Vince Blouse, Alexander Wang Leather Pants, Airfield Vest, Valentino Pumps, Hermes Watch, Tiffany Necklace, Yves Saint Laurent Clutch
One of the downfalls of living in a climate such as Calgary, is the fact that when the weather starts dropping, flats, pumps and peep toes are no longer an option. In an effort to prevent Mother Nature from getting the best of me, or rather my shoe collection, I often travel to my destination in winter boots, and change once I arrive. It’s one of those very not-so-glam moves that happens behind the scenes. Because some nights call for a studded extravaganza, and I don’t mean the guest list.
I love creating a place setting that makes my guests feel special when they take a seat at the table. With Christmas fast approaching, my planning for this year’s setting is well under way. I thought I would share three possible options for you to incorporate into your holiday setting this season.
One of my favorite settings to pull out at Christmas is a whimsical take on Santa’s reindeer. It’s a cute way to incorporate the holiday, and it’s great fun to pair up the personalities on the plates with those of your guests. On special occasions I like to have nametags to take the guess work out of where to sit. Otherwise I fear all of my guests would assume the Blitzen setting.
Going glam is always a favorite for me. I do this mostly by using white, cream and gold pieces. I add both red and white wine glasses to the setting, and a Christmas cracker always helps to excite your guests. I found these hand stitched napkins in Germany last year, and I knew they would have a home in my holiday festivities.
Finally, don’t feel like you need to go out and purchase specific holiday dinnerware. I created this place setting using everything that I use throughout the year to create a more rustic feeling setting. To add a little Christmas touch you can top it off with a Christmas cracker, or to maintain the earthy feel, a sprig of rosemary would also look incredible.
Equipment Blouse, Aritzia Blazer, Paige Premium Denim, Yves Saint Laurent Pumps, Hermes Watch, Swarovski Earrings
I have to admit that most of my outfits are planned out. I put thought into what items I think will look good together, the colors and textures that will play off of each other and most importantly, what will make me feel amazing while wearing it. I find this helps to take the stress out of waking up in the morning and feeling completely overwhelmed with immediate decisions. There are those days however, that I wake up and see the sun shining brightly, and it always inspires me to throw a bit more life into what I wear. Embracing those moments are the best part of a warm winter day.
Burberry Coat (similar here), Paige Premium Denim, Burberry Booties (similar here), Yves Saint Laurent Handbag, Agnelle Gloves, Hermes Watch, Swarovski Earrings
Now that my race is over I feel overwhelmed with what to do with all of the free time that was once eaten up by training. Instead of running over this Calgary pedestrian bridge, I now get to enjoy it in a more scenic light. I love walking the city this time of year, especially on crisp sunny days. Christmas decorations are going up everywhere, and it always makes me think of previous Decembers spent in Edmonton and Vancouver. Grabbing a hot chocolate with a girlfriend or two and heading up Whyte Avenue or Granville Street to do a little Christmas shopping. If only I could get everyone on the two-year-till-Calgary plan.
