New Year, New Me???

Not likely. Resolutions and diets aren't for me but growth and development, that's what I strive for. 

I've learned that resolutions, as dramatic lifestyle changes, can lead to severe disappointment in my inability to remain committed. As soon as I give in to that first bag of cheese puffs on January 1. The result unwinds motivation with a single 'fail'.

Who's been there?

Instead, I try to use the change in calendar year to revisit my lifestyle and my routine. Though I thrive on personal development I've learned that things don't always go according to plan. Sometimes you have to take a step back. This isn't failure, this is reality. If you're someone who believes that life is about the journey, not the destination then you can relate and you need to read this article by James Clear.


Losing 20 pounds doesn't turn my crank as much as it does to feel that I am athletic, I am strong. Still, goals provide a necessary benchmark of progress. I just have to remind myself to have the right attitude about those goals. That attitude begins with loving myself and leads to taking care of myself, my loved ones and the world around me. It allows me to take what I learned last year and apply it to the coming year, with an appreciation for the unpredictability of life. Not being too hard on myself is a constant challenge, but I have to remind myself that a great attitude is meant to be a work in progress.

Who else is working on having a great attitude in this year and in this life?

Just Another Day At Vancouver's Premiere Al Fresco Event

The grandeur at this year's Pacific Polo Cup somehow managed to eclipse that of last year's fabulous debut event. Hosted at Southlands Riding Club (SRC) with The Vancouver Polo Club, benefitting the SRC, we'd say that the Pacific Polo Cup has well established itself as the city's premiere al fresco event.

The exhibition style polo matches were entertaining for both equestrian
and non-equestrian folk, alike.

This year attendees could choose from three experiences ranging from a casual bring-your-own picnic to a posh, plated lunch catered by Hawksworth Restaurant.

Even the picnics were in keeping with the charming
backdrop of the Sport of Kings.

Of course, the fashion-factor was lost on no one.
Only dainty dresses and dapper gents here.

Lots of horsey fun for all ages!

Music and plenty of bubbly at the Polo Lounge,
sponsored by Veuve Cliquot Champagne.

Whimsical in White:
Kaylie, Susan and Shannon wearing Vancouver-based Jac by JC.

Carte Blanche Boutique was on-hand
to fulfill hat wishes and fascinator dreams.
More on Summer Style with Carte Blanche Boutique.

Best seats in the house: Those fortunate enough to be at a table in the sold-out
Polo Dining Pavilion enjoyed a field-side view.

Lunch in the Polo Dining Pavilion was catered by
Vancouver's award-winning Hawksworth Restaurant.

Pacific Polo Cup Event chair, Kimberley St. Pierre,
in all-Carte Blanche Boutique-everything.
With Tara Newman, Hawksworth Restaurant.

With Mauricio Vasquez;
and Nadia Iadisernia, Vancouver Polo Club Vice-President.

We're already thinking about what to wear to next year's Pacific Polo Cup!

Beauty Basics Pre-Fall

I want to share a few of my most loved beauty basics that are going to take me from summer into fall. Oversized sunnies and a swath of rich lip colour = easy glam as the seasons change.

Dior Hydralife BB Creme SPF 30 combines sun protection and skincare with the properties of an ultra-lightweight foundation for a flawless finish.

Nars Velvet Lip Liner, shown above in 'Costa Smeralda', is one of my go-to liners. It's long-lasting and presents super-rich colour, while preventing feathering.

Nars Audacious Lipstick, shown here in 'Claudia', has a weightless formula with superb pigmentation that covers in a single-swipe. It's perfect for an everyday bold lip.

Read more about my favourite skincare essentials for drier weather.

What are some of your beauty basics?

Details de Dior

We were over the moon to be invited to the grand opening of Christian Dior in Vancouver. Awe struck by the all the lovely details, we hope the images below convey some of that feeling to you. Though to appreciate it all, you really have to get down to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and see for yourself.

Vancouver's fashion aficionados have welcomed the new Christian Dior boutique with open arms. And rightfully so. Doesn't it feel like the mere presence of the luxury house elevates the city's fashion stature? Is it possible that this is the universe's way of acknowledging that we have finally outgrown our infamous and unfashionable yoga pant status.

As the label's first stand-alone boutique in Canada, a lot of love was put into the design and details of the two-level space at at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Inspired by the Parisian flagship on Avenue Montaigne, the beautiful new boutique is a must-see, for the design alone.

Most appealing to us was the vast selection of bold hued classic bags and a first-hand look at Raf Simons' future-forward take on folk styles in the Pre-Fall 2015 collection.

Pre-Fall 2015 - Sequinned turtlenecks and embellished Fair Isle.

Wool grid check and classic bag silhouettes with a future-forward twist.

Raf Simons has a knack for modernizing and futurizing the classics.

Dior Boutique Director, Sarah Creedon (C), in Dior, of course.
With Tamara Taggart (L) and Michelle Addison (R) show-stopping in Roland Mouret.

For the boys - Dior Homme is a promising addition to the cities fashion-scape.

See anything that strikes your fancy?

Reader's Choice Award Winner: Best of BC Bling 2015

H A P P Y  B C  DAY!

The province's jewellery lovers have spoken! We're pleased to announce that British Columbia's Best Jewellery Designer for 2015, by popular vote is:

LOLO Jewellery

Thanks for all your nominations + votes!

See all the nominees here.

Summer Style In La Vie En Rose - with Carte Blanche Boutique

Wondering what to wear to your next luxe summer event? Look no further!

Summertime socials are taking the city by storm. The fashion-forward are flocking to garden parties and equestrian events, unable to resist the pomp and splendour reminiscent of more sophisticated times. No other affair is so charismatic as the Polo Match. Here, true horse lovers come together with fashion aficionados for a spectacular and whimsical occasion. Of course, there's etiquette when it comes to replicating old-world charm, appropriately.

Read more about the magic of dress-up here.

In advance of the much anticipated Pacific Polo Cup, we look to Carte Blanche Boutique to guide us through upscale summer style. Veerle and Vanessa, the mother-daughter duo behind the boutique, pride themselves on a hand-curated selection of unique apparel, accessories and millinery. And lucky us - they've selected four ensembles below, to walk us through some fashion 'Do's and Don'ts' when you're living la vie en rose.

Classic. Wrist-length gloves are perfect for a daytime event.

This classic look is all about setting lovely details 
against a backdrop of clean lines.

Do: Pair an elaborate hat and gloves with a simple dress to complement to the simplicity of the dress.

Don't: Go longer than wrist-length gloves for a daytime event.

A black dress pairs beautifully with a bold hat.

Take it to the next level with accessories that match your millinery.

Let's talk about black.

Do: Steer away from wearing black, UNLESS it's paired with a bold and bright coloured hat.

Co-ordinate hats with shoes and accessories, BUT,

Don't:  Over do it. In order to keep the look daytime, opt for either a bold hat or shoes to match your millinery; not both. Similarly, choose either a bracelet or a necklace.

Just a few of the lovely fascinators and hats at Carte Blanche Boutique.

On hats.

Do: Wear hats with embellishments placed to the front and side. A good rule of thumb is to keep the tag in the back.

Don't: Let the brim obstruct your vision so much that you need to tilt your chin up to see. Awkward!

On fascinators.

Do: Insert the barrette from the back to the front of your head, with the open side of the clip facing forward.

Bring an evening dress back to a daytime look with a simple fascinator.

When the dress takes the lead.
Do:  Pair a bolder dress with fascinator, instead of an elaborate hat. This lets the dress speak. An evening dress is brought back to a daytime look.

Looks from last year's Pacific Polo Cup, here.

Elevate the look of a casual summer dress by adding a fascinator.

Alternatively, a summer hat keeps it simple.

If you're feeling the whimsy, but not the splendour.

Do: Wear a more casual summer dress and pair it with a smaller fascinator or a simpler hat and neutral shoes. This will shift the ensemble into a garden party look.

Don't: Forget about the footwear!

About footwear. 

Keep in mind that a heeled shoe will always raise your look to the next level, but a flat, sandal is also appropriate. A wedged heel is ideal for lawn events. If you do go for a traditional heel, 

Do: invest in a set of Heelio Dealio's to protect your heels and the lawn.

Carte Blanche Boutique is located in the Point Grey neighbourhood of Vancouver.
Shop in-store or online.

Above all-else,

Do: Have Fun!

A special thank you to our fab model, Nadia Iadisernia,  Sales and Marketing Maven for Pacific Polo Cup and Luxury and Supercar Weekend.

Now get out there and stomp some divots!

Get tickets to the Pacific Polo Cup, here.

My Beach Body

Taking part in the #MyBeachBody campaign was both an empowering and enlightening experience for me. Empowering because I was able to face a fear and challenge myself to do something that was way out of my comfort zone. Enlightening because it made me realize that despite our best intentions many women, myself included, still harbour fantasies about the cookie-cutter 'perfect' body.

Well over a year ago, I started following the campaigns of a local swimwear designer, Julia Church. Her company, Nettle's Tale, has a mandate to create swimwear for real women. Recognizing, the challenges that women face in accepting their unique body shapes, Nettle's Tale aims to empower women 'not just to accept themselves, but sincerely love themselves'. The company uses real women, of all shapes and sizes to model their swimwear, without any airbrushing.

Nettle's Tale Swimwear Inc.

Enamoured of this concept, and I took every opportunity to promote it, via this blog and social media. I was thrilled when my pregnancy presented me with the opportunity to chat with Julia about swimwear styles suitable for women who are expecting.

(More from my chat with Julia here.)

 In my mind, this was a quiet opportunity to challenge myself to face my own self-image demons. My plan was to write a review of Nettle's Tale Swimwear with images of myself in the swimwear. That was the plan. Little did I know that Julia would be contacting me, within the week, to walk-the-talk that I had been touting.
"This Saturday we're doing a swimsuit shoot with RAW Beauty Talks ... I thought you would be a great candidate." Read: pictures of you in a bikini with no make-up, no photo editing and no filters - to be shared with the world.

Whoa! Who hit the panic button!?

This is how I felt when I realized that I had this great opportunity to challenge myself and my own self-image issues -
And not an excuse in the world to get me out of it!

Through my childhood and into adolescence, I was always a bit heavier than average. I have had to work very hard in adulthood in order to maintain a healthy weight for my frame. I bought my first bikini somewhere around the age of 30. The problem has been that I have never looked trim enough for myself. It's not as if, while at that optimal weight, I was able to look in the mirror and say, "Good, job. You look great!". I am well aware that there is no single, ideal body-type; I believe that everyone is different and that healthy looks different on everyone. Certainly, we have an obligation to ourselves and our loved ones to do our best to take of ourselves so that we can live life with energy and vitality. But even as I did my best to eat well and be active, it was always what I saw in the mirror that carried the most weight in determining how I felt on any given day.

This is how I felt in front of Britney Gill's camera,
with an entourage of beautiful and amazing women cheering me on.

 Now, with baby no. 2 on board, sometimes I cringe when I pass by a mirror and glimpse this super curvy version of myself. It's insane, I know. Ten months ago, nothing could be more beautiful to me than a blossoming bump. Given that I know that my body is making a miracle, shouldn't I innately love the way that miracle presents itself?

Being pregnant is amazing, it's a miracle, my body is doing amazing things.
Sunnies courtesy of Bailey Nelson.

We don't know if we have a little boy or girl coming our way. It doesn't matter at all. What I do know is that if it's a little girl, I don't ever want her to think about herself or her physical appearance in the way I have for most of my life. I wouldn't want her to waste precious time and emotional capital on this. I would want her to be strong, healthy and hope that that will be sufficient.

Raw Beauty Talks: #MYBEACHBODY Campaign.

So how do I facilitate this? It's simple, really, and it began with Julia. I have to walk-the-talk. I have to lead by example. I have to re-train myself to truly believe that my hip-to-waist ratio isn't the most important thing about me so that my daughter knows that I truly love myself.

Help redefine what the perfect beach body looks like by sharing a filter-free, un-retouched photo of your perfectly imperfect body in a bathing suit with the hashtag #MyBeachBody.

On vacation off the coast of Crete, Greece.
Feeling super-confident and chic in the 'Julia' Limited Edition Black + Cloud Bikini Set by Nettle's Tale.
Boho Marks courtesy of Balsam and Vine.

On the beach in Bodrum, Turkey.
Wearing the 'Britney' Limited Edition Pink + Navy Bikini Set by Nettle's Tale.
Hat by Eugenia Kim.

Incidentally, the two sets Julia selected for me have been nothing short of perfect for my rapidly changing body. I am absolutely in love with them! The contrasting colours are on point. The bikini tops have adjustable shoulder straps and bust straps. The high-waisted bottoms are on-trend, with lovely ruching detail and can also be worn under-bump without any loss of comfort. These features will all be equally important post-baby. Definitely must-haves for mommas-to-be on the move!

Check out this inspiring video for more on the vision behind Nettle's Tale:

Best of BC Bling 2015

Who's your favourite local jewellery designer?

As a follow-up to last year's popular Reader's Choice Award, and as an ode to British Columbia's talented local jewellery designers, we are excited to announce The Best of BC Bling Reader's Choice Award for 2015!

Nominate by entering your fave local designer's name and website address in the comments section below.
The only requirement is that nominees be small batch designers, based in British Columbia.

Vote by posting your fave local designer's work on Instagram, with #BCBling2015. Each hashtag counts as one vote. Don't forget to tag @calliopeandclio and the designer!

Deadline for submissions is Saturday August 1, 2015.

See last year's winner here.

The Reader's Choice for Best of B.C. Bling will be featured here on B.C. Day!

In-Flight Essentials: My Best Dry Skin Beauty Regime

Update: During the harsh winter months, this regime, twice a week has my skin looking and feeling phenomenal where it would otherwise be dry and devitalized.

I find the dry cabin air of a long-haul flight can really drain my skin of vitality. And upon arrival at destination, with 4-year old in tow, I really don't need any help in the 'looking-tired' department. Taking a cue from the better traveled than myself, I decided to give an in-flight skincare regime a go. The result: 14 hours later I stepped off my final connection with soft, glowing skin and not a dark under-eye circle in sight (in spite of not having slept much at all)!

Clockwise from left: Harlow Bohemian Body Butter, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, 'My Daily Dose' by Skin Inc, Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask by Skin Inc and Ole Henriksen 'Nurture Me' Cleansing Cloths.

The Regime

1. Wipe off dirt and make-up with Ole Henriksen 'Nurture Me' cleansing cloths. Not only are they super-cleansing, they also add nourishment with essential fatty acids.

2. Apply just 3 drops of custom blended serum by Skin Inc to your face, neck and eye area. This, coupled with step no. 3 below, makes the power duo. My serum included Hyaluronic Acid for long-lasting hydration, Vitamin A to even tone and reduce dark circles and Coenzyme Q10 to enhance the skin's ability to energize and renew itself. I am SO impressed with this product that I'll be dedicating an entire post to it in the near future!

3. Next apply a thin layer of Skin Inc's Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask. This transparent gel mask is perfect for serious yet discreet in-flight skincare. The formula is designed to moisturize, clarify and brighten the complexion, while sealing in the properties of the serum used in step no.2 for maximum results. The mask can be easily rinsed off (or not) for a make-up application prior to descent.

4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. From both inside and out. As tempting as those mini wines may be, alcohol in-flight is a sure way to achieve that dry, devitalized post-flight look that will grace you with it's presence for the first few days of your long awaited vacay. Instead, opt for water and save your palate for some special local bevvies. Externally, mist frequently with Caudalie Beauty Elixir. This magic spray is concocted with it's own serum and instantly boosts glow! 

5. Finally, made in Vancouver, BC, Harlow Bohemian Body Butter provides instant relief to dry hands. And it smells delish! Use as often as needed, a tiny bit goes a long way.

A bit of a lengthy post, but you need to know these details. In reality, steps 1 to 3 took about 2 minutes and I did it at my seat. I was so sold on this regime after my in-flight experience that I incorporated it into my daily routine (Because you can do that on vacation). I am absolutely loving the results and happier with my skin than I have been in quite a few years! 

What products do you rely on to combat dry skin?

Quintessential Summer

This is everything.

On the Street...Via dei Cerratani, Florence.
Image via The Sartorialist.

This image immediately conjured up feelings of the perfect summer for me. I love everything about it. The duomo, just barely distinguishable in the background. Is it morning, afternoon? I would like to think, just before dusk. This beautiful woman in the foreground, who is she? It doesn't matter. What matters more is her casual stance and her leisurely demeanor. Her ensemble seems perfectly coordinated to her surroundings. The black, while striking, is softened by the rustic hue of her gelato 'cono' (which matches her tote and sandals perfectly).

How does it make you feel?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Step right up!

A Night at the Carnival, with all the dazzle of a big-top performance and a sexy twist was a big crowd pleaser. Calliope & Clio was lucky enough to be front row for all the fun.

It was with a bit of excitement and anticipation that I headed to A Night at the Carnival, hosted by Forever Yours Lingerie at the Cascades Casino. I felt a lot like a kid heading to the PNE for the first time. I really didn’t know what to expect, would there be games and cotton candy? How could I not be excited, I mean, who doesn’t love a carnival? A sexy, grown-up carnival. With wine. Now we’re talking.

The event was a spectacular affair that lived up to every promise; emceed by suave ringmaster, The Purrrrfessor, and featured hula hoop artists, burlesque dancing and tap dancers that proved Kix'ies are a girls best friend.

The carnival themed fashion show featured not only professional models, but some of us regular-sized girls too...

Freya Deco 'Spotlight' Plunge Bra + panty

Meow! Shirley Cotton-Sateen Leopard Corset, paired with Kix'ies

Shirley of Hollywood Venice Corset

Viva la Paris! Prima Donna Twist 'A La Folie' T-Shirt Bra

Even the Strong Man was showing off his Saxx Boxers

Let's all go to the Lobby! Great pin-up girl outfits were a theme of the night. 

Cupcake anyone? Lets not forget all the lovely volunteers that helped make the night perfect. 

The carnival themed fashion show featured not only professional models, but some of us regular-sized girls too, which is definitely a confidence booster to see them strut their stuff down the runway. The games on the “fairway” such as Bra Pong and a lingerie version of Plinko were huge hits, and of course no carnival would be complete without a kissing booth.

All of this big-top fun was in benefit of a great cause, Supportive Start. 

Supportive Start is the brainchild of store-owner Sonya Perkins who founded the program in the Spring of 2014, when she recognized a need for impoverished and homeless women in the lower mainland to have access to properly fit bras, new panties, and toiletry items. Since its inception the program has given hundreds of bras to local outreach organizations, through “fit clinics” where women in need are measured for the bra that best fits them.

This is the second year that Forever Yours Lingerie has hosted a lingerie fashion extravaganza, and they just keep getting bigger and better. If you missed out on all the fun and games not to worry, with Forever Yours Lingerie’s 20th anniversary in 2016, I’m sure next years event will be amazing! In the meantime, to donate to Supportive Start head to Forever Yours Lingerie to drop off your clean and gently used bras. For more information click here.

By Janet Abe: Marketing and communications consultant, with over 15 years of experience in design, event management and magazine publishing. Striving to make the world a more interesting place one day at time with a love of fashion, art, and all things design. Follow Janet on Twitter and Instagram.

Don't miss out on this year's show! Ticket for The Roaring 20's available here.