Fashion – Leave it to Lea

Holiday Outfits Inspo 2021

December 10, 2021December 9, 2021by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! If you’re like me, I love pursuing Pinterest for some fashion inspo. With the holidays coming up, I thought I would share some ideas for some holiday outfits so you don’t have to look through Pinterest. I’ll include some links to some options as well! Let’s get into it.

Red Sweater

There is nothing more festive than a bright, red sweater. It’s a simple piece so it’s easy to style it. A red blouse with some pants can be a very sophisticated look, perfect for office holiday parties. A red sweater with some details and a pair of pants are great for a dinner party. For a more casual affair, wearing a red knit sweater and jeans is great!

Silk Skirts

I think silk skirts are a great piece for holiday parties. They’re very popular right now so I think most people have one in their closet already. I think it’s all about how you style it. By wearing a nice sweater or turtleneck with the skirt it takes it up a notch. I also think wearing a cream skirt and a cream sweater is a very elegant look. It plays with the whole idea of winter whites. With a simple updo, I think it would make a great outfit.

Sequin Pants

If you’re looking for something super blingy or something for New Year, consider sequin pants. Sequins are always popular during the holidays but getting sequin pants allows you to dress up or dress down the outfit. A sequin dress is always going to be formal. But pairing a pair of sequin pants with a sweater or a t-shirt can help dress it down. Or you can go all out with a blazer or fun top. Consider silver, gold, or black because they’re also easy to pair with other pieces.

Jumpsuit

If you have a very formal holiday party I recommend a jumpsuit. I think jumpsuits are super comfy, so you can eat all the food you want and not have to be constricted by a tight dress. They also stand out compared to people wearing dresses. You can get something in the festive colours of red or green, you can get something sparkly or a LBJ (little black jumpsuit).

And those are my holiday outfits ideas! My family likes to wear our pjs so I probably won’t wear any of these outfits but it’s fun to look haha! Let me know if you have any other ideas for holiday outfits in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Fashion, Tips and Tricks

8 Fall Fashion Trends To Try in 2021

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! I know fall doesn’t officially start for another month, but if you’re like me you’re already looking at fall fashion. It also only seemed fitting to be posting this today since Starbucks fall drinks are now available! So today I rounded up eight trends for fall this year that sparked my attention. Also all photos are from Pinterest, if you want to find their source you can check out the board. Let’s get into it.

Silky and Slinky

The silky slip dress still reigns this year. A great way to carry the slip dress into fall is layering a t-shirt or long sleeve underneath it and adding tights. Add some chunky boots and channel the 90s vibes. The silk trend also extends to blouses. Little silky tops are great for fancy occasions. Long-sleeve blouses are perfect for the office. When in doubt, go the silky route.

Jewel Tones

In the fall it’s usually darker shades that are in fashion. This year bright, jewel tones are in fashion. Colour blocking is also big, so mixing a bright blue skirt with a deep emerald is going to be a big thing. Some other bright shades include magenta and mustard yellow.

Loose Denim

Skinny jeans are now a staple. But if you want to be on-trend, get a looser style. Mom jeans, boot cut, flare and mom jeans are all in right now. They are the perfect base for any casual outfit.

Sweater Vests

This started last year, but sweater vests are going to be huge this year. Trust me, I was in Garage and Dynamite and they were everywhere. I got myself this brown sweater vest from Garage. They can be worn alone or with a shirt underneath when the weather gets colder.

Tailored Pieces

I’m putting two trends together here. Tailoring and suits have been big for a while and they’re still big this year. So if you were on the fence about getting a nice suit, do it. The other half of this trend is the ‘dark academic’ vibes are strong this year. Tailored pieces are a huge part of that trend, so nice blazers and tailored pants in browns, blacks and creams are worth looking into.

Textured Bags

Bags are really fun this year. The puffy and guilted look is very in right now, very much inspired by Botella Veneta. I have a couple of their bags in my inspiration above. If that look isn’t your thing, try getting a textured baguette bag. Crocodile leather is textured but not as dramatic.

Bold Prints

If you love print then this is your year. Prints are very much in, which can seem very intimidating. If you’re new to print, take one printed piece and pair it with a basic such as jeans or a t-shirt. Or try animal prints such as leopard or cow print instead – both are popular this fall.

Knitwear

It wouldn’t be fall without some knitwear. It was all over the runway so it will be all over the clothing racks as well. Instead of the usual knit, try going for a chunkier cable knit. Like with the bag trend, texture in a knit is very big.

And those are my eight fall fashion trends! Let me know in the comments which one caught your eye the most or which trend you will be trying out for yourself!

xoxo

Lea

#amazonfinds, Fashion, Review

Amazon Dupe for Lululemon Align Leggings

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! If you’ve followed me for a while, you might know that Lululemon makes my favourite leggings. Specifically the Align leggings. When my friend told me about this Amazon dupe I purchased it right away. I want to share that dupe with you guys.

So for those who are unfamiliar with the Lululemon Align leggings they’re unique compared to other leggings. The Align collection is made with their Nulu fabric that is buttery-soft and lightweight. The design is also quite minimal as well with few seams. I love these leggings because they feel soft and they don’t look shiny. I don’t mind shiny fabric for workout leggings, but for everyday wear I prefer something without shine. I like wearing these leggings for every day or light exercise such as yoga. Because of how often I wear these leggings I have numerous pairs, in different colours and different lengths.

The only downside about these leggings is the hefty price tag. The crop leggings are $88 and get more expensive as you add length and pockets. So I have looked for dupes to help my wallet. I have tried a few but found they never lived up to the originals. The fabric was either shiny or quite thick. But when my friend, who loves Lululemon just as me, told me about this dupe I decided to check them out.

The Sunzel Leggings for Women are described as having a ‘naked’ feeling, with the fabric being lightweight and breathable. They also have pockets! (Note, the Align leggings do have a version with pockets, but I don’t own any). They have a variety of colours as well. And the price is $29.99 – way cheaper than Lululemon.

Something to note is that both Lululemon and the Sunzel have limited sizes. Lululemon has made progress with expanding its size range, now offering up to size 20 in certain styles – but most products go up to 14. I wear a size 12 in their leggings. When looking at Sunzel they have even fewer options, they have only x-small to x-large. I got the XL (and I want to note that my size is currently sold out in most colours right now).

Right away I was impressed with the fabric. It’s quite soft and the closest dupe I’ve felt. There is a faint shininess, it’s not completely matte but it’s much better than the vast majority of the leggings I’ve tried.

The leggings fit pretty well if slightly small. It was mainly in the calf and ankle area where I felt it was slightly tight. I have pretty large calves so that wasn’t too much of a surprise. I’m sure with a couple of wears the fabric will stretch a bit.

The pocket is a good size. I have the iPhone 8 Plus and it fits perfectly. But if your phone is bigger than that it might not fit.

I haven’t worked out in these leggings yet but I did some squats and walked my dog in them and had no problems. I will note that these aren’t compression leggings so I wouldn’t use them for high-intensity workouts. I have also washed these once so far and they still feel good after washing.

Now the real test is to see how long they last and unfortunately I can’t answer that because I’ve only had them for a week. Now I can attest to Lululemon’s quality. I’ve had several pairs for years now and they last well. I have one pair that I wore to work all the time and they have chlorine stains on them. 😂 I will say if you’re like me and have thick thighs then expect some pilling between the legs. Also Lululemon has a really good warranty. If there is a hole along the seam they’ll fix it for free. I got a pair fixed before this current lockdown! So something to consider, if the Sunzel ones wear down they won’t fix them.

So my final thoughts on the Sunzel leggings are I think they’re a great dupe but I’ll hold off from buying more until I see how they last long term. I think if you can’t afford the Lululemon ones then these are a great pair to check out. But I can attest that Lululemon’s products are good quality, will last a long time and they have a good repair warranty.

I hope you guys found this post helpful! If you have a pair of these Sunzel leggings or other Lululemon dupes let me know, I’ve love to hear your thoughts or try them out!

xoxo

Lea

Fashion, Favourites

My Favourite Cozy, Lounge Pieces

October 23, 2020October 23, 2020by Lea2 Comments

Hey guys! I don’t know about you, but it has been raining almost non-stop for the past two weeks. Which means it’s the beginning of the cold, cozy weather time. When it’s grey and cold outside all I want to do is curl up with a good book and a cup of tea and read. So I thought I would share five of my fav lounge pieces to inspire you to cozy up inside this weekend.

The first is a good pair of leggings. Comfy leggings can be a second skin and will make it feel like you are wearing nothing. If you’ve followed me for a while, you will know what my favourite leggings are the Lululemon Align. I have the Align in a variety of lengths and colours and I just love them. They are designed to be buttery soft and weightless feeling. They are also high rise, so I can wear them with a cropped sweater and not feel exposed. I know they are on the pricier side, but they are honestly worth it. They now have joggers and a tank in the Align line and I am seriously considering picking up a pair of each. 👀

The next cozy piece is a Canadian staple: the Roots Cabin Socks. If you are Canadian you know exactly what I’m talking about. They are thick, knitted socks. The classic ones are white, grey with a red stripe on top but I have a variety of colours. My feet are always cold, especially in the winter. Since I’m not much of a slipper person these socks help keep my feet nice and warm. They’re thick but still relatively breathable compared to some other reading socks that I’ve tried. Also, some reading socks can be too small, but these fit my size 9.5 feet perfectly.

The next lounge piece is a nice cardigan. I debated including a sweatshirt but there is something special about a comfy cardigan. I can fluctuate being warm and cold, so a cardigan is a nice option because it’s easy to take on and off. And there is just something so special about wrapping yourself in a nice, soft cardigan. I guess it’s similar to the feeling of wearing a robe. Unfortunately, my current favourite from Eddie Bauer is no longer available and they don’t have anything similar on their website. This cardigan and this robe from American Eagle and the closest I could find, and I know the quality of AE to be great so I think these would both be good options.

The second pair of bottoms is a good pair of sweatpants. Even before COVID, I loved a good pair of sweatpants. I would come home and take off my jeans and put on sweats. I am quite picky about my sweatpants because I want them to be loose but fitted at the ankle and be long enough. Sometimes sweatpants are tight all around and at that point I might as well wear leggings. I also do enjoy American Eagle sweatpants but they are also too short on me. My favourite pair is from Walmart of all places! I’ve had these for two years now (maybe I can’t remember exactly when I got them) and I just love them. They are baggy on top put taper at the ankles. The material is super soft and not too thick. I brought these with me to Europe, that’s how much I love them. The George Women’s Hacci Joggers are currently sold out online but are available in some stores. So if you are ever in Walmart and see these sweatpants pick them up.

The final lounge piece is a blanket. Because let’s be real, everyone needs a good blanket in their lives. And half of the time I wear it as a cape and that’s clothing right? One of the best blankets ever is the Indigo blankets that they periodically have as apart of deals. You know, they one where if you spend over $50 you get it at a discount? Well, it’s the best. We have about five in my house and they are everyone’s favourite. And when I had one in my university house it was everyone’s favourite as well. It’s super soft and it’s the perfect size where it covers the majority of your body if you are sitting down. The Indigo throws they have on the website are slightly different than the ones I own but I am sure they are similar and just as soft and cozy.

And those are all my cozy, loungewear pieces! Please let me know in the comments what are some of your favourite lounge pieces, I would love to try them out! 🙂

xoxo

Lea

Fashion, Haul

American Eagle Try On Haul June 202

June 16, 2020June 15, 2020by LeaLeave a Comment

Hey guys! So I recently placed another order at American Eagle. They should honesltly sponsor me at this point haha. To be fair, since I’ve purchased from them so much it’s the only store I feel comfortable buying online. I’ve figured out what size I am, so I have a pretty good success rate. This time around I purchased more summer clothes. I will be posting a try on haul on my Insta and a styling video on my Tik Tok so make sure to check those out!

The first item I picked up is a pair of the AE Stretch Denim Mom Shorts. I really like this shorts. Most of my shorts are tight and short, and these are the opposite. They are a little longer and don’t fit as snug around the thighs. They are a little tight around my waist because I don’t have a small waist to hip ratio. But I believe that it’ll stretch out and be fine. I love these shorts and will be picking up another pair.

The other pair of shorts I got are the Aerie Move Lasercut High Wasited Bike Shorts. I originally wanted to get a black pair but I am happy I got these! The blue colour is super fun, but it’s not so bright that it’s obnoxious. They are stretchy enough that they are good for lounging, but supportive enough to exercise in. They also have POCKETS. I love this!

The first of three shirts is the AE V-Neck Baby T-Shirt. I don’t know why they call it a v-neck because it’s actually round. This shirt reminds me of something I would wear as a little kid. I am in love with the cut and fit of this shirt. It fits me perfectly – not too tight, not too lose. And it’s a little longer than an average crop top so I don’t feel like my belly is over exposed. A super fun summer top.

The second top is the Tailgate Women’s Chevy Corvette Boxy T-Shirt. I like this shirt because it’s multi-functional. I can wear it over top of sweat shorts or bike shorts for a comfy lounge look. Or I can tuck it into jean shirts for a casual but cute summer outfit. It’s the perfect size for a baggy shirt because it’s not too long where I have so much excess fabric but it’s also not a crop top. I dig it.

The final top I ordered is the Aerie Gamechanger Henley Tank. It’s a pretty basic tank, but I think the Olive shade spices it up. Because it’s long it’s nice over top of leggings, but it’s also nice tucked into pants. I think this will be nice with some of the culottes that I own. The material is super soft as well.

The final item is the only one that didn’t fit me well. I ordered the Aerie Easy Knit Midi Dress. I often run into issues with dresses because I am a different size on top than my bottoms. So while it fits me fine on the bottom, it’s loose and baggy on top. It’s also really long on me which is surprising. On the model it looks like it goes to her knees, but on me it’s about mid calf. I will be returning this dress.

And that is my American Eagle haul! Let me know what are some of your favourite places to shop online in the comments.

xoxo

Lea

Favourites

May Favourites

June 6, 2017by LeaLeave a Comment

A few days (okay almost a week) late, but here are some of my May Favourites! This is anything that is not beauty related that I have been loving this month.

Fashion:

dixie haul 3

My favourite shirt this month is this super causal and comfy shirt from a Sirens outlet. It is described as a caged v-neck shirt and I wearing this shirt when I’m running errands or going to work. I pair it with leggings and it’s very comfy but looks more polished then a sweatshirt. I’m currently wearing this shirt right now!

Music:

I have been working a lot this month, and at work we are forced to listen to the easy listening kind of stations. So my new music time has seriously be shortened. I still managed to have a few favourites.

Probably my favourite song right now is High by Sir Sly. It has a good beat and is just great to listen to while driving. I can’t help but sing along! I feel like this is definitely going to be my indie song of the summer. A classic indie band is alt-J, and I have been loving their song In Cold Blood. Now alt-J is not everyone’s cup of tea, but there music is just so weird and different and this new song is no exception.

Finally, like every other white girl out there, I have been obsessing over the song Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Beiber. I was actually a big fan of latin music before Justin Beiber came along and sang this song. It is super catchy and I will probably hate it in two weeks but for now I’m loving it.

Books:

I have only finished one book this month but I loved it! It was Mosquitoland by David Arnold. The story follows Mim as she travels on a Greyhound bus from Mississippi to see her mother in Ohio. Mim is a very interesting character and the book made me think about mental illness and disabilities is a very different way. A very cute book I highly recommend it!

TV/Films/Youtube:

My favourite show that I finally finished this month was the second season of Outlander. It is based of a book series of the same name and is about a women from the 1940s who travels back in time to the 1700s in Scotland. I am a big history fan and I just love this show (I am even happier that it is on Netflix)! I would recommend this show to anyone who loves historical drams (like The Tudors) or fantasy-ish shows like Game of Thrones.

Miscellaneous:

I have absolutely been loving WordPress! I was so unsure about it but now that I have figured it out it is so easy to use. Plus I feel like I am reaching such a broader audience that I had before!

I hope everyone had a great May! Here is to a great (and hopefully warm) June!

xoxo

Lea