The catwalk: Royal mint

It’s cool, fresh and appealing to the eye. A place where money is made, and a key ingredient in mojitos. It even means modest, insightful and kind-hearted. Sounds delicious, doesn't it? Mint is a cool colour (literally) that was touted the trendiest hue of spring 2012 and is still trending this season. Mint has an air of sophistication with a hint of femininity. I had to have it, no question. But how does one with a fair complexion pull it off?

That’s a great question, considering last year I said that pastels wouldn't work against my fair skin tone. The truth is that I thought pastels wouldn't work because I wasn't used to seeing myself in them. Every time I tried one on I’d find a different reason why not to buy. I call it the pastel complex. ‘It makes me look too pale!’ ‘Do I look like I’m sick?’ ‘What’s that? Did someone say chocolate?’

Since I've accepted the way I look in pastels, I've been surrounded by a whole new colour experience! While shopping for key pieces this season, light and breezy spring tops were at the top of my list. And so was mint. I found the perfect minty piece at a DKNY outlet and its flowing fabric goes wonderfully with my white skinny denim. Pair it with some standout black pumps and a dainty black handbag and you’re ready for a night out. If the weather is cool, layer a blue jean jacket over the top with a printed scarf to pull the look together. Finally, I can check mint off my list!

You can get this look too by visiting your fav shop, and if that doesn't do the trick just search for ‘mint blouse’ on Polyvore and you’ll be lost in lots of options in no time. Happy shopping! x

Photo by Sam Russell

Photo by Sam Russell

Photo by Sam Russell

How to conquer a mall in 60 minutes

Large malls can be intimidating. Their sheer size and volume of high quality stores can make you feel like you're in a maze, not knowing where to go next. That’s fine if you have 5 days of your vacation allotted to shopping but I, for one, do not prefer to spend my vacay time indoors and if I’m travelling for work and I’m lucky enough to have time to get to a mall, it’s usually never for an extended period. It's more like a couple of hours at most. In fact, I did an outlet mall just last month in 60 minutes and left feeling like I conquered it. 

I used to be a ‘browser’ but now my shopping trips have turned into full-on time-sensitive missions. Here are a few tips to make your next shopping trip efficient, fun and (hopefully) a big success:

1. Do your research. Find out what stores are in the mall, and then decide what ones you want to visit.

2. Make a list. Take a look at your wardrobe. Read some of your fav fashion magazines. Then jot down what you’d like to find on your trip.

3. Be specific. Don’t say you want to find tops. The term 'tops' is too broad. Instead, say what kind of tops you’d like to have. That will make your life a lot easier when you’re at Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s and you’re surrounded by tops of all shapes, colours and styles.

4. Get a map and plan your route. Remember the list of stores you want to visit? Decide what order you'll visit them in.
5. Set a budget. Let's face it: most of us could probably do some serious damage to our bank accounts at our favourite stores in a matter of minutes. We could, but we shouldn't. Be sure to set a budget before you begin buying! 

6. Dress comfortably. Wear something that’s good for running, er, walking between stores. It’s nice to look good but 4-inch heels won’t cut it for this kind of trip. Unless you've mastered a skill that I haven't, I think you'll find something comfortable a little more efficient.

7. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it. Don’t spend a lot of time deciding on whether you like something. If your first reaction to trying something on is only okay, you’ll probably feel the same way later. No one likes buyer’s remorse! 

I hope this helps you on your next shopping excursion! If you have any more ideas, tips to add to the list, or thoughts, please leave a comment. Happy shopping!