Balmain x H&M

Remember many years ago, when I spent the night outside H&M in Montreal to grab some pieces from their collaboration with Versace? After that, it was another night spent waiting for Rodarte x H&M with my poor sister, who tried very hard not to cry as the sun rose to indecently reveal street cleaning cars and the staggering of nearby drunks. And, after that, I promised myself that while I'll endure a little bit of suffering for fashion, I just can't take it that far again. Well, that was before I saw the latest collaboration, hitting select Canadian H&M locations on November 5th: Balmain x H&M. Oh my God.

Photo: h&m.com

Honestly, when I first saw the teasers for the line, I didn't care much for the box cut blazer which, lets face it, can really only be effective when worn with thigh-high boots and pretty much nothing else. And as far as I like to take Casual Fridays at work, I have to stop at my french fry shirt. I just can't find a legitimate use for either of these outfits, so I kinda just shrugged the whole thing off and moved on with my life.

Nope, not for me (photo: dailymail.co.uk)

But then, the collection was released, and I felt my stomach drop the way it does when I really, really like something. And that's when I knew I couldn't look away anymore.  And so, with a few weeks to the launch, here are my favourite pieces, if you can handle them.

First of all, there's this show-stopper. I've been waiting for a dress with a plunging neckline for as long as I can remember, and this. is. it. Somebody better invite me to a yacht party soon, otherwise, well no, I don't care, I'll wear it to the food court if I have to.

photo: H&M

Then there's this silk (!!) dress, for when you want to curl your hair and put on the lipstick that's a bit too flashy, and call everyone at the disco Honey, and squeeze your lime slowly into your tonic to the sounds of Abba, and give him a fake number because you're too busy anyway.

photo: H&M

The following two pieces have a stunning structure, impeccable detailing, and just enough punch to be worn with minimal accessories (if any). I love the sinched waist on the dress, and the built-in neck detailing on the top. I would pair both of these with big hair and maybe some solid statement earrings, like the Chanel double pearl studs. Mega-swoon.

photo: H&M

photo: H&M

And if you don't feel like paying $200-$800 for a garment, there are also some really striking accessories that are a little more on the accessible side, guaranteeing your popularity at the next Secret Santa gift exchange. "A mug that says "I AM TIRED"??? Karen, how thoughtful! So, I'm not sure who your Secret Santa is but she left the H&M receipt in the box in case you don't love your BALMAIN scarf, which I know you will."

A velvet scarf! Love love love. 

photo: H&M

And a suede clutch! All jokes aside, I think this might be the piece I end up with. It's so versatile, so simple, and the green can be adorned so easily, yet keeps its place in spotlight by virtue of that shade being just so, so, so cool. It really doesn't care what you think, it just wants to be on your arm.

photo: H&M

And even though I already have a couple of pairs of headphones, how incredible are these? Just perfectly pretentious, and probably more for people who wear fur vests and stuff, but still so exciting to imagine yourself wearing.  Top three songs listened to by people who will buy these: 1.Jamiroquai: Cosmic Girl  2.Dr.Dre: Next Episode 3.The Weeknd: High For This.

I should also mention that Balmain has a really great men's collection this time around as well. If I had a husband who smelled really good, I think he would wear this blazer. I really love how clean the lines are, and that there aren't any garbage buttons or stars or any stupid appliqué or patterns woven into the cuffs as high-end designers seem to love to do. Gentlemen, this is the kind of blazer that tells a woman that yeah, you've done this before. That lapel tho. Damn.

photo: H&M

There are still some pieces that you know are going straight to the Next Day Back of the Store rack, that you'll see someone's great aunt buying for 70% off in a week, but I think that happens with every collection.  Sometimes it's earrings shaped like armadillos. Other times (this time around) it's a one-piece spacesuit and a dress shirt with some sort of communist detailing on the shoulders.

Whatevs, ignore those, because the rest of the line is really, really worth it. Balmain x H&M will be available in select Canadian stores so get that sleeping bag out 'cause it's gonna be another cold night out!

A Few Favourite Running Things

With less than 3 weeks to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, now’s a great time to share some of my favourite things with you, fellow runners (or people who like to laze around in crops and listen to some banging tracks!) Here, I’ve separated my favourite finds into quick sections you can reference if you’re looking for some inspiration, or to freshen up your current collection, whatever that may be. Without further ado:

Running Gear

Bottoms:

I used to only have two pairs of running pants, and both were from Lululemon, but lately I’ve been experimenting with lower priced pieces, and even wore one cheaper pair on a long run. The verdict: if the environmental conditions are right (ie. It’s not too hot so you don’t have to worry about wicking, high technical quality) lower-end pieces will do just fine.  I love the new mesh panel trend and these burgundy crops from Old Navy (get them here) are both flattering and practical:

Of course, I’d still recommend running pants from Lululemon like these Wunder Under 7/8 length pants. I’ve had these for about three years and they haven’t lost elasticity, the threading is perfect, and they fit well, not to mention they have pockets which I’ve stuffed with chocolate and blackberry running gels on various runs!

Tops:

I have this Gap v-neck tank in two colours, and it’s my absolute favourite top of all time. It’s got great support, falls in a flattering way, and the v-neck makes it look like I try to look presentable. I haven’t been able to find it since I first bought it a year ago at a Gap Factory Outlet, so if you see it anywhere, please let me know!

This flower print sweatshirt is perfect for colder weather, with sleeves that extend to cover your hands, and holes for your thumbs if you feel so inclined (that’s what she said). It’s got great structure so it won’t stretch easily, and it covers your neck against the wind.  It's by a brand called MPG and I bought it at Winners so it’s another reasonably priced piece.

I've also had to crop my face out of almost every picture because when my sister takes photos, the punchlines that come out of her mouth make it impossible for me not to look insane while trying not to laugh

Sometimes it’s hella hot and you need to wear something super breezy.  Enter Under Armour.  My girlfriend and I recently checked out their outlet and bought matching neon orange sports bras (soft, supportive, and no annoying underwire) and this neon yellow racer-back tank. We both loved that the tanks don’t slide around too much and have a super flattering cut, and Anais actually loved hers so much that she went back and bought more colours – and then a couple more for me. She is actually the greatest.

I really love this Lululemon scoop-neck tank because of its breathable material and how much support it offers when I’m running those long runs. I have it in pastel green, pastel purple, and neon orange, and though I’ve worn it a lot, it just won’t quit on elasticity, which I love and have come to expect of Lululemon. 

Recovery Nutrition

I’m not a nutritionist by any means, so this is entirely my opinion, but I really can’t recommend these protein supplements enough.  The first is the MRM Veggie Elite. It has no artificial flavors or sweeteners, it’s all natural, and has 24 grams of protein per scoop, at only 130 calories. It’s sweetened with Stevia so it doesn’t have all that chemical crap, and it’s got a pretty great chocolate mocha flavor. I’m not gonna say it “tastes just like a chocolate mocha so mmmm treat yourself” because you’re not an idiot, but for what it is, it’s pretty damn good.

The second thing is a Vega One nutritional shake powder packet. This one is green but unflavored, and I typically pour it into a green smoothie that already has flavor by virtue of kale and bananas/strawberries. This one also has no sugar added but gives you 50% of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals.  At 123 calories per pack, this guy is also sweetened with Stevia but I can't really taste it.

The third item (and the one I use the most) is the Vega Sport Performance Protein Powder, in a very modest, simple “Vanilla” flavor.  At 131 calories in a scoop, this one is gluten-free, with no sugar added, and is a complete protein blend.  No whey (just like the others), nothing toxic, just pure post- workout support.  The best part is that I’ve been drinking both this mix and the MRM with just water, and both are pretty good. Up until last year, I didn’t think I could stomach a shake that wasn’t mixed with almond milk, so this has been an eye-opener!

Also, my dad gave me these power bars for my birthday ("Because of all that training you're doing") and although I'm usually a little skeptical about vegan granola and power bars on account of their taste slightly resembling that of a ground-up retainer, these ones actually taste amazing. Highly recommended, with bonus points for being organic.

 

Songs to Get You to the Finish Line

I would rather skip a run than run without music. I find the sound of my feet hitting the pavement absolutely maddening, and I really rely on Chumbawumba to drown out the atrocity of my allergy-induced gasps for any shred of remaining air.  I usually listen to really fast music when I run, and that sort of music (when it’s not Chumbawumba) tends to be aggressive and the kind of music Vin Diesel would probably roll a cigarette to.  That and I really like Ellie Goulding, Die Antwoord, and Santigold.  And for those runs where you need a little something extra, here are some songs to guarantee you make it to the finish line. I will certainly be listening to these by the 40^th kilometer next month:

Nicki Minaj – Roman’s Revenge 

(this one is super fun when you want to pretend you’re mad about something)

Pharrell Williams – Freedom

Daft Punk – Contact 

(this one makes me tear up every now and then, so listen at your own risk)

 Kanye West – Power 

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

(an oldie but still makes me so happy!)

Shoes to Get You to the Finish Line

Shoes should always be chosen based on what fits you best, but these are a few models that I’ve worn for years, and can vouch for their flexibility, fit, and durability:

 

Nike Lunarglide:

I had originally bought these for winter running because they’re darker and have a cool reflective print, but now I’ve switched to them to train, because they’re big enough to accommodate my feet swelling from long runs. The Lunarglides have a more accommodating fit than any other model I’ve worn, and seem to get wider in the toe area. 

Nike Zoom Pegasus 30:

These shoes have the most cushioning and bounce when I wear them, especially when I stick the insole in. I bought mine in New York City when they first came out, and it was so funny seeing half the city wearing them too. I would highly, highly recommend.

Nike Zoom Pegasus 31:

I bought these shoes in Tallinn on my last trip, and they’re a tad too small, which caused my toenails to turn purple after a long run. I blame the fact that I don’t speak Estonian, and the fact that I ignorantly didn’t wanna look like my feet were huge, so I bought shoes that fit juuuuuust right.  Big, big mistake. Overall, though, I would also recommend the Pegasus model because it hugs your foot in a way that makes you feel secure and like your ankle won’t roll. I’ve had some really great runs in them. I just wouldn’t wear them on anything past 15km.

*Always, always, always make sure your toes are comfortable in your shoes. Don’t be shy about asking a sales person to help you determine whether you have the right size shoe. For really long distance running, I would also highly recommend buying a shoe at least half a size bigger, because your foot will expand.  I’m currently wearing my Nike Lunarglides because they’re a size bigger and towards the end of a 20+ km run, they start fitting just right.  

To Protect Your Feet

I love, love, love these Dr.Scholl’s Active Series insoles.  Just as with other insoles, you cut them to your shoe size, slip them in, and feel the difference immediately. They have a good amount of arch support (you can feel the plastic base underneath) while their padding provides just the perfect level of shock absorption.  I switch them up about every 5 months and at roughly $25 a pair, they’re a worthwhile investment in the world of over-the-counter insoles. Insoles generally help protect your feet from shin splints, stabilize your ankle, and absorb the shock of pounding the pavement, among other things. I personally would never run without them.

Physiotherapy

I haven’t mentioned this yet, but I’ve managed to injure myself pretty badly, and by that I mean I am basically living with 24/7 pain from sciatica and some other nerve that I’ve hurt, the name of which I can’t for the life of me remember.  First of all, if for some reason your body starts hurting, don’t wait to see a doctor- do it as soon as possible. Secondly, before you do something really intense, try physiotherapy. If you live in Ottawa, I highly recommend Kyle Andrades of Get Physical Physiotherapy.    

Kyle is super strong and can pull your body apart and put it back together just enough to make everything feel like it’s where it’s supposed to be.  Apparently, my feet are now misaligned because of my newly rotated pelvis. Sometimes Kyle likes to tell me that I’ll need a “special shoe” (like an Elton John platform) for just one of my feet. Sometimes I feel like crying because I’m scared he’s not joking, or because he crunches my bones apart so hard I think I’ll literally break in half. But every single time, I leave his office feeling so, so great, and I haven’t cried yet, so he's obviously doing something right. Kyle is also super funny, super positive, and will remind you about your L4, L5, and L6 (I don’t know what those are) until you remember them, because he’s really focused on educating his patients, which I  really appreciate.  He also does acupuncture and will even offer to pass you your phone when you’re covered in needles and can’t reach it. You really can’t go wrong.

 And there you have it- a few of my favourite things! 

PS. Not all of these photos are mine. If you'd like to find out their sources, drop me a line in the comment section!

An H&M Dinner

Every once in a while, I attend a party that leaves me absolutely starstruck. This season, as the H&M Conscious Collection paired up with Olivia Wilde, and pieces like these magically made their way into my daydreams…

…an invitation to a private dinner with H&M magically made its way into my email inbox.
It’s been a while since I’ve clinked champagne glasses with fellow bloggers, so I was really excited to hear what everyone was up to.  Another thing I was really excited about: getting to wear my new H&M blazer!

The dinner was held at the Bayshore Shopping Centre, with the H&M Conscious Collection area shaped radiantly out of tropical green shrubbery, which was a bit of a challenge for the paparazzi…

And a challenge for me was keeping it together when meeting Emily Scarlett of H&M Canada, the lovely dinner host.  Stunning, with a seemingly effortless, impeccable style, Emily spoke about her work, her passion for the H&M Conscious Collection, and the secret behind her ultra on-point hair: finding a hair stylist who shares your vision, and keeping them forever.   

Having worked with H&M for eight years, Emily clearly knows where it’s at when it comes to picking the perfect blazer (yeah, that’s the one from my daydream above!)

You know who else I really loved at this party? The waiters.  I barely had time to finish a glass of bubbly when there it would be, the reaching arm of my best-friend-in-waiting, topping me up, again and again.  

“I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not” said Coco Chanel.  I’d like to add a third occasion to that: when my glass is replenished without me even asking.  

Alright, so I’m sure you’ve been patiently reading, just waiting for me to tell you about what was for dinner, so here it is.  I’ve been to parties organized by Blackbook Lifestyle and Bayshore before and I knew they wouldn’t disappoint.  I mean, at a past event a few months ago, the catering included mint cotton candy and macarons sprinkled with edible frost so they clearly go above and beyond to inspire. And inspire they did…
“Miss, an appetizer?” the waiter asked, in-between champagne showers (that’s the right term for it, right?). “Oh yes, please!” I would answer, thinking that if I said it in a slightly different voice this time around, he wouldn’t realize that I’ve already eaten ten off his tray.  “My goodness,” I would add, “What an absolute delight!” …he totally thinks I'm someone else.   “These are scallops, seared in…”  Stop, my friend, you had me at scallops. I’m all in. 

After I indulged in a few hundred appetizer bites, we were called to the gorgeous table, decorated with warm, spring pastel accents and about fifteen million forks and knives.  Do you remember that scene in Pretty Woman with the elegant dinner? You know, that scene? Enough said.  

The starter was a warm pea soup that came with a tiny spoon. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was not gaspacho because I didn’t want to eat anything cold, and luckily, I had some assistance holding the miniature utensil from a pet moth I keep in my purse for this exact situation.

Moth not pictured

Next was (I think) a squash purée, topped with a refreshing zesty salad, and (hopefully) edible flower petals.  There were also petals on the little beads of butter that accompanied our bread, but I passed on scarfing those down, in an effort not to resemble a hunter-gatherer.

Then came the seared tuna, which I think is my new favourite trendy food, because every time I eat it, it’s got a slightly different ‘tone’ to the taste.  This one had a sea salt base, with a velvety texture the more you bit into the raw parts. It sat on a bed of asparagus, potatoes, and sliced egg, gathered together like jewels- fittingly.

As I expertly worked my way through the utensils, this gorgeous plate was placed before me.  On it: duck, artisanal carrots, and more duck wrapped in a soft, warm, savoury crepe, topped with two delicate sprigs of thyme. If you’re wondering, no I could not resist yelling, “Ain’t nobody got thyme for that!”  and yes, everybody laughed, and I was crowned Best Person on Planet, fourth year in a row, as a parade of celebratory elephants fell from the ceiling.

 Next came the moment I can never escape at events and parties – the moment I do something that is inherently me. This edition involved a question from a beautiful blogger, answered by me through a mouthful of duck falling out of my pie hole and onto the elegant porcelain plate it had once been meticulously arranged upon.   That’s okay though, because next came dessert, and my God, dessert was incredible:

“It’s a maple crème brulée,” the waiter whispered in a George Clooney voice as I stared at it, trying to hold back tears of admiration.  Indeed, it was a crème brulée with the thinnest shell, topped with a berry sauce and a tower of meringue. I’m going to pay homage to simplicity and say, in the simplest terms, it was exquisite.
And if that wasn’t enough, all of the gastronomic delights were sustainable and organic. Perfection.

Speaking of treats, of course H&M would go there: on each of our chairs sat a box with a gift that Emily had personally chosen for each blogger based on all of the “stalking” (her words) she had done to learn about us.  My gift was a lovely little number: a giraffe print dress I plan on wearing on my upcoming trip to Cuba! I was floored by Emily’s efforts and attention to detail. I really can’t praise her enough.

 

Lastly, perhaps the best part of the night was meeting so many new people and hearing what drives their passion for blogging.  I couldn’t type fast enough to take down the names of these incredibly fashionable, hilarious, and beautiful girls, but luckily when I woke up this morning, I knew it wasn’t just a dream because there was that much more colour on my Instagram and Facebook from the Likes, Follows, and Hashtags from my new friends.

Thank you to Bayshore Ottawa, H&M Canada, and Blackbook Events (and Liam!!!) for such a beautiful night!

Bloggers...amirite?

L'Oréal Paris Fibralogy: A Product Review!

"Bleach it," I always tell the hairstylist.  "But that will make your hair so coarse!" she always replies. "You call it coarse, I call it thick!" I always insist, with a professional smile, followed by a that's what she said. 

Since the beginning of time, my hair has been thin, but luckily, I have lots of it.  I don't like to overload it with too many hair products, and prefer to keep my regime simple: shampoo, conditioner, de-tangler.  Recently, however, I was lucky enough to receive a l'Oréal Paris Fibralogy Vox Box to test this new product that promises to make your hair thick.  What's different about it is that in-between the shampooing and conditioning, you put a serum in your hair that really seals the thickness deal. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical because I've tried a lot of products before, and I would hate to write an entire review about how much a product sucks, but I would also never lie.  However, I'm excited to report I was not disappointed!

Here's how the line looks... in the Vox Box....(what a fun surprise to receive! the postman was surely jealous...)

 Step 1 is the shampoo part...pretty standard. You just lather and rinse as per usual...

Step 2 is to apply a dime sized amount of the thickening booster. This is really the activating agent.  Leave it in (do not rinse out!) and then you're ready for Step 3...

And Step 3 is business as usual: a nice dollop of conditioner.  Lather, give it a few minutes to do its thang, and rinse!

I haven't used an 'adult' hair line in a long time. Most of my stuff, as you probably noticed in previous blogs, is fruit scented or is tear-free for babies.  The Fibralogy line smells like something a woman in her late twenties should use- grown-up and elegantly fragranced.

It was a sad day before I received my Vox Box. It was a sad day because my hair was flat and thin, like this:

After washing my hair with the shampoo, and treating it with the booster and conditioner, I blow dryed it quickly and...holy moly:

I was really impressed by how sleek my hair felt, without any other product in it, and without needing to even be straightened after. It just sort of perfectly fell into place.  It certainly felt thicker, and so, so, so voluminous that I didn't know what to do with it.  I absolutely loved it, and loved that I didn't need to do anything else to amp it up afterwards...

For a lower cost product, you really can't beat this one: it really does what it claims to do, and with only one extra step in your simple hair care routine.  Thanks to Fibralogy, here's what I do now, all day, every day:

While I received this product complimentary to review, all views expressed are my own - why wouldn't they be ? :)