The Sum of My Parts...

I appreciate the valiant efforts of fashion editors who try to dress me in a way that emphasizes the good and hides the not-so-good, really. I think it's a great step forward that the fashion glossies are catering to women of different shapes and sizes instead of making us all try to conform to the standard of willowy models - (whose waists are the diameter of my neck and whose legs are taller than my entire body).

But I have a bit of a bone to pick with those "dress for your body type" features that are frequently splashed across the pages of the mags. You know what I'm talking about - those "if you have a small chest, wear a halter top! If you have a prominent butt, wear straight-leg, flat-front pants! If you have broad shoulders, do this! If you have a tiny head, well..you're just plain out of luck!"

Hey, thanks. Really. I'm all for a little direction when it comes to camouflaging the various peaks and valleys of my body. But there's one little thing - I'm not one-dimensional - I'm a sum of my many, many parts. And let's face it - I have many great parts; but also many not-so-great parts! Seems to me, the editors of Cosmo and Glamour are so used to an airbrushed ideal that they can't quite wrap their heads around a woman who may, say, have a big butt AND a small chest! They focus their fashion fix-it skills on one feature - for example, my not-so-ample bosom - and throw out some great wardrobe ideas to amplify my assets. BUT; and this is a big "but", the skinny halter-tunic they suggest would amplify MY big butt to epic proportions!

Yeah, and in the swimwear section, thanks for the suggestions! So...I should add volume to my chest with ruching and ruffles on a teenie string bikini. I should flatter my not-so-flat belly with a streamlined one-piece. AND, you recommend that I hide my hips with a swingy skirted style. Yup, newsflash! I have all these issues! Being small-chested and short doesn't mean I'm going to be a size 0. If I'm to follow all your directions, my swimsuit would have a serious identity crisis.

So here's my point. It's great that the fashion powers-that-be have started to cater to the reality of women's bodies and women's lives in the pages of their magazines. But they've still got a long way to go. Women of all shapes and sizes are the reality - not women who've got a solitary trait that sets them apart from the unrealistic ideal of supermodels. How about more case studies about real women and how they can dress in style and comfort, instead of addressing one body part at a time; often at the expense of the others? Thank you. My in-need-of-amplifying chest and my in-need-of-hiding butt thank you.

Grey Matters

Grey is generally treated like a responsible older sister. Solid, solemn, sturdy, always there for you. Never the one that gets asked to the dance, grey stays home and does the homework so you can copy it when you get back from the party.

Well, I'm here to tell you that grey doesn't have to be that way. Yes, it's often an excellent underpinning to an outfit, allowing colourful accessories to take center stage. Yes, it's a great neutral. But grey is also a colour in its own right! Given that grey is playing a major role on catwalks and sidewalks all over the place right now, I thought I'd take a look at some grey pieces that don't fade into the background, that don't play second fiddle to bright accessories.

How can grey really pop as an element of your wardrobe? With interesting cuts and textures; fun details, unusual fabrics and playful patterns! So, grey really does matter this season, but make it matter in a way that really stands out!

Parameter ruffled tank @ Bluefly.com:
Pretty detail and a punch of colour



















Rosettes provide an interesting dimention to this
Rebecca Taylor tank @ Bluefly.com



















This denim vest from Urban Outfitters would look great
with a crisp white blouse



















This Diane von Furstenburg tunic's print is
so soft and romantic, available @ Nordstrom



















The pleats and glossy fabric add an interesting
dimension to this Parameter blouse @ Bluefly.com


















Interesting textural details on this cropped sweater by
Ichabod, @ Artfulwears.com

















A beautifully cut blazer with a hint of metallic
detail by Robert Rodriguez @ Bluefly.com


















Amazing eyelet detail on this tunic by Hazel @ Dillards


















A mod lantern-sleeve tunic dress by Envi @ Bluefly.com



















A classy, cozy version of the Fair Isle sweater by
BCBG Max Azria @ Nordstrom



















A modern take on the 1940's pencil dress, Reddressshoppe.com



















Imagine how comfy this beautiful jacquard sweater dress is!
Nine West @ Nordstrom



















These shoes are works of art! "Jewel" peep toes by
Charles David @ Bluefly.com



















A pretty knitted cap by Fadedcharacter @ Etsy.com



















A purse with all the bells and whistles (and buckles!) by Hype @ Bluefly.com




















A beautiful, original button cuff by Kraplap @ Etsy.com

Stick your neck out...

Boutiquepinkdesigns @ Etsy.com

And tie on one of these beauties!

Now, everyone's got a great-aunt Mabel, and every Christmas, Mabel inevitably knits scarves for her nearest and dearest. And without fail, dear Auntie Mabel's scarves are long, dragging, droopy, woolly rags that get stuffed into the back of the closet on Boxing Day and pulled out whenever Mabel should happen to descend for a family visit.

These scarves are most definitely NOT Auntie Mabel's, and far from hiding them in the depths of your closet, you'll want to wear them proudly all year 'round! These are Autumn-appropriate scarves, good for taking the chill off and making a colourful statement, though not necessarily warm enough to protect from the frigid blizzards of February! So enjoy them while you can!

"Best friend scarf" by Fringe @ Etsy.com























"Cobblestone" cowl by Nutmegs @ Etsy.com























"Coffeehouse" cowl by Fringe @ Etsy.com























mmmfibre @ Etsy.com























Kthurm felt scarflet @ Etsy.com
















"City of London" scarf by Boutiquepinkdesigns @ Etsy.com























"Vine" lariat by Fringe @ Etsy.com























"Sweetheart" scarf by Fringe @ Etsy.com























"Ivy League" scarflet by Crochetgirl @ Etsy.com


















Romanticgems floral scarf @ Etsy.com























"Blackcurrant tea" scarflette by Beaky @ Etsy.com

Dressing room or Depressing room?

I ventured into a store recently, beckoned by a brown silk tunic dress that was gorgeous...at least in theory. By "in theory", I mean that it looked fabulous hanging serenely on the wall of the boutique; and I'm 100% sure that someone with the proportions of a catwalk model would look perfect in it.

Being neither a wall nor a catwalk model, I had my reservations, though the dress definitely compelled me to try it on. After years of trying to pull off styles that were more appropriate for someone with a far different body type, I've learned to wear my clothes, and not to let the clothes wear me. When it came to this little silk dress, I wasn't yet sure who was going to be the wearer and who was going to be the wearee in the relationship!

I pulled the dress down from its roost on the wall, heading towards the nearest store clerk, a bored-looking girl intently studying her chipped manicure.

"I'd like to try this," I said, and she blinked her assent, sweeping past me towards the back of the store.

"Here you go," She said, gesturing towards a change room. I happily locked myself in, shedding shoes, jeans and top and throwing the billowy silk number over my head. After a brief and heroic struggle to get all my limbs through the right holes, I came up for air and breathlessly turned towards the mirror. Only there wasn't one.

Now, there I was, trapped in a small, white room that may as well have been a cell at the nearest prison for the criminally insane. My brain took a moment to register the obvious truth as I smoothed my hands uncertainly over the fabric that floated around my knees...this was one of those places with outside mirrors. Grrr!

I'm sorry, but to me, a changing room should be a private sanctuary, a place to quietly contemplate your potential purchases in front of your very own mirror within your very own four walls. A place where you feel free and perfectly comfortable twisting, turning, bending over, jumping around and otherwise making an idiot of yourself to ensure that the clothes you're wearing experimentally will suit your needs.

I'll never understand the whole outside mirror thing.

So there I was, almost ready to ditch the dress without even seeing it on me...but I bit the bullet and creaked the dressing room door open, stepping uncertainly into the bright lights of the store. I was faced with four things at once:

-the gum-snapping store clerk ready to swoop down on any cast-offs or capitalize on any potential commissions;
-a trio of impossibly tall, willowy teens giving me that head-to-toe contemptuously amused stare that only tall and willowy teens can give;
-a bored looking boyfriend slumped in a chair by the dressing room area;
-and my own reflection.

Now, when I had envisioned myself in the dress, I think that I'd mentally extended my limbs to roughly Nicole Kidman length and width. Yes, there I was, striding confidently down the sidewalk in my new dress and a great pair of stilettos. The tunic dress was so effortlessly sexy, so fluid, so chic.

The tunic dress looked like an upturned potato sack on me! Its A-line hit me at the knee, making me look like some kind of shapeless, demented 5-year old in a party dress. I looked totally moronic, and 5 pairs of eyes were registering the fact at the same time as me. I retreated, red-faced, to my mirror-less cell, throwing off the frock as fast as possible and handing it to the stone-faced clerk before fleeing the store. Oh the public humiliation! I still cringe when I remember that moment...

Now listen to my plea, o ye who are responsible for dressing room design! Please, put the mirrors on the inside of the rooms, to save myself the future embarrassment of public displays of what not to wear; and to save my "public" from the terror of being subjected to such a show!

Here are a few more tips for good dressing room design:

-invest in good lighting. I do not, in any circumstances, wish to be harshly reminded of my body's nooks and crannies by your hideous flourescent lights!

-skinny mirrors. You know what I'm talking about!

-please, get those multi-dimensional mirrors, the ones with three panels so you can see yourself from different angles. What works from the front may not work from the back, after all!

-please make sure the rooms are big enough that I can flail around with various limbs, trying to figure out how to put on a stylistically complex piece or struggling to get out of something too small!

So yeah, that's my dressing room declaration, and I think I'd have a whole legion of women behind me in requesting, at the very least, that they be left in peace and privacy to try on their clothes in the presence of their own personal mirror, out of sight of prying eyes!

Be-Leaf Me

Leaf tee, Antigenre @ Etsy

As I sit, sipping a cup of tea and watching the bright maple leaves fluttering to the ground in my backyard, I figured I'd do a post as an homage to one of my favourite elements of Fall and one of my favourite design elements on clothing. Be-leaf me, these pieces will leave you wanting more! (oh my god, I'm starting to make worse puns than my husband!!)

BCBG Max Azria dress @ Nordstrom























C & C leaf print tunic, Nordstrom























Classiques Entier @ Nordstrom























Intuitions "etched leaves" skirt - Dillard's























Mac and Jac silk tunic @ Nordstrom























Silk twill shift dress from Maggie London @ Nordstrom























Vera Wang silk chiffon gown @ Bluefly
























"Falling leaf" hobo bag by JMacc @ Etsy.com
























"Sage leaf" ring by Honeybee @ Etsy.com























Hairpins by Blockpartypress @ Etsy.com


















Juicy Couture earrings @ Nordstrom























"Washi leaves" necklace by Littleputbooks @ Etsy.com
























Leaf necklace by Chainchainchained @ Etsy.com


















Sheila Fajl chandelier earrings @ Nordstrom























Reese Li diaper bag @ Nordstrom
























Madisongre embroidered wristlet @ Etsy.com




















"Foliage" wristlet by Allysonhill @ Etsy.com

Celebrating Fall Weddings

Summer is the easiest of wedding seasons - throw on a flowery sundress and a pair of sandals, and you're set. No problemo. But October weddings, celebrated against a backdrop of resplendent foliage, decorative gourds and chrysanthemums, pose a new challenge.

As October approaches middle age and we all start appreciating the value of a good cup of chai latte and a cozy cashmere sweater, the Fall wedding season is swinging into full gear, and this time of the year tends to throw weddings guests for a bit of a loop in terms of their wardrobe choices. Grooms are happily wrapped in their heavy tuxes; Brides shiver in their strapless gowns but are too psyched to notice - but what about the spectators? We don't have the benefit of the heat that stress generates on the wedding party, we don't get to move around that much. We're just there to witness a couple's undying love, and damn, that can get cold at this time of year!

I speak from experience. Our wedding was on September 9, on the cusp between Summer and Fall. The temperature was more Novemberish. Our female guests fell into two categories - those who hadn't let go of summer yet, and who spent the entire outdoor ceremony shivering in their frothy chiffon sundresses and strappy stilettos; and those who had hastily prepared for the occasion by donning parkas, trenchcoats and other garb more suited to a rugged Arctic expedition.

And so, without further ado, here are a few suggestions for attending Fall weddings in comfort and style. It just goes to show you, it's possible to look great AND not freeze your butt off!

You're covered - Season-appropriate dresses

Sometimes it's hard to find dresses that keep you warm without looking frumpy or mumsy. Here are a few that have caught my eye recently:

Donna Rico taffeta shirtdress, Nordstrom



















Silk charmeuse from Eliza J, Nordstrom



















Max & Cleo matte jersey dress from Dillard's


















Steve Madden charmeuse shirtdress, Nordstrom


















Each of these dresses provides a touch of extra coverage in a fabric that will keep you a little warmer during those chilly October afternoons. There are a ton of other pretty gowns out there that are totally Autumn-appropriate, but not so covered up. I've been admiring gowns with creative lines and rich, earthy jewel tones, like these:


A silk frock in rich emerald green @ JCrew



















Maggie London silk chiffon halter gown @ Nordstrom


















BCBG Max Azria @ Bluefly


















JCrew "Sarah" dress


















These frocks really evoke the feeling of an Autumn celebration, and would be great for dining in a cozy, candle-lit hall or kicking up your heels on the dancefloor. But bare shoulders and legs can mean borderline hypothermia during an outdoor ceremony! The solution? There are a few. Here are some ideas:

A Delicate cardigan

Some people associate cardigans with a frumpy great-aunty who had a predilection for wearing a big old sweater appliqued with cats around the house. Layering has often gotten a bad wrap (forgive the pun!) due to poorly executed bag-lady looks. Well, cardigans can be sexy!
Case in point:


A cozy cover-up from Autumn Cashmere @ Bluefly























A sparkly, party-worthy cardi, BCBG Max Azria @ Bluefly























A poet-sleeved shrug, Chaiken @ Bluefly






















An adorable wool cardi from Rebecca Taylor @ Bluefly
























Luxurious cashmere with a bejewelled clasp,
Robert Rodriguez @ Bluefly























A pretty knit shrug, Boutiquepinkdesigns, Etsy.com























A Pretty, Romantic Shawl

There's something very sophisticated and romantic about a shawl draped artfully around the shoulders and blowing in the breeze. Shawls and scarves make ideal cover-ups to complete your Autumn wedding look:

Anne Klein gathered wrap @ Nordstrom


















A luxe, romantic rosette wrap @ Nordstrom


















Sooo cozy yet classic - Magaschoni @ Bluefly


















Revisit Your Summer Pieces

A final suggestion? We've all got a few adorable party dresses left over from Summer celebrations that we're loathe to lock away at the back of our closets come September. Why not give these frocks another outing during the Autumn months?

Simply throw on some dramatic, shoulder-grazing earrings, slim-line black pants or opaque tights, and a great pair of stiletto boots, and ta-da! You have a whole new, season-appropriate look!

This kimono dress by Single Dress (available at Nordstrom) would look great with a pair of black pants and some sexy stiletto boots!


















Have a fantastic time celebrating any upcoming October nuptuals! I hope that these tips will help you celebrate in warmth, comfort and style!