C'est la vie

Dear Readers,

Photo courtesy of Raising Homemakers (and google)

I'm so sorry for neglecting you lately, but I swear, it's not you; it's me.

Just so you don't feel so bad about yourself, here's a list of other things I've been neglecting:

1. My apartment; it's a little more shabby than chic at the moment.
2. My taxes; Dear Revenue Canada, I probably don't owe you money so please bear with me while I rack my brain trying to figure out what pieces of paper you want from me.
3. My laundry basket; you've heard the stories before, my laundry basket and I have a love-hate relationship. Mostly it's just a hate relationship.
4. The bridal shower that I'm co-organizing; I sent out invites, isn't that enough?! Apparently not.
5. Planning my Scandinavian/Russian summertime adventure; I have flights, and that's about it. Accommodations might be a good thing to look into, but that's a job for future-Kate. Also, saving money for this trip has been a full-time job in itself. But a rewarding one.
6. Words with Friends; I swear I'll play a word soon, mom!
7. I bought a Kobo; this has taken my bookworm-ness to the next level!

Allow me to update you:
Work has been insane these past couple of weeks and only promises to get busier. Monday to Friday it's crazy from 8:30 right through until 5 (and sometimes beyond). We're in the final stages of organizing an international conference, among other projects, and while this has been an amazing learning experience, its thrown a number of un-anticipated problems my way - including writer's block which hit mid-day Thursday and lasted all the way through the end of the week. Just perfect. Add to that I'm out of the office for two days next week attending the MarCom Conference at the Ottawa Convention Centre (can you say bad timing!?). While I'm incredibly excited to get my geek on, I'm already anticipating the chaos that will be waiting for me when I'm back on Thursday. Oh, and did I mention we've organized a media event for Thursday on Parliament Hill?! Le sigh.

On top of all of that I've started volunteering with a couple of awesome organizations; one charitable, one professional. So far it's just the beginning of my volunteering career with these wonderful organizations, but I can't wait to get more involved. I'm already so excited for what the future holds.

And then, there are the activities I do to keep myself sane - such as: running - I'm addicted. I'm slow, but I keep pushing myself to go further/longer, and according to PInterest, I'm already lapping everyone on the couch; adventuring with friends (my best friend is looking for a new apartment and sometimes takes me a long so she, and I quote, "won't get murdered." I'm not sure she's realized that I'm 5'2" and have the upper body strength of a fetus); and aiming to get eight hours of sleep (this almost never happens, but a girl can dream, right!?) Needless to say, that didn't leave too much for blogging, or putting together cute outfits at the end of the day.

But I promise you this week will be different. The sun is shining, the pigeon's are coo-ing (I live downtown, my access to chirping birds is limited), and I have no excuse to not to show this blog a little lovin'.

With that being said, off to the gym I go!
Let's get this weekend started!

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Style Profile: Dress Me Dearly

Credit: Harvey Miedreich

Name: Janis Galloway

Age: 26

Occupation: Marketing Coordinator at the Art Gallery of Alberta and freelance Wardrobe Stylist

Site: www.dressmedearly.com

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

When and why did you start your site?

I launched Dress Me Dearly in 2009 simply because I started reading style blogs and knew it would be a great outlet for my love of fashion. I really had no idea it would lead me to the opportunities I have today. 

How would you describe your site?

   It's a fun, personal style blog with a sense of humour and a focus on the Edmonton fashion scene.

Where do you get your inspiration?

   My city. Edmonton has a thriving arts and fashion community, and I'm inspired every day by the shops, music, our local designers, events and my fellow bloggers.

Credit: Harvey Miedreich

Who are your style/beauty icons?

   I'm a huge fan of blogger Keiko Lynn. Her look is incredibly feminine mixing vintage and new. I admire her mixing and matching skills and her sincere love of fashion.

Describe your personal style.

Very feminine, I love dresses, heels and charming prints. I'm told my look is retro, which isn't a conscious intention, but I think I'm just drawn to the classic ultra-feminine looks of the 50's and 60's. 

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

Always, always, always wash your makeup off before you go to sleep! 

Credit: Harvey Miedreich

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I frequent Edmonton's vintage shops including Divine and Decadence, and I'm also a Joe Fresh junkie.

What are your favourite trends for this season?

I can't get enough of pleats, and I'm obsessed with chunky, gold costume jewellery. I'm also loving the colour palettes this season including mint, coral and orange. 

What do you never leave home without?

My iPhone

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

A great pair of black pumps, a perfect shade of blush, a well-fitted blazer, a show-stopping necklace, a black skirt. 

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

I would like to continue to build my readership and a higher profile in the fashion community throughout Canada, expanding my reach outside of Edmonton. I'm also hoping to lead some new and exciting fashion initiatives that will contribute back to Canada's fashion community while bringing it together. 

All images courtesy of Dress Me Dearly.

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Currently Coveting

After April's end-of-the-month shopping spree, I'm hopping back on the shopping ban bandwagon. My goal is to hold off on making any purchases until early June when I'll find myself face-to-face with H&M in Toronto.

But, just because I can't touch doesn't mean I can't look - and this season I'm loving all the bold colours and wedges that I see. Here are a few of the shoes I'm currently coveting.

ALSIDIA from Aldo
NB: In the time that it took me to type this post I decided to break my shopping ban and purchase these bad boys. My rationalization: I donated three pairs of shoes, therefore making room in my shoe closet; I don't already own any brown sandals; I have so many things to wear them with; and technically the ban hadn't really started... HOWEVER, they are the LAST purchase I will be making until I get to Toronto. Shopping ban starts NOW.

LOVIN from Aldo

LINGER from Nine West

Linya2 from Boutique 9

Gladys from Rachel Zoe

Milk Shake from Chinese Laundry

What trends are you coveting this season?

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Style Profile: Virginie's Cinema

Name: Virginie

Occupation: Independent Movie producer

Site: Virginie’s Cinema

Location: Québec, Canada

When and why did you start your site? 

I started a blog in 2010 to document my career adventures and travels because I was attending a lot of film festivals wanted to keep memories and have something tangible to analyse the growth of my career. It always had a stong root in personal style too since I believe our clothes can help us achieve our dreams.

 How would you describe your site? 

It’s my personal diary of my journey in filmmaking through style, leading a creative life and staying inspired.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

My main inspiration is cinema. I’m a hardcore cinephile and am inspired by it all, from the French New Wave to Contemporary Japanese cinema…

Who are your style/beauty icons? 

My favortie icon is Brigitte Bardot. She is beautiful in a really careless way and very free with her style and body.

Describe your personal style. 

I’d say girly geek. I don’t ahere to only one aesthetic and let my inspiration take me where it wants to!

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

That it’s not about finding but rather creating your style.

Where are your favourite places to shop? 

My favortie type of shopping is online shopping, because there is so much more choice! My favorites are ModCloth and Asos. I also believe in creative consumerism so I thrift and swap a lot!

What are your favourite trends for this season? 

Neon lipstick and nail polish.

Style/Beauty Pet Peeve?

I don’t have any pet peeves in general… I believe in living and letting live :)

What do you never leave home without? 

My Joie de vivre?!

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

A great chambray shirt, a perfectly fitted skinny denim pant, a really colourful and impactful cocktail dress, ankle booties and extravagant sunglasses.

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

In five years I hope that both Ramiro and I can make a living solely making our movies (currently Ramiro still works as a video game screenwriter on Marvel franchises, which is crazy cool noetheless!), I hope to continue to travel all over the world in movie festivals with my projects and document our journey on Virginie’s Cinema! I hope for growth and happiness in both the site, my career and my personal life :)

 What's on your nightstand? 

A picture of my wedding (he he), a bouquet of silk flowers that I used in one of my roof top videos, a vintage crystal vase, my collection of rings and a book on independent movie distribution.

Check out more of Virginie's fantastic style and follow her journey to Cannes over on Virginie's Cinema.

All images courtesy of Virginie's Cinema.

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Professional Development

One of the things I wish I had learned earlier in my career (okay, I'm only three years in, but I wish I had started on day one) is to take advantage of networking and professional development opportunities through local professional societies and associations. It's not only a great place to learn and be inspired, but often times the fashion at these networking events is to die for!



I wore this outfit to an IABC Ottawa Professional Development event last week. I needed an outfit that would be versatile, something that would get me through the work day, be appropriate for the event, but something cute and casual because immediately after the session I was heading out to watch the Sens game.

And, as it turned out, something that would be rain appropriate.

This is what I settled on. It was warm enough for the dreary April day, casual enough that I didn't feel too out of place watching the hockey game, but professional enough that I felt like i fit in amongst my peers. All-in-all the perfect look for a yuppie like me.

Sweater - Zara; Tank & Blouse - Smart Set; Skirt - Jacob; Boots - Aldo; Watch - Fossil

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Houndstooth

These houndstooth cropped trousers are one of the three pairs that I bought last week during the Shopping Binge of 2012 (I couldn't help it, they were all on sale and helped me to be one step closer to achieving my work style dream for spring/summer).

Blazer - Talulua from Aritzia; T-shirt - Smart Set; Trousers - Jacob;
Shoes, Earrings, Necklace - Aldo; Sunglasses - Joe Fresh

I had no intention of buying three pairs of cropped trousers when I set out on my retail therapy shopping extravaganza last week, but I just couldn't pass up these houndstooth trousers. There were just so many things that I love about them, that I had to get them.

Let me count the ways that they won me over:

1. They completely fit with my work style dream for spring/summer. And, will be incredibly practical next month when I travel to Toronto for my work's annual general conference (last year's looks can be seen here).
2. They are the softest trousers I have ever come in contact with. They aren't as soft as cashmere, but for trousers, they are somethin' else. I want to compare their softness to Puffs tissues, but that just seems odd; completely accurate, but odd.
3. I love that houndstooth is a pattern without being an offensive pattern. I'm little and don't want to be overwhelmed with pattern (at least not all the time).
4. They go with everything. I've only had them for seven days, but have already come up with countless ways to wear them. Options galore!
5. I don't need to have them hemmed - a miracle for a petite like me, because that never happens. Usually pants that are supposed to be cropped are full-length trousers on me - which makes me wonder if these are actually capris?! Oh well, they fit me the way I want, so let's just let that thought slide.
6.  I can't think of a six, but I have a thing about lists being odd numbers. So, there's that...
7. Most importantly, I *really* wanted them.

So there you have it, an ode to my new trousers.

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Loose Interpretation of Inspiration Monday

For this week's edition of Two Birds' Inspiration Monday I'm showcasing my very loose interpretation of Emma Watson's look. 

Not only is it a great opportunity to show off my new floral print peplum skirt (two trends, one garment - love it!), it's given me the chance to show my ghostly white ankles some love (I swear, they aren't normally so pale).

An up close and personal look at the skirt's amazing pattern

Blazer - Talula from Aritzia; t-shirt - Smart Set; Skirt - Zara;
Shoe & accessories - Aldo

This skirt was the piece that caused me to break my self-imposed shopping ban. I didn't want to want it, but I did. Even then, I was prepared to walk away without it; that is until a complete stranger complimented me as I walked out of the change room.

That was it. I was sold.

Since that fateful day last week I've done more shopping than I had in the past two months. One of my excuses is that I had a bad day on Wednesday and decided that retail therapy was the only way to cure my blues. And it did.

My credit card however has different feelings (disappointment and exhaustion) about my purge. Oh well. I needed the clothes for work (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

 Thanks to my binge, I'm now more than ready for the seasons to *really* change and for the sunshine and warm weather to set in!

New month, new self-imposed shopping ban.

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Hockey Style Petite-Style

I had every intention of devoting a post to work appropriate playoff style. It was on my list for days. But unfortunately for me, my beloved Detroit Red Wings were brutally defeated faster than I could take my Zetterberg t-shirt out of my dresser.

I did however wear this outfit to watch hockey (and go shopping and dancing) on the weekend.

Shirt - Smart Set; Jeans - Mavi; Boots - Aldo; Watch - Fossil

It wasn't red and there were no wings, but it was still a pretty great option for watching the Sens kick some Ranger butt.

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Petite Fashion Challenge #15: Chic Pin-spiration

There's nothing like a petite fashion challenge to pull you out of a rut.

These past couple of weeks I've been stuck in the rut of all sartorial ruts. No original outfits, lots of black, nothing good to share; it was a bummer of a couple of weeks. But that's what happens when life, work and NHL playoffs take over. Thankfully, things have slowed down just enough for me to take part in this month's challenge.

Chic Pin-spiration-- Find a pic of an outfit you love on Pinterest, and re-create it the best way possible!

My Pin-spiration

My Interpretation

Shirt - Smart Set; Skirt - ASOS; Shoes - Aldo; Belt - Joe Fresh; Watch - Fossil

Visit Long Live Classy to check out the rest of the Petite Fashion Challenge posts. 

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My One on One with Nicole Bridger

photo courtesy of nicole Bridger - SS12 collection

Recently, I had the chance to chat with eco fashion designer Nicole Bridger, and naturally I asked all the tough questions. Read the interview over at Ef Magazine.


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Eco Fashion: Not An Oxymoron

Eco fashion is no longer an oxymoron. Gone are the days of scratchy hemp, unflattering fits, and everything beige. Today's eco or sustainable fashions have both style and a social conscience.

In honour of Earth Day let's celebrate some of Canada's eco fashion industry leaders who are doing their part to save the earth, all while making us look oh-so-good.

Broken Doll Clothing, Chai top, made of Bamboo, Spandex and Polyester

Broken Doll Clothing is a Canadian clothing label that strives to create casual yet chic looks.Their fresh and distinctive silhouettes are made from eco friendly fabrics like tencel, modal, bamboo, and organic cotton, and can be incorporated into any wardrobe.

BuenoStyle, reclaimed vintage earrings

The brainchild of collector, curator, gleaner, designer and assembler Christi York, BuenoStyle is a line of vintage, hand assembled, re-worked jewellery made from eco-conscious materials whenever possible. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are beautiful and unique, just like the women who wear them.

To Desire, wrap, reworked wedding dress

Vancouver's Jeeti, the designer behind To Desire, takes already beautiful garments, such as wedding dresses and saris, and reworks them to create stunning and unique wraps, shells, and shrugs. Worn with anything from jeans to dresses, To Desire wraps add sensuality, sophistication and style to any ensemble.

We3, Galvanize Tank, made from bamboo;
the Spruce Skirt, made from Recylced polyester, organic cotton and spandex

A collaboration between design school friends, Glencora Twigg, Jessica Vaira, and Christine Hotton, We3 is a line of essential pieces that every wardrobe needs, and every woman desires. Inspired by the modern woman, We3 designs are made from sustainable fabrics with the aim of making women feel comfortable, stylish, and socially conscious.

Dahlia Drive, slip dress, hand painted upcycled vintage slip

Dahlia Drive is a line of salvaged, pre-loved slips, shirts and fabric remnants which are resurrected by being hand-dyed, screen printed, embellished and even transformed through rusting techniques. The perfect mix of modern and vintage, designer Wendy Van Riesen's creations are not only stylish, they're one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art.


Sustainability isn't just taking over the fashion design world, but the publishing world as well. More and more fashion magazines are focusing on eco fashion, some even devoting all of their column inches to sustainable style. Ottawa's Ef Magazine is one such publication that shines the spotlight on eco designers and boutiques whose goals are to go green with style.


Sustainable fashion isn't a trend; it's not in one day and out the next. Sustainable fashion is part of a growing philosophy the goal of which is to promote environmentalism, social responsibility, and reducing the carbon footprint. Something we should all be thinking about every day.


So, grab your favourite piece of bamboo clothing, your reusable water bottle, and let's celebrate Earth Day; because, there's nothing more stylish than sustainability.


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Style Profile: Monochroma.Chic

Name: Kristy

Age: 26

Occupation: Assistant Accountant

Site: www.monochromachic.com

Location: Toronto

When and why did you start your site? 

I started blogging through Chictopia in early 2009 and I created my own website in November of 2009. I started blogging about my personal style because the whole idea of fashion blogging was really intriguing, so I decided to join the fun. It's been a blast :)

 How would you describe your site?

Easy to read and navigate, focuses on affordable and wearable outfits for work & play, a journal of my personal style.

Where do you get your inspiration?

 Definitely from fellow bloggers and my favorite fashion "it" girls: Olivia Palermo & Miroslava Duma

Who are your style/beauty icons?

Olivia Palermo & Miroslava Duma :)

Describe your personal style.

Wearable, affordable, comfortable

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

Use a face tissue or paper towel to wipe my face after I wash it.  

Where are your favourite places to shop?

High-street stores, such as H&M, ZARA, ALDO. I like to peruse through Winners as well :) 

What are your favourite trends for this season?

Lace on everything and Tangerine Tango on everything! 

Style/Beauty Pet Peeve?

 Leggings as pants and barely-there denim shorts (or any kind of shorts, really!)

What do you never leave home without?

I assume this has to be fashion-related? A great yet comfortable pair of shoes!

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

Pleated skirts (mini, midi, maxi, doesn't matter!), button-down blouses, black tights, leopard accessories (e.g. belts or scarves), and a pair of not-so-classic black pumps.

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

I would like to have a career in the retail buying field, so in 5 years, I hope to become a buyer. I would also like to see my site grow (obviously!), but I don't want it to become too "commercialized" that I lose touch with my readers and blogger friends. I started fashion blogging as a hobby and I would like to keep it that way :)

All images courtesy of Monochroma.Chic.

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