All Hallow's Eve

The most kick ass Halloween I have come across this year has to be that of my friend, Jacqueline's, Cleopatra do-up; complete with make-up and accessories. It's not just the costume that makes this ensemble awesome, but her fierce attitude that personifies it. What better icon of independence and style than the Egyptian Pharaoh herself?

Happy Halloween to all Bizzstyle readers and good luck to those of you still amidst the dreaded midterm season (aka me!). More to come on Bizzstyle in the next couple weeks as I attempt to dig myself out of the avalanche of assignments and projects I am currently buried under!

Bizzstyle Pick of the Week

Ok, so rather than do one huge post every few weeks, I've decided to do mini posts every week and finish off every month with a SUPER-POST! So what will happen is every week I'll post up my Bizzstyle Pick of the Week of my favourite clothing piece among new arrivals to hit the stores. This week, as many of you may know, Urban Outiftters had a huge clearout sale of their last season's merchandise. What that also means, is that a huge shipment of new arrivals came INTO the store! While browsing through their newest selection of merchandise, I came across this little piece:

Sparkle & Fade Strapless Menswear Romper: A woven one-piece cut with a fitted top and wideleg shorts fitted with subtle pleats. http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp

This piece looks sophisticated and trendy when paired with a blazer and subtle gold accessories. It's the perfect ensemble to wear at the office on a Friday when plans to go out afterwards leaves little time for changing outfits in between. Dress down the look with a leather moto jacket and booties for a chic yet rugged fall look.

Turnover I

Turnover in season...

Turnover in profession...

Turnover in fashion...

After a long summer spent working and traveling, it's finally a relief to be back home and in my element. I spent the first half of my summer doing an exchange program in Europe. I traveled to Manchester, London, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Switzerland, and Grenoble. It was an amazing trip and definitely an experience I will never forget.

When I was not in a classroom, or visiting tourist hot spots, I was immersed in the city streets with locals observing the latest fashion trends and later on, getting my hands on the trendy products in store. My favourite retail stores were in London, and among all the stores, my top pick would have to specifically be Topshop. I immediately fell in love with their style and the variety of products they offered. From chic and sophisticated, to edgy and trendsetting - they had it all! This Bizzstyle edition is a tribute to my London love, Topshop and combining it with my Vancouver fave, Aritzia, to feature the latest in Fall fashion styles for the working woman. As I enter my final year of university, it is more important than ever that I emphasize the Business attribute of Bizzstyle; there are so many young women my age getting ready to enter the corporate sector and how they present themselves in that environment is key.
Wilfred Washed Silk Zip Dress - www.aritzia.com
Wilfred Free Bonded Fleece Sweater - www.aritzia.com

Le Fou by Wilfred Silk Blouse - www.aritzia.com

Pleated Chiffon Sleeve Tee - www.topshop.com

Tall Jet Pocket Trousers - www.topshop.com

Knitted Jumper - www.topshop.com

Flannel City Shorts - www.topshop.com

Drapey Harem Pant - www.aritzia.com
Wilfred Satin Crepe Wrap Jacket - www.aritzia.com

Bizzstyle Beauty - Ariane Arazi

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Gabby at blink PR. Gabby told me about a young women by the name of Ariane Arazi and her journey into the world of fashion. Gabby's story made me admire all the qualities Ariane had as a budding entrepreneur without even having to meet her. Her passion for jewelry and how she managed to transform that into a career for herself is an inspiration for all young women in search of a medium to express their creativity. Read about Ariane's journey below and hopefully it will inspire others like herself to follow through with what they are passionate about and be successful in their ventures as well. Best of luck Ariane!

As a young girl born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Ariane would often visit her family in Milan. Her late grandfather, Issac Hasbani, founded his own jewelry collection and like Ariane, handcrafted everyunique piece. When in Milan, her grandfather would take her to his office and show her all the pieces in his jewelry collection. Ariane remembers being amazed at the beauty and craftsmanship of his pieces and dreamt of being able to create her own jewelry collection one day. Years later, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree at Concordia University, she decided to study the field of jewelry design and enrolled in the Gemological Institute of America. Receiving her diploma in 2007, she decided to gain more experience and began working for her uncles at various jewelry trade shows in the United States. Finally, in 2008, Ariane began designing her own line of costume jewelry and created a luxurious yet affordable collection for a younger, hipper crowd.

Ariane Arazi Jewelry is inspired by the latest trends and colors,

th

is fun and elaborate jewelry uses Swarovski crystals, precious

metals, pearls, semi-precious stones and of course, bold colors.

Each piece is handcrafted by Ariane and a new collection is created

each season looking elegant, yet trendy. The sophistication of each

piece and the intricate, edgy designs are a direct reflection of Ariane's

personality and style.

www.arianearazi.com

Cabochon stud earrings

These two-tone stud earrings are perfect for everyday use. Each cabochon stud contains 5.1 grams of sterling silver and measures 16 mm in diameter. You can pair them with the matching cabochon ring.

Black and white earrings

These black and white sensations contain a black onyx hoop that measures 20 mm in diameter. It is attached to a white bone oval hoop that measures 1.5 inches long. The link in between is sterling silver and is plated in 14K white gold. It measures a ½ inch long. The earrings hang 2.5 inches long.

Silver satin string bracelet

This silver satin look is a fun everyday wear. The buckle contains 20 grams of sterling silver. The bracelet is available in a variety of colors.

White crystal bracelet

This bracelet features a sterling silver chain and faceted 18 mm Swarovski crystals of various colors. Matching necklace available.

Summer Love

VETH HEELS FROM ALDO

WWW.ALDOSHOES.COM

There's no sweeter love than the love between a girl and her shoes...It's finally that time of year, where open-toed shoes can be worn at the office! Get those feet pedicured and dig out your favourite pair of summer heels, sandals and wedges. At work, you don't want to be too over the top with your footwear. Keep it subtle yet sexy. My eyes have recently been drawn to a lot of natural tones and strappy styles. My first pick were these leather, retro-inspired sandals from Aldo; a definite must-have for this summer. These heels feature a double ankle strap combined with polished buckles. The two-tone design of these shoes make it versatile enough to wear with any outfit and its zippered back make it easy to slip on and off.

DAVISA HEELS FROM GUESS

WWW.GUESS.Com

My second pick were these white, leather Davisa heels from Guess. Thick straps are one of this year's biggest fashion trends when it comes to shoes. With a zippered back and wooden heel, these shoes have fun and flirty written all over them. Wear it at the office or out on the town; these heels are perfect for every summer occasion you have planned.

BRODIGAN HEELS FROM ALDO

WWW.ALDO.COM

Last but definitely not least, probably my favourite pair of heels I've seen all summer, these nude, Brodigan heels from Aldo. These peep-toe, patent finish heels complement any look with their professional, contemporary style. It's delicate strap adds the perfect girly touch to the shoes and gives it that extra bit of character which make them desirable by almost every woman.

Natural Beauty

After about 4 days of being sick, I am finally refreshed and back to work! What I found though, was that my wardrobe for work was not as big of a concern compared to my still-droopy-tired-baggy looking eyes. Now after experimenting with almost every cosmetic brand, from high-end products to low-end products over the past few years, I found the combination of products that gave my skin a refreshed and natural look that's subtle, yet has great coverage; the ideal balance for makeup to wear to work.

Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50
www.maccosmetics.ca

I know at the age of 21, most women around this age don't really think about skin care products much, but the importance of them can not be stressed more. Heading into summer, we want to protect our skin without having the greasy, oily look of sunscreen on our face. What I found worked best was a face primer from MAC, a skin-protecting cream with SPF 50. You apply it under your makeup to prime the skin for the sun. Its featherweight, fast-absorbing, oil-free, and invisible. It won't in any way, affect the look, texture or long-wear integrity of your makeup. It should be worn daily to help guard your skin against discolouration, premature aging, dryness and other effects of sun exposure.

L'oreal's True Match Concealer
www.lorealparis.ca

This product is one that I definitely can not live without! I have tried many different concealers in the past, but surprisingly it wasn't the $25 concealers that I found worked best; it was this little $10 guy from Shoppers. L'oreal's True Match concealer does wonders for those dark circles under the eyes that a lot of women just have naturally. What's great about it, is that it blends to the colour of your skin so that you can't even tell you have any on. It has a liquid fluid texture, so it won't crack or crease after wearing it several hours. And another bonus, it hides pimples flawlessly!

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural Powder
www.maccosmetics.ca

After having primer and concealer on my face now, I wouldn't think twice about putting foundation on. Personally, I hate having to wear foundation everyday unless I am going out somewhere in the evening, and don't want to apply my makeup again. Instead, I use MAC's Mineralized Skin Finish Natural Powder. Because it's mineralized, it won't clog your pores like a lot of other powders usually do, and still prone to breakouts, I really don't want to risk any more pimples! It's lightweight, and provides a semi-shear coverage for that natural, and not caked-on look. The key to great makeup is that you want to look like you're not wearing any!

Drinks After Work

Mesh Strap Satiny Dress from bebe

www.bebe.com

So one of my friends sent me on a hunt today to help her find a dress to wear to semi-formal. Now attending a business school, we have to be careful not to just pick any dress and think it'll be ok. We have to keep in mind the length, the fit and the amount of "skin" that is going to be shown. The most important thing to remember that semi-formal dresses are not the same as dresses you wear to a club. What my friend, Katy, asked for was something in either black or rose pink, with a nice neckline, can be worn again afterwards to other occasions and between the range of $100-$200. Whew! Well, I set off on my task (and what an enjoyable one it was!) and came across these three picks that I felt fit Katy's description the best.

The first was a dress from bebe. Simple, chic and feminine. The black and nude contrasting colours give the illusion of greater length in the height and a very slim and narrow waistline. Its satin material makes this dress evoke a simple elegance that is perfect for a semi-formal and can definitely can be worn again afterwards as you can dress this up with lots of accessories or keep it simple with a solid black cardigan or cropped blazer for day or evening wear.

Cocktail Dress from Guess by Marciano

www.marciano.com

My second pick was from Guess by Marciano. Now I find, when picking black dresses, you have to be willing to go for a completely different look, otherwise they start to look all the same. This Adara One Shoulder Taffeta Dress was an instant winner in my books. The asymmetrical look is really trending right now and the details of this dress are all given in great proportions. With a slight flair from the waist down to the rosette effect at the shoulder, this dress will change the way we think about "the little black dress" indefinitely.

Cocktail Dress from Guess by Marciano

www.marciano.com

Finally, my selection wouldn't be complete if I didn't have some pink in the collection. Again from Guess by Marciano, this Antheia Pleated Dress drew my attention instantly because of its sweetheart neckline and the simple pleating from the waist down. When wearing a bold colour like this, you want to keep the details on the dress simple and stylish to keep from being too over the top. The retro look gives it an edge and removable straps make it versatile enough for any occasion.

Hope I was helpful Katy!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Obey Nightsail Trench from Urban Outfitters

www.urbanoutfitters.com

All this rain in Vancouver has inspired me to hunt down that perfect raincoat that won't make you look like you're wearing a giant garbage bag on top of your clothes. This waxed canvas trench with a button down front and removable hood is great for those dreary, wet days where you dread having to break out that giant rubber raincoat you promised yourself "you wouldn't be caught dead in." The waxed canvas material will prevent water from being absorbed into the coat, and instead will cause it to roll off, for quick and easy drying. And the removable hood makes it quite the versatile piece of clothing. The coat sits right below the hips to protect your precious blouses and tops from the cruel effects of the weather when outside. With a belted waist and cuffs, this jacket can be adjusted to fit any body type. Finally, being trimmed with faux leather long the rounded collar emphasizes the notion that this isn't your average rain coat; but a statement of style that you are not willing to compromise.

Urban Living

Cheap Monday Twin Pant from Urban Outfitters

www.urbanoutfitters.com

I think I'm in love. These twin pants from Urban Outfitters has sexy and sophisticated written all over it. It not only draws attention to those brand new heels of yours, but also draws the eye to the smallest area of your waist, highlighting your hour-glass figure. You can dress this up by pairing it with a blouse, or go more casual with a simple knit sweater.

Little Grey Dress

V-NECK BELTED DRESS FROM BCBGMAXAZRIA

www.bcbg.com

Chic and sexy. This dress hugs just the right spots and accentuates all the right curves. It's perfect for that transition period from Winter to Spring, where we aren't quite ready to let go of our greys nor are we ready to break out the minis. The three-quarter length sleeve and just-above-the-knee length, allows this dress to be worn stylishly at work or when going for a casual night out.

Casual Fridays

Jumper from RW & Co.

www.rw-co.com

Bring trendy back into the workplace with a jumper from RW & Co. Looks great with a short sleeve blazer in any colour of your choice. With summer just around the corner, you want a look that's versatile and can work inside the office or when you heading downtown to meet your girlfriends for some shopping and dinner out on the town.

Sophisticated Lady

100% Silk, Lace Trim Blouse from Armani Exchange

www.armaniexchange.com

The magic of lace. No need to cringe at the sound of "slacks and a blouse" anymore. This silk blouse from armani exchange has sleek and sexy written all over it. The bold, contrasting colours make this wardrobe pick perfect for any season. Wear it with trousers or a high-waisted skirt for a more feminine look.

Spring Wardrobe Essential

Talula Babaton Double Breasted Crinkle Trench Coat from Aritzia www.aritzia.ca

For all those who know that they can't let the sun deceive them that easily. With the first signs of Spring in full bloom, we still aren't quite ready to break out the t's and tanks. So keep your body warm and your style contemporary with a light-weight trench coat from Aritzia. A definite must-have on every working woman's list of wardrobe essentials.