Party Rock

Save: Neon Minaudiere, $29.98, Spring

Splurge: Diane von Furstenberg Tonda Raffia Clutch, $355, shopbop.com

These bright clutches will add a healthy dose of kick-ass cool to your summer wardrobe and to be honest, I'm feeling the Spring version even more than the DVF Raffia Clutch because it's so super fun.  In my constant quest for the perfect bag, I've scoured the web to track down 10 of the season's best splurge vs. save handbags, from pastel totes to python shoppers to chic little clutches.  See the full round-up of super pretty spring bags here.

PS - Did you know that when you type "F@&% Yeah, Neon' into Google, you get over 1 million search results? Hmm.. 

Cute, Eh?

Want to be the best gift-giver ever?  This Hudson's Bay Company Collection K-Way Jacket ($48) comes in sizes 12 months to 12 years and will have every adult at your next baby shower, birthday party or family get-together wishing they'd thought of it first.  Not that it's a competition...

Get this piece of delectable Canadiana now at The Bay.  

Pretty in Pastels

Originally posted in The LOOK

When it comes to colour, our favourite hues are a deeply personal matter.  My daughter, for example, is OBSESSED with pink..in fact she'll wear nothing else..to the point where she asked me the other day if we could rename her Pinkie-Pie - she was so not kidding. Meanwhile, my friend takes one glance at an orange sweater and a look of complete confusion crosses her face,  "Ugh," she'll say, "I just don't get why anyone would choose to wear orange."

This spring, runways were rife with vivid pastels in sorbet shades like lemon yellow, mint green, and soft bubblegum pink.  Yum!  The new pastels are a pretty departure from all the bold, vivid brights we've seen for the past few seasons and are a much less intimidating way to experiment with colour.   Love 'em or hate 'em, here are some key ways to wear pastels right:

Liven up your neutrals:  Punchy pastels contrast beautifully against whites, denims and neutral beiges & tans.  Try adding a pastel tee or sweater to your white jeans for an instant spring pick-me-up.

Go Head-to-Toe:  Top-to-toe pastels are not for the faint of heart, but look amazing when worn right.  Choose sleek silhouettes to avoid looking like a cupcake

Try Small Doses:  Take advantage of accessories to test out the trend.  A group of stacked pastel bangles or a great pastel bag will help you look totally current.

Add Spice to the Sweetness:  Nude or tan extras are super safe choices but I love how Emma Roberts unexpectedly teamed black with her mint frock.  A black leather bomber or killer black shoes add some necessary edge to all the ladylike sweetness

The LOOK launches today!

Did you hear?  The LOOK, my brand new blog for Intercity Shopping Centre launched today!  Who knew Thunder Bay was so chic?! I like me in cartoon - I just wish I could have her hair (and her PS1..)

Spring's Best Guilt-Free Accessories

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Call them the 'icing on the cake' or the 'cherry on top' or the 'Justin Bieber to your Selena' but you have to admit, no outfit is ever as good without amazing accessories.  Take your typical jeans and a tee:  on their own - total Dullsville. But add a great pair of wedges, some aviator shades and a beautiful bag and you're suddenly Jennifer Aniston (without the private cars and Hollywood mansions, mind you). 

Every season, designers send certain extras down the runway that resonate with the fashionable set, making lobes, wrists and necks feel suddenly empty without them.  This spring, the new It zone is the ear.  Yes, that's right, the oversized earring is back, bringing to mind ancient Egyptian goddesses with their lobe-defying  danglers.  The new earrings highlight the face and are a huge departure from the minimalist earrings we've seen for so many seasons.  If you're not the big earring type, go for statement necklaces and stacked bangles to colour your world.  Speaking of colour, accessories followed clothing trends with pretty pastel pumps and sweet minaudieres looking positively ladylike.  For the more daring among you, go for bold, bright neons to add a little party rock to your look.  For metallics, both silver and gold are totally on-trend.  Keep your silver accents sleek with clean lines and simple silhouettes, or go for the gold with 1920's-inspired deco gold and black extras. As for print, earthy tribal extras, kitschy Hawaiian prints and fun florals will be your new spring go-to's. 

I love the power of killer accessories but want to know the part I like best of all?  They always fit.  Yay!