If you're going....

TO SAN FRANCISCO...

Three things no one ever told us about San Francisco:

1) It is actually a cold city, only reaching "summer" temperatures in September/October

2) It rains a lot, and buildings/ the bridge often disappear due to the overwhelming amount of fog

3) It is like no other city in North America

One thing we did/do know: It is beautiful.

I made the mistake of thinking SF, California would be sunny, hot and not as interesting and diverse as it actually is. It is like no city I have ever been, especially within the United States. The people are friendly, the buildings are old and unique, the hills are monstrous and it is very cosmopolitan- people from every race and background make up the colorful crowds. There is something about each city in the States that has the same "American" feel, the same characteristics, people, places and Walmart's. Yet, San Francisco does not possess one Walmart or commercial box store in the entire bay area. As a matter of a fact if your looking for anything unoriginal you better head out to the highway. Everything is local, and the locals are more than welcoming. We have met the nicest and happiest of people -- even when its pouring rain and people are wearing North Face parkas at the end of April (we stand out in our shorts and skirts).

The highlights of our adventure have been: the classic character of a british tour guide who sang various Beattles songs depending on her story, eating crab at every meal (Scoma's was the best!), $2 Tuesdays at City Tavern, chasing the perfect picture (the one above took about an hour of walking),  and generally being soaking wet yet having so much fun at all points during our stay. Our journey began on Monday and doesn't stop til Sunday. We say goodbye to SF tomorrow to hit up LA, and apparently there is quite the rivalry between the two coastal cities. We won't be able to tell yet which city is better but so far San Francisco is one of a kind. 

BCBG T-shirt, Urban Outfitters Skirt on the beautiful beach beneath the Golden Gate

                            The Typical San Francisco Scene- Victorians, a trolly and a local

The Magnificent City Hall where Gay Pride Weekend takes Place every year. Also where Harvey Milk changed city, state and eventually country laws!

Leather Jacket, Zara top, Aritzia trousers

San Francisco has the largest Chinese population in the world outside of China, also meaning the largest Chinese New Year Celebration besides in China! The streets run rampant with delicious smells and flavors, vendors and tiny stores selling everything from exotic fruits and nuts to pirated movies.

Random store straw fedora, Teen flo blazer, Devinbird jeans, H&M top, Juicy bag, Urban Outfitters Dress and Blazer, Scomas Mojito!

(Testing out big pictures, what do we think?)

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements

The title of this post is supposed to be read in the tune of the "announcement" song we used to sing at camp. (Reread with imagined tune, please... )

Now, a very important announcement. 

The papers are finalized, the contract is signed. I am living with my best friend in our dream apartment come August. As excited as I am about our new home, I am more excited about the pair living in it. At the end of the summer I am moving to Toronto to live the big city life style from our sky high view, ready to conquer classes, dress the part, resist the temptations of shopping, fall into the temptations of shopping, dance til our blisters stop us and make each other breakfast every day. 

The best things about my new roommate: Most creative person I know, does not care what anyone thinks, takes risks, has her own style, hilarious, rolls her eyes at me but still thinks Im funny, can take any article of clothing and "make it work", can dance until you are dragging her off the floor, is like a safe "locked down", more loyal than a dog and has never died her perfect blonde locks that can let her get away with anything while looking beautiful at all times.

Bad things? My house will always smell like peanut butter. 

Happy Birthday CL <3 I am so excited to live with you and I promise I will learn to make beaver tails for us. 

California....Here We Come.

School's out for summer! 

So, how do we celebrate? We hit the hills...

Hollywood Hills that is.

I have been hearing about summer plans, jobs and vacations for the past few months and finally, our plans are about to take off. Friends heading south to Florida, really south to Australia, and me and my sister, down to Cali. We plan to spend 4 days in Toronto, 4 days in San Fransisco and 4 days in LA before we both start our jobs in May. And I can't wait! I will have no cares in the world...except

WHAT TO PACK!

Due to the nature of our seemingly across North America vacation, a very small suitcase is required, and ample room must be left for cali shopping! 

My ideal packing list....

To preserve space in the suitcase, I will need to make use of an outfit in more than one way, only bring 2 functional bags and 2 multi purpose shoes! Leaving lots of room for accessories..

A) Alexander Wang Backpack: What's a better way to store all your maps, camera's and souvenirs than in a fashionable sack, leaving your hands free for takin pictures!

B) Boch Oxfords: The perfect daytime walking shoe, for hopping on the trolley and looking daintier than Michelle Tanner

C)Jeffrey Campbell Nudies: The easiest way to dress up your touristy day time look- a HOT pair of heels, not too high of course, your feet will be ache'n.

D) Myne "Sydney" Romper: The perfect travel outfit, comfortable on planes, cool for the california sun, cute with the oxfords and sexy with the heels. 

E) Metallic Fedora: Getting tired of the usual straw fedora? Im sure I'll get discovered in this glitzy one. 

F) Olivia Harris Studded Crossbody: small enough to fit inside the backpack, trendy enough to hit the celebrity clubs.

Anyways, I must get back to mapping my shopping routes... 

Recommendations on LA and San Fran welcome! I'd love to hit up amazing vintage stores. 

I took my baby on a saturday night....

A weekend at home, a Saturday night on the town with my sister. 

Pink lips, white blazer, patterned tights and simply black and white. 

My ideal outfit. 

My sister picked up a cute pair of slouchy boots that we knew would be ideal for pairing with summer dresses. But until the sun gods open up their hearts to Winnipeg, we tried to ease into the summer wardrobe. 

Martinis, martinis, chili chicken and more martinis combined with heart to hearts, knocking over drinks with the hand movements to match our elaborate stories and trying to fit in amidst the Jersey Shore look-alikes.

I love my sister. 

All of your hearts desires

"Dear Shopahallic, how do I pull off the pink lipstick trend without looking like the scary, g-string showing, hoop earring wearing, gum chewing girls from my highschool?"

There is nowhere better to place to look in answering this question than whowhatwear.com. Below are a few examples of chic ways of pullin off the pink pout. 

My sister and I invested and rocked it just last night, we tried the trend for the first time of the season below....

Wearing: MAC "Girl About Town"

Wearing: MAC "Snob"

In other news....

Two fabulously french trendsetters wore matching motos, paired with cute purses and big smiles proving you don't have to own a Harley to totally nail the oversized leather. Hillary and Katherine of whowhatwear watch out -- these ladies picked up their jackets long before your recent post came out.

 

                    M and S, motorcycle jackets from Danier, floral purse from Winners

Did I mention I'd fight Winner's scavengers for the floral purse M is holding?

Apparently she picked up the last one at 1 of Winnipeg's 3 Winner's... I now will search out the other 2. Wish me luck, or should I say..fais moi bon chance!

Perfectly Pink

I'm all about lipstick these days. There's something about a woman's defined lips that just needs to extenuated, sometimes the best outfits are the ones centered on the lips. Little black dress, purple lips...heels, loose t, red lips, and now this spring/summer, whites, pinks and florals will loosely hang off my (hopefully) bronzed self with light, pale, candy, colored lips.   

It can be fun and flirty, 

It can be sophisticated

and it is most definitely trendy.

Positively in love with this Chanel ad. Just so perfect. 

Oscar Report

I am so happy with the red carpet turn out at the Oscars. The stars certainly redeemed themselves and allowed me to once again, dream to be right there with them. 

For that reason, I shall be positive. I will not post awful pictures of celebrities who just can't get it right.  (ahem, Mariah Carey)

Rather, I will show my favorite dresses which I would give anything to wear, while accepting my Academy Award. 

Hate the girl, love the dress. Love as in cant describe how much I love and hate as in..will make it so much easier to steal guiltlessly. 

A true winner.

Stunning woman, stunning dress. 

Love hair, love dress, love earrings, love face, love girl (am I creepy?) AND she's Canadian.

   

Honorable Mention to my girl Diane Kruger in Chanel. Classy, unique... but not breathtaking.

In one hand I'll carry a little gold man, and in the other I'll hold this golden man!

Jake Gyllenhal... I've loved you since you were in October Sky.

Sunshine after the Rain

My favorite thing about spring...

When the precipitation coming from the sky is not white and sticky, but big wet drops which wash the snow away. Then, a few hours or day later, the sun shines down, drying it all up, exposing the grass and making the world sparkle. Everyone takes out their sunglasses, puts their parkas away and the introduction of the highly anticipated spring wardrobes work their way into chilly mornings and warm afternoons. 

I love that it is not fully spring or summer but people are starting to wear those clothes anyway, as if its going to make it happen sooner. I decided to do the same today... 

It is highly recommended to follow suit, because maybe if we all do this, it will encourage the weather to keep up the great work and get HOT!

Floral skirts, jean shorts, trench coats-- do not fear! Just pair them with warm tights, high boots (rubber!) and light scarfs! And leave those mitts at home...

A few favorite spring essentials which would make a great outfit with my newly cut, vintage jean shorts....

Short, suede boots will be amazing when it gets even warmer... picture with tanned legs and summer dresses! Minnetonkas (Moccasins-by-mail.com $40), Brian Atwood Suede Dye Boots $230

 The Brian Atwood ones are blissful.

This season, everyone needs a crop top. This one brings grunge chic to a whole new level. 

Life with Bird, $130

Next essential: light blazer and jacket. Lets not get ahead of ourselves here, it is still spring, and there is still that hint of Canadian briskness biting at our arms...so, don't leave the house without a cover up. The more boyish the better.

Reiss Jones, Double Lapel Relaxed Jacket (ASOS $280), Whistles D-Ring Acid Wash Biker Jacket (ASOS $260)

Season don't: do not find yourself dodging the puddles in your gladiator sandals...its not that warm yet!

Up, Up, Up and Away

Things are looking up. 

I moved to Ottawa 6 months ago and was unsure of what it would have in store for me. A town of politics, history, and more politics I doubted its ability to produce anything fashionable, unique or fun. For the first few months, I'm sorry Ottawa, thats how I felt. But upon further research, time, and amazing friends, I have discovered all of those things are in this city... where ever you are, you just have to give it a chance. I decided to stop caring about the way the people in my classes dressed, the apparent uniform of school sweaters and sweats and decided to dress from me. Not that I look down on the way people dress here but I decided that they are not trying to impress me, so why should I impress them. I wore a uniform for a few years, so I want to exercise some creativity. Slowly, I have bonded with people with their own unique style and personalities, realizing that they are way more than the way they dress (although it is very well), they are my friends who have helped me let go, discover Ottawa and have fun. 

No matter where I am in the future, I know I will find those people who are right for me, who I can depend on and who I can admire, but I will not be able to find the same girls I have here. And for that I am thankful. 

I have learned a lot about style, vintage shopping, that scissors can do so much more than I thought, and about life. I know the next month will be filled with Value Village, dancing with our eyes closed, bussing to the bars, and ripping off school convenience stores.  

Wherever I was last year, deciding to come to this school, no matter where I am next year, I have not regretted a thing. 

Enjoy a few pics of my scavenger friends, who can find fun and fashion anywhere they go. 

Glamourous, USA

 

 

Ralph Lauren: Canadian Polo, GO CANADA!

White Jeans: Devinbird, Grey Leather Jacket: Winners, Michael Kors Fringe: Saks 5th Avenue, Dolce Vita Egyptian Sandals

Whats not glamorous about lobster helpings bigger than your new cat eye sunglasses, valet parking at the mall, private yachts that could fit my house inside of them and beaches filled with tanned retirees. Fort Lauderdale, Florida.... the place to be when you hit 65. For those under the average age, I would maybe recommend a more...modern (no pun intended) place. Nonetheless, reading week was relaxing, sunny, beautiful and very satisfying in the shopping department. A few key items were purchased to add to my new summer wardrobe (following all of my rules). 

Rules: No black, lots of textures, jean, jean, jean, floral, whites, nudes, pales in every shade. 

Now the trick will be to save the special ones for summer and incorporate the extra special ones into slushy, snowy, Canadian weather. Being back in Ottawa has made me loath the feeling of wool socks and wellies....

Countdown to summer begins now. 

V-Day

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope you all had..whatever you wanted out of the day! Romantic gestures, burning pictures, kissing, crying or none of the above.  What is valentines day anyways? Whatever you want it to be.

 I did not celebrate too much as long distance relationships restrict that, however, if I was to celebrate, I would rock the black and white trend, mixed with a little festive red!

Wanted: Chic Clown Pants

My crazy friends were right again. (ATTENTION FASTER EARTH)

My lovelies and I did a crazy shoot on some random train in The Middle of Nowhere, Canada and I thought they were just crazy for making me put these on. But now, all day and all night I find myself lusting after a pair of pants just like these. . However, I would prefer that they were not red with sequin stripes (sequin stripes not visible in picture). 

I tried on a few pairs a while back and they either seemed to make me look like a clown, or a horse. And not a chic clown or horse, so chic clown/horse pants- where ever you are, find me!

Maybe these are good Valentines Day pants?

I think I might go a bit more conservative for that outfit. 

Love, Shopahallic.

Too Cool for Canada

Yes, this is our closet. 

Bon Voyage K. 

Canadian lawyer goes global. Paris, rest of world, look out. With her style, they'll give her the trophy before she makes her leading statement. But still, good luck!

While she's too cool for us, Im just too cool for homework. Literally drowning in it, but can't stop day dreaming about the other half of the world. Until I write my conclusion on "technological nationalism" I'll distract myself with old photos. 

Hopefully this post will distract one particular, french law student, lonely in her classes ;)