Outfit Post: Yellow Blazer and Black Harem Pants

So here we are, back to the grind! If you asked me a year ago, I probably would not be too happy about the end of a long weekend - and although I  loved spending precious quality time with my close friends and family this Thanksgiving weekend- I'm actually completely ok with going back to work at the magazine (SHE Canada Magazine). I feel truly grateful and blessed to be able to say that now, and that journey was not an easy one to get to but ya I love my job! :) I would love to hear what you guys are doing and how you feel about your job/career?

I thought it would make sense to post a work-appropriate outfit (maybe the harem pants wouldn't work for some offices, you can always replace with classic black trousers). There is nothing like feeling put together to add that little motivation to kick-start your work week on the right foot. I think it makes a difference if you wear something you feel good in, its a nice confidence boost (and I know I can always use some of that, mostly because I'm super humble). And also we can't underestimate the power of image in the work/corporate world today, with the growth of personal branding and social media - the importance of image is unavoidable (unless you're Zuckerberg, or Gates but then you're probably busy inventing a life changing device and not reading my fashion blog). 

Anyways, this yellow blazer I've worn before (see pics here) and really has been a great purchase from H&M. I've been wearing it to work, to nights out, to dinner etc which I think is the sign of a smart purchase, I'll do a CPW (cost per wear) analysis in the near future; the way I gauge it is if the cost per wear reaches about $2, I think you've got your money's worth!

Action shot! This was very difficult and this is the best you're gonna get

The crap I had to touch on those grimey walls for this pic :S

Hope you're Tuesday isn't too bad, and if it is, its a short week! Yay! 

Photo credits: Priya Crasto  (crasto.priya@gmail.com) 

PS: I resisted the inevitable urge to call this post Black & Yellow, Black & Yellow, Black & Yellow.....u get it.
 

Thirfty to Trendy: On the GO!

From now on I will be regularly doing posts titled "Thrifty to Trendy" which basically means I'm wearing an outift where I've taken a thrifted item and rendered it "trendy" by mixing it with newer items. When I thrift, my goal is not to make it obvious that I'm wearing a thrifted piece (unlike some hipsters who basically will pick the most ragged looking piece of clothing and try to make it "homeless chic") Not my thing. So I hope to show you how you can take a piece of clothing from Value Village or Goodwill and make it look new and expensive! Doesn't mean you have to hide the fact that you thrift, (God knows I shout it from the roof tops) but you don't really want it to be an immediately discernible aspect of your outfit. Now, if it looks vintage, that's another story, whats the difference you ask? We'll save that for another blog post....

Here is my first outfit that I took from "Thrifty to Trendy"! Classic, simple and easy - some of my favourite style values :)

Me on the go! Just before leaving for work

Outfit breakdown;
Tuxedo Blazer - Value Village $12.99
Shirt - from my DIY project 
Jeans - Gap Skinnies ($80ish0
Shoes - Aldo loafers ($29 on sale)
Bag, pleather tote -  FCUK (I believe I got this for $30 on sale)

And there you go! Stay tuned for many more....and please tell me if I start regressing into "homeless chic" - these hipsters start rubbing off on you without you even realising..its quite cultish.