by ChocoLavender

Looking slayin’ while working out

I’ve been so excited to share this post with you guys!!! (One exclamation mark isn’t enough haha) Keeping active has always been a big part of my life, and it took me a while to figure out how to look good while sweating buckets. With the rise of athleisure, it’s become possible for us fashion girls to kill our style while killing the weights.

*psst* If you’re a gal on a budget like me, Marshall’s and Winners are great places to shop since they have huge active-wear sections and carry a variety of brands.

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by ChocoLavender

Making cheap outfits look expensive

Coming from an immigrant family, I grew up very frugal. It wasn’t until middle school when my family started shopping for clothes in actual stores, and even then, we’d only go to cheaper places like Winner’s and Urban Planet (they were pretty ghetto back in the day). So that’s how I’ve become the type of person who thinks $20 for a top is steep. However, I learned that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to look put together. Here are some Holy Grail tips passed from one fashionista to another on how to look fabulous for cheap.

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by Onah Jung

7 Steps to tackling the home renovation with small budget

We feature an orginal post by our guest contributor, Ania Trica from Trica Design Studio. Here is June 2017 post.

Last year my husband and I bought and undertook the renovation of a VERY old Toronto home.  Even though I have a design and construction background we couldn’t anticipate just how much work we would have to put into this renovation.  Even though the house looked nice… everything needed to be replaced, by everything I mean: new plumbing inside and outside of the house, waterproofing the basement, lowering the basement, new electrical in the entire home (the old electrical was knob and tube), new drywall (all the walls were plaster and lath), new floors, new insulation and new kitchens and bathrooms, EVERYWHERE!

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by ChocoLavender

Styling challenge – one dress, five ways

Recently, I’ve done a styling challenge where I put together some outfits with clothes I haven’t worn often. Not only was it super fun, but it seems like you guys quite enjoyed it! Since I’m all about creativity with what you already own, here’s another styling challenge. This time I’ll be working with a little black dress (the timeless essential of Coco Chanel). For each look, I will be using only accessories and black shoes to change it up. Psst, I got my LBD for about $13 from Forever XXI about four years ago and it’s been one of my trust wardrobe savers.

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by ChocoLavender

To splurge or to save – what I invest in and what I cheap out on

We all have moments when we fall in love with a totally rad garment…until we see the price tag. Yes, I’m talking about those times when we question if $60 for this top is worth it. It’s about investment pieces nowadays. Meanwhile, our inner hoarders will try to convince us that everything is worth investing in. Over the years (and tons of trial and error), I’ve come to make peace with my inner clothing goblin. Here is my wardrobe spending guide- aka. when to splurge and when to save. 

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by ChocoLavender

Keys Learned from Coco Chanel – My Fashion Hero

As a lover of Fashion History, it’s in my blood to be inspired by designers of the past as well as the present. Earlier, I’ve written about a groundbreaking designer, Rei Kawabuko. This week is a tribute to one of the fairy godmothers of fashion Coco Chanel. Gabrielle Chanel was truly a timeless woman. What she stood for a century ago remains relevant today! As I always say, fashion is not just about clothes. It is expression, art, ideals, and philosophy. It shapes not just our bodies, but how we interact with the world. Here are four keys to live by that every creative lady can learn from Coco Chanel. Continue reading →

by ChocoLavender

Outfit Challenge – Styling 3 Underloved Garments

It looks like summer is here to stay in Toronto at last! Goodbye three seasons in one day and hello warm weather clothes. Judging by the looks of my wardrobe, it’s quite a tornado’s hit. But it has a system to it! All the cold weather clothes are shoved up on the shelf, blouses are hung on the left, and dresses hung on the right. Oh, and there are sections in the back where I exile clothes I don’t wear often but don’t have the heart to get rid of.  We all have those clothes we buy thinking “omg this is totally fetch“….and a week later, we realize fetch isn’t gonna happen. (At least you tried, Gretch) Anyways, I decided to flex my styling muscles and show these forgotten garments some love!  Continue reading →