A wardrobe must have: The class white dress shirt

I was invited back to Breakfast Television this past week to share some tips on how to wear a basic item – the classic white dress shirt – in three different ways.  Of course, my style mind started racing with all the amazing possibilities for creating stylish yet functional outfits with this must-have classic item.  In putting the different looks together, I was fortunate enough to work with The Bay, in Edmonton’s City Centre Mall. Here are the three looks I came up with: Model #1: Michelle Rather than give Michelle a basic (ok… boring) professional look, I chose to go with something that looks fresh and interesting for Spring. Breakin’ it down: The classic white dress shirt has been paired with a tweed skirt that has an interesting lace-inspired pattern to it.  The vertical seaming along the front is a great way to add length to the body. A bright orange trench coat was added to give this outfit a pop of colour.  Since the dress shirt and skirt are fairly neutral, you could most definitely add other colours besides orange to complete the look. I kept the pumps a nude colour so that the overall look wouldn’t be too busy since this is, after all, a professional look. Michelle is only wearing 2 accessories, an emerald green cocktail ring and sand coloured earring. Michelle’s hair and make has been kept simple yet day-time chic. Model #2: Jennifer This is how you do day-time casual. There’s not a single sweatpant or hoodie in sight with this outfit but this will be pretty much as comfortable as shleppy sweats.  This is a great outfit if you’re going for lunch with your lady-friends, to an afternoon art show, or strolling about town for the afternoon.   Ladies, take some notes!   Breakin’ it down: Layering is a great way to show that you know how to be stylish while keeping warm in the early part of Spring.  The classic white dress shirt has been paired with a patterned, cropped cardigan and rose-coloured leather jacket.  For those that don’t like leaving shirts un-tucked, don’t be offended… tuck it in! I’ve kept the pant in a similar colour family as the cardigan but used a much brighter tone.  You must recognize, though, that not everyone can wear (or wants to wear) a skinny pant or jegging, as Jennifer is wearing.  That doesn’t mean you can’t participate in this trend – if you really want to.  Take a peek at my pants (off to the side of the models).  There are wider legged pants that come in bright colours for this season. Jennifer is wearing a low wedge sandal which makes walking around comfy and easy.  If you prefer a flat, go for it. I was tempted to add bigger earrings (which is my obsession) but opted for simple gold drops so as to not overcomplicate this outfit. Hair and makeup is a bit bolder for this outfit but feel free to tone it down

New Year’s Eve is coming… what to wear, what to wear?!?!

I was recently featured on Breakfast Television (City TV) and talked about different holiday styles.  I thought I’d spend some time going into detail on the different options and talk about why I chose eahc of them.  As always, I base most style decisions on an individual’s style preference, body type and budget.  This segment was certainly no different. Model #1: Ashley Where the outfit is from: As you know, you don’t have to spend a fortune to look amazing.  This dress, accessories and shoes are from The Bay.  If you are looking for fabulous holiday style ideas at amazing price points, go check out The Bay! Why it was chosen for Ashley: This is an outfit that could be worn to a cocktail party on New Year’s Eve.  It’s very elegant and her hair and makeup really add to the sophistication of the outfit. Since Ashley has a taller frame, we were able to give her a dress with strong embellishment along the collar and bold (yet simple) accessories. Model #2: Tania Where the outfit is from: If you have a bit more time to look for that special outfit for New Year’s Eve, check out a consignment store.  You’re sure to find unique pieces at much more reasonable price points.  For Tania’s outfit, we went to Vespucci Ladies Consignment.  They have designer pieces without the designer prices. Why it was chosen for Tania: Tania has beautiful curves, so we wanted to highlight her body shape with a funky yet festive look.  This outfit is the perfect party look for a night out on the town! Since the skirt Tania is wearing is quite short, we decided to balance the look by providing more coverage on her top half.  We’ve done this by adding an edgy jacket with an asymmetrical zip and heavily structured shoulders. Model #3: Michelle Where the outfit is from: If you want to invest in great quality, contemporary pieces that will last you for years, I suggest you head to Coup Garment Boutique– which is where our third outfit is from. Why it was chosen for Michelle: Michelle has a very long, lean frame and is able to wear a long gown with ease.  Since this dress is a fairly simple silhouette, we added some drama by layering several rose gold and silver necklaces (from So Pretty by Cara Cotter).   We kept the rest of Michelle’s accessories simple so that the focus remains on the necklaces. All in all, these three New Year’s Eve looks are glamorous without being overdone…. and, at the end of the day, I always want to show you that you don’t have to spend a fortune to look amazing.  I hope these options work for you! Thanks again to Colleen and Katie from Fuss Hair Salon for the lovely hair and makeup for the Breakfast Television segment.