Refreshing Your Maxi Skirt

Maxi skirts became popular a few seasons ago and...I'm pretty much over them now. 

Since I still have this black one with a long side slit I decided I would give it another chance but refresh it and make it look a little less basic. 

March is the perfect time to experiment with typically summer clothing, and mix said pieces with winter ones (hence the knit turtleneck).  

Pairing the black maxi skirt with my grey knit sweater added contrast to the skirt. Accessorizing with thigh high heeled boots and adding an architectural drop earring gave my skirt a whole new "cooler" vibe. 

Other ways to update and refresh your maxi skirt include wearing one with a blazer and a statement heel or bag for a polished and sophisticated take. Another way would be to throw on a leather jacket and white running shoes for an edgier cool girl vibe. 

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. 

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. 

Ways to Wear Jumpsuits

I've mentioned before that I'm really into jumpsuits and nothing has changed. I love the modern yet retro look jumpsuits can give off. My only "issue" when buying a jumpsuit, or a dress for that matter, is that there are only so many shoe/make up/hair looks you can try out to give it a different look each time. Because of my dilemma I've begun to come up with other ways to wear jumpsuits. 

1. Add a jacket - if you're going for a more formal chic look wear the jacket over your shoulders

2. Add a shirt underneath. I've worn the jumpsuit below in the winter with a black turtleneck underneath and it was cute! If you have a strapless jumpsuit I recommend changing it up by wearing a blouse underneath   

3. Make your jumpsuit look like pants! Today I wore my navy Forever 21 jumpsuit with a sweater over it and even though I've worn the jumpsuit to school before people had no idea I was wearing a jumpsuit and not pants ! 

Bomb Squad

I've been loving bomber jackets for about a year now. Last year I got a bright blue floral one from Gap which I was obsessed with, then my sister got a black bomber from H&M which has disappeared from my house mysteriously so I had to go get one of my own from Topshop last week! I've already worn it a few times and it's only a week old! 

Turns out bomber jackets are very versatile and can be worn with anything from jeans, "dress up sweats" like the ones I wore Here, to pencil skirts with heels al la Kimmy K. 

Here are a couple other looks which I have worn a bomber jacket with

Look One

Look Two

Camel + Jumpsuits

Leather Peplum

Gone Shopping

Saturday I went shopping for my Prom dress. I had found a Jill Stuart one I loved about a month ago and then found another one from the brand La Femme. The dresses were both completely different which made deciding which one I wanted to buy even harder. 

Once I tried both dresses on for the second time there was no question about which dress was the dress. 

I guess you'll have to find out on May 28th which one I chose ;)  

Mirrors

Yesterday's outfit was very much inspired by Kim Kardashian, she is always wearing pencil skirts with heeled boots in the cold weather so I thought I would emulate that look with a charcoal pencil skirt, a black turtleneck and knee high boots. 

Peachy Florals

Distillery District

Today I had the pleasure of going on a school trip to the Distillery District in Downtown Toronto. The Distillery is definitely one of my favourite Toronto neighborhoods. It's a piece of the past with old industrial buildings and cobble stone roads stuck right in the middle of booming modern day Toronto. I'm not sure how long ago this started but every year for Christmas there is an old time Christmas market set up in the Distillery with food vendors with grilled cheese, schnitzel, apple cider etc. There is also a Ferris Wheel and carousel. Another thing so appealing about Christmas in the Distillery is that all the shops, many art gallery's, and restaurants are decorated for Christmas while Christmas music plays in the background. There is so much spirit in the Distillery District this time of year. I love it there and for anyone who has not been I highly recommend going but at night to get the full experience ! 

Got Style

Oxford Comma

Night

  My aunt bought me a pair of boots recently that I had been eyeing online to thank me for babysitting her kids. The boots were shipped to my house Friday night and I was going out for dinner with a couple of friends Saturday night so I was eager to break them in. Knee high heeled boots are a must in my book! 

11.14.14

Enjoy your weekend! 

XoXo 

Double

Outfit One: Shirt - Brandy Melville 

Jacket: Forever 21 

Pants: JBrand 

Shoes: Forever 21 

Wallet: Michael Kors

Worn to: School, lunch with my aunt and her baby girl, and shopping 

Outfit Two: Shirt - Club Monaco 

Faux Fur: Artzia 

Pants: American Eagle 

Shoes: Zara 

Worn to: David Yurman shopping event for Sick Kids Hospital hosted by Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan

A Few

In case you have not noticed, I haven't posted in a couple days. The first day..I'll be honest I may have been a little lazy, the second day I had a job interview and then I was assisting a photographer at the Agent Provocateur store opening in Toronto which took up my entire night, then yesterday...well yesterday I took a nap. Is that unprofessional? 

Jacket: Aritzia
Shirt: Club Monaco
Jeans: American Eagle
Shoes: Topshop

All About Those Pants

I got these pants in the summer, and I love them every bit as much now as I did then. They're very different and unexpected. They remind me of the 1970's which is part of the reason why I love them so much for sure which is partly why I decided to wear my hair wavy today and parted in the middle to keep with the 70's vibes. Every time I wear these pants I think of a new way to style them and keep evolving my style. 

Jacket: Forever 21
Shirt: Club Monaco
Pants: Brandy Melville
Shoes: Topshop

Heat Wave

40 degrees! What?! That's what it feels like right now it Toronto! 

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend; mine will consist of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), TIFF, and maybe more TIFF. 

Meet Me in '73

My favourite fashion decades were definitely the 40's, 60's, and 70's. The 40's because of the elegance and glamour, and the 60's and 70's because the styles were so new and different than what fashion had  previously been like in past decades making the 60's and 70's cooler than all the rest. This past Wednesday I went out for lunch with my sister and a friend of ours to a popular Toronto restaurant called Fresh. As you may have picked up from the name, the restaurant is "all healthy and stuff" and seems to attract a lot of hipsters.  I decided to wear a 70's inspired outfit wearing printed palazzo pants, a high low - open back shirt, and ray bans.  

Christian Louboutin nail polish

I'm Back....!

So it's been a while. If you follow me on Instagram (@tarynpotasky) then you most likely already know why I have not posted in a few weeks; and if you don't already know then it was because I was travelling. At the end of June I went to California with my Dad where we visited both Los Angeles, San Francisco and minor cities in between. When I got back from California on the night of July 7th I stayed in Toronto for a few hours and then I was off again this time to Mexico with family and friends. Both trips were great experiences, especially California since I had never been before.

L A