Does Your Bra Wardrobe Stack Up?

Many of you have heard me say it, but I'll say it again: the right underpinnings, will make your clothes, and your total outfit look better in every case! In fact, many of you have spent a few hours with me stocking up on the right bras, panties, shapewear and slips to make sure that the rest of your wardrobe fits to the nines!

Wearing the right lingerie can immediately improve how you look and feel in special outfits - making you look smoother, perkier, slimmer....sound good?

MSN/Sympatico wanted to learn more about what I had to say on bras - and you know I can go on all day on the topic! But, for now, I'll leave it to the article Does Your Bra Wardrobe Stack Up? to answer the question: what should I have in my lingerie drawer?

How to Make a Powerful First Impression

We all want to present ourselves in the best light in every situation, particularly when we have a special interest in the person we are meeting.

As much as I speak about building a powerful and authentic professional image, we are all multi-faceted people for whom even the briefest encounters can present new possibilities. In this way, taking care of our personal presentation can serve us well at every turn.

When MSN/Sympatico asked for my opinion on grooming tips, I thought: how will we cover all of it in just one article?? We settled on a topic that my clients often ask me questions about: How do I make a great impression on a date?

Check out Jackie Burns' article How to Make a Powerful First Impression to find out more...!

Try This Trend!

Big Shoulders and Power Suiting

I love the 80s resurgence but the broad shoulders of the 80s can’t be back! Well, guess what? They are. Now I have a theory about just why these have returned – in the 80s they were the perfect armor for the droves of women hitting the work force and needing to insulate themselves against the ever increasing difficulties they were facing there.

Look a bit closer and we’ll see that this time around there’s a strong influence from the 40s as well – a leaner time, when we might postulate that people needed the protection of stiff, powerful clothes to insulate them against the fearsome socio-economic times they faced. History tends to repeat itself, so no matter which era seems closer to your heart, there could be a reason you might be attracted to the power suiting so prominent this fall.

This one’s tricky, and choosing one tough piece at a time will help you keep the look trendy rather than period: for example, choose either a broad shouldered jacket or a top with shoulder pads but not both together. Best to keep the look a bit ironic and play with soft and stiff textures for the most personalized look. Here are a couple of examples to whet your whistle:

Boyfriend Blazer, Vince

Belted Melange Jersey Dress, Donna Karan

Lightweight Wool Suit with Oversized Blazer, Banana Republic

What Messages Are YOUR Clothes Sending?

You know how when you visit a doctor's office, a gym, a fast food restaurant (ok I know you don't really visit those) you tend to see the same colour choices for decor over and over again? The psychological effects of colour on the human brain and emotions is well documented from a variety of perspectives and for multiple uses.

Recently, author Jackie Burns asked me to help her to uncover the subliminal messages that the colour of your clothes are sending. She wondered if there was a similar psychology, and the answer is a resounding: YES!

In her article What Messages Are Your Clothes Sending? I demystify the key of colour for your wardrobe.

I hope these tips will help you to choose the best combinations for the important events in your life, be it an interview, an important meeting, a date, or family movie night!

Try This Trend!

The Legging Pant

It's one of this season's top trends and one that can be worn in a wide variety of ways. An extreme version of the stovepipe pant, the legging pant is figure conscious and can go from casual day to evening – if done carefully & with style.

Keep these restricted to your off-work hours particularly for day wear, when choosing a pair made of hefty fabric, a dark neutral colour and 'pant' detailing such as seaming or pocketing. The addition of zipper pockets, for example, create a sophisticated look. The look is figure conscious pants, not workout wear, these have much more of an edge! Pair them with a tunic blouse, flowing cardigan or vest, a wide belt to cinch it all together, and structured flats or ankle boots.

For evening, try a more extreme look and play with new textures and trends like leather or sequins. Play down a shiny or detailed legging-pant with a fitted tuxedo ruffled halter top, snug-fitting cotton vest and T-shirt fringe scarf, or play it up with a marabou or faux-fur vest! Top the look with super high heels or cut-out booties and head out on the town!

My favourite picks this season:

Tie-Die Denim Legging, Juicy Couture

Leather front legging, Danier

Sequined Pant, Pacha

Out with the Old, In with the Fashion New Year!

I don't know about you, but I've always felt like the true start of the new year is September. The change in the air, that back-to-school feeling I can't ever seem to shake, and of course, the THICKEST fashion magazine issues of the year! If nothing else, September is the start of the new year in the fashion world and that, in and of itself, is thrilling for me! Just as in Spring, the start of the Fashion New Year is a great time to take stock of your closet's contents. Do they fit your lifestyle? Do they suit your needs? Do they fit, flatter and make you happy? How long have you had them? (hint: generally 5 years or more for every day clothes is too long!) Even though styles may come back, they will always come back with a difference (wait until my entry on the New New Wave trend...)! This week I had the pleasure of being featured in an article 'Simple Expert Advice for Reinvigorating Your Closet' on MSN/Sympatico's Shopping Cart Confidential Blog with writer Jackie Burns. In it I provided tips and thought starters on how to master an unruly closet of clothes and make sure that it works for you. Hope it helps provide a bit of 'new year' inspiration! Happy Cleaning and a Very Happy Fashion New Year!

Ukrainian Fashion Hits the Canadian Landscape

I often have the opportunity to check out new fashion and accessories collections few have been as exciting or varied as new addition ASL (Age, Sex, Location) from Ukraine. I had the opportunity to view their F/W 09-10 collection at a show put on at Ultra Supper Club. While on a recent visit to Europe, two Canadian sisters, Lucy Tregubenko and Alexandra Nikitchina came across the gorgeous Ready-to-Wear, that their gut told them would be a perfect addition to the Canadian fashionscape.

The line exclusively uses Italian fabrics (from the likes of Valentino)and designs range from subdued to extreme, all sharing a great attention to detail. Not for the faint of heart, many in the line are special occasion pieces with an overall 'Euro-Chic meets Bombshell' feel - don't you just feel like a young Catherine Denueve or Jane Birkin could show up at any minute?

The August Melt

Well we've been waiting for the summer weather to arrive and just when you thought it wouldn't, here it is in spades!

I've had loads of feedback from my Ladies who have been test-running sweat proof products, and you can bet these are not only effective, but will also suit the glamour needs of the stylishly active.

These are the bare minimum are for a super low-maintenance look. Think pool party, weekends at the cottage, or activities at the beach or harbour. Here are some of the products that came in tops:

Anti-Perspirant
Winner: Arrid Extra-Dry Unscented Roll-On. Takes a bit of time to dry, but when it does you'll be fresh and dry all day long!

Runner-up: Secret Clinical Strength/Waterproof deodorant. While it costs about $10 a pop, it gets rave reviews from my Ladies who run around the park and run around the city.

Facial Sunscreen
Winner: Dermalogica Pure Light SPF 30 contains chemical-free sunscreens, peptides, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid protect from UV rays, moisturize and brighten the skin, reduce fine lines and protect from free radicals.

Runner-up: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30. Contains broad spectrum UV protection to protect against free radicals in a non-comedogenic, non-greasy formula. Goes on matte and, while moisturizing, doesn't let make-up slide off.

Daily Sunscreen
Hands-down Winner: Coppertone-Sport Continuous Spray in SPF 15, 30, and 60. You can spray your shoulders and back before heading out on a run. As a bonus: it gives you a nice glowy sheen! Guys, this is also especially great for you - the spray gets right to your skin.

Mascara
Winner: Benefit BADGal Waterproof Mascara. If you love the original you won't get over the waterproof version! It does take some serious make-up remover at the end of the day for this one, but it is so waterproof you will still have lovely lashes after working out and swimming laps.

Runner-up: Imju Fiberwig Mascara. This one's been a bit harder to come by, but thanks to Sephora we can all get the top selling brand in Japan! It coats the lashes building a long and feathery look that stays put, but comes off easily in tubes when you apply remover.

Have you got other favourites? Let us know what they are!

New Year's Fashion Resolutions

Happy 2009 everyone! Now that the holidays have passed and we’re looking at a fresh new year ahead, I know everyone is making their new year’s resolutions. A lot of my clients have made financial resolutions, a particularly savvy choice in the new economy. Resolving to stay economically sound doesn't mean you can’t continue to enjoy developing your style even during a recession.

Take this time to inject some creativity into your wardrobe, while remaining budget conscious.

1. Make a list and check it twice: Shop only for a few items that you know will round out your wardrobe. Take your list with you, and have the resolve to stick to it.
2. Upgrade the quality level: Even higher-end retailers are feeling the recessional pinch. Now is the time when you might be able to upgrade the quality of your clothing items for the price you’d pay for a lower quality item. What’s the upside here? You might spend the same as you would ordinarily but the higher quality of the items you buy means they’ll look richer, wear better, and last longer.
3. Accessorize: Use exciting, inexpensive accessory changes to update your existing wardrobe and keep your budget in check. One neutral or black dress can take on a number of different looks when paired with one piece of chunky costume jewelry or funky patterned scarf. Experiment!
4. Tailoring: Compare the cost of tailoring against purchasing new, and then update existing wardrobe items by having them tailored to meet the current trend: taper your straight leg jeans for a skinny look, or take in a men’s wear vest for a curvy, fitted look for a far more reasonable price point than buying a new item.