Fashion Et Moi

January 19, 2017

How To Stay Sassy And Warm This Winter | Part Two

FAUX FUR COAT – VINTAGE | JEANS – GAP | DRESS – VINTAGE | BERET – ASOS | BOOTS – OLD ASOS

Location: Avenue Fairmount, Montreal.

Hello and welcome to part two of this mini series about my eternal quest to stay sassy and warm this winter. If you are not up to date, I am currently living through the coldest winter of my life in Montreal and as I do like experimenting with what I wear, I am refusing to succumb to the jeans/jumpers/big boots/big coat look everyday of winter (even if I do enjoy this comfy ensemble on occasion) and am constantly thinking up new ways to keep my outfits interesting. Make sure you check part one, which is all about the details, but today we are talking about layering.

Layering is a big trend for AW16 so that boded well for practicality and styling during a snowy and subzero Canadian winter. It recently struck me how when it is bitterly cold, a coat will often hide everything I am wearing underneath but what I put on the bottom half of my body will always be on show. So when I stumbled across this gorgeous midi dress at work I thought I would give it a shot.

There are so many things that I love about this dress and that make it the perfect winter layering piece. I have worn it over my trusty Gap jeans and a black turtleneck – my usual go-to outfit on those cba days – giving the overall look a bit more shape with a silver waist belt. The slightly transparent fabric means that you can still see the jeans underneath, which is one of the joys of layering, and even when my understated black faux fur coat is fastened there is still lots going on in this look.

As a stand alone piece, the dress is really on trend. Maximalism, granny chic and ruffles are all trends that I love and this handmade vintage baby ticks all those boxes. Also, purple is big this season and adds a great pop colour to my winter wardrobe. I am already seeing tulle and mesh dresses all over the high street for spring/summer so this is my winter version for now. Admittedly, it was a bit of a wild purchase but I am dead keen on the result – what do you think?

January 17, 2017

Homemade Vegan Granola Recipe

Lewis and I are big cereal fans. For us, it is more than just breakfast but also something that we eat as a snack and dessert. So having discovered that cereal in Canada is either really tasteless, really sugary or really expensive, we decided to try making our own granola…and now we can never go back.

We normally make our granola batch on a Sunday night – it’s a lovely easy thing to do to get ready for the week ahead and it fills the apartment with an incredible smell. If you are doing “Veganuary”, I salute you! I am currently doing my monthly ‘vegan week’ and look forward to this breakfast every morning – check out our recipe below.

For a week’s supply for two people, you will need:

600-700g of large rolled oats

300ml of maple syrup (or honey for a non-vegan version)

3 tablespoons of coconut oil

Your choice of nuts and filling, we use:

3 handfulls of almonds

1 handfull of cashew nuts

3 handfulls of pumpkin seeds

Sliced almonds

Coconut flakes

3 tablespoons of chia seeds

How you do it:
1. Mix the maple syrup and coconut oil together over a low heat until combined.

2. Stir in oats followed by whole almonds, cashew nuts, chia seeds and pumpkin seeds (or your alternative choice of nuts) until evenly covered and there is no excess liquid.

3. Spread the mixture evenly and thinly on 2-3 parchment lined baking trays and put in a pre-heated oven at 370F.

4. After 10 minutes, remove the trays and add the sliced almonds and coconut flakes and stir. Return to the oven for a further 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

5. Remove the trays, mix in the chocolate and pat down the granola onto the tray. Leave to cool.

6. Serve with rice milk (or the milk or yoghurt of your choice).

7. Sit back and be in sweet, oaty heaven!

January 10, 2017

How To Stay Sassy And Warm This Winter | Part 1

How To Stay Sassy And Warm In Style This Winter

As a fashion blogger living through my coldest winter yet, I am still stubbornly refusing to let the subzero temperatures affect my sartorial choices…well, not too much anyway. I have not invested in a unflattering puffer jacket nor will I be donning my feet with ugly snow boots any time soon and guess what? I am surviving. So with this thought constantly on my mind, I thought I would create a little series with tips on how I am staying warm in style this winter in Montreal.

There is no doubt about it that dresses and skirts are out of the question for the next few months – even I am not committed enough to having dangerously numb legs and a draft wooshing up between my thighs – so jeans and wool tailored trousers are my winter uniform, with tights or leggings underneath, of course. These jeans have a rather large knee rip, which, if left unattended, would allow for more wooshing so I added some fishnets tights for a little warmth and an extra detail.

See, today’s outfit – even though it is quite simply a jeans and jumper combo – is all about the details. These days I am living in turtlenecks and layering this stripy one underneath my new beloved &Other Stories jumper adds that bit of interest while keeping my neck warm.

Accessories are a great way to spice up any look and during colder months we have even more options, with all the scarves, gloves and hats that are unavoidable in a Canadian winter. I have had this incredible leopard print faux fur bucket-style hat for a few years now and it is the softest and cosiest hat ever. Plus I am hitting two keys winter trends and feeling super sassy while doing so – win win. Finally, if all else fails, a statement lip can bring any winter outfit from boring to striking and it’s pretty effortless too. Luckily MAC’s Diva shade perfectly matches my cherry red Dr Martens boots, which are currently the only suitable thing I own for foot-deep snow.

Izzie x

January 8, 2017

Vintage Fashion Haul

Izzie x

January 6, 2017

27

New Year and birthday reflections 27 things I've learnt in 27 years

Today is my 27th birthday. Man I feel old – how did this happen?! At least I have my wisdom, which today I am sharing with you as 27 things I have learnt in 27 years. Enjoy and take note, kids.

1. A long distance relationship is possible.

2. Travel is the best medicine.

3. Cats make things better.

4. Being native English speaker is both the biggest gift and the biggest hinderance.

5. Freshly painted nails are one of life’s simple pleasures.

6. Dressing a bit weird is ok.

7. You don’t have to be friends with everyone.

8. It is ok to say “no”.

9. A glass of wine can solve any problem (but a few may make it worse).

10. Paris is the best city on Earth.

11. I can often tell instantly when I meet someone if we’re going to become good friends.

12. Getting off my face drunk is no longer worth the memory loss or hangover.

13. Cigarettes are amazing but life is much better without them.

14. I prefer staying in to going out out.

15. You can never have enough shoes. Or coats.

16. There is a Friends reference for almost any situation.

17. I would rather a year of seasons than a year of just sun.

18. Despite having tried Vans, Adidas and Nike, I will always be a Converse girl.

19. Cereal doused in double cream is really damn good.

20. True friends are those you don’t see for months and then when you meet up you natter like you saw them yesterday.

21. A lot of people are morons.

22. You will work for some unpleasant people in your lifetime. Just suck it up and let’s hope one day you’ll be the boss.

23. Working in a clothes shop is the best way to get in shape.

24. IKEA makes Lewis and I argue. And we basically never argue.

25. I cannot live without cheese (and I’ve tested this on numerous “vegan weeks”).

26. My mum was right – views and museums are bloody awesome.

27. True love does exist.

Have a fabulous Friday – roll on dinner and drinks tonight!

Izzie x