How to Style OTK (Over-The-Knee) Boots

I want to start off by saying that obviously, you can style OTK (Over-The-Knee) boots however you like. There really is no wrong way to do it, it's all personal preference. I'm just here to show you how I personally like to style them, to be my most confident in them!

Because of their thigh-high style, I find OTK boots give off an over-the-top feel to most outfits. If you feel the same way, but want to rock them on any given afternoon, I recommend styling them a certain way so that you don't feel like you're rocking a 'going to the club' vibe. Because let's be honest, I'm basically never 'going to the club'.

I like to pair my OTK boots with a dress that is slightly conservative, to balance out the boots. Long sleeves are a plus, although that's because it's still winter! And I also feel more comfortable in a dress which isn't skin tight. Something with at least a bit of room around the thighs is best, as I think it contrasts the boots nicely. You'll want a dress which has a hemline a few inches higher than the top of the boots obviously - no point covering up the style of the boots! I love throwing this poncho over top to finish it off. A casual look, with a nice silhouette.

My only complaint about this whole OTK boots trend: I can't make these boots stay up when walking for extended periods!! They do alright when I have them tied pretty tight, but after a few blocks of walking, they do tend to slide down a bit. If anyone has a sneaky hack for this I'd LOVE to hear it!! I really do love the look of these boots, so I'll likely take them to a tailor to see if there's anything they can do to make them stay up a bit better. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below!

Poncho - Winners | Dress - Zara (thrifted via Value Village) | Earrings - H&M | Boots - Miss Smart Boutique

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Teeez Cosmetics: Trendy Lipsticks I LOVE

Looking at my lipstick stand (because yes, I have a lipstick stand, and it's overflowing), I realize I have a slight lipstick obsession. It's such an easy way to boost my mood with a little colour. Matte lipsticks have been one of my all time favourite styles for years now, but as wonderful as they are, I must say, it's been refreshing to see glosses and creamier lipsticks start to take over the beauty scene once again after years of hiatus.

I first introduced you to Teeez Cosmetics a couple of weeks ago, when I tried a few of their newest launches, including highlighter, eyeshadow and eyeliner. Today, I'm taking their hydrating and creamy lipsticks for a test drive! And believe me, my lips couldn't be happier. Keep reading below to check them out...

Eve's Ready to Wear Lipstick in Awesome Orchid

Oh, I've been waiting for a lipstick like this for a long time! Especially lately, when my lips have been far more dry than usual (thanks, winter), an ultra moisturizing lipstick is very much welcomed. It has quite a nice subtle shine to it too, which is a nice change of pace after years of just my matte lipsticks - not that I'm knocking them! Keep an eye out for this one in future Instagram posts, as I think it's going to get lots of face time as Spring comes around. Such a sweet pink shade!

Material Girl Lipstick in Tainted Love

THIS lipstick is for the true fashionista. The packaging alone is something you want to Instagram, and you certainly don't mind pulling out of your purse. I can go on and on about the packaging of Teeez Cosmetics products in general, but this lipstick specifically is fantastic! Sure, the square shape may not be super practical, but I couldn't care less: it's a statement piece, and the rose gold detailing is the perfect added detail. Now, the actual lipstick itself is a beautiful bold shade. It's a deep vintage red, and the formula is smooth, thick and oh SO creamy. I love my matte lipsticks, but this hydrating lipstick definitely gives my lips a whole lot more TLC. It feels great on my lips!

If you're thinking of treating yourself to a new lipstick (I won't judge if you already have 100), then check out Teeez Cosmetics at Hudson's Bay!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Cozy Neutrals

It seems crazy now, that just a couple of short weeks ago, it was still snowing in Vancouver. I think most Vancouverites have pretty much had it with the snow, but to be honest, there's a part of me that still revels in it. It's just so pretty as it falls, and I love how quiet the city gets with less cars and people out. I was also totally OK with the snowfall, because it gave me a chance to wear my new oh-so-cozy sweater from Kensie that I thrifted from Value Village a few weeks ago! It's not a colour or print I usually go for, but when I saw it, it definitely made me think of cozying up in front of a fire at a cabin in the woods. I love the size too: everyone should have at least one oversized sweater or cardigan in their wardrobe. It's such an easy piece to throw over a tank or t-shirt, and instantly you're looking effortlessly chic and cozy. Needless to say, I've been wearing it around the house a lot lately too!

What have you found at the thrift store lately? Share your finds in the comments below!

Cardigan - Kensie (thrifted via Value Village) | Hat - similar | Jeans - Urban Planet | Boots - Style & Co. (similar) | Purse - Aldo (thrifted via Value Village)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

My Morning Routine for Better Skin

I've written about skincare a few times on VV before, but today I thought I would update you on my current routine, and specifically talk about what I have been doing to keep my skin clear and healthy looking this winter.

For pretty much all of my teenage years, and even my early 20's, I always struggled with breakouts. I tried every product imaginable, but even if they did clear up my breakouts, then I was plagued with dry skin. Especially in the winter, when sky is already dry. It was hard to strike a balance, and all I wanted was to get healthy looking skin. I'm now realizing, in the second half of my twenties, what the key elements to healthy skin are, and that it's important to have a few key elements in my daily routine. Keep reading below to see what they are!

Drink more water!

I feel kind of silly that I didn't really think more about this when I was younger. I tried so many products on the market to get clear healthy skin, but I never really realized that just drinking more water could help my skin so much! As a teenager, I always opted to drink milk over water, which means I was never getting enough water in my system. I'm willing to admit it, I don't like 'boring' water. First world problems, I know. But seriously I have only ever really liked sparkling water.

Last year, I decided to treat myself and bought a SodaStream at London Drugs and it seriously changed everything! I started drinking way more water, because I actually liked the taste. It seems crazy looking back now, but my skin seems to be SO much clearer now that I've been drinking all that water.

Use a Copper Water Bottle

Every night, I put sparkling water from my SodaStream into my copper water bottle from Copper H2O (they're a Vancouver-based company!), and I leave it in the fridge overnight. Ready for drinking in the morning! Rather than drinking from a glass, this way I have a better idea of how much water I've had so far that day, and how much more I should drink. I try to drink about 2-3 litres a day.

The bottle is made of 100% pure copper, and copper is naturally antibacterial, which is super handy. Have I mentioned I get sick really easily? Yeah, so this is a big plus, especially during cold season. Water stored in a copper water bottle will also become natural alkaline, which helps to balance your body's pH levels (especially if you digest too many acidic foods/liquids) and can help with digestion. Apparently it neutralizes acid in the bloodstream, which leads to increased oxygen levels and improved energy and metabolism too (according to Shape), which is a nice added bonus!

Let's be honest though, I mostly like using this water bottle because it's pretty chic looking, so I'm more likely to take it with me on the go. After all, as I mentioned in the section above this, more water drinking = better, clearer skin!

Exfoliate the Skin

To make sure my pores don't get clogged, I like to use an exfoliating cleanser every other day. A long time favourite of mine is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I absolutely love the smell of this stuff, and I like that it uses 100% natural exfoliants rather than micro beads (which will be banned in Canada, effective 2018). It easily sloughs away the dead skin cells, revealing super soft skin underneath!

Apply a Glycolic Acid Cream

Glycolic acid is my skin's best friend. It helps to exfoliate the skin, which keeps my pores from clogging in between using my St. Ives scrub. I've been using this NeoStrata Glycolic Renewal lotion for two years now, and I literally use it every single day, morning and night. They have a 5% glycolic formula, and a 10% formula, which you can work your way up to after regular use.

Apply an SPF

Healthy skin needs protection. I know in the winter we don't think about it as much, but it's still important to protect ourselves from the sun's harmful rays. I'm very picky about my SPF creams, as I hate the typical sunscreen smell, and its usual greasy texture. I've been using Racinne's SPF 25 Ultimate Aqua Blanc Protective Lotion and it's a dream. I use it over top of my Glycolic Renewal, before applying my makeup (my BB cream also has SPF). I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty excited to see how my skin turns out like in the long run, years from now. Applying SPF now is going to pay off big time when it comes to healthy skin later in life!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Copper H2O water bottle to review in this post. As always, opinions are my own.

Pink Shirt Day: Stand up to Bullying in Style!

Once a year, kids and adults alike wear pink to say NO to bullying! Pink Shirt Day is February 22nd this year, and is a powerful campaign meant to show support for anti-bullying. I've participated in the campaign here on Vancouver Vogue for a few years now, and I think it's a very important cause to support, especially in this day and age with social media making bullying far too easy to perpetuate.

If you're not familiar with Pink Shirt Day, it was started in Nova Scotia by two grade 12 students who saw a grade 9 student being bullied for wearing pink. To show their support for the teen, they wore pink and encouraged their school to do the same. The story quickly spread across Canada, with thousands now wearing pink during the annual Pink Shirt Day event,

London Drugs, who has been a longtime supporter of Pink Shirt Day, is once again the exclusive retailer for the official Pink Shirt Day t-shirt, which I'm wearing in the photos below. This year's design features 'Make Nice': a message that's true and simple. The net proceeds of the shirts will support local Boys and Girls Clubs across British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan through the CKNW Orphans' Fund. The programs supported help kids build self-esteem and teach them empathy, compassion and kindness.

I hope you all join me in wearing pink on February 22nd to show you stand up to bullying! Pick up your official Pink Shirt Day t-shirt at London Drugs, and if you need some inspiration on how to style your official Pink Shirt Day shirt, take a peek through the photos below, or see my Pink Shirt Day outfits from 2016 and 2015. Don't forget to use the hashtags #pinkshirtday and #PSD2017 when sharing your outfit photos on Twitter and Instagram, and tag @LondonDrugs!  

Blazer - H&M (thrifted) | Pink Shirt Day shirt - London Drugs | Embellished collar - (similar, similar) | Earrings - c/o Nobis & Grey | Jeans - Urban Planet | Shoes - Sole Society

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Teeez Cosmetics Review

I always get giddy at the prospect of discovering a new makeup brand. Well, OK I didn't discover this one all on my own - Teeez Cosmetics was kind enough to reach out to me and introduce themselves, but I'm so glad they did, but I am totally hooked on this stuff now! After all, a fashion-forward makeup brand is right up my alley.

The packaging alone had me sold. They sent me three products to test out: their Style Addict Highlighter, Spectrum of Stars Eyeshadow, and Mysterious Crystal Liner. All of them had such eye-catching packaging that was also noticeably sturdy: indicative of a quality, high end makeup brand. You can find Teeez Cosmetics exclusively at the Hudson's Bay

Keep reading for a closer look at each product!

Style Addict Highlighter in Smooth Copper (Fashion Vendetta Collection)

I went straight for the highlighter first - my curiosity was already piqued by the packaging, and when I lifted the lid, I was beyond excited. It looked like molten bronze, in a beautiful whipped formula! Gorgeous! I was a little worried that the colour would be too dark for me as a highlighter, but if I'm not too liberal with it, and blend well into the skin, it gives me a gorgeous sun-kissed glow! This one is definitely going to get a lot of use in the summer especially.

Spectrum of Stars Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sunbeam (Sugar Rush Collection)

Were you a huge fan of the EOS lip balms when they were everywhere? Then you're probably going to love the packaging of these little eyeshadow babies! Inside this shiny gold egg, you'll find the double or triple changeant eyeshadow shade that's enriched with Moroccan argan oil. The Vanilla Sunbeam shade is a beautiful light gold colour with a nice rich texture.

Mysterious Crystal Liner in Rich Amber (Desert Glow Collection)

This liner is 100% a worthwhile investment for your everyday makeup routine. It has just the hint of a shimmer, and when I say this formula is smudge-proof, I am not kidding! It takes a bit of work to take off with makeup remover, which means you know it's going to stay put on your eyes all day. The liner dries in 45 seconds too, for those of you with no patience (hey that's me too!). Plus, on the other end of the liner, there's even a little smudger and a sharpener. You better be quick if you want to use the smudger though, because of the aforementioned quick drying time!

I'll be taking a look at more Teeez Cosmetics products over the next couple of months, so stay tuned to see more!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta