Seeing Double - From School Gate Style

I want to have everything on my blog so I am posting my content from School Gate Style. If you haven't already go say hi to Avril and just tell her Iva sent you. Sorry to disappoint, not a new post!

Meet Iva – Blog Swap with One Chic Mom

Hi everyone, I’m Iva (pronounced Eva) from One Chic Mom and I’m very excited that Avril and I are trading spaces for this blog swap. I am a stay at home mom who lives in Toronto with my husband Ivan (no not a typo) and our four children (some will say I’m brave others will say I’m crazy, you’re both right) who blogs about mom fashion in my spare time. My wardrobe is a mixed bag, like me; there are affordable pieces with splurge items sprinkled around. The one thing I know about myself is that when I put some effort into my appearance I automatically feel better  – and the outside world responds as well.

I’m putting my best foot, outfit and face forward for today’s post and featuring what I wore to TIFF – Toronto International Film Festival. I was lucky enough to be able to see a few movies and what I’ve noticed about moviegoers at this festival is they are putting their fashion on.

I wanted to wear something fun and sparkly – the stars were in town – but I was taking the subway downtown and theatres tend to be cool so I knew I was wearing a blazer. I get cold easily. My colour scheme quickly became white, black and gold. Basic and easy, however, it is classic and fashionable.

Accessories simply became about the arm candy. With a sequence tank I didn’t want to wear a necklace that would compete with it. People routinely ask me about mixing metallics – you can do it because they are neutrals. I tend to wear lots of gold, then I throw in a few pieces that are either silver or rose gold or a dark gun metal (like in the picture below) to break up the yellow. One of my favourite purchases has to be the Stella & Dot bracelet. Thanks Mirjana!

This outfit could easily be worn out for dinner and drinks or out to the club…not that I remember the club but I’m pretty sure you can wear this…

Blazer – Cassis (old)

Tank – Joe Fresh

Denim – Second Skin Denim

Bracelets – Stella & Dot, Ann Taylor, The Bay

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

My every day style is not as flashy and if you follow me on my blog you’ll see that I’m much more casual in my every day. Hope I’ve inspired you next time you’re going out for a fun night.

Thank you to Avril for making this blog swap happen now get over to One Chic Mom to see what Avril is wearing!

Blog Swap - Meet Avril

Meet Avril – Blog Swap with School Gate Style

When I first started blogging I googled “Mom Fashion Blogs” and stumbled across an article from the Daily Mail featuring Mom fashion bloggers. I was introduced to several wonderful blogs and became a follower of School Gate Style written by the fantastic Avril. Fast forward nine months later and Avril approached ME to do a blog swap. I quickly jumped at the opportunity to trade spaces! With a fantastic sense of style and mother of three many of us can relate to Avril as she decides what to wear for School Gate Style.

It’s Avril here from School Gate Style and I’m so excited to be swapping with Iva for today’s blog post. I’m a stay at home mum of 3 and personal style blogger from Belfast, Northern Ireland who owns way too many clothes and shoes (but don’t tell my husband I admitted to that!).

My blog features stylish (hopefully) and affordable (definitely) outfits for busy mums on the school run, or in this instance, when heading on a casual night out. I realise this makes me look like I’ve got an amazing social life – I don’t! But if you’re showing yourself off to another blog audience, you need to scrub up a bit I reckon!

Today’s outfit is one I wore to the launch in Dublin of Marks & Spencer’s Autumn Winter Collection last week. I travelled to Dublin with some journalists and bloggers. While I wanted to look smart for the event, I had to think practicalities – a long car journey, a cool day and some pesky kids who didn’t leave me in peace to get ready!

So, time pressures meant I ended up wearing the Diesel jeans I’d had on all day. I dressed them up with an ASOS black blazer, a Zara white top (similar here), a New Look necklace and my favourite Marks & Spencer Autograph purple suede heels.

This black blazer has been a great investment buy. I wear it so frequently. To events, on nights out and it’s great to smarten up a daytime outfit. The broader shoulders and nipped in waist are perfect for flattering a pear shape figure.

Loved this necklace as soon as I saw it – it’s a good one for brightening up an outfit like this and there’s a bit of purple to pick up on the shoe colour.

Did I mention I got these leather Autograph shoes for £5 ($5 USD/$8 CAD)(similar here)! They were reduced from about £50! Bargainous!! You’ll find lots of bargains on my blog as my clothes budget is waaaay to small for my liking <sob>

I hope you like my Night Out Style….a little different from my usual School Gate Style but if you follow my blog, you can check out more of that each day. Thank you to Iva for allowing me to take over her blog for the day. Now get yourself over to School Gate Style to see what Iva’s wearing!

Avril x

Avril and I will be hooking up with the Transatlantic Blonde for WIWW. Enjoy!