Just Black Denim/ Forever21 Sweater/ Timbaland Boots/ Alexander Wang Rocco Duffle
What’s your favourite cold weather staple? Mine are definitely my fleece lined Timbs to keep my feet warm and dry in the cold.
xx- aboutthesmallthings
Tag: accessories
hats off to you
it took a while for me to decide on my number 1 Fall Must Have. it was actually quite hard for me to narrow down all of the fall fashion to only 5 quick points. Fall is by far my favourite season for fashion and these 5 must haves sum it up pretty well for me. now, on to #1- un beau chapeau!
Fall Must Have #1: A great Hat- How many of you have had that morning where you wake up, know you have somewhere to be, don’t have time (or don’t want) to do your hair and are sick and tired of the sad ponytail. i know it happens to me, and that’s when i go for my arsenal of hats. the great thing about Fall is that almost all retailers are beginning to sell a great assortment of hats in all shapes and sizes. i have trouble finding ones that fit my head (i’m a very small size) but i’ve gotten very lucky at American Eagle and on occasion H & M. H & M has a tendency of selling of of sizes faster but it’s because they’re prices are better than most. other affordable finds come from Forever 21 and Zara, if you’re OK to spend a bit more Aritzia has good options to chose from as well
so whether its a beanie, a baseball hat or a trilby, a hat has a good way of adding interest to an outfit without breaking the bank
xx- aboutthesmallthings
falling into fall
fall is here again, and again i’m not ready for it. the season comes with my favorite styles and trends by far, but i know the snow is coming back sooner than i’m ok with
so i hold on to summer for as long as i can, slowly layering in coverups, jackets and thigh highs in place of the inevitable thick knits that will take over my life from November-March
my current (and long lasting) go to fave is thigh highs with vintage levis. this keeps my summer vibe going strong, but also prevents the inevitable freezing of fall
current look includes levi’s cut offs, forever 21 tank, urban outfitters flannel and american apparel thigh highs. if you’re looking for other options, h&m and forever 21 have a whole assortment of affordable socks, tights and thigh highs
xx and happy falling!- aboutthesmallthings
better than basic
Have you ever had those mornings where you stand in front of a closet full of clothes and no matter how hard you try you can’t find a thing you want to wear? Well I suffer from that constantly. It will be 7 am and the clock is ticking away but I can’t settle on anything. If I could forever have a revolving wardrobe I would, but the reality is I’m not made of money and that’s not feasible in any way. (a girl can dream)
it’s on these mornings where lines blur together in a sea of clothing that i have a contingency plan in place for these such occasions. these are what i call “the LBD moments”. an LBD moment doesn’t necessarily mean you grab the first black dress you see and sulk out of your apartment, it means that everyone should have a series of basic key pieces that they can reach to in times of need. my LBD moment items include an amazing little grey dress from Wilfred Free, a million denim on denim combos, and a few solid dresses from H& M, Forever and Zara that i can always reach for in a clinch. to avoid feeling “basic” on these sad clothes mornings, i also have my arsenal of accessories to save the day
to take any LBD from basic to edgy or fun, i grab a great statement necklace or even layer a few thinner pieces to create some depth and interest. it makes a basic piece feel a bit more fun and a little more memorable
pictured above (top to bottom): J Crew Statement Necklace/ Michael Kors Spring 2015 Chevron Necklaces and Heart Pendant
Other great accessory places include H & M, Forever 21 and Club Monaco if you’re looking to spend a bit more
xx- aboutthesmallthings
something old, something new, something borrowed?
wedding season is upon us! the sun is shining, flowers are in bloom, and everyone is tying the knot! every week to two weeks there is another hair appointment to be made and outfit to be selected. the challenge with this is remaining creative and fresh in a world where instagram and facebook showcase every outfit worn. finding a new outfit for each and every occasion (because inevitably with each wedding comes and engagement party, bridal shower and bachelorette party) can be challenging and expensive.
so, what have i done avoid falling into the black dress abyss? here a few of my wedding season secrets to stay ahead of the fashion game while not eating ramen
- Invest in a few great pairs of high heels- a great pair of shoes will make your outfit and last forever
- i never spend more than $100 on the dress- it takes a lot of digging and can be a bit frustrating but i’ve been very lucky in finding dresses that look expensive at a lower price point. my most successful store is always Zara. if i can’t find anything there i move on to some of the smaller boutiques in my city because they often have sales and really interesting unknown designers
- when looking for a dress, i never go too fancy. that way i can re-wear it to work or on the weekends. it’s never fun to buy something that only gets worn to one occasion
- Accessories, accessories, accessories. if you do need to go for your staple LBD make sure to add interesting accessories to avoid it looking like the last time you wore it. you can find some great statement necklaces for under $20 if you’re patient and have the time to look (my go-to’s are Aldo Accessories and Forever 21)
- Borrow! most girls are in the same boat as you are. ask a friend if they have something that would fit you. you end up spending no money at all and won’t feel guilty about wearing the dress once
wedding season can be a lot of fun- it’s a great excuse to get dolled up and dance the night away. there’s no reason why it can’t also be affordable!
(the dress in the picture is my most recent find- $49 at Zara!)
xx-aboutthesmallthings
sweet nothings
i’m always looking for really fun ways to spruce up my apartment. i spend a lot of time a Winners Homesense searching the isles for a great find. I love it there but often walk out with nothing because i can’t always find what i’m looking for. (i always find a lot of fantastic things i’m not looking for, but that’s not great for the savings account). i’ve tried to find things at Zara Home since it’s more consistent and they put out lines each season, however unless it’s on sale, it always feels like it’s just a few more dollars than i want to spend. i love all the expensive places too, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn always have amazing fixtures, furniture and home supplies, but they are always left behind due to the price point.
about to give up, i discovered a gem. an amazing rare gem that right now, can only be found in one province in Canada.(boo) I came across H & M home. i didn’t even know they were coming out with a home line! let me tell you though, bravo H & M. they’ve put together a fantastic assortment of decor, storage, dishes, bathroom accessories and the list goes on and on. the best part? the price! they’ve made everything fantastic and affordable which makes it even more appealing. you can literally go in and buy accessories for each season and not feel guilty about it. sadly, my discovery was made on a work trip and i couldn’t fit any of my finds in my suitcase so everything was left behind. sad fact #2- it’s also not available online yet so until H & M brings home closer to home, i’ll be waiting with baited breath
Check out the finds on their website http://www.hm.com/ca/department/HOME
xx- aboutthesmallthings
it’s hunting season
some of my all time favorite accessories are shoes and handbags. people often come into my apartment and ask how many people live with me due to the number of shoes i have lined up in the front hallway. there are some serious brand names that i’m coveting after, but haven’t reached a point yet where i’m able to walk into any store and buy my hearts every desire (trust me, we may have a bigger problem if that were the case) so in the meantime, when i look for good investment pieces, i have to be savvy about it
The best thing to do when buying an investment piece is trying to find something you covet, at a discount. that way it’s something you’ll have forever but don’t feel as though you’ve spent more than a month’s rent on something you’re wearing on your feet. i’ve had amazing successes at Barney’s Coop on my trips to the states or at HR2 in Canada. you have to be patient, but when you find something worth is, grab it before it’s gone!
here are some tricks to buying investment pieces, but not breaking the bank
- Basic doesn’t mean black: An investment piece doesn’t always need to be black. there are other basics in the color world that can be worn with just about any color. don’t be afraid of navy or a great burgundy bag- they’ll still match with everything and can even add a pop of color to an outfit. at the end of each season, you can often find classic shapes in designer bags in the seasons color that they haven’t been able to sell through. I was able to pick up an Alexander Wang Rocco Duffle in Burgundy for 70% off because of the color
- Go online: There are a number of online sites that will send you customized sales for designers that you’re looking for. For example, the site Shop It To Me will email you daily sales on the brand names you’re looking for. They send you hits from various websites so you’re being redirected to sites like Nordstrom or Shopbop online as opposed to searching each individual website on your own.
- Do you research: Don’t just buy brand name for the sake of buying brand name. Know what you’re looking for. if there’s a specific designer you’re interested in, look for different retailers within the city that carry the brand. go in to the different locations, compare prices and in store deals before making a commitment. depending on the retailer, there can be discounts that they can offer or incentives at different times of the year
- Be patient. impulse buying when it comes to a big purchase is the worst way to go. you don’t end up enjoying your buy because you often spend too much and feel guilty about your purchase. wait until end of season, wait for holiday sales, those are the best times to look into buying designer because those are the times retailers are expecting their next collection. once things go on sale, the decision to buy in store or online are usually the only ones remaining
good luck and happy hunting!
xx- aboutthesmallthings
finishing touches
accessories are easily my favorite part of an outfit
they can turn an everyday black dress or jeans and a t shirt into a dynamic and interesting look
that’s why my main investments always go into the pieces i can use to juj up my look- shoes, handbags and jewelry (although the jewelry component is nearly always fun costume pieces. one day i’ll invest in some great real pieces, but that’s for later on in my fashion life)
to date, my best costume jewelry finds have actually (believe it or not) come from forever 21 and macy’s. if you’re going to buy fun pieces that don’t have a very long shelf life, it’s better to keep the budget under $25 to avoid feeling guilty about buying a neon choker or spiked double ring. if you’re looking for something a bit more expensive looking J Crew in recent years has had really good costume pieces to chose from
so why the focus on the accessories you might ask? it ties back to my packing nightmares. i finished packing 90% of my suitcase last weekend, panicked, and have been adding more pieces here and there throughout the week. it went from a strategic battlefield to unplanned warfare. instead of pulling everything out and starting over from scratch, i took note of a few key pieces i was planning to bring with me and substituted fear with accessories. that way, if i did forget anything too crucial i know that i can wear a basic look with some great jewelry to give myself the look i was hoping for
so wish me luck and fingers crossed to having a week filled with the perfectly improvised vacation looks
xx-aboutthesmallthings
aboutthesmallthings 