little bitty girl

One of the many fun things on this trip is being able to share with the sisters random ridiculousness found on the web in real time and get the immediate reaction in person. We were just browsing through the ridiculousness of Ascot Day hats.

I realize that the Ascot has a deep tradition where the fashion is just as important as the racing. But I would be interested to know when it became a trend for odd headgear to be displayed in public.

Perhaps it's a cultural thing that we just don't get. But to refer to some of these debacles as hats is what makes it all the more ridiculous. This particular one made us laugh so hard. It's not just the fact that her "hat" is somewhat silly but her expression of "This old thing? It was just hanging around in my closet" is what really takes the cake...

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Posted in Fashion Smashion

This is one of my very favourite questions to ask Marie at the start of every fashion season. She always responds with "You are retarded!" and "Who plans what their look will be every season?" You see why we're best friends. We have no issues with abusing one another.

Fashion is such a funny thing.

I do think there are many people in the world who do plan their wardrobes seasons ahead. I however, am not really one of them, I kind of just buy what I feel like. I do have a couple of pet peeves when it comes to fashion:

(1) Having no personal fashion identity -- you know the girls I am talking about. The ones who travel in packs and wear variations of the same thing, and the ones who look as if they ripped a page out of a magazine, went to a store and told the salesperson to get them "the look" regardless of whether the clothes complement their body type or personal taste.

(2) Taking fashion too seriously. At the end of the day, it's only clothes, people should have fun with it.

So when I ask Marie the question, part of it is mocking the silliness of the industry. My answer is usually something really random like "Marie Antoinette mixed with 90's grunge and 20's flapper girl" and we'll laugh. Then Marie will swear she won't be seen near me if I come close to dressing what I described above.

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Posted in Coveting, Fashion Smashion

This is going to sound like the most ridiculous thing but I have been looking for a basic black cardigan for the past month now. My old cardigan has finally bit the bullet, more like faded out and has been given to charity. You would think that replacing it would be the easiest thing.

Every week, I hit the stores and I come up with nothing. Isn't that bizarre? High end, low end, big chains, independent boutiques and STILL nothing. This is what I've encountered - long wooly sweater coats, V-neck tunic length, cropped body with cropped arms, crew neck with leg-o-mutton sleeves, beaded sequined patterns, sheer webby lace, vintage inspired cardigans with big buttons.

Don't get me wrong, I love variety, a twist on a regular theme. In fact, I already own five novelty black cardigans. I need to know what it takes to make one simple light weight merino wool, crew neck, button down cardigan.

Because at this point in time I am considering knitting one myself.

Except that I suck at knitting.

And I've never graduated past knitting a hat.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion

Yes, I know that I am a couple days late on this but photoshop on my computer at work is working so very slowly that I had to wait until I came home to do this. How shall we start this? I think I will break this down by categories -

Thanks For Coming Out To Play
These were for the people who could have possibly been "Best Dressed" except for some little detail of their outfit.

Nicole Kidman - I usually love Nicole Kidman (especially more now after her wonderfully frank interview on the Oprah Oscar special). She's usually a pretty savvy dresser but I hated the huge half bow thing floating around her neck. If it wasn't for that one detail, she definitely would have been one the best dressed in my books. I loved the beautiful draping, the bright bold colour and if you can find a picture of the back, it was quite a stunning dress.

Jennifer Hudson - Lately at all the award shows, she's been just absolutely fabulously dressed. I like that she's not a stick, that she understands her body and is not afraid to be sexy and take fashion risks. The dress in itself was quite lovely but I was far too distracted by her kid space jacket to pay attention to it.

Maggie Gyllenhaal - I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of hers but she's growing on me. When she presented I was just blown away by her dress. I am really starting to fall in love with navy again and I thought the bodice was so unique. That is until I saw pictures of the full dress this morning. What the heck is that weird detailing at the hem?

Penelope Cruz - I honestly think that Penelope Cruz is one of the most underrated actresses and beauties in Hollywood. She makes bold choices in her acting roles and fashion. I loved the colour and that bodice, just the work and detailing is mind-blowing and I know that this part may just be me being picky, but I just hate feathery detailing on anything. It feels a little tacky to me and just conjures thoughts of ostriches' backsides. That's just my two cents.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Glued To The Tube

I thought I would do a little fashion blitz, a practice run before my annual Oscar fashion report. The 64th Golden Globes Awards were held last night and the colour of the evening was white. I really like the idea of a great white dress, it's a refreshing change to the basic black. As you can see, not everyone's interpretation of this trend had the desired result.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Glued To The Tube

Oh God!

Stefan and I have turned into people I hate - couples who dress alike.

Stefan and I both bought jackets made from the same fabric and same colour. In fairness, I saw my jacket before he did, even though he bought his before I did. Regardless. I really didn't think that we would ever be in a situation where we would actually be wearing the jackets at the same time!

Because believe or not, we barely really see each other. Let me rephrase that. We see each other every day but there's been very rare occasions as of late, when we've been seen with each other in public. We tend to work different hours and be doing different things after. And when we are seen in public together, we definitely make sure we're wearing different jackets.

Except for today.

He met me at the subway and the first thing out of my mouth when I saw him was,"Ohmigad! I am SO embarrassed!" I kept trying to sit in a different spot on the train, so that it would seem like we were not together but the git kept trying to make out with me.

Rest assured, this won't be happening again anytime soon. I am going to re-look at my eight other winter jackets.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Stefan

It's a funny industry that I work in. I am often torn by the superficiality of it all and yet I am still in it. I sincerely believe that many of us who are in it and are not "supermodels" (the tiny percentage that are in the world) are constantly grapling with the reality and non-reality of it. I remember living my teenage years here and flicking through magazines, thinking,"Wow! I cannot really relate with any of these rules by which people define beauty by."

And yet, during the times when my company had to hire models, (it was mainly I who was doing this part) that I could be so utterly critical of what I would consider beautiful. In my defense, I always liked to pick girls who people who would not conventionally be consider a "beauty", such as Alex Wek. Yet, I cannot deny that when it comes to someone where their trade is strictly their physical beauty that I am as critical as they come.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Much To Do About Nothing

OK, so this is may just a rumour or a dream or a hope but UK Vogue had this story on their site -

PRADA FOR H&M MIUCCIA PRADA for H & M? Oh please let it be true. The rumour that the Italian fashion house is to follow Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney's hugely successful collaborations with the Swedish store has surfaced again, but still they're saying nothing. "We don't know anything yet and we're not expecting to know for some months," a spokeswoman for H&M, which yesterday announced a 21 per cent rise in profits for the first fiscal quarter of 2006 to £134 million, said. Asked last year whether she would consider the idea of working with H&M, Miuccia told VOGUE.COM that she wasn't anti it. "I have talked about it as they did ask me," she said. "I think it is an interesting concept and I would love to work on an entire collection using inexpensive materials." Her only reservation is that she would be opposed to "the idea of copying the main collection straight out", stipulating that it should "be treated as a whole new collection". H&M's company’s design chief, Margareta van den Bosch, has indicated that Muiccia Prada is one of her favourite designers, and that she is keen to recruit a designer who can also do menswear (Have you seen Prada's star print men's shirts, Marg?). Fervent fashion followers caused chaos at the launch of Stella MacCartney's line at H & M's Oxford Circus flagship store last November, with crowds gathering outside in the early hours of the morning and fighting to get their hands on the fashion gold dust. The chance of an affordable piece of Prada will no doubt see the scenes repeated. (March 30 2006, AM)

Oh, please let it be true! The funny thing about this tip is that the hubby found it for me! How funny is that?

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Posted in Fashion Smashion

I have been getting a lot of questions from designers lately on how to sell their product and it's made me think. There really are a lot of creative people out there who have really amazing ideas, but no idea how to get it into the hands of the people who would sell them. Hence the reason for this entry. It specifically applies to fashion, selling on a larger scale but I think the principles can be used for any type of product/service you are trying to sell.

Understand Your Target Market
One would think that this is a given but you'll be surprised how many people really don't do this. You can't say that your target market is people aged 16-65. It's just not possible. Really put some thought on who are the people most likely to spend the money on your product or service. Ask yourself - how much do they make, what do they do on weekends, do they go out for dinner? Do they have children? Anything to give you a clearer picture of who those people are. Use an online survey tool like Survey Monkey and get your friends and acquaintances to participate.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion

To read my full review, click here.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion

I was going to forgo my annual Oscar critique but some have reminded me that it simply wasn't done to turn my back on an old tradition. So here goes.

I miss the days of Cher and Bjork. Where has all the good times gone? Everyone is trying to look so chic so the effect is simply flat. Last night was the most boring Oscars to date. I went to bed after Reese's acceptance speech so that I could read a book. Oscar fashions were just as dismal, nothing but a sea of dark, dark, black, ugly, dark, dark.

Let's start with the 5 worst dressed.

Naomi Watts is one of the most beautiful women out there, why she chose a gown that was skin coloured and looked like a growth peeling off, I am not sure. Perhaps she was trying to look etheral but the effect was lost in all the tulle. Keira Knightly - I so wanted to like her, as it was her first time ever to the Oscars. Her necklace was stunning but her dress seemed very stiff and she seemed uncomfortable in it. Oh Jennifer Anniston! Why black? Why now? She just looked like she was in mourning with that sad dress and the sad necklace. Mrs. Tim Burton (Helena Bonham Carter) was an absolute nightmare in this shiny blue short number. Charlize Theron really needs to stop taking these ugly acting roles as it's really starting to rub off on her personal taste. I didn't even notice how beautiful her make-up was until this morning because I was so distracted by the giant bow. It's a pity really because she so would have been a best dressed if it wasn't for that lopsided thing on her shoulder.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Fashion Smashion, Star Gazing

I must admit that I have been feeling less than stellar lately. I am not sure whether I can put my finger on the reason why but I think the lack of sun and warmth plays a big part in how I feel.

Tonight, I stumbled upon this little goodie. It's by Abigail Percy, a designer from Glasgow. How unbelievably delicate and beautiful. Most who know me, know that I have a huge fondness for jewelry, especially earrings. I checked out her Flickr pictures as well and was so inspired by her work.

For some reason, it just made me happier just to see really good design. I know it sounds so weird but I can't explain it. But, I thought I would at least share my new find.

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Posted in Delectable Design, Fashion Smashion

I returned home from very flat Edmonton right in the middle of Toronto Fashion Week. To be honest, I was not really in the mood to face the crowds as I had been sleeping badly and been working hard all week. However, I managed to drag myself to the Comrags show and I am glad I did.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion

Another year, another Oscar presentation. Chris Rock totally rocks. He was funny, irreverant and no one was left out in his quick witted barbs for the opening scene.

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Posted in Fashion Smashion, Star Gazing