I Am Sandrine

I Am Sandrine Turns 5!

2015-08-22T01:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend is very exciting for me... my blog turns 5!!! It's incredible to think that it's been so long since it feels like it's only been a week. I was so young and innocent when I decided to start this blog, and the name it used to be called is a proof of that (no comment haha). I am so proud of all the maturity and experience I gained over this half decade. Those who've been following me for a while knows that I went into every direction possible; starting only in French, then writing both in French and English, and now only in English. I also started with very embarrassing posts talking about cakes or posting weird photos of me not knowing what I was doing. For those who want to venture on these daring archives go for it, I'm sure you will have a great laugh!

So far this journey has been incredible: I met A LOT of amazing people (and some of them became my friends), discovered so much about business and the fashion industry, learned how to deal with a very tight schedule, enjoyed some really fun events, saw some behind the scenes of the fashion design industry, etc. I had a blast, but I also worked my butt off, and it was totally worth it!

Today I wanted to celebrate by sharing with you these pictures from my second collaboration with the Montreal-based shop L'intervalle (all my previous shoots here). I shot their fall collection with the help of the amazing photographer, Sarah Paradis. It was a new thing for me to wear Oxford shoes and I think they are the bomb, especially paired with an all white look and the beautiful Westmount Greenhouse in the background! Love. S.

Oxford shoes: L'intervalle / Sleeveless blazer: River Islands / Tank top: Aritzia / Shorts: Matinique In Wear

Pictures: Sarah Paradis Photography

Swedish Party in Nässjö

2015-08-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite parts of my Scandinavian trip was that I could experience the culture: taste the food, listen to the music, meet people, (try) to learn the language,... In one of the cities we stopped to during our trip, my Swedish friend had the idea to do a "Swedish party" where we would mix different holidays together. So one of my friends wore a crayfish party hat (Kraftskiva), the other one a Lucia Crown (St-Lucia), and I wore a flower crown (Midsommar). And we had lots of food, everything was delicious, so here are the pictures! Love. S.

Flower crown: Bik Bok / Shirt: Zara

Baby Blue Fringes

2015-08-15T01:00:00.000-04:00

These pictures bring me back to last Spring when I was obsessed with baby blue and fringes, so the reasonable thing to do at that time was to buy this bikini top. Still very obsessed with it, and with the scenery where we shot this. It was in Florida, a few hours after we landed there last July. I remember we had just arrived at the hotel, and we were excited to go to the beach... My parents convinced my siblings and I to walk 3km to the beach under the heat wave (back and forth)... But we still managed to do these pictures ;) Love. S.

Bikini top: Simons / Bikini bottom: Asos / Shades: Old Navy

Lolë White Tour 2015

2015-08-13T01:00:00.000-04:00

At the moment, my posts are pretty much a mix between my trip to the Caribbean and to Scandinavia, I hope that you can still keep up with that! However, today I will be talking about something else: the biggest yoga gathering of the year, the Lolë White Tour. Before I begin, I would like to clarify that I don't practice yoga regularly, and that makes me a beginner.

So last Saturday was the Lolë White Tour and I was attending as a media. Before the yoga session, we were served a delicious healthy breakfast prepared by the Sofitel hotel's restaurant, it was delicious! During the session, the Montreal group Milk & Bone was performing, and the atmosphere was so peaceful and energizing. Also the fact that everyone was dressed in white and that we were so many brought a special vibe that was very comforting. The yoga teachers for this event were Dawn Mauricio and Faith Hunter, I really liked that they were talking to us about community and unison while they were showing us the postures. All the moves were easy to adapt depending on our own personal skills. Overall this event brought me so much joy on a Saturday and the feeling that we were 6500 persons doing yoga at the same time is definitely incredible! Love. S.

#iamsandrineinscandinavia - Travel Diary Video

2015-08-11T01:00:00.000-04:00

I recently travelled to Scandinavia to visit friends of mine that I met two years ago during my "exchange" summer in London. We visited Stockholm, Göteborg, Nässjö, and Copenhagen. All these cities were incredibly beautiful, and I was lucky enough to learn about the Scandinavian culture; eat their best dishes, listen to their music, and interact with local people, it was incredible! So here are my top things to see/do/eat/listen to, and to follow the tradition, I made a travel diary video, and here it is, hope you like it! Love. S.

TO SEE - Stockholm Royal Chapel
I am smitten with all things royal, so I was more than interested to learn all about the Swedish (and Danish) royalty. The little chapel inside Kungliga Slottet (Stockholm Royal Palace) is a beauty! It was built during the 18th century, and was recently used for the wedding of Prince Carl Philip and his wife Sofia. I love the gold details all over the chapel (and of course it's in the palace).

TO DO - Bike in Copenhagen
One of the most awesome experiences of my trip was to travel by bike in Copenhagen. I actually believe that it was the most efficient way to travel the city as a tourist (of course with a guide), because it was a lot less tiring than walking, a lot cheaper than cars, buses and underground, and good for the body!

TO EAT - Traditional food
If you want traditional Swedish food, I suggest that you try the crayfish marinated in dill, and for the dessert, try lussekatter (a saffran bun), it was oh so good and those dishes are usually prepared for special holidays/traditions.

TO LISTEN - Swedish talent
While in Stockholm, I discovered the singer Loreen during an open air festival. This Swedish singer won the Eurovision contest a few years ago, and I'm still wondering why I've never heard about her on the American continent (she's too good!). Other things to listen to: Zara Larsson, "Fan va bra" by Jakob Karlberg, "Sommarplågor" by Hampus Carlsson,... (the suggestions are from my friends, thank you!)

One piece

2015-08-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

I used to do swimming competitions when I was younger and the one-piece swimsuits I had to wear were hideous! This one the complete opposite, a beautiful powder pink with the cutest flower print, and the most delicate detail in the back. Actually the back reminds me of the leotards I wore for my ballet classes, which is 10 x better than a swimming competition gear. again, it's a swimsuit from the Montreal-based brand Mimi Hammer that I love ♡!

*Oh and you can see my obvious tan lines ;)

Swimsuit: Mimi Hammer

A few days in Göteborg!

2015-08-07T09:19:00.000-04:00

So after a few days in Stockholm, we headed to Göteborg, the second-largest city in Sweden. We spent three days there walking around the city, eating the biggest Cinnamon buns at Café Husaren (Home of Hagabullen), and went to Liseberg, the most visited amusement park in Scandinavia. I thought it was a really charming city, and it reminded me a lot of a University town. I would also recommend the rooftop bar at the Scandic hotel, and to go see the Gothia Towers (and perhaps swim in their floating pool with a view over Liseberg, which btw would have been my dream).

Crocodile

2015-08-05T06:38:00.000-04:00

Last year when I did the Mimi Hammer Intimates shooting, I remember that the lovely designer of the brand (Camille) showed me pictures the 2015 swimsuit collection. My favorite pieces were with no doubt the ones with this crocodile print! Then not too long ago I spotted the same swimsuit in Dentelle & Fleur's lookbook, and I was smitten. So here is my editorial wearing the cutest bikini ever (made in Quebec yay). The photos were taken in a resort in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Love. S.

Swimsuit: Mimi Hammer

Stockholm (rest of the trip)

2015-08-03T06:19:00.000-04:00

Stockholm was definitely an amazing place to visit, and I wish I could have spent more time there (we stayed there three days and a half during our trip to Scandinavia). The mix of the old and the new is so present in this capital; the architecture of the buildings couldn't reflect more the timeless beauty of this city, and the fashion couldn't be more avant-garde. My first two days were spent sightseeing and the last day and a half was spent walking around the city center with the shops and work buildings (since the weather was not at its best). Here are the rest of the pictures that I took in this city, but to see more head over to my Instagram (@sandrinev).

VIDEO: Trip to the Caribbean

2015-08-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

It became a tradition that I do a travel diary video every time I go on vacation so this time was no different! A few weeks ago I did a cruise in the Caribbean and we stopped in Turks and Caicos, Dominican Republic, Curaçao, and Aruba! Hope you like the video, it was fun to discover those warm countries the summer and enjoy the nice weather! Love. S.

Vitamin Sea

2015-07-30T04:38:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I went on a cruise in the Caribbean, but you have probably already seen photos of my trip on Instagram! During this vacation, I decided to shoot editorials with a few Mimi Hammer swimsuits. I love working with their team (if you don't remember I was a model for a day with them...). Their target is creative women that are finding inspiration everywhere, and that are confident. I love the retro aspects of their bikinis and the quality of them is irreproachable. This is a monochrome look that I wore during my day in the islands of Turks and Caicos. There was this beautiful shallow turquoise water and some crabs walking on the beach, it felt like heaven!

Bikini: Mimi Hammer / Sunglasses: Polette

Fringes!

2015-07-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Fringes are actually one of my favorite things at the moment, I could wear them all the time! This is why I think those shoes from the Montreal shop L'intervalle are the perfect staple piece for me. I decided to pair them with a complete black outfit so they would stand out more. I am wearing something very minimalistic, a bralette camisole and my favorite black trousers.

Writing to you directly from Stockholm, tomorrow I am leaving for Gothenburg, so by the time you read this I will already be in Gothenburg!

Love. S.

Shoes: L'intervalle / Trousers: Zara / Camisole: Aritzia

Photos: Sarah Paradis Photography

STOCKHOLM: Day 1 & 2

2015-07-25T03:18:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of my firsts two days in Stockholm. I arrived here last Wednesday and I'm having a blast right now! First of all I had the best welcome ever (or should I say Välkommen?), my friends went to pick me up at the airport with this really cool sign that says "Welcome to Sweden". So far, we explored Gamla Stan (the old city), Skansen (the outdoor museum), Kungliga Slottet (the royal palace) and the big church where the future queen of Sweden got married. We also did boat rides, tried a lot of different delicious Swedish foods: meatballs, cinnamon bun, fika, lingonberry,... And we even saw a show of Loreen, a Swedish winner of Eurovision that was playing in a park not too far from where we are staying. I discovered her for the first time at the show, and it was amazing! Hopefully my Swedish is getting better by the time, and I'm going to keep updating you in the next few days! Love. S.

Purple

2015-07-22T01:00:00.000-04:00

Purple isn't a color I am used to wear, as my wardrobe mostly consists of black, white and grey, but after I discovered these two pieces from Aritzia, it convinced me to try more colors. It's an everyday outfit that really screams summer, and paired with these elegant flat sandals from the shop L'intervalle and a gold bracelet, the look is elevated to a whole new level! The sandals have really pretty geometric shapes in pastel made of suede, it can work for a sophisticated look or on a regular day.

Oh and by the way L'intervalle has an online shop, you should check it out!

Top and shorts: Aritzia / Sandals: L'intervalle

Photos: Sarah Paradis Photography

Monochrome

2015-07-20T01:00:00.000-04:00

Over the past few months, I noticed that my style has been getting towards a more minimalistic style, and this outfit is a perfect example of it. I like the monochrome and neutral aspect of the colors and the very structured perspective of the pictures. Plus, I am wearing the very trendy "culottes" trousers, which are honestly the most comfortable pieces to wear e-vah! I've also incorporated a bit of layering, for these summer nights where it's a bit more chilly, with a fringy kimono. I could wear this all the time, especially with these comfortable nude mules from L'intervalle, in my opinion they pull the outfit all together.

Camisole, Culotte trousers, kimono, bralette: Aritzia / Mule sandals: L'intervalle
Photos: Sarah Paradis Photography

July Beauty Review

2015-07-18T01:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not a beauty expert nor do I spend too much money on makeup, but I watch a lot of beauty tutorials, and I like beauty stuff. However, I like to have a minimal amount of essentials that works for me, so I don't go overboard. I recently went into Sephora to look around and see if something looked interesting, because I felt like trying something new. I found this Prime Style Extender from Living Proof that seemed promising, especially since I am always trying to give some texture to my short hair, and keep everything in place when I decide to curl my hair. At first I wondered if it would do the same thing as a mousse, but it has the consistency of a cream. This primer is said to repel dirt and oil so my hair can be clean for longer, create a base for styling, and give a nice lightweight effect to the hair. So far, I tried the product without styling my hair, and I am happy with the result. It doesn't feel like I have product in my hair, they definitely feel weightless, and they smell amazing.

And since it was my birthday, I got the Beauty Insider's Bday gift, which was two lip pencils from Nars. I've only heard good things from them, but haven't tried them yet. So far the colors looks amazing! Love. S.

BDay!

2015-07-15T01:00:00.000-04:00

Yay! I'm finally 18 years old, an adult as we say! I think that these images pretty much represent what it feels like to get bigger and seize our chance in every opportunities that is given to us in life! I feel so grateful for all the great things I did and for the awesome people I met during these last 18 years!

The look I am wearing on the pictures has a 70's touch to it with the cognac platform sandals and a very simple baby blue dress. I just love the effect with the city in the background, thank you Sarah Paradis for these amazing photos! Love. S.

Dress: Aritzia / Shoes: L'intervalle

Photos: Sarah Paradis Photography

Old Montreal

2015-07-13T01:00:00.000-04:00

Here is the first serie of photos in collaboration with the Montreal shoe shop L'intervalle (that I featured here).

The old Montreal is one of my favorite areas of the city, I think there's a certain charm to it, and it looks even prettier during golden hour! Sarah Paradis, the photographer for this shoot, and I decided go there to capture these pictures. I am wearing the gorgeous Noco heels sandals from the Montreal-based shop L'intervalle. They make the perfect statement pieces to wear with a colourful flowy dress. And this outfit proves that we don't need to much pieces and accessories to achieve a chic look.

Dress: Aritzia / Sandals: Noco via L'intervalle

Photos by Sarah Paradis Photography

The Basic: Camisole

2015-07-11T01:00:00.000-04:00

The camisole is probably the new trendy basic that everyone should possess! This one is from the Babaton collection at Aritzia and I am in love with it. The fabric is very light, you don't even need to wear a bra under, but it would also look stunning with a lace bralette. It feels so comfortable, and very easy to wear during summer (as you just have to put it on). Layering is your best friend if you want to wear it during the cold season, whether it's with a pull over it, a cardigan or a leather jacket. I would consider this as a basic that you can match with everything and that can be worn in a casual way or more chic. I really started to like these kind of basics that looks super chic when Rumi Neely, the blogger behind Fashion Toast, opened her online boutique "Are you am I", because most of the dresses and tops had this shape and they looked super chic with their silky material. The camisole I'm wearing is a more affordable option but I still can't get my mind off the basics from Neely's shop.

Shorts: Allegra (Wilfred) at Aritzia: here

Camisole: Everly (Babaton) at Aritzia: here

A Store to Discover: L'Intervalle

2015-07-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

«I look the way I look because of the way I think»

Sometimes, the greatest discoveries are made throughout social networks, and the shoe store L'intervalle was one of them for me. I was lucky to discover this local shop that offers a great variety of shoes in a very affordable price for their quality. Most of them are made in Spain and Italy and the shoes are in leather. The store itself is a gem, I especially like the interior which was designed by the founders of the store, that creates the design of the shoes as well (so much talent in just one place!!).

I had the chance to collaborate with them on a special serie of pictures, I cannot wait for you to see them, we put so much effort in the creative process. In the meantime I suggest that you go visit this store because their staff is very welcoming and their shoes are to die for! Love. S.

L'intervalle, 806 avenue Mont Royal Est, Montreal

Vaporous

2015-07-06T01:00:00.000-04:00

There is always a good excuse to dress up when it's summer! This time, it was because my grandmother adjusted this dress, that I had for almost a year (but was just too long, see here), and I wanted to try it on. The shoot itself reminds me a bit of Alice in Wonderland because of the vaporous effect in the light. Since this dress is quite the main element that I wanted to show in the pictures, I chose simple strappy sandals that would be subtle, and no other accessories except for a few flowers to keep a very minimalistic feel.

I have been so busy recently with shooting for the blog and collaboration with different brands, I cannot wait to share all this work with you on the blog!

Dress: Symbiose by Hinda A / Shoes: Zara

Summer Essentials

2015-07-04T01:00:00.000-04:00

This summer is all about beautiful white statement clothes and minimal accessories. If you look carefully, most of the items are by Australian designers (see Tony Bianco, Her the label, Zimmermann and Lack of Color), but it's because Australian knows the good summer essentials. Mostly neutral item but I think it's fun to be a little more funky when going to the beach, and the color of the swimsuit is subtle enough to stay on the minimalist side. Huge love at first sight for these Harper and Harley for Tony Bianco sandals. It's the best height to go from a day outfit to an evening outfit. Then a few trends that have been growing this year: sleeveless blazer and the capri culottes. To complete every look: a good fedora hat, and a quality ring. What are your summer essentials? Love. S.

Beautiful interior: Tommy Montreal

2015-07-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

As you probably know, I always love a good interior decoration. My Pinterest board "Home inspiration" is overflowing with images of pretty houses and cafes. The other day I went into Tommy Montreal, and I had pretty high expectations because of the pictures I had previously seen on Instagram. But the reality was beyond my expectations. First of all, the building is majestic! The cafe is inside the "British Empire Building" which was actually built in 1874 with the architectural plans of John William Hopkins, and used to serve as the Exchange Bank of Canada. With its rich past, the interior is full of Victorian woodwork that just adds the charm to this place. The windows are incredible too, the place was so luminous with the white walls and these big arches. The elements of decorations themselves were a bit more modern: there are plants on the ceiling, different kinds of chairs and tables, some in marbles, others in wood. And of course... the marble surfboard hanging on a wall that just caught my attention, it's the detail that transform this old building into a very trendy place.

I could not resist taking these pictures, the place is fascinating! The café itself offers so many options, from fresh juices to pastries, to coffee... The staff is very welcoming and the music playing is similar to old jazz (I can't exactly tell) so it was the icing on the cake! Love. S.

Tommy Montreal, 200 rue Notre-Dame O.

Days Are Gone

2015-06-29T01:00:00.000-04:00

This title is a reference to HAIM's album that I can't stop listening to, and it's been a favorite of mine for the past year. I discovered HAIM when they were djing at the H&M x Osheaga party last July, and their 80's vibe mixed with some R&B and a modern sound is just the bomb! This outfit makes me think a little bit about what the girls of this band wear: Leather jacket and super edgy outfits. I remember that during their gig at H&M, Estee (one of the sisters of the band) was wearing a super cool leather jacket over her shoulders, over a dress that had cut-outs on each sides, and it was a fantastic look. After that, I promised myself to get my hands on a jacket similar to this one, and yesss I got it;) Now I can have a super badass look on an everyday basis, and for this look I decided to accentuate it with my Castles Couture romper and a very special location. The rocks were actually bigger than me! Love. S.

Jacket: Zara / Romper: Castles Couture

DISCOVER: Nini Meatball House

2015-06-27T01:00:00.000-04:00

Discovering new restaurants is one thing I love to do... So a few weeks ago, when I was really hungry and trying to find a place to eat, I stumbled across this Instagram perfect restaurant called Nini Meatball House. As the name says, this restaurant specializes in meatballs, but they also have vegetarian options such as cheese balls or vegetable balls. They also offer vegan, gluten free, and without pork options. This place was new for me so I didn't exactly knew what to order and how everything was working. The really nice waitress explained that normally, people would order an appetizer, a serving of meatballs (3 meatballs), and a side.

I ordered the beef tartar to start the journey and it was delicious. I hadn't eaten a tartar in a long time so this one was pretty satisfying; it was a beef tartar with horseradish mayo, grainy mustard, capers and pickles. For the most important part of the meal, I ordered the "Chicken 'Red hot' Buffalo Blue Cheese Sauce". The waitress told me beforehand that the taste of the blue cheese was really present in this meal, so I had to like it, but I thought that on the contrary, it didn't not taste this much. It was really good anyways! I finished with a brioche bread as a side. At this point I was full, the portions were not that big, but they were very nourishing so it was perfect. For those who wants to know, my friend ordered the carrot ginger soup and the "goat cheese nuts crusted spice honey".

Overall the food is comfort food at its best, and the restaurant is very well located (in the heart of Griffintown), so I will definitely come back. I was also really excited with the decoration. All the plants, the white walls and tables, it was picture worthy!;) Love. S.

*Oh and there is also a take out option...

Nini Meatball House, 1752 rue Notre-Dame O., Montreal.