Showing posts with label Shift dresses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shift dresses. Show all posts

11.20.2011

How to wear - Sparkle for the holidays

The smell of Christmas is in the air! Coffee shop and clothing stores are blasting the Christmas classics, lights and wreaths are going up around the city, and even the CN Tower's got its red and green on! Everything is so happy and festive and shiny and lovely! With all the sparkle and shine of all-things Christmas, I just had to put together a holiday must-have list.


If you're planning to attend glamourous parties this holiday you better get ready to out shine that Christmas tree... (literally) as  this season's biggest trend is sequin. There's the sequin dress for the bold, and the sequin blazer and mini skirt for those who are interested in dressing the sparkle down for everyday wear.
Day Birger et Mikkelsen sequin dress in creme
net-a-porter.com

Black sequin blazer
nastygal.com
Sequin blazer in brown
nastygal.com

Haute Hippie sequin mini skirt
hautehippiestore.com
gold sequin mini
zara.com
Now, let me just say one thing before we go any further. There are a lot of things in the sequin category and a lot of them are heinous. Stores like Limité, Le Chateau, and Ardene have been showing sequins since the dawn of time. They have no idea what they are doing. So, if you find yourself being drawn to the glittery storefront like a moth to a flame, snap out of it and run the other way because you will be burnt. badly. by people like me. 

Also, there is a difference between sequins and glitter. Somehow people are unaware of this (*rolls eyes*). Sequins are beads (3D). Glitter is flat and looks like grains of sparkly salt. 

There are rules to wearing sequins so please follow them. It hurts to see people make a fool of themselves in tacky sparkly dresses. One can't help but stare...

the three styles to wear this season:

1. the dress (long or short sheath, shift, one-shoulder)

2. the skirt (mini)

3. the jacket (blazer, tux)

three best colours: black, gold, cream
others: red, silver, blue (be careful though...)

The RULES: 

1 - Remember what dresses are actually IN STYLE before blindly purchasing one. This season is about shifts and long form-fitting sheaths. One-shoulder dresses and cut-out dresses are also popular but I don' know how long they'll be in style. One-shouldered clothing so in and out of style almost every season. If you can find one, tailed dresses are NEXT LEVEL. The only one I managed to find was on Nastygal sometime in October. It's gone now ... and I'm  a little depressed.

Vince gold shift sequin dress
net-a-porter.com
River Island maxi sheath in gold
asos.com
Black sequin sheath
net-a-porter.com

Full length sequin dress in black
boutique1.com

TRNC sequin dress
asos.com
2. If you are not the fittest of people, please do not wear a sequin dress. I have nothing against natural bodies (they are beautiful and natural and should stay that way. Being skinny is getting old anyway) it is just that sequin dresses are more often than not super tight, clingy, and bulky. If you are not lean, the dress will only clingy to your core flaws and ride up your bum. Also, the bulkiness of the millions of little disk-shaped beads makes anyone look a size bigger then they actually are. Not exactly flattering.

3. Sequin shoes make me want to kill myself. Flats especially. Aldo and Steve Madden are showing sequin detailed heels that are beyond tacky. You're not 6-years-old anymore, and you're most definitely not Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz so please leave the fish scale-esque footwear to those who are. With that said, I do love Jeffrey Campbell... so I do have a soft-spot for his sequin booties. BUT THOSE ARE MY ONLY EXCEPTION. Keep in mind the difference between sequins and glitter. Glitter heels are acceptable.  
Jeffrey Campbell Lana boots in silver sequin
solestruck.com

4. If you're going for the sequin jacket do not buy a cropped one. They are hideous. Also, be smart and get yourself a black one in a tux cut. The androgynous suit jackets are really important, not only this season but for spring as well.

Zara sequin blazer in black
zara.com
Asos sequin sleeved blazer
asos.com
5. If you have  to pair something with your sequin item of clothing make it something black. The eye-catching sparkle is stand-outish enough. Do not blind people by decking yourself out in a head-to-toe sequins ensemble. Thanks


11.05.2011

Toronto Fashion Week S/S 2012 - Trend report

Now that I've had a chance to look back on what the big designers showed at fashion week, I managed to come up with somewhat of a must-have list for Spring/Summer 2012. I know it's November and it may hurt your heart to think of the wonderfulness of warmth, sun, and summer vacation, but bare with me. When spring comes back, you'll be ready!

Clothing:

1. Satin bottoms. Especially cropped cigarette pants and below-the-knee pencil skirts. The main colours are red, orange (anything warm and bright) and black and white of course.

Pink Tartan- red satin cigarette pants
torontolife.com
zara cigarette trousers in red
zara.com
David Dixon- white satin pencil skirt
photo by me

2. Leather. Neon leather cropped trousers are amazing. If you can find them BUY THEM! Leather pencil skirts or mini skirts are also super important

The Row- Black leather pants
net-a-porter.com
Joe Fresh - neon green leather pants
torontolife.com
Chloe leather pencil skirt
net-a-porter.com


3. Mesh/ chiffon blouse. Whether its button-up, long-sleeved, sleeveless, or military-inspired, mesh or chiffon tops are still going strong. It's a good idea to have one in black (it goes with everything), but white, tan, and red are also pretty great.

Elizabeth and James - chiffon blouse in taupe
net-a-porter.com

Pink Tartan- red mesh button-up blouse
torontosun.com

Maje- silk and chiffon blouse in white
net-a-porter.com
Alexander Wang- black mesh blouse, super sheer
vogue.com
4. Mod dress. If you don't know what a mod dress is... go look it up because if that's the case, I've lost all faith in humanity. (urghh... a shift dress that ends above the knee. sleeveless, three quarter, or long sleeves)

Sandro- white shift dress
net-a-porter.com
Zara - yellow mod dress
zara.com
DKNY- red sleeveless shift dress
net-a-porter.com
H&M- black sequin shift
hm.com

Hair:

1. Long hair,  natural-coloured. The middle part is still going strong

Pink Tartan
torontolife.com

2. Messy low pony tail

photo: poshbeauty.com

Makeup:

1. Clean face - (obviously...) I mean match your skin tone and keep it clean looking. Example: if your white, keep it white. Don't go crazy with bronzer. Cake-faces are not fun.

2. Red lips

3. Black eyeliner - minimal super 40's style eye make-up. Black eyeliner on top lid, none on bottom and black mascara.

natural face, 40s eyes, red lips
ellecanada.com

Shoes:

1. Black wedges. Super important. If you don't have a pair GO SHOPPING NOW! Wedges with ankle straps are great but so are wedged booties. I suggest getting one of each (oh baby!)

Steve Madden- black wedge bootie
stevemadden.com
Theyskens' Theory- Black leather wedges with white panel and ankle strap
net-a-porter.com




10.21.2011

TFW S/S12 Day 3: Pink Tartan - hot day out at sea

The Pink Tartan S/S 2012 show was one of Fashion Week's most anticipated and I snuck into the front row! (the only perk of being a volunteer). The collection featured a nautical theme, with creme and navy striped tube dresses, navy mesh tops paired with satin cigarette pants (a look that was also shown in red and in black), and white trench coats.

nautical tube dress
navy satin cigarette pants
bright RED satin cigarette pants with mesh top

white trench dress
There were great 60's- inspired silhouettes- shift dresses and a-line skirts - in hot colours like red and bright orange. My favourite piece of the collection was the red satin shift dress with the exposed gold zipper down the back. It's simple but elegant and the colour was gorgeous. Too bad my crappy blackberry made it look pink....

red mesh top paired with high-waisted satin a-line skirt
bright orange satin a-line dress with white leather high-waisted belt

gorgeous red satin shift with exposed gold zipper along back (also shown in bright orange and black)