the it lists – fashion & trend blog

Since fashion is REALLY just our own expression of personal style, we’re seeing more people buy something generic from high-street labels and turn it into something completely different by the time they wear it.

You may not even recognize the same top! Of course designers started making clothes that are meant to look like you customized it yourself – which is almost the same as rocking a knock in my opinion…

• Any shirt you want.
• Thread & sewing needles of different sizes.
• Studs, jewels, badges, mini-locks, etc.
• Scissors.
• Salt.

Easy Tips:

-For a vintage look add loads of salt to the washer for exaggerated fading.

- For an update on a shirt you already love cut the inner and outer seams and add a small strip of cloth (preferably lace or silk) fix it between the seams and put it back together.

-Not sure where to put those add-on’s? Mix them all together and put them in line at the edge of the collar or sleeves.

If we want it done right we have to do it ourselves.

Toronto sewing studio Sew Be It Studio has launched their first clothing label for teens – ‘Sew Be It Girl’ and they didn’t need to go far from home to find their first designer.  That designer is 15 year old, Toronto teen Emma Lewis.

“Emma was one of the reasons that kind of helped us to inspire the idea because every time Emma makes a dress, everybody wants to buy it,” said Dilys Tong, co-owner of Sew Be It Girl.

Emma Lewis  is one of those young ladies that you know is destined for greatness.   She started taking sewing classes at age 10 where she quickly learned to draft patterns from scratch!  5 years later she has her own line?!?  Super impressive.

‘Sew Be It Studio’ is far from just a label – it’s focused on providing mentorship and guidance to budding teen designers along with all the different components of putting together a collection.

Perfect match made in… Canada

I don’t know a single woman who will turn down a great pair of jeans when she puts them on…  No matter how much our credit card may want us to!  But as we know all too well finding that perfect denim fit can be beyond frustrating – which is why many of us stick to what we know works best for us.

This season dare to break your denim rules and source out these top premium jean picks:

• Hudson Jeans – they will be releasing a higher-end range with prices ranging from US$100 – $450
• Dior Homme Jeans – will FINALLY be available in women’s styles
• Victoria Beckham Denim – will relaunch in more modern cigarette silhouettes
• Vivienne Westwood – has teamed up with Lee Jeans for a range due to hit stores late spring/early fall

Despite many having to succumb to shopping on a tighter budget in 2009 – it was an absolutely fantastic year for fashion nonetheless.
The 2009 top fashion trends that stole my heart and robbed me of all my money:

• Bold shoulders
• Military Inspired Jackets
• Statement necklaces
• Over-the-knee Boots
• Menswear Inspired pieces
• Return of Distressed Denim
• Biker Brigade (studs, leathers, hardware)
• Jewel encrusted/sequined clothing
• Feathers (’cause they’re plain fun)

Trends I hope to never see again…

• Celebrity designers that know nothing about the art of clothing
• Mismatched denim on denim
• Harem pants… I tried, I failed-and by the looks of it so did everyone else.

Global bean counters predict that 2010 will bring brighter days – and we should see fashion rise back up to where it belongs! Happy New Year!!

Love everything there is about Gucci! but every time I walk into a Gucci store I inevitably walk out as I can never pick a bag… I always want them all. Forget want, I might not be able to ‘live’ without a bag from their latest collection!

As if this bag didn’t make your heart melt enough – check out the holiday story that goes with it:

In a further expansion of Gucci’s work with UNICEF they have commissioned Vanity Fair fashion director and illustrator Michael Roberts to create a children’s book ‘ Snowman in Africa‘.

It can be found exclusively in Gucci stores until the end of the year, with 100% of the $25 retail price going toward UNICEF.  The collection to accompany the book features these amazing bags, charms, gift cards, and leather goods and Gucci will donate 25% of the retail value to UNICEF as well.

All of a sudden that huge splurge doesn’t seem so selfish.

It seems like dark nails have been in forever now, but more and more it’s becoming a faux pas to sport a dull black without any underlying tone of color. 

Blacks with navy undertones, burgundy and violets have been making waves for a while now.  With the release of Chanel’s Jade Green polish inadvertently the dark green trend was ferociously unleashed as many thought this shade was better suited for spring and wanted something darker for fall.

‘Go Green’ and treat your tips to these top 3 picks of delicious dark shades:

• OPI “Here today Aragon tomorrow”
• Sally Hansen “Jumpin Jade” (which I wear ALL the time when i’m in a hurry to paint my nails as it stays true to it’s claim of drying within a minute.
• Rescue Beauty Lounge “Orbis Non Sufficit”

Tiffany & Co. always knows what a girl wants…and now how to charm her.

Every woman needs more than one pair of shades (or anything) and the new “Three’s a Charm” sunglasses from Tiffany’s will keep us happy and our bank account too!  Instead of having to go buy a new pair of shades every summer invest in these which have interchangeable charms to keep them looking different as often as you like.

These sunglasses come with three pairs of charms featuring a Tiffany heart, letter ‘T’ and a Tiffany 1937 circle charm.

Poolside to snowside glamor at it’s finest.

Model searches aren’t just for Tyra (and soon to be Naomi) a Vancouver retailer is doing a search of their own too!

Wear Else has launched a ‘New Face’ contest in search of a model to be featured in a Spring Advertising campaign, on their website and on any television appearances… and if that’s not enough to make you want to enter the winner will not only win a $2,500 shopping spree, but also Where Else VIP status (usually only for their most coveted clients!).

Simply email your picture until Dec. 15th  (or a friend’s if you can sneak one in when she’s not looking!) and a line or two why you think you, or she, should be THE NEW FACE OF WEAR ELSE to newface@wearelse.com!

10 Finalists will then be invited for a professional styling and photo shoot.  The finalists’ best picture will be posted on www.wearelse.com and Wear Else shoppers and fans will vote for the Winner!

Sequins are ‘it’ right now and if you are going to step up to this fashion trend either go hard or don’t go at it at all!  Keep in mind that doesn’t mean to go head-to-toe in sparkles (unless it’s a sexy dress), but keep it to one item per outfit – just make sure that item is a statement!

Favorite ways to wear this trend are:

• A sexy sequined blazer over a mini (like this one on LC)
• A sequin vest over jeans and a tank.
• A sequined mini skirt with a dress shirt and blazer.
• Inside a suit (yes suit!) with the blazer sleeves rolled up to reveal lining the same color as the sequins!

Gone are the days where full-on sequins were only used as some sort of costume or ‘in moderation on special occasions’. You will still get stares and whispers, but instead of ‘why is she wearing that?’ the whispers will be ‘where did she get that!’

When I first heard of neck sacks I thought they were the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen – why wear a neck sac when you could wear an amazing necklace and here’s a thought… carry a handbag???

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this up and coming trend neck sacks were designed for days when you want to skip carrying a handbag so you wear this pouch necklace with a dangling sack on the end and keep your goods in there instead.   I personally carry a tiny messenger bag on days that I want to be hands free but… I may have found one I actually like!?!?

Nanette Lepore has a great little cashmere knit cocktail dress called ‘Devi’ that actually comes with a beaded neck sack!  It’s genious if you really think about it – when is the one time that your purse drives you the craziest?  For me it’s when i’m out dancing hands down.  And this one more resembles a necklace than a sack so you still look super cute.  I don’t know if I’ll ever fully buy into the whole neck sack trend – butIi’ve already bought this dress!

Juicy Couture will always be known for the velour tracksuit – whether you love it or hate it, chances are you own it. Maybe their new Bird collection will be more up your aisle.

Juicy pieces have always aired towards the West Coast woman who is known to have a more laid back style but now they are targeting that East Coast flair as well with their new line Bird.

Juicy truly did a great job with this line which is said to be inspired in part by a vintage find from London’s Portobello Road.  It is a bit more chic, has a bit more edge, and is all together more urban.

The vintage influence is obvious in the silhouettes of Bird’s outerwear, cashmere, tops, denim and leather pieces but still have the playfulness Juicy is know for. Bird can be found in all major department stores now!

Who doesn’t love the designs of Badgley Mischka? And now they have a lower end line: Mark & James. Seriously…how gorgeous is this dress?!!

Don’t know many ladies who don’t c0vet the Badgley Mischka line and I know just about as many how can’t quite afford it – until now.

Badgley Mischka has had a loyal following of glamorous celebrity clientele for years, and now will have a loyal following of fashionistas with their release of the Mark & James collection their first contemporary price conscious line!

All dresses have the obvious Badgley Mischka influence that we love and a price point of $300-$500 with is very loveable too!  This collection is right on trend with the exaggerated shoulders, wide legs and chain details for those with an edge and features gorgous signature cocktail dresses.

It doesn’t look like the black trend in makeup and nail polish is going anywhere and that’s not a bad thing!

MAC Cosmetics has a new line called Style Black and what’s great about it (besides the name) is it offers that dark look that is so pop, but in other intense shades that are almost as dark for those who don’t feel like their complexion can pull of the harsh black.

M.A.C. Style Black has some great mineral eye shadows, nail lacquers, lipsticks and glosses in super deep violet, green, navy and bronze.  They’re so great chances are you’ll want to try them before you reach for the staple Style ‘Black’!

The line also has a Volcanic Ash thermal masque and exfoliator (getting great reviews for it’s deep cleaning).

Deepen the drama and give this line a try – it’s worth it.

Wear Else is known to often go by WE which doubles for ‘Woman Empowerment’ – to team with the Dress for Success Vancouver Chapter made perfect sense. Dress for Success is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

NOW – November 18, three Wear Else locations will collect gently used Holiday Wear for Alumni of the Dress for Success program.  These women are about to attend their first holiday events at their place of employment and YOU can assist them in looking and feeling confident and beautiful by bringing in a gently worn holiday outfit.

Wear Else will, in turn, present you with a $50 Gift Card to spend on a new Holiday Look for yourself as a thank-you.

On November 18th, after all the Holiday Outfits are collected, the WE 4th Ave location will host a special Holiday Styling Event for Dress for Success Alumni where these lovely ladies will then choose one of the beautiful holiday outfits YOU have donated. An initiative we can all feel great about contributing too this holiday season!