0 - WELCOME

Hi everyone!

Welcome to another month of my newsletter. How are you doing? I’m writing this in a hotel room in Toronto as we speak — I’ve been coming here for work every week, which has been a blessing as I’ve been able to see friends and family in my spare time.

At the end of this month, I’m headed to Europe for some much-needed R&R — I’ll be in Greece and Czech Republic! If you have any recommendations for Antiparos or Prague, please send them my way. I’m looking forward to soaking up some sun, sightseeing and staying as far away from my work laptop as possible :)

1 - FASHION

Transitional Jackets

Now that the weather is starting to warm up in NYC and Toronto, it’s the perfect time to transition to a thinner jacket for those chillier mornings and nights. I realized recently that I actually don’t have a good spring/fall jacket that can take me from work to the weekend. A lot of my jackets are blazers, which are great, but aren’t exactly what I’m looking for. So, I went on a hunt for the perfect transitional jacket — below are a few options that stood out to me:

Caps

I started wearing caps a couple years ago, and my addiction has only grown. I wear them to/from workout classes, and also on weekends when I like to be a bit incognito (especially when I’m makeup-free). I am a fan of Museum of Peace & Quiet hats — they aren’t too pricey and fit my head perfectly. Plus, they give off the best "don’t talk to me” vibes with their “Peace & Quiet” logo. Here are some of my favourites from other brands:

Styling Advice

I often get questions about how to dress better and look more put together. Fortunately I learned early on what looks good on me — for example, capri pants aren’t great (do they look good on anyone??), and neither are tops/dresses with low necklines (I don’t really have the bust for them). And as much as I enjoy colour and print (I swear I do!), I don’t feel like it 100% represents me. With that said, here are some style guidelines that I follow so that I look good, but more importantly, feel good:

• Know your body type: The sooner you know your body type and how to dress for it, the easier sartorial decisions will be. For example, I’ve been styling a friend for a couple months — she’s 5’2, and what looks good on me (5’8) doesn’t always look good on her, and vice versa

• Fit is everything: Similar to the point above, fit is everything when it comes to clothes. Don’t underestimate the value of a tailor if something doesn’t fit right

• Have a few go-to looks/pieces: The key to every wardrobe is to have a set of foundational pieces, and build upon it with more seasonal items. I tend to wear the same looks, and freshen them up by rotating the accessories. Maybe it’s wearing a different pair of shoes or necklace — the small details make a difference

• Quality over quantity: Investing in good-quality clothes is important. You’re probably better off spending $100 on a sweater than $25 on 4 sweaters

• If something fits great, buy multiples: A great fit is hard enough to come by — if something fits, stock up! For example, I have the same t-shirt from Another Tomorrow in different colours because it fits well and the material is great. Don’t be afraid to double down on what works

• Prioritize investments in certain items: It takes a lot of time (and money) to update a wardrobe. Figure out what category of items you wear the most, and invest in those first. For example, if you wear jeans all the time, invest in one great pair and wear it all the time! There’s no need to spend $$$ on a nice dress or amazing pair of shoes if you’re only going to wear them once

As mentioned in previous newsletters, I have been soft launching personal styling services — if you’re interested in revamping your wardrobe, figuring out what looks good on you, or finding the perfect “something”, feel free to reach out :)

Five Things I Bought

Below are five things I bought and loved last month:

2 - DESIGN

Interior Design

Some people dread the process of interior design, but I love it. I have much to learn — I’m only starting to read up on different designers, periods and styles, but it’s all part of the process. I also enjoy browsing the portfolio of my favourite interior designers for inspiration. Below are some of my go-to design studios:

• Studio Giancarlo Valle

• Sandra Weingort

• Studio Mellone

• Ashe Leandro (shown above)

And here are a few places where I like to window shop for furniture:

• Home Union

• Renew Finds

• Seventh House Gallery

• Galerie North

One day, maybe you’ll see a Studio Chiu!

3 - OTHER

4 - PARTING NOTE

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of techno thanks to grueling days at work. There’s nothing that wakes me up like techno at 6 AM. If you’re in the mood, Charlotte de Witte is one of my favourite techno DJs.

Until next month, friends.