What Does Your Preferred Heel Height Say About You?

Sometimes, choosing a pair of shoes has nothing to do with need and everything to do with feeling taller. It's been shown that a pair of stilettos can make us feel elevated, literally and figuratively. When you're as short as me, this tends to be the case. But even the shortest among us want to lower the heel every once in a while to give our feet a break from the blistering pain. Naturally, we still have a preference. While some of us feel our best in a pair of 6 inch pumps, others are perfectly confident in pointy-toed flats. It's time to decide which one you identify with. Here is a (totally made up) quiz to help you out.

If you prefer...

FLATS
Is Alexa Chung your style icon? Do you have a pinterest board featuring all of her best looks? If so, it could be because flats are your jam. Your motto? Who needs the pain of a heel when you can look just as chic in a pair of brogues? Whether you're feeling the menswear look or the classic ballet flat, you almost always opt for a comfortable shoe that allows you to move around easily. You're an easygoing person whose favourite activity is to Netflix and chill. Don't get me wrong, you love a good social gathering every now and again and your warm personality makes you a winner in a crowd. However, cuddling up with a good book suits you just fine as well.

via fashiongum.com

KITTEN HEELS
You're a classy lady with an exuding confidence that draws people towards you. You love a chic little heel because it projects elegance and grace no matter the occasion without drawing in too much attention. When looking for the perfect shoe, you don't seek height, but rather a demure heel that breathes femininity. You enjoy brunch and tea parties with your gang of girls and love a good chick flick. Your sophistication is what makes everyone wish they were just like you because let's face it, not everyone could pull off a kitten heel.

via manrepeller.com

3 INCH STILETTOS
You may be chic and elegant, but you're also someone nobody can mess with. You have an inner strength that is exhibited in the most daunting situations. You always have your friends' backs and will stop at nothing to get them justice when they are wronged. And you'll do it in your 3 inch stilettos. You love a good party, especially the cocktail kind, surrounded by all of your closest friends. On your quiet nights, you enjoy watching old movies, preferably the tearjerkers.

via pinterest

5 INCH PLATFORMS
Whether you're a little on the short side or you simply lust after Rachel Zoe's closet, platforms are your shoe of choice. When you walk into a room, you'd like people to know that you mean business. Some people may view you as intense, slightly dramatic, and occasionally, a loner, but none of these things bother you. You know who you are and you love to announce your presence in a room. You can be a little rebellious, but you almost always have a cause.

via 5inchandup.blogspot.com

Which shoe is your favourite?

Ponder it,

Bella

The Golden Globes: Who Did It Better?

It's that time of year again. A time when you can no longer step out of the house without worrying your fingers might fall off. But also, awards season. It began last night with the 73rd Annual Golden Globes. The evening started awkwardly enough with Ricky Gervais claiming he won't be offensive which was, of course, a lie, or a joke (whichever you prefer to believe). From a borderline inappropriate comment about Caitlyn Jenner to a severely inappropriate comment about Jodie Foster, Gervais knew no limits. Though I may have missed the last hour of the show, I managed to catch the full red carpet and that's where all the excitement lies anyway. Am I right? Apparently, a few people had similar ideas this year and nobody consulted each other. Though in some cases, this may be an unfortunate mishap, in my book it's a chance to compare and contrast. I may have been less than impressed with the selection of dresses, but I had much more fun because of it. Here are my style awards for the evening.

BEST GOLD (half-naked) DRESS
CANDIDATES:
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Atelier Versace
Brie Larson in Calvin Klein

WINNER: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. For the sexy cut.

via celebmafia.com

BEST BLACK VELVET
CANDIDATES:
Lady Gaga in custom Versace
Kirsten Dunst in Valentino

WINNER: Lady Gaga. For tastefulness (coming from the lady who wore a meat dress...)

via peopestylewatch

BEST LADY IN WHITE
CANDIDATES:
Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton
Laverne Cox in Elizabeth Kennedy
Taraji P. Henson in Stella McCartney.

WINNER: Alicia Vikander. Though a close tie, Alicia Vikander chose a much more romantic look, which won her the spot above Laverne Cox.

via popsugar.com

BEST RED
CANDIDATES:
Natalie Dormer in J. Mendel
Emmy Rossum in Armani Prive
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Couture

WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence. Minus the cutouts.

via indianexpress.com

BEST BLACK GLITTER
CANDIDATES:
Uzo Aduba in Talbot Runhof
Taylor Schilling in Thakoon

WINNER: Taylor Schilling. Because pants always win.

via vogue.com

BEST PRINCESS DRESS
CANDIDATES:
Gina Rodriguez in Zac Posen
Amy Schumer in Prabal Gurung

WINNER: Gina Rodriguez. But Amy came close.

via popsugar.com

BEST DEEP PLUNGE
CANDIDATES:
Jaimie Alexander in Genny
Olivia Wilde in Michael Kors
Jenna Dewan Tatum in Zuhair Murad

WINNER: Jaimie Alexander. Because of her eyes.

via eonline.com

BEST GIRLY GIRL
CANDIDATES:
Leslie Mann in Monique Lhuillier
Amber Heard in Gucci
Kate Bosworth in Dolce and Gabbana

WINNER: Amber Heard. For those floral appliques.

via vogue.com

HONOURABLE MENTION:
Julianne Moore in Tom Ford

via indianexpress.com

Though there were several other memorable dresses last night, these are my top picks. What are yours?

Ponder it...

Bella

It's 2016 And Suddenly I Like...Nail Art?

I've always hated nail art. Read post, "Apparently Nail Art Is Dead. I Never Thought It Was Alive". It has always seemed to me like a kindergarten art project gone wrong, a way to get rid of your holiday decorations, an accident with the glitter, or just plain tacky.

The other day, something strange happened. I broke my two thumb nails. It was a horrendous experience I wish to never recreate, but alas, some things cannot be avoided. This predicament led to a slew of after-effects. For one, I decided that I had to cut my other nails to even them out (they were beyond nail file repair). Once that was done, I knew that certain colours would not work on my new short nails. The long and short of it is that I decided to paint one of my nails a different colour. Don't ask me how I arrived at this conclusion. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I knew that my elegant long-nailed manicure was flushed down the toilet and that I needed a refresher to make my hands feel alive again.

I decided to paint my accent nail in flashy metallic silver. Though I've never been a fan of metallic nails, the New Year inspired me to try something new. After painting that single nail silver, I opted for a dark grey mani to compliment the nail. Unsatisfied with the results, I started to draw all over my nails with silver nail polish like a child left alone with a box of crayons and something magical happened. It looked a little bit like this:

Dare I say it? I may have actually tried nail art. Intentionally and partially, unintentionally.

I can't say that I'm fully committed to this trend nor can I confirm that I absolutely love it. However, I may experiment with a Pinterest tutorial or two. We'll call it my New Years resolution.

Have a great weekend lovelies!

And ponder this...

Bella

#ForTheSakeOfFashion: Starting 2016 With The Hair Tuck

With the New Year rapidly approaching (it's tomorrow, in case you hadn't heard), it's time to start thinking about the trends that will jumpstart 2016. Rather than looking back at the most popular trends of 2015 such as Addidas Stan Smiths, fringe, and floppy hats (to name a few), let's look deep into the future and attempt to predict the next fashion trend to plague the (non)fashion world.

Based on my deductions, it seems that "turtleneck hair" may be the next mind-boggling fashion look of 2016. What is "turtleneck hair", you ask? According to several well-versed fashionistas (such as my personal favourite, The Man Repeller), turtleneck hair is the act of tucking your hair into your turtleneck. Though this isn't new within the fashion world, it has recently grown in popularity for some unbeknownst reason.

via honestlywtf.com

Could it be the faux bob it creates that allows us to change our hair without cutting off those beloved locks?

Could it be the cozy feeling it gives us by keeping every strand on our head snuggled inside our sweaters?

Could it be that our hair just needs a safe haven from that tumbling snow?

OR could it be that there is no reason at all?

Is it possible that we, the fashionistas, are doing it, "just because (it looks cool)"?

Whatever your reason for contemplating this trend, don't overthink it. Sometimes it's best to give it a shot and see if it feels like you. The benefit of looking just like a fashion girl? Well, that's just gravy.

Happy New Year!

(and ponder it),

Bella

All I Want For Christmas Is Boxing Week

via raredelights.com

The inevitable Christmas post is finally here and although the holiday is not in my Jewish family heritage, I can't help but get in the spirit. There are sparkling lights adorning the streets, a jumbo snowman on my street corner, fifty different versions of "Last Christmas" replaying in my head, and Christmas movie promotions all over Netflix. It's unavoidable. Christmas is everywhere (except on the ground in the form of snow and for once, all Montrealers are mourning over it). While it may be a green Christmas this year, there are still certain things that Mother Nature cannot take away from us (like Christmas-themed cupcakes). So whether we receive a little sprinkle of Christmas dust on Friday or nothing at all, people will still unite with their families in honour of the much-commercialized holiday, ideally giving it deeper meaning than the association with shopping it has come to represent. I, myself, will be spending time with my family since it is a national day off and everything is closed anyway.  While mine may not involve Christmas trees and presents, the end result of family unity will be the same. This year, I have chosen to define Christmas in my world.

Here is what it means to me:

NUMBER 1:

Michael Buble's voice radiating through store windows, singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You", serenading every window shopper around. All I want for Christmas is you, Michael Buble.

NUMBER 2

Elaborate Christmas displays in department store windows. If you don't stop and stare for at least a minute, you may in fact be a fashion grinch in disguise.
 

NUMBER 3

Endless shopping, just because I'm on holiday. Even though you aren't shopping for gifts, you can justify every purchase you make as "getting in the Christmas spirit". Nothing could be more wonderful.

NUMBER 4

Fluffy Santa-themed lingerie merely meant to get you in the mood, screaming "try me, try me".

NUMBER 5

Sequins. So many sequins. All day, every day.

NUMBER 6

Love, Actually. But actually, the film.

NUMBER 7

Friendlier people. This may be the only time of year when your grumpy next door neighbor will wish you happy holidays filled with Christmas cheer.

NUMBER 8

The last hurrah before the year comes to an end and you can make some resolutions you'll most inevitably break by February.

NUMBER 9

Chinese food.
Just kidding.

AND FINALLY:

NUMBER 10

BOXING WEEK: The seven day reward for your non-stop spending in December. Even though you thought you were all shopped-out, you just can't resist another sale, can you?

Happy Holidays, lovelies!

Bella

The Magical Third Element

Hello lovely readers,

I'm back after a four month hiatus with a deep and heartfelt apology. Due to foreseen circumstances (school, work, and other highly significant stress inducers), I put the blog on hold and am full of regret and a powerful new craving to write. Hopefully, this powerful new craving will translate into something magical in today's post.

Speaking of magic, for the last few months, I've been trying to determine what sets a fashionista apart from the rest. Don't get me wrong. I think we are all equals and that was in no way meant to place the fashionista on some kind of pedestal encrusted with Swarovski crystals (if it must). What I am inferring is that there is something special that makes one look at a girl on the street and exclaim (in our minds, of course), "that girl is a total fashionista" (perhaps in more natural-sounding words).

The question is: what is it? What is that magical element?

After much contemplation and a tad bit of research, I discovered that it must be her "third element". While my foray through Paris led me to believe that less is more, Montreal is all about "a little bit more is better than less". Allow me to explain.

When I get up in the morning, I have my outfit planned from the basic blue jean to the little black dress. However, once I am dressed and ready to go, I often feel like there's something missing. That feeling should not be ignored, my friends. Sometimes it's a sign that your outfit is incomplete and requires a little extra something to make it capital f Fashion. While anyone can throw on a pair of jeans with a basic white-tee (i.e sweater), it takes a fashionista to find that one extra piece that can attract onlookers and lead them to believe she is worthy of the title.

Here are some examples of pieces you may add to make your look go from regular to fashion girl (if those are indeed your aspirations):

1) A belt (preferably one with some fringe or some elaborate buckle)

via fashiongum.com

2) A statement necklace (for those times when you have no clue what to add)

via dvf.com

3) A fur vest (it's almost winter and you know you'll thank yourself later)

via thefashiontag.com

4) A scarf (because all the cool french girls are doing it)

via daisysullivant.com

5) A hat (if you claim to have a hat head and nobody has told you otherwise)

via wardrobelooks.com

6) Funky socks (only when appropriate and can be shown off)

via beirut.raghunter.com

7) A headband (if you're feeling a bit nostalgic for Blair Waldorf)

via blog.jelanieshop.com

So, ladies and gents (but probably mostly ladies), I challenge you to add a third element every day for one week. And believe you me, this is a challenge because I have tried it myself. If you can pull it off, you may put on the fashion girl crown and prance around the streets like you own the place (respectfully, of course). Have a lovely week and ponder it.

KISSES,

Bella

Paris, London, and Me

It's been a while, but I'm officially back on the blog and ready to go straight up diary of a fashionista this season. With summer coming to an end (sad face emoji), I'm way more excited for fall than I should be because fall fashion is my absolute favourite kind of fashion. I'm thinking bulky sweaters, sexy over-the-knee suede boots, and a faux fur fall coat. Just the thought makes my heart jump a little bit.

This summer, I traveled to Paris and London, two of my favourite fashion capitals. Of course, I couldn't help but explore every single shop I spotted from the corner of my eye. From the Stella McCartney near my hotel to Chanel's flagship in Paris, I finally reached my own personal heaven (a healthy blend of the two cities) and was reluctant to come home.

During my short stay in each city, I learned a few things. For one, everything they tell you about Parisians is true. Simplicity is the key to true elegance, and let me tell you, those Parisians are the masters of elegance. As for England, 'tis the land of sweaters and rock n' roll.

While dressing light was essential in Paris due to the warm summer weather, the constant London drizzle made it imperative to get those fall clothes out immediately. Thankfully, London is amazing, so don't let that weather discourage you.

My favourite part about Paris and London is that their personalities are so distinct (as seen through the weather alone). Though crowded with tourists at this time of year, the locals remain recognizable solely based on their garb. Neutrals tones and classic cuts are the epitome of Parisian chic, while Londoners remain intent on breaking the rules by mixing prints and fabrics with each look (faux fur was a popular choice).

Zara London

While one may criticize the other, whether for being too minimalist or too eccentric, their opposing personalities is exactly what qualifies them as fashion capitals of the world (other than the abundance of luxury fashion in the vicinity).

Though I personally identify with the unruliness of the British, I appreciate that je ne sois quoi possessed by most Parisians. There's nothing more liberating than the no makeup makeup look and Parisians do it best while dressed to the nines. Unfortunately, effortlessness is not in my DNA, and my outfits in Paris were some of my most thought out ever. Clearly, I'm no match for a true effortless Parisienne.

London was even more of a challenge due to the unpredictable weather conditions (or rather, constant rainfall) that seemed to mimic British style. In a land where sweaters are often worn with shorts and boots are a summer staple, my ignorance was certainly my downfall. Thankfully, matching is unnecessary when in London and one good sweater can be worn with just about anything. Though wearing the same thing every day may seem boring and repetitive, the challenge to create multiple looks with that one piece adds a little thrill to dressing up every morning (or maybe I'm just telling myself that for reassurance). Next time I go to London, I'll be sure to pack accordingly.

121 Regent Street - Burberry Store

If you're unsure of how to pack for a summer trip to Paris or London, here are some tips I picked up along the way.

When in Paris:
1) Less is more. Make that your mantra.
2) Neutral tones are everything.
3) Let your femininity shine. Dresses are the preferred look for summer, so scrap the shorts.
4) Bring a cute hat to protect yourself from the sun and look good doing it.
5) Bring comfortable footwear, but also, a chic pair of heels for your nights out.

When in London:
1) Be prepared for every possible weather condition.
2) Also, bring your sexiest outerwear (it will be your main look).
3) Sun hat is to Paris as rain mac is to London, so accessorize wisely.
4) Pack more than one pair of pants (I learned my lesson).
5) Matching is not essential. You're in a fashion capital and a foreign country. Let your creativity run wild.

Ponder it,

Bella