I’m trying out a new publishing method of creating visually styled outfits instead of having pieces lined up beside each other in rows.  If you have any feedback regarding this, please comment or shoot it my way! Thanks!

Boyfriend jeans are going to hit SS09 like a distressed denim hurricane, and I want you to be ready for it.

In order to style boyfriend jeans, you’ve got to take into account the slouchy silhouette this will give you on your lower half; ensure that you wear appropriately sized tops and minimal accessories. If you over layer with jewelry and accessories, you will end up weighing yourself down and giving a heavier appearance than what is necessarily flattering (this goes for any body type).

Remember Coco Chanel’s words of wisdom when in the dressing room ;

“When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on.”

Left outfit: Current/Elliott boyfriend jean ($325/Colette), Violet American Vintage tank ($194;YouHeShe.com), Celine rope tank ($740; Net-A-Porter), Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti belt ($102; My-Wardrobe), Meena loafer ($55; Topshop), Monsoon stripe scarf ($25; Monsoon), Eugenia Kim felt fedora ($113; Bunnyhug.co.uk)

Middle outfit: Twisted boyfriend jean ($80; Topshop), Jcrew sequin stripe shirt ($55; JCrew), Pyramid stud belt ($55; Topshop), Japanese bow heels (Price unknown;Felissimo), Multi strand chain necklace ($7; Forever 21), Leather cuff bracelet ($20; Urban Outfitters), Triple chain bracelet ($20; Forever 21)

Right outfit: Current/Elliott boyfriend jean ($160; La Garçonne), Acne jeans tank ($129; La Garçonne), Marc Jacobs ankle boot (€455; Luisa Aviaroma), Gold skinny bow belt ($10; Dorothy Perkins), Organic cotton jersey scarf ($50; La Garçonne), Gorjana gold cuff ($165;Max & Chloe),

With the rash of voluminous pieces that have begun to saturate our high street retailers, it was only a matter of time before a funky multi fabric hybrid appeared. Topshop has created a circus inspired asymmetrical vest that fills this void for a marginal fee of $80.

Try layering under a latern miniskirt or with acid wash jean shorts for a versatile SS09 look.

A friend of mine was recently attempting to get her brown hair turned a bright red, and had heard great things about the Black to Blonde salon in Vancouver. What she ended up with was frustration, bad customer service and no hair treatment.

Her account follows:

“I was referred to the salon by a friend of mine who has always been pleased with the service, so I called and made an appointment with one of the stylists. I gave specific instructions about what I wanted done; a very bright red (which meant that my hair would have to be bleached, then toned).

From past experiences, I knew this was at least a double, if not a triple process. I let the receptionist know that since I’ve had this done before at another Aveda salon (with Aveda colour) that I was already aware this would be a lengthly process and therefore requested get an appointment scheduled for a minimum
of 2.5 hours.

The receptionist said agreed, and booked me for Thursday afternoon for the time allotment I requested. I called on Wednesday to confirm the booking, and the receptionist stated that 2.5 hours wouldn’t be enough time. My appointment was then moved to the next day (Saturday).

I arrived at the salon with time to spare before my appointment, changed into the smock, sat down in the chair and the stylist came over to discuss the color. I had brought a swatch of the precise color I wanted my hair to be, and she said she couldn’t do it.

I then asked why and she said that, “she only had two hours booked and she would also have to order the colour in”. I was quite surprised since I had already asked the receptionist(s) on various occasions if they had the color in stock, to which they had confirmed that they did.

The stylist asked me if I wanted to split up the process into two visits, which I declined; there was no way I was going to walk around blond until they could schedule me in for another appointment.

The stylist went over to talk to the receptionist for about five minutes, and returned to tell me she was booked up for the rest of the day so she couldn’t do the entire process today. She then asked me if I wanted to go with a slightly darker/oranger red which left me feeling insulted; if I wanted that color I would have asked for it in the first place!

After all of this, I changed back into my regular clothes and the stylist walked me over to the receptionist and told her to schedule another appointment. I told the receptionist not to bother since I was going to find another salon.”

How ridiculous! I heard this story and couldn’t believe how incompetent the administration of this salon appears to have been. For two receptionists (or at least one receptionist on two occasions) to have confirmed that they have color and that a longer, more time appropriate appointment had been booked suggests complete business incompetence.

After hearing this, I referred her to Alina Sulaiman at Caramel Salon (South Granville). She just so happened to be the salon’s red color expert, never flakes out on her clients and does excellent work.

If anyone has had similar (or opposite) experiences at Black to Blonde, I would like to hear it in the comments below.

It’s the best flag out there, and a bit of faded blues and reds will go swimmingly in your SS09 wardrobe. Be careful not to over do things; these are bold pieces that demand to be the center of attention. Don’t go all Paula Abdul on us and wear a bunch of loud pieces at once; one is well enough!

Keep things on the toned down side, and you’ll bode just fine in your flag apparel adventure.

If you are at a loss as to how to potentially style with the flag, take a peek below.

From left to right: Flag tie ($24; Topshop), Paul Smith Union Jack top (£26; My Wardrobe), Union Jack sneakers (€46; French Trucker)

Clearly (as the photo to the left demonstrates), Alexander McQueen is excellent at designing an ankle boot.  You can see where Gwen Stefani takes much of her inspiration from when she creates her collections.

The bad news is that you still need over a thousand dollars to get a pair of these babies for yourself – and that’s at the current sale price of 30% off.

Excuse me while I weep in a dark corner.

Alright, I’ve been seeing more and more of these button down shirt/large buckle belt/knee high boot looks lately and this needs to stop.

Looking like a blue collar hooker wearing your boyfriend’s sleeveless work shirt is not a good look; and an ultra thick belt circa 2006 isn’t helping matters, either. Adding knee high boots does not create a look for ‘going out’, this just adds to the appearance of a partially thought through style conception that will garner some pitiful looks and boys creating false winds to get an up-skirt.

***

Let’s remix this outfit.

There are many ways to wear plaid to parties in a tasteful and visually pleasant manner; and I can assure you that a skivvy length shirt dress is not one of these methods. The re-styled outfit below includes pieces that are fun, yet not cheap and skanky looking (and isn’t that what we all look to within our wardrobes?)

The tartan dress still provides some cleavage without looking slutty, and the sheer black tights blend beautifully right down to the boots. The boot’s buckles also give a bit of ‘edge’ to the ensemble where the dress was lacking, and the high collar of the leather jacket lends a look of casual regality without trying too hard with embellishments. Not only that, but the cropped sleeve of the jacket allows for more showing off of your killer party clutch.

It pays to take a little more time to identify if a set of pieces work together. This doesn’t mean that you must spend hours in front of the mirror, but do take a few moments before going out to identify out if your selection bodes well together!

From left to right: Wal G 3 tartan dress ($75; Topshop), Modern Vintage Evanise ankle boot ($239; Endless), Wolford back seam tights ($50; Barneys), Castle Starr sheepskin cropped jacket ($430; Bluefly)

This Sunday, Kim Cathers of Project Runway Canada Season 2, Alina Sulaiman of Caramel Salon (South Granville), brilliant makeup artist Sara Goins, four models and myself will be shooting pieces from her SS09 collection.

The photos should be up in time for the show premiere on Tuesday, January 27 (10 pm, if you’re curious to see everyone have their fits and mental breakdowns), so keep your eye on your RSS feed!

If history has taught us anything, it’s that having poorly chosen color swatches can destroy a line (think back as recently as H&M’s fall 2008 campaign with the kelly green).  When the rest of the designing world is choosing certain forecasted colors, it’s not advisable to go against the grain; especially when in days like these retailers have to fight tooth and nail for consumer’s dollars.

Thankfully, H&M appears to have learned from their shade stumble of ’08 and has begun to redeem themselves with a collection.  The menswear looks even have promise; pieces have shape and volume to create a non traditional silhouette, yet still remain masculine enough for a more daring man.

I particularly enjoyed the hybridization of the taupe sailor pant-type leggings; the looseness of the fabric creates a nice draping that contrasts to the taut wrapped looks of previous years.  For both genders we’re seeing voluminous swaths of fabrics that are thankfully well chosen spring shades.

All of the pieces from these previews appear wearable; I hope they live up to customer expectations in stores.

In the first battle of the cream of the crop of high end designers that has occurred in 15 years, Giorgio Armani has accused fellow Italians Dominico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of lifting his quilted trouser design from his FW08 collection.

Dolce & Gabbana are rabidly denying such claims; being quoted as stating:

“We surely have plenty to learn, but certainly not from him.  The Armani style was never a source of inspiration for us and it is years since we have bothered to watch his collections.”

Meow.

Sure, being the source of your competition’s “inspiration” sucks (whether the inspired wants to admit it or not); but calling these trousers glorified pajamas not fit for wear outdoors would be a kind summation.

Perhaps D&G could get some inspiration for a more wearable piece next time?

Dolce & Gabbana FW09 design to the left; Armani FW08 design to the right

After the green inauguration dress debacle, it was a relief to see Michelle Obama in a designed and grandly matched floor length white Jason Wu dress.

I was particularly impressed by the fact that both designers of the inauguration festivities (Isabel Toledo being the other) were created by immigrants to the United States that had studied on US soil.  Way to support acceptance of all and promote change in your own way, Michelle.

Barack didn’t do too shabbily either; though it’s hard to muck up a two button suit and white bow tie.

No, this isn’t a joke; as a result of a settlement from a 2004 lawsuit involving price fixing, retailers will be giving away free makeup to anyone who requests it.

A full list of retailers participating is below:

• Bergdorf Goodman
• Bergner’s
• Bloomingdale’s
• Boston Store
• Carson Pirie Scott
• Dillard’s
• Gottschalks
• Herberger’s
• Macy’s
• Neiman Marcus
• Nordstrom
• Parisian
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Younkers

This is a pretty lengthly list of stores; and the best news is that every shop is running on the honor system (this means you don’t need a receipt to claim your free stuff!).

The giveaways are occuring until January 26th, 2009 though to ensure you get decent items, I’d suggest you bust it down to a local shop and claim some goods ASAP!

Complete information regarding the settlement is available here.

I am truly not a fan of the Isabel Toledo dress that Michelle Obama chose to wear to the 44th Presidential Inauguration ceremony.

Before I continue, let’s get two things straight: I am not an over patriotic American (which is difficult to be when one is Canadian), but I’d like to think I know a thing or two about appropriate wardrobe color styling.

My first beef: Green? Come on. As almost anyone in this wide world knows, the colors of America are red, blue and white; green is the exact contrasting color to red; which her husband wore!. Her outfit seemed to be an absolute contrast to nearly every single other piece worn by the officials and well wishers at the ceremony.

My second beef: This dress and matching jacket seemed to be designed for a senior First Lady; not a woman who is vibrant and young. Wearing matching suits like that is more akin to a design that Hillary would have chosen (Lord knows how she loves her matching pant suits). Let’s bring back the more youthful, exuberant Michelle Obama; not a reincarnation of Laura Bush.

My third beef: Those forest green pumps; why oh why?! They seemed out of place and poorly chosen to accent an already strong faded chartreuse. For a woman who is already wearing loads of silver on her outfit, I would have thought she would have matched her shoes to work with the visual her outfit was already accented with.

My fourth beef: The 60s embellishments aged her and seemed to take away from her history of making far more appropriate wardrobe choices for public events. She has always historically been a plainer dresser; this outfit seemed to obviously chosen for the desired glitz effect.

Did you like her outfit? I’d like to hear all of your opinions.

Move over cover bore Blake Lively, here is a fellow non career model who is putting your spread to absolute shame. Victoria Beckham is the February issue of Russian Vogue, and (I hate to use this term but I can’t avoid it) she is looking fierce! This is how you do a cover, ladies and gentlemen.

Whether those cheekbones are the work of some well trained makeup or Photoshop artist; the visual result is astounding. Not only that, but the military cap by Loewe just caps off a very Russian inspired visual juxtaposed by the strange thumb sucking.

Regardless; all I have to say is excellent, excellent, excellent!

The 2009 KNOW?SHOW will be taking place in Vancouver’s Trade & Convention Center this Wednesday -Friday (21st-23rd).

For those who aren’t aware of what the KNOW?SHOW actually is, this is a lifestyle brand trade show; you can find casual threads from a plethora of different brands.  There are too many to list, but you can check out the entire list here.

General show info is located here.

For those folks interested in the after party, come by the Chapel (flyer included below) for some end of the week debauchery.

Get 50% off anything on Hayden-Harnett‘s online store with the promo code “president” at checkout. The code works until tomorrow (Wednesday, January 21st, 2009) and is valid for use with already reduced sale items.

Additionally, if you purchase anything today, you will be entered for a $1,000 HH gift card! Think of all the goodies you could have…excuse me while I wipe my drool.

Vancouver Fashion Week is holding an open model call this Saturday (January 24th, 2009). Information provided straight from the splendid folks at VFW (ie. Shallom; follow her on Twitter) is below:

Vancouver Fashion Week Casting Call
January 24th, 2009, 2 pm
SFU Downtown Campus, Segal Building / CN Room
500 Granville Street, Vancouver BC

Requirements:
*Ability to walk/pose gracefully
*Ability to remember runway choreography
*Ability to handle high-paced, stressful situations
*Minimum height: Females 5″7
*Minimum height: Males 5″9

Please send your information to shallom@vanfashionweek.com

Please include:
- One headshot and one full body photograph
- Statistics (current age, height, weight, measurements)
- A list of all prior experience (previous runway experience preferred but not required)
- Contact information (phone # and email address)

You will be contacted in advance to confirm your participation in this open call. Please bring your portfolio to the audition. If chosen to be a VFW model, you must be available for pre-fashion week fittings as well as all booked runway presentations.

So, if you think you have what it takes to walk the runways at VFW, send Shallom an e-mail with the required info. These folks are very non threatening, so you can do your best without being a borderline stress case.

For the curious, my set from the last VFW (SS09) is located here.

As we draw closer to the time when swimming and beach lounging will be a daily exercise. For some of you lucky buggers who have an approaching holiday, take special note: swim shorts of this type are heinous and not acceptable for any reason.

Sure, they may be floral (and florals are hot in SS09), but this type of Hawaiian image is tacky and loved by irritating tourists.

One would assume you would like to be removed from either of these groups with great haste, so bid your horrific Hawaiian designs good bye!

If you’re wondering about alternatives, block colors/designs are a failsafe; just make sure your patterns aren’t too close to that of pajamas.

While they may be dancing a little close to a soviet dress code for my liking (at least to be worn on their own), these dresses have a practical, casual appearance that can be easily built upon.

Try pairing these plain pieces with loud jewelry, hosiery and accessories for a look that is very un-communist chic.

From left to right: Rare parachute pocket dress ($75; Topshop), Triton by Tufi Duek ($130; Bluefly), Chloé side pocket dress ($553; Net-A-Porter), Stella McCartney oversized pocket dress ($875; Net-A-Porter),

Aaah, disco. With Lady Gaga breathing new life into the re birthing of the trend of all things shiny; it’s no wonder that the overlord of hipster boutiques, American Apparel, has released a new addition to their lamé line; the shiny batwing hoody.

Methinks this would be a dangerous companion to the recently released disco pants for partytimes.

I’ll be straight up honest and admit that I’ll likely be willing to shell out $66 for this piece of golden goodness… would you be brave enough to rock the shit out of this hoody?

(Did I mention it’s unisex? Though somehow I doubt that guys would be able to pull this off unless they’re a backup dancer)

That is one answer that you don’t want to hear whilst skirt shopping.

I was perusing the new items available at Topshop, when I came upon their new denim bubble skirt.  At first, I thought this may be a nice new cut I could possibly see myself trying, but this was before I saw the shot of the back.  With the bubble design, this thing makes your butt look massive.

Many girls can deal with looking faux hippy if you’ve got thin enough legs to dispel that theory, but having a back that looks like that? I don’t think so. It’s too bad; I do like that worn looking wash.