9 to 5, Fashion

Sophie Grace Workwear

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I’m back! It’s certainly been a while since my last blog post here but I have been very active on Instagram.

As most of you know I recently started a job as a full-time college professor and the Fall semester has been very busy! Now that we are back on campus I often struggle with what to wear to work in the mornings. Although I am a fashion blogger the struggle is still very real!

I was so excited when I came across a brand called Sophie Grace on Instagram. This Canadian, Vancouver based brand offers sustainable high quality workwear for women. Sophie Grace specializes in workwear that can be incorporated into your existing wardrobe. All their pieces are so easy to mix and match and are created with sustainability in mind. It’s a great Canadian option for ladies who want to curate a capsule workwear wardrobe.

My personal favourite out of all their pieces is the Ashley dress. It’s so versatile and can be dressed up for work or dressed down for the weekend. The Ashley comes in 4 colours,  black, ivory, navy and the latest colour – Bordeaux. I love the fit of this dress, it’s so comfortable and looks so chic! The dress also comes in a short sleeved option.

I also tried out the Kamala silk blouse. A silk blouse is a must-have in any work wardrobe and once again you can go casual or formal with this piece as well. The Kamala blouse comes in black, ivory, silver and desert ( I would say this is more of a gold).

What I like most about Sophie Grace is that it’s a Canadian brand created by  lawyer turned entrepreneur, Emma May. As a working woman herself Emma understood the struggle we go through with finding workwear that is elegant and versatile. I’m so happy she created a brand that produces clothing that is not only functional but stylish as well!

Check out this Canadian brand and let me know which pieces are your favourite!

Fashion

My Revolve Favourites

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I’m back with another fashion post and this time I’m sharing some of my favourite finds from online retailer Revolve.

I heard about Revolve a few years ago when I first started blogging ( I recently celebrated my 5th bloggiversay) and was always curious about their clothing. I recently picked out some items and here’s what I’ve been loving.

X Revolve Ava Dress

Got a wedding to attend? This dress is perfect as a wedding guest look. I love the off the shoulder design and cut. It also comes in Pink but I think the blue can be worn through the fall as well. Note – this dress does fit small so I had to size up to a size S from an XS.

Jillian Asymmetrical Midi Dress

Are you a bride to be this Fall? This dress is perfect for a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower. I love the asymmetrical neckline and fit. It’s by the brand Superdown which also tends to run a bit small so it’s definitely a good idea to size up with this one.

Natalie Belted Dress

This is the dress I’m wearing in the photos. I love this one, it’s very Chanel inspired and effortlessly chic! It comes in three colours, black, pink and ivory. I chose the ivory for a timeless chic look. This one fits more TTS but I still opted to size up to a small.

Trish Knot Sweater 

I posted this sweater on my stories and I got so many questions about it so here it is. This is THE sweater for fall 2022! The white and beige combo is so chic and elegant. It also comes in a pink and hot-pink combo but I definitely like this one better. The knotted detail is so cute and the colours are so classy.

Dina Mini Dress

Get a head start on your party outfits this holiday season with the Dina mini! I love the light blue and gold sequins on this one. The stars make this appropriate for Christmas and the holiday season. I would definitely wear this to a New Year’s Eve Party

Faye Midi Dress

Looking for a dress that’s perfect for Christmas and Valentine’s Day then the Faye Midi is your best bet. I love the off the shoulder open neckline and ruching. This dress is very flattering but runs extremely small. I ordered a size small but I should have gone up two sizes to a medium. There is some stretch to it but it is very figure hugging so I’d recommend sizing up to be comfortable.

Shop All My Favourites

Fashion

Queen’s Plate ready with Queen Bee Millinery

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I’m back with a new blog post and this sure is an exciting one! If you’ve been following me over the years you know that I love hats and fascinators and will find any excuse to wear them. After the closure of my go-to shop for hats I was on the lookout for a store that featured classic feminine headpieces. When I came across Queen Bee Millinery in Perth,ON I was beyond excited.

Queen Bee Millinery

I first heard about Queen Bee when my parents took a day trip to Perth and sent me a photo of the shop. I quickly found the store’s instagram account and sent a message inquiring about their pieces and hours of operation. That’s how I connected with Ranelle Larocque the owner and designer behind Queen Bee Millinery.  I shared my upcoming collaboration with Woodbine Entertainment to create content for the Queen’s Plate and my ideas about a hat for this very special event.

I visited Perth and stopped by the store; it was an absolute pleasure meeting Ranelle, and the rest as they say is fashion history! We became fast friends over our shared love of feminine fashion, classic style, and of course hats! Ranelle was gracious enough to design a bespoke hat for me to wear to the Queen’s Plate.

The Process

I stopped by the store with my outfit ideas and brought a long a few dresses to show. Ranelle had the cutest tea party set up for us! We decided on a strapless floral print midi dress that I had recently received from Shein. I loved the floral print and cut of the dress and I knew I was looking for a hat to incorporate the floral elements.

After trying on a few in-house pieces for size and taste we decided on a saucer shape. Making the hat took about 2 weeks and I received photos of the process as well. It was really special to see my hat coming together piece by piece.

Ranelle made some great recommendations about adding a hint of pink to my hat as well as some silk flowers and a green sinamay bow to incorporate more colour and movement. We wanted to add some extra elements for a bit of flair and debated between a quill and some feathers, the feathers won out in the end!

A few weeks before the big day I went in for a fitting to make sure everything was just perfect, and it truly was!

The Main Event: The Queen’s Plate

I was thrilled to attend the Queen’s Plate let alone have a custom designed hat for it. The whole outfit came together so well, thanks to Ranelle’s recommendations and talent. I got so many compliments and many ladies approached me to ask where I found my hat. I was beyond proud to say, ” it’s a custom piece by Queen Bee Millinery in Perth, Ontario”.

The Queen’s Plate was an incredibly meaningful collaboration for me in so many ways. As most of you know I was born in Sri Lanka, which was a British colony named Ceylon at one time. My great-grandmother loved the races when they took place at the race course in Colombo. I am told she used to travel to Colombo with her circle of society ladies in their bespoke outfits to watch the races. It was such a honour to be able to carry-on a little bit of  that legacy here in Canada.

Worth the drive

If you’re in the Ottawa area I would definitely recommend taking a drive to Perth and stoping by Queen Bee Millinery to say hello to Ranelle. She does a wonderful job listening to your vision and bringing it to life. If you’re not in the area she also ships worldwide and you can certainly contact her via email (ranelle@queenbeemillinery.ca) and zoom to set up a consultation.

I really enjoyed my time in Perth and can’t wait to visit again. There are so many wonderful businesses and hidden treasures just like Queen Bee Millinery.

Be sure to check out my Instagram for some behind the scenes footage at the Queen’s Plate.

Fashion

My Favourite Vacay Looks 2022

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It’s that time of year again! Summer = vacation time! I haven’t done a fashion blog post in a while so I thought I’d share some of my favourite vacay outfits for 2022!

Tropical print dress

If it were up to me I’d wear tropical prints all year round! Those you know me in person know that I love palm print… well everything. That’s why I love this cotton black and white palm print midi dress. It’s cotton and comfortable for the warmer summer months, it also works well if you’re heading down south for the winter. The midi length makes this dress a bit more classy and formal and I love the bardot neckline.

I picked this dress up a few years ago but I have linked some similar tropical styles below.

High waisted cream pants + Top

Believe it or not neutrals are in for summer. Although I generally love colour I wanted to incorporate some neutrals in to my vacation wardrobe and these high waisted pants in a cream colour were just perfect. I’ve linked them and many other options below.

I paired it with a one shoulder floral top and flower earrings for some flair. For a more vacay style look I accessorized with a bamboo bag. This look can be dressed up or down depending on the accessories and footwear you choose.

Ruffle Skirt + Tank

I love a good ruffle skirt for summer. Whether it’s a mini or a midi ruffle skirts are so cute and feminine for summer. I’ve had this one for a number of years and wear it every year without fail. It’s one of my vacay staples. It’s great with a tank top or white t-shirt for sight seeing or strolling around local markets at your destination.

Once again you can dress this up or down depending on what shoes and jewelry you choose. I have worn this skirt with both flats and heels.

Floral Romper

Rompers are a great piece to pack in your luggage for a vacation! They’re a cute alternative to shorts and can be dressed up or down. This year I’m loving this floral one shoulder romper from Dynamite. I ordered it online and I am so happy with it. I chose the all over floral print option but it does come in a solid green colour as well.

The one shoulder detail and flowy fabric give this more of a formal look which I really liked. You could wear this on a night out on the town or to dinner while on vacation.

Fancy gown or dress

What’s a vacation without a fancy dinner? Do we really need an occasion to get all dolled up when on vacation? I think not. I always pack some of flowy gown or fancy dress for any vacation. You never know when an exciting invitation may come your way.

I absolutely adore this strapless geo print teal gown that I ordered on Shein. I bought it especially for my trip to Mexico with Sunwing airlines. It reminded me of the ocean and matched perfectly with our swim out pool.

Another dress I adore is this cute flared skirt embroidered detail dress I ordered online from Le Chateau. I wore this to the ballet on my recent trip to Toronto. I thought the ballet would be a great reason to get all dolled up.

I’ve linked similar styles for both below.

 

What are some of your vacation must haves?

 

Fashion

Canadian Brands to Support This Christmas

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It’s been a while since my last post but I’ve been very active on Instagram! Can you believe it’s already the middle of December? Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I have lots of fun holiday content coming up for you. I always make it a point to support local and shop Canadian when I’m doing my Christmas shopping so I thought I’d share a few of my favourite Canadian brands to support this Christmas.

Suzy Shier

I’ve been a loyal Suzy Shier customer for years, long before I ever even thought about starting a fashion blog. I love their stylish workwear, casual wear and party dresses. This longstanding Canadian retailer never disappoints when it comes to affordable and fashionable clothing for women. I have so many Suzy Shier pieces in my wardrobe! They also have a great loyalty program called the Prestige Card. It costs $25 to purchase on an annual basis and saves you 10% on any purchase, regardless of sale price. Not a prestige member? No problem! Whether you’re a loyalty member or not you can save 10% off you any regular priced items with my discount code 10WKENDFASHION

Toboggan Canada

If you live in Canada, you’re no stranger to the fact that a Winter jacket is an essential item! Toboggan Canada offers an expansive range of Fall and Winter jackets for men and women. The Eva B Long II Parka is my go-to jacket for Winter. It keeps me warm and fashionable! I get so many compliments and questions every time I wear it.  If long jackets aren’t your style you can also check out their collection of puffers and cropped jackets. The Chloe jacket is a great alternative for a more sporty look. Don’t forget to check out their vast collection of men’s jackets as well. See something you like one? I’ve got you covered, use the code: Weekend20 to save 20% off your purchase!

Rebecca Rowe

If you’ve been following my blogging journey you know that I recently collaborated with Ottawa based designer Rebecca Rowe on a capsule collection. It has been wonderful working with Rebecca and in addition to our capsule she offers a wide range of stylish and comfortable activewear items. Click SHOP to check out all her collections.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my recommendations for Canadian brands to check out this holiday season! Stay tuned for more exciting Christmas content. Happy Shopping!

Fashion

Capsule Collection with Rebecca Rowe

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I have some very exciting news to share! I’m launching a workwear capsule collection!! I’m so excited to be able to finally share this news with all of you. I’ve collaborated with Ottawa based designer Rebecca Rowe (known for her capsule collections) to create a collection of feminine women’s workwear.

Rebecca and I have been working on this collection for over a year and dealt with many challenges along the way but we are so happy to finally launch our project.

Background

I first met Rebecca in March of 2020 when I was invited to attend her popup shop at Bayshore Shopping Centre. I had been following Rebecca on Instagram for a while and I was familiar with her work. What really caught my attention was how her clothing was tailored to fit many different body types and could be customized to suit your personal style.

A few months past and I approached to ask if she’d be interested in collaborating on a capsule collection. I wanted to focus on workwear as I had always struggled to find professional clothing that was also feminine and fit well. After a few discussions about style and fashion icons The Weekend Fashionista collection was born.

This collection is inspired by one of my favourite classic fashionistas Audrey Hepburn.

Here’s a look at our pieces:

Tiffany Dress

Do you believe in overdressing? Audrey Hepburn sure did. This boat neck black and white dress is perfect for the boardroom or after work cocktails. Inspired by Audrey’s Hubert De Givenchy gown from Breakfast at Tiffany’s this LBD is fitted yet comfortable and effortlessly chic.

Ann Blouse

Finally a crop top you can wear to work! This cropped printed blouse was inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe in Roman Holiday. Easy to wear and pair with the Gabrielle skirt or Anya trousers this versatile piece is a great addition to your workwear wardrobe! Pair it with high waisted jeans for a causal chic weekend look too.

Anya Trouser

High waisted but also high fashion! These trousers mean business (or pleasure). Inspired by Audrey’s style in Roman Holiday when she goes incognito as Anya and famously dons more casual attire to hide the fact that she’s royalty. These trousers are perfect for a chic yet playful workwear look. Pair it with the Ann cropped blouse or your top of choice.

Gabrielle Skirt

What workwear wardrobe is complete without a quintessential pencil skirt. You’ll be skirting around town in style in this fitted skirt with front ruching inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s character Gabrielle Simpson in Paris When It Sizzles.  It can be paired with the Ann cropped blouse or your a top from your existing wardrobe.

You can shop the collection here: The Weekend Fashionista Capsule

Although this collection is inspired by Audrey Hepburn we understand that not everyone has the same body type. All pieces in the collection can be customized to fit and flatter you! Rebecca also has some tips on what to do if you love someone’s style but have a different body type:

Fashion

What I Wore in California

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It’s been a while since I did a fashion post and I’m super excited to share my outfits from our recent trip to California! It was so great to finally get to travel, albeit just across the border to the USA. As Sashien and are both fully vaccinated we were able to fly to the US and back without any difficulty (I’ll pop up an Instagram story for any of your travel related questions).

As with any trip we always like to plan our itinerary beforehand and have everything organized, which means all the flights, activities and restaurant reservations are booked well in advance. This also helps with packing and outfit planning. We had a flight every other day so I needed to be organized and know what I wanted to wear to each outing.

Here’s what I wore in California:

Leopard Print Top & High Waisted Pants

I wore this look to what I thought would be brunch at the London West Hollywood. Instead Sashien had planned a surprise for me and took me to the rooftop at the Peninsula Hotel. This wasn’t my original outfit choice (I had planned to wear a pistachio green slip dress) but Sashien insisted I should dress up a bit more, and boy am I glad I did.

My top is from Shein and I love the print and cut away neckline. This top is so light and airy as well. I paired it with the Heidi wide leg pant from Dynamite. These pants come in many different colours and the high waisted look went well with the top. You can also wear this top with shorts or a skirt. To finish off this look I added a hat that I also picked up from Dynamite, because you just can’t go to Beverly Hills and not wear a hat. If you’re looking for a place where it’s okay to be extra then BH is it! To tone down the look and blend in the colours I wore nude sandals.

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Ruffle Detail Halter Dress

This dress was such a great find to wear during a hot summer in California. It’s also from Shein and it’s so comfortable and chic! I love that this is a one-piece outfit. This dress traveled well and needed minimal ironing which was great. I added a pair of snake print Tory Burch flip flops to give some contrast to the dress. For some extra flair I accessorized with some long earrings. This photo was taken at the historic Hotel De Anza in San Jose. We had no idea this hotel had such a rich and storied history when we booked it online but we loved the art deco elements mixed in with modern touches at this hotel.

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One Shoulder Ruched Dress

I wanted something a little more fun and out there for dinner in San Jose so I wore this hot pink one shoulder dress. It also traveled so well, I didn’t need to iron it at all! The ruching was really flattering and forgiving ( we had been eating out for the last few days so I was a little worse for ware). I felt like a Barbie doll in this dress and I just love the colour! I went for a more simple look with this and added some sparkle with a gold metallic purse.

We went to dinner at Pedro’s in San Jose as we wanted to try some tex mex food and this restaurant didn’t disappoint. First of all, how gorgeous is the outside! It’s built to resemble a classic Spanish villa and the inside of the restaurant is just as nostalgic. The food was great and we really enjoyed the cocktails too. This restaurant was huge and we felt really safe inside with plenty of social distancing.

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Floral Print Cami Dress

Our travels from took us from San Jose to San Francisco, and since we had both been there before we decided to spend a day in Palo Alto. For our day out in Palo Alto I wanted a dress that could go from day to night without being overly dark in colour. This floral print cami dress was an easy choice. It worked perfectly for shopping and walking around during the day and transitioned well for dinner at Nobu Palo Alto in the evening. This dress was also travel friendly although the material was a little bit warmer than some of my other choices. Since the weather in Palo Alto wasn’t overly hot I was comfortable in this dress. I wanted a very easy carefree look so I paired this dress with nude sandals and a straw bag with pompom details.

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I hope you enjoyed my California vacation looks! Don’t forget to look out for my story sticker where you can send me all your travel questions!

Fashion

Embrace Winter with Toboggan Canada

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Can you believe we are already two weeks in to 2021! It’s been a while since my last post and this is my first blog post in the New Year! It’s January, and if you live in Ontario that means we are smack dab in the middle of winter!  At the moment we are once again in a lockdown and many indoor businesses such as restaurants, malls and gyms are closed, the only way to stay active is to go outside. I’ve been making it a point to exercise and stay active this Winter and was looking for a warm parka that was also long enough.

I generally wear a lot of skirts and dresses, even in the winter so I needed a jacket that was both functional, warm, long and stylish. I was so thrilled when I came across the Eva B Long II Parka from Toboggan Canada.

Toboggan Canada

Toboggan Canada is a winter apparel brand founded in 1977 by two brothers. The brand focuses on functionality, protection from extreme cold temperatures and style. Toboggan jackets are filled with responsibly sourced down from their exclusive down partner. Their responsible sourcing and proprietary cleaning processes allow them to offer customers comfort and peace of mind in knowing their product is filled with the best insulation on and for the planet.

Eva B Long II Parka

The Eva B Long II Parka is a knee length jacket that comes with a second vest-like enclosure for extra protection from the cold. I especially like the diagonal zipper which gives this piece more style and flare. The faux-fur sweetheart neckline gives the parka that added touch of elegance. Unlike most parkas this jacket is form fitting and includes a belt for a more figure flattering, stylish look. The faux-fur trim is also an excellent barrier against the cold and the wind. Another feature I like about this jacket is the polar fleece lined pockets and magnetic closure on the pockets, no more struggling with buttons or zippers!

Toboggan Canada offers a wide range of stylish and functional jackets to choose from, there’s something for everyone in their collections. I highly recommend checking out this Canadian brand. After all who understands winter better than a fellow Canadian?

Fashion, Holiday Style

Holiday Style with Shein

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Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? It’s been a while since my last blogpost but I’ve been very active on Instagram. Christmas is my favourite time of the year so I’m really excited to share some his and hers holiday style looks from Shein.

Look 1 – Festive Casual

Our first look is a casual yet festive look. I love this plaid print dress. It’s very stretchy so it fits quite snug and is very figure flattering. It also comes in two other colours. This dress is perfect for looking festive without being over the top. I styled it by adding a pair of over the knee boots and tights.

Sashien found a great layering piece in this grey turtleneck. This garment is form fitting, Sash usually wears a M in Shein sizing and this one was very fitted. I would recommend sizing up if you plan on wearing this piece as a stand alone top. For this look he paired it with a double breasted red blazer, pocket square and black coated jeans.

We wanted a really festive feel to this photoshoot so we decided to photograph these looks at Tinseltown Christmas Emporium. It’s a must visit location in Ottawa, especially during the holiday season.

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Look 2 – Christmas Glam

This second look is all about glamour and bling. Just because you’re staying in or socially distancing doesn’t mean you can’t dress up right?! I absolutely love this gown with sequin details. The sweetheart neckline is really flattering and the longer train at the back and fitted cut make this dress a real stunner. This is probably one of the most exquisite dresses I own.

We wanted to find a complementary piece for Sashien so we were thrilled to come across this embroidered high neck blazer. The open neckline gives this piece more of an eastern fashion feel to it. The embroidery on it matched well with the design on my dress and really added character to the piece. Sashien paired it with a black turtleneck but you can also wear this blazer with a black or white dress shirt.

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Look 3 – Christmas Colours

Our last look is perfect for a Christmas photoshoot! When I saw this red bow detail dress online I knew I had to have it! It also comes in black, navy, and white. Side note I also have it in black! The red is just perfect for the holidays and the bow at the back makes this dress truly unique, it kind of looks like a present 🙂  I love the halter neckline and pencil cut of the dress.

Sashien’s shawl collar blazer is a great contrast with my red dress. We didn’t want to be too festive for this look but the combination worked really well. The blazer has a jacquard design on it which makes it a really interesting piece. Sash paired this with a black turtleneck and coated jeans for a semi-formal look.

This look would be best suited for an in studio shoot, perhaps one with a Christmas backdrop!

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I hope you enjoyed our his and her holiday style looks. Shein is currently having their Black Friday Sale! Use our code Sh92L and save 15% on your purchase til December 6th.

Thank you to our photographer Ricardo Boreka for these lovely photos!

A special thanks to Shein for sponsoring this post.

Fashion

My Favourite Neutrals for Fall

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It’s Fall y’all! I feel like I haven’t done a fashion or styling post in a while so here it is! Fall is here in full force and I couldn’t be happier to show off my Fall fashion.

This year I’ve noticed a shift away from the usual burgundies, greens and jewel tones we usually see in Fall fashion. An affinity for neutrals has definitely developed. I personally love neutrals as they’re so versatile and can be worn in any season. In this post I’ll be sharing some of my favourite neutral pieces for Fall.

Colour Block Coat

I picked up this colour block coat from Shein and it’s a great addition to my Fall wardrobe. I love the camel, black and white colours in this piece. It’s a great coat to wear with blue or black jeans. To put this neutral look together I paired it with a neutral taupe turtleneck from Dynamite along with some black jeans. To accessorize and elevate my outfit to a more polished look I added a belt from Gucci, some block heels (you can also wear booties with this) and one of my Tory Burch handbags

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Camel Sweater with White Jeans

Camel is a colour I’ve recently come to love. I wasn’t a fan of it before but I have converted! I love this oversized camel turtleneck, it’s cozy and chic. I always love wearing white so I paired it with some white jeans. This is one of my favourite neutral looks. It’s dressed down yet classy. In keeping with the camel look I added some matching booties and accessorized with an off-white Tory Burch handbag. The booties and bag really help tie this look together. This is a perfect outfit for running some weekend errands or grabbing a quick coffee with a friend.

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Faux Leather Crocodile Skirt

Faux leather is back again this Fall and although this may seem more of an edgier trend you can sport it in neutral colours. I found this midi skirt online at Chicwish. I’m not normally a fan of faux leather or crocodile print but I did like the colour and shape of this skirt. The crocodile detailing is subtle and the taupe colour really helps  soften the look of the faux leather. I styled this skirt by pairing it with an off-white turtleneck and some brown pumps. I added an off-white handbag. I wore this look to work as the skirt definitely lends itself to workwear.

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Dusty Pink Coat

Pink isn’t typically a colour we see in Fall coats but this one sure makes an impression. If you haven’t guessed already, pink IS my favourite colour. I love the gold button details on this coat and the removable faux fur collar. Throwing this on top of any outfit would definitely elevate your look. This would also work as a Spring coat.

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What colours do you prefer wearing in the Fall?

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