WHISTLER TRAVEL DIARY: WHAT SHOES TO PACK ON YOUR TRIP
As you guys know, I had a chance to visit Whistler last month with Shoppers Drug Mart. The trip was amazing and right up my alley since we did our fair share of hiking, restaurant hoping and gondola rides up to Blackcomb Mountain.
Since I have so many pictures to share, I thought I would spilt my post into three parts:
Fall beauty trend forecasting with Shoppers (post here)
What to Do (coming soon)
What to Pack (what you're reading now)
If you're like me then you stress out about what to pack on holiday, let alone a press trip with plenty of out doors activities. My solution, chic and comfortable Stan Smiths (from Town Shoes) and cute ankle boots (also from Town Shoes). Both are excellent for traveling since they're easy to slip in and out of at the airport and they go well with so many different outfits. I wish I had a picture to show you guys but on my last day in Whistler, I wore a cute LBD, a leather jacket and my Stan Smiths to dinner. It was the perfect balance of chic but still elegant enough for a dinner out.
I always like to pack at least one pair of black jeans. They can easily be dressed up and dressed down. A striped long sleeve top is a fun way to keep an outfit from looking too serious and of course my Stan Smiths from Town Shoes are perfect for any scenario.
The climate in Whistler changes from day to day and depending on where you are. As we rode up the gondola to Blackcomb Mountain, it was chilly and foggy. Once on top, the clouds broke and the sun came out.
MY WHISTLER SHOE PICKS
From classic white kicks to suede ankle boots. These Dolca Vita booties from Town Shoes are excellent for transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall. Bonus, they're so comfortable you can wear them all day.
Finally, make sure you pack layers. My go-to is my Mackage leather jacket and a long sleeved top. I also like to carry around a small crossbody bag like the Saint Laurent bag in this post because they're worry free.
People are always surprised to hear that I'm a nature nut. I would leave the city in a heartbeat to live in the mountains. Obsiously saying goodbye to Whistler wasn't easy but I'm thankful for the experience. Take me back please!
* This post is sponsored by Town Shoes. All photos and opinions are my own.
** Special thanks to Shoppers Drug Mart & Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
BOLD MAKEUP FOR FALL: PURPLE EYE SHADOW
Happy Monday friends! With the constant heatwave in Toronto I know it's hard to think about fall but that's exactly what I'll be discussing today. If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I've been in Whistler with Shoppers Drug Mart having the time of my life - dining on incredible meals, taking in the scenic views of Blackcomb Mountain and most importantly, looking fall makeup makeup trends and discussing our "beauty nevers". #BeautyDare (!!!)
I love playing around with makeup and there's hardly any trend I shy away from. Even still, purple eye shadow and false lashes have always been on the top of my list "never" list. Purple shadow because I feel it makes my olive skin look muddy and lack lustre and falsies because I don't have the patience for them. The few times I've attempted both, I've regretted it soon after and couldn't wait to get home to wash my face.
Photo by: Roxanne West of bonjourbliss.com
For my Shoppers #BeautyDare challenge, I sat down with makeup artist Simone Otis (known for her work with Shoppers Drug Mart, Elle, Bazaar, Rita Ora, Lorde, Bite Beauty, Fashion, Flare and Elisha Cuthbert to name a few), to create a purple eye and talk about beauty techniques when applying false lashes. This is what I learned.
1. Makeup artist Simone Otis put my "beauty never" to rest and showed me that olive skin can be a good canvas for purple shadow.
She created graphic eye on me and explained the secret is to layer in a few shades to really make the purple pop. For my look she used Clarins Cream-to-Powder eyeshadow in Silver Plum as a base and then layered in three purple shades from Urban Decay - Gravity, Asphyxia and Psychedelic Sister. The look was finished with a subtle cat eye, curled lashes and lots of mascara. I'm not gonna lie, it was a bit strange seeing my eyes wrapped in so much purple but that was the whole point of this challenge, to step outside of our comfort zone and try something new.
When I replicated the look on myself I added a touch of pink on the inner corner of my eye and transitioned to purple on the outer corners. A lot of purple still feels foreign to me so this was my way of getting comfortable with the colour. Now that I understand how purple works with my olive skin tone, I'm excited to try a bold purple cat eye that transitions to black on the outer corners. It's more within my comfort zone while still being bold.
2. Applying false lashes doesn't have to be daunting.
As much as I like the look of false lashes I never do it because it takes so much time and there's so much room for error (or so I thought). Simone showed me a technique no one really talks about that blew my mind!
Use individual lashes instead of a strip to create a more natural look that will hold up longer. She applied about 11 individual lashes on the upper part of my eye. She started at the outer corners and concentrated most of the individuals there. Then she moved towards the centre of my lash line and left the inner corner au naturel. The finished look was natural but still very bold. I doubt anyone would have been able to tell I was wearing falsies if I hadn't told them.
The benefits of individual lashes outweigh strip lashes in my opinion. You can add as many or as little extensions as you want anywhere you need it. They're also less likely to fall off which is amazing! (We've all been there, when your lash strip lifts from the inner part of your eye and no one tells you. Not cute!)
Finally, make sure to use a good lash glue. Simone introduced me to Duo lash adhesive. If you wear falsies than you would have already heard of it but this was a whole new world for me. It dries clear and it's hypoallergenic. Perf!
I gotta hand it to Simone Otis, she converted me on my "beauty never". I might not wear purple eyeshadow or false lashes daily but at least now I know how therefore I feel more confident pulling off these looks.
Now it's your turn. I dare you step outside of your comfort zone and think about your "beauty never". Start by talking to a makeup artist. Shoppers has an amazing team ready to teach you the tricks and tips you need to achieve a new fall look. Make sure to ask a lot of questions when you sit down with them so that you feel comfortable replicating the looks at home.
This post is in collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart.
All opinions and photos are my own.
