Love, Loss & What I Wore

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the stage adaptation of Love, Loss and What I Wore a monologue-style play by Nora and Delia Ephron adapted from Ilene Beckerman's book of the same name. My girlfriends and I sat in the audience, at turns nodding, laughing, and tearing up as we listened to stories that seemed like a universal consciousness.

Don't we all we all have stories about clothing items that were with us during a pivotal moment in our lives? A graduation outfit, the first item we bought with our own money, a wedding dress or tuxedo, a special colour or style a grandparent always wore? I am always excited when I visit a client's closet for the first time, and am greeted with a bounty of these stories. Clothes are a special breed of personal history.

The clothing we aspire to wear, that which we love or despise, the colours we love and loath, all just might stem from experiences we have had with clothing throughout our lives. Sometimes we hold on tight to them, just so we always have the same feeling we had at that time. Clothes might be tangible manifestations of our memories of the past, but it is the feeling that they gave us that we can translate and bring to life again in a new way that's right for the present or future.

Dressing each day is an opportunity for us to greet the world in just the way we want to be seen. With the right clothes, we can feel confident, playful, intelligent, capable, secure, trustworthy, calm, flirtatious, creative, mysterious...the essence of who we are defined, just by a few meters of cloth. No small thing, is it?

Map Your Style with a Style Vision Board

In my book, Fall is the unofficial start of the New Year. The magazines are the thickest, trend forecasters are in high gear, and you get that familiar ‘coming back after summer vacation’ feeling...

Naturally, it’s a perfect time to think about what really works for your personal style. What will make you excited to get dressed in the morning? What ideas do you love right now, and which would you want to retire? What will forward your personal style goals? The question is: ”What’s really me?”

A Style Vision Board can help organize your thoughts and remind you of how you’d like your personal style to look. Here’s what you need:

• A big pile of current magazines
• A pair of scissors
• A glue stick
• A big piece of blank paper or cardstock

First, tear out all the pages that show clothing that piques your interest. Don’t worry if you’ve never worn the style or colour before, we’re looking for possibilities! Take a little break, perhaps for a day or two, come back to those photos and narrow them down to the ones you really, truly love. Use them to build a collage that will tun into your Style Vision Board!

Check out these Style Vision Boards for two very different Style Types:

Next, take your Style Vision Board to your closet with you and take a look inside. Pull out some of your accessories, your hosiery, and shoes. Are there new combinations of items hanging in your closet that would fit this new vision for Fall? Try them on and see how they feel! Would one or two new items really complete your new look? Create a Shopping List! You're on your way to seeing your ideal style come alive!

Finally, post your Style Vision Board up where you will have access to it on a regular basis. A Style Vision Board is only as useful as your line of vision to it!

Fashionably Yours,

Tamara

Ask Tamara: What does 'Summer Chic' mean?

A few months ago I wrote an Ask Tamara segment called Cracking Wedding Dress Codes for Men and now that we've hit summer full force, more and more invitations with creative dress codes are coming our way!

On a recent shopping trip with one of my client-couples, we tackled outfits for a 'Summer Chic' event. A 'Summer Chic' dress code is about as foggy a notion as reaching for your Sangria through a cloud of BBQ smoke. A few questions help to properly define the dress code:

1. What time of day is the event? 7:00pm on (cocktail to evening)
2. Where is the event being held? An -in-the-know urban venue complete with grassy rooftop patio
3. What is the event celebrating? Well-known brand re-launch (business & networking!)

For the gentleman of my couple, we played down a great summer suit, a patterned dress shirt with a casual pique tie, & a coordinating pocket square. Casual accents like a rolled up pant cuff, sockless feet & suede slip-on shoes add personality!

For the woman of my couple, we found a beautiful flow-y chiffon summer dress, strappy leather platforms (and an extra pair of embellished sandals just in case!), fun, colourful chunky jewelry and an unexpectedly joyous clutch!

With looks like these, it's easy to enjoy the party!

'Tis The Rainy Season

Spring really is on its way and, as many of you know, this is my favourite season - so I couldn't be happier!

There is one thing about the season that I have found perplexing: how to cope with the unpredictable rain in a fashionable, sophisticated way. The onslaught of patterned plastic boots over the past couple of years has had me up in arms. They have been for the most part, to me, the rain proof equivalent of uggs: an efficient way to ruin an otherwise well thought-out outfit!

The reality is that we do need something to protect us from the wet beyond a classic or funky turn on the trench. My wishes have been received by a number of designers who've upped the ante and created practical, age-appropriate rain accessories to go with your ubiquitous tan or black topper.

Here three of my top picks for my Ladies:

The Burberry: I like this heart pattern better on the umbrella than I do on the rain boot. The embossed logo boot is just "so!" Don't you think?

Burberry Heart Print Auto Mini-Umbrella

Burberry Logo Rain Boot

For those with attitude, I love this combination of the Jimmy Choo for Hunter (yes, that's right) Crock print boot and a monogrammed umbrella. Of course, there are more reasonably priced rainboots with a similar look, but....these are fun too! You could also sub in a rubberized motorcycle boot for more downtown appeal.

Neiman Marcus Monogrammed Umbrella

Jimmy Choo for Hunter Boots

Chooka Moto Rain Boot

And I'm sure you didn't think I would leave you hanging without an animal print rendition...did you? A sophisticated but fun version from Stuart Weitzman and a simple umbrella to match. I love the surrounding effect of the Fulton Birdcage Umbrella, but it does come in a regular umbrella shape as well. And, if it's good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for me!

Fulton Birdcage Umbrella

Stuart Weitzman Puddles Rain Boot

Try This Trend: Socks & Sandals

For years people have told me I was crazy - how can you wear socks and sandals? Well my friends, this is where my favourite fashion phrase easily comes to mind: 'Never say never!'

I hate to say I told you so, but yes, socks and sandals are en vogue this year and there are ways to wear this trend successfully.

First, a proviso: this is not a trend for everyone. It is best on those whose style is along the lines of "Ingenue," it should most always be worn for off-work-hours occasions (unless your profession is in fashion or otherwise creative fields predominated by youth), and for daytime or casual fun evenings.

Second, the rules for success:

1. Start slowly...try a black & beige crochet tight with a black dress and platform black dress sandal or a cream crochet ankle sock with brown wedge sandals under trouser jeans to transition to this Spring trend
2. Choose socks made of a nylon or lightweight silk or nylon blend from mostly opaque to sheer. Thick/casual socks will not work.
3. Choose a dressier or funkier sandal always with heel height - either a wedge or a chunky heel. Never a flat or Birkenstock-type sandal...we're going for fashion, not overnight camp.
4. Choose an ankle sock and avoid knee-highs
5. Choose socks and sandals within a few steps of the colour family of each other to decrease the possibility of looking tacky...and increase the chicness.
6. Choose a pattern or detail that corresponds the mood of your outfit.

So! That said, here are a few examples of the runways that did this trend justice:

Hermes

Dior

Chloe

ROM PROM's Best Dressed

In last week's post 'A Major Fundraiser Goes Glam,' I interviewed Tao Drayton of Cabaret Vintage who helped described how to create a fabulous Old Hollywood Glam look for both men and women.

This weekend I attended the ROM PROM where Toronto's philanthropically-minded, social set came out in droves to enjoy a night of live Big Band music, fantastic Lindy Hoppers, beautiful decor, bevvies and even a Choose-Your-Own-Candy Bar!

My picks for best dressed of the evening:

Kara Wood, in a gorgeous vintage Hong Kong style dress

Kimberly Hu & Chris Lo - A charming couple that's made to match

Susie Love, Staunton Bowen & Holly Hendershot

Lucky man! These two dames pulled out all the stops with their fun '40s ganger moll looks

David Servinis & Sarah Bywater

Understated Hollywood elegance

A Major Fundraiser Goes Glam...

Saturday evening marks the 5th annual Gala Fundraiser for the Royal Ontario Museum. Known as the ROM PROM, this fundraising even is a cornerstone of the Toronto Philanthropic Social Calendar.

I'm thrilled to be attending this year - and will be letting you in on all the best fashion there! The theme this year is NOIR - dark glamour, vintage Hollywood looks and all the fatalism that goes along with it.

Gloria Swanson & William Holden in Sunset Boulevard

So: What to wear?? I paid a visit to my friend Tao Drayton of Cabaret Vintage, tried on a bunch of amazing dresses both pristine vintage as well as from their newly designed vintage-inspired line (you have to try on the Soiree, and they're all made to measure!) and asked him to share his thoughts on the theme:

1. What does Noir or Old Hollywood Glam Mean?

I see Noir style as bold, sexy, moody with emphasized tailoring and detail. The films were often in black and white so people usually think of a grey palette, but the marquis posters showed the vibrant colours of the actual wardrobe, so don't be afraid of colour.

2. What are the hallmarks of evening wear style for women when dressing in the Old Hollywood Style?

The hallmarks to me are luxury, decadence and out of the ordinary. Women wore dresses and gowns of exceptional quality, jewelry that dripped with glamour. Go for lavish, but avoid sweet.

3. What are the hallmarks for men?

For men, I think it's about the suit and a hat if you can! Think Humphrey Bogart, Pinstripe suit, Fedora and Trench coat. For the suit, I recommend a dark colour and a wide lapel.

Humphrey Bogart & Mary Astor (Right) in The Maltese Falcon

4. If you had to make a Top Five List of fashion and accessories to pull off a great Old Hollywood look, what would they be?

1. Fabulous Black Dress
2. Sexy neckline
3. Bold Hat (men and women)
4. Bold Suit (men and women)

5. Attitude!

Thanks for all the great tips, Tao! Can't wait until Saturday night!