I wear a lot of white items, which I like to keep pristine, bright and stain-free. I’m careful with laundry, washing whites with whites, and taking trickier items to eco-friendly cleaners. I’ve also learned a trick or two by using these products at home. 

1. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes: I have many pairs of white and cream leather shoes that I wear like basic black shoes. Wiping them down with a wipe is more effective than you think. It spruces them up and adds back some luster. Works well for white bags too.
2. White Brite Laundry Whitener: A friend who has to keep her son’s white baseball togs pristine suggested this product to me, and it’s effective. I throw in some crystals with the white wash, which includes towels and sheets, and they DO come out looking whiter.
3. Shout Wipes: These are better than a Tide-To-Go pen, and handy to have when you travel, or to keep in your handbag. You need to rub quite vigorously so that the the laundry detergent does not leave a mark around the stain.
4. Shout Stain Remover: I spilled a bowl of cherry pips onto white jeans last month, which is as bad as spilling red wine or curry. I aggressively used Shout and a bit of water over and over again until the stains came out ten minutes later. Then I popped the jeans into the regular white wash. It took some elbow grease, but the stains are completely gone and the areas aren’t pilling from over-rubbing. Magical.
5. Oxi Clean Stain Remover: Oxi Clean tends to work like Shout. Dilute a little in water and wash out a stain with it. I also use it to keep the soles and laces of our sneakers bright white, and throw a little in the white laundry cycle from time to time.

The discolouration that can appear under the arms of white tops are a result of wear, perspiration and deodorant. I don’t seem to get those types of stains on my tops, but I’m frequently asked by clients how to remove them. Have you found a way to do that?

Feel free to share any other tips you have on how to keep whites white. I’ve heard that baking soda and lemon juice can work too.

Here are some amazing outfit ideas for date nights you just don’t know what to wear.

 

In love with this low-key look of Taylor Swift when she went on a date with Calvin Harris. She opted for a leather jacket, black lace top, black jeans and boots. Sexy all-black outfit.

 

We’re getting that feminine vibe from Jamie Chung with tucked white blouse into a midi skirt with printed clutch and point-toe heels. It’s what you should wear if he decides to bring you something in between fancy and casual.

 

Or if both of you are huge fans of sports like Beyoncé and Jay Z, dress fiercely with varsity jacket, leather pants and high heel boots.

 

Leather shorts with plain white tee and sky high heels is what Jordana Brewster wore on her date night with husband Andrew Form. It’s what you should wear when both of you are getting drinks and will get to know each other.

 

Here’s a rocking denim-on-denim outfit from Olivia Palermo. The statement cutout leather sandals puts her entire outfit together. We love it.

 

For something casual, try wearing something simple like a white tee, skinny jeans, wedge sneakers and a floppy hat because sometimes, that kind of outfit is what he’d like to see you in – something simple so your true beauty would shine. Look how cute Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are.

 

Take it up a notch, just slightly, like Miranda Kerr. We love all of her looks and this one is one is just versatile.

 

It’s best to wear something dressy when it’s your anniversary or just celebrating something special. Find a “fancy” dress which you could wear to a fancy restaurant, just like Amal Clooney right here.

 

Look cozy and cute in this knitted mini dress paired with gorgeous ankle strappy sandals. Take a look at Alexa Chung’s look and tell us it isn’t endearing.

 

Well, if you just want to super dress up for your man because both of your are such stylists, wear a bold dress just like Kim Kardashian here when they, with husband Kanye West, went out in NYC for dinner.

Finding the perfect wedding dress is both the bride’s favorite part and the hardest part. The process is too difficult – you need to look for the dress that looks great with your body type. You look for dress after dress and it will just make you feel like a full woman. Wearing different styles, standing up on the bridal stage in the fitting room is kind of fun.

The trick is to find a dress that looks good on you and something that you feel good in. A wedding dress guide is what you really need, learning through a couple of trial-and-error. Don’t know what we’re talking about? Here’s a wedding dress guide that’s essential for every bride out there.

There are five different styles of wedding dresses. Find the right one that will accentuate your best features but hide the areas you’re conscious of despite your shape or size.

Buy it here
1. The empire dress is something unique. It has a raised waistline that sits just below your bust while the rest of the dress flows done. It has different lengths of sleeves and different skirt cuts that can freely flow or contour your body. The fabric used for this is somewhat lighter, hence, giving it a romantic look and feel.

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It flatters most body types but it most certainly will look flattering for a bride wanting to enhance her bust. Brides with larger busts could also sport this romantic dress because the traditional square could cover larger ones. The empire dress is perfect for women with pear-shaped figures.

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2. The mermaid cut is a very sexy look that will flatter the bride’s curves. The silhouette contours the body from the chest to the knee with flares out to the hem. It comes in different variations from halter style, to flamenco, to strapless.

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It flatters those who are confident enough because this dress is a body-hugging cut. Most importantly, those with slender, short and tall figures, also curvy brides could rock this as well.

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3. The A-line dress is a classic and simple A-line dress that is fitted around the bodice and flows freely to the ground. The length can vary from above the knee to full length with a large train. Fabrics commonly used for this dress is made of silk and satin. The Princess dress is just somehow more dramatic than the simple A-line dress.

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If your goal is to look slim, then choose a princess style dress. If you want something that could hide a round lower body or create the illusion of curves on a narrow frame, then the A-line dress is for you.

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4. The Ball Gown is a dress that will make you feel like you’re in one of those fairy tale books. It’s a fitted bodice with a full skirt (can be one piece or separate). This dress is perfect for big and traditional weddings. You can even add gloves and a dramatic long train for that added “OMG WOW” factor. The fabrics commonly used for this dress are satin, chiffon, even layers of tulle or taffeta.

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It flatters slender of pear-shaped figures. The full skirt will help emphasize the waist but hide the lower body. it will give an hourglass look because of the emphasis on the waistline.

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5. The column dress has a narrow shape that flows straight down to the bottom. It hugs the body and shows the curves of the bride. It can be a simple slip dress made of heavy fabrics.

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The column dress, also known as the sheath dress, is a timeless style suited for lean brides. Those who are petite can look taller and longer with this dress but won’t be able to hide problem areas. Also, these dresses could make it hard for you to move around especially on the dance floor.

I was a retail buyer for many years, and understand that retailers can’t please everyone. Their “open to buy”, or budgets, only go so far. They need to prioritize their purchases for each seasonal range just as we do with our own personal budgets. Retailers don’t deliberately set out to annoy us. They do want to give us what we want so that we’ll buy their merchandise and make them profitable. But we can’t buy something that isn’t there. 
 
This brings me to five retail opportunities that continue to be ignored by most of the fashion industry. For all sorts of reasons, designers and retailers don’t think these items or segments of the market are sufficiently important. I’d love to know why. I dress and shop with clients across an assortment of body types for a living, and we are constantly running into wardrobe challenges because of these holes. 

1. Tailored Tops

It’s easy to find fluid and oversized tops, or clingy fits that are very body-con. But the less extreme tailored fit that follows the contour of the body in woven fabric is very hard to find. There are dressy options from time to time, but tailored casual tops are elusive. And most of us want them as a way of showcasing the narrowest parts of our figures, but not in a skin-tight way. 
 
My guess is that the reasons are economic. It’s easier, faster and cheaper to manufacture tops that are fluid or oversized, and body-con styles in knitted fabrics, because they don’t have multiple darts and seams that suppress the garment into shape. The extra labour required to manufacture tailored garments is expensive. 

2. Dressy Footwear in Wide Widths

It’s hard to find footwear in W and WW sizes full stop, but a little easier in casual styles. Wide and extra wide footwear in dressy silhouettes with a bit of heel are extremely rare, and you can forget about trendy styles. I had a client who needed a WWW size in dressy footwear because of large bunions and a business formal dress code. We had to get WW footwear — which was difficult enough — and have it stretched. These days she can fit size W footwear because of successful bunion surgery, which makes things easier. 
 
In my experience, most people have wider feet, which means a larger assortment of wide sizes would be greatly appreciated. 

3. Designer Wear in Larger Sizes

Designer wear tends to stop at a size US10/12 or Large and often runs smaller than regular chain store merchandise. This is 2017, and it’s ridiculous that the size range of most designer wear is kept extremely exclusive despite the industry’s efforts to be more inclusive and diverse. That said, 11 Honoré sells sizes US10 to 20 across a range of designer merchandise, which is a step in the right direction. 

4. Stocking the In-between Size

There is a notable difference between the largest size in Regular and the smallest size in Plus. It’s usually a couple of sizes, and what I call the “in-between” sizes. If these are the sizes you need, you’re often in no man’s land. You would think that with 14/16 being the average size for American women, the industry would service the size in a more effective way. While things have improved slightly — a handful of retailers provide regular sizes up to a US16/18, and sites like Violeta service sizes US10 to 20 — it’s not enough to bridge the gap.   

5. Knee-Covering Dresses

It shouldn’t be so hard to find a frock with sufficient length for an office environment that is not a maxi dress. We are in our eighth year of ultra short dress trends and it’s mind-blowing to me. All we’re asking for is a larger assortment of styles with two to six extra inches of length. It’s not rocket science. It’s simply a little more fabric that I know I will happily pay for. Just because we can show our knees and thighs doesn’t mean we want to show them. I’d like to know the percentage of frocks that are bad sellers at the end of the season because they’re too short.
 
It’s impossible for the fashion industry to serve everyone. I get that small segments of the market aren’t worth retailers’ and designers’ time and money because they aren’t profitable. But the way I see it, these are significant gaps in the market waiting to be filled. Buyers and merchandisers, please take these retail opportunities by the horns and fill them.

It’s pretty exciting to shop for new finds each season. It’s officially fall shopping. With a lot of new fashion trends, it’s a little difficult where to begin. But don’t worry. With the right accessories, you can go from basic to something fall-appropriate.

 

Accordion Pleats
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Forget about your usual pleats. It’s all about narrow, evenly spaced parallel pleats with alternating raised and recessed folds. Easily wear this to work with a girly top and high heels then you’re good to go.

Flowy Midi Skirt
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This pretty flowy midi skirt gives a classically vintage inspired feel to it. Thankfully, flowy midi skirts are in for the season. Add your own twist by choosing a color that suits your personality or something that you will represent you.

 

Eye-Catching Pendant Necklace
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It’s all about the daintiest yet eye-catching little pendant necklace this fall.

 

Moroccan-Inspired Dress
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If you’re going to play with prints this season, choose what’s in trend- Moroccan prints. Choose a maxi dress with striking Moroccan prints so that it’s very suitable for fall. Layer it over your favorite trench coat and boots for a chic look.

 

Fisherman knit
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Keep yourself toasty and stylish this season with a cropped fisherman pullover like this one. Wear it with high-waist jeans and sneakers for a great casual look.

 

Tiered Peasant Skirt
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Don’t wear something that will make you look like you’re going to dance the Macarena. This peasant skirt is a tricky trend so you need to keep your top and shoes really simple for it to work out for you.

 

Tweed Turtleneck
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It has always been a trend, this tweed turtleneck sweater. Find colors that will compliment your skin tone beautifully. You can wear this with whatever you want. Play it with your flowy midi skirt by tucking this in.

 

Faux-Snakeskin Clutch
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Incorporate snakeskin into your wardrobe with a leather clutch handbag. This will definitely be catching the eyes of your BFFS.

 

Boxy Clutch Bag
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Aside from the faux snakeskin clutch, you definitely need a boxy clutch bag this fall. It’s essential and a nice bag to store your belongings in for special events.

 

Exotic Chrono Watch
Purchase it here
Maybe you don’t really need the Apple watch, if you already have an iPhone and iPad. Instead, get yourself a Chrono watch. It is more practical and great for everyday wear. Plus, who doesn’t like an elegant and classy-looking watch such as this.

I’ve worked through the Ready-to-Wear shows for Fall & Winter 2018, pinning directional looks along the way. There was lots of fashion that didn’t resonate, because hectically oversized garments, seasonally confused outfits, and unkept models look tired to my eye. That said, there was just as much fashion that I adored, and I’m excited about the direction. I’m pleased to see that Individualism and Maximalism reign supreme, that fads are a thing of the past, and fashion is more diverse than ever.

A shortlist of the shows:

• Most macabre show: Gucci
• My favourite collections: Bally, Daks, Tory Burch, Tibi, Rag & Bone, Escada, Versace and Michael Kors
• Most edgy and diverse show: Gypsy Sport
• Show with the quirkiest poses: Vivienne Westwood and Rag & Bone
• Most authentic street style show: Sandro
• Most ‘80s influenced show: Versace

Five things stood out as I browsed the shows:

1. The absence of athleisure
2. A resurgence of high heels
3. Unisex collections that blur the lines between gender-based fashion
4. Outfit creativity
5. Trend diversity

On to the trends, of which the first three are the most important.

1. Individualism

Fashion is a melting pot of sartorial choices, and there are countless ways to look stylish. Increasing diversity in fashion with each passing year means that there is something for everyone, and that trends have a higher longevity factor. Almost anything goes these days, which is by far the strongest message coming through in modern fashion. Take the PERSONAL in personal style to heart, because you have the power to pick and choose from the trend buffet, and sport it your way.

2. Maximalism

Maximalism means wearing it all together to create a harmonized whole. Think of wearing complex silhouettes, combining them in one outfit, layering all sorts of pieces to create interesting proportions, accessorizing to your limit, pattern mixing, texture mixing, patchwork, embellishment, remixing high-contrast colours and clashing colours, wearing statement make-up, and adding nail polish and rainbow hair. Think drama and irregular outfit juxtaposition YOUR way.

3. Structure & No Structure

Silhouettes that define the waist and those that completely surrender the waist are equally trendy. You can move along the structure continuum as freely as you like, and it’s all good. Body-con fits on the one side, hectically oversized slouch on the other, and everything in between. Pick YOUR level of structure and rock it.

Structured looks are created by garment tailoring, fit-and-flare frocks, peplums, belting, garments with attached belts, and tucking tops into high-rise bottoms. If that’s not your thing, allow garments to hint at a waistline for a bit of structure, or wear unstructured garments. Oversized, extremely oversized, fluid fits, and gently fluid fits are there and not going anywhere. Tailoring IS gaining momentum, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

4. Earth Tones

THE strongest colour trend of them all. Most of the collections showed some shade of earth tone like mustard, cinnamon, cognac, toffee, tan and brown. YES! Finally, brown is back in cool and warm shades. Olive and burgundy are there, but took a backseat to brown.

5. Red & Shocking Pink

Red is the strongest bright, and it’s a Christmas red and blue-red as opposed to an orange-y tomato red. Bright shocking pink or hot pink run a close second across all wardrobe items. The idea is to wear the two brights TOGETHER as well as separately, head-to-toe, or as an accent to just about any palette. Lilac, turquoise, lime green and orange were frequently seen as accent colours.

6. Cobalt

I was pleasantly surprised to see large amounts of cobalt coming down the runway, so there should be lots in the pipeline if that’s your colour. The idea is to wear it as a statement piece, head-to-toe, or as an accent to just about any palette.

7. ‘80s & ‘90s Fabness

Modern Retro means that you’re incorporating a style, trend or design from a bygone era AND adding a good dose of modern to the look. Retro items are new pieces, not vintage items that actually come from those eras. The ‘80s continue to hugely influence today’s fashion because silhouettes were the most creative and extreme back then. Think flounces, pleating, ruching, fringe, skinnies, sharp shoulders, pleated trousers, harem pants, one-shoulder dressing, oversized outerwear, baroque detailing, asymmetrical anything, oversized eyewear, aviators, lace, high rises, paper-bag waists, bows, graphic statements, bright pink, embroideries, embellishment, punk, neon, waist belting and white footwear.

The ‘90s are less strong but present. Think slip dresses worn over pullovers, bias-cut dresses and skirts, subtle shoulder pads, bootcuts, pantsuits, chunky black footwear, gothic and rocker black from head-to-toe, overalls, square-toed footwear, long blazers, long & lean silhouettes, a bit of grunge, maxi coats, and combat boots.

8. Futuristic Gloss

This is for the daring with a magpie gene, although there’s an ‘80s influence here too. Think garments made of VERY shiny metallics like lamé with shoulder pads and ruching. Extra shiny silver boots, belts and bags, and anything in see-through plastic.

9. Longer Length Pants & Jeans

Thanks to the ‘90s trend, bootcuts are back and FULL LENGTH. There were far fewer cropped pants and jeans on the catwalks, although the trend is still strong. Full-length wide legs, straight legs and skinny pants and jeans are on their way back too. They are worn at floor-sweeping lengths and with lots of scrunch. Flared hems worn at extra long lengths look awfully luxurious, but are are awfully impractical.

10. Ruching

Thanks to the ‘80s trend, there is ruching across most wardrobe items. Fab on dresses and tops, and fun on pants and skirts too. It can make items forgiving on the midsection, and add visual interest to plain clothing, or add a maximal touch to patterned items. There is ruching on bags, scarves, footwear and belts.

11. Moody Florals & Botanical Patterns

Think patterns with a botanical theme, and florals with dark backgrounds or in moody colours across all wardrobe items (footwear and accessories too). Wear them as a statement piece, or create a maximal touch by pattern mixing them with stripes, dots, checks and other florals.

12. Midis

Midi skirts and dresses reign supreme across body-con, tailored, A-line, and unstructured architectural silhouettes. Lengths range from just below the knee to below the calf muscle but above the ankle. Hemlines are straight, round, asymmetrical or high-low.

13. Long Blazers

Longer length blazers, another ‘90s look, are having their fashion moment and making shrunken blazers look particularly short. The silhouettes vary. Some are highly structured like an equestrian jacket. Others are soft, floppy and fluid. Some are single-breasted and others double-breasted. The stance of the blazer is low, and that’s a very important design feature. Patterns, solids, neutrals and non-neutrals, it’s all good.

14. Puffer Mania

What was essentially a practical item of gear, has become quite the fashion statement. Puffer jackets and coats across all sorts of colours, patterns, lengths and silhouettes are being worn with ANYTHING. From shorts and boots, corporate wear and casual wear, to ballgowns, Modern Reto looks and avant-garde styles. Puffy outerwear is THE look of our fashion era.

15. Bright Hosiery

Bright as in solid red, shocking pink, yellow, mustard, orange, lime green, purple, cobalt and turquoise opaque hosiery was worn with the same colour footwear under skirts, dresses and cropped pants. Or the footwear was matched with another very deliberate colour in the outfit to create a cohesive matchy-matchy statement.

16. High Rises

High rises on pants and jeans reign supreme, and are yet another ‘80s influence. Waistbands finish anywhere between just under the belly button to a few inches above it. The idea is to showcase the high rise by semi-tucking or fully tucking a top, which does a great job of lengthening the leg line from the thighs and hips upward.

17. Tartans, Checks & Tweeds

We see these types of plaids and textures every season, but this time it’s across a larger assortment and across a range of colours. The idea is to combine various tartans, checks and tweeds in one outfit. Keep the palette neutral or throw in some colour.

18. Animal Print

We see animal print every season, but this time it’s on steroids. Think leopard, cheetah, snake, cow, zebra and giraffe patterns across neutrals and non-neutrals, and in ANY wardrobe item. Combine various forms of animal print – neutral and non-neutral – in one outfit, if you dare.

19. Wild West

Think ornate belt buckles, cowboy boots, all sorts of Western-inspired footwear, cowboy shirts, denim shirts, western headgear, fringed bags and jackets, lacing detailing, faux shearling, faux sheepskin trim, flounced and ruffled midi skirts, yoked shirts, plaid shirts, ponchos and ruanas.

20. Statement Socks

Socks are becoming an increasingly important VISIBLE part of an outfit, especially in bold and subtle patterns. They’re making a statement worn with cropped pants, Winter shorts, skirts and dresses. Socks are often paired with sandals and open-heeled or open-toed footwear for maximal interest. Or they’re paired with loafers, oxfords and pumps. They add a quirky, casual and playful element to an outfit.

21. Sneakers, Block Heels, Low Heels, Flats, Tall Boots & All Toe Shapes

Round, pointy, witchy-pointy, almond, square, rounded-square and snip-toe – you name it, it’s ALL there and in almost any form of shoe. ‘90s inspired square-toe and rounded-square toe footwear looks the “newest” at the moment. Pointy toes are a Trendy Classic. Chunky footwear is as trendy as dainty footwear. Narrow heels are as trendy as block heels. Low heels and flats are all the rage, but high heels are making a comeback. Tall boots are as fab as booties. There is no stopping the sneaker trend, with white sneakers the “it” choice despite the range of colours. The point here is to celebrate the diversity of footwear in fashion. That’s a GOOD thing because there is something for everyone.

As you process these trends, remember that:

• There is no such thing as a dated colour if you wear it with panache. Your colours are always in style.
• It can take years for runway trends to have an impact on retail, which means that fashion does not change overnight.
• Some trends do not make an impact on retail at all, or stay fringe at best.
• Mainstream trends last between 5 and 15 years. Some longer. Some vibes never go out of style, but a current version of the look in current and technologically advanced fabric is important. Vintage items can work when they’re combined with a good dose of Modern.
• Consumers keep trends alive, not designers and fashion houses. Retailers will continue to stock a trend if they know they can sell it. For example, designers might want to call it quits on Athleisure, but the look makes a fortune for retailers who are in business to make a profit. They won’t stop supplying a trend if you keep on buying it. Athleisure is a very popular way of dressing casually in America and Canada, and it will not disappear from retail.

I like all of these trends. If not for me, then for someone else. For me personally, I’m excited about individualism, maximalism, structured outfits, ‘80s fashion, earth tones, brown, full-length pants, Winter florals, shocking pink, midis, high rises, tartans, low heels, flats, western boots and animal print. I’m intrigued by statement socks, but unsure how to incorporate them in a dressier and less quirky way. My thinking cap is on.

Filter through the trends. Keep the ones that tickle your fancy on your radar and leave the rest. Don’t stop rocking your signature looks, but DO try something new. The “personal” in personal style means styling the trends your way, which is the best part in all of this. I hope you feel refreshed and empowered as the new season unfolds.

Are you in need of sexy dresses for your next night out? We’ve got some for you. Check them out below.

 

Purchase it here
This sexy faux leather dress is the perfect attire for any occasion. It has a round neckline with long-sleeves and asymmetrical hem. It gives a curve-hugging fit. All you have to do is pair it with high heels or boots and just have fun. You will definitely love the simple details and right now, simplicity is on trend.

 

Purchase it here
Wearing a wrap dress can instantly show off your sexiness without revealing too much. This polyester and spandex dress is light weight, stretchy and comfortable, the ideal dress for dancing all night long. It has a deep v neckline too show off a little bit of cleavage, has a front slit and has long sleeves to balance out the shortness of the dress. Simply wear this with your sexy high heels and a clutch bag then you’re good to go.

 

Purchase it here
This dress is extremely cute. If you’ve got a big bust, you should get a size or two bigger because it could run small on you. The style is simple yet stylish and it would really look great for night outs. It also comes in different colors.

 

Purchase it here
With this dress, you’ll get that knockout hourglass silhouette no matter what your body shape is, thanks to the contrasting black lace side panels. You’ll never be able to stop looking at yourself while wearing this seductive dress and neither will anyone around you.

 

Purchase it here
If you want to look sexy and classy at the same time, without having to accentuate any areas of your body, you definitely need this one-shoulder silhouette dress. It has a great style perfect for a night at the club or even a dinner date with your special someone.

 

Purchase it here
Here’s a very cute and comfortable dress. The fabric is so lightweight that it won’t cling to your body while you have fun dancing or partying with your friends. Not only is this dress perfect for night outs but also you can wear this for other semi-formal events like a wedding and many more.

 

Purchase it here
You can still be sexy without showing off too much skin and curves with this sheath dress and floral-print jacket. It simply oozes sex appeal.