Classic Campus

Mimi Takes Five - #253

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Home for Christmas

Little Red Dress

Blush Check

Monochrome Monday

Good as Blue

I like to wear pastels all year round. Actually, I don't tend to limit wearing certain shades during certain times of year. An easy trick in pulling off a pastel hue during the colder months is to pair it with black. That really anchors the look. Today, I opted for black in a leather finish and in a knit. The peplum top give the look an edge factor while picking up on the leather trim of the knit cardigan which, in turn, softens the look. I played with textures to make every black component pop and stand on it's own against the light blue pants. I expect to get a lot of wear out of these baby blues come the spring!

Pants: Banana Republic | Top: Dynamite | Sweater: Ricki's | Earrings: Ricki's | Boots: Bare Traps

Red Hot Leather

Who ever said buffalo plaid can only be casual? I decided to pull it out of its woodsy-inspired funk and give it a whole new life. In comes the leather dress! I buttoned up the shirt all the way and wore it under my dress, so that only sections of the print are visible. I added a statement waist belt, for that extra bad-girl vibe and finished off with patterned tights and metallic booties. Add a bold red lip to pick up on the red of the shirt and you have one bad-ass look! My buffalo plaid shirt never looked so glam. Sometimes, it's nice to push your pieces to their full potential. My little plaid shirt is so much more versatile than I ever thought it could be. I just had to push the boundaries and break the reflex of always styling it the same way. Do you have pieces you always seem to wear the same way? Try to consciously break that habit! The result can be really fun and unexpected! Go ahead and take risks!

Dress: Banana Republic | Shirt: Old Navy | Belt: Call it Spring | Earrings: Ricki's | Tights: Old Navy | Coat: Esprit | Scarf: Aldo | Headband: Anarchy Gallery | Booties: Zara

Layer Slayer

 

I've now worn a blouse under a dress two days in a row... I guess I'll talk about one of my favourite layering tricks. Wearing a blouse under a sleeveless dress is a great way to transition pieces from one season to the next. The blouse can either dress down a more formal dress or dress up a more casual one. For example, I wore a plaid shirt under a slightly more formal dress yesterday and by doing so, made the dress a tad more casual for daytime. On the other hand, today's look is very dressy. A white and black neck-tie blouse and a black leather dress are both classic elements in their own rights, but by layering them, I gave them a whole new life. It make the dress feel less edgy while the blouse is less stuffy. I really like the end result! I also decided on black burnout tights and red shoes, lips and earrings for added interest. On second thought, I might have been better off with different tights as I feel the outfit is a little too black with this particular pair... I'll know for next time! Today was also the day I broke out the cape and floppy hat! I've been dying to wear my capes again and am happy the weather is finally cooperating. Fall would simply not be complete without an abundance of capes and floppy hats!


Dress: Banana Republic | Blouse: Banana Republic | Tights: Dynamite | Earrings: True Bijoux | Cape: Zara | Hat: Something Special Hats |Shoes: Call it Spring

Edgy Glamour

On the second night of our short trip, we attended La Nuit sur l'étang, which is the coming together of the Franco-Ontarian community to celebrate their rich culture. Much like the previous night, the show is mostly musical with a sprinkle of poetry and humour. I was particularly excited for this show as it was the 20 year reunion of the group Les Chaizes Muzikales. They did not disappoint! It was all I had hoped it would be!


Seeing as I was attending a second concert, I wore an edgier look. I decided on coated leggings, a grey tunic with slits, a cropped mixed media jacket, a statement necklace and metallic plimsolls. I stuck with a black/grey/metallic pallet as I feel this is appropriate for sitting in a dark theater without distracting from the main act. I felt the outfit hit all the right notes, from texture, to colour and finishing touches! Edgy meets glamorous in this look!


P.S. My partner found a great location to take outfit pics! I'm loving the obelisks and pillars in the snow!


Top: Dynamite | Leggings: Dynamite | Jacket: H&M | Necklace: Stunning (gift) | Clutch: Smart Set | Earrings: Smart Set | Ring: Mark by Avon | Shoes: Zara

LBLD

Step up your little black dress game with a little black leather dress (LBLD)! I've been wanting to add a black leather dress to my wardrobe for some time now and knew I'd found "the one" when I saw it! I had been eyeing it for a couple months, but was a hesitant as it was a bit pricey. I'm so happy I held out because I ended up purchasing it at 50% off! It's not real leather, but let me tell you, it sure feels like it! The best part: it fits like a glove! I know this is one of those investment pieces that I will have for years to come. It's a timeless colour, in a timeless shape and timeless finish. Will a black, A-line leather dress ever be outdated? I think not!


Dress: Banana Republic | Cardigan: Old Navy | Necklace: J.Crew Factory | Earrings: Smart Set | Tights: Jockey | Coat: Steve Madden | Scarf: Elegant Style | Booties: You by Crocs

Grey Scale

A fresh early-springtime look. I'm kind of having a leather moment right now and decided on the white leather midi skirt. I paired it with a light grey honeycomb knit sweater, a silver belt, silver and white bib necklace and grey OTK boots. I'm loving the white and grey/silver combination. The look has a certain freshness that is getting me in the mood for more springtime fashions. Mother Nature is shedding her blanket of snow and glittering icicles to make way for the lush greens and bright blooms of spring. With Easter just around the corner, I'm itching to wear some pastels and floral prints!

Skirt: Reitmans | Sweater: Old Navy | Necklace: ebay | Earrings: Old Navy | Belt: RW&CO | Scarf: Saachi | Purse: H&M | Coat: Plastic | Boots: Aldo

Leather Pleasure

I busted out the leather pants today! They had been cooped up in my closet for a little while and when I spotted them, I got the urge to wear them again! Surprising as it might seem, I find my leather pants to be quite comfortable and warm. Although these are not real leather, I find them more breathable than some of my other fake leather pants. They are thick and well constructed, which makes me feel at ease wearing them without feeling like I need to cover my bum in case of sheerness exposure... There is something about leather pants that makes me feel sexy! Even if I wear them in a casual outfit, they put a spring in my step! I guess it's a similar feeling one gets when wearing sexy undergarments. It's like a little secret weapon that makes us feel extra feminine and sultry! When you are having a blah day, slip into some leather pants. I promise, it will perk you right up!


Pants: Zara | Top: RW&CO | Sleeveless Blazer: Dynamite | Earrings: Smart Set | Necklace: (old) | Coat: Marika | Scarf: (gift) | Socks: Old Navy | Booties: Blondo

Infallible Leather

Today's outfit is another example of a more casual festive look. I wore my black leather pants with a red sequin tank and a beige blazer. Leather can be worn casually or dressed up. It all depends on your mood and how savvy of a stylist you are. This look sort of falls in between the two ends of the spectrum, not too casual nor too dressy. It's just right! A thought just came to me: what if the Goldilocks story was set around her styling abilities and finding the outfit that is juuust right for the occasion? I think I would have been more into the story as a kid if it centered on clothes as opposed to porridge... 

Pants: Zara | Top: Ricki's | Blazer: Dynamite | Earrings: Ricki's | Scarf: (gift) | Coat: Lululemon | Boots: NY VIP

TBT - Concert Glam

I went to a concert very last minute (I bought my ticket the day of)! This is very unusual for me. I am more of a planner than a spontaneous type. That said, I did not have spare time to plan an outfit. I grabbed this funky jacket and simply paired it with a white silky tank and some black skinnies. I added some glamorous chandelier earrings and I was all set!  It turned out to be a perfect outfit: not to over the top, yet not too boring either.

Jeans: Yoga Jeans | Top: Smart Set | Jacket: H&M | Earrings: RW&CO | Booties: Blondo | Clutch: Smart Set

TBT - Less is More

Have I mentioned my slight obsession with graphic T's? I cannot get enough of these quirky message boards. It's the perfect way of wearing your emotions on your sleeve (or on your chest in this case). I'm someone who usually has something to say so, by wearing my statement, it saves me a few breaths! This particular shirt repeatedly says "Less is more" and ends with "More please". I love the irony! Not only do graphic t-shirts help spread your sense of humor, but they are also great conversation starters! Going along with the message, I paired the shirt with a busy pant, a statement necklace, fancy booties and a leather jacket. I took the "More please" to heart!

T-shirt: Old Navy | Pants: RW&CO | Necklace: eBay | Jacket: Danier | Booties: You by Crocs | Earrings: Roots