I'm Mad, Mad, Mad for that Plaid, Plaid, Plaid

Plaid @ MFW

I can't explain it. I just am. Any item, whether it be a coat, a shirt, shoes, or a skirt, if it's that classic tartan plaid, I'm at once attracted to it. Perhaps it's the changing seasons, perhaps I've been watching too much Outlander, perhaps I'm just mad. Either way, my shopping carts are going to be full of plaid (which will make for an interesting spring).

Yeah, it's definitely the Outlander talking.

I know, plaid. It's simple, it's easy, it's fluid throughout the seasons. And I, like most, see an eighties film, with it's plaid furniture, plaid jackets, plaid skirts, and it's dated, I know. But what's old is new, and I, personally, am reveling in those era's that let it all hang out and said, what the hay, let's get it in plaid. So, without further adieu, here are my favourite kinds of plaid this season.


I love mixed plaid:

Eleonora Carisi @ NYFW

I love matched plaid:

Jessica Stam @ PFW

I love plaid pants:

10/10 outfit I must say

This is just plaidness!

Yeah, I actually just made a play on madness with plaid. Aren't you happy you're reading this?

And of course, the Zara blanket scarf. My most prized possession at this point:

This outfit. I mean TWO plaids, Leather, Studs, AND Leopard Print. This does Plaid proud.

I need to figure out a way to do this, cause that way everyday would have plaid in it.

These were inspired by Outlander, just FYI.

I am especially loving the layered look accompanied by the statement necklace. Definitely two things on my late Autumn/early Winter shopping list is a plaid (no, not the flannel plaid look, PLAID plaid - yes there is such a thing) button up to go under a knit sweater, paired with a diamond statement necklace. Classic, comfortable, yet flashy and feminine. I'm on the hunt.

Hunter green is such a great colour, is it not?

But lastly, my true goal for this shopping season, my grail, my one necessity to feel as though I've satisfied a hunger, a plaid skirt.

Miroslava Duma @ LFW

Now, my runway to "realway" is more akin to this little number from H&M. Which I would style with a great, simple yet structured blazer, or perhaps a cozy cable knit (extra points if you put a plaid shirt layered underneath!), with stockings and those oh so vogue booties, and of course that eye catching statement necklace. And of course if it's chilly, you can always throw on that Zara scarf!

Thanks for reading lovelies,

x emily

P.S. check out my just plaid outfit inspo on Polyvore!

April Favourites

Hello May! Here's my very first favourite list! They're honestly my favourite (Haha get it? Favourite? Yeah?). So it's a pretty random list but let's dive in!

Beauty Favourites

• Rimmel Gel Liner in 001 Black -- My first gel eyeliner!

• Revlon Parfumerie in Powder Puff & Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polish in Bon Bon (used BonBon as the base and Powder Puff as the top so the opacity was perfect and no chips!)

• Aerie perfume in Hidden Love. I bought this last spring and temporarily lost in behind my dresser. I was in Shoppers Drugmart browsing and smelled Benefit's Laugh With Me Lee Lee and loved it but knew I had one just like it at home -- long story short my dresser was moved and it's been my go-to ever since.
  

Fashion Favourites

• My navy blue Abercrombie & Fitch sweater I bought from Winners

• Black "leather" bucket bag from Ardene

Entertainment Favourites

• Mindy Kaling/The Mindy Project/Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

• Emma Stone/Easy A (Seriously watched this movie almost everyday idk).

• Emilia Clarke/Khaleesi/Game of Thrones (She is my sun and stars).

• Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch & Martin Freeman (the best form of exam procrastination)

Favourite Apps

• 2048 (Highscore: 11820)
• MynetDiary
• Tao Way of Life

Favourite Music

• Time Will Tell - Gregory Alan Isakov
• Fancy - Iggy Azalea ft Charli XCX (I can rap this in its entirety -- also THIS VIDEO♥)
• Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin
• Who You Love - John Mayer ft. Katy Perry
• New York - Ed Sheeran
• YONCE - Beyoncé (Partition is good too but this intro is just mint)
• Bon Iver - Bon Iver album (sings me to sleep)

Favourite Foods

• Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Bar (My new favourite of all chocolates. It's perfection. Seriously. Go eat this. Now. Give me some though. It's polite to share joy).
• Hot Chocolate (I know it's spring, but I can't help it).
• Strawberries

Favourite Quote

• "Trust life a little bit"

Favourite Day-Dream

• Big city livin'

Where I Found This Picture

Goals for May

• Read at least a chapter of Emma by Jane Austen a day.
• Acquire a job
• Practice seeing the bright side/accept life as it comes

-- Em x

Graffiti Girls

My lovely friends who I met while I lived in Montreal visited me this weekend! I hadn't seen them in ages and it was awesome catching up with them and showing these two American girls a bit more of Canada.
I took them around my hometown and downtown to see the major and hidden attractions of the area! Including a giant graffiti wall, these girls love their graffiti (you have to if you live in MTL).

It was rainy the day we went downtown but they're among the most optimistic people I've ever met so it didn't rain on their parade (yes I just said that). Which in all honesty was a little eye opening for me, I see this stuff almost daily so a rainy day is a downer, but they're seeing it with fresh eyes, and the rain magically turns into ambiance. It allowed me to be a bit more appreciative of my daily surroundings!

They loved the Cyrus-esque tongue action of the Unicorn ("It's a unicorn!!!")

We went to the Parliament buildings and became celebrities to some friendly tourists from China who wanted pictures with Canadians (unfortunately for them they only got 1.5 Canadians -- half of my friend Haley is from the Great White North). There was also a funny moment when the girls hesitated to follow me onto the lawn of Parliament.

This cookie quickly turned her teeth pink!

 For lunch we went to one of my favourite places in the Byward Market and I had completely forgotten that it's the place Obama visited on his first trip to Canada as the President. They loved all the pictures and memorabilia for him!
A fun fact: These girls went CRAZY for Bulk Barn. Like they are the biggest fans ever. They couldn't believe how much the store had and the variety too. It was so funny to watch them experience something so common, and frankly, an old persons store (despite that statement it's my go-to place to buy candy before seeing a movie or partaking in a sleepover).

We went out, we hung out, and laughed about, and it was honestly a great weekend that of course went by way too quickly! I need to go see these girls this summer, and I hope they come back soon as well! Distance doesn't affect real friendships (sorry I felt like I had to have some mushy quote to finish this off).

Hope you had a lovely weekend!
Em x

I Did it Myself: DIY Kimono!

Hello! Firstly, thanks for reading me and I hope you're having a nice day. I have made my own kimono for a total of 7$! I was stumbling through YouTube and not only discovered the amazing LaurDIY but her tutorial on making kimonos! It looked so easy that I decided to give it a try.

So I initially headed to Value Village looking for a scarf like the video suggests. However I couldn't find any that I liked (ain't that always the way), so I headed to my local Fabricland. Luckily, and unluckily, their lease is up so everything was 50% off, and I was able to snag this gorgeous chiffon like navy blue fabric with white flowers that have a bit of pink in them. I got a meter and it came to just under 8$, which is amazing. I already liked this DIY, most kimono's are 30$!
So I headed home to get started on my kimono, a bit intimidating.

Now I have sewed before, but I am by no means a seamstress. I just know how to sew on buttons or mend something minor, so I was nervous to start this. And while the video is great, it isn't dummy proof, and I got a bit confused on what and where I was supposed to cut, fold, or make a seam. So I decided to grab a piece of paper to practice, which eased my nerves a bit! Looking back now I followed the directions, I just needed to practice a bit!

Another thing the video didn't really address was making a kimono from seamless fabric. However, I just ironed folds over and sewed in seams to stop frays (which this fabric is always doing). It was a bit extra leg work since every where needed seams, but the sewing is honestly so easy it won't take you long. A great thing about making a kimono is that it's such flowy fabric that when you pick a similar coloured thread, you can barely even notice the seams.
This was a labour of love, but not because it was extensive and really hard to do, but because it was such a quick reward of a DIY that I loved making it.



All in all, this was a great DIY.
You can customize every aspect of this project, the length, the colour, the fabric.

The video suggest 60cm up from the bottom to make the arm holes, however this really depends on the length of the fabric you have, I'd go somewhere between 40-60cm, and if you're not happy it's painless to redo it until you're happy!

I am sososo happy with the end result! Great price, easy work, and it's all mine! I would definitely recommend this to anyone, even if you're not all that confident in your sewing abilities!

Thank you for reading! Have a lovely day! :)

- Emily ♥

DIY Kimono - LaurDIY