Jenni Kayne D'Orsay Flats (plus cheaper alternatives!)

I own about 4 pairs of D'orsay style shoes and have always loved the look, however, I didn't know the style name up until a few months ago (searching on F21 and found some great examples...more on this later!).  They just have a classic elegance, whether they are flats or heels, round or pointy toed-I have a weakness for all shapes and makes.  I especially like the flats in the summer as great work wear!

My absolute fave D'Orsay flats are 100% the ones offered by Jenni Kayne (available online here ).  I love that they come in almost every color imaginable, from bright and vibrant to understated and subdued.  They also come in different textures, such as leather, snakeskin, canvas and velvet!



Photo from Wear to Click

 



Photos from Stylissh

Photo from The Wife



   

                  Photos from High Floripa

While these beauties will set you back $425 and upwards, I think they would make a great addition to any flat-lovers collection. With that being said, they are out of my personal price range, so I have found some great, cheaper alternatives on the Forever 21 website!(purchase the first three D'Orsay flats here & the metallic D'Orsay Flats here )

 

 

I adore all of these BUT unfortunately, they are only availale on the US Forever 21 site right now.  I keep checking the Canadian site every day so that when they are available I can snatch some up.  Since I already have two pairs of black D'Orsay flats, I will opt for the Pink and the Metallic options for the coming season.  I wear a lot of neutrals and these would be great to add a pop of colour :)

 

Giving Isabel Marant a run for her money...The Aldo "Netz" Sneaker Wedge

I've been seeing photos of the Isabel Marant sneaker wedge everywhere.  While they are somewhat over-the-top for me (in a fun, whimsical way), I have managed to find a somewhat more toned down version that I am in love with. 

Here are a couple photos of the Isabel Marant Sneaker Wedgess:



I think I may have been able to manage these nude and white Marant's, however, the $800+ price tag is a bit too steep for my taste.

I found a pair I love from Aldo, on sale for half price.  I only paid $53 plus $5 shipping.  Mine are a taupey/nude suede color and they are fantastic!

These are still available on the Aldo Canada site.  They're called the "Netz" and they are fantastic.  They're really soft and I can easily see myself wearing these with jeans and skirts.  They're also great for the weekend and just running errands. Plus, the $50 price tag is completely doable.

What do you think?

Zara Score..His & Hers

As many of you may know, Zara is currently having one of their semi annual sales.  While there a couple of weeks ago, I picked up two pairs of shoes, one for myself, and one for Ty.

These are called the Zara Vamp Jelly and I am absolutely smitten.  They look great with jeans, dresses and shorts.  They're so versatile and definitely worth the $39.  Ty's were also $39..they're a nice runner that compliments any outfit.

Get a Perfect Ballerina Bun with a Hair Donut!

I always thought that girls with a perfectly round ballerina bun just spent a lot of time on their hair and had a good technique that I never seemed to be able to master.  Then a colleague of mine entered the office one day and I commented on her gorgeous bun.  She told me it was a "hair donut".  I then went home that night and youtubed/googled it and saw just how easy it is to do.  I started looking online and they were going for about $10, or you can easily make your own with a sock. BUT then I went onto Ebay and found one for $1.39...With FREE shipping.  I received it a few weeks later (came from China).

Trying and not really succeeding at taking a photo of my bun...but I do like this photo!

I absolutely LOVE this thing, it's so easy and I thought I would share the ridiculous deal I got on it.  Click here to go to the seller's page and purchase your own! For reference, I purchased the large, brown version for my hair.

OR if you are interested in making your own, watch this video

Chunky Curb Chain Toggle Bracelets

While taking a break from a work event downtown, I decided to stroll into a Forever 21.  I went straight to the jewelry section and found these bad boys.  I think they're fantastic! They are bold and have an elegance that I love.

These are very light as they seem to be a plastic material, which is fine for me because now they won't tarnish!

Forever 21 curb chain bracelet: $6.80 (sold out on Canadian site, find the rhinestone version here.

My Engagement Ring

I wanted to do a post on my engagement ring, simply because before my fiance and I got engaged, I was very unsure of what I wanted.  I was unsure if I wanted simple or ornate, real diamond or gemstone, gold or rose gold, etc, etc.  I searched a TON of sites and stores and couldn't find anything that I fell in love with.  Eventually we decided upon the ring below and I couldn't be more happy about our decision.

This is my 1.8 c cushion cut, petite pave Moissanite ring with a blossom halo.  Because I generally tend to like large rings, I just couldn't see myself with a tiny little diamond, which really is all we would have been able to afford.  To be honest, I was never really one for diamonds, since I find them very overpriced and not altogether worth it.  Moissanite is a cheaper alternateive and really looks very much like a diamond, but without the price tag.  This is called a MIRA moissanite, which is an upgraded Moissy stone, which lightens it somewhat since moissy can occasionally be somewhat "cloudy".  This ring is nothing short of brilliant and sparkles amazingly, as much so as a diamond. 

This ring will not set you back nearly as much as a typical diamond ring and is soooo, soo worth the price.  I got mine from www.moissaniteco.com and would highly recommend this site. If you are interested in finding out more about moissanite engagement rings, check out the forums on www.weddingbee.com.  Many brides these days are taking the moissy route since you get more bang for your buck and there really is very little difference between the two stones.  If you have any questions about my ring, my experience with moissaniteco, etc, feel free to comment and I will share!

Nude Pumps (and a pair of Booties to boot!)

I have a wedding coming up in November that has forced me to find a cute pair of shoes (yes, forced).  I'm going to wear a navy blue dress I picked up in Zara, that has a somewhat high neckline, so I wanted some really sexy shoes.  Everything in stores that I liked were $120 and up and I just didn't feel like going that route.  So I ended up finding a pair of really sexy platform pumps on Ebay for about $30!

Nude platforms from Ebay...$30!

They are super tall and the height makes them extra sassy, which is perfect for my somewhat reserved dress.  All in all, not a bad purchase.  These remind of of the Steve Madden super high patent pumps that are in stores right now.


A few months ago I was shopping in Zara (I work downtown and go there on my lunch break waaay too often).  Anyways I found a pair of super-cute booties with a bit of a wedge heel that I fell in love with.  They only had a size 7 and 8 left so sadly I had to leave without them. But then about two weeks later they got in a nine and I was sold! I love how they can be paired with some leggings and a tunic or skinny jeans and a blazer.  They're so versatile and really comfy! ($69 Cdn)

My new Zara booties!

YSL Arty Turquoise Imitation Ring

I really enjoy YSL's rings.  They're chunky,bold and just gorgeous as can be.  Sadly, they are a tad out of my price range right now.  I do think I will get one at some point in the future but for right now I have to pass..

As you can see, they are wonderful and extremely unique.  They tend to be in the $300 price range, and can reach up to $500+ on Ebay. However, in my searches, I came across a few "fakes" that were actually quite nice.  SO I placed an order ($19.50 including shipping to Canada) and I was pleasantly surprised when I received it (see my pic below):



My new ring!



The metal is somewhat shiny, but it's quite nice in my opinion.  The stone doesn't look like real turquoise, but some of the YSL stones look quite like imitation stones as well.  Anyways, it will do for now until I can one day afford a genuine one.  If you want your own imitation ring you can find them on Ebay under "chunky stone ring" or "arty stone ring". OR if you've got more of a jingle in your pocket you can purchase the real deal here:http://www.ysl.com/en_US/shop-products/Women/Jewelry/Rings

DIY Shark Tooth Necklace (Mila Kunis-Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

After watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which is a great movie, I highly recommend it)I couldn't stop thinking about the shark tooth necklace that Mila Kunis wore throughout the movie.

It's absolutely stunning and to me is a gorgeous summer piece that can be layered with other pieces or worn on its own.  I looked into buying it and found that it is by a company called Pade Vavra (http://www.shoppadevavra.com/item.php?item_id=257&category_id=47)  and comes with a $225 US price tag.  While I do love it, I just cannot justify a necklace at that price right now, especially for vermeille (dipped in gold, not solid). So I decided to make my own! I got my supplies on both Ebay and Etsy.  On Ebay, I found a man who sells fossilized and new shark teeth, some of which he sells already wrapped in gold-toned wire..I just had to request that he make the bail smaller (the little hole/hoop at the top is the bail) which he did for me.  The tooth I bought was on sale and cost me $11.

Then on Etsy, I found a gold vermeille chain for $5.  So in total I only spent $16 plus shipping for a VERY similar look-a-like!

If you want to check out the sellers I bought from, you can find them here:

Etsy seller:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/akya?ref=pr_shop_more  (vermeille chain)

Ebay seller:

http://collectibles.shop.ebay.com/Fossils-/3215/i.html?_nkw=shark+teeth&_catref=1&_fln=1&_ssn=whereonearth&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

Here's my version:

I wear it every now and then and I have had quite a few compliments on it.  It's often a lot cheaper to imitate or make your own version of jewelry you like.  Sometimes it doesn't work out and other times it's just as nice!

How I spent my Saturday..yes it involves shopping

My Boyfriend and I spent the day downtown on Saturday.  I hadn't intended to spend any money but of course that didn't happen.  However, my boyfriend decided to treat me and did buy me two absolutely gorgeous tops from Zara which I am in LOVE with.

The one on the left is a really nice royal blue blouse with gold accent buttons and a military type design on the shoulders.  Unfortunately I have a terribly old camera that does no justice to this blouse, but I can assure you it is fantastic-it's a really bold royal blue, not a dark blue! It really reminds me of something Kourtney Kardashian would wear. She's always wearing gorgeous blouses and tunics that I just adore.

The other blue top is a pretty sleeveless chiffon in a dark navy with a little tie in the front. I got it for the summer for work since it would look great with some white shorts and bold, gold jewelry.

Finally, I bought a skirt and a scarf from H&M.  They were both really great deals in my opinion.  The skirt is a really nice beigy/pink and black striped mini and it was only $6.95! That's a steal and it's just a really versatile piece in my opinion.

The scarf was $14.95 and it's a really nice green color. It can be worn multiple ways which I love, and it's really nice and thin so it can be worn throughout most seasons.

It looks a bit different in the picture but in person it doesn't have so much of a sheen to it..it's more a flat color.  It's really nice and earthy!



So yes, I did spend money that I shouldn't have BUT I have been a very good and frugal girl so this was my treat! ha!

Review: Elf Nail Polish in Smoky Brown

About a week ago I mentioned that I had placed an order on Elf's website (eyeslipsface.com) which I did receive.  I am planning on reviewing all the products, but I am just trying to use them all for a few weeks before I feel comfortable giving my reviews.

One product I feel I can definitely give an accurate review on is Elf's polish in Smoky Brown.  It is a really gorgeous taupy, light brown color that is a great everyday neutral.

\It applies really smoothly and has a pretty good color payoff on the first application.  It is a tad sheer for my taste with just one coat though, so I did two just for a more flawless look.  It dried somewhat quickly which surprised me since I expected it to take forever(that is one of my biggest pet peeves).  It lasted about 4 days without chipping (for me that's good..my job causes my nails to chip endlessly) and for $1, you really can't beat it.  I am giving this polish a 5/5...I will probably try out a few more colors in the future. I've already got my eye on their Mod Mauve,Desert Haze and Rosy Raisin!

An Ebay Steal + My Current Favorite Band=LOOOVVVE

While looking for some artwork online, I came across this seller on Ebay that sells fantastic, high quality photographic art of musicians, models, actors, etc for a really reasonable price.

These photos are only $17 on Ebay, plus shipping and there are over 1000 to choose from.  They're really big and are a great way to display your favorite artists for a great bargain! This particular photo features my favorite band Mumford & Sons (check them out, they're absolutely amazing!)You can check out the artwork available here: http://shop.ebay.com/hang-your-idols/m.html

This is their newest album and it is FANTASTIC....Here some of the links to my favorite songs:

Little Lion Man- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7bHe--mp1g
The Cave- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

Winter Wins- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i8ml0XnR4k&feature=channel

Anyways, I thought I would have time to post later on this evening but I have been called in for a shift tonight..I have to pay for textbooks this week so I couldn't turn it down.  Hopefully we didn't get any new, cute stock so I can keep my money where it belongs...in my wallet! Sometimes I think it would be better to work at a store where I dislike the products so I won't be tempted to buy anything (hah!).  I was up at 6am this moring for class..it's going to be a long night....My sister bought The Simple Life season on DVD and we ended up watching the whole thing so I didn't get much sleep...can I just say it's friggin hilarious? I never would have thought I would like it but it so ridiculous that it was just way too entertaining. What's your guilty television pleasure?