More Olympic Fun

I was sad to leave Vancouver great weather and all the Olympic fun. I still can’t get over how green Vancouver is at this time of year, it felt like summer ! Well, being a Calgarian it would seem like summer, seeing as how we will still have snow and cold weather for a few more months.

One of my favorite venues was the Russia House, which was located at the Vancouver Science Center. It was the largest house as Russia is the next hosting Country for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

On my way to the Russia House, I past the athlete’s village where these Russian athletes were headings.

Great display of Russia Olympic team uniforms.

In the Russia house they had a huge area in which you could sit and watch Olympic sporting events. There were many exhibits to see in the Russia house, of which I tried to take pictures of. However, I got a bit tiered of waiting for people to pass, so I wouldn’t have to many random heads in my pictures. This was a hard thing to do, since it was absolutely packed !

If you wanted, you could take a pictures with one of the Russian’s olympic torch bearer. I opted not to as the line up was long.

Another beautiful day in Vancouver !

At the back of the athlete’s village were the flags of very country participating in the Vancouver Olympics.

On the way to the Quebec house along the bay was hundred upon hundred of inuit inukshuk sculptures. It was an absolute amazing site to see.

I couldn’t leave without seeing the Olympic Cauldron. It is surround by a chain link fence. If you wanted a picture of the Cauldron without the fence in the background or to get a closer look of it, once again you had to stand in a very long line to walk up to a podium to do so. Instead I got my 6 foot boyfriend to stand on a tall parking barricade to take a picture of the cauldron.

The crowds of people at the Olympic Cauldron was insane. Can you spot the tourist from Calgary? Gotta love the white cowboy hat!

One of my favorite things while in Vancouver, was the drive through Stanley Park at night. The scenery was absolutely beautiful You can see the Olympic Cauldron from the other side with out the eyesore of the fence being in the way. Pan Pacific Hotel lit each of their sails in a color of an Olympic ring, it was really pretty. Unfortunate my camera is not the greatest for taking night pictures and I couldn’t get a great close up of it.

I am absolute trilled that I was able to be in Vancouver for the Olympics. It is an experience I will never forget and so very glad I did.

xoxox

Bui

Vancouver Olympics 2010

I am in Vancouver for the Olympics and super excited to be here. I was only 8 years old when Calgary hosted the Olympics in 88 and I do not remember much. What I do remember about 88 were the Panda Bears being loaned to the Calgary Zoo. I think I was more excited seeing the Panda Bears then the Olympics.

I am here for a week and plan to visit as many venues as I can, so stay tune for many more pictures throughout the week.

To show my support for the Canadian Team, I got this super cute fur lined Olympic hoodie from Aritzia. I also had to get this toque, I really couldn’t help myself.

The weather on Sunday was absolutely fabulous ! It was sunny with beautiful clear blue sky and best of all NO RAIN! I am loving the fact there is no snow here in Vancouver, even though it is the Winter Olympics.

We took a walk through Yale Town and it was great to seeing people support their countries by wearing their countries colors or Olympic gear.

A cool venue to go check out in Yale Town is the Yahoo House. There is free internet access for those who want to check their emails or find out the latest Olympic News. Yahoo has also set up some Olympic scenes for you to take some fun pictures with the Canadian Flag, bobsledding or skiing down the Hill. I opted for taking some pics in front of the big “ You” and got some free hot chocolate on the way out.

You can Zip line across Robson above the crowds for free if you don’t mind waiting 3-6 hours.

For the Olympics, the City closed down a few streets downtown and here is a view of the madness on Robson. Everywhere you go there are insane crowds of people but everyone is in good sprits and having a great time. Canadians are showing their support by wearing anything red and white. Go Canada !!!

I have been wearing my Olympic hoodie everyday and loving it. I think it is a great neutral piece where I can show how my support for Canada for the Olympics and yet wear it again once the Olympics are over. I like the the subtle design and color of the hoodie and the best part of the hoodie are the cool patches of places that have been previous host cities.

xoxox

Bui

I love jeans...

What can I say, I love jeans! I love how versatile they are - you can dress them up or wear them casually! Finding a good pair a jeans that make you feel good about your body are a must have! You will definitely get your money's worth from them in wear!

How do you like to wear your jeans?

Here are 2 of my favorite casual jean looks for January:

Bowling

I wore this outfit bowling with my team from work! The bright colors were perfect for the event. Even the t-shirt enabled the bowling shoes look good with the outfit! Hehe!!

T-shirt: Urban Outfitters

Cardi: Lifetime (from Purr in Calgary)

Jeans: J. Brand

Boots: Frye

Coffee with Friends

I love this look as the clean & structured lines of the light grey blazer paired with the quirky dinosaur necklace come together to form a fun outfit! Perfect for work and a coffee with friends.

Black boots are another great investment piece, especially when you need practical yet chic footwear to get you through an icy winter! I would recommend anyone to buy a good pair of black knee-high boots, as they go with everything! I've worn my boots with jeans, skirts, dresses, etc.! They're so versatile!

T-shirt: American Apparel

Blazer: Anthropologie

Jeans: J. Brand

Boots: Frye

Necklace: Anthropologie

Beyond the Logo

OK - time for a little shameless promotion!

Recently, I was profiled for the Real Style column of our local paper - The Calgary Herald. When Lincoln Phillip asked to profile me, I was honored becuase he is one of the most stylish guys in Calgary, and to think he liked my style was quite the compliment!

Here's the article (it's typed up below to make it easier to read):

For marketer and blogger Nicole Armstrong, branding is more than just a logo: it's a person's reputation - meaning that you'd better act on who you say you are.

Armstrong is particularly well versed in helping companies find the purpose of their business and driving the brand toward its goal.

"I like to help companies make meaning and live it every day," says the marketing whiz kid.

Armstrong works as an associate planner in insight & planning for marketing agency Critical Mass.

"Our group helps the company understand the consumer and the brand, which aids in developing consumer-centric experiences," she says, adding that most companies' actions speak louder that their messaging and advertising.

After work, Armstrong continues her passion on her personal blog, morethanalogo.blogspot.com. And this marketing-savvy diva also fuels her passion for fashion at cardisbowspearls.blogspot.com, which she created with friends for real girls with real budgets who love fashion.

Style Type:

A boyish femininity without being androgynous. "I like clean lines and classic looks with a little contradiction. If I'm doing something feminine, I like to pair it with something masculine."

Branding and Fashion:

"Valentino is interesting, becuase he was his brand. He loved beauty and avoided devaluing his brand by not mass-marketing her product. Louis Vuitton is also doing a good job by refocusing on the luxury of travel, which you can see in their campaigns. Fashion is interesting, because so much of it is brand and always evolving."

Style Sparks:

Armstrong says her knack for style comes from her parents, both former models. Her mom is also a fashion designer. "My outfits were always co-ordinated and she taught me the right style elements when I was growing up."

Steal of a Deal:

Costume jewelry from Forever 21. "Fun necklaces can stretch your wardrobe by giving your existing pieces a new look and feel."

Never Again:

Impulse buys and fashion love affairs are the bane of Armstrong's style existence. "I recently cleared out my and realized that the clothing I fell in love with or bought without thinking doesn't look good on my body and goes with nothing in my wardrobe."

Budget-Boosting Tip:

The clothing that Armstrong purged from her closet will be "up for adoption" for her co-workers. "I think it's a fun way to pass on the clothing that you loved and hardly worn."

Desired Item:

A red Hermes Birkin bag is her career achievement purchase.

Guilty Pleasure:

Handbags. Last year was Armstrong's biggest hangbag handbag spree, on which she confesses to purchasing three designer bags. "It's expensive and doesn't happen too often!"

Signature Accessory:

A handbag and something in red. "I was once told that red is good luck."

Style Influences:

Fashion blog sites like The Sartorialist, Sea of Shoes and What I Wore. "Prior to blogs I used to buy Vogue and have every issue since November 1999, but I've cut back on that now."

Style Icon:

Armstrong does not have a true icon, but appreciates Coco Chanel's outlook on fashion and making it simple, classic and attainable. "I think she is the inventor of how...I described my style as boyish femininity."

Signature Fragrance:

Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

Favorite Shops:

American Apparel, Club Monaco, Gravity Pope, Purr, ModCloth.com and Anthropologie.com.

Make it Go Away:

Low-rise jeans.

Bring it Back:

The confidence to be feminine. "To show that we can wear bows and...and still be a strong woman."

Favoite Labels:

Club Monaco, Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton handbags.

Fashion Statement:

Armstrong always feels the need to add something quirky, like a toy Stegosaurus necklace.

Look for Spring:

Armstrong plans to wear neutrals and pretty palettes for the warm weather.

Style Cop:

Wearing tights as pants.

One Month In!

I'm officially one month into my $1000 shopping budget for one year challenge! I'm actually really enjoying it so far. Just prior to embarking on this challenge, I paired down my wardrobe to the essentials - getting rid of 1/3 of my clothes - and now I'm down to my favorite pieces that work together perfectly!

This challenge is allowing me to get to know my wardrobe intimately, and I find I'm more proud of the outfits I'm putting together! Here are a few of my favorites from month one...

Starting with my 2 favorite dress-pant looks:

Look #1

These pants are so much fun! I love how wide & comfy they are. I saw a similar pair on a lady The Sartorialist took a picture of, and was inspired to wear mine!

To offset the seriousness of dress-pants, I paired them with a Wizard of Oz t-shirt & a navy boy blazer! I kept the accessories to a minimum as so much was already going on with the t-shirt.

This was an outfit that came together beautifully and to boot, it was super comfy making it perfect for a full day at the office and a committee meeting after!

Pants: Anthropologie

T-shirt: Urban Outfitters

Blazer: Aritzia

Shoes: Marc Fisher

Look #2

I bought these pants several months ago, and was struggling how best to style them. But this striped top and bow belt just felt right, and frankly, I think it looked right too!

I love how the black & white weave of the pants works with the black & white stripes in the top. Using different size patterns in the same colors is a fun way to create contrast & depth to an outfit.

I always love to have something quirky added to my look, as it's no fun to take yourself too seriously! So, I added my bow belt from Paris to finish the look off, but I kept the jewelry minimal to avoid an over cluttered outfit.

I felt super sophisticated yet fun in this ensemble! I'll be wearing it again for sure!!

Top: Club Monaco

Pants: Anthropologie

Belt: Galerie Lafayette in Paris

Shoes: Nine West

Over the next few days, I will post my other favorite looks from month one!

What's in your Bag ?

This past weekend, we wanted to document all the things we carry (or shall I say lug) around in our bags on a daily basis. It was fun to see how the items and even the colors from our bags said something about each of us!

What do you carry in your bag? Feel free to share with us what you carry around daily!

Here is what's in our bags:

Angela

My bag mantra is... You never know what you might need... The bigger the bag, the more room to carry all my stuff (which if you think about it is all necessary!)

A wallet that can double as a clutch is very partical to have. Mine from Balenciaga (that I scored a major deal on) holds cards, cash, my Blackberry and chapstick. When running quick errands or for a coffee during the day, I don't have to lug an entire purse around. It is also great when going from work to after-work drinks to a night out, no need to shift items around.

A notebook to jot down ramdom thoughts, a camera to capture moments to remember. An iPod for inspirational music and Blackberry to keep in touch with the outside world. Sunglasses for those sunny winter days and some pharmaceuticals in case they are ever needed (in a cute carrying case of course) round out the contents. All in shades of pink, just to add a little happy color to the day.

Only a ture Canadian girl would carry around a pair of longjohns and earbags in her purse. There's nothing better that helps brave a cold winter day. Earbags, available at MEC are a great winter investment. They keep your ears warm without giving you hat hair. They can be worn when you put your hair up for an evening out and are very lightweight and portable so they will even fit into the smallest of cluthes! For the dry winters here in Calgary, multitudes of lotion, chapstick and rose salve are essential.

Another invaluable tool- a bag hanger. Incredibly useful when going out as bags should never sit on the floor! You never know what's been there and let's face it; an investment bag should be taken care of so that it can be used for years to come.

Mit

When it comes to my purse I like things to be well organized and down to business so to speak. With the ridiculous amount of stuff I tote around I could be rummaging all day for a simple stick of lip balm!! I try my best to carry only the essentials but it’s difficult to narrow down the list when so many items seem essential. So here is my short list:

1. Prada wallet – a great deal from Bluefly!
2. Card holder – for all the cards that I know I will forget in time of need like my Fabricland, Sephora and Chapters cards. I also carry Blockbuster coupons!! Yes, I am not ashamed of carrying coupons around with me!!
3. Long cashmere lined leather gloves – rarely in my life does fashion and practicality come together so perfectly.
4. iPod – honestly I can’t survive without a daily dose of Radiohead or Metric.
5. Kiehl’s lipbalm and Crème de Corps – my Holy Grail moisturizers for the severely dehydrating Calgary weather.
6. MAC "emergency" case – carries kleenex, blotting paper, lip gloss, emergency contacts, eye drops, comb, unmentionables. I know it's weird but I even have a little tube of face wash and moisturizer and eye liner in this bag!! Like I said.....essentials!!! Right....

Nicole

As my bags change, the contents rarely do! These are my daily essentials. It's funny how the bigger the bag you have, the more stuff you feel you need to carry with you!

I like to have my Moleskin notebook and day timer to write down branding ideas and new events in my calendar.

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, I always have a few BAGGU Bags with me to avoid plastic, and my Klean Kanteen as I consume tons of water during the day.

For Christmas, I was given this amazing Tory Burch pouch to carry all my odds & ends in! I love that my favorite red pops from the purple - it's so pretty & it keeps me organized!

Lastly, my keychain features probably the only souvenir I've bought in the past decade! When I was in Paris last February, I couldn't help but buy the ever so cute & chic Eiffel Tower keychain! Also, I can't help but laugh every time I see my smart car key - it's so big for such a small call - hehe!

Lora

Since I can fit quite a bit in my Marc Jacob bag, I like to kept everything organized in little bags, much easier to find things ! I swear my bag turns into a blackhole.

Things I always tote around in my bag are: my ipod touch, my camera as you never know when you will need to capture a moment, my moleskin day time and of course my crackberry, I never leave home with out it.

I write down all my ideas for BUI ACCESSORIES and for the blog in this great notebook I picked up this christmas. I think the title on the note book is awesome. I also carry around this fabulous sketch book from Fashionary. I absolutely love this sketch book, as it a great tool for fashion designers, and a great way to plan out my outfits by drawing them out.