Friday Gallery - Neon

I've been seeing a lot of neon recently...splashed everywhere on shoes, clothes, accessories and even lips and nails! How do you wear your brights?

{all images via Pinterest}

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Happy Friday Everyone!

XO, Amy

Friday Gallery - Palazzo Pants

With fashion, what is old is always new again...and this time, it's with Palazzo Pants. I remember wearing these years ago and am thankful for packing them away instead of donating them as now I can save myself a few bucks and make what is old, new again! Here are the latest on trend looks of Palazzo Pants...

{all images via Pinterest}

Have you ever owned a pair of Palazzo Pants?

XO, Amy

Weekend Getaway

As the weather warms up and the Victoria Day long weekend approaches, weekend getaways are on my mind. As I always pack light, a weekend away for me involves only a large tote bag with essential toiletries and an extra top and some accessories to mix and match. I try to work my whole weekend around one outfit and theme.

This would be my main outfit for the weekend

In addition to the above outfit, I would pack the following to get me through the weekend:

1. An extra sweater to cover up in air conditioned places or at night; 2. An extra top for the second day; 3. A dress for dinner/night out; 4. Accessories - earrings, necklace, scarf and sunglasses; 5. A large tote to carry it all in

As you can see, I'm only packing an extra top, dress and sweater which can all be mixed an matched with the original pants, purse and flats combo. The accessories help to change or enhance the look of the outfits and are small and easy to pack.

Packing light does not mean you have to sacrifice style! I hope this inspires you to pare down your luggage and look forward to a weekend away and enjoy your vacation without the baggage to weigh you down!

XO, Amy

Friday Gallery - Floral Print Shoes

I'm back to my floral obsession...and now it's with shoes! Floral print has hit the fashion circuit big time, and it's not only with clothing, it's splashed all over shoes too! Here are some beautiful shoes and a little inspiration on how to wear them!

{all images via Pinterest and Polyvore}

Have a great weekend!

XO, Amy

Friday Gallery on Sunday

I know it's Sunday and I missed the posting for Friday's Gallery...but in my defence, it was due to a reno project that has completely taken over my life. Over the last week, I decided to give my family's optical store a little facelift and a much needed update while my parents are away on vacation so that they have a nice little surprise when they get back. I've been painting, rearranging and redecorating until the cows come home and my whole body is so sore from all the physical labour I can barely life my arms, let alone type! So please excuse the late posting.

What I did discover through my little project and foray into the fashion world of eyewear recently, is a surge of interest in retro-looking and vintage frames. Perhaps it's the whole Mad Men frenzy, or perhaps like all fashion, trends are cyclical and everything new is also old.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised at the boxes of vintage frames I found, already labelled and ready for disposal. It took me a while to convince the staff that those frames aren't useless, but are actually "in style" again and much in demand!

If you are in the Toronto area on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 12:30 pm, please come by Superb Optical, 398 Ferrier Street, Suite 100 for the big reveal and our "Grand Re-Opening". If not, please visit my personal blog La Belle Melange later this week to see pictures and my post on the revamped optical store and how I decorated.

If you're not on the vintage bandwagon yet, perhaps these images might give you a little push....

[all images via Pinterest and Polyvore]

Tom Ford Nikita in Black

Prada Eyewear Campaign 2012

Tom Ford Eyewear Campaign 2011

Valentino Cat Eye Sunglasses

Anna Wintour in Vintage Chanel

What are your thoughts on vintage eyewear?

XO, Amy

Pashmina...The Pocket Closet Staple

The one staple item I believe every wardrobe (capsule or not) should have is a pashmina. This is an extremely versatile piece that can be worn and used in many different ways. I recommend buying a quality pashmina that will last you forever in an ample size, usually 28" x 80", which will allow you to wear as a scarf or a shawl. The Pashmina Store online offers a huge selection of authentic pashminas in a myriad of colours and sizes.

In the winter, a pashmina can be used as a scarf - twist the pashmina lengthwise to get a nice draping effect and wrap it around your neck several times for maximum warmth!

{Image via Pinterest}

Pashminas can be used as a light cover up in the summer time, thrown lightly around the shoulders or as a shawl. 

{Image via The Pashmina Store}

The pashmina is also a staple in my suitcase for travel - regardless of whether it is cold weather travel or warm weather travel. It always comes in handy when I need an extra sweater or to change up the look of an outfit (it's the key accessory to packing light!!!). I even use it as a blanket when it gets too chilly on the airplane - wouldn't you rather use your own pashmina as a blanket rather than the ones handed out on the airplane? Who knows how clean those are! I have even used my pashmina as a sarong to cover up pool side!

Here is some inspiration on how to wear your pashmina:

{Image via Pinterest}

How do you wear your pashmina? Please share your creative ideas with me!

XO, Amy