Black White & Leopard

I have been feeling wardrobe blah. I am not saying I have nothing to wear. I'm just overwhelmed, underwhelmed, don't know where to start lately type of mood. When I feel this way I just stick with something simple - black bottom, white top and a pair of leopard shoes. Clean and classic, better than blah and lost. My skinny Yoga Jeans have become a staple and honestly my go to piece. I don't understand why I hadn't found this company sooner. What's important is that I know about Yoga Jeans now and so do you. 

Plus, I swear my youngest son lost the remote control for my camera. One second I had it, the other second it was gone. I know the thing doesn't have legs so it didn't walk off. I swear I'll find it in a shoe or lodged in my pantry somewhere but I'll have purchased a new one because I've ripped through my house and not found it. Yeah!

This white tunic is great with skinnies or a slight boot cut pant. I'm not a fan of tunics with skirts, or slouchy pleated pants. A tunic, untucked, with a skirt does not have the right symmetry and "beauty" is simply about symmetry. With slouchy pleated pants the tunic has too much bulk in the mid-section. When is bulk in the mid-section ever attractive?

Here I am asking you to vote for me again...sorry...you're allowed to vote for me once every 24 hours. I am trying to become one of the top 25 Canadian Blogs on Circle of Moms. Any votes are appreciated and you can just click here to vote for me.

Top - Joe Fresh

Jeans - Yoga Jeans
Shoes - Steve Madden (old)
Necklace - Stella & Dot
Bracelets & Watch - Links of London (old)

All Dressed Up In Python

Since I'm a fancy dresser I will be dressing up my python pieces because that's just what I like to do. Here are the first two looks.

I am literally sinking into the ground in these heels.

First Look:

Blazer - Banana Republic (old)

Black Jeans - Second Denim Co.

Blouse - Joe Fresh

Shoes Jimmy Choo

Second Look:

Top - Ann Taylor (old)

Jeans - CJ by Cookie Johnson

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Necklace - Stella & Dot

Bracelets - The Bay, Ann Taylor (old)

A Python Blouse

I got this blouse from Joe Fresh. It was a gift, very much appreciated, except it stayed in my closet the entire summer because I forgot about it. When I finally remembered to find it I wore it when I took the kids to their swimming lessons. Honestly ladies, where else am I going to wear it? Meaning I love the blouse but my social/work schedule is not very varied. I was talking to my friend Jen (during the lesson) and trying to tell her how casual I was that day...she looked at me (not believing a word) and said "Iva you're always fancy". I'm a fancy dresser, even when I try and do casual. I just am.  Even in my Lululemons I don't look as casual and relaxed as the woman next to me (or so I've been told, I don't even now how I accomplish that).

So here's me all fancy wearing my python blouse and my favourite black jeans...

In honour of all the amazing coloured denim that is out there I also decided to pair this blouse with blue jeans. Any burgundy denim would be just as pretty.

My tall girls know that right now I am sporting the TALL GIRL CROP. This happens when regular jeans are not long enough and sort of look funny at the bottom so you cuff them to make them look normal on you and they automatically end up cropped. Even though the pants weren't meant to be cropped. The sales girl will also add that with a boot you'll look normal. Cannot wait to solve this problem when I receive my coloured Yoga Jeans.

Blouse & Blue Denim - Joe Fresh

Black Jeans - Second Denim Co.

Red Belt - Cassis (old)

Black Belt - Ann Taylor (old)

Flats - Tory Burch (old)

Heels - Jimmy Choo

Bracelets - Stella & Dot

Gold Ring - Coco's Jewellry

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!

Still Green - But Trying to be Sexy

You know how some men collect t-shirts, women shoes or handbags? Well I collect blazers. It started out accidentally, I fell in love with a store called Cassis and they had great and affordable blazers. So I purchased a few, then I got some from Joe Fresh, Banana Republic, Tall Girl, J Crew and then the big times: my Smythe Blazer. It just snowballed! I am done with them (and all clothing) for now because I blew through my fall budget (and winter really) and am on financial lock down, I digress. Anyway, last year I purchased my most fun blazer - a leopard print blazer from La Femme De Carriere. This blazer is a fantastic rendition of what Dolce & Gabana did last year. I just had to have it. Like I said yesterday Leopard is like the animal print neutral for me. I don't consider it a pattern.

When I was finished taking my pictures (re-taking really) I was thinking of what else would go with this blouse and how Kristina (from Kiki's Parlour, lijepotica moja) was telling me to be bolder. So I said "I know how to be bold" and ran inside to add a few things.

Ta da!

I am so trying to smile with my eyes and look all smouldering. Taking pictures at the side of your house while your neighbours are walking by can be a bit strange.

Like I was saying yesterday - emerald and leopard combined can do no wrong. Plus if you are going somewhere after work and you want to add some fun I think this is an easy quick change. I think this blazer will be with me for a while. I may not wear it for a few years but I'm hoping to pull it out every so often. I love the exaggerated shoulder. This is the only thing that may date this piece. The piping detail is just a great touch.

Blazer - La Femme de Carriere (old)

Blouse - Joe Fresh

Denim - Second Denim Co.

Belt - Cassis (old)

Shoes - Jimmy Choo (old)

Bracelets - Stella & Dot

Green With Envy

This is the final shot of this outfit...I had to re-take the photos because I was not paying attention to the details.

I'll start with all the good things about this final outfit.

I love this green blouse. I purchased it a Joe Fresh so it's not going to break the bank and because it's loose I can eat whatever I want and have no worries about pulling. I added a red belt (it could have been a Christmas special if I wasn't careful) and liked the end result. This blouse can be worn with blue jeans or navy slacks, I would even pair it with grey. You could also switch out the belt for a multitude of colours.

Then there are the black denim skinnies. I have not purchased black jeans in decades, yes decades. I've been trying to find the right pair with no luck and then I was in Carriage Trade and Kathleen and Kit recommended the Second Denim black skinnies. LIFE CHANGING! First ladies you need to go down a size (some will go down two) because of the four way stretch. For yoga enthusiasts you literally can do any pose you want in these jeans. I just want to run around with my kids and look good (I have much lower standards). Then the rise is higher, so no overhang in front or in back. Sit down and don't worry about anything showing. Lastly, for all my tall ladies out there the inseam is 35 full inches. Do you see how it gathers at my ankle, when was the last time skinny jeans did that on you? It'll happen every time you wear Second Denim (for those six feet and under)!! Annie this ones for you. One more thing Second Denim Co. is a Canadian company!

Back to what I did wrong yesterday... when I started taking photos of me in this blouse I didn't pay attention to details.

You'll say Iva the head shot you took the day before looks fine...nothing wrong with yesterdays photos...

The blouse is wrinkled and I am not wearing the right undergarments. When you want women to trust your opinion on what to put on their bodies you should at least steam your blouse and put on the right bra. This is the least offensive of the photos (hence why I used a side shot of the close up). Ladies wear the right bra, padding is important with most blouses.

Again nothing wrong with the side shot but you want to see the front of the blouse. What I did right is pairing it with leopard print shoes. Leopard and red can do no wrong for me. Many women are afraid of red, if so try this emerald green and pair it with leopard accessories - shoes, handbags or cuffs. It looks great and on trend without trying too hard. 

So the next day I steamed my blouse and put on my black jeans and re-shot the pictures. The outfit looks okay with the blouse untucked but when I tucked it into the jeans I really liked the result. 

Blouse - Joe Fresh

Jeans - Second Denim Co.

Shoes - black Tory Burch (old), leopard Steve Madden (old)

Belt - Cassis (old)

Watch - Michael Kors

Bracelets - Stella & Dot