Found: A Luxe-for-Less Dress

This dress, to me, is the epitome of summer ease.  It comes in an array of pretty colours and can be dressed up or down, depending on the accessories and shoes you choose;  wear it with heels and a statement necklace for a ladies lunch or pair it unbuttoned with flat sandals for a lazy Saturday afternoon.  The luxe-for-less bonus? It looks almost exactly like the current collection of summer frocks over at Tory Burch, yet is selling for 1/4 of the price.  Squee! Is it bad that I want one in every colour? Ack...decisions, decisions...

The Roll-Sleeve Shirt Dress ($69.95) is available now at Gap

Summer Hours

Printed Cotton Shirtdress, $39.95, Gap

Printed Espadrilles, $14.95, H&M

It's Thursday, which in summer terms really means Friday, non?  And at 4 pm, your mind may have already transported you up north somewhere; the inviting waters gently rocking the dock, the sounds of loons and cork pops and crackling fires making up your hot summer playlist.  Whether you have a family cottage (don't even tell me if you do...) or have been lucky enough to make the invite list, you'll need pretty packables to look chic all weekend long.  For my list of 10 cottage essentials, check out this week's post at iVillage.ca

Is it wine time yet? x

Shufflin', Shufflin'

Suzanne Rogers' sliding shoe closet - source: The Coveteur

Originally posted in The CLOSET

In life, we're taught to never settle.  Whether it's your power-tripping boss or a lacklustre boyfriend, a less-than-stellar relationship can make every day an absolute chore;   I see footwear exactly the same way.  Sure, shoes cover your feet and protect them from rocks, rusty nails and disapproving looks but ever more importantly, great shoes are meant to make you feel like a rockstar.  And in the end, isn't that what you deserve, you rockstar you?!  

Summer calls for easy, laid-back kicks that you can quickly slip on at a moment's notice.  If you're looking for an update (and last year's flops have bitten the proverbial dust), the stores are full of pretty summer shoes, from chic summer sandals (including celeb-fave TKEES) to 'Sloafers' (a hybrid of slippers and loafers that have all but replaced the ballet flat) to statement-making super wedges for those seeking a lift.  And since summer's in full swing, many of the season's shoes are currently on sale.  Must go...the shoes are calling, "Sarahhhh...Sarahhh...take us home!"  Does anyone else hear that?

Oh, and don't miss the new Spin It 2 Win It at whiteoaksmall.ca for your chance to win loads of sweet prizes all summer long! x

 Lily Donaldson does bicycle chic in Milan. Source: moicontralavie.com

Clockwise from Top Left: Beaded Sandals, $25.99, Gap; Printed T-Straps, $89, Guess; TKEES Flops, $55, Town Shoes; Havainas Slims, $28, Club Monaco; Vince Camuto Sandals, $109.99, Town Shoes; Medallion Slides, $35,ALDO; Missoni x Havainas Flip-Flops, $79.95, Town Shoes; Rhinestone Sandals, $50, ALDO 

Poppy Delevingne at Paris Fashion Week in her leopard loafers - source: E-Look

Clockwise from Top Left: Printed Slipper, $40, ALDO; DLG Linen Loafers, $21, Boathouse; Striped Espadrilles, $21.99, Gap; Pink Espadrilles, $16.98, ALDO; Navy Slip-Ons, $40, ALDO; TOMS Classics, $70, Boathouse; Printed Espadrilles, $14.95, H&M; BOBS Loafers, $49.95, Town Shoes

A model in a pair of Burberry Prorsum tribal wedges - source: Teen Vogue

Clockwise from Top Left: Braided Wedge, $80, ALDO; Enzo Angiolini Wedges, $119.99, Town Shoes; Jessica Simpson Wedges, $99.99, Town Shoes; Espadrille Wedge, $31.49, ALDO; Tribal Wedge, $140, Guess; Criss-Cross Wedge, $70.99, Gap; Franco Sarto Wedge, $69.99, Le Château; Gladiator Wedge, $67.99, Gap 

Short Story

 

Capris have always confused me; They're not quite pants and they're not quite shorts but sort of an awkward limbo between the two. I totally get it; summers are 'freaking hot' (as my nephew would say) and in the middle of a heat wave, pants sometimes feel inappropriate. And yet, will those extra five inches of exposed skin really keep you cooler? Really?? Do you feel the breeze on your exposed shin and think, "Yes!! Thank goodness I wore capris today! My ankles feel sooo refreshed!" My husband likens capris to running a marathon and then stopping just short of the finish line, jogging through the perplexed crowd on the sidelines and making a beeline for the bar. And designers tend to agree: since they stop at the widest part of your calf, capris visually shorten your legs, spelling disaster for those impossibly leggy babe-azons, which is why you rarely (if ever) see just-below-the-knee capris on the international runways.

So, what's a girl to do in the middle of a heat wave? Stick with dresses, skirts, and lightweight pants (either full length, ankle length or slightly cropped but avoid tight capris, per favore). Still feeling hot and bothered? This year marks the triumphant return of the short and the spring runways were full of them, worn both chilled out casual and totally dressed up. My biggest inspiration (as always) is Rosie Huntington-Whitely at Coachella; Her festival look reminds me that shorts don't have to be plain, pocketed and frumpy. A printed pair, worn with a breezy white blouse totally screams summer. As for the biggest short story of the season? The short suit, as seen in innumerable designer collections this season, is now the uniform of choice for New York's chic working girls. As trends tend to do, they've filtered down from runway to real life, from big cities to small, and if you haven't already noticed them, you'll start to spy them soon. (Of course, not all offices will approve, but if you work in a more laid-back place, a short suit is the perfect way to look current and stay cool all summer long.) Pick your fave legal-length pair, commit to some nightly squats (and a bottle of St. Tropez Self-Tanner from Sephora, hallelujah!) and you're ready to rock the short. My only rule? Mind your footwear, madams. Flat sandals are always good, as are wedges or tan booties to give your legs a little lift. But please (PLEASE!) steer clear of the stiletto/short combo. It's just never good, even if you are Rosie Huntington-Whitely.

Happy Friday (and happy summer) to you!  Squeee!

Gap & LOULOU Shop 'Til You Drop 2012

The calm before the shopping storm at Gap Masonville last week

My big head on a big poster featuring all the fun extras for Gap LOULOU Shop 'Til You Drop shoppers.  I've got one night onlyyy, one night onlyy, that's all I have to spare...

Chillin' with my mannequins, all decked out in pastels & pretty spring brights. 

The LOULOU & Gap Candy Bar where shoppers filled out ballots to win sweet prizes (& eat sweets, obvs)

RLR's resident street-styler Ashley kills 2 trends in one look:  perfect length mint green boyfriend roll-up shorts and a bold paisley blouse.

Friends Colleen and Jill add some brights to their spring wardrobes.  LOVE Gap's cobalt broken-in straight khakis (yup, I'm wearing the same ones above...).  Photos by Ashley Dance.

Gap asked me to be part of LOULOU Shop 'Til You Drop last Wednesday at Masonville Place in London and I just had to share pics from the night with you.  Shoppers came in droves to shop with us and walked away with great prizes, gift bags, treats and 30% off everything at Gap.  My spring trend report highlighted the season's key trends: from ways to wear pastels, to mixing prints, to bright whites, to the new distressed, low-slung denim.  Afterwards, my stylish shutterbug, Ashley and I invaded the change rooms to get ladies out of their dull winter duds and into Gap's spring brights, sweet pastels, pretty printed shorts and flirty spring dresses.  The result?  Loads of happy shoppers and some very refreshed closets. A huge thanks to Ashley, my friends at Gap and LOULOU Magazine for a super fun night.  Can't wait for next year!

Check out more pics from LOULOU Shop 'Til You Drop here:

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