Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 3:47PM 
Originally posted in The CLOSET
Forget needs for a minute and let's talk about wants. Whether you're trying to give people gift ideas or just feel like treating yo self, November's the perfect time to dream. From a cozy cold shoulder to endless good hair days, read on for what we want (what we really, really want) right now...
Monday, October 31, 2016 at 11:09AM 
via H&M
Originally posted in The CLOSET
If there's one thing I really love about fall, it's the fashion. And if I had to pick one part of fall fashion I love the most, it has to be outerwear. There is no greater fashion equalizer than a perfect cozy coat. I have literally worn my pyjamas to drop my kids off at school and I'm sure nobody had a clue. The trick? A banging black maxi coat, worn with oversized sunglasses and cool white Nike kicks. A good coat allows you to wear whatever you want underneath, ironed or not, and always look well dressed. Which kind of makes it the superhero of your fall wardrobe, don't you think?
This fall, there are so many toppers to get excited about. While the weather waffles, I'm stoked about the cute bombers and denim jackets in store. I'm especially loving the merlot and army green silky bombers for wearing solo over jeans, and the classic and extra-long denim jackets for wearing alone or layered under blazers and wool coats. Once the mercury dips (as it's bound to do one of these days), it's all about the statement oversized coat. A soft wool or wool blend coat in black, camel or navy is always classic, but then again, a cozy leopard print coat is tempting, too. From parkas to puffers to pretty shawl collars, you'll always be well dressed with the help of a great fall coat.
Ready to do a little pre-shop before you commit? Check out these 35 cute fall coats and get ready to cozy up...
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 3:00PM 
The problems started when I bought my first pair of ECCO SHAPE boots last year. They were merlot ankle boots, with a high stacked heel and a pretty profile, but they felt like running shoes. So, more like platform running shoes, minus the Spice Girl vibes. Throughout these past 11 months, I've often reached for my other boots, attempted to feel the feels for my other heels, but at the last minute, I always grab my ECCO SHAPE boots. Here's the problem: I could wear flats for grocery store runs, for daily school pick-ups or for double daily dog walks. But I prefer heels. I just do. And now all of my other heels feel uncomfortable. They just do.
So what makes them so comfortable you ask? As they say at ECCO, 'No modern woman wants to be held back by her footwear.' #truth. And so ECCO designed the SHAPE collection, offering cutting-edge, minimalist looks all stacked up on a magic heel. Each design has a foot bed which lowers the heel of the foot within the shank, allowing the 75 mm heel to 'grow' an extra 15 mm, ensuring ultimate comfort while still giving the illusion of a higher heel. The soft, supple leather moves naturally with every step (no breaking in required) and inside, the 'anatomical shank' offers complete support and cushioning. The collection features both solid and printed/textured heels and boots with a distinctively Scandinavian feel - simple, minimalist, but with a subtle edge.
At the launch dinner for the ECCO SHAPE Fall '16 collection, models literally danced through the ROM in their ECCO heels. A ballet dancer performed pirouettes in her Mary-Janes while modern dancers did hours of ear-grazing dévelopées in their ECCO Shape ankle boots. Meanwhile, I sat and contemplated which shoes to add to my collection - hardcore waffling between a pair of navy snake print ankle boots and some amazing textured black midis. ECCO offered to buy the boots for me this time so I decided to stray from my usual black and go with the navy snake print, even though the heel was a bit lower than my merlot loves from last year.
My ECCO SHAPE 35s arrived this week and I've fallen in love all over again. I've had 3 people stop me in 4 days at my neighbourhood coffee shop to compliment my boots. On the 4th day, I was the only customer in the shop, btw. My kids told me they like my fun boots. Even my husband, who has a vision impairment that doesn't allow him to notice new shoes or haircuts, noticed them and liked them without me having to ask. I'll wear them with jeans and leggings and dresses and skirts but because they're not a pair I'll likely wear errday, I'll alternate between those and my merlot boots from last year oh, and the black textured midis which I just bought - um, hold on a minute, credit card info, blah blah, address, confirm purchase - now. Worth every nickel (is this what we Canadians say now?)
Check out the new ECCO SHAPE collection in ECCO stores now or online here.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 1:55PM 
If you've never heard of Montreal brand WLKN, now's your time to get acquainted. The streetwear store has gained a massive following in Québec and has finally made its way to Ontario with its first GTA store at Vaughan Mills. See what I scored on opening day and get in-the-know about WLKN on the Vaughan Mills blog here...
Monday, September 26, 2016 at 1:55PM 
via harperandharley on Instagram
Originally posted in The CLOSET
Don't let this last day of summer fool you for a single hot minute. Sure, it might not get freezing overnight, but before you know it, we'll be swapping our sandals for closed-toes, our tees for toppers and our breezy cute things for errthang cozy. The start of fall always signals a switch from simple, throw-on-and-go dressing to the all-important art of layering. For minimalists (aka the fashion lazy like me), layering can feel like a daunting task. I mean, seriously, who has time for mixing and matching textures and colours and playing with proportions to get it all just right when you've got 2 screaming kids, an early morning commute, or a snooze button addiction to contend with. Unless you're a stay-at-home stay-at-home, you don't.
Thankfully, this fall is all about laissez-faire layers that make all your casual go-to's look much cooler. Whether it's an open grey sweater coat or cardi worn over your favourite slip dress, a plaid shirt dress worn open over your denim, or a cozy statement sherpa bomber, you'll be begging for the cold weather to make an appearance, if only so you can start wearing these looks stat.