I met Zoe at a party recently and we bonded over business podcasts and obnoxiously noisy neighbours that sound like they’re bowling (what the heck is up with that?). She mentioned in passing that she owns a company called Park & Fifth, a collection of dresses and separates that are designed and made here in Vancouver. Since the struggle to find a well rounded, versatile occasional dress is so real, I made an appointment to visit her at the studio right away with Alex.
I absolutely love the effortlessly chic contemporary designs and I not only found a dress that fit, I even had a few really beautiful options to choose from. Any frock that can fit and flatter these curves AND feel comfortable is a real win for me.
Saying goodbye to my twenties feels rather bittersweet. What a transformative and wonderful decade. To think of how much life has changed, how much I’VE changed in the last 10 years. Going to college, starting a career, launching a business, moving out, moving in with a boy, getting married, getting a dog, seeing more of the world. Though my twenties were in a large sense quite care free, there was a great desire to not only grow up, but to be a decent adult. And the last few years were a huge part of that, taking things like finances, health, and responsibility more serious than ever. To counter balance all the seriousness, I have also been working to be better about pushing myself outside of that comfort zone. If anything, the warmth of adulthood routine have inspired me to be learning new things as often as I can.
Though the past decade has been great, you know my motto: leave while you’re having fun! Not that I had a choice, because here we are on my 30th birthday. A day that has been so built up in my head that it’s surreal and almost anticlimactic now that it’s here. I’m optimistic about 30 and hope to be ever changing and striving to be better. It has been a beautiful ride thus far, I look forward to what the next 10 years brings!
Same spot, different day. If this street looks familiar, that’s because of course it is! This is practically the only location we can manage to shoot at lately, with days and days of rain on end. Man, I love the Pacific Northwest, but the past few weeks have felt extra tough to deal with, whilst under a literal dark grey cloud. Everything will be okay though, because today is sunny and that I’m feeling rather refreshed after a quick Whistler visit with Jill and Alex, where we got to experience some snowfall (favourite ever, I go full Loralei Gilmore about snow) and a spa day. We were so lucky, got to Scandinave and the lineup was quite intense. After about 15 minutes in line, someone came by with a clipboard and handed us each a locker key. Alex jokingly asked her if that meant we didn’t have to pay, and not accepting any silliness, she responded that it meant that everyone behind us was on a wait list. We JUST made it into the Scandinave baths, which, now that I’m saying it out loud, sounds ridiculously privileged, but an expensive spa nap IS half the reason I go to Whistla!! Anyway, it was the last weekend of my twenties, so I packed it full of fun activities and am basically now paying for it in the amount of work I’m behind on, because, adult. Hope you all had a great weekend xx
You may or may not know this about me, but my entire existence is actually thanks to McDonald’s Restaurants. No, really! Let me explain.
My dad was this young McD’s employee, working to fund his flared pants and nights at the disco. From an entry level position, he earned a spot in management and completed courses at Hamburger University in Chicago. It’s a thing. During these ‘good old days’ one of my dad’s work friends, Ron, was getting married and at the wedding, the bride introduced my dad to all the single ladies in attendance. One of which, was Ron’s sister, Ellen, a bridesmaid, and coincidentally also a McDonald’s employee (at another location of course). Anyway, they don’t hit it off in this speed dating type setting, because who does well with those rushed awkward intros anyway? Fast forward to an undetermined time later, and they meet at another McD’s event (it’s the theme here, I’m just telling ya) and it’s love! If it wasn’t for McDonald’s, my parents likely wouldn’t have ever met.
I really did fight it, but there’s no doubt that the 90’s has been trending for quite some time. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Clueless, Romeo and Juliet, and Nirvana grunge nostalgia, I’ve just been stubborn about re-living certain things. The choker necklace for one. I remember hot glue gunning my own velvet chokers at like 9 years old and thinking it was THE coolest. Fast forward 20 years and here I am, fashioning a choker necklace out of a string from a blouse. Clearly my crafty frugalness hasn’t changed!
Seriously though, thinking it wasn’t going to be that flattering, I really did just grab the string that fell off a blouse and tie it in a bow. I think I like the look too, might even actually invest in one that you actually buy from a store. Maybe go really old school and get another velvet one just for fun!
One nod to the 90’s that I absolutely love is the deep berry/brown lip shades. The moodiness of the bold, darker shade is simply perfect for fall. The modern 90’s trend is something I look forward to further exploring this season. How about you, have you given it a try, even in a subtle way?
It’s so interesting how things photograph versus what they look like in real life. This blouse is actually a bit sheer (in a classy way, mmkay) and has beautiful movement. Which, unfortunately, just doesn’t exactly translate in pictures, but it’s all good. Now you know. I purchased this one on sale from ASOS last month and absolutely love the dramatic high neck and feminine floral embroidery. I also appreciate a button up blouse that can actually stay closed, that is a rarity in my world. Can’t wait to re-wear this and style it up again soon!
I don’t know what the heck has come over me this year, but I’ve somehow already switched into Christmas mode. It is both irritating and awesome all at the same time. I’m currently singing along to Christmas music, have completed my gift list and even watched half of Elf the other day. This is truly a record early start for my holiday spirit, I’m using all my will power not to decorate the place this week (Adam says I must wait until this weekend, which I’m sure I can do…). I just don’t want the holidays to pass me by in a stressful blur, you know? I’m normally that person staying up until 2 am on Christmas Eve wrapping all my gifts. Not this time! I’d rather have time to do some baking and crafting and have all the shopping done. And I’m like 75 years old at heart, so this is probably going to be the best holiday season ever!
Fall. Sweet, sweet November. I really wanted to feel the seasons this year instead of letting them pass me by. When it seems as though you’ve blinked and tree branches are bare before you’ve had the chance to walk, pumpkin spice latte in hand, enjoying that glorious crunch of leaves beneath your feet, gently breathing in that crisp Autumn air. My daily outings with Reg have greatly helped me achieve this. I’ve been in the moment, at least for our hour together, soaking up the beauty of our familiar surroundings. Even though we’ve had record amounts of rain this month, I don’t feel robbed of this season (though, it has been less leaf crunching and more of a slippery, mushy leaf floor). Last night, I put a record on, lit a bunch of candles, and had a big glass of red wine. I said my goodbyes to October by cleaning out the fridge and organizing the pantry, because what else would I be doing in a trick-or-treater-less apartment on Halloween with a dog that’s absolutely terrified of firecrackers/works? It was like a smoking, movie set war zone out there, poor guy has been on edge for an entire week. And hey, today the kitchen is spotless!
This particular November, I will be turning 30. It’s something that feels somewhat final, as I’ve felt so much security in my twenties. Just another big shift, which has been a reoccurring theme in my life the last few years. I’m feeling optimistic for this next decade, but already nostalgic for my twenties. It’s almost a slight identity crisis. No longer a twenty-something, what will my thirties be all about? I mean, I’m the kind of person who looks up the ending to a movie I’m watching to see if everyone ends up okay. If only I could do that for real life too! As for the big 30th bash, I’m seconds away from booking myself a ticket to New York instead of throwing a big party here. Wouldn’t that be epic, waking up in NYC on your 30th birthday? Sounds pretty darn romantic to me!
For those of you asking, this wrap coat that I got from ASOS (which has since sold out) is still available on the New Look website! Plus, it’s available in a variety of colours. I got mine in a UK 14 and it’s true to size (I’m normally a North American size 10, which is the equivalent). Really happy that I found the New Look Light Brown Belted Longline Coat! I love the neutral but standout colour, the longer length (I’m only 5’4 and 1/2, but it absolutely works), and you can’t beat the price! Shop the rest of the look below:
The most appealing thing about the minimalist fashion trend is investing in the basics and actually getting tons of wear out of them. This white tee was an impulse purchase while I was on a styling job. I was overheated in the long sleeve sweater I’d worn there, and decided to keep one of the pieces I’d used for the shoot. I’ve worn and re-worn it like crazy and it goes with everything! That slouchy side-tuck looks extra chic with a pair of high waisted trousers or a pencil skirt. It makes for the ideal workday look when dressed up with a blazer or a cardigan, depending on the dress code. I opted for a longer cardi because I never wear mine and wanted to prove that it could be done. I think it adds a nice longer line that compliments the sloped line of the tee/pencil skirt. After the clothing sale this weekend, I’m thinking I’ll use my rolling rack to try out this whole capsule closet thing. I really do love the idea of picking only a small amount of clothing to choose from, but still having access to an entire wardrobe. Have you ever tried it?
**UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel Sunday’s sale. We want to thank everyone who stopped by on Saturday and for those who showed so much interest. We’ll be selling the remainder of items online with local pickup. I’m SO sorry for any inconvenience!
Since we’ve been doing a big apartment refresh, I’ve been purging a TON of items. I’ve had massive amounts of gently or unworn clothing, shoes, and accessories just piling up, ready to find a new home! The good news? THIS weekend, October 29th and 30th, I’ll be selling these items along with a ton of other local lovelies, so there will be an array of styles and sizes available. The two day clothing sale is hosted by darlings Tegan and Lindsay of Treasures & Travels, and held at their Gastown studio. Details are below, hope to see you there!
Also, we’ll be donating a portion of all the sales to Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, so if you’d like to bring any donations, they have a list on their website of needs here.
I met Zoe at a party recently and we bonded over business podcasts and obnoxiously noisy neighbours that sound like they’re bowling (what the heck is up with that?). She mentioned in passing that she owns a company called Park & Fifth, a collection of dresses and separates that are designed and made here in Vancouver. Since the struggle to find a well rounded, versatile occasional dress is so real, I made an appointment to visit her at the studio right away with Alex.
