Eco Fashion Week: Thrift Style Challenge

I've really grown very fond of Eco Fashion Week over the last few years. At first, I wasn't sure if it was the right place for me - I mean, this blog isn't about greening our planet, it's a fashion blog, and I never considered myself as eco-conscious as maybe I should be... But after I attended my first season a few years ago, I realized that there are so many ways to help the planet that aren't all hippy and hemp - if you know what I mean.

My absolute favourite show at Eco Fashion Week is the Thrift Style Challenge, presented by Value Village. That's where I really saw for the first time that thrifting isn't just fun (because I definitely already knew that!) but it's a way of decreasing our consumption of textiles. The more we thrift shop and buy others' used clothes, the less demand we are putting on the clothing industry! And that means less of a footprint we're leaving behind. Sounds pretty great, right?

The 3 stylists this year, Jason Pillay, Nadia Albano, and Nathalie Rees did a fabulous job of showcasing how thrifted clothes can look just as chic as new clothes - an important stigma that I think needs to be broken! There are still lots of people out there who think thrifted clothes is all grandpa sweaters and out-of-date styles (none of you though, since you see all kinds of amazing thrifted finds here on Vancouver Vogue!).

Keep reading below to see the 3 Thrift Style collections, as well as the eco-friendly and locally made design I rocked at Eco Fashion Week from designer Theresa Chen!

Nadia Albano:

What a chic collection! Very feminine, somewhat ethereal, and so perfect for Spring! I loved how Nadia showed the uniqueness of Value Village finds (that grecian dress!), while also showcasing how wearable they can be. I always hope that these Thrift Chic challenges inspire everyday people to thrift shop, and I think this definitely hit the mark!

 

[ photos by Peter Jensen Photography ]

Nathalie Rees:

I think it is just amazing how Nathalie was able re-create what looks like a perfectly curated Spring collection for a mainstream store! And guess what, it's all thrifted! Everything looks straight off a store rack, which I think is great. This collection slayed any preconceptions that thrifted clothes are old and frumpy, that's for sure! 

[ photos by Peter Jensen Photography ]

Jason Pillay

For anyone who thinks that Value Village is just full of old 80's clothes (perfect for your tight and bright parties, no less), this collection may not dispel those assumptions. BUT... I must say that Jason did a fabulous job of rocking those 80's trends in a way that was definitely worthy of a runway. Not bad for an all-thrifted collection, hey? Jason even managed to incorporate some very on-trend pieces, like the wide-leg pants.

[ photos by Peter Jensen Photography ]

Now of course, because this is Eco Fashion Week we're talking about, an eco-friendly outfit is a must! Wonderful local designer Theresa Chen offered to outfit Vicki of Style By Fire and I for the evening, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. I have been a huge fan of Theresa's designs, ever since I covered her collection at Vancouver Fashion Week about 12 seasons ago! I chose a piece that is on the more avant-garde side, and I must say, I was a little sheepish about the -ahem- hemline at first, but Theresa and Vicki gave me the courage to rock the hell out of it. I ended up absolutely loving it! And doesn't Vicki's red dress look amazing too? She looks fantastic in the colour and the cut, and would you believe it - it's all one piece with no zipper! Comfy.

[ photo by Gianluca Cescon ]

Dress - Theresa Chen | Necklace - Nobis & Grey | Earrings - c/o Nobis & Grey | Shoes - thrifted via Value Village

Well that's it for the Thrift Style Challenge! Next, I'll show you my favourites from the awe-inspiring 81 Pound Challenge, presented by Value Village. And let me tell you, much like the Thrift Style Challenge, it did not disappoint!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Printed Blouses are the New Statement Piece

You can thank Leeanne & Bree for this fabulous outfit, because it was during a Simons x LOULOU Magazine event in Vancouver that they spotted this fabulous macaron blouse. They rushed over "Look what we found! You have to try this!". Let's be honest, I didn't even need to try it on to know it belonged in my closet, but I gleefully threw it on to admire it in its entirety. Basically anything with macarons is a must-have in my book.

But it also got me thinking about printed blouses in general, because there are a huge amount of prints out there right now for Spring, and I think they're the perfect way to jazz up your office outfit! Of course, some workplaces are more rigid than others in terms of dress code, but if you can get a bit creative with your work outfits, then I think this would be a great way to liven them up a bit. I found this cute Mario Brothers printed blouse, this tulip blouse, this adorable flamingo blouse, and this quirky pineapple blouse all at Simons as well. So fun, right??

The easiest way to style these fun printed shirts is with solid-coloured bottoms (unless you're feeling extra adventurous!), so I pulled out this nice green pencil skirt I thrifted from Salvation Army a while back. Some solid coloured cropped work pants would look great too.

For some off-duty fun, I added this super bold pink lip - I picked up NYX's new Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Pink Lust at London Drugs and just LOVE it! Not really waterproof, but the colour is so beautiful, and it must have a slight blue tinge to it, because I find it really brightens my smile. 

Blouse - Twik (via Simons) | Necklace - c/o Nobis & Grey | Skirt - Zara (thrifted via Salvation Army) | Heels - Spring (via Value Village)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Spring Fashion Wishlist

I've clearly been on Pinterest too much lately! And this is the result. I now have 5 pairs of shoes and too many cute t-shirts that I just have to have. At least it's a nice mix of cheap and pricier (well, not even that pricey) options, so I can slowly start to add one or two pieces at a time to my closet....

Of course, the incredibly hot Adidas Superstars are on my list, as well as a replacement pair of Converse Chuck Taylors (because they go fantastic with everything including boyfriend jeans). I also have been lusting after a duster trench, some cute new tees, and a fabulous Spring blazer!

Are any of these items on your Spring wishlist too?

Adidas Superstars

Yellow Scallop Dress

White Bow Blouse

Beige Duster Trench

Olive Green Dress

Converse Chuck Taylor

Black Peplum Top

White Ripped Jeans

Haute Mess Tee

Blue Seersucker Dress

Floral Blazer

Kate Spade Glitter Sneaker

Sperry Blue Canvas Sneaker

C'est La Vie Sweatshirt

Sole Society Peach Flats

Eyelash Tee

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Why Everyone Should Own Polka Dot Pants

It's always great to have a few items in your wardrobe that easily elevate your outfit. Like adding a statement necklace over a shirt, these polka dot skinny jeans have become a favourite in my closet because they're such an easy way to make my outfit a bit more interesting. Take a look at the photos below: wouldn't this outfit just be way more boring with plain skinny jeans? I certainly think so.

Especially when you're in a rush to throw an outfit together, it's a good to know you have a few items like this in your arsenal. If you're feeling like your regular jeans are not making the cut, switch them out for a pair of cute printed ones like these polka dot jeans! I found these at Winners quite a while back, but I've found a few others online that I've shared below.

I'm curious: do you have any items in your closet that you use to up your outfit game?

Sweater - Forever 21 (thrifted via Value Village) | Earrings - c/o Nobis & Grey | Purse - Forever 21 | Jeans - Winners | Heels - thrifted via Value Village

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

How to Transition to Spring Style

We've had a fabulous dose of Spring (almost Summer-like) weather over the last couple of weeks, and it's got me scrambling a bit to adjust my wardrobe! I do the closet switch-over usually in another month, but with the early warm weather, it's time to pull out the Spring clothes a lot sooner.

The funny thing is, it still feels a little strange to jump right from outfits consisting of mostly black and grey straight to brights and pastels. I feel like I need a bit of an in between to help me transition. Especially since I've been wanting to start wearing dresses without tights again, but it seems a little soon to be wearing a bright pink dress without tights just yet.

That's why I'm absolutely loving the combination of olive green, tan, and black here. It makes the outfit feel a bit more transitional rather than straight up Spring or Summer. This dress from SheIn is super cute -  I was really surprised when it showed up in the mail and the fabric was actually quite substantial! A nice, heavier material than I was expecting. I also love the drawstring waist, as it makes it super easy to adjust perfectly to my size, and defines the waist nicely.

I've been wanting to try a sort of 'safari'-inspired look lately, and I just love how it came together here, with the gladiator-style heels (thrifted from Value Village), combined with the SheIn dress and my trusty trench. I think this olive-tan-black colour combo might just become a regular over the next while...

Dress - SheIn | Trench - Joe Fresh (thrifted via Value Village) | Necklace - Zara (thrifted via Value Village) | Purse - Aldo (thrifted via Value Village) | Shoes - StreetStyle (thrifted via Value Village)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Legallee Blonde's Birthday Giveaway: Enter to Win!

Well here's something to start off your Monday on the right foot! It's giveaway time! You can thank the wonderful Leeanne of Legallee Blonde for putting this little surprise together - it's her birthday this week (happy birthday, Leeanne!), and she's celebrating with a fabulous giveaway: a $50 Nordstrom E-gift card, and a pair of gorgeous Cavalier earrings from Olive + Piper!

For full contest rules & regulations, see Leeanne's post here.

PS. Leeanne will have 4 more giveaways still to come, so make sure you're following her for all the details!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

The Wide Leg Pant: How to Wear this Spring

When doing some clothes shopping a few weeks ago, I started to notice wide leg pants everywhere I went - culottes are still definitely a hot item too, as well as flared pants, but boy were there a lot of wide leg trousers! I ended up picking up a couple of fun pairs like these camel trousers and these nautical-style navy trousers, but I thought these pastel ones from last year would be the perfect way to start wearing this style for spring!

I recommend wearing wide leg trousers with pointed toe shoes, so that they poke out of the bottom hem just slightly. I perfect this look over rounded to shoes, which tend to hide underneath the pants, giving the "invisible shoe" look. It's not really a problem, but I just prefer having them peek out a bit!

And the pastels don't stop at the pants! My favourite lip colour of the moment is this NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in the shade Power from London Drugs. Just like the name says, the formula is super creamy and comfortable to wear, and the pigmentation is great. Definitely it's not for everyone, but it's a fun look that fits great with a pastel outfit.

Sweater - Betty Be Good | Necklace - Olive + Piper | Pants - Forever 21 (similar) | Heels - Spring (via Value Village)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Blue Eyeliner Trend

You all know that the cat-eye is an essential part of my everyday beauty routine, but every once and a while, you've gotta switch it up...just a little! Bright blue eyeshadows and liners were probably the biggest trend to come from the Spring/Summer 2015 runway shows, and it really is a great way to change up your look as the weather gets warmer.

I recently worked with London Drugs to show you my favourite way to wear this new blue liner trend, and best of all, we created the whole look with mineral cosmetics, from Youngblood Cosmetics! For people with sensitive skin, rosacea, or who are just looking for makeup free of talc, parabens, oil and fragrance, you have got to try this stuff! Personally, mineral makeup has always made me hesitate; I figured that it must be missing something, like good coverage, vivid colour, or a long lasting formula. But mineral cosmetics have really upped their game! I wore this makeup all day on set while we were shooting beauty videos, and it looked as good at the end of the day as it did when I applied it! Keep reading below for my favourites from the video:

Want to try the look? Here's everything you need to get started.

These were my favourites from the shoot:


Youngblood Eye-mazing Liquid Liner Pen ($32 at LondonDrugs.com)

I wasn't expecting the kind of colour pay-off that this pen gave off! Such a beautiful, electric blue colour (in the shade Azul), that really pops beautifully on the skin. I couldn't believe how long-lasting it was too! I didn't wear any primer underneath, and the liner didn't budge all day. I would buy this liner in a second..and definitely would give the shade Verde a try too: it looks like a beautiful green!

Youngblood Mineral Primer ($48 at LondonDrugs.com)

This primer feels ah-mazing! It reminded me right away of my silicone-based primer from Smashbox - nice and silky on the skin, filling in an small lines or imperfections nicely. This primer is packed with all kinds of great things like vitamins and minerals too though, which is an added bonus: vitamins A & E help with skin rejuvenation and antioxidant protection. If you're going to be wearing something on your skin all day, it better feel great and do you skin some good!

Youngblood Brow Artiste Sculpting Pencil ($30 at LondonDrugs.com)

I have been using this brow pencil every single day since our shoot! As I mention in the video, it's the perfect shade of blonde (which believe me, is not usually easy to find), and the pencil itself is quite a unique shape. The long shape of the pencil tip makes it much easier to feather with than a pencil with a circular tip, giving a far more natural effect that is build-able. Just like the liner pen, the formula lasted all day with no issues!

I seriously cannot wait to wear this look again! The eyeliner is definitely a bold choice, but by keeping everything else relatively neutral, I think you could get away with this as an evening or weekend look no problem. You can check out the rest of the Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics I used in the video here on London Drugs.com.


Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta


Disclaimer: London Drugs provided the products for use in this video. As always, all opinions are my own.