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!

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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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?