My Favorite Summer Trend of All Time

Since I only got a fleeting glimpse of Princess Kate in a covered car driving really fast, with the window almost all way up, I can't give much commentary on her outfit. Instead, I will be discussing, in my opinion, the best summer fashion trend of all time: nautical. All things nautical seem to be in fashion every summer, so I'm not sure I would even consider it a trend, more like a classic look with staying power. Based on this argument, picking up some sailor-influenced pieces is an investment in your fashion future rather than an impulsive frivolity. I love how clean and crisp nautical attire looks. Combinations of navy, white, red, and yellow are my favorites. The best finishing touches are gold jewellery and some rope wedges.


Christian Dior s/s 2011

While the sailor hat might be a bit costume-y for real life, the rope sandals are perfection.


Keira Knightly loves her sailor pants. I think they would a lot better if she wore them longer with some chunky heels for a leg-legthening look. Now is the perfect time to find a pair; with the seventies back in full-force there are plenty to be had.

An ad for the French label, Petit Bateau, the makers of the original iconic sailor shirt. Always a classic choice.

Sperry Topsiders, not just for preppy guys from the East coast anymore, now come in so many fun colours and prints. I especially like the metallic and the plaid ones I've seen in stores. Super comfy as well as cute!

Love, love, love this dress from H & M! I bought it myself inthe navy and white version. My favorite part is the rope detailing on the straps.

Christian Louboutin s/s 2011

These would look amazing with some white wide-leg sailor pants, or with the H & M dress, shown above.

Miu Miu clogs s/s 2011.

I love these clogs! So cute. Perhaps a bit trendier than a wedge, but if you can have it all, why not?

I own this Vero Moda jacket from the spring 2011 collection. I love it worn with seventies-style bell-bottom jeans. I always get compliments!

A final piece of advice, I would avoid wearing more than two nautical pieces in one outfit. This can make you look like you are wearing a costume. Wear it while you can, because summer in Canada never lasts long, and most of this would look ridiculous in the winter.

The Duchess of Cambridge Does Canada

While I am in agreeance with much of the fashion community that Catherine Middleton is no fashion fore-runner, I do think she possesses a certain classic chic-ness which is the ideal personal style for a future queen. It's hard to go anywhere but downhill from a custom Alexander McQueen wedding gown, any fashionistas dream come true, but Kate did have a few standout ensembles for her first official tour to Canada.

I'm sure you all know that I am a sucker for a fascinator, so here we have Kate on Canada Day in Ottawa, wearing one decorated with maple leaves. Who knew maple leaves could be so chic? Her dress is from Reiss, (and apparently she's been seen wearing it before!) which is a high street (non-designer) store in London, and her shoes are LK Bennett, also from the high street. How thrifty!

With the pennies she saved on the previous outfit, it looks like Kate went all out with a nautical McQueen dress and Prada shoes!




Deplaning for her first steps in North America, wearing Canadian designer Erdem, and more LK Bennett shoes. It's nice to see her in a print, as she generally sticks to solids.


Here we have the most boring outfit worn by Kate so far in Canada. Yawn.


For some evening festivities on Canada Day, Kate chose one of her longtime favorites, Issa. While Issa dresses are always flattering on the Duchess, this bright purple one is a bit more of a standout than some of her past choices. I also like that she changed up her hair. Speaking of changing up your hair, William's hair seems to be changing as well. It's going from being there to being gone, and he really needs to just embrace the baldness. Or get plugs. Anything other than a bald spot or comb-over. Not cute. I'm going to the Calgary Stampede Parade tomorrow and I will let you know how she looks!!! And how the bald spot looks.

A Fashion Moment

I wanted to share a recent fashion moment with everyone. Out on the town with Miss Vanessa Cuppen, my BF and his friend.




The dress was free (a parting gift from my fantastic friend, Sarah Sugandy) and the shoes are Miu Miu! Next time I need a classier venue...the bathroom doesn't quite do this outfit justice.
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Lynn Cuppen.

Dream Job: Becoming the Fashion Police

Big news! Soon one of my lifelong dreams will be coming true and I will become a fashion police officer, along with my trusted parter in fashion-crime prevention, Vanessa Cuppen (see her blog at http://www.twithvlc.blogspot.com/). A very talented makeup artist (who is also tres awesome) is a wizz with the makeup, but tells me she is a bit clueless about what to wear. Now, she is far from Fash-Ho of the week (a phrase coined by my new hero, Joan Rovers, on her show Fashion Police - more on that later), but she could use a little help. And don't worry, we won't be mean!!!! I haven't asked her yet, but I'm hoping she will let me blog the transformation. Cross your fingers!


Back to Fashion Police, the most amazing show I have encountered in some time. I want to be Kelly Osbourne's friend, she is awesome and generally I agree with her assessments. There are no words to describe the amazement that is Joan Rivers. Of course there has to be a gay guy on the show, George, who always laughs extra hard at Joans inappropriate jokes. And then, sadly they rounded out this trio of wonderment, with Giuliana Rancic. Who is TERRIBLE. And also TERRIFYING. Both in her lack of body fat or muscle, and in her orange skin tone. Each week, there are "must-see looks" some are good, some are bad and at the end of the episode the worst is deemed "Fash-Ho of the Week" by Joan. I think that Giuliana needs to get that award. Anyway, everyone please watch it and let me know!!!!



Joan Rivers dressed up as Fash-Ho of the Week winner, Snookie.


Snookie, in the outfit that won her the award.


Here is Giuliana...the Fashion Police officer than needs to be arrested!!! Bad hair, bad tan, bad lack of body fat, bad outfit. FASH-HO!!!



Kelly Osbourne: not a fash-ho!


Can't you imagine me in the place of the fash-ho on the far right?

Savage Beauty

The Metropolitian Museum's Costume Institute Gala this year paid tribute to the late, great Alexander McQueen. The exhibit featuring some of his most fantastical creations is appropriately titled, Savage Beauty. The waiters all wore tartan sashes as a tribute to McQueen's Scottish heritage. I so wish I could go to New York and see this! The only ladies I am showing you below, are the ones wearing McQueen. I feel that wearing anything else is somewhat disrespectful, given the fact that the gala is supposed to be celebration of him. It's surprising how many chose not to wear the designer! Shocking, really. Who wouldn't want to wear Alexander McQueen?








Salma Hayek, who served as a chair for the Gala. Clutch also by Alexander McQueen.




Gisele, who always looks stunning at the Met Gala. Some models seem to never learn a thing about style, but this bitch knows.

Daphne Guiness. This piece really was only meant for the runway, so obviously she would choose to wear it.

Sarah Jessical Parker. I love the nude colour!

Naomi Campbell in another look that on any other night should stay on the runway. I must commend her and Ms. Guiness for not playing it safe on an evening dedicated to the man who never played it safe. Daphne Guiness kinda dresses like this all the time, though.

Coco Rocha

Models Liu Wen and Constance Jablonski with John Demsey

Hilary Rhoda

Sarah Burton, the current designer at Aleander McQueen, who has been infusing the line with her own touch, while letting the true colours of Lee Alexander McQueen still shine through.

Alexander McQueen with Sarah Jessica Parker as his date at the only Met Gala he ever attended, Anglomania in 2006.

He will forever live on in the hearts of fashionistas everywhere.

If you care to see what everyone else wore go to style.com and look under people and parties.

The Hats of the Royal Wedding

I've always wanted to go to a British wedding so that I could have a reason to wear a fabulous hat, preferably by Philip Treacy. I have an amazing black feather fascinator, but there is really nowhere to wear it in Calgary. The royal wedding only solidified my desire to attend a wedding in jolly old England. While none of the guests came close to looking as good as the bride, some of them did have pretty fierce hats.


Zara Phillips in a Philip Treacy hat.




Three blondes in three whimsical fascinators - William's cousins on his mother's side.




Princess Michael of Kent - faboosh.




Lady Sophie Windsor in a Philip Treacy hat and Armani suit.




Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy looking like a hot mess. As usual.



Camilla Duchess of Cornwall in a Philip Treacy hat. This bitch knows how to wear a hat.

Victoria Beckham in a dress of her own design, a Philip Treacy hat, and the highest Christian Louboutins currently in production. There is something I find a little weird about this hat; it looks like a giant beetle. She has the best accessory of any of the guests, however: David Beckham.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in a Philip Treacy hat. The British socialite, who was once a nanny for Prince William and Prince Harry, was supposedly trying to detract from her coke-ravaged nose which has caved in. Apparently, she is now clean and has had fillers put in her nose in an attempt to counteract the damage from her previous 400 pound (about $700) a day habit.

Oh no. Princess Eugenie in blue Vivienne Westwood and a Philip Treacy hat and Princess Beatrice in Valentino and a Philip Treacy hat. So far the best reviews I've heard of these two are "They look straight out of Alice in Wonderland" and, my favorite "They look like the Ugly Stepsisters." Ouch.

The Duchess of Cambridge Chooses McQueen for the Royal Wedding

Kate Middleton, now Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, chose to wear a dress by Sarah Burton from the house of Alexander McQueen for the most important day of her life. The dress will go down in history as classic, elegant, and beautiful. Similar to the wedding dress worn by Princess Grace of Monaco, it featured long lace sleeves, a full skirt, and a two metre train. Prince William was clearly impressed by the gown as we could see him saying "You look beautiful," as his bride arrived at the altar.
Choosing McQueen is a perfect tribute to the designer, who was often inspired by the royal family in his designs. The dress worn by the maid of honour and sister of the bride, Pippa Middleton, was also McQueen.
The tiara worn by Kate was her "something borrowed" from Queen Elizabeth, who was given it by her mother on her eighteenth birthday. Her earrings were a gift from her parents and featured a diamond oak leaf with a tiny diamond acorn, to represent the new Middleton family coat of arms.
It was certainly a day for the history for the history books! Up next: The Hats of the Royal Wedding.



The bride and her sister.



The train, featuring hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace.


Waving to the crowds.



Her diamond earrings.


Pippa Middleton, also looking gorgeous. Prince Harry really needs to get with her!


The carriage ride from Westminister Abbey to Buckingham Palace.


The radiant bride.


The kiss that will go down in history.