Approaching clothes as an investment

As I pulled on a comfy three year old H&M sweater that was barely used, I couldn’t help but notice the familiar signs of distress and aging on clothing: the garment had lost some structure, some of the colour had faded, and the fabric was starting to pill. I couldn’t help but recall raiding my Aunt’s wardrobe with pieces she had kept and preserved from the 70s – mostly self-made and tailor-made garments that still looked almost new. And some of the less dated garments I happily decided to adopt and incorporate into my wardrobe, with the occasional, “Where’d you get that?” 

And it seems that Dame Vivenne Westwood corroborates my sentiment. After her North London show in September, she said: Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody’s buying far too many clothes. [Source.]

In the age where the corporate chain is ubiquitous, the lowest cost garment seems to hold the most appeal. But to discover our aesthetic values, to pay close attention to design, detail and construction, and choose the timeless silhouettes that could be resurrected in our wardrobes year after year, holds a kind of higher order pleasure. The choice is obvious but it’s so much harder to enact, and maybe we should take the time to focus on why it’s so difficult.

What’s your colour profile?

Fall 2013 Trend Report

The air is notably cooler and crisper. I’ve noticed the fun pastels and floral prints of Spring and Summer transitioning into the warmer and darker toned colour palettes. And as we begin to unveil our new Fall collection, it certainly feels like Christmas has come early! Here are some of my favourite emerging trends for this Fall.

 

Plaid and Academic-inspired prints like Argyle are making a reliable come back this year. Navy is also a pretty prominent colour this season – a perfect and sophisticated re-interpretation of tired black.  It makes for an easy classic-casual look to throw together.  While not pictured here, tweed is a resurgent fabric also secondary to this academic-inspired trend. The knee-high knit socks seen in this model’s outfit is reminiscent of another big trend this season…

 

Thigh-highs! These boots in Camel are a sure way to increase to sex-appeal of any outfit.

 

The Pantone declared colour of the season is this rich hue of Emerald Green as seen above a mid-century style. And as a welcome continuation from the Spring season, are lush velvet fabrics.

 

Leather continues to be the strong statement material for the season.  Alexa Chung is sporting the monochromatic look in Burgundy, pulling the look together with a classic turtleneck.

The theme for this season is one of overwhelming CONTRAST. From the menswear inspired broad-shouldered and oversized coats, to the feminine but structured mid-century inspired womenswear. There are brilliant dyed hues and textured furs, meshes and metallics but subdued and expected Fall palettes. Tartan and plaid punk and grunge meets preppy back-to-school. This season is certainly an exciting one for fashion, and you’re sure to encounter one major trend that speaks to your sense of style.

Summertime Skincare

Now that the warmer weather is finally in season, I proffer a few of my own skincare rituals for the season.

Getting regular facials is important for maintaining that healthy glow and keeping your pores clean and rejuvenated. Whether or not you can go to the spa, there are also some great homecare rituals you can make use of. Investing in a good at home mini-peel is imperative for keeping that dead skin off and revealing the fresh layer underneath. If you don’t want to use any harsh chemicals on your face, I’ve found that Dead Sea exfoliating products, whether in the form of a salt or clay tends to work wonders.

If you want to get even more basic than that, baking soda, or a baking soda and salt or salt and lime exfoliating scrub will keep your skin smooth. This is also majorly cheap and effective for looking beautiful and taking care of your skin. Make sure not to overdo it on the exfoliation though. Leave it for a few times a week or once a week depending on how harsh your regime is.

Instead of using a heavy foundation, the latest craze that’s apparently been a Korean film starlet secret for years is something called B.B. Cream. This will even out your skin tone, it’s fresh and dewy and the coverage is AMAZING. They are also relatively inexpensive and act as good substitute for those heavy foundations in summer.

BOLD spring BEAUTY

A few dramatic but easy to achieve looks to get a lot of attention this Spring.

Duo-Tone Lips

As seen above, Fuchsia and Coral are two hot spring colours guaranteed to get a reaction alone, and definitely when paired together.

Nude nail art

Understated but elegant and full of personality.

Coloured Mascara

To pull this look off, offset with subtle lip colour and blush.