prairie girl musings

Tag: fall

  • September: As Told By Instagram

    September: As Told By Instagram

    If you’re not yet following me on Instagram, please check out my account: vanessaortynsky.

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    Natalie and I getting ready for the ceremony!

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    My boyfriend, Nick and I grabbing a midday coffee following the wedding ceremony of two of our closest friends, Kirsten and Steve.

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    Jake and I love tapas, especially snow crab pogos!

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    Mary, one of my very best friends, is finally back from Kenya! We caught up over brunch at Saving Grace.

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    I’ve been freelancing for just under a month, and I love writing and editing from the comfort of my apartment or favourite cafe.

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    I’ve had a major sweet tooth as of late. This cookie inside a cookie really fit the bill.

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    A little bit of TIFF fun.

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    There’s nothing quite like flying home to Saskatchewan for the weekend. Nick and I enjoyed a few beverages in the Maple Leaf lounge prior to take-off.

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    Most importantly, Kirsten and Steve get married!

    That’s all, folks! Have a lovely Friday, the 13th! xxx

  • She was named for the fall…

    She was named for the fall…

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    How To Relish Autumn:

    1. Make mulled cider (I’m obsessed with mulled wine over the holiday season, so I’m going to attempt to make mulled cider in September)

    2. Drink pumpkin ale and convince Nick to brew pumpkin beer.

    3. Make pumpkin loaf, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin pancakes (I’ll leave the pumpkin pie to my mother!)

    4. Go for walks around campus (I live a couple blocks away from The University of Toronto) and drink festive drinks with Jake (he’s starting his university studies this fall!)

    5. Incorporate deep colours into my wardrobe. Burgundy and mustard are on-trend this fall! I’m also excited to bust out my wool scarves, knee-high boots and blood orange Liam coat!

    6. Update my bedtime routine with new teas, new books and new candles. I love relaxing before bed, and fall is my favourite time of year to do so! Are Diptyque candles are a worthy investment?

    6. Darker nail polish. Burgundies and plums are the perfect indication of fall’s arrival.

    7. Foliage. Fall is the most beautiful time of year. I love the assortment of colours and the crunchy sound of stepping on leaves.

    8. The September Issues. I love thumbing through the thicker than thick copies of Vogue and Elle, and reading Monocle’s Most Liveable Cities issue.

    9. Curling up next to the fire (okay, so I don’t have a fireplace in my apartment, but when I go home for Thanksgiving, I’ll be all over that) with a copy of my favourite novel.

    10. Thanksgiving. I’ll be returning home to Saskatchewan for the first Thanksgiving in awhile, and I couldn’t be happier. My family is incredibly close and spending time with them during the holidays is a priority.

  • Life Update and Fall Trends!

    I’ve now been a stylist at Club Monaco for nearly two months, which has been a fantastic experience in itself. I’ve been obsessed with Club Monaco since its humble beginnings in the early 90s. My store, on Queen Street, was actually the very first Club Monaco to open in 1985.

    I am also happy to report that I’ve recently taken on much more freelance work. I am now writing and editing for Nyeus Inc., a digital start-up that crafts websites and multi-media platforms for a variety of companies and organizations. I’m currently working with Dayle Haddon of WomenOne. I’m incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to do what I love most, write.

    I’m also becoming increasing excited for autumn, my favourite season. There are so many reasons to love fall, and I’ll be compiling a list of my favourite fall activities later today! But first, let’s talk fashion! Spending 25-30 hours a week at one of my favourite stores has enabled me to get a sense of what Toronto’s best-heeled will be wearing this year. Here’s a list of my must-have fall trends (mostly from the Club Monaco collection, of course!) So, without further ado…

    1. Faux fur shrugs.
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    Yes, I said it. I am obsessed with this look because it has just enough volume and texture to an pizzazz otherwise bland outfit. It’ll also take you into the colder months of October and November before we all bust out our Canada Goose/knee-length down jackets here in the Great White North.

    2. Neoprene dresses.
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    A dress or a wetsuit? You either love it or hate and believe me, these have been a point of controversy at Club Monaco Queen Street. But I am a huge fan of this material. For one, it’s high quality, have you ever bought a cheap wetsuit? I lived in the South Pacific and my surfer friends spent a pretty penny on their wetsuits. The shape of the Autumn Dress adds shape to even the boyish of figures. Win!

    3. Leather detailing
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    As they say, the design is in the details. I’m a huge fan of leather, as it adds luxury to simple wardrobe staples like cotton shirts and crewneck sweaters. Club Monaco has incorporated real leather into many of their skirts, dresses, pants and shirts this season, making dressing up a lot more fun! My favourite pieces are the Christine skirt (pictured above), the Janice top, the Cecilia dress (in black), the Witherbee dress, the Gabi varsity jacket and the Kaylan jacket (pictured below in white).

    4. Quilted jackets
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    I predict that quilted jackets (especially when roughened up with a bit of leather detailing) will be all the rage this fall. I have the above coat in navy and I’m in love! I think pairing navy with black is an absolute DO this season, and will provide much-needed versatility in all of our wardrobes.

    What are you most looking forward to wearing this fall?

    xoxo, Vanessa