Trending Now: The Dos and Don'ts of Sneakers

A while back, I published a "trend alert" about Wedge Sneakers. It soon became the blog’s most viewed post. Women of the world shouted hurray for comfort! Months later, the wedge sneaker is still a must-have accessory, perfect for the fast approaching fall weather. Recently however, I’ve been spotting a new version of the trend  *drum roll*  Ze Sneaker. I’m not talking Isabel Marant here, I’m talking Nike, Adidas... the classics! Many of you are thinking “Whoa, we were on board with the wedge, but gym shoes ain’t sexy!” I assure you ladies that once you’ve seen the following pics, you’ll be running out to get a pair.

 

Here are my dos and don’ts regarding sneaker wear:  1) Your gym shoes and your fashion statement should not be one and the same. Leave the sole support in your locker  2) Go for a thinner, sleeker shoe. They will pair up perfectly with a skinny jean  3) Don’t be shy to roll up your pants and show off a little ankle  4) Don’t rock a skirt with this look. Now’s the time to showcase your androgynous side and play up your femininity with simple pink lips, loose curls and full lashes  5) Don’t downgrade your accessories. Bring out your favourite oversized purse, manicured white nails, and sexy shades.

 

 

 

For the Men!

I’ve been asked several times to write about menswear... as Hubby lovingly pointed out: “You ALWAYS tell ME what to wear; why not go for it on the blog?” Touché!

For one, if you look like Joseph Gordon-Lewitt and/or rock like Paul McCartney, you can do no harm in my book. Second: if you are contemplating growing a beard, now’s your window of opportunity. When did beards get so HOT? Love them. Fellows: grow them! Please remember that today marks the first day of Movember, which means that you can get a head start by growing a moustache and help raise awareness for prostate cancer. Sexy and caring? Swoon!

Here are some manly bullet points:

·        Yup, bow ties are cool.

·        For men as for women, jewel tones are all the rage... (Yet, somehow, saying “jewel tones” isn’t virile.) Buy your guy a maroon sweater/shirt/jacket/scarf but drop the “jewel” description.

·        Velvet and corduroy are making a comeback this fall: old-world durability meets modern chic!

·        Sweaters: a cozy man is a happy man. But please, do roll up your sleeves: the ladies want to see your sexy forearms!

·        All women love a man in a suit. It’s as simple as that. A well-dressed gentleman is an instant classic (and an instant hit).

·        And finally: Other items for which you should keep an eye out? Plaid, kaki, leather and studs should find their way into your closet this season!

Trend Alert: Wedge Sneakers

Now this is a blast from the past! I remember being in sixth grade and wanting to be on the basketball team solely (solely – get it?) for the cool sneakers! Thanks to the designer Isabel Marant, I’m given a second chance to rock the look! Wedge sneakers... a gift from heaven. They elongate your legs and keep your feet comfortable. What’s not to like? Wear them for a shopping date with a buttoned-down shirt and skinny jeans; to a party with a sharp tailored jacket and black leather tights or even to brunch with a contrasting girly skirt! To avoid having your pants bunch up at the ankle, be sure to get them hemmed accordingly.

 

Clockwork from top brown shoes: 1. See By Chloe Tan Wedge Sneakers / 2. Steve Madden Olympiaa Sneakers / 3. Carvela Kurt Geiger Sparkle Wedge Sneaker / 4. Chloe Red Wedge Sneakers / 5. River Island Black Wedge High Tops / 6. Isabel Marant Bazil python basket sneaker / 7. Isabel Marant Betty leather and suede wedge sneakers
 

 

Image via

 

 

How to Wear Burgundy Pants

After going through a season of devotion towards green pants (remember this post?), I’ve switched to burgundy. A surprising fall neutral, wine-coloured pants can easily be worn at work or for a night out on the town. Since purchasing mine at ZARA's, I’ve worn them almost daily and have become quite skilled at mixing and matching to give a fresh new look every time. Don't be shy to combine with shades of emerald, marigold, navy, and of course, winter whites! 

Look 1: Stella McCartney Alyss draped silk blouse & Kenzo x Vans print sneakers / Look 2: 3.1 Phillip Lim silk-chiffon and crepe de chine blouse & Gucci Mischa suede ankle boots / Look 3: Etro Tweed Poncho & Marc by Marc Jacobs lace-up shoes / Look 4: 3.1 Phillip Lim satin-twill peplum top & Valentino studded calf hair pumps.

Here are a few wonderful examples of how to rock the oxblood/wine/burgundy (pick your synonym) trend!

Currently Craving: Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector

 

Remember when I felt like a rock star for interviewing Michelle from BeautyEditor.ca? At the time, I asked her about upcoming must-have fall products. She mentioned a few eyeliners and mascaras, and ended with this infuriating teaser: “The last product is a new foundation but I'm not sure that I'm allowed to mention the brand or the concept yet. All I will say is that it's like nothing you've seen before, and it blows BB Creams out of the water.” Try as I might, she would not spill the beans. Well today, SHE HAS, describing it as “FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!”

 

The must-have beauty item I’m picking up this weekend is Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector. In the words of Linda Cantello, Make-up Artist for Giorgio Armani Cosmetics: “It’s not a foundation, it’s a complexion perfector. A whole new generation of make-up that feels incredible, looks invisible and makes skin appear luminous every time. Anyone can wear it.”  Will you be giving it a try?

Update: Check out the review by clicking HERE!

Transitioning from Summer to Fall

I received an email request last weekend – and it’s a great question! “We've definitely moved into fall but I still want to wear some of my summer clothing, with its bold and fun colours. Any suggestions for a smooth transition?”

We purchase such beautiful spring and summer items only to disregard them once the leaves start to change. As a challenge, I revisited two older posts I wrote celebrating flashy colours and fun accessories: Summer Wardrobe Essentials and Spring Brights. I then combined them to my new Five Trends to Update your Fall Wardrobe. Here are the results:

 

(For more information regarding individual items, see links above.)

 

Keep an eye out for interesting summer/fall colour combinations. For example, turquoise is a great match with kaki and emerald. Navy can be mixed and matched with most bright shades, such as green, yellow and orange. Don’t be shy to add a few bright pink accessories to a plum ensemble or a neon necklace to a charcoal dress. You can also play with textures by combining summery silks with fall knits. To help you out, here are few pictures of some of my favourite bloggers as they transition from warm to chilly weather.

 

 

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My Favourite Colour

Fashionistas worldwide are high-fiving their computer screens, proudly saying “I just knew plum would be a hot trend this fall.” I know, because I’m one of them. We think we are avant-garde, yet we predict the obvious... (SPOILER: I’m telling you NOW, in the fall of 2000-and-a-million, the trend will be... wait for it... jewel tones!) One trend that isn’t so obvious, and that crept up last year after a decade hiatus, is marigold. By far my favourite colour, this golden yellow is a shade to add to your wardrobe, home decor... and even dinner!

 

Images via

What’s your favourite colour?

 

Should My Nails Match My Makeup?

Here’s a brand new question posted on PMT’s facebook page: "I just purchased new nail polish by Essie: Merino Cool. Now my question is... does my makeup need to be in similar tones?"

Well, my dear, I’m glad you asked. In short: no. There are no rules! I tend to paint my nails on Sunday afternoon (right smack in the middle of doing chores... “Oh, soooorry... No, I can’t help you fold the laundry... my nails are drying...”  Evil, I know). I chose my nail polish in function of my mood (...and trends). Your everyday makeup should also reflect your mood and improve your complexion. If the shades found in Merino Cool aren’t suitable for your skin tone, don’t force it! Your fingers are nowhere near your face, so you don’t need to worry about them clashing. However, if you feel more comfortable with the uniformity of matching makeup and nails, the easiest colours to pull off are orchid and red (both super hot trends this fall).  Here are two different options for you to rock your new nail polish:

 

 

 

To Match?

1. Kate Von D’s Shade Shifter Eyeshadow in On The Road / 2. Essie’s Merino Cool / 3. Rouge Shine Lipstick no. 43 by Sephora / 4. NARS Illuminator in Copacabana, a glistening pearl shade / 5. Revlon’s lip gloss in Lilac Pastelle

 

Or to Mix?

1. Kate Von D Tattoo Liner / 2. bareMinerals eye shadow duo The Phenomenon, combining Azure Iris and Golden Iris / 3. Creamy Lip Colour by Bobbi Brown in Pink Ballet / 4. MAC’s new Light Dirty Rose Beige / 5. Essie’s Merino Cool

 

Burgundy Lips

Have you been contemplating purchasing deep burgundy lipstick, but are still unsure about this fall trend? I hear ya! It can be scary since dark colours will easily wash you out or look Halloween-y if you don’t do it right.

 

 

A dark lipstick must be chosen wisely. What suits your complexion? Plum, violet, espresso or berry? (I still remember rocking the espresso shade in the nineties – so forgive me if I stay far from this one.)  1. CHANEL’s Baroque Rouge Coco Lipstick is a combination of berry, brown and ruby. As for most dark lipsticks, be sure to add liner for fuller coverage.  2. KATE VON D’s Painted Love in Homegirl is a dark plum. Its matte finish will look good on you fair skinned ladies. Since Miss Von D pretty much embodies vampy baroque, I trust her to make a sexy dark lipstick.  3. MAKE UP FOR EVER #49 is described as a satin blueberry. I must admit that I have a new obsession with MUFO products. They are creamy and highly pigmented.  4. REVLON Colourburst in Plum is a light wine colour. It’s a good starter to test off the trend as its price point is fairly low. Remember to exfoliate your lips before applying your lipstick since darker shades will highlight imperfections and flakes. Be bold & Have fun!

 

 

Five Trends to Update your Fall Wardrobe

As the cooler weather seems to be settling in, I got together with my girlfriends to discuss the hot trends for the new season. Keep reading to find out which five trends you won't want to live without!

 

JACKET: Rag & Bone Pascal Jacket / CLUTCH: Zara Studded Evening Box Bag / PANTS: Current Elliott, The Ankle Skinny / NECKLACE: Dolce & Gabbana Gold-plated glass pearl necklace / SWEATER: Alexander McQueen Fine-knit wool peplum top / SHOES: Zara High Heel Sandal with Ankle Strap / DRESS: Dolce & Gabbana Cherub and floral-print dress / PURSE: 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli leather tote / NAILS: Stylenomics by Essie

 

 

1. LEATHER: This season, we’re seeing leather incorporated in most pieces of clothing; from classic leather jackets, purses and pants to the detailing on sweaters, skirts and accessories.

 

2: STUDS: Studs and spikes give you an instant edge. For the epitome of rocker-chic, I suggest adding a studded purse or a spiked silk blouse to your wardrobe.

 

3: JEWEL TONES: Ruby, emerald and sapphire have a way of coming back from year to year. Jewel tones work great together, so don’t be shy to play with patterns and colour blocking. Since these shades are timeless, invest is some key pieces such as a forest green coat, navy purse or rich burgundy pants.  

 

4: SERIOUS BLING: Crystals, rhinestones, gold and statement necklaces (like the Collar Trend) are all the rage. You can easily update your wardrobe with a bold cuff or a little bedazzling (so retro – yet so cool!).

 

5: CAMOUFLAGE: Camouflage is to fall what bold floral was to spring. We’ve seen great pieces on the runway, which incorporate all the season’s hottest trends: leather, studs, crystals and jewel tones... the most common of which is the glitter spiked camo jacket.

 

Which trend will you be adding to your shopping list?

 

How to Rock the Collar Trend

The oversized collar has been a rising trend since last fall, appearing on the runway for Emilio Pucci, Mui Mui and Louis Vuitton. While D was guest posting for PMT, she wrote: “Necklaces shaped like fake collars are very trendy these days. Not so sure about that one… I’ll ask Emily to do some research and write a post about it.” This was in late August. Yesterday, D sends me an email titled “...even Willow's doing it.” OK, OK! I got the hint. Here’s your Collar Post, my dear!

A detachable collar updates an outfit without any major expense. (Honestly…WTF will show you that it’s also an easy DIY.) Don’t be shy to experiment with color, print or embellishments! The Peter Pan collar is the sweetest, girliest choice. A hot trend back in the 1960′s, a rounded collar is a fun way to add pizzazz to a simple t-shirt, or make an evening dress more playful. For a crisp, masculine look, follow the footsteps of Cupcakes & Cashmere and opt for a pointed Tuxedo collar.  

You will find some awesome (and affordable!) choices at H&M, Zara and Forever 21.

Tell me: Will you be rocking this trend?

Top 10: Fall Edition

Yesterday afternoon, Montreal was hit with torrential downpours. This morning, the city woke up to a beautiful crisp fall morning. Hubby and I will walk downtown to breathe in the change of season... and I’ll be stocking up on a few beauty essentials. You’ve read my “Top 10” beauty posts, but here is September’s updated version:

 

1. FOUNDATION: Cover FX, pressed mineral powder foundation with SPF 10 / 2. LIPSTICK: Orange Flip by Revlon. I often layer mine with Artdeco’s pale pink Lip Brillance #64 / 3. BROW PENCIL: Lancôme's all-in-one essential for natural-looking brows: Le Crayon Poudre / 4. CONCEALER: The miraculous Boi-ing by Benefit / 5. PRIMER: It’s smooth sailing with Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer / 6. EYELINER: I can’t live without eyeliner and Stila’s has proven the test of time / 7. MASCARA: Artdeco All-in-one Mascara. I have it in black and blue, layering both shades / 8. NAIL POLISH: Geranium by Essie is a great “in between seasons” shade / 9. EYE CREAM: Kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocado... now that I’m 30, I’m realizing that eye cream is not a luxury purchase. Pout. / 10. DRY SHAMPOO: The best of the best is Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo.