The Selection: OPI & Essie

Hot & Spicy

Pinking of You

                                             

Spaghetti Strap

I. Love. Nailpolish. I like mostly matte polishes and these are some of my favs. OPI & Essie are staples in any nailpolish junkie's collection. The OPI's "Pinking of You" makes me want to lick my nails every time because they look just so delicious and they are so the perfect shade of pink. The Hot & Spicy looks amazing in this pic but beware, it's not as corally in real-life... it actually depends on what type of lighting you are under. It can be this corally but it can also look more orangey at times - great for the fall season.  And the Spaghetti Strap by Essie - such a soft feminine colour. Love.

Each bottle is just around $10 (either over or under) depending on where you go. For your money's worth, it's kind of a losing battle either way - Essie chips fast (couple of days or so) but doesn't lose its normal high viscosity too soon and OPI's normal viscosity goes bad fast (1 month or so) but you won't find chips in your nailpolish for a while. You stay classy, Toronto.

Hiatus

MIA until next week due to too many assignments piling up! :( I promise I will have some sick posts up to make up for it when I'm back. In the meantime, you guessed it - you stay classy, Toronto ;)

Class Notes: the University of Toronto

Victoria College at the University of Toronto 

For my first Class Notes post, I have appropriately (and coincidentally) chosen to showcase the University of Toronto's architecture. As one of Toronto's most architecturally-notable landscapes, it is absolutely gorgeous all year round but particularly in the summer and fall seasons. Love being surrounded by such beautiful architecture every time I am there - it gives it such a university campusy-feeling... whatever that is. Walking along a strip of gorgeous medievalesque towers with the crunch of dried orange, red and yellow maple leaves beneath my feet as more are falling above my head is one of the greatest subtle joys of life for me. And last but not least, as many U of T-ers before me, it is much too easy to let myself believe that I actually attend Hogwarts.

There are many more buildings to photograph and include here, such as Trinity College, Hart House, the Soldiers' Tower, Robarts Library, Emmanuel College and the list goes on but I only had time to take snap the following shots. Maybe I'll do a part two sometime but until next time, you stay classy, Toronto.

University College at the University of Toronto

Doors & pillars of Convocation Hall 

Victoria College at the University of Toronto

Convocation Hall

The Selection: VINCE fur vest

The vest on VINCE model:

VINCE Cross Fox Fur vest $1675

h&m faux fur waistcoat $39.95

The vest spotted in store:

Zara S. in VINCE Cross Fox Fur vest $1675

Nothing better to keep cozy with than fur in the fall. Here's a really cute fox fur vest you can throw on over any neutral coloured tops to complete your fall look. Zara's mustard skinny jeans are a perfect addition to this posh fall look and her accessories add that extra pizazz required to finish it off. The Cross Fox Fur vest by VINCE may be just a tad too pricey for us normal people, but luckily, there is a much more economical choice to go with at h&m (although it is faux fur) and it is just as posh as the VINCE version.

VINCE Cross Fox Fur vest: http://www.vince.com/cross-fox-fur-vest-/invt/vnv105790330/&bklist=icat,4,shop,women,wfeaturedstyles5

h&m version: http://www.hm.com/ca/product/98555?article=98555-A

Fresh & Polished: XXI Orange Fall Sweater

The sweater on xxi model:

XXI orange diamond pattern sweater $27.80

 The sweater spotted in store:

Melanie B tries on the blue as the orange one was sold out in store :( 

For a plain fall sweater, I liked this orange one. Not my favourite sweater but it does the job of being something nice to keep warm in and I like the colour. This orange fall colour will look great on anyone with an olive-skin tone and dark hair as the model in the XXI pic. It can be a nice undertone for a complete fall outfit. Add a black blazer on top and the right purse to give it a classy touch is key. One of my favourites is the quilted-chain purse made into iconic fashion piece by Chanel. This purse is just classic and timeless.  You can't go wrong with the quilted-chain purse. Well, you actually can but it will usually look good with anything black. It doesn't necessarily have to be quilted but the chain! I love that gold chain. The silver ones are very nice too. If you can't afford the original Chanel model, an alternative that comes pretty close is the DKNY Quilted Nappa Clutch Chain purse. The one in the picture is pink - I can`t seem to find it in black. Do not pair this pink one with the orange sweater please. Moving on, don't forget a cute pair of dark skinny jeggings and finish off with a pair of ankle boots. Until next time, you stay classy, Toronto. 

XXI Sweater: http://canada.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=F21&Category=whatsnew_app_sweaters&ProductID=2000031504&VariantID=

h&m Blazer: http://www.hm.com/ca/product/98799?article=98799-B#article=98799-C

ALDO Dyonisya Ankle Boots: http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/women/boots/ankle-boots/91470955-dyonisya/96

Chanel Purse: http://www.chanel.com/fashion/9#9-bags-chanel-accessories-1,1

DKNY Alternative to Chanel: http://www.polyvore.com/dkny_quilted_nappa_clutch_chain/thing?id=45351331

The Selection: Burberry Fall Trenches

The trench on Burberry Models:

Model in the trench from Burberry.com

Not gonna lie, this pic has nothing to do with my post other than it's part of the Burberry Fall 2012 campaign. Otherwise, I just think Rosie Huntington-Whiteley really knows how to look good in a Burberry trench so I had to include this.

The trench spotted in store: 

Zareena Q.  also knows how to look good in a Burberry trench! Honey version $1795

 

Unfortunately, with fall comes the cold of the fast-approaching winter ahead of us, especially in Toronto - especially today in Toronto. So as the season gets colder, we're all looking for alternative ways to stay classy and chic while keeping our bodies warm and toasty. Fall is always a good excuse to buy yourself a nice new trench. This year, I have a few favs - a couple of which I will be showing later but today's is the Burberry Long Cotton Gabardine Leather Detail Trench Coat. It's a mouthfull but it's a really nice. Most trenches either have too much detail, not enough or ugly buttons or some other little detail that just ruins the whole trench but this one is just right in every way. I didn't know if I liked the beige colour better or the amethyst so as she was trying on the beige, I had the model try on the the amethyst for me as well. I know this isn't very affordable for us normal people but we can always aspire to buy one that looks something just as nice with a reasonable price tag. In the meantime, you stay classy, Toronto.

Original Honey: http://ca.burberry.com/store/womenswear/trench-coats/london/prod-38447851-long-cotton-gabardine-leather-detail-trench-coat/
Iconic Scarf: http://ca.burberry.com/store/womens-accessories/scarves/iconic-scarves/prod-37432321-giant-check-wool-silk-scarf/
Black Amethyst: Not available online

Fresh & Polished: h&m sweater

 The shirt, "Fine-knit short-sleeved jumper with a cut-out section at the neck":

                                                                                                                                                          

The shirt spotted in store:

Model Margaret S found trying the shirt on at h&m

This is a simple piece I love. Great fall colour. Pair it with a pencil skirt, a blazer and low heels for a complete fall ensemble for a more polished professional look or wear it with a comfy cardigan, some warm leggings and some cute flats for a more casual look. Either way, you stay classy, Toronto.

Sweater-shirt: http://www.hm.com/ca/product/02141?article=02141-A#cm_vc=GOES_WITH_PD

Blazer: http://www.hm.com/ca/product/04455?article=04455-B#article=04455-A

Cardigan: http://www.hm.com/ca/product/00650?article=00650-A#article=00650-A
Heels: http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/women/shoes/low-mid-heels/91670308-mcmenomy/91
Flats: http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/women/shoes/flats/91068798-kahina/91