Stripes: The New Neutral

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advice, Fashion, How to mix patterns, J.Crew, Jane Norman, Jigsaw, L'Épicurieuse, L'Épicurieuse Blog, Madewell, Mango, Montreal, nautical, Outfits, Pattern mixing, polyvore, Spring 2012 fashion trends, stripes, Stripes on stripes, style, Tommy Hilfiger

There was a time when stripes were reserved for inmates. Nowadays stripes have been set free and run wild in the fashion world. So wild in fact, that with the new pattern-mixing trend, they are now known as the new neutrals.

Horizontal or vertical, the key to combining stripes with other patterns is to look for a similar colour palette in both prints.

When wearing stripes on stripes, the secret is to play up your body shape. Horizontal for volume and vertical for length.

What are your thoughts on stripes?

Summer is coming

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Alexander Wang, Bruuns Bazaar, Designers Remix, Fashion, Jack BB Dakota, Mango, Miss KG, polyvore, Red Herring, Stella McCartney, style

Mango jean jacket, £45
Stella McCartney striped skirt, £650
Miss KG slip on shoes, £30
Jack BB Dakota leather bag, $135
Chain jewelry, $58
Alexander Wang round tortoise shell sunglasses, $355

Trending: Monogram Fashion

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chevron, Daninotes, Decor, Etsy, Fashion, IPhone, IPhone case, L'Épicurieuse, L'Épicurieuse Blog, LaPlates, Max & Chloé, Monogram, Montreal Fashion, Personalized jewelry, Polo Shirt, Ralph Lauren, trends 2012

Back in the early 90′s, I remember when I used to go to my very fancy great aunt’s house. Her home was some sort of museum, off grounds to us the monsters who ruined everything they set their sight on children. One of the memories that stands out the most from her array of fanciness is her monogrammed towels. Two decades later, I see the same trend popping up, now even beyond towels.

These are just a few of my favourites from the trend that will turn a thing of ordinary use into an item to remember.

1- Max and Chloé West Avenue Jewelry monogram necklace. A great layering piece, available in gold, rose gold and silver.

2-This chevron-pattern customizable IPhone case is available on Etsy by Daninotes. Have fun finding different patterns, colours and even fonts. You’ll never lose a phone again!

3-A way to turn a simple Polo Shirt into a statement piece is by customizing it. The Ralph Lauren site offers the option to embroider your polos. You’ll be the queen of the Country Club!

4-A deck of cards can be turned into a beautiful and original coffee table accent by adding a beautiful background and a monogram. These are from LaPlates.com

Week-end Wear

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Alexander McQueen, all stars, black shoes, Chanel, Comfy outfit, Converse, converse shoes, dress leather, Fashion, Kenneth Jay Lane, kenneth jay lane jewelry, L'Épicurieuse Blog, Mango, Markus Lupfer, Montreal, Montreal Fashion, Montreal Street Style, Movado, party in montreal, rocker chic, running errands, saint laurent blvd, skull jewelry, style, Ted Rossi

Girlie pink and goth black, Converse shoes and a dress, leather jacket and a bow. A comfy outfit full of contrasts perfect for running errands in style. Add a pair of black pumps and transition your outfit for a night of drinks in Saint Laurent. Enjoy your week-end!

Markus Lupfer three quarter sleeve dress, $270
Mango genuine leather jacket, £70
Converse black shoes, €65
Chanel bag, £2,200
Movado dot jewelry, $350
Kenneth jay lane jewelry, £220
Ted Rossi lizard jewelry, $210
Alexander McQueen skull jewelry, £175
BALDESSARINI Black Silk Bow Tie, $95

Karen Walker Obsession (and where to cure it in Montréal)

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Fashion, Karen Walker, Karen Walker Eyewear, L'Épicurieuse, L'Épicurieuse Blog, Montreal, Montreal Fashion, Montreal shopping, polyvore, style, sunglasses, where to shop for Karen Walker sunglasses in Montreal

There’s nothing better than sunglasses to wrap up a summer look. This summer, my preference obsession lays in one specific brand: Karen Walker. Here are the retailers that carry these amazing shades in Montréal. I’m breaking up the piggy bank for these!

Delano		70 Rue. St Paul Ouest, Montreal, PQ, H2Y 1Y8	+1 514 286 5005
Editorial		1455 Rue Stanley, Montreal, PQ H3A 1P4	+1 514 849 3888
Kitsch		113 Frontenac Street, Sherbrooke, PQ J1H 1J7	+1 819 542 5555

Spring has Sprung

Tags

COLLECTION XIIX, Fashion, Givenchy, How to mix colour, How to mix patterns, Jeffrey Campbell, Karen Walker, Kenneth Jay Lane, L'Épicurieuse, L'Épicurieuse Blog, Milly, Montreal, Montreal Fashion Spring outfit, Montreal Street Style, polyvore, Scarf Print blouse, Spring 2012, style, Warehouse

A fresh way to incorporate colour and pattern mixing to your Spring outfit.

Warehouse paisley top
$89 - warehouse.co.uk

Milly ivory skirt
$410 - stylebop.com

Jeffrey campbell shoes
$105 - solestruck.com

Givenchy genuine leather handbag
$1,280 - ssense.com

Kenneth Jay Lane clear crystal jewelry
$250 - net-a-porter.com

Kenneth Jay Lane clear crystal jewelry
$150 - net-a-porter.com

Kenneth jay lane jewelry
$75 - net-a-porter.com

Karen Walker tortoiseshell sunglasses
$220 - shopbop.com

COLLECTION XIIX brim straw hat
$28 - nordstrom.com

3 products from 1 brand that’ll erase winter from your hair

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Crazysleek Flat Iron& Blow Drier Lotion, Damaged hair, Flat iron, Got 2B, Hair, Hair Products, How to treat damaged hair, mend split ends, moisturize hair, Montreal, Products for dry hair, revive hair, Schwarzkopf; Hottie Deep Rescue Conditioner, shiny hair, smooth hair, Smooth Operator Lustre Lotion, split ends, Styling products, tame flyways, treat winter hair, Treatments for hair after winter

Aside from salt marks in your boots, dry, brittle hair is probably the most annoying inheritance winter leaves you with. Unfortunately, solutions are not included in winter’s lengthy testament of sequels.

So before air-drying season fully kicks in, let Schwarzkopf enter to the Hottie Deep Rescue Conditioner, an intense, moisture infusing conditioner.

I replaced my regular conditioner with this heat-actived treatment a little over a month ago. My hair has gotten smoother, more tameable and it also falls less. And that makes me real happy: a myhair carpet is not as attractive as a mohair one.

As a complement, I chose the Crazy Sleek Flat Iron & Blow Dry Lotion, a spray that helps smooth all my flyaways and protect my locks from the deadly flat-iron, which heat actually helps this treatment activate.

To finish my coiffe, I use my Smooth Operator Satin Drops (Smoooooooth Operator, yeah, I sing it every time I use it).  A silky, luxurious feeling, flyaway tamer, especially good to smooth my very, very dry hair tips. Just don’t apply to the roots of your hair. It’s a little too greasy for that and we don’t want to look like we haven’t washed our hair after we just did.

All I can say is R.I.P. winter and dry, pouffy hair.

How to upgrade an old sweatshirt

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crafts, D.I.Y Fashion, DIY, do it yourself, Elle Magazine inspired, Fabricville, How-To, L'Épicurieuse Blog, Lace, M&J Trimmings, Montreal, Montreal Fashion, Montreal style, Repurposing, Sweatshirt, upgrade a sweatshirt

With the outburst of athletic inspired wear, I decided to upgrade my old comfy sweatshirt. A touch of lace can render elegant the otherwise sporty week-end go-to garment in a quick three-step project.

You’ll need: 

Stitch glue (Fabric glue)

Enough lace to cover both sides of your sweatshirt

An old, fitted sweatshirt

The How-To:

Dot on the glue all around the perimeter of the back of the lace.

Apply lace to sweatshirt.

Let dry.

If you feel like you’ve misplaced the lace or simply just don’t like the end result, you can remove the lace and clean the glue with a damp cloth. Of course, all this before the glue dries. Once it’s set, it’s even safe to throw in the washing machine.

In Montréal, you can shop for lace at your local Fabricville.

If you’re in the U.S. M&J Trimmings’ selection is pretty wide.

And there you go! Happy week-end everyone!

Cinco de Mayo

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Antik Batik, BCBG Max Azria, cinco de mayo, day cocktail, Fashion, H&M, Jeremy Scott, Karen Walker Eyewear, mexican independence, Motel, outdoor party, polyvore, style, Trina Turk

It was le boyfriend’s birthday this week-end. I decided upon a party starring a piñata: born donkey, rebaptized Roberto. Roberto was smuggling in his belly Jack Daniel’s, Vodka and Rum bottles, as well as other grown-up goodies.

Roberto, R.I.P. (death by beheading) reminded me of a certain latino holiday right around the corner: Cinco de Mayo!

Time to sip Margaritas on a terrace and break a piñata all in style.

I promise I will post some personal style pictures soon. The ones I have are terrible quality, taken with my MAC’s photo booth in the middle of my apartment, still in post-party state. I haven’t had time to tidy all up. I mean, I have no idea how my shoes ended up hanging on the wall instead of my posters, or my boots upside down on top of the coat rack. Good times and mucho fun. Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Motel crop top
£22 - houseoffraser.co.uk

H M no sleeve shirt
£15 - hm.com

Jeremy Scott fringe skirt
€305 - colette.fr

BCBG Max Azria satin clutch
$78 - bcbg.com

Trina Turk sport necklace
$250 - maxandchloe.com

Antik Batik gold jewelry
$110 - stylebop.com

Ring
$30 - baublebar.com

Karen Walker Eyewear oversized sunglasses
$180 - lagarconne.com

Haute Hippie

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AllSaints, Balmain, black bootie, black booties, Coachella, Dooney & Bourke, Emilio Pucci, empty wallet, Fashion, hippie, Lanvin, Miso, Monki, neon cross, neon pink, Opening Ceremony, Osheafa, osheaga, Osheaga Fashion, pink neon, polyvore, sequins, style, What to wear Osheaga

Still 110 days to go to Osheaga, but having taken a peak at this year’s amazing lineup, Coachella‘s nordic brother has managed to occupy my mind a bit a lot. Evidently, with my presence mentally confirmed, all I could think of was of the inevitable: what to wear.

This is what I pulled from my virtual closet called the internet.

I first picked the sequin, tribal print mini skirt to build the rest of my look around.

I chose a fringed knit vest and black booties to add to some peace and love to the disco party going on in the skirt. This flowy Balmain top with a subtle tye-dye to incorporate some hippiness, and to tie the look up, black accessories in the form of a turban, a cross necklace and round glasses. To add a little trend and a pop of colour, a pink neon cross-body bag to hold my quasi-empty wallet and my dreams of actually dressing like this for the fest. Dreams are made of pixie dust and internet indeed. What would you wear?

Balmain cotton tank top
€276 - shopmrsh.com

Miso knit vest
£25 - republic.co.uk

AllSaints short mini skirt
$275 - allsaints.com

Opening Ceremony black bootie
$468 - goodhoodstore.com

Dooney bourke handbag
$198 - dooney.com

Emilio Pucci onyx cross necklace
€372 - lindestore.com

Lanvin hair accessory
$500 - lanvin.com

Monki retro round sunglasses
€10 - monki.com