Performance Denim

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I'm pretty much obsessed with my bike. Other people have pets and babies to photograph... I have my beloved bicycle, haha. So it was really only a matter of time before I found some way to feature it on the blog!

I was recently sent a sample pair of pants from local brand, Dish and Duer, made with their new proprietary fabric called N2X (Nature2X). This technical fibre features moisture management and quick dry capabilities to keep you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. Basically, these are "athletic jeans" you can hike in and then head out on the town with afterwards without ever needing to change. Amazing, right? I, of course, headed out for a Fall bike ride to test out these pants and they provided the perfect amount of stretch and movement without compromising on style.

Sweater: Oak and Fort / Jacket: Mackage (via Aritzia)
Pants: Dish and Duer (c/o) / Shoes: Alexander Wang (here)
Bike: Biria / Helmet: Sahn (here)

Dish and Duer just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring these innovative pants to the public -- be sure to check it out for more details and information.

Wrapped in Plaid

With all my recent talk about cold weather accessorizing, how could I forget the ubiquitous blanket scarf? This year, I've added a new red plaid one to my arsenal thanks to Dynamite. It's the coziest thing ever and it's actually been doubling as a full-on blanket in my cold office!

Sweater: Talula Babaton (Aritzia) / Scarf: Dynamite (c/o) (similar here and here) 

Jeans: J Brand (here) / Bag: Auxiliary (Aritzia)

Boots: Rachel Comey (here and in black)

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban (c/o) (here)

Guerlain Bloom of Rose Fall 2015 Collection: KissKiss Roselip and Rose Aux Joues Blush

For Fall 2015, Guerlain fans can look forward to the Bloom of Rose Collection inspired by Pierre-Francois-Pascal Guerlain's 19th century discovery of the "Liquid Bloom of Rose" in England, a liquid tint that was gently dapped onto lips and cheeks to give them colour.

In 1918, Guerlain launched Roselip, the first solid lip colour in a jar. Today, this has been reworked into the new KissKiss Roselip ($41 CAD), a hydrating and plumping tinted lip balm enriched with essential rose oil. KissKiss Roselip comes packaged in a white lacquered tube with gold detailing, which kind of reminds me of marshmallows (or the Michelin Man, haha) because of its shape. There are 6 shades to choose from, ranging from a colourless balm to a chic violet. I have the shade Pink Me Up, which delivers a sheer wash of fresh pink to the lips. The formula is hydrating and leaves the lips looking slightly shiny but not glossy. It's perfect for a very natural look.

As a blush fiend, I am absolutely loving the new Rose Aux Joues Tender Blush ($57 CAD). It features a new texture with "pink booster" pigments to enhance the skin's natural rosiness, and applies like a dream. Like the KissKiss Roselip, this also comes in 6 shades. 06 Pink Me Up is a bright pink that may not be for everybody but is perfect if you like a more obvious blush. Rose Aux Joues comes in a black lacquered compact with a festoon pattern imprinted in the powder, a velvet case (like what comes with Dior and Burberry makeup, to prevent scratching), and a decent quality travel-size blush brush.

You may recall that I didn't really like the violet scent from the Météorites range, but I don't mind the rose scent from Bloom of Rose, which is infused into each product (especially the blush) as much. I notice that strong fragrances seem to feature heavily in Guerlain products which, I suppose, contributes to the brand's overall feeling of chic luxury.

In addition to KissKiss Roselip and Rose Aux Joues, there is also a new Nailift La Base, a nourishing base coat, and new shades that have been added to the company's basic makeup lines.

Wishlist: Cold Weather Accessorizing

The days have been getting chilly, which means I've been thinking about all the fun cold weather accessories that I kind of, sort of, need to add to my closet. It also means flu season is here (ugh) so while sick in bed over the weekend, I had time to compile a wishlist of things I'm currently coveting.

Fjallraven Luhkka Cape. Not only is this cape adorable with its furry hood, it's practical thanks to its water-resistant G-1000® material and thin synthetic lining. I'm envisioning pairing it with skinnies and boots for the Fall, but also love that it can be layered over regular jackets or shells for extreme cold weather protection. Now if only I had a winter cabin where I could wear this...

Eugenia Kim Kat Headband. Headbands are great for keeping your ears warm without messing up your hair and that's why I love my "turband" so much. This Eugenia Kim one is a little on the pricey side but you can't deny that the cat ears are completely adorable.

Joie Delyth Booties. I already have a pair of Sorel boots, which are perfect for trudging through the snow on my many trips up North. Since I get so much wear out of them, who's to say I can't own another pair of winter boots? I really like the colour-way on these Joie booties, especially the grey felt upper and the red laces.

Fjallraven Kånken Mini Backpack. I've always loved the style of these backpacks, from the fun rectangular shape to the myriad of colour options. The mini version would be perfect for transporting my stuff on Fall bike rides or as a handbag with more casual outfits.

Roots Cabin Socks. Roots has the best selection of loungewear, especially cute wool socks. These ones (in the lighter grey version) kind of remind me of sock monkeys!

Thanks to Fjallraven Canada for partnering with me on this post!

FOTD: Pur Minerals Love Your Selfie Palette & Air Perfection CC Cushion Foundation

I am a sucker for a good makeup palette (who isn't?) and the Pur Minerals Love Your Selfie is ranking at the top of my favourites right now. It, along with the new Air Perfection CC Cushion Foundation, was my first introduction to the Pur Minerals and I love both products a ton.

Love Your Selfie comes housed in cardboard packaging with a huge mirror (complete with #PURselfie printed at the bottom). The stars of the palette are 8 limited edition eyeshadows: Exposure (a matte yellow-cream), Fade (a matte flesh tone), Filter (a shimmery light brown), Photobomb (a purple-brown with flecks of shimmer), Flash (a peachy gold), Capture (a matte light taupe), Sepia (a matte reddish brown), and Closeup (a matte black). They are all incredibly pigmented, buttery soft, and apply like a dream.

This palette is perfect for travelling because it has almost everything you need for a complete look inside. For contour or a sunkissed glow, there is the Mineral Glow and if you want a subtle highlight, the Afterglow Illuminating Powder gives the illusion of a dewy complexion. Savvy Blush is a matte rose colour which will suit pretty much any skin tone.

To finish off, the Pur Minerals best-selling Big Look Mascara is a nice formula that thankfully does not cause my stick straight lashes to droop, and Chateau Kisses Lip Plumping Lipgloss in Exposed is a great "my lips but better" with high shine but none of the stickiness. I don't wear gloss very often but I found this very comfortable on and actually got a ton of compliments on it. Plus, it smells really good, like vanilla candy.

If you're stumped on what look to do, Love Your Selfie also comes with a handy instructional card that explains how to create a photo-friendly daytime look (Earlybird) and photo-friendly nighttime look (Slumber).

I wanted some drama, so for today's FOTD I opted for Slumber even though I totally ended up wearing this makeup to work. I started with Filter all over the lid, Exposure as a brow bone highlight, Closeup along the crease, Photobomb on the outer and inner corners, and Sepia along the lower lash line. Next, I applied Afterglow Illuminating Powder to highlight and topped with Savvy Blush on the apples of my cheeks before finishing up with the Big Look Mascara and the Lip Gloss in Exposed.

To get the perfect base, I used the Air Perfection CC Cushion Foundation applied with Liquid Chisel Brush. Similar to the Stila Eye Liner I recently reviewed, the Air Perfection CC Cushion Foundation features the cushion technology that has been popular in Asia for a number of years. The compact comes with a sponge but I prefer to use a brush... either way, it not messy at all (there is a closable lid that separates the sponge from the product) and is an easy way to apply liquid foundation.

The formula is mousse-like and very light with sheer to medium coverage. It's not matte but not dewy, and as you'll note from the "CC" in its name, is made with ingredients that are supposed to have additional benefits for your skin. These include Vitamin B3 to soothe irritation, Sodium Hyaluronate to plump and soften the look of lines, Mango Seed Oil to moisturize, and Sea Buckthorn Oil with its anti-aging amino acids and vitamins. Overall, I really like the foundation even though it does not deliver my preferred matte finish because it feels nice on and doesn't leave my face looking like an oily, greasy mess at the end of the day. In fact, my raves about this foundation apparently worked, because one of my friends is now using it based solely on my recommendation!

Find Pur Minerals exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Laser-Cut

This laser-cut skirt is one of my favourite surprise buys this season ("surprise" because I tried it on for fun and then ended up loving it). However, while I love the unique detailing, it's also made me painfully aware of furniture corners and door handles since I keep getting caught on them when I walk by!

Tank: Express (here) / Jacket: Wilfred (Aritzia) / Skirt: Club Monaco (here)

Hat: Club Monaco (similar) / Bag: Proenza Schouler (here)

Booties: Report (similar)

VanCity Box (October 2015)

First off, Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving! I've had a nice, low-key weekend so far full of friends, family, and lots of food. Especially after all the non-stop work travel, it's been nice to power down for a few days.

A special c/o delivery also recently showed up on my doorstep to keep me entertained over the holiday weekend... a new subscription box called the Vancity Box. If you've ever visited my Instagram or this blog category before, you already know how much I love living in Vancouver, so it should be no surprise when I say that the idea of getting my "city in a box" is kind of a dream come true.

The box is tailored specifically for locals and features items from local brands and companies. Inside the October box were a ton of edibles (my fave), including cotton candy from Petite Puf, three types of beef jerky from Billy Bob's Jerky and vanilla macaroons from Living Lotus. I love the focus on organic and healthy with these choices, and I ate most of them within the first few days of receiving my Vancity Box. What can I say? I love snacks.

In addition to the food items, I received a Graveley & Sons Alcohol Infusion Kit to make my own Mortimer's Spiced Rum. Vancouver is home to numerous craft breweries, distilleries, and artisanal cocktail bars, so this kit could not be more relevant (especially because the company is based in East Vancouver where many of those places are located). I really like rum so I'm excited to try infusing my own!

The VanCity Box is only available for addresses in British Columbia and costs $34.99 CAD/month (with savings if you subscribe for 6 or 12 months). It's on the pricier side as far as subscription boxes go but it's a great way to support local businesses and would make a good gift for a fellow Vancouverite.

LUSH Cosmetics Halloween 2015

In what has basically become a blog tradition (see my posts from  2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014), I am super excited to share some new products from LUSH Cosmetics that have been released for Halloween 2015. Even better, they both smell like candy -- just like the kind you'd collect if you were going trick 'o treating!

Building on its popular Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb, which is thankfully available again this year, LUSH has released the new Lord of Misrule Shower Cream ($9.95 to $32.95 CAD) for those of you who prefer showers over baths. The herbal blend of patchouli, peppercorn, black pepper, and Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute is both sweet and a little bit spicy... it's perfect for lathering up as the nights get more chilly. The bright green cream features very tiny specks of shimmer and the organic wheatgerm oil provides a moisturizing treat for the skin.

For a bit of fun, there is also the Nightwing Shower Gelly ($6.95 CAD). It's a bat shape with the cutest face and a scent so fruity (thanks to the lime juice) that I wish I could eat it. I love to keep this in my fridge and pull it out in the mornings for a cool and refreshing rinse.

The Sparkling Pumpkin Bubble Bar from last year is also back, in addition to some cute Halloween-themed gift sets featuring all of these products. Find everything online or in stores.

Midi Skirt-ing

Some of you may have already caught a sneak peek of this skirt on Instagram but you know when you can't get an item out of your head and you keep thinking about all the outfits you could pair it with? That was me with this skirt, with its midi length and retro silhouette to the mesh detailing that I'm apparently obsessed with (see this favourite dress as just one example).

Blouse: Zara / Skirt: Club Monaco (here) / Heels: Valentino (here and here)

Clutch: YSL (similar with gold monogram)

Bobbi Brown "Peony" Breast Cancer Awareness Blush & Brush Set

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in support of this great cause, the Estée Lauder Companies are running their annual BCA Campaign through product offerings from some of their brands. One of those brands is Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, which has released the limited edition Peony Blush & Brush Set.

Peony comes packaged in Bobbi Brown's signature round black compact, with an embossed ribbon design on the surface. The blush itself is a gorgeous cool matte pink that blends well and can be layered if you want a bolder cheek look. It's the kind of shade that is suitable for a range of skin tones to get a nice, natural-looking flush.

Included in the set, which retails for $58 CAD, you also get a mini Face Blender Brush. I already have one of these brushes since it came with my Shimmer Brick and love it, so I was glad to add one more to my brush collection. They are excellent quality, deposit colour evenly, and are great for travel.

With every purchase of this set, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics will donate $12 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Find it exclusively at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics counters and online from now until the end of March 2016.

Burberry Lip Velvet in Nude Apricot and Nail Polish in Cadet Green

Ever since Christopher Bailey reclaimed Burberry's beauty line, each seasonal collection has been inspired by whatever is being shown on the runway. For Autumn/Winter 2015, the brand's womenswear collection was entitled "Patchwork, Pattern & Prints": think camouflage, natural tones, and modern romance.

Since it's no secret that I'm obsessed with Burberry makeup (see here and here), I obviously could not wait to get my hands on some pieces from their Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection.

New this season is the Lip Velvet in Nude Apricot No. 401. It's a matte lipstick that applies very creamily but has a tendency to settle into lines if you don't prep your lips first. The formula is also a bit drying so I often have to top with some dabs of lip balm. A little annoying, but I find this is par for the course with any mattes. The colour is great and right up my alley in terms of the types of shades I like to wear.

The packaging is matte, unlike the shiny Burberry Kisses tubes, and similar to the Burberry Velvet Foundation bottles. Funny story about this... as I've mentioned, I have been travelling a lot for work lately. At one of my recent airport security checks, they asked to search my makeup bag because my Burberry lipstick was so square and hefty they couldn't tell what it was. "Is this a charger?" was the question; to which I replied, "Nope, just my expensive lipstick!"

Two new nail polishes are also available for a limited time only, including Nail Polish A/W 2015 Runway Collection Cadet Green No. 206. It reminds me a lot of one of my faves, Essie Sew Psyched, but is a little darker. I really like Burberry's nail polish formulas. They are creamy, opaque, and super shiny. They are, however, on the thicker side, so I would recommend removing the excess before you apply it to your nail lest you end up with globs of polish everywhere.

Burberry Beauty is available at The Bay, Nordstrom, and Sephora.