New finds at Zara!

Sorry for being MIA for the past nearly 10 days. After work kind of slowed down, I caught the flu, so I was home sick and tired the entire week of being away from work. Since my brain was kind of fried at the same time, I didn’t know what to blog about so I just didn’t blog. Like I mentioned in my last post, I do have several new and excited things I want to talk to you guys about, but you will just have to wait a few more days to see what they are =)

In the mean time, I went shopping today and found some new things at Zara! Zara is slowly becoming one of my favourite clothing stores now that Esprit is closing their stores in North America. The clothes at Zara are chic, modern but still wearable for every day, whether for work or for fun. The new Zara Spring/Summer collection, which is just arriving in stores, basically screams ME. The main collection is comprised of mostly clean neutrals with a designer flair. I’m seeing a lot of Chanel-inspired pieces which I am loving.

I tried on three items today, the first is a dress that I have had my eyes on since last summer. Zara releases their famous tulip dress in new designs each season, and for spring they’re released a really cute baby pink women-material tulip design. The back is no longer a straight, horizontal neck line, but rather a slight V that goes down to the middle of the back. While I prefer the previous straight design, this one is pretty cute and can be worn both for a dress-up event, or with a blazer for a quick dress-down.

I also tried on two blazers. The first is a white cotton material that is kind of puffy, and the second is in the same material as the pink tulip dress but in a grey-blue colour. I really liked both of them (I LOVE blazers, I always seem to be wearing one in any outfit), but the prices were pretty hefty so I didn’t end up getting either of them.

In the end I only walked away with the pink tulip dress because I tried it on with my BCBG cream blazer and I absolutely loved it. I hope to get the other two blazers if/when they go on sale as well. The quality of these items weren’t fantastic (I prefer BCBG blazers) but the style is nice and something I can see myself wearing often.

New love: T. Babaton Caroline Bow Blouse (+ outfit photos)

I’ve always had a thing for bows, especially bow blouses. Recently I’ve newly discovered my love for silk, which is also around the time I discovered this Caroline blouse from Talula Babaton (Aritzia brand). It is absolutely gorgeous and fits really well, but the price is just out of the world (for me).

Being thrifty, I tried to look for a similar one online, which I was able to do from ASOS. The price was much cheaper, but so was the fit, quality and look. After a month of drooling over the Caroline blouse, I finally made the jump and bought it.

The ASOS blouse is longer and more of a tunic (but I wear it tucked in anyways). It is also a darker cream in colour.

The Caroline blouse is shorter (but can still be tucked in). It is a light cream in colour. (Sorry it is so wrinkly)

Some outfit photos with the Caroline blouse:

With my beloved BCBG Adoree Blazer which makes it perfect for work.

Now to compare the two. The one on the left is the one I got off ASOS, which is made of polyester. The one on the right is the Caroline blouse which is made of 100% silk. You can see the difference in the collar. The ASOS one has a lower collar line and does not have a collar, per se. The Caroline blouse is set higher.

You can also see the difference in the cuff. The ASOS blouse has an elastic cuff, but the Caroline blouse has a button cuff.

FOTD + OOTD Shi Nail Grand Opening Event

I attended the Shi Nail Grand Opening Event on Sunday, July 10, 2011 and this is what I wore! I stayed away from Chanel today as I’m trying to use up more of my makeup collection. I also tried out a new pair of contacts: Freshlook Colourblends in Turquoise. I didn’t know what kind of eye makeup would look with this colour so I use kept it safe with a more neutral look.

On my face, I wore Jill Stuart Pure Lasting Makeup Base and Moist Silk Powder Foundation in 103, which created a light veil, perfect for the Sunday afternoon. My cheeks were coloured with Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 09 Little Bouqet which is a peachy coral colour.

On my eyes, I used UDPP for the base and NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kuala Lumpur. I used the pink gold as an all-over wash of colour and to highlight, and then the boysenberry on my outer V and outer half of my lower lashline. I lined with Dollywink Liquid Liner, curled my lashes with Shu Uemura and coated them with Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara.

On my lips, I left the house using Paul & Joe lipstick in 002 from last summer, but then I went to the Bay to try on Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick in 86 Desinvolte, which is a soft coral peach, from the limited edition Le Blanc collection, so this is what you see in the photos (I didn’t get a chance to take face photos until after I got home).

I am wearing Paul & Joe 002 lipstick in this photo below as it was taken while I was waiting at Richmond Centre (sorry for the bad indoor lighting).

My outfit for the day was simple, and slightly underdressed. I wore a colourful tunic by Morgan de Toi, jeans by True Religion, Zara blazer (not pictured) and Gucci flats (not pictured). Hair was just straightened with Hana’s 1.5 inch flat iron, sent to me by Misikko (which I love… and will review later).

FOTD + OOTD for CityTV x eBeauty.ca event… green all over!

I did a smokey green and gold look to match my green dress and gold accessories for the CityTV x eBeauty.ca event.

On my eyes, I used:

• Estee Lauder Pure Colour Five Colour Eyeshadow in Extravagant Gold (light beige as highlight and gold as base and to pat over the green for extra glow)
• Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Regard Perle (dark green shade as crease colour and layered gold near the lash line to create dimension)
• Coffret D’or Trance Deep Eyes in 03 Khaki-Green Variation (dark green as the “smoke” colour)
• UDPP
• Dollywink Liquid Liner
• Majolica Majorca Mascara Base
• Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara
• MAC #41 Lashes

On my cheeks, I used Jill Stuart Mix Blush compact in 07 Lovely Tulip as blush, and 101 Puffy Marshmallow to highlight.On my lips, I used Chanel Rouge Coco in 13 Gardenia.

My eyebrows were shaded in with MAC’s eyebrow pencil in Taupe. Nails were done using Dior Vernis in Timeless Gold. Base makeup was all Chanel: Vitalumiere Aqua in B20 and Poudre Universelle Libre in 20.

Here are some photos of eye look (no blush/lip colour yet). I love the shape of my eyebrows in these photos, which is why I’m showing you, haha =P

And my finished look with my straight bangs/fringe down.

My outfit for the night was a green dress with paisley print by Anna Sui. My belt was especially purchased for the occasion, a gift from one of my good friends Stephanie, from BCBG. My shoes (not shown) were from Dior.

FOTD & OOTD for afternoon tea with Jill Stuart & BCBG

Went downtown last Wednesday for afternoon tea with my girls Kerri and Yvonne. Coincidentally it was the day of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals so we wanted to get in and out of downtown as soon as possible, just in case. I tried to do a look with the Canucks colours but the blue turned out to be too dark and the green too light, so that didn’t really work out. But the end result was still nice so I stayed with it and went out anyways. Sorry the hair is a mess; I was in a hurry so I didn’t even bother doing anything with it. Turned out to be a good decision because it was windy outside and my hair ended up blowing everywhere anyways.

I wore Guerlain Parure Extreme in 02 on my face, Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes in 02 Crystal Jade (the white, green and dark blue) on my eyes and Paul & Joe lipstick in 02 on my lips. I used a pink blush from a Japanese drugstore brand that I don’t know the name of, and mascara was Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara with Majolica Majorca’s mascara base. Dollywink Liquid was my choice of liner, as usual.

For my choice of clothing, we were going to the Fairmont so I wanted to look presentable, but still versatile. I wore gold gladiator sandals with grey True Religion jeans, a black lace tank and my newly acquired white BCBG ruffle blazer.

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