Fashion Finds for the Queen's Plate

There’s getting dressed and then there’s getting dressed. While Queen’s Plate might have horse racing at its roots, everyone knows it’s really all about the fash-un. I mean, where else do you get to wear a bright floral formal dress for day? Where else do you get to hang with loads of dapper dudes all decked out? I’m talking suspenders, bow-ties, jaunty hats and pastel jackets - sometimes all at once. And unless you find yourself on the guest list at a British wedding, when else will you ever get to wear a fascinator? Never. Which is why Queen’s Plate should be on everyone’s summer bucket list.
While the Queen’s Plate event might seem intimidating to a first-timer, it’s so not. When it comes to Queen’s Plate, I’ve learned that anything goes. The best part? You don’t have to spend all your winnings to look amazing. Head over to the Vaughan Mills blog to see the need-to-know Queen's Plate style tips I’ve gleaned over the years...

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FLIPPING AMAZING | One Girl’s Fun Day Out at Triple Flip

My daughter is always on the move. I mean, like, never stops moving. And while we always manage to get from A to B, the trip rarely involves walking - it alternates between hopping, twirling, cartwheeling and leaping as we make our way around our city from day to day. When shopping for clothes, I’ve learned that everything from top to toe needs to be able to stretch, spin and move with my little. Oh, and it needs to be fun. Always fun. Triple Flip is one of my daughter’s newest obsessions so when the Oakville store asked us to come in and shop the new collection, both she and I did a little happy dance.

If you’re not familiar with Triple Flip, it’s time to get in-the-know. The brand began in Calgary in 2005 when the company recognized the need for a fun, aspirational brand for tween girls. Based on 400 actual girls’ bodies and feedback from tweens, Triple Flip created its own unique design aesthetic and sizing scale to promote healthy lifestyles and body confidence. With both form-fitting and relaxed styles in the line, girls can mix and match without focusing on labels.  As a mom who wants nothing more than to have a happy, confident daughter, I love this philosophy so much.

Triple Flip is way more fun than your average store - loads of bright colours and fun prints dominate the space, while silver poufs and ‘super fancy’ (her words) change rooms make shopping a joy for moms and kids alike. Seriously. My daughter normally has a 15-30 minute (max) shopping limit before she gets bored but we stayed at Triple Flip for 2 hours at which point I had to drag her out of the store in full pout mode so we could get home for dinner.

The new summer collection is full of so many pieces I wanted to bring home. I normally shop the brand for C’s dance and gymnastics gear online so was happy to discover all of the great summer dresses and swimwear they carry, too. The bold print Twirl Dress is made of moisture-wicking fabric to keep girls cool and comfortable on hot summer days, while the sweet swimwear and rash guards are designed to let kids dive right in. We tried on dresses, bodysuits, printed leggings (um, hello flamingo), and of course Triple Flip’s famous, coziest-ever Minky Dimples line and then it was finally time for the accessories.  

From irresistibly cute bags to colourful scarves to sweet jewellery, we finished off our shopping trip with our arms loaded with colour.

Thanks for the fun Triple Flip. Can’t wait to come back soon - if my daughter has anything to say about it, should be next weekend ;)

Be sure to check out Triple Flip online or head a Triple Flip store near you. Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Ooh, and don’t miss this...

CONTEST ALERT:

I’ve teamed up with Triple Flip for an exciting Instagram contest.  One lucky RLR reader will receive a Triple Flip discount code for $50 off of their online purchase.  

RULES:

1. Follow @tripleflipgirl and @realliferunway on Instagram.

2. Tag 3 friends who you think would like to be entered in the comments section of my Triple Flip IG post.

3. Winner to be selected randomly and announced on the @realliferunway Instagram post on Tuesday June 28th.

4. Contest open to Canadian and U.S residents only

GOOD LUCK!

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

ONE & DONE | 35 Dresses We Can't (& Won't) Wait to Wear

A floral + striped frock star from RW&CO.

Originally posted in The LOOK

There's something that happens once you have kids. Okay, there are a lot of things that happen once you have kids. But specifically, there's this thing regarding invitations. In my early 20's, I'd get invites to weddings and be like, 'Awww, seriously? Another wedding??' I'd look at my summer calendar and all of my weekends would be completely booked up with wedding after wedding which a) got very expensive, hence taking away all the money I'd been saving for fun things like shoes (but what should have been a down-payment on a house) and b) took away all the precious time I could have been spending at a friend's cottage or at the beach or going to clubs. When you're young and single, you get invites to fun parties all the time and you can't possibly appreciate it. Or at least I didn't...

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BRUSH YOUR SHOULDER OFF

via Collage Vintage

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I can't blame you if you haven't been bare-shouldered in awhile. Spring in Canada is a roller-coaster ride of temps and emotions - warm one day, freezing the next, grateful one day, totally grumpy the next. The main source of my frustrations with spring this year has rested in the fact that I have two new off-the-shoulder pieces I've been dying to bust out. Problem is,  the weather has forced me to cover up  exactly what I want to show off. My shoulders are dying for the sun, the warm breeze and the cute Instagram pic potential. 

Go get yourself a stellar strapless bra (if you need it) and then check out these 3 gorgeous off-the-shoulder looks to help you make the most of the (hopefully super warm & sunny) long weekend ahead... 

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FIESTA FASHION | 15 Bright Finds to Get the Party Started

via Harper's Bazaar

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Between this week's groundbreaking CHANEL Cruise presentation in Havana (watch it below), to yesterday's Cinco de Maya celebrations, I'm officially ready for a fiesta. The Chanel show eased its way into the party, with sophisticated neutrals gradually evolving into a full spectrum of happy brights. Cinco de Mayo, meanwhile, always heads straight for the piñata, with revelers rocking ruffles, beads and every colour of the rainbow each year until the sun sets(or the guacamole runs out). 

If you missed both parties (still waiting for my invite, Karl), don't despair. Now is the perfect time to start infusing playful brights into your wardrobe to get your own party started...

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