FASHION Magazine

Prada in the Prairies by Bonnee McLachlan

There’s a time in every woman’s life when she contemplates her closet. Yesterday was my day. I graze my fingertips over each and every piece of clothing, discovering old gems and envisioning where and when I’ll wear it again. I can’t think of a better time to do this than when the weather is turning. Knowing that there’s someone in Calgary who could use an extra layer this winter, I take what’s fallen out of rotation and drop it off at a local women’s shelter.

Guelph greenies have come a long way—and not just politically. A few years ago, it was surprisingly difficult to find clothing that was both environmentally conscious and, well, fashionable. But thankfully, that was no longer the case when Steve Johnson and Sara Chadsey opened the doors of Sole Earth Apparel (42 Wyndham St., North, 519-515-0194, soleearthapparel.com) this past April 2008. The two stock their shelves with pieces from over 30 different Canadian and American designers. The only imports in the store are pieces of fair trade jewellery or items found by Johnson and Chadsey while travelling.

I heart bikes. There is nothing cuter than a skinny boy on a brightly-coloured vintage framed bike with a basket. Lucky for me I live in flat, beautiful Prince Edward Island where hipsters in Ray-Bans practically live on their arty two wheelers year-round.

{FASHION WEEK SPRING 2009 TORONTO}

FASHION goes backstage at L’Oréal Fashion Week to chat to the official makeup artist, Eddie Maleterre, and lead hair artist Eric Del Monaco about the runway looks.

A tailor is a girl’s best friend. I am the queen of thrift shopping and a believer that no girl’s closet is complete without some good ol’ used and abused pieces from the past. Seeing as floral is everywhere this fall, I went on a hunt to my favourite boutique: Value Village (1695 Ellice Avenue, […]

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When looking for the next greatest accessory, I often find myself flipping through magazines, drooling over the latest Italian or Parisian export. So it is such a treat when the item on your ‘it’ list happens to come from your own backyard.

Lovely in…fun flirty accessories

Spotted: Bay and Bloor Streets

The thrill of hunting for one-of-a-kind gems is only part of the allure of vintage shopping. When we source style inspiration in reclaimed garments, our ecological footprint is reduced and as an eco-conscious country, many Canadians wear vintage pieces as if they were badges of honor. Stop any Toronto trendster on the street and ask what they are wearing, chances are they will snobbishly respond, “It’s vintage.” It’s most adorable!

All you need is love, love. Love is all you need…

The Beatles may have put it best, but who wouldn’t want love wrapped around her pinkie? And seeing as I am a lover, what better way to make it known than spelling it out in gold on my little finger.

Named after the ancestors of King George the IV, the city of Guelph possesses a certain old-world flair, not just in its nomenclature, but in the posture of the downtown as well. Distinctly European street design—quaint or chaotic, depending on whom you are asking—necessitates a slower pace than the shopping malls of the suburbs. In the city’s core, the independent boutiques reign supreme, and the big-box stores have been held at bay for years. The sentence that typically follows “I like your outfit!” is “Where did you get that?” rather than “I have the same one in blue!” or “Isn’t Gap the best?”

I love vintage. It’s economical, environmentally friendly and the best way to find a unique piece to wear somewhere special. For me, the best thing about vintage shopping is digging for hours and leaving a store with an amazing find that will make my friends jealous. So when The Green Man Vintage and Vinyl (48 University Ave., 902-566-1361) opened its doors last fall, I was thrilled that the store was everything that vintage shopping is supposed to be—and more.

If you don’t like the weather in Halifax, they say, wait half an hour. Same goes for fashion finds, it seems. After a fruitless shopping trip to one of my fave boutiques left me feeling boxy and deflated, my sluggish steps took me smack into my next splurge, right there on the sidewalk.