1. COLOUR. It should be no surprise that colour, once again, reigned supreme on the spring/summer runways. After months of wearing nothing but dark, somber colours, the brighter shades of the upcoming season will be a refreshing change. These bright punches of colour can really liven up any outfit. "Braver" fashionistas out there can wear these colours head to toe (as they will appear in everything from hats, clothing, pantyhose, shoes, to accessories), but for those a little more timid, try pairing these brighter hues with a neutral of some sort; I think that a top in a bold colour worn with jeans is a great way for everyone to jump on the colour bandwagon...C&C California has put out a great collection this season of bright, fun colours that is sure to have everyone thinking spring!!!

    2. LONG DRESSES. Dresses are always great this time of year because they always look chic, and let's face it, they're easy to wear. As always they come in a variety of styles, the most common having been short, but greater emphasis this season will be placed on its counterpart: the long dress.

    Some may consider long dresses to be too "dressy" or "fussy" to be worn during the day, but I think that they are a nice alternative to what we've seen over the last few seasons, and in fact, are quite versatile. Worn with high, strappy sandals and delicate jewellery, long dresses instantly look "dressed up," but paired with flip flops, big sunglasses, and bolder, chunkier jewellery  the very same dress now appears more casual and funky. Try pairing a long dress this season with a strand of kukui nuts, my personal favourite, and I swear you won't regret it...have fun!!! 

    3. WIDE LEG PANTS/JEANS. Wide leg pants made their debut this past fall, but will be an even stronger look this season. In fact, the "bell-bottom" will be making its comeback during these warmer months much to the chagrin of many out there i'm sure. However, the silhouette will not be as severe as in days past; there is no need to panic just yet as there will be a variety of leg widths made available to accomodate everyone. As a general rule of thumb, stick to a medium or moderate flare, and balance this look out by wearing a slightly more fitted shirt up top. Most importantly though is remember to wear a heel of some sort whether it be a boot or wedge sandal to lengthen out the leg line;  I don't recommend a flat shoe with these pants as they tend to make the individual look short and squat. My personal pick for the season is the "super flare" by 7 for all Mankind, but for those out there who are a little weary of the bell-bottom, the "ginger" is a great alternative; it's still a wide leg jean, but the flare is a little less pronounced. Tip: These are a great jean for the office as they fit more like a trouser.

    4. PRINTS. Prints will be everywhere this season whether it be animal, floral, or tribal influenced; you'll see it in clothing, handbags, shoes, and jewellery. Prints are a great way to liven up the season, not to mentions one's wardrobe! For those adventurous enough, try wearing a long animal printed dress with flip flops, and a great pair of oversized sunglasses to add just a touch of "glamour" to your day-to-day wardrobe, but for those who find themselves a little less bold,  pair a printed top with a solid bottom. A nice tribal/safari inspired top worn with white pants or shorts would be a chic alternative...to jazz the outfit up a little further, try an armful of wooden bangles, but for those who even this is too much for, grab a printed scarf and throw it on with a basic tee and jeans and join the print bandwagon! 

Happy shopping...

    Go to any news stand this time of year and you're guaranteed to find top ten lists in just about every magazine - lists in which every fashion "authority" gives you their suggestions on the season's must haves; I am no exception. The following are my personal picks for the fall/winter "08.  Fashionistas out there can see if you agree (or disagree) with my choices, and for those who may be a little unsure, hopefully the following list will offer some guidance.

    1. PATENT accessories - Patent is a great addition to any wardrobe whether it be in the form of a handbag, belt, or shoe because it really pops against the somber colour palette that most of us seem to adopt this time of year. Not only does it's sleek and shiny finish add interest of texture to our outfits, it is also easy to maintain - just swipe with a damp cloth and we're good to go!

    2. CHUNKY KNIT SWEATER - Not only is this a practical choice for our cold climate, it is also a very fashion forward item to own this season. A chunky sweater worn belted over a pair of skinny jeans or leggings is a very "of-the-moment" look, not to mention extremely comfortable.

    3. WIDE-LEG JEANS or TROUSERS - This is a great alternative for those out there who find the "skinny" silhouette hard to do because the wider leg opening serves to balance out the hips. Also, this particular look is often accompanied by a higher than usual waistline, which serves as a "girdle" of sorts (BONUS!!!!). Tip: This style of pant is best worn with heels which elongates the leg line. I strongly recommend the "GINGER" style by Seven for all Mankind for those who want to jump on this trend...it's been one of our best-sellers.

    4. FITTED TURTLENECK - The trend this season is short over long. Though layering is still considered an "in" thing to do, we will see more longer sleeved tops being worn under shorter sleeved ones. This is a fresher take on layering because for the past couple of seasons we have seen the opposite being done - long over short. My favourite interpretation of this trend is to wear a fitted turtleneck under a looser fitting, short sleeved tunic/shirt or jumper. C&C California makes a great, extremely well fitted one, but for those who prefer one not quite as snug, I recommend Velvet - their's are form fitting though not tight. Tip: If you are not a fan of the turtleneck, a fitted crew neck tee works just as well.

    5. NICE BLOUSE/SHIRT - Every season, on every top ten list, in every fashion magazine, you will see experts recommending that you buy a nice blouse whether it be in the form of a crisp, classic white  shirt, or a more feminine one of satin, silk, or lace. This is so because a properly fitted shirt looks great worn on it's own, or underneath the many sweaters and jackets of the season. D.E.P.T has reinterpreted this look by making a bodysuit out of theirs. For those wary of this, don't be; bodysuit blouses are great worn with low rise pants because they always stay tucked, but are equally great paired with high waisted, wide-leg pants because the slimmer silhouette up top balances the wider one at the bottom.

    6. SKINNY JEANS/LEGGINGS - Although "the" look of the next couple of months is indeed the wide-leg pant, the skinny look is not going anywhere. If anything, it will be easier to wear because of the many sweaters and sweater coats out there on the market. Skinny jeans and leggings worn with flip-flops and ballet flats was a popular look this past summer, but for fall and winter you will see this being done with a boot. To make this easier to do, Seven for all Mankind along with Vince have added stirrups to the bottom of their pants. Although unattractive (and not recommended) worn as is, it is great for boots because it keeps the pants from riding up, not to mention preventing unsightly wrinkling and bunching at the knees.

    7. CHUNKY/SLOUCHY BOOT - As mentioned in the previous note, boots are great paired with skinny jeans/leggings; however, they should be chunkier than in seasons' past to properly balance the weight of the garments up top, most likely to be a sweater of some sort. For those looking for a warm and comfortable home for their feet this winter, try UGGs - most do go down a size as they are more generous in fit.

    8. GREY - Grey, grey, grey - it is "the" colour of the season. Everyone should have something grey in their wardrobe this season whether it be a top, bottom, shoe, or handbag. Grey is great because it is a neutral colour much like brown and black, and as such, will go with all existing pieces in your closet. Remember though that greys come in a wide range of shades - lighter greys are more casual while darker shades such as pewter and gunmetal appear dressier. Tip: Grey and red is a great, but unexpected colour partnership...try it!

    9. GOLD jewellery - Gold has never been "out" of style, but for a long time now, we have seen more and more silver accessories out there on the market. Although we will continue to see this, there has been a greater demand for gold lately. Not only is it flattering against most people's skin tone, it is also extremely complementary paired with the warmer shades of the season such as browns, burgundies, plums, and navies. Worn with jewel tones, gold looks incredibly rich and luxurious. My favourite look is actually to mix up the two metals; wearing silver and gold together, creates a more interesting, layered look reminiscent of David Yurman and John Hardy.

    10. GREAT COAT - For many out there, buying a whole new wardrobe every season is a luxury we do not have; if this is indeed the case, and one item is all that can be purchased, I suggest buying a great coat. A well fitted coat is the quickest way not only to update, but to polish off a look. Mackage, a Canadian outerwear line makes beauuutiful coats. Although an investment, it is one well worth it because let's face it, as Canadians, we are living in a world where winter lasts at least six months of each and every year.

    There you have it ladies, my top ten must haves of the season...good luck shopping!!! 

In short I think that all colours, if kept in moderation, work quite nicely together. A basic rule of thumb is to wear no more than three colours at a time, one of which should be a "basic" or "neutral" shade: black, white, grey, brown, or in most cases nowadays blue, for blue jeans! The reason for this being that these colours serve to anchor, and soften the overall look; for example, wearing a purple and orange printed top with black pants is alot easier on the eyes than say pairing the same top with green pants.

I'd also like to debunk an old color myth right now. There are many out there (you know who you are) who believe for whatever reason that certain colour combinations should never be worn together: brown/black and navy/black come to mind. I strongly encourage those who have adhered to this "ancient" colour code to drop it ASAP. Pairing brown and navy together with black not only creates a very chic and polished look, it is also very now and of the moment!

I hear this question at least once a day from customers; I think that the answer to this question depends very much on the top itself. Babydoll tops all share a basic empire shape however this can and does vary; some come with heavier pleating underneath the bust line which creates much more fullness, volume, and movement around the midsection, others are cut in a what is more of an A-line shape fitting snug undeneath the bust with a gradual flare at the bottom. The latter style I find much easier for most women to wear. The slight fullness provides just enough room to be comfortable but without the added bulk, which can cause some to appear larger than they are.

Because babydolls are so popular right now, it is actually a great season for expectant mothers, or for those of us who feel we have a little "extra" to hide! As with anything though, I feel that to successfully carry this, or any, style off you need to feel comfortable. You hear this time and time again that there is nothing more unattractive than a beautifully dressed woman constantly tugging and pulling at her clothes. Remember ladies,  you should be the one wearing the clothes, they shouldn't be wearing you! 

All the basic lines that we carry in the store such as C&C, Velvet, James Perse, Vince, Splendid, and Ella Moss, etc. have their own version of the babydoll out right now and will continue to carry this silhouette into the fall season and beyond,  so come on girls give it a try, it'll be around for awhile!