Showing posts with label fall 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fall 2010. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

warm & chic: how smart girls dress...

Each morning I typically wake up early and check my emails as well as my Facebook & Twitter feeds via my Blackberry while still lounging in bed (one of my many favourite things about finally switching to a smart phone). Last week, I spotted the following tweet from local radio personality Steph Downey:


I thought to myself, lying in my warm cozy bed, that Steph and her co-host (Jay DeLong) of K100's morning show must be on location somewhere...and chilly! I tweeted Steph, asking where they were stationed and joked that I was assuming they didn't just shut the heat off on them...well, apparently I was mistaken!

Well turns out the heat was indeed off because it was being worked on! Steph joked about me writing a post on how to pull off long johns in style...when suddenly I got a great idea for a blog post while making my morning coffee.

I asked Steph to send me a picture of her current office attire. When I've seen Steph out and about in public or at any particular event, she always looks quite stylish, very well coiffed and shows that she knows what works for her.


Given her usual sense of style, I had a guess that, even if sporting a parka and long johns, she'd be able to make the look work for her.

(Steph appologizes for the poor lighting and photo quality...you can't possibly blame the model so we'll just point the finger at Jay on this one.)

Steph's cute and cozy outfit inspired a post on how to make practical stylish (there is a time and place for long johns ladies!). When it comes to putting together any outfit, my number one criteria above all else is comfort. In New Brunswick and many parts of Canada, warmth is a big essential component of that this time of year. I often see girls quite under dressed for the weather. They not only look uncomfortable, but a tad bit foolish too!

The key to keeping looking great and staying warm around here is layers (and a beautiful coat paired with a cute hat and mitts when the weather is getting a little hairy). So, to help illustrate the point of how to be warm and chic, I asked a few of my favourite Canadian style bloggers to participate in this post!

Vancouver, BC

Carolina layers one of the season's biggest trends, a faux fur vest, over a red blouse (both from H&M) and coordinates it with a pair of leather gloves (Moschino) she scored from Winners. Pairing a faux fur vest with a pair of camper boots is a great way to stay warm.


Melissa of Miss Melissa
Vancouver, BC

Melissa layers it on thick with a tee (Gap), cardigan (Jacob), and beautiful vintage blazer. Tucking your jeans into your boots is a great way to keep those toes toasty!


Louise of Fifth Sparrow
Brandon, Manitoba

Louise makes this floral dress (BB Dakota) seasonally appropriate by adding a blazer (RW & Co.), ribbed tights (Smart Set), and equestrian boots she got from her sister! 


Kate of O My Heart
Fredericton, New Brunswick

I finally learned how to work ribbed "sweater" tights (without looking like long johns) when I saw Kate rock them in this look! She borrowed this warm plaid shirt from her boyfriend and belted it over a lovely skirt (Lush). To top off this lumberjack chic look, she incorporated a pair of wedge booties (Sam Edelman): the same colour, but a much more feminine replacement for a pair of work boots.


Nicole of Le Mode Du Jour
(Photograph by Patrick Leung)
Vancouver, BC

Nicole didn't just rely on her cup of tea that day to keep her warm as she walked about. She made these on-trend faux leather shorts (Forever 21) work in late November by donning a pair of patterened tights (Urban Outfitters) underneath and pulling on a pair of boots (Zara). She piled on a loose-fitting sweater (LYNNsteven) and faux fur collar (H&M) over her base layer (a top from Obakki) to stay warm in the chilly air.
So the biggest in-style ways to stay warm, but still look chic in cooler weather would be through elements such as tights, boots, faux fur, sweaters, blazers, and layers, layers, layers! But, of course, when it gets pretty messy or really chilly (or you have no heat!), a parka and a pair of long johns is never a bad idea. Being warm is always in style!

Friday, November 5, 2010

TTFF (7): Hold on, for one more day...

Fall Fashion: Top Trends (Post #7)

Wait!...You can still get some wear out of your favourite shorts yet! Pair them with tights or pantyhose to make them fall-appropriate! Again, not a new trend, but one that is being more highly promoted as of recent. A great alternative to a skirt or dress to still show off a funky coloured pair of tights and incorporate a pair of boots or booties!

This look can be paired with denim shorts or dress shorts, as demonstrated below by 2 very fashionable ladies I know...


Kate of O My Heart!



Kate is from Fredericton, and the writer of one of my favourite style blogs. Kiera is my favourite store owner: her uptown boutique in Saint John is practically my closet! What are your throughts on tights with boots- would you rock 'em?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

TTFF (6): On the wild side...

Top Trends: Fall Fashion (Post #6)

I'm sure you've noticed by now that faux fur is back in full force- a bold statement with a (literally) soft feel that I've fallen hard for- I've added three pieces to my wardrobe this fall. Maybe it's because of all the Rachel Zoe Project I've been watching, I'm not sure. Anyways, if you have ever watched you will know that fur pieces are a Rachel thing: they add instant glam to an outfit (if styled right). And it's not just one furry animal that's popular to imitate: we have a variety of rich, thick faux pieces:

The first two jackets are actually pulled from Rachel Zoe's picks on Piperlime:

Natalia

Loeffler Randall


While a vest is perfect for laying in the milder weather of fall, a faux fur coat will sure be cozy and warm once the winter breezes blow.

Loft


Free People

Jessica (Marvelous Things) shares tips on how to style faux fur.
Tiffany (Just Another Shopaholic) comments on how to wear a fur vest.


Designers have even incorporated faux fur or shearling trim along the hoods of jackets or along the cuffs of shoes: it dresses up an item, adds a little texture. 


          Sam Edelman                        Nine West
                                                    

Animal prints add a bit of pop or boldness to an outfit, but the key is not to overindugle: little bits here and there to accessorize a look rather than hijack it with spots and stripes.

Layer it in...

Joie


Rebecca Taylor
                                          

Bag it or clutch it...
              
                                         Abas                                             Street Level

Melie Biano                               Foley + Corrina
                                     
Or let your feet take a walk on the wild side...
Calvin Klein                         Ralph Lauren
L.A.M.B                             Jessica Simpson
Nine West                              Steve Madden
                          

 Check out how these fellow bloggers brought out their wild sides: 



Friday, October 15, 2010

TTFF (5): Bag it and bring it...

Top Trends: Fall Fashion (Post #5)

A style of purses that have been big this fall would be the cross-body bag, specifically the satchel or hobo. They often have shorter handles so that it may also be carried as a hand bag but the longer strap allows the bag to be slung diagonally across the body so that the strap sits on one shoulder and the bag rests again the opposite hip. We women do so many wear-and-tear things to our body in the name of fashion, but for once, here's a trend with a biomechanical perk. If the long strap option, the weight is balanced on both sides and we're hands free for once!

Satchel Savvy

(L to R)

Cross-body Classics

(L to R)


Last month I picked up a hobo cross-body bag from Coach's Kristen collection. I'm a girl on a budget, but I really wanted a Coach cross-body bag and conveniently I had a 25% off invite that I was itching to use. It's my favourite purse (and not just because it's brand spanking new)- the added benefit of being hands free and not having to constantly readjust my hold on my bag is an added bonus I didn't know I was living without.


What's your favourite purse you currently carry?


Thursday, October 14, 2010

TTFF(4): These boots were made for walking...

Fall Fashion: Top Trends (Post #4)

We're well into fall now and like me, you might already have some of these styles sitting on your shoe rack. I'm going to continue to go through my findings for fall fashion research, condense it down, and summarize it!

Boots have risen to new heights (and lows) this season: we've been seeing plenty of booties and shooties. If you just stopped reading, wondering if I've just made up the word shootie, I promise, not so! Let me explain the difference:

Bootie: Cute shortened term for ankle boots, usually have a heel or wedge

(L to R)


Shootie: The merging concepts of boot and shoe,
usually flat with minimal heel, higher ankle, and often have buckles or laces.

(L to R)


The lower boot forms made their showcase earlier on when we were just transitioning from summer to fall. Though they will continue to be a big hit, it's the tall boots that come to (or just above) the knee that we're seeing lots of now with the cooler weather approaching.
High Rise

(L to R)


 What's your pick, short or tall?
Or do you like the best of both worlds?


Saturday, September 11, 2010

my kind of research...

As a biology student in a former stage of my life, believe me, I have spent my full share of flipping through scientific journals in the library, entering keywords into google scholar, and drumming my finger tips on the keyboard while writing many papers into the wee hours. And as much as that work fascinated me, I prefer to spend research hours with this type of journal: we call them fashion magazines...


I love the thick, glossy September issues. Above is photo documentation of my work behind developing ideas for my latest blog feature: Top Trends: Fall Fashion '10 (TTFF). So as you can see by the many notes and my cup of tea, I mean business...so many more ideas to share combining inspirations I've gathered from the fashion texts, blogs, fashion sites, and in stores.


If you haven't already read them, you should check out the TTFF topics I've covered already:

Please, do share your favourite trends for the fall season! And stay tuned for some of mine.

Friday, September 3, 2010

TTFF (3): the "it" pant

This fall, the military/utilitarian trend continues on steady and strong. From jackets, to shirts, to purses, to pants...we're seeing structured olives and khakis with pockets and metal fasteners and adornments. I like the look and I like the colours- these neutral shades make it easy to match military with many existing articles already hanging in your closet. Also, skinny styles are my favourite when it comes to pants- they also tend to have spandex as part of their composition (this means stretchy, which = comfort)!

One particular article under this trend that has become fairly popular is the skinny cargo pant. This summer, many celebs sported them and as fall crept close. many brands have fashioned their own versions. My personal favourite is the Paige skinny cargo (which Envy is currently carrying)- within the month they shall be mine!

Check out who's has been wearing a pair of skinny cargos and then keep scrolling down for a collaboration I've put together featuring many olive skinnies (and where to find them)!

Many a celeb has been seen sporting them out and about...

Hilary Duff, Khloe Kardasian, Ciara


Jessica Alba, Rhianna, Gwen Stefani, Hilary Duff (again)


Rachel Bilson                                 Leighton Meester


 You'll also be seeing them pop up on fashion blogs.
Seeing them on "regular girls", I personally find, is more inspiring for current and upcomming trends!


Check out Nicole's blog, le mode du jour, to view her great style sense. In the above photo, she is wearing a pair of Costa Blanca skinny cargo pants. Nicole, a fellow Canadian, hails from the opposite coast, in Vancouver. Follow le mode du jour on Facebook, Twitter, and Bloglovin'

 Right now, despite the fact that we've begun the descent towards fall, the heat still barges on. The last few days I've refused to go anywhere that hasn't been air conditions because of the humidity! So, here on the east coast, most of us are not pulling pants from our closets lately. But when it's time to do some pants shopping, here's a visual to consider:
Skinny Cargos

Skinny Cargos by MaritimeShopaholic featuring (left to right, top row first):

What are your feelings on skinny cargos? Love 'em or leave 'em?

Monday, August 30, 2010

TTFF (2): Fancy Footwear

A girl always loves an excuse to buy shoes! There have been a few new styles in stores and gracing the pages of magazines that have caught my eye. I've even opened up to styles I've never thought I would wear before. That's one of the things I love about fashion. The experimental nature of it. Check out below some of the latest trends in footwear and then I will let you know what I am dying to add to my shoe collection!

Open-Toed Booties

The open-toed bootie is a look that seems to have emerged slowly from either open toed pumps that grew into boot form or the gladiator heel that evolved into the caged heel that then morphed into a version appropriate for the cooler weather of fall. Last year I wasn't really feeling ankle boots, but this year I'm hooked!
Featuring shoes from Vince Camuto, Sam Edleman, Nine West, Steve Madden, Aldo


Closed-Toe Booties

The reason why I separated open and closed toe booties was because of the climate in New Brunswick. Open toe booties....a trendy, edgy way to wear a boot in warmer weather...but here, I might freeze my little toes off come October. A closed-toe booty might go the longer stretch and present more opportunities to be worn outdoors.
Closed Toe Booties


Closed Toe Booties by MaritimeShopaholic
Featuring shoes from Spring Shoes, Fendi, Aldo, Nine West, Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, Christian Louboutin 


Clogs

I have to admit, since the time they started to re-emerge in Spring 2010, clogs haven't really grown on me. Although I personally don't prefer the chunky look myself, some bloggers have managed to incorporate the shoe into their ensembles and really make it work for them.
Featuring shoes from Juicy Couture, Aldo, Sam Edelman, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Steve Madden, Nine West


Oxfords

Oxfords, otherwise known as Balmorals, are a menswear inspired shoe that has been updated since their origin in the 1800's. Fashion is all about recycling ideas afterall. This laced flat shoe has received many versions of a make-over and can be paired from everything to pants, crops, skirts, and casual dresses.
Featuring Shoes from Aldo, L.A.M.B, Nine West, Givenchy, Steven by Steve Madden, Steve Madden, Christian Louboutin, Spring Shoes

This fall I have my sights set on a pair of booties and a pair of oxfords. I decided it would be more practical to go with the closed-toe booty, although I do love the look of the open-toed versions. I'll likely stick to neutrals to maximize cost-per-wear- so likely one set of shoes will be brown, the other black.

What shoes are you looking forward or buying/wearing for fall?