Emerald Green

Emerald Green by amy-chow 

Top Trends of 2012

Friday Gallery - Celebrity Style

What's better inspiration than hot summer celebrity style!

{all images via Pinterest}

Have a wonderful weekend!

XO,

Amy

Multiple Destination Getaway

This post is for a friend of mine who asked if it was possible to pack with carry-on only for a multiple destination trip that includes different climates. An example itinerary would be Toronto - Vancouver - Taipei - Bali in late fall or early winter. The purpose of the trip would be for leisure as well as business, and perhaps a destination wedding in Bali. The climates here range from the frosty Canadian temperatures to the tropical climate of Bali, and Taipei sits somewhere in between as it can cool down at night. I always love a packing challenge and after some deliberation, here is my advice:

• Wear the heaviest and bulkiest clothing onto the airplane 
• Pack items that can multitask in different climates such as leggings that would go easy with boots in cold weather, and just as easily fit in tropical climes with a pair of flip flops
• Similarly, pack versatile items that are easy to layer under sweaters for colder climates, and wear alone in warmer climates
• Each item of clothing you pack must be multi-purpose and be worked into various styles and different outfits
• Bring shoes that pack flat and don't take up much space. For example, flip flops, strappy sandals, converse (or pumas) and stiletto pumps take up much less space than platforms, wedges and full size running shoes
• For a shorter trip, I would suggest sticking to one colour palette, however, since this is a three-legged trip, I have two distinct colour palettes
• Roll knits, jersey materials and other clothing that does not wrinkle easily to maximize space
• Lay pants, jeans and other bulkier items flat
• For special occasion outfits or other clothing that tends to wrinkle, pack flat on the bottom of the suitcase in a plastic dry cleaning bag with tissue paper between each layer of clothing
• Maximize your packing potential with a large and lightweight bag such as a large size Longchamp Le Pliage, or a LeSportSac bag that will be your "personal item"
• For your main carry-on, use a suitcase with the maximum dimensions allowable by your airline
• Pack all heavy items such as shoes, clothing and any extra purses in the main carry-on
• Use the Le Pliage or LeSportSac bag to pack electronic gadgets, toiletries, accessories and other small items. This will also double as your purse and in-flight bag for the flight
• Once you finish packing, if you intend to shop, make sure you have about 1/4 or 1/3 of space remaining in your suitcase. If you have overfilled your suitcase, re-edit and take out items that you feel are repetitive, or does not have maximum multitasking potential

Since this multiple destination trip includes tropical climates, it is easier to pack in more items of clothing as summer clothing and swimwear are relatively small and lightweight. 

Here is a travel capsule that should easily fit into one carry-on:

{all images via Polyvore}

Here are some examples of how to work these articles of clothing into different looks for different purposes. The possibilities are endless, and many combinations are not shown. What other combinations do you see and what looks would you create from these items?

I hope you liked this entry and it helps you to travel light with carry-on only! I would love to hear your feedback so please don't be shy and drop me a line!

XO,

Amy

Friday Gallery - Eyewear Trends 2012

Summer is the time for some of the hottest eyewear, and most companies target the launch of their top sunglasses for these scorching months. Not only are sunglasses a great accessory, they are essential for the protection of your eye health. As the UV rays have gotten stronger over the years, it becomes increasingly important to protect your eyes during lengthly sun exposure, such as a day at the beach, or any other summer outdoor activities. Increased sun exposure, especially during the summer months when UV rays are at their strongest can cause damage to the eye resulting in cataracts and other growths on the eye such as pinguecula and pterygium (if you didn't already know, my family is in the eye care business http://dreschow.ca/!) When choosing sunglasses, make sure to check that they have UV 400 protection. In addition to this, polarized lenses are great for cutting out horizontal glare, which is what you would get from the surface of a car or body of water.

The most recent trends seem to all lean towards retro. Mad Men style is where it's at! I've been seeing mostly heavy plastic frames with squared bridges or prominent cat eyes. Aviator style frames are also still in style, be it in plastic, metal or a combination of both. Frames continue to be large, and are often seen with exaggerated roundness or sqaureness. Classic Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn style frames continue to influence the Tiffany line, while more avant-garde looks can be seen with Tom Ford and Gucci. Ray Ban Wayfarers and Clubmasters continue to dominate eyewear trends in classic black and a myriad of candy colours and styles as "geek chic" still reins supreme!

Take a look at these pictures and get inspired!

{all images via Pinterest}

Gucci 2012

YSL 2012

Dior 2012

Tom Ford 2012

Prada 2012

Bvlgari 2012

Beyonce in Ray Ban Clubmaster

Tom Ford 2012

Angelina Jolie in Tom Ford

Chanel 2011/2012

I hope you enjoyed this post and learned a thing or two about taking care of your eyes! Please leave me with some feedback or send me a line if you have any eye care related questions!

XO,

Amy

Travel Palette

The lazy summer weekends of July are meant for mini getaways and trips to the cottage. Often these trips are impromptu or last minute summer deals, and the last thing you want to worry about is heavy packing. Save your energy for enjoying your destination and make the packing light and stress-free with a single simple colour palette for your clothing as well as your makeup.

We often don't think twice about travel makeup and many people tend to tote around their regular arsenal of products. Why not lessen the load with a travel set such as the Laura Mercier 'Signature Color Essentials' Travel Set. This travel set does all the work for you by putting together all the necessary makeup essentials in a simple and neutral palette, perfect for a weekend at the cottage or beach. This particular set includes a cheek and eye palette that can take you from day to night, a travel size foundation primer, an eyeshadow brush for application, a Twilight Caviar Stick Eye Color that can be used to add a bit of smoky drama for night time or to line the eyes, a full volume mascara, and a soft pink shimmery lip gloss.

Here's a little inspiration...

Weekend Travel Palette by amy-chow via Polyvore

XO,

Amy

Friday Gallery - Swim Style

As the May long weekend approaches (for us here in Canada, it's the Victoria Day long weekend), may of us may be heading to cottage country and donning a bathing suit or two. If you are looking for a little inspiration, look no further! Here are some top styles of the season for all different body types.

{images via Pinterest}

Have a wonderful long weekend!

XO, Amy