Swimsuits

Depending on your coverage preference you can go from bikinis to monokinis to full bathing suits. The trend for this season is definetly the monokini, but you should always choose a swimsuit that compliments your body.


A) Sailor bikini 19.99, Tropez brief 19.99 Gojane.com
B) Monokini $110.00 Instyleswimwear.com
C)Magic Suit by Miraclesuit® Wrap One Piece $132.00 Nordstom.com

One piece bathing suits are flattering on most people. There are swimsuits designed to firm up and minimize problem areas. Try the Magicsuit or the Miraclesuit which claims to take off 7 pounds!

A)Betsey Johnson Hot dot bikini $150.00 Southmoonunder.com
B) La Blanca African Queen Tankini $110.00 Southmoonunder.com
C)Magicsuit® Firm control one-piece $136.00 Victoriassecret.com

Colour should be another careful consideration. Colour should be chosen based on skin tones, however you may want to choose solids and darker colours for slimming looks.

A) L Space Scandalous Skin $160.00 Instyleswimwear.com
B) Skinny Dip Lined Lycra Deep V One Piece Bathing Suit with Buckle Detail $26.99
www.amazon.com/Skinny-Dip-Bathing-Buckle-Detail/dp/B000M8RA08/ref=pd_sbs_a_5_img/104-5518669-9091130
C) Jets by Jessika Allen Rouge Onepiece $133.00 Instyleswimwear.com

Money and Fashion

I have noticed that sometimes when it comes to fashion, the rich try to look poor and the poor try to look rich. Certain celebrities like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen shell out thousands of dollars for that 'urban' look - boho chic. People with average income who want the designer touch, sometimes break the bank for those Gucci shades or have to turn to imitation brands for the latest vogue in purses or shoes.

Riches to Rags



A) Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel $45 000
B) No boundaries Mixed Media Tote Bag $12.96 Walmart



C) Light Urban Destruction Jean $115.00 Armaniexchange.com
D) Levis Nouveau Boot Cut Stretch Jeans $5.10 Shopgoodwill.com


Poor to Posh



A) Black Mahala Croc Trim Tote inspired by Jimmy Choo 42.99 Baghaus.com
B) Jimmy Choo Mahala Bag $1895 Neiman Marcus.com



C) Charles David Twilo $163.76 Zappos.com
D) Manola Blahnik Thyme $535.00 Footcandyshoes.com

The point of this post is; don't be a slave to brand names. Buy clothes and accessories because they look good and you like them; not because of the label. If you can't afford the brands you like, don't break the bank to get them. It is fine to get the imitation version sometimes, but make sure you are buying it because you like it and not just to keep up with the joneses!

Madonna Style

Madonna debuted her M collection for H&M on March 22nd. The pieces were inspired by clothes from Madonna's closet. Apparently there wasn't a mad rush for the clothes like there was with Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCarthney. I can see why.



Madonna is of course the woman who said she doesn't care too much about fashion; she just wanders around in her track suit and embarasses her daughter Lourdes when she picks her up from school dressed that way. Maybe they should have gotten Lourdes to design the collection; which is nothing special.



A) Sequined dress 349.00 H&M stores
B) Trench 379.00 H&M stores

The collection consists of black and white pieces that don't have any thing that would make them seem destinct or designer, which you would expect, considering that the pieces are more expensive typical than H&M. One signature Madonna piece however, was the body suit. I liked the Sequined dress and Leather trench. The only piece I would purchase was the white blouse, which is a staple for spring.



A) Body Suit 24.90, Belt 34.90 H&M stores
B) Shrit 34.90, Belt 44.90, Skirt 54.90

Style Profile

Coloured jeans are a hot new trend. Celebrities have been spotted wearing them in red, green and purple. These red jeans are sure to make anyone standout. The military style coat is another great look for the daring fashionista.



A) Japan Stand Collar Military Jacket $49.95 Chicstar.com
B) Rich & Skinny Leggy Jeans in Red $176.00 Pinkmascara.com
C) Black Mahala Croc Trim Tote inspired by Jimmy Choo $42.99 Baghaus.com
D) Miranda-04 Pat Wedge $20.99 Gojane.com


This royal blue dress with ruching in the mid-section is complimentary to most body shapes.The Classic Style woman can experiment with trends in the form of accessories. Quilted bags and shoes are a new look. This outfit is tied together with the bold gold jewelry.



A) White Quilted Stam Handbag Inspired by Marc Jacobs $52.99 Baghaus.com
B) Rsvp Bello $ 64.95 Zappos.com
C) Ruched Halter Dress-Blue $40.00 Fashionjunkee.com
D) Kenneth Jay Lane Bracelet $188.00 Buysnbargains.com
E) Shiela Fajl Necklace $60.00 Buysnbargains.com

Gwen Stefani Style

Gwen Stefani wore this great outfit to the Kids Choice Awards on March 31st. I love the look of the crisp white blouse with a scarf. You can try different kinds of scarves. Experiment with bright patterns, leopard print, houndstooth or solid colours.




A) Speechless Short-Sleeved Belted Blouse $38.00 Macys.com
B) Emilio Pucci Diamond-Shaped Silk Scarf $130.00 Saksfifthavenue.com
C) Istanbul Scarf $12.00 Aldoshoes.com

Spring/Summer Shopping

A change is season is a perfect reason to go shopping, and there is nothing quite as satisfying as spring/summer shopping. So here are the essentials for you from your head to your toes. This is just a list, there will be more detailed posts with different options for each item.



1. Accessories
If you can't afford to add new pieces to your wardrobe, the next best alternative is accessories. If you can afford new pieces, accessories are the perfect compliment. Bright coloured patent accessories in the form of belts, earrings and bangles. Metalics have to be my favourite right now. Gold especially! Floppy hats and sunglasses are also staples.



Alexis Bittar Sedgwick Turquoise Cuff $245.00 Saksfifthavenue.com

2.Dresses
Spring and summer are the seasons to be feminine. Get yourself a light material white or pastel dress for those hot days and bright coloured sexy party dresses for those hotter nights.



A) Ballet dress. $69.50 Gap.com
B) 6-in-1 Top & dress. $48.00 Victoriassecret.com

3. You will need some sort of cropped pant. Depending on your height go with 3/4 length or capris or even shorts. Shorts are not for every one but if you can pull them off... do it! I’m loving the look of shorts with heels. Cute.



Citizens of humanity. $138.00 shopbop.com

4.Swimwear.
It is always hard to find the right swimsuit. Different body types look best in different suits, but the look now is definetly cut-out one piece suits.



BCBG Max Azria Crochet One Piece. $138.00 Nordstrom.com

5. Shoes
Wedges were made for spring/summer fashions. For comfort flat shoes are key. Try some ballet flats or slip-ons depending on your personal style.



A) Jessica Simpson Gali wedges. $92.95 Zappos.com
B) Vans KVD $40.00 Store.alloy.com
C) Sugar quilted cat $40.00 Store.alloy.com

5. Jackets.
For those times that it gets a little chilly, you'll need a great jacket. The motorcyle style jacket, the mandarin collar jackets and the cropped jackets are all hot looks. Otherwise the classic jeans jacket is a good alternative.



Leather racing jacket. $328.00 Bananarepublic.com

I'm back to blogging!!!!

I was having quite a hectic time in my life and I wasn't able to keep up with this blog, I am back! I will update this blog on a regular basis now! Thanks to everyone who has been patient and I hope to attract some new visitors!

Fashion 911 Emergency: Naomi Campbell

You would think that someone would have told her that the flower looks like it is attacking her head.... but I guess people are scared after her attacks on maids. The dress is also hideous, I don't know what inspired her to put it on... it looks like something you would find in the Goodwill bin.

The debate continues...

Whether or not designers should use fur in their clothing continues to be a debate within the fashion industry. Inspite of the controversy fur is still fashionable. Most people are already familiar with the issue and the views of both the pro and anti-fur supporters. The main argument against fur is that it is promoting cruelty and the murder of helpless animals, which is uneccessary when there are many other materials available to designers. While on the pro fur side, fur is just another material like leather which comes from animals and it is only natural for humans to use animals for food and clothing.



The ironic thing about fur coats is that they are worn the wrong way! Native Peoples wore the fur on the inside, because that traps the air keeping the wearer warmer. My view is that we should never push our ethics on other people, it isn't very effective. You can present people with the facts and allow them to make their own choice. For me, PETA has lost a lot of legitmacy even with celebrities such as Pamela Anderson supporting them. Crashing fashion shows naked, running around confonting celebrities and throwing paint on fur clothing does not seem very rational to me. It does not ever convince people not to wear fur, it just makes them more resistant to the anti-fur activists because they seem like a wild band of lunatics.

A) Marcelle Danan Fox Fur Shawl. $832.90 Saksfifthavenue.com

B) Fur coat. Peter Dundas for Emanuel Ungaro Fall 2007 RTW

C) Carilyn Vaile Faux Fur Cape. $167.90 Nordstrom.com

Louis Vuitton 2007 RTW

People are going to hate me for saying this, but I'm really not a huge Marc Jacobs fan. He does design wonderful purses, but when it comes to clothing, nothing he makes seems very flattering. I have to wonder if it weren't Marc Jacobs, with his popularity with the stars and it was some other unknown designer- would people really get so excited about his clothes?



The problem with his collection, in my non-designer opinion, is that it isn't very interesting. It is not something that I would look up and say "Oh I have to have that!" It is just typical Marc Jacobs. I think I would even prefer his grunge period, because at least that was different. Above is the what I thought was the best look of the collection- minus the hat.



So, the tagline for his show was "Girl with a monogrammed handbag" however I'm thinking it should have been "Girl with a floppy hat" There were flopply beret style hats on nearly every model! Why? Not a good look! The few monogrammed handbags were quite nice though.



Here's a close up of one I wouldn't mind owning!

Makeover-O-Matic

These are the hair styles that are really fashionable right now. Loose long curls like Beyonce, short pixie cuts like Kiera Knightly's and the inverted bob that Victoria Beckham had. The inverted bob is my favourite look and I am planning on having my hair cut like that.

A) A lot of celebrities are wearing their hair this way. It looks good on a lot of people and long hair gives you a lot of options- especially when it is a lace front weave like Beyonce's.

B) The pixie cut is for the brave woman. That is really a lot of hair to cut off. I think you have to have a really nice, small and feminine face to pull this off, because you don't want to look masculine.

C) The inverted bob is the new take on the classic bob which had a rounder shape. Having it longer at the front like this makes it look more edgy. It is a short hair cut, but not so short that you would never be able to do anything different with it, such as curling it.



So, although you may feel like one of these styles would look good, you may not want to risk cutting your hair and ending up with a disaster. Luckily, you can go to http://makeover.ivillage.com and test out any of these and many other styles risk free by uploading your photo. I tried it, and although I couldn't find the exact styles that I wanted I found some similar ones, that gave me a better idea of how they would look on me. I was disappointed I couldn't find the inverted bob, but I will still get that cut. There are other features you can test out with the makeover-o-matic program such as eye colour, glasses and makeup. Check it out and have fun making yourself over!

Style Profile (Men's Edition)

This is a very basic casual look, that would be suited to just about any man. The accessories are really essential in this look. Most guys probably have a white shirt and washed blue jeans in their closets, so just by adding the accessories the look can be created. I chose these black shoes because really I'm tired of the white kicks with jeans look. Black runners can be worn casually, but can also be pulled of with semi-casual unlike white ones. The scarf is cashmere and it is on sale. I would really suggest that anyone who likes it get it, you are not likely to find this great deal again!

A) Crisp Linen Shirt. $24.00 Oldnavy.com

B) Original Jeans. $59.90 H&M stores

C) Corona Military Hat - Olive. $12.00 Target.com

D) Solid Cashmere Scarf - Ebony. $12.49 Target.com

E) Adidas Sports Porsche Leather Shoes. $99.95 Onlineshoes.com



I love this look! It is really stylish. Men be adventurous and try something like this out! This look is semi-casual. Very impressive for a first date.Now my favourite thing is the watch. It is gorgeous! Go to the website and see it in detail. It is really one of a kind.

A) FreshJive - Militia Zip Hoodie Sweater. $97.00 Bazaaradriatic.com

B) Stain resistant relax fit khaki. $34.90 Gap.com

C) Short-sleeved slub crew neck tee. $24.50 Gap.com

D) Penguin Gold Monogram detail watch. $125.00 Bazaaradriatic.com

E) Mossimo® Shawn Driving Moccasins - Black. $34.99 Taget.com

Hermes Fall 2007 RTW

Well, like most collections this season the Hermes show was composed of neutrals and earth tones with hints of colour. Accessories were almost as important as the clothes themselves, with nearly every model outfitted in hats and gloves.



Leather, leather everywhere! This is quite nice actually, I love the warm brown colour and the pleating at the end of the skirt. Although everyting is the same colour, it still looks interesting becasuse of the differnt textures-the satin blouse, camel coat and leather skirt.



The equestrain look. Neutral fibres which are highlighted with the leather vest and riding boots. Here's an idea; matching your gloves with your jacket colour instead of the boots- I think this looks much better. Otherwise you look overly coordinated with all your accessories in the same colour.



I really love this muff, it is made to look like a purse.... I wonder if you can put anything in it?



Of course, no collection would be complete without the seasons singature hint of colour and dark stockings. This is the ever popular navy blue in suede.

Why? Oh why?

Here is Christina Ricci at the premiere of her new movie Black Snake Moan. This isn't the worst fashion disaster I have seen, but I chose it because she was so close to looking great, but still so far away. A little more effort could have made such a difference. From the neck up she looks amazing, but as I lower my eyes I am very disappointed.



The problem with this dress is it has absolutely no shape. Really she has a great figure, but this dress is doing its best to hide that. I'm really confused about why the designer added that cheap looking black band to the top part.



I don't think clothing has to be skin tight, but it does need some form. The designer should have added some darts somewhere. Look at how it just hangs of her back! There is enough room in this dress for another person. This dress looks like something that was bought at the discount store for your high school prom. Try again Christina!

Style Profile

Classic Style Woman: A lot of basic pieces are used for this look. This look is more about dressing to compliment your body type and personal taste instead of focusing on the latest vogue. Accessories are really important for adding the finishing touches on this look. The jeans I chose are boot cut instead of the trendy skinny fit jeans because they are more flattering on most body types. The shoes add a lot of glamour to the look with their metallic platform and can be worn day to evening. It is always a good idea to spend money on jeans and shoes and to budget everywhere else!

A) Navy-blue Tank Top. $8.50 Oldnavy.com

B) Cropped Jacket. $22.80 Forever 21.com

C) Caren Extended Circle Icon Jean. $119.00 Bebe.com

D) Shield D Side Sunglasses. $5.00 Wetseal.com

E) Turn lock clutch. $39.99 Ninewest.com

F) Blast pumps. $59.99 Ninewest.com



High Style Woman: This look is for the trendsetter. It is the mod style which makes a bold statement. The red heart accessories add a bit of cuteness to the look. The bright red shoes with the black stockings are very daring. They are the most expensive part of this look and they are well worth it. A white strecth tank tee or turtleneck could also be subsituted for the white blouse.

A) Stretch Poplim Empire Waist Blouse. $30.00 Smart-set.com

B) DKNY Opaque Control Top Tights. $12.00 Bagshop.com

C) Grey dress. $39.90 H&M stores

D) Heart shape ring. $4.00 Wetseal.com

E) Heart cutout headband. $6.00 Wetseal.com

F) Betsey Johnson Fanci. $170.00 Zappos.com

Giambattista Valli Fall 2007 RTW

Giambattista Valli showed today in Paris for fashion week. This is the designer who created the dress Victoria Beckham wore to the TomKat wedding. Well, I loved this collection. It was really subdued- clean lines a lot of black and neutrals with hints of red and yellow.

I couldn't believe the shoes! I love them. They are 6 inch heels- impressive! Normally I'm not a fan of open-toed shoes with stockings, but coming down the runway they looked amazing. I'm not sure how well that would translate on the street though.

So is this the new vogue? Open-toed brightly coloured shoes with dark stockings?

Celebrity Brands

Well the fashion industry has complained that supermodels are a close to extinct breed, who are being wiped out by the celebrity. However, maybe what the fashion industry should concern itself with is how Celebrity Brands are begining to take over from the Designer Labels. It is almost becoming expected that any celebrity with a significant amount of fame and with a modicum of style or at least a good stylist must start their own brand. Not for profits, but for the sake of fashion of course! Yeah right! Well here are what I consider to be some notable Celebrity Brands:



1. P.diddy: Sean John

2. Gwen Stefani: L.A.M.B.

3. Jennifer Lopez: Sweetface

4. Beyonce: House of Dereon

5. Victoria Beckham: Victoria Beckham of Rock&Republic, dVb Style

6. Jessica Simpson: Jessica Simpson


Of course these aren't the only celebrity brands, but they are the only ones I consider to be stylish and would ever consider wearing. P.diddy's Sean John line is quite impressive for men; really well tailored clothing along with casual wear. Unlike some other "rappers" such a Pharell, whose Billionaire's Boys Club clothing brings tacky patterns to a whole other level. Gwen Stefani brings her crazy style to the masses with L.A.M.B. popularizing the harujuku look in North America. Maybe the best thing about JLo's Sweetface line is the accessories, although there have been quite a few pieces off the runway that I love.



Beyonce has been wearing her mom's designs from the get go and now her mom is designing her fashion line House of Dereon, which she wears on every possible occasion. Victoria Beckham is a fashion icon; she started with her amazing jeans for Rock&Republic, and is expanding her dVb line.




Jessica Simpson's brand has some gorgeous shoes, which are very similar to the Christian Louboutin ones she wears herself, except for less. Which brings up another question, can Celebrity Brands really be considered legitimate fashion ventures if the celebrity's rarely even wear them themselve? For example, Kimora Lee Simmon's tacky line- Baby Phat, it is cheaply made and overpriced. You rarely see her in off the rack Baby Phat. Instead of having the world's largest collection of Baby Phat purses, she has the largest collection of Louis Vuitton purses!