Tag: Shopping

It’s Swimwear shopping time again! How I make the most of it.

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

It’s well into the spring, and if you’re like me, we’re now deciding on buying a new bikini or one-piece. I know, I know, we already have enough! More than necessary to epically wear a different style each day on a week long vacation! But for me, the obsession with collecting swim fashion continues even so. There is no better way to celebrate a warm weather getaway than with buying one new suit–ONE. The reason I say just buy one is because years ago, I got sucked into how cheap bathing suits were, especially with pop up online retailers (remember Cup She?) I bought way too many swimsuits and I didn’t wear any of them much more than once. Then I got bored of the half a dozen I had just bought and a year later, they were off to the landfill. Fashion should be fun, but also sustainable. The way I learned to be at peace with the matter is like with any collection; it has to be made with curated pieces that are loved and each new swimwear is adding something different and loveable to the wardrobe. Here are my tips for a guideline when adding to the collection:

I love, love, love this suit and how it just has the most pretty tropical print: not too large or small and on a white backdrop!
  1. Think of the purpose of the new swimsuit: What is the destination or setting going to be? A quiet beach in the Mediterranean? City side Venice Beach in California, LA? Poolside on a cruise to the Caribbean? Sun tanning on the white sand beaches in Miami? For example, for a past trip to the Bahamas by cruise, I wanted a tropical print bikini! And I didn’t have one, so I scoured the internet for one that I absolutely adored. The colours, and size of the flora and fauna were perfect! I am not bored of that one and will definitely wear it again on the beach!
  2. Know which colour group you belong to: Certain colours when placed next to our faces, brighten us up, and compliment our complexions. And other colours do not look great next to our skin. For example I’m a cool toned gal, but on the lighter end of the spectrum. Think baby pinks, blues and lavender. And my neutral colours are white or grey, versus black or brown. My worst colours are orange, red, and coral…too intense for my complexion and too warm. Yellow sometimes works on me because at least it’s on the lighter side! But that’s my colour palette. Everyone’s colour palette is different. I have met people who were cool dark palette; so imagine: burgundy, charcoal, black, ultramarine blue. And I have met someone who absolutely glows when wearing orange and corals, unlike me! Buying a suit in a colour that works with your complexion is a key to loving it!
  3. Know your body shape: I have broad square shoulders, so I tend to opt for halter styles on the top that focus on the center of my chest. If you have big hips, maybe don’t go for the boy-shorts cut. Apple and round shaped bodies might actually look good in a two piece where the middle is not visually accentuated, instead of squeezed into a one-piece. Think about your body and where the eye will be drawn to in different swimwear. Think about places on your body you want to accentuate (i.e.. that tiny waist, long legs…etc.) and choose the cuts that match that aesthetic!
  4. Solid bathing suits are boring. It’s nice to have that simple black or white matching bikini set in some cases, but in general, one colour bathing suits don’t really catch the eye. When I wear solid colour suits, there are two things that are a must: they must be an exact colour match with the top and bottom, and they should have something interesting about them. Are they made of some fun material? Not the standard spandex suit, but maybe they are made of terry cloth, or cotton eyelet, or crochet? Texture and interesting fabrics is important when choosing solid colours.
  5. Common sense details to think about when swimwear shopping such as: The fit of the suit: we all want to buy the right size when it comes to any clothing item, but it’s ever more important with swim…because breasts need to be supported and covered, and any suit that is too tight will not be flattering! Another thing, and I don’t want to get people too stressed about it, but most people know when bathing suit season is coming, or a vacation as well–so getting ready to be in swimwear may mean skipping dessert more often than not and hitting the gym occasionally. Just sayin’!
The newest addition to my collection! I love the coverage of this bikini, it’s classy. And the solid blue colour has some sparkles woven in!

All in all, guys, just have fun. Adding new pieces of clothing to any capsule wardrobe, or well-curated collection takes time, thought and effort. But if all of these things align, you can have fun, and look good wearing the fruits of your labour! And who doesn’t want to look good while hanging poolside with a margarita in hand? Happy shopping and summer guys! For more swim content check out this article from before!

Dress size is nothing but a number

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

We often hear that age is nothing but a number.  That you can do anything in your 30’s that a 20 year old can do, and that we should not limit or restrict ourselves to such a trivial things as age and such.  We can also be free to date people of all types, of all ages, of all lifestyles, and of all races.  There is encouragement to be ourselves in these matters.  The same should be said about dress sizes.  I work part-time in fashion retail, and I have recently noticed how some of us gals have strange ways of associating some part of our identity through the size clothing we wear.  If we are a size small, we are content…an extra small brings out boastful, prideful personalities.  Medium is a triumph for the more curvy types if they can get into this size label, and large and extra large are okay too, but then just don’t say it too loudly, and hope to fit into the prior.  I myself am guilty of thinking this way a bit, but now I can see why we shouldn’t think like this.

Women's sizing chart. Why so confusing?
Women’s sizing chart. Why so confusing?

The reason is simple.  The fashion industry is fickle.  They change their measurements daily.  Different stores and different collections have different ways of fitting.  Smartset, the store I part-time in tends to have a larger sizing so that a small there is like a medium at say, Forever 21.  Also, realize that some styles actually look better looser than tighter, it all depends on how you want to style it.  In my wardrobe, I have sizes ranging from XS all the way up to M/L. And it’s nice to think nothing of it. In truth, size is really subjective, and we should not confine ourselves into thinking we are just one size.  We should not be jumping up and down when we fit a small, nor should we be bummed to size up.  Just be happy, healthy and feel great. Don’t let the industry standards have their way with you.  Larger doesn’t always mean fat.  It could also mean you’ve got a bust, and that is a good thing in this culture too.

I know some of my customers get caught up with sizes.  I’ve had skinny ladies complain and whine (in a prideful way) about how they can’t wear our pants because the double 0 just is still too big for them.  I mean, come on?  If you really liked them, they don’t have to stick to your skin for you to pull them off.  I recently lost a few pounds and have just been enjoying the extra room in some of my clothes.  It feels nice to size up too.  I’m more petite than the average woman, and I love to size up on tights.  They fit so much more comfortably, they don’t pull down, and are warmer when not stretched out.  But when we ran out of s/m tights at the store recently and I dared suggest to size up to women my size and larger, their expressions were kind of like I was insulting them!  Clothing size is nothing but a number.  Let it go.

See? Sizes are just labels. Don't label yourself.
See? Sizes are just labels. Don’t label yourself.

I’ll end with one last story.  I was helping a middle aged lady the other day with a particular style of sweaters that I knew the sizing ran large.  So I suggested to her to size down from her L to go for a M, medium.  She brightened up immediate with a glow of confidence.  Feeling validated from being able to grab the medium sweater, she smiled at me, and actually asked my size.  “Hey, yes, I can get away with a medium…that’s your size too, no?”  She prodded me.  I felt kind of insulted that she wanted me to define my size, the way she was defining hers in a way to make herself feel better or somehow “equal” to me.  My only reply I could think of is “well, my size, it depends, really.”  She left before I could tell her what it depended on.  I guess she was not interested in an answer that was not black or white.  But our style and personalities are never black or white, so why expect a black and white answer to the matter of dress size?  Just go with the flow and wear what fits.  Ignore the size on the tag.  If it really bothers you, cut it off when you get home and think nothing else about it.  Wouldn’t it be great to focus and put our energies on being a fabulous person instead?  That is what will put fun back into fashion.

Summer shopping finds: Urban Outfitters

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

I haven’t been shopping much this summer.  The reason being that I’m around clothes and fashion too much these days, and I actually get sick of seeing clothes after my shifts at Smartset (Canadian retail chain) where I currently part-time.  It is possible to get sick of clothes, and the idea that girls can’t stop shopping is not true.  I am working hard, and I mean hard, to find pieces that move me, on trends that are fun and worth following and reporting on.  A lot of the quality of clothing in the big chains have gone downhill.  And the clothes of better quality and are better made are just very pricey.  Good finds are hard to come by this summer, and with the months flying by, the summer will soon be over, and there will not be a reason to sport any cute, trendy piece at all.

Urban Outfitters has been serving my needs for a while now.  Partly because they do follow the trends, their clothes on sale is actually pretty affordable, and they have a generous return/exchange policy.  They also have a relaxed grunge-y street feel to them that I like, and as a former art college student, they appeal to me with pieces that are girly and bohemian inspired too.  This summer however, UO are almost my enemy, with high prices, and uninspired designs and fabrics.  However, after doing my homework, I was able to scout out a few things that I nabbed from them that are pretty fabulous.

1. The Kimono Trend

I saw this trend popping up in the spring, but wasn’t quite ready for it then.  Now I am on board with it.  It’s elegant, retro, and effortlessly pretty.  The floral printed kimonos are jaw-droppingly pretty, but usually cost fifty or more.  But for such dramatic silouhette as the kimono is, a less noisy print may prove more suitable.  I adore my recent kimono jacket find, at UO.  It was priced right, and cropped, so it doesn’t overwhelm a more petite frame!

Kinda dramatic, and kimono inspired. Baggy and non clinging can be pretty sometimes!
Kinda dramatic, and kimono inspired. Baggy and non clinging can be pretty sometimes!

2. Printed Leggings Trend

This trend took off in the spring of this year, faded away and is now coming back again.  Who knew?  Well, I kind of did because black and grey pants are sooooo boring.

Funky and fun, floral printed tights say I'm in, I'm with it!
Funky and fun, floral printed tights say I’m in, I’m with it!

3.  Jelly shoes

Do you guys remember in the 90’s when jelly shoes were in?  Well, I have an infinity for them this summer.  they are comfortable, cute and stylish.  A perfect addition to any summer wardrobe, because they scream effortless fun and functionality.

Nothing over the top. Just casual girlie fun.
Nothing over the top. Just casual girlie fun.

What are your fave finds this summer?  Do you guys think that it is a an awesome summer in terms of finding great fashion and styles?  Or is it difficult and lack-lustre?