Category: summer

My favourite clothings from this summer

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

Summer has long been over, and I survived the hot searing rays, the sticky humidity, and smog in the city.  Now the Fall has officially moved in and made itself home.  A cool breeze is the daily norm, and everything feels calmer.  Now is when I wanted to look back and think about the fashion items I had that made the past summer not only bearable (summer is one of my least fave seasons), but also fun!  So here is my Top 5 list:

#4 My Little Distressed Denim Jacket

In Toronto, summer nights are still a bit nippy sometimes.  When going out to night time shows and parties, I always had my distressed denim in a basic fitted cut, not too cropped or long, but just right.  It went with everything.  I mean everything, dresses, shorts, rompers, pants, leggings.  And because denim is cotton, it was super breathable and comfy.  It also looked so classic and effortlessly stylish.  An all purpose cute denim jacket was my jacket staple.

Simple, cute, and easy to use. What more can you ask for in a jacket?
Simple, cute, and easy to use. What more can you ask for in a jacket?

#3 Basic Cotton Romper

I wore my cotton romper consecutively for days during the real hot times this summer.  It breathed, it was cute, it was functional, and only one thing to put on in the morning.  Fashion heaven!  I mentioned this romper before in an earlier entry.  This is the strapless $10 romper that I sewed straps onto to make it more wearable… I truly “heart” it.

Every day during the hottest days in August, I wore this thing. My kid was sick of seeing it. ha ha
Every day during the hottest days in August, I wore this thing. 

#2 Lacey Kimono

Feminine, and pretty, but casual.  An easy cover-up that didn’t add on too much cover.  This was my lace trimmed kimono.   Blush pink with ivory lace, it is neutral enough of a colour to go with everything, and light and airy enough to want to wear everyday.  If only relationships were this easy to coordinate….

The kimono trend is dying down, but this lacey piece was still a cool cover-up during the summer.
The kimono trend is dying down, but this lacey piece was still a cool cover-up during the summer.

#1 Awesome one-piece bathing suit, second hand.

I am not a huge fan of bikinis.  To be honest, I don’t think it is flattering on any body type or shape.  For me, it’s the lack of support/material of a bikini that makes it a flawed fashion item, and just basically an excuse to show skin. And unless your body is “perfect” (nobody has the perfect body though) any gal can basically feel like crap the minute she puts one on and looks in the mirror.  So when my boyfriend sprung a Labour Day beach trip on me with little notice, I scrambled to find a cute one piece suit, while the trends are pushing the “bikini” idea on girls.

For those of you that don’t live in Canada,  swimsuit season ends in August.  After that, you are left with swim wear duds (mismatched or tacky-looking).  I needed the suit soon so I couldn’t turn to online shopping.  I went to every store that sold swimwear, but couldn’t find a cute, affordable one piece. This was a nightmare that plagued me until the day before the trip when I found the cutest one-piece ever at a second hand store in my neighborhood. It was also only $15.00 and an American Apparel brand.  I liked it for its funky colours and simple design, typical of what makes American Apparel clothes great (if they only were more affordable).  What a find and what a miracle!

Such fun colours! Tangerine red, and navy blue, haltered and just super fitted and cute. I really lucked out on this bathing suit find...
Such fun colours! Tangerine red, and navy blue, haltered and just super fitted and cute. One peices don’t have to look matronly.  🙂

What clothing pieces were you most pleased by this summer?  Because this season is so short here, and summer fashion has all the fun pieces, the sun dresses, skirts and shorts…I really have to make the most of it, and I feel I did!

Summer skin care: sun protection is key!

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

I recently discovered summer skincare is very different from the rest of the seasons.  I think because in Canada, we really only have two months of summer.  UV rays from the sun are present and dangerous all days of the year, but there is something about summer that just scorches and you can actually feel its damage. In all the other seasons we can be indoors a lot, but not in summer.  I like getting outside, but I never really was a fan of the tanned look, and well, I am kind of afraid of the premature aging that is said to happen to from frequent tanning and sun exposure.  And even with vanity aside, developments of skin cancer are unfortunately proven to be higher for people who love the sun too much. 😦

This was an outdoorsy summer. I was on a trip to beaches near Lake Erie, and it was not a good time to forget the hat. I got baked on that trip.
This was an outdoorsy summer for me. I was on trips camping, trips to lakes and beaches.  So it was not a good time to forget the hat. I got tan lines all over my collar and the summer is only half done!

Staying away from the sun is easier said than done.  This summer is an active one for me.  I walk a lot everyday with my kid for errands and exercise, I also just came back from a weekend at the beach, and the previous weekend I had gone camping.  I see all these tan lines on my collar, and although I know that my natural sun block is protecting me to some degree, I am also getting a lot of sun exposure and sometimes I was forgetting to put it sunscreen on!  Yikes! (At least I have no shortage of vitamin D recently) But still, I have to be careful for the rest of this summer, because though I have been skipping heavy make-up, I can’t skip sun protection.

My 6 Summer Skin Savers:

1) My cocoa butter & zinc oxide sunscreen, SPF unknown, since I make it myself.  It goes on a bit streaky, but knowing it’s all natural makes me and my skin happy on blazing summer days.  It is a bit greasy, so it must be worn on its own, not under make-up.  And I spread it everywhere that is getting exposure.

2) Rose water skin toner.  Also all natural, since my toner is literally just rose water straight from any supermarket. I put the bottle in the fridge and dab it on with a cotton ball whenever I need refreshing on my face.  Toners are generally used after face cleansing. But you can use rosewater anytime your face needs a splash of actual moisture and it smells so wonderful.

3) BB Cream!  I know there is a bit of a debate over which is better: BB cream or foundation.  But for SPF protection, BB’s are unparalleled.  Most of them are 25 SPF and up, and that’s only one of the many things BB creams multitask at.  They also provide coverage and blurring effects for the summer days that you still need to look a bit more polished.  Soften bb cream’s heavier coverage by skipping powder and you get a natural dewy, slightly shiny look that is supposed to be “in” at the moment, while still getting the sun protection that you need. Also powder make-up can turn cake-y in hot weather–not the best looking.

4) A big straw summer hat. Worn not for fashion, but for a constant shade for your face. Not necessary the most cooling item to wear on top  your head during a hot day, but a MUST to keep your face and collar in the shade, away from intense sun.  I went strawberry picking during the weekend and without it, I would have been seared by the midday rays!

5) Best stay indoors during the hours of 11am-4pm.  Unless you have to, why do your outdoors activities under the hot midday sun?  The intense heat of the summer sun at that time also puts you at risk of a heat stroke.

6) Drink lots of water.  Skin does hydrate from the inside out too, so the hotter the weather, the more water you should be drinking.  I don’t like sodas or sugary drinks that much, so ice water is my go to for hydration!

Shying away from the sun is good. I got in my hand my current bb cream from Holika Holika at SPF 30 and my sun hat from Ardene's for only $12, so there is no excuse not to shade yourself!
Shying away from the sun is good! I got my current bb cream from Holika Holika at an spf of 30, it has a natural coverage.  And my sun hat from Ardene’s was only $12! so there is no excuse not to protect yourself!

There is totally nothing wrong with sunning or tanned skin.  I don’t necessarily think pale skin looks better.  Mostly, I like to think about what is best for the health of my skin in the long run, which would appear to be less sun.  What are your favourite summer skin savers?