Vancouver Vogue: ear jacket

Monday, July 20, 2015

25th Birthday: Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel

For my 25th birthday this year, my friends helped me knock an item off my bucket list: afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC! I've had high tea at most places in the lower mainland already (Little White House and Neverland Tea Salon among my favourites), with a few still on my list to try, but the Empress Hotel has always been on the top of my list.

We took the ferry across from Vancouver to Vancouver Island, and made our way to the capital city of BC, Victoria, where the Fairmont Empress Hotel is located (right across from the Parliament Buildings). The tea room is a truly historic spot, serving afternoon tea since 1908 to famed royalty, celebrities and dignitaries. The décor is beyond beautiful; antique tapestries and rugs, vintage furnishings and hand-carved tables- and of course, a gorgeous view of the gardens and harbour outside. The William Edwards china used to serve our afternoon tea we were told was the same china pattern served by the Empress to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth upon their Royal visit in 1939!

The service was wonderful, and the sound of live piano music (playing favourites of mine including Edith Piaf's La Vie en Rose and Billie Holiday's They Can't Take that Away from Me) was such a perfect finishing touch. We started off with a fresh blueberries and crème fraiche, then sipped our prosecco and tea (I chose a classic earl grey), while nibbling on the delectable treats you'll see below. My favourite layer of afternoon tea is always the scones, and I was even more impressed by the Empress' Wilkin & Sons pure strawberry jam, which our server told us is shipped in from England and served in the most adorable little 19 ml jars. I brought one home with me to add to my tea display! The whole experience was lovely and everything I had hoped it would be!

But, our adventure didn't end there. We spent the rest of the day wandering the historic streets of Victoria, after which we headed by the bus to the ferry- which we missed. The last one of the day. So our day trip to Victoria actually turned into a sleepover in Victoria, and we were very, very lucky to find a room that wasn't already booked up (every hotel in town was booked). Our trip may have been a little longer than expected, but hey, you live and learn...to always double check the ferry times!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Monday, July 13, 2015

Vancouver Vogue x Nobis & Grey (Part 2)

This is the second instalment in my collaboration with jewellery brand Nobis & Grey, to show you some of my favourite statement pieces from their new summer collection! I have been Nobis & Grey's #1 fan for a year now, after meeting them at the Richmond Night Market last summer. I have never been much of a fine jewellery person; I've always been about big statement necklaces and eye-catching earrings. I love using my statement pieces to take my outfits to the next level, to make them really pop. I especially love adding them to solid-coloured or colour-blocked outfit, as they add just the right amount of detail!

I am a huge fan of their new ear jacket earrings, which I think are a great happy medium between studs and dangling earrings. These particular ear jackets are even customizable and adjustable, meaning you can adjust them to fit the size of your ear lobe, and you can even remove the stud and replace it with any other stud of your choosing. For example, you could switch out the rhinestone stud for a pearl stud for a more sophisticated look. If you want statement earrings that really give you the bang for your buck theses are a great choice.

Shirt - Forever 21 (thrifted via Value Village) | Necklace - c/o Nobis & Grey | Earrings - c/o Nobis & Grey | Skirt - Zara (thrifted via Salvation Army) | Heels - Army & Navy

** If you're in the Vancouver area, make sure you check out Nobis & Grey at the Richmond Night Market! **

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta