Holiday Wardrobe

In preparation for December 1st tomorrow (where has the year gone!?), I've gathered together some holiday pieces that are currently inspiring me. 

1. A layered sequin and lace skirt with slits. 

2. A skinny belt with one sparkly jewel at the centre.

3. An oversized statement necklace.

4. Black and Gold patterned dresses. 

5. Red fabric, peplum hem, jeweled collar all mixed into one = holiday perfection. 

6. A bright red turtleneck sweater - great for layering. 

7. Ornately detailed clutches. 

8. A LBD with just a hint of sheer fabric and lace. 

Currently Craving: Sparkle Statement Necklace

Love this sparkly statement necklace from Banana Republic, with gems subtly arranged in the pattern of daisies. It would be the perfect addition to my holiday wardrobe!

Frills and Lace

Top: Forever 21 (similar); Vest: Zara; Jeans: Zara; Heels: Forever 21; Belt: Gap; Bracelets: Madewell and Banana Republic

I'm a big advocate for adding unexpected details to an outfit - a leopard print belt, bright pumps, even a fun shade of nail polish can sometimes do the trick. I find that 9 times out of 10 being adventurous, (even if it's only subtly), usually pays off. 

Liking Lately

A Christmas cactus that's just starting to bloom. 

The way the sun reflects off this building in the morning and brightens up our living room.

A cute housewarming gift we received: owl salt and pepper shakers!

A new pair of holiday chandelier earrings from Banana Republic.

Weekend TV marathons (Confession: I have never seen the entire SATC series - episodes here and there, but never the entire collection...a tragedy I hope to rectify soon). 

Anyone taking advantage of Black Friday sales today? I woke up this morning with a gazillion retail promotion emails - it's going to be hard to resist! 

Happy Weekend!

Closets and Cable Knits

Shirt: Gap (similar); Cable-Knit: Joe Fresh (recent); Jeans: Banana Republic; Heels: Nine West (similar); Necklace: Forever 21; Bracelets: Forever 21 and Banana Republic; Sunglasses: Ray Ban; iPhone Case: Kate Spade

This time of year I'm always drawn to warm, cozy knits, and this one especially intrigued me because of its colour. I like to organize my closet first by item, and then by colour, so that I can get a good visual representation of the inventory and easily see which colours I'm lacking. This mustard shade was certainly misrepresented, so I'm glad I filled the void. How do you manage and assess your closet? Any other good tricks out there? Please share in the comments!

On a side note: my aunt and little cousin were in town last night, so we took them to the CN Tower, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed playing tourist and looking down at all the bright lights of the city. Definitely a landmark I take for granted. Follow me on Instagram to see some of the highlights!

Russian Winter

Jacket: Banana Republic (old, similar here); Tee: Club Monaco; Russian Hat: Banana Republic; Skirt: Banana Republic; Purse: Michael Kors; Heels: Zara (recent); Gloves: from a small boutique in San Francisco

It was love at first sight when I spotted this fury headpiece. Not only is it extraordinarily warm and fitting for our Canadian winters, it's a fun alternative to a traditional toque or beanie. I especially love the playful elegance of it and the way it adds instant glam to an outfit.

Parading

Plaid Shirt: Gap; Vest: Banana Republic; Cargo Pants: Gap; Ankle Boots: Urban Outfitters; Sunglasses: Tiffany @ Co.

We welcomed some holiday spirit this weekend by attending the annual Santa Claus Parade in Toronto. It was a bright sunny day and with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, it certainly put me in a festive mood (immediately following, we went to buy a Christmas tree!). Of course my outfit was thematically inspired, yet downplayed with neutral boots and a faux fur vest (my current obsession). For more photos about all things holiday follow me on Instargam! Username: prettyinpolkadot.

My spectator vantage point.

Mounties and horses, in true Canadian fashion.

A little girl donning a Justin Beiber blanket. Couldn't resist.

Currently Craving: Clear Clutch

I have been on the hunt for a clear clutch for what seems like forever. I love their sleek, minimalist look, and the idea of a sparkly change purse shining through the plastic for the holidays just tipped me over the edge. That being said, if you know of where to buy one of these glorious accessories, please advise! Thankfully, there is a bright side to my so far unsuccessful quest. I found these great DIY tutorials here and here, which make the process of creating one yourself seem delightfully simple and extremely inexpensive. What do you thing – give up on the search and head to the fabric store?

Beautiful Brocade

How intriguing are the brocade and jacquard prints that seem to be overwhelming stores and magazines this season? I recently scooped up this beauty (to be blogged soon), and am finding that anything in this type of pattern naturally catches my eye. I have yet to see the perfect brocade coat, but these are some other items inspiring me as of late. 

1. Elizabeth and James 

2. Manolo Blahnik 

3. J Brand 

4. Zara

5. AV Max

6. Alice and Oliva

7. Zara

Trans-Seasonal

Top: Club Monaco (love this style); Skirt: Urban Outfitters (similar here); Necklace: Zara (next on my wish-list is this one); Boots: Urban Outfitters; Faux Fur Collar: Gap (similar here and here)

I love when a great fabric and colour is versatile enough to take you through multiple seasons. This skirt, last seen here, felt very spring-time with delicate gold jewelry and heather-grey lace, but worn with a navy top with zipper detailing, a statement necklace and lace up boots, it feels transformed. I keep saying I want to have it shortened to knee-length, and I think it's about time that happens. I'm picturing it with black opaque tights and ankle booties, accessorized with a little bit of sparkle for the holidays. What items do you keep in your closet all year round?

Currently Craving: Mixed Material Party Dress

Available here

I'm currently enjoying all things made of mixed materials, from jackets to necklaces, but I think a party dress would definitely make my day - especially one coated with feathers in shades of teal and blue. 

Early Sunsets

Coat: Banana Republic (love the plum version as well!); Shoes: Urban Outfitters (similar here and here); Fur Collar: Gap (similar here and here); Bag: Zara; Beanie: RW&Co.; Sweater: Banana Republic (old); Skirt: Forever 21 (old, love this style). 

Yesterday was a black on black kind of day. While I usually tend to tuck tops into skirts, this time I opted to keep my loose knit layered overtop, for a more relaxed, monochromatic look. I added thicker brown shoes to offset the lightweight material of my skirt. 

I have to say, it's getting much tougher to snap blog photos when the sun's setting at 4:45 in the afternoon - not to mention, I also saw a few snowflakes yesterday. Definitely wishing we we were back in San Francisco right about now. Toronto/cold-climate bloggers: how do you do it? What are your tips? Early morning shoots? Indoor pictures? Tell me your secrets!  

On another note, I absolutely love watching the planes fly in and out of Billy Bishop airport over the lake. There's something so timely, yet mysterious and charismatic about it that I get drawn in and can't seem to look away (at least until my photographer reminds me of his cold fingers). 

Jewel-Toned

Top: Forever 21; Cigarette Pants: Gap (currently loving this plaid pair); Jacket: Banana Republic (old, similar here); Fur Collar: H&M; Earrings: Forever 21; Heels: Zara (recent); Purse: Old Navy; Glasses: Tiffany & Co

After a week of harsh winds and miserable rain it finally brightened up this weekend, with peaks of sunshine making an appearance every now and then. Positive thoughts are still with those on the east coast left affected by hurricane Sandy!

On another note, someone once told me that you should never wear more than two colours in an outfit. While sometimes I whole-heartedly agree with this statement --as long as those colours are combined with great neutrals of course-- more often than not, I think the rule is too generalized and has multiple exceptions. I would argue that one of the exceptions are colours of the same saturation or intensity - i.e. jewel tones. A consistent vibrancy keeps the eye from feeling overwhelmed, so pairing more than two tones can make for a great colour-blocked ensemble. On par with this exception: different patterns and prints, or slightly different shades (and fabrics) pulled together for a monochromatic look. 

What are some style rules you love to follow or break?