The Truth About Fast Fashion
So you get a cute pair of shorts on sale at Zara. Fast forward to next season and you're over them. You think you're doing a good deed by donating them to your local Value Village. What you might not realize is that 85% of the clothing that's donated to these charitable places actually ends up in a landfill in a third world country. Turns out your good deed, actually isn't a good dead at all.
I get it, we love fast fashion because it provides instant gratification. We want the latest trends NOW NOW NOW, but 1) the quality is shit and 2) it's bad for the environment. The other day I went to put on a pair of my new Zara jeans only to find them ripping in the back and I'd only worn them twice before. That's not cute.
Wearing Zara jeans from SS18 (probably the last I'll buy from the brand), A Nordstrom blazer, Alexander Wang sandals from 5 years ago, a Reitmans cami, and Gucci bag.
I never thought too much about the cost of fast fashion because I try to be mindful of not bringing home anything I don't need or love. That rule applies not only to how I shop, but also how I accept samples from retailers as a fashion blogger. Unless there's something specific I need, I just wonβt.
To clarify, when I say the cost of fast fashion I don't mean monetary value but in terms of how it's effecting our environment. In the back of my mind, I know this is an issue but I never took the time to educate myself on the matter until recently. I came across a video on YouTube late one night, which admittedly was not the best time to watch because my anxiety went through the roof and I couldn't sleep.
Photo: CBC's YouTUBE CHANNEL
This CBC documentary uncovers what happens to unwanted clothes when they don't get sold at second-hand shops. The short of it is, the quality of fast fashion is so poor that they almost always end up in the landfills. A lot of you probably already know this, but for me, it was a real eye-opener.
Just look at my last couple of videos - they were both hauls! It's even a joke with everyone in my circle whenever I say I'm not going to shop, "Ya, okay Nathalie. Stop lying to yourself.β
I don't have a solution to this problem, but I'm doing my part by donating to my local women's shelter instead of conglomerate second-hand stores. Just because it's cute it doesn't mean it ain't trash, so let's all try harder and in the end be better dressed.
VIDEO Review: LE MAT DE CHANEL FW 18,
It's that time again, time for another CHANEL beauty video! This time I took your feedback into consideration and I was sure to create not one, but two tutorials using the FW18 Apotheosis Le Mat De CHANEL collection. I hope you guys enjoy it!
"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself."
- Gabrielle Chanel
This collection is all about beautiful velvety matte textures, from the lips to the nails, eyes, and cheeks, everything is matte, even down to the packaging.
The shades are beautiful and range from blushy pinks to bold pinks, reds, beetroot purples, and blues! I never in a million years would think a collection consisting of pink and red would be able to accommodate a little blue story with such modernity, but somehow it all fit beautifully together. The looks from this collection are chic and feminine, basically everything you can expect from CHANEL, and they compliment my olive complexion nicely.
I'm going to leave this post short and sweet because I want you to go watch my YouTube video. Go ahead and press that play button!
VIDEO: ssense.com Unboxing
Funny enough, this video was inspired by best friends mother, Grace. I recently found out that she's a YouTube fanatic and unboxings are some of her favourite videos to watch. After giggling for a good half hour about who's buying what and who's thrifting where I decided that I too would be jumping on unboxing train!
I've personally always held back on these type of videos because I was afraid of what people would think or say. It's actually a ridiculous reason not to do something and this year I'm embracing "no fucks given" and "you do you", hence making two shopping videos in a row *gasp*!
I hope you guys enjoy watching and if you haven't already, please subscribe and give my video a thumbs up!
xx,
Nathalie
First Glimpse at my Fall 2018 Wardrobe
Who else gets excited at the first glimpse of fall in the summer? #me
While it's already gone back to hot and humid, we had a short window of cooler weather this past weekend. Chilly enough to bust out leather pants and my new Isabel Marant Hoodie anyway.
These are the latest additions to my closet that will serve me well into fall. I did get around to filming an unboxing video with these goodies, but you'll just have to wait for tomorrow.
In the meanwhile, hands up if you're also desperately awaiting FW18.
WHAT I'M WEARING:
Isabel Marant black Malibu hoodie, Mackage black Peppa leather pants, CHANEL patent leather flap bag, Givenchy floral Elegant Line studded boots.
Β
My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Haul (OUTFIT + VIDEO post)
If you follow me on IG then you'll know that I recently had a chance to pre-shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale a couple of days ago.
This sale happens once a year in July. It's when the store teams up with a bunch of brands like Madewell, Alice & Olivia, Alexander Wang, along with other awesome designers and offers new fall fashions at a discounted price for a limited time. Yes, I said NEW FALL FASHIONS. *mic drop*
I scored this cute Treasure & Bond suit (a Nordstrom house brand) for $150 at their anniversary price along with this ADIOS t-shirt from Madewell. How I only came home with these three pieces is seriously a miracle. (Either that or I have Paris on the brain.)
PRESS PLAY to watch my latest fashion haul on my YouTube channel!
I paired the suit with my red-orange Alexander Wang x Adidas three stripe sneakers. I ordered them on the weekend and they came in just in time to wear with this suit.
(BTW - These kicks are special edition and came out earlier in the season. They went on sale and I happen to score the last pair in my size. I swear, shoes always find me!)
I let the menswear inspiration do it's thing and left my handbag at home. Instead I opted for my LV accessories - my (19 cm) Toiletry Pouch, small agenda and 4 key ring holder. Something about the pops of red against the grey plaid just make the outfit come to life.
I'm glad I stepped outside of my comfort zone for once and opted for a suit instead of another pair of jeans.
Fall, I'm ready. Bring it!
I'm Feelin' Myself
You know that feeling when you put on an outfit that just makes you feel real nice? Ya, this is me here.
You guys know that I try to invest in pieces that I love and will wear them over and over again. I love the challenge of styling them in new ways and changing it up to keep things interesting.
I've worn this Veronica Beard blazer plenty of times before but never styled like this. I mean, it's summer and it's been hot af out there!
I kept it light and seasonally appropriate with a breezy white oversized v-neck to complement the linen blazer.
I could have accessorized with sandals, but I opted for my favourite pair of Isabel Marant cowboy boots instead cuz I was feeling them. Then I broke up the heaviness of the black from the jeans and boots by adding my tanned Alexander Wang Diego bag.
Accessories are a great way of changing the mood of an outfit and this bag helped me accomplish just that. Most importantly, the tones of the bag help tie everything back to the blazer.
STYLE TIP: Go up one or two sizes when shopping for tees to get relaxed look.
So, you wanna know why I'm digging this outfit so much? It's cuz it's super comfortable and versatile. They're pieces that already live in my closet and I didn't have to buy anything new to create this look.
I'm also feeling like 100% myself in these clothes which means I feel more confident and like I could conquer anything in it. Don't you just love when an outfit does that? I think that should always be our goal when we get dressed!
Hawaiian Inspired & Harry Styles Approved
I'M WEARING:
Cinq Γ Sept embroidered silk blouse.
Zara trousers.
Loewe small striped Hammock Bag, SS18.
Isabel Marant sandals.
My closet is built with basics and statement accessories in mind - lots of denim, t-shirts and plenty of glittery, sparkly and metallic footwear. Above all else, I place a lot of importance in comfort and versatility. Letβs be real, no amount of fabulous shoes is going to make you look like a rock star if you donβt feel like one right?
When I saw this Cinq Γ Sept silk blouse, I knew it would be perfect for me. Itβs breezy and can be paired with cutoffs in the summer, leather pants and ankle boots in the fall, or brown trousers from Zara like the ones Iβm wearing here. Bonus, this Hawaiin inspired blouse totally looks like something Harry Styles would wear so you know I just had to have it!
I happen to score my entire outfit on sale, yes, Loewe bag included. You guys know that I LIVE for a good sale. Of course, that means that sometimes the pieces Iβm wearing aren't available, but I tried my best to find alternatives for you to shop.
7 Fabulous Summer Scents to Try Now
Summer doesn't have to mean swapping out your favourite scent for something light and fruity. If you're like me, the idea of this is repulsive. As my best friend points out, I'm drawn to "mysterious" scents. Trust me, nothing's gonna stop me from wearing sandalwood, regardless of the weather.
Below are seven of my favourite scents that will withstand even the hottest of summer days and will always leave you smelling amazing.
- MARC JACOBS DAISY LOVE - Youthful and sophisticated this new MJ scent has top notes of Crystallized cloudberries (smells as intriguing as it sounds) with a base of Cashmere musk and driftwood.
- CHANEL NΒ°5 L'EAU - Fans of NΒ°5 L'EAU are going to flip for this one. It's the same uber-chic scent in an All-Over spray formula. What does that mean? Lighter in delivery and can be used in your hair. Yes, please!
- ATELIER COLOGNE CLEMENTINE CALIFORNIA - Sweet but citrusy with a tangy kick, this scent is beautiful on everyone. Yes, it's gender neutral and I love it!
- CHANEL L'EAU TAN - Not exactly a fragrance, this self-tanning mist smells amazing enough to be one. A blend of citrus with accents of orange blossom & lily, with an underlying soft amber base of white musks, I'm living for this one!
- TOM FORD SOLEIL BLANC - It smells like the most luxurious vacation ever. Seriously. If you haven't caught a whiff of this one yet, run to the nearest TF counter!
- TOM FORD SANTAL BLUSH - Perfect for summer, and actually, all year round. You'll love this spicy oriental scent if you're a fan of sandalwood.
- ANINE BING SAVAGE ROSE - This isn't Grandma's rose scent. This scent is modern, unique and smells very green - like freshly picked flowers after the rain. It's beyond gorgeous.
Rockstar Status with DIORCLUB2
Is there anything better than a killer pair of sunglasses to elevate an outfit? Well, probably but let's pretend for a second that's all that matters.
Dior's latest style, called DIORCLUB2, will make you reach rockstar status instantly. The rectangular-shaped sunnies feature a super rad visor that reads J'ADIOR in bold white caps. It is removable if you choose to go for a more traditional look, but seriously, why would you?
