Now that my hair is short, I find that styling it stick straight is a bit too soccer mom/Stepford Wife for my tastes. But covered with a turban, I think it looks fun and it’s an easy way to cover up a bad hair day. I just run the straightener through my hair quickly, pop on the turban, and I’m good to go.

Rather than completely straightening it, turning the styler over and under as I run it through my hair creates a fun, wavy look that’s still a bit polished (I was inspired by watching this video). For a messier look, I scrunch curling mousse through my hair while it’s wet and just straighten my fringe.

This look is admittedly a lot more time-consuming to execute than the other two, but I’ve been wanting to add a few more vintage styles to my repertoire and pin curls ended up being a relatively simple place to start. You just use the styler to curl a piece of hair, roll it, and then pin in place, repeating for the rest of your head (see top photo). I followed along with Kandy K’s video and was able to get a result I loved from the very first try.

Here are few tips for achieving this look:

 Once you’ve curled your hair with the styler, immediately roll it and pin in place before it cools down.
 Don’t worry if your pin curls aren’t perfect while they’re setting, you can still get the end result you’re   looking for.
Once all of your curls are pinned, allow them to fully cool and then spray them liberally with a flexible hair spray.
Leave curls to set for at least 30 minutes before removing the pins. Gently comb your fingers through the curls to separate them and then shape them as you’d like.

I love this styler because it heats up really quickly and makes a little “ping!” sound to let you know when it has. It leaves my hair looking shiny and creates a variety of looks I love that stay in place all day. Plus it has an automatic power off setting that kicks in when left on for more than 30 minutes, which I find extremely helpful as I’m constantly worried that I’ve left appliances on.

I’m really looking forward to learn new ways to style my bob. Do you have any tips?

xoxo,

My mom is such a megababe.

And in my adult years, she has really blossomed sartorially. That’s not to say she didn’t have her own sense of style, but she now has a wardrobe of  and a shoe collection that more than rivals my own. Her style is a mix of nautical prep, boho, & rock n roll chic. As you can probably imagine she’s a master of layering styles and creating really unique looks.

Having more time to find herself now that she doesn’t have two grubby children pawing at her, demanding to be fed, picked up, and entertained has probably had a lot to do with her wardrobe renaissance. And perhaps my admonishing her for wearing “mom jeans” when I was a teenager played a small role, too.

I think most of us, most of the time, take for granted just how much of themselves our moms sacrifice to put us at the front of their worlds. To give us their full attention and to create a safe space for us to blossom into our own unique little selves.

Boiled Wool Car Coat, Flocked Print Sweatshirt, & Mid-Rise Linen Crops.

Mother’s Day in Canada isn’t until May, but since the Brits are celebrating, it got me to thinking about how we can treat our moms at any time of year. That’s why I picked up a few special treats from Land’s End for mine.

Their company has a classically British aesthetic with lots of preppy chic basics featured on their website. But what sets them apart for me are the quirky patterns and pops of colours that pepper their collections.

As we’re heading into spring, a few new wardrobe staples are perfect to refresh your mom’s wardrobe. And they might even leave her feeling a bit more like her after the long winter doldrums.

Each of these pieces I picked out seem perfect for my mom – classic cuts and beautiful tailoring paired with interesting prints and colours. I’m hoping receiving them will put a smile on her face and help her look forward to spring, since my hometown is still buried under quite a bit of snow.

I’ll be spending this weekend up north visiting Matthew’s family, but I’m glad I’ll be sending this little package home and I’ll be thinking up a nice little surprise for when Canadian Mother’s Day comes around.

Do you do anything special for Mother’s Day? Have you picked up any little treats for your mom?

Love, chocolate liqueur, & fists full of daisies,

This post was sponsored by Land’s End but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

We had both already been before, so rather than dashing around trying to take in all of the tourist attractions, we had a leisurely time wandering the twisting streets, getting lost, and just generally soaking in the dreamy atmosphere. I’ll post a little Parisian adventure guide next week, but first I wanted to give you a peek at my birthday outfit.

If a trip to Paris on your birthday isn’t a good excuse to get a little bit dressed up, I don’t know what is. Here’s what I wore:

I’m wearing a corset top c/o Sash & Bustle, thrifted gold Karen Millen cardigan, Miss Selfridge skirt, tights from Boots, NeoSens booties, a leopard pillbox hat, and a vintage locket.

On my actual birthday we spent a lazy morning in our AirBnB apartment before heading out in search of pastries and coffee. We’d planned to visit the Catacombs but were put off by a two hour queue, so instead we visited Sartre and De Beauvoir at Montparnasse Cemetary. We wandered between the crowded gravestones for a while before taking the metro to Un Monde Vegan and picking up a few veggie groceries (like faux gras!) for an indoor picnic the next day.

From there we walked to La Marais, popping into vintage boutiques and artisan food shops along the way. I bought a beautiful ring from Les Nereides Paris with my birthday money and we picked up a few other treats to take home.

When my feet got too tired to carry on we stopped for wine and a cheese board before having a vegan dinner at Le Potager du Marais. We ended the evening back in Montmartre at an underground jazz bar in an old wine cellar, which was so much fun!

Matthew spoiled me rotten and I can’t think of a nicer way to have spent my birthday. And because I’m the queen of extended birthdays, I’m even having a pizza party celebration with a bunch of friends in London tonight. I sure am a lucky gal!

Love, lavendar macarons, & hot pink berets,

When you’re not used to wearing them, hats and fascinators can seem a bit intimidating to wear. But like any style statement, the more often you wear them, the more natural it feels and the more they’ll come to feel like an essential part of your style repertoire. And a fascinator doesn’t need to look super fancy. I loved pairing this one with jeans, a t-shirt, and a glittery coverup. The perfect mix of glam and casual.

Here are a few tips for styling a fascinator with short hair (and also a peek at my new haircut!)

Section off the top of your hair on the left side and tease gently at the roots. Spritz with hair spray and then pin your hair back, pushing it forward slightly to create a bit of extra volume. Repeat on your right side. Pin your fascinator in place slightly behind your ear.

A fascinator looks great with a casual beehive and I was so glad I could still achieve this look after getting my hair cropped into a chin-length bob. Position your fascinator at the front of your hair jauntily to one side or just behind your ear.

Pairing a fascinator with tight ringlets reminds me of a retro cabaret performer. Or you can just curl the ends of your hair and use your fascinator to sweep one side of your hair back for a look that’s reminiscent of a cutesy 1950s housewife.

If you love the looks of fascinators but aren’t sure whether you can “pull it off,” trust me, the trick is just putting it on. So give it a go and then send me a picture of how cute you look!

Love, finger waves, & heart-shaped sequins,

But because I made this decision at such a young age, I didn’t have the critical thinking skills to think about how animal cruelty played into other parts of my life.

Over time my reasons for being and staying vegetarian have evolved. Health and environmental considerations are now really important to me as well, but animal welfare has remained a central factor.

Yet for most of my life, I’ve continued to wear and use leather.

There are man people who probably find this hypocritical and I’m not here to argue with that. It’s a decision that I reevaluate regularly, along with my decision to eat animal products like cheese and eggs. I think that it’s important to examine our consumption habits regularly to make sure they’re in alignment with our values. Where we spend our dollars matters and for me that usually means supporting independent companies, choosing ethical options, and buying second hand.

I buy almost all of my clothing from charity shops, which seems like the most carbon neutral option and it means I get to wear really fabulous clothes that I couldn’t otherwise afford (like these shoes!!!) Buying secondhand leather means that I’m not  directly supporting the death of animals. But there are many people who say that wearing used leather, or even imitation leather, still supports the idea that killing animals for fashion is okay.

And because I’ve never taken a hard line about not wearing leather, I sometimes buy new products that have leather in them and after thinking about this recently, I’ve decided that’s not something I want to do anymore. I’m still going buy secondhand items and wear the leather items that are already in my closet, because that’s what makes sense to me right now. But I’ll also be seeking out cruelty-free companies to support.

All this to say, there’s no one-size-fits-all recipe for being an ethical consumer. This will always be a controversial subject but it’s up to us to be self-aware and commit to making decisions that we feel good about. Because ultimately that’s what’s really important.

Avoiding leather when buying shoes and handbags has been the trickiest for me so far. But there are so many great companies out there offering stylish alternatives. While reading a copy of Vegan Life I learned about Wilby and they were kind enough to send me one of their vegan handbags, which I styled for a Galentine’s date with Colette while she was in town. Here’s what I wore…

I’m wearing a a Zara dress (from the #VCSwapShop), a vintage jacket, tights from Boots, over the knee socks from TK Maxx, thrifted shoes (label: Office), a vegan handbag c/o Wilby, amethyst heart necklace GalaxyRoxJewellery, and a toxic mermaid ring c/o GalaxyRoxJewellery.

I’d been carrying around the same vintage purse for over two years and it was starting to look a little worse for wear, so I was ecstatic to discover Wilby. I love that their company has a traditional British feel to their branding and designs, but everything they produce is vegan and sustainable. All of their bags are designed and manufactured in the UK, and they use organic, eco-friendly materials whenever possible. It’s wonderful to be able to get such chic, classic designs but with the peace of mind that you’re supporting an ethical company.

Do you have any guidelines when it comes to buying clothing? And which is your favourite Wilby bag? I’d love to hear!

Love, glitter hearts, & champagne slumber parties,

P.S. I have a post on Jessica Says today about making Valentine’s Day magical and meaningful, so whether you’re dreading 14 February or looking to make it a bit more special, check it out.

I was particularly taken with this retro-inspired scallop crown and it got me thinking that us short-haired gals often feel left out when it comes to recreating all of the vintage hair styles that are so popular these days. So I thought I’d share how to get a few of these looks without a lot of length.

A casual beehive goes well with almost any hair candy and it’s perfectly suited to the 1960s vibe of this scallop crown. It’s easiest to style with medium-short hair or longer, but even if you have a pixie crop, just backcomb the hair along the crown of your head and give it a little spritz with some hair spray. Then gently comb the top layer of hair to smooth it down. If you need help styling a beehive, Carrie has a great tutorial.

For a simple style reminiscent of vintage pin curls, simply curl the ends of your fringe or front section of your hair and tease the roots to help you create the shape. Then just roll the section of hair into a large curl and secure it with bobby pins. Douse liberally with hair spray and voila, a chic ‘do in less than 5 minutes. You can see how I did a similar style with two curls in this post.

There’s something a faux bang that’s so fun and full of pizazz. You can style it with a long side fringe or by sectioning off the front of your hair. I simply curl the ends of my hair, roll it into place, and then pin it underneath but for a detailed tutorial check out this great one from Ree Ree Rockette.

I’d love to hear from other short-haired babes: have you recreated any vintage ‘dos? Let me know if you give any of these styles a try!

xo,

And if you’ve been to The Blogcademy, you’re likely a particular brand of blogger. Namely, a sparkly ear wearing babe with big dreams and a whole lotta drive.

I think it’s important to surround yourself with people who ‘get’ you. Who are equally ambitious and who lift you up and inspire you whenever you’re around them.

I’ve been wanting to organise a London ‘Blogcadette’ meetup for a while now and the new year seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I put the word out and did a bit of planning.

Last Saturday, 7 of us met at The Diner to feast on burgers, veggie dogs, cheese fries, and spiked milkshakes. We did a white elephant gift exchange and talked about our blogging goals, new projects, travel, relationships, and plotted the possibility of a monthly ‘blog club.’ There was a whole lot of giggling and I think our waiter was curious about all of the glittery headbands!

Then I led the gang over to my favourite Saturday spot – Broadway Market – to ogle the food stalls (damn our  full bellies!) and do a bit of shopping. I bought the most beautiful pastel blue 1950s sequinned cardigan for a fiver!

A blogger meetup always requires an extra special outfitand I figured it was the perfect chance to take my Mean Girls t-shirt from Velvet Wolves out for a spin. Here’s what I wore:

I’m wearing a Marabaou headband c/o Crown & Glory, a Mean Girls t-shirt c/o Velvet Wolves Illustration, a thrifted sequin skirt, seamed stockings c/o What Katie Did, and thrifted Irregular Choice shoes.

I absolutely love Natasha‘s illustrations, so the fact that I can wear them on a t-shirt makes me exceedingly happy. I was extra excited to see that she’d made designs from one of the most quotable movies of the 2000s. (‘You go, Clen GoCo!’)

This month Crown & Glory gave the Glitterati gals a sneak peek at their new design ideas for SS/15 and the fluffy Marabou headband reminds me of something straight out of Clueless. Since Clueless is like Mean Girls’ 90s big sister, these two pieces seemed like a match made in heaven.

Paired with sequins, seamed stockings, and my bunny shoes, this outfit was just outrageous enough for our blogger date.

Thanks Jessica, Caroline, Cassy, Bethan, Emma, and Sara for making it such a fun day! I can’t wait for our next meetup.

xo,

Thanks to Caroline for taking these photos.

So many people believe that style is purely shallow and materialistic. But I think that the way we dress ourselves and adorn our bodies provides a wonderful opportunity to express who we are.

I suppose at a fundamental level, it says that we appreciate aesthetics. Perhaps that we value beauty.

But our style can say so many other things.

It can express our identification with a certain subculture. Or where we’d place ourselves on the gender spectrum. It might provide insight into who or what inspires us. What colours we like. What our lifestyle entails. Even how we feel about ourselves on any given day.

Just like a book cover tells us a lot about what we can expect within its pages, our style says more about us than we might imagine.

But looks can also be deceiving.

A painting is interpreted differently by everyone who views it based on their own unique history and beliefs.

So as tempting as it is to make assumptions about people based on what they wear, it’s better to get to know someone. Strike up a conversation and find out how their style fits into the large picture of who they are as a person. It can often be surprising.

I know I’m often mistaken for a degenerate roustabout because of my tattoos and slightly punky style.

In other words, there’s some truth to that old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

And how cute is this clutch purse that serves as a fitting reminder?

Take a look at how I styled it…

I’m wearing a striped top from H&M, a Stella McCartney skirt (from the#VCSwapShop), polka dot tights from Hue, thrifted brogues (label: office), and a clutch purse c/o Vendula London.

I was sent this purse by Vendula London and it’s the perfect statement bag for a book worm like me. All of their purses are vegan and are designed in London with absolutely exquisite detailing. My book bag is lined with a beautiful print of the London skyline and on the back, there’s an explanation of where the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover” came from – stylish and informative!

I took it out for a spin yesterday, when I was meeting up with Bel for a veggie fry up and a bit of thrift shopping. I think it perfectly complimented the quirky chic look I was going for.

Have you gotten into the quirky clutch trend this season? And what do you think: how much can we really tell about a person by how they dress?

Love, red lips, & mismatched prints,

P.S. 16 babes have started their 40-day journey to self-love with my Romance Yourself ecourse today. I got giddy with excitement sending them their course materials today and to celebrate, I’m extending the early bird price + bonus content offer until tonight at midnight EST. To sign up for £17 and make a commitment to loving yourself truly, madly, deeply in 2015 (and forever!), you can do that right here.

Did you know I send out weekly love letters to my mailing list on Sundays? Words of encouragement when you’re feeling stuck. A reminder of your greatness when you’re doubting yourself. Tips for living with flair when life feels dull. Strategies for defining your dreams and plotting a course for making them a reality when you’re feeling lost. Invocations to step up and create the life you want. They’re a cheering squad, agony aunt, and gentle kicks in the ass all rolled into one. Sign up if you’d like to me to start whispering sweet nothings in your inbox.

Thanks to Bel for taking these photos of me!

You can always keep it simple as shown above and straighten whatever fringe you have before swooping it to the side. If you’ve got medium-short hair, pin everything else back except for a few wispy pieces at the sides. For my pixie’d ladies, seriously, just pop that thing on and lace it up. You’re going to look gorgeous!

If you know how to maiden braid, bust one out and French plait that fringe into submission. If, like me, you find that technique totally mind-boggling just braid your fringe normal (or try this simple twisting technique – tutorial number two) and pin it in place. Just pull the rest of your hair back (I pinned mine in a messy loop) and crown yourself the queen of the holidays!

My favourite way to wear this crown is with lots of tight, messy curls! I used a ¾” curling iron, alternated the direction of the curls, and used different sized chunks of hair to get a fun, tussled look. When you’re done, just let the curl cool down, spray them liberally with hair spray, muss them up a bit, and then get that damn crown on your head!

I love a faux beehive and they look perfect with this crown. You don’t need a lot of hair to style one. Just backcomb the hair around the crown of your head a lot and then load it up with hair spray. Use a comb to smooth the top of the your hair and then pin it in place. You can leave the rest of your hair down but I like clipping it into a messy loop. Here’s an easy tutorial if you’re new to faux beehives but I promise, if I can make my hair do this, so can you.

As you can tell, I’ve been wearing my Christmas crown everywhere and it gets complimented by everyone. Which is a good reminder: people like a statement piece. They’re a great conversation starter and no one will realize how nervous you were about putting it on. They’ll just know you look fabulous!

Love, mulled wine, and kisses under the mistletoe,

They always seem to be the perfect combination of productivity, indulgence, and relaxation. I never feel guilty about lying in on a Sunday.

After our urban retreat on Saturday I was so exhausted come Sunday that my brain had turned to mush, every joint in my body ached, and I kept trailing off midsentence for fear I might just fall over. It was kind of glorious though. Being completely and utterly worn out because you’ve put your all into something feels good, even when you’re uncomfortable at the same time.

I spent the day eating a delicious brunch with Colette before she went back to Bristol, picking out a Christmas tree with my housemate, and making a big roast dinner with Matthew before lazing around watching Dr. Who.

I wanted an outfit and some sparkly dinosaur accessories were exactly what I needed to infuse my look with a bit of magic. I liked that clipping my dinabow onto the turban was reminiscent of 1920s styling with a decidedly modern twist.

Here’s a closer look at what I wore…

I’m wearing a cardigan c/o She & Reverie, a t-shirt c/o Speedway, a Forever 21 skirt (from the #VCSwapShop), tights from Boots, socks c/o Gipsy Tights, thrifted brogues (label: Office), a turban c/o Crown & Glory, a hologram Dinabow c/o Neon Heartbreaker, and dinosaur necklace c/o Neon Heartbreaker.

Suzannah Vendetta is a fellow blogcadette from America who runs an amazing company called Neon Heartbreaker, which is chockablock full of glittery accessories. If you love sparkles, dinosaurs, unicorns, or kawaii – you’re going to love her jewellery.

Her signature Dinabows are what first drew me to her shop, but when we started talking about collaborating, I was so excited to get her to make me a Styracosaurus custom necklace modelled after one of her earring designs. She’s now selling one almost exactly like it in her shop if you want one of your very own.

This lady has got serious style, as you can see from her blog, and anything from her website would make a really unique gift idea or special treat for yourself.

I’d love to know, what’s your favourite piece from Neon Heartbreaker? And how do you like to spend your Sundays?

Love until Niagara Falls,

Photographs by Colette Hanson.