Loafers are still hot this season, though needlepoint was an unexpected method of adorning them! These loafs are from By Paige, who seems to add needlepoint to everything.

These are so ugly they’re awesome, and the perfect pieces to accent your look with just enough irony to keep things interesting.  My favorite is the owl, though the Fox, Lobster, Horse and Bunny are all quite awesome.

We can’t always be monochrome grey (I have to remind myself of this regularly), and the spring/summer season is the perfect time to bust out the pastel pieces to break up the regular blacks, whites and greys that typically dominate the wardrobe.  Even if you’re not a pastel person (as myself), you can blend styles with your typical uniform to add a burst of color that isn’t too happy hardcore.

My favorite are the footwear options; pair pink Doc Martens or a Jeffrey Campbell 99 Tie wedge with a basic outfit without color and you have an instant visual upgrade.  Add a wee zebra ring to the look for a subtle extra slice of color, or other such accessories like bangles, colored leather cuffs or a scarf.

For a more intense statement, pick a colorblocked pastel dress like Alberta Ferretti’s, Ralph Lauren’s cigarette jeans or a larger bag like Hayden-Harnett’s Welles drawstring.

Living in Vancouver will have one coming across a landslide of objectionable shoes, not limited to the usual suspects of Uggs and Crocs, but into a whole realm of Teva sandals and other such fug comfort friendly footwear.

A friend of mine had the misfourtune of stumbling upon this editorial from DIS Magazine, yet another glorified blog dumping ground.  They featured this this beyond fug editorial of ‘shoes in shoes’, which is precisely what it sounds like – shoes that fit your feet being worn within larger shoes.

This could have been an interesting concept if their art direction had a whiff of wit and proper styling, but it seems that DIS prefers to take the freaking ugliest footwear and put them within other more hideous footwear.  That’s right – Teva, Guess, those beyond reprehensible Vibram barefoot shoes and some of the most gag inducing vintage footwear I have personally laid eyes on.

View if you dare, but get a bucket ready.

Swedish retailer Modekungen is one of my favorite foreign shops for a few reasons; they have quirky Swedish sense, excellent interpretations and unique senses of various styles.  Modekungen is a mecca for left field t-shirts, but also ones of striking image – look upon the three pieces below and you’ll see that is so.

There are the digital print lovelies; Blind and Bomb, though also the Markus Lupfer-esque Ring.  On the Lupfer subject, the Modekungen is really the closest you can get to it without spending the $400+ required on the original long sleeve tee.

There are three prevailing trends when it comes to combat boot transitional and fully spring styles in 2011; cutouts, weaving and crochet inserts and pastel shades.  If you’re looking for a boot with full functionality and extreme wearability, this is the style you will want to invest within for the coming summer months and subsequent summer-fall transitional period.

These four boots are all ideal for different reasons, and we’ll begin with the Jeffrey Campbell cut out pairs.  We have firstly the Rosie, which is the newest style to hit the market.  Rosie features the best of two worlds; the thick, exposed nail sole of the Brit boot and a rear cut out for all season wear as it won’t let rain in like a cut out toe.  Second is the grey Slashed boot, a take on a black Ksubi original, though this style is made with summer friendley grey leather.

Woven leather is being seen everywhere, and Barneys’ Co-op is no exception.  Their weave insert boots are beautifully detailed pieces that would blend with shorts, summer dresses, light trousers or even your favorite denim.  Last of the group is the bright shining star of the group; the Dr. Martens Pearl in mint.  This traditional 8 hole takes you away from the floral prints that wore themselves out from last summer and into a minimalistic shade of glorious green.  This mint is a shade that even the green haters can get into; it’s nearly blue in some lights, and the price is certainly right.

While I was perusing through El Kartel’s facebook page with a friend of mine, we came upon a photo collection of the new Cheap Monday bottoms.  After seeing much of the expected, we came upon the things pictured to the left – the mullet jeans, as we dubbed them.

When you see these Cheap Mondays from the front, they look like a bizarre combination of bermuda type denim shorts with a bottom of mesh.  As you can see from the side, it’s a long insert which creates a perfect mullet image!

I’ve got to admit I like the way these look from the profile, though from the front they look utterly horrific.  If only CM had put in a mesh panel that ended with denim around the lower calf or ankle and these pants could have been saved!

Ash boots are some of my favorite casual styles around from fall, and not because of a label name or some incredibly odd look.  These two Ash boots are classic biker styles, which translate beautifully into spring and fall wear.

I’ve seen the studded lace ups in person and own an Ash leather messenger bag; the leather quality for Ash products is high.  The zip bike boots are some I’ve nearly purchased myself over the last few months, though always seem to run out in my size before I can click through to purchase!

Both boots are available in sizes 5 through 10 (including half sizes), and are 55% off; the studded pair being $147.50, and the zip pair $132.75.  Happy hardcore trails!

The Alexa is on everyone’s want list, and for good reason – it’s one of the most delicious satchels on the luxury market right now, and really the Proenza PS1‘s only competition.

It’s all been leathery sunshine and roses with Mulberry since the Alexa came out, but this version is so fug I couldn’t move by without a mention.

This version of the Alexa is a faded out tiger look; the only thing that can actually make a white leather bag look more tacky.  The best part is a bunch of people are going to pay $1,200 for this thing (shudder).

When summer arrives, so does the change from heavy boots and shoes to a lighter, more airy footwear.  I love lace up styles in summer for many reasons; they’re not ballet flats, they’re androgynous, they can be worn with nearly anything and are so easy to style.

That’s not to say we can’t still have a leather shoe; summer kicks are simply made from a thinner skin than in fall.  We can go from monotone leather like Topshop’s Mack, Barneys Co-op’s suede Umi,the leather covered heel of Maison Martin Margiela’s oxford or Steve Madden’s Spiffyy.

We can dress up a style also without having things get ostentatious; Cento x Cento’s studded toe cap, Aldo’s mesh insert Garolega or the very on trend laser cut out style as demonstrated in Prada’s pair.   Then we have the fabric covered designs; the most feminine version of the lace up being the lace covered pieces as Nine West’s Gilderoy and Opening Ceremony’s Julietta.

Linen styles are quite popular from the designer club to the high street as they’re [typically] more inexpensive than leather pairs, unless we’re talking about Marc Jacobs’ style! Similar lace ups can be found at Urban Outfitters; their version is $34, though clearly the quality will vastly differ.

Since everyone is on the tablet rampage, it’s only suiting to have a stylish case to hold it within.  After all, you didn’t line up for five hours outside the Mac store like a sucker just to have your little flat baby exposed to the elements while not in use, right!

I’m a lover of leather accessories and it reflects in the picks below; only one of the five is not made from a skin.  We’ll start with that piece; it’s a bamboo iPad case by Skpad, reasonably priced and modern for those who love a clean and updated look.

For those with less of a granola sensibility, YSL’s logo sleeve is just the thing for a lover of classic style and minimalism. Ghibli’s python effect leather is candy for the luxury lovers while being quite affordable, and the ever so glam golden leather sleeve provides a loud effect to the tech accessory landscape.

My clear favorite is the Palmer & Sons No. 19; it’s an iPad case made with a little extra room to fit in a book (people still read real books, right?) and other bits and bites.  They’re handmade right here in Vancouver and can be shipped globally.  For those with a foot in modern dandyism, this case is just the trick.  Did I mention it you can carry it with a rear strap handle or wear it as a cross body? It’s no wonder the No. 19 is king.

Colorblocking is a great way to bring summer feeling into your wardrobe; it’s easy to build upon your current pieces while not being too extreme.

Colorblocking can be simplistic like Matthew Williamson’s cardi or Marc Jacobs’ piping sneakers.  Accent your travels or beach wanderings with a simple duffle by Anchor, or accent your look with something a bit more daring as Topman’s tank.

Layer with denim or colored cord shorts, and some fun socks with your summer brogues.  Let summer begin!

Oh, Beyond The Rack. Out of all the members only sale websites BTR is my favorite for their brands, consistently good pieces and they ship to both Canada and the USA!

Prada boots on sale are also a really great reason to sign up for a free BTR account, and these engineer boots in coffee ($599 from $1,100), which are also available in brown suede, [lighter] brown leather and the crowd favorite black.

If you’re still loving over the knee styles, there are also a handful of flat and heeled Prada boots available for $699.

My favorite pair for value and pizzaz is from Friis; their Rosalina boots ($189 from $430).

Sound awesome enough yet? Sign up, what are you waiting for!

For throwback fanatics from vintage lover to steampunkers everywhere, a good military inspired medallion brooch is a win to find on any day.   These pieces from Milius by Milan are in fact re-worked vintage; they are put together using pieces from watches and pins from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

These would look fabulous clustered in groups of 3! demiCouture favorites include the feather brooch pin, pendant brooch pin and kilt pin brooch.

That gives us DIYers some hope as well; that means if you can put yourself up to the task of creation, you have a hope of being able to imitate the Milius designs.  While they won’t match up on quality, at least they would be able to be created on a taut budget.

Thanks to Pamela Love’s accessory collections, the macabre world of animal skull adornments is now mainstream jewelryland.  Since we don’t all have a Pamela Love sized budget (or Gisele Ganne for that matter), we’ve got a few the lower spending mortals can acquire.

We’ll start with Urban Outfitters’ brass ring; quite cheap at $18, though you get what you pay for in terms of metal used – those with a metal allergy will want to pass this by as it’s officially labeled as ‘mixed’.  Alexander McQueen’s silver covered brass piece is truly the happy middle of the group; it’s the full designer deal at under $300, not too bad for a piece from such a covetable design house.

Then we have the big spender babies! Pamela Love’s Raven skull is pure silver, which accounts for a chunk of the large jump in pricing.  For the golden girls (or boys, let’s be fair), Gisele Ganne’s Divorse ring is just the thing to show off some bank in a creative way.  It’s bird skull also has a small sprig of flowers, so  you get a little something extra from the design standpoint for that two grand.

Summer styling isn’t all light and fluffy; we have light days and dark days even if the sun is shining.  As someone who was a young goth back in the high school days, it’s been a constant experiment to evoke that part of myself without appearing sloppy and visually unprepared – I feel that is communicated in the styling layout to the right.

Alternatively, it’s always been a tricky thing to wear all lights.  As one who naturally gravitates towards greys and blacks, finding light neutrals and placing multiple pieces together has been one of the most fun thing to do.  Due to that, let’s explore the light style first.

These are rosy, neutral tones; admittedly the accessories are my favorites.  I’m completely prejudiced when it comes to Alexander Wang bags; the Diego in Latte and the chunky Steve Madden Sarrina heels go so easily together, you would think they were interlocking.  With them are the very Natural Born Killers-esque Mykita x Marios Schwab Jane sunnies, which matches magically with the Pony vest by digital print favorite YourEyesLie.  Finish off your layering with a pair of light denim, possibly with AllSaints’ Bleach Pipe Skinny, and you’re set to go!

For days (or nights) when you’re feeling a bit more on the moody side, getting your grey on is just the thing.  Always have a failsafe pair of grey skinny jeans like Citizen of Humanity’s, and an oversized top like we see in Raquel Allegra’s Chrysalis tee.  Top off with failsafe Dr. Marten boots and accessorize with an everyday wear Alexander Wang Kristen satchel (my new love), some large sunnies from Charles Anastaise x Linda Farrow and top off with some eccentric piece like Mixology’s feather necklace.

Ever since I was introduced to Palmer & Sons some years ago, I have been in constant marvel of their handmade goods.  This father and son duo are based in Gastown, Vancouver and produce some of the most exquisite leather products I’ve ever seen through my travels, much less locally.

I am the owner of a Palmer & Sons leather suitcase in cognac(I largely use it as a laptop bag, though it also transforms into a backpack), and there is not a day that I wear it publicly that does not include a declaration of love from a stranger concerning it!

The product I’m newly obsessed with is their cross body iPad bag; easily used either for your hip technology or as a beautiful day to day accessory.  The bag is $330, and is made with incredibly thick and durable 10 oz leather, available in four colors.

These pieces are a sight for sore eyes when they’re just made, but transform into an entirely more impressive spectacle after they’ve been worn, especially in the elements.

Palmer & Sons is Vancouver’s best secret, though they really deserve to be taken into the spotlight.

Cut outs, slashes, rips.. they’re all in the trend train of SS11 and after all, what better way to stay cool in summertime than to have a bunch of holes in your clothing!

Cut out footwear is at the forefront of the trend, with Ksubi’s Dusty and Jeffrey Campbell’s Slashed take on their design.  For a more feminine touch, Minimarket’s cut out lace up would be ideal for little dresses, shorts and rompers.

Clothing ranges between the more refined proper cuts as shown in Prose IV’s button up to Ann-Sofie Back x Cheap Monday’s destroyed pullover; they’re going to be torn or properly cut and surged.  It all depends on your style; are you a rebel rouser or a classic down for mind expansion?

UK retailer Debenhams is showcasing their new collabos with designers Julien Macdonald, Jasper Conran, Jeff Banks, Ben de Lisi, Betty Jackson and John Rocha – exciting stuff!  (Yes, they ship internationally, so this isn’t another epic tease)

Platforms have been here since the seventies, but not since the nineties have flatforms been enjoying such a heyday.  With these summer sandals taking more inspiration from Japanese wedges than anything off the glitter dancefloor, these are a sure way to add height without the painful arch of a heel.

SS11 flatforms are ranging from slight inclines to entirely flat, it all depends on your designer and if their seasonal style is more daring (or not).

Like all wedges, we have a significant amount of flatform choices ranging from bright patent leathers to woven designs.  Espadrille style flatforms are the most obviously summer style; explore Stuart Weitzman’s crochet ($425), Opening Ceremony’s Arco ($295) or Chloé’s mule design ($450).

Like the woven looks, wooden heels and wedges of all sorts are garnering much attention this season – for a flat platform version, try Topshop’s Wynn ($135) for a height boost or Vena Cava’s color block style ($340) if you wish to stay closer to the ground.  There are other ways to make a statement without using texture or heavy wood; try brights like Robert Clergerie x Opening Ceremony’s never mellow Goud ($765) or Opening Ceremony’s own lace up Estelle cut out ($645).

Last of all are the wear anytime basics.  It’s a safe move to go with most anything black; try Ann Demeulemeester’s buckle ($838), Camilla Skovgaard cut out ($502) or my favorite, Friis’ Neema ($115).  For other color variations, try Marni’s ($565) or the price favorite, the Two Hundred by Ego And Greed, which has three color variations – white, black and orange.

When you hold up a pair of each of the new Levi’s Curve ID jeans, simple eyeballing does not reveal any of the magic – you’ve got to try them on to truly get the slight yet effective differences in the three (four in the USA) cuts.

The Curve IDs: Slight Curve, Demi Curve, Bold Curve and the supreme curve (the supreme is only available in the US..so far).

I tested myself in advance online to see what Curve ID I was, and even though I was slotted as a ‘slight curve’ I ended up trying on all three available ID cuts to feel the difference, and was there ever a difference! In case you’re unsure of your online results or simply don’t want to do the quiz, each Levis location has a measuring kit to identify your Curve ID or can work with your visuals if you don’t feel comfortable with measuring.

Eyeballing a pair of Slight, Demi or Bold beside each other does not reveal much difference; perhaps only ever so slightly in the thigh.  I started from the Bold and worked my way down; the Bold’s thigh was roomier, and seat was cut to allow for a fuller bottom in the form of a curved waistband to avoid buttgap (when the undies bare themselves).

The Demi features a curved side seam to give you a waist that fits and elongates your legs.  There is a bit more room in the thigh yet the cut streamlines your entire leg, so there isn’t such a shape of roundness.  Last of all is the Slight Curve; a bottom that is cut to actually give you a bit more shape, and a waist that is cut to avoid pinching and creation of muffin tops in otherwise skinny folks.

The waist and thighs fit the best for myself, so I proceeded to try on about six pairs of skinny cut Curve IDs, the Legging jeans, various Boyfriend cuts and even a few pairs of shorts.  After an hour and a half of peeling off bottoms and pulling on new styles, I ended up with a handful of pairs I was actually thrilled to walk away with for a number of reasons; a few of those being wash variance, detailing uniqueness and [of course] actual fit on my lower body.

My picks ended up being a Clean Rinse Leggings, Ultra Blue, Pitch Black and Bellflower Blue Slight Curve ID and the Zip Skinny Demi Curve, which curiously fit more like a Slight as the denim was slightly thicker and I was actually encouraged to size up (which was true, I wouldn’t have been able to put on a pair that was my true size!).  Aside from all of the pieces fitting incredibly well, they were all priced from $79.50 to $99 CA per pair; for fits like this, it’s quite a deal.

I highly encourage you to check out your local Levis boutique and get measured and try on a bunch of washes and a few of your closest Curve IDs.  After my visit,I felt so differently about both the denim I already had in my collection and the new Levis pieces I was walking away with.