Outfits

Summer To Fall – Loving Suede

Suede has always been a great a wardrobe staple for me and I have secretly been waiting for more ways to wear suede – not just through boots or shoes during the fall or winter seasons! I’ve always thought suede makes for the perfect festival style when it comes to wearing suede fringed jackets or crop tops, but this summer I jumped on the suede button skirt trend and I discovered so many ways to wear my suede skirt already.

My favorite one by far with a long sleeve top and lace-up flats.

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Skirt: Villa (Similar here and here, or midi version here)

Top: Massimo Dutti (similar here)

Flats: Massimo Dutti (Similar here)

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

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Check out other great suede looks for fall!

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Europe Travel Guides

Destination Italy: Milan Weekend Guide

For my annual European trip, I always try to take time off to visit both my home country, friends and family back home, as well as explore at least one place just for myself (I call it living a balanced life)!  Ever since I moved to the West Coast, I found it more manageable to mix these 2 trips together and get the best of both worlds: family time and vacay time! Also, it’s so affordable and fast to travel in Europe when you are already there, and in the mood for adventure.

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This year I packed my bags and prepared myself for a large quantity of ice-cream and off I went on an amazing getaway to Italy! For 5 days I explored the beautiful city of Milan and Northern Italy and Switzerland (Como Lake, Bellagio, Lugano and Lake Iseo).

Here are some of the things you cannot miss when visiting Milan and the Italian Lakes!

MILAN WEEKEND GUIDE

What to see.

Milan Center and Duomo. Saying that Milan doesn’t have too many cultural attractions is quite an understatement. Although you cannot compare it to a bigger city like Barcelona, Paris or Rome, there is so much to see. The Milano Duomo is certainly one you cannot miss. It’s actually rather impossible to miss as it’s there, giant and gorgeous right in the center of the city. Go before 6pm and enjoy a beautiful view of Milan from the rooftops of the Duomo. The views are spectacular and all the pictures you’ll take will have beautiful Gothic architecture as a backdrop. (Price 15 EUR – Cathedral and Lift access to Duomo Rooftops).

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Center Milan. Start from the Duomo and explore the neighboring streets. Check out the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, La Scala Theatre. I also enjoyed walking down the Corso Vittorio Emanuele shopping street (right between the Duomo and Galleria) and indulge in gelato.

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Sforzesco Castle + Parco Sempione. I really enjoyed these 2 together. Rent bikes from Parco Sempione and go about Milan’s biggest park and enjoy the views of the castle. Although I haven’t visited the inside of the castle, I do recommend it as it has over 12 galleries and  the grounds and architecture are really great to indulge in. You can then bike around the center until Navigli, or around the downtown area.

 

Pinacoteca di Brera and Santa Maria delle Grazie Church. The Pinacoteca di Brera is Milan’s biggest art museum and it has quite a collection and a wonderful courtyard . I got tickets to both of these and I was really excited to be able to see the “Last Supper” masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. I recommend buying tickets in advance as the visits are limited, and it’s usually quite busy. After your visit take a walk on Corso Magenta and indulge in Italian architecture, Baroque palaces, cafes and restaurants.

Where to eat and shop

Navigli. This is a wonderful and bustling neighborhood close to center Milan which is the perfect place to have dinner or walk around the canals. There are lots of bars and restaurants to choose from. Enjoy the sunset views and take part in local events that are usually happening along the canals.

Shopping around Milan. Milan has a lot of boutiques and famous brands all over really. I enjoyed visiting the Brera district – their bohemian stylist neighborhood or Via de la Spiga, the luxury fashion street in Milan. If you have half a day, check out the Serravalle Outlets just 1h away from Milan. There are lots of brands and quite good selection and collections.

 

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Luce – The Wes Anderson Cafe is like a day in Budapest Grand Hotel

 

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Pave – great breakfast and excellent coffee

Shopping around Milan. Milan has a lot of boutiques and famous brands all over really. I enjoyed visiting the Brera district – their bohemian stylist neighborhood or Via de la Spiga, the luxury fashion street in Milan. If you have half a day, check out the Serravalle Outlets just 1h away from Milan. There are lots of brands and quite good selection and collections.

Flea markets finds. The most famous spot for finding good quality resale goods is in Fiera di Senigallia, the most popular flea market in Milan. Also check out Papiniano, which is close by, for a large variety for shoes and household items. Milan also has great antiques, in the famous Antiquariato sul Naviglio. Vintage Delirium is also a great vintage destination. It is the place where you can probably find many Italian brands and international designers.

10 Corso Como. This store is definitely worth a visit as it has one of the coolest brands, amazing design and a cafe and garden within.

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10 Corso Como – Shop and Cafe as good as it gets

Where to stay

I recommend staying in the center as you can basically walk anywhere. Milan also has a metro, so anywhere around a metro stop is also ok. I stayed at The Square Milano Duomo (highly recommending it) and it was just a few minutes away from the Duomo.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 of my Italian summer adventure. Como Lake Guide Coming Soon!

xx, Liza

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Outfits Style Know-How

How To Build a Professional Wardrobe

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Aritzia pants (similar here and here), Jcrew t-shirt (on sale) – Jcrew Sandal (similar) – Zara Bag (similar)


 Building an efficient and stylish professional wardrobe is not an easy task. We cannot ignore the fact that we spend most of our days in work clothes (which in many cases would not be your first clothing option) so it really is important to make the most out of your dress code. Wearing a well put outfit not only makes us look nice in our 9-5 life, but also adds that extra confidence in the workplace that only a power outfit can do for you. Nailing the perfect look everyday shouldn’t be a burden, if you take some time to choose your items strategically and coordinate your pieces, you can gain some valuable minutes in the morning, in addition to keeping your outfit always on point. Here is how to build a professional wardrobe:

 

1. Invest on a few statement pieces

These are the pieces that will bring professionalism into your look and will be the starting point of your outfit. Invest on well-made garments such as a pair of tailored pants, a structured blazer, a polished midi skirt or classic black dress . It is important to choose quality fabrics, neutral colours and preferably a more structured fit.

2. Stock up on classic and versatile items

High-low is the key here, finding some basic items to mix and match with your statement pieces will create the perfect balance. These items are pretty versatile and usually budget friendly, some good options are plain t-shirts (coloured or neutral), a stripped top, white buttoned shirt, cosy cardigan/sweater and a basic black skinny pants.

3. Trendy accessories

Accessories will bring more fun and personality into your outfit. A bold watch can make a big fashion statement and will also be pretty useful during work hours. A trendy pair of shoes adds a modern twist to any classic combination. Fell free to get creative  (within the acceptable in your workplace) and exploit your option with other items such as handbag, scarf, jewellery and even nail polish.

4. Quality and comfort

Remember that you will be wearing these pieces for 8 hours continuously and repeating some of them every week, therefore they must be comfortable and must last for a while. It really is worth to make a good investment and not having to replace it over a couple of months. Working on a budget for a for your professional wardrobe may not be that easy, but simple actions such as skipping the Starbucks coffee in the morning or bringing your lunch to work once in while may just save you the extra bucks you need.

 

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Canada Travel Guides

One Day Getaway – Bowen Island Guide

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If you are looking for a quick and picturesque escape from the city, Bowen Island is probably an easy getaway for spending a relaxing afternoon, day or weekend exploring the amazing landscape of Vancouver coast line.

Bowen Island is a 30-minute ferry trip from Horseshoe Bay or from English Bay to Snug Cove and it’s probably as convenient as it is quick to get there. The ferry is reasonably priced at $12 per person or $37 per car and there are plenty of things to do once you get there. As I went for an afternoon trip, we ended up taking the car from Horseshoe Bay and we synced up with the ferry schedule to avoid waiting times. Make sure you check the Bowen Island ferry schedule from Hoereshbay or English Bay before planing your getaway.

 

Things To Do On Bowen Island

Explore Snug Cove. Snug Cove is a quaint little place where the ferry drops you off. There are cute cafes, restaurants and pubs you can relax while waiting for the ferry back. This is also the place to grab a bite to eat if you’re looking for more variety. There are also a few cafes on the island that have small snacks and coffee.

Hike around Killarney Lake.  A 5 minute drive from Snug Cove will get you to Killarney Lake. Doing the lake loop hike will take you over 1h and it’s quite a picturesque and low difficulty hike.

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Mount Gardner Hike. From one side of Killarney Lake take the hike towards Mount Gardner. This is a longer hike of about 17km round-trip but the view at the top is really spectacular! You can spot  Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, West Vancouver and Burrard Inlet. We recommend going for the hike in the morning as it’s going to take you about half a day.

Art + Coffee. Quite surprisingly Bowen Island has a few art galleries you can wonder through and admire. A short walk from Snug Cove on Grafton Road will take you in a quaint plaza called Artisan Square with cute buildings, a few galleries and cafes. Grab a healthy breakfast at Artisan Bakery and then indulge in a cup of coffee and a chocolate truffle on the patio at Cocoa West Chocolatier.

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Drinks and Bites.  The Bowen Island restaurant scene is pretty good and diverse! You can find lots of good pub style places but also Asian options and contemporary cuisine. We loved and tried Doc Morgan’s, Shika, and Snug Cafe .

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Kayaking and Beach. If the weather is nice check out the Bowen Island Marina and the beach. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards from Bowen Island Kayaking and explore the Cove and see Bowen Island from the shore.

We hope you’ll enjoy the guide and let us know if you have any other recommendations! We’re going to Bowen Island once in a while, so it’s always good to hear about new things to do on Bowen Island.

xx,

Liza and Carolina.

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Outfits

Instagram Roundup – III

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  1. Lazy weekends, one cant go wrong with the basics right? V-neck tee, high-waisted denim shorts, saddle bag.
  2. Throw back to Carol’s summer road trip to Lake Louise. Check the full Rocky Mountains Itinerary here.
  3. Lake Iseo, Italy – Liza walking on the water and wearing a cute lace dress and gladiator sandals.
  4. What to wear for a touristic  summer day : tank top, jeans shorts and sneakers.
  5. A closer look of  the perfect summer outfit –  Check our Favourite Summer Sandals here!
  6. Boho vibes for the Vancouver Jazz Festival. Get the look: bell sleeve top, distressed jeans, Topshop lace up sandals and crossbody bag.
  7. Another peek at Liza’s summer vacation – Riding through Copenhagen in comfy kicks!
  8. Weekend OOTD for a cloudy summer day in Vancouver. White tank and jeans, grey cardigan, and tassel bag.
  9. We are really into statement sleeves this season. How cute is this yellow blouse? Similar top, high-waisted  shorts, leather flats, Rebecca Minkoff Bag.
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Most Wanted

Favourite Sandals for Summer

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It’s finally Summer, the best time of the year in my humbled opinion. 🙂  I love everything about it: longer days, blue skies, weekends at the beach and of course, summer clothes! It feels great to wear lightweight fabrics and dress in a laid back casual way. Whether you’ll go with a breezy dress or a lacy blouse, one thing we know for sure: you’ll need a pair of comfy trendy sandals!  We already shared our spring staples here, so keep scrolling to see our Favourite Sandals for Summer that we could just live in for the whole season!

1. Espadrilles

Nothing says summer like espadrilles. These rustic rope soled sandals will bring a casual-chic European vibe to any outfit. Our favourites are the wrap-up open-toes, but we also adore the traditional ballerina shape and the heeled version of these sandals.

Raye Sandal (picture) // Asos Ankle Strap // Soludos Wedge,

2.  Lace-Up

This season is all about the laces!  A trend that has been around for over a year and is definitely staying for a while! We are huge fans of lace up shoes (as seen here, here & here) so it’s a little obvious that we can’t resist a classic bohemian lace up sandal.

Soludos Flats (picture) // Aldo Nude Sandal / /Hinge Wrap-around

3. Minimalist

One can’t go wrong with the minimal style. Sometimes less really is more, so a simple, plain, leather sandal might just be your go-to shoe for the whole season.

Madewell Slide Sandal (picture) // Ancient Greek Sandals // Joie a La Plage Slip on

4. Gladiator

A summer staple, the Gladiators will never go out of style. This slightly heavier sandal will add a great balance to a romantic summer dress or an off-shoulder crop top. We love the the high knee length for an even edgier look!

 Dolce Vita Sandal (picture)//Asos  Strappy Gladiator// Revolve High-Knee-Sandal.

5. Low Block Heel

Trendy, versatile and comfortable – all attributes of the block heeled sandals! The ankle strap detail adds the perfect feminine touch. These are the shoes that will take you from the office to the summer parties and won’t let you down!

Steve Madden Irene (picture) // Asos Lace Up Mules //  Sam Edelman Susie

 

For more inspiration on Summer Outfits, follow our Pinterest board here!

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