Out with the Old, In with the New.

With a blizzard raging here in NL today an outfit shoot was pretty much out of the question. Instead I decided to harness my Snow Day productivity into going through my old clothes & organizing it for a future outside of my cluttered closet. I've been a bit of a hoarder all my life so there are legitimately things crammed into dark corners that I've owned since I was four. The "me" two years ago would have fought savagely had down-sizing been suggested, but the current somewhat evolved me has decided to embrace minimalism once & for all* (that being said, you probably won't see me travelling short of 3 suitcases anytime soon). So in the spirit of attachment, organization, & reliving memories via old clothes, I've decided to compile a list of my personal philosophies concerning clothes & shopping. A bit different from my usual repertoire, but here it goes: 


1. Quality over Quantity - this is an obvious rule to live by, but I'll take it a step further. I don't believe in turning your nose up at things simply because they are not expensive, or an esteemed brand. My closet covers a pretty wide spectrum. I have some thrift store purchases that cost all of $1 that I love on par with my designer pieces. That being said, if it's not a good quality fabric I don't care if it's $4 or $400, it isn't entering my closet. Same thing with sizing; if it doesn't fit absolutely perfectly don't kid yourself (unless you have a sewing machine & a knack for thrifty alternations). Try to avoid ribbing (whether on cuffs, necklines, or all over, it will stretch after one wear & never regain it's original shape), 100% cotton in dark colours (terrible for fading), & stiff fabrics which don't hang well. 


2. Buy what you want - No I am not suggesting you dig yourself into a hole of bankruptcy by going on a spree at Hermès. But when you see something you really love, as long as it's not on an mere impulse, you should have it. If you're reading my blog to begin with, you probably have an interest in fashion, meaning style & clothing are one of the things that makes you happy. Don't mind folks who scoff at you for being materialistic. Everyone likes to spend their money on something, whether it be travelling, nice cars, or decorating their homes. It may seem silly to some people, but a beautiful garment has the power to give me chills; to make me grin like a Cheshire cat. If you the "something" you want is expensive & don't have the money right away, the answer is obvious: save up! Not only will you eventually get that item that gives you confidence & a perma-smile, but you'll also feel good having accomplished a task you worked towards.


3. Don't Compromise - Having worked in a retail environment this is something I witnessed daily: people buying items because they were on sale, because they were such a great "bargain", because they were a cheaper version of something else they liked. Personally I just don't get it. This kind of back's up #3 - buy what you want, don't worry about the money (within reason of course). Why waste money on things you don't absolutely love just because it's "such a great deal". Isn't that fraction of money put to better use saving up for that more expensive item that was love at first sight?


4. Sleep on it - Nobody enjoy's a bout of buyer's remorse. Don't be one of those silly impulse shoppers who tosses & turns all night after a shopping spree & spends either the next day returning the bulk of it, or living with the guilt every time you look at that dress whose price tag will never come off. I wasn't always this way, but nowadays if I'm out shopping & see something I just have to have, I often go home & think about it overnight. I can say without hesitation that I've never regretted an item that I seriously thought about before purchasing. It ensures that you end up with items that you truly love.


5. The 5 Outfit Rule - This is a handy rule I decided to live by last Autumn, when I was despairing over the fact that none of my clothes went together. Basically if you want to buy an item, first come up with a list of at least 5 outfits you could pair it with (aim for 3 outfits if that's a more practical goal for you). That way you don't end up with piles of mismatched clothing; having to buy even more new things just to make the original item wearable. 


6. Ethical Shopping - I had a comment on my last post questioning why I no longer shop at Forever 21. Although this also goes back to the quality vs quantity debate, the questionable ethicality of company practices is the main reason I resist the temptation of a $20 top & an $8 necklace. Unfair labor practices, breaching artistic copyright, the list goes on. If you're interested in reading a bit more into this, this article on ilovewildfox.com has some great links. Of course there are other companies out there which have the same issues, so it's important to do your research. The bottom line for me is that I want to wear something that makes me feel good, & doesn't compromise my personal ethics. I'd rather pay extra to have something that I know was lovingly designed & fairly crafted.


7. Love your clothes & they'll love you back - take care of your clothes! This one seems pretty obvious to me, but I'm surprised at the amount of people I come across who chuck their clothing in the dryer without a second glance. Folks, the dryer is for the immortal durability of towels, not the clothing you put on your back. Dry clean or hand wash it & lay it out to air dry. It will wear 100x better & last you years instead of days. 

I'll leave it at that. Clothing is obviously something I'm pretty passionate about, & I just wanted to put in my own two cents. Any tips or suggestions you might add to my list? I'd really love to know! :)

Guest Blogging

  

 

Over the weekend I was asked by Jen of A Gypsy's Journal to do a guest post on her blog! The requested topic? Happiness. The relentless optimist, I was obviously up for the challenge. You can check out the post here, where I discuss my personal take on happiness - from clothes to music, everyday delights to general advice.

Let me know what you think! :)

Versace x H&M

H&M windows decked out in bright & shiny Versace.

Line-up for non-bracelet folks around noon - thankfully we were at the very front of the line! 

Darling Kris who suffered through the cold with me - brave soul...

Finally! What's in the bag??? 

A vibrant pink belt that fits like a charm! I'm excited to dress up some LBD's with this one :) 

As per usual, nothing went according to plan with my intentions for the Versace x H&M event today. I had intended to head to the Pacific Centre bright & early as the store was opening at 8 AM - until I got wind of the fact that bracelets had been passed out & were long gone as of 8 PM last night. Not overly impressed that this process wasn't publicized, as I gladly would have waited for one last night had I know. Regardless, I figured as of 10 AM the general public would have their turn & I would be good to go. Boy was I wrong.... 

We braved the freezing cold for a solid 3 hours in line, with Kris & I taking intermittent turns inside the shopping centre to warm up. There were definitely points when I questioned if it was worth it, or whether I should just head home. One thing I love about line-ups however, is the people you tend to meet & the conversations you end up having. As chance should have it I ended up next to a lovely fashion blogger, Becky, who is also from the east coast & instantly won me over with her recognition of my X-Ring. So with good company & anticipation of the treasures waiting inside, 3 hours passed fairly quickly.

When it was clear that the list of bracelet-shoppers had exhausted, you could see a definite change in everyone's spirits. Each person in the first group grinned like cheshire cats, plotting out their strategies once inside. Finally inside, we were informed that we had a measly 5 minutes to shop. Chaos reigned, people grabbing everything possible. Overwhelmed, I noticed the few clothing pieces I had actually liked from the collection were gone (the black + gold ones; the prints were a bit too garish for my taste), as was the pendant necklace. But at the end of the day, I'm completely satisfied with my 2 newest acquisitions! So with shiny Versace bags in hand, Kris & I headed out for brunch at The Templeton. A solid Saturday if I do say so myself :)

Did any of you brave the weather & line-ups for a chance at owning some Versace x H&M? If so I'd love to hear what treasures you were lucky enough to get! :)

<3 Shawna

Vancouver Fashion Week SS12 - Part II

Hello again lovely followers!

Continuing on from my last post, here are the latter 3 shows I attended last night at Vancouver Fashion Week - Rajadano, Maria Peligro, & Claire O'Connor:

First up is Rajadano - a collection of ethnic handbags for women. I really like the philosophy their product -

 "Rajadano aims to contribute to the revival of ethnic handcrafts, bringing history's vibrant cultures within reach of the modern day fahionista. Traveling around the world our one-of-a-kind handbags portray the beauty and individuality of a different ethnic group's cultural heritage each year."

The bags were vibrant, colourful... and beyond difficult to photograph on a runway! The silky scarves which adorned each models head were what really caught my eye however. With feather trim on each colourful piece, I instantly fell in love. That being said, this was probably my least favourite show; simply because I find accessory-focused shows can be a little too repetitive. 

The long teal/gold clutch on the far left was my favourite piece in this collection.

Maria Peligro (a Mexican designer I think, but don't quote me on that one) was probably my personal favourite of the evening. Her SS12 collection had a lot of variety yet it wasn't all over the place; each piece was complimentary to the collection as a whole. She showed quite a few bodysuit pieces, lots of ruffles, and some really fun geometric detailing.

This one is unfortunately blurry, but I loved it so posted it regardless!

I truly love this one so much. The colours & style remind me of a 1950's American pep-rally :)

This was my favourite of the bodysuits - I love the ruffled shoulders which partially cover the pink sleeves!

Hello striped flared pants! Such a fun piece; and I love the flowy crop top they are paired with.

Several of the models had those metal bird sculptures, which were quite interesting. Also of note in this collection were some pieces which I didn't manage to photograph well enough: an bright orange shift dress which I would wear in a heartbeat; a mushroom-coloured jumpsuit; a futuristic dress reminiscent of a 60's mod flight attendant; & finally, several romantic-style dresses with fitted waists, flowy maxi lengths, & whimsical light grey & pink colours. Loved it, end of discussion.

Claire O'Connor was the last designer we saw. As you can probably guess from her name, she is Irish & her designs are based in Dublin (instant brownie-points for me). 

This was probably my favourite piece of Claire's collection - the structured shoulders in and of themselves are reason enough. I also loved the rich winter green colour and white fitted waist detail.

About half of the collection was comprised of 'Impressionism-print' silk dresses, similar to this one. I did love the variety of necklines and sleeves, however I found this part of the collection a little too repetitive.

The neck and waist/belt pieces were made of leather & cut into some pretty fascinating designs!

And here is a quick shot of the designer herself - super cute & bashful, I had to be quick to catch a photo of her. Looking every bit the tiny Irishwomen, Claire O'Connor popped out for the quickest bow ever. She was adorable and made me smile so much!

And so there you have it folks - photos & commentary from my Vancouver Fashion Week experience! I've had more than my share of typing for the night so I'll leave it there. I'm off to make a late-night snack & potentially kick-off my festive holiday movie-watching obsession.... we shall see :) 

Good night lovely followers & thank you so much for reading! 

<3 Shawna