iVillage.ca - Stylish Beach Bags

Check out the article Wendy wrote for iVillage.ca and discover the perfect beach bag for your personality.

Summer Road Trip

With Canada Day fast approaching, the roads will be filled with cars carrying people to cottages, and other far away destinations.  When you're sitting in a car for a long period of time, it's important that you feel comfortable, but also feel pulled together for those inevitable pit stops.  Choose shorts, or a skirt that has a relaxed waistband that won't dig in (or a dress is always good for that), some flats that are easy to slip on and off, and a great pair of shades... and you're set for a day on the road!

The Best Accessory

Well said.  

Sometimes all you need is a little boost to own that confidence!

Stack 'em Up

This outfit is inspired by an amazing stylish woman from Spain photographed by The Sartorialist.  If you love bracelets this is an easy way to refresh the way all the bangles in your closet look when you wear them.  By stacking them together, you make a statement, but paired with a simple dress you create an easy-going look that's simply stylish.

Meet Dominique

Dominique is THE REFINERY summer intern, from the Fashion Management Program at George Brown College.  She's going to be helping with online content while she learns the ins and outs of the personal style world.  Here are a few insights into her life...

Hometown: Corbiel, Ontario (For those of you who have no idea where that is, it’s located twenty minutes east of North Bay. In the winter, snow banks can reach up to 5 feet tall and a -30 degree Celsius day is not uncommon.)

Dream vacation: To travel the world and see the different cultural styles of the people who live in these far off places.

Words to live by: Act as if it were impossible to fail

One day I will own: A closet full of shoes, because one day I will buy a new pair of shoes every time I go shopping. 

Bet you didn’t know: I have one eye that is two different colours

The clothing item I couldn't live without: My skinny jeans... they are so comfortable and go with everything in my closet. 

Favourite Toronto boutique: Skirt, near the corner of Bathurst and Bloor in Toronto, where the clothing is fashion forward, unique, and works for a student's budget.

You'll be hearing more from Dominique soon!

Wendy's Words ~ Blushing

photo from tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com

I love when I come home to an email that genuinely expresses how a client is feeling about her new wardrobe... and more than that... how that makes her feel about herself.  It's why I get up in the morning.  It's what motivates me. Helping women to find their inner smile, and to glow from the inside out.  Words like these  make my own heart smile.

"Thanks - as usual after two hours with you I feel amazing about my closet and I feel like I get it. I really hope you know how much your time is a gift to me as it always makes me feel so much better. The confidence I gain from just a little time with you is fantastic. So thank you as simple and best as I can put it." ~ Isla

With gratitude,
Wendy

Toronto Treasures: Lilliput Hats

custom hat by Lilliput made for Wendy

So many women think that hats don’t look good on them.  Is this because the only hats they’ve tried on are baseball caps and toques?  Hats are just so much more than that, which you can easily see after one trip to College and Bathurst, to frolic in the hat world of Lilliput Hats!  

Lilliput Hats is an environment where playing, and trying new things, is encouraged.  The women who work at the boutique are there help those who want their help, and let those who want to browse do just that.  Lilliput has so many hat styles to choose from, you are guaranteed to find something that suits your face shape, and size!  The best part is, any of the in-house styles can be custom-made to your colour choice, and fit perfectly to your head – at no extra charge.  

Visit Lilliput Hats at
462 College Street Toronto
416.563.5933

Discover other hidden shopping treasures in Toronto on a boutique shopping tour with THE REFINERY!

 

Cream Pants

Cream dress pants are a great way to make your daily work look feel more summery.  Paired with a print blouse, metallic sunglasses, and black and cream accessories, you've got a pulled together look that will knock their socks off in the board room.

THE REFINERY weekly wear

Wendy & Chris - the bride and groom

Chris and I had a ball choosing outfits for our dance party style wedding.  We wanted to meld the formality needed for a bride and groom, with the fun that is us!  For our daily style, we both enjoy mixing quality pieces with inexpensive finds, and we were no different with our wedding attire.  (You can't get the stylish practicality out of this girl, even on her wedding day!)

Wendy with her maid of honour

Obviously, the dress was the first thing I chose.  I knew I wanted a short cocktail style dress, and after some intense searching I found this awesome Laundry by Shelli Siegel number ($395) at Holt Renfrew.  The satin dress was perfect for the event with it's oversized ruffles and blinging boustier... it was the kind of dress you couldn't help but have a ball in!  My hat was custom made at Lilliput Hats ($250) to match my dress and coral bow-toe d'orsay shoes by Manolo Blahnik ($775) that I got. Together, the shoes and hat really made the outfit!  To finish everything off I added an oversized pearl necklace that I got at a boutique in Burlington years ago, and oversized pearl earrings I believe I bought at H&M about 5 year ago.  

Chris with his best man

Chris started off with a navy pinstripe suit he bought from Club Monaco ($200) a couple of years ago on sale.  As a teacher, he has very few occasions to wear a suit so it didn't make sense for him to buy a new one.  For $75 we had it tailored to fit him perfectly, so it looked like a million bucks!  His bespoke shirt and bow tie were made by Green Shag ($480 inclusive)... and what a fun experience that was!  There are so many fabrics, cuts, styles, buttons, etc. to choose from, the possibilities are endless.  Chris chose a light blue shirt with a white collar and cuffs, and a gold brocade bow tie to go with - a truly stunning combination especially with the navy suit.  He finished the outfit with a pair of Hugo Boss black lace dress shoes from his closet, and a matching black belt.

I was happy that when everything was said and done we both felt awesome, and we invested only in items we would wear again. 

I have promised wedding pictures to many of you, so stay tuned for more great pictures taken by the amazing Katie Malo!

Wendy

Jewellery Storage

photo from brassrazooboutique.com

Instead of randomly throwing your prized wearable art pieces in a drawer to be forgotten, why not try a more stylish and practical jewellery storage system like the one pictured above.  All you need is a frame, a few wooden sticks, and some small hooks, and you have a piece of art to showcase your pieces of jewellery art.  For a simpler version of this, you could frame a piece of cork and use push pins to hold your pieces on it.

If you happen to have a wardrobe system in your closet, grab yourself a couple of the felt lined drawers to house your accessories.  Arrange the compartments by item and by colour.

A stand alone jewellery storage unit is also an awesome idea when you have some wall space, or floor space.

All of these storage ideas will keep your closet organized, your pieces will be easier to see, and much more accessible... leading to an accessorized woman with a pulled together sense of style!

Care Label

found on weheartit.com

... we've all been there haven't we?!?

In all seriousness, if you're looking for step-by-step care instructions for your garments, the Ultimate Guide to Shopping & Caring for Clothing by Steve Boorstein, is a comprehensive resource. Or you can easily find symbol translations online.

When you take care of your clothing you can wear them longer, and have the option to consign them when you're done with them to recover some of your investment.

Toronto Treasures: Sash & Bustle

image from sashandbustle.com

 

Sash & Bustle is a breath of fresh air when you're searching for any wedding related apparel - be that your own wedding dress, bridesmaids' dresses, or wedding accessories.  The airy boutique is bright, fresh, and filled with a stunning, edited, collection dresses that you can view for yourself - touch, feel, and try on.  Everything about Sash & Bustle is welcoming, and unassuming.  No pressure here, which is such an awesome alternative to some of the other stuffy wedding boutiques we've become accustomed to.

Although Sash & Bustle has a few classic gowns, they really excel at dreamy bohemian style gowns, and edgy short dresses perfect for the modern bride.  For any bride who's dream dress has something a little different, THE REFINERY highly recommends you make Sash & Bustle your first stop!

Visit Sash & Bustle at 

 233 Carlaw Avenue, Unit 2
416.414.3617
appointments are necessary and can be booked by emailing hello@sashandbustle.com 

P.S. The dress samples are in a size 10, rather than a 6 - even sweeter!

Discover other hidden Toronto shopping treasures on a boutique shopping tour with THE REFINERY!

Fashion Forward Classic

Mixing brown accessories with black pants, and choosing a soft pink collared shirt rather than stark white, is an easy way to create a fashion forward look while sticking to a classic personality style.  This is outfit works well for those hard to dress for transitional days that are still with us in June... leave the sleeves down when it's cool, and roll them up when it gets warm.

When you spend some time playing in your closet, you never know what you'll come up with!

Summer Staples

When the sun shines we all think of summer... dream of summer, really!  So what do you need in your closet to keep life simple?

1. An Evening Layer: A key piece that often gets forgotten, but necessary for cool summer evenings.  Make sure your chosen layer is either in a neutral (black, white, cream, navy, gray) or in your colour palette, so it's a versatile staple.

2. The White T-shirt: Start your search for this crisp basic at cost-effective stores like The Gap, Jacob, or Joe Fresh.  No matter how much money you spend, a white t-shirt yellows, so save some money on this piece, and replace it with a new one each season.

3. Comfortable Walking Shoes: ... that look cute too!  We all love being outside and walking around in the summer.  These shoes from Terra Plana, with a memory foam sole, will easily do you for an active day on your feet.

4. Sun dress: A few cheap and cheerful sundresses can get you through the summer, and are so easy to pack.  To give you an idea of how inexpensive they can be, this cute striped number is only $19.95 at H&M. 

5. A Weekender Bag: Summer brings many weekends away, so something small to pack all your stuff in is key.  This awesome bag is created by Canadian textile designer Virginia Johnson.

Love Your Body

Wendy found this picture on pinterest, and wanted to share.  We see so many different body shapes, heights, sizes, proportions... and every single one is beautiful!  Love your body, it is stunning just the way it is.