My New Shopping Destination is Sears The change of season means warmer temperatures, but it also means fishing through my closet to figure out what the heck fits from last year. My weight has really fluctuated in the past few years, so I m never entirely sure what s going to fit from season to season, and sure enough, there are some serious gaps in my wardrobe for spring and summer. Enter Sears Canada, which I noticed has been showing up in the news a lot recently, and also happens to be the closest department store to my home. Last time I was there, close to Christmas, they were experimenting with a whole new look and store layout. I loved it, and ended up buying a bunch of things I wasn t planning on buying, because the selection was so great. This time, though,
it was a whole new experience, what with the changes they ve rolled out, and I basically spent half my morning wandering around the store. Because it was kind of like taking part in a treasure hunt. The Cut @ Sears is a whole new way of shopping. I found myself wandering through the aisles of the Home & Decor section, reaching out to touch the gorgeous throw pillows in a million different colours, and moving in for a closer look at the candles and and other design elements that kept catching my eye. The amazing part? Everything that s in The Cut @ Sears is what s known as off-price, but it s also name brand awesomeness. They bring in new items every single week, so you never know what you ll get. Kind of like Forrest Gump s box of chocolates. Then, I went to the fashion department. And I swooned.
How cute is this outfit? Racks of hot-off-the-runway dresses, workout clothes, flouncy tops, name-brand denim and more, and all at the same off-price savings, in The Cut @ Sears sections. Literally everywhere I looked, I found something I wanted to try on and go home with. And I don t always feel that way when I go shopping. Take a look at this gorgeous dress, which I plan to bring on a conference trip to Florida next week: So. Cute.
The accessories section was where I had the most fun. I m pretty sure I m not the only one who is constantly looking for the next fantastic purse or tote. I don t do the investment piece when it comes to purses, because, well, kids, so it s nice to still get really high quality pieces that don t empty out my savings account. My darling children to a good enough job of that. And just when I was about to leave, I caught a glimpse of the shoe department. I m a sucker for shoes, and the rows upon rows of pretty heels, sandals and flats made me light-headed. I counted 4 pairs that I wanted, at first glance. Then I saw the children s shoes and saw another 4 pairs that would be great for my kids. The great thing about all those shoes was that they weren t only name brand items, but new Sears-label essentials as well. Super high quality, but again, not resource-draining! Take a look at my new favourite shoes:
Want. So after my lengthy visit to my favourite department store, I ve decided that I m going to be back there next week, because there will be new things to look at. And I ll probably go the following week, as well. And the week after that, and probably the week after that you get the idea. Disclosure: This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Sears Canada #GotItAtSears program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my
personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors. The Best Cozy Sweaters for Fall It s always sad to see summer pass us by so quickly. But I have a confession to make, I m looking forward to fall! Please don t hate me! Fall is my favourite season thanks to rich colours and boots. Not the boots needed for trudging through deep snow, but all the other lovely ones. I also LOVE a great sweater. Nothing makes you feel cozier than the perfect sweater. While throwing on a hoody is perfect for home, when we re at work or running errands there s no excuse to not look put together with all the sweater options out there. I m rounding up the best cozy sweaters for fall that work perfectly from a week day through to the weekend.
Every girl needs a cardigan. Cardigans are perfect for the office because office temperatures often hover around freezing and you ll need something to keep you warm. Blazers work well for meetings and when you have to pull off an extra
professional look, but they aren t the greatest option for sitting at a desk eight hours straight. They re terribly uncomfortable! This cardigan from Ann Taylor is made of Merino Wool so it s light weight but keeps you cozy and warm too. It works well with dress pants or a pencil skirt. For weekends, throw it over a t-shirt and jeans and you re set.
Sweaters do not have to be long-sleeved! Some of my favourite and most comfortable sweaters have sleeves of a shorter length. How often have you found yourself pushing up the sleeves anyway? This short sleeve sweater from Joe Fresh is beautiful and business casual. This is the perfect transitional piece since it s flowy like many summer tops but has a bit more weight to it. This style of sweater pairs well with skinny pants and heels or leggings and boots for a weekend look.
Layering a sweater over a dress shirt is a great look, but have you ever actually tried to do this? It s not very comfortable and doesn t look as cute as what we imagine. The shirt underneath tends to bunch up and you end up tugging at it all day long. LOFT solves the dilemma with a one-piece dress shirt and sweater combo. You could even tuck the shirt
tail into a skirt or pants if you want a cleaner look but with jeans it s the perfect casual Friday or weekend outfit.
Think outside the box when it comes to sweater styles. There s nothing I love more than wrapping myself in a chunky sweater, but the over sized sweater look doesn t work well in most offices. A moto style sweater like this one from The Gap provides a bit more structure to your look. Zip it all the way up and pair with a pencil skirt and work-appropriate boots and you ll look professional and on trend too! Go for drama! Technically speaking, ponchos aren t sweaters, but they serve the same purpose with a more dramatic effect. I love that you can essentially wear anything you want but throw on a poncho like this one from Dynamite and heads will turn! You can belt it at the waist for more of a sweater feel or pin it at the shoulder with a brooch for a very elegant look. However you choose to rock it you ll be cozy and stylin too. What are your favourite sweater styles?
What To Wear To A White Party You may have noticed a trend over the last little while society is OBSESSED with the colour white. You can see it in décor (white kitchens are still huge), art and photography. Of course this trickles down to entertaining and style. Taking cues from the growing popularity of the Diner En Blanc, private white themed parties are cropping up everywhere! Just a warning though pay attention to the type of event you re attending. In general, wearing white to a wedding is still a major faux pas unless it s a specific request made by the couple (think Solange Knowles and her dramatic wedding photos).
{source} Pay attention to your accessories too! Gold often pairs wear with white to set it off and offer a bit of contrast, but don t be afraid to add some colour: turquoise or coral is gorgeous with white! Most white parties have a summer or outdoors theme to them. Think pool parties, garden parties or even boat parties! Keep your footwear in mind you may want to consider flat sandals or platform heels. In most cases (unless you know for sure it s a cocktail party) leave the stilettos at home. What to Wear to a White Party Here are some great outfits to pick from when attending your next white party.
This gorgeous drop waist number from Ann Taylor has the feel of a Gatsby garden party to it. I love the pretty details and the comfortable fit which ensures you can eat as well as dance the night away!
Maxi dresses always make the perfect go to summer outfit. I love that they can be dressed up or dressed down. This one from Old Navy would be great for a backyard barbecue add some natural coloured accessories to play off the white and you re good to go!
Nothing screams summer more than linen pants! These beauties from Banana Republic can also be dressed up or dressed down depending on the accessories you choose. These would be my choice for a yacht party since it can get chilly once the sun sets. These are light enough to keep you cool, but will also keep you covered and protected from the wind.
Rompers are HUGE this season! Make sure you find a grown up version like this elegant and streamlined one from J.Crew. If you ve got shorter legs elongate them with wedge or platform heels, while taller ladies should opt for flats.
If your white party is on the more formal side, opt for an elegant but easy to wear dress like this one, again from Ann Taylor. You don t actually need too many accessories with this dress since there are so many intricate and pretty details on it. It makes for perfect and easy dressing! Will you be attending or throwing any white themed parties this summer?
Back to School Fashion Trends for Teens We re nearing the end of summer and that means it s time for back to school shopping. If you re the parent of a teen though, you know that this is an especially trying time of year. We re here to help. These are the seven hottest Fall fashion trends for teens this back to school season, according to Seventeen magazine. We ve seen these styles before but they all have a new modern twist to them for today s fashionable teen. Imagine how impressed your teen will be that you know all this? Or not. Yeah, it is pretty hard to impress a teen isn t it? But this is about you too so before we jump to the trends, here are 5 quick tips to survive back to school shopping with your teen: Make a budget then stick to it. Look online and know the sales. It takes a little more time but it is the best way to save money. Know your school policy on clothing. Even if your teen s school doesn t have uniforms, there can still be restrictions on clothing. Carry cash so your teen knows that the shopping funds are limited. Establish a rule you get final approval on all purchases this just might avoid unwanted drama at the mall. Back to School Fashion Trends for
Teens The grunge look is back but with a feminine twist no more dark and dreary this time around it is funky and fresh. SO Jogger Lounge Pants and Jerry Leigh Cheetah Leggings Pastels they aren t just for spring and summer anymore. LC Lauren Conrad Umbrella Pull-On Skirt and ROZARIO
Ballet Slipper Metallics paired with basic and casual pieces. ALANIA Ballet Slipper and Fifth Sun Homies Los Angeles Foil Tank
Athletic styles that are sporty but feminine. Freeze Brooklyn High-Low Tee and CIAMBAVE Sneaker
Plaid in all styles pastels, sheer and you can mix them with other prints. Mudd Plaid Oversized Square Scarf and Mudd Chiffon Hi-Low Tank
Western think suede and fringe. Giddy up. OLENALLA Boot and Mudd Fringe & Stud Crossbody Bag
The fashions featured in this post are from Kohl s and ALDO Shoes.