Flat Shoes For Summer

I was chatting with one of my friends tonight, and while I was extolling the virtues of the Airwalk slip-ons and canvas flats I found at Payless today, she mentioned that she needed to look for flat open-toed shoes for summer. They had to be quite flat (no or very low heel) because she has severe back and knee problems and doesn't want shoes that will aggravate either, somewhat dressy, and have some sort of ankle strap so that her foot will stay put in the shoe. That definitely leaves flip-flops and thong-style shoes out of the equation! (Oh, and whatever I chose should theoretically be available at a store in Van for the purposes of accessibility. :P) Because I had some extra time on my hands, I wanted to help her do a little cyber-scoping. Here's what I came up with.



Aerosoles, Sterling Shoes 109.95



Bronx, Gravity Pope 19.99



Nine West, Joneve 109.95



Steve Madden, Joneve 99.95



Doucette, Naturalizer 79.39



Masen, Naturalizer 69.04



"Mott," Abaete for Payless (price unknown, but it's Payless so it's probably somewhere between $20 and $40)



"Monroe," AE at Payless (ditto)



"Ellie," Payless (ditto)



"Tabatha," Payless (ditto)

0

The Drawbacks of Bikini Bling

After hearing a friend rave about the clothes her friend got from Victoria's Secret's clothing line, I decided to check out their website and snoop around. What was going to be a quick look turned into 4 hours of browsing, sending links to my friend over MSN whenever I found something cute, and fervently wishing that Victoria's Secret would look to the Great White North and open a location here sometime soon. The swimwear selection was especially amazing; there were so many suits for so many body types! In Van, when I think of swimsuit shopping, I think of La Vie En Rose Aqua and frankly not much else, and La Vie En Rose Aqua has mostly bikinis.

After browsing, browsing, and browsing swimsuits, three things started to annoy me. The first was that the models were impossibly toned and gorgeous and lean. I'm usually the type of person who concentrates more on the clothes rather than the model wearing them so I've never felt a huge blow to my self-esteem or anything, but even I began feeling sorry for myself for ending up average in the genetic lottery. The second was that the locales all look like some exotic, lush tropical vacation spot where the sand is smooth and the water is warm, whereas in Van even though we have beaches, the water is a little above freezing at best and the small rocks and twigs in the sand make walking barefoot somewhat painful.

Taken together, these thoughts were kind of depressing so I tried my best to focus on the swimwear, but the models' ensembles kept distracting me. That's right, I said "ensembles." Whoever styled the photoshoots tried their best to accessorize the swimsuits by putting a chunky piece of jewelry on every appendage and body part possible. Now, I can understand a chunky necklace of dangly shells and stones and a cuff bracelet with a sundress, perhaps while strolling down the Malecon boardwalk in Puerto Vallarta and watching the sunset. But come on, jewelry with a bikini?!?

The pictures prompted many thoughts of very un-sexy scenarios in my head. Take, for instance, the model with the earrings big enough to be worn as bracelets. I looked at that photo, and right after I said to myself, "This bathing suit is so cute! I wish I looked like that in my bikini! I wish I were vacationing there!", my thoughts went something like this: "Hmm interesting earrings. I hope she's not planning to go snorkeling in those. Fish might get caught in them and choke, just like they do with 6-pack plastic rings. And nothing ruins a Hawaiian vacation like having fish strangled by your earrings while in the ocean. Now that's traumatic."



Or the model with multiple long necklaces: "Cool! In a pinch they can double as a surfboard tether."



Or the model in a necklace, earrings, a chunky cocktail ring, and a bangle: "Accessorize much? That'll leave so many bad tanlines unless her jewelry falls off in the water."



I understand they're trying to sell the suit and the accessories might set off certain aspects of the suit--wooden beads, colours in the pattern, metal bits--to their best advantage. I understand that this look is not meant to even touch the water, and maybe some women want to accessorize their bikinis if they take a cruise and plan to just tan poolside all day long (but then again, the jewelry tanlines!). But for me, bikinis always mean fantastic beaches, and when I think of San Blas, Puerto Vallarta, or Puerto Escondido, I think of ice-cold Coronas and Cokes, sand, sunscreen, and swimming in warm water the colour of the sky. The excessive accessorizing on these models detracts from that fantasy so much that these photos border on self-parody.

0

Shopping For Brothers, Boyfriends, and Guy Friends

Clothes shopping for the men in your life can be frustrating. If the guy in question is not accompanying you, you have to guess at their taste and their size. What's worse, not all stores size their clothes the same way, making the process all the more exasperating. Then there's the distraction factor: whenever I shop for a guy, I tend to start shopping for myself instead of staying focused, and wind up coming home with a pair of new sandals instead of the perfect button-up shirt. If he is there with you as you shop, sometimes getting him to accompany you and contemplate what you're picking out for him is a hassle, let alone shoving him into the fitting room with stuff to try on.

I haven't been doing this for a long time, but I like to think I have an impressive track record in this area. My brother once begged me to become his personal shopper after a jean jacket recommendation and a slew of sweet Boxing Day finds that fit him and his style. I've accompanied my ex jeans shopping post-breakup. My current boyfriend looks great in the graphic T-shirts I picked out for him. And more than one guy friend has suggested that he wants to go shopping with me at least once, just to see what I'd find.

If you have trouble shopping for the guys in your life, here are some tips that I've found really work for me:

If you're shopping alone...

Ask the guy for sizing info beforehand. This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes girls totally forget how easy this makes their lives. Find out shirt sizes (S, M, L, XL), waist measurements, inseams, and shoe sizes. Write these down if you have to.

Look at the store mannequins. If the guy you're shopping for is insightful enough to notice things like how he fits into a large at Mexx but is a medium at American Eagle, hallelujah! If not, a quick glance at the mannequins (are they tall and lean, or really wide in the chest and shoulders?) should help you determine whether you need to go one size up or down.

Compare clothing sizes. This might earn you dirty looks from the employee hovering over your shoulder ready to fold the six sweaters you just messed up. But sometimes it helps to lay one piece of clothing over another, just to see what the difference is in sleeve length, torso length, etc.

Use colour cues. Does he have blue-green eyes that the right shade of teal will accentuate? Or maybe his skin is a warm, dark tone that will look great with saturated maroons and oranges? Is there a particular hue that he wears constantly that you feel really complements him? Keep these things in mind as you browse the racks.

Know the store's exchange policy and get a gift receipt--just in case. Sometimes, despite your best intentions, the gift you picked out might not fit or might not be to his taste. In that case, ask for the details of the store's policy, and include a gift receipt with your purchase so that he can exchange it himself if he needs to.

If you're shopping together...

Don't get distracted! Head to the men's section and do a thorough perusal before even thinking of looking through the women's department. This will help keep you focused on looking for stuff for him. If you really want to go through the stuff you skipped, hey, it's a good excuse for a second trip by yourself or with girlfriends.

Open your ears to his input. After all, he's going to be the one wearing the stuff. If he sees a sweater he likes, find one in his size and encourage him to try it on.

Make him try things on. For some strange reason, most guys seem to think that they don't need to try anything on, and something which proclaims itself to be the correct size will fit him perfectly, as if by magic, and he will look as handsome as Brad Pitt with it on and live happily ever after. As his co-shopper, it's your job to give him a reality check. If he doesn't believe you about this shopping step being necessary, snag a store employee, preferably a cute one, and get her (or him) to extol the virtues of trying clothes on.

Be honest... If the pockets on a pair of jeans aren't working for him, say so, but blame it on the pants' design instead of his large/flat/non-existent butt.

...but lay it on thick with the compliments. When something looks good on him, gush! If he tries on something that's a little too adventurous for his taste but looks great, gush! The lavish compliments become the tipping point in the decision-making process. Have you ever seen Clinton and Stacey do this on What Not to Wear? It does wonders for self-esteem and helps him come around to your point of view.

2

Campus Casual Without the Schlubbiness

Lately I've had graduation and fashion on my mind, especially thoughts of what it means to look casual yet well-groomed and put-together on campus. On some days, especially around midterms or finals or during term paper season, rolling out of bed, putting my hair in a ponytail, and getting to school on time seems like a monumental triumph; forget about what I'm wearing! But after 4 years of undergrad, I've figured out a couple of tricks here and there that make it easy to get dressed and look reasonably put-together in the morning, without resorting to sweats. After all, when you're getting dressed in the morning, it takes just as much time to pull on a baggy sweatshirt as it does to put on a cute sweater.

Avoid baggy sweats. Nothing says "I put no thought into how I look" like pulling on ill-fitting sweatshirts and sweatpants that don't flatter your figure at all. If I'm going for clothes that let me study without feeling uncomfortable or distracted, I'll put on cotton twill trousers, a tee or tank, and a sweater. Like most undergrads, I have a particular weakness for hoodies because of that nice, cozy feeling you get when you're wearing them, but I get them in sweater knits instead of sweatshirt material. If you have to have a sweatshirt hoodie, get one in a bright colour and a nice fit, like the ones that Lululemon carries.

Don't wear gym gear all the time (unless you're going to/from frequent workouts or varsity practices). I understand the need for comfort, but gymwear is gymwear for a reason: it's stuff you wear when you're working out! I always get so annoyed when I see people in sports tanks and Lululemon yoga pants walking around, and you know that they don't wear these clothes for exercise. With all of the non-workout clothes made from stretch fabrics out there, the "I'm so comfortable in workout gear!" excuse is unacceptable.

Mix colours and textures to add interest to your outfit. One of my favourite go-to outfits for school is a pink corduroy jacket with a sweater hoodie in turquoise underneath, a basic tee or tank under the hoodie, jeans, and sneakers with red laces and accents. It's a nice blend of different textured fabrics (corduroy, knit, cotton, denim, leather) and colour (pink, turquoise, dark blue, red). Wearing a neutral palette from head to toe is kind of boring, and, let's face it, a little depressing on top of all the rainy days us West Coast undergrads have to face.

Accessorize. You don't have to wear big pieces of statement jewelry or anything like that. Sometimes adding a few touches here and there can make a difference. I like silver and gold jewelry--stud earrings with stones in different cuts and colours and pendant necklaces--with my casual outfits. Sometimes I'll wear a headband in black or tortoiseshell to camouflage any frizz or flyaways I didn't have time to deal with. All of these options are "neutral" enough to work with any outfit, and they're just nice little touches that say "Yes, I did put some thought into getting dressed today."

Choose interesting flat-heeled shoes. Leave the big white Nike runners at home, please. There are stylish alternatives in interesting colours and designs out there: street sneakers like Pumas, ballet flats, low-heeled Mary Janes, etc. It's possible to be comfortable and not wear your gym shoes everywhere.

Wear good jeans. Choose pairs with a good fit and cut, medium-dark to dark rinse, and no rips/tears/distressing. I'm personally a sucker for trouser-cut jeans with a bootcut leg; they have a classic silhouette with clean lines, and a slightly dressier feel than normal jeans. Get them hemmed if they're too long to prevent the legs from fraying. Avoid overly light washes, distressing, and unflattering cuts (hello, tapered leg).

Wear basic makeup. I usually don't wear any makeup unless you count lip balm and SPF moisturizer as such. One friend swears by blush and a pinkish lip gloss to make her look more awake. Curling your eyelashes and putting on mascara is another way to perk up your face, especially after a late-night cram session.

If there's anything I missed, add it in the Comments section!

0

Impressions of an A&N Shoe Sale Rookie

To paraphrase Mr. T, I pity the fool that lives in a city without the Army and Navy annual shoe sale!

The A&N annual spring shoe sale draws Imelda Marcos wannabes from all over the Lower Mainland to the Downtown Eastside in search of bargains. Normally A&N is best known as a discount store that's one step lower than Wal Mart and Zellers and located in a not-so-great neighbourhood. But once a year it becomes shoe mecca, and it doesn't just have cheap shoes, it has quality shoes from well-known labels at clearout prices: Buffalo by David Bitton, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Paolo Corelli, Point Zero, etc. The thrill of the A&N shoe sale is the same sort of thrill you get from finding something cute, inexpensive, and possibly from a brand name label at Winners, but you do have to a bit of footwork (no pun intended).

I've heard that the best time to go is right in the morning because you get the greatest selection, although you also brave the biggest crowds (there's a lineup outside the store before doors open at 8am). I got there around 12 pm after my morning exam and could see women in business attire coming out of A&N with black-and-orange plastic bags stuffed full of shoes. Pretty fun way of taking an extended lunch break! The parking lot beside the store was completely full, and cars kept pulling up to the curb to drop women off as their husbands and boyfriends tried to find parking.

4 words for the scene in the A&N basement: WOMEN AND SHOES EVERYWHERE. Shopping baskets were all over the floor. Employees scurried about picking up discarded shoes and dragging big boxes of new inventory out. A constant clack-clack, clack-clack sounded as women picked shoes up off the metal shelves and plopped them back down.

I would describe the overall atmosphere as civilized chaos. Shoe stores and shoe sales are generally chaotic and busy, and women have the tendency to move through shoe stores like packs of wolves searching for a T-bone steak hidden among carrots on their quest for a cute pair. That was definitely going on today. Everyone grabbed as many pairs that caught their eye as possible, tried on and deliberated, then discarded the ones that weren't comfortable. I kept bumping into shoppers as I navigated the shelves, and tried my best not to hit anyone with my basket. At times I felt like I should've been more pushy, like when I sat down with my finds and tried to squish into a spot on the bench to try them on. At the same time, though, everyone seemed so nice. At the trying-on bench, one woman spoke up and warned everyone else to watch their purses carefully because someone's bag had been stolen. Shoppers kept pointing to other people's baskets and asking where they found a certain pair of ballet flats or boots. One girl kept an eye out for a coveted pair in a bigger size and snapped them up for her friend to try on.

Some of the women there were A&N shoe sale veterans giving advice to the rookies. I think I'd have to brave a couple more "first days of the shoe sale" for a couple more years before I can call myself a veteran, but i definitely learned a thing or two. For one, next time I go, I will not wear lace-up shoes because they take too long to do and undo...much better to wear a pair of flats or low heels that slip on and off easily, and no socks. (If I do that, though, it means I'll have to carry a pair of clean socks with me in my purse to try on shoes I intend to wear socks with, like sneakers and casuals.) Also, if I go later in the day, I'll wear a thin layer over a tee or tank that won't make me overheat, because after about 30 minutes the stuffy air in the basement is a little overwhelming.

When I came home and gleefully told my friends and fellow shoe-addicts about my finds, one friend said that I wouldn't have normally been able to find one pair of those for what I had paid for all three pairs today. Good point...and it made my finds today all the sweeter. I've already made plans to go back this weekend with a friend from Victoria who wears a size 5.5, although I'm not holding out much hope for finding more cute shoes in 6.

(Point Zero maryjanes)

(Ralph by Ralph Lauren flats)

(Paolo Corelli pumps)

1

'The Hills' are alive with...well, I don't know what, but definitely not music :P

Argh, too much trash tv during exam and term paper season.

I officially ran out of "good" trashy reality tv and had to resort to watching the entire first season of The Hills on the MTV website as background noise while I studied for my history final. For those of you who don't know what this show is about, it's a spinoff of Laguna Beach, which is in turn a reality tv spinoff of The OC. The main "character," Lauren, has moved from Laguna Beach to LA and is studying fashion design while completing an internship at Teen Vogue. She has her first grown-up job, her first grown-up apartment with her friend Heidi, and the reality show basically follows her around as she goes from school to work to home to parties to clubs to restaurants. It's like The OC meets The Devil Wears Prada.

I believe that everything has some sort of educative value no matter how inane. (Or am I just deluding myself in this case?) As I watched all of these people go about their day-to-day lives, it was nice to see that being able to afford designer stuff does not equal having interesting taste. I was paying a lot of attention to what Lauren and her friends were wearing in particular. The clothes and accessories were beautiful and fit extremely well, but at the same time it was disappointing that their colour palette wasn't more varied. Everything was black, white, and denim blue, or in some sort of neutral shade. One thing struck me as particularly ironic. On the first day of Lauren's internship at Teen Vogue, she showed up wearing a gold knit tank with sporadically placed sequins and white trousers. Nothing wrong with it, pretty nice and basic. But then one of the assistant fashion editors gave her a once-over before she met the West Coast editor and told her to put a jacket on top to look more presentable; the jacket they gave her was the same corduroy Gap number with tiny brass buttons and Edwardian styling that I have, except it was mint green and not pink like mine. So there you go, living proof that you can be rich and wear designer labels and still be a bland dresser. :P

The other thing that struck me as I was watching The Hills is how the reality show medium directly affects the reality it's supposed to "objectively" depict. For instance, the show depicts Lauren as your typical lowly intern at a glamorous magazine job. At the same time, however, the level of celebrity she's attained through her MTV reality show gives her some status and flexibility. In the last episode of the season, she refuses an offer for a Paris internship to spend the summer with her boyfriend in Malibu. Now, if this were any ordinary girl who had clawed her way to a Teen Vogue internship tooth and nail, why in the world would she give up a chance to go to Paris and work on haute couture to spend a summer on the beach with her BF? That's absolutely ridiculous! Not to mention the fact that an average intern who did this would be blackballed in the fashion world as someone who doesn't take the trajectory of her career seriously, thereby seriously hurting her chances of landing other jobs and internships in the future. And how many lowly interns end up being the cover girl for the magazine they're interning at? Something seems amiss here. There's no way a potential employer, especially one with a prominent public profile like a fashion magazine, will overlook all the free publicity they're getting by hiring a girl with her own reality show. I'm not saying this is the main consideration in the hiring process and Lauren seems pretty fashion-savvy and hardworking as far as interns go, but it certainly helps.

Reality shows like The Hills affect the lives of their subjects directly and influence the "reality" being shown in another way. For any average twentysomething moving out and making it on her own, the first apartment is probably less-than-stellar and there are often budgeting and financial worries. This angle is remarkably absent. As far as I can see, these kids come from a pretty affluent background, so they might be getting money from their parents. Lauren and her friends are probably also leading fabulous lives in LA because of salaries/honorariums they've received for doing the reality shows...there's no way the standard intern/receptionist/assistant can afford all of that without a second income from somewhere!

So yeah...The Hills. Not really all that interesting for its own sake, but it certainly provokes some interesting thoughts. Has anyone else ever seen the show? What do you think?

0

Financial Responsibility

As part of my procrastination, ahem, I mean term paper-writing process, I've been spending a lot of time logged into MSN and Facebook (Jordana, you're to blame!), and watching more than my fair share of trash TV. I've been noticing all the ads while I'm at it too, and one in particular has annoyed me so much it deserves its own blog rant. The ad runs on MuchMusic and MTV and is for a "junior version" of the MasterCard. This training credit card is for kids 13-15 who are too young to get a real credit card and, according to the commercials, too old to run to mom and dad everytime they need cash. The parents load the card with a set amount, so it's really more like a debit card than a credit card.

The whole training credit card concept smacks of marketing ploys gone wrong. I mean, if you do get one of these for your kids, are you teaching them financial responsiblity? Not really. All you're teaching your kids is to spend money before they can even earn it, to spend money that's not theirs and to spend beyond their means. In a society where debt levels have reached record highs for the average North American citizen, it's astonishing that we're teaching kids to spend "imaginary" money by teaching them to use credit cards before they understand the importance of good financial habits like saving and budgeting. And forget the "kids are learning about building up credit history" argument. These cards are prepaid by the parents, so the kids don't bear the financial burden and they're not proving themselves loan-worthy by buying on credit and paying their bills on time. So, what does the training MasterCard accomplish? One, it builds up brand consciousness so that by the time these kids are old enough to get real credit cards, they'll consider graduating to a real MasterCard instead of getting a Visa or an American Express. Two, it passes on unsustainable consumerism habits: when these kids do mature, they will spend beyond their means and charge things to their cards for sure, carrying sky-high debt levels for most of their adult lives.

If parents really wanted to give their kids some degree of financial independence while teaching them responsibility, they should just open a debit/chequing account at their bank of choice and deposit their kids' allowances in their accounts every month. Or better yet, just give the kids their allowances in real cash. Forget the hassle of the training credit card. It's all marketing, it's stupid, and it teaches stupid habits.

1

Spring Is In-Store

The appearance of the new spring lines in stores and on websites has set my heart aflutter and my thoughts toward how to update my wardrobe. It's amazing how much fashion can change in just a few seasons. A couple of years ago, there was a full-fledged revival of 1950s fashion thanks to the release of nostalgia-inducing films like Down with Love and Mona Lisa Smile. Ultra-feminine peep-toe pumps, full skirts, and demure details like bows and satin trim flooded the stores.

I must confess that, being a diehard admirer of that look, I've been resistant to adopting the 80's revival aesthetic (long shirts, skinny jeans, tights...kind of like the gondola scenes in Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video except not as drastic). When it first appeared, I thought it was so overtly trendy it would just be a flash in the pan. Well, the new spring stuff has proven me wrong. Long shirts are still hiding (or highlighting, depending on how tightly you wear them...ugh) wobbly bits on waists and hips. Skinny jeans and tights are still here. Times change and styles change...as much as I've tried to hold on to the aesthetic of several seasons past, I guess I will have to change along with them.

However, I don't want to relinquish my personal sense of style in pursuit of trends. Here are some of the pieces I've found in the last few weeks, and how I plan to integrate them into my current wardrobe:

Long tops. At the new Mantique outlet near my house, I found a long (i.e. past my hips) white sweater for about $20. It's a bit see-through and has short ruched sleeves and a deep V, so it looks really good layered over my basic, long-sleeved cotton tees in different colours. Most of my tees aren't long ones , so the sweater turned out to be an easy, inexpensive way of instantly updating my wardrobe by elongating the waistline on older-style tops. I would wear long tops like this with a belt or a patterned scarf or sash at the natural waistline. It breaks up the long-torso-short-legs look that can sometimes result when wearing long tops, and also accents the smallest part of your body. The tops go with jeans beautifully, but I'm thinking of pairing them with dress pants and intricate pumps.

Cropped jackets. Cropped jackets seem so frivolous and have the dangerous possibility of shortening your torso when compared to jackets with more classic cuts. But long tees, tanks, and sweaters seem to demand a shorter blazer to balance out the proportion and break up the long-torso look. I tried to look for one with a belt or seam that would define my natural waistline. With a long top underneath, a cropped jacket can work with any sort of bottom. I want to wear mine with the fuller skirts in my wardrobe for a girly feel.
Bermuda shorts and capris. Being 5'3", for the longest time I couldn't seem to find capris and long shorts that didn't make my legs look stumpy and thick. This season, I found basic cotton capris and bermudas at American Eagle and Old Navy that did neither. I like the look of long shorts paired with platform heels (the higher the better), espadrilles, or low wedges if you're looking for everyday comfort: the high heel elongates the leg and slims down calves and ankles. (Note: Heels are to be avoided unless worn with gel inserts. See below.) The dressy feel of longer shorts and capris would go nicely with the classic-cut cotton blazers and military-inspired light jackets from the last two years.

Low wedges and ballet flats. Because I have to walk and take public transit around the city, I'm a bit of a high-heel-phobe, "high" being anything over 1.5", or a serious impediment when sprinting to catch a bus as it leaves the stop. Most retailers seem to have caught on. A great selection of low wedges and ballerina flats have made their way to stores. One note of caution though: If you succumb to the temptation of white eyelet flats, which seem to be everywhere this season, don't wear them with dark-rinse jeans, or you might end up with blue marks on your pretty, previously immaculate shoes.

That being said, here are a couple of trends I plan to keep on avoiding:

Babydoll dresses. Five words: "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!" This trend is strictly limited to the young and underemployed, since no self-respecting woman over 30 should wear a skirt or dress that short; it's just not age-appropriate (or work-appropriate for any age). It's not exactly the most flattering dress silhouette. Have you seen the Old Navy commercial where tall, thin models prance around in cotton babydoll dresses with radiant smiles on their faces? In reality, the V in the back and the front are way too low-cut for everyday wear unless you layered a cami underneath. The stiff cotton fabric doesn't move or flow, and instead puckers into a tent right under the empire waistline, giving the slimmest woman a 5-months pregnant look.

The appearance of the new spring lines in stores and on websites has set my heart aflutter and my thoughts toward how to update my wardrobe. It's amazing how much fashion can change in just a few seasons. A couple of years ago, there was a full-fledged revival of 1950s fashion thanks to the release of nostalgia-inducing films like Down with Love and Mona Lisa Smile. Ultra-feminine peep-toe pumps, full skirts, and demure details like bows and satin trim flooded the stores.

I must confess that, being a diehard admirer of that look, I've been resistant to adopting the 80's revival aesthetic (long shirts, skinny jeans, tights...kind of like the gondola scenes in Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video except not as drastic). When it first appeared, I thought it was so overtly trendy it would just be a flash in the pan. Well, the new spring stuff has proven me wrong. Long shirts are still hiding (or highlighting, depending on how tightly you wear them...ugh) wobbly bits on waists and hips. Skinny jeans and tights are still here. Times change and styles change...as much as I've tried to hold on to the aesthetic of several seasons past, I guess I will have to change along with them.

However, I don't want to relinquish my personal sense of style in pursuit of trends. Here are some of the pieces I've found in the last few weeks, and how I plan to integrate them into my current wardrobe:

Long tops. At the new Mantique outlet near my house, I found a long (i.e. past my hips) white sweater for about $20. It's a bit see-through and has short ruched sleeves and a deep V, so it looks really good layered over my basic, long-sleeved cotton tees in different colours. Most of my tees aren't long ones , so the sweater turned out to be an easy, inexpensive way of instantly updating my wardrobe by elongating the waistline on older-style tops. I would wear long tops like this with a belt or a patterned scarf or sash at the natural waistline. It breaks up the long-torso-short-legs look that can sometimes result when wearing long tops, and also accents the smallest part of your body. The tops go with jeans beautifully, but I'm thinking of pairing them with dress pants and intricate pumps.

Cropped jackets. Cropped jackets seem so frivolous and have the dangerous possibility of shortening your torso when compared to jackets with more classic cuts. But long tees, tanks, and sweaters seem to demand a shorter blazer to balance out the proportion and break up the long-torso look. I tried to look for one with a belt or seam that would define my natural waistline. With a long top underneath, a cropped jacket can work with any sort of bottom. I want to wear mine with the fuller skirts in my wardrobe for a girly feel.
Bermuda shorts and capris. Being 5'3", for the longest time I couldn't seem to find capris and long shorts that didn't make my legs look stumpy and thick. This season, I found basic cotton capris and bermudas at American Eagle and Old Navy that did neither. I like the look of long shorts paired with platform heels (the higher the better), espadrilles, or low wedges if you're looking for everyday comfort: the high heel elongates the leg and slims down calves and ankles. (Note: Heels are to be avoided unless worn with gel inserts. See below.) The dressy feel of longer shorts and capris would go nicely with the classic-cut cotton blazers and military-inspired light jackets from the last two years.

Low wedges and ballet flats. Because I have to walk and take public transit around the city, I'm a bit of a high-heel-phobe, "high" being anything over 1.5", or a serious impediment when sprinting to catch a bus as it leaves the stop. Most retailers seem to have caught on. A great selection of low wedges and ballerina flats have made their way to stores. One note of caution though: If you succumb to the temptation of white eyelet flats, which seem to be everywhere this season, don't wear them with dark-rinse jeans, or you might end up with blue marks on your pretty, previously immaculate shoes.

That being said, here are a couple of trends I plan to keep on avoiding:

Babydoll dresses. Five words: "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!" This trend is strictly limited to the young and underemployed, since no self-respecting woman over 30 should wear a skirt or dress that short; it's just not age-appropriate (or work-appropriate for any age). It's not exactly the most flattering dress silhouette. Have you seen the Old Navy commercial where tall, thin models prance around in cotton babydoll dresses with radiant smiles on their faces? In reality, the V in the back and the front are way too low-cut for everyday wear unless you layered a cami underneath. The stiff cotton fabric doesn't move or flow, and instead puckers into a tent right under the empire waistline, giving the slimmest woman a 5-months pregnant look.

Skinny pants. Why in the world women would want to wear pants that cling so tightly their legs and calves look like Polish sausages is beyond me. I was infuriated when Gap took its cue from Audrey Hepburn's all-black bohemian outfit in Funny Face to introduce the black skinny pant last fall. First, that sort of cut on a pant only looks good if you've got a build like Audrey's, who, incidentally, used to be a trained dancer and suffered malnutrition during strict WWII rationing. Second, the woman wore so many breathtaking outfits in Funny Face designed by Givenchy; why not take inspiration from those? Why in the world women would want to wear pants that cling so tightly their legs and calves look like Polish sausages is beyond me. I was infuriated when Gap took its cue from Audrey Hepburn's all-black bohemian outfit in Funny Face to introduce the black skinny pant last fall. First, that sort of cut on a pant only looks good if you've got a build like Audrey's, who, incidentally, used to be a trained dancer and suffered malnutrition during strict WWII rationing. Second, the woman wore so many breathtaking outfits in Funny Face designed by Givenchy; why not take inspiration from those?

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