CANADA 150, EH? | These Fashionable Finds Will Make You Feel SO Canadian

via Roots

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Campfires. Gord Downie. Timmies. Pond hockey. Muskoka chairs. Loon calls. Bautista bat flips. Complaining about the weather. Saying sorry. A lot. Paleness. Patio parties. Backyard bbqs. Justin Trudeau doing push-ups.

We might all be different but there's something about being Canadian that unites us. We work hard but we play harder. We love fiercely, we're polite and we're kind - buuut we still like to cause some trouble because how else could we possibly get through 8 months of winter? We love our nature and we love our summers because we know that before too long, they're gone. We're far from perfect but we're working on it. Most of us have never seen a beaver. And most of us will find that last sentence funny. 

Unlike our American counterparts, our patriotism is a steady, quiet sort. While we love Canada, it's not the decal-your-car-in-Canadian-flags kinda love. But with Canada 150 just a few weeks away, this might be the year to get just a little bit loud. 

Rock maple-leaf hats & sweatshirts from Roots (one of our country's biggest retail success stories) or Made in Canada finds from Le Château. Try flirty dresses from stores that you didn't even know were Canadian or homegrown beauty products to help you embrace your short-lived summer glow. Pick up some new shoes from a Canadian fave (shout-out to ALDO) or treat yourself to a few things from Hudson's Bay.  Love this country as much as we do? Scroll below for some fashionable finds that will help you wear your heart on your sleeve this summer.

Happy 150th birthday Canada! We love you xx

SEE OUR CANADIAN FASHION FINDS HERE...

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY | Our Fail-Proof Father's Day Gift Guide

via RW&CO.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

My husband was just away for 8 days in Winnipeg. I knew that we would miss him. But I also knew I could handle it. If nothing else, I know how to get sh*% (shtuff) done. As laissez-faire as my friends might think of me, momming and running my own business have taught me how to multi-task like a pro. And I did it all. I got it all done. We got to school on time. After drop-off, I managed to get from Kitchener to Toronto and back again each day in time for pick-up. I didn't miss a single soccer practice. The laundry was folded, the house was clean(ish), they practiced their piano. We even managed to not run out of groceries.  I was exhausted all. the. time. but it all got done. 

But here's the thing: we didn't quite get it all done. Because it's not all about checking off lists and showing up. It's the other stuff my husband does every day that makes his absence felt every time he goes away. It's the jokes and the laughing and the fun. It's the time he takes with our kids to talk about their deep thoughts at bedtime and recount their dreams at breakfast.  It's the way he knows how to let things go and sometimes be late and be toootally okay with it. Oh, and it's also the getting up early because he knows I'm not a morning person and taking out the garbage (we like to keep some things tradish) and the help with literally everything else  around the house that I miss a lot, too. Dads are good like that. 

With Father's Day around the corner, it's time to thank the amazing dads in our lives. From sporty to stylish, from baller to boss, we've got your dad covered this Father's Day...

SEE THE BEST GIFTS FOR DADS HERE...

SPRING IN YOUR STEP | 40 Fun Spring Shoe Picks

TOPSHOP Flowers at your feet from Hudson's Bay

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Okay, so most of us don't really need new shoes. If we're lucky, we probably bought a pair or 2 (or 10, who's counting? It wasn't me...), last year. But here's the thing: shoe love, as they say, is true love. Barring injuries or pregnancy, shoes always fit. You may have hibernated all winter enjoying a steady stream of beer, poutine and Netflix and yet somehow, last year's shoes still fit. Magical. So like I said, we don't really need new shoes.

But here's the thing: shoes are incredibly important and thus, justifiable. Our feet are what keep us grounded. They get us from A to B and back again. We walk 10,000 steps in the pairs we wear and we literally cannot leave home without them. Unless you're a yoga instructor who teaches beach yoga. Otherwise, you cannot leave home without them. And casting needs aside, there's that emotional well-being part of us that we need to nurture. With a world in turmoil, shoes have this amazing ability to make us feel good. And so, while you might not technically need new shoes, you can't be blamed for wanting more. 

Speaking of wants, Spring '17 has some seriously cute shoes that have caught my attention. They all get the job done but the focus is on the fun. Block heels and slip-on loafers will help you look right up-to-date, while metallics, florals and beautiful brights will make any basic outfit bananas (in a good way)...

SEE 40 FUN SPRING SHOE PICKS HERE...

BABY YOU'RE SO CLASSIC | The Freshest Ways to Wear Your Old Favourites This Spring

Cutest. Shirt. Ever. via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Like a great old friend, classics are the best. You can part ways for awhile and do your own thing, but when you come back together, it feels like no time has passed at all. You share a history that's hard to replicate. You get each other.  Somehow it always just feels right.  Like people, classics evolve in their own small ways but they tend to stay true to what made them so great in the first place.

This spring, your old stand-bys have come back to play, only this time, they're updated to feel totes 2017. Here are some of our fave classic go-tos:

1. CULOTTES | Culottes keep coming back but now, they're available in loads of interesting fabrics and textures like pinstripes and faux leather, and are amazingly versatile - work to weekend is as simple as a shoe change.  Cropped, wide-leg jeans give off a similar vibe and are perfect for wearing with ankle boots while you wait for the warm weather to get here already. 

2. THE WHITE SHIRT | There isn't another piece more universally-flattering, more wardrobe-elevating and more go-with-everything than a great white shirt.  This season, the white shirt stays true to its roots but adds a decidedly 2017 twist with statement sleeves. 

3. STRIPES | Every single spring, you can count on stripes to be on every top trend list. While one usually thinks of nautical when shopping for stripes, this year, it's time to go for something a little less obvious. If you read between the lines (which I hope you do), I'm talking multi-toned striped dresses, vertical striped wide leg pants and flowy striped statement tunics that look more landlubbing than seafaring. 

4. GINGHAM | Gingham screams picnics and pretty weather and the innocence of youth. While I'll never say no to a pair of cute checked pants, I'm especially tempted by some of the fresh gingham finds I'm seeing in stores now. This spring, try a fun patchwork gingham shirt or a flirty cold-shoulder dress - pretty sure they'll be your new BFF's ;)

Happy, happy spring! Serious outfit inspo below...

READ MORE...

TOP MODELS | Check Out 35 Statement-Making Tops You'll Live In This Spring

via Fashion Jackson

Originally posted in The CLOSET

There's a backlash against basics going on right now and I'm totally ready for it; I'm ready to stash away my plain white tees and solid crew necks for now and replace them with something a little more amazeballs. I'm set to throw caution to the spring wind and step out of my comfort zone. I'm down with getting a lil' bit cray in my shopping cart. Don't get me wrong - I will never hate on the classics. Classics will always have a place in my heart. Classics are classics for a reason.

But if the Spring '17 runways were any indication, our top halves are about to get turned up. When you shop for new tops this season, remember this:

1) MAKE A STATEMENT | Statement sleeves are the major story this spring, allowing us to risk it all with seriously stylish consequences. Sleeves aren't just two tubes of fabric - this season, they're tied up, ruffled, bell-sleeved and dramatically oversized. Sleeves, once just an afterthought, have become the main event.

2) BRUSH YOUR SHOULDER OFF | Exposed shoulders are still a big story, but the game has been raised for Spring '17. Added ruffles, exaggerated openings and playful prints let you bring out your inner flirt, whether you opt for a cold shoulder sweater, an off-the-shoulder shirt or a one-shoulder stunner. 

3) PRINTS CHARMING | Speaking of prints, I'm excited to see the return of bright, bold, colourful prints this spring, after SO many seasons of solids. A basic bottom half calls for a gorgeous floral, a pretty gingham or an artful abstract to draw attention to your upper half. Add a pair of shoulder skimming earrings and you'll never go unnoticed. 

Read on for 35 statement-making tops that you'll live in this spring...

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