Stampede Style

If you live in Calgary you know that every July our fair city goes country for 10 days. Whether you love it or hate it, the Stampede is almost upon us. Personally, I choose to use the The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth as an excuse to dress up like a country cowgirl. If you like to get into the Stampede spirit and you live here, it is definitely worth it to get yourself some cowgirl boots and a hat. That being said there is really no reason why the rest of your cowgirl emsemble can't be put together with pieces that you will wear again. My friend Amber (check her out at www.amberapproved.ca ) asked me help her pick out an outfit for the Stampede Breakfast that she is hosting. Amber told me that when she first moved to Calgary from a small town she was totally not into anything to do with Stampede style, but she has since come around. Now is an ideal time to pick up some pieces that you can wear for Stampede and beyond, because the boho seventies vibe is so trendy right now. For Amber, we went with a gorgeous white lace maxi dress topped off with a faded denim vest and turquoise jewellery. I am trying to convince her to add a cowboy hat. I will post some pictures after her Stampede Breakfast! Below is a list of some ideas of items you may already have in your wardrobe or things you could purchase and wear again.






Anything with Fringe
Since the seventies are so trendy this spring, fringe is something that is easy to find in stores right now, and you will also look fab wearing it well past those 10 days in July.


This crocheted top with fringe from Urban Outfitters looks really cute and not at all western paired here with black shorts. If you want to really go seventies post-stampede, wear it with high-waist flared jeans. It could also work dressed up with a skirt. For Stampede just add blue denim and a cowboy hat!


I just love this suede fringed wrap skirt! The model has paired it with some western-inspired stiletto booties with would work perfectly for Stampede. I actually just bought a dark brown suede fringed skirt, and I plan to wear it in the fall with lace-up ankle booties. The one above is from ASOS.




Suede really is the material of choice for spring 2015, and this fringed bag from Saint Laurent is not only totally on trend, but goes with any Stampede outfit.



Boho Dresses
A boho dress, short or long, with the right accessories makes a perfect transition from you go-to summer wardrobe to Stampede style.


This dress from Free People paired with light brown fringed booties could work perfectly for Stampede. Just throw a crocheted fringe vest, or a denim vest over it, and you're rodeo ready!
























A maxi dress in the right flowy shape works well, too. Accessorize the same way you would a short one.


Denim All Over
Head to toe denim has been a trend we've seen for a while now, and it's a no brainer that this will work for Stampede.



This denim off-the-shoulder dress from Zara is so cute, and as you can see, this blogger above has styled hers with 100% no western vibes. Add a big cowboy belt, boots and a hat, and you've got your Stampede style in the bag!



Just add the accessories: hat, boots, belt! And you could throw in some turquoise gems as well.



This seventies-inspired denim mini skirt looks great styled as above, but could also be paired with a denim shirt for a full-on blue jeans cowgirl look.



With all this in mind, now you can spend your money on things you will actually wear again, rather than getting yourself a pair of hideously stiff Wranglers and a plaid shirt that you only pull out during Stampede. Giddy up!

The Met Gala: A Little Late

This years Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art looked to the Far East for the theme. China: Through the Looking Glass is this years exhibit, showcasing the stunning fashions of China and the far-reaching influences of Chinese design and culture on fashion around the globe. Unfortunately, the red carpet fashionn was overshadowed by a plethora of naked dresses. It's nothing new, we've all seen Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian mostly naked before. There were a few standouts though.




Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture

She looks like she is heading to an audition for I Dream of Slutty Genie. This is so desperate and trashy, she really doesn't need to be wearing this type of gown (if we can call it a gown). I mean, she's Beyonce, she doesn't need to try so hard. That being said, the floral bejewelled applique is so beautiful and intricate, and if the bodice was covered with this finishing, and only the skirt and sleeves were sheer, I really think that I would have loved it. Instead, she just ended up looking
tacky and hoochie. If she really feels the need to wear this type of thing, she should wear it on stage.


Jennifer Lopez in Versace

This is so so bad. Again, just so desperate! She is arguably the hottest woman at the whole Met Gala, and she makes most women half her age look like trolls, so she has nothing to prove. I suppose now that Kim Kardashian has such a famous ass, J. Lo needed to remind us all that she has the original famous ass. And also show it to us. So unnecessary. I do like that she took the theme into account, though and there is actually a dragon wrapped around her torso.



Amanda Seyfried in Givenchy Haute Couture

I love this look. Normally, I am not a big fan of the unfortunately named "mullet dress" (also known as the high-low dress), but here I love it. The white lace dress is a must-have trend for spring and if you're going to do it, do it right. I love the lace applique with the high halter neck, it's an unexpected combination that I really think works. The hair and makeup are perfect finishing touches for this gown.


Keri Russell in Joseph Altuzarra

I think that this might be my favorite look of the night. The workmanship in this gown made entirely of feathers is just incredible. The metallic green sheen is stunning, and the belted waist is perfect. This actually reminds me of Alexander McQueen's work, which I obviously love.



Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli

Why does this need to be sheer? Just like Beyonce and J. Lo's gowns the workmanship and shape of this is amazing. There are two glaring problems though. The first is the fact that it's completely see through and the second is that this is made for a supermodel body, and is just so unflattering on Kim. The saddest part about this whole sheer extravaganza is that clearly all of them are trying to stand out and be daringly different, which truly falls flat when there are a bunch of other ladies wearing almost the same thing (and in Kim's case, wearing it better than you).



Gigi Hadid in Diane von Furstenburg

A good red dress can be great, but a bad red dress can be a horror show. Luckily, this is a good one. I love the intricate bodice and how it splits in a V at the bottom. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am really loving the coordinating shoes, and these shoes are particularly fierce. I love that she chose to wear DVF who has long been a strong and vocal advocate for American designers and the American fashion industry.






















Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein

While this look does feature a bit more side boob than I normally appreciate, overall this is an amazing gown. The emerald green shade is a favorite of mine and very flattering on Kendall. I think what I love the most about this gown though, is that from afar is appears to be a fairly simple sheath dress with a beautiful finish, but I included a close up shot to show that it is an intricately woven web of crystals and bugle beads in varying shades of green. The full effect is truly incredible, and an excellent representation of the Calvin Klein aesthetic: seemingly simple styles that upon further investigation reveal stunning quality and workmanship.





Rihanna in Guo Pei

The Cowardly Lion wants his look back! I do actually kind of love this, and I also love that she chose to wear an actual Chinese designer, not a designer who just took all their ideas from the Chinese. I also have to applaude Rihanna for making the effort to wear such an enormous ensemble, it must have weighed a tonne!




Sarah Jessica Parker in H&M and Philip Treacy headpiece

I wanted to finish things on an uplifting note...so uplifting in fact that you might see this and mistakenly think that you are high. Or she is. Call me crazy, but the, um "hat" isn't the part that I find the worst. I actually love/hate it. I love it for how insane it is, and she somehow manages to wear this outfit with a serious expression on her face, and not a hint of embarrassment. The dress on the other hand is hideous. Why on earth would you choose to wear H&M when you could choose any couture designer in the world? All together this ensemble will not be forgotten soon, and will bring entertainment to all that see it.




This is the very best though.

What to Wear to a Wedding

Wedding season is almost upon us, and I don't know about you, but I have three to attend this year. Choosing the best outfit to wear can be a conundrum if you leave it to the last minute. Some of the first things to consider when choosing what to wear are the time of year and the venue (the venue will give you an idea of the feel and style of the wedding). In this post I will focus on spring and summer weddings since it is springtime. Personally, I am pretty bored of the basic cocktail dress and anything that could be remotely confused with a bridesmaid gown. However, a NOT basic cocktail dress can be an excellent choice, but there are many other options to choose from as well. A modern choice that can be styled to fit almost any wedding is a romper or jumpsuit.



The loose, flowy look of this style from Nordstrom keeps it appropriate, while the print and fabric are dressy enough to work with heels and more formal accessories. Conversly, it could also be cute with some flat sandals or wedges for a more casual wedding.








This option from Nasty Gal is a bit more structured and definitely feels more formal. The pale pink colour and the ruffled shoulder details combine for a very romantic feel. Unfortunately, the heavy white shoes paired with it here are definitely a no. Instead, try a high-heeled strappy lace-up sandal.
If you are considering a romper for a wedding, please be wary of the length. It's a wedding, not a club, and no one wants to see your bits. Come to think of it, most people don't want to see them at a club either.








This is one of my favorite jumpsuits ever. By Diane Von Furstenberg in a blue "wood" print, this is a glamorous seventies-inspired option, that would work for even the most formal black tie wedding. With a jumpsuit like this fit is everything, so alterations may be necessary to have it look perfect. I like the strappy stiletto sandals that are paired with this, but a sparkly or metallic style would also work for a little more glam factor.




I love, love, love this print! The colours are just stunning in this Rory Beca dress. It could be dressed up or down depending on what kind of wedding you are attending. Adding a glittery stiletto heel and a bold bracelet or a jewelled belt would dress this up, while a tan wedge and a long lariat necklace would give this dress a more casual boho vibe.




This pleated colour-blocked dress from BCBG is a lovely choice for any wedding that veers more towards the formal side of things. The navy and peachy-orange pair together so well, and I love it with a statement cuff.










This dress is my favorite from this list. I love the emerald green shade, the slit (which is just the right length), and the beautiful detail at the neckline. Emerald green is definitely one of my favorite colours to wear as it is universally flattering and can be worn all year round. style is from Topshop and I like it styled their way with a leather jacket to add a bit of edge, but I really am not into those chunky boots with such a delicate gown. A caged bootie or a strappy sandal would work much better.



The accessories are almost as important as the main event, and the wrong ones can ruin a fabulous outfit. The right shoes, handbag and jewellery are the finishing touches needed to bring together the perfect wedding ensemble.





A perfect floral fold-over clutch from Chapters of all places. Yes, the secret is out of the bag: Chapters/Indigo is an excellent place to find great handbags. This style also comes in a number of other shades, including a pretty minty blue-green.


This beautifully woven gold clutch by Bottega Veneta works with almost anything and is a perfect addition to any wedding outfit.





Snakeskin is a perfect neutral choice that goes with so much, but also provides a bit of pattern and texture. This one is by Stuart Weitzman, a brand known for doing excellent embossed exotics leathers.



The master of the caged sandal, Aquazzura, has come up with the perfect match for any of the above looks and so much more.









These butterfly sandals are so pretty, so I decided a gold and a silver option. The gold one is by Sergio Rossi and the silver is Sophia Webster (as previously seen on this blog). The jumpsuit is the only thing I wouldn't really recommend wearing these with since the butterfly detail might get caught on your pant hem. I think they would work best with the rompers since these are shoes meant to be shown off.

The Oscars

The year's biggest red carpet was a bit of a let down for me. While Sunday night's Oscar red carpet did showcase some beautiful gowns, there really wasn't anything that blew me away. Also a disappointment to me was the lack of truly heinous ensembles, which usually provides some comic relief. Overall, I felt like things were a little boring this year. However, there were still some definite standouts, which I have rounded up here for you.




Rosamund Pike in Givenchy
This is gorgeous. I love the intricately detailed fabric and the structured cut of this gown. The scalloped neckline makes me really like the strapless style, which isn't usually my favorite. The matching shoe really keeps everything elegantly formal, and all in all I think this is flawless. This would have to be my top pick of the night.




Cate Blanchett in Maison Margiela and Tiffany necklace
While I wouldn't claim that this is her best look ever, Cate the Great never fails to look effortlessly beautiful. The clean, simple lines of this dress are the perfect backdrop to show off the stunning Tiffany necklace to it's best advantage. Keep it up, Cate.





Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford
I love the simple elegance of this gown. The fit is impecable, which is everything, especially in an unforgiving colour like white. I really like the off-the-shoulder style and the graphic black and white combination. The only thing I don't love is her hair. I don't think a middle part and ear tuck is her best look.



Gwenyth Paltrow in Ralph and Russo Couture
This is one of my favorite looks from the night. I love Gwenyth in pale pink and I really like modern feel of this gown. The structured and sharply tailored shape of the dress is juxtaposed in an unexpected way with the oversized rosette detail on the shoulder. I actually don't think I have ever seen anything like this before, and it was a welcome breath of fresh air; it made me think of spring being just around the corner.






Jennifer Lopez in Elie Saab
I have to commend J. Lo for always going all way. She would never wear anything that underwhelms on a red carpet. In theory this is a gorgeous gown. However, her trashy level of cleavage really doesn't go with the feel of this ethereal princess gown. I also wish that the gown was slightly paler (or that her spray tan was slightly darker), which I think would look more flattering.





Emma Stone in Elie Saab
This girl is on point. This is a tricky colour to wear, but it really does work on porcelain-skinned beauties. I think more people should wear this shade. I love all the intricately beaded detail and the hem is my favorite part, appearing as though leaves are trailing behing her. On a side note, I am kind of into matching your shoes to your gown.








Scarlett Johansson in Atelier Versace
This looks like some sort of Poison Ivy costume. On it's own there is nothing wrong with the dress, the colour is stunning on her, but the necklace looks all kinds of wrong. The two shades of green don't quite match, and the negative space between the necklace and the dress looks really awkward. This is an amazing necklace and it could look fantastic on a different gown. I can imagine this necklace looking beautiful against a high-necked white gown with long sleeves. I also hate this hairstyle, I find no reason why anyone would think this is flattering.




Meryl Streep in Lanvin
So effortless and on point, obviously. It's Meryl Streep, I think that pretty much says everything that needs to be said.







Lady Gaga in Alaia
I really think that this is a stunning gown, and perfect for the Oscars.  That being said, I am baffled by these gloves. When Lady Gaga does her weird thing it's usally weird, yet cool. There is nothing cool about these gloves. It looks like she is going to clean the toilets, or like she got them as part of a children's cowboy costume. It makes me a bit sad that such a gorgeous gown would be blighted by these heinous gloves. She did manage to make up for it somewhat with her amazing performance of songs from The Sound of Music and her surprise introduction of the incomparable Julie Andrews.





Julianne Moore in Chanel Couture
This is a beautiful gown, but I think that it could have been more flattering. The bodice is gorgeous and I love the neckline, but I can't understand why the detailed band would have been put around her hips. It looks odd and unflattering, and really distracts from the stunning detail and intricacy of the beading and sequins on this gown. Overall, she does look beautiful though.





Dakota Johnson in Versace
This is a really beautiful gown but I think it was a little underwhelming for the Academy Awards. I love the asymmetical neckline and the shoulder detail, but I feel extremely let down by her hair. It looks like she just finished a sweaty run. A ponytail can be really polished and beautiful, but this looks pretty messy.

The Seventies Are Back

My ultimate favorite trend for spring 2015 is definitely, hands down, the 1970s. While I have I really loved seventies style for a while now, it really emerged as a strong trend on the spring runways. There are a few different ways to wear this trend. Seventies glam with plunging necklines, lame, jumpsuits, vivid makeup, and epic platforms is one way to go. Think Bianca Jagger at Studio 54. Think David Bowie. The other option is seventies boho hippie. Think majorly flared denim, suede, fringe, crochet, flowing dresses, and furry vests. To get this look think of Kate Hudson as Penny Lane in Almost Famous and Jenny from Forrest Gump. Think Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull.









Bianca Jagger at Studio 54 working a fox, and a satin jumpsuit.



Kate Hudson as Penny Lane.


Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull in their full-on seventies groupie regalia.




It should be noted, however, that the ultimate seventies babe who embodied both versions of this trends impecably is Cher. This woman alledgedly invented flares. God love her.








Cher working an epic flared stage outfit and looking like a glam Pocahontas.






This is beyond epic. The matching cropped halter top and pants combo, the turquoise jewellery, the glam makeup, and that coat...I think I may have found my Halloween costume for this year.




To avoid appearing as if you are in costume do not wear a matching crop top and flares combo. Do not combine feathers, lame, sequins, and fur. Try to balance the elements of your outfit with a combintation of seventies pieces and more modern pieces. For exmple, try some flared denim with a suede bag and a modern leather jacket. Or a flowy shirt dress paired with boots in a modern print, as seen at Gucci spring/summer 2015.



A look from Gucci s/s 2015.









More Gucci s/s 2015 looks. Adding some rich suede into your spring wardrobe, especially in a colour that's not black, is an excellent way to inject some seventies feeling into your look. I'm really loving the suede trench, which reminds me of a much more chic and sophisticated version of one I had in high school.







Proenza Schouler s/s 2015. If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I just adore fringe. Lucky for me, it fits in perfectly with the seventies trend! Proenza Schouler did some amazing fringe for spring, with the ankle ankle grazing fringe skirts that graced their runway.







Some looks from the Altuzarra s/s 2015 runway show. This collection is definitely a more subtle homage to the seventies than the Gucci collection, but I love it. The hints of 1970s come through in the thigh slit skirts, the plunging necklines, gold lame pants, and the woven leather skirt and vests.




























Chloe s/s 2015. I love, love, love this collection. All the flowing dresses are so dreamy, and I love the white poncho. This collection even made me like gladiator sandals which I don't normally go for. This is a perfect modern interpretation of the 1970s.
I can hardly wait for spring to come so that I can release my inner seventies hippie-boho/disco queen!