Favourite Purchases of 2022

One of the reasons I love shopping so much is the chance to discover something new. A new piece of fashion, a new beauty product, even a trip to a new destination all provide the opportunity to try something and even transform into something new.

Without further ado, here are some of my favourite purchases of 2022.

1. Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray: during the summer heat and after a weeklong trip to Canada where masks were still mandated, my skin started to FREAK. OUT. I had been watching Katie Jane Hughes use this spray in her instagram stories for awhile and pulled the trigger on trying it. This stuff lives up to its name, it calmed the freakouts on my skin, balanced it back to normal, and now has become a staple item in my morning skincare routing. Highly recommend.

2. Coldplay Music of the Spheres Concert tickets: when one of my favourite bands schedules a show for my birthday, its a no-brainer that I’ll purchase tickets no matter where they play. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres show was a transcendant experience, three hours of the band’s hit songs coupled with a light show the rivals any other. The trek to Atlanta made it all the more special, with a chance to re-explore and fall back in love with a city I hadn’t visited in years.

3. Zara Wool Blend Black Maxi Skirt: yes I inadvertently purchased the maxi that went viral on Instagram, but it’s so easy to see why. A sturdy suited material, a flattering mid-rise waist and belt loops (!) made this maxi skirt one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe this fall. It was effortless to style, dressed up comfy everyday basics, and added a dose to posh and confidence to all my WFO looks.

4. Kindersalmon Mia Oversized Bag: I LOVE my hybrid work schedule, but it does require quite a bit of schlepping of stuff back-and-forth during the week. And while I love a structured leather bag for the office, I just couldn’t handle a work bag that literally weighed me down multiple times a week. I came across this oversized hobo while browsing one of my favourite online shops earlier this year and I couldn’t hit purchase fast enough. It’s lightweight, yet classic, and the touch of leather provides the polish to take this into any boardroom I need to travel too.

5. La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 60 Sunscreen Stick: once you own a sunscreen stick, you never, ever have an excuse to leave the house without it again. I picked this stick up at Shopper’s Drug Mart in Canada upon recommendation of one of their beauty advisors, and I’m already researching how to repurchase it without crossing the border because I love it so much much. It makes applying sunscreen so easy, but even better, the sunscreen wears like a dream for workouts. It’s thick but not greasy, and best of all doesn’t run down your face at the first sign a sweat.
   
   

Shopping For: Sherpa Shoes

Four inches of snow is currently on the ground where I live.

Four inches of water-based fluff, that when mixed with the softness of sherpa fabric - on a shoe - would guarantee a disastrous result.

Sherpa shoes might be highly impractical, but aren’t we sometimes willing to risk a fashion disaster for a little bit of fun?

Behold the power this teddy-bear fabric that wraps you warmth. No longer relegated just to coats - sherpa shoes have been popping up at retailers everywhere, continuing the cozy-craze launched by the pandemic. These shoes are brimming with texture and warmth, create visual interest, all while wrapping your feet in a cozy hug.

Sneakers

Rag & Bone’s retro kicks are what started my descent into sherpa shoes. Even without the sherpa fabric, their classic lines, speckled sole, and muted 70s colourway fit perfectly into my neutral wardrobe. But the addition of sherpa is a chef’s kiss of texture that put these over the top.

Rag & Bone Retro Runner Sneakers

AQUA x Scout the City Teddy High Tops

Converse Chuck 70 Sherpa

Slides & Mules

Lets be honest, I should probably just rename this the Birk’s section. If Rag & Bone’s beige sneakers started my descent into the cozy craze, Birkenstock’s teddy versions all but assured my crash landing to sherpa-land. These just look SO WARM. When I finally spotted them in person at my local Nordstrom, it was instant love. It’s hard to justify a winter sandal, especially in climate, so for now I’ll just keep drooling every time I set my eyes on them.

See by Chloe Gema Loafers

Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle Shearling

Birkestock Boston Teddy Clogs

Loafers & Flats

Of the three styles I’m shopping for, sherpa loafers and flats are the trickiest to pull off fashion-wise. The placement of the sherpa fabric makes all the difference. That’s what makes these sherpa Mary Janes so special. An of-the-moment shape paired with an of-the-moment fabric make these textured, minimal classics irresistible.

TWVP Curly Fur Mary Jane Flats

Raye Sven Loafer

Age of Innocence Zuri Flat