Spring has sprung

Disclaimer: This post is by no means a spring trend report - for one of those I would suggest checking out Style.com, Flare, Fashion, or any of the other reputable fashion mags. This is merely my sartorial inspiration board for spring 2012 - what this Petite Adventurer wishes she could wear.

When it came to dressing this past fall, I used vintage Kate Middleton as my inspiration - lots of skirts and dresses with tights and boots. And, I have to tell you that I loved it; getting dressed in the mornings was made that much easier because I knew what I was aiming for.

Kate Middleton courtesy of People

But that was then.

Although my admiration for Kate Middleton hasn't gone away, I won't be looking to her style as much this spring. For me, this season is all about cropped pants and heel, bright colours and patterns, and accessories galore!

For Work Adventures

My office's dress code is business casual - some focus more on the casual, whereas I like to bring more of the business to my look - but even with so much flexibility when it comes to apparel, I still find dressing for spring/summer extremely difficult. There is a very fine line between just enough, and too much skin, and as the youngest person in the office, my goal is to stay as far away from that line as possible (my office is also extremely cold in summer so too much skin just means a bigger chance of getting hypothermia).

My goal for the season is to find chic, feminine, structured pieces in which I can strut my stuff!

Miranda Kerr

Simple, yet elegant.

Atlantic Pacific

Structured dresses in vivid colours, with neutral pieces to tie everything together.

Marina Larroude via the Sartorialist

Again, structured, feminine pieces - the perfect balance of Wintour and whimsy. 

Coco Rocha for LONGCHAMP

Linen isn't exactly structured, but I love the simplicity of this look... and the shoes.

The Long Shot

When I first came across this photo of Niki of A Haute Mess, I had an instant sartorial lust for her shorts-suit. 

Photo from A Haute Mess

If you've ever read this blog you'll know I'm obsessed with anything cobalt, so to find a short suit in that colour, well... it isn't exactly a dream come true, but it's now something I'm coveting.

It's definitely a long shot, but maybe could be pulled off on a casual Friday?!

I plan on finding out.

For Weekend Adventures

(aka: patio times!)

Less structure more casual, but just as many colours for my weekend adventures.

LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's 

A Fashion Love Affair

The "Kelly" leather bracelet from Osolee

  Osolee is the brainchild of interior designer and CTV correspondent Lee Ann Lacroix. It features pieces of all styles - from punk and funk, to dainty and divine (I've been seriously coveting the Kelly leather bracelet since I peeped the site early last week). And, the best part is that the pieces are affordable - perfect for the frugalista who's saving her money to go on an adventure to Sweden and Russia, like yours truly - plus, the pieces are so versatile they can compliment any ensemble.

So there you have it, my style vision board for spring. 

Want to see what other styles I'm hoping to rock throughout the season? Check out Petite Adventures on Pinterest.

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Style Profile: Alicia Fashionista

Name: Alicia Quan

Age: 25

Occupation: Entrepreneur

Site: http://aliciafashionista.com

Location: Vancouver, BC

When and why did you start your site? 

I started my blog as a very personal diary style it has evolved into a fashion blog.

How would you describe your site? 

It has been primarily about fashion for quite some time, mostly style journals, but I am gearing towards some more lifestyle posts soon.  We’ll see :)

Where do you get your inspiration? 

I try to see beauty and inspiration in everything. Blogs and magazines can be very inspiring, but sometimes I draw ideas from art, photographs, music; really, the list is endless.

Who are your style/beauty icons?  

This is always changing but at the moment Florence Welch, Elizabeth Olsen.

Describe your personal style. 

West Coast Chic!  Very classic and feminine, I do try to include some trendy pieces, but always dress to flatter my shape.

What was the best style/beauty advice you were given? 

The best beauty advice I was ever given was to moisturize your face every morning and night to prevent wrinkles.  I’d have to say the best style advice I was ever given was to dress

Where are your favourite places to shop? 

Locally I love Front and Company and Barefoot Contessa.  Lately I’ve been window shopping online a ton, I always love ModCloth, ASOS, Shabby Apple, etc.

What are your favourite trends for this season? 

This spring I am very much looking forward to florals and neon (not necessarily together).  Just bought some floral pants today, actually!

Style/Beauty Pet Peeve?  

I’ve seen all sorts of appalling combinations of Uggs lately.  Uggs with shorts, Uggs with tights as pants, and the worst one:  grandmas in Uggs!

What do you never leave home without? 

My cell phone and my iPad..connected at all times!

What are your five essential items that you think every woman should own? 

A little black dress, a well fitted blazer, a big statement necklace, a comfortable pair of everyday heels, and a great shade of red lipstick!

Where do you see yourself and your site in five years? 

I hope to still be running my business, Capital Q Creative.  Who knows what my site will be like so far in the future, but I do hope to still be blogging.

What's on your nightstand? 

A picture of my grandparents, a She + Him record, a clock, and a book of crossword puzzles.

All images courtesy of Alicia Fashionista.

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A Whole Lotta Cobalt

This past week was a whirlwind of friends, both near and far, getting together for happy and sad occasions, and I wore a whole lot of cobalt. 

Blouse - Wilfred from Aritzia; Skirt - Jacob; Tights - Secret; Boots - Aldo; Watch - Fossil

I first spotted this shirt at Aritzia over a month ago while shopping with a friend but I didn't buy it right away. After thinking about it non-stop for three weeks I took it as a sign that it needed to be mine. Since then I've worn it an inappropriate number of times - including twice last week alone - and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

I've got a whole lotta love for this shirt.

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Style Profile: Haute Halifax

 This week's Style Profile is a two-for-one as we learn more about Erin and Jess the ladies behind Haute Halifax.

 Name: Erin Wright

Age: 26

Occupation: Account Coordinator at a Halifax advertising/marketing agency

Site: www.hautehalifax.com

Location: Halifax

When and why did you start your site?

Jess started Haute Halifax on her own in the spring of 2010, and as her friend, I was a loyal follower. I really liked the blog’s vibe and was drawn to the idea of documenting my style, so after some persuasion from friends, I approached Jess in the fall of 2010 with the idea of joining forces to give Haute Halifax two unique perspectives. I guess you could say the rest is history!

How would you describe your site?

While the site is definitely fashion-focused, it also offers musings on music, trends, and local talent. I document my day-to-day style with outfit posts, while Jess serves up a myriad of inspiring content – be it an awesome new indie band, or a crafty little DIY. I think the fact that we both bring unique, personal content to the table makes for a well-balanced blog.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Though it may sound cliché, I honestly get inspiration from as many sources as possible, all the while finding ways to make it true to my own personal style. These days I probably draw the most inspiration from street style/fashion blogs, though I still take cues from celebrity fashion icons, the runway, and the retail environment. And of course, my stylish friends and the city I call home always keep me on my toes!

Who are your style/beauty icons?

Blair Eadie from Atlantic-Pacific blog has the most impeccable style I’ve ever seen. It’s virtually impossible to emulate but fascinating to watch. I also really like Krystal Bick from the blog This Time Tomorrow – she takes risks yet always manages to pull it off. As for celeb style, Zoe Saldana, Victoria Beckham, and Olivia Palermo all rock my socks.

Describe your personal style.

I always struggle with this question because my style is all over the map! I definitely experiment with trends and have diverse taste, but generally speaking, I’d say I gravitate towards chic, classic essentials, mixed with edgy and glamorous accents.

What was the best style/beauty advice you were given?

It’s not about any single garment or accessory, it’s about how you pull the whole look together. Great style is about combining elements in unexpected ways.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I’m admittedly kind of a mall rat, with the odd vintage or high end piece thrown in for good measure. I love J Crew, Envy, Banana Republic, H&M, and Joe Fresh. I pray to the fashion gods to bring Halifax a Zara, and I’m also a sucker for House of Harlow jewelry and Converse sneakers.

What are your favourite trends for this season?

For Spring/Summer 2012, I’m anticipating a lot of print – geometric, floral, polka dot, and a lot of colour – everything from neon to pastel to metallic. I’m loving coloured denim, loose sheer blouses, peplum tops, drop waist dresses, and utility accents. I’m also still seeing lots of statement jewelry, which I endorse!

 Style/Beauty Pet Peeve?

I hate having to cover up a good outfit with a big jacket, and I hate when I forget to wash my face before bed.

What do you never leave home without?

BlackBerry, iPod, crappy digital camera, wallet, keys, 5 different lip glosses, and 8 pounds of jewelry.

What are your five essential items that you think every woman should own?

A great pair of skinny jeans, a perfect-fitting white button-up blouse, a leather jacket, a pair of designer sunglasses, and a fabulous watch.

Where do you see yourself and your site in five years?

I have no idea what I’m doing in 5 hours, so it’s very tough to say! “Married with kids” probably isn’t the fashion blogger thing to say, but regardless, I hope I still get as much pleasure out of fashion and blogging as I do right now.

What's on your nightstand?

Right now a Valentine’s Day card from my boyfriend, Burt’s Bees lip balm, a Buddha head (sounds weird), a candle, some random jewelry, and my alarm clock.

Tell Petite Adventures readers something random about yourself.

I’m left-handed, I’ve never eaten a Big Mac, and I once skied off a cliff and gave myself whip lash. The neck brace was cute.

Name: Jess Bradford

Age: 24

Occupation: PR professional

Site: hautehalifax.com

Location: Halifax, NS

When and why did you start your site?

I started Haute Halifax about 2 years ago. When I started it up, I had just graduated with a degree in PR and was in-between student lifestyle and finding a job. I had always followed a number of fashion and lifestyle blogs and realized that not many were based in Halifax. At the time, there may have been only two, so I saw a gap in the market and thought I can do this too! The rest is history. I’ve since seen an explosion of Halifax-based fashion blogs. It’s great to see.

How would you describe your site?

My awesome co-blogger Erin provides our readers with doses of weekly outfit inspiration, while I handle other posts, such as secondhand/vintage shopping inspiration, beauty tips, music playlists, some DIYs, and more. 

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from perusing secondhand stores and stumbling the Internet.

Who are your style/beauty icons?

To be quite honest, I don’t really have any. That being said, I feel like Blake Lively can do no wrong fashion wise and I always love her hair.

Describe your personal style.

I love lace, sheer blouses, and feminine silhouettes. I would say I’m a pretty girly dresser, but I can definitely dress down when the time calls for it.

What was the best style/beauty advice you were given? Baby powder! Dust a little bit of baby powder in your hair and it will freshen it up instantly. It saves you from over washing your hair.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I love shopping at thrift stores like Value Village and Salvation Army mostly because I want to minimize how much I spend and reduce my environmental footprint, but I also find more unique and interesting pieces there. When I’m looking for something specific I would probably go to my favourite boutiques downtown Halifax – Twisted Muse, Biscuit, or Sweet Pea.

What are your favourite trends for this season?

I’m loving seeing the pastel colour trends again like mint green and coral. I also like that girls seem to be embracing messy, undone hairstyles like loose braids and natural waves.

Style/Beauty Pet Peeve?

Having to throw away plastic bottles of shampoo, moisturizer, etc after you’re finished with them. I’m currently in the process of trying to switch most of my style and beauty products to items that can be refilled.

What do you never leave home without?

My iPhone and Burt’s Bees lip balm.

What are your five essential items that you think every woman should own?

-       A nicely tailored, long, neutral-coloured trench

-       A good moisturizer with SPF that doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy

-       A pair of everyday sunglasses. Mine are a pair of brown, gold, and tortoise shell aviators.

-       Burt’s Bees lip balm – incredible for your lips!

-       A great pair of jeans

Where do you see yourself and your site in five years?

I hope we can grow to become the go-to site to find out about what fashion-related events are going on in Halifax. I would love to add a street style columnist as well. As for myself, who knows! I’m just going to keep doing things I enjoy and hope for the best.

What's on your nightstand?

A lamp, vanilla candle, and dental floss!

All images courtesy of Haute Halifax.

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Honourary Casual Friday

As tomorrow is a holiday, today is an honorary casual Friday! 

I definitely have a uniform when it comes to Fridays - cardigan, t-shirt, skinny jeans, and over the knee boots. On this particular Friday I decided to spring-it-up by wearing the season's hottest tone - orange!

Sweater - Zara; Shirt - ines from Aritzia; Tank - Smart Set; Jeans - Mavi; Boots - Aldo

Although it's technically spring, Mother Nature hasn't caught on and adjusted the temperatures just yet. So, I'm still forced to wear a coat when leaving the house - but at least it's a stylish one!

Coat - T. Babaton from Aritzia; Sunglasses - Joe Fresh

Whether you're celebrating Easter, Passover, or attending a Easter Potluck Fun Times Drinking Dinner Party like yours truly, have a fantastic long weekend Adventurers!

How will you be enjoying your days off?

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Dress for the Job You Want

One of the greatest pieces of career-related advice I was ever given was: Dress for the job you want. It helps you present your best self to current (and future) employers. Plus, the majority of your time at work, so why not look your best. 

I love my current job; I have the freedom to try new things, and suggest new concepts, but I have the structure and support that any 20-something needs in those first few year. But, when it comes to fashion that's something that the majority of my office lacks (thankfully my director is quite the fashionista). So, when I walk in having dressed for my dream job at VOGUE/FLARE/FASHION, I tend to stand out. And this look was no exception.

It's a simple silhouette and basic colours, but there's something about this outfit that I love - maybe it was the fact that a colleague told me I had vamp appeal, in a good way. That's not a word that anyone has ever used to describe me, so I was loving it!

I also love the unexpectedness of the lace tights. They definitely took this look from basic to fantastic.

Shirt - Smart Set; Skirt - Jacob; Tights - Zellers; Boots - Aldo

Even though my current job isn't with VOGUE/FLARE/FASHION, at least this look let me play the part, if only for a day.

What do you wear to play the part?

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Snow Leopard

A winterized version of my one-and-only wrap dress (first seen here). 

Dress - Jacob; Tights - unknown (stolen from mom); Boots - Aldo

This dress has become my go-to on those chilly late-winter/early-spring mornings when I'm running late for work, or can't decide what to wear. Not only do I look pulled together, but the animal print it fun! I love how easily this dress transitions from hot to cold. It just reminds me that I need to invest in many, many more wrap dresses.

What's your go-to ensemble?

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Spring is Upon Us!

I don't know about you but when the seasons change I like to follow suit; which is why this weekend I chopped off my hair!

Me and my new 'do heading out on the town! 

It feels so amazing - I couldn't be happier with the cut. Emily at Saab Salon & Spa is a shear genius (see what I did there) she's great at taking my ideas and making them fit for my face shape. I always leave feeling so happy! (side note, Saab just happened to be the official salon for the 2012 Juno Awards, so walking in and out on the red carpet wasn't too bad either)

Now, let's move on to some fashion...

This week I'm taking part in Two Birds' Inspiration Monday. I really like Louise Roe. I liked her on The City; I didn't mind her on this year's Oscar telecast; I absolutely love her here. This outfit is to die for. I love the colour combination of the purple and yellow paisley, and wish I had all of these pieces in my closet.

Louise Roe

But this is the closest I could get. My mom thrifted this skirt back in the fall, but I kind of forgot about it after hanging it in my closet. That is until I saw this week's inspiration.

I love the colours in this skirt. I can match it with pretty much any piece in my wardrobe, but I chose the purple sweater because 1) I like purple, and 2) it wouldn't distract from the skirt.

I even like the length. Petites aren't advised to wear a tea length skirt or dress, but sometimes I just like to break the rules. Plus, the Michael Kors platforms help.

Sweater - Forever 21; Skirt - Thrifted; Heels -Michael Kors

I only wish the skirt didn't show off so much of my ghostly white ankles.

This outfit and my new haircut have made me even more excited for warm weather, exposed ankles, and patios. I just hope my pasty skin gets some colour before swimsuit season hits.

What are you looking forward this Spring?

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Petite Resolutions After the First Quarter

Alright sports fan, we're at the end of the first quarter - let's see how this Adventurer is doing on her 2012 Petite Resolutions:

1) Read More - goal: read at least one book each month; read before bed instead of TV

1st Quarter Results - I've managed to stick to this goal, although in February I just came in under the wire; however, I quickly made up for it by reading two books in one weekend. It's not always easy to make the choice to read instead of watching TV before bed, but for the most part I've done pretty well with this goal.

Want to see more of the title's I've read so far this year? Let's be friends on goodreads

2) Volunteer

Q1 - So far, no good. I tried, but am still waiting for the right opportunity. Or, to be more accurate, for the right opportunity to open their Spring intake of volunteers. But, I'm not giving up! There's always time to turn this around.
PA's note: Since writing this post both of the organizations I wanted to volunteer with contacted me, so looks like I'll have lots to report for the second quarter!

3) Write more

Q1 - Oh yea! Between my day job, where we produce a quarterly magazine (and I had a very brief stint as Editor this past month, read about it here), blogging, and contributing to Ef Magazine, I've been able to satisfy my creative need to put pen to paper... well, more accurately, fingers to keyboard.

4) Spend less - use the library; make lunches, etc.

Q1 - This was surprisingly easy once I put my mind to it. However, last week I learned how surprisingly easy it is to fall out of the habit of making lunches each day. But, I plan to hop back on the homemade lunch wagon again seeing as I have food in my fridge once again, and really have no excuse not to.

In addition to relying on the library and making lunches, my other money saving tactics have included: avoiding shopping malls for the past while, and emptying the change from my wallet into my piggy bank each night (yes, it's an actual piggy bank, with a peg-leg - he's been with me as long as I can remember and I'm never replacing him!) By doing this I've been spending less and the change really adds up - after just one week I'd already saved over $30! Amazing! I have to admit, I do feel a bit like an old lady doing this, but at least it's a rich old lady... maybe one who wears Chanel.

5) save 10% of each pay cheque - continuing from 2011

Q1 - This happens automatically, so there's really no effort on my part, which is awesome!

6) Pay off Visa Card - this was accomplished over the Xmas holidays, but I feel it might need to happen again... and again... and again

Q1 - Still chipping away... This is a never-ending battle, but at least I'm earning travel points!

7) Pay off student debt

Q1 - Still chipping away... At the pace I'm going I will have completely paid it off by May 2016, which is still a ways out, but thankfully within the 10 year time limit.

8) Drink more water

9) Eat more fruits, vegetables & berries

10) Eat less pasta, dairy

Q1 - Not only have I managed to stick to these goals, but I added to them by eliminating meat and most dairy (milk, eggs, other dairy products that aren't cheese) - the effects of this dietary change have been amazing! Not only have I felt better, my head's been clearer, my energy levels were through the roof, and my tolerance of obnoxious co-workers was much higher. What started as a goal of Meatless March might turn into a permanent one - although I do have to admit, I miss bacon. You can read more about it at From Sloth to Sporty.

photo courtesy of wikipedia

11) Go to the gym 3 times a week

Q1 - Oh yea! I am killing this goal! You can read more about my journey of getting off the couch and getting in shape at From Sloth to Sporty.

12) be patient, breathe

13) Stop being so lazy

14) Stop being scared - of failure, of standing out

15) don't think, DO!

Q1 - These are kind of an on-going thing, everyday trying a little bit harder.

16) go to Europe, see Paris, Stockholm - Now that there's an impending best friend wedding, this might have to be pushed back to 2013 - but finger's crossed I win the lottery and can afford to do both!

Q1 - Five Months! Shortly after the winter holidays I booked my trip to Stockholm and Russia. It's not until mid-August, but I can't wait! Three weeks, six countries, and one Petite Adventurer! 

No impending best friend nuptials can keep me from exploring the world... at least not in 2012!

Overall, I'd say I'm doing pretty well after the first quarter. No outright fails which is amazing (and much better than anticipated, might I add).

Now, bring on quarter number two!

How are you doing with your resolutions?

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