Did you attend Bash Noir last year? Seriously, it was the highlight of all the events I attended. A job well done, with larger-than-life installations, live art battles, chocolate cigars and mesmorizing dances performed by robotic creatures. I know, it sounds out of this world, and it truly was.
This is why I am so excited for #Bash2016. The Bash events annually support the Ottawa Snowsuit Fund and help raise a lot of funds to purchase snowsuits for kids in the city. After the winter we had this year… I am sold!
Bash 2016, ‘London Calls’is an enticing affair taking place on June 10, 2016 at the stunning new Horticulture Building in Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park. This 21+ posh affair boasts an evening of royally outrageous entertainment, special guests, London inspired menus and in true BASH fashion- an event experience that is unrivaled in the Nation’s Capital. The ‘Royal Guard’ will be welcoming socialite guests as they enter past the famed skyline, and straight into the London Underground. With a Beatles Cover Band, a VIP High Tea Party, and London themed Tavern, you won’t find a better excuse to support the Snowsuit Fund, and to get seriously ‘groovy baby’.
Now the question remains… what to wear to the affair?
You would have to confirm with my fellow London fashion blogger living in Ottawa, Flic Taylor from Love A Good Stripe, but based on my research, London style is effortless, expensive with a side of kitsch. And by kitsch I mean colour, pattern, out-of-the-box pairing and just plain old fun! The art is making it look like you are not trying so hard, but you kind of, sort of did.
Quirky London Style-photo credit ellecanda.com
See what I mean? – photo credit ellecanada.com
Without trying to create a formula, I think this is an opportunity for you to really think outside the box and have fun with your closet. Pairing things irregularly and adding bold colours and print can really take your look to a whole new place. Just make sure you have a killer pair of heels and a show-stopping clutch to pull the entire look together.
See what I mean? – photo credit https://selfserviceuk.wordpress.com
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?
