Smart Buy Glasses | Why Not YSL?

In my YSL 6374's

SmartBuyGlasses.ca got in touch last week and asked me to pick out a pair of designer glasses from their site in exchange for an honest review. As someone who breaks everything, I often opt for inexpensive shades to avoid the crush of disappointment which will inevitably come when I scratch/drop/step on/sit upon them. Many $20 shades have come and gone but in my 30's, I've realized that I deserve designer shades. I can take care of two children - I should be able to handle a pair of sunglasses, right?

I waffled between Ray-Bans and Persols, trying to decide between Wayfarers and aviators. I could not have gone wrong with either. But when Yves Saint Laurent gets thrown into the mix, my philosophy is that you always choose YSL. 

I opted for the YSL 6374, a vintage-looking cat-eye that I knew would give me a glam little lift leading into the hols but also fell for the YSL BOLD 2. Each pair retails for around $230 which, for something I'll wear all year, I feel is totally justifiable. 

My glasses just arrived in the mail and as expected, I love YSL shades. They're solidly built, beautifully designed thanks to the interesting frame detail, and instantly flattering. I opted for tortoiseshell but if I didn't already own so many pairs of black sunglasses, would have loved them even more in black. 

Looking for the perfect gift for you or one of your favourites? Be sure to check out the Smart Buy Glasses Christmas Gift Guide. Aaand, since sunglasses are so deeply personal, a Gift Card always fits.

Love this site! Even if I am a little biased...

Yves Saint Laurent 6374 Sunglasses, $224, SmartBuyGlasses.ca

Yves Saint Laurent BOLD 2 Sunglasses, $234, SmartBuyGlasses.ca

Still undecided? Check out these YouTube vids below before you buy:

HOLIDAY '14 | Stylish Gifts for Her

Carey Mulligan in the Dec '14 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK. 

Originally posted in The CLOSET

She's wonderful. You adore her. And she's a nightmare to shop for. I mean, total nightmare. And since you want to give her something she's going to love, it's a perennial struggle to figure out what to buy for the woman who's already got it all. 

This season, my shopping M.O. is all about giving her exactly what she wants. And while you're never going to get it perfect every time, I've got three tricks that I rely on to please any picky giftee, without having to resort to gift cards: keep it luxe, keep it festive, and always include a gift receipt.

Luxe gifts work because the stylish woman is naturally snobby; she can't help herself. Whether it's an HBC stripe, Prada sunglasses, or a bottle of Tom Ford on her bathroom counter, luxe labels serve as daily inspiration to her fashion-fuelled aesthetic. And luxe doesn't always have to mean expensive - a tiny gift from a respected label means more to the stylish woman than loads of little random gifts. If you want to splurge on a larger purchase but can't make it work for your budget, call on friends and family and go in as a group for a bigger buy.

Another fail-proof way to shop for the style maven is to keep it festive. The holidays are all about a little impracticality which means yes to shine, yes to sparkles and definitely yes to that perfect Christmas red. Whether she wears it all year or not, she'll love being able to bust out that gold lame snood every year when the snow starts to fall. What's a snood? Exactly.

And, of course, be sure to ALWAYS include a gift receipt. This small gesture means you've taken the time to go out and pick something for her (which is always appreciated), while still giving her an exit strategy in case the gift doesn't fit/she already owns it/she had her eye on something else.

Still not sure what to get her? Scroll through the thumbnails below for 50 stylish gift ideas...

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HOLIDAY '14 | The Splurge vs. Save Edit

Photo courtesy Target

Originally posted in The LOOK

Ever get that feeling that you're in a time warp? One minute we're back to school shopping and the next - Thanksgiving, Hallowe'en, first snowfall, Christmas. Um, sorry, what just happened? Suddenly, there we are, white knuckled on the steering wheel, stealing parking spots from grandmas, sprinting through Target trying to score that last Zoomer Dino, pick up more tape (why does tape always go missing, btw?), and find more time. Can you buy time? If you find some, can you tell me where it's on sale?  

It's chaos. And since it's hard to think straight when our heads are spinning, ideas can be tough to come by. So, this year, I've decided to get a jump on shopping so I can enjoy every December minute. I've put together a list of the holiday season's most-wanted gifts to help inspire you while you're out shopping, too. And since, like time, our budgets are always stretched to the max this time of year, I've found splurges and saves for each perfect gift.

Time to put your slippered feet up, grab a glass of wine and remember your yoga breaths. It's not even December yet. You've totally got this...

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BLACK FRIDAY '14 | Shopbop's BIG EVENT

If you're a serious shopper like me, you already know that Black Friday is our Superbowl. We wait for this day. We dream of this day. And since I'm not a huge fan of elbows to the face or all-nighters, I'm thrilled that you can now score the best Black Friday deals online.

Since Shopbop is one of my fav online obsessions, I have to share the site's BIGGEST Sale of the year that starts today at 7:00AM and goes all the way until Mon, December 1st at 11:59PM (Pacific Time Zone...need to be precise here. It's the big game after all....)

Now here's the crazy part. There are NO brand exclusions with this sale, meaning you can finally score yourself a SMYTHE, get that 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli you've been eyeing and pick up a few other designer treats for your sister/mom/friend while you're at it. Oh, and the more you purchase, the better the savings - so it's a great idea to team up with your friends on this one. 

Head on over to The Big Event HERE. This is your time. xx

#WIN IT | A Smart Set Holiday Giveaway

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

The holidays are only a month away (insert panic button here) and while this festive season calls for loads of comfy gear (think PJ's, parkas and plaid scarves), it also requires putting on your party best. From family meet-ups to festive fêtes, it's always a challenge to look unique. Luckily, you don't have to spend a fortune to outshine those twinkly lights. My go-to spot for cheerfully cheap party pieces? Smart Set, of course. This store's always got the season covered with embellished sweaters, sexy dresses and just-edgy-enough accessories to help you shine throughout the holidays.

To inspire you away from your LBD, I've put together 3 pretty party looks that keep style and comfort top of mind, from a bomber worn over a wind-chill-friendly maxi, to a cozy tulle skirt/sweater combo you'll want to wear everywhere.  And to help you shop your fav Smart Set look, we're giving away a $100 Smart Set Gift Card! 

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