Last Days of Summer

Photos by Emily Ma

Top - Brandy Melville
Palazzo Pants - Zara
Shoes - Zara
Purse - MBMJ
Necklaces - Forever 21, Brandy Melville
Watch - Michael Kors
Sunglasses - Chanel

All good things come to an end. Sadly that also includes summer vacation. It's been an amazing few months, travelling and enjoying my time off. But now it's time for me to pack up and move on to university. So here's to the last official post of summer and let the back to school madness begin!

Cheers,
J

OOTD: Casual Summer Pairings

 

Necklace - DIY
Bracelets - Ebay
Watch - Michael Kors
Purse - Michael Kors (similar here)

So a couple of days ago, I decided to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario. It's weird how I've lived here for most of my life and haven't been to half of the city's tourist attractions. Yet I've wandered every inch of the Met and did about every other thing you can do in the city that never sleeps. Same goes for a lot of other places I've visited. Consequently, I pushed myself to get to know my home a little bit better before I fly off to the other side of the world, yet again.

June: New Arrivals

Wow, this month totally flew by. June was amazing and it was a great start to summer. I had the chance to catch up with a lot of old friends, embark on a few road trips and of course, shop! It's sale season after all, and I've scored amazing deals at some of my favourite stores this month. Especially at aritzia's summer sale, J. Crew's 30% off and VS's semi-annual.

Trending Summer 2013: Neon Details

Neon Bangles - H&M
Watch - Michael Kors
Wrap Bracelet - DIY
Skull Bracelet - Ebay

Shirt - J. Crew
Shorts - Forever 21
Flats - Tory Burch

Sunglasses - Forever 21

Happy summer babes! In honour of patio lunches and Starbucks runs, here's an easy outfit idea for all your day-time errands. I'm a huge fan of neon all year round but it can be a little too overwhelming on a day-to-day basis. A great way to subtly incorporate the trend into your outfit, is by adding bright details to a monochromatic colour scheme. Don't get me wrong, most days I still feel like dressing up as a highlighter. But in this case, simplicity is key.

Prom: What to Bring?

Alright, so it's that time of the year again: prom season. Everyone's in a frenzy for last minute dress alterations, hair and make up appointments. But a lot of the time, we tend to overlook the smallest details. Such as what we actually need to stuff into our cute - but micro sized - clutches on the night of. Here's my personal take on the bare minimal you'll need to survive the night:

Spring Clothing Rack

Vest - Thrifted

Muscle Tee - Brandy Melville

Tank - Brandy Melville

 It's finally time to put away the cable knits and coats, making room for a new spring wardrobe. I love the simplicity that accompanies warm weather. Layering can get tiresome after six months in the Canadian winter and frankly, it's time consuming. These are some of my key pieces for this season, mainly composed of high waisted bottoms and lightweight tops.
 

March New Arrivals

Last night spent in New York.

March has definitely been an eventful month. First I celebrated my 18th birthday, headed off to Cuba and then New York for Easter. With all the travelling, I took a bit of time to make some purchases along the way. Especially in New York, I had a hard time exhibiting self-control. But what can I say?...I Joanna Li, am a shopaholic.

Purse - Michael Kors

Trending Spring 2013: Black & White

Dress - Banana Republic
Bracelet - Ebay
Watch - Michael Kors
Flats - Tory Burch
Nail Polish - Essie: Tart Deco

As unusual as it sounds, one of this biggest trends this spring is black and white. It was all over the fashion week runways, by some of my favourite designers such as Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and Alexander Wang. (All based out of New York, one of the most inspiring cities in the world.) The classic combination is easy to wear and gives a sleek and sophisticated look to any outfit.

Spring Break 2013

It's amazing how fast time goes by when you're on vacation. For my friends and I, it's been a long process leading up to this trip. What I would give to go back... Coming home is just so sad, having to face the real world again. This break was definitely a trip of a lifetime.

Styling: Disco Pants

Sweater - H&M
Scarf - Aritzia
Disco Pants - American Apparel
Loafers - Zara
Ring - Ebay

One of my all time favourite purchases this season is my beloved disco pants. I was eyeing them for months before finally succumbing to my perpetual need for more high-waisted pieces. They're made from a thick nylon material with a beautiful sheen and come in a variety of colours. The pockets and zipper detailing provide the functionality of pants with the comfort of leggings. It's a perfect match with anything cropped.

I strongly advocate that LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS.

OOTD: Chambray & Knits

T-shirt - Joe Fresh
Chambray Blouse - H&M
Jeans - H&M

Sweater - Thrifted
Leggings - Lululemon

Freedom, it pretty sums up what I have now. I've officially retired from high school as of 10:40 this morning, after my final calculus exam. It's definitely a sigh of relief, knowing that there's some time to spare before heading off to university. I want to spend these months getting in tune with my creative side, more art, fashion and travel. Hopefully this marks the beginning of many new experiences.

These are some snapshots of my lazy day outfits during exam week. I always found it fascinating how much a person's style can change over time. Looking through someone's OOTDs is like reading their life story, it reveals so much through brief glimpses. Beyond the aesthetics, personal style is unmistakably reflective of our own character. I'm a firm believer that an outfit is worth far more than a thousand words. So I'm ready to build and share my own fashion archive.

Cheers,
J

A Month Through Instagram

Fave arm combo.

Best friend's design

Ayce sushi with my bff

My girls back from uni.

It has literally become a part of my routine, I always feel the need to post on instagram (just a slight obsession). Basically I document whatever stands out to me that day, an outfit, a dinner or just a group shot with my friends. This is basically my last couple of weeks through pictures. 

First is my absolute favourite jewelry combo, a statement watch with a pyramid chain bracelet. It eliminates the bulk caused by stacking multiple bracelets on each arm. Then in the second, I was wearing one of my favourite sweaters designed by my best friend, Vanessa. It was a really exciting Christmas present for me to receive. The next is of my bff on our dinner+shopping date, clearly we're big fans of ayce sushi. Lastly, I posted a group shot with my friends back from university (missing a few). It was great catching up with them, especially since we're all scattered across the country. 

And now, I'm back to studying for exams. Wishing you guys all the best!

Cheers,

J

Artsy High School Finals

(Queue scarcasm) Woo, exam week!

I never thought the end of high school would come so fast. Just two more weeks and I get to go experience the real world (until university that is). Seven months of work and travelling, definitely something to look forward to. But before all that, I still have two long exam weeks and finals.