Asking

Why is it often so hard to ask?  Why do we have a hard time asking for things we want and need?

How Fabulous is Faux Fur?

Faux Fur coat - Zara  //   Plaid Shirt - Guess  //  Grey Tee - SheInside  //  Jeans - Lucky Brand  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Belt - AE  //  Bag - Target  //  Waterfall necklace - c/o Atterley Road  //  SKull necklace - Monserat de Lucca  //  Eagle Ring - Lulus  //  Etched Ring - Body Blue

Personally, I think it's so much fin.  It adds texture and interest to an outfit immediately.  But to me it always has the danger of getting too glam or dressed up, so the fact that this jacket had a hood made it perfect because the hood brings it back down.

There's a great level on contradiction in the playful, laid back hood, and the luxe, glam faux fur.  And contradictions in clothes, and in people, are what adds such kaleidoscopic beauty to life.

Plus, it's fuzzy.

Unexpected Biking Gear

Top & Scarf - Urban Outfitters  //  Jeans - Gap  //  Gauntlets - c/o Jennifer Fukushima  //  Shoes - Ruche  //  Bag - Target  //  Earrings - I Forget  //  Sunnies - Lace Affair  // Rings - F21

As the weather inevitably turns, biking becomes  a bit of a challenge because though it's warm when I leave, it's chilly when I return home in the evening.  But it's that weird cold where it's not fully cold, just chilly, and definitely not warn.  These gauntlets from Jennifer Fukushima really have been great for biking.  They keep my hands and wrists nice and cozy, which is a very hard part to keep warm as I tend to have cold extremities, without feeling overheated.

Bonus points because it's made in Canada, sustainability preference when sourcing material, and mostly natural fibers!  Jennifer is launching a whole new collection of clothing this Fall too - completely based around this social consciousness - showcasing her unique design aesthetic.

Cowgirl Princess

Lace Dress - c/o  SheInside  //  Plaid Shirt - AE  //  Boots - Feet First  //  Necklace - Ruche  //  Earrings - F21

I've been wanting a tutu style skirt for quite a while.  But when I found this crochet and tutu combo dress on SheInside, my search came to an end.  The little embroidered detailing on the skirt, along with the the shirt and boots make me feel like some kind of cowgirl princess.  Not a combo you think of naturally, but hey if it works it works, am I right?

Now all I need is a hat, horse, and some kick butt pistols....you see I'm not the cowboy-rides-in-on-a-white-horse-to-save-me type...I'll do the saving, thank you.

Manifestation Made Tangible

Plaid ruffle cardigan - Beulah  //  Sweater - Line  //  Jeans - Gap  //  Boots - Locale  //  Necklace - eBay  //  Rings - Body Blue

Snow has started melting, as the rains have begun to pound.  Though the temperatures still swing in violent tantrums along the scales, there is the general feeling of warmth in the air.  As if believing it is enough to will it into existence.  In the meantime, I retreat to the comfort of an old tv show or book, and a cup of tea.
Maybe one day soon, I will be able to put my Winter boots into their annual slumber.

Two Hours of My Life

Plaid faux suede shirt - Cotton Candy  //  Tank - H&M  //  Pants - unknown  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Necklace - bought in Europe  //  Bracelets - F21

Two hours.  Two hours that I could've spent running, then having a massage.  Two hours I could've been curled up with my favorite book.   Two hours I could've gone shopping, or had lunch with some girlfirends and laughed.

Nope.  Instead, it was two hours spent trudging through fabric stores.  Two hours spent rubbing fabric after fabric on my cheek to test it's softness and silkiness.  Two hours spent cursing at the weather, and got hungrier in search of the elusive fabric.  Two hours.

Those two hours I could've watched a movie, drank wine, and had my feet rubbed.  No, instead I spent two hours going from store to store to find the perfect fabric to patch up that 23 year old piece of scrap blankie because some short blond girl looked at me with sad, puppy dog eyes and said, "Mommy, oh no!  My blankie has a hole."

What I wouldn't do for her.

Where Are My Effin' Cupcakes, All I Got Is Pee

You'll hear about the joys of Motherhood. The glory, the cupcakes. The effin' cupcakes. You'll imagine yourself as a June Cleaver sort. *Because we're engrained with female stereotypes - but this post isn't about that...this time* Perfectly coiffed and glowing all the time.

It's Official, I Hate Children's Building Blocks

Tribal Cardigan - Fate via Shopsosie  //  Velvet pants & White Shirt - Gap  //  Button Up - Jacob  //  Boots - Call It Spring  //  Necklace - I forget  //  Headscarf - from my Babcia

.  Never mind that I step on them several times a day and either hurt my foot, or trip and hit some other part of my body.  Never mind that they get everywhere and are impossible to all corral into the same box.  No, that's not why I hate them.

I hate them because Baby Girl loves them.  She loves them so much that she wants, "Mommy, you come build with me?"  all day and every day.  I have built something at least twenty times a day for the last two weeks.  And that's about the limit of my sanity.

I hate building blocks.  Hate them!

*pause*

*sigh*

"Yes, I'm coming to build with you honey."

*linking up with Style Sessions and Trend Spin*

Casual At Work Outfit And Toddler's As Evil Masterminds

Love that a selfie in a dirty mirror results in perfect doll-like skin

Plaid Shirt - Guess  //  Thermal Henley - Aritzia  //  Tank & Leggings - H&M  //  Socks - F21  //  Combat Boots - Threadsence  //  Necklace - bought in Spain

At work.  The nice thing about being a photographer and actor is that you can go to work dressed like this.  On a day where I had two shoots, I wanted to be warm and comfy.  This outfit took care of both those requirements.  Yup, definitely a much appreciated perk.

True Story:
We're firmly in the "Why?" toddler stage.  I'm not quite sure if she's actually curious, or if she's just trying to see how many 'Why's we can stand before sighing and saying, "Because."

I highly suspect it's an evil toddler prank that they discuss on internet forums when parents are sleeping.  Maybe we're guinea pigs in some psychological experiment.

Yes, that is where my brain goes.

*linking up with WIWW*

What Rules?!: How To Mix Leopard Print and Plaid

Leopard scarf - SITC  //  Plaid Shirt - Guess  //  Sparkly Dress - Pink Owl  via Shopruche //  Tapestry Shoes - Restricted  //  Tights - HUE  //  Ring - Spotted Moth  //  Earrings - F21

Mixing leopard print and plaid is a rule that should be broken, but wisely.  I think the key is to keep everything else rather neutral and to stay in similar tones.  I mixed this shirt because both the shirt and the scarf share a deep, rich warmth. 

True, I didn't stick to all neutrals in the palette, adding tapestry shoes, and sparkles; so maybe I broke several other rules too?  I still think it works as everything tends to stay in that 'deep warm' category. 

And if not, then the only people who saw this were the construction workers who have become my regular outfit taking audience. 

p.s.  Yes, that is my girl in the background wearing a jacket over her pajamas.  Hey, it was that kind of day.

Next week, since it's the holiday season, we're breaking out the sequins for day by breaking the "Sequins are only for the evening" rule.

The Boy Who Wouldn't Look At Me

Shirt - Campus Crew //  Jeans - Gap  //  Boots & Necklace - Threadsence  //  Bag - Matt by Matt&Nat  // Ring - Body Blue

Sometimes I'm just not feelin' it.  So I throw on a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt.   And on those days I go back to the 90's and elementary school and that boy in grade eight who was so cool with his careless and artfully tossed on plaid shirt, and I was the seventh grader just wishing for him to look at me.

It's not a painful memory because potential crushes in the innocence of youth have so much hope and optimism in them.  It's actually quite comforting to remember the silly ways I tried to get him to notice me.  And I laugh.

Everything Is Malleable

Dress-  Moon Collection via Ruche //  Shirt -  Cotton Candy via Threadsence  //  Boots - Feet First  //  Ring - Spotted moth  //  Bracelet - F21

Nothing is relegated to specific categories in fashion any longer.  Which is why all the 'rules' can be broken.  A bridesmaid dress like this one can be worn when running errands around town.  It suits those needs just as well as it suited my needs when I was maid of honor at my best friend's wedding.  

I think that's part of the reason I'm starting this new link up.  I want us to show each other, to inspire each other, on the magical and fun ways we can break all the fashion rules and look fabulous doing it.  I love seeing what someone else comes up with and having that spark my imagination.   

*First rule we're breaking:  no white after labor day.  So style an outfit, post it anywhere - doesn't have to be a blog - and come back to link up next Thursday! No follows required.*

*linking up with Passion For Fashion, Best of Friday, Favorite Fashion, Casual Friday, Fashion Informant,  Friday's Five,  Trend Spin, and Fab Favorites*

When You Have That Child

Cardi - Beulah  //  Tee - Unknown  //  Scarf - street stand  //  Pants - Le Chateau  //  Boots - bought in Roma, Italy

Baby girl went to her first ballet class.  Yes, she did.  And she looked so cute in her bodysuit and tights.  But Andrew and I sat there both rather embarrassed.  You see, we have that child.  You know the one.  That child that runs around while all the other girls are nicely in a circle.  The one who sits down while everyone dances.  And the one who pouts in a corner because the music stopped, and she wants to touch something she was told not to.  Yup, we have that kid.  And while it's funny now, at the moment we looked at all the other parents, who looked right back at us with that other look in their eyes.

On set recently, I recounted this story and my friend said to me, "Look around at everyone here.  We were all probably that child."  It's true.  I was.  I turned out *sorta* all right.  As did those other folks on set.

*linking up with Style Sessions*

SuperHero Powers

 Tank - Brandy Melville  //  Shirt - hand me down  //  Vest - Shown To Scale via Threadsence //  Cords - Le Chateau

  Boots - Feet First  //  Necklace - Threadsence  //  Sunnies - F21

If you all saw Friday's Vlog post, you know I was wearing cords and it was established that I'm "country bumpkin" because of it. I don't think I helped the issue by pairing it with plaid.  Oh well.  You can see that I'm super horrified about this *sarcasm fully intended*   Actually, while I was wearing this vest, I had two men tell me within three hours that they really liked my 'cape.'  I love that they called it a cape.  Made me feel like a superhero.  Some kind of fashionable Wonder Woman? 

Leaping over tall boots in a single bound, and putting together outfits at the speed of a bullet.  Yup, I'll take that superpower.  Or if we go with the previous comment, I'm a Country Bumpkin superhero!  Yup, maybe I'll even bump into Daryl from The Walking Dead and we'll go hunt zombies!  Okay, now I'm really going over the top.

But really, I think it's cool how different clothes have such different affects on people.  I am continually fascinated by the various reactions to some of the things I wear.  Whether good, bad, or in between, I love to hear the affects, 'cause it's all so personal and subjective.