As I desperately cling to the memory of summer and the laissez-faire styles that make me so happy, there is one thing I enjoy about the colder weather: bringing structure and clean lines back into my hairstyles. While summertime is filled with loose, messy ponytails, and flowy fabrics, fall and winter are the perfect time to polish your look and play with thick textures.
For those who don’t know me well, it can sometimes be hard to see past the high heels and lip gloss, but the reality is that I’m much more than a closet filled with shoes. While I love me some fancy clothes and I practically swoon over a trip to the salon to have my hair done, I also make a conscious decision to shop brands and even stores (hello, Salvation Army Thrift Store!) that make a difference in my community and the world at large.
Long before earned the title Mama, I was a nine month-old baby unable to sit up by myself. Long before I could become The Frenzied Fashionista, I was so undernourished that I wore 3-6 month clothing as an almost-year-old infant. Then, on September 29, 1988, I became Ashley MacInnis – ten months after my birth.
Don’t shoot the messenger, folks: Winter is upon us. I've finally dug out my stand-by hats and mittens as they’re becoming increasingly necessary as the temperatures continue to drop. I love wearing hats, so I enjoy this particular time of year because it’s not so cold that my nose freezes off but it’s cold enough to can wear my beanies and chunky knit scarves with skinny jeans and boots. Fall fashion is so lovely.
I’m a true believer that everybody - and I mean every single body - should be able to find and wear comfortable styles that make them feel good. When that doesn’t happen, fashion is failing horribly and unfortunately for too many, fashion is failing.
As the single mom of a preschool-aged boy, I think a lot about whether or not he has enough male influence in his life. Sure, there’s my brother and my dad, but F misses out on having a male in his life on a daily basis, but we make do as well as we can. Because he’s a little boy with a vivid imagination, and because he has a mother who encourages him to try new things and live out his creative, imaginative ideas, he occasionally slips his feet into my heels and clip-clops around the house singing Let It Go. And I love it.
One of my favourite things about fashion and style is that it's constantly changing, and you can find inspiration just about everywhere. I regularly hit Pinterest and Instagram to get outfit ideas or find new ways to wear my favourite pieces.
I also blame Pinterest and Instagram for my outrageously overflowing closets. But I digress...
Imagine entering a store to look for your size and realizing that only one size, size small, can shop there. That's the reality created at Brandy Melville — a teen clothing retailer — otherwise known as the hottest teen clothing retailer in the USA. Yep. You read that right.
A store full of clothes made for one body type: thin.
And as if that's not bad enough, it's one of the brands with the fastest-growing popularity among teen girls. WHAT THE WHAT?
This is the third year in a row that my son and I have done our family photos around the Thanksgiving weekend. The fall colours are so lovely, and when the weather cooperates, autumn is the perfect time to be outdoors. I typically spend a bit of time contemplating what we’re going to wear for our photos, and in 2012 and 2013, we both wore a lot of blue.
Halloween is just around the corner and now that my own little goblin is becoming more aware of the fun involved (read: FREE CANDY), I’ve become more aware of how dangerous trick-or-treating can be if the proper precautions are not taken.
Did you know that one in four school-aged children is living with a vision problem? If you have a child with vision problems trick-or-treating on dark streets, it need not be a nightmare this year if you follow these tips.
Exactly one week ago, I woke up in Mississauga, ON to my first day of BlissDom Canada.
When I first began writing in September 2012, I heard some of the fabulous ladies I now call colleagues talking about their plans for the conference and I immediately knew I wanted to go. I was determined.I wasn’t able to go last year due to personal reasons, and I sadly sold my Early Bird ticket about a month before go-time. There was no way I’d miss this year.
It’s neither a secret nor a surprise that I love me some nail polish. More often than not, my fingernails are lacquered in shiny, red gel polish (I even own my own LED light gel-nail system). In my gigantic box of nail polishes, I have four bottles of regular, red nail polish. FOUR. That’s not including red variations like wine or burgundy. Or the ones that are sparkly.
Anyone who knows me knows that I really love summer but when it comes to fashion, no season can rival my love for fall: cozy sweaters, rich colours, and — most importantly — the return of the boot. I’m still holding onto my flats and bare legs, but I’ve been eyeballing boots for a few weeks now. The right pair of boots can take you from Monday in the office to cocktails on Friday night and everywhere else you need to go.
I’d like to take this opportunity to call bullshit on the No White After Labour Day Rule, because I, personally, think it’s one of the stupidest “rules” out there. Plus, I happen to own a fantastic pair of white pants, which I dearly love and spent too much on to only wear for a couple of months a year . . . and then there’s my no-pants outlook on summer, because BARE LEGS, you guys.
So, BULLSHIT on you, No White After Labour Day Rule. Aha! Take that, you stupid fashion rule.
I’m no stranger to conferences, having attended more than my fair share of all-work, no-play, stuffy business conferences, but this year will be my first BlissDom Canada conference. I’m looking forward to leaving my suits at home, and also to meeting all of you amazing people IN THE FLESH. You can expect squeals of joy and lots of hugs from me, so prepare yourselves now.
I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but it’s almost back-to-school time.
As the mom of a preschooler, summer has been exactly no different than the other three seasons as my son continued to attend his preschool every day, but as the school supplies hit the shelves and students are touring campus, I’m reminded of the “trips to town” for backpacks, pencils and new indoor shoes.
Here are some tips on surviving the back-to-school fashion.
I’ve been told once or twice that I’ve got pretty good style, but a nine-year-old is putting me to terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE shame as he rocks it in sweet frames, adorable suits, and the best hair you've ever laid eyes on.
Oh, and he’s probably more successful than I am, too. So, there’s also that.
Although my favourite thing about summer is the warm weather, my hair doesn't always feel the same way. Even early in the mornings, it's already so hot that I can barely imagine blasting hot air at my head and even if I do, humidity makes a mess of everything in half the time it takes to straighten it. Plus, there's almost nothing worse than having your hair stick to your neck, all sweaty and lank.
