It’s spring-cleaning time and your wardrobe should be no exception! To help out, I’ve assembled a list of pointers used when my sisters and I get together for our semi-annual wardrobe makeover sessions. This final step is initially time-consuming, but will save you from the perils associated with the dreaded clothing crisis! Struggling for the perfect outfit can affect your mood and confidence, which then effects how you view the outfits attempted and discarded to the mounding heap around you feet. This chicken and egg cycle can be obliterated through outfit creation. If you missed step one, two, or three be sure to get up to speed first! Should you feel overly burdened to embark on this journey yourself, I’m just a comment or email away!
Try to make as many different outfits from each piece as possible. I am guilty of creating one outfit and wearing it to death until I tire of the pieces therein, but variety can allow you to view a piece in new light thereby extending your wardrobe options and your budget! A small closet will feel much bigger if you have a multitude of styling options for each piece. This step could be so successful, you might be inclined to repeat with hair and makeup looks!
Create looks in sections: exercise, relaxing at home, casual daywear, dressy daywear, casual evening, dressy evening, cocktail, formal, holiday, etc. This will be a huge help when you’re tight on time. You can also play with themes in each category based on your personal style and tastes. Check out my recent post on styling different themes here.
Have a friend document each outfit by snapping a quick photo. Upload to your phone, create a folder on your computer, or print and hang on a D-Ring in closet for easy access. There are plenty of apps out there for closet organization, but I like the tactile nature of physical photos. Add to your selection as you feel inspired or acquire new treasures.
Not sure where to start? Two tricks I use are checking my inspiration board to help bring in new silhouettes and pairings, or starting with one stand-out piece and build around it. Inspiration is endless if you’re keen to find it, just open your eyes; from the latest J.Crew catalogue, to old photos of your folks it’s there, I promise!
xo Anneke
Barely recognizable under a sleek bun, bright makeup, and head to toe dazzle, my sister Alana winks at me from the end of a moving three spoke wheel. From my post on the sidelines, camera in hand, it was difficult to capture the speed, uniformity and grandeur of her synchronized figure skating team, Black Gold. The Adult 1 team’s exhibition performance was met with wide-eyed enthusiasm from a lineup of signature hungry little ones spouting wows! and hows?. Once in the dressing room, I am able to pull a couple of girls aside to capture the detail behind the glamour of the group’s on-ice presence, which inspired a messy, but fruitful adventure in DIY dip-dye.
To create my dip dye t-shirt, I followed the instructions on A Beautiful Mess, but learned a few things along the way:
If you don’t like the look of contrast stitching, try to get a shirt with thread of the same content as the fabric
To achieve an even texture, make sure your bowl or pot is large enough to dip the shirt without major wrinkling and be sure to rinse until the water runs clear.
For best ombre effect, be mathematical about your proportions.
Plan your transition placement with pins before dipping and keep in mind the dye will creep up the fabric a bit higher than water level.
I’d love to see your results, so please feel free to share!
If you have an interest in joining one of the Black Gold skating teams, don’t be shy; they’re always looking for bright young things to shine and share in their fun!
Do you have a good idea for unusual outfit inspiration? I’d love to create a look based off of it! Sometimes the most original looks can spring from the most unlikely places!
xo Anneke
Tee: Aritzia Jeans: Rag & Bone
Flowers (in hair): Alstroemeria via Philip Chong Flower Bar
Necklace: ALDO
Clutch: Michael Kors
Shoes: Zara
Nail Colour: Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Lightening
Photos: Jess Bobyn, Kenneth Heinbecker, Anneke Forbes
I’ve taken a bit of time to develop the bones of my website, which has included the development of a proper logo. But to make the final decision, I need your help! Have a peek behind my creative process and speak freely on your favorites and potential tweaks. Let ‘er fly, folks!
I am excited to create a logo that whispers of my name and mirrors my style and taste. But what is my style? What is my taste? To help define, I partook of two exercises.
First, I wrote down all the words I felt described my brand. I then chose the top two and defined them fully: feminine; meaning thin, light, and fine (not frilly or ornate) and modern; meaning simple, geometric, clean, and fresh. The modern aspect keeps the feminine from twirling and whirling and the feminine lines keep the modern shapes from looking overly bold, heavy, and… well… masculine!
With an idea of my look in mind, I investigated the logo of every single fashion designer successful enough to be listed on style.com. Besides, that’s what I’m aiming for, no? Using my inspiration and my favorite shape, the square, I ruminated on shapes that could work for my brand and came up with these two options. The negative space contains my initials, but the shapes themselves are pleading to be made into an allover print for the next summer dress I design!
Settling into our sunny courtyard with snacks and stencils, I explored line and design variations to my preliminary shapes.
The top players were rendered in Illustrator so I could more easily view their potential.
I am currently deciding between the following two logo designs and would appreciate any feedback you can provide! The winner will be developed and perfected, appearing on the website shortly!
Religion is fairly heavy fodder for the world of fashion, so rocking the cross trend is about as easy as remembering the Act of Contrition. Below I help saints and sinners decode the details of this tricky trend. Amen!
Choir Girl
Look for sweet, delicate pieces in gold and silver
Mix with pastels or on-trend all-white in conservative but modern cuts
Romanticize your makeup with pinks, fluffy lashes, and flushed cheeks
Soft waves top off your relaxed, peaceful stance. You’re going to heaven, so nothing to worry about, right?
Anti-Christ
Look for bold and irreverently-set black jewelry. Weight and multiplicity are key for successfully communicating impiety
Mix with sweats, distressed denim, and leather in black and grey
A navy blue smoky eye and stark brow set the tone for fierce and unforgiven facial features.
Moody eyes pierce from under an over-grown pin-straight fringe, crushed by the weight of a hood and un-repented sins.
It’s spring-cleaning time and your wardrobe should be no exception! To help out, I’ve assembled a list of pointers used when my sisters and I get together for our semi-annual wardrobe makeover sessions. I guarantee you this is the step you’ll have the most fun with. It involves shopping for goodness sake! If you missed step one and two, be sure to get up to speed first and stay tuned for the final installment! Should you feel overly burdened to embark on this journey yourself, I’m just a comment away!
Evaluation Assess what remains of your closet with a visual idea of a well-rounded wardrobe. My definition includes the basic building blocks (like white t-shirts or a black blazer) and variety in each category. Are all of your jeans dark skinnies? Why not try a 70′s inspired wide leg, or a fun print? As you replace all of the winners from step 2 back into your well-organized closet, make a list of habits to avoid and holes to fill. As you go through each category, a shopping list will develop that will keep you on task and bring home the things you really need!
Shopping I love to shop alone, Alana likes me to shop with her, Andrea just likes to shop period! Whatever your style, be realistic with yourself about what you need to be effective. If shopping isn’t your thing, enlist a friend to pull items, list in hand, for you to try on. Another great way to minimize the time you spend in the mall vortex is pre-shopping online.
Set a budget of how much you can afford to spend and start with the items you need the most. If you live in Canada, investing in a great coat is a much smarter choice than filling out your bathing suit collection. To stay on budget and avoid taking home so-so’s, I put everything I like on hold, then come back to the ones I love only once I’ve shopped every store I intend to. The bonus of not having to lug your bags around the mall beats any salesperson irritation you may inspire.
Happy shopping!
xo Anneke
Photos: Dominic Kingston Location: Alana & Dom’s
Try to make as many different outfits from each piece as possible. I am guilty of creating one outfit and wearing it to death until I tire of the pieces therein, but variety can allow you to view a piece in new light thereby extending your wardrobe options and your budget! A small closet will feel much bigger if you have a multitude of styling options for each piece. This step could be so successful, you might be inclined to repeat with hair and makeup looks!
Have a friend document each outfit by snapping a quick photo. Upload to your phone, create a folder on your computer, or print and hang on a D-Ring in closet for easy access. There are plenty of apps out there for closet organization, but I like the tactile nature of physical photos. Add to your selection as you feel inspired or acquire new treasures.
