The Problem With Wool

So I've had a black wool winter coat (seen here) for a few years now and although it's nice and all, I don't like that it attracts hair of all kinds - my hair, my cat's hair, my friend's hair if they hug me while I'm wearing it, etc. - you get my drift. I got tired of constantly using a lint brush on it and the buttons were starting to fall off so I decided it was time for a new one ; ). I had had my eye on this fitted down Mackage jacket for a very long time, I like that it's dressier but could be worn casually as well. And it's NOT WOOL! And it's WARM! And it has a HOOD! Triple score! So I bit the bullet and ordered it and I'm happy I did. Mackage is a Canadian brand and they just get us Canadians. We want to look STYLISH while we're freezing our arse's off and the designers at Mackage definitely understand this ; )

The Blanket Scarf

I had been searching for the perfect blanket scarf when I came across this plaid one from Simons (now on sale!) a couple of weeks ago. I paired it with a cream colored ballet boatneck sweater from LOFT, a store I have come to love.  They have an amazing selection of knits by the way, if you're looking for some, and they have sales going on all the time so it's no wonder I stop there whenever I visit West Edmonton Mall. Because WHO CAN RESIST A SALE?! Not this gal.

Happy Almost-Weekend!

scarf - Simons, sweater - LOFT, jeans - Joe Fresh, boots - Franco Sarto, 

bag- Christopher Kon, watch - Michael Kors via Shopbop

Stylist's Tip: Blanket scarves can be worn many different ways. I like to wear mine as a shawl or tied up into a scarf but the possibilities are endless ; ).

Boxy

  

I wore this outfit to go shopping with one of my personal styling clients yesterday. We had a lot of fun and added a bunch of beautiful blouses, sweaters, cardigans and blazers to her closet. I absolutely love being a personal shopper : ) My business has really picked up in the last few months and I'm so, so grateful because I truly enjoy helping people build their wardrobe and find a unique style that suits them! It's seriously the best job ever ; )

coat - Maison Scotch via Shopbop, sweater - LOFT, jeans - Hudson, boots - Madden Girl,  

purse - Rebecca Minkoff via Shopbop, scarf - Chandi via Bamboo Ballroom, belt - Express

Stylist's Tip: Pair a boxy jacket with a fitted bottom (in this case I wore skinny jeans) since the box shape adds a bit of bulk to your upper half. You want to balance out your body and your look.

Save Your Skin This Winter!

I'm not sure where you live but where I'm from: Winter = dry, flaky skin. (I blame it on the harsh -35 degree weather I frequently experience throughout the season!) To help win the battle for healthy skin, above are the products I've tried and tested and will not and cannot go without this winter and below are the reasons why ; )

1. For the lips - LUSH'S Bubblegum Lip Scrub. The ultimate lip exfoliator! Click here to read my review and see a before and after photo.

2. Also for the lips - good old, plain Vaseline. The best lip balm there is. And highly moisturizing.

3. For the face, body and hair - Coconut oil. I've talked about it on my blog numerous times, coconut oil is just that good! It's greasy and oily (obviously) but it's a wonderful, natural moisturizer. Slather it on your body, your face, or use it as a hair mask once a week for deep hydration. You can purchase it at any grocery store.

4. For the hands - DECIEM's Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex . What I love about this product is that it targets 8 signs of hand aging and improves firmness, elasticity, density, evenness, brightness, texture, smoothness and hydration while moisturizing at the same time. Extremely light-weight with a pleasant smell, you can buy this cream at Shoppers Drug Mart. (Your dehydrated hands will thank you!)

5. For the body -  Kiehl's Creme de Corps. It's an all-over moisturizer, smooth like butter, it's easy to apply and absorbs quickly. It comes in different sizes, I usually get the big pump bottle. For a cheaper, drug store body lotion, I like Jergens Original Beauty Lotion in the cherry almond scent. It smells so good and costs around $11.00. It's one of my all-time favorite lotions!

Take that, winter!!

Love Winter

It happened. We got our first dump of snow over the weekend and there was no easing into the cold weather, it was nice one day and then - BAM! - it was -15 degrees and I had to get out the winter wear while bawling uncontrollably, picturing how unbearably cold the next six months were going to be. Just kidding, I wasn't bawling I was only crying softly to myself ; ). I kid, I kid! Actually I have to say it was a little easier to accept fall was over once I put on my Love Winter Valenki boots which are so warm and cozy, not to mention stylish! Valenki boots are a new Canadian twist on a traditional 300-year-old Russian footwear design. And get this - they convert into comfortable wool felt boots just by slipping off the rubber galoshes so you can wear them outdoors AND indoors! How cool is that?! They actually make me excited for the cold weather. For real.

Wearing: jacket - Zara (last season), sweater - c/o LOFT,  jeans - JOE's, 

boots - c/o Love Winter, hat - LOST, scarf - Simons, socks - American Apparel

Stylist's Tip: Wear knee-high socks over your pants and under your boots for a stylish twist on a winter outfit!

My Favorite Winter Trend

After a little break from the blog over the holidays which mostly consisted of spending quality time with family and friends, watching episode after episode of 'The Good Wife' on Netflix (it's so good!!) and making more wedding plans, I am back and ready for 2014! I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year except to keep working on the ones I made last year (eat healthier, de-clutter my life, be a better person, increase my styling business, etc.) I'm a work in progress! What about you? Did you write down any goals for 2014? 

So it was soooo cold out yesterday (almost -40 with the windchill) I had to have these outfit photos taken inside. (Thank you Susanna!) I met up with a few other lovely local bloggers where we were photographed for the Edmonton Journal. We were all interviewed about our favorite winter trend. (Mine: faux fur, all the way.) The article will be out either this Friday or the next!

faux fur coat - H & M (old), top - KUT, pants - J Brand, boots - Spring (old), 

purse - Rebecca Minkoff, ring - Material Girl (The Bay), hat - LOST

Bloggers! L to R: Andrea, Susanna, me and Dana

SJP's Winter Style

Right now it's -22 degrees C outside where I live, but it feels like -30 with the wind chill so I think it's very fitting to post some winter fashion style inspiration, a la Sarah Jessica Parker on this chilly Thursday. Whether she's walking her adorable kids to school, picking up a latte at her local coffee shop or going for a stroll on the streets of New York, SJP always does it stylishly on cold days, without risking pneumonia. That's the hard part, I think, when you live in a freezing climate: how to look cute instead of getting mistakenly identified as The Abominable Snowman while protecting yourself from frost bite. I think I may have come up with a few solutions....Stay tuned!

Winter

images via Little Plastic Horses, The Zhush, Cotton Candy, we heart it, Boho Vanity, fashion over reason, tumblr

Happy Wednesday! I just wanted to share some cozy winter images with you that I've been crushing on lately. I've been wearing a ton of knits lately paired with warm coats, thick scarves and toque's or beanies so I don't freeze my patooties off! What is your winter like? I live in a very cold climate and the winter season can last anywhere from 6 to 8 months, even sometimes getting a snowfall in June! I'm not kidding! The days are really short, meaning I go to work in the dark and head home when the sun is about to set, hardly getting any time outside in between unless it's the weekend. (Hence the lack of outfit post on this blog lately!) It's kind of depressing and I feel my mood is definitely affected during the long winter months, even though I exercise, get enough sleep and eat fairly well. So I bought myself a Happy Light to help with the winter blues, or S.A.D. which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's a lamp that gives off full spectrum light the body needs and activates the body's natural mood enhancers. It should be arriving on my doorstep any day now! I can't wait to try it!