Wandering

I have a confession to make.

I am an overpacker. 

No matter how much I try to be a smart packer, I always end up bringing too many clothes and/or too many pairs of shoes. I wish I could say that I've learned from my past mistakes, but as I continue to travel South East Asia, the story remains the same.

Here are a few snaps of me wearing my male travel companion's clothes in Vietnam, because I still haven't learned to pack appropriately!

I'm still on the pleather-legging-loving-train.

Bisous!

Marie-Anne

Halloween Inspired Outfit Four

The Pumpkin Queen

I've recently become obsessed with orange and would wear it every day if I could. This look takes Halloween fashion pretty literally, but many of the pieces can be worn after Halloween. If not paired together, the sweater, shirt and purse can all be worn again.

Halloween is a time that you can dress up as someone else or you can stay true to your own style. I hope everyone had a great Halloween last weekend. Have fun this weekend. 

Socks: Tabbisocks
Skirt: Nostalgia
Sweater: Chinti and Parker
Shoes: Charlotte Olympia
Purse: GIVENCHY

Besos, 

Erika

Halloween Inspired Outfit Three

Vampire Vixen

I'm typically not into Hot Topic-esque fashion, but I sometimes cant help myself from dressing very young around Halloween. This look is very vampire inspired, without being a costume. I own a backpack very similar to this one and I'm always shocked by how many compliments I get when I wear it. 

Shirt: Truffle Shuffle

Sweats: Zoe Karssen

Backpack: VANS

Ring: Bernard Delettrez

Besos, 

Erika

October Sun

Here are a few snaps from when we photographed our lovely friends for our hats post.

Soaking up the very last of the rays of sunshine before the real cold sets in.

(Obsessed with these pleather leggings!)

Halloween Inspired Outfit Two

In the Eye of the Beholder 

Getting into the Halloween spirit doesn't mean that modesty has to be thrown out of the window. This look is a bit spooky because of the Victorian print of the shoes and the print of the dress, yet it is very feminine and can even be worn to the office. I would pair this look with a dark wine lipstick to add a bit more mystery.

Dress: Kenzo

Shoes: Charles Philp

Hat: American Apparel

Clutch: Alexander McQueen

Besos, 

Erika

Hats, Caps, & Snapbacks

We've been obsessed with hats all summer and will continue to be moving into Autumn! Whether they have a buckle or have a snap-back, bring them our way. We don't have to tell you that they're especially perfect for bad hair days, but they are a fashionable option. 

Asia is known for putting bad (and very inappropriate) English translations on apparel... which is hilarious and we love it.

You can find phrases such as "DRUNKEN," "DOPE," "ONE OF A KIND" (shout out to G-Dragon) and other, more obscene, words on hats here and we want them all!

Besos and Bisous, 

Erika and Marie-Anne

Halloween Inspired Outfits

Dressing up for Halloween doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be in full costume. There are many fashionable ways to get into the Halloween spirit - without splattering your face with fake blood, sporting a mask or wearing your sexiest lingerie. Over the next four weeks, we will be posting some Halloween inspired outfits. Hope you enjoy them!

Day of the Dead

Sugar skulls are the iconic symbol of the day after Halloween, Mexican holiday, Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead), but they can be seen in fashion year round. This look is functional, comfortable and it channels my inner J.Lo. I'm a proud owner of a pair of leather joggers and I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a stylish fall pant. 

Sweatshirt: Pierce the Veil

Pants: Neil Barrett

Shoes: Nike

Nail Polish: NARS  

Besos, 

Erika  

Autumn Audio

October has arrived- which means it's finally the perfect temperature for afternoon bike rides and evening strolls. Autumn is without a doubt my favorite season because of the amount of time I spend outdoors. Music is my preferred walking companion, so here is a small collection of songs that I enjoy listening to on my morning commute to work. Give them a listen. xx

Besos, 

Erika 

Fall Favorites

Fall is upon us! After a humid summer of damp clothes and frizzy hair, we can finally pack away our crop tops and sandals to make way for oversized sweaters and leather booties.

 

I am channeling my inner Gothic Princess with my favorite items for fall. 

First of all, I love everything with a little pleather, but especially a good pair of pleather leggings. They add a stylish, playful touch to any outfit. I really like to pair mine with a black blouse or oversized sweater. 

Speaking of, have a peek at that "Province of Canada" sweater! I've had my eye on this piece for a while now; I like it's simplistic design and how perfectly it would go with my pleather leggings. 

Next up, a black floppy hat - they're just so chic... I can't wait to wear mine out this fall! 

Let's talk lipstick. I love wearing loud, vibrant colors during the spring and summer, but it's just as fun to wear rich, deep colors in the colder seasons. Wine-colored lipsticks are my favorite thing to complete an all-black outfit.

The last "must-have" of my fall favorites is a pair of stylish running shoes. If you live in a city like I do, a pair of comfortable shoes is essential to someone who walks everywhere! 

Let us know what your favorites for fall are, too!

Bisous,

Marie-Anne

Metro Mania

If I were living in North America, I would never associate the words "subway station" and "fashion". That is definitely not the case in Seoul. Countless stations have incredible underground shopping centers that are not only stylish, but also very convenient.

Some of my favorite unique pieces that I've acquired while living in Korea have been purchased at one of these stations. They sell a variety of items including: clothing, accessories, makeup, shoes, cell phone cases, food, coffee and even selfie sticks.

Affordable, trendy items don't have to break the bank. You are able to pick up a variety of styles at a minimal cost. I've been able to buy cute, functional purses for roughly $10, dresses for under $15 and tops for about $5. Picking up trendy items at subway stations has cleared my budget to buy higher quality staple pieces.

Stay posted to see some of my favorite subway station finds.

Besos, 

Erika

Instadaily

Thanks to the Chuseok Holiday (Korean Thanksgiving) we had a very long weekend at the beginning of September, so I took the opportunity to visit Taipei, Taiwan! 

Taipei has always been at the top of my list of places to visit and I am so excited that I finally got to go!

Here is a roundup of some instagram photos I took during my visit!

The Hawaii of Korea

Back in July we went on a beautiful trip to one of Korea's most famous tourist destinations: Jeju Island.

We visited waterfalls, ate black pork, explored the island, and got heavily bloated from eating so much good food.

We cut the legs off of our pants...

Oh, the humidity! Despite Korea’s sweat-tastic weather at the moment, I am in the highest of spirits! Erika and I have a very exciting few weeks ahead, including a trip to Boryeong Mudfestival and our vacation to the “Hawaii of Korea,” Jeju Island. We’ll be sure to share our adventures with you, but for now, here is a list of my current summer must-haves.
 

(Clockwise from left to right)

1. Anything and everything cut out. Anything and everything monochromatic. I am a huge fan of white on white with a bold lip.
2. Matching sets. Erika and I have been scouring the boutiques of Seoul for the perfect cropped combos. I’m also loving the palm tree prints gracing stores this season.
3. Loose. Ripped. Boyfriend. Jeans. I like to pair mine with a fitted tank or a crop top to offset the bagginess of the jeans. They’re so casual, I’m in love.
4. Blue-hue nail polishes! Okay, yes, paired with the metallic sandal, they’re a bit ‘90s... but they look so great together, I can’t say no!
5. Cat-eye sunglasses. That is all.
6. The Metallic Sandal! Are you even mad at this? I’m also loving the chunky heel on this particular pair. Throw these on with your boyfriend jeans or a monochromatic combo to complete your look.

Let me know what some of your summer must-haves are in the comment section!

Bisous,

Marie-Anne

Summer Life Hacks

 

1. Maxi Skirts:

Ditch the denim this summer in favor of a flowy maxi skirt made from a light material such as jersey knit or a nice cotton blend. The modesty of the maxi allows you to comfortably wear a crop without feeling over exposed. A maxi skirt is flattering on most body types and they can easily be transitioned from day to night with the right accessories and coordinating pieces. Statement necklaces are a great addition to make your look feel less causal and more sophisticated.  

2. Ice Cube Trays:

It never ceases to amaze me how cute ice cube trays have become. Some the most affordable ones that I have found have been at Target and Ikea. Instead of adding water to the trays, I have been adding different varieties of juices to get great flavor combinations. My favorite combination lately has been raspberry tea flavored ice cubes added to lemonade. 

3. Milk:

Ever get unbearable sunburns that make it difficult to sleep? Being fair skinned means that I get those kind of sunburns if I even look at a picture of a beach. My skin blisters and the pain seems to spread to every inch on my body. An old, Southern woman taught me a trick that I will use for the rest of my sunburned days. She told me that putting milk or plain yogurt on a sunburn takes away the sting. I don't know the science behind this gross trick, but it has worked for me for many summers. 

4. Lemons:

Not only are lemons delicious to drink in lemonade, they are also quite useful. I have bleached and highlighted my hair to get it my color blonde, however lemons are a great natural alternative to hair dye in the summer. Spraying a mixture of lemon juice and water can bring out your natural highlights. If lemons weren't already cool enough for being a natural hair dye, they also can clean your clothes. Arm pit stains are as embarrassing as they are disgusting. By rubbing lemon juice and 1 tsp of salt on your shirts underarm, deodorant and dark coloration stains are lifted. 

5. Hand Fans:

In Korea, many people believe in something called " Fan Death ". Motorized fans are replaced by adorable hand fans that are as practical as they are cute. They are incredibly light weight and very easy to carry around. My fan is an shaped like an elephant and was purchased at my local Daiso (very similar to Dollar General) for 1,000 Won (around $1). Hand fans are not very stylish in North America, but I think it is time for them to become a new trend. 

6. Deodorant:

 

Who says that deodorant can only be used on underarms? No me! Deodorant is by far my favorite summer secret. I don't sweat profusely, however I still like to keep a deodorant stick in my purse just to be safe. Not all girls were born with a thigh gap, and that is okay. Being one of those girls whose thighs rub together means that summer time = chafing time. Every summer, I would get horrible blisters until I learned that all chafing could be eliminated by putting deodorant on my thighs. Deodorant is also very helpful to break in a cute, new pair of flats. A little bit of deodorant on your heel can help the breaking in process become significantly less painful. If you are worried that the deodorant will stain your clothing, a little lemon is an excellent solution. 

I hope my summer secrets work for you as well as they have worked for me. 

Besos, 

Erika 

Croppy Cats

We spent Sunday walking around Marie-Anne's neighborhood, eating delicious Mexican food and enjoying the weather before the Monsoon and Humidity Seasons begin.

Huckleberry Gin

During the summer, there are very few things I enjoy more than a refreshing poolside drink. Poolside or not this summer, I enjoy having a cold drink on a hot day. Due to the heat, I've stopped using ice in my gin and tonics and have started adding frozen fruit. Instead of being left with a watery cocktail when the ice melts, I'm left with a delicious summery treat. Here are some frozen fruits that I've tried with a gin and tonic:

+Blueberries
+Blackberries
+Strawberries
+Grapefruit
+Grapes
+Raspberries
+Orange

+Lime

Gin is my drink of choice, but I'm sure frozen fruit would be a yummy alternative to ice in a variety of summer favorites. Recipes are always welcomed and appreciated. 

Besos, 

Erika

Canada Day + Independence Day

Happy Canada Day + Independence Day, y'all!

Do we look patriotic yet?

I will be celebrating Independence Day by watching a firework show with fellow Americans at an American military base in Seoul. Nothing represents the USA better than a BBQ and a good old-fashioned firework show. Happy 4th of July!

I celebrated Canada Day by eating "poutine" (or the closest to the real thing) and drinking Canadian cider at a Canadian pub in Seoul! There were lots of "sorry's" and "pardon me's" to be heard throughout the night. Happy Canada Day!

Fifa Madness

Although my dreams of seeing Mexico win the World Cup this year have come to an unfortunate end, it doesn't mean that the hype is over. Who says that the only way to watch a game is in a jersey? There are many ways to dress up for a game without looking like you're wearing a costume. This is one of the looks I wore while watching a Mexico game. 

Besos, 

Erika

Netflix Queue

Sometimes I get the feeling that I pay a $7.99 monthly subscription to just browse the endless titles that Netflix offers. Instead of spending countless hours browsing, I have gone in with a plan and have created a list of nine films and/or television shows that I am itching to see.

1. Submarine- I put this coming-of-age comedy-drama on my list after learning that Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys was a large contributing factor to the music of the film. I may not be a 15-year-old love-stricken teen anymore, but I surely remember being one. I look forward to watching this and seeing if it rings adolescent truth. 
2. Safety Not Guaranteed- Jake Johnson. If you have seen the show New Girl, you know him as the lovable, Nick Miller. I've had major love eyes for Mr. Johnson ever since seeing him in Paperheart. After watching The Wire, I can't seem pull myself away from investigate plot lines. I'm curious as to see how the characters solve their classified ads mystery. 
3. Orange is the New Black: Season 2- I was initially hesitant to start watching OITNB because I didn't see the appeal of a show about a women's prison. I started watching the show last year, and I've been hooked ever since. I don't know how the second season is going to compare, but I am ready to attach myself once more to Piper and the gang. 
4. Troll Hunter- Norwegian + low budget horror film + mockumentary = a film that I am excited to see. This film was recommended to me by a friend who shares my interest in dark fantasy horror films. The film has received many positive reviews and there is an American remake already on the way. 
5. Jobs- I'm an Apple addict and have always been drawn to the story of Steve Jobs. The film was not a blockbuster giant, but Ashton Kutcher received a lot of praise for his portrayal of Jobs. I'm curious to see how Kutcher can go from playing Kelso to playing a technology legend. 
6. The Kids Are All Right- The film is based on a very relevant topic accompanied by a great cast. Same sex marriage is the primary civil rights issue of this generation. The fact that this film received so much praise and recognition is another sign that times are changing and people are starting to recognize that a family is a family, no matter the circumstance. 
7. Blackfish- The Cove tore my heart in a million pieces and I expect Blackfish to do the same. I've never been to SeaWorld, but I have always had a distaste for animals in captivity. Documentaries have a way to teaching the viewer about controversial topics without overwhelming them and I am intrigued as to who they paint the villain. Is the killer whale going to be live true its name and be seen as a killer?  
8. Pretty in Pink- There are many movies that I watched as a child that I am trying to re-watch as an adult. The only thing I remember about this film is that at some point, Molly Ringwald wears pink. Pretty in Pink has has a great influence in pop culture, and I would like to see why I enjoyed it so much as a child.   
9. House of Cards: Seasons 1 & 2- House of Cards had me at Kevin Spacey. American politics always have a way of seeping into the the media and pop culture. The series is said to show the true colors of US politics by eluding manipulation, power, ruthless pragmatism and doing bad things for the greater good. Sign me up! It also doesn't hurt that Kevin Spacey's character is from my home state. 

Besos, 

Erika

Daily Makeup Routine

Since I am the kind of gal that loves sleeping in, I allow myself very little time to get ready in the morning. Here is a list of essential makeup items for looking put together in a short amount of time.

1. Panda's Dream by TONYMOLY: This is an eye-brightener and life-saver when it comes to making me look awake in the morning! I apply it to the dark circles under my eyes on mornings when I look extra haggard.
2. After School BB Watery Foundation by TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: Moving from a regular foundation to BB Cream is hands down one of the best decisions I've ever made for my skin. I love the texture of this BB Cream and the added bonus of a highlighter and concealer in the cap. This foundation also has SPF in it which is perfect for the summer!
3. Drawing Show Black Liquid Eyeliner by Etude House: I have this particular eyeliner in both the black and brown colors; I almost never leave the house without a winged eye.
4. Aloha Bronzer by Etude House: Finding a good bronzer in Korea is hard. Very hard.  BUT, this bronzer is half brown powder and half pink shine so it does the trick.
5. Glam Rock Eyebrow Pencil by TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: I always envied people with thick-statement brows... and now I have my very own! This product has a great color on one side and a coiled eyebrow brush on the other. Filling in my eyebrows is quick and really makes me look awake in the morning.
6. The Rocket Volum' Express Washable Mascara by Maybelline: This is probably the only product that I have stayed loyal to since moving abroad. It is incredibly hard to find a mascara that will give you volume and thickness in Korean makeup stores. I slap on a coat and I'm ready to head (read: run) out the door!

Bisous,

Marie-Anne