by Annie Poirier
Hats are back, and the world is so much better for it. A chic chapeau brings an undeniably effortless style to just about any ensemble (though velour tracksuits are irredeemably ghastly). This columnist can personally attest to this, as a fedora fiend. In my early teens I liberated a felt broad-brimmed one, in a stunning royal blue, from my Mother’s collection–never looked back.
For this year’s return to eras of elegance, the chicest chapeaus are classic and easy to wear (dare I say, sometimes even sensible?). Hats are some of the most varied accessories on the planet- from a charming crocheted cloche to a daring derby, find the right one and you’re damn well set for life.
Sadly (not really), as with all modes, there are things to avoid. Bucket hats are terribly juvenile (best saved for the under 12 set), and cowboy hats were turned into tragic clichés by clubbers in the late 90s and early 00s. While these hats are not completely unacceptable, they should really only be worn by people of the vocation they were intended for. Bucket hats are for buckets, and cowboy hats are pretty self-explanatory.
In sporting a dapper topper, you enter a new league of class and style. Who would Napoleon be without his height enhancers, or Bogart without his fedoras? Who has made a bigger mark on history, Frank Sinatra or Men Without Hats?
by Annie Poirier
Back to school season is upon us. A time of dread for those going back for another round of endless hours spent in an airless classroom not doing much of anything at all, and for newcomers to the affair to be filled with a terrifying kind of avaricious, consumerist glee. Flipping through the catalogues and fliers, tiny beady eyes glittering and small wet noses twitching, these are truly terrifying times to be around a five-year-old.
If you are of the parental persuasion, you will inevitably be wondering how you could make this time more bearable. There are really only two ways to go about it—you could buy what you believe to be cute and trendy, and keep you kids from having any fun at all and then totally regret in the future when you watch the home videos of birthdays long past and actually realise how they look...or you could let them have fun with it.
Frankly, I prefer the latter. Far fewer migraines, and, in the end, lots of giggles for everyone involved.
Another very good reason for letting your kids dress however they want (well, within reason) is that it will help them figure out earlier on what really works for them—what they like and what they’re comfortable in. It’ll give them more confidence, and ultimately help them better understand who they are earlier on.
Really, if you’re worried about what other people will think about your little angel showing up at the first day of school in a rubber duck costume with costume pearls and a tiara, don’t. In the long run, it’s not a big deal—and isn’t one of the most important parts of parenting making sure your kids are happy and comfortable in their own skins?
by Annie Poirier
Pleated shorts. They add at least ten pounds and are a prime cause of middle-aged-tire-waistitis in the under 30 set. They were all the rage 20 years ago. Instead, get some nice un-pleated linen or cotton shorts. Those are timeless and flattering. If you’re 30-plus I recommend getting a longer pair, maybe mid-thigh or longer, that fits close to the leg because huge baggy shorts just look weird on anybody.
Crocs/ Holey Soles. This applies to all seasons. I don’t care how comfortable they are, or how trendy they are. Anything is better than these cartoony soul-sucking destroyers of society.
Socks and sandals. Yes, I know it’s a cliché, but there’s a reason. Wearing your socks out like that will get them dirty faster, and some of that dirt will never come out. Not to mention it’s completely unnecessary during the summer (way too hot!) as well as being an antithesis of sexy footwear.
Polyester/nylon velour tracksuits. They’re not gangsta’, or flattering, or at all stylish. They’re tragic. In spite of colour, they show every stain. They’re made from synthetic fibres and so don’t breathe, which makes you sweat even more—not wise in summer time. Get some clothes made out of real fabric that breathes. Do it for the children, the future, and Gandhi.
by Annie Poirier
People take fashion seriously, yet often have no clue where to start.
This is tragic. I wish to fix it. Why not take advantage of all options available to us? We live only once.
I’ve styled most ages, budgets, and body types. My good success rate depends on the importance of taking unique personality and tastes into consideration. What people want, but often forget in front of the closet, is that your sense of style reflects who you are—if an important element of yourself gets discarded, you’ll feel uncomfortable in your clothing and uncomfortable with yourself.
Fashion is my passion and career. Can a fashion correspondent raised in the NWT and now walking tall across a Gulf Island (in major, cool platforms) provide you with the cynical, bitchy articles—with the odd tidbit of advice—you need to feel better and put together?
I aim to entertain and inform. My style was always unusual—while young I preferred classic clothes over the current trends. Nowadays I’m a pencil-skirt-and-pumps kind of girl, with a rock-and-roll edge. Trends suck (unless I like them).
Explore with me. Next time: Summer Fashion Do’s and Don’ts.