fashion Archives - Miss Cathie

Expecting Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

Hello lovelies,

The title of this post may be a bit deceiving. I am not expecting huge and grand things for Valentine’s Day, but rather… I am expecting. As in, at the end of May or early June, I will have to face my fear of childbirth. I’m pretty calm about it right now, but let’s see how it is when I’m actually at the birthing centre… BIRTHING.

Dress: Banana Republic x Issa three-quarter sleeve wrap dress in black (2013)

Valentine’s Day this year is going to be a bit of a challenge personally, because there aren’t many pretty maternity pieces that I’ve seen that don’t cost an arm and a leg. And this is a rather sad state of affairs because nobody wants to spend $200+ on a dress that’ll only be good for a few months. If I were to splurge, it would have to translate pretty well to post-maternity, and this means avoiding figure-hugging maternity dresses –these seem to make up the bulk of maternity silhouettes– as one will be left with lots of limp and lumpy ruching in the mid-section when there is no bump to fill that area with anymore. Alternatively, I could use those outfits as a snacking uniform, but I doubt my food babies will come anywhere close to utilising the space fully.

In that spirit, here are a few things that have caught my eye that I think would be perfect for Valentine’s and as wardrobe chameleons…

Starting off with a gorgeous red wool coat by Kimi and Kai. Red is the classic, hard-to-miss hue for the 14th of Feb and you will be a stand-out in this. It has a beautiful collar detail, interesting buttons, and can easily become a coat with an elegant, swingy, voluminous bottom once your bump is out and in your arms!To keep things from being overly sweet, wear this sleek lace black-‘n-blush dress by Tiffany Rose underneath. It accommodates your bump through stretch, not ruching details, and should be a fantastic choice for before and after.

Next, we have a lovely red lace dress with lots of texture in the pattern. I would personally switch out the belt for a contrasting or complementary colour, so that it isn’t so…red, but to each their own!

For a topper, my favourite is the trench coat, and I actually do have this one by Seraphine. Trench coats are known for cinching in and defining the waist, and while I can’t do that at my normal spot for now, cinching the tiniest spot between the boobs and the waist can help highlight whatever definition one has. I know it helps me feel like less of a mono-lump.

The softest hue of Valentine’s is pink, of course! Here, this ASOS blush pink dress has artfully placed lace and see-through detail, front and back! Bring the party on.

I like pairing trench coats with dresses, because it feels like you mean business about partying, and it’s just such a sleek look. Plus, who could say no to this maternity trench coat by ASOS? They’re not sponsoring me, but let’s be real –I wish they did. It would solve all my wardrobe problems right now. Back to the coat, I love how swingy it is on the bottom –any flare you create by cinching in the belt will be much more dramatic than anything the straight cut of the Seraphine trench coat can give.

If you don’t want to wear a dress, and just feel like something more relaxed yet still refined, cover those smashingly gorgeous pyjamas (or whatever happens to define comfort for you right now) with this Kim & Kai coat. It’s got a tactile texture and unique collar, but the silhouette is classic and ladylike.

Let’s hear it for a pretty necklace shall we? Of all the accessories available to a mum-to-be, nothing will be more versatile in terms of fit and longevity than a necklace, so splurge a little here! I have had this Tiffany & Co. heart key pendant for four years now, and I’m still crushing on it. Yes, it’s close to $300, but you won’t be wearing this for only nine months. Plus I hear that the sight of a Tiffany box holds magical, mood-changing powers. Sometimes, you really need that.

Shop the pretties here:

I’ll be back soon with my Valentine’s Day outfit! In the meantime, what have you got planned sartorially for the V-Day/Me-Day?

Northern Irish Honeymoon – Game of Thrones

February 3, 2018 Leave a Comment

Well lovelies, this post is about our last day in Ireland, or Northern Ireland, depending on whom you ask. It has been so much fun recounting this trip and sharing the memories here, so I am feeling rather nostalgic.

Alex is a massive Game of Thrones fan, and he had really wanted to book a licensed tour so that we could see the stunning locations that the GoT cast and crew filmed at. So after we returned from our afternoon tea at Blarney Woolen Mills, we were cruising the internet for deals and dates. Unfortunately, all the tours for our last day had all sold out, and we were disappointed and ready to think of something else to do when we came across a non-licensed and fairly new touring company, Finn McCools. Did we want to chance it? Yes, we did. So he booked the tour, and I booked a cab with Hailo (now MyTaxi) for very early in the morning. And by very early, I mean that I had booked it for 5:15 am (boarding the tour bus was at 6:30 am), to make allowances for getting to the car park, traffic, and the cab not showing up or showing up late, etc.

Well our taxi came precisely on time. In fact, our driver showed up 15 minutes earlier, while Alex was still fiddling with the pay machine for the parking. We were so impressed and happy, because… well, perhaps it’s just me but when it’s chilly and dark, and you’re in a foreign country (even if they all do speak English), it’s sort of an unsettling feeling waiting around in unfamiliar surroundings. Thus, we ended up a whole hour earlier in Dublin, and found ourselves walking around the city in the dark. This terrified me even more. Folks, I hate to say this, but the smell of Dublin in the wee hours of the morning smells a little bit like pee and vomit. We actually did see someone relieving himself, and several times had to watch where we stepped or sat down, because… yay for nature calls whenever, wherever. We also encountered several staggering drunks. Most were quiet, others were rowdy and would shout something unintelligible when they passed another person. Having heard over the radio of several stabbings at pubs throughout the week we were there, I was very much on the alert for avoiding trouble. I don’t know if Alex caught on, but I would be scanning the streets rapidly, and if I thought I saw a shady figure, I would pretend I had seen something interesting across the street and just had to go take a closer look, thus avoiding any encounters. At one point, Alex said that it would take us forever to get to Dublin City Gallery if I kept up these meanderings, but he good-naturedly tagged along. Darling, if you’re reading this, I pretty much saved. your. life. *ahem*

No coffee shops were open at such an ungodly hour, so we finally sat down in front of the gallery, cuddled next to each other, and took turns lightly napping, as a neon lady in an art fixture a few feet away from us kept on walking and walking in her frame. About ten minutes before boarding time, other folks taking the tour started to show up, the dark sky was starting to lighten, and everything felt more friendly and cheerful. Finally, we were on our way!

Our driver gave us lots of interesting facts about Northern Irish and Irish history, as well as a quick rundown of our schedule. Everyone in our group was pretty much on time, and that made the experience so much more pleasant. It’s no fun waiting around and having tour stops cut or shortened because people are running late! The driver also put on traditional Irish tunes for us to listen to, while explaining their origins, and I had to explain what he said sometimes to Alex. I think growing up on the BBC has helped me understand thick UK accents tremendously!

When we arrived in Belfast, we were told we had only a short amount of time to go for a restroom break and to stock up on drinks and snacks for the drive. We didn’t feel like juggling food and drinks in the tour bus, so we looked around for a nice place to sit, and found the cutest café/cake shop — Patisserie Valerie!
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Sailing Through Summer {Outfit Post}…

June 20, 2016 Leave a Comment

Happy first day of Summer, my friends!! ^_^

I do not remember if I have ever explicitly mentioned it in this blog, but I Detest warm weather. I do not deal well in it at all. I feel uncomfortable, hot, and sticky and become prone to nosebleeds and headaches. It has always seemed easier to stay warm than it is to stay cool. You can’t tote around an air conditioner (if you’ve found a way, please let me know), but a coat and some stylish layers are much easier to carry.

Complaining aside, it is the perfect weather for pretty sundresses, and all things sailor. I have a soft spot for nautical garments as you can see if you look at some of my older posts, and it seems fitting for those blazing days when only the cool waters of a pool or lake and a good iced tea or popsicle can assuage the heat.

Today is one of those sailor days, and so I have on a new pair of shorts from Banana Republic. Shorts seem to be the article of clothing that like to taunt me most. Either too short, too boxy, too thickening at the waist, etc. I have gone through quite the hunt to find the perfect pair. I seem to have found them in this beautifully buttoned baby; may it last me a good many summers! On the downside, it does wrinkle somewhat, and it likes to attract wandering pieces of fluff and fur as you can see in the picture. It just requires a bit of checking on here and there, but it hasn’t become too annoying yet. Who could be annoyed at having to look down on such lovely shorts? Not I!

I paired this top with another piece from Banana Republic –this has been in my archives (wardrobe) since 2013. After not wearing it for a few years –I can’t think why I haven’t more often– I am giving it an airing and a day out in the sunshine. It’s a soft cream but looks whiter in the pictures. It complements the deep blue of the shorts quite nicely, and I still love the be-ribboned Eiffel Tower graphic composed entirely out of lovely French words and phrases.

For a dressier version of a casual sneaker –which I think is perfect for Summer, I am wearing these high-heeled sneakers by Keds. I love the soft grey colour, and can’t help thinking, “The higher the heel, the better I feel!” Not always true, if you’ve ever actually worn heels, but in this pair? Definitely!

I’m awful at accessorising with jewellery, but in summer, I have a wonderful excuse. In my opinion, it is too hot and icky to wear bits of metal against your skin for long periods of time. I do without completely, and rely on accessories such as interesting shoes, silk scarves, and straw hats. This one from Gap is casual but with a refined, ladylike feel.

Hat: GAP straw floppy hat in natural (2016)

Top: Banana Republic Eiffel Tower tee (2013)

Shorts: Banana Republic sailor short in navy (2016)

Shoes: Keds ‘Damsel’ wedges in pewter chambray (2016) [in black here]

Swingin’ and sailin’ my way through summer

I wish you all an auspicious start to your summer!

October Fun…

November 14, 2015 2 Comments

Goodness, October is always such a busy month!

There’s Thanksgiving, Hallowe’en, my birthday (and two of my family members’ birthdays!), as well as being in the swing of French classes.

There is so much fun and exciting energy that, coupled with the absolute beauty of autumn, there is no surprise that October is my favourite month.

Let’s start with my favourite picture –the pie I made for Thanksgiving! It is Jane Austen themed, with Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett cut out of the crust. I am quite proud of my ‘skills’ in making this!

If you would like these Austen themed cookie cutters, I got mine from the Jane Austen Centre’s gift shop here and here. I could browse the lovelies there all day!

***
I always love dressing up for my birthday weekend even if nothing grand is planned, and when it is to work, a less frilly outfit must be worn of course! I still have fun through the details –combining my love for a sleek fit-and-flare silhouette with sheer tights, polka-dots and bows. I hereby present to you my ‘practical’ birthday outfit:

Jacket: Danier ‘Bree’ lamb leather jacket in Port (2014)

Top: Kate Spade ‘abree’ cashmere sweater in black (2014)

Skirt: Club Monaco ‘Minkie’ skirt (2013)

Tights: Gap polka-dot tights (2015)

Shoes: Vaneli ‘Lenita’ pump in black Soffio patent (2013)

Jewellery: Pandora charm bracelet –birthday gift from husband (2014); wedding + engagement ring from my husband. White gold swirl ring with diamonds. (2014)

***

We went for sushi for my birthday lunch at 168 Sushi Buffet. It isn’t our top favourite place to go for sushi in Ottawa, but it is a convenient location, and when the staff is not too busy, the food is fresh and very tasty. If you catch them on a busy afternoon though, prepare to have missing items from your order and/or the food to not be up to its usual standards. Following-up usually leads to them bringing the order in, so if you are not in a hurry, it isn’t ideal but not truly awful either –especially if you pay the all-you-can-eat price. We sometimes simply re-order what was missing.

October was a beautiful month; I hope you enjoyed yours! I will write in soon with my November happenings…

— Cathie

Fashion’s New Wave [A Colourful, Stylish Infographic]…

May 22, 2015 2 Comments

Hello readers,

Here’s a fantastic pop of colour from Farfetch to start your weekend with! They reached out to me a few weeks ago, and I’m happy to share this gorgeous infographic that showcases emerging underground trends from the luxury fashion sector. These beautiful illustrations show 10 new ways to do style differently, fashionable quirks that have not yet caught on in the mainstream, and so are fashion-forward styling concepts that have been adopted by trendsetters rather than followers.

As always, I’m a big proponent of adopting trends that fit in with your own aesthetics and lifestyles. There’s no need to adopt all ten, but isn’t it fun seeing the return of some, and the debut of others?

Do check out Farfetch.com for some amazing luxury pieces. The concept of a global community of independent boutiques under one address is probably clumsily described by me as a really amazing virtual mall. 🙂 I’m sharing some pieces that caught my eye… There’s a pink coat that I think the Duchess of Cambridge might wear to a spring wedding or a garden party. And I’ve a weak spot for anything with a bow on it, especially the Ferragamo one. Also trench coats, lace and ballet flats.

Farfetch Pretties — Click on the image to see them on the site!

Enjoy!

— Cathie

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