A Stripe in the Right Direction

I now, I know, another nautical look. What can I say? I have an undying and unwavering (ha!) love of stripes! The organic way to style them is tried and true and, let's be real, nautical styles always makes a splash! Chanel could not have predicted the impact her simple Breton stripe tops would have, but I'm sure keeping the style alive. My French roots and my love of style pair well when it comes to the nautical look. The only thing not working for me in terms of nautical things is motion sickness... Oh well, I'll fake it till I make it!

Dress: H&M | Belt: Dynamite | Scarf: Zara | Earrings: Cleo | Tote: Old Navy | Sandals: Banana Republic

TBT - On Theme

Seeing as I definitely have a colour-combo on repeat this summer, I figured it would be appropriate to share this throwback look. Ok, I admit there is more beige than turquoise with the coral, but there is a tiny hint of the shade in the necklace. This look is so cute and fresh, all colour on the bottom half and neutral on top to make the statement necklace pop and tie it all together! Don't you just love it when an accessory makes the look?

Jeans: RW&CO | Camisole: Old Navy | Lace top: Dynamite | Cardigan: Jacob | Earrings: Aldo | Necklace: Aldo | Bracelet: Fame Accessories | Sandals: Bamboo

Summer Palette

Coral and turquoise, here we go again! This time, the coral dress is a brighter, more saturated tone. I added simple pops of turquoise with the bracelet and sandals for contrast and lightness. The beige cardigan is a neutral layer that keeps the focus on the summer colour palette. Although I've always loves this combination, I feel like that love is particularly strong this summer. Not sure why, but I'm running with it! Brace yourselves for even more variations of the coral/turquoise combo!

Dress: Smart Set | Cardigan: Jacob | Earrings: Smart Set | Bracelet: Smart Set | Shoes: Bamboo

Date Dress

I decided to wear this bright watercolour sheath dress for date night. I like the bold and abstract print and the simplicity of the dress. It is easy to style and comfortable to wear, plus requires minimal accessorizing. I simply wore purple pumps and delicate pink earrings to complete the look. I also carried my fuchsia purse (not pictured). We went for the classic dinner-and-a-movie format and had a great evening. We were so early at the restaurant that we were in that sweet spot between lunch and dinner, so we basically had the place to ourselves. We sat at the chef's table and got VIP service! The movie we saw was Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2. The first one was hilarious, so we gave the second one a try and were not disappointed! A must see for all you bilinguals out there! As far as a Tuesday date-night goes, this was perfect!

Dress: H&M | Earrings: Swarovski | Shoes: Old Navy

Making Waves

This look is totally ocean-inspired! Why not pair a quirky graphic T about boats with a seahorse-print skirt? I love a good theme! This shirt is so cute, it says "Whatever floats your boat", the perfect summery saying. Isn't that what summer is all about? Just doing whatever you feel like and whatever makes you happy. It can even have a dual meaning if you enjoy boating! I also plan on wearing this t-shirt the next time I go for a boat ride. Yes, I'm going to be that person... I bet it will pair well with my boat shoes too!

Skirt: Simons | Shirt: Old Navy | Earrings: Thomas Sabo | Espadrilles: Old Navy

Franco en Famille

Today was the last day of the festival and my mom was joining us! This show was the best of the three and we discovered new bands! We had a snack at the raclette food-truck and the melty-cheese game was strong! It was really great spending quality time with my mom and sister. We are all so busy with our respective lives that it's nice to take time out and just have fun. These past three days have been exactly what I needed to relax and get my mind off things. It's good to live a little!

Top: Smart Set | Camisole: Walmart | Jeans: Banana Republic | Earrings: Smart Set | Sandals: Old Navy

Franco-Fun

Day 2 of the Festival franco! Seeing as I got caught in the rain last night, and it was still gloomy this morning, I chose black jeans and comfy flats for today's look. Since I was going to the festival straight from work, I added a green floral top to make it office appropriate. I also carried a tote with the essentials (i.e. jacket, umbrella, water bottle, sweater) to be ready for anything the forecast might have in store. By the time I left work, it was hot and sunny! The evening was great and the rain held off, so no need to use the emergency supplies! It was another great night of hanging out with my sister and taking in the summer-time fun!

Top: J. Crew Factory | Jeans: Zara | Earrings: Kate Spade | Belt: Old Navy | Flats: George (Walmart)

Festival Franco

I am not a huge festival-goer, I'm more of an introvert and would rather a quiet evening at home. However, I do make an exception every onec in a while, and one of those exceptions in the Festival franco-ontarien! I am proud of my heritage and encourage the arts in my native tongue. My sister asked me to go with her so we bought our passes. Tonight was the first of three. It's just great to witness the unifying factor of a common trait among people. We gather to not only celebrate our language, but our diversity. The sense of community is palpable and reignites that sense of pride. With everything that I've gone through this year, it's nice to be reminded of the things we value, the things that truly matter and that define us. It was gcld and rainy, but that did not deter us from enjoying ourselves and having a great time. It was a late night, but it was totally worth it! (I'm not one to go out on weeknights, but I made an exception.) I can't wait for tomorrow's line up!

T-shirt: Old Navy | Jeans: Banana Republic | Earrings: Kate Spade | Belt: Banana Republic | Shoes: Bamboo

TBT - Summer Casual

You can never go wrong with white pants, a denim jacket and boat shoes for a casual summer look. These floral shoes are a cute twist on classic boat shoes and this whimsical touch makes them fun to style. I opted for a pink top to pick up on the pink in the shoes and threw on a knotted necklace as another nod to the nautical elements. The jacket is a great layering piece for those warmer months because the days are nice and sunny, but the evenings can get cooler. The purpose is to not only look put together, but wear something practical. I'm ready for a day trip on the water, just need to grab a swimsuit and shades! What are your go-to summer looks?

Top: RW&CO | Pants: Old Navy | Jacket: Old Navy | Necklace: Smart Set | Earrings: Roots | Shoes: H&M

The Meghan Maxi

With Meghan Markle making headlines recently, it got me thinking of this maxi dress again! It has been one of my favourites since last summer and I love everything about it. The loose, breezy fit, the beautiful tropical print and the low-cut back. It all works so well together! I am so happy I got to snag one of these special collection pieces Meghan worked on with Reitmans, seeing as the partnership has recently come to an end. I was really impressed with the pieces she had collaborated on and was looking forward to more creations in the months to come. Oh well, I guess she is moving on to other endeavors. I'll settle for having at least one of her pieces in my wardrobe. I hope she does another foray into the world of fashion at some point, because she sure has a knack for it!

Dress: Reitmans | Cardigan: J. Crew Factory | Earrings: Banana Republic | Sandals: Bamboo

Little Floral Dress

I think that in addition to the LBD and LWD, every girl needs an LFD (little floral dress). At this rate, I'm curating a Little Dress series. We all need that special little dress for every occasion, so why not have an arsenal to choose from? It changes things up a big from the classic black or white. A little floral number would be perfect for those more casual settings and simple work looks. The colourful print makes accessorizing a breeze and adds versatility. On this hot summer day, I paired mine with yellow wedge espadrilles and delicate earrings. No fuss, no muss!

Dress: Ricki's | Earrings: RW&CO | Sunglasses: A.J. Morgan (Nordstrom) | Wedges: Bamboo

Yes Way Chambray

This dress takes chambray to a whole other level! Who knew the casual staple would work so well as a dress, with a flounce no less? I was sold the moment I clapped eyes on this number. I was head over heels for it.!Not only is the material a fresh take on a favourite, but the shape of the dress is timeless and elegant, the flounce off-the-shoulder neckline is right on trend and a little bit sexy while the detailing at the hem is both artistic and whimsical. I can see myself hanging on to this for a very long time. It is so versatile, I can't stop thinking of opportunities to wear it. It is suitable for work, brunch, a picnic in the park, a family get-together, a wedding, a vacation, you name it! Thanks Banana Republic for making such classic, quality pieces!

Dress: Banana Republic | Necklace: ebay | Earrings: H&M | Wedges: Forever 21

What the Flock?

I wore a simple outfit today as it was going to be a long, busy day! After much planning, the day had come to prepare the back yard and the entrance to pour fresh cement to create a patio and a new walkway. Although I grew up on a farm, and am quite accustomed to the sight of a tractor and working men, it was a very unusual sight in the suburbs... On the first day, the existing shrubbery and lawn was ripped up to make way for gravel in order to make a base layer on which to pour the concrete. I have to admit I got a chuckle watching these city boys doing manual labour. They did a great job, but they were so out of their, how should I put it, natural habitat?

Once the gravel was in place, it was time to create the desired forms using 2x4s. While all of this is happening outdoors, I was kept quite busy indoors cooking up a storm to feed the ravenous workmen. I don't usually do the cooking in our home, but my culinary skills (or lack thereof) were put to the test. Thankfully I had detailed instructions, so it all turned out great! I have to admit that at some point during the day my feminist senses were tingling because I was not liking that the men and women fell back into those stereotypical duties. I even told my partner at some point that I would have felt more at ease raking gravel outside while he cooked. Don't be fooled by the exterior appearance, my dad taught me well. I can hold my own!

The second day was a bit easier as it was the pouring of the concrete into the shapes. I was headed to work and it was odd to see massive concrete trucks in my yard... I was hoping everything would go smoothly and thankfully, it did. I am quite pleased with the final results and am looking forward to completing the rest of the backyard make-over. Another step closer to being back to normal!

P.S. I didn't actually use the clutch for anything today, just thought it would look cute with the tee in the picture. I also traded the flip flops for fuzzy slippers.

Shorts: Old Navy | T-shirt: J. Crew Factory | Clutch: Old Navy | Earrings: Claire's | Flip flops: Old Navy

Baby Shower

I attended a simple BBQ baby shower this weekend. Seeing as it was the hottest weather yet, I opted for shorts and a t-shirt. I chose the floral flutter-sleeve top because it has shades of pink and blue, aka baby colours. I paired it with denim shorts, a fuchsia belt and cobalt sandals. It's always fun attending these events as the anticipation of a new arrival is always a joyful time. The mommy-to-be was radiant and I can't wait for the little bundle of joy to make an appearance!

Shorts: Old Navy | Top: Banana Republic Factory | Belt: Smart Set | Earrings: Maison d'Or | Sandals: Bamboo

Lilac Bouquet

Floral prints are so fun to wear! I decided to combine two versions of florals for today's look. I started with my pastel pencil skirt and added a floral lace top to the mix. I know it's a lot of the same thing, or at least it does in theory. In reality the two work perfectly! The print of the skirt is colourful and dense while the lace top bold and very detailed, yet understated. The pictures don't do it justice, in person the detailing of the top really stands out. I added simple pearl earrings and lilac sandals to complete my summery office-look. I bet if I hadn't pointed out that both pieces were floral, it would have taken a bit of time for some to notice the repetition! Maybe I'll wear this look for Mother's Day next year. Surprise my mom with a "lifelike" bouquet. Think she'll like it?

Skirt: Smart Set | Camisole: Smart Set | Top: H&M | Earrings: Maison d'Or | Sandals: Qupid

TBT - Denim Dame

Ok, I know some of you would cringe at the thought of a denim dress, but hear me out. The key in pulling off a jean creation is to find one that is the right shape for your body. I tend to wear the fit-and-flare style well so I chose a denim dress in the shape. The extra elasticized detail at the waist keeps the focus on the narrower part of me, making it flattering. The material itself is also not too thick, which is non-restricting and allows the dress to have movement. I also styled my dress simply with minimal accessories to let the garment speak for itself. I did have fun with the shoes and the added detail completes the outfit without competing for attention with the main attraction.

Dress: Venus | Necklace: Pandora | Bracelet: (old) | Earrings: (old) | Wedges: Two Lips

Go-to Duo

Turquoise and coral will forever be my favourite summer colour combo! I just can't help but love everything about it! This dress encapsulates my summer go-tos. It is a fit-and-flare cut in my favourite hues and the skirt's twirlability is phenomenal! I see myself keeping this dress forever! It's easy to style and has a timeless look about it. I kept the focus on the dress by wearing nude wedge heels that blend into my legs and a simple turquoise cardigan. I did add a hint of fun with the tassel earrings in the same colour combo. Is anybody surprised I couldn't resist these earrings? At the time of purchase, I was planning on wearing them with this exact dress. It's a match made in fashion heaven!

Dress: Banana Republic | Cardigan: Old Navy | Earrings: Panacea (Nordstrom) | Shoes: Forever 21

Summer Palm Print

Another summer day, another maxi dress! Like I've said, I live in these during the summer months. This one is a fun, bright, palm-print beauty! I can't get over the lovely mix of colours. This dress just makes me happy! It is actually very comfortable and the material has a nice movement when I walk. I paired it with my mint cardigan and fuchsia flats for added pops of colour. I can't get enough of bright colours at this time of year, I just pile them on!

Dress: Spiryt | Cardigan: J. Crew Factory | Earrings: Swarovski | Flats: Cupid