Cynthia Macken
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Sleeveless Trench

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Banana Republic Sherlock Trench Dress (worn as a sleeveless trench vest)
Zara Stripe Boatneck Long Sleeve Shirt
Uniqlo White Ultra Stretch Jeans
J Crew Collection Etta Plaid Studded Pumps
Danier White Leather Passport Holder (used as a clutch)

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This year’s ‘summer’ weather in Toronto seems to act up pretty often I must say. If living in this city has taught me anything.. it’s the unpredictable power of the WEATHER. That’s not to say I don’t love my city, but seriously…

That’s why owning a sleeveless trench in my opinion is a pretty perfect piece to have in one’s wardrobe. You’re a weather-ready superstar! I got this lovely trench dress from Banana Republic and wear it almost everywhere as a sleeveless trench vest by leaving it undone when worn and without the belt. Why a trench dress you ask?– because it’s lighter weight for the summer (easy to layer with), it has a more softer structure in the way it falls on my petite frame because of the material and it doubles as a dress and outerwear piece! I got creative there, you see that? It’s a great piece to bring when you’re travelling and want to carry less as well as you can dress it up with a pair of distressed denim shorts for a Sincerely Jules look or paired with a semi-formal dress for a more 9to5 Chic inspired dressy, office look. This trench dress is a summer must have!

I’m hoping my staggering pace of improvement in posting more often on my blog is progressing well. Fingers crossed this continues since I have so many creative projects to share with you guys in the near future! x

Photos by: Verne Ho

*Side note: You’ll notice the drastic change in tones and photography throughout my blog posts because I wanted to showcase the photographers I’ve had the pleasure of working with, their personal photography style. 

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Porcelain Walls

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Babaton Galden Camisole in Black
Zara Black Trousers
Calvin Klein Gold and Black Suede Tote Bag
Dior-inspired pearl duel necklace via eBay
ZeroUV Sunglasses

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Nothing seems to get me more excited than going to new places and new museums. Got the opportunity to visit Aga Khan with my girlfriend Therese of Artiese Studios. Let me tell you it was the wrong day to wear black, hence why most of the documented visuals shows me hiding in the shade later. But the wall large walls definitely make it feel much more cool and Greece-looking than it really is. Regardless it’s a beautiful museum that celebrates Islamic art.

Wearing all black seems to call out several different moods and going to a space like Aga Khan kind of made me feel super minimalist– and that allowed me to put on my $1.00 eBay Dior inspired necklace which I thought I would never ring out because of the eccentric form. It has both this dainty and bold feel to it. The change into a minimalistic mindset also made me want to experiment with the outcome of the photos. So showcasing our trip in a more fashion editorial x street dreams mag manner seemed appropriate. I decided to also share from photos from the little trip we made. Let’s call them #BTS photos with what I like to call… what really goes on behind bloggers.

I think I’m going to continue sharing some #BTS photos to allow my readers to see what truly goes on and what a blogger.. using me for example.. seeing what I really eat and do. I only figured out recently that apparently some bloggers order food for the photos and don’t even touch it afterwards. Wow! Talk about waste… I might as well show you me eating Tim Hortons and challenge myself to make that look pretty Insta-worthy. Anyways, gutta keep it transparent!
Let me know what you think! x

Photos by: Artiese Studios

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Crossroads

OUTFIT DETAILS:
The Fifth ‘Fall in Love’ Top
ASOS Black Front Split Pencil Skirt
ZeroUV Sunglasses
Luvaj Silver Huggie Hoop Earrings c/o
Marc Jacobs Limited Edition Bunny Hop Tote Bag

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Hello lovely darlings! I always tend to forget that the best places to be are the hidden gems in such a big city. Clearly those recent and constant rainy days got me thinking of more indoor places. Here in Kensington market, there’s just so much to be found. Countless patios, food, vintage goodies, amazing treasures and drool worthy vegan and non-vegan sweets! Don’t let the awkward location being in the middle of China Town fool you— this area has really cool vibes. I have to thank talented Mack Canelas for suggesting to come here, whom I also had the great pleasure of meeting and shooting via Instagram.

This whole blogger meets blogger or photographer over Instagram is quite the new concept for me which I’m quickly grasping and having a blast doing! (Thanks to Arnold Lan for kickstarting me into this!) I took the opportunity to share my foodie side and ran over to Bunner’s Bake Shop on 244 Augusta Avenue to try their soft served swirl cone and Moo Frites on 178 Baldwin Street for their Belgian-styled fries with Kimchi. Before you judge, you should try it, because surprisingly it was good and somewhat addicting. I actually couldn’t help myself…sneaking in a few sporks full at each stop on the public transit bus. What I wouldn’t give now to have something like that in Stoney Creek! I suppose I’ll just have to schedule in another trip to Kensington soon and spread the good foodie words to mes amis!

Photos by Mack Canelas

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Bell Sleeves Gal

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Urban Outfitters Bell Sleeve Top
ASOS Skaters Skirt
MANGO Strap Cord Sandals
Forever21 Brown Cross Body
Thrifted Brown Leather Belt
Goorin Bros. County Line Black Hat

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Hello lovely readers! I see you eyeing at my bag and scratching your heads. Trying to figure out ‘Cynthia got her hands on a Drew bag by Chloe? But how??’ Simple answer. It’s actually Forever21! If you haven’t already seen it on other bloggers then low and behold, this ‘Drew’ inspired bag from Forever21 is only about $30! In three different colours too.

For me buying and wearing affordable pieces is always a good idea when it comes to dressing up for music festivals. When you’re actively smashing into sweaty, incoherent people in the attempt to find space to dance at a festival, It’s good to know your Saint Laurent Lulu bag is safe at home and that you’re just ringing out a F21 bag.. that in my opinion looks just as good! The day which this outfit was taken was for the Bestival Festival in Toronto. While neoprene crop top with crazy cut outs sounds cool and all. I opt for the bell sleeves and skater skirt for a flowy and comfortable feel. The rainy weather actually got me into wearing a lot of black which explains a lot. Fingers crossed for rain-free festival days in Toronto!

What festival will you be attending or have already attended? Would love to see links to those outfits too! 

Photos by Verne Ho.

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Minty Fresh

THE OUTFIT DETAILS:

Vivian Chan Chriselle Top (Similar here)
Zara Black Trousers
Sophia Webster Bonita Espadrilles in Mint
Thrifted Vintage Handbag
ZeroUV Sunglasses

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Hello new folks and fellow readers! Here I am in the pixel and light, in a much more basic look. Aside from wearing your standard dress and skirts for the summer. I decide to get in tuned with my minimal slash casual side and toss on the most common shades– being black and white and spruce it up with my mint Bonitas by Sophia Webster. Which by the way, I’ve been dying to wear since I scored them for nearly nothing from the Net-a-Porter sale from last winter. (Pssssst… they’re having another huge sale right now too.) And if you know me well, you know I don’t put my heels down just for any pair of flat shoes.. And who could ever turn away from Sophia Webster? I remember doing one of those ground-shaking squeals of happiness that day I saw the Net-a-Porter black box at my doorstep. That day marked a huge moment for me– becoming a proud owner of Sophia Webster’s shoes. Maybe I’m just a wee bit biased since I’m secretly a huge fan girl of her work. No lie. I still dream of the day where I’ll own my own pair of Mila and Riko heels..

Recently, I’ve been going on this streak wearing all black for only God knows why.. on the hottest days in the city. I’m thinking it’s a good idea since I’ve been running around everywhere and wearing all black is easy. It looks put together and it gives me less stress about staying clean. Here, I switched it up with this beautiful shirt I received from Vivian Chan, an LA-based fashion designer known for captivating feminine nature and beauty in her pieces. Can I also say how great the sheer panels in the back are? Tiny details actually make my heart just go over the moon. Just like those fringe details on those Bonita shoes! As much as I like to think that my outfit was a pretty cool ensemble, the Chriselle top motivates me to find a white, full midi skirt to go with this shirt..or a white, silk accordion midi skirt. How pretty would that combination be? Honestly, these photos don’t do justice for this shirt…so I’m going to re-wear this top again soon!

Until next time kiddies! x

Photos by: Jamie Phongphilack

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