EXTRA, EXTRA! Your Fall '14 Accessory Report

Photo courtesy Smart Set

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

It takes a strong woman to exercise self-control when shopping for fall. Case in point: all the cute handbags, fun hats and haute-looking heels flooding into stores now. Luckily, you can find loads of affordable accessories to bring your wardrobe right up-to-date for fall without busting your budget. With a solid closetful of basics as your canvas, a new pair of heels here or a necklace-of-the-season there will take you right into the new season in enviable style, whether you're going back to school or not.

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Destination Fabulous: Chico's Canada Is Here

All photos by Real Life Runway.

When Chico’s asked me to be a part of their Canadian launch, I’ll admit I had my reservations. I mean, Chico’s is something my mom and her friends wear. And while my mom and her friends are admittedly super stylish, and I’m a mom of 2 myself, there’s that part of me that still loves to get carded at the LCBO, that gets annoyed when people call me ‘lady’ or ‘ma’am’, and that makes a point to know everything about Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran so that I can stay 24 in my head forever. As for the brand, I knew the quality was there, their reputation stellar, but cool? Yup, Chico’s had some convincing to do.

I showed up at Square One in Mississauga on Thursday night to celebrate the exclusive VIP fête for Chico’s first-ever Canadian store. Rabid Chico’s fans craned their necks to catch a glimpse inside as my security detail (ok, fine, a pretty PR girl named Noelle), ushered me up the red carpet and right into the store. The Chico’s store itself is a stunner - massive windows flank an impressive lattice work doorway as you walk into the beautifully lit space. The other Canadian blogger invitees sashayed in shortly after - Iva Grbesic of Falling in Style, Afiya Francisco of The Style House, Lena Almeida of Listen to Lena, and Susan Liberatore of Ava Grace’s Closet - great crew of stylish somethings for this big deal Canadian launch. Servers plied us with wine and beef wellington bites as we chatted with Chico’s head honchos including the fabulous (there is no other word for her) Brand President, Cinny Murray, a glamazonian blonde decked out in head to toe black and gold, and Chico’s powerhouse FAS CEO, Dave Dyer.

We posed at the Chico’s Selfie Station, mingled with the other party-goers, and obviously, shopped. As I browsed the racks, there were some clothes that my (ahem) 24 year-old self isn’t quite ready to wear. But here’s the thing - I’m at the point where if I’m going to buy a white shirt, I want to buy a really good white shirt. If I’m going to get a sweater, I have no patience for one that's going to pill and stretch out. So I immediately honed in on some of the elevated basics that my closet is currently lacking - a leopard crewneck sweater (yes, this is a basic), a really good white no-iron shirt, a pair of beyond basic black pants, a beautiful striped long-sleeved tee and a great grey oversized cardigan. Chico’s, in case you aren’t familiar, is far from cheap. Prices are in line with Club Monaco/J.Crew, but the quality warrants the price tag. Sweaters are silky, shirts beautifully constructed and the pants fit like a dream. Beyond the basics, there were a few standout pieces I’d love to add to my closet: the Faux Leather Fringe Artisan Duster (Afiya and one of the Chico’s models were loving this one and it’s gorge in real life), the Logan Stretch Bracelet (gold. hammered. metal. love.), and the Faux-Suede Drape Vest and Cutwork Jacket (totally Can’t Buy Me Love). One other pleasant surprise to me was the stores line-up of amazing jewelry/accessories, which we blogettes spent loads of time swooning over.

I'll admit that certain pieces on the site/in the lookbook are styled in a way that I wouldn’t wear them myself, so it does take some imagination. But taken out of context, I am totally loving everything I’ve brought home.

Here are just a few ways I’ll style my easy-to-reinvent picks this fall and next, and the one after that. I’ll only be 26 by then...

Softest cardi ever. Love the knit detail on the back. Chico's Grey Knit Back Cardigan, $119

A little leopard goes a long way. Chico's Animal Print Neveah Top, $69

Drapey, silky pants, perfect for playing dress-up. Chico's Knit Kit Black Pants, $89

Chico’s will be opening another store on 8/29 at the Mapleview Shopping Centre in Burlington. So, have you been? Will you go? Can’t wait to hear what you think, and of course, what you buy!

My 6 year-old took this shot. Not bad, huh?

SPONSORED BY CHICO’S

FALL FASHION: Let's Hear It for the Boy

A classic white shirt gets a vampy revamp. Photo via H&M.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

He might not have the best style. He might not even have style. But you know you've raided his closet, anyway - his big comfy sweatshirt when it's freezing out or his button-down shirt when you have nothing else to wear to bed. There's something about a girl in guy's clothes that just feels so right and while it might not be overtly sexy, it's the oversized, rumpled, undoneness of menswear that we can't help but love.

From cute grandpa cardis to ultra-sexy boyfriend jeans, here's how to add some boyish charm to your fall wardrobe now, no closet thievery required...

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FALL '14 DENIM: 3 Easy Looks

A perfect double denim look from Paris Fashion Week. via collagevintage.com

Originally posted in The CLOSET

THAT time of year has come and while we've tried desperately to stave it off, it's time for a reality check: Back-to-School season is officially upon us. I'm in full kid shopping mode at the moment, picking up printed skinnies and slip-on sneakers for my daughter one day and little graphic tees and hi-tops for my son the next. Much as I love to give them the best BTS outfits ever (for their sake and that of my Instagram feed, obvs), and as much as I understand that I'm not actually going back to school, I feel it's always crucial to refresh our wardrobes, too, this time of year.

My fail-proof fall wardrobe updater? Denim, of course. Jeans in all shapes, sizes, prints and washes are currently flooding the stores and I've seen dozens of pairs I'd love to pick up. But how to wear them right now? I've narrowed down some of my fav street style looks from the ever-stylish peeps at Paris Fashion Week. See the looks below to get inspired as you get ready for a return to early mornings, cooler temps and jam-packed schedules. Blech. Luckily, you can look forward to wearing these super cute fall outfits. See? Fashion always gives us a silver lining...

SEE THE LOOKS HERE...

 

GIRL POWER: 3 New Ways to Wear Lace

A model on the Burberry Prorsum Spring '14 runway. Photo via Fairchild Photo Service.

Originally posted in The LOOK

You know how you wake up some mornings and are like, 'Oh. Em. Gee. I have NOTHING to wear. Like, literally nothing. Grrrr.' In front of you is a closet bursting with stuff but at this point in the summer, you might be seriously done with all of it. Like you could just dump the entire contents in the Goodwill bin and then you'd actually have nothing to wear but that would be better than those hangers upon hangers of soul-sucking sartorial nothingness. Fret not, fashion mavens, don't let your lack of killer outfits bum you out this summer. Of course, you can find loads of inspiration in my previous posts. But here's one more for you: how about a fabric revisit?

Let's talk about lace, babies. The fabric, oft-maligned for either being too overtly sexy or too grandma's doilies-esque has enjoyed a seriously fun shake-up for summer thanks to designers like Chloé, Peter Pilotto and Elie Saab. The key, whether you're going for sexy or sweet, is to not take lace too seriously. No matter how you style it, lace is meant to be played with. For work, try mixing up a bunch of pastels (google Burberry Prorsum Spring '14 for inspo.) For date night or a big fancy fête, black lace is fail-proof sexy but not when worn with big tacky satin plaforms. Keep your footwear sleek and always add an element of fun - either a pair of bright playful earrings or a bold statement watch. And for the weekend, channel Osheaga style with a sweet lace tunic, distressed denim and neon accents to look like a festival veteran.

Scroll down for 3 new ways to wear lace right now to help instantly shake up your summer look...

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