Fall/Winter 2022 Fashion Must-Haves

It was time to update my closet for the Fall/Winter 2022 season, and I thought you might want to see what I picked. I've always found Chicwish's fall and winter pieces to be made of nice, thick materials that are particularly good for staying cozy (and chic) this time of year. Below is a breakdown of the top 6 pieces that I've already been wearing non-stop this season:

The Statement Bow Sweater, The Rustic Plaid Skirt, The Spooky Sweater (all c/o of Chicwish)

The Sweater/Skirt Dress, The Cape Sweater, The Off-Shoulder Sweater (all c/o of Chicwish)

The Statement Bow Sweater

I've been eying this statement sweater since last fall! The bow detail is such a stand-out. And I love the slightly trumpet sleeves too. This sweater is thick and warm, making it a perfect way to cozy up your outfits for fall/winter. For reference, I'm wearing a size Small/Medium here.

The Rustic Plaid Skirt

This is the perfect skirt for fall/winter, due to its thickness. It's got a really nice weight to the fabric, and is super soft too. The A-line cut of this skirt is so flattering, not to mention it has pockets!! This skirt looks great with heels, but also with a pair of tall boots for colder, rainy days. I originally ordered a size Large based on the sizing chart, but ended up re-ordering in a size Medium to get the waist to fit perfectly.

The Spooky Sweater

Halloween might be over, but it's still spooky season! I had been seeing this sweater all over Instagram for years, and finally got my hands on one. Isn't it the cutest? It comes in dark green and black as well, but I think the orange is the perfect shade for fall. I'm wearing a size Medium/Large here.

The Sweater/Skirt Dress

This sweater dress is in the perfect shade of camel, and is nice and cozy for the fall/winter season. The pleated skirt underneath is such a unique touch, and is actually fully attached to the rest of the sweater dress! Same as the rustic plaid skirt, this dress would also look great with some tall boots. I ordered a size Large in this dress, but I could have gone with a Medium, as it's quite stretchy.

The Cape Sweater

I have been wearing this sweater non-stop since I got it! I am obsessed with the open style of this cape sweater, because it keeps me from getting sweaty and overheated if I'm running from store to store. Because it's open on the sides, I do wear a tank top underneath. Easily style it with some leggings for a chic and cozy fall/winter look that's great for running errands or cozying up on the couch. This sweater is a size Small/Medium, and it's a perfect fit.

The Off-Shoulder Sweater

This off-shoulder sweater is the perfect sexy but cozy top for the fall/winter season. It criss-crosses in the front and folds over around the back. It's easy to adjust to show more or less of the shoulders. Pair it with a pair of jeans for a more casual look, or with a pair of faux leather pants or a skirt for a night out. This one is a size Small/Medium, and it fits great. Sizing would be flexible, as it's very stretchy.

Which of these pieces would you rock this fall/winter?

Thanks to Chicwish for providing the items featured here for review! I've been a customer of theirs for so many years, and it's always a pleasure to collaborate with brands that I already shop.

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

8 Guest Outfit Ideas for Bridal Showers & Baby Showers in 2022 (An Honest Chicwish Review)

I've finally reached a time in my life when bridal showers and baby showers are aplenty! And as we come out of the pandemic, I'm definitely up for all the parties. Give me any excuse to dress up! I especially love dressing up for bridal and baby showers, as the vibe is very similar to what you would wear to afternoon tea (my favourite!): something classy, dressy, pretty and sweet. I always think soft colour palettes, florals and tea-length hemlines when I think of bridal and baby showers.

To get ready for 'shower season', I hand-picked some gorgeous outfits from Chicwish that I thought would be perfect to wear as a guest to bridal or baby showers. I've always been a fan of Chicwish - everything I've bought from them in the past has always been so reasonably priced while still maintaining really good quality. The fabrics are always so nice and thick and hang well, and the silhouettes are very sweet and feminine. Chicwish was kind enough to provide the pieces I had picked out complimentary for me to test and review here, and you'll find my honest reviews of each of them below. I think you'll find them especially helpful if you're looking for some inspiration for what to wear as a guest to a bridal shower or baby shower party you're attending. Keep reading below for a full review of each outfit.

I've also done an Instagram Reel featuring all of these looks if you want to see how they look while in motion. I've included that below too!

Pink peony dress | Off-shoulder top & Floral embossed skirt | Garden bloom dress | Swallow and rose dress (all c/o Chicwish)

Bowknot crop top & Glam pleated skirt | Puff sleeve crop top | Rose blossom dress | Crochet crop top (all c/o Chicwish)

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This is my favourite outfit of the bunch: Chicwish's Pink Peony Blossom Tie-Strap A-Line Midi Dress. I can't wait to wear it to LegalLee Blonde's baby shower later this month! I love the dress' contrasting black tie straps and neutral floral pattern. It might have something to do with the fact that I love pink peonies. This dress is a size medium, and while I was a bit worried the bustier style neckline would be too small (there's no boning FYI), but I was actually pleasantly surprised by the sizing in the bust area. The dress also comes with a fabric belt that is in the same floral pattern, but I actually think the dress looks better with a black belt that matches the contrasting straps. Overall, it's gorgeous!! Perfect to wear as a guest to a bridal or baby shower.

Shop This Chicwish Pink Peony Dress

This is definitely the classiest of the outfits here, in my opinion. It's a bit too white for a bridal shower if you're not the bride (if you are, then this would be a great way to have just a little colour in your look!), but it would be nice for a baby shower. The quality of both the top (Chicwish's Off-Shoulder Tiered Cropped Knit Top in White) and the skirt (Chicwish's Pinky Floral Print Embossed Midi Skirt) are so good. The off-shoulder tiered cropped knit top is a really nice thick material, and the tiers sit really nicely as a result. I'm wearing a nude adhesive bra underneath and you can just barely see the cups, so I'd say this top is pretty opaque (I usually find affordable tops in white are too see-through, but not this one!). And then there's the skirt. This gorgeous pinky floral print embossed midi skirt is the epitome of classy, and has such nice volume to it thanks to the thick fabric. I think it looks great with a pair of classic stiletto pumps. Here, I'm wearing a M-L in the top, and a medium in the skirt, and they're both a perfect fit.

Shop This Chicwish Off-Shoulder Top & Shop This Chicwish Floral Embossed Skirt

I actually ended up wearing this dress for Mother's Day, but I think it would make a lovely dress if you're a guest at a bridal or baby shower. This Garden Bloom Lace Inserted Mini Dress from Chicwish has the most beautiful colours, and I love the lace crochet detailing. I ended up ordering a large in this dress, because I was a bit worried the fabric wouldn't be forgiving - as a result, I do find it's a tad too big in the waist and chest. Unfortunately, I think if I had it taken in, it wouldn't work, as I don't think I'd be able to get it up over my hips...so I think I just might be between sizes on this one. I still love it though, and may just find a white belt to rock with it to cinch the waist better. I still got lots of compliments on it while wearing it for Mother's Day!

Shop This Chicwish Garden Bloom Dress

This Swallow and Rose Printed Tie-Strap Midi Dress from Chicwish is so sweet! I love everything about it, from the pattern and hemline to the sweet ruffle detailing along the neckline and the tie straps. The only downside of this dress is that it's just clearly not for larger chested people - the bustier cups just look too small. Luckily, I don't think it's super noticeable unless you're looking close up (hey, 6 feet apart!). I'm a sucker for a cinched waist, I just think it's always flattering, so I added a brown belt to the dress. I quite like the blue/brown colour combo. The fabric of this dress is not forgiving/has no stretch, so keep that in mind. That being said, I didn't size up and just got a medium, and that was the right call. Other than the look of the cups being small, it wasn't too tight anywhere, even in the bust. Overall, I still do love it, and would definitely recommend it to someone with a smaller chest!

Shop This Chicwish Swallow and Rose Dress

Pleated skirts have become such a style trend over the past year, and I can't get enough of them. And I just love this Glam Slam Pleated Midi Skirt in Pink from Chicwish, because it's such a beautiful colour and shimmers so nicely when you move! If you're going to a more casual bridal or baby shower, this skirt also looks super cute with white sneakers. I'm wearing the S-M size here, and I'd say it's true-to-size and comfortable around the waist. The top is a surprisingly thick material and isn't see-through at all. Definitely a great find. I'd just recommend really sizing up on this one if you're larger chested, as I ordered a large and it's still a little too tight for my liking. I should have gone with the extra-large. I really do love the top though, so I may end up re-ordering. I love having a few white crop tops like these to go with all of my spring/summer skirts.

Shop This Chicwish Bowknot Crop Top & Shop This Chicwish Glam Pleated Skirt

Not everyone wants to wear a dress to a bridal/baby shower, so I thought I'd include some alternatives! These pretty baby blue pants are old and so I don't have an exact match, but this Puff Sleeves Floral Shirred Wrapped Crop Top is available from Chicwish. If you want this to be bridal/baby shower appropriate though, I'd recommend sizing up on this one for more coverage if you have a larger bust. I got a medium, but would go with a large to make it more appropriate for this kind of event. For spring/summer outfits in general though, it's fine in the medium! This top is a wrap, so it is quite cropped - that's why I've styled it here with high-waisted pants, to make it more appropriate for this kind of event. Overall, I am so in love with the sleeves of this top, they're so soft and flowy. And the pattern is really pretty too.

Shop this Chicwish Puff Sleeves Crop Top

This Red Rose Blossom Watercolour Tie Back Dress from Chicwish is so sweet and perfect for a bridal or baby shower! Puff-sleeve dresses are so on-trend right now in general (I dream of owning a Selkie dress...). This one is extra cute because it has a cut-out and bow tie on the back. Size-wise this dress is quite forgiving - the waist is elastic, and the bow tie can be done as tight or loose as you like. I'm wearing a large here. Tip: you can wear the sleeves on your shoulders, or have them off-shoulder like I've done here. 

Shop This Chicwish Rose Blossom Dress

I have already worn this Endless Floral Full Crochet Top from Chicwish several times and I love it so much! It's such a statement piece! The crochet is nice and thick, and the sleeves have such great shape to them. If you're the bride, you could wear this with a chic pair of white pants instead, or as a guest, rock a pair of bright pants like I have here. The fit is a bit boxy (I'm wearing size medium), so I think it looks best with fitted pants rather than a skirt. 100% recommend this for events or just for brunch with the girls (it looks great with skinny jeans too).

Shop This Chicwish Crochet Crop Top

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Disclaimer: The clothing featured in this post was provided complimentary by Chicwish for review. Links are affiliate links, by which I can make a commission. Of course, as always, thoughts are my own!

St. Patrick's Day: The Black Velvet Cocktail

Forget the green beer this year, we're going for a more refined feel for St. Patrick's Day this year! I feel like most of the cocktails I've been gravitating towards lately all have champagne or prosecco...not sure why that is, but hey, sparkling wine is always fun. I wanted to do something other than the usual green beer or boozy milkshake for St. Patrick's day this year, and came across a simple and tasty recipe from Guinness: the Black Velvet. It's half Guinness (an Irish stout) and half champagne - that's it! The champagne adds a nice lightness and sweetness to the Guinness. And I garnished it with a sprig of mint to add an essential pop of green.

Black Velvet Cocktail:

• Coupe or champagne flute
• Pour Guinness until half full
• Top with champagne (I used Henkell sparkling wine)
• Garnish with a sprig of mint

Of course you know me, a good cocktail is to be accompanied by an equally good matching outfit. This green Chicwish dress (on sale right now!) is so cute, and is a nice thick material which is great, considering it's still March. It's not spring quite yet. If you want to see the full dress, you can check it out on this post from St. Patrick's Day a few years ago. Then I found these SUPER cute St. Patrick's Day nails from Kiss that are just perfect. If you weren't already aware, I'm obsessed with Kiss nails in general - they stay on for like 2 weeks (with a couple replacements). I always use the included glue, rather than the adhesive tabs. The St. Patty's style, with solid white, sparkling gold, and clover leaves are perfect for the occasion!

While things are starting to open up here again as Omicron wanes, I'm thinking this will still probably be another St. Patrick's Day spent closer to home, so I've been perusing food options that I could serve with this cocktail. I came across this yummy-looking Guinness, bacon, cheddar and barley risotto that I may try out.

What do you have planned for St. Patrick's Day this year?

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Spa Day at Home

Was in need of some R&R this weekend, so I pulled out a few of my favourite spa essentials, and 

whipped up a cocktail to match the refreshing vibe!

My other half found these great Sparkmouth tonics in the flavour cucumber mint, which are SO refreshing. I think you can get them at Safeway here locally. I thought they'd make a great spa-inspired cocktail, mixed with gin. I added 1 oz Tanqueray gin and topped with the Sparkmouth Cucumber Mint Tonic and then garnished with a slice of cucumber and a couple sprigs of mint. By the way, if you're curious what glass I'm using for this cocktail, it's the Edge wine glass from Crate & Barrel (these glasses are also similar). A nice elevated cocktail if you want something boozy instead of the usual 'spa water' infused with cucumber or lemon.

Sipping a spa cocktail is the perfect way to pass the time as you wait for your face mask to do its magic. I tried out the StriVectin Multi-Action Blue Rescue Clay Renewal Mask, and loved that it was a massage-activated and colour transforming mask. Once applied all over the face (in a light blue), you massage it into the skin, and it turns a deeper blue! Then just leave on for 10 minutes. The formula aims to reduce the look of fine lines, enlarged pores, rough texture and dullness. I can't speak for the fine lines, but my skin definitely felt glowy and smooth afterwards.

For the full spa experience, I have my Saje diffuser to make the whole apartment smell calming. The diffuser I'm using here is the Aroma Lift Kit - Uplifting Edition, and I used 10 drops of the Spa Spirit essential oils blend that is included in Saje's Relaxation Room Calming Diffuser Blend Collection. Spa Spirit is a purifying diffuser blend that has scents of grapefruit, eucalyptus, vanilla-spice and balsam. By the way, Saje's diffuser blends are 100% natural and vegan!

Do you have a calming ritual or spa must-have that helps you relax? I'd love to hear it in the comments below!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Cocktail Bombs: The Easiest Way to Make Yourself a Bellini!

I'm all for trying the latest cocktail trend - the latest of which has been 'cocktail bombs'. You've probably seen them on Instagram or Tik Tok. They basically work and look exactly like your classic bath bomb, except this one you drop in your favourite sparkling beverage (like sparkling water or sparkling wine). LegalLee Blonde got me a box from Cocktail Bomb Shop for Christmas, and I've been excited to give them a try. I figured they'd not only be a fun spectacle but would also make for a quick and easy cocktail.

I tried the Peach Bellini bombs, and dropped it in a glass of prosecco, with a few candy peach rings for garnish. While the blue colour didn't seem like what I'd expect for a Bellini, it tasted just like I expected it would!

They also have all kinds of other classic cocktail flavours like margarita, pina colada, mojito, and lemon drop, as well some tasty-sounding concoctions like raspberry lemonade, dreamsicle, and love potion. Depending on the cocktail bomb you choose, there's a recommended alcohol paring. But the great thing is, if you want it to be non-alcoholic, you can do any of them with any sparkling beverage of your choice.

Watch below to see how it works! What flavour would you try?

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Bodysuit - SheIn | Nails - Kiss | Skirt - Kassinka

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

A Slice of Paris (Angelina Paris!) at Home

 Having the chance to visit Angelina Paris was such a special experience. Maybe it's because the first time I tried to visit while in Paris several years ago with my girlfriends, it was closed and I was devastated. Fast forward another several years, and I was finally able to visit Paris once again, and of course Angelina Paris was on the top of my must-visit list. It was just as amazing as I'd hoped it would be: the most gorgeous and luxurious Parisian tea house, with ornate and charming decor, and impeccably-designed pastries. They are most well known for their signature Mont Blanc (which is made with meringue, light whipped cream, and chesnut vermicelli) and their famous hot chocolate. I'll share more about visiting their tea room another time. Today, I just want to talk about their hot chocolate!

 I picked up a tin of their hot chocolate mix while I was there, and it's been a nice way to transport myself back to Paris with just a sip. I make it with hot milk, and a tower of whipped cream on the side. Having a little dish of whipped cream on the side, to add to hot chocolate or coffee seems to be regular practice from what I could see in Paris. I pulled out my best teacups and gold spoons (from the Buckingham Palace shop on a previous trip to London) too for this occasion.

Of course, when creating your own Paris fantasy at home, it requires a Parisian outfit that is fitting of the scene! This beautiful Louis Vuitton BB Bandeau I'm wearing here was the most wonderful gift from my cousin Angela while I was visiting her in Luxembourg. It's in the quintessential Monogram Forever LV pattern, and makes such a versatile accessory. In addition to being a beautiful hair tie and handbag accessory, it looks excellent tied around the neck. It's a classic luxury piece to have in your wardrobe. As for the rest of the look, my beret is from a local hat shop here on Granville Island, my cashmere sweater was a thrifted find from Value Village, and the blazer is from H&M. And voilà, a Parisian-perfect outfit for a 'visit' to Angelina Paris. Now excusez-moi while I sip my hot chocolate while playing a french playlist on Spotify...

Have you been to Angelina Paris before? If you've been to Paris, what's your favourite cafe or tea house there? I'd love to get your recommendations for future trips!

You can shop my look here:

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Champagne, Roses & Tulle for Your Valentine's / Galentine's Plans

Your Valentine's or Galentine's Day plans call for a rose cocktail and a hot 'fit!

Roses are always a quintessential part of any Valentine's Day, so I wanted to create a quick and easy cocktail incorporating the flavour of roses. Truth be told, I love all floral flavours like rose and lavender. I know they're not everyone's favourite - some think florals taste soapy, but if you are one of those people like me that do love florals in your food or drink, I think you'll really like what I've whipped up! 

Rose champagne cocktail:

• 4oz Vranken Pommery POP Rosé Champagne (I've visited Pommery's champagne house in Reims, France, and it was an incredible experience! And I just love these mini bottles the have, which come in both blue and pink).
• Top with Fentimans Rose Lemonade.
• Add a splash of rose water, if you really love rose flavour like me! We found some at our local Persian market.
• Garnish with a rose petal, speared with a cocktail pick (I got mine here from Amazon).

I think a coupe glass is perfect for a champagne cocktail like this one. I found my gold rim coupe glasses from Indigo years ago, but here's a similar set if you're looking to add some to your bar. I also like these vintage-looking ones from Indigo as well. Pair your cocktail with some pink macarons, and you've got a nice treat to celebrate in style!

Now for the outfit. Lace is always associated with Valentine's Day, but I think sheer tulle can also be just as hot. As an example, have you seen those super-trendy Gucci tulle gloves?? They exude a classy sexiness. Well as much as I'd love to drop $800 on a pair of those luxe Gucci gloves, that just wasn't in my budget for this Valentine's Day, so instead I found this gorgeous polka dot tulle top (similar to a swiss dot look) from SheIn! The best part: it's just $10! It also comes in pink and red - how appropriate for the occasion. I've also linked some other similar tops and dresses below.

What are your Valentine's or Galentine's Plans this year? You can let me know in the comments below!

Here are some of my top affordable picks for sheer tulle polka dot tops and dresses, including the top I'm wearing! For reference, I'm wearing a size medium.

Happy Styling!

~ Britta