You know where she works. You know she didn't just win the lottery. And yet somehow, she manages to look like she's sponsored by a designer every. single. day. Super stylish women are no different than the rest of us - they just have a few style secrets tucked away that they employ every day. And more often than not, they don't have more clothes (or even more expensive clothes) than we do. They just know how to choose them better. Hate them? Don't. You can look like a lady of luxury, too.
I've handpicked 15 key pieces that will give you that just-rolled-out-of-my-mansion look. The best part? Each piece checks out for under-$100 and nobody will ever know. Unless they read this blog. Then they'll know, too. And then you'll both look like you just rolled out of your mansions. Win. Win.
Happy Easter weekend, bunnies! Hope your immediate future is filled with chocolate. Excuse me while I test out my kids' treats. I mean, it is my motherly duty after all. Nom, nom, nom....
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
It's the last day of winter. Let me repeat that - the LAST day of winter! This is no joke. Hard to believe that the spring we've been waiting for has finally arrived, and with it, a new crop of pretty spring colours in stores. While I'll always rely on black and white, and do love my brights, there's something irresistible about soft pastels, especially this season.
While pastels can be sweet and pretty and mega girly-girly, you might not think of them as cool. I mean, black is cool and metallics are cool but pink? Cool? You might be surprised. From the always on point J.Crew runway to the most-copied street stylers, fashion know-it-alls are already tossing off their blacks and switching them up for powdery blues, ballet pinks and vibrant yellows.
So, how do you make pastels look edgy? Here are 3 easy ways:
1) ADD BLACK | It never fails to pair your pastels with black to add depth to a super-sweet shade. Bonus points if you can add some leather (faux or real) and either a leopard or snake print to the mix.
2) MIX IT UP | Instead of sticking to one pastel shade, why not mix them up? Shades of blues and pinks mixed up look amazing worn head to toe, especially when you add some distressed denim to the mix.
3) COMBINE SOFT & BRIGHT PASTELS | Soft pink with white and a khaki trench is pretty but, let's face it, predictable. The addition of one super bright pastel (think a bright yellow like in the J.Crew pic above and the outfit below) totally takes your spring outfit to the next level. Neon orange looks amazing with soft pink, too.
Looking for some spring outfit inspo? I've put together 3 cool pastel looks to try out now. Happy Spring!
There's dressing for men and then there's dressing for ourselves. My husband's list of fashion 'likes' reads like a Victoria's Secret catalogue, and it goes a little something like this:
Things that lace up = good
Things that tie up = good
Tight workout pants = good
Tops that "accidentally" fall off shoulders = good
Cleavage = good
Predictable, right? But he's not alone. I've met few straight men who would pick SJP over Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth over Gisele, Maggie Gyllenhaal over Megan Fox. Meanwhile, fashion girls collectively lose their minds when Emma Stone, Tilda Swinton or Cate Blanchett hit the red carpet because they dress for the love of clothes, not for the cleavage they can bust out.
I'm perpetually torn between the two camps. I hold this sexpot superhero power over my bae when I throw on strappy heels, a little black dress and bombshell waves. Kachow! He has no idea why but suddenly he goes all zombie-like, holding doors open for me and offering to make me caipirinhas. Still, I love dressing up like Jenna Lyons with my buttoned-up men's shirt, culottes & New Balance kicks. Girls love it. Guys literally walk right past me. Except when I put on a pair of big geek glasses. Then it turns into a hot teacher/librarian thing. Guys like that.
The one-piece jumpsuit is inherently divisive. While most women would love to try out overalls or a denim jumpsuit, they avoid them because they know how much men hate them. So, I've put together 3 one-piece looks for you to try out this spring anyway. Fitted black overalls worn with a tee or white blouse and heels is undeniably cute. An Emma Stone-like evening jumpsuit is unpredictably sexy. And as for the denim jumpsuit? Not sure about men (okay fine, pretty sure they'll hate it) but I can guarantee that fellow fashion girls will swoon. And here's the thing: sometimes a girl's just gotta look after #1.
Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 12:48PM 
