Plain Jane Haze

Just posting a quickie.  Today has been crazy busy for me but I've promised myself to do more outfit posts.  I'm no fashionista, but I do adore clothes and pretty things.  Please bare with my crap-tastic camera and impatient photographer (a.k.a. Chris)...

{blazer - thrift / t-shirt - One World Clothing / pants - R&W}

By impatient, I mean not telling me that he was starting to take pictures and wanting to leave after just a few shoots.  Doesn't he realize that non-photogenic people need to have a range of photographs to choose from?? 

I'm beyond relieved that the work week is almost over.  Even if it means a weekend full of studying for my final exam. Lately, I've been feeling the hermit vibe... maybe it's the rainy weather or the end of term.  Whatever the reason, I day dream of comfy clothes and the naps that are to come this weekend.  

{shirt - thrift / sweater vest - Sirens / belt - Ruby X / skirt - thrift / boots - Banana Republic}

Chris should never quit his day job to start a photography career.  

That's all I have left right now... Well I'm sure there is more non-sense ramblings left in me but I will leave you with a shout out to Marilou of 20 York Street.   Be sure to check out her blog, I've done a guest post to announce some exciting news!

Mama Would be Proud

The lovely and beautiful Marilou invited me to go with her to ROUGE: Ottawa's Ultimate Bacherlorette Party, on Saturday night.  This was a fun "non-wedding" event for a good cause.  The proceeds went to support the AIDS Committee of Ottawa. 

The only thing that was missing from this event was my good friend, Krista.  Her wedding is fast approaching and even though most of the details have been sorted out, there was tons of fun and ideas for her bachelorette.  Unfortunately my camera is a very basic "point & shoot"... and the lighting in clubs is never ideal... so please excuse the fuzziness of the pictures.  The bridal fashion show was very pretty.  Even though the dresses were all very beautiful, I kept my eyes on the hair pieces... they were all so funky.

Two hotties: ML from 20YS & Isobel of frAsh femme. & bel.

Isobel is the creative and talented designer of frAsh femme. & bel. 

Above is just one of many beautiful pieces created by Isobel.  The generous Marilou gave this necklace to me and I can't wait to show it off.  I first discovered Isobel's work when I attended The Posh Wedding Show, in February.   Her jewellery really stood out from all the other booths.  I enjoy the unique looks to the pieces.   Her spring/summer 2011 line is amazing and it's so cool that each piece is one of a kind.  

Yummy cupcakes were generously provided by Auntie Loo's Treats.  The most shocking discovery of the night was that the delicious treats were vegan.  Vegan! It really blows my mind that cupcakes can be diary and egg free.... and still taste amazing good.  It's dangerous for my waist line that she sells these amazing cupcakes at a cafe close to my work called Raw Sugar.   These cakes are also Auntie Loo's creations and look amazing.  My favourite is the orange one because it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

Now on to my awkward moment of the night... 

It involved a pole, a scandalously dressed hottie as an instructor and ML recording the moment.  

I was so confused on how to turn around and slide down the pole.  With the first attempt, I lost my shoe.  And didn't do much better with round two.  Pole dancing is not a hidden talent of mine... no upper body strength and lack of grace are not pros for this activity

 ML was awesome, with confidence and humour she nailed the turn and slide.

Isobel is too cute.  I wasn't able to capture the moment too well with the crap-tastic camera of mine (it had a seizure during her turn and slide).  But she did great and the bow at the end was adorable.    

The pole dancing demonstrations and lessons were provided by 3Sixty.  The girls who were doing the demonstrations were amazing.  If I try to explain what they were able to do it doesn't seem to do it justice, so you're interested just check out the site's photo gallery.   What's really fun is that they will do Pole Parties... something that could be tons of fun for a bachelorette?! Non?! 

Playing Dress Up

I always do this: not think about what to wear to a party until a couple hours before.  I go into an anxious-like mode and don't have any idea what to wear.  Usually I don't take pictures when I raid my closet to play dress up.  But since this blog and the realization that I can send photographs to my girlie support I've started taking pictures since Ottawa Fashion Week. 

{dress: Sirens/tights: Hue}

{dress: Sirens/tights: Hue/blazer: Smart Set/boots: Le Chateau} 

{shirt: Forever 21/skirt: Target/shoes: Boutique in China Town, Victoria BC}

(shirt: Forever21/skirt: Guess/shoes: Boutique in China Town, Victoria BC} 

{skirt: Forever 21/blazer: Smart Set/skirt: Guess}

{shirt: Forever21/cardigan: Forever 21/skirt: Guess/shoes: Winners}

 {shirt: Forever 21/sweater vest: Dynamite/skirt: Target}

Voted Favorite by: my mom, Chris & Jaclyn

 {sequence dress: Sirens/black dress: Sirens}

Voted favorite by: my mom & Chris

{sweater: Dynamite/skirt: Target/tights: Hue/boots: Le Chateau} 

{blouse: ?? store in Tampa FL/skirt: Target/tights: Hue/boots: Le Chateau}

{blouse: ?? store in Tampa FL/skirt: Target/shoes: Boutique in China Town, Victoria BC}

Of course, I went with none of these.

Chris says that I'm mean today.  It took a few hours for me to calm down after the crap-tastic day at work.  

{purple T-sweater ~ H&M/gray cardigan ~ thrift/ skirt ~ Rietmans/ necklace ~ Urban Behaviour} 

I look so tired.  This is me: stressed and very tired.

Tomorrow we are planning on having the in-laws over for dinner.  It should be tons of fun.   There will be lots of food, wine and laughs. One of my favorite things about having a house is being able to throw parties.  

I'm all over the place today....
Tomorrow is another day though.  I'm hoping things will be better.

Ottawa Fashion Week

Ottawa Fashion Week 2010, has come and gone. I was really excited to go, because I've never been to a fashion show before.  The idea of going seemed so glamorous.  Saturday was the only day I could go, so I got tickets for Morgan and myself.  It was going to be a girls night.  

Before Morgan came over I raided my closet to put together an outfit.

Of course none of these outfits made the cut.  By the last outfit of my black skinny jeans and purple tank, I was ready to burst.  That feeling of having nothing to wear was too overwhelming.  Morgan was due to come over to my place in a few hours, so I hit up the closest mall to pick up some new items.  It's not always the best idea to shop when you feel like you have nothing, because there's that tendency of buying too much.  But I tried to keep a clear head on what I wanted and not purchase everything in sight. 

I got a pair of essential - thick cotton - black leggings, a super cozy blue/grey sweater, a deep purple sweater, an adorable ivory rose headband and a dark grey bennie.  Done.  My style for the fashion show was going to be far from glamorous.  Just fresh & casual.  

When Morgan came over my tension just faded and we got down to the business of dolling up.  She is super talented at styling and I was very appreciative that she helped me out with my hair & false lashes.

The fashion show was amazing! I wish that we could have gone to all of the nights.  Both Morgan and I promised each other that next time we will prepare ahead of time to make sure our schedules are free for the whole week. 

The line-up Saturday night included: LABEL, Flood and Robicheau, Andrew Majtenyi, Jana Hanzel, Judy Design and Rachel Sin. It was so hard to pick out which designer was my favorite because they were all so good and different from each other. 

Flood and Robicheau had amazing bright colours and playful designs. The collection was fun!  Next summer my "got-to-have" is a bright jumper from F&R collection. 

Judy Design had a great rocker feel to her clothes, they were urban and wearable!  The music selection was great.  The opening song was Marilyn Manson, and poor Morgan got a punch in the arm from me due to my excitement (sorry Mo, but when Chris isn't around, I tend to punch the nearest person when I get too excited).  Each outfit was awesome, eager to see more, I was sad when her lineup was over. 

Jana Hanzel threw in a nice twist of having a violin musician playing at the beginning of her line-up.  The outfits to follow were classy and beautiful.  I wanted so many of them to add into my "work-appropriate" collection.  I loved the enlarged bows and flowers the models wore in their hair. 

Rachel Sin *sigh* xo is all that can describe her.  Je adore! I envied all the ladies who walked around the gallery wearing her dresses.

One of the big highlights of that night for me was meeting the beautiful ML, from Twenty York Street. She's a super talented Ottawa fashion blogger.  She's also really nice! If you haven't checked her out yet, do it!!!  She has great taste and is down-to-earth. It was too bad that we didn't have much time to chat but she was super busy with meeting & greeting others.   

I think this photograph is the best representation of how awkward I felt in front of the OFW poster. ML had her friends pointing cameras at us then Mo with my camera...  Too many cameras!  Which one to smile awkwardly at?!?!  My anxiety confession to ML relieved some of my nervousness because she was so friendly.  We laughed, I sighed.. after 2 minutes of photo-taking I had enough. 

after OFW self pics

 

 

My biggest regret was not taking a picture of Morgan.  She looked so pretty!!!  She always looks beautiful, but she was especially dolled up for OFW.  I continuously peer pressure her to start up a blog.  Mo would be so good at it!  She is so talented, that I know that she would be tons of followers and people adoring her style.

My second biggest regret of the night: leaving my camera in my purse for the majority of the time.  But thank goodness for fellow Ottawa Bloggers!  Including Twenty York Street, there are two other beautiful bloggers in town that I follow and enjoy reading.

Methodical Melrose has written a great review of Ottawa Fashion Week.  What I like about Melrose's is that she has great style.  Her clothes are what I would love to have in my closet. Then there's Pop Champagne, who has reviewed each day: One, Two and Three of OFW.  She also has an interview with the very talented designer, Adrain Wu.  Champagne is funny and full of fun celebrity gossip, local events and fashion.   It's everything that defines Pop. I like reading her "Around Ottawa" section, the events she follows are  interesting.  So check out all the wonderful links above to see the beautiful fashion trends and read the talented bloggers.