0 - WELCOME

Hello, and welcome to June!

The month always goes by so quickly, and then it’s time to write another newsletter. Before we begin, I want to thank you as always for tuning in, reading, and supporting me. A few weeks ago, I hit 10K in Instagram followers (!), and while that is a relatively small number in the grand scheme of things, I am thankful for you all.

Anyway, I spent the entirety of May in NYC, which was quite refreshing. It was nice to explore different parts of the city and just enjoy myself. This month, I am headed to Toronto, Miami, Switzerland, and Turkey for leisure. I can’t wait for my first international trip since COVID!

1 - FASHION

The Perfect Shirt

Now that it’s getting warmer, one of my favourite styling tricks is to wear an unbuttoned shirt as a thin jacket. I wear unbuttoned shirts over everything from gym shorts and leggings to dresses, and I think the dichotomy makes a look more interesting (and polished). My thought here is that this shirt is typically looser and boxier, and definitely not the ones that you wear in a more corporate setting. I’m always on the hunt for the next perfect shirt - below are some of my favourites:

Exercise

Working out has always been a part of my routine; my day doesn’t feel right until I’ve worked out in the morning. I work out every day doing a combination of mat/reformer pilates, megaformer and bootcamp classes. I also love to walk everywhere, which is pretty easy to do in NYC (I tend to get 10K+ steps a day). Before I made my Instagram more fashion/lifestyle-oriented, I actually had a separate Instagram handle for working out and reviewing fitness studios. This was back in late 2019/early 2020, so once COVID started, it became pretty hard to continue with it. Either way though, I love a matching workout set! Working out is much more enjoyable (in my opinion) when you’re wearing something nice. Here’s what I have my eye on:

Five Things I Bought

I’m going to repeat this section from last month’s newsletter, because I think it’s interesting (at least for myself when I look back at these newsletters). Readers, please also tell me 5 things you bought because I’m curious. I will wait for one of you to email/DM me… but until then:

2 - BEAUTY

Nails

If you’ve followed my Instagram for a while, you’ll know that I love painting my nails. I always paint them myself - I’ve had manicures in the past, but it never seems to be as rewarding (or as long-lasting). I always start with shaping/cleaning up my nails and cuticles using this manicure set from Sephora, followed by cuticle oil to moisturize them. Then, I apply a base coat, which is lately this one from Cote. Typically, I use 1-2 coats of polish depending on the brand/colour. Once my nails dry, I finish it with a top coat (I like Cote’s or Essie’s).

Below, I put together some of my favourite non-toxic nail polish. I love a good neutral or moody colour! (Note: I have not yet tried Hermes nail polish, but will report back.)

3 - ART

Annie Morris

One of my latest favourite artists is Annie Morris, whose colourful, teetering sculptures evoke beauty, but also a feeling of uneasiness. Her “Stack” series are inspired by her experience of a stillbirth - the spheres are meant to resemble the swell of pregnancy. As per Timothy Taylor (her gallery), the forms are “sculpted in plaster or cast in bronze, and painted with hand-sourced, raw pigments in vivid hues such as Ultramarine, Viridian and Ochre, which give Morris's lumpen orbs a rich, vibrant hue.” I love that she’s channelled an event so personal and tragic into something beautiful and hopeful. Artsy couldn’t have said it better: “the sculptures perform an impossible balancing act that serves as a metaphor for the triumph of hope and creativity in the face of adversity”.

4 - OTHER

5 - PARTING NOTE

May was Mental Health Awareness Month in the US. Mental health is important, and we should all be talking about and encouraging it. Remember, you’re never alone!

Until next month, friends.