style: madewell from head to toe

I dig the laid-back chic of Madewell.

I discovered the retailer, J. Crew's affiliate, a few years ago but it wasn't until this year that I ordered a pair of leopard print flats (no breaking in needed), followed by a red dress from my spring wish list and then the Transport tote quickly followed. Yep, I'm wearing all three purchases above. If you didn't know I was a nerd before reading this post, you do now.

I've had my eye on this leather tote for over a year and finally decided to purchase it after seeing pictures of it all over Instagram recently when the hashtag #totewell took over my feed.

Like these ones...



My initials are discretely stamped on it (you can almost make them out in the first pic) and it fits everything I need and more including my lunch, books & umbrella. It's simple and neutral, goes well with all of my summer pieces and will transition well into the fall. I'm glad I finally took my own advice and invested a bit of money into a well made classic piece. I finally have a chic everyday bag I love!

Hope you're having a swell week! It's hot as heck in Edmonton and I'm loving every humid minute of it. It's a great excuse to make more of these.
_____________________
Denim jacket: J.Crew Factory 
Dress, shoes & bag: Madewell
Sunglasses: Joe Fresh
Necklace: wedding gift from my family in Bosnia
Ring & earrings: So Pretty Jewelry

loving... zara's online shopping

Did you hear the collective squeal of delight across Canada last week when Zara introduced online shopping? That was the sound of a bunch of very happy Canadians! And frankly, it's about time. There isn’t anything more annoying than finding something you really like online only to realize that shipping to Canada isn’t an option (this happens far too often, I think).

I've always loved Zara and am most excited about being able to buy shoes online (I already have a couple of pairs & couldn't be happier with how comfy & chic they are). I'm also not a huge fan of shopping in store. The larger shoe sizes always seem to fly off the shelves first and is it only me, or are their change rooms mini-sized?

Here are some of the things that made it into my first shopping cart:










If you haven't already heard, the prices are the same as in stores, there's free delivery if you spend $50+ (with eco-friendly packaging, no less) and you can make returns within a month at local stores or, and this is so cool, have them picked up from your digs at no charge. Plus, there’s a new app, too, so shopping on your smartphone or tablet is even more streamlined.

Have you shopped online with Zara yet? What did you think?

p.s. Happy weekend!!

loving... anthro's tropicalia dress

Edmonton's in the midst of a bitter cold snap and with spring still months away, dreaming of wearing this gorgeous dress is my only salvation from the winter doldrums.

This maxi is officially my first purchase of 2013. My second? These fun printed oxfords. Can you tell I’m tired of being wrapped up in thick winter clothes?

What about you? Have you bought anything from the spring collections yet? It’s hard not to, isn't it -especially with temptation lurking everywhere you turn – even at the dang supermarket. I’m looking at you Joe Fresh floral printed jeans.

Hope you're having a fantastic week and keeping warm.

Dajana

style: new specs!

Guys! You have to check out Zenni Optical. I purchased nerdy hipstery glasses online from them just before the new year (driving at night was becoming kinda hazardous) and I couldn't be happier.

Their website is easy to navigate and the process was super simple. I uploaded a picture of myself, spent a couple of hours virtually trying on over 700 pairs of glasses (which frankly, never would've happened if I had to try them on in person) and narrowed it down to these four pairs:

          
           

I ended up ordering three of the above pairs (the aviators on the bottom right didn't make the cut) for $112. Prescription and anti-glare coating included!

Less than two weeks later, my awesome new glasses arrived in the mail in their own little cases and let me tell you, life has never been clearer. I had no idea my poor eyes were working so dang hard these past few years! Plus, I get to channel my inner Liz Lemon (:

I'm psyched by how well (and quickly) it worked out. I'd highly recommend it!

anthropologie: revisiting the whirligig dress

I haven’t worn this dress in a year. Strange because it’s perfect for those mornings when I want to pull on something easy, soft, comfy and cozy. Like today.

Really, it should be renamed the Pajama Dress.

{Anthropologie Whirligig dress & patterned tights, Joe Fresh cardi, H&M belt, Pegabo boots}

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends! Hope you’re having a comfy cozy day, too.

P.S. I'm seriously coveting this dress. He-llo! (;

loving... lace dresses

Especially these ones from BCBG.


JULYA LACE COCKTAIL DRESS / KHLOE LACE COCKTAIL DRESS / WILLA LACE COCKTAIL DRESS

I popped in for just a casual look-see and was completely entranced by these lacey numbers. The pink one is a serious contender for a place in my closet. The best part is that I might actually have a fancy enough shindig to wear it to this fall. Maybe even two! The worst part? I already have three lace dresses. And an obsession, apparently.

Even though I left the store dressless (restraint came to me this time) I did manage to snag this tortoiseshell necklace for under thirty dollars. Don't you just love a good summer sale?

Hope you're having a fantastic week.

Dajana

j. crew men's collection arrives in edmonton

Come August 28, the J.Crew men's collection will be available at West Edmonton Mall.

I'm happy to share this news with my fashionable fella. The last time we visited J.Crew, Scott patiently waited in the shoe section while I painstakingly perused all of the lady items. Not anymore! In just a few weeks, he'll have his very own menswear section to peruse - including suiting, outerwear, shoes and accessories.

Another thing I'm really looking forward to is seeing Scott in a Ludlow suit. Just like this handsome violin-playing gent:


The dapper gents pictured are part of J. Crew's new feature Hello, World! that shows eight stylish movers and shakers from Hong Kong to Madrid wearing their J.Crew best on a regular day.

It's a nice reminder that good style is, actually, universal.

Dajana

anthropologie: ikat frequencies shirtdress

This is one of my favourite Anthro pieces from this year. Perfect for when you're standing blurry-eyed and half asleep in front of your wardrobe on a Monday morning wanting to feel effortlessly chic in a hurry. I've been living in it this summer.



When it's a tad chilly, I pair it with skinny jeans and on balmy days, I only need to add sandals and I'm out the door. It's nice to have such an easy and versatile piece in my closet--and you could just stuff it in a suitcase for traveling.

Anthro has added three new prints to the mix but I stand by the original blue motif. The vibrant blue makes me feel like I'm vacationing in the Mediterranean. And that's important when, in reality, I'm smack dab in the middle of the Canadian prairies with neither a body of water nor European vacation in sight. (;

Dajana

style: bold + sweet stripes



(On Kat: Dress - Eva Franco, Sandals - Geox)

Scott and I had a fun double dinner date with our friends Kat and Gord, last night.  We went to Von's and indulged in oysters, clam chowder, steak and a lovely chocolate cake (we all got the choco cake). I finally wore my B.B. Dakota dress and was happy to see Kat rocking the most gorgeous Eva Franco dress from Lola's Boutique.

(Dress – B.B. Dakota, Jacket – Joe Fresh, Sandals & bracelet – H&M, Necklace – Anthropologie)

Sundresses and sandals have become my go-to wardrobe choice on pretty much a daily basis. Add in a topper (jacket, cardigan or blazer) and it instantly becomes work appropriate.

Hope you’re having a sundress kind of summer!

Dajana

p.s. Thanks to our husbands for taking these shots and for having the patience of a thousand men.

welcome to edmonton, j.crew!

After much anticipation (mostly my own), J. Crew, the iconic American retailer, has finally arrived in our fair city. I don't think I've been *this* excited about a store opening since Anthropologie. And y'all know how much I love that place.

I was lucky enough (and super excited) to attend an exclusive preview of the new J. Crew store with my friends Ayesha and Christine yesterday. When we first walked in, we had to pause for a moment to take it all in. The store, which opened in West Edmonton Mall today, is a beautiful and bright space filled with pure Americana chic. You'll find classic, tailored styles in bright, punchy colours and gorgeous prints as well as a plethora of hotly hued accessories (belts, jewelry, handbags, scarves and even iPhone covers).

What impressed me most about J. Crew was the quality of the clothes and the amazing shoes; all of the gorgeous footwear is made in Italy. These shimmering sandals, in particular, were coveted by many of the ladies at last night's shindig, including me.

We had such a fun time trying things on, once we got over our initial giddiness. I'm happy to report that after much time in the dressing room, I emerged an official member of the Jackie cardigan and No. 2 pencil skirt club.  I was completely enamoured by these two classic items. As a curvy girl, it can be a challenge to find skirts that fit my derrière and small waist - J. Crew's version was unfailingly flattering and can easily be dressed up or down. It's a definite must try!





And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there isn't a menswear section as previously thought, due to space limitations. I say give it a year or two and you'll get yours, fellas.

If you'd like to check out all of the pictures I took at the launch party (including the many dorky reasons why I will never be asked to model professionally), check out the slideshow below.



Happy shopping, friends!

Dajana

jamaica: what i wore

Happy Monday, y'all! I hope you had a fantastic weekend filled with fun, family and friends. That trifecta makes me the happiest, and I have an inkling it does the same for you.

I wanted to thank you for your kind comments on my Jamaica post. You're such sweet peeps. Believe it or not, those shots were all taken with my iPhone 4. I used the Camera+ app on a few of the pictures but otherwise they weren't altered at all. Not too shabby, right?

Thanks as well for all of your packing tips. I took your advice and rolled my clothes (no wrinkles!) and I only took seven dresses - which is really good for me. Unfortunately, that's where my good sense ended. Five cardis made their way into my bag (I know, wtf!) along with ten pairs of sandals. What can I say? I faltered.

Here are some of my favourite ensembles from our trip. Note: there is not a stitch of Anthro in sight.

dress: gap
belt: banana republic
sandals: town shoes

dress: joe fresh
belt: h&m
sandals: town shoes

dress: h&m
hat: old navy

The Joe Fresh dress garnered quite a few compliments from the lovely WestJet staff at the Montego Bay airport. Little did they know it only cost $19. And the H&M dress? $20. I just love me a good {stylish} deal.

Ciao for now! I hope your week is off to a solid start, friends.

xo Dajana

loving: b.b. dakota striped dress

I've gone kookoo for cocoa puffs lately, except my cocoa puffs happen to be striped dresses. I've purchased three in the past few weeks. *gulp* 

Um, plus a striped sweater and a striped blazer. *double gulp* 

This is my favourite of the bunch. I'm enamoured with the colourful bands of red, teal, blue, and brown.




I found this fun Jack by B.B. Dakota frock at The Bamboo Ballroom. It's a fantastic little shop chock full of all kinds of lovely things. Local peeps - be sure to stop in during your next jaunt to Whyte Ave. Once you've perused the wares at Bamboo Ballroom, head over to Tutti Frutti, a fro-yo shop located oh-so-conveniently around the corner (try the taro and pistachio!).

Now, give it to me straight - I'm not alone with this stripe obsession, am I? Are stripes your thing or have you been filling your closet with another spring trend?

Happy Friday, friends!

Dajana

Image via.

anthropologie: slung slash tee

Top: Anthropologie Slung Slash Tee in Moss

Blazer: H&M

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: My go-to pair from Feet First

Earrings: Banana Republic hoops

My casual Friday look during the winter usually consists of a blazer, shirt, skinny jeans or a dress and boots. Not terribly exciting I'm afraid, but it works and I feel comfortably chic. I especially like the look of the coquettish Slung Slash Tee peeking from beneath a cardigan or in yesterday's case, a plaid equestrian'ish blazer from H&M. I am so happy I purchased this versatile shirt - I like that it looks just as good tucked into a pencil skirt as it does worn with denim. I'm not sure it'd be as work appropriate sans blazer (the lovely neckline is a wee bit low cut) but once 5 p.m. rolls around, look out! (;

Does your workplace have casual Fridays? What does your "uniform" consist of?

Have a super weekend, y'all! I hope it's filled with heaps of fun and relaxation. I'm looking forward to doing some shopping with my mom and niece and watching my hubby play hockey. On Sunday, I have my last indoor soccer practice of the season. Once the snow melts (soon I hope!), our outdoor season starts. Yay!

Dajana

coveting: new girl's kate spade cherie coat

"I brake for birds. I rock a lot of polka dots. I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children and I find it fundamentally strange that you're not a dessert person. That's just weird and it freaks me out! And I'm sorry I don't talk like Murphy Brown and I hate your pantsuit. I wish it had ribbons on it or something to make it just slightly cuter. And that doesn't mean I'm not smart and tough and strong!"

I adored Jess Day's impassioned defense of girliness speech on New Girl. It's one of the many reasons I'm glued to the TV every Tuesday night. Another reason is Jess' fashion - a quirky mix of bright colours and bold prints from Anthropologie, Zara, Asos, H&M, J.Crew, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Shoshanna and ModCloth, among many others. I am truly besotted by her feminine and vintage-esque style.

One of my favourite pieces from the show is the alluring Kate Spade New York "Cherie" coat in Snapdragon, which made an appearance on last night's episode (and during the Christmas episode).

I am officially obsessed with finding this no-longer available coat. Many of you are probably already wearing your new spring duds (lucky!) but I'm still up to my knee caps in snow, and can see myself battling windchills and frostbite ever so stylishly in this hot pink flannel number.

{via}

Do you watch New Girl?  The next nine episodes are all new, which makes me a very happy lady.

Hope your Wednesday is all kinds of fabulous!

Dajana (:

j.crew update: let's hear it for the boy!

Some new deetz on J.Crew's Canadian expansion! The U.S. retailer has confirmed they'll be opening 5,657 square feet of retail space in West Edmonton Mall on June 7 (read more here and here). Two other stores will also open across the country - on Vancouver's Robson Street in the spring and in Toronto's Eaton Centre this fall.

The best part? For the first time in Canada, the stores will carry the highly coveted men's collection.

“Since introducing the brand in Canada last year, the response to J.Crew has been absolutely electric,” said Jenna Lyons, President and Creative Director of J.Crew in a press release this morning.  “We’re excited to be opening combined men’s and women’s stores and are working to curate our high quality fashion collections for each market.”

I'm excited to get my guy into one of their Ludlow suits. There's nothing sexier than a man in a natty tailored suit. Hellooo!

coveting: smythe jackets

You've probably seen the amazing jackets that designer Sarah Richardson rocks. You know, the ones that we all drool over while watching Sarah's House or Sarah 101? They're made-in-Canada Smythe.

I'm especially loving these two effortlessly chic jackets from their Spring 2012 Collection - the Piped One Button Blazer in black oxford stripe and the Shawl Collar Blazer in blood orange. Both look great paired with casual shorts but would look equally lovely worn with jeans or a dress. They're such a great take on a timeless classic.

And you may already know this sartorial tidbit, but finishing off your outfit with a tailored jacket instantly modernizes and updates your look.  Scout's honour.

Just take a look and you'll see what I mean.

In case someone I know, with a bit of extra pocket change, is reading this: Smythe is available at Coup Boutique, Who Cares? and Holt Renfrew. My birthday is coming up in March. Just a wee reminder.

Happy Wednesday, friends! Thankfully, it's a short work week for many of us.

Dajana (:

p.s. Judging by these Smythe sightings, Sarah's not the only one smitten with the label. Heaps of celebrities are as well. As is this royal lady.

blazers, blue dresses and oxfords, oh my!

I came to work one day and soon realized that I was surrounded by not one, but two style doppelgängers. 

Take a look:







My colleagues Val and Janet have superb taste, wouldn't you agree? Our grey blazers are all from H&M.

Stylish minds think alike...

Hope you're having a fantastic Friday, friends!

I'm excited to kick up my heels and get my weekend on. I'm playing soccer, visiting a shooting range (say whaat!) and going brunching on Sunday. Should be a good'er! Hope yours is too.

Dajana (: