Latest Outfit: Wedding Guest

Joe Fresh dress | RW&CO. blazer (c/o) | Kate Spade necklace | Pour La Victoire heels | J. Crew invitation clutch (other patterns)

I once read that the amazing flavours of Italian cuisine don't come from complex preparation methods; instead, the secret lies in simple combinations of top-quality, in-season ingredients. The sartorial sentiment behind this outfit (which I wore to a close friend's wedding on the long weekend) reminds me of the Italian approach to cooking.

Nothing complicated; I'm only wearing five pieces in total. But each piece has a detail that makes it special: the blue-and-gold floral print on the dress; the sparkling facets of the necklace's large black beads; the visual interest of the polka dot clutch's contrasting pattern; the scallop pattern on the heels, ending in a heart shape at the vamp (how appropriate for a wedding!).

In short, this outfit is one of my favourites so far this year. That and it reminds me of Caprese salad in the best possible way.

Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick in 'Enthusiast' | Estée Lauder nail lacquer in 'So Vain' (c/o)

Product Review: Estée Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection UV Defense SPF 50

Estée Lauder's new DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection UV Defense SPF 50 ($45, available at Estée Lauder counters) is the skincare equivalent of dark wash skinny jeans: a good basic to have in your routine and pretty much goes with everything.

Fancy name aside, this product is essentially a very effective sunscreen. The active ingredients are chemical sunscreens, not mineral, so regular re-application is a must. But the high SPF and super anti-oxidant complex protect skin from the sun's rays and free radicals, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid hydrate.

The untinted, lotion-y formula goes on with minimal greasiness and smells like cucumber. I personally like wearing it under an oil-controlling, SPF-free BB cream for matte coverage on weekdays. On weekends, if I'm feeling really lazy, I'll wear this with just a light dusting of colour correcting powder on top and some mascara. Like I said, it's a good basic to have.

First Look: J. Crew at Pacific Centre

It's not every day that a girl gets to meet the designer responsible for almost half her wardrobe. So when I was invited for a private tour of the new J. Crew Pacific Centre location with head womenswear designer, Tom Mora, I jumped at the chance. Opening today, the 4,000 foot store is the second J. Crew location in Vancouver and the first to focus on womenswear only.

Leading a small group of bloggers and industry insiders around the store, Mora pointed out some of the spring/summer 2013 collection's highlights (patterns, light fabrics, bright colours, and playful nautical details). The tour wrapped with a Q&A session where we got to ask Tom about his work:

• The inspiration behind this season's bright green "punk floral" print: Tom's old Time Life issues with photos of flowers "where the colours were a bit off."
• The travel destination inspiring next season's collection: Marrakech.
• How he keeps track of ideas: If they come to him during workouts, he'll ask his trainer to text him and refer to the texts later.
• Does the design team listen to customer feedback, and will they bring back popular items by request? Yes and yes, but if Tom and his team feel an item isn't very current anymore, it'll be available online only.
• The company's plans for a British invasion: A pop-up shop opens this week, and a Regent Street location in the heart of London is in the works.

This is where I'm going to stop writing and let the images in this post speak for themselves. For more photos, go to the album on my Facebook page, and make sure you check out the new J. Crew store!