MUSIC . BABE RUTHLESS

A playlist to reignite the ruthless bitch inside your being. Take a cue from the baddest babes, including Nicki Minaj, Chynna Rogers, Angel Haze, and Queen B herself, who prove that having a strong backbone and a 'take shit from no one' attitude are essential for survival in our times. Whether your friends, job, or, for lack of a better term, fuccboi has bruised your ego let this mix light up your self confidence.

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NAILS . EVIL EYE

The Evil Eye. A look given with intent to inflict harm, suffering, or bad luck on that who it's cast upon. Nothing seems to fit Hallows Eve more. And yet the symbol is a popular jewellery design of our time, myself falling victim to it's lure. I may have been inspired by Charissa Rae for this manicure. Her nails are always decorated with the most gorgeous evil eye designs. But also, the symbol seemed fitting with my planned Halloween costume, Edie Sedgwick, who was largely associated with Andy Warhol. Either way the outcome is fun and flirty, and can be worn regardless the time of the year!    

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OFF THE GRID

Nothing makes me remotely as happy as the structure and strength of a box grid. The even and expected nature of the pattern, the fixed distance separating each parallel line, the chaos that occurs as vertical and horizontal lines intersect and overlap. All the evocative details amalgamate in my mind to confuse yet settle me. Shown here wearing my current favourite box grid blouse from Joe Fresh alongside a Valérie Dumaine jacket, high-waisted ZARA denim (similar here), Just Fab shoes (similar here), the Michael Kors Selma Stud Mini Messenger bag and RayBan ClubMaster Classic Sunglasses. Adorned in jewels from Claire's, and topped with a thick coat of Feminist Lippie Stix by ColorPop. You could say my life has only just begun... 

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STEP 1: A NEW SKINCARE REGIME

Out with the old and in with the new. After disregarding my skincare routine for the better part of the past three months I decided it was time to, once again, become a functioning human. Cleanser, eye cream, serum.. the whole nine yards! I figure if I'm going to commit myself to a new regime I might as well go all the way. But with so little focus being placed on my skin, and health in general, over the past few months I needed to construct a routine that was effective yet gentle. On a mission for radiant, dewy skin I assembled my own army of skin saviors known to give skin a boost of radiance and nutrition, without causing irritation.

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TO BE FOUND

If you've been in my presence you would agree that I have a seemingly sunny disposition. A perfectly brilliant and humorous facade that I have carefully curated to distract from the invisible monsters that live beneath my skin. I go through radical episodes of feeling at one with the person I've conjured up to feeling so disconnected from my true self that my only hope in figuring out who I am comes from an insensate need to delete all social channels. I feel so far lost in the digital age that I've begun to think of myself as a product, rather than a person. 

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MAN, FUCK A BACKPACKER

I've long considered myself a backpacker, however instead of travelling from place to place I've travelled from muse to muse. I've found home in the pages of fashion magazines, writers who died long before I was born, yet speak to the fragments of my broken soul, and individuals who have defied the sorrow in their eyes to produce a laughter that it so rich, pure and authentic it even had me fooled. I'm so far lost in the people and moments I've encountered/experienced that I am no longer able to differentiate myself from them. In essence, "nothing of me is original. I am the combined efforts of everyone I've ever known". And yet as I begin to type 'man, fuck a backpacker' I am reminded of how many memories each article of clothing worn here contains. The backpack now in a state of distress thanks to Wayhome Music Festival, the dress and shoes a reminder of nights out on the town, and the Valérie Dumaine jacket acts as a snapshot of INLAND. So today, instead of staying down I remind myself that no matter my mode of living/working/feeling, the most important part is to live. Simply live. 

Jacket; Valérie Dumaine (here), Dress; Zara (similar here), Shoes; Just Fab (similar here), Backpack; Kensie (similar, but so much cooler here). 

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NAILS . ABSTRACT WHITE + NUDE

Call it what you want – abstract, minimal, cow-esque (lol) – this white and nude manicure is pretty killer. The design occurred as a by-product of a soon-to-be-camo manicure, which was set to feature steel grey, black, and eggplant, alongside the white. However, after applying the white polish to the nude base the effect was so abstract, minimal and angelic that I couldn't dare apply anything else. And the beautiful thing about this design is that it's so easy to recreate!  

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L'OCCITANE . SHEA MELTING HONEY COLLECTION

L'OCCITANE once again hits the nail on the head with their latest launch, the Shea Melting Honey Collection, which arrived in stores October 6th. The collection itself is rather special, and I don't say that because the collection combines the moisturizing benefits of shea butter from Burkina Faso with the softening properties of honey from Provence, two of my personal favourites. It's special rather because proceeds of one product in particular, the Solidarity Soap ($3), help give sight to those in need - an initiative you'll notice L'OCCITANE partake in every October for World Sight Day. The remaining products, albeit non-philanthropic, smell delectable and definitely deserve a spot in your vanity this fall/winter – especially if you're prone to dry skin.

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ARMED JEWELLERY . 4TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the fourth anniversary party for ARMED JEWELLERY, located just steps from their flagship store at 1024 Dundas Street West. The event featured a sneak-peak of the new collection for F/W '15, SilverFox, an endless supply of rolling rock, and a photo-booth where guests could have their photo taken adorned in ARMED pieces. Designer Desiree Girlato was also on location to discuss her inspirations behind the new collection, as well as her journey as a self-taught designer and conceptual artist. Each piece she creates is bold, beautiful, and statement-like, however that's not how Desiree intended them to be worn. Rather, she encourages her clients to wear the pieces to elevate their every day look, and ultimately to 'own each day and cease each opportunity through the power of style'. 

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STYLEAmy Mckissock
TRANSITIONING FROM SUMMER TO FALL W. AN OMBRE LIP

The makeup transition between summer and fall can be a difficult one to navigate. And as much as I adore the deep aubergine lips and smokey eyes that come with fall, at the moment it still feels too soon to start wearing these fall trends. But over the weekend I came up with an easy way to incorporate both seasons into my beauty routine – an ombré lip! 

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