The catwalk: Oriental infusion

SS2013 is in full swing. The weather is warm, the sun is shining and flowers are in full bloom in wardrobes from London to New York. One of the season’s top trends welcomes Oriental-style pieces with a Western flavour. Asian-inspired motifs have been dawning the pages of fashion magazines everywhere. High fashion Oriental pieces have been a fixture on the catwalk this season and the good news is, if you are into this trend you can get your hands on some trendy pieces that can be infused into your everyday style, adding a little Asian spice to your closet this season.

When I found out my husband was going to dedicate a day to shop for me in London, my Sherlock Holmes skills emerged. I quickly started researching his target shopping destination, Oasis, and I stumbled upon a full section of their site dedicated to the Oriental trend. I fell in love with some of the pieces I saw, and I decided to embrace my inner geisha and give this trend a try.

This floral plait neck top features a vintage floral print, ruffle trim cap sleeves, a keyhole button closure and layered pleated hem. Since it's light and airy it pairs well with skinny denim. It's shown below with dark blue skinnies but it also works very well with white. I've worn it both ways, and I like to change it up between the two to keep my look fresh. Sometimes I wear this top with a thin coloured belt to create a defined waistline but I think it's nice to let the shirt just flow as it is (both looks are shown below.) As I mentioned in a previous post, I love Oasis (I can't emphasize how much I love them) and I hope that someday they'll ship to Canada but for now you can order Oasis pieces on asos.com. Keep your eye out for this trend during SS2013 and let me know if you try it too! x

Photo by Sam Russell.

Photo by Sam Russell.

Photo by Sam Russell.

Photo by Sam Russell.

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

The catwalk: Styling away in seafoam green

Seafoam green is a colour that decorated fashion magazines and adorned clothing racks just a few months ago. I hadn't considered this colour to be fashionable until then, but I desperately wanted to find a way to incorporate it into my wardrobe.

After trying some billowy seafoam blouses and skirts, I felt that the colour wasn't quite right against my skintone (at least that's what I thought... it would take a second opinion to convince me otherwise.) Instead of going with a predominant standout piece I thought I'd try this sweet hue with some accessories. Success! I found a cute pair of floral studs at a Kate Spade outlet, and I wear them when I want to add a subtle pop of colour to an outfit! It's the perfect way for me to embrace this trend without swimming in a sea of green. 

Happy weekend! x

Photo by Sam Russell

Photo by Sam Russell

The catwalk: perfectly printed halter dress

My style this week is back to bold in a perfectly printed halter! I found this dress at Kenneth Cole while outlet shopping last year, and I immediately fell in love with its flowy fabric and vibrant colours. My purchase decision took very little convincing once I tried it on! I knew this was going to be a piece I'd wear again and again.

Featuring overlapping colourful print patterns that meet in a knot at the bust, and two small metal rods on the straps, this dress is great for almost any occasion. Dress it up with a blazer and a pair of black slingbacks for work, or go for a more casual look by pairing it with a cropped denim jacket. It can be great for a wedding too when it's worn with heels and a black clutch! In fact, I wore this look just last weekend to a wedding with a black Kate Spade handbag.   

If you try this look or you have tried a look like this in the past, leave a comment below! 

Happy weekend! x

P.S. Photos this week are by my friend Sam. He does a fantastic job of making me look fabulous! Check out his amazing work at his Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samuelrussell/

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

  

The catwalk: flirty in floral

This week, my style's a little different from my usual attire. You've probably noticed that I usually choose bright and bold colours because of my skin tone; it's not often you'll see me dawning a neutral hue. This piece makes a statement and while it's a different look for me, I like the feeling I get when I wear it. It's got a 60s retro vibe, but when accessorized carefully it becomes retro with a modern twist!   

I found this dress about a year ago at another one of my fav stores: MNG by Mango. I was first attracted to its pretty floral print and light fabric, and when I tried it on I felt very pretty and feminine. It was originally priced at $90 and discounted to $20, and even though I wasn't sure where exactly I would wear it, I thought I'd get it anyway... even if I wore it once, I'd be sure to get my money's worth! 

This dress is light, breezy, fun and flirty and it's turned out to be great for almost any occasion! It can be dressed up for work with a pair of heels and a clutch; or it can be made casual when paired with a short denim jacket, sandals and bright handbag. But best of all, it's a great standout piece and it's fantastic for summer! 

Happy weekend! x

The catwalk: the skinny on white

I always wanted to own white jeans, but I was never daring enough to wear them. Honestly, maybe the reason was my illegitimate fear of someone seeing through them if they were walking behind me. What was I thinking? People don't have x-ray vision. And skinny jeans? I had to gradually work my way up to them. And I by gradual, I mean over a multi-year period starting with boot cut, then straight cut, and finally skinny. I took the plunge and tried on a pair of white skinny jeans last month at Guess. When I first tried them on, it took awhile to get used to the way they looked but after a few minutes in them I was surprised to discover that I was in love! I was even more surprised to find myself quite comfortable in them, too.

They're another fabulous look for summer and they work very well with contrast on top. Try pairing them with a dark or printed top, contrasting flats or heels and a clutch to round this look out.

Happy weekend!

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Striped top, Michael Kors; Brittney ankle skinny jeans, Guess; Black flats, Nine West; Black wristlet, Coach.

The catwalk: striped summer dress

Even though it's just begun, I can already see some themes developing in my summer wardrobe: colour (obviously), prints and stripes! One of my favourite summer dresses this season is a chic, striped dress I picked up just a few weeks ago.

Horizontal stripes have always been the subject of debate in the fashion world. I've heard it all, and I'm sure you have too. Everything from "horizontal stripes make you look fat", to "horizontal stripes make you look thin", and everything in between those polar opposite statements. Some may argue that stripes might even make you look like a prisoner. My opinion? Forget everything you've heard, and if you're comfortable in it and you love it, then wear it!

If you don't already have a striped dress, you should consider adding a piece like this one to your wardrobe. It features an asymmetrical neckline, pleated left shoulder detail, a bright blue removable belt and hits just above the knee. 

Whether you'd like to add a fashion-forward, polished look to your work wear or a classy piece for night, this dress really makes a statement whenever you choose to wear it. Want to add a little more colour? Pair it with a bright handbag or some coloured heels to round out the look. If you like this look but waistline is a concern for you, try it with a blazer or a cardigan and wear it with confidence! 

I almost forgot... the best part about this dress? The price. I paid a cool $50 at Winners, and I saw the same dress for $80 at Macy's, $88 at Nordstrom and $93 on Overstock.com. Now that's what I call a steal! 

Happy long weekend! x

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Photo credit: Sam Russell

Calvin Klein striped belted sheath dress.

The catwalk: Summertime for colour

It's finally here! While I'm excited for ice cream, warm weather and all things summer, I am most excited about wearing colour this season. Since I'm usually safe and go with neutrals, I've decided to embrace colour and change. It's time to get bold.

During a recent trip to California, I embarked on shopping mission in search of red skinny jeans. That's right, red! I found my red denim and I love it! Pairing nicely with a printed top or classic black (if that's your thing), it's great for daytime or a night out!

Toothpick denim in Dark Poppy, J. Crew; Polka dot popover, J. Crew; Byrd handbag, kate spade; Black flats, Nine West; Wayfarer sunglasses, Ray-Ban