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I go to a private school where we have to wear polos. I don't have a wide variety of ideas that would work with dressing it up a bit... any help? I have loads of accessories, but none of it ever seems to look right with the collar.
-Marcy (Sept 3, 2009)
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Dear Marcy,
Bringing a little more interest to your daily polo does seem like a bit of a challenge. This season chunky chokers are all the rage. We would suggest wearing one of these fun pieces underneath your polo with the buttons undone this way you don't have to deal with that pesky collar.
For a more androgynous look channel Gossip Girl's resident bad-boy, Chuck Bass and add a patterned bow-tie around your collar or an ascot underneath it.
There are also ways to dress up your outfit and bypass the collar completely. Try adding a belt in a bright, eye-popping colour around your waist like this Miu Miu double skinny belt. A chunky cuff or a cocktail ring will also help jazz up any outfit. Make-up is also one sure way to play with and add diversity to your look. These top five fall beauty trends are a great place to start or gain inspiration.
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Hey, I really want to buy my first (basically) proper pair of high heels, but I tried some Jimmy Choos and couldn't get my feet into them! The thing is, my feet are a size 36.5, but the have the width of 37/ often 38, and I don't know how to find heels that fit well and are comfortable, and also not RIDICULOUSLY expensive (which Choos kind of are...) Thanks!!
-"Sparkly Love" (Sept 1, 2009)
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Dear "Sparkly Love",
We love high-end designer shoes like Jimmy Choos, Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins but unfortunately our credit cards shrink in fear at the thought of the necessary payment needed to procure footwear of this calibre. That's why we stick to affordable, yet stylish shoe retailers like the following:
1) Payless offers cheap shoes in a variety of styles, sizes and widths - they even have designer collaborations with Patricia Field and Alice & Olivia, which means you get the high style without the high pricetag.
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2)Nine West has a higher, but still reasonable price point, and offers stylish heels that are many times close replicas of designer shoes.
3) Piperlime has a great mix of affordable and designer shoes so you can take your pick (and match your budget)
3) H&M's latest collaboration with Jimmy Choo in November will be a great place to find a pair of Choo's that are not ridiciously expensive!
4)
If you are considering an investment brand try a pair of Stuart Weitzmans or Michael Kors' diffusion line Kors by Michael Kors. Online shops such as Zappos.com or Designer Shoes.com offer a bevy of styles for those with wider feet. The downside is that you cannot try the shoes on - unless you can find a retailer in your area that sells the same ones (usually no easy feat). Department stores such as Nordstrom or The Bay also offer a variety of width-conscious designer selections.
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Hello! Maybe you can help me. I'm 14 years old and i made this really nice drawing of a dress and my family and friends say i should get a designer to look at it .I don't know where to start I was hoping you could help me find out who i could talk to.Thank you!
-Callie (Aug 25, 2009)
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Dear Callie,
We are so happy that you are taking an interest in fashion design! A good seamstress can make your dress for you. As far as finding a seamstress, check out Craigslist, your local fabric store or a good tailor who can help point you in the right direction.
If you are hoping to make a career out of designing than consider taking a few sewing classes or registering for a fashion design class. Interning for a designer may also be an option. Do some research (browse the internet, ask around at local boutiques) and get the names of some designers and design offices in your city (if you live in a major city this is easier than if you live in a small town). Once you have the names of a few places contact (e-mail, phone or in person) them about internships. Collect all of your designs and better sketches in a nice binder or folder to use as a portfolio. This way you will have a reference for yourself and something to show any potential employers.
One cautionary remark, don't let anyone keep or make a copy of your designs. Stories of designers naively 'lending' their portfolios to companies only to find out later that their designs were copied with no recognition or compensation are all too common.
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Hi, I'm 16 years old. I mostly shop at Forever 21 and H&M. I love
unique clothes, and I'm getting kind of sick of the mall stores. Do
you have any suggestions of good/affordable places to shop?
-Em (Aug 21, 2009)
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Dear Em,
When we are looking for chic, one-of-a-kind pieces to mix into our wardrobe we like to wander over to our local vintage and second-hand shops. If you don't mind hunting through multiple racks of clothing, Value Village is a great place for cheap and amazing finds. Otherwise, here is a list of stores in three Canadian cities and a few online stores that you might want to check out:
In Toronto we suggest Kensington Market where there are several great second-hand stores packed with treasures just waiting to be found and our new favorite vintage shop 909 (at 909 Dundas St. W) which stocks vintage designer pieces along with other beautifully selected merchandise.
In Vancouver check out Deluxe Junk (310 Cordova st. W), Happy Consignment on W 4th st (at Alma) and Front and Co and C'est la Vie on Main st.
In Montreal check out ERA Vintage Wear (1800 Notre Dame Ouest) and Eva B (2013 St Laurent).
Not in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal? No worries, as there are plenty of online stores that stock vintage/second-hand merchandise at reasonable prices like The Urban Collection, Vintage Vixen and Chick Downtown - just be very sure of your sizing before you purchase anything.
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