Fashion Friday :: Cozy in the City

[trip style = urban + weekend getaway]

While everyone else flies south for the winter, there must be some logic in doing the opposite, right? Don't let a little thing like winter stop you from visiting your favourite northern hemisphere cities. One of my guilty pleasure internet pastimes is looking at street style blogs. What I love about the cold-weather-city style blogs at this time of year is seeing how people do cold well. People who dress for function - and fashion - in winter conditions. They make a chilly vacation destination seem a little less scary.

Now what to bring?

(clockwise from top left) Madewell silk cargo shirt, J.Crew cashmere v-neck sweater, Club Monaco vera coat, Temple Bags wool tote, Oliver Peoples sheldrake sunglasses, Anthropologie raw citrine earrings, Free People angora convertible gloves, Anthropologie dessau scarf, Madewell biker boot, Madewell rail straight black jeans, Topshop ladder detail socks

Trip Styler Tip: 87% of all lost earrings fall out during the winter. Okay so I made up that stat, but it's got to be something like that. Scarves are the #1 culprit, followed closely by change rooms. Again, I made that up, but I bet I'm right. Always wear earrings with tight backings while wearing scarves and toques. While wearing hook earrings, pinch the hook and add a spare plastic backing if possible (save them when you buy the earrings).

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.}

[Street style photos via The Sartorialist, Refinery 29, Mr. Newton, Face Hunter]

A Slower-Paced Whistler

[trip style = active + adventure + ski]

Aside from the occasional cozy, curl-up by the fire evening, winter in Whistler is normally defined by racing to the lifts, racing down the hill and racing to après. I love each of these qualities, after all, they make Whistler what it is: the multi-award winning, world-famous winter wonderland that just so happens to be in Vancouver's backyard. But I recently discovered a slower-paced Whistler.

It seems like there are 3 kinds of Whistler enthusiasts: a) the wake up early and go to bed late, do everything visitors b) the I'll take my time doing the things I love visitors c) the I'm just there for the scene visitors I think I'm 55% A, 40% B and 5% C.

On weekends, I normally indulge in fast-paced Whistler: attempted first tracks, ski/board your brains off pre-crowds, hot tub, eat and repeat. But over New Years, I discovered a slower-paced Whistler full of sleep-ins, late-morning snowshoeing, naps, nice dinners out and cross-country skiing. Over the holidays, this Whistler provided the perfect balance of exercise, peaceful treks into the snowy hills and great times dining out with friends. Although I was kicking myself for not doing figure 8s with friends down the top of Blackcomb and basking in the above-the-trees bluebird-day sun, there's something to be said for a little R+R amid the activity.

For me, this came in the form of some incredible snowshoeing experiences (thanks to a tip from friends) and my first foray back into cross-country skiing in 17ish years. During one of the busiest holiday seasons at Whistler in a long time, the sheer breadth and depth of terrain made both these experiences peaceful versus the holiday and weekend congestion I'm used to on the downhill slopes.

Next time you head to Whistler in winter, take a cue from the slow cooking movement and don't forget to take time to relax a little and discover the peace of a slower-paced approach.

PS - Slower-paced Whistler also happens to be less expensive. Snowshoeing at Lost Lake and the Callaghan Valley costs between $8 - $10 and cross-country skiing is $20 (not including rentals).

PPS - Spending an afternoon or apres-ing at the girl-and-guy-friendly-outdoor-fire crackling-sauna-steam-and-hot-and-cold-pool-plunging Scandinave Spa is also another way to live a slower-paced Whistler. See pics and details here.

[photo by moi, taken at Lost Lake in Whistler]

LA Stories

[trip style = sun + sightseeing + weekending]

While galavanting through entertainment-ville this past weekend I read an article in Los Angeles Magazine called LA Stories. Fifty locals shared their views on the city. Jamie Lee Curtis' {whom I LOVED in True Lies} struck me most: "I am very protective of LA." Sure, the city of superhighways gets a bad rap, but it has SO MUCH to offer. No wonder an LA native is protective of her star-studded stomping grounds!

{Did you catch yesterday's post about eating, drinking and segwaying through LA's Downtown?}

From Tourist To Local To Tourist
I can't even count the number of times I've been. Thanks to its relative proximity to Vancouver, its forever So-Cal sun and a dear friend who has called it home, I've been fortunate enough to visit enough that everything now seems semi-familiar. Initially I went as a tourist, going to attractions and eating at front-and-centre touristy restaurants {remember Planet Hollywood? They had the best dessert burrito ever, sounds gross but soooo good}. Then with the help of my friend, I graduated to local tourism where I did things locals would do: hike Runyon Canyon, grab a coffee & cookie at Mani's, get my nails done at one of the many shops offering $25 mani/pedis, etc... My most recent trip was a local and tourist hybrid, fuelling up at incredible restaurants, expending energy on segways and museums, and conserving energy as I recharged at the pool.

My LA Story

Aside from the day I spent exploring LA's re-envisioned downtown core, here are some highlights:

Must-Try Restaurants
Bottega Louie - Downtown *I just about lost my breath when I walked into this marble-floored, high-ceilinged, open-kitchen cafe, bar and high-end eatery. Every detail from the freshest, plumpest rasberries in the macaroons to the delicate brass detailing on every wooden counter base blew me away.

Tavern - Brentwood *I was equally swept away when I walked into Tavern for dinner. The farmhouse-chic decor meets cozy-corner-cafe fare was done with perfect execution. At dinner we sat under a tall indoor tree with clove-studded oranges hanging from every branch. Heaven.

Favorite All-In-One Night Out
The Grove - LA *Even though it's busy, busy, busy, what's not to love about shopping, dining, dancing fountain-watching and catching a flick all in one place?

Most Beautiful Vista + Museum
The Getty *The hilltop museum is not only a favorite with art and architecture buffs, but also with people who love a breezy, lazy afternoon of lounging on the grass overlooking multiple LA vistas. I was there for 3 hours, but could have come back everyday for a week in 3-hour increments to properly appreciate the art expositions, open-air cafes and stunning grounds.

Stay
$ - Find a hotel through Hotwire
$$ - Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd {see my review here} or Sofitel
$$$ - Beverly Wilshire or Chateau Marmont

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[photos by @tripstyler & @nate_fri, except for luxe + tavern]

Travel Trends :: Downtown LA

[trip style = sun + urban + weekend getaway]

The Many Faces of LA LA has many faces. Some old, some young, some pulled, some plumped, some starry-eyed and some content. Like the millions of unique faces populating The City of Angels, you can visita million times and never tire of its vintage-glam, yet ever-changing, features. Last weekend's jaunt down South was no exception, when I experienced the primed and refurbished Downtown LA---until now, a spot that wouldn't have been on my radar. Yet re-envisioned downtowns are a travel trend spanning from the West to East Coast, and I didn't want to miss it!

{Don't miss tomorrow's LA Stories - Uptown.}

The Approach As I approached LA Live---the city's newest and hottest entertainment centre---I was greeted by Lady Los Angeles herself. The sexy, silver and tinsel-clad angelic figure is on every street pole surrounding the district---a harmonious ode to the festive season and the iconic area. Beyond her, in true LA form, sat a sparkly entertainment stretch spanning multiple city blocks in LA's Downtown.

First Impressions My first impression of this entertainment city within a city was "wow." Even for a city girl, it was overwhelmingly big, but once I navigated its brightly lit corridors, the unapproachable giant became a friendly companion. LA Live challenges the norm of dinner and a show. With multiple restaurants to choose from, you can start off midday with an appie and bevvie at the JW Marriott's Ion roof-top pool bar, catch a matinee of the famous Rockettes Christmas show, celebrate happy hour with the world's largest selection of draft beer* at the Yard House and cap off your outing with an LA Kings or Lakers game. All.in.one.place. *If you're not into the taste of beer, but still want "beer", try the Lindemans Framboise, it's like a fruity cocktail!

Old & New Downtown LA mixes the current and the classic with new and time-honored features, some enhanced over time, some left alone. In one day, two old and new experiences:

The first ...was zipping around the city at 12mph in a bright green and pink helmet {maybe my head was kid-sized?} on a Segway! Led by Jason from Another Side Tours, we covered a lot of ground as we zig-zagged around the city on two wheels {that recalculate balance at 120 beats per second}, seeing highlights like the semi-shiny Disney Concert Hall { with panels were so bright in the sun they had to be dulled}; the oldest street in LA; Union Station and a host of art-deco buildings. I still dream about getting back onto a Segway...maybe a Christmas gift idea for the person who has e-ver-y-thing?

The second ...was at the Grammy Museum gazing at Janice Joplin's 1968, custom-painted Porsche and imagining myself in Katy Perry's famous fruit get-up from the 2009 Grammy Awards.

If you've never thought of going Downtown for your next trip to LA, consider it. This metropolis-turned-entertainment-centre is worth another look. Plus, how can you say no to a place where angels are watching over you?

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*All Downtown activities mentioned were sponsored by the LA Visitors and Convention Bureau.

[photos by moi et mon husband, except for Katy Perry by Candy Kirby]

Fashion Friday :: Fall Weekend

[trip style = weekend getaway]

There's a popular collection of short stories called The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing. It's a New York Times Bestseller, but I've never read it. I do, however, remember the cover. It has an image of a girl in wellies, tights, a red jacket and a trapper hat - and it's the inspiration for the first Fashion Friday post.

When summer fades away and the leaves begin to fall, I instantly want to surround myself with wool sweaters, pumpkin lattes and weekend escapes. Living on Canada's West Coast, I have plenty of options - Tofino, Whistler, the Gulf Islands, Washington State - but no matter where you live, I'm sure there's a cabin calling your name.

Now what to pack?

Men (clockwise from top left)
Filippa K peter herringbone check shirt, Cheap Monday original jeans, H by Hudson angus tan washed lace up boot, Paul Smith Jeans shawl collar waffle cardigan

Women (clockwise from top centre)
Free People military platoon jacket, Madewell belmont boyshirt, Bop Basics faux fur trapper hat, Loeffler Randall rain boot with back zip, American Apparel winter legging

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.}