under the blouse - one can never be too careful in the workplace.

To make sure I didn't freeze to death in the office - where the A/C seems to be on overdrive lately - I threw on my favourite article of clothing - a cardigan.

Shirt - H&M; Tank - SmartSet; Pants - Talula from Aritzia; Belt - Jacob

I felt peachy keen all day long!

In this week's Blogger Profile, we meet Emily, the thrifty chic behind Tinfoils Tiaras. It's pretty great - so definitely take a coffee break and enjoy some Petite Adventures on Friday (and everyday).

Paris, J'espère

It seems like everyone I know is either on their way to or has just gotten back from Paris. The closest I'm going to get to Paris this year is the photo of the Eiffel Tower that sits above my desk at work.

To cure my Paris blues, I decided to wear them as part of my most Parisian-inspired outfit.

I love the simplicity of this outfit - the white button down with the patterned skirt and the classic pumps - it would be absolutely perfect on the Champs-Élysées.

Plus, the skirt has the best movement - doing the twist is just too much fun!

Blouse - Jacob; Skirt - H&M; Shoes - Aldo; Earrings - Magpie

Never has an outfit taken me away quite like this one.

My Five

Last week, the lovely Natasha Janzen of Required2BeInspired picked my name out of a hat and asked me to write about "My Five" - a list of any five things that have to do with the same theme - the only rule was they had to be positive.

So, I wrote about "Five Things I Love" - I know, not the most creative, but it gave me the chance to feature these beasts...

And who doesn't love that!

Check out my "My Five" here.

Blogger Profile: Pink Beautiful Love

Meet Ashelle. She works in the field of behavioural science technology and is a fashion correspondent for Ottawa fashion blog Twenty York Street. As if that's not enough, she's also the brains, beauty and emotions behind the blog Pink Beautiful Love. Here she talks more about fashion and the journey to create Pink Beautiful Love.

Name: Ashelle

Age:  25

Occupation: Blogger.  Fashion Correspondent for Twenty York Street . Trained and work in the field of behavioural science technology. 

Site: Pink Beautiful Love

When and why did you first start your blog?

In August of 2010, I started blogging with the support and encouragement of my dear friend, Krista. I started it as a creative outlet.  In the last two years, I've become more stressed out with my job and life. My coping mechanism was an unhealthy one, which is through managing my food intake and body weight. As my blogging progressed, it became more of a personal story about going through the process of therapy with the goal of self-love, appreciation and control.  

There is a bit of fashion, as it is an art form that I love. At the same time, I am hesitant with diving too much into the world of fashion. There is still a strong idolization of thinness, as described here, so I am careful to not get caught in it.

In the last few months, I have become part of the Twenty York Street (20YS) team. 20YS is more of a fashion blog, where I get to learn and experience more fashion than I could have ever done alone. I'm thankful for the opportunity to cover local fashion events and to see new lines by upcoming and well-established designers.

How would you describe your blog?

My blog is a combination of different parts of my life; like my love for fashion, experience with therapies and other stories that I like to share.  

Who are your style icons?

Right now, the list includes: Audrey Hepburn. Lady Gaga. Most pop stars. My mom & sister. Countless other fashion bloggers. There are many different people I look up to for fashion inspiration. A lot of the time, the person I will think of depends on my mood and environment.

Describe your personal style.

Undefined. Most of the time it really depends on my mood, where I am and what I am doing. The best way I can explain it is, that there's a: slob, lady, rebel, tree-hugger and fashionista-wannabe, all influencing my wardrobe.

Where are some of your favourite spots to shop in Ottawa?

There's so many great places to shop in Ottawa. Value Village and Winners on Innes Road are the places I enjoy for major deals. When I'm downtown I like to go to: Ruby, Off the Wall, Milk, Victoire and Hush. But soon my all-time favourite store Forever 21 is opening in Ottawa. And I dream that H&M will come too. But I do like the more commercial stores like:  Dynamite, Aldo, Urban Behaviour, American Apparel, Guess and more… 

What are some of your favourite trends this season?

Mostly, I'm obvious to what the trend is unless I google it. But for the summer, I love colour blocking. Its tons of fun and can take on that retro '80s feel.     

Style/Beauty Pet Peeves?

The most annoying thing to me is when people point out others to say something along the lines of "what is he/she wearing?!" I think that when people say things like that they just make themselves look insecure and pathetically and are just seeking reinforcement. 

What do you never leave home without?

My iPhone. Sounds really sad but without it, I sort of panic. Riding the bus isn't the same without music and Twitter. 

           

Where will you be in five years?

Honestly I have no idea where I will be in five years. I do have dreams and goals that I hope to accomplish in five years, such as: completing my degree and becoming independent in my trained occupation. In terms of fashion, I would love to be invited to attend events outside of Ottawa and to report on printed or video media. Also, I would love to be involved in some project that encourages all kinds of beauty and individuality in fashion. And last is to complete the renovations of our home. 

Connect with Ashelle through her blog Pink Beautiful Love and be sure to follow her on twitter @loveashelle.

Check out Petite Adventures next week for a new blogger profile.

Is there a blogger you think Petite Adventures should profile? Send your ideas to: petiteadventures@gmail.com or tweet them to @PetiteAdventure.

All images courtesy of Pink Beautiful Love.

Mixing Prints (Petite-style)

Mixing prints has been one of the biggest trends of the past few seasons. Even though colour-blocking reigned supreme throughout the summer, mixing prints still managed to hold it's own.

I'm wasn't completely sold on the trend, but I gave it a shot Petite-style.

Tweed skirt from Jacob

Polka dot top from Zara

I was pleasantly surprised by the results:

I tried to anchor the look by wearing my black espadrilles (they have quickly become my go-to summer shoe).

 Maybe one day I'll be confident enough to rock a look like this:

But until then, I'll keep rocking this trend Petite-style.

Blouse - Zara; Tank - SmartSet; Skirt - Jacob; Espadrilles - Aritzia;
Earrings & cuff - SmartSet;

Tomorrow, 
Petite Adventures is launching a new blog feature.
It's going to be amazing, if I do say so myself. You best be checking it out!

Ikat Be Any More Professional

It was a day full of meetings so I put on my most sophisticated outfit - that wouldn't cause me to melt in the summer heat - and off I went.

The black and white outfit on it's own was just a tad too professional for my liking and definitely too boring for the gorgeous summer day, so I added a pop of colour with my new ikat flats.

Not only were they the perfect pop of colour, but they allowed me to kick-up my heels and get from one meeting to the next with ease.

And, just in case it got chilly throughout the day - you never know with Ottawa, or my office, they love to crank the A/C sometimes - I threw on a red cardigan just for the fun of it!

Dress - Le Chateau; Blouse - SmartSet; Shoes - Aldo; Cardigan - Bluenotes;

This cardigan has been a piece of my wardrobe for years - back when Bluenotes was still known as Thrifty's. That's just one of the perks of being petite - clothes that you bought at an embarassingly young age still fit!

Conference Dressing: Post-Conference

At noon on Sunday, as delegates were watching the closing remarks for the conference, I was beginning to countdown the minutes until I could be reunited with my comfy hotel bed.

After three-and-a-half days of long hours and hard work, the conference was finally finished. As soon as possible I scooted back to my room and dove into bed for a refreshing Sunday afternoon nap.

It was glorious.

When I re-emerged to the world, in time for dinner, I didn't much feel like dressing up - so I played it casual.

No more dresses.

No more heels - not that my feet could have handled them anyways - three-and-a-half days of running around in any type of shoe doesn't do wonders for your feet.

Top - designer unknown from Aritzia; Tank - SmartSet; Jeans - Mavi; Shoes - Toms

It was a casual outfit, perfect for a casual post-conference dinner - my last dinner in Saskatoon. Bright and early we were on the plane and back to Ottawa - where weather could be describe as more than a little humid - it was glorious!

It was my first visit to the Prairies (not including Calgary or Edmonton) and hopefully not my last - I'll just be much better at packing and anticipating weather next time!

Canada Day: Be Your Own Flag

Canada's Birthday is one of the first of many summer holidays. This year you'll find me out on the town, enjoying all the festivities Ottawa has to offer in an outfit that looks just like this:

Photo Courtesy of SmartSet.ca

Photo Courtesy of BananaRepublic.com

And of course, what better shoes to run around in than Toms?!

Photo Courtesy of TomsShoes.com

Who needs to carry a flag around when you can be your own flag! How will you be celebrating Canada's Birthday?