Congrats to Susan J, as she is the lucky winner of demiCouture’s giveaway with Oak.  She’s now off to choose a top and bottom from the Oak house collection!

Thanks everyone for entering, and stay tuned in the next few days when Shopbop’s May promotion with demiCouture begins.

Vancouver, I have some amazing vintage leather boots for you to buy, and I’m selling them for a pittance – $35!

These are vintage Western style pull on boots, fit with thick and metal tipped soles, nailed heels and fully stitched bases attached to the rest of the boot.  These boots are vintage (made by Boulet; making boots since 1933), yet are in excellent condition.  These are excellent for spring/summer or fall/winter wear; you can style them with anything.  Boots are a size 9.5-10.

These are beautiful pair, and a super steal.. email me if you love and want ‘em!

Designer leather bags can cost a load and a half, but not if you’re looking at the sublime collection of Fullum & Holt by Denis Gagnon that Privé has to offer.  These bags are minimalistic, beautifully designed pieces that can accent any look you build around them.

demiCouture favorites include the black oversized spiral bag (shown below), grey ruched tote bag (white shown below), grey half spiral hobo ($220 from $590) and the canvas and leather messenger bag ($205 from $550).

Get an invite to Privé now!

Studded loafers are still superior to studded ballet flats, if only due to their menswear cues and lack of simply overdone styling.  Loafers are a better option for their small heel, as completely flat shoes do nothing for the look of your foot when walking, or give you even the most minimalistic streamline from your heel to ankle.

We’ll start with the mother who started it all; the Christian Louboutin Rollerball.  Of course this is the elite style, as not many of us can afford to drop over ten bills on a pair of flats, no matter how awesome they may be.  For more high street affordability, peek Jeffrey Campbell’s new Elegant all over studded style, or Steve Madden’s minimalistic Melter.

All of these loafs can be swapped out with the flats you’re wearing now, whether they are combats, tired ballets or other such footwear. These are such an easy style, there is no reason to be afraid of them.

Privé is not like Gilt Groupe, Beyond The Rack, Ideeli or any competing members only shopping websites.  The design is minimalistic and modern, the brands they offer are supreme labels wanted by the most hip and pieces are actually affordable (think Topshop and RetroSuperFuture sunglasses, offer products for both men and women and ship internationally.

Canadians will love that Privé is based in Montréal, so while you’ll be subject to sales tax there will be zero duties for us, though the [up to] 70% discount makes things well worth it.  Shipping is fast to the USA (2-7 days) and internationally (2-5 days, both depending on courier choice), so there is no restless extended waiting periods.

They also offer a highly competitive referral bonus of $25, which puts Beyond The Rack’s paltry $10 to shame.

Below are some current items available, which will change rather rapidly. Sign up, and start shopping at a place carrying the brands you actually have been wishing you could buy at a discount!

UPDATE:

It’s confirmed: Privé is affiliated with SSense!

Brogues are always a favorite of mine, though if one style could trump them it would be a boot version of the famed lace up shoe.  Brogue boots are so easy to wear, and dress easier than a shaftless flat.  Short boots always have a way of streamlining the leg, even if your boot is a bit on the chunky side.. let’s explore four of my favorite styles.

Minimalistic coloring is the easiest to wear; Steve Madden’s Mertie being a prime example of, and Rag & Bone’s Wessex, though the R&B version does have a neato stripe within the sole.  These light colored pieces are excellent to wear throughout summer with shorts, wee skirts or any other leg highlighting combinations you can put together.

Multi colored pieces (whether that be multi colored leathers or a mix of textile) are my favorite.  I always love the louder styles, especially the J Shoes’ Andrew (which is technically a mens fit, so size down ladies) and the overall winner, Marc by Marc Jacobs’ tasseled Rogue.  Both of these styles exude confidence, style and quirk.. the trifecta of successful dressing!

Western style effects can either go very right or very, very wrong.  We’re doing away with the cheese and giving Western a bit of a style boost with some favorite designer and high street labels.

Western boots have gotten a really nasty rap, and for good reason – they’re typically hideous.  Now, Rodarte for Opening Ceremony has a wallpaper inspired style (also available in blue), or you can go for the more subtle black on black stitch detailing of the Sartore boot.

For a Western style hat that isn’t your average lame cowboy, check out AllSaints’ Rawhide.  It is treated to look like leather, but it’s actually washed and crushed felt so won’t be too heavy on the head.  Adding certain accents to standard rotation pieces like fringe denim shorts or a little bit of embroidering on a button up top.

Finish off with a minimalistic leather belt and a new take on a cross body saddlebag and you’re off to the thematic races without looking like you’re in a Clint Eastwood movie!

As I was perusing AllSaints as I tend to do, I came upon their new Rhyder cross body bag.  As I was staring at it, all I could think was this is a strappier version of Kmrii’s bags.

The Rhyder is not a cheap accessory; it’s $450 for the piece, though if you’re comparing to a Kmrii piece, you’re looking at less $200-400 in the price department.  This is an excellent casual bag that is not only very wearable accessory, but will look even more ace when it starts to show some wear.

Chelsea boots are the perfect androgynous go-to boot throughout the seasons. Chelseas are classic, and have been the go to boot for hip humans since the swingin’ 60s.  Hell, even Star Wars storm troopers even wore a Chelsea boot, only theirs was stained white to go with the rest of the outfit.

I love tall Chelseas for wearing over skinny jeans or trousers; they make legs look skinny, and streamline the leg with their tall boot shaft.  Taller Chelseas also have more of a military rather than civilian feel.  Aim high with YSL, Balmain, Frye’s Emmett, ASOS’ house pair (on sale at the moment) and Jeffrey Campbell’s stacked heel Area.  If black isn’t your thing, brown can be just as effective a statement maker.  Dolce & Gabbana has a distressed pair, while Mezlan’s polished version is more refined.

Shorter tends to be a dressier choice, unless you’re Topman’s creased pair; they’re perhaps a wee bit cheekier than one may want to take into your weekly meeting.  Both Barneys CO-OP and Prada’s pairs are delightfully polished pieces, and reasonably priced for the amount of wear you will beat out of them.

THIS Friday and Saturday, we have another awesome sale at Haiku Studios; 10 designers are selling, including Project Runway Canada [season 1] winnre Evan Biddell, PRC [season 2] runner-up Kim Cathers’ Kdon range, Ginger Pottin, Megan Kathryn, Mara Gottler, Carny Love and more.

Come by for a drink, bite and some great buys!

WHEN: Friday April 29th, 4-8PM // Saturday April 30th, 12-6PM
WHERE: Haiku Studios; #402 207 West Hastings, Vancouver [Googlemap]

RSVP on Facebook

Pumps are ideal for the lady, whether you’re well at walking on them, or not.  I’m terribly hard on heels, and find that unless the heel is thick they won’t last a month under my foot! I love thicker heels for the same reason I love wedges – increased balance.  They may not be as classic as one would like, but I think of them as classic for the modern, more practical woman.

You would source these pumps in the same way of any other footwear; solids in neutral shades as Steve Madden’s Sarrina, Bally’s Alicya or Christian Louboutin’s Bibi are perfect for every day styling and wear.  Solids as Lanvin’s cork platform Escarpin are ideal for easy visual amps without having to wonder about blending more difficult patterns.

For looks with more personality, patterns as Betsey Johnson’s dotty Maggi or Carven’s canvas and leather heeled style.  These can be as bold as you need them to be; blend with opposing patterns for the most daring fashion forward looks, or have them as the launch point for everyone’s eyes as the main event.

Neutral leather is always a hit come warmer weather for a host of reasons; light shades of leather are always very spring friendly and excellent for all of your lighter toned looks.  Even the mostly grey crowd (as myself) can enjoy a bit of a neutral boost, especially when you’re talking about one of the four pieces shown below.

For the most affordable we’ve got the Miss Selfridge suede biker; sleeves and torso are full length for a flattering silhouette, and shouler studs round out the look.  Despite the presence of the usual favorite Burberry biker, my favorite of the bunch is Danier’s trench – I’d size this piece up and wear it loosely over tees and shorts.  Last is Vanessa Bruno’s minimalistic foldover jacket, perfect for layering over other, busier sets.

Some weeks ago JNBY was kind enough to have me over at their South Granville location, and gifted me with two pieces to take away and style how I wished.  These are the pieces; a lovely thin striped sweater perfect for summer evenings and cooler days, and a beautiful A-line button up shirt.  Since I know there will be questions as to where each piece is found, I’ll go over them below!

Upper outfit: sunglasses; Lucia by RetroSuperFuture, necklace by Larry Designs, sweater by JNBY, lether gilet by Topshop, acid wash jeans by Primark, boots are the Lockhart by Sam Edelman.

Lower: moto jacket by Oxyho Sorento (never heard of them either; they’re a weird Winners buy), button up by JNBY, jeans by Levis, Cheslea boots are vintage.  Cat is by SPCA Lower Mainland.

Four years and countless sock re-designs after the original Prada SS07 double color [footless] socks were released, we see yet another version destined to be a favorite - Hunter’s Balmoral knee style.

These are far more practical than the original footless style, though need not be pigeon holed as welly socks.  These are excellent summer layering pieces just waiting to be burst forth from their packaging.

At $30 per pair they aren’t the cheapest sockies on the block, though they can certainly be taken from hotter days to cooler ones with ease.

Cocktail rings are always easy jewelry additions to any look; you slip one on and you don’t need to worry about accompanying wrist accessories or other rings – one or two (if you’re bold enough) will steal the show.

I’ve recently presented a collection of gold and gold tone items; the Topshop eagle, Low Luv x Erin Wasson’s triple stone and Ruby Katz’s Caesar stamp pieces all fit that visual bill and follow the summer trend.

Silver is still a failsafe; the crystal style continues with Meadowlark’s piece, while Marmén’s Bloody Cage ring is a stark contrast in the look of a dark stained glass.  For the most intense statements, oxidized pieces as Bottega Veneta’s cameo ring – that darkness on your finger is like a beautiful black hole swallowing your attention!

For those wonder how to make the most of the color mixing season, a color blocking frenzy is the way to go.  I’m a die hard fan of all shades of grey, though even I must concede and wear a burst of coloring here and there.  I prefer color blocking because you get both the illusion of different cuts via fabric shades and can actually wear a piece with bold color and a duller favorite like my greys (spy the Marc by Marc Jacobs tee for a prime example).

For everyone is a mental fan of brights, mix in more dowdy shades like A.P.C. with their scoop neck dress, and Topshop with their split personality cardi.  More the more intense color lovers, DVF’s Tadd jumpsuit, Charlotte Olympia’s pumps and Vivienne Westwood’s covered stud clutch are perfect points to build your summer look around.

It’s contest time again, and this time around it’s Oak‘s minimalistic style that’s up for grabs.

These are pieces that are effective without being ostentatious, and so wonderful to build upon with or without layering (trust me!), Oak’s house collection is going to be your next basic go to brand.

demiCouture favorites include the Baja funnel neck maxi poncho ($112), Mesh Pieced leggings ($112), asymmetrical Black Broom skirt ($162) and the indigo drop crotch skinny jeans ($158).  There are tons of pieces in the mens and womens collections that are worth a look; be sure to check everything out.

To enter: pick your two items and put them in a comment. One entry per person (don’t be a jerk and try to squeeze two in, because both your entries will be deleted!).

You should follow @demiCouture on Twitter and fan on Facebook because it’s the right thing to do, but nobody is forcing you to get clicky.

Contest open worldwide.  Contest closes April 29, 2011. Bits and bites: winner’s choices must be a top and a bottom; no outerwear or dresses by request of Oak and must be part of their house collection. Both items must be $200 or under.

The whirlwind promotion for the Friends of Naturalizer charity event has come to a close, with the public citing preference for international charity WaterCan by a landslide 43%.

WaterCan has been gifted with a $20,000 donation by Naturalizer as the winner, with runner up charities Boys And Girls Clubs and WWF with $1,000 donations respectively.

Thanks for supporting a great cause, and remember that all three of these charitable outfits deserve continued donation as they are all worthy causes.

We all love a good satchel; they are delightfully non gender specific, fit all of our odds and ends and are always a classic accessory for the modern dresser.  We have here Proenza Shouler’s much loved PS1 satchel in a midnight hue, and ASOS’ vintage satchel in a similar cobalt leather.

For the trickle down style shopper, this is going to be one of the season’s best buys.  The ASOS style also comes in a variety of colors; I’m quite partial to the sea green.

Cuffs are an excellent way to liven up your look with a single piece.  They can be wide and intense or then and still effective, though summer weather always sees the cuff get cast aside for lighter jewelry.

I call for the summer cuff to have its day; try a piece that breathes for the hottest days as Alexis Bittar’s Woven Gunmetal or a minimalistic Gala Curios Accordian piece.  For thicker and more intense, try a classical Tiffany Rococo cuff or a spiked Holly Fulton.