you can wear whatever, be whatever, do whatever you want.

Who is your favourite designer? For me, there are a few designers that speak to me. Season after season, their collections manage to make my heart race. The short list includes Elie Saab, Betsey Johnson, Victoria Beckham, and Christian Siriano.

Watching Project Runway all those years ago, I never could have imagined that my favourite contestant on the show would go on to become a highly respected fashion designer, taking over the world, one piece at a time. Since Christian found fame on Project Runway, he has gone on to write a book, appear on a number of different television shows, design one of a kind gowns for some of the hottest celebrities, and create a number of highly regarded collections.

 The other day, I thought about Christian as I slipped on a pair of the black-heeled boots I snagged from his (much more affordable) Christian Siriano for Payless collection. Okay, maybe they weren’t part of his New York Fashion Week show – but I love them all the same. Whenever I carry one of my Christian bags or wear a pair of his shoes, I feel like a million bucks. It’s not the fact that his name is on the label. There is just something about his design aesthetic that speaks to me.

From Runway to the runway, Christian has showcased a number of dramatic, bold, sexy, but wearable pieces. It doesn’t matter if it is a couture dress or a pair of pants. Everything has his signature stamp on it. That blend of strength and femininity is empowering – and exciting to wear. There is a reason for his astounding level of success. He didn’t just win a reality show. He took that opportunity and turned it into a multi million-dollar empire. How? His designs have never fallen into the category of bland or boring – and he continues to push his brand further.

From both a creative and business perspective, Christian Siriano is a force to be reckoned with. In case you missed his latest offering at New York Fashion Week, Christian’s S/S 2015 Ready To Wear collection was full of all-white looks with embellishment, subtle details, and plenty of the dramatic flair he is known for. Each and every piece demanded attention. And they all screamed: Christian Siriano is here to stay.

Are you a fan of his design aesthetic? Who is your favourite fashion designer?

xo Shannon

self confidence is the best outfit. rock it and own it.

Fall is fully underway. Despite the fact that I have been counting down the days until the holiday season officially begins.... I am still consumed by fall fashion. I love the darker colours. I love the smokey eye looks. I love everything about it! This is why I have been doing my best to make the most of the weather before it gets too chilly. Case in point? The outfit I wore out to a dinner with friends. I ended up going downtown to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while. The evening was a success - and so was my outfit, I think!

What did I wear? I ended up choosing a burgundy sweater dress with faux leather details, a statement belt from Altuzarra for Target, and a pair of high-heel boots. As for my hair, it was done in a half up half down style with lots of curls. My makeup was smokey and dramatic....just the way I like it. Overall, I was really happy with how this look turned out. I don't know about you - but I like when that happens. When you finish getting ready and just feel like you could take on the world.

So, without further ado. This is how my night out look turned out:

There is just something about fall fashion. The colours, the drama.....I love it. With winter on the way, I know that my life is about to be sweaters, sweaters, and more sweaters. That makes me glad that I have been doing my best to embrace fall fashion before that happens.

Do you love fall fashion? What do you think of this look?

xo Shannon

love is the flower you've got to let grow.

Something exciting? The fact that Flower Beauty is now in Canada. For the last year or two, I have been hearing all about Drew Barrymore's makeup line. I watched beauty gurus swatch, rave, and fall in love. I read blog posts dedicated to her latest venture. All the while, I wished the product were sold outside of the United States. Finally that day has come. It happened a few short weeks ago. I was walking through my local Wal-Mart store and bam! An entire display of products. Now, there wasn't a ton to choose from. And it wasn't the full collection.....but it was something.

The display was stocked with lip crayons, nail polish, and most importantly, cream eyeshadows. Rather than go overboard and buy a little bit of everything - I limited myself to one item. My choice? A cream eyeshadow. Most of the shade options were fairly neutral (shimmery white, cream, grey, and so on). So, I opted for a bronzey shade simply because I adore bronze eyeshadow colours. The colour was Flirty Floret.

I have tried quite a few cream shadows in the past. A lot of the time, they are good to use as a base - but need to be layered with a powder shadow to really get the pigmentation and staying power. Not this product! The colour is so bold! A little goes a very long way. You don't need to add on a powder shadow for the colour to be noticeable. Plus, the cream shadow lasts all day. And I do mean all day! I applied it in the morning, made it through a day of work, an afternoon of laundry and tidying up, and an evening of writing and blogging. No creasing, smudging, or faded colour. It was fantastic!

In fact, it was so fantastic that I had to curb my shopaholic tendencies. Sine a lot of the other available shades are things I already have in my collection, I'm not letting myself buy them all. But that is awfully challenging. The packaging is so pretty and the product is incredible. Ready to see the makeup look I created with my first Flower Beauty purchase?

One thing is clear: Flower Beauty was worth the wait. I am so glad that the products are finally being sold in my country. Here is hoping that over the coming months, we get more products from the line. High-quality for a drugstore price. You just can't beat that!

Have you tried anything from Flower Beauty? Were you impressed with the products?

xo Shannon

love and a loathe.

Sometimes you fall in love with a product. And sometimes you instantly regret your purchase. Over the last little while, I have happened to have both of those experiences. When you find a product that you absolutely adore, there is nothing quite like it. Suddenly, you want to wear it every day. Or tell everyone you've ever met about how well it works. But when you come across a product that lets you down? There is nothing quite so frustrating. You wanted to love it....but you just couldn't. Anyone else been in this boat before?

Well, let's start with the good news. I recently tried the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer. My expectations were low - but I was completely wowed by it. Not only did it work to brighten the under eye area, but it concealed dark circles extremely well. (Which is something I tend to struggle with thanks to a fairly regular lack of sleep.) The consistency was thin and blendable and totally lived up to the claims. This has become a part of my every day foundation routine. I don't think I could go back to how it was before! It is an absolute re-purchase.

Now for the not so good news. As you probably know by now, I love perfumes. Especially celebrity perfumes. When I saw Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson at Marshalls for just $5, I had to give it a whirl. Sadly, I wish I hadn't. Instantly, the smell didn't click with me. It wasn't bad per say....but far too strong. A mere drop or two and the scent feels totally overwhelming. I wore this once and honestly? I don't think that I will be wearing it again. Maybe I will wind up liking it? Maybe a friend will love it? As of right now, it is sitting at the back of my perfume shelf. What a waste!

Love, loathe....the most important thing is to be adventurous and try. I personally love trying out new products. Because sure, you might end up hating it. But you might wind up loving it, too. As far as I'm concerned, it's worth a shot!

Have you tried either one of these products? Love or loathe?

xo Shannon

lilac helps to align ones spirit.

I won't lie: I have an obsession with purple. Eyeshadows, blushes, most importantly lip products. Despite the fact that I already have more than enough purple lipsticks and lip tints in my collection....one more managed to catch my eye. For a long time, I've heard about the Revlon Lip Butters. Rave reviews and so much more. So, I finally decided to take the plunge. My colour of choice was Gum Drop - a soft lilac shade. Was it good? Did it live up to the hype? It's time to find out!

Let's start with the packaging. This is something I am a big fan of. It is simple and sleek like all of the  other Revlon products. What I loved? The textured effect. It was such a nice detail. That made it feel a lot more luxurious. As for the texture of the product, it was just as great as I hoped it would be. Creamy, moisturizing, and long lasting. That was the plus side.

The downside? The pigmentation wasn't quite what I hoped it would be. The colour is without a doubt pretty and easy to wear. However, I found that you really have to build it up to get a decent amount of colour payoff. I'm not sure if this is the case with all of the Lip Butters or just this one. The colour itself is pretty light - so that might play a part in the sheer wash of colour. I think I will have to try out a deeper shade and do a bit of a comparison. (I will keep you posted!)

To sum it up: the colour is wearable, the formula is perfectly creamy, and the packaging is lovely. The only thing I would have liked? More colour payoff. With that said, this is the makeup look I created around the Revlon Lip Butter in Gumdrop. 

In general, I am a big fan of Revlon products. Actually, I find that the more of their products I try, the more I fall in love with the brand. They have really stepped up their game lately. And this is a great thing for makeup lovers on a budget. Overall, I like the way this lip product feels....but I am not totally thrilled with the amount of colour.

Have you tried any of the Lip Butters? What do you think of them?

xo Shannon

oscar de la renta: the end of an era

Oscar de la Renta was truly one of a kind. Throughout his career he inspired more than a few fashion trends – and helped women feel like their best and most beautiful selves. With each collection he showed and every celebrity endorsement he received, this iconic fashion designer continued to wow the public.

On a personal level, Oscar has always been there. I remember seeing his gowns on celebrities I admired…. and wishing that I could look that glamorous. I think that is the most important thing Oscar did for fashion. Not only did he design some of the most elegant and sophisticated pieces – but he made women of all backgrounds and age groups long to wear something with his name on it.

In honour of his remarkable career, therunway+ has decided to profile the life and success story of Oscar de la Renta. I was fortunate enough to write the profile piece for the website, Oscar de la Renta: The End of An Era. If you are a fan of Oscar de la Renta’s work, definitely check it out. You can take a look at the article here: http://www.therunwayplus.com/2014/11/oscar-de-la-renta-end-era/

Were you a fan of Oscar de la Renta's work?

xo Shannon

maybe our mistakes are what make our fate.

I’m a Charlotte. I remember years ago, digging through stacks of Sex and The City movie sets in the hope of finding a t-shirt that declared just that. Finally…success! Now that world would know exactly who I was. Okay, I admit: Sex and The City has been on my mind lately. But there is a reason for that. Thanks to rumours swirling and plenty of online buzz – everyone is wondering if another movie is in the future.

It’s rare when a television show manages to speak to many different kinds of women – let alone showcase their intricate personalities on the small screen. Perhaps this is why Sex and the City remains one of the most beloved shows, having spawned two movies, perfume collections, and even clothing. See, the show didn’t just speak to a wide range of women. It also brought fashion to the forefront of everyones mind. What would Carrie wear next? And could fashionistas re-create the look? Yes, Sex and the City is one of those special, unique, and thrilling shows that has managed to stand out among its peers

Will there be a Sex and the City 3? Cast members have been eager to let fans know they are up for another round. Meanwhile, there are rumours that a rough script is already making the rounds. However, it wasn’t until Sarah Jessica Parker posted a photo on Instagram (that caught the attention of fans and media outlets alike) that speculation reached a boiling point. She sat on a New York City stood surrounded by high heeled shoes – and captioned the photo: #longdayforCarrie #whewwwthosesteps #runninginheels #taxi!

It didn’t take long for fans to recognize the stoop as the residence of lead character, Carrie Bradshaw. While no official word has been made – there is a reason so many men and women are desperate for another film starring the iconic foursome. Sex and the City blended unique characters, witty conversation, and exciting fashion together. Another movie wouldn’t just be exciting for fans of the show itself. It could also lead to some seriously incredible fashion moments.

Just picture it: what would Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha, and Carrie be wearing in the opening scene of the next installment? Copycat looks and Sex and the City inspired garments would fly off the racks! Because that’s the thing about this show – it has left a lasting impression on the fashion world. Another film would work to remind designers, fashion lovers, and filmgoers the importance of great style – and strong female characters. So, that is why I have been thinking about Sex and The City lately.

Would you go see another Sex and the City movie?

xo Shannon