What's Red and Blue with Stripes All Over?...

My new blouse! 

I saw this blouse at The Gap last week on sale and it was interesting. I really couldn't decide if I liked it or thought it was ugly. I decided I could make it work and so I tried it on and was drawn to the fact that it was so different to most other blouses. The red cuffs are my favourite. 

Dark, Bold & Floral

I've had this dress sitting in my closet for a couple of months now and when I woke up to go to the Opera Sunday morning I knew this was the perfect dress. It's dressy but not overly dressy like the woman's black tie gown in the box next to mine. 

I felt this was perfect because it's dark and dramatic just like an opera but the floral design was perfect for the sunny and warm weather.   

I had to sell myself this dress in the fitting room at Zara. I loved it immediately even on the hanger but I really wasn't looking to spend any money. When I saw the dress was a button up I realized I could style it in tonnes of different ways. Button the dress lower on top for a low cut neckline, undo the bottom buttons for a leg slit or....wear it completely unbuttoned as a kimono with jeans and a t-shirt underneath.  

Obviously I bought the dress, but I did trip on it countless times walking around...haha. 

Venice Blues

Beverley Hills Hotel

While in Beverley Hills I decided it was a must that I go check out the iconic Beverley Hills Hotel. I love the whole look of the place. It's basically like a pink stucco castle where celebrities like to hang out (I didn't see any).  

Sonoma California Wedding

 So as I mentioned in yesterday's blog post I was in California a couple weeks ago for my cousins wedding. So today I'm going to share some of the photos from it!

Marigold

If you follow me on Instagram (tarynpotasky) or Snapchat (tpotasky) then you know I was in California a couple weeks ago for wedding. We arrived in San Francisco and made our way up the next day to Sonoma for the wedding, and then down to Los Angeles. To the rehearsal dinner I wore one of my favourite dresses, a marigold yellow Zara dress that I think is so glamorous! I took it the more classy route at the rehearsal dinner with straight hair, a red lip, and a nude shoe. When I tried the dress on in store it was with a pair of strapy maroon suede sandals and I would continue to modernize the look by wearing it very natural make up and a low slung pony tail. I love creating looks with such different vibes for the same pieces. 

Mitford at the Fashion Zoo

Last month I had the pleasure of attending a party at Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street to celebrate the famed fashion illustrator Donald Robertson. Donald "Drawbertson" has been featured in several publications such as Vanity Fair, Style.com, and The New York Times. He is also behind some  of the colourful creative window displays seen at Bergdrof Goodman and Holt Renfrew. 

Too add on to his already impressive resume, having been one of the three co-founders of MAC Cosmetics Drawbertson recently came out with his first ever children's book Mitford at the Fashion Zoo. The book tells the story of a fashion obsessed  giraffe, Mitford who is eager to get his start in the industry. Not only does the book tell an adorable tale, but features the artwork of Donald Robertson. 

A Lengthy Shirt

Retro

After we shot these photos we realized the camera was on the wrong setting the entire time. Many of these shots turned out grainy, but I ended up kind of liking it. The effect gave the photos a retro, artistic feel that goes well with this shooting location and the all black outfit. 

Stripped and White

Inspired By...

Is it obvious this outfit was inspired by Kim Kardashian? 

Bell Sleeves

Montreal

Okay so I may have gone to Montreal the day after I was in Ottawa to see Taylor Swift again...

I was lucky enough to have free tickets to both nights at the concert! The Montreal concert had a bit of a better crowd than the Ottawa concert and Taylor felt it too.

Since I had already been to the concert the night before my friends and I decided to leave before the crowd and go get dinner. Before we left going back stage was a must because our working passes allowed it. As my sister and I walk behind the stage we have no problem, the security guards raise their hands and let us walk straight through. Then the farther back stage we get I notice a security guard running after me yelling you can't be back here. I quickly show him the badge on my jacket which supposedly grants the wearer access to wherever in the stadium they want to be. Turns out that isn't true, you can't just go anywhere you want with a working pass because the next thing you know you're being manhandled backstage and thrown out of a Taylor Swift concert. Good thing we were leaving anyway ;) 

Ottawa

Last week I was in Canada's capital city, Ottawa for the day. I've been to Ottawa so many times for so many different reasons. This time I was there because I had some crazy tickets to the Taylor Swift concert. I was literally two feet from the stage for Taylor Swift and Vance Joy. 

Going into the concert I was more excited to hear Vance Joy preform than Taylor Swift because I prefer his music. I just thought it would be cool to see Taylor Swift because she's the biggest pop star in the world right now so...what's cooler than that? Plus the tickets were free! 

As it turns out the concert turned me into the Taylor Swift fan I never thought I would be. She's such a good live performer and her songs were all so catchy! 

(Photos from the concert on my Instagram @tarynpotasky) 

Dressing For An Interview

Everyone struggles with what they should wear to a job interview. If you're like me and you are looking to get a job in retail then here are my tips on how you should dress:

1. Don't wear a suit, or basic black pants with a blouse 

2. Show off your style - if the position is in retail you want to look like you care about fashion. This will separate you from the rest  

3. Less is more 

4. When doing your make up go for a more natural look 

5. Try stay away from bright and bold colours, keep to neutrals, or light tones. If you really want to incorporate colour go for a blue or red.   

Good luck! 

Thompson Diner

I wore this all white ensemble this weekend to go to dinner with a friend at the Thompson Diner in the Thompson Hotel. What I like most about the diner is the decor inside - it has a 1960's/1970's look to it as do the rooms in the hotel which all have a mid-century modern design. 

I would say if you're in the King West area go eat at somewhere on King West don't look else where! All the food on King is amazing! 

Army Green

Shirt dresses are super cool for this summer and they're also so practical and versatile. This army green one from Gap can be warn in so many different ways. It would look great with gladiator sandals, distressed skinnies with cool oxfords/heels, or un-belted with a pair of bell bottoms and platforms to go more into that 70s trernd. 

Coral

I stole it from my Mama.

Prom

This past Thursday was my high school prom. It started with a pre-prom for photos at a park, followed by the actual prom which was surprisingly really fun. The food wasn't bad, everyone was dancing, and I won best dressed grade 12 female! For after prom some friends and I stayed at a hotel which happened to be hosting a huge party (score!) so it gave us something to do for the night. Prom fell at the perfect time for me because it was two days before my birthday so I also had a little birthday celebration at the hotel at 3am which was so fun.

As for the dressing up part..the best part... I bought my dress in February because I was told that dresses start selling out in March. My options were a violet Jill Stuart gown from Holt Renfrew, and a red gown from Want Boutique. I knew that I did not want a cheesy bedazzled prom dress, I wanted more of an elegant red carpet like dress. I ended up choosing the red dress because it was "different" than most of the other prom dresses I had seen. The reason why I love my dress so much is because #1 I love the bold red colour and #2 the skirt is sheer with a romper underneath!

l b d x nude