Style Archives - Page 2 of 37 - The Pretty Secrets

The Longhorn Grill

by Sandy Joe | Feb 24, 2020 | Blog, outfits, Style, Travel

The Longhorn Grill

Before I head out on any adventure, I like to consult a few resources for interesting photos locations. That is precisely how I stumbled upon The Longhorn Grill via Atlas Obscura. At the time of our visit it had been shut down, sold, and was being renovated for it’s next iteration of a Texas style steakhouse. While I would never dream of trying to eat there… being vegetarian and all, I do enjoy the kitschy facade. Naturally, we had to stop by to take a peak. As I should have suspected, being yelled at by misogynistic yocals was what I endured for the majority of these shots. Despite the uncomfortable experience, the photos at least turned out well. Keep scrolling for some desert styles.🌵

OUTFIT DETAILS

BAILEY’S OF HOLLYWOOD black hat – c/o (similar here)
ALDO earrings – c/o (similar here)
VINTAGE western belt
ARITZIA red dress (similar here)
ALDO Drerissa boots – c/o

The Longhorn Grill

Finding dope locations is one of my favourite parts of my job. It’s a satisfying substitute for being an art director at a fashion magazine. I have a post on my top Tips on Finding the Best Photo Locations should you want to flex your art director muscles as well. And as always, check out my style section for more fashion content. Until next time! xo

photographs – Jesse Sand

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How to Dress Cute in the Winter – Canmore Edition

by Sandy Joe | Feb 18, 2020 | Blog, outfits, Style

How to Dress Cute in the Winter – Canmore Edition

The phrase “the struggle is real” is beyond overused… and yet fits perfectly with this specific dilema I have every year. How to dress cute in the winter!? Of course temperature is a major factor when making this decision. When it’s -40 with a wind chill, I am NOT chilling in this outfit, I can guarantee you that! However, when the winter becomes milder and not Hoth-like, I have a few favourites I always lean on that are both cute AND functional; the synergy is real. Here they are in no particular order:

Baggier Denim

The beauty of the baggier 90s denim is their layerability. I love these thrifted Calvin Klein high waisted jeans because I can sneak a base layer underneath them. My first pick for a base layer is always the Lululemon Align leggings – they’re soft like butter. Another advantage of a high waisted jean is knowing that your backside is guaranteed to not get a chill and doubly so if you tuck your top in too!

SHOES!

One of the only types of shoes that are wearable in the winter are boots and typically boots aren’t cute. This year I was approached by a brand that I had never heard of but have since changed my life immeasurably. Olang Boots have been the answer to my winter shoe dilemma. Not only do they look rad, I cannot get enough of the patent black look, but they are also SO WARM. Every time I put them on, my feet feel like they’re being hugged by the softest blanket. But it doesn’t stop there. The bottom of the boots even have built in stainless steel grips that can be easily flipped on or off so they’re great for walking/winter hiking or casual outings.

Many thanks to Volvo Canada for lending us the XC40 – the dreamiest ride ever

Mock Necks

When the temperature is *slightly* warmer, I will downgrade my turtleneck to a mock neck instead. Not only does it look dope but it still gives enough warmth to justify leaving my scarf at home. There is something so polished about a mock neck. It’s more approachable and less severe as a turtleneck.

OUTFIT DETAILS

BAILEY NELSON Layla Sunglasses – c/o
UNKNOWN gold hoop earrings (I bought these in High School….. no recollection where)
BANANA REPUBLIC ribbed black mock neck top – c/o
BANANA REPUBLIC sherpa bomber jacket – c/o
CALVIN KLEIN mom jeans (thrifted)
BANANA REPUBLIC sherpa camera cross body bag – c/o
THRIFTED western belt
OLANG Sound boots – c/o

Accessories!

Accessorizing is always key. I love to jazz up an outfit with sunglasses and bags. One thing I’ve discovered over the years is that sunglasses are a year round staple. In fact, they might even be more important in the winter and I’ll tell you why. On a crisp, clear, sunny winter day the light can be 10 times more blinding because it’s reflecting off of snow. Since I have no interest in becoming snowblind, ever, I choose MASSIVE shades. In this case, I opted for the 70s inspired Layla sunnies from Bailey Nelson. They are polarized and they block EVERYTHING – including the haters. 😉 For bags, I try and find crossbody ones as there’s nothing that drives me more insane than a bag that constantly falls off my shoulder because my winter coat is as slippery as a ski hill.

How to Dress Cute in the Winter

That concludes my thoughts on how to dress cute in the winter. It’s nothing revolutionary, just straight forward practicality with a little bit of flare. For more fashion tips, check out my Style Section. Until next time, toodles my friends! xo

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Neon Bridge

by Sandy Joe | Feb 5, 2020 | Blog, outfits, Style

Neon Bridge

These photos look rad but taking them was an awful experience. Most winter photoshoots are absolute torture; this one was no exception. The neon bridge looks dope but there was nothing blocking the wind. I didn’t wear gloves because they “didn’t go with the outfit.” Absolute foolishness. Parking was a fair distance away but walking from my place was out of the question. I’m not writing these things to complain about my job, but rather to shed light on the fact that I often put myself in uncomfortable positions to create things I think are cool. There’s a story behind every photoshoot, most of the time it includes getting leered at by men in the summertime or freezing my fingers in the winter. As well as the wardrobe malfunctions in-between. If you made through this ramble, keep scrolling for some, in my opinion, cool shots.

OUTFIT DETAILS

BAILEY’S OF HOLLYWOOD black hat – c/o (similar here)
THRIFTED London Fog coat
UNKNOWN black turtleneck (I’ve had it for years but I also ripped the tag out because it was itchy)
LEVIS mile high skinny jeans I bought at Aritzia
ALDO silver boots (last season) – c/o

Neon Bridge

So maybe those photos were worth it? It took me a year to actually post them on my blog because I was so irritated with how cold I was that I couldn’t even look at them to edit. I guess after a year of sitting on them my anger has subsided enough to share them. Truthfully, I shoot many things that never see the light of day due to my own fragile emotional states. But it’s my goal in 2020 to finally get through the backlog. With that said, thanks so much for joining me on this style/travel journey. I hope I provide some help with vacation planning, outfit inspiration, or home decor idea – anything of value! For more outfit related posts, check out my style section or peep my last cold weather outfit in my Edmonton Ice Castle post.

photographs – Jesse Sand

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Edmonton Ice Castle

by Sandy Joe | Jan 13, 2020 | Blog, Out & About, outfits, Style

Edmonton Ice Castle

Hellooooooo ice. Here’s me at the Edmonton Ice Castle looking like a 60s girl group member meets 90s skater. And I’m into that. The jacket I found last winter while thrifting. When it comes to vintage coats, I gravitate towards anything quilted. This shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve been hanging around here for a while. Anyway, here are some frosty photos of me. Check out info on the castle here. For more vintage coat work, check out Thrifted Winter Coats.

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The 2019 Blooper Reel

by Sandy Joe | Jan 7, 2020 | Blog, outfits, Style

The 2019 Blooper Reel

Every year, my extra special gift to TPS readers are the outtakes. The hideous photos of myself that get dropped into a folder of photographic blunders that should be forgotten by the sands of time. Originally, they had been tucked away until a few years ago when I decided to make an annual post showcasing them. If you can’t laugh at yourself, what fun is life? With that said, here’s the 2019 Blooper Reel to ease you into the new decade. I’ve also linked the original post under each photo should you fancy seeing how the good photos turned out. 🙂

Making Weird Faces

This is standard fare for my blooper reel. Whenever I feel uncomfortable (which is most of the time) I tend to pull faces. And boy are they faces only a mother could love. Here’s a few photos of me not taking myself too seriously.

CARBON COPY Edmonton Brewery District

The actual Instagram post

cops doughnuts

Queen Street West

The Clarendon Hotel Phoenix Arizona

the actual instagram post

Tips on Finding the Best Photo Locations

A Jumpsuit in the Desert

Abbotsford BC Travel Guide

Aga Khan at the U of A Botanic Garden

Thrifted Winter Coats

Hand Me the Camera

Sometimes I move too quickly during a photoshoot. That’s when I’m gifted a few candid shots of myself reaching for the camera. Usually, I’m making a disgruntled face that’s probably a good reflection of my essence. Here’s a few of those.

My Bedroom Tour

Eyes Wide Shut

What’s a blooper reel without a few photos of my eyes 100% or nearly closed, like I’m falling asleep on the job. Or perhaps I’ve had one too many. These drowsy shots are always plentiful in my line of work.

Glowing Up with the NARS Endless Orgasm Palette

A Little Western Flare

Thrifted Halloween Costumes

The Clarendon Hotel Phoenix Arizona

Vibrant Layers OOTD

Giving Great Directions

I love to give directions when it comes to getting my photo taken. I’ve been art directing my little corner of the internet for 10 years which sometimes leads to giving wild hand gestures to indicate exactly what I want and where I want it. It’s as if I’ve developed my own language that no one else can understand.

Actual Instagram post

The Classic Sandy Face

Would this be an authentic Sandy Joe blooper reel without me sticking out my tongue like a child? The answer is no. Keep scrolling to see me acting like a brat for 1 year straight.

Goldfield Ghost Town

Mesa Arizona City Guide

Night Time Skincare Routine

Back to School Thrifting

Christmas Bulb Holiday Card Transformation

My Home Tour – The Hyde Park

Strike A Pose

Finally, not every pose I make is going to be a hit. In fact, 90% of the poses are complete awkward garbage. Or I’m caught in the middle of moving and look bizarre. Here are some prime examples of this.

Peanuts x Levis Collaboration OOTD

Dark Denim Cowgirl at Schnepf’s Farm

The actual Instagram Post

A Double Denim Day

The 2019 Blooper Reel

With that, I conclude the 2019 Blooper Reel! The most treasured and beloved post of the year. Thank you all so much for continuing to be a part of my blogging journey and actually visiting this site still! It means so much to me that I was able to turn my dream job of working for a magazine (graduating in a recession was a nightmare) into running my own virtual magazine-esque site. Nothing feels better than being able to help you all have dope vacations, be inspired to thrift, or make you laugh at my expense. It’s what motivates me to keep creating content from long form blogs, youtube videos, and even Instagram posts year after year. As always, feel free to reach out and ask my any questions or request blog topics! My email is sandy @sandyjoekarpetz.com or leave a comment below. 🙂

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What to Wear to Yellowstone in Fall

by Sandy Joe | Nov 27, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style, Travel

What to Wear to Yellowstone in Fall

It’s still summer-y weather we said. We don’t need gloves because we’re going south we said. DAMN IT’S KIND OF COLD we said when we finally arrived in the mountainous Yellowstone. Let my mistakes be your guide as to what to wear to Yellowstone in Fall! I did pack a few smart pieces, but overall there were many blind spots. In addition to that, here’s my tips on what 10 Things to Bring on Your Next Road Trip. I even discuss “weather appropriate clothing” in it. I can’t always listen to my best advice I suppose.

RAIN GEAR

Depending on where in the park you are, the elevation differs greatly. It could be raining in one spot and then snowing giant fluffy flakes at the Artist Point (see below). What I cannot stress enough is BRING A RAIN JACKET! I was so thrilled to have packed my handy dandy Burton jacket. (As seen previously in my Rainy Days with Burton post) Not only did it serve to break the wind, I also stayed a lot dryer had I just worn my puffer. The thing about Yellowstone is that it’s home to one of the largest population of thermal features. That’s A LOT of moisture in the air regardless of the time of year. Umbrellas are pretty dope too but can be a nuisance when navigating the narrow paths with other tourist traffic. From what I can gather, there is no time of year when Yellowstone isn’t busy.

WHAT I WORE

LULULEMON black hat – c/o (similar here)
BURTON rain jacket c/o (similar here)
LULULEMON align leggings – c/o (my FAVOURITE leggings)
LULULEMON light speed socks (I bought this a year ago and I love that they don’t slip down into my shoes!)
ALLBIRDS tree runners – c/o

WHAT JESSE WORE

K WAY rain jacket – thrifted
LULULEMON joggers – c/o
LA SPORTIVA wildcat trail runners

WINTER LAYERS

Fortunately, we did bring puffer jackets a la Lululemon, but we didn’t even consider bringing winter accessories. Big Mistake. HUGE. If I could do it over again I would have also included on this list:

winter boots and warmer socks!
a toque!!! Who doesn’t bring a toque?! (me, that’s who)
some sort of a neck warmer / scarf
MITTENS!!!!!! my hands were cold and chapped the whole time

WHAT JESSE WORE

LULULEMON navigation down jacket – c/o
BAILEY OF HOLLYWOOD thrifted hat
LULULEMON joggers – c/o
LULULEMON Metal Vent Tech Long Sleeve 2.0 – c/o
LA SPORTIVA wildcat trail runners

WHAT I WORE

LULULEMON black hat – c/o (similar here)
QUAY high key sunglasses c/o (similar here)
LULULEMON crop top c/o (this specific one is sold out, but here’s a very similar one)
LULULEMON  align leggings – c/o
LULULEMON  puffer jacket – c/o (this one is many years old but here’s a similar style)
ALLBIRDS  tree runners – c/o

HELLO SUN!

It is possible the sun may make an appearance. Because of that, I suggest a pair of sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and…. a bathing suit. You may be saying “but Sandy, it’s autumn…. who needs a bathing suit!?” and the answer is me. One of my biggest regrets from the trip was not factoring in enough time to visit the Boiling River. By the North Entrance of the park in between Gardiner and Mammoth is a natural hot spring on the river. It has a parking lot and a path to it, but aside from that it appeared mostly undeveloped. I love a proper natural hot spring moment!!!

What to Wear to Yellowstone in Fall

The last thing I want to implore anyone to take on a road trip is a PowerStation Xtreme Boost Lithium battery. What is that you’re wondering? It’s a tiny phone sized battery that has attachments to jump a car. So if you’re on a lonely road, you need not wait for some stranger to possibly help you. We accidentally killed our battery one day and this came in handy! It’s good for at least 2 jumps before it needs another charging and can also charge your phone in a pinch! I bought mine at Costco.

And that’s the that on that! More Yellowstone posts are forthcoming if you’re curious about where we went, what we ate, and where we stayed. Spoiler alert: we stayed at the Round Up and it was a 60s neon dream. The neon sign was probably the best part of it. I digress, thanks so much for stopping by! If you want more travel related posts, check out my On The Road section or my YouTube Channel. 🙂

photographs – Sandy Joe Karpetz / Jesse Sand

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