Pinch of Chic
outfit

Like Mother Like Daughter

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Forever21 Strappy Black Stripe Jumpsuit
J. Crew Etta Cap Toe Pumps in Jade (Similar here)
Ray-ban Polarized Aviator Sunglasses
Banana Republic Stud Earrings
Vintage Gucci Satin Shoulder Bag
J. Crew Panama Straw Hat (Similar here)

ON HER:

Melanie Lynn Perforated White Top (Similar here, here and here)
Melanie Lynn Perforated White Skirt (Similar here, here, and here)
Kenneth Cole Brown Sandel Heels (Similar here, here, and here)
Karen Walker Sunglasses (Similar here)
Movado Harmony Watch (Similar here and here)
Coach Madison Gathered Leather Juliette Handbag in Parchment White

Happy Belated Mothers Day to Everyone’s Moms and Mine too!

So last Sunday..

Because we’re not in Japan or into joining mosh pits of people at High Park to celebrate the arrival of cherry blossoms and Mother’s Day– my family decided to make a small trip to Niagara Falls instead for old times sake. Thinking the family was going to take some classic snapshots by the famous falls in Ontario, we stumbled onto a short path of Magnolia blossoms that seem to suffice in place of a ‘romantic’ (as my mother likes to call it) backdrop for blog pho… I mean family photos. My attempt to pull Faithfull-like photos with my jumpsuit didn’t come close.. but this seeing this area pretty much screamed photogenic mother-daughter photos.

In this post, I decided to include my mom’s #ootd, because ‘the apple really does not fall too far from the tree.’ With that being said, it’s kind of obvious to gather where I get my inspiration (and wardrobe pieces) from. She’s probably the reason why I suddenly developed a mild obsession with all white outfits and airy looks. Mom has not only raised me right and shown my unconditional love but she’s also a big supporter of my part time hobbies and is always looking out for me. Often, when she’s not asking me if I’ve eaten or tech support, she keeps on a lookout for items to share with for me to wear on my blog, pitches looks she’s pulled together and is also a ‘newsletter’ subscriber to Pinch of Chic. (Pretty sure she’s the only one who’s subscribed…but who really knows..) We’ve got this whole BFFL-kind of relationship down and pat… and I’d like to think I take full advantage of it.

How did you celebrate your Mother’s Day with your lovely lady?
I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

In light of Mother’s Day, I thought I would toss in a throwback photo of my beautiful mother when she was in her early 20s into the mix to celebrate and place emphasis on her practically immortal and ethereal beauty. Looks like she just jumped right out of Hollywood’s Golden Age era– agree?

While I’m at, I thought I would document this:

Sunday May 9th, 2015 at approximately 1:42PM… Marks the moment in history where my father asked me where the reverse camera function is.. on his Motorola camera.. in order to take a #selfie.

The outcome of this ground-breaking moment (in my life at least) is captured here on the photo on the left.

Until next time… x

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One Year Urban Decay Giveaway

Hello lovely readers! The season of giving has passed and I’ve just reached one year with Pinch of Chic recently– I thought why not give back to you guys? 

It’s already been a year and I felt like it was only a few weeks ago. It’s kind of surreal to think that I’ve been attached to this place for a year and going strong! And the fact I gave it a birthday of some sort. Well… this is where the big ball of cheese comes tumbling down… I made this blog with the intent of being just a personal outlet to share my thoughts, work, and inspiration. Thinking it’s going to be like a second Pinterest. To have even the smallest audience to take the time and see, let alone write a comment and share about what I am thinking, writing and visually creating, or even wearing is huge encouragement, drive and joy for me to continue to further explore the creative spectrum and be confident with myself.  I want to thank you all, including family (shoutout to Mom who’s my number one fan!), friends, loyal readers, first timers, and the stumble-uponers; this is all amazing support to me, especially since it’s been a year now. With that being said– I wanted to do something generous back for my readers to show them my sincere appreciation.

Urban Decay SMOKED Palette

I’m giving away an Urban Decay SMOKED palette that comes with ten cool shades of eye shadow to create the perfect smokey eye, as well as the 24/7 glide on eye liner pencil and primer potion to prep your eye lids. All this comes in a super sleek zip up case to hold all your goodies. Retail value of $64.83. 

This is not a sponsored post

Here’s a repeat of the easy-peasy instructions but with quick links:

HOW TO GET IT:
1.) Just simply follow my Instagram if you haven’t already.
2.) Comment on this post and tag 2 of your friends!
3.) This is entirely optional but it would be greatly appreciated if shared amongst
your friends and family.

CLOSING DATE:
January 28, 2015 @ 23:59 EST

As much as I wish to give everyone something great to show them my appreciation, I unfortunately can’t. For the rest this post… I would like to say that I will devote more of myself and time to creating content that inspire, hopefully influence you positively, as well as entertain you throughout the future on this platform. So…Thank you! xx

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Happy One Year

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO THE BLOG!

A milestone I never really thought I would reach. Really though… this blog was my third or forth attempt and I couldn’t have been happier with it. I have so much to say but I feel that I should keep it short and simple. All in all, Pinch of Chic has been and continues to be my creative outlet– to show a side of myself and my work. A place for inspiration, personality and engagement. Here’s to the new year and to more new creative content to come! I am also very grateful for the viewers and loyal readers of Pinch of Chic! Not only are you guys my motivation to write and create but also the confidence in myself. So…thank you loveys! xx

PS. Thank you to my good ladyfriend Therese for celebrating my first “bloggiversary”
bunch with me today at Colette Toronto and for taking photos of me! x

J Crew Pinstripe Silk Jersey Tank
Club Monaco Varsity Sweater Jacket (See similar here.)

Stay tune for a *special update* on this very post!

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Sid Neigum

WMCFW: DAY 1 Recap

In all honesty, I really didn’t anticipate on attending WMCFW at all. It wasn’t until a few days before fashion week was going to begin that my friend insisted me on going to experience the event for myself. With that, I decided why not..YOLO. I didn’t take it very seriously…In terms of… I had not planned for the event, I had not planned for my outfits..and I really had no idea what you were suppose to do.

In retrospect— Aside from the fact that Coco Rocha floated around my desk out of nowhere and exchanged words with me without notice the morning of, I would say that my fashion week kickstarted on a good note. I merely came out of the office in my work clothes and would walk over to David Pecaut Square where the majority of shows which I was attending was held. 

My first show was Sid Neigum. Upon my work schedule and last minute decision, my range of shows were carefully selected based on the hopes to make myself aware and see Canadian designers. The idea of going to a fashion show seems to be more worth wild seeing creative work over mainstream commercial clothes that i’ll eventually see in retail. 

Sid Neigum as my first show was not only a safe choice to go see but an amazing one. Keeping it real with the monochromatic palette, he has immensely optimized the results by mixing textures and experimenting with geometric forms. Seeing this makes me think— now that’s intelligent design, taking basic material and pushing the envelope with it.

SID NEIGUM RECAP:

A collection that seems to exude more with less.

Giving black and white a modern transformation, the attention and play with texture was highly predominant and effortless in detail. Sid Neigum’s line can be described as contemporary cool, laced with chic glamour.

 

All photographs belong to Cynthia Nguyen. 
Please ask permission before use.

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Paradise Shorts (Veld Music Festival 2014)

OUTFIT DETAILS:

H&M White Sleeveless Top
J.Crew Hibiscus Floral Shorts
K-Swiss  White Flats
J.Crew Stud Earrings
Anice Stamped Initial Pendant Necklace
Thrifted Coach Leather Cross Body Bag
Fossil Rose Gold Boyfriend Watch
RETROSUPERFUTURE Lucia Black Sunglasses

Hope everyone had a great long weekend! I started out with no plans for the weekend…to attending one of Toronto’s biggest electronic music festival, VELD, family gatherings and Electric Island on Centre Island.

To give you non-EDM folks a brief intro on Veld Music Festival, it’s an annual electronic dance music festival that goes on for two days in Toronto at Downsview Park. Who plays at this thing? Over 30 internationally acclaimed acts that play a spread of different sub-genres of electronic dance music which is also known as EDM, including Armin van Buuren and Calvin Harris. With that many acts going on in just only 2 days, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy at least one or two acts under the summer sky! One of the biggest reasons why I love outdoor music festivals and it’s totally sweatbox-free if you concert-goers know what I mean!

This has to be my third year in a row going– and I cannot tell you how much you’re missing out on if you don’t end up attending this festival next year. Think of it as the smaller scale and Canadian version of Tomorrowland. Youtube that right now! Just because… us Canadians love to have just as much of a good time if not more than any European! It’s funny how many people I met at the festival who’ve travelled from all over the States as well.

Here’s the odd ball part you might pick at me for.. is that so far for every year I’ve attended, I’ve gotten lost. Not because I was excessively inebriated or anything. Most likely because of my petite 5’0 frame sifting through the sea of about 30,000 people. In a matter of minutes, I ended up meeting so many amazing people in the process. Call it ‘because you’re an introvert and you can talk my way into a friendship in less than 5 seconds.’ but I’m reassuring you that you’re bound to make some lovely friendships with people all around with the music in the air! VELD is just one of those events you should probably attend at least once if you’re living in Ontario or just stopping by just to experience one of Toronto’s most live nightlife events and enhance your summer by just doing so, even if you don’t really listen to the music. It’s all about the experience! The extra exciting part for this year…. Armin van Buuren played. And for me, that’s hitting a soft spot I have for trance music. Props to anyone who went to his show in May 2013! On Day 1 / Saturday: Those that played alongside the king of trance (AvB) included Ingrosso, Bingo Players and W&W. For Day 2, the likes of Tommy Trash, ZEDD and Calvin Harris joined in to celebrate the last day of the Canadian festival.

I’d like to also thank my buddy Jamie Phongphilack, for everything! From capturing the highlights to making my weekend productive and great. Kept my outfit pretty simple with the white shirt contrasting the shorts. (Sorry Neon Bros and Gals!) Thankfully I didn’t get rained on! I advise anyone new attending a music festival to dress super comfortable and probably not in white since you might mysteriously get coloured paint on from some ambiguous party-goer. Flat shoes are a must! The kind you might want to throw away after! Wish I had brought a chambray for after the festival since the temperature dropped– You know when you’re in Canada when it’s cold in August, right? Or the fact it hailed the day before the music event. Overall, I got to see Armin van Buuren again and Maya Jane Coles on Monday. x

Photography by Jamie Phongphilack

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