Alicia, Author at Alicia Fashionista

Style

Resort Wear 2018

April 6, 2018

This month, I’m living in resort wear because I’m off to…

It’s surreal that I’m here to tell you that I am leaving town for the remainder of April. That’s right, the entire rest of the month. I’ve never had to set an out of office notification for such an extended period of time. Not that I’m really great at promptly answering messages anyway, but that’s neither here nor there.

I am feeling grateful, completely spoiled and at this point, a little stressed.

How did this all come about, you’re wondering?

Well, first of all, my Blogger BFF and I are off to…Thailand! We’ll be spending 8 days in paradise with Contiki. I’ve never been to Asia and I’ve never done a tour before, so I’m really looking forward to experiencing new and exciting things that are a bit outside of my comfort zone. We’ll be on their Thai Island Hopper West, which includes Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Krabi. Have you ever been? Have you done a Contiki Tour before? What should I know?

I fly back and then have a day and a half to frantically do laundry and re-pack before Adam and I go meet my family in Kauai! We’re doing a big family vacay to Hawaii which will be hectic like family trips are, but hopefully also recharging. It has been so much fun shopping resort wear for these sunny adventures, I can’t wait to show you all the cute things I’ve packed!

There will still be plenty of blog posts coming your way over the month of April. I have, for maybe the first time in years, a bunch of posts scheduled. Plus, my trips are always working vacations. I don’t know if I have ever been able to go away without my laptop in tow.

I am totally at that point where I’m unreasonably sad to leave Reggie, even though he’s going to be just fine without me. It’s more that I struggle to leave him (I seem to be the one with separation anxiety lol). Have to finish packing, some last minute errands to run and loose ends to tie up before I jet, but once I’m sitting on that plane tonight, I’m sure it’s all going to sink in. Then I can relax and let myself be excited!

I’ll be vlogging all of it and posting regularly on Instagram while we’re away, so be sure to keep up with the adventures on IG @aliciafashionista. Love and light, my friends xo

Style Vancouver

‘The Alicia’ Swimsuit by Nettle’s Tale

April 4, 2018

Nettle’s Tale named a bikini after yours truly and someone pinch me!

I first heard of Nettle’s Tale when they started on a crowdfunding site. The founder, Julia, was pitching a locally made swim line that was thoughtfully designed for women of all sorts of shapes and sizes. I remember watching the video and feeling an instant connection to this woman and her designs.

When the collection was launched, it was sold in a local store, and I was able to finally meet Julia in person and try on some of her suits. I ended up purchasing ‘The Julia’ because it had supportive underwire, and wore it on our honeymoon in Italy, which you can see it briefly at the beginning of this video. The bottoms I got to match are called The Magic Bottoms and they are literal bathing suit witchcraft. So comfy and perfect for mix and matching. I now own them in cranberry and black. They also go really well with my Heather Top. As you can tell, I have been a big fan of Nettle’s Tale since day one.

That’s why, when Julia reached out two years ago (yes, it has taken this long from concept to execution) and said she wanted to design a suit with me in mind, I was over the moon and slightly nervous. I mean, what a dream come true. I loved Nettle’s Tale and knew that she’d create something spectacular.

Read on to find out how The Alicia swimsuit came about and be sure to use code SUMMER2018AF if you’re shopping Nettle’s Tale for Free Standard Shipping. Read More

4 Comments

Style

Styling A Polka Dot Jumpsuit

March 29, 2018

It’s officially Spring!

My Spring Capsule Wardrobe HAS to start with this polka dot jumpsuit. A piece that I must confess, I feel like I sort of stole? Not like I swiped it from the clothing rack of a boutique, but I didn’t really pay for it. I’d ordered this beauty online at the beginning of January, after weeks of trying to justify the purchase, thinking that it would be the starting point and staple of my spring/summer wardrobe. Time went on and on and by mid February I was concerned for its whereabouts. I’d hoped to wear it to my friend’s stagette in Mexico at the beginning of March, but that was clearly not going to happen. I contacted the site, they were really helpful and I asked if I could be sent a replacement. It was sold out, so they refunded me instead. Then, 3 weeks later, guess what shows up at my front door?! This silly jumpsuit must have been hanging out at some customs depot for a few months and magically was released to me after I got my money back for it. I don’t feel that bad about not paying for it though, as I did have to wait almost 3 months for it to arrive. I’m sure the store understands, right? RIGHT?!

Anyway, as we’re gradually easing into warmer weather, I thought I’d style this sucker two different ways. One for these sunny but still chillier days and then an option for when those hot rays of sunshine that will hopefully beam down on us within the next few months.

I have been seeing polka dots everywhere, especially in jumpsuit/romper form for this season. I’m sad that this particular style is sold out, but I’ve linked to some similar polka dot jumpsuits below!

3 Comments

Travel

5 Cool Things To Do In Rome

March 27, 2018

A few unique ideas for your next trip to Rome, Italy!

I really hope that travel recommendations don’t expire, because these ideas are from our Roma trip back in September 2015. I’m just that kind of travel blogger these days, giving you city guides years later ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Like a whirlwind romance, I fell hard and fast for this beautiful, historic city. It was the first stop on our 3 week Italian honeymoon. We spent 5 days in Rome and then a bonus last night there at the very end of our adventure before flying home.

An initial visit to an iconic place like Rome is going to warrant a lot of your typical tourist activities. We had to see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Victor Emmanuel II Monument, Saint Peter’s Square, etc. It was my first time there, but since Adam had been a few times before, we were also looking for some slightly different ideas for places to see and things to do. We had the best time and wanted to share a few ideas that might elevate your trip to Rome. Hope you enjoy!

Featured Life Style

Navigating A Personal Style Crisis

March 26, 2018

What happens when your wardrobe doesn’t feel like you anymore? I recently went through a bit of a personal style crisis and this is what I learned.

When I was in my 20’s, I would go clubbing and to restaurants for most meals. I valued always wearing something new and was constantly shopping. I worked in an office and stocked up on a lot of business casual pieces. The importance of image outweighed comfort. I cared about trends and having every outfit stand out, and wore heels to my 9-5 and pretty much any time I went out. It was all about dressing up, looking good, and showing off my figure. I was young and working in the fashion industry and then started my own business in my mid-twenties. It was a decade of relatively carefree fun and I’m so glad I went through it, especially while I had all that energy!

Adam and I recently renovated our bedroom and I was switching from an IKEA Pax to a DIY open concept closet system, which meant that I spent months sorting through our belongings. It was quite therapeutic to declutter my wardrobe (you can see my top closet decluttering tips in this post) and I cut my clothing and accessories down to about 40% of what I’d started with. Which is HUGE progress!

As this past winter was winding down, I reevaluated the remaining contents of my closet and noticed that I really only wear a quarter of what was hanging in front of me.

That’s when I realized that I wasn’t dressing for this season of my life. I think I was holding onto who I was in my twenties, even though I didn’t even necessarily want to be that person any more.

Guys, I work from home and have a dog now. I’m here a LOT. I own like 8 pairs of black cotton leggings that I rotate through as loungewear and I flipping love it. I need comfort and practicality over anything else. I wear snow boots in the snow, rain boots in the rain, and a giant warm winter coat on cold days. With our dog having separation anxiety, going out for dinner and/or dressing up is a rare occurrence. And that’s fine with me. It makes going out even more special than it ever used to be and I love playing dress up for it. Plus, the health and dietary benefits of cutting out restaurant meals has been huge for Adam and I. Mini skirts, sexy dresses, and towering platforms have no use to me and I prefer to minimize my cleavage rather than show it off. I’d rather shop smarter and less often. I value classic pieces that are versatile.

For a while, I felt bad about how casual I’ve become, especially as a “fashion blogger”. Once I stopped fighting it and began embracing things, I found a sense of peace getting dressed each day. Wearability and style don’t have to be disconnected and this doesn’t mean I’m any less happy or not dressing for what feels like me. I just think that I’ve changed, in a completely organic way and I’m finally letting go of the idea of old me and embracing this natural lifestyle shift.

12 Comments

Featured Life Travel

Why You Need The Google Pixel 2 In Your Life

February 27, 2018

The photos speak for themselves!

I truly didn’t know what I was missing in a phone until I was introduced to the Google Pixel 2. Besides its sleek and minimal design, this phone has it all. If you follow me on Instagram, or read this post, then you’ve likely seen some of what the mighty Google Pixel 2 phone can do. I still can’t believe I can snap such high quality, clear imagery with a PHONE!

I had the perfect chance to test out the Google Pixel 2’s abilities on my recent trip to Europe. My adventures to London, Malta, Amsterdam, and Ireland were noticeably simplified with such a cutting edge piece of technology.

I mentioned it briefly in this post, but read on below to find out just a few of the many reasons why I’m now #TeamPixel!

Featured Travel

24 Hour Layover In London

February 20, 2018

Back in the fall, I had a short stopover in London. Here is what happened in 24 hours.

My most recent visit to my favourite city was the starting point of a two week European adventure. You might recall that at the end of last year, I impulse purchased very inexpensive roundtrip flights that took me from Vancouver to Dublin via London, and then back home 14 days later. In order to make my budget-friendly Euro trip work, I had to deliberately “miss” my connecting flight to Dublin, which gave me 24 hours in London, before flying out to Malta the next day. This was really tough for me to do, as I’m a huge rule-follower and it really broke my heart to have to lie in any way. I did what I had to do though, and hopefully I never have to cheat the system ever again.

London In November

This was my first time experiencing Autumn in London and my goodness, what a combo. I flew in on a Thursday in the middle of November, and was quickly reminded how much Europe loves Christmas. They go mad for the holidays and I welcomed their enthusiasm with open arms. My biggest regret is that I’d packed my carry-on full and didn’t leave any room for shopping of any kind. Such a rookie mistake. Though, I was trying to be conscious of spending, so I suppose it was all for the best. The weather was chilly and a winter coat and gloves were required, but I was also, as I often am, greeted by a beautifully sunny day in the city.

24 Hours In The City

With such few hours in London, every minute was precious. I had to maximize my time from the very beginning. This started with my flight over. I was able, thanks to my new airplane sleep routine, to get some rest on the 9 hour journey across the pond. This is crucial for a red-eye flight and something I normally cannot achieve. It’s a game changer for these shorter trips, I tell ya! My next hack, was that I made plans with a friend that I had to head to straight from my flight. Having a restaurant reservation kept me accountable and gave me the momentum to push through any sort of jet lag.

My focus of my 24 hours there was to eat delicious food, walk as much as possible, browse the stores, and say hello to some of my favourite iconic London spots. Here is what I managed to accomplish in 24 hours.

1 Comments

Style

Vegan Noize Winter Coat

February 9, 2018

This is my favourite 2018 winter coat – and it’s on SALE!

This is not a drill. I wrote this entire non-sponsored post gushing about how much I love this darn outerwear and just discovered that it is extremely discounted right now!!!! Run, don’t walk, to get this Noize Vegan Winter Coat! It’s the Jemma Coat with Fooler and comes in 4 delightful colours. There’s lots of other women’s styles to choose from as well and they’re all on sale and oh, happy day!

In the midst of winter, my puffer coats are realistically the ones I have to wear all day, every day. Especially having a cute little dog to walk, I just can’t risk being impractically dressed for the elements. And it’s not exactly easy finding trendy, figure flattering puffer coats that are cruelty free AND a reasonable price point. That was, until, I was introduced to Noize!

If you don’t know them, Noize is based out of Montreal, Canada. I got one of their basic black coats last year and fell in love. Their Canadian designed coats are made with faux fur, vegan leather detail, and cruelty-free insulation. All of which, do not compromise the quality of their products! Both of my Noize jackets keep me very warm, even in the most frigid temperatures, and the fabrics are so water resistant that I’d say they borderline on waterproof! The weight of them is substantial and probably what keeps you warm. They’re not heavy when you have them on though, it feels more like I’m wrapped in a perfectly tailored vegan duvet and it’s just divine! Thanks to thoughtful design, both of my Noize jackets also looks great done up or left open, and the Jemma Coat has an inside zip closure with rib knit collar for a semi open look. The hoods are large and provide lots of shelter from rain or snow (and I find they sit perfectly when you have a toque/beanie on as well). Oh, and they’re also machine washable!

3 Comments

Featured Travel

17 Photos To Inspire You To Visit Malta

February 7, 2018

Time to add Malta to your travel list!

My friend Alex and I chose this small island country on a whim. We’d wanted a relatively inexpensive flight out of London in November, to a place with sunshine that we’d both never been. Somehow, we lucked out and ended up in beautiful Malta! We didn’t want to be overly researched beforehand, so we looked up the basics and decided to just explore. There is so much to see and do and learn. Malta is rich in history and fun facts (which, Alex and I love), and parts of it are so preserved that you feel transported back to medieval times. Everywhere you go, it’s a photographer’s dream. I left feeling completely creatively inspired and grateful for the experience.

This tiny European treasure absolutely captured our hearts. I cannot wait to share more about Malta with you, it’s a place that you should absolutely see for yourself! For now, here it is through my lens.

Older Posts

Newer Posts

Thank you so much for being here - your support means the world! I just wanted to mention that aliciafashionista.com does participate in some advertising and/or affiliate marketing links. This means that I may get a small commission on sales of some products that I link to, or payment for sponsored posts. These kinds of partnerships and brand collaborations are what make this blog possible, so I want to thank you for your understanding and for keeping my blogging dreams alive! Opinions are always my own and I only promote what I love/think you’ll love too. If you’d like, you can also view my privacy policy.
© Alicia Fashionista, 2015