All Hallows' Eve

This is one of the best editorials I've seen in recent months and I felt that its tone suited the occasion.

The Sun's Beaming Down

Quick pick-me-ups. Besides the obligatory studying, I managed to fit in some time to do a little bit of thrifting this past weekend. Not all shopping trips are successful so I didn't get my hopes up but I did manage to find a lovely white blouse. And in the comfort of my bed, I settled down with a tub of Haagen Dazs and flipped through a magazine.

Ah, Versace

Pictures of the Versace for H&M collection were recently released and the above were my personal favourites. When I heard that Versace would be the next designer collaboration with H&M, I was intrigued. Over the years, Donnatella has designed many dresses that I have admired and even though I knew this collection would be more of a homage to Gianni, I was still looking forward to the results. However, the actual collection was lacking. As evident by my choices, I was not particularly taken with any of the prints although they are rather iconic to the brand. There were around 50 pieces I believe and only a fraction are presented here.

Regardless, the madness and crazy shoppers that are sure to come with the arrival of this collection is rather offputting to me even if I was so inclined to buy any of these pieces. It just calls to mind the scene in Confessions of a Shopaholic when Rebecca Bloomwood goes to the sample sale and fighting ensues. Such shopping events are clearly not for the faint of heart.

These Chains Won't Hold Us Back

Bliss Lau's campaign seamlessly combines two of my favourite things together and the product is beautiful. Take a look for yourself.

Dancing The Night Away

Above are a few pictures from the show that I attended earlier in the week. Although So You Think You Can Dance is a competition/reality TV show, the contestants are actually tremendously talented and the weekly performances are generally well-choreographed. This year, I was smitten by pretty much all of the Top 10 finalists and ended up buying tickets to the tour. Seated in the first few rows of the floor section, I was able to see the little nuances in their movements and facial expressions - even the sweat flying off them as they rolled out dance after dance. It was a truly memorable experience and I highly recommend it.

Silver Bullet Straight Through My Heart

It's been a week of cold coffee, late nights and bleary mornings so I am thrilled to be heading into a 3 day weekend. I realize blog updates have been sparse here and I'm planning on improving on that. I truly admire bloggers who can churn out amazing entries on a regular basis and are so committed to what they put out.

Anyways, when it comes to accessories, silver and gold have always vied for my heart (bronze just never had a chance). As a child, I scoffed at the warm toned gold jewelry and shoved them aside for silver, leaving my sister to pick up the pieces. Somehow, as the years have gone by, my own collection has evolved into one with a rather lopsided number of gold pieces. But taking a look at these pieces, I think I'd like to reconsider. The accessories are utterly drool-inducing and I have to say, these editors should have been a little more indecisive. A mere three pictures just barely whets my appetite.

Shifting Gears

I am back at school and I haven't settled back into the groove of things yet. As I move closer to heading into the "real world", every decision I make seems to weigh on me that much more. In some ways, it makes me appreciate the more frivolous choices I have to contend with.

As it is, I have had fall wardrobe planning on my mind. My main goal is to find classic pieces that I can see myself wearing a few years down the road. It has reached that point in my life where I am tired of spending far too much time and money on clothes that don't fit me - literally and figuratively. My blogroll has a number of style blogs on it and I cannot deny that they sometimes fuel an unnecessary desire to buy more. However, this trial and error in shopping has led me to better understand what exactly works and what my tastes are. Perhaps the main reason for the untouched purchases in my closet is that I get caught up in buying for the person I want to be rather than the person I am. I have come to accept that my eclectic tastes and fondness for various styles do not always extend to styling myself.

With my limited student budget, I do not plan to buy all these items or necessarily the specific brands listed. However, these are to guide my purchases so if I do buy anything, it will be something that I feel I need. It is a relatively short list with nothing particularly exciting on it. However, as I hone my style, these are the types of items I see working well with pre-existing items in my closet. As refreshing it would be to create a brand new wardrobe, it really is not financially feasible.

The Surplus Jacket
Outerwear is always a tricky issue as it can really make or break an outfit. Sometimes, it may be the only part of your outfit that anyone even sees. For a while, it was a toss up between a surplus jacket and a trench coat. I have literally hemmed and hawwed over potential trench coat purchases for a few years now. It is difficult to find ones that have a good fit and when I do find one with a satisfactory fit, I am remarkably hesitant. Deep down, I think my heart knows that a trench coat is not the most practical item for me currently. A trench is deemed a wardrobe staple and for me, its allure has always been how prim and proper it makes an outfit. However, I cannot imagine running around in one or throwing it aside haphazardly like I probably would. At the moment, I think a surplus jacket/parka would be most suitable for me and would not look too out of place with my well-worn graphic tees and jeans.

Givenchy, Thes & Thes, Uniqlo

Blouses & Button Ups
Although they are relatively simple, they pair easily with jeans and skirts to create an effortlessly chic outfit. They provide the perfect balance between comfort and looking put together - the secret is all in the fit. (I myself prefer a slightly looser fit.)

Isabel Marant, Balmain, Reed Krakoff

Cozy Thick Knit Sweaters
With the cold weather I get here in Canada, it is probably shocking that I own very few sweaters. However, I have never been particularly interested in them until recently. I suppose that I have finally seen the light. Not only are they practical, but they add another layer of texture to any outfit.

Alexander Wang, Aran Sweater Market, Pringle of Scotland