I was happy to have been invited to an intimate presentation with Lynn Spence who was sharing her styling tips for spring with none other than… Sears Canada! Yes, Sears. I never thought I would openly admit to it, but Sears has game this season!
I love Lynn. I met her a few months back at Shepherd’s Fall Fashion Week. She is such a delight and always looks amazing! I truly appreciate all her tips and styling advice. She is a true pro. You can tell by the way she describes fabric and clothing and especially when she comes up with on-the-fly styling ideas.
Here is a recap of some of Lynn’s tips:
Feminine and flirty are a hit whether you pair a floral skirt with it’s matching cardigan or wear them as seperates
The beige trench coat is still, well, a classic piece in your wardrobe and the perfect addition to any monochromatic look
Moto jackets can be styled as a blazer for a more edgy and modern twist
Embossed textures offer a luxurious but comfortable look
Blush is THE colour of the season
White jeans go with everything (but we already knew that!)
Being the curious person that I am, I am looking forward to heading over to Sears and checking out the clothes for myself!
Do you shop at Sears? Any tips on helping folks not get overwhelmed with all the choices? Leave a comment below.
Ok, I have been holding on to this post in my drafts for almost 8 months. I have been desperately waiting to publish it, but I thought it would be cruel to do so in the winter. In anticipation of spring fashion, I am hitting send today! Yes, there is a snowstorm predicted for this afternoon, but I don’t care anymore. Let it be spring!
I am a part of a vast network of bloggers in the Ottawa area. It’s a very supportive community. We try to get together on a monthly basis, and everyone gets their turn to host. We take part in charitable causes, we hash out business ideas and most of all, we vent about the #firstworldproblems of being a blogger.
This week we had our Christmas party meetup at Two Six [Ate}, on Preston Street. They kindly hosted our gang in their event space upstairs. The food was spectacular. I forgot how delicious that place was. I have to admit, I used to go more often when it first opened.
Anyhow, I was sitting beside Flic Taylor of loveagoodstripe.com. She is a self-confessed shopaholic attempting to build a capsule wardrobe. I loved how she defined her vision of a capsule wardrobe. I am paraphrasing here, but (in her lovely british accent)she said something along the lines of “a capsule wardrobe shouldn’t look the same for everyone. It’s not about everyone having black pumps, black trousers with a camel coat. It’s about finding the right pieces to build an ideal capsule collection for yourself. A great bowler hat and leather motorcycle jacket would be fundamental in my capsule wardrobe.” In essence, not all styles share the same essentials!
Back it up, what exactly is a capsule wardrobe? Let me wiki that for you.
Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a Londonboutique called “Wardrobe” in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that don’t go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.[1] This idea was popularised by American designer Donna Karan, who, in 1985, released an influential capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.[2]
So here in lies the problem: I am not only a shopaholic, but also a fashion chameleon. Capsule wardrobe equals impossibe. My style is, literally, not having to stick to one! I dress based on my mood, what my day looks like, what inspired me that day and the overall vibes of where I am headed. I have an overabundance of clothes, which I partly blame for having a very conservative corporate job by day and being a creative social fashion butterfly by night. I could try really hard to find a style that works for both, but I love me some classic corporate atire. Think Rachel Zane in Suits, #goals.
I also find the waste and pollution brought on by fast fashion, a little difficult to swallow. Building a capsule collection can play a huge role in sustainable fashion. It’s a hard balance between investing in classic essentials (a.k.a. clothes that will last you a long time), keeping up with trends to stay relevant, and squirrelling enough money away to pay the bills.
“The Prophesy” is a series of photographs by photographer Fabrice Monteiro that shines light on the problem of pollution in Africa, yet offers a message of hope.
A great resource for sustainable fashion in Canada, is Ottawa’s own Malorie Bertrand. She has many great suggestions on building a simple, effective and sustainable capsule collection, if that is the direction you prefer heading. She also has a few exciting things up her sleeve, so make sure you follow along!
I think we can all use a little lesson in building our own Capsule wardrobe. So, here is my attempt at one! I think I have way more than I need, but it’s a start. What do you think? Is there anything missing? What would you swap?
Shepherd’s Fashion in Ottawa was hosting their Fall Fashion Week, and I attended their event on Friday, October 2. WOW! A combination of food, decor, fashion and gorgeous women looking their best. I love that about interior designers, they pay attention to detail in all facets of their life, not just interior design. They always look amazing and have great clothes! BONUS!
So naturally, I gravitated to this lovely giant tier tray adorned with champagne flutes. Yup, I love champagne. I also love that this store has a catwalk built into it!! How smart is that?! Gorgeous models strutted their fall looks down the curvy lane, while women shopped until they dropped!
The particularly fascinating component of this event was meeting the interior designers who decorated the newly expanded VIP dressing rooms at the Train yards location. What a wonderful concept! I wish I could have caught some better shots of the rooms, but i don’t have the right lens, and I am an amateur photographer! You will have to go see it for yourselves!
And last, but not least, I met Lynn Spence, noted Canadian Stylist on Cityline from Toronto. If you grew up in Toronto, like me, Fashion experts like Lynn and Jeanne Beker are part of your family, they are your teachers, your mentors. Everything we know about Canadian Fashion is because of these women.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Head over to Shepherd’s, you’ll be glad you did!
want.Privileged to be in this pic with a powerhouse of Canadian women! Lynn Spence, Marlene Shepherd and Kathy Donovan to name a few.
