Okanaganista

Fashion Resolutions (pt 1)

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This New Year, make a a resolution to focus on your style. No matter if you're a full-on fashionista, or stuck in a major fashion rut, resolve to stick to a few of these suggestions and we'll make 2013 the year we take our personal style to the next level.

1) Start adding more colour: If your closet is a blend of black, grey, and white, this fashion resolution is for you! Break out of your style rut by incorporating colour in small doses. Accessories are a great starting point! Use a statement necklace, scarf, or shoes to add a pop of colour to your pre-existing neutral wardrobe. If bright colours scare you, add some "new neutrals" to your wardrobe like navy, burgundy, or emerald, the hottest colour of 2013. Another option is to add pastels like mint and blush; their subtle shades will make it easier to transition into the world of colour.

2) Start collecting the classics: If you've ever thought "I have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear!" it's likely you're experiencing what most people suffer from: lack of classic and basic pieces. We are naturally drawn to certain clothing items and will tend to buy them over and over again until we end up with five slightly different neon pink tops, but no basic white t-shirts. This year, take inventory on your closet and determine what classics you might be missing. A few things you may consider putting on your list to start: a neutral coloured trench coat, a black motorcycle leather jacket, medium striped shirt, dark washed denim, and black ankle boots. Make a list and keep it with you in your phone so that you'll always have it when you're shopping. Add a piece or two each month and by 2014 you'll have basics that will serve as the foundation of your wardrobe.

3) Only buy things you love: Another reason we get tired of our wardrobes is that we sometimes buy things in a rush, because we feel we need it, or because we get caught up in trends, and end up buying pieces that we don't really love. Commit to only spending money on clothes that you get excited about and you'll always feel like you've got something to wear. A big part of this resolution is avoiding the trap of buying an item just because its on sale; if you truly love it, buying it on sale is an added bonus!

Christmas Essentials

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that I love the Christmas season and everything that goes with it. And for me, this season is a great excuse to bring out some extra glitter and bling and get festive. Even though I love these pieces all year 'round, I get extra excited to wear them for the holidays.

Sequins: I just can't stop wearing sequins! Pants, sweaters, tops, and blazers; if it has sequins attached, I will wear it. Every time of the year is appropriate for the sparkle, but there's something about Christmas that makes sequins just that extra bit special and glamourous. Skirts are one of my favourite ways to wear sequins this year. I love how you can dress it down with tights, boots, and a casual oversized knit sweater for day and wear it out to a party with a silk shirt and heels. Sequin tops can be worn with just a pair of denim or a pair of coloured skinnies, an easy look for when you don't have a lot of time. You can forgo the jewlery since the shirt itself is the statement. Sequin leggings are great for those wanting to make a major statement. Wear them with sweatshirts and oversized striped sweaters for a amped up casual outfit or with a high low silk shirt, and tuxedo jacket out for New Years for a different take on the tuxedo. I love it with a bight red lip and retro waves.

Velvet: I always get nostalgic when I put on this soft throwback fabric. Great for mixing textures, velvet has been in regular rotation in my closet. My love affair originally started with this burgundy version: I saw one worn with a winter-friendly white lace dress, and it's been true love ever since. For a small dash of velvet try wearing a top under a blazer, or mix it with other textures like a leather skirt. Velvet leggings are another way to wear this trend: replace the cotton leggings most of us wear non-stop in the winter with a pair of velvet ones!

Tartan: plaid and flannel have been a huge trend this winter and will continue into next year. Specifically, tartan is coming hot on the scene, and its my prediction that it will be THE hottest print for 2013. This vintage print has the casual appeal of the flannel but the old school take is plaid's older, more sophisticated sibling. Tartan can be worn the same way you've been wearing your flannel with knits and denim, but take tartan to the next level by wearing it to work with a blazer and skirt, or on a date with a tartan skirt and a leather shell.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

- Alana

Festive Easy Holiday Hair

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Look your best during the holidays!

This week I share with you video from Tasha Arnall from Bloom Hair.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

- Alana

Christmas Sweaters!

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT

One of my favourite winter staples is the big cozy knit sweater, and this is the perfect time of year to put them all into outfit rotation! Sweaters like a classic fisherman pullover, the time-honored cable knit, the soft textured angora sweater, and the sweatshirt are all cozy basics that are a must-have for the winter wardrobe.

I love pairing my sweaters with everything from coloured skinny jeans (my favourites for the holidays are red, cobalt blue, and green), leather jeans, and skirts (loving plaid skirts right now!) and tights. The sweater is a great way to add texture toyour outfit, layer over button ups, throw a statement necklace over or wear an over-sized knit over leggings. The sweater will keep you cozy and warm all season long weather it be at work, bundled by the fire, or hunched over your desk.

And of course, we must talk about the festive Christmas sweater! What began as ironic nod to the ugly Christmas sweatersat holiday parties has transitioned into trendy seasonally appropriate holiday garb. One such sweater type that has re-emerged is the vintage fair isle print. Sweaters can be found in a re-imagination of this Scottish traditional knitting technique in geometric snowflakes, patchwork knit, Christmas trees and reindeer with adorned antlers.

Traditional fair isle is a knitting pattern, but designers are interpreting the patterns into prints on sweatshirts, cotton t-shirts, and leggings. When hunting for a Christmas sweater, look for fair isle inspired patterns like snowflakes, deer, and moose, or just an overall geometric pattern in Christmas colors. Wear it dressy with sparkly shoes, casual for a cabin chic look with a plaid shirt and shearling, or over-the-top festive with red colored jeans! However you wear it, the Christmas sweater will keep you warm, trendy, and festive this holiday season!

Festive Footwear

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:26:00 GMT

Tis’ the season for warm parkas, pom pom toques and fuzzy gloves! These will keep your body warm in the cold, but there’s one thing around this holiday season that warms my heart: the festive shoe. Footwear is a terrific way to turn a basic outfit into something interesting, or to add the finishing touch to complete a head-to-toe look.

I have a few favorites that I keep pulling out of my closet year after year! Break them out for work, a cookie exchange with your girlfriend, or Christmas dinner. They’ll work for any festive occasion, and carry you well into the New Year.

Sequins: Nothing says holiday party like some glitter on your feet. Wear a classic pump with skinny jeans or your party dress, or pick up a pair of sparkly loafers to add comfort and glamour to your day to day outfits. They go with everything!

Velvet: While this crushed material is probably not your default choice for holiday footwear, the retro fabric is getting a resurgence and showing up in leggings, dresses, shirts, and yes, shoes. In a holiday-friendly color like emerald green, the velvet shoe is the perfect way to add texture to your outfit. The soft velvet works great with a cozy knits and faux fur, and plays off leather and denim. Add velvet shoes to your holiday party looks with a sequin skirt and silk blouse for the trifecta of texture mixing.

Bows: Feeling extra girly? Let your inner child run wild and wear bows on your feet! Designers are taking this girly style and making it high fashion by adorning all kinds of bows onto footwear. This look is the perfect way to add a little more femininity into your outfit, but make sure you keep the rest of the outfit sophisticated and modern to keep this trend from looking too precious. Messy soft hair, a touch of leather, and a smokey eye will catapult this novelty embellishment from a girl of 10 into today.

The shoe that has it all! And if you want all three in a shoe, behold I have found the most festive shoe you could wear! A sequin heel, a velvet body and a bow on the toe have me singing “come all ye faithful’ to holiday shoe heaven!

- Alana

Stand Out With Camouflage

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:52:00 GMT

Fashion always manages to surprise me - that is one of the reasons I love it so much. I constantly catch myself saying "Ugh, I'd never wear something that!" until, fast forward a few years, designers have based their collection around that something and I fall head over heels. An example of this is the sweatshirt, which I wrote about last week: I never thought the sweatshirt would be trendy, let alone be a piece you can dress up.

This week we are talking about a similar trend that has managed to take me by surprise: dressing up camouflage. I've never liked camouflage (I believed it should be reserved solely for hunting and the army) but this season it is inescapable. And you know what? I'm totally digging it.

We've seen military influences on fashion pretty consistently over the last few seasons, with army green, military button detail, and cargo jackets found all over the place. This subtle nod to military has led to what we're seeing this season, where designers are throwing subtlety out the window and using camo print in blouses, jackets, skirts, and pants.

The key to wearing this print is to balance it with ultra feminine pieces. Ditch the combat boots and matching jackets, and pair the print with soft fabrics, dressed up blouses, and delicate heels. Pairing it with these more glamourous and sophisticated separates gives the army print a modern and unexpected look.

Looking for more options for wearing the camouflage look? Wear a camo jacket over a pretty lace dress, or dress it down with a printed tee and red jeans. If you're daring, print mix this sort-of neutral with leopard or snakeskin (also sort-of neutral prints).

Any way you pair it, camouflage will make you stand out in the crowd.

--
Alana - I Love Denham

Layering for Winter

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:04:00 GMT

Although it's still somewhat early, after the gorgeous snowfall last week, I think it's safe to say winter has arrived.

And with the snow has come all manner of complaints over our sudden turn of season, which leaves me both amused and incredulous! I mean really, we have it pretty easy here in the Okanagan compared to much of our Canadian friends and relatives.

I can understand the early winter grumpies; I too was caught off-guard with my winter outerwear still in storage/un-purchased, but we can quickly solve that problem. Since we have some milder periods in our Okanagan winters, I like to focus on layers to keep me warm, and getting the maximum wear our of my season-to-season coats; we're going to be wearing jackets, parkas and coats for the next four months, so keeping it fresh and interesting is important. This week, I've picked three of my favourite outerwear pieces and used a faux fur stole to add interest and warmth!

A sweater coat is the trendiest jacket this season. I've had this one in the back of my closet for years, and if you're looking for a deal, check out the local thrift storeHeavy fabrics and large shapes like grandpa cardigans can be easily worn as an outer layer.

A military coat is the perfect all year round jacket. The classic army green color goes with everything and can be worn over a range of pieces, from your waxed jeans to a party dress. The added faux fur gives it the look of a parka without buying a whole new jacket!

I always love a great leather jacket! Extra warmth from layering knit sweaters underneath can keep you cozy through the winter, and I just love the contrast and texture the fur gives with paired with it!

- Alana

The Sweatshirt

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:25:00 GMT

The unexpected sweatshirt is having a major moment in fashion this fall. Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Phillip Lim and Balmain were just a few who showcased the sweatshirt as the unforeseen essential of the season.

We saw a re-imagining of this sporty staple on the runways: Balenciaga showed a sci-fi adaptation of the classic with a ruffled collared, Marc Jacobs sent a mint green satin version down the runway, and Derek Lam showcased a luxe take on the sporty silhouette with leather details.

Whereas the sweatshirt was once only used to wear lounging around the house or going to the gym, the new sweatshirt is coming back into our wardrobes in unexpected ways. You can absolutely get all dolled up with an oversized sweatshirt! Trade in your sneakers and chapstick for heels, deep reds lips, and a statement necklace to take this look from rec room to the VIP room.

You can also wear an oxford shirt under a pullover and let the collar show, while pairing it with a flared skirt for a collegiate take; yes, even college sweaters can look chic! Celebrities like Ashley Olsen, Kate Bosworth, as well as the fashion forward, and bloggers are pairing their sweatshirts with skirts for a juxtaposition of dressy and casual. Below I've showed you different ways to pair your sweatshirt with feminine skirts.

Alana - I Love Denham

Orange and Black

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Happy Halloween everyone!! Since, the spooky season is upon us, and you all know how I love to get festive, I couldn't resist doing another Halloween inspired post. Last week we talked about skulls, and this week I'm talking about the classic Halloween colors orange and black!

I always love dressing up festive for Halloween day when I'm just running around town and at work. Working in the staple colors of Halloween and adding some black nail polish is a great way to join in the fun without having a crazy costume.

I've centered my Halloween outfits with a central piece in mind; an orange cropped sweater. I've picked this piece because of the two 2012 trends that it fits, cropped and orange. Orange was 2012's color of the year, and the cropped cut was this year's go-to hemline.

Crop tops are best worn with either something underneath, like this gingham button up, or paired over something high waisted like this high slit maxi skirt. Add touches of leopard for an extra pattern, and a great pair of heels for the perfect festive look!

Season of Skulls

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:59:00 GMT

Patterns and prints have been popular trends for quite some time now, with polka dots, florals, and stripes all making their way into the classic category. Last fall we saw the resurgence of animal print, along with leopard and snakeskin, birds and horse print reigning supreme. This fall, a whole new print has come on the scene: the skull print.

Using the skull in fashion was the signature of the late designer Alexander McQueen, and his skull print scaves became one of the design house's signature pieces. Since then skulls can be found on many other accessories including rings, bracelets, and earrings, and with Halloween almost here, it's the perfect time to try out this dark and edgy trend.

How to wear Skulls

when incorporating skulls into your outfit, treat it like a nod to the gothic look and not an all encompassing theme; balance the edge with feminine pieces like flirty skirts and girly silhouettes
throw in a skull bracelet with bangles, watches and other jewellery to make an arm stack so the skull bracelet is an unexpected piece in the mix
buy a skull print scarf in a soft colour like pink to off set the hard edgy print, and wear it with everything! Treat it as if you would any other scarf in your closet.
add other dark, moody touches like a dark burgundy on your lips and nearly black nails; I'm loving L'Oreal's Bold Bordeaux lipstick and dark nails like OPI Lincoln Park After Dark for extra drama and the perfect Hallo'ws Eve daytime look.

I'm a huge fan of dressing for the holidays, especially when it's incorporated subtly into our wardrobes. Have fun with this trend and rock the new "classic" skull print!