Your Sun, Sand & Surf Survival Kit

Karolina Kurkova in Sudbury. Kidding... Photo via Vogue Spain.

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

When it comes to body image, you can learn a lot from a 5 year-old. My daughter's criteria for a bathing suit: a) Does it fit? b) Is it pink? c) Can it go in the water? She'll strut around the pool with a crowd of fully-clothed parents and grandparents looking on and not only does she not mind that they're there, but she wants to make sure that they arewatching. A 5 year-old doesn't slowly slip into the water, she canonballs right in. And when it's freezing cold, instead of complaining, she shouts, 'This is ah-MA-zing!!!' 

I know we don't all have perfect bodies but this summer, let's all try our best to forget about our far-from-flat tummies and, like a 5 year-old, let's focus on the fun instead. I mean, nobody's going to notice your thighs when they're busy checking out your super cute sandals. I mean, this is a fashion blog, I'm allowed to be superficial, right?

The stores this season are loaded with fun beach gear, from suits to cover-ups to amped-up flip-flops to help you turn your attention away from your bod to your bangin' beach wardrobe. Oh and to your friends and to your family and to your perfect swandive, too. I've hand-picked my top 50 picks to pick up now, whether you're heading to the beach, the boat or the pool this first official weekend of summer. Sigh...can you even believe it's finally here??

SEE MY TOP 50 PICKS HERE... 

Happy Friday!

FLOW RIDER: How to Wear Soft Pants this Summer

Long, loose & lovely, how pretty are these pants from the H&M Conscious Collection? Photo courtesy H&M. 

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I've got a soft spot for soft pants. Okay, fine I have a soft spot for pyjamas. I wear them all weekend and often think to myself, 'Wouldn't it be lovely to wear these all of the time?' And while pyjama dressing has been a 'thing' for a few years now, let's be honest - nobody other than supermodels and Europeans can actually get away with this trend. At Paris Fashion Week, the paps would be all over you. In London, Ont. (or any other small town in Canada for that matter), you'd only get pitying looks and maybe a few honks from passersby.

Soft pants, though, are something we can all get away with. Loose, flowy and supremely comfy, there are so many cute ways to make soft pants work for you. Whether you go with prints or solids, with wide or tapered legs or with long pants or shorts, summer is the perfect time to walk away from stiff, constricting fabrics. 

Go on, slip into something more comfortable. These three pretty looks will help you go with the flow all summer long...  

SEE ALL 3 LOOKS HERE ...

A Fail-Proof Father's Day Guide

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

It takes one to know one; and by that I mean parents. You know, those of us who nod at each other in the diaper aisle, bleary-eyed, stressed out, shaky from a month straight of 6 hours of sleep (total), at which point we resort to drinking massive jugs of black coffee, even though we swore we'd never touch the stuff. And don't even get me started on the colds, flus, foot & mouth and other random rashes we encounter on a weekly basis. 'Didn't your son have the flu a few weeks ago?' your boss will say skeptically. 'Yup, he did. But he has it again, only a totally rare, more horrendous version. What's that? Oh, yes, he got the flu shot. My kid was the one at the clinic wailing at the top of his lungs, flinging cotton balls at the nurses and then screaming some more when the volunteer had the gall to give him an Angry Birds sticker instead of an Angry Birds Starwars sticker. So yes, I am working from home today whilst changing bedsheets, eating peanut butter from a spoon and listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat. What's that you said about deadlines?'

Most dads today get this every bit as well as moms. I mean, I can't tell you how amazing my husband is at singing 'Let It Go' while simultaneously baking kale chips and responding to emails. The dads of today are modern day superheroes, able to leap tall Lego towers in a single bound and go where no other generation of dads has gone before. And by that I mean to playdates, bake sales and diaper drawers. It's a tough job, the very best job, and luckily, we have such amazing dads to tackle it with.

Looking for a thank-you for a parental job well done? We've rounded up our fav gifts for the dad in your life to help you get it just right this year. Happy Father's Day!

See our Father's Day Guide here...

Crop It Like It's Hot

Swedish blogette, Lisa Olsson, shows how the crop is done. Pic via imnext.se

Originally posted in The LOOK

We spend so many months of the year completely covered up that it's no wonder we want to show some skin once the warm weather hits. There's just nothing like the feeling of the breeze through your hair, the sun on your shoulders, and the wind on your rock-hard abs. What's that? You normally keep those covered up, do you?

This summer, I'm throwing out a serious fashion dare, whether you have a 6-pack or a Timbit 10-pack: the crop top. I know, I know, it seems like something reserved for 13 year-olds and Rihanna. But, you might be surprised by just how wearable the new crop of crop tops can be. If you've got a super toned tummy, you can get away with showing off more skin. But for most of us, showing just a sliver above the belly-button is the way to go. A cute crop worn with shorts, tailored trousers or a skirt (worn high on the waist) will make you look like a total trendsetter all season long. But don't take my word for it; check out the 3 sweet crop top looks below and get inspired to take it up a notch this summer. You can SO do this (minimal sit-ups required).

Happy Friday xo

Get inspired by these 3 seriously cute crop top looks...

FATHER'S DAY: The Best Gifts for Dad

Source: Pinterest

Originally posted in The LOOK

I was lucky to have the best dad. The kind who made every outing an adventure, told the most epic of bedtime stories, and even taught us how to toss a football - then graciously concede that with 2 girls, tutus would inevitably win out over touchdowns, which they did. As we got older, my dad somehow managed (usually) to keep his cool and maintain his infectious sense of humour, even when his two teenage girls were having daily meltdowns over boys and bad hair days. And when we went off to school, it was never too early, or too late, to call my wonderful dad. In fact, I can't remember a single time that he said 'I'm too busy', even though I'm sure he often was. In my mind, my dad was the stuff of legends. Name a job and I'm sure he had it: lifeguard, bartender, pilot, truck driver, football coach, highschool teacher, ad exec. But the job he did best (and the one he loved most of all) was being our dad. 

For those of you looking for the perfect gift for your dad, we've rounded up our favourite finds for every type of guy, from the grill master to the gadget guru. And to all of the amazing guys out there who 'man up' every day to be a great dad, Happy Father's Day to you.

SEE THE GIFT GUIDE HERE...