What I Wear to Work

Since I have a job for the summer, I thought I'd post what I wear on a daily basis. My work environment is pretty casual, but I still like to dress up without sporting a full suit. 

All of these looks feature different patterns- I am finally branching out from the floral!

Outfit 1: Leopard Print

Shirt: Target

Jeans: American Eagle

Cardigan: American Eagle

Lipstick: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 11

Even though it's summer, I still wear jeans and a t-shirt, but I have updated my collection of t-shirts with different prints and styles. I also love wearing red lipstick with a leopard print. Also, my go-to pair of shoes for the summer are some light brown oxfords I bought at Payless. 

Outfit 2: Crazy Colours

Blouse: Dynamite

Jeans: American Eagle

Bangles: Forever 21

I absolutely love this blouse, yet I don't know quite how to describe this print- zigzag? Tie dye? Tribal? Whatever it is, it's something I normally would not have picked out. Aside from the pattern, I like the zipper detailing, which is a change from the normal button-down shirt. Paired with classic skinny jeans and some bangles (or bracelets of your choice), this look is also great to transition to an evening out. 

Outfit 3: Casual Friday

Tank: Ardene

Cardigan: Aeropostale

Jeans: Ardene

Necklace: American Eagle

This final look is the most casual of the three; something I would wear on Friday to dress down a little. I really like the tribal print in the shirt (which is also super soft!) mixed with the lace in the cardigan. 

I realize these outfits are probably not for everyone, seeing that my workplace is more casual than most, but I do have more outfit ideas on the way, including what I wore to my numerous interviews I had in May, as well as some summer appropriate options (think skirts and dresses). 

What do you wear to work?

September Outfits

I have a few different outfits to show you all from the past few weeks that I've been back at school. The weather has been all over the place- one day it was 25 and the next it was 15! I accommodated appropriately (except for the one day the temperature went down during the day...like really?) Anyways, here they are! :)

Shirt & Shorts both American Eagle

I wore this outfit on the first day of classes. I had an intimidating fourth year seminar, so I wanted to look classy, but at the same time, it was so warm out! I didn't accessorize; I only added some pretty brown-ish gold sandals to complete the look. 

Blouse: Eclipse

Camisole: Target

Cardigan: American Eagle

Jeans: American Eagle

Bracelets (if you can see them): handmade

And I'm back to wearing my favourite floral prints, of course :) I love this blouse because it is nice and flowing without drowning me in shapeless fabric (like chiffon tends to do)- the tie at the bottom helps with that. I finished off the look with some pink flats. 

Tunic: Dynamite

Camisole: Urban Behaviour

Leggings: Garage

Bangles: gift

In my attempt to try more prints and colours other than pink and blue, I bought this tunic as part of my back to school shopping. It didn't come with the belt, so I just took a ribbon from one of my blouses and added it on to define my waist. I didn't wear the bangles to school because that would be a bit uncomfortable while taking notes, but they would be nice for a day-to-night transition. I wore pink flats again, and a burgundy coloured jacket because it was freezing by the end of the day!

Shirt: Target

Cardigan: American Eagle

Jeans: American Eagle

Bracelet: gift

I've been meaning to try leopard print for a while, so you can imagine how excited I was when I found this top on the sale rack at Target ($6)! I paired it with some wide leg jeans this time to further vary things (since I'm always in skinny jeans), and some formal black shoes. 

T-shirt: Garage

Cardigan: special order from my school, but it's from American Apparel

Jeans: American Eagle

Scarf: Aeropostale

What do I love about fall fashion? Scarves. I have a drawer full of scarves just waiting to dress up a plain t-shirt and complete my outfit while keeping me warm. I remember seeing this scarf online at Aeropostale last fall, but I could not find it in store; then one day...it was there!!! :) That wasn't a very exciting story but you get the idea. I love scarves. 

Blouse: Bluenotes

Blazer: Eclipse

Pants: Eclipse

Scarf: gift

Necklace: gift

If you can believe it, last week I already had a presentation for one of my classes! I had to give a news report in French, and it was pretty nerve-wracking! This outfit was my attempt at colour-blocking- I love royal blue and mint together! And these pants are so comfortable- they're like knit jeggings; different from leggings in that they do have some structure, pockets, and buttons, but they're so soft that it does feel like wearing leggings. 

So that's it for now! What do you like about fall fashion?

Spring Shopping Haul & Body Issues

I had a chance to go shopping this week! Well, it was mainly for New York, but these pieces will definitely work their way into my spring and summer wardrobe!

Tank tops: Garage Clothing

Skirt: Target

Bikini: Target

Dress: Eclipse

First of all, I know what you're thinking: that skirt is crazy!!! Yes, I agree. But it's actually really pretty, and there are so many colours in it that makes it very versatile! At the start of this year, I made some New Year's Resolutions, and one of them was to incorporate more patterns into my wardrobe, so I decided to take the risk and buy it. Looking at it yesterday with the rest of my clothes, it goes with a lot of things! You will definitely be seeing outfits with this skirt this summer!

To complement that, though, I did fall back on my usual lace-and-floral pattern with this dress. How many lace dresses do I have now? A lot :P But this one is adorable. I saw it on line and could not wait to try it on in store! I'm bringing both the dress and skirt to New York to be styled elegantly (hopefully!) for my evenings at the theatre! 

I don't have much to say about the tank tops, because, well, they're tank tops...and they were $5! Hello, deals!

Lastly, I did buy a bikini. And no, I don't suppose there's anything special about that either. Except for the fact that I've been wanting to buy one every summer for the past four years at least. So why did it take me that long you ask? I'll give you a simple answer: body issues.

Which isn't a very simple answer when you think about it. I, like millions of other women (and men) out there, have body issues. The truth is that I am very uncomfortable with the way I look. I have been for years, and it's what has been making me stick to one piece swimsuits for the past years (okay, that and the fact that I was on the swim team in high school, but that's besides the point). Now, I'm not saying that because I finally bought this swimsuit that all my body issues are over and done with, or that I now love my body. I don't. I'm just hoping that the fact that I was able to buy it without hating myself was a step towards eventually accepting the body I have and not going to extreme lengths to try and change it.
It goes without saying that being uncomfortable with your body is a problem in our society. I've seen it in the fashion magazines, TV ads and shows, and even at clothing stores- the negative influence subtly urging people to be a smaller size by promoting weight loss, perfect looking models, and not enough larger sizes. Urging even the people who may not need to lose weight to think twice about how they look.
I'm not saying it's all the media's fault for this, because they have been getting better with promoting acceptance and body peace. It may be the media, it may be a comment from someone you know or don't know, or it may be your own obsessive thoughts pointing out your flaws. What I am saying is that we need to stop hating ourselves for how we look, treat ourselves the way we would like to be treated (would you call your best friend fat? Then why say it to yourself?), and learn to accept ourselves the way we are.

Thanks for reading, as always :)

P.S. Go get that bikini, summer dress, shorts, whatever you've been putting off buying because of your insecurities. I promise you'll feel a little better about yourself afterwards. 

Easter Outfit Ideas

I'm baaackkkk!!!! Exams are done so I am now fully able to do as much blogging and fashion related things as I like for four whole months. To start off, I have some outfit ideas for Easter, whether you're going out to dinner, going to church, spending time with family, or just really want to look your best! You may recognize some pieces from earlier outfits, but that's just because they're some of my most worn items!

Outfits 1 & 2: Church

Blouse: Bluenotes

Pants: Dynamite

Necklace: This & That Axesoir

Shirt: H&M

Skirt: Jacob

Bracelets (left to right): Accessorize, Forever 21, Justice Clothing

I put these two outfit ideas together because they are both perfect for Sunday morning church. For the first option, I really like statement necklaces at the moment, but nothing too big and chunky, so I find that this one is a nice balance between the two. The second option is a bit more dressy because of the flower / ruffle detailing at the neckline. I opted for a few bracelets instead of a necklace for this one. Also, I forgot about tights, but a solid black pair would do the trick here! For shoes I would recommend some basic black heels for both options. 

Outfit 3: Family Time

Dress: American Eagle

Cardigan: Old Navy

Bangles: Forever 21

I bet you were wondering how long it would take me to put something floral in this post :P Now that it is finally spring, florals are definitely the way to go, especially for Easter. I love the corset detailing on this dress, not to mention that it is very well made. I paired it with a pink cardigan to brighten up the navy, and the bangles add some fun to the look. I would add some pink or navy flats to complete this outfit.  

Outfit 4: Dinnertime 

 

Top: American Eagle

Skirt: Simons

Necklace: Forever 21

My second favourite thing: lace. Of course I had to include it! This top is gorgeous, I've worn it out so many times and gotten a lot of compliments. The shirt is not too long, so the cute bow waistband of this bright blue skirt still peaks through. The skirt, despite its short length, has some great pluses: it's nice and thick, and, it has pockets! For shoes both heels and flats would work well with this outfit. 

Bonus: Easter Extras

I am currently loving Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh perfume. The best way to describe this scent would be...fresh! I know, descriptive, right? There's also a slight floral undertone. Seriously, how much more spring can you fit in a bottle decorated with flowers? :) My next must-have is this matte eye shadow palette from Too Faced. It has a bit of everything: browns, blues, and purples. I pretty much wear these shades all the time!

So there you have it! Hope these outfits gave you some ideas on how to look cute this Easter weekend! Happy Easter everyone! :)

Outfits Inspired by Essie Nail Polish

I think this is officially the most random post I've ever done! I was choosing what colour to paint my nails the other day and I noticed I had a lot of pastel shades, all from the brand Essie. And I thought it would be cool to put together some spring outfits inspired by them, since it's finally spring (well, almost, we are getting there!). Pastel shades never go out of style for spring in my fashion books!

The Polishes

Left to right: Turquoise & Caicos, Mint Candy Apple, Muchi Muchi, and Lilacism

Outfit #1: The Blues

Top: Forever 21; Cardigan: Hudson's Bay; Pants: Smart Set; Necklace: Accessorize

At the end of winter last year, I remember all I wanted was a pair of bright blue pants. It was a big jump for me, since I usually just stick to jeans. But I went for it and I'm so glad I did! These pants are great for spring and summer because they are very lightweight and breathable. Pairing different hues of the same colour is a very chic look, and a simple upgrade to the basic jeans and tee outfit!

Outfit #2: Purple & Mint

Camisole: Garage; Cardigan: Bluenotes; Shorts: Aeropostale; Necklace: Forever 21

I love pairing spring colours together- especially deep purple with mint. And you didn't think I'd do a blog post without something floral, did you? You could definitely substitute the shorts for jeans, especially here in Canada- it won't be warm enough to wear shorts for another two months at least!

Outfit #3: Pink & Lace

Dress: Forever 21; Cardigan: Jacob; Necklace: Forever 21; Belt: Garage

Of course, I save my favourite for last. I bought this dress towards the end of the summer and I can't wait to start wearing it again! As you know, aside from floral, lace is also one of my must-haves. Paired with the cardigan, this look is the most classic of the three. 

And just in case you were wondering, I ended up painting my nails lilac :)

Out for Coffee

Out for Coffee by mariathefashionista showing what to wear with sleeveless tops

Hope Collection sleeveless top
yoox.com

Koral black jeans
$300 - austique.co.uk

Brown lace boots
modcloth.com

Spike necklace
$27 - sportsgirl.com.au

Lilly pulitzer bracelet
$27 - bloomingdales.com

Gold Love Script
etsy.com

100TH POST!!!!

I cannot believe this is my 100th post! Thank you to everyone who has been reading! Even if you discovered this blog today or last week or have been with me since the beginning, I appreciate your support! I am at over 1800 page views!

So this is a little late, but I did have some good outfits last week!

Sweater: Urban Planet

Cardigan: Bluenotes

Jeans: American Eagle

Necklace: Forever 21

Blouse: Bluenotes

Tank top: Urban Behaviour

Cardigan: Aeropostale

Jeans: American Eagle

Necklace: Forever 21

T-shirt: Tommy Hilfiger

Cardigan: Pure by Alfred Sung (Hudson's Bay)

Tank top: Bluenotes

Jeans: American Eagle

Necklace: Urban Behaviour

And now on to my outfit of the night! I went to a party on Saturday hosted by my department's student's association. It was Harry Potter themed, called the Yule Ball of course! I bought my very first LBD, and this is how I styled it!

Dress: Taylor (Hudson's Bay)

Tights: from my mom

Necklace: gift (from This & That Axesoir)

Earrings: gift

Lipstick: Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

See this dress seems like the classic LBD, but then it has an unexpected lacy design in the back! I actually didn't notice until I tried it on!

Until my next post, stay stylish! :)

Outfits of the Week #2

This past week was a little bit warmer, so I can show you my all-time go-to outfit of skinny jeans, a basic t-shirt, and a cardigan. This coming week is going to be much colder though, so I'll be breaking out my warm sweaters and fleece-lined leggings once again.
I only have a few outfits (my best ones of the week, haha) because this post would be a lot longer if I had photos from every day.



T-shirt: Target
Cardigan: Urban Behaviour
Tank top: Urban Behaviour
Jeans: American Eagle
Necklace: Garage

This is as basic as my outfit gets. When I have no idea whatsoever what to wear, I can always revert back to the jeans-tee-cardigan uniform. I have way too many plain t-shirts and cardigans to count, so the options are endless!

I also added this really pretty jewelled necklace to complete the outfit. I've been into necklaces lately, short, long, gold, silver, you name it. I remember buying this necklace ages ago- it came with another strand that had a key on it, and I didn't like that so I used tiny pliers to remove it (random side note...).

Top: Eddie Bauer (recent!)
Tank top: Garage
Jeans: American Eagle
Bracelet: gift

My next outfit isn't much different; I just substituted the cardigan for a long sleeved top. I got this top for Christmas and I absolutely love it- it's a waffle knit, so it's warmer than a regular shirt.

 

I got a close-up of the lace detailing on the top because it's so pretty! I love lace, as you probably already know. I usually find that thermal tops can look a little pyjama-y, but the lace definitely moves this top out of that zone!

Top: Eclipse (recent!)
Tank Top: Urban Behaviour
Jeans: Tommy Hilfiger
Bracelet: Forever 21 (recent!)

This next outfit is a little bit different than what I would normally wear, but my New Year's Resolutions included wanting to wear more patterns, so that's where this top comes in! I also like to dress up more than usual when I go to teach flute. I'm not a big fan of stripes, but the diagonal ones on this top are much more flattering than plain horizontal.

I have to do a little rant about these jeans though. I thought they were pretty nice the first few times I wore them (I got them in the summer), but now I find them really baggy, but still hard to take off (skinny jeans problems right here...). And then I looked at the tag- they are 99% cotton. So my advice: always buy jeans with a bit of spandex- it makes a difference!

And once again, I had to make the outfit girly with pearls. I was surprised at the quality of this bracelet, considering it was $6.50- it came in a set with two others.

So those are some of the outfits I wore this week! I have so many more ideas for posts, so until my next one, stay stylish!

"Touch of Class"

"Touch of Class" by mariathefashionista featuring colorful handbags

Oasis t shirt
$43 - oasis-stores.com

Miss selfridge
missselfridge.com

Dorothy Perkins lace up bootie
dorothyperkins.com

Colorful handbag
yesstyle.com

Two tone jewelry
dressbarn.com

Old Navy colorful scarve
oldnavy.gap.com

Nearly Natural Feather & Berry Candelabrum
nearlynatural.com

Garden Trading Stackable Cake & Biscuit Tins- Clay
$61 - amara.co.uk

Buy Charbonnel et Walker Champagne truffles (135g) and other Chocolate...
$15 - chocolatetradingco.com