Loafing and wine

Fall fashion advice from a seasoned shopper
By Stephanie Trembath, Public Relations Manager

Last week I found myself dressed up in jeans, a leather jacket, and lace-up boots, on my way to savour one of the final sunsets of summer. The warmest days of the year are done, dear friends, and rather than skip about flip-flops and skimpy tees, it’s time to turn over your wardrobe of neon hues and sandy shorts for warmer tones and knit sweaters. While there are many reasons to dread fall—heavy rain, back to school homework sessions, and no more sweet corn or summer berries—the fall fashion and entertainment scene is bursting with innovative ideas and eclectic designs to get you through the grey months.

Following trends is not something I aspire to do every season; however, mixing your own signature style with current trends is much cheaper than constantly rotating your wardrobe, and it’s an artistic event in itself. A good friend and inspiring fashion fiend, Paula Krawus, completely revamped my fashion philosophy when she compared her style guide to a Picasso painting and said, “I’m not really athletic, I don’t have any hobbies, and I’m not really artsy or anything. Fashion—clothes—it’s my thing. It’s my creative outlet.” Perhaps it’s a way to justify her spending habits, but I must admit, Ms. Krawus has perfected a distinct style that flows with fashion trends.

If you enjoy treating your wardrobe like a blank canvas, but are like most twenty-something aspiring fashionistas and lack resources like the Man Repeller (think Prada shoes and Chloe handbags), you’ll want to thrift shop around our sweet Vancouver streets to see what you can find. The gems you’ll want to check out are the second-hand stores in downtown Vancouver, or North Vancouver, as select locations receive donations from companies such as Aritzia, Marciano, and Jacob, or clothes used for photo shoots and fashion shows.

This season’s style guide highlights chunky knits, loafer-style footwear, the “statement collar” (check it out at the manrepeller.com), and warm tones like wine red, burnt orange, and navy blue. Aldo displays a wide selection of loafers in their windows, which range from $60 to $80, and Aritzia released their fall selection with Rag and Bone sweaters, ranging from $200 to $500. If you ask me, being trendy is an expensive hobby that breaks smaller budgets, so put in the leg work if you want to keep up.

Where to loaf: check out local thrift shops and consignment stores regularly, since the key to scoring is constant practise. Would you expect to score a goal your first time playing soccer? No. It takes commitment and patience, much like scouring the smaller shops and stacked racks of second-hand leftovers.

Where to wine: I would splurge for a chunky, comfortable, knit sweater in a warm hue for fall, as woolly knits never go out of style—but not for over $100.

As for the statement collar: make your own! What better way to bedazzle your neck than by inviting a few girlfriends over for a diamante party with glitter and glue.

A few things to avoid this fall, and forget you took part in if you were a follower: first, ombre hair, since the only way this style is suitable is if it’s natural. Poverty ombre, as some call it, is when your hair naturally lightens at the tips and has a sultry, stylish flare that had North American women by their chequebooks splurging to dye the ends of their hair a smidgen of a shade lighter of their roots. I still don’t get it. Second, neon Nike runners, because nobody who wore those shoes was ever working out or looked like they worked out. Third, those skin-tight lace bodysuits that are still sold for $40 at American Apparel. And finally, anything skin-tight and lace, really.