Guest Post- Brooke Meagan Jones

Hello Loves! I had to take a break this week from blogging, and figured it would be the perfect time to introduce you to my beautiful friend Brooke! She was kind enough to write a guest post for the Sparrow and I love that she wore the sweater that we both just happen to own. Smart girl this one. 

love xxx

Wearing: Sweater- Old Navy (now $30)

Hi everyone! My name is Brooke and I blog over at Brooke Meagan Jones. I'm very excited to be coming to you today from Louise's prairie hometown. I'm the one she left behind. Sigh.... 

 Anyway, I really enjoyed Louise's recent post about the satisfaction you can get out of shopping your closet, re-wearing items, and getting creative with your wardrobe. When I noticed that Louise and I have a cozy sweater in common, I knew it would be a great opportunity to show just how much I can relate to re-wearing items and just how versatile a simple sweater can be. Last week, Louise paired her sweater with a gorgeous blue skirt, and today, I'm sharing with you three totally different ways I've already worn the exact same piece. Sweater season is only just getting started, and this little beauty has already proven its worth. I'm one satisfied closet shopper! 

What pieces are you remixing this fall?

All I Need

All I Need- Firstcom

Sometimes I get frustrated with my wardrobe, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. 

Especially after reading beautiful blogs written by gorgeous, relaxed girls in brand new couture outfits each day. Jealously usually rears it's ugly head right around this time. 

I really hate that. And am going to stop it. 

I have nothing to feel inadequate about, and neither does anyone else. I'm 25, in school, have a mortgage and have been supporting myself for many years. Not surprisingly, responsibilities usually trump buying the latest trend. 

I will probably never know what it's like to own a pair of Christian Louboutons, a Chanel 2.55 purse or a Burberry trench. But that doesn't mean that my chance to be stylish is diminished. On the contrary actually, I feel most true to my style and myself when I haven't got two pennies to rub together and need to get creative. 

Thrifting, swapping and re-wearing (to death!) all the items in my closet gives me satisfaction and really helps with that pesky cost-per-wear calculation!

Grey Long Skirt- Wilfred via Aritzia (similar), Black Silk Blouse- Joe Fresh (similar), Black Patent Flats- Anne Taylor via Value Village (similar), Wrap Bracelet- Club Monaco

And to drive home this point even more, here's one of my favourite skirts. It was only $30 and, including these 4 above outfits, I've gotten it's cost back ten-fold. When I bought it I really didn't think I'd wear it too often, but that's the beauty of shopping your wardrobe, it forces you to mix and match and get creative. Sometimes that's where the best outfits come from! 

Can anyone else relate?

love

xxx

Chances Are

Chances Are- Garrett Hedlund

Kismet.

I think I'm going to start defining it as "when you wear something that just happens to be in a colour you're studying at school". Or, I'll just keep it as fate. We'll see.

It was pretty perfect timing to wear this gorgeous skirt during our colour theory classes, never underestimate the power of being a walking visual aid! 

Royal Blue Skirt- Borrowed from Cee at Coco & Vera (similar), Beige Sweater- Old Navy (similar), Grey Felt Hat- American Apparel (similar), Grey Suede Pumps- Nine West, Black Studded Belt- Gap, Wrap Bracelet- Club Monaco

As soon as I laid eyes on this gorgeous skirt of Cee's I pounced, I was swept off my feet by the colour and flow. Completely gorgeous!

And it's just as much fun as it seems to wear it, and surprisingly versatile. Plus it gave me an excuse to wear my coziest new sweater and favourite floppy hat, so it's lived up to all of my high expectations!

love

xxx

Somebody That I Used To Know

Somebody That I Used To Know- Gotye (how gooood is this song?!)

So it's finally here, the end of my early twenties. 

Gah! 

My poor Hundred list- I'm definitely leaving it all to crunch time! Looks like I'll be taking 2015 off and just globe trotting the entire time. Aww shucks, sounds rough, right? 

And even though I wore this outfit a full week before my birthday I felt that the sparkle and slight "dance costume" feel of it was appropriate for my birthday post! Unless you really don't give a hoot, your birthday is one of the few times you can get away with wearing sequins before 10 am...

ah, who am I kidding? Sequins are too much fun to be left only for after brunch. Introduce them to your croissants tomorrow! 

Navy Wool Cardigan- Gap, Black Lace Blouse- Wilfred (similar), Sequin Shorts- Borrowed from Cee (similar), Mauve Tights- Marks & Spencer, Grey Suede Heels- Nine West (similar)

I'm still on the fence about the mixing of textures in this outfit- sequin shorts, lace top, wool sweater. When the idea popped in my head it was immediate love, however, looking at the photos I think the lace and sequins are too similarly busy, hmm... back to the drawing board I guess!

I'm an avid believer in the Live and Learn motto, naturally! 

love & birthday kisses

xxx

Settle Down

Settle Down- Kimbra

It's official, Fall has arrived! Jeans are out, coats are on and rain is falling.

Obviously, I'm thrilled!

I haven't had a chance to be outside enjoying it yet (oh hai, 32 hours of homework last weekend!) but getting to wear layers and sip tea while working is not too shabby.

Plus, it feels more weather appropriate to wear these pumps again, the red heel just makes me so happy- and reminds me of being in France last fall, where these beauties came from. I love wearing items that have such strong memories attached to them! 

Army Coat- Element (similar), Skinny Jeans- c/o Parasuco, Grey Silk Blouse and Gold Necklace- Joe Fresh, Bauble Necklace- Loft, Belt- Vintage, Heels- Mellow Yellow

And how cozy are these jeans? 

I don't wear jeans too often, mainly because leggings and tights allow for more comfort/impromptu dance moves, but these guys have lycra in them and just hug you. 

Parasuco sent them over for me to try out and I have to say, they're pretty awesome! Parasuco is one of those iconic Canadian brands from my childhood (pretty sure everyone in my high school had at least one pair of their jeans!) and they just launched their online shopping site, check it out here.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  

love

xxx

Good Life

Good Life- OneRepublic

Last weekend Cee of Coco and Vera hosted a lovely little birthday and swap party, how perfect is that? 

A group of my favourite Vancouver bloggers came and we caught up, ate cake (home made by Cee's wonderful husband!) and picked out some new goodies to style. 

Plus she handed out little tiaras that were just so much fun!

The September birthday babies, Jen, me and Cee!

Poses in the park!

L-R Alicia, Lynn, Cee, Alex, Jen, me, Veronika, Cara

Outfit: Red Sweater (similar) and Gold Necklace- Joe Fresh, Floral Skirt (similar) and Bracelets- Le Chateau, Oxford Heels- Mellow Yellow (France), Belt- Vintage

Camel heels galore!

Photo credits to the patient husbands Ian and David

And I just want to say a big thank you for bearing with my absence these past few weeks! I still haven't worked out this new routine and homework is just piling up, then when you're the hugest klutz in the world and spill water on your beloved laptop you end up losing your day-off to wringing your fingers at the Genius Bar.

But I promise that I will be replying and checking in with all your lovely blogs soon, it's breaking my heart that it's been so long already! 

love

xxx

The Writer

The Writer- Ellie Goulding

I'm quite in love with these clothes swaps that we've been having over here in Vancouver. It gives you a chance to try on a style that you'd always admired, but could never justify jumping off the deep end for. 

Take this gorgeous velvet blazer. I've always been a sucker for textures, J Crew and classic styles (I don't know why I hadn't leapt before...) so when Cee pulled out this beauty I bounded across the room and happily gave it a new temporary home! 

Luckily fall eventually did arrive so I pulled on a few layers, my skinny cafe trousers and wiggled around my apartment like an extra from Mad Men.

Oh, don't even pretend you've never done that! 

Green Velvet Blazer- Cee's (similar), Leopard Print Cardigan- Ricki's (similar), Black Skinny's- H&M (similar), Nude Heels- Aldo, Gold Necklace- Joe Fresh, Brown Belt- Vintage

Luckily some of the lovely Vancouver bloggers got together for a swap, cupcakes and a chat this past weekend (pretty photos to come!) 

So I have some new goodies to dress up and can't wait to try out a few new styles.

I hope you all had awesome weekends too!

love

xxx

Loose Ends

Loose Ends- Imogen Heap

Looking back at these photos, which were taken a few weeks ago in sunny August, makes me remember being calm and relaxed. Right now I'm doing that sneaky blogging thing (where I'm still in my pj's, hair in a bun and a big cup of coffee glued to my hands) feeling anything but relaxed.

But I do feel excited!

 I'm loving my classes (hello, Typography!), Fall has arrived in Vancouver (hello, Pumpkin Spice Latte!), and I have some awesome things happening in these next few days (hello, dance class!). So, while my routine has yet to be sorted out, I'm revelling in this new chapter.

Grey Sparkle Slouch Sweater- H&M (similar here), Tutu Skirt- Cee's (similar), Black Wedges- Gap, Turquoise Ring- Aldo (similar), Bracelets- Le Chateau

And what better way to kick off a new chapter than with a style that's slightly new? I love this tutu skirt and while my first instinct was to pair it with a button up, such as here, this slouchy knit makes it look more rebellious. The play on texture is also something that I just can't get enough of lately!

love

xxx