Some people DO just love neutral clothes, so I am not dissing those people, just letting you know that if you ARE afraid to branch out, maybe you could try some of these colours or tips to help yourself build a colourful outfit for spring/summer!!

Okay, so lets start with the basics: Neutrals!

From left to right: Red (YES, it’s a neutral!), brown, navy, light grey, dark grey, black, white, beige

Every single one of these colours can be used as a base for any other color. If you are going to use red as a neutral, keep it on the deep side as opposed to a bright lipstick red.

Use any one of these colors as your pants, top, skirt, jacket – as a way to tone down a pattern or play up a color, the uses for neutrals are ENDLESS. They are also an amazing way to showcase an amazing accessory of a wonderful shoe.

And, Navy is THE neutral of the moment, pair it with white, red and gold accents to really feel that nautical look.

Here are a few of the colours I own and a lot of my favourite combos.

Starting with Red. Here’s a bright red cardigan I wear. I put a bunch of my camis/sweaters around it to show how these colors can look against it. I find that the colors on the right hand side compliment the sweater the most. In fact, that’s a good way to see what base your red is, it goes better with the blues (and the blue based purple, second from the bottom on the right, more than the peach and coral on the left hand side). However, in small doses, I think all these colours could work really well with the red. I LOVE the baby blue (just a small swatch at the upper right corner). I think a peek of baby blue or even the royal blue under the cardigan would look amazing. I think pairing the cardy with a patterned skirt with corals, pinks and peaches would really pop. Maybe wearing a bright right shirt and accessorizing with some amethyst or emerald jewellery would look amazing.

Next is hot pink. Again, you can see a slightly blue base to the sweater as the peach and coral camis clash slightly. I LOVE the look of the apple green next to it, as well as the royal and light blues, and the orchid color in the top left. I think a hot pink top with coral beads (as shown) looks fresh and summery! Also, pairing some emerald coloured heels with a pink skirt would look very “look at me” without looking overdone.

Since I love apple green, I wear this color a LOT! I think my faves with this are the orchid colour (3rd from the top on the left), the baby blue in the bottom left corner and the raspberry (2nd from the bottom on the right).

I also love using green to showcase a lot of the bright accessories I have, especially this chunky red bead necklace from Stella and Dot. I also use this sweater a lot over a deep purple dress that I have, as well as the peach cami with a belted pencil skirt. It’s a really unexpected combo, but the colours really compliment each other and people are often shocked at how well they work together.

Personally, I think this deep purple goes really well with almost everything! I even threw in the red cami (2nd from the bottom on the left) to show you that red and purple really DO go together. Again, think about the base of your purple – if you are using a plummy red-based purple, pair it with reds and pinks. If you are using an eggplant, blue-based purple, then pair with blues/greens.

Lastly is this gorgeous buttercup yellow…which, in my opinion, goes with every single color here. I have worn this cardigan (why are all my pictures cardigans??) with the coral tank and a turquoise necklace. The colors all complimented each other and I got tons of compliments when I wore the outfit. personally, I think this yellow (as opposed to a deeper or brighter yellow) could be used as a neutral because it really holds it’s own but lets the other color shine. For instance, I love the orchid colour against it, but I think that while the orchid stands out, the yellow still shines.

So colour isn’t obviously something to be taken lightly, but it is a lot easier to work with than people think!

And keep in mind, I’m not saying go out and pair red jeans with a royal blue top and top it off with a purple sweater, but you DEFINITELY can layer colors – for instance a bright coloured tee under a different coloured vest or sweater. Or keep it to your accessories. And if you ARE wearing dark colours, that is your time to REALLY showcase your accessories or shoes. If you were wearing a little black dress, don’t wear black shoes, go for the flash and wear a punch of colour on your feet.

Oh and the most IMPORTANT thing to wear with colour is CONFIDENCE. If you feel like your outfit is too flashy or you feel uncomfortable in it, DON’T WEAR IT! If you feel off in the colour, people will notice that. So start small or jump in feet first!

And I HATE when people say they can’t wear colour, you just obviously haven’t found the right SHADE yet! Embrace colour this spring/summer and come back and let me know what you experimented with and what you thought of it!!

Enjoy, fashionistas!

So, I learned my lesson this morning and realized that LAYERS are the answer!!!

I always try to pack up my sweaters for the summer time…I only leave a sweater/cardigan if it’s lightweight and would work for a coolish day/evening or it’s a good layering piece. However, this year, I packed up EVERYTHING because I didn’t have any thin sweaters!!

While in Toronto, Amy pulled out a GORGEOUS sweater (in a GORGEOUS color) that I think a few of us complimented.

The sweater is found on the Reitmans site, and it called their “Irrisistable Cardigan” (and as Amy informed me, this is their “this year” version of last years “Perfect Cardigan” – which I own 2 of and are currently some of the VERY few layering pieces I have in my closet).

When I went on the site to take a look at the cardigan, I was actually impressed with their “10 pieces – 12 looks” page. I find that a lot of stores are doing this now-adays. I even added up the cost of Reitmans looks and it worked out to $257 before you purchased any accessories (buy one, get one half off) or paid tax…honestly, that isn’t too bad!!!

So anyway, with my completely unpredictable weather at work, I had to do a little closet re-arranging. I am thinking that most summer outfits will include:

Bottom: skirt, skort, capri or city shorts (I have a few long pants tossed on the top shelf)

Top – 1st layer: Sleeveless shirt (I have a MILLION styles of these, some collared – like blouses, some with ruffles, bows, sequins – I have a couple “boring ones” as well, but I like to have some “WOW” to my outfit – plus I want something that looks great on it’s own if need be)

Top – 2nd Layer: cardigans (buttoned and wrap), jackets, poplin tops – ANYTHING breezy!!!!

Throw on some bold accessories (which I have plenty) and some fabulous shoes (especially if you are wearing city shorts, heels or nice wedges are a must!!!) and you have a FABULOUS summer outfit for the office. Then when you are leaving and walking out into 30 degree temps, pull of the outer layer and you are ready to brave the heat!!! 

And if you check out places like Reitmans or even Suzy Shier or Smart Set, you can get away without spending a lot of money (just keep in mind that SOME of these clothes don’t have great wear to them and may only last a season…always try to think of how much wear you will get out of a piece before you buy it!!!)

Anyway, so I am thinking of doing a small segment over the next few weeks of “Cool” looks…along with my closet organization posts (the room is done!!! WOO!!!!)

I am sure you all are feeling it lately…summer is COMING!!! The days are getting longer, the sun is getting warmer, the grass is getting greener – spring is here!!!

For some (most?) of you, you have already had warm temperatures and what not for the past while, but for us up North, it’s only just beginning, and after 6 months of winter (yep, 6 cold, long, snowy months!) you had better believe I make a big deal out of spring! So I am sharing a few tips that I use to get myself into that “spring mood” and out of my winter funk (so far, it’s working pretty well!!)

#1 – Jump, don’t step, out of your comfort zone : go out and buy yourself something (an accessory) in a colour you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Step AWAY from the blacks (even the navies, though that is in right now, more on that in #3). It can be a bag, a bracelet, some shoes, a jacket (look at the ones at the end of the page) – SOMETHING that screams look at me – and then OOZE confidence knowing you did something you wouldn’t ordinarily do!

#2 – Put some Spring in your step : New Shoes don’t have to cost a lot – especially when they are BOGO right now! Go out and buy yourself a pair of springy wedges, flats or espadrilles. EVERYTHING seems to be either flat or wedged this year which I think is nice…no need to totter around on stiletto heels in the heat…

#3 – Try a new trend : Ricki’s (my fave!) is REALLY plugging the Nautical theme this year…this is an old trend coming back, but I really didn’t appreciate it when it first came around. I am not a navy person, but pair it with red (garnet or ruby red, not crimson) and you will make all the sailors stop and stare. I personally picked out these pieces for myself: this dress (GORGEOUS ON!!!), this sweater (super cute with my white wide leg pants) and this cardigan (which I am rocking today with a simple white t-shirt, silver earrings and jeans – and of course red flats!)

#4 – Go Au Natural : Spring is all about looking fresh and clean. I RARELY use my hair straightener or hair pins in the spring/summer unless I am going for a certain style (I wear a lot of french rolls and what not in the winter time, I don’t do this in the summer).  I just picked up this bumble and bumble surf spray and so far I am loving it!! If you are wearing your hair down it gives you that tousled, wind blown look. If you are wearing a ponytail it gives it a messy wavy look instead of a perfect cheerleader pony, and if you are pulling it into a messy bun it gives lots of texture and roughness (so it looks effortless).

As for makeup I wear: light foundation (or tinted moisturizer) with sunscreen (ALWAYS sunscreen!!!) – or if you need more coverage they do that too! A few swipes of mascara (I was accidentaly given black/brown of a different formula the other day and I am growing on the “natural-ness” of the color…I like it a lot now!) and a little gloss (I prefer grapefruit or apricot, both awesome!)

#5 – Get Chunky : With your jewelry that is!! Go for something bright and bold – turquoise and coral are ALWAYS amazing!!! They are GREAT additions to a nice light summery outfit!!! This site has some neat trends, and though I did buy a couple of their pieces at a party the other day – I found them to be quite expensive. You can purchase similar items at most stores – H&M, Le Chateau, Ricki’s, Aldo, etc. Since these are SOMEWHAT trendy items, it’s best to not pay a lot for them since they go in and out. SOME pieces – like I said, turquoise and coral are ALWAYS popular in the spring/summer, so if you see something you REALLY love within your budget and you think it will last, definitely snap it up!

#6 - Put your feet up : And make em pretty while you are at it!!! Splurge and get a pedicure, or take some “you” time and do one yourself!!! Soak your feet, scrape the nasty bits off, slather on some cream and paint them a FABULOUS shade. I suggest the “South Beach” collection by OPI. Seriously, this collection has EVERYTHING – you can go safe with “Sand in my suit” (light beige) or “Suzi and the lifeguard” (light pink), you can go fashionable with “Done out in Deco” (light grayish purple) or you can go wild with “Conga-line Coral” (Coral, duh!) or “Feeling Hot-Hot-Hot” (Coral-ly hot Pink) – those last two will transition BEAUTIFULLY into summer if you get some colour during the warmer months (unlike myself!)

and lastly, even though it has nothing to do with Fashion (though taking pictures has become QUITE fashionable!)

#7 : Be one with nature : This is something I have not appreciated as much as I should lately!! Get out in that warm weather (with some sunscreen!!) and enjoy the loveliness out there!!! Check out Jaime’s blog sometime (hopefully she gets her new camera soon!) – I really like not only the yummy food pictures but that she strays away from the regular “Food Blog World” and adds pictures of things she sees every day. And since she lives in beautiful Nova Scotia, it is definitely a treat for those she shares it with!!

So even if you don’t have much to look at in your area (I know I don’t!), take a walk in a new area or go on a nature hike or even just fire up the BBQ and grab a fruity drink and just ENJOY the months to come!!!

Anyway, here goes!

Q. Randi asked when is it appropriate to wear sweats (or something along those lines). And I think Amber asked me what I wear to the gym (I am going to tie these two together!)

A. Okay, so in MY personal opinion, sweats only belong in the gym. HOWEVER, if we are talking yoga pants, then those are okay in SOME situations. I don’t wear athletic wear to work, out for dates or anything like that. I WOULD wear them on a Saturday, traveling (depending), and grocery shopping (SOMETIMES). I like to dress mine up though with a nice jacket (like a running style jacket)…and I have jackets/hoodies for when I work out and I have clean jackets/hoodies for days when I want to be dressed a little nicer!! 

When I go to the gym, I am not REALLY concerned about how I look…but I guess I am still SLIGHTLY pulled together. I wear black yoga pants (I bought them at Marks Work Warehouse for like $20 and they wash and wear VERY well!) and a black workout top with built in sports bra (ALSO from Marks). Over top I wear a loose t-shirt or a baby tee (these aren’t tight baby tees, they are oversized from when I was bigger) and they are always in a bright color. My hair is always up (sometimes I wear a lulu headband to hold my bangs back, otherwise I pin or clip them back) and my face is always scrubbed free of makeup – even though I wear mineral makeup. I bring one of my fancy jackets with me so that I look all cool and sporty when I leave…and of course I have a kick ass Lulu gym bag!!!!

Q. Amber asked what I would wear to school.

A. Well, I haven’t been a full time student for a while, but I always dressed up a little for school. I wore jeans most of the time, but I usually wore a sweater or a nice jacket and top with it. I wore comfy boots or embellished flats because you have to carry a lot of crap around and that isn’t always easy in heels!!! I made sure to buy a good school bag, mine was made of leather with lots of pockets and was a cross body. I had a little keyboard for my palm pilot, so that is how I took most of my notes, so I didn’t need LOADS of room for binders and what not. I am a FIRM believer that you dress for the job/career you want instead of what you have. So even though you ARE a student, don’t dress like a student, dress like a journalist (in your case Amber). I say, invest in a GREAT bag, a leather bound notebook, a gorgeous pen and a classic trench coat (and these don’t HAVE to be expensive pieces!!)

Q. Randi asked about necklaces, what to wear with what necklines, etc.

A. I am going to give the best answers I can here…I would also love Cat’s input on this because she is always beautifully accessorized!

Okay, so beads are in. Long beads, chunky beads, etc. I have LOTS of beaded necklaces, most of them are long and they are of varying colors, sizes and lengths. Some have gems added on or other embellishments. Beads are HOT. Wear LONG necklaces with ALMOST anything – turtlenecks, long sleeve or short sleeve t-shirts with any neckline, boat neck tops, blouses, voluminous tops, dresses, ANYTHING!

Another type of necklace that is in – CHAINS. ESPECIALLY if you layer them. You can wear all sorts of pendants and mix and match them. I like to keep my chains pretty short, around 18 inch long chains, they hang to about mid chest then. I also mix them with some of my shorter beaded necklaces (even some long ones!). Wear your shorter chains (ones that fall mid chest) with v-necks or scoop necks, open neck blouses or a cardigan with a nice camisole underneath.

The Y-necklace NEVER works for me, but looks beautifully on some people!! Wear them with deep v-neck shirts or a wrap top. Don’t let the necklace hit the neckline of your shirt!

So that’s my rule, your necklace should either be 2 inches shorter than your neckline or at least 2-3 inches longer. The BIG one to watch out for are crew necks and boat necks, they sit so close to the neck, so it’s tough to get a good necklace that sits over it, definitely go for a long necklace in that case or just use it as an opportunity to wear some killer earrings!!!

When you are wearing v-necks DEFINITELY stick to the 2 inch rule, and maybe play it safer if you are going longer, wear it at least 3 inches longer than your neckline…there is NOTHING worse than a gorgeous necklace getting caught in your cleavage over and over again!!!

Okay, so that’s that! I hope that answers any questions you have!! Feel free to ask any more!!!

And, I kind of dropped the ball on a super awesome post that SHOULD have been posted today, but now I can leave it for next Friday morning when it can get the attention it deserves. I will share two secrets about it:

1) It is PROBABLY the best post I will have posted

and 

2) I didn’t write it!! 

I will try to drop some hints this week, but stay tuned for next Friday! I promise, it will be worth the wait!! 

Onto today’s post!

So, a little info – My work is business dress during the week (actually a fairly strict dress code – dress pants, a nice top or sweater and dress shoes) but if we pay $1, we get to wear jeans on Fridays. So, in MY opinion, when you have business dress during the week, I think that even though you are wearing jeans, you should still dress nicely. I was a bit shocked to see that people were wearing sweat pants and sneakers (ESPECIALLY since the president was still wearing nice slacks and a crew neck sweater, so I think kind of preppy is the way to go). Anyway, so this, for me, is an opportunity to dress funky!!

Here is last weeks outfit

The sweater is from ricki’s (on sale!! – and I own it in Violet as well!) and the beads are from Ricki’s too. The jeans are my trouser jeans from Reitmans (I seriously need a tripod to take pictures, I can only set it up on my bookshelf and if I go too far out I will be down the stairs!!) – I took the opportunity of casual Friday to wear a high ponytail (which of course you can’t see either!)

Shoes were these mint green flats from Payless a few years ago – I cover reception on Friday and I have to go all the way to the back of the office to get anything from my desk, so I wanted to make sure that my feet were comfy JUST in case!)

Here is THIS weeks outfit

Okay, so it’s pretty dull colors, and I wish you could see the detail on the top. It has all these fabric rosettes on it (from Ricki’s right????!!!). The cardigan is from Reitmans ($5!!!!!) and the jeans…I believe they are Reitmans as well, they are my comfy jeans!! The beads, I don’t know where they are from, but they are my Wilma Flintstone beads! (AND I got up early and triple barreled my hair this morning! Haven’t done that in years!)

Simple Aldo wedges finished off the look.

Okay, so that is how I do jeans day! Kept it casual, but still felt like I wasn’t slumpy!