Style Spotlight – How to Style a Sweatsuit

Happy Monday Everyone!

It’s official, I am a sweatsuit convert. Pre quarantine I would NEVER have considered buying a sweatsuit. It’s not that I have anything against comfortable clothing, but I have always been more of a leggings girl and rocking a sweatsuit is something that I thought I had left behind in elementary school. But now after months of being in lockdown, the sweatsuit is my favourite item(s) of clothing in my wardrobe.

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I think that my reluctance to rock a sweatsuit pre-quarantine stems from the idea that it can look dowdy and sloppy but, as many fashion forward beauties have showcased via social media it’s actually quite the opposite. Sweatsuits are really easy to elevate to fabulous street style, and if you have been struggling with the dowdy vs. stylish dilemma of how to rock a sweatsuit this post is for you. Here are my favourite ways to upgrade a sweatsuit:

Accessorize Intelligently

There is no need to go overboard but elevating a your outfit with a few choice accessories is a great way to elevate your look. Adding a chunky necklace or a gorgeous bag is a great way to enhance your look with a touch of glamour. By accessorizing intelligently with a few accessories your entire look becomes thoughtful not just thrown together and sloppy.

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Add a Great Topper

I love how a sweatsuit looks when worn under a great wool coat. Whether the coat is plaid, solid, teddy, or puffer adding a coat over a sweatsuit make it looks styled, and the entire look deliberate even when paired with running shoes. I love a casual glam look and this is one of my favourites. Two of my favourite style inspiration stars Rosie Hunnington Whitely and Haley Bieber are queens at rocking this particular look. I especially enjoy the layered look when the top is a hoodie instead of a crewneck. You will frequently catch me rocking this look at the grocery store (it’s the only place we are currently able to venture out) as I am a true believer in practicing what I preach:)

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Footwear Matters

It turns out that sweatsuits look great with a wide range of footwear, from boots to sneakers and most in between. I love styling sweatsuits with boots as I feel like it elevates the overall look but sometimes you just need to throw on some sneakers and still look like a fashion superstar. I find that the best way to keep the look stylish is to create a little bit of space between the bottom of the sweatpants and the sneakers. This works by pulling your socks over the cuff of the sweatpants, if it’s warm enough show off a sliver of skin via your ankle or if your sweatpants has a thicker elastic cuff at the bottom keep it visible so that there is a slimmer line going into a chunkier shoe. This helps to keep the look sleek and not frumpy.

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Opt for a Sleeker Style

There is something very cool about dressy sweat pants, especially ones with pin tuck details. Pair it with a matching knit or sweatshirt. To keep things sleek, do a half tuck so that the entire look is more together.

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And there you have it – my favourite sweat suit looks and how I like to style them. Let me know what you think and how you like to style your sweatsuits in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today, I hope that you have a beautiful and stylish day! XXS

Photo Credits: http://www.pinterest.com, @charlotteemilysanders, @rosiehw, @styleandthebeach

Fresh Colour Palettes for the Holiday Season

Happy December Everyone!

I LOVE the holiday season!  While this year it feels like the holiday season came very quickly, I am still enjoying all of the ugly Christmas sweaters and cookie recipes that are currently flooding my Instagram account.  While I won’t be hosting a holiday meal this year, there are a few colour palettes that I am loving for the holiday season.  These colours work for both table settings and holiday fashion, enjoy!

Winter White

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There is something so beautiful about an all white outfit or table setting.  It is so simple and delicate yet a monochrome table setting or outfit has a lot of impact.  A touch of greenery on the table helps to tie the entire image together as in the picture above.  For an all white outfit it’s best to keep it simple.  A full white suit or white denim paired with white t-shirt are great ways to pull off this look without stressing about it.

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Pewter and Gold
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E45BE8F5-95E6-4127-B42F-C8F3CA2AFE32I love the look for pewter and gold together but it is a colour combination that is often overlooked.  When I came across the image above on Instagram the other day, I was once again reminded what a strong impact this colour combination can have.  Pewter toughens up the glamour of the gold just enough without overpowering it.  Whether featured on a table setting or combined in an outfit, this colour combination has staying power into 2020 and beyond.  I also love how black helps to anchor a table setting of pewter and gold, don’t be afraid to mix it up and play around with this colour combination.

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Pale Pink and Deep Red

IMG_7560This colour combination tends to be used more for Valentine’s Day celebrations, but I love how fresh it is for the holiday season.  The deeper red feels traditional and rich, while the pale pink gives it a modern and unexpected twist.  I especially love the outfit below with the pale pink pants and deep red sweater, it features this colour palette so beautifully.  I am obsessed!

IMG_7568Which colour palette are you loving for the holiday season?

I hope that you have a beautiful day!  XXS

Images via http://www.pinterest.com, http://www.homestolove.co.nz, http://www.townandcountrymag.com, @aninebing, @figtny, @styleslusso, @nicolewarne, @lenaterlutter

Five Fashion Faves for Fall

Hi Everyone!

When it comes to fashion and style Fall is my favourite season.  It’s the season where beautifully textured fabrics and rich colours combine for some fabulous fashion.  Normally, my go to style for fall and winter is leggings, layers and chunky knits and this fall is no exception.  There are a few other trends though that have really captured my attention this season, trends that I have been and plan to incorporate into my wardrobe throughout fall and winter.  These trends don’t require a lot of effort or thought, yet they look great and can help step up anybody’s style game.  Some of my favourite style stars such as Aylin Keoing and Pernille Teisbek, have been demonstrating on Instagram over the past few months how to wear multiple trends at once, and the result is sooooooooo great!  Their looks are the perfect motivation (at least for me) to try to mix up my look a bit.  Here are my fashion faves for AW 19/20:

The Teddy Coat

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While this trend my seem a bit out out there for some people, Pernille Teisbeck demonstrates that this can be both casual or more upscale.  Depending on the fit of the teddy coat, the look can be sleek and elegant or casual and undone.  Both looks are gorgeous and the perfect way to stay warm when the temperature dips.

The Sweater Dress

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A sweater dress is not a new trend to fall fashion but this season the fit and the styling have really elevated a staple in many people’s fall wardrobes.  Oversized and paired with ankle booties, over the knee boots or even sneakers, the sweater dress is the perfect way to dress up without having to stress over your outfit.

Leather

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Leather looks amazing when paired with chunky knits,  Whether worn as leggings, pants, a skirt or even a leather blazer, leather (or faux leather) adds the perfect amount of edge to most outfits and can help your outfit go from bland to fab with very little effort.

Combat Boots

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With Daniel Lee at the helm, Bottega Veneta has been killing it in the fashion game.  While my love for their padded sandals is no secret, I have also been obsessing over their pouches and combat boots – it is all so FABULOUS!!!!!!!!  The combat boot is an especially great trend for fall and winter.  It adds a bit of edge to an outfit, while also being comfortable and practical for the colder weather.

The Oversized Blazer

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I have always been a blazer girl, so when I first saw Fall’s oversized blazer trend I was super excited.  Paired with leather or jeans, layers and combat boots this trend is versatile and wearable for many different styles and lifestyles.  In the past I have normally gravitated towards eye-catching wool blazers, but this season I am adding muted tones with a more masculine look to my wardrobe.  Paired with leather leggings and combat boots my look is set for the season!

What trends are you loving for fall and winter this year?  Let me know how you would style it in the comments below!

I hope that you have a fabulous day!  XXS

Photo Credits:

@newbottega, @stylegator, @rebelattitude, @pernilleteisbaek, http://www.pinterest.com, @streetrends, @statuslusso, @aylin_koening, @daily_style_fashion, @mdfhima

 

 

 

Five Faves

As this year (and this decade) wind down, it feels like the days are going faster and there have been more then a few moments where I am struggling to stay in the moment.  Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me?  With two months left in 2019 my goal is to try and stay in the moment as much as possible, develop a deep breathing practice that I can actually stick to (I will keep you posted on how that goes), and work on things that actually make me happy such as this blog and decorating my apartment.  For now though, here are the five things that I am currently loving:

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It was love at first sight when I first saw this padded shoulder t-shirt on Instagram and the fact that it was sold out only made me want it more (clearly I am a marketer’s dream).  Despite the fact that it is ridiculously expensive for a t-shirt, I signed up for the waitlist and immediately ordered it when it (finally!) came back into stock. The quality is fantastic and it fits really well.  As basic as this t-shirt may seem to some, it makes me really happy and I love wearing therefore making it my perfect t-shirt.

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While I haven’t seen every episode, I occasionally enjoy watching My Next Guest with David Letterman.  While scrolling thru Netflix the other day though, I came across his most recent special featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and I nearly screamed with excitement.  While I rarely have an opportunity to enjoy a Bollywood movie, like many other people on this planet Shah Rukh Khan is one of my favourite actors – he is just so damn cool!  The interview was fantastic as he is charismatic, humble, articulate and interesting.  I highly encourage you to check out this special to see just why this man is one of the most famous actors on the planet even if you have never heard of him before this.

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This cashew butter is a recent discovery for me and it is safe to say that I am hooked.  Made in small batches, Logan Petit Lot’s mission is to offer new twists on classic flavours of nut butters.  Cashew Coffee is by far my favourite and I enjoy a spoonful on top of my chia pudding every morning.  It has minimal ingredients, taste great and I love the fact that it is locally made – a win win in my opinion.

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I have heard a lot about a lot of the benefits of positive thinking and yes I have read The Secret in the hopes that it would help me to shift my mindset and put me on a more positive path.  Needless to say I find it a struggle to keep a positive and focused mindset all of the time and I tend to fall off of the proverbial bandwagon fairly often.  When I heard about Gabrielle Bernstein’s new book though, I was willing to give the whole attracting your dreams to you concept another try.  I have not yet finished reading it, but so far it is an enjoyable read that offers a number of tools to help you to attract what you want into your life.  This doesn’t mean that you don’t have to put in the effort, but this book helps you to become more self aware.  I am by no means willing to say that I am some success story, aside from greater self awareness I don’t think that there has been any other shifts in my life at the moment.  But even if the only thing that I get from this book is greater self awareness I will be happy that I read this book.

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I have been in love Eye Swoon’s Athena Calderone’s New York home from the moment that I saw it.  It has since been profiled (along with Athena herself) in a few major publications including Architectural Digest and Porter magazine.  I recently came across this image of her living room on Pinterest and I once again fell in love with this space as it is chic and modern, yet comfortable and cool.  Athena has managed to strike just the right balance of fabulous throughout her home.  This picture along with many others of the home are on my vision board to help motivate me to capture the same vibe and perfect balance in my own home.

Thank you for stopping by today, let me know what you are loving this month in the comments below!  XXS

Images via http://www.frankieshop.com, netflix.com and http://www.pinterest.com

 

Five Faves

Hi Everyone!

How is your fall going so far?  With the leaves changing, stunning sunsets (like the one above that I captured yesterday) and fabulous fall fashion, I am loving the new season so far!  Here are my five favourite faves for the month:

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With the cooler temps I am craving warming foods and getting creative in the kitchen every chance that I get.  This grilled zucchini with stracciatella looks simple enough to make yet delicious enough to want to enjoy on a regular basis as a health side dish.

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I recently ordered this coffee table book and I am loving it!  As you know travelling and decor are two things that I love so the combination that this book provides is perfect for me. I find myself escaping into it whenever I get the chance, love it!

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Fall fashion is always my favourite and this season is no exception.  I am especially loving pairing blazers with everything from a full suit to jeans, leggings or even a dress.  Here are three outfits that I am currently pulling inspiration from and my causal version for days when I am rushing but still want to look put together.

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I often find myself feeling really stressed out and it’s often difficult to change the way I think about stress.  I found the above image on Instagram (via @mindbodygreen) and I have decided to change my narrative.  Here’s hoping that I birth something great due to my narrative shift!

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I am overwhelmed with decorating decision for my condo which means that I have done very little.  I found this image for a bedroom recently in my home design file (via @coveteur) and it perfectly captures the vibe that I was hoping for in my new place.  It is now front and centre on my vision board as I move forward with my home decor project – wish me luck!

I hope that you are having a wonderful October so far, let me know what you are currently loving in the comments below.  I hope that you have wonderful day!  XXS