J Brand Archives - Miss Cathie

Popping By to Say Hello with Neutrals…

June 10, 2013 1 Comment

It’s true what they say –do something good for yourself, and it will energise you… despite your initial reluctance. After a thoroughly refreshing Ballet Beautiful workout (which I was loathe to begin after a tiring day!) I found myself full of creativity and the itch to blog.

Well, it’s too late to take photos of my most recent goodies in natural light, but here’s a photo taken a week or two ago when some visiting relatives were in town. I wore this outfit to another casual dinner, which consisted of a glorious bento box of sushi and other Japanese delights that were light enough, yet satisfying.

So sorry for the skinny photo… trying to protect the privacy of other people. 🙂

Sweater: Roots Canada ’Pure Comfort’ wrap jacket in canyon (2012)

Top: Michael Stars jersey knot front top (2012)

Scarf: Postcript silk scarf from Victoria Trading Company (2011) Warning: Incorrect use of apostrophe to be found on scarf. I’m probably the only one who proofreads writing on clothes…

Jeans: J Brand ‘Kiki’ in shadow ($2012)

Shoes: Not even in picture, and I won’t even speak about them because they were so poorly made — a waste of good leather! But they were nude ballet flats.

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini Morning After Clutch (M.A.C.) in black for Spring 2013 via Revolve Clothing (sold out but buy at Shopbop here)

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Couldn’t help but take my Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. out for a night about town again… it’s quickly become my new favourite bag, even though old ones still have a lasting, special place in my wardrobe and sartorial heart. 😉 This is not simply because of its looks, but because it has the ability to hold just what I need for a night out, and absolutely no more. So no greedy ‘may-as-well-put-this-in-just-in-case’ tendencies can be entertained. Granted, I don’t have them often –I would rather go to a party simply holding my phone in my hand because I think most evening bags can be so unwieldy, but this one isn’t. Can I just claim clutch/bag perfection for this little thing right now?

Hope to come back soon with more exciting pictures and a longer post! Happy Monday evening!

xoxo,

— Miss Cathie

P.S. I promise upon pain of… sartorial death… that Rebecca Minkoff isn’t paying me to write these glowing words.

A Dose of Dusty Pink & Black + a Dash of Rebecca Minkoff…

May 26, 2013 Leave a Comment

When someone says “She’s wearing pink and black,”… I think the image that typically comes to mind is one of a very bright or hot pink à la Elle Woods or Barbie. Though I like pink, hot or bright pink is just not something I gravitate towards at all; I prefer softer, dusty shades of pink. So here is my outfit, in lovely soft pink coupled with camel, stripes, polished black, and my new Rebecca Minkoff clutch for what I like to think is a very Parisian ensemble. I wore this to a casual family dinner! 🙂

Blazer: Vero Moda ‘Redondi’ peplum blazer via Simons (2013)

Top: Zara organic cotton top (2012 –first seen here.)

Scarf: Portolano or Magaschoni (Also known as “I don’t remember.”…) (2010)

Jeans: J Brand ‘Kiki’ in Shadow (2012)

Shoes: Via Neroli pumps via Winners (2013)

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini Morning After Clutch (M.A.C.) in black for Spring 2013 via Revolve Clothing (sold out but buy at Shopbop here)

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As for my Rebecca Minkoff clutch bag, am absolutely fond of it! The leather is luxurious with a capital L, and it’s so cute in a slightly edgy sort of way, but with a very structured and ladylike shape with what I think are modern echoes of a Chanel 2.55. This could just be my mind working in weird ways and pulling together adjectives and descriptions that are totally off… but whatever you or I think this bag reminds us of, HEARTS all the way. I also adore the ‘morning after’ appellation. Usually, morning afters are all about… well, affaires de coeur… but since I’m not married yet, let’s pretend that it’s about me travelling to some fascinating and mysterious place and falling asleep at some old, grand hotel, then waking up the next morning looking forward to a day of adventure and excitement. 🙂

I’ve heard that all Rebecca Minkoff M.A. bags come with a ‘card’ sporting a picture of a cute guy on the front (though from what I see online, he’s not really to my taste. :P) and his ‘number’ on the back. Now I’m not sure why mine didn’t come with one, but that is ok. I do have a beau, and I can put his picture and number in it instead. 😉

Going to stop my ramblings about a bag here with a promise to do a video review of the bag at some point in time, and that I do hope to post more often. ^_^

And alright, yes. I will mention Rebecca Minkoff one more time to ask –do you own one of her bags, and are you as obsessed as I am?

xoxo,

— Miss Cathie

P.S. Thanks for taking my picture, mum!

At ‘The Wicklow Pub’ in Beautiful False Creek…

March 19, 2012 1 Comment

From sleepy fishing grounds, to a model of urban living by the sea, False Creek is a tiny inlet in the heart of Vancouver which separates downtown from the rest of the city. With Science World at one end, the Burrard Bridge at the other, and the Canada Line crossing through, this seaside town is both easy to get to, and pass by.

Last Thursday was the set date for the retirement party of an old friend from Vancouver City Hall, and the chosen venue for the event was The Wicklow Pub. I couldn’t have been more delighted, as the locale is gorgeous and the pub itself is charming! I arrived early, so as to relax ahead of the party, and drink in the wonderful views. Cobbled walkways by the water were conducive to peaceful, refreshing walks. A seagull shrieked (with joy, I imagined) as it swooped past, and if I were a bird and not a girl, I would have done the same. The environment was all so calm and uplifting!

As for my outfit, I thought something between smart and casual would be just the thing –neither too showy or shabby, so I went with a jeans-and-tee combo, and spiffied it up a bit with a blazer and ballet flats.

Blazer: Talula by Aritzia

Top: Joe Fresh

Jeans: J Brand Jeans 818 Slim Boot in Starless

Shoes: Yosi Samra ballet flats

I found it hard to tear myself away from the charm of the outdoors, and decided to be ‘fashionably late’ but not rude –that is to say, I stayed by the water eight minutes past the party’s start. I needn’t have worried though, as the Wicklow’s patio looks out right over the view I was admiring. We had the Patio Bar all to ourselves, as well…

I will admit that I found the prices a bit on the expensive side, and as I am currently ‘in-between careers’ shall we say, I thought it best not to start a tab. Instead, I had fun catching up with old co-workers and friends while nibbling on complimentary appetizers, and enjoying the sunset. (I did leave a tip at the bar though, as I was positive it wasn’t good manners to leave without doing so!) It was also bittersweet, saying ‘goodbye’ to the Magnificent Peddle, as we shall call him. He is quite the gentleman, well-mannered without being pretentious, and with a sharp wit that expresses itself eloquently (I’ll wager the English accent helps! 😉 ) that even critiques are a pleasure to hear, coming from him! Simply put, he’s one of those people whose Loss you Will Feel. ♥ It’s lovely being able to say that I worked with him.

His golden ‘statuette’ for a record number of work done during his tenure with the city…

***

My closing thoughts are that I had a lovely day, and False Creek is a beautiful place to have a picnic expedition! …

xoxo,

— Miss Cathie

Cozy + Warm = Fall Uniform!

October 24, 2011 9 Comments

For a girl who loves skirts, I just noticed that I am sadly lacking in that department when it comes to options for the colder seasons.. what is with that? I definitely need to go shopping, ASAP! 🙂

I’m off to French class in 10 minutes, but I thought I would share my outfit of the day, as it has all my ‘essentials’ for dressing in the Autumn –perfect for sharing with IFB Project #18 — What’s Your Fall Uniform. For me, it is this list:

♥ Cute, warm coat –preferably with big buttons? Check!

♥ Soft cashmere? Check!

♥ Smart Jeans (may be swapped with cute tweed-y/houndstooth-y skirts) + the requisite ballet flats (may also be swapped with boots, but I haven’t found the pair, yet…)? Check!

Et voila, my autumn uniform.

I tend to steer away from turtlenecks, because I feel they don’t do any wonders for my figure (aka neck) but I couldn’t resist this one… I love the gradation of black to charcoal with silvery stripes in-between.

J’adore Soïa & Kyo coats. I am a bit regretful that I didn’t get it in the houndstooth while it was still available, but I’m pretty sure my coats are turning into a massive collection, with or without it, so I’ll live I suppose. 😛

Coat: Soïa & Kyo ‘ Margo’

Top: Hayden cashmere turtleneck

Jeans: J Brand pencil leg in black

Shoes: Joe Fresh ballet flats

Watch: Citizen Eco-Drive

Well, I must be off! Stay cozy!! xoxo ♥

The Girl Behind the Camera, a Juicy Outfit, and a Juicy Couture Review…

October 5, 2011 6 Comments

Today is another rainy-grey day, so I decided to wear a lazy outfit that would be appropriate for French class. What is more appropriate for that, then a shirt with a French phrase on it?

I am so original. 😛

I am absolutely crazy about this shirt. Grey is such a perfect colour for my mood these days, and I love how it’s slightly boat-necked, but not so much that I have to wear a strapless bra. The rolled up sleeves are a unique touch as well.

Blazer: Talula

Top: Juicy Couture Je t’aime tee

Jeans: J Brand pencil leg in black

Shoes: Elie Tahari ‘Vivianna’ pumps

Ring: Ice.com CZ Sterling Silver Ring w Rose Gold Plating

This ring was a self-birthday present in 2009. I pull it out every Autumn, and top off my outfits with its graceful beauty.

A Juicy Couture Review:

When Juicy Couture had their ‘Friends with Benefits’ sale two weeks ago, both Nina of Nina’s Little Black Blog of Style and I purchased this sleeveless silk blouse. We both got it in small, and I promised her I would let her know how it fit… especially since I am petite, armholes tend to be an issue in clothing. Please excuse the wrinkles — it came straight out of the bubble envelope!

The armholes are only a teensy-weensy bit loose, so I have no issues on that score. The bottom is a little more billowy on me than it is on the model, but the model does have her hands close to her sides, so it is hard to tell. My bust measurement is 33.5 in, and there was still quite a bit of room, but not too much. The one thing about this blouse is that it is a little sheer so I would suggest wearing a silk slip underneath, unless you are into the peek-a-boo trend. All in all, I do like this blouse a lot, but I think it will have a much nicer shape if I tuck it into a pretty skirt, as I personally feel that the baby-doll style does not work well for girls with more substantial busts. 🙂

♥ ♥ ♥

Posing beside my man’s 2008 limited edition Honda CBR600RR…

This is my little blogging-related thought/rant of the day: Who takes your pictures? When I tell other bloggers that I do have a beau, most automatically exclaim, “Oh, so he takes your pictures!” The answer to that (for now, at least) is a definite ‘No’. My man does not take my pictures, because I am too shy to ask him to. I am uncomfortable with the idea of asking him, or anyone for that matter, to help me document my outfits; it’s another matter to ask to have a picture taken at an event, or a historical site, but for the sole purpose of fashion blogging? I find it awkward at the moment… 😛 Yes, he at least does know that I have a blog, but I haven’t had the courage to let him see it yet, either! Not to mention the fact that he is very busy with his career in the military right now, so it would be hard to squeeze in a photo shoot — not only would it be selfish of me, but I doubt his patience or energy would last for very long! So the photographer behind all these pictures of myself is for the present time, me. The self-timer feature on my Canon cameras is so handy and helpful! 😉 Taking photos by myself does require a lot of trial and error; and there is also the challenge of looking for unique spots to prop my camera on (I’m saving up for a Manfrotto tripod!) but I’ve got the hang of it now –more or less, lol… I can tell you, a lot of editing is required –for example, I took 49 snapshots today and ended up with 6 or 7 good ones. This fashion blogging business is definitely not easy work!

P.S. I am not narcissistic!

What about you girls? Do you let your men/family see your blog? Who takes your pictures, and if you were ever shy, how did you get past it and let your significant other/family/friends help you take outfit pictures?

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