The New Mom Uniform

Photo courtesy Zara

After a long, loungy summer, the first week of September can feel awfully busy.  Between packing lunches, dressing your little ones and getting to class before the bell, there’s never much time left for #1. So how then to look chic in a Back-to-School minute?  Check out my top 10 ways to look stellar in a flash at iVillage.ca this week, so you'll be drop-dead gorge for those early morning drop-offs.   Happy 1st day of school!  Anyone else ready for a big, fat vacay already?

Karl et Choupette Lagerfeld

Fashion's latest It couple:  Karl and Choupette - source: Fashionista.com

The man.  The mystery.  The macho pants.  Some say his glasses hide the fact that he has no eyes.  Some say that his perfect proportions should not even be humanly possible.  Some even claim that he sleeps hanging from the eavestroughs of his manse, clutching his sweet Choupette for warmth (follow her on twitter here) while he dreams up his latest collections. The white of his hair?  Crushed up Chanel pearls.  His black pants? Extinct German black panther pelts.  As for his lips?  Legend has it that a kiss from the Kaiser will shrink your thighs by at least 2 inches.  Naturellement.

The only thing better than a Chanel suit? A quote from the Karl himself, of course. (source: The Observer)

On his weight: "Yes, some people say to me you're too skinny, but never a skinny person says that to me, only people who could lose a few pounds say that." 

On the royals: "Kate Middleton has a nice silhouette. I like that kind of woman, I like romantic beauties. On the other hand, the sister struggles. I don't like the sister's face. She should only show her back." 

On the boudoir: "I'm rather pro-prostitution.  I admire people who do it. It can't be much fun. Thank goodness for it. People need relief or they become murderers." - Karl Lagerfeld in the documentary Lagerfeld Confidential

On supermodels: "I don't know Heidi Klum. She was never known in France. Claudia Schiffer also doesn't know who she is." 

On his childhood: "When I was four I asked my mother for a valet for my birthday" 

On technology: "The iPod is genius. I have 300"

On being childless: "They grow so fast, and having adult children makes you look 100 years old. I don’t want that" 

Classic.  Get a piece of Karl now at NET-A-PORTER.   I NEED (want, whatever...) that camo blouse and the sequined dress.  Yum!  Happy long weekend y'all!  May it be as sweet as Choupette.  Do you suppose he lets her eat carbs? x

The Horsey Set

Dree Hemingway for Ermanno Scervino - Autumn 2012

Originally posted in The LOOK

As long as I can remember, I've been a city girl. I would look at the cowboy boots, hats, spurs and far-from-rad plaid in country music videos and feel something akin to mild food poisoning. When my friends would flock to our local bar for some honky-tonk, I'd tag along and even sing (Ohhh, way down 'yonder on the Chatahoochie, never knew how much that muddy water meant to me....). I'd even line-dance a little (because seriously, it was kind of a precursor to the flash mob, no?) but the stylista in me just couldn't handle the ill-fitting jeans, the tacky hats or the cliché my-dog-just-croaked-and-now-I'm-gon'-die-toooo lyrics. Not to mention horses; as in, I won't even mention horses after the number of near-death experiences I've had in their presence. Can horses smell fear? Then again, as the years went by, I grew to admire a small but mighty group of boot-stompin' babes: the fearless Dixie Chicks, the hilarious Dolly Parton, the style-obsessed Carrie Underwood and the bad-boy bashing Taylor Swift. Even A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow have gone a little bit country these days.

But horses gone haute? This fall, designers joined the horsey set in a big way, giving us plenty of ways to get in touch with our inner country girl, be it full-blown spur-jangling country as seen on the Isabel Marant runway or the more refined equestrian aesthetic perfected by Altuzarra, Givenchy and Herve Leger, complete with sleek riding boots, equine prints, and chic tweed blazers. Like country music, I'm loving this trend in small doses, with a cute little cowboy boot here, or a cropped riding jacket there.

So, how 'bout you? Will you hop on the horsey bandwagon this fall? Yay, or neigh? Check out my favourite country finds at Intercity Shopping Centre right now. (And be sure to look at them boots, ya hear?) 

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A Gabrielle Johnson Guest Post!

Style Expert Gabrielle Johnson knows a thing or two about fashion.  The exceptionally stylish Central Saint Martins grad and former Sweetspot editrix has worked with some of the biggest publications in the business and currently spills her fashion and beauty secrets for Toronto Life and Glow Magazine, among others. Gabrielle agreed to write a guest post for RLR to help us harness the power of the peplum for fall.  Lucky us! Check back for more guest posts in the coming months from Ms. Johnson and other members of Canada's fashionable flock...

Forget one-season wonders: Pretty peplums — those ultra-feminine, flattering flared ruffles currently spilling forth from the waists of tops, skirts, dresses and jackets everywhere — dominated designer runways for spring and fall 2012.

This season, we’ll be working the peplum at the office, on weekends and after hours (and showing you how to master the looks, too). We love a fashion trend with staying power.  

OFFICE CHIC
A flouncy peplum top becomes office-appropriate when paired with sleek, simple basics. Team this gorgeous wine-coloured 3.1 Phillip Lim belted satin-twill peplum top (US $550) with a smart black pencil skirt or slim-cut tailored trousers, and keep the accessories minimal. The best part? It’ll take you from endless meetings in the boardroom to after-work cocktails with colleagues, no costume change required.

WEEKEND CASUAL
We’ve grown accustomed to seeing stylish celebs like Emma Stone rocking OTT peplums on the red carpet, but take the ruffles down a notch and suddenly the peplum is perfect for weekend brunch.  This super-soft Autumn Cashmere button-back peplum sweater ($310) is just begging to be paired with skinny jeans, ankle boots and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. We can feel the leaves crunching underfoot already.

EVENING AFFAIR
Did we mention that the peplum is a godsend for women with curves? It creates the ultimate hourglass silhouette, nipping in the waist and sensually grazing the hips.  Show off your best assets in Zara’s embroidered faux-leather peplum top ($69.90); wear it with a flirty skirt or your tightest pants, depending on the level of bad-assedness you’re hoping to project.

To Have and to Hold

Oversized totes are huge (literally) for fall. Photo courtesy Harper's Bazaar

Originally posted in The CLOSET

When the government issued a plastic bag tax last year, I was relieved. I knew that the 5 cent charge was a little step in the right direction for our environment, slowly training us to be eco-aware. And yet, I have to admit, my relief was also aesthetically motivated. I mean, a plastic bag can wreak serious havoc on a great outfit. You could be wearing a Giambattista Valli frock with rockstar Louboutins but carry a plastic bag and you might as well be wearing jogging pants.

A great bag, as it turns out, is as essential as wearing pants. Instead of being an afterthought, a beautiful bag should be at the top of your priority list when getting dressed since great shoes and a good bag can make even jeans and a tee look spectacular. And the great news? The right bag doesn't have to be a Mulberry or Marc Jacobs. And it certainly doesn't have to be splattered with overt logos, be they Gucci G's or Coach C's. Instead, look for a beautiful silhouette, a colour that makes you happy, and a design that makes practical sense for your life. Choose right, and your bag will be something to have (and to hold), from this day forward, forever and ever (or at least for the next 3 years), Amen.

Want to look current for fall? Here are some of the top trends we saw on the runways this season:

1) Black Bags - After so many seasons lying low, black bags are back in a big way. Bonus: they're classic, weighty and go with everything.

2) The Top-Handled Bag - Ladylike and practical, these totes meld form with function. The Doctor's Bag is particularly hot for 2012.

3) Spicy Colours - Look for shades of turmeric yellow, saffron orange, and rich cayenne to add a pop of colour to your wardrobe this fall. Rich shades of bordeaux are also having a major moment this season.

4) Overt Embellishment - Bags loaded with embellishments, from studs, to fringe, to beading, to fur, are unapologetically busy and add dimension to any outfit.

5) Metallics - Shades of metallics, but particularly gold with black clutches or chain-handled bags, are perfect for busting out after dark.

6) Oversized Everything- This fall, the bigger the bag, the better. Look for massive silhouettes, from totes to oversized envelope clutches to hold all your stuff, with room to spare

7) Jewel Tones - Rich purple, emerald green and ruby red will go beautifully with all the jewel-toned separates hanging from the racks this fall.

Ready for a brand new bag? Click on the thumbnails below for 30 chic beauties from White Oaks Mall you might want to carry home this fall (Bags from Town Shoes, ALDO, Le Château, Roots, Danier, Coach, Club Monaco and Smart Set)

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