When it comes to yellow, I say the brighter, the sunnier, the better. And designers seemed to agree, with Burberry, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren & DVF sending bold yellow frocks, trenches and skirts down their Spring '15 runways.
So why is bright yellow such a popular colour pick this season? Not to hate on Pantone's colour of 2015, Marsala, but really? Is there any contest? After months of dark, dreary, downright depressing weather, we're all ready for a little sunshine. Make that a lot of sunshine.
Luckily, we can take matters into our own hands with all the cheerful yellow pieces in stores right now. I can't wait to pick up a few pop-bright pieces to update my spring wardrobe. First on my list? A bright yellow handbag, of course. Even colour-phobes can add a happy yellow crossbody to the mix to make a statement, even for those who like to wear nothing but black & white. Be sure to pick up a sunny yellow top to wear under your blazers right now, and with a pair of white shorts when things heat up. Finally, a pair of yellow sandals will liven up all of your denim and white pieces this summer.
Whether you wear it loud or like your brights in small doses, you can't go wrong with cheerful yellow this spring. Here are 45 sunny picks to help brighten your day...
When Reitmans approached me to collaborate on their spring denim campaign, I was excited to check out the collection and get reacquainted with the brand. Okay, hold on, put away your fashion snob hat for a minute. Don't be a hater with that whole 'ugh, no-name denim?' thing that I know some of you are doing. Let me tell you that Reitmans has actually come a long way. With Smart Set closing, Reitmans has shifted its focus to be younger and more trend-focused to appeal to SS's old customers, including women like me. I've always been a big believer in peppering your denim collection with well-made, inexpensive options, and if you can find them at a Canadian retailer, it's always a big bonus.
So, I headed to my closest Reitmans and got right to work. My fashion mission? Find a pastel pair, a bleached pair, and a boyfriend, then style them three different ways. I tried on loads of pairs, tossing aside anything I deemed too 'mom' (even though I am a mom), finally settling on a pair of cute marbled skinnies, a pair of pretty pale pink ankle jeans and a comfy pair of dark drawstring boyfriends. Also managed to pick up a super pretty lace tee, a classic black watch and a perfect long silver pendant (see below).
If you haven't checked out Reitmans lately, it's totally worth the visit to try on some non-budget-busting spring denim. In the meantime, scroll below to see how I styled my picks and don't miss the Reitmans Facebook contest at the bottom of this post where you could win a trip for 2 to the seriously dreamy 5-star Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Sigh...can I win, please? Oh, and be sure to tell me which look is your fav - would love to hear what you think!
WHY I LOVE THEM | Bleached denim is a tricky affair, usually best left to the designer denim pros. However, I fell for these bleached marble skinnies because they're just so eighties (in a good way), and made my legs look skinny. I'd say to wear them with a white blouse and keep it simple. But then again, if you're going to wear marbled jeans, why not go all out? Marble. Cheetah. Hot pink lips. Yes. Yes. Yes!
WHY I LOVE THEM | Pale pink jeans are so girly that I had to have them. Going head-to-toe tonal always makes a strong fashion statement, especially if you can add in an unexpected pop somewhere. I threw on a pair of neon earrings and they instantly finished off the outfit. I normally find pale denim super unflattering since they show the world every little bump but the Reitmans pastel jeans are the right thickness so they give you nothing but sleek, clean lines and legs for days.
WHY I LOVE THEM | For me, these jeans are ALL about the drawstring. They're crazy comfy like joggers, only with the option to wear them out. Since this spring is so heavily influenced by the '70s, I am loving the clean denim look right now and plan on wearing these with both heels and sneakers this spring. Yay spring!
It might be spring(ish) but anyone else craving a getaway right now? Then you do not want to miss this amazing Reitmans Facebook contest: Enter here for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip for two to the 5-star Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit resort in Mexico, courtesy of Transat Holidays. Good luck! xx
Sometimes more is more - especially when it comes to summer handbags. Forget black, beige and boooring, I've got my eye on a bunch of beaded, tasseled, fringey, embroidered beauties at Shopbop right now. Antik Batik has obviously mastered the look, but some lesser-known designers recently caught my eye. Both Christophe Sauvat and Star Mela have SXSW-style accessories down pat, and in the case of Star Mela, I wouldn't feel the slightest bit guilty in picking up a new summer handbag or two.
And you? Are you loving these bright embellished bags, too?
It's the last day of winter. Let me repeat that - the LAST day of winter! This is no joke. Hard to believe that the spring we've been waiting for has finally arrived, and with it, a new crop of pretty spring colours in stores. While I'll always rely on black and white, and do love my brights, there's something irresistible about soft pastels, especially this season.
While pastels can be sweet and pretty and mega girly-girly, you might not think of them as cool. I mean, black is cool and metallics are cool but pink? Cool? You might be surprised. From the always on point J.Crew runway to the most-copied street stylers, fashion know-it-alls are already tossing off their blacks and switching them up for powdery blues, ballet pinks and vibrant yellows.
So, how do you make pastels look edgy? Here are 3 easy ways:
1) ADD BLACK | It never fails to pair your pastels with black to add depth to a super-sweet shade. Bonus points if you can add some leather (faux or real) and either a leopard or snake print to the mix.
2) MIX IT UP | Instead of sticking to one pastel shade, why not mix them up? Shades of blues and pinks mixed up look amazing worn head to toe, especially when you add some distressed denim to the mix.
3) COMBINE SOFT & BRIGHT PASTELS | Soft pink with white and a khaki trench is pretty but, let's face it, predictable. The addition of one super bright pastel (think a bright yellow like in the J.Crew pic above and the outfit below) totally takes your spring outfit to the next level. Neon orange looks amazing with soft pink, too.
Looking for some spring outfit inspo? I've put together 3 cool pastel looks to try out now. Happy Spring!
When it was announced a few days ago that Joe Mimran was leaving Joe Fresh - his namesake, his fashion baby - the Canadian fashion community reeled. It seemed like an odd decision to leave a successful company at the top of its game, right in the midst of its global takeover. So what was it? Was there someone else? Was he tired of people thinking his last name was 'Fresh'? Was he simply over the colour orange? I couldn't imagine why he'd leave Joe Fresh unless tempted by an even better opportunity. Turns out I was right.
Joe Mimran will be joining CBC's Dragons' Den as the hit show's newest judge. The 62 year-old fashion vet is a natural choice, having built some of Canada's most successful fashion brands including Alfred Sung, Caban, Club Monaco, and most recently, Joe Fresh. Though Joe leaves his day-to-day duties behind, he will remain the founder and brand ambassador of Joe Fresh.
Season 10 of Dragons' Den starts shooting next month and will air Wednesday nights at 8 pm on CBC. As an avid DD junkie, I cannot wait to see Mr. Mim in action. One thing I can guarantee? There will be loafers. Oh yes, there will be loafers.
Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 11:13AM 
