Oh No, Not Overalls!

I can't believe that I have to talk about this, but honestly if I don't, I am afraid that people will actually start wearing them again. I overheard one woman asking her friend in a downtown store: "Are overalls back in?" And no joke, two young girls who were close by reacted: "On no, not overalls!" I couldn't agree with them more.

I don't even know where to begin. There is absolutely nothing appealing about overalls. I mean honestly, no one looks good in them. No one! I may be being a little harsh here but believe me I need to be. Now that these blasted items have been showing up in various stores, fashion as we know it may be in jeopardy.

So here is your chance good people of Kingston. Spread the word. Say no to overalls. Let's get a petition going, or a protest, hey let's even march down Princess street with banners and posters with pictures of grotesque images of those who had succumbed to the overall. But if petitions and protests aren't your thing, the next time you go shopping bring along your brutally honest best friend, and I dare you to try on a pair of overalls.

Mall Madness

It's no surprise that I love to shop. It's what I do, it's what I am good at, it's what I love. But I have to confess something - I hate Christmas shopping. OK, so that's not all true. I just hate Christmas shopping on the second to last weekend before the big day, when the malls and the streets are full of people walking, standing, sitting, yelling, crying!!! Blame it on temporary insanity or blame it on the unseasonably warm weather, but not only did I hit the shops, I hit the shops in Toronto. I know, what was I thinking?

Crazy. That is the best word to describe the Eaton Centre. On second thought, the words absolutely crazy seems to work better. Even before I opened the doors, I swear I could hear the rumble from the hoards and hoards of hurried Christmas shoppers. This should have been enough warning for me to turn around, but I continued to walk in. Big, big mistake. I was then engulfed in the crowd. Pushed from left to right and right to left. I had no choice but to let myself be taken by the current. When there was finally a break, I made my move and found myself - back outside. I took that as a sign and headed over to The Bay.

A little slice of heaven. Yes, I am talking about The Bay. I found everything that I needed and I could actually move freely around the store. No unfolded clothing everywhere, no sweaters on the floor and no long line-ups at the cash. A true Christmas miracle.

A lesson learned. I vow to never go shopping on a weekend so close to Christmas ,especially in a big city. Well, I might do it again, but next time I will avoid the Eaton Centre and head straight to The Bay.

To Shop or not to Shop cont'd

So, there I was. Visiting with my family in Montreal. Torn between shopping and spending quality time with them. If this were any other time of year, even I wouldn't be able to pull it off. But this is the Holiday season, the time to shop season. This is when everybody, whether they want to or not, hits the stores. I found my "in". All that I had to do was to wait for my mother to ask me for my expert help. Who was I to decline?

In my defense, I went shopping with noble intentions. After all it's Christmas time and believe me, there is nothing I love more than to shop for and give great presents. Honestly, I didn't even have to actively seek out items of clothing for myself, they just happened to find me.

This isn't the fist time that I have been shopping for someone else and I find clothing with my name all over it. It is almost inevitable. And the opposite is also true. Don't you hate it when you make time for yourself to do some much needed shopping, and you can't seem to find a thing? It's the law of shopping. Next time you head out to buy yourself a new jacket - don't. Look for a pair of pants instead. I guarantee you will then find the jacket you were looking for but weren't really looking for. Get it?

So, next time you are faced with the question, to shop or not to shop, remember one thing. Your family will always be there but that beautiful cashmere sweater that happens to be your size and on sale, won't.

Dying to know what I bought? Two of my favorite things of course; a black ruffled waist belt from Urban Outfitters and a houndstooth red and black jacket from H&M. And the best part? Yes, they were both on sale!

To Shop or not to Shop

Have you ever been faced with this dilemma? Do I spend time with my family or do I take some time to go shopping? I know what you are thinking..."This should be an easy answer for anyone. Even shop girl must have her limits". Either that or you are thinking; "What kind of a sick person ditches her family, goes shopping and to top it off doesn't buy Christmas presents for family and friends but actually has the nerve to buy not only one but two items of clothing for herself?!!!" (I swear it wasn't as bad as it sounds..honest.)

Let me set the stage. My fiancee and I went back to my hometown this weekend to visit the family. First of all, I feel the need to tell you that this was a trip that we both looked forward to. Believe it or not, my family is great. (Disclaimer: I am not writing this because we are nearing Christmas and I am worried about my present count). I also feel that I need to tell you that it has been a while since I had been back home and I really, really, really missed the Montreal shopping scene. Am I getting any sympathy here?

As you probably guessed, I did end up going shopping. And yes, I did end up buying two items for myself. But you know how it is. You spot it from across the room. You move quickly towards it, keeping an eye on the other women in the store while muttering under your breath; 'It's mine #@$%*!. You finally reach it. You panic a little when you realize that it is the only one left. With your fingers crossed, and praying to the shopping gods, you take a look at the size. Unable to keep your excitment in, you let out a small shriek. What could better than this you think. You move to try it on. You take a look at the price tag. At this point there is a small bead of sweat starting to appear on your forehead. You wipe it away then turn the tag over...you suddenly grab onto the nearest clothing rack to keep from falling over. It's on sale!!

To be continued...

Top Wardrobe Must Haves

The foundation to any decent wardrobe includes items that can stand alone or be mixed and matched. I know that putting together a good wardrobe can seem like a daunting task, especially when trends change as often as we change our underwear! The trick is to separate the basics that we need from the trend driven items that we want.

Here are 5 essential items that every woman should have in her closet.

1. Any-where and every-where jeans: Jeans are the macaroni of the fashion world. They are affordable, offer comfort, they are versatile and are definitely better the next day - I think you get my point. Not only are jeans durable and comfortable enough to wear day or night (or everyday & every night), they have also become a wardrobe staple for any fashionista. You know you have found the perfect pair of jeans when they are snug (not to be confused with skin tight) and they flatter you in all the right places. Your best option is to buy a jean with a darker wash. One, because they automatically make you look slimmer, and two, they can easily be dressed up or down. My biggest tip when shopping for jeans, look for a pair with a little stretch in them. The last thing you want when you shell out money on a pair of jeans is that you only look good in them when standing up.
2. A blazing blazer: Blazers are the fairy godmothers of the fashion world. They have the power to transform any outfit from drab to fab. Wear it with your favorite pair of jeans or top off your pattern skirt and blouse and you're ready for work. When buying a blazer, it is important to keep your wardrobe in mind. There is no point in buying a green blazer if you have nothing to wear it with. Your best bet is to look for neutral colors - black, brown, beige and soft patterns - pin stripes, corduroy, tweed. Also cut and length are extremely important, look for blazers that will flatter your body type.
3. A striking skirt : This is am important wardrobe item for inside and outside of the work place. That being said, you will need to look for a skirt that will be appropriate in all situations - IMPORTANT: No mini skirts allowed! Depending on your height and frame, a length that is fairly universal is one that is cut right above or right below the knee. When shopping for a skirt, look for a good quality fabric. You want your skirt to cling where it is supposed to cling and flare where it is supposed to flare, again you don't want it to be be skin tight, you have to be able to move.
4. Tantalizing tank tops: When it comes to tank tops in your wardrobe there are two kinds every woman should have; the simple tank and the embellished tank. The simple tank can be worn at any occasion - work or play. The simple tank is more versatile than the embellished tank and can be worn at work under a blazer, to the gym, out to lunch with the girls. The embellished tank can also be worn to work but is also a great item for a night out. There are so many styles and fabrics to choose from so have fun when shopping for tank tops and don't be afraid to let your personality (not your bra) show through.
5. Little black - pants?: Surprised? Although I do believe a little black dress has its place in your wardrobe, I think that a great pair of black pants will get a lot more mileage. The main thing when choosing top wardrobe items is versatility, and a pair of black pants has that over any LBD. Black pants can be worn with anything and to any occasion so it is important when looking for the perfect pair you don't skimp on quality. You want your pants to be able to hold up to any dinner party, girls night out or day at the office.

You are now armed with the knowledge of how to build a killer wardrobe. I have faith that you will use your power wisely.

In the true spirit of Christmas, here are a few of my favorite things.

I can't believe that it took me this long to write about the most amazing things that everyone woman should have an abundance of. Accessories! Ahhh, just typing the word makes me want to go shopping. Accessories come in many shapes and sizes, colors and functions. You don't have to be a size zero to wear them. And you don't have to have a lot of money to posses them. Aren't accessories amazing?!

Here are some top accessories no woman should be without.

Jewelry - The possibilities are endless when it comes to jewelry and quite honestly, you really can't go wrong in the jewelry department (but just stay away from the rubber bracelets and thick plastic earrings - trust me on that one).

Purse/Clutch - Color, color, color. Purses are great accessories to any outfit. They make a statement, whether you realize it or not (Sex and the City lovers will remember the episode with the coveted Hermes red "Birkin" handbag). There are so many to choose from these days. Big ones, small ones, medium size, red ones, gold ones, green ones too. Remember, no matter what anyone says, you can never have too many purses!

Scarfs, Gloves & Hats - Perfect for this season, hats, scarfs and gloves can add a punch to your holiday attire. For me, leather is the way to go when you are looking for stylish gloves. Some of the hottest colors this year are jewel toned; teal, red, and purple. Of course, I would suggest having a pair in each color. It's good to be prepared. When it comes to scarfs and hats, not only will they help to keep you warm this winter season, but thanks to a large variety of choices in colors and styles, you can look good too.

Go on, treat yourself to some of the seasons hottest accessories and be the talk of all the holiday get-togethers and parties!