This evening was spent biking along the beautiful sea wall around Stanley Park! Such a wonderful way to spend the evening!
Wearing: Silk Zara blouse, leather Zara belt, vintage cut offs, Zara flats, Guess back pack, H&M sunnies.
Tonight couldn’t have been more lovely, riding a cruiser with the wind in your hair, stopping for ice cream and photos, fun, fun, fun!
Amazing!! In the distance, the North Shore, (West Vancouver).
Hope you had a lovely summery weekend!
Xo StyleStruck
With Niki Blasina of A Haute Mess, and yours truly! Now this is one Olivia that WILL be wearing Guess to a Guess event… (unlike a certain Palermo who couldn’t get it together).
Very excited!! See you fabulous people tonight!
Xo StyleStruck
Thursday, June 24, join Niki Blasina and I at the Marciano store on Robson St for a marvelous party!
An excerpt from the press release sent by Guess to the media list: “This exclusive event, hosted by fashion bloggers Olivia Lovenmark, the fashionista and social media/public relations obsessed blogger behind Vancouver style blog StyleStruck.ca and Niki Blasina the pop culture enthusiast, public relations professional and creator of AHauteMess.ca, is the perfect setting to unveil the summer collection. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to Dress for Success Vancouver, a network of support for economically disadvantaged women that provides career development tools and professional attire to help women in work and in life.”
If you would like to attend this fabulous event, please RSVP right away to guessrsvp@guess.com by Monday, June 21 to secure a spot! The party will start at 6:30pm!
Xo StyleStruck
Feels like I’ve been away for a week! Maybe because I missed blogging this past weekend, usually I’m writing or posting or planning a post each day, but 3 whole days without my computer! (Though, sometimes you need to do that!) Anyways, the majority of Saturday was spent on a bus waiting to get through US customs, (we left Vancouver at 8am but didn’t arrive in Seattle until 5pm… Brutal! Turns out all of Vancouver was headed to the States on Saturday morning), so there aren’t too many glam photos from Saturday.
Pictured above at Pink Door. But there was a glam dinner on Saturday night! If you go to Seattle, you MUST go to Pink Door for dinner! It was a magical restaurant, better than I could have imagined and so perfect for a first night in the city. The door is hidden, unmarked in an alley near the Public Market, and when you descend the stairs down into the restaurant, you walk into a dimly lit room with light pinky peach walls that are adorned with dozens of scalloped-edged vintage mirrors and many vintage chandeliers of all sizes hanging from the ceiling. That dinner was definitely one of the best I have ever had out. Our server was wonderful, the music and ambience were just perfect and the food was amazing! Five stars. After dinner the boy and I got caught in a rain storm, which apparently appeared out of nowhere while we were enjoying our triple-layer mousse cake. So we ducked into a busy Irish bar across the alley for a drink while we waited it out. It ended up being one of the most fun nights, very impromptu and spontaneous and just right for a weekend away.
From the top: Looking out over the harbour, (wearing a Zara jacket, Trina Turk shorts, Zara silk floral blouse, yellow pashmina, Zara leather flats, vintage Raybans and vintage Pierre Cardin snakeskin purse). Pike Place Public Market, Tommy outside the market with a carriage horse, fresh peonies inside the market.
Sunday morning was spent eating a decadent breakfast of eggs benedict with crab cakes at Boka, the restaurant adjacent to our hotel, Hotel 1000. Afterwards we wandered through some fine home stores nearby, (Tommy really is a girl’s dream when travelling, if we pass a shop he knows I might like to go into, he takes me in and then sits in the designated “boyfriend chair” while I try things on. I hope he knows how much I appreciate his patience, especially when my “ten minutes” usually turns into more like 30, or 40 minutes…), and then walked over to Nordstrom Rack, (where all of the discounted designer Nordstrom merchandise go). I’d been talking about wanting to go there for weeks, and after much searching through the racks, it did not disappoint! I left the store with a pair of dark Sevens with rhinestones on the pocket for a third of the retail price, a pair of white Trina Turk jean shorts and a Jason Wu pleated silk skirt which was marked down from $1650 to $100. That’s a savings of $1550. (WHO WOULD PAY $1650 FOR A SKIRT?!) For lunch we visited McCormick and Smicks, a popular seafood restaurant that has about 85 stores across the country. I tried an oyster, I don’t know why, but I was feeling optimistic and adventurous and so I slid a fresh, or raw, oyster into my mouth. Ewwww. Never again. But the salmon burger was delish! Afterwards we went to the market, a very popular Sunday destination. (Pictures above, and below).
After the market we wandered over to the actual Nordstrom department store where I found a charming pink Tasha bib-style necklace made of pink ribbon, lace and beads. Very pretty, and conveniently it went perfectly with my outfit for dinner on Sunday night, or maybe I planned my outfit around the necklace.
Monday was our last day in Seattle so we really made it count. We did a big walk downtown, visiting a number of shops including Barneys, Victoria’s Secret and a FABULOUS designer consignment shop that Tommy spotted where I found a white eyelet Diane von Furstenburg wrap dress, that just like my other DVF wrap dress, I swear was made for me. It was like heaven in a dressing room, that moment when you really like an item and reeaally want it to fit and work for you, and then IT DOES! Oh happy day. We went back to the Public Market again for delicious freshly-baked Nutella-covered crumpets, looked through a vintage book store and finally drank a mango cosmo, (me) and a pale ale, (Tommy) at Boka before packing up our bags and getting into a taxi destined for the bus depot. It really was a wonderful weekend away of exploring and relaxing.
(Above, wearing: Zara jacket, Guess army jacket, black Target tank top, vintage necklace, white Sirens jeans, Coach wedges and a giant Cole Haan black leather bag).
Sad to say goodbye to Seattle! Now back to Vancouver life, I’m accompanying my friend Steph to a tattoo appointment this afternoon. Never mind that needles make me squirm.
Xo StyleStruck
Saturday morning brings travel! Yayy! I LOVE to travel, whether it is to a far flung location or just a nearby city, hotels, transportation, cute totes to hold your camera, passport and many, many lip glosses make me so excited! ADVENTURE! Saturday morning we are leaving Vancouver for a couple nights away. Here are a few things I intend on bringing with me this weekend…
I always lay clothes out on my bed before I pack, helps me visualize outfits, I’m thinking the H&M denim vest would be really cute over the silk leopard Cynthia Rowley dress, perhaps with a belt to give me a waist, and my red buckle boots! Even packing gets me excited! (Clothes from left: H&M denim vest, Guess military jacket, Cynthia Rowley silk dress, H&M metallic dress).
My passport… This will be my second stamp this year, the poor thing really needs more attention. Specifically some Parisian stamp-love. (Leather passport cover from Danier).
Clothing-wise, I would describe this location as urban, cool, a great place to wear contemporary edgy clothes that are casual. Of course, this won’t stop me from having a “Ladies-who-lunch” moment in this pale pink Danier leather jacket and obnoxiously bling scarf. 1 part leather jacket, 1 part neck scarf and 1 part ballet flats = well coiffed 60-something classy woman in my mind, I get quite a kick out of creating different personas with outfits. To complete the look I really must have a giant Hermes tote! Who’s got an in at Hermes and $25 000 lying around?? ; )
It’s fairly close by… can you guess where I’m off to??
Xo StyleStruck
If you’re in the Twitter loop of the Vancouver fashion-savvy, you know that Wednesday night’s event at Leone for the JK Models 1 Year Anniversary party was a fabulous bash! The guests were an eclectic mix of designers, bloggers, photographers, journalists and socialites who sipped on Grand Marnier cocktails and enjoyed the Pixstar photo booth and She to Shic Beauty Lounge full-service manicure station! The event, which was brought together by the most organized, thorough and fabulous fashion professional, The Urban Stylist, a.k.a. Katie Mogan, featured two fashion shows and ample time to socialize with old and new connections. The first show featured clothing from Leone’s edgy downstair’s boutique, L2 and the second featured clothes from the upstairs show rooms. Looking for a little designer in your life? Go to Leone. They have such a beautiful collection of designers. Don’t even get me started on the shoes… Let’s just say their shoe collection is a must-see for every shoe loving gal out there. (I know us ladies never need an excuse for a new pair of heels, but Sex and the City 2 will be here soon! What will your feet be wearing?? Something ravishing, I hope!) Others who must be mentioned are A Moveable Feast Catering company who provided the guests with the most delicious bites and of course the team from Avant Garde Hair Studio for providing full hair and make up. I quite liked how there was a dramatic change in hair and make up between the two fashion shows, the first being a little more casual and the second being sexy and dramatic! I’ve been lucky enough to be in the hands of Avant Garde‘s brilliant and always stylish Jon Paul, and the man knows how to work the hair!
Below are some of my quick-pics from the night, but I hope you’ll follow this link: JK Models Event @ LEONE pics to see all the beautiful photography from the evening by photographer Peter Jensen.
JK Models do double duty, these two models also manned the door, and did a wonderful job.
With Vancouver fashion bloggers Erin Gee of Haus of Hybrid and Nicole Soon of Le Mode de Jour!
Just a small portion of the JK Models, Leone fashion show audience.
JK Models model Sunny walking the pink runway in L2 clothing.
Hosts of the night: Kirk Renard and Erin Ireland of FMA. These two were the best hosts you could ask for, funny, witty and charming, not to mention great to work with!
Model Sunny again looking gorgeous, check out those Prada mesh and lucite heels! (I’m the lucky girl who got to tape the bottoms of the shoes, meaning, I got to hold these beauties, try them on no, but just to have them in my hands was enough for me!)
With Katie Mogan, The Urban Stylist! Need an event put together, this is your woman. Seriously impressive! (I’m wearing a Guess dress, too bad I didn’t get a shot of the back, it was all cut outs and skin, one of my favourite quotes of the night, “Olivia, your dress is like the new mullet! Business in the front, party in the back!” Yep, I’ll take that! : ) and heels by Luichiny.)
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the pictures from Wednesday’s event at Leone! Click here!
Xo StyleStruck
What do you get when you mix two cute chicks with a mess of a closet? CLOSET DETOX. This is the latest and greatest way to renew and cleanse oneself without having to pass on that glass of bubbly, in fact, I say when partaking in a closet detox, having a bottle of champagne on hand is probably a very good idea!
So what is a closet detox you ask? It’s when two brilliant and stylish women take over your closet, leaving you helplessly clutching your champagne flute while they dissect each and every piece of clothing you own. This is an absolutely wonderful way to start off any season, especially the Spring season when you’re itching for a Spring cleaning, or a fabulous new wardrobe.
I spent my Saturday afternoon with the ladies of Operation Style, Jillian Crago and Kristy Rogerson, who came over on a mission: to give my over-stuffed closet a much needed detox and me a much needed lesson in closet organization. They started by completely emptying out my closet and then sorting out all of its contents into neat categorized piles; long sleeve, collared, vests, skirts, etc. Once everything was organized Jillian and Kristy examined each piece of clothing for its shape, colour, fabric quality and relevance to today’s styles. Most pieces were lucky, others, like an old black stretchy and very short Wilfred dress, were not. “Faded goes,” Jillian told me. I don’t know why I was hanging onto that dress, the last time I wore it I was blending drinks behind the bar at Cactus Club.
We all have items like this, say an old sweater that you haven’t worn in a year but that you haven’t gotten rid of because you “just might” wear it one day. Or maybe there is a pair of jeans hanging in your closet that haven’t fit properly in, oh about eight months, but you’re saving them because they’re your skinny jeans and you’re hoping that one day, mayybe one day they’ll fit again. (okay yes, I’m talking about my beloved Karl Lagerfeld skinnies). “Those pieces you never wear just stare at you when you’re trying to get dressed, which just makes it harder to find the right outfit!” Brilliant advice from Kristy.
As Jillian and Kristy went through all of my clothing, they created outfits for me with pieces that I would never have thought to pair together! I kept thinking things like, “I’ve had those for years, how come I never thought of pairing them with the cream blazer??” to myself. I won’t lie, at the start of all this I was feeling very nervous, almost nauseous at the thought of other people seeing what my closet actually holds. Some of those things have been in there for years, and I’m not talkin one or two, I’m saying yeeaars, like since 9th grade years. How embarrassing. Although my pride in showing the girls my Chanel pumps did ease the pain a bit. So I pressed on. As each outfit was created, Kristy took a picture so that I could remember them.
Wearing: Forever 21 Blazer, Wilfred stretchy tank, DIY trousers, Michael Kors flats.
Wearing: Cynthia Rowley dress that’s been shortened by the girls of OS, vintage gold belt, Manolo Blahnik flats.
Wearing: Guess jacket, silk top from (212), white Sirens jeans, Stuart Weitzman heels.
Wearing: H&M shirt, H&M striped dress, Michael Kors flats. Kristy also laid some outfits out for me… This one (below) I am really looking forward to wearing come Spring!
Once it was all over, I felt like I had a whole new closet and more importantly, a whole new wardrobe! And thanks to these two lovely ladies, my closet is professionally organized, right down to the colour-coded arranging of the shoes.
A note to guys: A closet detox would make an awesome Valentines Day gift for the lady in your life! I don’t know one woman who wouldn’t love to have this experience. Information on women’s services click here!
And now for the before and afters, top picture shown is my closet before… Here is the after!
If you’d like to see what kind of magic Operation Style can work on your closet, send them en email! They’d love to hear from you! info@operationstyle.ca
XO StyleStruck
Here I am prancing around my apartment in the morning hours before work. I consider blogging my work actually, my other work is really just a way to support it. And speaking of all things fashion-work related, I was recently told about a new fashion site that allows you to network with everyone and anyone in the fashion industry. It’s called Afingo, pronounced Uh-fingo, meaning fashion, and is what the four co-founders consider the “first fashion-centric online platform that merges a marketplace and a social network; a virtual tradeshow, showroom and industry directory enclosed within an online community where members of the fashion community will connect and interact.” Well now that’s a mouth full! I’ve just been introduced to Afingo, but I’ve already signed up! Find me: http://www.afingo.com/users/stylestruck
Thus far it seems the site has done a great job at making sure all details are covered; when you sign up you fill it all out, from what you do and where you’ve been educated to where you shop. Because the site is so new, only time will tell if it will be the next social networking spot for fashionistas, but in the mean time I’m looking forward to connecting with all you fashionistas and fashionistos there!
Note: When you sign up for a profile, you won’t be asked for a password. The site sends a link with an opportunity to create a password shortly after you sign up, so be patient and it shall come.
And now back to the previous programming: StyleStruck Prances Around Her Teeny Apartment:
I’ve been dying to post about this new military style jacket I got while in Whistler. What my closet really needs is a good shot of Balmain, but for now a Guess look-a-like will do! And paired with my pink sequin skirt found at Patricia Field’s shop and Marc by Marc Jacobs cream patent leather mary-janes. Another Note: My hair is currently growing out, please bear with me as I endure the very awkward phases of growing ones hair out. I’d say I’m currently in phase one, ohh only about another 6 months of hair-hell to go through.
XO StyleStruck
