Category: Style

Love From Alice

“Money doesn’t buy elegance. You can take an inexpensive sheath, add a pretty scarf, gray shoes, and a wonderful bag, and it will always be elegant.” – Caroline Herrera

Scarves have always been one of my favourite accessories and Love From Alice is one of my go to stops for my growing scarf collection. Open Saturday and Sundays in Jubilee Market Hall at Covent Garden in London, England. I love that scarves are A simple and inexpensive way to add a pop of colour and change up an outfit. If you find yourself in London, definitely pop by Love From Alice for a visit.

Louis Vuitton Time Capsule Toronto

I have never aspired to own anything from Louis Vuitton but I did enjoy my visit to their Time Capsule exhibit. It is beautiful. If you are downtown definitely pop in. The main exhibit is in the tent outside on Front Street across from the Royal York Hotel and there is pop up shop filled with books, notebooks and perfume in the lower level of Toronto Union. Free admission and the exhibit is on until Sunday September 30th.

Jean Shopping #WeTheCurvy Style

For me, buying jeans is always a challenge. Buying jeans when I have put on weight even more so. With autumn looming and no jeans to wear I had to invest in a new pair. Thanks to Meredith Shaw (@meredithshawtoronto) of 104.5 Chum FM fame I knew to head to Old Navy. Meredith is a big advocate of body positivity, inclusivity and is the face of #WeTheCurvy. If you don’t follow her on Instagram, you definitely should.

A big thank you to Mary at Old Navy CF Markville for all the help in finding a new pair. I went to the change room with two sizes that were too big for me and then Mary took charge of finding me a perfect pair. Awesome experience. I will definitely be back when I need a smaller size.

My jeans are Old Navy Rockstars. Meredith and Mary are rockstars too.

UNIQLO x Marimekko

The Joy of Being Bold.

The new UNIQLO x Marimekko Collection launches worldwide today. Cute and colourful prints and styles for the warmer months ahead.

88 days into 2018, I made my first clothing purchase from the collection – a navy and white pokka dot dress which is perfect for hot and humid summer weekend days.

Looking for something fun and fresh for your spring and summer wardrobe, drop by your local UNIQLO store to bring home your own piece of Japanese meets Finnish design.

A Well Fitted Bra

A well fitting bra is a worthwhile investment and getting fitted is the key to the perfect fitting bra. All too often women are wearing the wrong sized bra and ones size changes too. For more than two decades, Legs Plus & Bra Boutique run by BFF’s Rhonda and Randi has been my go-to bra boutique. All the ladies that work at the shop are super helpful and they have an extensive selection including hard to find sizes. I love that they have brands one won’t find in a department store. A few of my everyday favourites are Chantelle, Fitfully Yours, Wacoal, PrimaDonna and Fantasie Lingerie for strapless ones and Anita for Sports Bras.

Whether you buy an everyday bra or one for a special occasion, make sure to take care of your investment by following these practical tips.

If you haven’t been for a fitting before, I highly recommend going for one next time you need a new bra. Always wear a t-shirt when you go for a fitting that you can pop over everything you try on to see what truly suits you and your body. Also make sure to factor lots of time to try on many styles and brands on. If you are in the Toronto area, definitely drop into see the ladies at the Bra Boutique. They will help you find your perfect fit.

A well fitted bra can not only change the way your outfits look but your confidence too.

I Wear My Marimekko Reflector At Night

When it is raining or darkness sets in, always a smart and safe idea to wear a reflector on your travels after dark. Night driving can be hard for many and it can be challenging to see people walking. If you walk outside, please invest in a reflector. This is mine from Marimekko Design House. Cute and practical.

Always remember safety first.

My Lindo F Glossy Toque

Hats are one of my favourite year-round accessories. This winter I added this stylish Lindo F one to my collection. It is perfect for the cold Canadian weather with an element of style with the pom. Each Lindo F Toque is totally customizable and the pom can be detached so one could have a few poms for a completely different look. Lots of different colours available but I absolutely fell in love with this teal blue Glossy one the moment I saw it. It is a bit of a splurge but I have worn it most days this winter so it was well worth the investment. I absolutely love it and based on how many compliments I get or inquiries on where to find one, many others do too.

Lindo F Toques are available for purchase via their website – https://www.lindof.com/toques/ – but also look for them at various pop-ups and shows.

Drops of Joy

Finn Friday. Accessorizing my casual Friday jeans, t-shirt and cardigan with my Aarikka Niitty necklace.

Finnish brand Aarikka established in 1954 brings together Finnish and Scandinavian design with elements of wood and nature into beautiful drops of joy handcrafted in Finland. The drops of joy are key to their jewellery and home accessories. My necklace was purchased at their Flagship store in Helsinki at Pohjoisesplanadi 27. They also sell in other retailers across Finland and internationally as well as via their website to across the world.

Like many Finnish brands, Aarikka believes design’s most important task is to bring joy to people’s lives. The simplicity and beauty of this necklace does exactly that for me. Happy Friday!

Discovering Finnish Design in Toronto and Beyond 

I have always loved Finnish design and have been surrounded by its beauty my entire life since my family originates from the lovely country of Finland. I love how much of the inspiration ties back to the lakes, nature, Finnish folklore, the Kalevala and nordic simplicity. Finnish design is truly timeless design.

Since I was a child, The Finnish Place has been my resource in Toronto for all things Finnish. First located on Yonge Street in the heart of downtown North York and now a bit farther north at Yonge and John Street in the lovely community of Thornhill. They have a great selection of items made by Aarikka, Arabia, iittala, Kalevala Koru and Marimekko as well as other Finnish brands.

I have always loved the vase designed by the famous Finnish Architect Alvar Altao. It reminds me of the Finnish lakes and the Finns love their time spent by the lake at their mökki – the Finnish term for summer house and definitely not to be confused with a Muskoka summer house. I own two smaller versions of this vase but definitely hope to add a larger one to my collection in the near future. 

Happy to discover on my recent visit that one of my favourite pieces – Kastehelmi tealight candle holders – have returned to Canada and are available again at The Finnish Place. I love lighting these on dark winter evenings as my own form of hygge.

The beautiful Marimekko prints always bring happiness. I own a few of the prints as pillow covers and also have used fabric stapled to a board to create a colourful kitchen print. The Finnish Place has an extensive selection of fabric as well as clothing and accessories in these fun and colourful prints.

You don’t need to be Finnish to add some beautiful Finnish design elements to your home and luckily you don’t need a voyage to the land of the midnight sun either. Always visit The Finnish Place website to make sure they aren’t travelling back home to Finland for new items for the store. If you are not in the Toronto area or may prefer to shop online, these are two websites that specialize in Finnish brands  – Finnish Design Shop and FinnStyle. However to really experience Finnish design, definitely plan a holiday to Finland and immerse yourself from the moment you step off the plane. 

This year Finland celebrates 100 years of independence and design has been in the forefront of its identity since 1917. May this be the year you are inspired to explore, discover and hopefully fall in love with Finnish design.