Maritime Shopaholic

when one door closes...

2012-01-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

I've both loved being a part of that role and been truly flattered that so many of you have enjoyed this blog.

And with that, I have come to a juncture where I must close one door to open another. This, I tell you with both a heavy heart and feelings of excitement for what is to come, is the last post you will you will come to see on Maritime Shopaholic. I started this blog almost 2 years ago expecting that only a few close friends might read about what I styles I was loving, what I was wearing and where I was doing in these outfits. Without much thought I choose an intended to be tongue-in-cheek title under which I would chronicle my own personal style, my fascination with the fashion industry (on both the small and large scale), as well as which shops and businesses I loved and wanted to support.

But as I mentioned in my previous post, 2011 was a busy year. With a little more life experience and another calendar year gone by, I've been pondering the best direction in which to take this blog. In order to make the most of time spent online and offline, I've decided to restructure my online presence. I'll still be supporting local fashion, designers and businesses through my involvement with Fashion Council Saint John, my role as blogger for the Brunswick Square fashion blog, as well as my personal tweets! I'll continue to blog about my personal style (outfits, favourite trends and producs, DIY projects) through Atlantic Style Diaries. I'll still be open to collaborating and working with brands and designers through that blog.

It was a tough decision to leave Maritime Shopaholic behind, but I will be spending more time with my loved ones, concentrating on my career, and taking a little extra time for me. Thank you for all the support over the last 2 years!

the online persona

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

This blog post is an opinion piece written by the author on the truth about marketing yourself as a brand.

This past year (2011) has been one of many experiences- all interesting, many amazing, and some eye opening. I've changed my mind about what I how I wanted to present Maritime Shopaholic a number of times in the past year and what my goals were in achieving through this blog. I've had many opportunities to get to know a lot of wonderful individuals and be involved in a number of fun projects. The truth is, the year 2011 was both great experiences and one of challenging times for me personally and as a blogger. Many of you have gotten a chance to know my Maritime Shopaholic persona who keeps up to date on what is happening in this city and where to find the latest sale or that perfect something for the season.

Virtual Reality

As almost an unconscious after-thought, the name Maritime Shopaholic became my online persona and then later, my brand. This is how many people in Saint John know me. Because I blog, tweet, and post on a variety of online social mediums on a focused topic, this is what people have come to know about me. In 2011, social media popularity seemed to explode, especially in Saint John. You seemed to know so much about a person before you finally met them in "real-life".

The Brand vs. The Person

Weird to think about, but many of us have since acknowledged this with a laugh, followed by a pondering question if we spend too much time on our computers and phones. Widening the dimensions in which you connect and communicate with people is kind of cool but also can have unforeseen impact on how people view you. It has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people, network without leaving my corner of the internet, and put my voice out there.

Most people knew me by Maritime Shopaholic before they knew my real name. But what I started to realize within my first year of blogging and then struggled with in my second year was that fine line of letting people know who you are, what you stand for, but maintaining some privacy and peace to retreat "offline" outside of the fashion and blogging community. You don't tell your life story or your every thought to someone you've just met or a room full of people you barely know- either in your real or virtual life, so naturally Maritime Shopaholic has always just been a piece of me instead of the whole pie. But that's the piece everyone knows and we all forget about the bigger picture sometimes.

Mistaken Identity

I started to realize a while ago that by creating and promoting a brand that was about only a part of me and my interests lead to people viewing me in a specific light- that was mostly flattering but not always the image I actually wanted to portray. But, from interactions with people time and time again, I realized that confusing Maritime Shopaholic, the brand, with Chelsea, the real person, seemed to be like when people thought the world was flat. And that's not their fault. They didn't know there was more land to discover and that Earth was actually spherical (and that their ships wouldn`t actually sail off the edge). When I started to get the impression that people thought I was actually a shopaholic (and it was published in newspaper print) I was started to feel like I needed to make a change.

Beyond the Surface

It's true, I love playing with outfits and jewellery. I may spend a good percentage of my extra money on my wardrobe. I enjoy a little retail therapy when I need a distraction and I define the seasons as much by changes in trend as I do the weather. But that's just an interest of mine. I know many people know there's more to me than what's literally on the surface (i.e. my clothing) but I've had some experiences through my branding where I just wanted to stand up and say what I was really thinking. (Ah, the art of being diplomatic.) So...maybe it's time to say it like it is?

Belly Beautiful

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

For the longest time, ladies who are expecting, have had a challenging quest of finding appropriate fitting clothing here within the city. I've heard from many women who have had to make out-of-town trips in search of quality maternity clothing- which more often than not- don't come cheap.

Belly Beautiful, Saint John's new maternity apparel boutique, just opened its doors on Prince William Street a little over a month ago. The store is helping to fill the gap for pregnant women looking for clothing that they can feel good and look good in! They deserve to be able to find that without leaving our city.

You can find the shop at the corner of Princess and Prince William, right across the street from Bourbon Quarter and Magnolia Cafe!

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Shoe Sale!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you might have heard aboutt the awesome Boxing Day Sales that Urban Shoe Myth had going post-holidays. The even better news is that those sales are still in place and even more footwear is 30%, 50% or even 75% off to make way for new spring merchandise. In fact, most of the store is on sale right now!

And that's not all. I was in the store earlier this week helping a friend pick out boots when I heard about the new, even better offer. If you purchase 2 pairs of footwear, you get an additional 20% off your purchase, an extra 30% off if you leave with 3 pairs, and if you happen to find 4 pairs that you cannot live without, you'll get an extra 40% off your total.

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Style Challenge

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

You might remember about a year ago when Je Suis Prest Boutique (JSP) hosted a style challenge on their Facebook page (as shown above). All you had to do was post a picture of yourself wearing an ensemble from the uptown boutique on their Facebook page for the chance to win a gift certificate to the store.

And now, a year later, this contest is back. Kiera, owner of JSP, is offering $100 to their best dressed customer. From now until January 20, you can post a picture of yourself in your favourite JSP piece(s) on their Facebook wall. On January 20, they'll be putting all the photos in an album where FB fans can vote on their favourite look. The winner of the challenge (person with the most votes) will score a $100 to spend at the store!

Find something to wear- not a problem. Now to pick a favourite, that takes some serious consideration!

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Nicki Minaj OPI Minis

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

I've been admiring the fun, bright colours of the Nicki Minaj OPI collection. Element5 announced on Friday that they have the 3 solid nail colours in full size bottles: Did It On 'Em (lime), Fly (aqua), Pink Friday (pink).

But if you're like me and wanted to try all 3 of those hues, they also have the mini sets in (if there are still any left)!

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Tax Free at Pseudio

2012-01-06T10:27:00.000-04:00

Pseudio announces that this is the last weekend to score on their extended store-wide tax free offer. The sale technically ends Sunday, but remember that Brunswick Square isn't open on Sundays (now that holiday shopping hours are over).

Pseudio also has a newer store in the East Point Shopping Centre that opened a few months ago. Unfortunately, I find their selection extremely disappointing: it doesn't seem organized, but rather just left overs from the other Pseudio stores.

So, if you're out and about today or tomorrow, pop by the Brunswick Square location before closing time on Saturday.

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Happy New Year

2012-01-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

Hello, my very lovely readers! I just wanted to wish you an incredible 2012. As you might have noticed, I had taken a break from blogging on Maritime Shopaholic over the holidays. I took this time to spend with friends and family (and eat waaay too many short bread cookies!) I've also been concentrating on getting my new personal style blog, Atlantic Style Diaries, off the ground and established. I've been very inspired with all the glitz and sequins to wear around the holidays!

I've also taken the time to think about how I wanted to proceed with Maritime Shopaholic in the New Year. It's already undergone quite a few changes. I didn't want to be always borrowing others' photographs for imagery on my blog since all my outfit photos have gone to Atlantic Style Diaries. I'll have another post up towards the end of the week. On this blog, it is my intentions to post 1 to 3 times a week on fun and stylish things happening in our wonderful city of Saint John. And who knows, if there is too much not to share, maybe there'll be a few extra posts. ;)

But while I get my content ready for 2012, please feel free to venture over to Atlantic Style Diaries and see what I've been up to- and what I've been putting together out of my closet!

Yesterday I posted my resolutions for 2012! Bring on 2012! I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Saint John on the web

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Interesting links based on local happenings I've come across in the last week! This list rounds up a few giveaways, a newly opened store uptown, and a way to get home safely from holiday parties this season:

The local giveaway marathon continues on Barbbarbbarb's blog: #30in30.
I have so many lovely friends that are now expecting a bundle of joy in 2012! Check out uptown's new maternity store on Prince William: Belly Beautiful Maternity.
Judith Mackin's top 10 art tips- why bad art will never do.
Kiera Fraser strongly recommends shopping local for your Christmas gifts.
You can now subscribe to the Telegraph Journal's new and (finally) improved website instead of getting the paper.
Operation Red Nose, a great local (and free) service to get people home safely during the holidays, is looking for more volunteers.
Tickets for the upcoming Saint John Wine Festival in February are now on sale.
Cannon Security Inc is hosting a a Wonderland Facebook Giveaway.
The Yoga Outlet is hosting a (free) candle-lit Winter Solstice session on the shortest day of the year- this Wednesday.
Loving local blogger Candice's outfits on Brillant Sugar- many of the items from her closet have local origins.

With less than a week to go, the countdown to Christmas is officially on! Wishing you a fantastic holiday season.

merry martinis....

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

Looking for a mid-week pick me up? Fusion Saint John is hosting Merry Martinis at the Trade & Convention Centre tomorrow evening, (Wednesday) December 14.

In support of Romero House, this party will kick off with a red carpet entrance at 6pm. In your cocktail attire, tickets will provide you with 3 drink vouchers and hors d'oeurves at your fingertips. Tickets for this event are $50 and can be purchased at the Uptown Saint John office at 40 King Street.

For more details, check out this video with event coordinators, Sean & Fran, chatting about this soiree:

To see the article written on Merry Martinis in support of the Romero House in the Telegraph Journal today, click here.

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the event myself, but would love to hear all about it! Hope those of you attending will let me know how it goes and have some pictures to post- have fun!

This post has been written by the author in support of Romero House, an extremely worthy cause, which is open 365 days a year and aims to serve one hot meal to Saint Johners in need. The soup kitchen is open 7 days a week, providing roughly 300 meals daily.

Saint John on the web

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

I"ll be honest- I don't know what I'd do without the internet. It's my source for catching up on the latest trends, tuning into world news, making plans with friends, or find out what's going on in Saint John this weekend. Here are some of my favourite links I've encountered this week that have local content:

Professional photos by Kelly Lawson and Mike Capson from the Urban Glam Party posted.
Perfumes Plus shares a sneak peak at the new Chanel Spring 2011 cosmetic line.
The Urban Shoe Myth is offering 25% off their holiday shoes for the remainder of the week.
An article I stumbled upon that lists many reasons why it's important to shop local.
Manchester Shoe Salon and Pseudio are both offering tax free from now until Christmas.
Market Square is giving away a $500 shopping spree each Friday until December 23.
Profile written on shop owner Kiera of Je Suis Prest Boutique.
Brunswick Square is also doing a giveaway promotion titled $1000 reasons to shop locally
Beat the Winter Blues Facebook Competition involving multiple uptown Saint John businesses.
Fusion is hosting Merry Martinis, a cocktail party in support of Romero House, next week.

What was the best or most interesting thing you saw on the web this week? (Let me know in the comments below!)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'm kicking it off with a Christmas party tonight at the Delta- can't wait to wear a new dress! (It has sequins.)

telegraph journal

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend my little blog received a little love in Saint John's Telegraph Journal. I mentioned a few weeks ago in this outfit post, that I had had the pleasure of meeting up with Kâté Braydon, photographer for the newspaper, at one of my favourite uptown stores, The Urban Shoe Myth.

Last month, I was contacted by report John Pollack about my outlook on shopping and retail growth in Saint John after he had come across my blog. He had already spoken to many business individuals on their perspective and I suppose my viewpoint would come from the (experienced) consumer. Although I'm credited as a "confessed shopaholic" in the article, I can't deny the the title given the name of my blog, I'd describe it as more of a whimsical reference to my consumerism and interest of what is available here in our port city. While I will admit I do love shopping, my "cash diet" method keeps me in check- and it is really my love of fashion and interest in pushing the envelope of style that keeps me writing this blog!

If you had an opportunity to read it, the article, titled The evolution of a retail destination (page 34 in the Saint John on the Move magazine insert), shares the opinions of myself, Imelda Gilman (president of the Saint John Board of Trade), and statements from a number of developers that Saint John's retail is growing. We've turned away the age old notion that people feel the need to leave our city to shop. As our city continues to evolve we're seeing more enjoyment and commitment in regards to supporting local.

Thanks to John and the TJ for the shout out on my blog! Although I made a special effort to buy the newspaper after hearing the article was out, I'm looking forward to the make-over of the Telegraph's website, which I hear is about to be released very soon.

gift guide for her

2011-12-05T09:56:00.001-04:00

By now most people are full into their holiday shopping (I've even heard a select few say they are actually finished!) I actually haven't even started. Well compared to the last few years, this might have me concerned, I remember as a student I used to leave my Christmas shopping until after exams, not even making my list prior to the 20th.

I am always committed to getting my friends and family gifts that I know they will love and use. The most important thing to me is getting something I know they will appreciate. I've been out browsing the shops in Saint John over the last few weeks, and here's my suggestions on where to shop for the women in your life!

Uptown Saint John

Shoes

Depending on your budget and who you're buying for, no girl is going to turn down a beautiful pair of shoes. Support local, purchase quality, and consider a classic pair of pumps or flats from The Urban Shoe Myth (King Street) or Manchester Shoe Salon (Market Square). If you're not sure of her footwear tastes or what she has in her closet, a gift certificate to use towards a new pair of shoes or a quality wallet is never a poor choice. It's common to hear gift cards are impersonal, but I don't agree. A generic gift that she may or may not like is impersonal, but if you provide her with a little credit towards something she really likes, that will be greatly appreciated. And for a cute pair of comfortable Toms, I believe Je Suis Prest Boutique may still have some in stock!

Clothing

If you know her size or clothing preferences, there are many uptown boutiques to consider shopping. If you know her favourite store, a gift card is an option in this department too. Je Suis Prest Boutique (Brunswick Square) and Envy (Market Square) cater to a crowd of early 20s to 40s, depending on her personal style. If you know she shops at Je Suis Prest Boutique, be sure to ask the Prest girls if she has a shopping list there- they actually keep a list of their customers favourites to make holiday shopping easier! Kiera and Joy make a point to get to know their customers' tastes and give honest feedback so asking their option is always a great lead. For a girl in her teens to mid-20s I'd recommend checking out Pseudio (Brunswick Square). For the mature woman, try Collectables and Colwell's- it may be a little more expensive, but you can't go wrong with good quality. I'd say Silver Daisy (King Street) falls somewhere in between, serving unique and stylish clothing for girls in their 20s and 30s.

Accessories

Accessories are always a great affordable choice for a gift. Baubles (Brunswick Square) and Silver Daisy Designs (King Street) are my favourite go-to locations for pretty earrings, necklaces, or bracelets.

Cosmetics

Make-up choices like a lip gloss or nail polish are always fun gift ideas as well. Visit the girls at Perfumes Plus (Brunswick Square) and get them to help you pick out a fragrance, Chanel product, or OPI nail polish for the giftee. Did you know that aside from Halifax, this is the only location you can purchase Chanel products? Though you may not be able to afford a Chanel suit or vintage purse, the cosmetics lines is much more accessible price-wise. Their nail polish is my absolute favourite for quality and wear.

Purses

Get her a new purse from Je Suis Prest Boutique (Brunswick Square), Silver Daisy Designs (King Street), or Walsh Luggage (Market Square). For a modern shoulder or crossbody bag visit JSP or for a fun party clutch, try Silver Daisy. For something classic and long-term, try popping into Walsh Luggage.

Home Decor

If you think she'd appreciate something for the home, I'd recommend Decor 8 (Brunswick Square), English Butler (Brunswick Square) and Handworks (King Street). Especially if you don't know the inside of her closet as well. chances are you've gotten a better look at her living room or kitchen. A beautiful piece of pottery (Handworks), a unique kitchen tool (Decor 8), fun cocktail glasses (Decor 8), or a Yankee candle (English Butler) are always great choices.

Hair and Spa

If you think she'd enjoy being pampered and doesn't spend enough time on herself, try purchasing a treatment or spa service from Element5 (Market Square) or Perfumes Plus (Brunswick Square). You could also browse Element5's selection of Aveda products for a great quality shampoo and conditioner. Speaking of hair care products, you could also try Hairacy's (Brunswick Square) selection of Redken products.

What I like about shopping uptown in general is that these locally owned shops give much better service. They are interested and invested in their customers' wants and needs, so asking their opinions might help point you in the right direction. Familiarizing yourself with the uptown is a great personal shopping experience and you're supporting local! Remember, when in doubt, choosing to purchase a gift certificate from a store you know she likes to shop at is never a fail.

Also, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the blog post I wrote last week for the Brunswick Square blog featuring the top 5 reasons for shopping at the Uptown shopping centre.

luxury cars & brand name shoes

2011-12-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

Last month I was invited to an event at the Mercedes-Benz dealership that mixed luxury cars with luxury goods (fashionable clothing that is). Am I in the market for a fancy car? Unfortunately not and while I'm perfectly happy driving my economical little Corolla, I certainly wouldn't shy away from a Mercedes if my bank account was grow by a good margin! For now, the most expensive new transportation I can afford is quality footwear!

The event, did perk my interest since it had a fashion aspect and had some of my favourite retailers involved. My initial thought was to wonder how do luxury cars and fashion mix, but then I remember the company and fashion industry are quite often making a partnership. After all, you do know that New York Fashion Week's main sponsor is Mercedes-Benz, right? Mercedes-Benz Canada has its own links to LG Fashion Week in Toronto: launching the Mercedes-Benz StartUp competition, which is in an initiative that is intended to provide a platform to discover and support up-and-coming Canadian fashion designers.

Although I was unable to attend, I was sent a few photos to see how the local Mercedes-Benz dealership was mingling with fashion and supporting local at their annual customer event. Photos are the work of the lovely Kelly Lawson (Lawson Photography).

Ashley with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

Dress: Je Suis Prest Boutique (Lipsy London) | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth (Michael Kors)

Jewellery: Goldsmith Studio | Watch: Goldsmith Studio (Gucci)

Natalie with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML Truck

Dress: Je Suis Prest Boutique (Mason) | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth (Nine West)

Jewellery: Goldsmith Studio | Watch: Goldsmith Studio (Gucci)

Mandy with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet

Dress: Je Suis Prest Boutique (DEPT) | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth (Stuart Weiztman)

Jewellery: Goldsmith Studio | Watch: Goldsmith Studio (Gucci)

My personal favourite was the outfit on Mandy. I love the faux leather dress- the fabric has a certain sex appeal and with tasteful necklace the mini skirt is definitely a go! I'm also a fan of patent leather and the rich red hue of the Stuart Weitzman pumps.

All the models' hair was styled by ASAP Hair Studio and make-up was done with Chanel products at Perfumes Plus.

This blog post is not sponsored content and is only my reflection on how this local car dealership mixed an element of fashion into their event. To support Maritime Shopaholic and have your fashion-related event officially covered on this blog, please see the Sponsor/Collaborate page for more details!

shopbop giveaway winner

2011-11-29T22:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Shopbop giveaway! Out of 520 entries, the winner was...

Congrats to Julia on winning the $100 gift card to Shopbop. And it didn't take long for her to decide exactly what she wanted- Julia tweeted me after receiving the gift card to let me know she had ordered a stylish pair of Boutique 9 pumps!

Perfumes Plus Holiday Party

2011-11-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, you may have caught the announcement about Perfumes Plus' upcoming holiday party via the Brunswick Square Blog. The event date has since changed and Perfumes Plus will now be hosting their annual Holiday party tonight, in-store, at 6pm. Perfumes Plus can be found on the ground level of Brunswick Square.

As promised, there will sales to take advantage of throughout the day, which include 30% off select products. Perfumes Plus will also be launching the Chanel's Holiday 2011 Collection. Chanel is bringing a lot of beautiful, limited edition products to the table with this holiday line made up of rich golds, festive reds, and beautiful neutrals.

The event will also feature make-up and nail demons, as well as prize draws. Every purchase today enters you in to a draw to win a holiday gift from Chanel!

There will be Chanel limited edition gift sets available for purchase, which include the brush set or lip gloss duo featured above.

Personally, my favourite Chanel cosmetic product (aside from their eye concealer I use daily) would be their nail polishes. They may cost a pretty penny, but they are honestly worth it- it's definitely one of those products that you get what you pay for. Above is my current collection of Chanel polishes. Last night I painted my finger nails with the Coromandel (second from the left above) and it only required one coat!

If you love Chanel as much as I do, you should pop on over to Barb's blog and enter her giveaway to win for the chance to win a free Chanel manicure from Perfumes Plus! (Contest is open until this Friday, Dec 2, at noon.)

Need to pick up something pretty for your friend or sister, stocking stuffers, or a hostest gift? Be sure to drop by later today for some refreshments, shop the sales, and trial the new Chanel products at Perfumes Plus- I'll see you there!

Will you be dropping by for some time with Chanel today?

big changes...

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'll start with the most obvious of changes: not only did I update the blog header (designed by my friend Doug at dlb designs) over the weekend, but I've also decided to split my current blog into 2 separate blogs.

I've been covering 2 main areas or niches (local happenings in Saint John and my personal style) that seemed to fit together initially but as my blog grew and changed, so did my audience.

A recent poll I conducted confirmed a statistic I was already familiar with: the majority of my readers reside in Saint John (67%) and a larger precentage (80%) live within in New Brunswick.

For a while now, Saint John readers have been requesting to see more about local events and things happening in our city. As much as I wanted to do that, I didn't want to push away my other readers outside of the port city.

So, I decided to transition Maritime Shopaholic into a source to promote shopping local and keeping people up to date about fashion-related events happening in Saint John. I have plans to shape it in a shopping and style guide for the port city. For all locally and fashion related content, I hope you'll continue to read Maritime Shopaholic.

Atlantic Style Diaries is the title of my new personal style blog on which I will share outfit photos, favourite trends and brands, wish-lists, etc. I wanted to be able to participate in the fashion blog community without boundaries to who I could share, network or collaborate with. For further content such as outfit posts, favourite brands and trends, as well as style projects, I hope you'll pop over and check out Atlantic Style Diaries!

I've also made changes to my Twitter account in that you will now recognize me as @chelsdonaldson (instead of @mshopaholic).

I'm excited about these changes and new creative opportunities and I'll hope there will be a little more for everyone now!

Please leave a comment- I'd love to hear your thoughts on these changes.

holiday wish-list...

2011-11-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

My mom and sister right now are braving the Black Friday crowds across the US border. I almost went with them, if it wasn't for an expired passport (which I forgot about until there wasn't sufficient time to reapply). Of course a trip such as this means serious shopping, so making my holiday wish-list was prompted when my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas.

Plus, with all audio in stores being hijacked by Christmas music already, the crazy snow storm we had 2 days ago, and the fact that Santa comes in exactly a month from today it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas. So I thought I'd share with you what I have on my list!

1. Bowler Hat

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

3. Collar necklace

4. Marc by Marc Jacobs watch

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses

6. Sequin skirt or leather shorts/skirt

7. Rebecca Minkoff bracelet

8. House of Harlow necklace

9. J.Crew sweater

10. Urban Decay eyeshadow palette

11. Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings

I also asked for a handful of clothing items from Joe Fresh (this blouse, this top, and this dress for starters)- I browsed the last collection at the Superstore after a workout earlier this week and had to exercise restraint from walking out with half of the store! The great thing about items from Joe Fresh are how affordable they are- which makes for great gifts without breaking the bank!

I still like a surprise, so I put way more items on my list than I actually expect to receive. I was never that child digging in the closets or under beds looking for the presents before Christmas...that's how my sister discovered there was no Santa! (Haha.)

What's on your holiday wish-list?

sunday comfort...

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

With a snow storm like yesterday, there's nothing I'd prefer to do than curl up in a comfy outfit and hold up indoors with a cup of coffee and a movie, book, or my laptop. When it comes down to putting together a comfortable outfit, nothing beats a long sweater and a pair of leggings. On this particular day, B and I headed out for Starbucks and to run a few errands.

The Outfit Faux leather jacket: Winners | Sweater: Abercrombie & Fitch | Top: American Eagle

Leggings: TNA | Purse: Coach | Boots: Town Shoes | Hat: H&M | Necklace: H&M

Happy Thanksgiving to my American pals!

work it wednesday....

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it all comes down to the accessories. You can entirely change the tone or style of an outfit, depending on what you pair the main components with. Trade a necklace for a scarf or pull on boats instead of heels. For this week's Work It Wednesday, I was thought I'd take one simple piece and play with the accessories. Inspired by one of Who What Wear's trend reports last week, followed by a tempting Diane von Furstenberg email- I decided to remix a classic but neutral Taya shirt dress.

What I like about this dress is that it speaks comfort like your boyfriend's collared button-up but it has the potential to be paired with more than just flats. Here's a couple of examples I cooked up, for a look that's ready for a variety of occasions. With a modest frock, it allows for some serious bling or wild pattern.

How would you style this shirt dress?

Now if I could only fit this DVF dress into my budget!

urban glam party...

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday local Je Suis Prest Boutique (JSP) and The Urban Shoe Myth (USM) debuted their holiday wear at their Urban Glam Party!

Upon entering the Saint John Theatre Company's space on Princess Street, the first thing my eyes were drawn to was the amazing decor that had been planned and put together by Design 4 Space.

There were platform heels and Christmas ornaments hanging from the ceiling,

graffiti art dominating the walls, and a hot pink outline for a runway.

There were two tables of delicious desserts prepared by the Bourbon Quarter.

Many lovely items were donated from suppliers' of both stores and be put up for silent auction. Proceeds from the evening are going to the Coverdale Centre for Women.

Nick was making a special candy cane cocktail while DJ La Reine spun hits all night long.

The beautiful dresses and fancy wear were showcased in two separate runway shows during the evening. All clothing was Je Suis Prest Boutique and the shoes were from Urban Shoe Myth.

Lots of glamourous black with pops of colour, sequins, feminine silhouettes, and eye-catching backs were seen with the dresses. We saw a variance in height for holiday heels, but lots of glitter and even some feathers too!

The crowd watches on with great interest.

(Above): Shoes hanging from the ceiling, pretty cocktails, and Kate using Instagram to document some of the evening!

(Left): Katie & I | (Right): Kate & Candice

(Below) Me, Sarah, & Wendy | (Left): The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

(Left): Shelly (USM) & Kiera (JSP) pose together while having their photograph taken by Kelly Lawson. (Right): Right after Josh sprayed Adam (Hairacy's), Shelley, and Kiera with the silly string!

Overall it was a great night with a great cause supported. We followed up the party up with dancing the night away at The Canterbury Lounge!

Great news for all party attendees- all the tickets provide as a 20% discount at both Je Suis Prest Boutique and Urban Shoe Myth this week! Was there anything from the fashion show that you had to have? Which dresses and shoes were your absolutely favs?

Be sure to check out the Facebook page later today for the rest of the pictures I captured from the Urban Glam Party!

pink lemonade margaritas...

2011-11-21T13:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes nothing is better than a Saturday night with your girl friends. Doing your make-up together, sipping on wine or cocktails, and laughing at each other's stories. I've had a lot of fun the last two weekends, having the opportunity to hit the town with some of my favourites.

Pink lemonade + skinny girl margarita= one tasty drink!

I need this Urban Decay palette Katie has.

Arm party!

I never really go anywhere without my camera.

We ended the night with an appetizer and socializing at Britt's pub.

The Outfit Dress: Jack BB Dakota (Je Suis Prest Boutique) | Wedges: Aldo | Tights: Walmart

Belt: Eddie Bauer | Cuff bracelet: Esquared (Silver Daisy Designs) | Bangles: Aldo | Necklace: H&M

Sweater: Press (Je Suis Prest Boutique)

Find it online: dress, shoes, similar belt, similar necklace, similar cardigan, make-up palette

How was your weekend? My weekend was a blast- double date with friends at a local sushi spot on Friday, the Urban Glam party (featuring new holiday wear from Je Suis Prest Boutique and The Urban Shoe Myth) followed by dancing at the Canterbury, and then coffee and browsing the Christmas flea market yesterday. It's funny how the weekends are supposed to be our down time from the week- but I like to pack mine with as much time with friends as possible!

Stay tuned! Tomorrow the photos from the Urban Glam party will be up on my blog and the Facebook page. Thanks to the girls at Je Suis Prest, Urban Shoe Myth, and Design 4 Space for an amazing time! The added bonus is that proceeds from the evening went to a great cause: The Coverdale Centre, a drop-in centre for women in Saint John providing shelter and case management services to assist in addictions, mental health issues, employment and affordable housing.

have you entered yet?

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

It's been fun hearing what people would choose if they won the $100 gift card to Shopbop. Shopbop is actually one of my favourite online stores with a great selection of designer brand names- many within an affordable range. The great thing about this giveaway is $100 is definitely enough to buy you something pretty sweet!

I thought I'd go ahead and show you what some readers said they would purchase if they won. Many of these items fall within the $100 range. Another great thing about Shopbop is that you never pay shipping (you pay the duty, but that's about it after taxes!)

Thanks again to those who have taken a few minutes to fill out the reader survey. I've already made some decisions based on the feedback already and you will be seeing some big, exciting changes in the very near future- so stay tuned!

If you haven't entered the Shopbop Giveaway yet, be sure to go do that now!

And if you have a moment, I'd love to have your feedback (10 quick questions, mostly multiple choice). Click here to take the reader survey.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

3 trends: 1 outfit...

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I wore this outfit to have my photo taken by Kâté, a photographer with the Telegraph Journal. I had fun eyeing the beautiful shoes in The Urban Shoe Myth while peering through their shelving, with Kâté on the other side with her camera. (From my understanding the photo is to included along side of an upcoming article about how retail in Saint John is changing.)

Afterwards, I stole away to a quiet Uptown street where I could take out fit photos in a low-traffic area.

The Outfit Black Blazer c/o Boa Apparel Inc | Brown top- Joe Fresh | Bracelets: Aldo

Sheer print top: BB Dakota (Je Suis Prest Boutique) | Jeans: 7 for all Mankind (Envy)

Shoes (similar): Steve Madden (The Urban Shoe Myth)

In this outfit I combined a few of my favourite trends for all: mixing black and browns, sporting animal prints, and mixing metals (gold and silver). What have been your favourite fall trends to experiment with?

And just before you go, I was wondering if I could ask you a quick favour?

I'm running a short survey just to get feedback on how I can improve my blog and learn a little more about the preferences of my readers. If you have a few moments, l would really appreciate it if you could answer some quick questions, even if this is your first visit! Participation and all answers are anonymous. Please click below to participate:

Maritime Shopaholic Reader Survey

floral & fur...

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

If there's one thing I've learned in the last (almost) 2 years of reading (and writing) fashion and style blogs, it's that being stylish doesn't always have a guaranteed or straight-forward recipe for success. Knowing your body and what you can pull off is an important aspect, but experimenting with different layers, textures, and colour combinations can be a fun exploration because in fashion, sometimes anything goes! (But it doesn't always.)

I've expanded my own personal style from the "shirt + pants + shoes = outfit" formula. I've learned layering pieces and accessorizing is a way to add interest or sophistication to an outfit. I've also learned that sometimes with outfit experimentation comes a hit or a miss.

This fall I've been inspired by other bloggers to up my efforts at finding new and interesting ways of combining and layering different textures.

The Outfit Skirt (Old Navy) | Top (Jack BB Dakota, Je Suis Prest Boutique)

Sweater (American Eagle) | Necklace (Banana Republic) | Tights c/o We Love Colors

Boots (Born, The Urban Shoe Myth) | Beret (H&M) | Bracelet (Aldo)

I have to say, this beige sweater has been an all-time favourite and go-to of mine over the last few years. It's a nice neutral colour and, well, I love anything with a hood!

I can't believe that the holidays are closing in on us! Although I'm not over-eager enough to have pulled out the Christmas decor just yet, I have started planning what events and parties I'm going to attend. First up: the Urban Glam holiday party hosted by Je Suis Prest Boutique, The Urban Shoe Myth, and Design 4 Space this coming Saturday night (after having a peek at the Santa Claus Parade of course)!

Will I be seeing you at this Saint John fashion event?

love for marc jacobs & a shopbop giveaway!

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been refocusing the way I look at my wardrobe and sticking to a stricter budget. I'll admit it: I have no shortage of clothes, that's for sure, yet it's incredibly difficult to keep up on every emerging trend and beautiful item that may cross my path or get pinned on Pinterest! So as of late I've committed to a closet that contains more quality over quantity. I've learned that if you try to keep up on every passing trend, your closet will be over-stuffed and your wallet bare. I'm saving my hard earned pennies now to increase the quality in my closet.

What I'd love to be able to obtain would be a few beautiful designer or unique pieces. Right now, many of the items on my wishlist come from Marc by Marc Jacobs. I've been browsing the pages of Shopbop, all the while taking note of my favourites (and adding them to my Christmas list)!

Fortunately for you, my lovely readers, the holidays and gift giving have come a little early! Shopbop has kindly given readers of my blog the opportunity to win a $100 gift card to spend on their website! The winner will have $100 to purchase anything they wish from Shopbop, whether it be (perhaps) a Marc by Marc Jacobs duffle bag, a BB Dakota faux fur vest, or a House of Harlow necklace.

To enter this giveaway, please complete the 3 following mandatory steps to be eligible to win:

Follow Maritime Shopaholic via Facebook
Visit Shopbop and browse their inventory of beautiful items
Comment on this post and tell me what item you would choose from Shopbop if you were to win the $100 gift card!

Bonus entries- complete any or all for extra chances to win!

(Be sure to leave an additional, separate comment for each one completed.)

Follow Maritime Shopaholic on Twitter
Follow Shopbop on Twitter
Follow Maritime Shopaholic via Bloglovin'
Follow Maritime Shopaholic via Google Friends Connect
Tweet about the giveaway: "Enter @mshopaholic's #giveaway to win a $100 to @shopbop! http://bit.ly/tuBATT" Let me know your twitter handle or the link directly to your tweet in your comment.
Click here and share the link of this giveaway on your Facebook page. Let me know your name as on Facebook in your comment to get credit.
Visit Shopbop and let me know your favourite Marc by Marc Jacobs item they carry.

You can earn up to 8 entries in total.

Contest will remain open until 5pm AST Thurs, Nov 24.

Winner will be chosen by random and announced on the blog Mon, Nov 28.

If you have any questions regarding the giveaway, please email me at maritime.shopaholic@gmail.com

addicted...

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

My friend Katie finally wore me down and made me start using a Pinterest account one night while we were watching SNL. And now I've caught the Pinterest fever. I know a lot of people have been praising the site for months (especially fellow bloggers) and I finally got on the bandwagon last week. (I was also one of my last friends to finally give into this Facebook thing...)

My Pinterest- follow along!

So what's all the hype about? (For those of you who aren't already nodding along, thinking Pinterest about how much you love it and how it may now you may waste more time on it than Facebook...) You can "pin" or copy photos of items you want, projects you'd like to try, ideas you laugh at, meals you'd like to make (I could go on...) from any website you're browsing or you can just piggyback and use someone else's pin already on Pinterest. And all you do is click on the photo (because so many of us are visual beings) and it takes you back to the source where you can buy it/find out how to make it/or who said those words of brilliance. You can also categorize these pins into groups or "boards".

A few of my favourite things and ideas I've pinned since becoming addicted to Pinterest...

1. Sequin dress I would love to wear to a Holiday party!

2. Eggnog mini cupcakes I plan to serve at my Christmas party

3. DIY project for refinishing an old dresser in my spare room

4. Outfit inspiration from Kim of Eat Sleep Wear in a Marc Jacobs dress

5. Eye make-up that inspired an evening make-up tutorial party last night

6. A Crockpot meal I am cooking tomorrow

Do you already use Pinterest? What types of things do you use it for?

urban rancher...

2011-11-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm always trying different looks and remixing items from my closet- but aside from the visual appeal of an outfit, the most important factor is always comfort! It may not be fancy or appropriate for a cocktail party, but I can go out for a coffee date with a friend or curl up on my couch and type up a blog post wearing this ensemble.

A year ago when I took on 30 for 30 challenge posed by Kendi Everyday I learned that it's how you mix and match elements and how you accessorize that can make your wardrobe go further- it's not actually dependent on how many items are hanging in your closet. Essentially, the accessorizes (hat, scarf, necklace, earrings, bracelets, belt..) can totally change the vibe of an outfit and making sure you combine at least 3 items (i.e. top + vest + bottoms or dress + belt + coloured tights + statement necklace) in an ensemble that can bring an outfit from plain to stylish.

The Outfit Shearling vest (Gentle Fawn, Je Suis Prest) | Jeggings (Guess, Envy)

Shirt (similiar): Joe Fresh | Boots: Born- Urban Shoe Myth

Bracelet (ESquared, Silver Daisy Designs)

This shearling vest from Je Suis Prest Boutique has to be one of my favourite versatile items to remix. And speaking of Je Suis Prest, if you're local, have you heard about their Urban Glam Party coming up on Saturday, November 19? They're pairing up with The Urban Shoe Myth (and Design 4 Space) to showcase Saint John's exciting fashions and shoes for the upcoming holidays all while supporting a great cause in the Coverdale Centre for Women. Tickets go on sale for $30 today- and I anticipate they'll be sold out very soon because I do believe the max number is 150! Hop into Je Suis Prest Boutique or The Urban Shoe Myth to get your tickets ASAP!

Will I be seeing you at the Urban Glam Party?

work it wednesday...

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I used Polyvore to show 3 ways I would style a Rachel Zoe blouse I've been coveting. This week I thought I'd pull an item from my own closet to show you how I've remixed it within my wardrobe.

Michael Kors Jada Bootie

Piperlime | The Urban Shoe Myth

A fall footwear staple for me has been this bootie I purchased back in September. I really love this wedge- it's more supportive than your typical pair of heels and is comfortable enough to wear when I know I'm going to be on my feet for a prolonged period.. It's a shoe that can easily be dressed up or down the neutral colour allows it be mix and match with a wide variety of colour palettes.

What has been your favourite shoe to wear this fall?

Click the image below to pop on over (to The Good Life for Less blog) and see how other bloggers have styled the wardrobe item or trend of their choice this week!

coloured tights...

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

My favourite morning ritual this month has been getting up a little earlier, boiling some water for a flavoured cup of coffee, and browsing my favourite style and fashion blogs for a bit of inspiration. For the longest time, I had fallen so far behind in my blog reading and felt out of touch to what the rest of the fashion blogging community was up to. Going to bed earlier to get up a bit earlier has not only done good things for my health, but also has given me that feeling that I have a few extra hours in the day! I won't lie, it couldn't be done without that cup of java!

Getting back into the swing of things and updating my Bloglovin' account (follow along) has let me stay on top of my favourites and discover a few new goodies while I'm at it. I came across another joint blogger project I've decided to participate in: Everybody Everywear. Here's the gist in a nutshell: every month they choose a style or item and have everyone post their links on how they wore it. November's item is coloured tights- a personal favourite of mine! So I'm digging into the archives right now to show you how I've choosen to style colour tights (past and present)...

Rust: (Left) Fall 2011, (Right) Winter early 2011

Wine: (Both) Fall 2011

Olive: (Left) Winter early 2011, (Right) Spring 2011

Purple: Spring 2011

Peach: Winter early 2011

Forest: Fall 2011

Hop on over to Everybody, Everywear and see how other bloggers styled their coloured tights later today!

wedding by the sea...

2011-11-07T09:02:00.001-04:00

Last weekend B and I headed down to St. Andrews by-the-Sea for his cousin's wedding. Talk about beautiful settings for any event, especially nuptials, this adorable sea side town hosts charming houses with character along streets with copious greenery; a street full of cute little shops right up against the ocean; opportunities for whale watching; an awesome marine research centre (with aquarium, touch pool, and an up close visit with seals!); and a gorgeous historic resort (that may be haunted). I spent a lot of time in the summers of my childhood visiting this town. So an opportunity to get an extra visit to St. Andrews before the winter, combined with a celebration: sounds like a pretty good Saturday to me!

The Outfit Dress (Pink Martini, Je Suis Prest) | Necklace (Aldo) | Belt (Old Navy) |

Glitter tights (gifted) | Shoes (Guess, Manchester Shoes) | Purse (Coach) | Coat (Soia & Kyo, Envy)

Just this past weekend, I went the opposite way on the map to meet up with friends in Moncton for a wine fair. Sipping vino, laughing with friends, and just hanging out in our hotel room at the casino made for an excellent weekend!

urban jungle...

2011-11-04T09:18:00.001-03:00

Sometimes it can be fairly difficult to find an obscure location to shoot outfit photos that's for sure! I managed to tuck away in a corner uptown- with it being noon, the sun was too bright and there were lots of people out and about on their lunch hour! I've gotten the hang of choosing the best physical settings and natural lighting for my photos, but I still have so much to learn about the potential of owning an SLR!

This dress was a BB Dakota pick from Shopbop after winning Jessica's blog giveaway a few months ago.

The Outfit Dress (BB Dakota- Shopbop) | Tights (American Apparel) | Top (Joe Fresh)

Booties (Michael Kors- The Urban Shoe Myth) | Necklace (Aldo) | Bag (Coach)

And I was lucky enough to have Barb pick me up these tights from American Apparel during her vacation in Halifax a few weeks ago. (Thanks again my friend!) I'd have to say for opaque tights, American Apparel are my favourite. They lean on the more pricey side of things, but they general stay intact if you don't swipe and snag them with rings (like I tend to do...)

Coloured tights are always a fall must-have on my list! I've managed to gather a good collection- all that is missing is mustard and camel! What are your favourite colours for tights/pantyhose?

Pssst. I have three giveaways coming up on the blog soon!

Have a great weekend everyone!

colonel mustard...

2011-11-03T09:14:00.001-03:00

It seems a lot of my fall purchases have incidently been from the brand Pink Martini (they're a Canadian label!)- this sweater being one of those items. I'd have to say this wrap knit cardigan is easily winning out for my favourite sweater right now. I love this mustard colour that seems to be going with anything in my wardrobe lately- it definitely tops my list of favourite fall colours.

The Outfit Sweater (Pink Martini- Je Suis Prest) | Shoes (Aldo) | Blouse (Mink Pink- Je Suis Prest) Purse (Fossil- Manchester Shoes) | Necklace (Maison Scotch- Envy) | Earrings (Joe Fresh)- similar

Jeans (7 for All Mankind- Envy)

I can't believe it's Thursday already! This week has flown by- which is just fine by me since I have plans I've been really looking forward to! I'm heading to Moncton this weekend to visit my sister and attend the wine fair with some of my very lovely girl friends (who are travelling from over from Fredericton and Halifax). My weekend is going to be all about catching up, laughing over inside jokes, and sipping some wine- can't wait!

What's your plans for the weekend?

Work It Wednesday...

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-03:00

I decided to participate in the weekly "link-up" organized by fellow blogger, Jill of the Good Life (for Less). Entitled Work it Wednesday, you show 1 style or garment applied in 3 different outfits. I decided, this week, to choose an element of style that I've been loving this fall: the tie neck blouse. If it was in my current budget, I'd love to own and wear a piece of Rachel Zoe's fall collection. So (using Polyvore) I've created 3 sets that show 3 entirely different ways to style the Rachel Zoe's Natalie plunge blouse for 3 different events:

Rachel Zoe Natalie plunge blouse

Shopbop | Bergdorf Goodman | Far Fetch

(Above: satchel (similar), pants, shoes, vest, earrings, bracelets)

(Above: skirt, belt, shoes, watch, clutch, earrings, bracelet, tights)

(Above: vest, jeans, bracelet, boots, bag, hat)

Has a tie-neck blouse been on your list of fall must-haves?

Please feel free to leave your comment below to let me know what item is on the top your must-have list for Fall right now.

Check outwhat items Jill and other participating bloggers decided to work and remix this week for Work it Wednesday

#SaintJohnCut2

2011-10-31T17:47:00.000-03:00

If you remember, about 7 months ago, a group of creatives in Saint John came together in the stunning White Room for a fashion photo shoot titled Saint John Cut. A second round was organized by Barb Crawford, who brought everyone back (plus a few additions) for another fashion shoot and creative collaboration between photographers, make-up artists, stylist and wardrobe personnel, models, bloggers- and a hair stylist and designer this time around!

I spent the day styling outfits, carting and setting up wardrobe (as well as ensuring the clothing didn't get dirty on-set)! I also took the opportunity to play with my DSLR and shoot some behind-the-scenes photos.

Make up kits of Carrie McGrath (Personna Bella) & Alicia Scoville (Essential Esthetics)

Adam Donnelly (Hairacy's) styling the hair of Catherine Delaney (left) and Melissa Wright (right).

Carrie McGrath applying Fran Menton's make-up at Je Suis Prest Bouique

Photo shoot location: 4th floor construction site on Prince William Street

Photographers set up their equipment amongst the construction

Sean McGrath snapping photos of Graeme Stewart-Robertson in a head-to-toe Joe Fresh Style look.

Kelly Lawson taking an overhead shot of Janna Boucher in Je Suis Prest

Alicia Robichaud taking photos of Courtney Silas, also in an outfit from Je Suis Prest

(Left): Samuel Lewis (in his own clothing) and Maryanne Delaney (in Je Suis Prest)

(Right): Sisters Maryanne and Catherine wearing dresses by designer Danielle Queen

(Left): Danielle Queen, designer | (Right): The wardrobe hanging from my garment rack

(Left): Sam (in his own clothing) and Fran (wearing Je Suis Prest) | (Right): Fran Menton

Sean McGrath photographs Melissa Wright (looking beautiful 8 months along), Fran Menton, and Janna Boucher.

Catherine Delaney in Je Suis Prest

Kelly Lawson shooting photos with Beth McRae, Graeme Stewart-Robertson, & Danielle Queen

Maryanne Delaney posing in Je Suis Prest (left) and in Danielle Queen (right)

Courtney Silas (wearing an old prom dress)

(Left): Janna Boucher in Je Suis Prest (and her own shoes). | (Right): Wheelbarrow on site

Me & Barb Crawford (head organizer behind the event)

(Left): Group photo | (Right): Courtney Silas, Kiera Fraser, & Adam Donnelly having a laugh

Everyone gathering together for a group shot (to come)

Cast & Credits:

Location: Historica Properties (Keith Brideau)
Organizing & Planning: Barb Crawford, Morgan Lanigan
Stylists: Kiera Fraser, Chelsea Donaldson
Make-up Artists: Carrie McGrath, Alicia Scoville
Hair Stylist: Adam Donnelly
Designer: Danielle Queen
Photographers: Sean McGrath, Kelly Lawson, Alicia Robichaud, Dan Culberson, Mike Hawkins
Models: Fran Menton, Beth MacRae, Janna Boucher, Maryanne Delaney, Catherine Delaney, Melissa Wright, Courtney Silas, Samuel Lewis, Graeme Stewart-Robertson
Wardrobe: Je Suis Prest Boutique, Joe Fresh Style, Danielle Queen Designs

It was a great time spending the day with such an enthusiastic and talented crew. Major thanks to Barb for pulling Saint John Cut 2, Morgan Lanigan for scouting the site, and Keith Brideau for providing us with a fascinating space to go to work!

Tomorrow I'll be posting all my photos from Saint John Cut 2 on my blog's Facebook page.

For everyone's posts and photos from the event, click here.

last call for knee socks!

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-03:00

I feel a little like I below on a mountain top with braids or yodelling in this outfit, but sometimes it's a little fun when your outfit takes on a bit of character (without looking like a costume). I think this is officially the last time you'll see these shorts before spring. I've tucked a few more things away in my seasonal bin downstairs and it's almost time to lug up the heavier coats and boots! After all, I'm pretty sure I spotted frost on my car's wind shield this morning (from the warmth of my living room of course- one benefit of having your office at home).

Click the links below to see where you can the find these items online.

The Outfit Vest: H&M | Blouse: H&M (similiar) | Shorts: Old Navy

Socks: American Apparel (similar) | Bracelet: ESquared- Silver Daisy Designs

Necklace: Aldo Accessories | Booties: Michael Kors- The Urban Shoe Myth

Yesterday, one of the local radio stations was talking about taking bets on when we'll have the first snowfall (of at least 1cm- gross.) Last year it was right after Halloween. Starting to think about snow has meet thinking of ideas of how to capture interesting outfit photos without resorting to my living room wall as the back drop.

Any good suggestions for interesting locations sheltered or indoors once the dreaded winter hits?

I'd love to hear your suggestions for keeping it interesting down below in the comments! Also, just feel free to say hi. :)

Indian Summer...

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-03:00

A couple of weeks ago the heat spiked and we went from autumn back to summer weather. With my summer wardrobe already packed away, I was left with limited choices. I was also probably one of the few people in the city who wasn't particularly appreciating this border-line heat wave. You couldn't even enjoy a walk around the Irving Nature Park without practically dehydrating yourself. After all, I was geared up with new fall items I'd rather wear! And this sheer striped blouse would be one of my favourites.

Click the links below to see where you can the find some of these items online.

The Outfit Shirt: Mink Pink- Je Suis Prest Boutique | Shorts: Old Navy | Sandals- Sam Edelman

Purse: Fossil- Manchester Shoe Salon | Bracelet: ESquared- Silver Daisy Designs

Scarf (as headband): Coach

The next big walk I plan to take is uptown this Friday for the Gallery Hop! However, walking from gallery to gallery might require a few more layers now that the temperatures are starting to drop below 10 degrees (Celsius).

Will I be seeing you Friday for the last gallery hop of 2011?

Please comment below if you will be out and about Friday night for the Gallery Hop in Saint John. If you aren't from Saint John, any comments are welcome and appreciated, so please do feel free to drop a note just to say hi! I'd love to hear from you.

smoking slippers...

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-03:00

This week I'm craving....the "smoking slipper".

Essential a delicate loafer-style flat with a pseudo-tongue, this shoe has caught my eye recently in magazines and fashion blogs. They come in a variety of colours and materials. I love an opportunity to wear heels, but day-to-day, for me, it really isn't practical. In my outfit posts I only share outfits that are functional: that I've worn outside the house. And often that requires this gal to wear a flat or a shoe that I can easily move around in or drive my standard! Below are some prime examples of how flats can be both beautiful and functional!

You can click on the links below to find out cost and where to purchase:

(Left to Right; Top to Bottom)

1. Sam Edelman Alvin | 2. Steven by Steve Madden Madee-R | 3. Steve Madden Madee

4. Steve Madden Madee | 5. Sam Edelman Adena | 6. Steve Madden Madee

7. Steve Madden Madee | 8. Jeffrey Campbell Elegant | 9. Kelsi Dagger: The Frances Shoe

I think I'm torn between the Sam Edelman studded ones and the Steve Madden leopards! Right now new shoes aren't quite in the budget, so I'm putting these on my wishlist for now!

Do tell: are you a fan of the smoking slipper? Which is your favourite?

media party...

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000-03:00

I have a very happy story to tell about this outfit (well, at least about the top and skirt). It's fairly infrequent that I shop at Old Navy but I happened to go in the store last month looking for some tank tops just to lounge around in at home. Here, I came across a tie-neck blouse (that I had been forever searching for) and with medi skirts in season as well as a "buy-1-get-the-2nd-75% off" deal in swing- I left with a few extras.

Unfortunately I didn't have much success in finding the items I originally went in looking for. (Isn't that always the case?) Remembering that Old Navy has a website with free shipping, I not only found what I was looking for but also the blouse and skirt on sale for even less than what I had bought them for in-store! Needless to say, I quickly returned my purchases to the store and made a quick bee-line for the online check-out.

The Outfit Blouse: Old Navy | Skirt: Old Navy | Belt: Eddie Bauer

Tights: Hue- Je Suis Prest Boutique |Earrings: Aldo Accessories | Bracelets: Aldo Accessories

Trench: BB Dakota- Je Suis Prest Boutique | Booties: Michael Kors- The Urban Shoe Myth

A couple of weeks ago, myself and a few bloggers attended what was supposed to be the media party for New Brunswick Fashion Week. As nice as it was to be included as media and receive a pass for free access to the event, the date and location of this media party was not released much in advance. Really it was just a stop in to get your tag and a few details (there was no bar as indicated). The final schedule for Friday (2 days away) was not finalized at this time so we weren't entirely sure what to expect until I saw the email with the schedule pop up on my Blackberry at 10pm Thursday night. It didn't leave much time to share this with the public. But, as it turned out, the organizers did not follow this schedule anyways.

Apparently New Brunswick Fashion Week for Spring 2012 is slotted for February 25 to March 2 and so far, it appears it will be primarly based out of Moncton (with the main gala to occur at the casino). Here's to wishing for a successful future for NBFW.

Sex & the City...

2011-10-24T08:47:00.001-03:00

I wore this outfit to Silver Daisy's Sex & the City themed fashion show fundraiser a little over a week ago. My originally planned outfit didn't work out as planned, so I threw this ensemble together in record time. I remember the time when it was a faux pas to mix black and brown, black and blue and especially black and navy. Truly a thing of the past- there seems to be an almost "anything goes" in fashion- what matters is how you style it and having it come together tastefully!

The Outfit Dress: Valerie Dumaine- Black Dog Boutique (SJ, July '11) | Belt: Old Navy (SJ, Aug '11)

Tights: gifted from Barb | Shoes (similar): Guess- Manchester Shoe Salon (SJ, Oct '11)

Clutch: Kate Spade (ordered online, July '11) | Bangles: Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11)

Check out my photos from the event here:

Photo album: Silver Daisy SATC Soiree

Thanks to Kate for snapping my photos!

what's in my fridge...

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-03:00

So earlier this week I had the first opportunity to wear my new Born boots I purchased after winning The Urban Shoe Myth gift certificate in a silent auction at the Silver Daisy soiree and fashion show last Friday! I ended up saving $30 on my boots (that were already on lay away)! In the end, all the money went to a great cause (Hospice of Greater Saint John).

Earlier this week I got an email from one of HERE magazine's writers to be featured in their "What's for Supper" column. I wanted to be doubly sure they knew I was no culinary master and that I write about putting outfits together (not grand meals)- afterall, my biggest dietary staple is probably actually caffeine.

Laura at Perfumes Plus was kind enough to grab a copy of this issue for me. And while this is the truth about what's in my fridge- don't be fooled- I wish I ate as healthy as this sounds, but I do have a rule that no junk food is allowed to be on the grocery list or come home with me so that certainly helps!

The Outfit Dress: Pink Martini- Je Suis Prest (SJ, Sept '11) | Tights: c/o We Love Colors (Feb '11)

Vest: H&M (Moncton, Aug '11) | Belt: Old Navy (SJ, Aug '11) | Earrings: Joe Fresh (SJ, Oct '11) | Bangles: Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11) | Boots: Born- Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Oct '11)

Happy Friday all! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Fashion Forward...

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-03:00

Two weeks ago, Uptown Saint John hosted Fashion Forward...An Uptown Affair for the first time. Considered Saint John's version of Fashion's Night Out: many Uptown shops stayed open late to spoil their customers with special deals, draws, and promotions. There were plenty of demos and samples- and many stores served food and some even a glass of bubbly!

The Outfit: Skirt: Gentle Fawn- Je Suis Prest (SJ, Oct '11) | Necklace: Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11)

Blouse: Mink Pink: Silver Daisy (SJ, Oct '11) | Socks: American Apparel (Halifax, Mar '11)

Trench: BB Dakota- Je Suis Prest (SJ, Sept '11) | Nails: Essie- Walmart (SJ, Sept '11)

Shoes: Michael Kors- Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Sept '11) | Belt: Eddie Bauer (Moncton, Aug '06)

I wore this outfit wore that evening in pursuit of the best deals with friends. I ended up with a top on lay away at Silver Daisy, boots on lay away at Urban Shoe Myth, a new sweater (already featured on the blog) from Je Suis Prest, and then cheetah print pumps for 20% off at Manchester! To check out the photos I snapped at various stores throughout the evening, be sure to take a look of the photos I posted on Facebook later that night:

Photo Album: Fashion Forward...An Uptown Affair

silver daisy videoshoot...

2011-10-19T06:00:00.000-03:00

Two weeks ago, my favourite blogging pals and I got together on a rainy Sunday in an uptown shop to play dress-up. If you caught this post or attended the Sex & the City Soiree on Friday, you may already know what I'm talking about. Silver Daisy Designs, as part of their fundraiser fashion show (in support of Hospice), invited local bloggers to participate in a videoshoot talking about our favourite fall fashion trends all while wearing an outfit we've style wearing clothes from the shop.

This outfit combines elements of my style in a way that is a little atypical of me actually. I usually have a complusion to be a bit more matchy-matchy with elements of an outfit, but on this particular Sunday I decided to stretch my typical style routine. And aftewards, I was conflicted about it, but reminded myself that fashion is about stretching limits and sometimes you just need to experiment.

The Outfit: Blouse: Mink Pink c/o Silver Daisy | Belt c/o Silver Daisy

Skirt: Locca Couture c/o Silver Daisy | Necklace: Esquared c/o Silver Daisy

Bangles c/o Silver Daisy | Bracelet: Esquared- Silver Daisy (SJ, July '11)

Tights: Walmart (SJ, Fall '10) | Shoes: Michael Kors- The Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Sept '11)

The Esquared jewellery around my neck and wrist is very characteristic for me- I love the way those 2 redheaded beauties design funky, yet feminine pieces. This fall I also can't seem to get away without adding some spec of animal print to my ensembles. I am also loving sheer button-up blouses like this one I ended up taking home with me!*

Basically everything from this outfit can be found in-store at Silver Daisy- except for my tights and shoes. To check out my video filmed by Beaver Smith (bigdayfoto) and Greg Knudson, just click here. Please excuse my umms and awkwardness!

*I bought this blouse for 40% off from Silver Daisy for being involved in this project. This offer was extended to my fellow blogger friends too if they wished to purchase any part of the outfits they wore.

FCSJ's 2nd meeting...

2011-10-18T06:00:00.000-03:00

Yesterday my outfit post featured a friend's blazer; today it's a top from her closet I borrowed at the same time. This fall I'm loving feminine flowly tops that flatter and make you feel pretty no matter what type of day you are having. I always try to alternate loose tops with skinny pants and vice versa- with a pair of baggy boyfriend jeans or an A-line skirt, I'll be sure to combine it with a form-fitting top as to create balance within the fit of an outfit.

The Outfit: Shirt: H&M (borrowed from Katie) | Jeans: 7 for all Mankind- Envy (SJ, June '11)

Purse: Coach (TO, Sept '10) | Heels: Steve Madden- Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Mar '11)

Bracelet: ESquared- Silver Daisy Designs (SJ, June '11)

These outfit photos were shot at the Canterbury Lounge following Fashion Council Saint John's second meeting. If you aren't already following FCSJ on twitter, stay up to date with all things fashionable in Saint John via @FCSJNB. As the council gets off the ground and into action, you'll be seeing a lot more shared content you won't want to miss if you live in our city.

Thanks to Barb for taking these photos for me!

fancy pants...

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-03:00

New Brunswick Fashion Week (NBFW) may have come and gone in a flash, but not my love for coloured denim. I decided to dress these red jeggings up with a blazer from a friends closet for the event.

The Outfit: T-shirt: American Eagle (SJ, Summer '09) | Necklace: Splurge (Halifax, Spring '08)

Jeggings: American Eagle (ordered online, Sept '11) | Earrings: Esquared- Silver Daisy (SJ, July '11)

Heels: Steve Madden- Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Mar '11)

With so many events over the last few weeks, I scouted my friend Katie's closet to tid me over from being tempted to buy new items. This blazer and an H&M blouse were the items she kindly lent me before she headed off for a the long weekend in New York City. It seems many people I know have just been getting back or heading off to NYC. At dinner at my parents house tonight my sister tells me she randomly ended up staying at the Empire Hotel (think: Gossip Girl) through Hotwire and spotted Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Ed Westwick filming in the lobbly. (Majorly jealous!)

blogger party!

2011-10-13T14:00:00.000-03:00

Last night was Saint John's first blogger meet-up. It was a chance for bloggers who write about some aspect of fashion- whether it be personal style, lifestyle, photography, hair, or design- to gather together and, for some, meet for the 1st time in person. And what better than an opportunity to drink, eat, and be merry all while amongst beautiful shoes?

Huge thank you to the fabulous Urban Shoe Myth for hosting our blogger party last night. And great thanks to the chef extrordinaire Jesse Vergen and Peter Stoddart of the Alehouse for sponsoring our gathering with some beautiful spreads to feast upon!

Twitter: @UrbanShoeMyth | @SJAH_NB | @JesseVergen

The Urban Shoe Myth: 78 King Street

Did you know that you too could host your own shoe shopping party?

Click here for more details.

Blogger gathering, beautiful shoes, and one stylish mannequin (dressed in Je Suis Prest!)

Bloggers chatting over punch and deliciously prepared food from the Saint John Ale House

2 planks of tastey food prepared

(Some of those veggies are right from Jesse's own garden!)

(Left): Jasmine & Candice outside while we shoot our outfit photos | (Center): Kelly tries on every black boot in the store | (Right): The magical room with all the shoes

My favourite shoes at the Urban Shoe Myth (ok, so I couldn't pick just one..or two!):

1. Nine West | 2. Steve Madden | 3. Stuart Weitzman

4. Kenneth Cole | 5. Miz Mooz | 6. Dolce Vita

7. Minnetonka | 8. Frye | 9. Born

I tried #6 on- now on my wishlist- & already have #9 on lay-away.

Thanks to Kate for snapping my outfit photos!

The Outfit: Sweater: Pink Martini- Je Suis Prest (SJ, Oct '11) | Belt: Old Navy (SJ, Sept '11)

Necklace: Banana Republic (Freeport, Nov '10) | Dress: Pink Martini- Je Suis Prest (SJ, Sept '11)

Earrings: Kate Spade (ordered online, July '11) | Tights: American Apparel (Halifax, Winter '08)

Shoes: Steve Madden- Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Mar '11)

Thanks to all the lovely bloggers who could make it out this time around! I think we'll see this become a seasonal event!

Attendees:

Barb Crawford- Barbbarbbarb

Candice MacLean- Brilliant Sugar

Kate McLean- O My Heart!

Adam Donnelly- ADonis Style

Emma Barlow- Full of Fabulous

Kelly Lawson- LensView

Judith Mackin- punchinside blog

Leigh-Ellen- Little Waterlily in a Big Pond

Kate Lordon- Silver Daisy Designs blog

Jasmine Grimes- Follow in My Fabulousness

more on NBFW...

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-03:00

One thing that will stick out in people's minds from the NBFW event will be Andrea Cyr's impressive chainmaille skirt that paraded the runway. After 65 hours of work and 12 000 little rings, Andrea's creative show-piece was captivating.

Photo credit: Alicia Robichaud Photography

Following this show-stopper were other jewellery pieces created by Andrea. You can get a better, close up look of her work via her Etsy shop. (The dream catcher earrings are my personal favourite!)

Chainmaille Obsession by Andrea Cyr

Samuel & Co. and Envy were two of the Market Square shops to fit the runway and showcase their fall fashions. My apologies to both stores- I do believe I had mixed them up in the photo album I posted on Facebook, as could be the case in the photo strip below. Nonetheless, they both featured pieces that could that many women were likely to put on their shopping list.

Clothing: Samuel & Co. | Shoes: Manchester Shoe Salon

Kelly Ethridge, Silpada representative, also had her jewellery featured on the runway. Models were dressed in simple, but elegant black outfits that let the jewellery take centre stage.

Jewellery: Silpada

Rowena's, located in Uptown Saint John, also gave a visual show of what's inside their independent boutique on Prince William Street. The beige dress below on model Stephanie was even sold through the Facebook photo album I posted! This is definitely a spot that I plan to visit in the near future- besides their affordable price range, what makes it even more appealing is that fact that they are next door to a cupcake shop (Piece O'Cake!)

Clothing: Rowena's

Silver Daisy featured some of their latest pieces that had a colour pallete that popped! These items arrived in store just days before the show. To see these and even more fashionable pieces, be sure to join us tomorrow at the Lily Lake Pavillion for the 1st annual fashion show, a Sex & the City Soiree, to be hosted by Silver Daisy in which all proceeds are going to Hospice. You can get your tickets at the store on King Street! (There are a limited number of tickets left!)

Clothing: Silver Daisy Designs | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth

Another Market Square store that displayed their wears on models strutting down the runway was Walsh Luggage. Among the goods they showed were hats, purses, scarves, gloves, and even an umbrella, as carried by model Vanessa below.

Accessories, bags & hats: Walsh Luggage

A newcomer to Saint John, Jockey also brought along their fall pieces to share on the runway. They also had a table set-up at the afternoon tradeshow.

Clothing: Jockey

And of course, I could recognize right away pieces that belong to the ever fashionable Je Suis Prest Boutique. A combination of looks that were business, cocktail, and causal on trend, there were numerous items that had me tempted.

Clothing: Je Suis Prest Boutique | Shoes: The Urban Shoe Myth

During the retailer portion of the fashion show, the gorgeous footwear were a mix of beautiful shoes from Manchester Shoe Salon and The Urban Shoe Myth- both uptown favourites of mine.

The focus of a fashion week is always the designers, but the looks put on the runway by local merchants demonstrated how Saint John is on top of its game in offering on-trend fashion to women. To check out more looks on the runway from these retailers, be sure to check out the photo album I posted:

Photo Album: New Brunswick Fashion Week- Retailers on the Runway.

Early next week I'll be sharing one of the most interesting moments of the NBFW event...

blogger videoshoot...

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-03:00

Have you picked up your tickets for the Sex and the City Soiree this Friday?

Silver Daisy Designs is hosting their 1st annual fashion show in memory of Dr. Anthony Lordon. With all proceeds being donated to Hospice, this event will take place at the Lily Lake Pavillion on October 14, 2011. On display will be Silver Daisy's fall merchandise as well as videos featuring local bloggers (yours truly included) dressed in their outfit of choice from the store and talking about their favourite fall trends.

Last weekend, myself and 6 bloggers got together with Kate Lordon from Silver Daisy, Beaver Smith from bigdayfoto, and Greg Knudson for a special video project.

(Left to Right): Me, Barb Crawford (Barbbarbbarb), Julia Hurst (Fortunate Fool),

Kristin MacDonald (Doll Parade), Candice MacLean (Brilliant Sugar),

Kate McLean (O My Heart), Melissa Wright (Sigh..Gush..Gasp)

We gathered together at Silver Daisy last Sunday and after after styling outfits with clothing and accessories from the store, we headed outside umbrellas in hand travelling on foot around the Uptown area, cameras and smart phones in tow.

Inside Silver Daisy Designs

Getting ready...

(Left): The girls gathered around one of the accessories tables | (Right): Julia paints her nails.

(Left) Kate adds a scarf to her outfit and adjusts her skirt | (Center): Kate helps Kristin with a bracelet | (Right): Julia and Candice in the mirror

The shoes...

(Left): Julia, Kate, Kristin, Candice | (Right): Julia, Kate, Candice

Bloggers love their phones...

(Left): Candice & Kate | (Right): Barb

We're never without our cameras...

(Left): Me | (Right) Kate

(Left): Kate & Kristin photograph Candice's outfit | (Right): Candice snaps a photo of Julia with her iphone with Melissa & Barb looking on

(Left): Melissa & Kate snaps photos (Right): while Julia's poses in her Silver Daisy picks.

The video shoot...

(Left): Kristin on camera in front of city hall | (Right): Julia talks about her favourite trends for fall across from Market Square.

(Left): The rainy overcast skies uptown that day | (Right): Rain isn't going to slow us down: the girls under the cover of umbrellas

(Left): Melissa shooting her video on Canterbury Street | (Right): One of the spots we take cover under.

Candice shoots her video and then reviews it with Greg Knudson.

Kate's is the final video for the day, shot beside the City Market.

So if you haven't purchased your ticket for the fashion show yet, be sure to stop by Silver Daisy (80 King Street) this week and join us Friday- it'll be a great way to kick-off the weekend! Tickets are $25 each and all proceeds are going to a worthy cause! Not only will there be a runway show, but items will also be up for auction. Looking forward to it!

NB Fashion Week: a review

2011-10-10T15:37:00.000-03:00

Friday was the day for the New Brunswick Fashion Week. For an event that had promised so much potential, it never really peaked to expectations when it came time. I truly believe that honesty is the best policy when it comes to blogging because this is one of the bases of a blogger`s credibility. As much as I believe in the concept of a New Brunswick Fashion Week and stand behind promoting a fashion industry here, this event was not executed nearly as well as it could have been. However, I am thankful for (in the spirit of Thanksgiving!) having the opportunity to improve my knowledge of what is required to build a fashion industry and for having been introduced to the talent and hard work of local designers.

If you remember back to my initial post on NBFW a few months ago, this event was initially to be Moncton-based but expressed interest from other cities grew it to include Saint John and Fredericton. Saint John, of all locations, had by far the most people who expressed interest and a desire to contribute to this event. At two Industry Nights hosted in July and August in Moncton and Rothesay, respectively, big plans had been laid out for a week full of events to promote a true fashion industry in Atlantic Canada.

NBFW logo designed by Danielle Queen

In the end, NBFW was condensed into a one day event at the Trade & Convention Centre. Lack of organization and marketing on part of the company organizing and directing the event was evident. Events from Moncton, Fredericton, and KV had been quietly dropped from the plate. Schedules and information were very limited in what was provided to potential sponsors and others interested in promoting the event. What little information was provided usually changed and with little notice. Radio ads featured a week in advance of the event were not even entirely accurate, nor was information in the paper.

However, with that being said, local retailers, businesses, models, hair stylists and make-up artists involved executed their roles to the best of their ability with professionalism. I was really impressed with this.

The event was to run from 1-5pm with a trade show of vendors booths, accompanied by local retailers showcasing their merchandise on the runway. I arrived at the Trade and Convention Centre mid-afternoon to find out that, despite having the actual schedule (in Excel spread-sheet form) from the organizing company in my hand, that the production had shut down shortly after 3pm. The schedule had changed so radically that all fashions had already been displayed on the runway, even without notice to the store owners showcasing their clothing and accessories. I began to snap photos of the retailer's tables but then they turned down the lights so that I couldn't even finish that task.

I was a little surprised as well to see no sign of the New Brunswick Fashion Week logo (as above) anywhere at the event. There was also no mention or poster of the charity that was being supported (prior to verbal announcement at the evening show): The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation's The Give, in supporting stem cell therapy. It was announced at the Industry Night at Shadow Lawn in August that NBFW is donating 10% of its proceeds towards this excellent cause. This would have been an important and helpful fact to better publicize.

(Image credit: SJRH Foundation)

As far as the evening fashion show went, it was good to see that the retailer`s merchandise was added to be included. The models did an excellent job of walking the runway and showcasing items, both retailer and designer. The choice of low lighting in the room proved a challenge to get good photos, but for an amateur photographer, I managed to figure it out!

I appreciated the acknowledgement of bloggers`presence at this event and the respect we received. We were included with the press to be able to receive media passes. Unfortunately, there was no section or reserved seating for media as we were told in advance, and there really wasn`t the opportunity to go back stage as promised (unless you snuck back there!)

After a long night...the true purpose of what this event was truly to be about finally hit the runway. The designers`work was truly impressive. I just wish they had gotten more time that they had truly deserved- and after a long day for many of them- that they had been featured earlier in the show rather than all having to wait until the last 50 minutes of a 3.5 hour show. (For example, we had to sit through a 4 song Zumba performance before we finally got to see the designers`work- the instructors/performers were really good, but it just did not seem to be a proper fit for a fashion show.)

Those who waited it out to see the designers` pieces on the runway would agree that it was more than well worth the wait. In total, 6 designers from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were featured:

BEC fashions by Rebecca Pike (Halifax)

Danielle Queen Designs by Danielle Queen (Saint John!)

Clutch Culture by Mo Handahu (Halifax)

Ginic Fashions by Ginette Bijould and Nicole Cameron (Moncton)

CBrido Collection by Celine Brideau (Fredericton)

Drunk Gurl by John Michael Brewer (Halifax)

(Left to Right): (1) Designers hit the runway for their final walk, (2) Mo of Clutch Culture takes a bow at the end of her showing, (3) Danielle of Danielle Queen Designs graces the runway after her Saint John designs have run, (4) Mo Handahu and Rebecca Pike walk to the end of the runway hand-in hand for the final designer walk.

Seeing this show live made me realize how much talent we really do have here in Atlantic Canada and how important it is to preserve and support their work. These designers have created pieces that I would truly love to wear! They presented their work with integrity and professionalism....we really do have the beginning and potential for a fashion industry here!

To see the full collections from each designer, check out the album I posted on the blog's Facebook page:

Photo album: New Brunswick Fashion Week- Designer Runway Show

Unfortunately, this fall's event didn't quite do them justice. With better organization, communication, and execution, advanced planning, and a great increase in marketing to the public, I could see next spring's New Brunswick Fashion Week being a huge hit. It really has the potential to be a huge success, especially if there are people on the ground in the local cities helping to plan (the organizing company were based out of province). Nonetheless, I'm so glad this idea was brought to Saint John. The intentions and passion behind the idea were there, yet there is a definite room for improvement in what can be offered next season and how we can get the message out for increased participation.

At the end of the night, I did leave the event with a feeling of excitement after being introduced to these designers' work. For more of the my favourite aspects and moments from this event, stayed tuned for upcoming blog posts this week!

fall footwear...

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-03:00

It's been an extremely busy week in Saint John! With Fashion Forward, New Brunswick Fashion Week, and a Fashion Council Saint John (FCSJ) meeting all in one calendar week, that provides much material to share and blog about! I have a lot to report on next week following all these events (so stay tuned).

The Outfit T-shirt: H&M (TO, Sept '10) | Vest: Gentle Fawn- Je Suis Prest (SJ, Sept '11)

Jeans: 7 for all Mankind- Envy (SJ, June '11) | Bracelet: ESquared- Silver Daisy (SJ, June '11)

Necklaces: American Eagle (SJ, Fall '08) & Banana Republic (Freeport, Nov '10)

Boots: Michael Kors- The Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Sept '11) | Hair feather- Winners (SJ, Sept '11)

This outfit was a casual one I threw on last Saturday for a coffee date and shopping uptown with friends. As per the blog post title, these booties mark my first purchase for fall footwear this year! These wedge Michael Kors were worth the splurge- not only are the versatile and perfect for the transitional weather, as a wedge they are really supportive and comfortable.

Coming up next week: the Saint John Blogger Meet-up and Sex & The City Soiree fundraiser.

Fashion Forward is tomorrow!

2011-10-05T15:54:00.003-03:00

It's almost time: one of the best excuses to shop Uptown happens tomorrow night! Consider this like Saint John's equivalent to Fashion's Night Out: put on your favourite fall outfit and be ready to shop 'till you drop! The night kicks off at 6pm sharp with a toast at Brunswick Square's centre court (bottom level) with the delightful Normand Hector- president of Fashion Council Saint John!

From there, select Uptown shops will be staying open late until 9pm and offering their customers deals, prizes, and demonstrations you are not going to want to miss! To plan your night efficiently, you'll want to pick up one of the Fashion Forward flyers (as below) from any of the participating retailers to get the list of stores, the map, and your drink ticket for a fashionista cocktail at The Canterbury's after-party at 9pm.

If you haven't grabbed the list yet, I'm here to share and prepare you for tomorrow night! You'll, of course, want to be a little early and be one of the first 100 people on site for the kick-off, because the adorable Sam Lewis will be handing out the goody bags to those 1st 100 shoppers. (Right now, on the Facebook event, almost 250 people have declared they are attending!)

So here's the scoop on the benefits you are not going to want to miss out on tomorrow evening (you may want to print these lists off to help plan your evening!):

Great Demos:

Perfumes Plus: Laura, Chanel make-up artist will be doing smoky eye demos in the store at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30pm
The Urban Shoe Myth: Live models & Essential Esthetics & Hair Studio will be doing fall make-up looks, feather extensions, and fall hair looks on site.
Je Suis Prest Boutique- hair demos by Hairacy's and new product launches
The Butterfly Shoppe- live models in store
Baubles- Jewellery designer Phil Losier in store launching new Arcane fall line-up
Silver Daisy Designs- blogger Julia Hurst (Fortunate Fool) in store doing a "What to Wear" with live models
Jay Set- Mary Kay make-up tips and manicure demos
Frank's Furs- North American luxury outerwear fashion show video
Uni-Koo Clothing- custom t-shirt making and fantastic tattoo designs
Handworks- featuring Saint John designer jeneca Klausen with 10 exclusive designs

Sales!

Rowena's- 10% off from 6-9pm
Je Suis Prest Boutique- in-store discounts (go and see!)
Element 5- all products tax free
Envy- everything tax free (except Canada Goose)
Manchester Shoe Salon- 20% off in-store on new fall arrivals
Walsh Lugguage- select handbags up to 50% off
Samuel & Co- 15% off in-store
Baubles- 15% off everything in store
Silver Daisy Designs- in-store discounts
Aitken's Pewter- 15% discount on all pewter adn crystal jewellery purchased/ordered from 6-9pm
Cricket Cove- no tax from 6-9pm
Colwell's Mens- no tax from 6-9pm
Colwell's Ladies- no tax from 6-9pm
Uni-Koo Clothing- whole store up to 40% off
Piece O'Cake Custom Creations- 10% off purchase from 6-9pm

Giveaways!

The Urban Shoe Myth: A chance to win a $200 gift certificate and Essential Esthetics will be giving away "glamour dollars"
Je Suis Prest- enter to win the "Autumn Bombshell" make-over with a $200 gift card to JSP and a hair make-over with Adam Donnelly from Hairacy's
Market Square shops: enter to win a $250 Market Square gift certicate
Flirty Fashions: free cosmetic bag ($10 value) with every handbag purchase
Jewels for Divas- enter a draw for a genuine leather handbag with every purchase
Market Square- shop here and you'll be entered to win a shopping spree
Manchester Shoe Salon- small item giveaways (and that Market Square gift certificate)
Baubles- gift cards to the 1st 100 visitors, enter to win a mystery prize with purchase
Silver Daisy Designs- 1st 40 customers get a free giftbag with purchase & spend $50 or more to enter to win a Marc Jacobs bag
Atkin's Pewter- draw for a custom-made pewter and Swarovski crystal bracelet

Tasty treats:

The Urban Shoe Myth- champagne
Flirty Fashions- cotton candy
Rowena's- refreshments and a sweet treat
Jewels for Divas- drinks and appetizers
Je Suis Prest Boutique- decadent desserts
Manchester Shoe Salon- free appetizers from Grannan's
The Butterfly Shoppe- drinks, appetizers, and sweets
Baubles- champagne and chocolate
Jay Set- drinks and appetizers
Franks Furs- complementary coffee/tea and chocolate treats

The participating stores grouped by location:

Don't forget to wear your best because the paparazzi are going to be out in full force! The best part is that joining in the experience is absolutely free. Don't forget to pick up a Fashion Forward flyer for your free drink tomorrow night at The Canterbury Lounge (47 Canterbury Street). See you there at 9pm!

denim on denim...

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-03:00

A new take of denim on denim: a chambray shirt with coloured jeggings. Premium denim companies seemed to bust out the coloured denim trend, but now there are an assortment of bright hued jeans and jeggings, at varyng price points, out there on the market. A chambray shirt is classic- just like a jean jacket, pair of black pumps, or the LBD...just like the jean jacket: this button-up is any easy go-to that you'll find in almost any fashion-blogger's closet. This particular one was a cost-effective find at H&M this summer.

The Outfit: Denim shirt: H&M (Moncton, Aug '11) | Shoes: Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11)

Bracelets: Aldo Accessories (Moncton, Aug '11) | Jeggings: American Eagle (online, Sept '11)

Necklace: Dogeared- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Mar '10)

This outfit I wore to a recent double-date dinner with B and some friends. During the day I sported the chambray top with a pair of khakis for work and then I switched in the bright red jeggings to add some pop for an evening out!

Brunswick Square Fashion Show...

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-03:00

Last Wednesday kicked off a couple weeks' worth of fashion focused events with Brunswick Square's annual fall fashion show. Make-up was done by Perfumes Plus, using Chanel cosmetics. The models' faces were marked with the iconic double C logo of Chanel, as done in on recent Chanel runways. A few stylists at Hairacy's created looks styles for hair that, in their own right, were attention-grabbing.

At the door we received a program for the show as well as a bulleton for the Fashion Forward event (that I blogged about last week), which includes a list of what special things the participating stores will be offering and a coupon for a specifically prepared fashionista cocktail at the Canterbury's after party.

Below is a selection of my favourite outfits from Brunswick Square's fashion show:

The scene was decorated by Spurs.

The initial preview walk \.

Front row seats.

Loved this retro hair style by Adam Donnelly.

Chic look from Colwell's (Ladies).

Loved the leopard print blouse as well as both pairs of boots

Colwell's is carrying more ladies footwear this fall

Great admiration for these Michael Kors bags from Colwell's (Ladies).

This bedazzled bracelet was an eye catcher (Colwell's).

Beautiful plum dress with mesh top from Ladies' Colwell's.

Elegant winter coats from Ladies' Colwell's.

Beautiful dress and blazer, accessorized with a

wine Co-Lab bag from Je Suis Prest Boutique.

Loved the cheetah pumps (The Urban Shoe Myth) and this animal print dress-

these 2 looks from Je Suis Prest Boutique were my favourite.

Feminine pink dress from Je Suis Prest Boutique.

This faux fur vest on the right from Olsen Europe was another favourite item of mine.

From these Je Suis Prest Boutique looks, I adored

the mustard sweater and the pretty brown skirt.

Faux leather jackets from Pseudio are a chic addition

and I'm a fan of these booties from The Urban Shoe Myth.

Handsome suits from Mens' Colwell's.

The real show-stoppers were the little ones modelling for Paddington Station.

These cuties melted hearts.

Brunswick Square, along with their participating stores, did an amazing job and somehow even managed to outdo themselves from last year's impressive fashion show. It was a great opportunity for Saint Johners to see the latest styles and must-have items from their favourite stores as while supporting a great cause in Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

It made an incredible difference having an SLR camera this year, that's for sure! Check out my blog post from last year's show here.

front row paparazzi...

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-03:00

....that's exactly how I felt Wednesday night sitting with friends front row snapping photos of the models at the annual Brunswick Square fashion show. Sold out to a crowd of 200, the show was a hit once again with the beautiful decor from Spurs, MC'ed by Normand Hector (NWH Modelling) and Steph Downey (K100), and DJ'ed by DJ Fire. In support of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, modelswere supplied from NWH Modelling and also included some of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters paired with their littles.

Tomorrow I'll be posting some of my favourite looks from the show! Later today, there will be a selection of the paparazzi photos up on Brunswick Square's fashion blog- be sure to check it out.

The Outfit: Dress: Pink Martini- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Sept '11) | Belt: Old Navy (SJ, Aug '11)

Tights: Hue- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Sept '11) | Necklace & Bangles: Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11)

Shoes: Michael Kors- The Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, Sept '11)

Prior to the fashion show, I met up with blogging lovelies Candice (Brilliant Sugar) and Kate (O My Heart!) to snap outfit photos again!

It's a lot less awkward, much more efficient, and a lot more fun! But you can never seem to avoid or hide from onlookers who either wonder or asking what you are doing! Thanks to Candice for snapping these photos for me. To see what others wore to the fashion show, be sure to check Barb's post (Barbbarbbarb) from last week.

Rhoda's Round-up...

2011-09-30T22:32:00.000-03:00

This would be the third time I've participated in Rhoda's as a group of (mostly) women selling our gently loved clothing at very low prices- and most of us putting these dollars towards this season's wish-list. Some simply have too much in our closets we just are not wearing, some were moving, and some came to browse early amongst the best choices of barefuly worn pieces from this city's fashionistas.

It's something we do every 6-8 months. One girl speaks up and announces she needs to clean out, others agree, and then a date is picked in which we'll all spend our early Sunday morning piling our goods on tables at Rhoda's Flea Market. A Facebook event is created and then we spread the word. A lot of us have had great success: in finding great items barely worn or making some instant cash.

Some of my barely worn shoes that went to new owners.

They either didn't get enough wear or didn't fit me just right.

I brought my seasonal clothing up from the basement,

pulling which items were going back in my closet and which were coming to Rhoda's.

Shoes (mostly Aldo) and bags (both Guess) on my and Katie's shared table.

Assortment of tops and accessories I brought with me this time.

Dresses Katie & I had hung up on my rolling rack (I was really prepared this time around!)

Some of us were lucky enough to have friends bring us Starbucks. (Thanks Barb)

Because it wasn't open yet when we were setting up!

Well it was a profitable good time once again. Congrats to some of the ladies who got those excellent scores off of Kiera's (owner of Je Suis Prest) table. Staying beside the action, I had to keep myself from picking up an eye-catching piece or two! My closet is full enough! (Don't tell B I actually admitted that!)

Stay tuned for the next Rhoda's trip in the next 6-8 months.

new red...

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-03:00

So after going shorter, I decided to change my colour and go redder. I ended up with a darker shade than me and my hair stylist initially expected, so I went back in this week and she brightened it up with bold copper streaks. Below is the in between dark auburn after the inital visit to Reflections.

The Outfit: Floral tank top: BB Dakota- Leather House (St. Andrews- July '11)

Button-up top: Toggery- Black Dog Boutique (SJ, July '11) | Necklace: Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11)

Sandals: Sam Edelman- Piperlime (online, July '11) | Bracelets- Aldo (Moncton, Aug '11)

Skinny Jeans: 7 for All Mankind- Envy (SJ, July '11)

It's funny how things change over time. When I was younger I didn't like having red hair and freckles. I was the only red head in my third grade class. Now that I'm older and both features have faded, I do what I can to keep them!

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Brunswick Square Fall Fashion Show- organizers, MCs, models- everyone did an amazing job! After uploading over 350 pictures from the show, I can't wait to share them. Monday you'll see photos go up on the Brunswick Square fashion blog, on Tuesday I'll post my favourite looks here and then all the photos will be posted on the Maritime Shopaholic Facebook page.

NBFW update 2.0....

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-03:00

So, I know many people have been wanting to know what exactly is happening for New Brunswick Fashion Week. A lot of people have caught word about it, but many still don't know exactly what, where, and when it's happening. Things seem to be coming together and now I have a few more details to share with you, as well as the logo, if you haven't seen it already:

Winning logo design by Danielle Queen, also a clothing designer to be featured in NBFW

New Brunswick's 1st fashion week might be a modest one, but it's a good start to promoting the fashion industry here in Atlantic Canada. Currently, most of our trained designers either have to move away to pursue their career or travel another job avenue because the infrastructure and support just isn't there to allow them to create and produce their pieces in a time and financially feasible manner. We've seen improvement and interest increase here rapidly in the last 5 years and the retail aspect is growing stronger. However, in order to support our designers, there needs to production and marketing and accessibility to textiles to keep them here and attract buyers. So here's the next step to opening those doors.

According to the issue of Here magazine published last week, we can expect to see runway shows, an accessories show, a body awareness workshop, a makeover workshop, a hair and make-up fantasy competition, and a creative catwalk. NBFW will be set in Moncton and Saint John between September 30- October 7. Most of Saint John's excitement will be happening into one big day on Friday, October 7 at the Trade and Convention Centre. The exact line-up of festivities and events I am not yet certain of, but expect to find out more earlier next week when Buchanan & Co. host a press/media party.

Event poster for an evening at the Trade & Convention Centre, October 7th

Things worth knowing:

You can purchase tickets for October 7 from Salon Circa, Manchester Shoe Salon, or Imperial Theatre
Tickets are $30 for the entire day and evening events; $10 for the afternoon
More volunteers are needed to help with registration, dressers, back-stage, and set up. Contact barringtonoffice@gmail.com if you're interested.
Bloggers, photographers and press interested in covering NBFW, contact barringtonoffice@gmail.com to receive a media pass and an invite to the media party next week
Be sure to tune into RogersTV tonight (Sept 28) at 8pm for Dropline: They'll be dedicating an entire hour's show to NBFW featuring organizer of NBFW Linda Buchanan, Salon Circa hair stylist Danny Coholon, owner of Manchester Shoe Salon Cathy Hutchinson, and designer Danielle Queen.
If you can't catch the Dropline segement tonight (like me, because I'll be at the Brunswick Square Fashion Show) you can also see it again on RogersTV on Sunday, Oct 2 @ 8pm!

Some of the VIPS (the designers!) being featured during NBFW:

If anyone knows any more designers participating, please let me know! (maritime.shopaholic@gmail.com)

Bec Fashions- Rebecca Pike (@BECfashions)
Celine Brideau
Clutch Culture- Mo Handaou (@ClutchCulture)
Danielle Queen
Drunk Gurl- John Michael Brewer
Emily Lavoie
Ginic Green Fashions- Ginette Bijould and Nicole Cameron
Judith Chiasson
Michelle Claire Textiles

To stay updated follow NBFW via Facebook | Twitter | Website

And there you have it: everything I know as of now. I'll be sure to fill you in with more specifics regarding Friday's line-up when I find out more. Will you be attending any of the NBFW events?

*Correction issued: If you read the blog post earlier, I apologize- turns out the TV segment on RogersTV is actually tonight, Sept 28, not next week as originally posted.

seeing red...

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-03:00

As many of you may know, I had been in love with J Brand's red jeans...however, I couldn't quite part with the $176 + shipping over a pair of pants I wasn't entirely sure I'd wear over multiple seasons. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, American Eagle was one of the first more affordable brands that had the solution. I wasn't able to find these pants in-store because I believe they are only being carried online and in their flagship stores. (FYI...earlier this week I saw that Old Navy is also carrying red denim directly in-store.)

I was initially quite disappointed with my purchase. When my package arrived on the doorstep, I excitedly tried on the red American Eagle jeggings only to find out they fit at least 1 size smaller than their regular jeggings! I solved this dilemma by stuffing them and stretching them over the back of the chair...and then they fit much better the following day.

Popularity of coloured denim is gradually taking off this fall as many brands have introduced jeans and jeggings in multiple hues. (I'm now coveting Free People's denim skinnies in emerald and voilet!)

The Outfit: Jeggings: American Eagle (online, Sept '11) | Shoes: Aldo (online, Oct '10)

Tank: American Eagle (Fredericton, Winter '07)

Earrings: Esquared- Silver Daisy Designs (SJ, July '11)

Hoodie: Alternative Apparel, Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, July '11)

Sheer animal print top: BB Dakota- Je Suis Prest Boutique (SJ, Aug '11)

As you may have noticed in these pictures, gone is my assymetrical bob. As much as I enjoyed the style for a few short months, I really needed an even cut for styling symplicity. When it comes to my hair, I want something that is stylish, but quick and easy. Hence why I go with a beachy/bedhead look- it only takes 5 minutes to style in the morning!

fashion forward...

2011-09-26T06:00:00.000-03:00

Here's a date that you're going to want to book into your calendar: Fashion Forward, an Uptown Affair will be an exciting, glam evening of shopping with a toast to fashion. There'll be a goodie bags for the first 100 shoppers to meet up at Brunswick Square's Centre Court on the main floor, a toast to the evening with Normand Hector (director of NWH Modelling and Fashion Council Saint John's president), a map to guide you through the evening, and even an after-party at the Canterbury Lounge!

Sponsored by Uptown Saint John, the evening of October 6 will involve a large number of uptown shops staying open late and offering deals, demonstrations, or just something special for their customers! For example, I know that Silver Daisy Designs on King Street is offering something special for their first costumers that evening, hosting a live model (a fashion blogger you may all know!), crackle nail polish demos, and for every $50 you spend in-store that night, you will get a ticket towards the draw for a fabulous Marc Jacobs purse!

So get ready to wear your fall fashion's best and save your spending for Thursday, October 6. I'll be sure to update you as I hear more of what the shops of Uptown have in store for you!

Here's an up-to-date list of other events you're also going to want to mark in your calendar:

Wed, Sept 28: Brunswick Square's Fall Fashion Show (3rd level of Brunswick Square, 7pm)
Tues, Oct 4: FCSJ's second meeting (The Canterbury Lounge, 7pm)
Thurs, Oct 6: Fashion Forward (kickoff at Brunswick Square, 6pm)
Fri, Oct 7: New Brunswick Fashion Week's Gala (Trade & Convention Centre, more TBA)
Wed, Oct 12: For The Love of Shoes: Blogger Meet-Up (The Urban Shoe Myth, 6:30pm)
Fri, Oct 14: Silver Daisy Designs' Sex & The City Soiree (Lily Lake Pavillion, 7pm)