boho

i fought the current running just the way you would

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Off-shoulder Top: Spell Gypsy | Skirt: Spell Gypsy | Mules: Steve Madden (similar)

It’s pretty much officially Summer (at least it feels like it) and that makes me so so happy! I can’t wait for camping trips, long bike rides, beach days, patios, and of course the cutest summer fashion! One of my favourite “trends” right now are two-piece sets. Matching sets are literally the EASIEST thing to throw on in the summer because they require no effort and you suddenly have a whole put together outfit. On top of that, they’re also the most versatile thing out there! If you don’t feel like being too matchy-matchy by wearing the set together, you can always swap out the top or the bottom and pair it with a different top/bottom. This allows you to create several different outfits by simply pairing the separates with different items you already have in your closet. If you’re heading somewhere on vacation this summer, try packing a set with you as it definitely helps to limit the number of different pieces of clothing you have to bring. I love matching sets so much that I’ll probably do a separate blog post in the coming weeks showcasing some of my favourite sets right now.

The two piece set that I’m wearing in this week’s post is by the Australian brand Spell & The Gypsy Collective. If you haven’t checked out their pieces yet, what are you doing?! I’ve been obsessed with their clothing for the last few years, and I especially think their clothes are perfect for the summer months as they always have the most beautiful prints and colours! Their styles are so loose and flowy, perfect if you’re into bohemian style clothing that’s super comfortable and effortless yet stylish.

The off-the-shoulder top and skirt that I’m wearing are sold separately on Spell Gypsy’s website, but look great paired together as I’ve done above. When I wear these pieces separately, I would pair the top tucked into a pair of high waisted light wash denim shorts for a casual look. With the skirt, a simple white crop top would help balance out the flowy-ness of the skirt on the bottom by keeping it more streamlined on top.

Moving on from my love for matching sets, another thing I’ve been in love with recently is Maggie Rogers’ new single – Fallingwater. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that I featured one of her songs in a previous blog post (check it out HERE!). Her newest release, Fallingwater, was only released a couple of weeks ago, and I’m pretty sure it’s already made it onto my list of most played songs this year so far. In other words, I’m OBSESSED. When the song was released, it was accompanied by a handwritten note on Maggie’s Instagram where she explains that the song is all about “giving everything and not knowing if it’s enough”. Makes sense given that Maggie’s rise to fame was very rapid. After the video of a coaching session with Pharrell at NYU where Rogers was a student in the music program went viral, her rise to fame just exploded. Soon she was headlining sold out shows and playing bigger and bigger stages at music festivals around the world. All within the last two years. Fallingwater is about all of that sudden change of the last two years. About her giving it her all, about being open and vulnerable for the world to see and hear her, while still trying to navigate her way through this crazy world and not really knowing where it would lead her to next.

A lot of the time we think of change as a bad thing. But Fallingwater actually celebrates change. It still recognizes the hardships of change. How it usually happens suddenly, unexpectedly and quickly, making the situation seem very stressful. Change takes us out of our comfort zone, and that’s why we don’t like it. But in hindsight, change is always a good thing. We as human beings need change in order to grow and better ourselves. Our ability to adapt to change is what makes us stronger and allows us to learn more about ourselves and the world around us.  I’ve even taken it upon myself to seek out change in order to learn more, grow, and be happier. Next time you’re faced with change, whether it be in your personal or professional life, don’t be afraid to embrace it! Everything really does happen for a reason and things always turn out the way they’re meant to be.

If you haven’t yet, definitely check give Fallingwater a listen After a small hiatus, this song has got to be comeback song of the year thus far. Maggie’s storytelling is stronger than ever, as seen through her intimate and vulnerable lyrics in the song. Her folk background combined with the smooth synth-pop melodies and rhythms are what allow her to stand out from the rest of them, and this song proves all of that. Check out the song (and stunning music video) below!

Also, let me know in the comments below if you have any fun plans for this summer, or what your favourite summer fashion trends are! I would love to read them 🙂

when the rain washes you clean, you’ll know

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Maxi Dress: Free People (similar) | Sunglasses: Nordstrom 

About two weeks ago, while on an evening walk around the neighborhood, my boyfriend and I stumbled upon the prettiest back entrance/garden to this hidden mansion which is now used as a banquet hall for weddings and anniversaries. I had heard of this facility before, but driving past it on the daily to work, I was never able to actually see the mansion as it’s hidden behind a huge stone wall. Unexpectedly on one random weekday evening during our walk, we just happened to end up behind the mansion! The garden  is beautiful especially with the mansion made of stone as the backdrop, and even though we couldn’t get too close because it was fenced off, I still thought it would be such a stunning location to take some photos. So of course as the weekend rolled around, we went back and ended up doing just that.

I put on a floral maxi dress because 1), that’s pretty much all I own and wear in the spring/summer, and 2), I just thought it would go along with the feminine and somewhat fancy vibe of the location. Funny fact: I was literally DYING in the heat while taking these pictures because of all the fabric in the dress. With maxi dresses, I usually prefer short sleeves or sleeveless because it can otherwise look like too much and drown you out (especially if you’re shorter like me). I really loved the lighter colours in this dress though, and the mix of the floral and paisley patterns are so unique. This is probably one of the only maxi dresses I own with full-length sleeves, and I know it’s not the most practical for everyday, but for a special occasion to prance around to in a pretty garden, I think it’s quite alright.

As soon as I put this dress on, it immediately made me feel like the OG boho queen herself, Stevie Nicks. She is literally the embodiment of bohemian – travelling around the world singing songs that warms the hearts of others while wrapped up in her staple uniform of platform boots, shawls, and maxis. Her free-spirited style is just an extension of her spirit and creativity. Since I felt like I was channeling my inner Stevie Nicks in these photos, it only makes sense that this week’s song is none other than Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.

I’m sure all of you know this song, probably from our parents playing it when we were kids growing up, bu if you haven’t, definitely take a listen to it below. It’s a classic!