- Category: Fashion -

Defining What Binds You and Frees You

August 29, 2017 by alexasuter

I can’t sit still today. My nerves won’t stop bubbling up from my stomach to my esophagus, getting caught at my throat, creating immense pressure around my head like a champagne cork about to go off. Except there doesn’t seem to be too much celebratory about this… particular emotion. Last night I sat at the hospital for 6 hours trying to figure out what’s wrong with my vision, which has been steadily declining for the past six months. And, though perhaps “no news is good news,” today now seems to be inherently hindered by a perspective shift I experienced last night as thoughts of glaucoma, a detached retina or a brain tumour ran through my list of possibilities, albeit hypochondria. The question remains: Are we all completely fucked? Live like you’re dying… We all know the saying but it doesn’t seem all that real, all the essential, until we’re delivered with some kind of diagnosis. It’s not until life isn’t promised that life becomes more gratifying, more real, and more appreciated. It’s not until we’re unsure we’re going to make it that we really try to make the most of it. Defining what binds you… If you have a job, or a child, or a family, they most often that not become what binds you. They bind you to certain agreements, a physical location, and a particular routine which you stick with because you love them. At times you may resent them binding you, but the truth is: we all need to be bound by something. I myself do not have a traditional “job,” a child, or a family, and so I must look elsewhere to define what binds me. My relationship ensures I have a more structured routine, my reward being that I get to spend time with Scott when he’s home, instead of working weird, sporadic hours throughout the day and into the night as I used to when there was nobody to be expecting home. But I hit points in my day when I just can’t. When the pressure of running my own business and satisfying clients becomes too much. When my ever-intense emotions overwhelm me, and the task at hand just can’t be performed. When my wandering mind takes over, urging me to do it all and paralyzing me all at once because that’s impossible. I suddenly realize how tired I am of worrying – worrying about not making it, because there is no guarantee in the…

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Another Year Older, A Few Inches Shorter

August 16, 2017 by alexasuter

You reach a certain age when the longest locks you can possibly grow simply isn’t on your agenda of tasks anymore. For me, this age is 27. 27 is an interesting one: it’s the first year you can’t argue your way out of the “late twenties” category, and yet for some who are lucky (like myself), it might also me the first year you don’t care to. I’m genuinely so relieved to finally feel this way – to accept the passing of time as an achievement rather than a grieve it as a loss and to see all the positive aspects of being a little bit older. I don’t feel old, I haven’t given up on my incessant lust for life and travel, I don’t have babies and therefore don’t have any real responsibilities – so what’s the big difference? The Differences of Turning Late Twenties I had to sit on this one for a couple of weeks before publishing this post, because honestly, I hadn’t quite decided what the big differences of turning late twenties were yet. However, after some self-reflection and a couple of nights staring up at the dark ceiling thinking on just this, I’ve definitely begun to see a few. You no longer rely on your long locks for confidence. I went in for a shorter, blunt cut at Eccotique Salon and Spa and didn’t even feel a thing. I even told the stylist: I’m 27 now… I don’t need to have such long hair. That never would have happened during my early twenties, when I’d be gripping the seat of the salon chair, sweating with every loss millimetre, wondering what my identity would be with shorter hair. Your identity no longer has much to do with your looks. Aside from this photo shoot, where I actually took the time to do my hair and makeup, I no longer worry much about the way I’m looking. I’m much more concerned with the way I’m presenting myself and how I’m making others feel in any given moment. You realize how young you actually are. This is the biggest thing I’ve noticed so far, and it’s the opposite of what one might expect. Perhaps thanks to the ability to have a clearer idea of the ‘grand scheme of life,’ I’m not seeing how young I actually am, how much time I have to accomplish my dreams, and that it’s totally okay to take a moment, breathe, and regroup on the things…

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Quick Tips to Enhance Your Femininity, Even if you don’t have the time

June 29, 2017 by alexasuter

It’s true, I’m not your average female. I’m more concerned with growing my business than I am with rearing babies, I’m more consumed by my love for travel than I am by my dreams of having a family. I spend less time in the mirror each morning than most men do, and when compared to the average female, my effort on aesthetics might seem sloppy at best. Most days I feel rushed for time, searching for creative ways that I can (a) get all of my tasks accomplished and (b) look somewhat decent before leaving the house. I refuse to get my lips injected, my boobs enlarged, or wear revealing clothes to garner the attention of the opposite sex. The only things I’ve created in the kitchen are several small fires and many giant messes. I guess I just don’t fit in with the majority… but that doesn’t mean that I want to associate with the male gender more. And I know there are a lot of women out there who can relate to how this feels. But, all of that being true doesn’t mean we have to totally toss our femininity to the side. Coming up through the trenches, I’ve discovered some tricks that make all of that feminine stuff quicker and less irritating. My Quick Tips for Bringing out your Femininity Wear some pink. Wearing the color pink will immediately make you look and feel more feminine. I was surprised by how many people commented on my new Bench dress, since it’s actually quite casual, until I realized it was because of its feminine, pale pink hue. I hardly ever wear color, but perhaps that’s something to switch up once in a while. Put on some pearl studs. Pearl studs have always been my ultimate favourite accessory. I’m not a fan of dangle earrings, and an understated pair of white pear studs adds a touch of class and elegance to literally any outfit. Establish a minimal beauty routine. This I have been trying to master for years, and after discovering RMS Beauty, a natural line by a Vancouver makeup artist which is now known by Hollywood’s stars, this has become so much easier. Here are my beauty steps: Cleanse and moisturize skin, use a good eye cream, 1 minute Spot correct with RMS Concealer, 1 minute Powder with Jane Iredale, also provide UV protection, 15 seconds Add blush and lip stain with RMS Lip-to-Cheek, 30 seconds Add a…

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Photo Diary: A Little Black Bikini in Hawaii

June 6, 2017 by alexasuter

There’s nothing like a little black bikini when in Hawaii. It was so much fun to meet up with a local photographer (Megan Costello) on the North Shore of Oahu to create these images. I’m still reminiscing on the days I got to spend in nothing but this little black bikini (available at BikiniVillage.com)

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Lessons in Confidence: 3 Ways to Boost Your Inner Positivity

May 5, 2017 by alexasuter

Confidence, in short, is your inner positivity towards yourself, which is then displayed on the outside. While confidence is a feeling, human beings are extremely adept at detecting when it’s in their vicinity. Confident people are not only accepted more, but trusted more, liked more, and ultimately more destined for success. Confidence can quite actually make or break your destiny. I can’t tell you exactly where the innate form of confidence comes from, but I can tell you where it doesn’t: confidence is mitigated and eventually broken by activities such as bad self-talk (that inner voice that might say pretty mean things to you), counteractive habits, staying within your comfort zone and unhealthy relationships. The good news is, no matter how confident or lacking of such you may feel at this time, there are proactive ways to build your confidence – and I’ve recently stumbled on a couple new ones I can’t wait to share with you guys! 3 Way to Boost Your Confidence Recenter your life: Every one of us has a “center” of which the rest of our lives revolve around. You may be money-centered, work-centered, family-centered, spouse-centered, or a variety of all, but more likely than not, you are self-centered. I’m reading this fantastic book right now (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) and the author encourages us to recenter our lives to be “principle-centered.” In this way, you are always focused on your principles or values, and the rest of your life falls in line – the right way – as does your positivity, self-love, and confidence. Focus on how you can give: I’ve been doing this a lot lately, too, which relates significantly to the first point. Instead of focusing on “what I can get from this scenario,” shift your thinking to “what can I give or how can I serve?” In this way, you are always in control, because you get to decide what you give. Then suddenly your future looks more certain, which is especially beneficial if you’re in business for yourself, and your confidence increases accordingly. You also just feel better about life altogether. Rework your inner talk: We all have an inner voice that tells us things all the time, and usually the words that happen in there just simply aren’t true. The trick here is to first work on your self-awareness so that you can actually master the ability to tune in to the chatter that’s going on in there….

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Waiting on Spring: Tips for Adding Warmth to Your World

April 7, 2017 by alexasuter

I love being Canadian, and there is no better time than now to wear our patriotic pride on our sleeves. But living in Canada brings with it at least one sad fact: we absolutely have no options when it comes to the weather. It’s either wet, wet Westcoast or super dry, super freaking cold East Coast *with clear skies! I was having a conversation with someone about this recently. No matter how long we live in Vancouver for, from infancy to adulthood, the seemingly endless rain never gets easy.And as an individual who works solo and from home almost 100% lately, the weather in Vancouver can be more than just depressing – it can be unnerving, even if you don’t leave the house until late afternoon. Now approaching mid-April, and we are still waiting for some sunshine to appear. But, since we unfortunately do NOT have control of the weather, I’ve got some tips for adding warmth to your world, even when it’s utterly shitty outside. Warming up your world, without the sun The downright reason that the sun feels so good boils down to a million lifestyle reason – getting the chance to hangout with friends and drink beer on a patio – but really just one scientific one: exposure to the sun raises endorphin levels in the blood. These are coined as “feel good hormones” by scientists. With that being said, here are some alternative ways to get your happy hormones flowing, sans sun: Get sweating. Go for a run, if it’s not pouring rain, or hit the gym: exercising releases endorphins, too. Meditate. For a long time people didn’t understand the scientific benefits of meditation, but more recent studies have uncovered an array of actual scientific benefits, one of which being that, yes, meditation is yet another endorphin-releasing activity. Have a long hug. I was in San Diego, CA when I learned of this phenomenon for the first time. Locals there, apparently, will hug even relative strangers for 60 seconds. And for good reason: a good, long hug lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and boosts oxytocin (the love or bond hormone). Have a hot shower. If you don’t have a buddy to hug onto for that length of time, a hot shower actually has a similar effect, stimulating the release of oxytocin and bringing down stress levels. Turn on a happy light. I have a final tip, and confession, for you. As I write this I currently…

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Dresses in January #LOVEMYHOOD

January 24, 2017 by alexasuter

It’s true, I do #LOVEMYHOOD, and I also love the fact that I’ve discovered a way to wear dresses in January. I recently took a trip to Bench to shop for my latest picks, and I came across this black, long-sleeved number. It wasn’t until I made it into the changing room that I decided I loved it and needed to have it as I drooled over the hem-to-collar zipper, presenting a single navy blue, satin stripe detail to the back. I for one have always loved subtle back details: they almost convince people you’re totally plain-Jane until you turn around to walk away, in which case they must recall their prior judgement. My tips for wearing dresses in January: Make sure the dress is long-sleeved; otherwise make sure you pair it with a cardigan, open sweater, or blazer. A more robust fabric, like a nylon or polyester/cotton blend, is preferred over something thin – which is sure to make you regret your decision as you freeeeeze – like a silk or satin. Wear a pair of skinny jeans (black, blue, leather, pleather… the options are endless) or thick tights underneath. Select your footwear for the occasion. The footwear you opt to pair with your dress in January will decide on the upscale or casual’ness of the ensemble. Here, I decided to go casual with my favourite pair of white sneakers. Accessories with a hat, scarf, and cross-body bag – if you please. Personally I think these additions make the dress + pants ensemble look more intentional as opposed to a sleepy Monday morning mistake. What I’m wearing: Dress: Bench Scarf: Bench Shoes: Garment Project Bag: Cuyana

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Bikini

January 3, 2017 by alexasuter

As it turns out, choosing the right bikini for your body type is not simply a matter of color or style preferences, as I recently learned during an exciting and educational trip to Bikini Village before my trip to San Diego for New Year’s Eve. I got to chatting with the sales rep, who explained to me in clear and decisive reasoning why certain styles (particularly tops) just weren’t working for me. I eagerly wanted to purchase a one-piece for worry-free wave-gallivanting, but found my torso was just too long to pull off the pre-determined sizing of the piece. So, instead, I delved head first into the bikini section (and the mind of the bikini sales rep) and here’s what I discovered: If you have a small bust, like me, you have free-reign to get away with skimpier tops like bandeaus, triangles, and scoop necks like the one I chose – which I love, by the way. Unless you have a sizeable cup size, like I don’t, you’re probably better off sticking with these styles as opposed to trying to fulfill a push-up for the desired result, which I found to be, well, just plainly unattainable. If you have an athletic build, you can add more volume/enhance curves by choosing a bikini bottom with side ties like the one I chose. I also learned that the smaller the bikini bottom, the curvier and fuller your derriere appears, which seems obvious but wasn’t to me prior my visit to Bikini Village 😉 Curvier frame? My ultra-educated swimsuit specialist let me know that asymmetrical lines and color blocking are the best types of suits for this body type, and I finally realized that this is exactly the reason why bra-style tops never work for me – they’re for the larger busts out there! Regardless of your body type, I’d definitely recommend a visit to Bikini Village – online or in-store. Not only do they have really helpful swimsuit-educators, they also have a huge selection of styles, brands, and beach-related accessories, swimsuits, and clothing. Here’s to finding your perfect swim gear in 2017 – and hopefully many vacations to wear them on!

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Going Dark

December 12, 2016 by alexasuter

Hey guys – guess what? I decided to go dark for the winter, and no I don’t just mean hiding away in the darkness of my apartment. I dyed my hair dark again, because, well I was just feeling it for the season. Ladies tend to go darker for the winter which makes sense. I love dark hair for the richness it brings to winter hues, and looking pale is totally acceptable throughout the colder season anyway, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that too much. Bonus I discovered the other day: dark hair stands out more in the snow – yep! And no one is silly enough to mistake snowflakes for dandruff (I don’t think) but, regardless, it’s bound to melt away quickly in true Vancouver fashion. Thanks to my favourite stylist (Taleda) at Eccotique Salon on West 4th, I now have some kick-ass locks and a new cut to bring me into 2017. Sidenote: I really wanted to do a more dramatic cut, something reminiscent of an inverted lob, but my stylist gave me some sound advice, listening to my hesitance in losing too much length, so we found a happy medium, which I could not be more stoked on. And, well, sometimes there’s just nothing better than a happy medium. Or maybe a happy, medium dark winter with a frosting of snow here and there and your perfect snow hair. A huge thank you to Eccotique Salon for partnering with me on this post and giving me the greatest hair cut and color for the season. I highly recommend visiting them! If you’re in Vancouver, the best location in on West 4th in Kitsilano. What I’m Wearing: Jacket: Bench Canada Crossbody bag: Cuyana Photos by Marissa Cristina

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Exploration

December 9, 2016 by alexasuter

One thing you may not know about me is that I had the blessing – yes the blessing! – of spending my summers as a kid at my dad’s ranch, which was then located outside of Cache Creek, BC. It was literally the middle of nowhere, encompassing about 200 acres and even boasting a beautiful log home, a guest house, and its very own lake and waterfall, but it was the most beautiful place I’d ever been. My dad has now sold the ranch, and I wish I would have appreciated it more then, when I had open range to explore all of its corners, branches, and terrain. My dad now lives not too far, above his shop (he runs a manufacturing company called Rolgear) in Ashcroft, and we drove up to visit a couple of weekends below. It was the perfect setting to test out my Black Friday purchase – a drone! Check out my first drone video and follow my Youtube channel here! We took my drone down to this incredible setting that resembled a dessert in Arizona more than simple Ashcroft, BC. Check out these photos – I’m wearing some of my favorite pieces, a cute tuque and bomber jacket, from Bench Canada. #lovemyhood What I’m Wearing: Tuque and Jacket c/o Bench Canada

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