Black Metallic

Sweatshirt: c/o Joe Fresh / Tights: H&M / Blouse: J. Crew / Skirt: Thrifted / Bag: Michael Kors "Hamilton" / Glasses: Elizabeth & James / Gloves: Ricki's / Watch: Guess / Boots: Joe Fresh 

Earlier this season Joe Fresh sent me a lovely present from their Winter collection - which was awfully nice of them. I loved opening this up in the Fall when my mind was gearing towards Winter layering. It's metallic. It's blocked animal print. It feels like pajamas. I paired it with my tried & trusted J. Crew Blythe blouse in silk, which, for me, amps up just about anything. And FYI, Joe have some supremely cute silk tops on for a crazy low price right now. I may have ordered a polka dot & a camel that I'm awaiting the arrival of. Take a peek. 

Happy Friday, you guys. What are you up to? I'll be executing my Bring It Downtown plan this weekend, as well as attending a "boozy brunch" & finishing up some more holiday shopping. It looks like a swell weekend is ahead.

Have a wonderful day.

Variety Show

A variety show for your Tuesday. Fall & Winter outfits past, with two never-made-it-to-blog photos (can you tell which ones they are?). I can't begin to name off all of the sources of these outfits past, but if you have a question about a piece, just pop me an email (dollparade@gmail.com).

Coming up for the rest of this week.. Big ol' coats (in Winter? Groundbreaking...), a re-visit to my wish list (let's be honest, we probably have a Polyvore covering that one), and just maybe, a new to me party dress (layered up with an also new to me motto jacket).

There, I've made myself accountable.

I need some more coffee.

Quick Mix

It's Friday y'all. How do you feel?

This is a quick post of a daytime mix, with only a few photos to showcase (the sun was setting like it was on speed). Thank you to Kate for taking these photos under the wire.

This was worn to the #bringitdowntown launch this week, which I popped to right after work. Like the past two years, I'll be showcasing what I do with $100 downtown dollars in the downtown district of my city, Fredericton. I picked a theme of "stay all day", which suits me just peachy. Galavant downtown & blog about it? Yes please. I can't wait to plan my day & I'm brainstorming something new & different than what I have done in years past. Thank you Downtown Fredericton for including me yet again.

Have a great weekend one & all.

Overdue Hello

Blazer: Thrifted / Jeans: Parasuco / Booties: Michael Kors c/o Little Burgundy / Bag: Michael Kors "Hamilton" / Glasses: Elizabeth & James / Blouse: Thrifted / Bowtie: Shopbop

Oh hi there. It's been a little while. Where have I been? Well, it's been over 2 weeks since my last post and I have absolutely no explanation other than this : blogging has been a bit of a struggle. I'm not sure what sparked the struggle.. if it was the time change and lack of daylight hours for photographing, or the shift to colder weather (which, fair be it, isn't even all that cold yet), or a general lack of inspiration, but lately something has made blogging feel impossible for me. My blogger pal, Melanie, tweeted at me recently, saying that she missed my posts, which was just the very nicest. It made me think about things a bit more & at least got me back to an inspired place, so hopefully I'll be able to kick the laziness & just.. find a way.

This is a pretty simple outfit, with the same blazer as my last post in focus. These things happen, you guys. A drizzly day in the East, I decided on comfortable denim, a neutral cream silk blouse, my camel blazer & matching camel booties, and a fuzzy black toque. I had my trench layered over everything as well, but didn't seem to get a capture of that. Something simple for a overdue Hello.

How are you all doing out there?

Burgundy Basic

Pants: c/o Gap / Shoes: Nine West / Blouse: J. Crew Blythe / Blazer: Vintage / Bag: c/o Banana Republic / Watch: Guess 

Some colours just say Fall to me, and both camel & burgundy would be at the very top of that list. Luckily for me, these burgundy slacks were sent along by Gap (thank you!), and they've become a major go-to ever since. I have worn them in this way quite a few times, work appropriate with a variation on a blouse & a blazer, but I have also wore them with a big comfy sweater for a run to the market or a coffee date.

I have always loved a burgundy & cream combination, so I knew that these pants would pair well with my most favourite & most worn blouse. I kept warm with this oversized (men's!) blazer, and added a non-pictured trench as a final layer. Also involved was this new clutch from Banana Republic. Moody dark "snakeskin"? Major love. Also to mention.. Banana Republic are kind of killing it lately, and I notived that they are having a 31% off sale today only - not a sponsored sentence, my friends, but just my 2cents. I am loving a lot of their stuff, but this is my particular favorite.

Oh, and Happy Halloween!
 

Mustard Yellow Hello

Coat: Insight New York / Jeans: c/o Gap / Top: c/o Old Navy / Shoes: ALDO / Bag: ASOS / Watch: Guess / Bracelet: Thrifted / Sunnies: Le Chateau / Headband: J. Crew 

My folks were up to visit this past weekend, and we had a very lovely time. Lots of meals with beer & wine & mojitos &... PLUS we went to a local old (ollllld) school (that is now an Arts Centre) for the annual Haunted Tour that is put on by engineer students. It was a long but worthwhile wait. So well done & so psychologically spooky. I supremely love Halloween & found that I was lacking the spirit this year - it was the perfect thing to get me in the mood last minute. 

My lovely Mum brought up this beyond darling Fall coat that she had actually bought me for my birthday a little while ago. It was still a little too warm back at the beginning of September, so I decided to wait until enough of a chill was present to bring it into rotation. I had kind of forgotten just how beautiful it was until I put it on Thursday evening, and I'm back in the love. Deep mustard & puff shouldered with rosette detailing? Just marry me.

Black & Leopard & Red All Over

Top: Thrifted / Skirt: c/o Joe Fresh / Shoes: ALDO / Tights: H&M / Bag: Unknown / Sunnies: ASOS

Sometimes I go "thrifting" - or, thrift shopping, if you don't want to verb-it. And sometimes when I go thrift shopping, it's an absolute bust. I'll find zippo. Sometimes it lands in the middle, where I'll find say, a great basic pencil skirt for work for a fraction of the price of a new one. That's always nice. 

But then there are the other times. The times that I find something just wonderful. Something on trend, but unique. Something fun & different. Something that I know I can style minimally, but feel stylish in. I love the feeling of knowing that it's mine & mine alone, and that I won't see it everywhere I look in my small town - no duplicates when vintage shopping!

This exact thing happened with this blouse. Suede & adorned with the best collar/cuff detailing of fuzzy animal print, I paired it with a current basic black skirt from Joe, and a pop of red via my purse. It's also really long (but not really long enough to be a shirt dress), so next it may be paired with tights & sequin shorts for a night out.. if I can stay up past midnight. Zzz.