SPRING STYLE CLASS | 3 New Ways to Wear Wide Pants

via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

There's no denying the staying power of the skinny. Some of you might not remember when skinny jeans blew up but I remember it very well. I was living in Toronto in 2005 when I started to notice women give up their bootcuts in favour of calf-clenching skin-tight jeans. I remember waiting for the subway, watching girls of all shapes and sizes get strangled by their new skinnies, thinking how super awkward they looked, and how I would never, ever intentionally choose pants that made my bum look big.

Of course, I gave in. We collectively figured out how to wear them right. We learned to balance out our super fitted bottoms with loose sweaters, long tunics and oversized cardis. We discovered in pictures how cruel white skinnies could be and how tan skinnies made it look like we weren't wearing pants at all. Stores finally started offering us varying styles of skinnies to suit our bods, from jeggings to skinny boots, with loads of stretch thrown in for good measure.  And while I swore I'd never go there, turns out skinny jeans are pretty much all I've worn for the past 10 years.

I'm not going to claim that this is the end of the skinny but there's clearly a style shake-up happening with the fashion pack right now. Cool girls everywhere, from Jennifer Lawrence to Kendall Jenner are currently opting for wider leg pants - think super flared '70s jeans, wide cropped culottes and flowy palazzos that make skinnies look SO last season. I don't know about you but I'm ready for some breathing room. They might look a little funny now but remember - we said that about the skinny, too. 

Read on for 3 cute ways to wear wide pants this spring. And breathe...

SPRING STYLE HACK | Dress Luxe for Less

via RW&CO.

Originally posted in The LOOK

You know where she works. You know she didn't just win the lottery. And yet somehow, she manages to look like she's sponsored by a designer every. single. day. Super stylish women are no different than the rest of us - they just have a few style secrets tucked away that they employ every day. And more often than not, they don't have more clothes (or even more expensive clothes) than we do. They just know how to choose them better. Hate them? Don't. You can look like a lady of luxury, too. 

I've handpicked 15 key pieces that will give you that just-rolled-out-of-my-mansion look. The best part? Each piece checks out for under-$100 and nobody will ever know. Unless they read this blog. Then they'll know, too. And then you'll both look like you just rolled out of your mansions. Win. Win.

Happy Easter weekend, bunnies! Hope your immediate future is filled with chocolate. Excuse me while I test out my kids' treats. I mean, it is my motherly duty after all. Nom, nom, nom....

READ MORE...

TOTAL JEANIOUS | 5 Ways to Reinvent Your Denim This Spring

via Harper's Bazaar

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Toronto Fashion Week just wrapped up and, as always, the people-watching was amazing. Sequins were shining, fur was flying, girls showed off in power prints and boys represented in bright blazers. But this season, it seemed like the lower-key looks got all the attention. The Fashion Week paparazzi passed over girls in sky-high heels and went crazy for style bloggers in sneakers. The over-the-top gowns might look amazing on the runway but outside the tents, sweatshirts, jeans and ball caps looked right at home. Blame it on normcore or our collective obsession with street style but even the fashion pack wants to keep it real right now. 

One of my favourite trends for spring '15? Denim, of course. We all wear it, we all live in it, and even though it's been around for decades, it manages to look new every single season. From ripped white skinnies to dark seventies flares, there are so many fresh ways to wear denim right now. Whether you already own loads of pairs or are ready to update your collection, the stores are filled with plenty of covetable pairs you'll want to add to your closet this spring. Don't say I didn't warn you ;)

Looking for a little springspiration? Check out these 5 looks that bring together some of my favourite denim trends of the season...

SEE THE LOOKS HERE...

THE SOFTER SIDE | The Cool New Way to Wear Spring Pastels

via J.Crew

Originally posted in The LOOK

It's the last day of winter. Let me repeat that - the LAST day of winter! This is no joke. Hard to believe that the spring we've been waiting for has finally arrived, and with it, a new crop of pretty spring colours in stores. While I'll always rely on black and white, and do love my brights, there's something irresistible about soft pastels, especially this season. 

While pastels can be sweet and pretty and mega girly-girly, you might not think of them as cool. I mean, black is cool and metallics are cool but pink? Cool? You might be surprised. From the always on point J.Crew runway to the most-copied street stylers, fashion know-it-alls are already tossing off their blacks and switching them up for powdery blues, ballet pinks and vibrant yellows. 

So, how do you make pastels look edgy? Here are 3 easy ways:

1) ADD BLACK | It never fails to pair your pastels with black to add depth to a super-sweet shade. Bonus points if you can add some leather (faux or real) and either a leopard or snake print to the mix.

2) MIX IT UP | Instead of sticking to one pastel shade, why not mix them up? Shades of blues and pinks mixed up look amazing worn head to toe, especially when you add some distressed denim to the mix. 

3) COMBINE SOFT & BRIGHT PASTELS | Soft pink with white and a khaki trench is pretty but, let's face it, predictable. The addition of one super bright pastel (think a bright yellow like in the J.Crew pic above and the outfit below) totally takes your spring outfit to the next level. Neon orange looks amazing with soft pink, too. 

Looking for some spring outfit inspo? I've put together 3 cool pastel looks to try out now. Happy Spring!

SEE THE LOOKS HERE...

PATTERN PLAY | 12 Ways to Work Prints Into Your Wardrobe This Spring

via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Much like art, our taste in prints says a lot about who we are. On first impression, I'd say someone in florals is a girly-girl, a woman who loves stripes probably wishes she lived in Paris, and a lady who likes leopard is, according to my husband, on the cusp of becoming a cougar. A boho batik tells me she probably loves to travel and a loud '70s print says she's fun-loving and doesn't take herself too seriously. 

But our choice in prints is a far more nuanced affair than you'd think. Take florals - from tiny ditsy florals to exotic tropicals to splashy impressionistic buds, the print options are endless. And then there's the all-important way you wear your florals - head-to-toe like a boss, subtle and discreet as a clutch, worn prim and proper with a pencil skirt with heels, or in a dress paired unexpectedly with edgy black booties.  

When it comes to fashion, it just doesn't get more personal than prints, from the ones you choose to the way you choose to wear them. Luckily, spring brings with it an endless array of pretty options to please us all. 

Want some inspiration before you shop? Check out these 12 fun ways to work prints into your wardrobe this spring. Happy March!

READ MORE...