In Other News....

I have been doing some writing for Plaid Magazine so please check out more of my Fashion Week coverage there as well :)
One last day of Canadian fashion and then it's time for the weekend! 

Knokke Out

 So sorry for the lack of posts, but every now and then a girl finds herself in a gorgeous Belgian beach town with no internet for ten days. Under any other circumstances I would have been frustrated to be without my computer, but this town just happens to be so chic that Louis Vuitton has designed a bag in honour of it (I know right?!) so I have absolutely no need to complain. Instead of posting, my repertoire of activities now includes swimming in the ocean, taste testing Belgium's extensive list of specialties (beer, waffles and chocolate, oh my!), boardwalk runs, late night reads and of course, just a liiiiitttle bit of shopping. My fave Belgian find? Massimo Dutti. Similar to Zara in terms of price, but the style is a little more classic than trendy and the clothing is made from fabrics I actually recognize the name of (think a heavenly dark gray sweater dress made from cotton, silk and cashmere for $80). They have no stores in Canada just yet so I am now on an extreme search for a job that requires me to fly to Europe frequently throughout the year. Anyone interesting in adoring their A/W 2010 looks with me?

Summertime Struggles

comptoir des cotonniers
Every year, around one month into the season, summer leaves me struggling with an exhausting case of sartorial confusion. While I begin the summer like any Canadian, exceptionally grateful for the warm sunshine, I soon find myself hot, sweaty and discouraged by the remarkable downsizing that appears to have occurred in my closet. While I may be the proud owner of oodles of tank tops and a growing collection of sundresses, after thirty days I find myself sincerely bored and deeply disappointed by my wardrobe. I subsequently go through the motions of trying to boost my selection with new purchases only to realize that, for once, shopping is not the solution.

This year, I have finally realized what the problem is: I have yet to find my summer style amongst my summer clothes. Tank top after tank top, sundress after miniskirt, the problem with my wardrobe is that it BORES me. When the humidity makes you feel like your body is begging for a starring role in Sweat Stains R Us, the idea of accessorizing with a belt, cute new blazer or, heaven forbid, closed toed shoes is totally unreasonable. Belts bring clothes closer to the body (oh god), blazers end up wrinkled beyond any acceptable degree because you pry it from your sticky shoulders about 20 times in one day (the horror!), and closed toed shoes? Sure, try it for a week and tell me how many friends still invite you into their homes, or if they do, insist you keep your shoes on. They are not doing this because your new flats are cute. They are doing this because you have no socks on your sweaty, dirty feet and a fresh pedicure cannot even fully cover up the smell.

This is why in winter we say we have ‘staples’ from which we can make any fantastic number of varied, gorgeous outfits through the long-practiced art of mixing and matching. I, for one, am partial to my JBRAND skinnies, Bloch ballerina flats, Vince cardigan and whatever happens to be my scarf of the moment. The recent return of wool tights has allowed the incorporation of (tasteful) shorts and skirts into cold-weather wardrobes. Fantastic boots immediately add class to any outfit. Dressing exclusively in grey, navy, black and the occasional jewel tone does not make you look depressing, it makes you look sophisticated! It’s wonderful. Plain and simple.

Yet summer is the season of the ‘uniform’. How often do you hear phrases similar to, ‘I honestly LIVE in my cut-off denim shorts, oversized tanks and havianas during July.’ Of course you do, because your body refuses to let any more clothing touch its sweltering surface. I don't mean to sound angry at the people who say this, if anything, I am simply jealous. Because there are plenty of people who look GREAT in their summer uniform. The simplicity works for them and they absolutely revel in it. Some way, some how, they turn tanks and shorts from basic to awesome and I am completely envious that this is their reality. Of course, just because you like summer dressing does not mean you succeed at it. For example, the ‘bikini as top’ look that far too frequently turns my expression into one of horror every time I encounter it on the street is NOT a reflection of someone fully in demand of their summer style. It is a reflection of someone who has been misled by Britney’s paparazzi pictures.

But back to those who achieve fashion wonders in the heat. How do you do it? Where do you get your flair? How do you make it interesting? How do you avoid looking like a hawt, frizzy, mess? Because as desperate as I may be for September, this desperation is fiercely matched by my plea for summer style help.

Two posts in one day! (I know this never happens...)

But BEFORE I got my partypants on, Friday was also the day I got to do a little 'modeling' for a few of my classmates! I'm such a ham for the cam so obviously it was waaaay up my alley. Dressing up in gorgeous frocks and working on my poses?? AB.SO.LUTELY! Here are a few behind-the-scenes pics I stole from my friend K, hope you like them!

So THIS is how they party in Paris

Last Friday we did it up French style at the Diesel Fluo Party. The theme was neon - complete with glowstick bunny ears and sunglasses. The club was Bagatelle. The drinks were Goose. And the music was everybody's version of amazing. Sorry I didn't take many photos, but you can tell it was unreal, right?

 Dress: vintage. Shoes: Vince Camuto

Step by step

It's been crazytimes since I arrived and I am definitely still adjusting to the Parisian lifestyle, but instead of burdening you guys with the downs, let's just focus on the ups, which happen to include an amazing exhibit on Yves Saint Laurent at the Petit Palais (the highlight for me was a full wall of every version of the 'Smoking'....UNREAL) I could not get enough of this, I seriously wish they had let me take photos because the presentation of this exhibit was so beyond. But at the same time, I sincerely feel that you all should just jet over to Paris and see the thing for yourself. Luckily though, photos were allowed of the outside and cause this place is a PALACE it made for some fab shots!

 

The view of the gardens as I ate lunch. Aaaaaahmazing.