personal style

The glory of a turtleneck under a jumpsuit

It stopped raining long enough for me to take some photos, so I thought that I will make the best of this dry situation and present to you my favourite outfit combination: turtlenecks under jumpsuits. This isn’t the first time I have raves about this combo and it certainly won’t be the last time either: it is the easiest outfit comfortable mobility and it transcends the season. This pinstriped jumpsuit with that little bow in the front can be worn for a more springtime look or I could easily be made into a more fall/wintertime look. It’s an easy look and it’s crazy comfy.

Also please note that it was dry enough outside for sneakers so it really was an amazing day!

Hope February sees you all well!

Lea

Taking your Summer favourites into Fall: part 2

Welcome back to another installation of “Taking your Summer favourites into Fall”! Today I want to argue that a leather jacket is all you need to bring pretty much any cute girly dress into the darker, more edgy season that we know and love: Fall. This is more a continuation off last post where I paired a Summer jumpsuit with a turtleneck and a leather jacket since all I really did to Fall-ify this dress was throw a leather jacket on top, but I think it needs revisiting because, friends, it really is that easy to keep wearing your favourite pieces past labour day!

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So for this look I wore a super cute and simple wrap dress, which on its own given its’ darker colour actually wears well in Fall already, and I threw a moto styled leather jacket on top and BAM I have myself a great look for those not-super-cold-but-still-Fall days!

Stay tuned because I have one last and final installation of the “Taking your Summer favourites into Fall” coming at you hot next week.

Until then, friends!

Much love,

Lea

Taking your Summer favourites in Fall: part 1

For me Autumn starts when you feel the air change: what once was a warm southerly breeze is now a cool northern wind. To me, this not to subtle change, signifies the start of a new season. I personally am ready for cooler temperatures after the scorcher of a summer the west coast just had, and I hope the rain and cooler temperatures helps slow down and stop the forest fires we are experiencing in the interior. The hardest part about the changing seasons for me used to be putting away all of my summer clothes. This was until I realized if I pair them with warmer options I can actually wear them into the coming season.

Take my black strapless jumpsuit: on its own it is impractical for cooler temperatures, but paired with a long-sleeved turtleneck and a leather jacket it can easily change seasons and transition into fall.

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I’m wearing it here with white sneakers, but it can easily be worn with black boots or blundstones if you get stuck in the rain.

So my first tip for extending the life of your summer faves is to layer! Layers are fun and add a lot of texture to your outfits which is perfect for fall.

Stay tuned for more tips!

Lea

Slouchy Mondays

Growing up I never found much comfort in being in sweatpants outside of my house. Because of that I had to find other ways to feel comfy when on days when it was grey and mopey. This quest lead me to my new found love of mom/relaxed jeans. I almost feel like a mermaid because they aren’t super fitted so my legs swim in them. It’s magic.

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My sweater is from brandy Melville and my jeans are from ZARA.

Hope you all have a happy Monday!

Love

Lea

How to make your summer staples fall ready

Now that it’s officially fall it’s officially time to put away your summer disposition, but that doesn’t mean you have to put away your summer staples away. I have been playing around with a few of my favourite pieces from this past season and have found that they can in fact translate into great autumn pieces. All you need are darker colours, richer fabrics, and layers.

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These white pants were a huge hit for me this past summer and I was a little nervous about wearing them after labour day, but I have never really played by the rules so I wore them anyway. Since they were such a light, airy fabric and colour I felt it would become more autumn by pairing it with leather boots, a darker tee and my go to bomber. With heavier fabrics and textures, and with strategic layers (hello cute coat season) you can make any summer pant, dress, or shorts fall ready.

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Speaking of shorts, I found that I could only really wear them on warmer, sunnier days just because I get cold easily. These pink shorts came in handy this summer and I felt like if I put them with a sultry knit they would easily translate into a fall piece. This v neck sweater is actually super fuzzy and cozy, and since it’s dark it adds such a nice contrast to the lightness of the shorts. Paired with loafers and some hard metal these pink shorts can easily become autumn favourites.

Basically anything you really loved in the summer can still be loved in the fall so long as you add your fall pieces to them to make them heavier. With richer fabrics, warm textures, and layers you can play up the summery lightness of your warmer weather faves while still making them fall appropriate. It’s science.

Let me know how you’re creating longevity for your summer clothes in the comments!

Much love,

Lea

The transitions of life

Transitions are hard and they will always be hard no matter what age or what stage you’re in. Transitions are hard. Recently I have been able to experience the transition from student to graduate and let me tell you it feels so weird. After being in school since I was 4 having the freedom to go any direction is truly overwhelming. But stages and changes aren’t unique to my age, they follow you throughout life. Things are constantly changing and moving nothing really ever settles which is both humbling and exhilarating.

Things change, people change, time changes, but you know what doesn’t have to change? Your outlook on life. I find if you expect nothing, but embrace goodness and happiness you will be better off. If you realize you can’t do everything, but do what you can well and so that you can be proud of it you will be happier and feel fulfilled. And finally if you can understand what you can and cannot change and only focus your energy on what you can change then you will worry less and find peace. These are the lessons my parents taught me and I want to pass them along to all of you. Embrace kindness, but don’t expect it; something worth doing is worth doing well; only spend time on things in your control.

Life is also full of philosophical people like me who love to chat about nothing and everything, but hey who doesn’t?

Love,

Lea

For the love of white shorts

I don’t think that there are shorts that I feel are more vital than white ones. Most people I think would go for denim as their most important shorts, but I truly feel as though white ones are the quintessential shorts to have. They’re light, airy, and bright: pretty much just make you feel fancy. I find that white clothing in general is so nice because it just feels clean. It can be worn with any colour and in any season which makes it the most versatile colour for clothing in anyone’s closet. Also, if you’re wearing white shorts your legs will look more tanned which is so nice considering the summer sun is fading.

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My top is my mom’s and my shorts are from Zara.

So now that you know how I feel, how do you feel about white shorts?

Love,

Lea

School’s Out … Forever?

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks. But actually.

This is my first year not going back to school and it feels so weird. So incredibly weird. A lot of my friends are already back at school or going back soon and I feel mildly left out, but strangely relieved. I have been in school forever and now that I have graduated and have a degree I have nothing but open doors even though it doesn’t feel like that all the time. It’s definitely different because I feel like I have so much freedom and so many possibilities as to what my next step should be, that I almost feel crippled by it. The vastness of the unknown seriously has been harshing on my mellow all summer, and now that it is the fall I have decided to end my break from real life. After graduating in the spring I gave myself the summer to figure out what I wanted to do moving forward, but I think it kind of back fired. All summer I just felt like I was under the weight of uncertainty and this weight scared me and made me question every choice I have made thus far in my life. I think having the time to be with my family and to be with myself was needed because I really learned that I am not one to handle idle time well, but it was also good because I really got to connect with the ones I love the most.

But now it’s back to real life. For some it’s back to school, but for me it’s back to real life and back to figuring out my path. As weird as it is to not be gearing up with textbooks and school supplies, it is also incredibly freeing. After months of feeling heavy I finally feel light and ready for the next phase whatever that may be.

Stay tuned friends, you never know what is lying just around the corner.

Love,

Lea

Just Natural Products

I have been questing for natural, cruelty free products for my hair and skin because it really aligns with my personal beliefs. I really do not like animal testing and I am incredibly saddened by how many products and brands I have used in the past rely on both animal testing and harsh chemicals. So when I found Just Natural Skincare Products online I was smitten with their values, which align with mine, and with their reviews. They so graciously sent me a few different products that I have been using for about three weeks and I have to say I am really impressed.

I tried their adult acne soap, their anti aging lotion, and their dry hair oil treatment.

First of all, I have been experiencing some frustrating pimple flare ups and I have been trying like everything to get rid of them. I have never really had bad skin so when I get pimples, especially those pesky few pimples that like to live permanently on my forehead. Before Natural Skincare Products I was using an acne cleanser that was rich in benzoyl peroxide in it which made my skin really dry and also did not really give me the results I was after. But, Natural Skincare Products acne soap actually worked wonders. It isn’t that drying, which is pretty crazy for a bar of soap, and it really cleared up my skin. It worked way better than anything else I have tried. I use it morning and night, and after I work out and need to clean extra oil and sweat off my face.

Secondly the anti aging skin cream is so moisturizing and not oily at all. I’m not entirely sure if it is getting rid of any fine lines, but I do know that my complexion is really bright since I have started using the moisturizer. I use it all over my face, neck, and hands mostly at night or whenever my face is feeling dry and like it needs a little tlc (I wear a moisturizer with SPF in the morning).

Lastly the dry hair treatment is amazing. I have used Moroccan oils before in my hair so I had an idea as to how to use it. With oils you only need a little bit because too much with make your hair super oily which sort of defeats the point of using it to help dry hair because over washing your hair will make it super dry. Anyway, you only really need a little bit. Natural Skincare Product’s dry treatment oil smells amazing and it really has improved my split ends. I use it generally just at night, 3 or 4 pumps into my hand and work it into the ends of my hair. I also do it before I wash my hair to help add a little moisture before washing. The ends of my hair are a disaster because I use a lot of heat products on it, but the oil has helped to soften, untangle, and repair damage.

All in all, if you’re looking to try some natural products that are made with ingredients that are not harmful to both your body and the environment then give Just Natural Skincare Products a try. Don’t underestimate the power of natural products!

What are some of your favourite natural products?

Love,

Lea

Peplums and Rosegal

Remember how I said there was a top from Rosegal that I got that I absolutely loved? Well here it is! I don’t usually wear peplum tops, but I adore this one. It’s a style I have always wanted to try. Another nice thing about it is that it looked exactly like it’s photo on the Rosegal website.

The top (available here) is really versatile. Peplums can be worn a little dressier, like here with a skirt, or casually with jeans or tight shorts. Also the stripes of this shirt are incredibly fun.

So I learned that I shouldn’t write places off based on one experience alone. Rosegal does have some really cute things, but like all online stores do be cautious and check the sizing guide thoroughly!

Love,

Lea

Ps Check out Rosegal on Instagram and Facebook!