The Case for Nude

The Nude Shoe rocks.

I know, I know, you think it's hard to pull off and should match your skin tone which is impossible, and anytime the word "flesh-coloured" gets used, people run as far away as possible.

But really, The Nude Shoe rocks.

1. Cream looks good on everyone. You don't have to match your skin tone - it's pure white that'll make you look pasty. And it's summer - get some sun on those feet!

2. Your legs will go on and on and on... who doesn't love that? I have a serious weak spot for ultra strappy and chunky black stilettos but I can't deny they shorten the look of my calves.



3. That killer cocktail dress will be all anyone sees. The Nude Shoe gives your entire outfit a subtle platform from which to shine.



4. Last but not least, they're sex in a shoe. There's something so enticing abou the suggestion that you're barefoot, while still on your tippy toes... Need I say more?

I've shown you some Christian Louboutin's to inspire you - I suggest looking for a substantial shoe like a wedge or espadrille, and/or something very strappy. My favourite incarnations are the summer-boot with peep toes and straps all the way up around the ankles.

And cause I refuse to pay money to see the second Sex and The City Movie, I got my fix by looking for nude shoes in the fashion-candy world of Carrie Bradshaw to prove my point.

Belt yer outfit!

Oh look, another belt-themed blog post! Oh belts... how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

#3882647: Belt That Outfit:

I have been admiring this trend from afar, skeptical about its practicality (I love the look of a winter coat belted with a wide belt not part of the coat... but when you wanna take it off or just zip it open on the metro?) but loving the silhouette it creates.

When Adrienne showed up at my door wearing this cute grey dress with studded belt, I had to try it out on her. She already looked awesome, having taken a shapeless girly dress with great pleating work, and deciding to belt it, not just with anything - some black studded leather to add some edge - and topping the outfit with a black cardigan. The cardigan was a perfect candidate, as it had no buttons or enclosure of any kind - it was actually built to just hang.

And so we belted it. I think it looks awesome and I can't wait to try this look out more often.

The September Issue: Passion for Fashion at Montreal Geek Girl Dinners this Wednesday!

The second half of Montreal Girl Geek Dinner's "September Issue" (focus on fashion) is taking place this Wednesday at 7pm at Station C.

Aleece Germano of S.W.A.P. will be joining me to talk about conscious consumerism, buying local and helpful fashion tips and faux-pas for fashion newbies. It'll be fun and we'll head to the Sparrow for drinks afterwards!

You can read more about the event here at Montreal Girl Geek Dinner's blog.

When: 7 pm on September 16th, 2009
Where: Station C, 5369 Saint-Laurent #430 [map]

RSVP using the Facebook event page here .

Pearls of Fashion/Life Wisdom

One of my favourite fashion bloggers - Kristen O'Reilly of Idiosyncratic Style - asked ten independant fashion bloggers for their best fashion tips.

She compiled them all into Pearls of Wisdom: Fashion Bloggers on Style: a whole lot of fashion advice that can be applied to life in general, like love yourself, have fun and be a trendsetter not a follower.

In the pic in the post, I am wearing Jennifer Glasgow's Thelma shirt and Lalouka's Nautical Pencil Skirt.)

Street Stylin' Style Tip: Accessorizing for weddings

Adrienne came by to borrow some accessories for a wedding. She had found a gorgeous vintage-styled dress (at Gap, believe it or not) with a beautiful tiger lily print in white on royal blue. I couldn't believe how perfectly the Brazen Design Tiger Lily Necklace went with the pattern. To suit the style of the dress, we strung it on a very long diamond-cut ball chain and then paired it with Adrienne's own pair of Brazen Design Small Leaf Vein Earrings.



The key with accessorizing for weddings it keep it simple: go with one or two larger items than you would normally wear, instead of lots of small. Unless, of course, the wedding is a very formal affair in which case you can wear a full earrings/necklace/bracelet/ring set.

Street Stylin' Style Tip: Belts! Perfect for weddings.

If, like me, you have multiple weddings to attend before the summer draws to a close, you may be feeling it in your wallet. Buying gifts, travelling and needing multiple outfits per wedding really add up. Borrowing is a great way of making a great-looking one-time outfit that doesn't break the bank.

Nancy was in the same situation and so we had an accessory date. Belts were the focus, as we were trying to give shape to a gorgeous but shapeless Banana Republic dress found on super sale. We finally located the perfect one: my wide black leather belt with snap and puckered front detail (handmade from second hand leather in Montreal by Deborah Adams, available at Lustre Boutique). It matched the other pleats in the dress and instantly gave Nancy a flattering hourglass silhouette.

We also had fun dressing Nancy up in a variety of other belts to match her fantastic black tube/black skirt outfit that day. She left wearing a faux leather green wraparound that I picked up in NYC as well as an extra-wide purple leather made-in-Canada corset belt from Bedo.