I'm always that girl. You know, the one who wears white jeans while everyone else is still wearing black. The one who wears a trench coat in April, even if it's still snowing outside. I've already put most of my winter stuff into storage and replaced it with bright sunglasses, floaty scarves and spring jackets, which I'd rather wear a vest over, or a thin quilted jacket under, than put on my parka even one more time. Once we hit spring, I just can't with all the winter stuff.
Cropped jeans are my new lust-have and they're the perfect solution for those of us who just want to get on with spring already. Every It girl from NY to LA is rocking their crops right now - with little ankle boots on extra cold days and, most notably for Spring '16, with flatform oxfords when you're cool with showing some skin. Call me obsessed. And let's just call it time for a new pair of jeans, shall we? See below for 3 ways to wear cropped jeans this spring...
There's no denying the staying power of the skinny. Some of you might not remember when skinny jeans blew up but I remember it very well. I was living in Toronto in 2005 when I started to notice women give up their bootcuts in favour of calf-clenching skin-tight jeans. I remember waiting for the subway, watching girls of all shapes and sizes get strangled by their new skinnies, thinking how super awkward they looked, and how I would never, ever intentionally choose pants that made my bum look big.
Of course, I gave in. We collectively figured out how to wear them right. We learned to balance out our super fitted bottoms with loose sweaters, long tunics and oversized cardis. We discovered in pictures how cruel white skinnies could be and how tan skinnies made it look like we weren't wearing pants at all. Stores finally started offering us varying styles of skinnies to suit our bods, from jeggings to skinny boots, with loads of stretch thrown in for good measure. And while I swore I'd never go there, turns out skinny jeans are pretty much all I've worn for the past 10 years.
I'm not going to claim that this is the end of the skinny but there's clearly a style shake-up happening with the fashion pack right now. Cool girls everywhere, from Jennifer Lawrence to Kendall Jenner are currently opting for wider leg pants - think super flared '70s jeans, wide cropped culottes and flowy palazzos that make skinnies look SO last season. I don't know about you but I'm ready for some breathing room. They might look a little funny now but remember - we said that about the skinny, too.
Toronto Fashion Week just wrapped up and, as always, the people-watching was amazing. Sequins were shining, fur was flying, girls showed off in power prints and boys represented in bright blazers. But this season, it seemed like the lower-key looks got all the attention. The Fashion Week paparazzi passed over girls in sky-high heels and went crazy for style bloggers in sneakers. The over-the-top gowns might look amazing on the runway but outside the tents, sweatshirts, jeans and ball caps looked right at home.Blame it on normcore or our collective obsession with street style but even the fashion pack wants to keep it real right now.
One of my favourite trends for spring '15? Denim, of course. We all wear it, we all live in it, and even though it's been around for decades, it manages to look new every single season. From ripped white skinnies to dark seventies flares, there are so many fresh ways to wear denim right now. Whether you already own loads of pairs or are ready to update your collection, the stores are filled with plenty of covetable pairs you'll want to add to your closet this spring. Don't say I didn't warn you ;)
Looking for a little springspiration? Check out these 5 looks that bring together some of my favourite denim trends of the season...
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
I love the idea of jean shopping but in practice? Let's just say it can be overwhelming. A few weeks ago, Jean Machine asked me to be one of the first to come in and shop their newly remerchandised store at Toronto Eaton Centre and since I hadn't set foot in the store in a few years, could not wait to check it out. After all, I bought my first pair of Silvers at Jean Machine with my first real paycheque and picked up many more pairs throughout the years, so we have a long history of hits and misses. Oh, if those changerooms could talk...
The invite to check out the new Jean Machine store came with a few exciting promises: a new and improved product mix (curated with the help of famed fashion/creative director, Susie Sheffman), a little personal shopping help from Jean Machine's expert in-store stylists, plus a $200 credit to pick out a full look. Um, yay?!
I showed up at Toronto Eaton Centre and right away, noticed the super cute campaign styling and a slightly more airy feel to the space than before. I was greeted by the team of Jean Machine beauties, eager to help me find my perfect pair. I let them have their way with me. 'Size me up, show me what's new. Only one thing: no blue. I want black.'
I passed loads of jeans, all beautifully organized by fit to make the jean-shopping process more manageable and was thrilled to see some of my favourite denim brands in stock throughout the store plus other labels I love like Soia & Kyo, ONLY, and Vero Moda. Beyond jeans, I saw loads of gorgeous coats, some super pretty dresses and fashion-girl musts like felt fedoras and oversized plaid scarves.
The girls picked out a dozen super pretty pieces (mostly black) and I had a super fun try-on sesh. While one Jean Machiner was rooting for an emerald blouse and body-hugging leggings, it just wasn't me. So we agreed that I should go for all black with loads of texture to keep it interesting. Being a mom can make you feel too good, if that makes sense. I needed some pieces with edge.
I ended up with a Guess faux-fur vest which I LOVE, a pair of perfect faux leather joggers from YDE Studio and a fun textured black tee. They look great together but I especially love that I'll be able to easily mix each piece into my wardrobe this winter.
If you haven't had the chance, be sure to check out the new Jean Machine. You'll love what they've done with the place.
Monday, April 11, 2016 at 11:13AM 
