Transitioning to Fall Fashion: Nautical Style

We're two weeks into August now, so fall is inevitably just around the corner at this point! The weather has even cooled off a bit here, so I've been looking for ways to transition my summer style towards fall - while my actual fall clothes are in storage. I love nautical style, so I thought I'd start by switching out my nautical striped shorts and navy open back tee for wide leg sailor pants and a light striped sweater. Easy! It's not quite fall yet, so I'm still wearing my favourite light orange lipstick (Covergirl Katy Kat Matte in Coral Cat) and some sandal heels. Of course, if we were closer to fall, I'd switch out the shoes too, for something close-toed and nix the orange lipstick altogether.

Speaking of nautical style, isn't this Kraken necklace from BEL Jewelry Boutique the perfect accessory?? I usually go with shiny gold accessories for my summer nautical outfits, but with these being a transition outfit to fall, I chose a piece in a darker, bronze colour. It just so happens the colour matches the nautical buttons on the pants too. Win.

Does anyone else rotate their closet depending on the season? I always love getting creative with transitioning my summer outfits until it's time to officially transition over to my fall wardrobe. It's like a challenge!

Sweater - Tobi (similar) | Necklace - Kraken necklace via BEL Jewelry Boutique | Pants - Forever 21

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Western Style for the Non-Cowgirl

I have never been one of those girls that sings country songs in the car, wears short shorts and cowboy boots, and love cowboys. When I was a kid, my dad would every once and awhile attempt to wear cowboy boots out in public, and I refused to go with him unless he changed. For the record, we lived in the suburbs, not on a farm. Western style was just not my thing.

So when we decided this month to do a girls road trip to Calgary for Stampede (a big rodeo event), I was less than enthused about finding some outfits to wear. Did I even have anything in my closet that was western enough for Stampede?? Did I even want to wear anything western??

As it turns out, if you're willing to get a bit creative and do some thrifting, dressing western doesn't have to be painful (and you might actually like it, even if you don't usually). This outfit combines three elements: some things I already owned, something new, and something thrifted. After all, I didn't want to break the bank for an outfit I may only wear a few times. I also wanted it to be something I actually felt comfortable in (ie. no stereotypical cowgirl style here). I started with the dress you see here, which I bought from Urban Behaviour years ago. I figured the ruffle would be cute, and the leather braided belt felt a bit western. I also had this perfect bronze antler necklace from BEL Jewelry Boutique (handmade in Alberta!) and thought it would be great for accessorizing.

Then I headed to Value Village and scoured the racks for anything western. I ended up finding these cute little suede ankle boots from Aldo that have a western style to them. I was so thrilled to find them, since I really wasn't keen on wearing cowboy boots. At $9.99 they were a steal, and I'm actually going to keep them after Stampede because they're pretty versatile!

Then I popped into Old Navy where I found this super cute denim jean jacket. I had searched the mall previous to this and came up with nothing cheap, but this one was just 30 bucks! I didn't mind buying this new, as it's an item I've been wanting this summer anyway. It looks cute with all kinds of dresses and skirts, so it'll definitely get more use. And for Stampede, I figured it would tie the western outfit together nicely. As you may have noticed, I managed to avoid the usual cowboy hat, boots and 'daisy dukes', but I think the outfit still feels somewhat country.

If you're struggling to come up with a western outfit, and aren't the biggest country fan (like me), then I hope this gives you some ideas for your own styling!

Jacket - Old Navy | Dress - Urban Behaviour | Necklace - BEL Jewelry Boutique | Purse - Gap (thrifted via Value Village) | Boots - Aldo Haviax (thrifted via Value Village)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

West Coast Vibes

Living on the West Coast of Canada, we're lucky to have so much nature at our fingertips. From downtown Vancouver, I can see the ocean, and at the same time, am minutes away from the forest and the mountains. We're lucky to be in the centre of such an urban metropolis, and yet be able to breathe the fresh air of the great outdoors! Today, I wanted to share with you an affordable outfit that truly embodies West Coast style: combining city vibes with laid-back nature-inspired touches. 

The necklace I'm wearing was handmade in Red Deer, Alberta by BEL Jewelry Boutique and is part of their West Coast Collection. I thought the style West Coast No. 2 would be the perfect piece to base this outfit on: a selection of bronzed and silvery leaves capturing the rugged nature and beautiful views of the coastline. I love the details on each leaf, and the long chain can be adjusted to wear short or long. Even better that it's Canadian-made!

As for the rest of the outfit, I wanted to stick to earthy tones, brown, green and beige. Vancouver and the West Coast in general is known for its laidback style, so comfy tees and loose drawstring pants made perfect sense (I'm going to ignore the fact that our city is also know for its insane love of yogawear). Add some metropolitan details like lazer-cut design heels, modern sunglasses, and a print bag to give the otherwise nature-inspired look a more 'concrete jungle' feel.

So, whether you actually live on the West Coast, or just want to dress like you do, I hope this give you some laid-back summer outfit inspiration!

Shirt - Below the Belt at Coquitlam Centre | Necklace - c/o BEL Jewelry Boutique | Pants - thrifted via Wildlife Thrift Store | Heels - JustFab (similar) | Purse - Roberto Cavalli Parfum (here, here)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta






Disclaimer: BEL Jewelry Boutique provided the necklace featured in this post. As always, opinions are my own (and I love supporting Canadian brands!).

Canadian Style: The Great Outdoors

I'm not a very outdoorsy person usually, but on occasion, I enjoy exploring what our amazing country has to offer. After all, there is an incredible amount of natural beauty at our doorstep, particularly when it comes to the Rocky Mountains. We were in Canmore, Alberta last weekend for a wedding, and took a couple of short hours to do a bit of sightseeing in Banff and Canmore while we were there. It was quite cold compared to what we're used to in Vancouver, but the sun was shining, so we didn't mind all too much.

We did a short walk down the main drag in Banff, and then took a short drive to see the beautiful view from Bow Falls. It was so great to take in the crisp, fresh air (I'm usually stuck behind a desk all day at home). You could hear the rushing water from Bow Falls, even though most of it was frozen over. It was a stunning view, with the mountains in the background. Such a quintessential Canadian experience!

I bundled up for our outing in one of my coziest cashmere turtlenecks that I thrifted a few years back, and layered one of my favourite outerwear pieces, a Cabin Fervor Poncho from Modcloth with a faux fur trim neckline. For accessories, nothing could be more fitting than my BEL Jewelry Boutique's Antique Bronze Antler necklace - I've developed a bit of an obsession with antler jewelry during the winter season. I think it looks so perfect with cozy sweaters and makes me think of winter cabin getaways. It's also very fitting with West Coast style in Canada: it's all about the great outdoors. Their jewelry is all handcrafted in Red Deer, Alberta, so I thought it was a perfect place to wear this special piece!

If you're ever in Banff, I also highly recommend grabbing a drink at the Fairmont Banff Springs. We didn't have time for a visit there on this trip, but I've been before, and it has a fantastic view of the Bow Falls below!

Have you visited Banff before?

Poncho - Modcloth (similar, similar) | Sweater - Mount Cashmere (thrifted via Salvation Army) | Necklace - BEL Jewelry Boutique | Jeans - Winners | Boots - Bearpaw (similar)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta