WHAT THE WHAT?! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Hi everyone! I just wanted to check in and explain my absence from Life of Vi recently. As some of you know, I just started law school and I have been buried in readings for the past couple of weeks. I am definitely going to continue to write new posts and share new pictures as often as I can, but classes have to come first. That being said, I'm excited to keep sharing my love of fashion with all of you lovely people!

Thanks for understanding!
Talk soon,
Vi

OUTFIT OF THE DAY

 

 

Sweater: Three Boutique (find a similar one here)

 Leggings: Dynamite (find it here)

Scarf: H&M (find a similar one here)

Boots: Aldo (find them here)

Sunglasses: Ray Ban (find them here) 

Watch: Couturier, Tissot (find it here)

Hi everyone! Here's a quick OOTD post for the Thanksgiving weekend :) Last Saturday, my friend Alyssa drove up to visit me at school and we got to explore the Kingston waterfront. All of the fall produce was out at the marketplace and the sun was shining. We had a delicious pizza lunch at Wooden Heads restaurant and then walked along the harbourfront to check out all of the weekend activities. I also bought some lovely sunflowers to bring some sunshine into my apartment and a delicious jar of local honey. Yum yum!

For my outfit, I chose a comfy, oversized knit sweater from a boutique here in Kingston called Three. Quite frankly the shopping here is terrible, but I have scouted out one or two nice (if slightly over-priced) shops that have more unique clothing. I paired my cozy new sweater with a pair of plain black leggings and my crinkly H&M floral scarf. I really love the way that all the textures and patterns play together in this look.

Last but not least, I threw on my favourite brown leather riding boots from Aldo (you can find them in stores now or online) and my Tissot watch. While I love men's watches all year round, they always seem particularly classic when paired with cozy fall clothes.

Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians in the crowd!
Fun Fact: Thanksgiving is earlier in Canada than in the US because fall weather and the harvest comes so much earlier up north :)

Talk soon,
Vi

APARTMENT TOUR

Hi everyone! I've finally put the finishing touches on my little apartment and gotten everything unpacked, so here's the tour :) I may do another post on DIY apartment decor - there are so many affordable and amazing ways to decorate - so let me know if that's something that you want to see.

The Living Room/Kitchen

The Washroom

The Bedroom

Hope you enjoyed the tour!
Talk soon,
Vi

EMMY AWARDS 2012

Get ready ladies and gentlemen, because award season is starting once more! Last night marked the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, where we celebrated our favourite television shows and the people who make them. From the sons of Westeros to modern families, from biker gangs to high profile lawyers, our favourite actors hoped for the golden statue. Casts consisting of nerdy physicists, high school chemists, new girls or just girls, all waited anxiously to hear the results. As your resident award show junkie, allow me to guide you through my fashion favs of the evening. 

Let's start off with the trends and fads that we saw on the red carpet last night. January Jones, Lily Rabe and Game of Thrones' Lena Hedley all donned daring black dresses with dramatic sheer overlays. This style is particularly lovely in its detailing and acted as a gothic foil to all of the brightly-coloured dresses on the carpet.

The second big trend was cobalt blue dresses. Jane Levy, Lara Spencer and Friends With Kids triple-threat Jennifer Westfeldt all wore brightly-coloured frocks with refreshingly simple designs. Show 'em how it's done ladies! 

Keeping with the florescent feel, Modern Family's Julie Bowen, Leslie Mann and Julianne Moore ushered in a host of bright yellow dresses. While Mann opted for a unique crocheted bodice, Bowen and Moore went for solid head to toe colour.

Last but not least, the red carpet saw a ton of ladies accentuating their waistline with belted dresses. Maria Menounos, Guiliana Rancic and Jessica Pare all nipped it in the middle with elegant fabric belts. Lovely :)

Alright, the time has come for my highly anticipated (admit it, it's kinda the highlight of your year) Top Four Fashion Favourites from this year's Emmys! Drumroll please ...

 

1. Julianne Moore, wearing Dior. I am in love with this dress. The canary colour is lovely against for Moore's fair skin and the fit is nothing short of perfect. I love the combination of long sleeves and a full skirt, which is not easy to pull off. Nevertheless, this dress is simple and sexy without revealing any skin. In terms of styling, I am always a fan of redheads who boldly wear red lipstick, but Moore's makeup and hair are simply gorgeous. Her jewelry adds a bit of sparkle, but most importantly, no one element of this outfit competes with another. Well played, Julianne, well played.

   

2. Julie Bowen, wearing Monique Lhuillier. I must admit that I am quite enjoying the yellow mania of this year's Emmy Awards. This colour is particularly delightful, with its is-it-green-is-it-yellow qualities. While many women would look like a highlighter in this outfit (read: me), Julie Bowen looks enchantingly fair and elegant. The fit is super flattering and the oragami-like pleating in the front adds interest and dimension. Just lovely.

 

3. Christine Baranski. I don't know which part is better. Christine Baranski's legs or the fact that she's 60. As always, Baranski looked smashing on the red carpet last night. Her gold sequin dress had a perfectly balanced silhouette, with a thigh high hemline and long sleeves. While I would probably make a snarky remark about being age-appropriate, Baranski's body is much nicer every twenty-something that I know, so I'm going to keep my mouth shut. Disclaimer: I want to grow up to be Diana Lockhart. I love her bright jackets, I love her tailored dresses and I love her chunky necklaces. Girlfriend can wear a brooch. Enough said.

4. Kat Dennings, wearing J. Mendel. This dress has all of the typical Dennings elements - dark lipstick, minimal eye makeup and lotsa cleavage, but it all works. The rich colour is perfect on Dennings - side note: pale seems to have replaced tan as the desired complexion - and it really makes her haircolour pop. I could have done without the bracelet, but overall this outfit is a definite win!

Hope that you enjoyed the Emmy Awards as much as I did!

Talk soon,

Vi

OUTFIT OF THE DAY

Jeans: Levi's Curve ID (find them here)
Sweater: Banana Republic (find a similar one here) 
Jacket: Forever 21 (find a similar one here)

Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger Outlet (find a similar pair here) 
Purse: H&M (find a similar one here)
Sunglasses: Ray Ban (find them here)

Hi everyone :) This weekend my parents came down to visit me at school. It was so nice to see them and we went out for a delicious lunch at the Kingston Brewing Company. I had the yummiest fish and chips and the house cider ... mm mm mmm! I also got to explore the Kingston harbourfront a bit more with them. It's such a nice area, I can definitely see myself spending more time there. Since the weather was pretty cool, I wore my lemon-yellow sweater from the Banana Republic and my Levi Curve ID skinny jeans. I really like the look of tailored jeans (or pants) worn cuffed at the ankles, with an oversized knit top. It has such a preppy, cozy look that's perfect for fall. 

I was so happy to have my (faux) leather bomber jacket back too! I had forgotten it at home (dontcha just hate that!) when I moved, so my parents brought it with them :) I also decided to wear my smaller cross-body bag instead of my normal leather satchel for a change - sometimes it's nice not to have so much luggage, lol. Last but not least, I wore my red Tommy Hilfiger flats with the blue and white bows to complete my bright, casual look.

Happy Monday!

Talk soon,

Vi 

WELCOME TO KINGSTON!

Top: Zara (find a similar one here)

Skirt: H&M (find a similar one here)

Scarf: H&M (find a similar one here)

Tights: H&M (find them here)

Sunglasses: Ray Ban (find them here)  

Boots: Aldo (find them here)

Hi everyone :) The past two weeks have been a complete whirlwind! At the beginning of September, I moved into an apartment in Kingston and started classes at Queen's Law. I'm sure that a lot of you are in the same boat, whether you're back to high school or back to university. I spent last week unpacking, taking notes, unpacking, doing orientation, meeting new people and unpacking. I have a couple more things to finish up in my apartment and then I'll do a 'How to Decorate Small Spaces' post (sometime next week hopefully).

For now, here's a little OOTD for what I wore to class today. It's going to take me a while to get the hang of taking pictures outside my apartment, since I have to awkwardly stand smiling as the timer goes off, while simultaneously praying that my neighbours don't look out their window and decide that I'm a lunatic. It's a delicate balance. As you can tell by the squinty picture above, I have yet to perfect it.

The weather here has been super erratic so far - it was scorching hot last week and now it seems to have resorted back to chilly fall weather (woo!). As you guys know, I loooove fall fashion, so I was super excited today as I took my new brown leather Aldo boots for their maiden voyage. So far they are pretty comfortable and I have minimal blistering/pinching (other than a little rubbing on the heel which is pretty much to be expected with new boots). I also paired my high-waisted black felt skirt with a plain v-neck sweater for a classic, easy silhouette. Last but not least, I added a pop of pattern with my scarf to add a bit of interest to the outfit.

I'm still getting the feel for this new city and I'm trying to get past that awkward take-out-your-map-in-the-middle-of-the-street phase. My parents are coming down this Sunday for a visit (they only live 2hrs away, as opposed to the grueling 6-7hr drive to my last school yay!), so hopefully we can go out and explore the older part of Kingston and take a walk by the lake! I'm also going on the 1000 Island Cruise later this week, so I'll try and snap some pictures for a Kingston-related blog :)

Wishing you good luck with your first week of school!
Talk soon,
Vi

THE NAKED TRUTH

Alright ladies, it's time to speak frankly about waxing. Today as I was driving to the salon, anxiety mounting about my impending date with a pot of hot wax, I started to seriously consider the naked truth about waxing. As a devoted waxee for years now, I repeatedly put myself through significant pain ... ahem... down there... for a smooth, hair free bikini line. While some would call me crazy, I'm about to explain how to take the 'scary' out of waxing!

I've heard all sorts of philosophical explanations for why some women chose to go bare down there, but, quite frankly, I like the way that it looks. I don't do it because it's trendy and I certainly don't do it for boys; it's purely aesthetic. Maybe I'm part seal, but whatever the reason, there are some things that I wish I'd been told before my first wax. So, in the pursuit of clearing the air around waxing, I will reveal the naked truth (pun intended). Here's what you need to know before taking the plunge...

1. It hurts. There's no getting around the fact that waxing your... erm... parts... is not pleasant. But it's also not as scary as everyone makes it out to be. Just like with tweezing or threading or laser hair removal, the more you do it, the thinner your hair grows back and the less painful it becomes. It's also quite quick (think 15-30 min), so the pain is short-lived. It's a good thing to keep in mind that some areas are more sensitive than others. For instance, right below your pelvic bone is particularly ouchy, while the bottoms of your cheeks barely hurt. So just when you feel like it might be too painful, the esthetician will move on and it'll be over.

2. About your hair. There are a couple of steps that you should take before you go to the salon. Firstly, the hair needs to be about 1/4" to 1/2" long in order for the wax to stick properly. Too short and it won't work, too long and it will pull more than it should. Secondly, the type of hair that you have matters. Thick hair pulls more (read: hurts more) and usually needs to be a bit longer, but it won't leave you with residual darkness/stubble like shaving will. You'll also want to have a shower and make sure that everything is neat and tidy for the esthetician.

3. How it's done. Every salon and esthetician has a slightly different method, but there are certain steps that are more or less adhered to. First things first, you'll be asked to hop up onto the table and remove your bottoms (I like to wear dresses so that I can just slip my panties off without struggling with buttons or zippers). Next, your hair will be inspected (inspected is too harsh a word...maybe looked over?) to see which way it grows and to verify that it's the right length. Don't worry if she pulls out the scissors - she's just trimming it to the most effective length. Next, the esthetician will usually dust some baby powder over your lady parts. This helps absorb moisture and keeps the wax from sticking to your skin. Then the waxing begins. A good waxer will move quickly and in little sections, for maximum hair removal and minimal pain. If it's too painful, ask her to do smaller sections. Remember - the quicker she goes, the quicker it'll be over. Last but not least, the esthetician will pluck any strays before applying a soothing oil or lotion. This will also take away any leftover stickiness. Then you're all done :)

4. It's gonna get fresh. Don't be embarrassed about your body during a bikini/brazilian wax. Your esthetician is a professional and, quite frankly, she's seen it all. Be prepared to get up close and personal with her. She's going to have to move things around, hold things apart and get a closer look at all sorts of things. Yes, she'll wax your treasure trail. Yes, she'll wax in all the nooks and crannies. And yes. She'll wax your bum crack. Don't be shy. It's her job and, unless it makes you uncomfortable, you might as well get everything taken care of while she's down there ;)

5. Don't forget to tip. At most salons, it's appropriate to tip your esthetician. In this case, it's mandatory. Not mandatory in the you-have-to-do-it-because-it's-the-law sense, but more in the you-have-to-do-it-because-she-controls-the-hot-wax-near-your-kooka sense. Tip her often and tip her well. You don't want an angry lady near your bits.

1. Be specific. Tell your esthetician exactly what you want before you start. There are so many types of bikini/brazilian waxes that you need to let her know which kind you want. Do you want everything gone? A landing strip? What shape? Is there anywhere you don't want her to go? Are there any lotions that you're allergic to? Don't be shy to have a chat with your waxer and ask any questions that you might have. The first time that I got one, I pelted the esthetician (Patricia) with questions and she walked me through it step by step. In the end, you should feel comfortable at the salon. Waxes don't have to be scary!

2. Pop a Tylenol an hour ahead of time. Although the pain is inevitable, there are certain things that you can do to significantly reduce the ouch factor. An hour or so before you hit your appointment, pop a Tylenol. This will help numb the pain and make the wax less unpleasant.

3. Time your visit. The best time to get a wax is a week after your period. Since your body is more sensitive (especially in that general region) during your period and while you ovulate, it makes a waxing appointment more painful than it needs to be.

4. Take a look. Just like when you get a hair cut or a manicure, the esthetician will ask you if your wax looks okay once she's done. While the thought of holding a mirror up to your naughty bits might make you cringe like Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes, take a deep breath and take a peek. Does it look the way you expected? Did she miss anything? Making sure that it's A-OK before you leave will ensure that the pain is worth the gain.

5. Wear something easy. I would not recommend wearing tight pants/tights to a waxing appointment. Especially your first waxing appointment. Since the area will be a little sore (and probably a little red too, so don't panic) after the fact, you'll want to wear something that's easy to get in and out of. I prefer dresses, but a good pair of comfy jeans will do too :)

6. Ask her name. Don't forget to ask your esthetician her name. Not only is it common courtesy (and you don't want to upset someone holding a steaming pot of hot wax near your knickers), you'll also want to remember it for next time. When you call the salon for your next appointment, you can specifically request the same (or heaven-forbid a different) esthetician so that you don't have to get nakie in front of another person.

I hope that this little tutorial helps take the sting out of waxing. Remember - a bikini/brazilian wax doesn't have to be scary!

Talk soon,
Vi