Bohemian Goddess

Bohemian Goddess

July 2, 2015

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Summer to me is an automatic nod to bohemian style. 

I went to American Eagle Outfitters in my local mall, saw this olive green maxi and crochet bralette and had to purchase them. I mean, it would practically be a crime not to! Right?!

The necklace I wore with the outfit is a handmade outfit that I received as a gift from a dear friend on my 18th birthday many moons ago. It complimented my outfit perfectly. 

I wore my tried and true Aldo gold gladiator sandals (which I also have in black!) to finish the bohemian goddess look. 

That's the flower I picked for all of you lovely readers!

xo

Hillary Gail Stewart

Speedsport 2015 | Scuffed Boots Photography

Speedsport 2015 | Scuffed Boots Photography

April 30, 2015

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After many months of lusting after Scuffed Boots Photography photoshoots, I finally had enough courage and confidence to book an appointment to model for a photoshoot at the Moncton Speedsport 2015 Car Show. 

Jill (the photographer) is an absolute darling! She's very kind and supportive, and gave inspiring words when she knew I was nervous at the beginning of the shoot. Her hair & make-up girls were a dream team (you should see my hair in the photos below!). It's been a very long time since I participated in a professional photoshoot. 

I love how the photos turned out. I am known as a smiler and a girl full of infectious laughter, the best photos had a smile! I love how she captured my happiness. The costume's Jill provided were so perfect for the shoot! I paired them with a pair of thrifted heels from a local thrift shop and it made the shoot even more perfect if that's even possible! 

If you guys ever want a photoshoot done I would highly suggest going to see Jill at Scuffed Boots Photography. She makes you feel comfortable and is extremely friendly. I know that she does wedding photography, boudoir shoots and so much more! She's local to Moncton, NB and is plain ole fabulous!

Check out her work :

Instagram

Website

Here are my two favorite photos from the shoot below, I plan on getting 3 more too!

 Hillary Gail Stewart

How "The O.C." Shaped My Style

How "The O.C." Shaped My Style

March 5, 2015

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Watching The O.C. for the first time was a revelation. I didn't watch The OC right away from Season 1 though. I started watching The OC when it was in Season 3, and watched it from the beginning. About 7 times. I remember sitting in my first apartment on my lavender silk comforter in my bedroom. I fell in love with the characters and the drama. Not to mention to fashion! It was a trifecta! Summer Roberts was always my favorite. Watching her style evolve over time encouraged my own personal style to evolve, and to try new and exciting things. 

Unfortunately, I was lacking in funds to purchase all of the things I wanted to create my style, so I frequently visited the local thrift stores to score for finds. I remember there was a "stuff a garbage bag for 5$" sale down the road from my apartment. I purchased the most beautiful floral vintage dresses and lacy tops. I was full flown bohemian, just how I liked it. I had a short pixie hair cut, and rocked that free people look with ease. 

I didn’t know any girl who wasn’t envious of the wardrobes in The OC. I would cut magazines with photos from the style of the show and make mood boards. The style was my main interest in the show. The pools of fashion that Summer Roberts and Marissa Cooper had access to was essentially the same as the rest of us—polo shirts, silk camisoles, jeans, cropped cardigans, flip flops, floral dresses, jean skirts—there was always a unique twist or finishing touch to the outfit to make it quirky and one of a kind. There were ribbons as belts, tank tops and tee shirts under strapless dresses, bikini tops under sheer T-shirts (classic OC beachy style), disheveled hair with formal dresses, bandanas tied around purse straps, layered necklaces over graphic T-shirts, slip dresses as tank tops, and so on and so forth.

These characters experimented. They shook things up in a way that was cool rather than crazy and over the top. It gave me the sense that I could do the same—and, did I ever! I distinctly remember rocking a vintage flowly skirt and a tee with a cardigan just because Summer did. Seth and Summer were the best dressed couple on TV (now trumped by Blair and Chuck of course), and Seth looked so cute and punk inspired with his band, and comic book graphic tees. 

This was the real start to my independence and style. Where I could wear what I wanted, when I wanted and be confident in doing so. 

What inspired you as a teen? Did you watch The OC?

DIY | Brown Sugar Scrub

DIY | Brown Sugar Scrub

January 24, 2015

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I absolutely LOVE Fresh's Brown Sugar Scrub - of course it's pricey. I think it retails for about 45$ at Sephora. I wanted to achieve the same results without breaking the bank, so I made my own scrub! 

What's so wonderful about this DIY scrub you ask? Well, it's nice knowing exactly what products you're using on your face. No preservatives or ingredients you can't spell or pronounce. 

Basically I used products I already had at my disposal.

I used: coconut oil, brown sugar, jojoba oil and evening primrose oil. I used more coconut oil than the other oils and once it was mixed and put into a reusable glass container I had a shower so I could test out this little concoction! 

It was GREAT! The scrub left my skin feeling baby soft and moisturized. 

You guys should totally try to make your own scrub and let me know hoeing goes! Next homemade project : DIY Black Tea Face Mask

The 25 Best Carrie Bradshaw Style Moments

The 25 Best Carrie Bradshaw Style Moments

September 18, 2014

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Carrie Bradshaw is known for her eclectic and unique style. You literally have no clue what she is going to put together next (style wise) - unless you've watched every single episode and movie of Sex and the City at least a dozen times each...

I often look at SATC for style inspiration. Some of the outfits are just so amazing - Patricia Field is a powerhouse genius when it comes to style and fashion.

I'm going to be writing a style series on each of the Sex and the City girls. I had to do Carrie first!

Carrie's style has really evolved over time. I think her best moments, style wise in the TV series was when she was with Alexander P. Really though, she looked amazing! When she was in Paris she looked so lovely and parisian. Her dress collection is absolutely to die for.

Of course, the Sex and the City movies really showed how all of the SATC girls had evolved since the TV series ended. I actually own a few pieces from the movie that I just adore!

Carrie's pink dress, studded belt, green floral Betsey Johnson dress, blue Manolo Blahniks...Sigh. They are statement pieces in my wardrobe!

Now let's get some inspiration from SATC, and Miss Carrie Bradshaw!

#finfree

#finfree

July 30, 2014

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There's nothing I love more than when Lush e-mail pops up in my inbox and it is regarding something I am already passionate about!

 

Lush Cosmetics has partnered with Discovery Channel's Shark Week, Sharkwater filmmaker Rob Stewart and his organization, United Conservationists, to raise awareness for sharks and stop the unnecessary slaughter for their fins. Rob Stewart has a wonderful film called Shark Water. I have watched it several times, and it really makes you appreciate the beauty of sharks. Check out part Rob's story at the end of this post and join #finfree movement by signing the petition and by purchasing Lush's limited edition Shark Fin soap.

The Shark Fin soap is made of softening seaweed, scrubby fine sea salt and zesty lime oil that make it a refreshing way to cool down this summer. 100% of the price of this soap will be donated to United Conservationists, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of sharks through its Fin Free movement. Now you can swim with the sharks and help protect them too!

 

The Brunette Shake is definately going to support this effort. Remember, Green is Sexy! Be kind to the environment and animals...

 

xx

Hillary

 

 

 

"In August 1999, I was a 19-year-old photographer embarking on my most exciting photo assignment yet: to photograph my favorite species, Hammerhead Sharks, in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. As a “fish nerd” I spent as much time with sharks as possible, and grew to understand a very different side of sharks compared to conventional media. To me they were shy, inquisitive, sensitive and important. Being the first animal on earth with jaws, and the only large animal to have endured for 450 million years and five mass extinctions, they’re a huge part of the framework for life in the oceans. Life that gives us most of the oxygen we breathe.

Upon arriving in the Galapagos Islands, instead of finding sharks in all their majesty in the most protected marine reserve on earth, I encountered a fishing line that could stretch from earth to outer space, with thousands of baited hooks and hundreds of dead and dying sharks.
Shark fin soup is a Chinese delicacy so desirable that a single pound of shark fin can sell for more than $400 USD, leading to the practice of finning: keeping only the fins and discarding the bodies, which wastes 95% of the animal. This demand slaughters 100 million sharks each year, decimating 90% of the world’s sharks within my lifetime."



Fashion 101 | Investment Pieces

Fashion 101 | Investment Pieces

July 23, 2014

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Investment pieces can range from that studded Burberry trench coat, those glitter Miu Miu booties EVERYONE had to have a couple years ago, the quilted Chanel bag... The list goes on.

But which pieces do you splurge for? Can you resell them? Which ones do you keep?

Personally, I am described by the line in "Fashion Killa" by A$AP Rocky:

"And Versace: got a lot, but she may never wear it
But she save it so our babies will be flyer than their parents"

I save all my investment and iconic fashion pieces for my hopes that when I have a daughter, she will raid my closet and I can pass down those pieces so she can live life in them like I have!

Iconic fashion pieces are always good to splurge on, if you are financially able and if you are building a fashion collection.

I limit myself to 1 fashion investment per season, and 3 trend pieces per season. The trend pieces I purchase are budget friendly, and I usually purchase them from H&M, Free People or French Connection.

eBay is a great place to buy pieces from Fashion Collaborations from years past that you can no longer find. So of course, think of this when you are purchasing items. Will people be looking for these Missoni for Target dresses in a year? Should I buy it?

Always go for those special, one of a kind pieces when you are shopping. You are unlikely to find these again, and they can go for a pretty penny on eBay or fashion reseller sites.

It is known that accessories and shoes re-sell for a higher price over time and keep their value.

Keep all the packaging, take care of your investment pieces if you are a reseller. If you are 100% sure that you are keeping your investment piece, keep it out and show it off! You deserve it.

A couple of my Investment Pieces are:

Chanel Quilted Jacket from my Nanny
Studded Christian Louboutin Booties
Manolo Blahnik Hangisi in Blue
Prada Baroque Sunglasses in Black




How To Pronounce Designer Names 101

How To Pronounce Designer Names 101

February 1, 2014

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It is fundamentally strange how some of the best designers in the world have the most difficult names to pronounce. Not to mention how embarrassing it is when you're talking to a Vogue editor at a gala and you mispronounce a designer... It's very embarrassing, trust me on that one. I guess it's not as embarrassing as accidentally tripping a Vogue editor at Fashions Night Out but that's a whole different story.

This fabulous guide to pronouncing names was published on Harpers Bazaar a few days ago and I HAD to share. As a fashion lover, stylist and writer I couldn't not share with you! 

Make sure you're alone if you start pronouncing these out loud, you might get funny looks on the subway if you don't. 

Let's get started!! Don't forget to have fun with this lovelies! Fashion is supposed to be fun. 

Anna Sui: anna swee

Ann Demeulemeester: ann de-mule-eh-meester

Azzedine Alaia: azz-eh-deen ah-lie-ah

Badgley Mischka: badge-lee meesh-kah

Balenciaga: bah-len-see-ah-gah

Balmain: bahl-mahhhhn

Bottega Veneta: bow-tay-guh vah-netta

Christian Lacroix: christian luh-kwa

Christian Louboutin: christian loo-boo-tan

Comme des Garçons: comb dey gah-sown

Dolce & Gabbana: dol-chey and gab-ana

Dries Van Noten: drees van know-ten

Gareth Pugh: gareth pew

Giambattista Valli: gee-am-bah-tease-ta vah-lee

Gianfranco Ferre: gee-ahn-franco feh-ray

Givenchy: zjee-von-shee

Hermès: er-mez

Hervé Léger: air-vay lay-jah

Hussein Chalayan: hoo-sane sha-lion

Issey Miyake: iss-ee mee-yah-key

Jean Paul Gaultier: zhon paul go-tee-ay

Junya Watanabe: jun-yah wat-an-ah-bey

Kinder Aggugini: kinder ag-ooh-gee-nee

Lanvin: lahn-vahn

Loewe: loh-wev-eh

Louis Vuitton: loo-wee vwee-tahn

L'Wren Scott: la-ren scott

Maison Martin Margiela: may-sohn martin mar-jhell-ah

Marchesa: mar-kay-sah

Mary Katrantzou: mary cat-trant-zoo

Miu Miu: mew-mew

Monique Lhuillier: monique le-hu-lee-ay

Moschino: mos-key-no

Olivier Theyskens: oh-liv-ee-ay tay-skins

Proenza Schouler: pro-en-zuh skool-er

Rochas: row-shahs

Rodarte: row-dar-tay

Roksanda Ilincic: roksanda ill-in-chik

Salvatore Ferragamo: sal-vah-tor-re fer-ra-gah-moh

Sonia Rykiel: sewn-yah ree-key-el

Thakoon: tah-koon

Versace: vur-sah-chee

Yves Saint Laurent: eve san lau-ron

Yohji Yamamoto: yoh-jee yam-ah-mo-to

Source: How to pronounce Moschino, Hermes, Miu Miu and more designer names - Harper's BAZAAR