Colours

10 fashion mistakes and what to do about them

/ edebock / 1 Comment

As I wrote in this post three years ago, I don’t follow fashion rules. Instead, I believe in wearing what makes you feel comfortable and confident. I do believe, however, that many of us make fashion mistakes that keep us from feeling great in what we wear. Today, let’s take a look at 10 of those mistakes and what to do about them.

Not knowing your personal style

It’s important to dress in a way that reflects your personality and says what you want to say about yourself. As I’ve written before, one way to identify your personal style is to choose 3 to 5 adjectives to guide your fashion choices. My style adjectives are classy, casual, comfortable, confident, and authentic. When I look in the mirror, I’m happiest when my outfit ticks all five boxes.

Not wearing the right colours for your skin tone

Knowing whether your skin has cool or warm undertones can help you choose colours that are best for you. A personal colour analysis can help, of course, but an easy way to figure this out is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Do they look blue or green? If they appear more blue, you are cool-toned; if they’re more green, you’re warm-toned. If you are cool-toned, bright blues, deep purples, emerald greens, and frosty shades of lavender, ice blue, and pink will look good on you. If you’re warm-toned, think fiery reds, peach, coral, oranges and rusty tones, creams, camel, and earth tones. While sticking to a specific colour palette might seem restrictive, knowing which colours make you come alive and which, especially when they’re worn close to your face, make you look tired or washed out, can definitely help you look your best.

Buying things you don’t love

Shopping with friends can be a lot of fun, but their taste might be different than yours. Consider their advice, but resist buying something that they like unless you know that it’s actually right for you. Similarly, don’t let the fashion industry dictate what you wear and don’t buy something simply because it’s on sale. Instead, wear what makes your heart sing!

Having a crowded, disorganized closet

If you can’t see what’s in your closet or if it’s full of clothes you don’t actually wear, set aside some time to take everything out, try things on, and decide what to keep and what to donate. Ask yourself: Do I love this? Does it fit my personal style? Is it the right colour for me? What can I wear it with? Do I have too many of these?

Wearing the wrong undergarments

Undergarments are the foundation that an outfit is built on. Prioritize comfort and fit. Consider going for a professional bra fitting to ensure that you’re wearing the right size. In addition to enhancing how your clothes look, a proper fit provides essential support that can reduce back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Buying quantity over quality

In addition to being terrible for the environment, fast fashion is usually characterized by shoddy workmanship and low quality fabrics that will cheapen your look. Buying fewer, better quality pieces will give you a more polished appearance and if you consider cost per wear, will also be the wiser choice financially.

Wearing clothes that don’t fit well

Oversized clothes look frumpy and clothing that’s too tight looks uncomfortable and shows off bits and bulges that are better left unseen. If you shop online, use a measuring tape and pay close attention to sizing charts. When shopping in person, try everything on and if possible, look in a three way mirror. Make sure shoulders seams align properly and buttons don’t pull. Horizontal lines in the crotch area indicate that pants are too small. When you get the fit right, your clothes will skim over your body and you’ll feel comfortable.

Sacrificing comfort for style

It isn’t necessary to choose between comfort and style, but comfort is of paramount importance in choosing what to wear. This is especially true of footwear. It’s almost impossible to look good when your feet are killing you!

Trying to follow every fashion trend

Not every trend will suit your personal style or body type. Instead, invest in quality basics that stand the test of time and add occasional trends that fit your aesthetic.

Wearing too many or not enough accessories

Accessories are the finishing touches that can take an outfit from drab to dramatic. Almost any outfit will benefit from a few carefully chosen accessories, but too many will look tacky and overwhelm your look. If you like bold jewelry, choose one statement piece and let it take centre stage while keeping other jewelry understated.

Can you think of any other fashion mistakes?

Crossing the finish line

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On Wednesday, while hiking the Holdsworth Trail in Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, I crossed the finish line of my self-imposed 300 km in 150 days walking challenge 10 days before the deadline! 

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I recently read a quote by French philosopher and author, Albert Camus that resonated with me. It describes perfectly why we love to camp and hike at Miquelon in the fall. 

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” 

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In fact, after completing the Holdsworth Trail on Wednesday, we hiked another 8.9 km on the park’s beautiful and very colourful backcountry trails the following day. 

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Although I’ve now accomplished my walking/hiking goal for this season, I’ll continue keeping track of my distance at least until my 72nd birthday on the 5th of October which was the deadline that I’d set for myself and then I’ll keep on walking and hiking until the snow flies, hopefully sometime in the distant future! 

Shopping our closets for fall 2024 trends

/ edebock / 4 Comments

logo-by-samI’m always reluctant to admit that it’s time to think about fall or to talk about fall fashions, but days are getting shorter and nights are getting chillier. Whether I like it or not, there’s a hint of autumn in the air. With that in mind, I thought I’d take a look at some of the fashion trends for fall 2024, not because I plan to go shopping anytime soon, but because I want to shop my closet to see which ones might already be there. Perhaps you’d like to do the same.

When thinking about trends, keep in mind that just because something is popular at the moment doesn’t mean that you have to wear it. A stylish woman knows what’s trending then chooses what to incorporate into her wardrobe based on her own taste, personal style, body type, and lifestyle.

Fall is a time to get cozy. Wraps, shawls, oversized scarves, and capes are definitely having a moment. I’ll be pulling out two pashminas that I bought in the market in Siem Reap, Cambodia in early 2009 as well as a couple of wraps that feel like warm hugs. I especially love this one which was a gift from my son and his family who reside on the BC coast.

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Like wraps and shawls, turtlenecks are warm and cozy. Never completely out of style, they’re especially popular this fall. I used to love wearing them and wish I still could, but since I had major neck surgery to remove a cancerous tumour I no longer find them comfortable.

Denim dresses and skirts will be popular this fall and double denim, once considered a fashion faux pas, is actually on-trend this season. I don’t have a dress or a skirt in this always popular fabric, but I do have both dark and light denim shirts. When I do go shopping, I’ll be on the lookout for a denim shirt dress, something that’s been on my wish list for awhile already.

Wide leg jeans are still on-trend, but so are straight legs and is it possible that skinny jeans are also coming back? Actually, I don’t think they ever completely went away.

This fall’s blazers have a nipped in at the waist hourglass shape and classic tweeds, herringbone, and suiting fabrics are popular. I’m thinking that this one, which you’ve seen on the blog before, fits the bill fairly well. Leftover from my teaching days, it’s a bit snug now, but as long as I don’t try to button it, which I wouldn’t do anyway, I think it works. For a classy casual look, try pairing an on-trend blazer with jeans, a tank top or t-shirt, and a ladylike shoe.

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Speaking of shoes, there’s a move toward elegance in women’s footwear. Ballet flats continue to be popular, but Mary Janes, kitten heels, pointed toes, and slingback styles are back in vogue. Did you happen to notice the elegant kitten heels that Michelle Obama wore with her MONSE suit when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week? If not, check out the photo in last Friday’s post. I have a similar, but probably much less expensive, pair that I haven’t worn in ages. Perhaps I’ll wear them again this fall.

Popular colours this fall will include soft buttery yellow, warm browns (toffee, chocolate, expresso), burgundy or wine, deep green, olive green, teal, and navy. There was a time when brown was my go-to neutral and my closet was full of it. Over time, however, I’ve gravitated more toward navy. I still like brown though, so perhaps this fall or winter when it’s still readily available would be a good time to add a bit more brown back into my wardrobe. A pop of red is also on-trend for fall. Think a red handbag, scarf, or red shoes. This pair ticks three fall fashion boxes… kitten heels, slingback, and red!

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Finally, animal prints, especially leopard, are still in style for fall. I definitely have a few tops in that print that I will continue to wear.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list and as you can see, there’s plenty of crossover from last fall meaning that, like me, you can probably find some of these trends in your closet without having to go shopping.

One top, several looks

/ edebock / 11 Comments

Logo by SamI didn’t do a post about what I packed for our recent trip to Mexico, but regardless of where you’re going or for how long, the key to packing successfully is to choose pieces that coordinate well with one another so that they can be combined in different ways. One easy way to do that is to choose a limited colour palette. For our recent trip, I chose mainly blues and neutrals.

Today, I’m going to show you several ways that I wore one top with other pieces from my suitcase. The photos were taken in our hotel room as I didn’t want to climb up and down Mount Dunamar (our nickname for the 60 stairs from ground level to our fourth storey room) in between outfits.

First, let’s look at the Calvin Klein top that I bought second-hand at one of our local thrift shops in the summer of 2022. Simple and sleeveless with a gathered neckline, it can easily be dressed up or down. The timeless animal print pattern in black, white, and beige coordinates well with other neutrals.

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For a casual daytime look, I wore the top with a pair of white shorts.

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To go for dinner, I wore it over a little black sheath dress that I’ve probably had for 30 years or more. It originally came with a separate chiffon overlay, but all I remember about that piece is that it was predominantly red. That’s how long it’s been gone from my closet! The little black dress is perfect for travel because it doesn’t wrinkle, hardly takes up any space in a suitcase, and while I probably wouldn’t wear it alone, it can be worn with so many other things. 

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The wide-legged pants in the next few photos didn’t actually go to Mexico in my suitcase, but they did come home with me. I fell in love with them in the resort gift shop. When I discovered that they were made in Mexico and that they were on sale for more than 75% off their original price, I knew they were meant to be mine. Since a general rule of thumb is that a fuller shape on the bottom looks best with a more fitted top, they paired well with the animal print top, but my dilemma was whether or not to to tuck it in. I rarely tuck my tops in because I think that that emphasizes the fact that I don’t have a very feminine waistline, but I liked the interesting waistband and wanted to show it off. 

I decided to step outside my comfort zone and wear the outfit to dinner with the top tucked in. Which look do you like better? 

The pants are very lightweight, totally unsuitable for winter in Alberta, so they’re now in storage with the rest of my warm weather clothes, but I’m looking forward to wearing them again when summer returns. The top is one of those pieces that stays in my closet year round though because it can easily be worn under a cardigan or jacket. 

Another Miquelon September

/ edebock / 6 Comments

We spent several days this week camping at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, less than an hour and a half from home. We’ve camped there several times in the past, always in September.

It’s definitely not the lake that keeps us going back. Shallow, saline, and shrinking rapidly, it’s a small fraction of the size that it was a century ago. In fact, we’ve seen the water level drop significantly over the past few years. No, it’s the well-maintained hiking trails that keep us returning to Miquelon.. 

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The “knob and kettle” terrain consists of hummocky mounds (the knobs) and water-filled depressions (the kettles). Hiking trails wind up and down, around and between the ponds and at this time of year, colourful foliage adds to park’s natural beauty. Here in Alberta, we don’t get the wide variety of fall colours that are found in eastern Canada, but Miquelon seems to be an exception! Is it any wonder that we love to go there in September?  

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Over the past few days, we hiked a total of 26.5 kilometres (16.5 miles). As we made our way up and down the “knobs”, we definitely felt muscles that don’t come into play as much when we walk the level ground around home! Thankfully, our legs are in pretty good shape though. With just over 6 weeks to go, I’m only 32 km short of my goal of walking and/or hiking 350 km between May 1 and Oct 31! 

With our bear bell ringing, we didn’t see any of the larger wildlife, including deer, moose and elk, that live within the park, but there was clear evidence of their presence along the trails. Plenty of fresh hoof prints and droppings, including bear scat, told us that they weren’t too far off. We did see rabbits, squirrels, one garter snake, several grouse, and numerous other birds including an abundance of waterfowl. It was also clear that industrious beaver have been hard at work. 

The campground was very quiet during the week, but we were surprised to see how many rigs pulled in on Friday. Obviously, we aren’t the only ones who enjoy fall camping! 

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There were even a few hardy souls sleeping in tents. It must have been pretty chilly with nighttime temperatures dipping close to 0ºC (32ºF). We were toasty warm in our trailer bed though, except for the one night when the propane ran out and the furnace stopped running! Thankfully, fixing that problem was as simple as switching over to the second propane tank. 

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We’re hoping to fit in one more short camping trip before winter and I have no doubt that we’ll be back to Miquelon again another September. 

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Fall fashion colours 2023

/ edebock / 4 Comments

Logo by SamWe are fortunate to live far from the wildfires that have devastated vast areas to the north and west of us this summer, but smoke travels amazing distances. As I peered through the pall of smoke that hung over us for most of the past week, I saw leaves beginning to turn colour. Yes, fall is here whether I like to admit it or not!

Coloured leaves are beautiful, but it’s the colour trends for fall/winter 2023 fashion that are on my mind this week. Bold, fiery reds are definitely big this year. While I vividly remember both a red sweater and a red dress that I loved and wore a lot many years ago, the only red in my wardrobe at present is the coat that I found in a local thrift store last fall. That’s something I definitely want to correct this season! 

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I’ve sometimes seen red referred to as a universal colour, a colour that looks good on just about everyone, but although there is a red for everyone, not every red looks good on every person. Those, like myself, with warm skin tones should choose brighter orange-based reds, while those with cool skin tones look better wearing darker blue-based reds. If wearing red isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to add just a pop of it with an accessory or two.

Another colour that is on-trend for fall is brown. Think caramel, cinnamon, chocolate! Yum! Brown has always been a favourite wardrobe basic of mine, so I’ll definitely be making good use of the pieces that I already own. Other neutrals that will be big this fall are grey and cream, bone, or winter white. 

Two popular shades of blue this season are icy blue and cobalt. 

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Yellow, especially bright yellow, is another colour that’s on-trend for the new season. With the influence of the Barbie movie carrying on into fall this year, pink will also continue to be popular.

Will you be adding any of these colours to your fall/winter wardrobe? What are your favourite colours to wear? 

Something new

/ edebock / 5 Comments

Logo by SamHappy Canada Day! 🇨🇦

As we gradually emerge from the pandemic, I’ve finally been doing some shopping! Regardless of what the authorities tell us, I don’t believe that Covid is completely behind us yet, but we are moving forward with caution.

One of the first things that I needed to do was shop for new bras. I absolutely hate bra shopping! I always have, but while we were in the city for a church conference a couple of weeks ago, I managed to fit in a bit of shopping and I got the deed done. It was gruelling, but I came away with three new bras that fit me well. But enough about that!

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I also bought this, a simple cap sleeve crew neck t-shirt dress, something casual but a little bit dressy for summer. I often wear a medium, but in this case I chose a large because the medium was too clingy and showed off the jiggly bits that I’d rather keep hidden.

When I first saw it online, I thought the colour was a warm brown. The ad called it Marron which my Spanish lessons have taught me means brown, but it really isn’t. It’s somewhere between brown and maroon, a colour that I’m calling smoky rose because I have a lipstick by that name that’s almost exactly the same colour.

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I’ve always thought that it must be fun to be one of those people who name lipstick, nail polish, or paint colours! Pink is never just pink, it’s Blushed, Heartthrob, or Pink Giggles. Red might be Love is On or Cherries in the Snow and brown is Iced Mocha or Choco-Liscious. Some of them even sound good enough to eat! But enough of that. Back to shopping!

After a long awaited visit to my dental hygienist, I did a bit of browsing and discovered an independent boutique that I hadn’t visited before. It survived the pandemic, but like many others, business was clearly slow and the discount racks were full. This little top caught my eye and ended up coming home with me. The colours fit my wardrobe perfectly and the asymmetrical hemline adds interest. It will be a great  addition to my summer wardrobe and a good layering piece when the weather is cooler.

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As I mentioned in my last post, I’m going to be taking some time to recharge over the next few weeks, so Fashion Friday probably won’t appear as regularly as usual. It’s not going to disappear completely though, so stay tuned!

Emanuel Ungaro scarf

/ edebock / 6 Comments

LogoAs I mentioned in my last post, I buy most of my scarves in thrift stores. Thrift store shopping is always a treasure hunt, but once in awhile you’re lucky enough to find something particularly interesting. Everything I purchase second-hand is washed before I wear it and it wasn’t until I was ironing one of my latest purchases that I realized what I’d bought. Sewn into the edge of the scarf, visible but not obvious, was the name emanuel ungaro.

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Emanuel Ungaro (1933-2019) was a French fashion designer who, after working for famed couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga, went on to found the fashion house in Paris that still bears his name. He attracted celebrity customers known for their good taste in fashion including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Adjani. Second-hand Emanuel Ungaro scarves sell online for anywhere from $15 CAD to several hundred dollars. I bought mine for 50 cents! 

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It was the colours in the scarf that caught my eye and caused me to add it to my bag, particularly the olive green which is a favourite of mine and on-trend this fall. I also like the clear violet and light lilac, both part of my Spring colour palette. They remind me of the little flowers that are so prevalent along the hiking trails that we love so much at this time of year.

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These purple colours are sadly lacking from my wardrobe. In fact, they only appear in these favourite earrings, a gift from my sister-in-law. Perhaps I need to remedy that!   

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Depending on size and fabric, there are numerous ways to wear a square scarf and plenty of tutorials online to show you how. Here’s the super simple cowgirl style which shows off the colours nicely. I’m wearing it with a plain white Uniqlo t-shirt and the olive green shirt/jacket that I showed you here. It was also thrifted.

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And here’s another very simple option. 

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Do you enjoy thrift store shopping? Have you found any treasures?

12 Trends for Fall 2020

/ edebock / 5 Comments

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As we enter a new season and continue to find ourselves caught in this strange Covid-19 conundrum, I wonder how many of us are thinking about fashion trends or even considering adding to our existing wardrobes. I think, more than anything, fashion this fall is going to be all about comfort and some of the trends definitely reflect that.

Before we look at specific styles, let’s talk about colour. Though black and grey will continue to be popular neutrals, bold jewel tones lead the way this fall. Marigold, orange, wine, and rust are very popular and even chartreuse is on trend. Rich, bold blues and deep olive are also highly favoured. Head to toe outfits in warm creamy tones are a new look for fall this year.

ISABEL MARANT Fall Winter 2020 Runway Images Courtesy of ISABEL MARANT

Now for 12 of the most popular trends for fall:

1.  Textured coats  –   Shearling and faux fur are both very popular for outerwear this season.  

2.  Oversized coats  –  We definitely want to wrap ourselves in something comfy as we move into winter! 

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3.  Capes  –  Capes as coats continue the theme of wrapping ourselves in comfort. 

4.  Quilted fashions  –  Puffer coats and vests have been popular for awhile, but this season we’re also seeing quilted skirts! 

5.  Plaids and checks  –  Look for argyle patterns, tartans, gingham, houndstooth, checks of every kind this season. You may not have to look any further than your own closet to incorporate this look into your fall outfits. Vintage shops would be another great source. 

6.  Shoulder reveals  –  Not just the cold shoulder look that’s been around for the past couple of years, but asymmetrical shoulder cutouts, one shoulder, and off the shoulder looks are all on trend this season. 

7.  Puff sleeves  –  Anne of Green Gables anyone? Dramatic, voluminous sleeves are big (pun intended) this fall. 

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8.  Ruffles and tiers  –  Ruffled skirts and tiered dresses are popular. Look for Victorian-era details, particularly ruffled Victorian necklines. 

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9.  Skirt suits  –  Summer’s short suits have transitioned into skirt suits for fall. This trend might appeal to many women who’ve been able to return to the workplace and who are looking to amp up their fall and winter wardrobes. Some have pleated skirts, many are seen in bright colours, and some are even all leather. 

10.  Fringe  –  Fringes, sometimes very long fringes, are being seen on hemlines, sleeves, handbags, pretty much anywhere you can put a fringe. 

11.  Metallics and sequins  –  The majority of us probably won’t be going anywhere in the near future that requires anything very fancy, but if you do, metallic fabric (especially silver) or sequins is the way to go. 

12.  Lingerie looks  –  Lastly, for the more adventurous amongst us and perhaps those who live in a warmer climate than I do, is the intimate apparel as daywear look. If you can’t decide which shirt to wear, don’t panic. Just go without one! Bra tops and bustiers under jackets are a trend, though not one that I”m likely to adopt! 

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As you can see from the photos, it’s very easy to mix and match this fall’s trends. Think plaid overcoat, cape, or skirt suit, for example. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous seasonal trend posts, some of these may appeal to you and others probably won’t. Don’t ever feel compelled to wear something simply because it’s on trend. Instead, pick and choose those colours that suit your skin tone and looks that fit your personal style. And, before you start shopping for this season’s trends, remember to shop your own closet. Perhaps you’ll find something there that fits right in with the current trends. 

Zebra stripes, more than just a fashion trend

/ edebock / 11 Comments

LogoIn August 2013, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer (NETS). In August of this year, I attended a cabi party and treated myself to a zebra print top from the Fall 2019 Uniquely Us Collection. Those might seem like two completely unrelated random facts, but they aren’t.

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The zebra is the symbol of neuroendocrine cancer. Neuroendocrine tumours are difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are usually vague and similar to more common health problems. Many family doctors have never encountered a NETS patient. When presented with symptoms like stomach pain and diarrhea, they naturally think of things like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease or lactose intolerance. Flushing, especially in women of a certain age, makes them think menopause, not cancer. Medical students are taught “when hearing hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” Neuroendocrine tumours are rare and therefore they are considered to be zebras.

Some NETS patients and advocates think the zebra symbol is foolish, that it trivializes the grave nature of our disease, and would like to see us stop using it. I disagree. I think we need to take advantage of every opportunity to draw attention to our cause and if that includes zebra stripes, I’m all for it!

Since my diagnosis, I’ve noticed zebra stripes everywhere! As I mentioned in last Friday’s post on trends for fall 2019, the zebra motif is particularly popular this season, but animal prints never go out of style and the zebra has been around for a long time. I’ve seen zebra t-shirts, zebra leggings, zebra jeans, zebra pjs, and zebra bras. I’ve also seen zebra handbags, zebra luggage, and even a zebra golf bag.

I remember trying on a darling zebra dress a couple of years ago, but I didn’t buy it. Like most zebra garments, its stark black and white pattern wasn’t flattering on me. With my pale Spring complexion, I look better in warmer tones. That’s why my new cabi top is so perfect. With its creamy vanilla background and chocolate ganache stripes (doesn’t that sound yummy?) it’s perfect for me.

With soft flutter sleeves, the top is a good stand alone piece for the occasional warm summery day that we enjoy at this time of year, but worn under sweaters and jackets, it will transition well into fall and winter. When worn alone, underarm insets provide good armhole coverage. While the neckline isn’t immodestly low, it leaves enough décolletage exposed to nicely frame a statement necklace. The top looks great tucked in, worn loose, or belted.

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I even tried mixing animal prints. Because both prints are within the same colour family, I think it works!

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For today’s photo shoot, I wore my DIY frayed white jeans. Later in the season, I’ll pair the zebra top with darker pants or skirt, but obviously I don’t adhere to the antiquated don’t wear white after Labour Day rule!

And what am I wearing on my feet, you ask? A pair of flip flops that I bought for $5 at Walmart’s end of season clearance sale. They perfectly match my golden summertime toes!

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