TOP MODELS | Check Out 35 Statement-Making Tops You'll Live In This Spring

via Fashion Jackson

Originally posted in The CLOSET

There's a backlash against basics going on right now and I'm totally ready for it; I'm ready to stash away my plain white tees and solid crew necks for now and replace them with something a little more amazeballs. I'm set to throw caution to the spring wind and step out of my comfort zone. I'm down with getting a lil' bit cray in my shopping cart. Don't get me wrong - I will never hate on the classics. Classics will always have a place in my heart. Classics are classics for a reason.

But if the Spring '17 runways were any indication, our top halves are about to get turned up. When you shop for new tops this season, remember this:

1) MAKE A STATEMENT | Statement sleeves are the major story this spring, allowing us to risk it all with seriously stylish consequences. Sleeves aren't just two tubes of fabric - this season, they're tied up, ruffled, bell-sleeved and dramatically oversized. Sleeves, once just an afterthought, have become the main event.

2) BRUSH YOUR SHOULDER OFF | Exposed shoulders are still a big story, but the game has been raised for Spring '17. Added ruffles, exaggerated openings and playful prints let you bring out your inner flirt, whether you opt for a cold shoulder sweater, an off-the-shoulder shirt or a one-shoulder stunner. 

3) PRINTS CHARMING | Speaking of prints, I'm excited to see the return of bright, bold, colourful prints this spring, after SO many seasons of solids. A basic bottom half calls for a gorgeous floral, a pretty gingham or an artful abstract to draw attention to your upper half. Add a pair of shoulder skimming earrings and you'll never go unnoticed. 

Read on for 35 statement-making tops that you'll live in this spring...

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PATTERN PLAY | 12 Ways to Work Prints Into Your Wardrobe This Spring

via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Much like art, our taste in prints says a lot about who we are. On first impression, I'd say someone in florals is a girly-girl, a woman who loves stripes probably wishes she lived in Paris, and a lady who likes leopard is, according to my husband, on the cusp of becoming a cougar. A boho batik tells me she probably loves to travel and a loud '70s print says she's fun-loving and doesn't take herself too seriously. 

But our choice in prints is a far more nuanced affair than you'd think. Take florals - from tiny ditsy florals to exotic tropicals to splashy impressionistic buds, the print options are endless. And then there's the all-important way you wear your florals - head-to-toe like a boss, subtle and discreet as a clutch, worn prim and proper with a pencil skirt with heels, or in a dress paired unexpectedly with edgy black booties.  

When it comes to fashion, it just doesn't get more personal than prints, from the ones you choose to the way you choose to wear them. Luckily, spring brings with it an endless array of pretty options to please us all. 

Want some inspiration before you shop? Check out these 12 fun ways to work prints into your wardrobe this spring. Happy March!

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SUMMER STYLE: 3 Street Style Tricks to Try

Do the unexpected and pair your skirt with cute kicks. Photo via Clochet Blog.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

It's hard to put your finger on it. But there are some girls who know how to pick just the right pieces, how to mix them up to perfection, and stroll out of their houses every day as street style superstars. Or, at the very least, Instagram superstars. 

Luckily, it doesn't take a lot to achieve sartorial nirvana, especially in the summer months. All you need is the right canvas (read: good basics), the perfect mix of colours, and one stellar accent to surprise the whole look. Read on for my top street style tricks, then get inspired by some of my fav summer looks below...

SUMMER STREET STYLE TRICKS TO TRY NOW:

• PICK PIECES YOU LOVE: See a plain white tee? Um, pass. Go for a solid white but look for interesting details like laser-cuts, an interesting hemline or a tone-on-tone print to take your look from basic to bananas.
• KNOW YOUR BODY: Choose pieces that fit you well and if they don't, enlist the help of a Stitch It tailor. The right fit will instantly help you look more polished and pulled-together.
• BE BRAVE: Opt for a bold bag, a bright skirt or a pair of printed pants. Compliments come to those who dare to think outside the black box.
• BE A CHEAPSKATE: A very basic outfit will benefit tremendously from the right cheap and cheerful accessories. Find a pair of crazy sunglasses, a playful clutch or a handful of rings to instantly reinvent your little white dress.
• SHOP THE WRONG DEPARTMENT: I'll often check out the mens and kids departments for accessories. You just never know what you might find.
• DO THE UNEXPECTED: Street stylers know that beauty lies in dissonance. A skirt with a pair of sneakers is a current go-to trick. Mixing prints (even if they clash a little bit) can be spectacular. The key is to think of what you would normally wear, then do the exact opposite.
• GET INSPIRED: Street style blogs, Pinterest and Instagram will inspire you to dress a little more creatively and will help you hone your stellar street style over time.
• NOT SURE WHERE TO START? See 3 of my favourite street style tricks below, then  enter to win a $75 White Oaks Mall Gift Card to do some summer shopping!

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FLOW RIDER: How to Wear Soft Pants this Summer

Long, loose & lovely, how pretty are these pants from the H&M Conscious Collection? Photo courtesy H&M. 

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I've got a soft spot for soft pants. Okay, fine I have a soft spot for pyjamas. I wear them all weekend and often think to myself, 'Wouldn't it be lovely to wear these all of the time?' And while pyjama dressing has been a 'thing' for a few years now, let's be honest - nobody other than supermodels and Europeans can actually get away with this trend. At Paris Fashion Week, the paps would be all over you. In London, Ont. (or any other small town in Canada for that matter), you'd only get pitying looks and maybe a few honks from passersby.

Soft pants, though, are something we can all get away with. Loose, flowy and supremely comfy, there are so many cute ways to make soft pants work for you. Whether you go with prints or solids, with wide or tapered legs or with long pants or shorts, summer is the perfect time to walk away from stiff, constricting fabrics. 

Go on, slip into something more comfortable. These three pretty looks will help you go with the flow all summer long...  

SEE ALL 3 LOOKS HERE ...