My Spring H&M Finds

Ironically, blogging about fashion (on top of work and everything else) leaves me little time to actually shop for it. I find myself browsing stores here and there to kill a spare half hour. However, gone are the leisurely days where I can set out and spend the entire day shopping. I hadn't set foot in H&M for ages, but when I got around to it (I needed more socks), I found a couple of key pieces to round out my spring wardrobe and scratched a few items off my mental shopping list. Mission accomplished.

My black Banana Republic wool cardigan gets worn more often than any other sweater in my wardrobe because it's so versatile. I imagine this draped open-front black cardi with wide sleeves will provide a fun alternative to one of my main closet staples. It looks great with a simple tank top and skinny jeans.

My casual shorts became casualties of my most recent closet purge as I decided to replace them with better-fitting, dressier options. These versatile tailored shorts are slick enough to pair with heels and a fancy blouse, but can also be dressed down with flats and a cute tee.

This trench caught my eye immediately. It's the perfect combination of a classic trench's polish with the casual vibe of this spring's military trend.

Have you started shopping for spring yet?

Canadian Olympic Team Unisex Dual-Sided Scarf

The February and March issues of my gift subscription to Elle Canada (thanks cwangdom!) arrived in my mail last week with a very timely full-page spread about the Canadian Olympic Team apparel designed by HBC. Now, the red torch-bearer mittens have been getting a lot of press for being best-sellers and I've always admired the Cowichan-inspired Canada sweater, but while reading the Elle Canada feature, the item that captured my complete attention was this unisex dual-sided scarf ($20). Handpicked by one of the design team members as a favourite item, one side features a red plaid pattern while the other side has "CANADA" on it in bold red letters. The rationale behind this design: It'll keep you warm and also serve as a makeshift cheering banner for spectators when you flip it to the other side. Clever eh? It'll have you showing your patriotism faster than you can say "O Canada."

From Solo Lisa's Kitchen

My culinary experiments from the last two weeks photographed and captured here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

After taking the photo, I realized that eggplant curry is not exactly the most photogenic food in the world. Cupcakes and muffins look darling and chicken appropriately browned can appear pretty appetizing, but curry on its own isn't exactly the prettiest sight to behold. Luckily, my attempt at Indian cuisine wasn't too bad. I got the recipe off of allrecipes.com and substituted fresh ginger and garlic in place of ginger garlic paste. Next time, though, I think I'd be better off using the paste so that the flavours meld better with the rest of the curry.

This is my modified take on a recipe from Donna Hay's New Food Fast: pasta with shredded chicken and fried basil. The recipe called for pasta tossed with shredded chicken breast and fried basil leaves, then topped with pepper, feta cheese, and lemon juice--simple and fresh, but without the latter three ingredients, definitely bland. I added thyme for extra aromatic flavour and it made such a difference.

Do you cook? Have you made a yummy dish recently that deserves to be boasted about and shared? Please tell me in the comments!

February issue of Vancouver Fashion eZine is out!

This month I had the privilege of interviewing established luxury lingerie designer Christine Morton of Christine Vancouver. Having been in fashion for three decades, Morton has seen the Vancouver fashion industry expand and grow. Her pieces are sold in high-end boutiques and department stores like Neiman Marcus; Oprah and Salma Hayek are major fans.

Have I piqued your interest yet? If so, you can read the article here.

Lisa's Most Coveted List

Looking back at my archives, I realized that it's been over 4 months since I last posted a Most Coveted list. Time to rectify that situation! Here are 5 things I'm loving or lusting after right now.

1. T3 mini flat iron ($119). A fear of burning myself and damaging my hair conspired to keep me straightening iron-free--until now, that is. I received a Sephora gift card from my brother for Christmas and decided to put that towards the T3 mini flat iron, and since then I haven't looked back. The ceramic plates and multiple heat settings allow me to straighten my shoulder-length hair with ease. I also love the small size of this iron and how it gives me perfect control when straightening my bangs and the layers around my face. Another plus: it'll travel well the next time I go on a trip!



2. NARS concealer in 'Custard' ($22). Forget the fancy brush-tipped concealer pens or palettes with multiple hues of concealer to mix and match--I like my concealer in stick form for easy touch-ups and hurried morning applications. The NARS concealer is like a more luxe, blendable, and lightweight version of the Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Stick I've been using. Despite its light texture, its coverage and long-lasting wear are tops, and a little goes a long way toward disguising my undereye circles.



3. Re-soled shoes. I'm a firm believer in taking care of investment items and boots definitely qualify as such. Recently I brought two pairs of boots to the cobbler for re-soling. $30 and a couple days later, I had the giddy thrill of picking up my boots and once again wearing them with everything I own. Because I'd put off re-soling them for so long, I felt like I had two pairs of new shoes. If you have beloved shoes that need a little TLC, I highly recommend a trip to the cobbler!

4. Tomatoes. Two winters ago I went through a phase where I became obsessed with tomatoes. Hothouse tomatoes sliced into wedges and topped with crumbled feta were all I wanted to eat as a snack. Well, my old obsession has returned. This time around I've been adding a splash of olive oil and lots of coarse black pepper as well. There's something so fresh and summery about this snack that whenever I eat it I feel as though I'm combatting my winter blues with tomato-y goodness.

5. CiCi 'Alyssia' sweater dress ($69). I've been coveting this dress from designer Jenny Yen's CiCi line since the fall/winter 2009 collection hit the Two of Hearts Boutique. This sleeveless sweater dress with an argyle cowl neck and slight bubble hem defies the age-old fashion rule that brown and black don't mix. Just look at how well they co-mingle in one piece! It's the perfect throw-on-and-go cold weather sweater dress, particularly when paired with leggings or tights and cozy leather boots.

Banana Republic Classic Trench

Record-breaking mild temperatures in January mean that these days Vancouverites can expect rain rather than snow, a damp chill rather than a deep freeze. No wonder my fancy has turned from wool coats to lightweight trenchcoats. While Burberry remains the sterling epitome of the classic trench, I think Banana Republic's version ($198) comes pretty darn close to channelling the appeal of its more expensive British counterpart. The belted waist, double-breasted styling, and 3/4 length make this coat a polished topper for skirts, dresses, or jeans and guarantee that this trench will be a perennial favourite for many years to come. Pair this trench with a thin cashmere cardigan for warmth and a quirky, colourful umbrella and you're good to go. With rainy days approaching us, can sunny spring skies be far behind?

Is it time to put away the winter garb and pull out the lightweight jackets and trenches in your region yet? Are you a fan of trenchcoats for spring?

No More Limping!

Snakeskin-embossed platform heels I found at Fine Finds

"For many women, limping around in uncomfortable shoes is akin to childbirth: in the midst of it, you're in extraordinary pain, cursing under your breath and vowing that you will never go through this again. But as soon as you get home, you forget about all the agony and the blood; you see those cute little shoes sitting there looking so harmless and helpless and suddenly you're putting them on and going through the same thing all over again."

-Winona Dimeo-Ediger, Closet Confidential

Truer words were never spoken. I've fallen prey to this conundrum so many times in different incarnations depending on the shoe--high heels with very little padding at the front of the foot, flats that pinched, skinny little straps that dug in after an hour or two. The accumulated injuries caused by this pair of shoes or that caused me to only wear about 1/3 of my shoe collection in regular rotation, leaving the rest to lie fallow in stacked shoe boxes at the back of my closet. As part of a big year-end closet cleaning, I swept up these barely worn shoes along with a pile of clothes for donation. Good thing too, because I had more comfortable and very versatile shoes just waiting to take the place of the shoes I'd gotten rid of. These newer shoes may not be super exciting, but their classic appeal and sheer comfort factor mean that I'll be reaching for them time and again, guaranteed.

Slingback platform heels I found at Nordstrom Rack in Portland. Ladies, if the balls of your feet ache after an hour or so in high heels, try wearing platform heels instead. The platform saves your feet from arching too severely and cushions your steps.

The zipper-trimmed ruffle flats are from Nordstrom Rack and the blue suede studded flats are from Aldo. I actually bought the Aldo flats last fall and wore them constantly until the rain started, but never got around to taking a picture of them.