My Latest Styling Gig – Contessa
Posted: October 14, 2014 Filed under: See, Swoon | Tags: Contessa competition, Hair style awards, Multicultural category, styling, stylist, Superhero looks Leave a commentA couple of months ago, I helped my crazy talented hairstylist friend Alicia Rollins with her 2015 Contessa submission by agreeing to style her gorgeous models for the competition. The theme she chose was modern day superhero, which was quite fitting as the hair styles she created were out of this world (and superheroes show off by flying all over the place, right?).
For the costumes, I opted to use a mix of metallics and textured blacks. I draped the beautiful cape, created by local superstar designer Evan Clayton, over the shoulders of every model to create a cohesive superhero look.
The final product is stellar and I’m so happy to finally be able to share these photos with you! Alicia was selected as a finalist in the multicultural category yesterday and I know she is going to take home the gold on November 9th! Go Team ALICIA!
Models: Eve Obayoriade, Tanys Norcott, Shanti Singh
Photographer: Mark Yammine
Makeup Artist: Jenna Delaney
A Weekend in Split
Posted: August 12, 2014 Filed under: See, Swoon | Tags: Adriatic Sea, Croatia, Croatian vacation, Diocletian palace, Split, Split riviera Leave a comment
We drove to Split, in Southern Croatia, with Klaudija and Ante, friends who acted as our awesome tour guides (thanks dudes!). What a beauty place! Centered around the 4th century Diocletian Palace and right on the Adriatic riviera, Split has culture, beaches, beautiful weather and hundreds of people-watching cafes from which to drink delicious lattes. We were happy there.
Below is our trip in pictures.
Cute Simon on our “street”.
The stunning Split riviera with the Diocletian palace as its backdrop.
Exploring the palace.
A hole in the ceiling – or a planet from afar?
A very relaxed Simon on the riva (boardwalk).
Sitting down for our first, and much-anticipated, all-seafood meal. My stomach is smiling.
The mesmerizing palace at night.
Chilling.
A maze of beautiful ancient streets.
Down time.
Happy bosses.
2 Days in Zagreb
Posted: July 25, 2014 Filed under: See | Tags: Croatia, Summer in Zagreb, Zagreb Leave a comment
For some reason, I rarely talk about the city of Zagreb on Superfora. Yet, it is where most of my immediate family lives (3 brothers + dad). It’s where I’ve spent many Summers and Christmases and therefore where a lot of my memories originate.
Plus, it’s lively and beautiful (my poor photo-retouching skills aside).
Next up: Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik and a better camera!
Styling Jillian Harris – Pt. 2
Posted: June 16, 2014 Filed under: See | Tags: bike bake, Jillian Harris, Pinecone Camp Photography, retro glam, styling, Summer photo shoot, vancouver, vintage Dior scarf Leave a commentI spent my weekend laughing with dear friends, going to the symphony and listening to records I bought in NY (La Bamba, The Temptations, General Public). The weekend’s festivities may be over but the goodness continues…
The last of four outfits I styled for Jillian Harris is up on her blog! I think this retro babe on a bike look might be my favourite one on her. Who can resist the vintage head scarf & bicycle with basket combination? Adorable.
I can’t reiterate enough how incredible it was to work on this project. Jillian is exceedingly photogenic and happy, and the photos below attest to Janis Nicolay‘s photographic genius.
Today’s retro bike babe outfit, plus the boho chic outfit Jillian featured 2 weeks ago, are below. Which of the 4 outfits is your favourite? Smart, high tea, boho chic or retro bike babe?
Read Jillian’s take on the two looks here and here.
And one behind the scenes shot of me hard at work picking bluebells. 
(Photos by Janis Nicolay)
The Diamond A Girl Really Needs
Posted: June 15, 2014 Filed under: Swoon | Tags: accessory, diamond clutch, diamond purse, handmade, local designer, purse designer, vancouver Leave a comment
I’ve been gushing over one of my favourite accessories – a diamond clutch – for almost a year now. I could try to be subtle about it but when it comes to things I love, subtlety is not my strong suit.
A local designer and fashion student, 25-year old Sherry Chen is the creator of the diamond clutch, which is quietly growing a pretty large following. A cute and clever design coupled with fully customizable fabrics and trims makes this diamond clutch the perfect accessory for…well, anybody. Affordable pricing is icing on the cake.
I recently interviewed the charming Chen, originally of Chengdu, China (the city of pandas!), about where the diamond clutch originates from, who her style inspiration is and what she is planning for the future.
(Superfora) My mom definitely influenced my style and love of patterns and colours and, I can obviously relate to being an economist turned fashion junkie. You’ve expanded your purse line to include standard envelope shaped clutches in fun prints such as zebra. Which of your purses is your favourite?
For pricing and purchasing inquiries, email Sherry at sepetstudio@gmail.com. To stay abreast of her new designs, follow her on Instagram.
(All images via Sherry Chen)
Styling Jillian Harris – Part.1
Posted: May 19, 2014 Filed under: See, Swoon | Tags: Janis Nicolay, Jillian Harris, photo shoot, Pinecone Camp, Sherry Chen clutch, spring, styling, stylist, vancouver Leave a comment
It’s a holiday today and we are on the cusp of Summer in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. I’m feeling pretty lucky today.
My work situation ain’t too shabby either; my colleagues make me laugh all day long in a great work environment and I have personal projects that keep me challenged and inspired when I’m not crunching numbers at my desk.
Case in point: the photo shoot I am sharing today, which I alluded to in an earlier post. Some background: I was approached by Jillian Harris, host of Love It or List It Vancouver, to style a Spring photo shoot with her and all-star photographer, Janis Nicolay. Saying no to this would be like saying no to rum slushies at Third beach on a sunny day.
To stay true to Jillian’s style, we opted for preppier looks, complemented by an abundance of colour and prints. Every outfit was very distinct yet still very her. Working with Jillian and Janis could not have been easier. Nor sweeter! They are lovely. And so are the photos.
To read Jillian’s take on the two looks, read here and here.
Ps. Check back soon for part 2. Woo!
(All photos by the very talented Janis Nicolay)
Zebra clutch by local designer Sherry Chen. Follow this talented little import on Instagram: @littlesherrybigchen
J. Crew Diversifies its SS14 Offering with Sophia Webster Collab
Posted: May 8, 2014 Filed under: Swoon | Tags: Collaboration, Heels, J. Crew, J. Crew collaboration, Shoes, Sophia Webster, Spring Summer 2014 1 Comment
(Photo via Net-A-Porter)
Although I can appreciate J. Crew’s classic design, it’s typically too preppy for my style. Enter Sophia Webster, the British accessories designer who made butterflies, peacock feathers and 3-D flowers shoe worthy and my neck is hurting from all the head turning this collaboration is causing!
Webster’s collection for the American retail giant boasts 13 pairs of heels that represent Webster’s playful shapes but embrace J. Crew’s prints and colour palette, according to Metro UK.
According to Ms. Webster, the collection for the J. Crew brand was a collaboration in the “truest sense”. “Jenna and the team picked their favourite styles and […] I was given the freedom to interpret the J.Crew look and blend it with my own. I felt like a girl in a sweet shop!” (Jcrew.com)
Below are some of my favourite styles from the collaboration.
(Photos via JCrew.com)
Kickin’ It for Spring
Posted: April 21, 2014 Filed under: Create, Swoon | Tags: Florals, fresh style, Metallics, Outfits for Spring, Pattern on Pattern, patterns, spring 1 Comment
I’m grateful and excited to be styling an amazing Spring photo shoot in a couple of weeks (juicy details to come!). So it’s fitting that I post a few Spring outfits to get me in the mood.
I guess not a lot has changed since February 2011 when I blogged about Wearing More Patterns. Layering patterns is now more widely embraced than even a couple of years ago; they evoke nods of approval instead of stares of confusion. I love this fashion shift; beige on beige was killing my soul.
The key to mixing patterns is to ensure each print contains a common colour; this is what adds cohesiveness to the outfit. Below are three Spring outfits that demonstrate how to pull multiple patterns off. I’m a big proponent of elastic waistbands so these outfits aren’t only head turners, they’re comfortable too.
Mix and match metallics. A hot gold blazer, silver joggers and metallic green heels are definitely a winning combo. Add a clean black purse to complete the outfit and you’re good to go.
(Blazer from Ark and Co via Citizen Grace, joggers from TOPSHOP, purse from Erin Templeton and shoes from Sergio Rossi at The Room).
Multiple floral patterns keep it fresh. The cherry blossoms have painted Vancouver pink, the tulips are blooming and you’re layering floral prints in support of it all. Here, fuchsia ties the blouse and skirt together quite nicely. Tuck in the blouse to emphasize your waist and anchor the ensemble with solid-coloured pumps.
(Blouse by Mary Katrantzou for TOPSHOP, skirt from ZARA, clutch from NastyGal, pumps from TOPSHOP, flowers by the wonderful Eve).
The multi-patterned shift dress. Don’t feel confident mixing and matching quite yet? Let the dress do it for you. This shift combines multiple colours and varying pattern sizes. The riskiness of the multiple prints is offset by the dress’ simple shape. A blouse collar in a similar leaf pattern adds depth to the ensemble. Solid black heels and a painterly envelop clutch take the outfit from sweet daytime picnic to sultry night-time stumble home.
Shift dress from ZARA, blouse from TOPSHOP, purse from & Other Stories, shoes by Diane von Furstenberg.
Now, if you don’t know where to start in terms of pattern mixing, do what I do: throw on a few pieces at random and see how they make you feel. Your clothes, and not playing it safe with them, just may surprise you!
(All photos by Superfora)
Jungle Consistency
Posted: April 17, 2014 Filed under: Create | Tags: DIY decor, DIY pillows, Jungle pattern, Save money Leave a commentThe price of pillows in decor shops is heartbreaking. A typical pillow can run you $60-$90 per unit. That’s right: the equivalent of a pair of shoes. Or several bottles of wine.
Lucky for me, I have an incredible friend Jordan, who offered to make custom-made pillows for me. I rode my bike to Dressew on a beautiful, sunny day, chose my favourite fabrics and passed them along to Jordan between her man story and our charming picnic. A mere days later, the pillows are complete. My hero! She made them during her lunch break at Fluff and saved me nearly $200 in the process.
Not only do they look fantastic, but they eerily resemble the way I dress.
Some may call me predictable. I call it consistency.
In keeping with the Jungle theme…a smooth jam for your Thursday morning commute:
The Urban Turban
Posted: April 8, 2014 Filed under: Create | Tags: fashion, head scarf, how to tie a head scarf, statement Leave a comment
(My old Topshop crew: Eve, Daniel and Gabby)
For a couple of years now, I’ve been wearing head scarves when I really want to make a statement with my outfit. It’s such a simple way to make a big impact.
Head scarves have been in and out of style for decades, championed by ladies of the likes of Brigitte Bardot to Nicole Richie. I learned my preferred style from a cute French girl named Valentine. Based on Valentine’s 1 Foulard, 3 Possibilites (1 scarf, 3 possibilities), follow these easy steps to achieve a standout look:
1. Use a colourful scarf that is at least 30×30 inches. Fold it diagonally in half so that it is the shape of an isosceles. The bigger the scarf, the more dramatic the look as the excess will sit at the top of your head.
2. Wrap the hypotenuse of the scarf around the nape of your head, with tip and ends in front of you (see lower left photo). With the triangle’s tip falling in front of your face, tie the ends tightly around your forehead. This is what keeps the scarf in place so ensure it is secured tightly.
3. Pulling the triangle tip back over the first tie, tie the ends one more time to create a knot (see lower right photo).
4. Tie a bow to polish it up and ta-da – it looks amazing! And honest to God, the compliments will start rolling in. Optional: use hair pins in the back to keep the head scarf in place.
(Photos by the beautiful Tarah Ferguson)
Superfora 