As the temperature continues to drop, I find that the usual trouser+sneaker combination is no longer sufficient for me to stay warm. It’s much easier to stay warm on top compared to the bottom, and I’m constantly scurrying to my next destination in order to decrease the amount of time my legs are exposed to the cold. With that being said, the following are a few tricks to stay warm without having to layer up excessively on the legs:

Over-the-Knee Boots + Skinny Jeans

This may be the easiest combination of them all. I love wearing skinny jeans for the aesthetics as well as the warmth due to the tighter fit. It really does a great job of retaining the heat! My pairing skinny jeans and over-the-knee boots, you can make sure that your legs stay warm while looking slim. I suggest black over-the-knee boots with a suede material for the snuggest and warm fit. If you want to slim down your legs, you can choose a pair of slightly heeled boots as well!

UGG’s + Leggings

This is a great combination for those days when you want to stay warm and cozy without the hassle of coordinating a perfect outfit. UGG’s look great with most pants/leggings as long as they are slim fit. My favorite combination is an oversized sweater, slim fit pants, and UGG’s. If you wish to dress down even more, I like to wear leggings, UGG’s, and a hoodie. I don’t think an outfit can get simpler and more minimalistic than this. For the most optimal aesthetics, I suggest black leggings (just because it has a smaller chance of color-clashing with the boots). There are also tons of styles of UGG’s to select from! My favorite is the classic short grey boots (as pictured above).

In today’s day and age, a lot of shopping can be accomplished through the internet. I love Amazon Prime, and I’ll even order food from UberEats on a rare occasion. However, I always purchase clothing in-store (or at least, try it on in-store first). There has been one too many occasions where the size or fit simply isn’t right, and I’m stuck with a final sale item that never gets to see the light of day.

I’d like to think that after making clothing purchases for 10 years, I’ve found the perfect stores for those who prefer the minimalistic and simple style.

#1 Aritzia ($$)

This probably goes without saying. Approximate 90% of the posts on this blog contain items from Aritzia, and my own closet is filled with Aritiza clothing. I think I’ve always loved the style of this store, but the High School me could not possibly afford to shop at Aritzia on the usual. I could not justify paying above $100 for a sweater or a pair of trousers back then (unfortunately, not the case anymore LOL). With the help of co-op and part-time jobs, I am now able to fund my shopping sprees at Aritzia.

Aritzia was originally founded in Vancouver, and I’m so proud that Aritzia has made it internationally. Numerous celebrities have been spotted wearing their pieces, and I’m not surprised at all. Their style is simple yet flattering, and the quality is also not bad for a fast-fashion chain. I find that complicated and colorful pieces often seem attractive at first, but I also get tired of the garment quicker. Simple pieces make it easier to match with other clothing, and it’s less likely to go out of style.

#2 Lululemon Athletica ($$)

I don’t think I’ve actually worn any Lulumeon pieces in my blogs, but that doesn’t mean that I love them any less than the other stores. I’ve refrained from wearing or mentioning too much Lululemon pieces in my blog posts, simply because they are sporty-casual and that’s not the direction I initially wanted to take my blog.

I’ve personally purchased and tried on leggings from various brands (TNA, Adidas, Nike, etc.) and none compares to the aesthetics and comfort of Lululemons leggings. Two years ago, I thought that I would never be crazy enough to pay $100 for a pair of leggings. Today, I can say firmly that I’ve purchased 4 pairs of leggings from Lululemon over the course of a year. That’s one pair every 3 months on average. They offer different materials for different purposes (day-to-day, yoga, running), and different lengths as well (did I mention they have complimentary tailoring as well?). On my lazy days when I just don’t feel like constricting my legs with skinny jeans, I throw on a pair of Lululemon leggings and a hoodie. You can never go wrong with that combination!

#3 Oak and Fort ($)

I think we were all expecting this one as well. When I think of minimalistic fashion, the first brand that pops up in my head is Oak and Fort. The majority of pieces at Oak and Fort are neutral-toned and gender-neutral. There are a couple of girly pieces here and there, but they specialize in more over-sized and loose-fitting attire. I find that Oak and Fort clothing has been decaying in quality. The past two purchases have had the same ware-house-y smell to them. And it isn’t pleasant at all. I’m not sure why this is, but it makes it hard for me to want to wear the garment out when I’m always conscious of how it smells to other people.

In terms of pricing, I think that it’s more wallet-friendly than Aritzia. However, I cannot place Oak and Fort higher than Aritzia because I simply do not find nearly as many favorites. It’s unfortunate, but it seems that Oak and Fort has changed their business strategy to quantity-over-quality over the past few years.

If I were to ever attend rehab (knock-on-wood), it would probably for shoes. I don’t know what started it, but once I put on a pair of pretty shoes I just can’t bear taking it off. I need to take it home with me so that I can add it to my shoe collection! I’ve made a few splurge purchases that I instantly regret or end up tossing it in the back of my closet. Over the past few years, I’ve realized that I should steer away from all shoes that are “trendy”. AKA, I like it right now because everyone else is wearing it, but I don’t wholeheartedly enjoy them. I plan on writing a post about shoe favourites, but for now, we will explore the unpurchased items that I have yet to pull the trigger on. Once again, we will be listing the shoes from least-attainable to most!

Warning, most of these shoes are $$$ because of my obsession with classic and timeless pieces. Please bear with me

#1 Manolo Blahnik Hangisiflat Velvet

I don’t know exactly how long I’ve eyed these shoes for, but it must have been somewhere around the summer before I began attending University. These hangisi flats are possibly the prettiest shoes I have ever seen, but I can’t see myself actually getting much wear out of it. For starters, it’s C$1,185 (YIKES). Need I say more? Haha but in all seriousness, these shoes are made with velvet. That does not sound very friendly for the normal day-to-day wear and tear. It’s especially fragile in the land of raincouver, where rain can fall any time and anywhere it wants. I don’t see this as a likely purchase, but it will stay on the wishlist because they are the first pair of flats that I’ve actually admired for its intricate design.

#2 Valentino Garavani ($$$)

Ah yes, I could never get enough of the classic design of these rock-stub flats. I own a pair myself in the calf-skin leather, and be warned: DON’T BUY THEM. Maybe I’m just terrible at lifting my feet off the ground when I walk, but the tips of my poudre Valentinos are beyond ruined :'( But anyway, back to these shoes. Despite already owning the same pair in the same design, I don’t see myself ever getting tired of wearing rockstuds. The design of these flats makes your feet look so elegant, uncomparable to any other pair that I have put on. They’re not so comfortable for those with wide-feet though… Especially not in this patent material. At a price of C$950 (tax included), I see myself perhaps purchasing these shoes as a gift to myself of some sort.

#3 Stuart Weitzman Reserve Boot

Ok, this is a pair of shoes that I can kind of, sort of justify. I’m a petite Asian girl with skinny calves, and it is really really difficult for me to find knee-high boots that won’t just slip off my leg when I make the slightest movement. Stuart Weitzman boots are traditionally narrower, so it’s hard for me not to fall for these on their next sale event. I am aware that most people purchase the Reserve Boot in leather, but that style looked surprisingly unpleasant on me. My thin ankles got completely swallowed by the boots, and it bunched up in an unaesthetic manner near the ankles. Knee-high and over-the-knee boots are a blessing during the winter months because it serves as an additional layer for the harsh weather. So yeah, considering these boots have a lot more material than the flats listed above, C$950 is a justifiable price for me!

Halloween is finally over, and it’s once-again appropriate to blast Christmas music! As we head into the season of carols and gift-giving, I couldn’t help but browse through webpages for my own personal wish list. You know, the one that you save on a folder in your browser and occasionally open to take a peek at? Only to close the tabs again because your wallet is empty and you’ve spent an unreasonable amount of dollars on Starbucks.

To offset the sad thoughts as I look at all the items on my wishlist, I thought that it would be a great idea to share the things that I have been eyeing. I hope is to make this a series, where I can share one category of items per week. Due to the sheer absurdity of some of the prices, I won’t be sharing the exact retail value. But I will still link the items in the pictures, just in case anyone is looking for a worthy splurge. If you couldn’t already tell, this week we will explore my bags wishlist. Starting from most unattainable to least

#1 Chanel Wallet on Chain ($$$)

This is one of those bags that I don’t quite like enough to drop the $$$, but I would consider for a graduation gift of some sort. As in, I wouldn’t pay for this out of my own pockets but if a family member purchasing it for me on a very special occasion, I would be more than grateful to receive it. This bag has an estimated retail value of C$3,000. It’s composed of lambskin and silver-tone metal. I wouldn’t suggest taking out all your savings for any bag (or any material item, really), but a great way to look at it is by setting the item as a reward after completing a goal. For me, I would consider purchasing this bag for myself once I complete my CPA. Which would be years down the road, but it serves as a form of healthy motivation.

#2 Saint Laurent Monogram Chain Wallet ($$$)

This is a classic YSL bag that I can imagine myself using upon graduation. Realistically, I would probably choose a YSL over a Chanel bag as a graduation present. Simply because it’s a less prestige brand with a price tag that I can justify for a once-per-3-years purchase. This bag with made with “grain de poudre embossed leather”, whatever that means. It comes with the classic YSL monogram with a removable silver chain. Unlike the Chanel, this YSL bag comes with a variety of colors, finishes, and sizes. You can also choose to purchase the double-flap version of this bag , although I personally find it to be a little excessive. This bag is priced at C$2,200 before tax, which is again, an EXTREMELY hefty price tag. But for those who can justify purchasing luxury, it’s a worthy investment among other similar-priced bags.

#3 Coach Riley Top Handle 18 ($$)

Moving forward from my obsession with black wallet-on-chains, this is a more-affordable option that I can see myself purchasing in the next few months. I had the opportunity to see this model in-store yesterday at the Richmond CF center, and I was unfortunately met with the news that this color has already sold out both online AND instore. Oh well, more incentive to save my money haha. It comes with three compartments inside, with a zipper on the middle divider:

This could be good or bad news, depending on whether you enjoy organizing all your items. This could be a great design for someone who has smaller, sleek items that they carry around. It could also be a nightmare for those who want the option to stuff a whole burrito in their bag (no shame!). This bag retails for $550, and I suggest that you wait a few months before making the purchase. Coach usually drops more color options after the initial launch, and most of the more-established models have upwards 10 pattern/design options. Happy shopping, and don’t forget to treat yourself in this cold season!