The latest from our Heart and Soul
You’ve bought the gifts and the stocking stuffers, now the wrapping begins! But all those people on your gift giving list can mean a lot of boxes to wrap. The paper looks nice under the tree or when you present it to a friend but how long is the gift going to stay wrapped? If you think all that paper is wasteful, there are more environmentally friendly ways to present your gifts. Below are just a few ideas.
Newspaper – If you get the newspaper delivered to your home why not use this to wrap your gifts. You can choose a section of the paper that fits the gift your giving, like the home section for an item for the home, or choose a section that fits the recipient, like the comics for a gift for the kids.
Cereal Boxes – By carefully ungluing the edges of a cereal box (they’re actually pretty easy to unglue) you can reverse the box and retape it. Now you have a clean cardboard box to place your gift it. You can present the plain box with some colourful tape or you can get the kids involved and decorate the box with crayons. The box was destined for recycling to begin with, and it can go into recycling after the gift is open.
Clear Jars – If you have jars for pickles or pasta sauce, peel the labels off (usually come off after sitting in water) and wash the inside and the lid thoroughly. With a clean bottle, you can now cover the outside with tissue paper or paint the jars with glass paint. Now you can hide your gift inside a personalized, decorative bottle. Plus, once the gift is out, add a tea light and these bottles make great lanterns.
Reusable Bags – More and more companies are giving shoppers reusable bags when they make a purchase. These are great to store in your home and car for everyday shopping, but sometimes you can have too many. Why not use these as gift bags. If there’s branding on the outside, just turn them inside out (remove the tag) and tie them with a nice ribbon. You have one less bag filling your trunk and the recipient has their gift plus a reusable bag for themselves.
A Simple Ribbon – When giving someone clothing for a gift, you don’t need to put it in a box or bag. Just roll it together and wrap it with twine or a decorative ribbon. Roll the clothes so the colour shows but that what it is isn’t obvious (buttons, collars are on the inside of the roll).
Pillow Cases – Just like a gift bag, pillowcases are great for wrapping odd shaped gifts. If the gift is for someone in your home, just use one of your own pillowcases. Perhaps you have a holiday themed one you can use. Just tie it up and place under the tree. When gift giving is over, the pillowcase goes back in the linen closet.
Tupperware or Other Dishes – If you’re giving food related gifts, why not place them in a cooking dish or storage container with a lid. You can get many that are opaque so your gift won’t be visible. And the recipient can add the bowl to their own kitchen collection.
These are just a few alternative ideas to traditional wrapping paper. Some save you the cost of buying gift wrap while others offer alternatives that avoid filling up your grey and blue bin. What other ideas can you come up with?
With the holiday season fast approaching, holiday parties and evening functions start to jam up our calendars and the concern over what to wear to these social gatherings starts to worry us. Style and transitioning into the evenings does not have to be stressful. Here are some helpful tips to ease your day to evening style worries.
Plan ahead: Last minute events always come up but thinking ahead and having a few go-to outfits each year in your closet will save you a lot of time and stress. Think about what events you have coming up. Will you be running into the same people at multiple functions? Where are the parties and what time are they being hosted? If you think you might be running into the same faces at several functions then you want to be careful to not wear the same outfit twice. The venue of the party and if it is being held after work during the week will tell you the dress code of the function. If you can assume that most people will be coming right from work, it will help with the recommended attire. With all this information at your finger tips you can make a sound wardrobe decision.
Re-purpose items you already own: No one wants to run out and purchase a top or dress that they are only able to wear once. More and more women are thinking about how they can use what they already own and just give it a splash of holiday or evening. LBD’s (little black dress’s), crisp white blouses, wide leg trousers and your favourite dark denim jeans, are closet essentials anytime of year but owning these items during the holidays gives you a jumping off point for the holiday season. If you are going to purchase something new for your evening style, think whether you can wear it casually or to the office. Sequined tops are not only great for under a basic black suit for an office function but I love it with denim jeans and an interesting shrug,
Add a little bling: The easiest way to take your look from day to night is to add a little sparkle. Your basic black sheath dress worn with a blazer overtop for day can easily be transformed by losing the blazer and adding a detailed belt, drop chandelier earrings and/or a fabulous pashmina for the evening. Your simple white blouse can be jazzed up by adding an over the top necklace and gladiator pump, an easy way to say, “hello evening.” Jazz up your look instantly by adding colour, texture, and funky accessories.
Adding simple items to your wardrobe is not only cost effective but makes the transition from day to night simple, as all of these pieces can easily be thrown into a bag the night before, and pulled out at the office to easily change.
Photo: WatchMojo
Summertime – afternoons of lazy patio lunches, sun kissed skin, and ice cold drinks. It’s a wonderful time to indulge in the outdoors and brighten our moods, outfits, and even our nails with vibrant summer trend colours. Many women cling to the black in their closets or be more hesitant in stepping into a world of colour – especially when they aren’t sure what colours are right to choose or how to wear them.
For those that are looking for a little vibrancy in their lives – whether in large or small doses – the solution is always to pick out fun nail polish hues for the summer.
Essie, a brand favourite among many, has a fabulous nail polish summer collection that is sure to get you in the mood for sunshine! Filled with the many trending colours for summer (blues, reds, and oranges) – these splashes of varnishes will complete any outfit perfectly.
Being an Essie nail polish addict myself, I have to say – I already have their, “Too Too Hot” shade and also another summer favourite of mine the, “Turquoise and Caicos” nail polish colour (pictured below) that, although not listed in their summer collection, I feel should be.
So whether you’re looking to add a little extra colour to your outfit, or you are looking to play with some more vibrant hues on your nails this summer – remember to have fun with some great reds, blues, and oranges. They are summers chic and playful shades!
Since she burst onto the scene eight years ago, her fashion choices have been closely watched and scrutinized. But nothing could have prepared all of us fashion insiders for the highly anticipated gown that she wore for her trip down the aisle to marry her prince. Since the much talked about Alexander McQueen gown, Kate Middleton’s style has been carefully followed and her choices have reflected her elegant yet simple style. She knows how to dress to accentuate her assets and has the ability to accessorize every outfit perfectly.
With every fashion magazine calling Kate the “one to watch” how do we, her loyal subjects, channel Kate Middleton’s style?
- Reuse and Recycle. Throughout Kate’s trip to the United States and Canada we saw her repurpose some of the items she wore throughout her trip: the now famous navy Smythe jacket, her solid nude pumps, and her favourite J Brand dark denim jeans. And let’s not forget about the accessories; that diamond maple leaf broach was seen on several of her knee length dresses and blazers.
From Kate we learn that elegance can be achieved through simplicity and to think outside the box. Do not be afraid of mixing things up. Try wearing your favourite blazer back to a mixed floral print dress, or add an interesting brooch to a chunky necklace for an extra punch. - Don’t be afraid of colour. Although the Duchess is a big fan of neutrals such as navy, white, taupe and beige you don’t see her shying away from colour. Luscious reds, cobalt blues, shades of purples and greens are mixed with interesting and unique details like lace, textured fabrics and over the top fascinators, proving that having a wardrobe filled with neutrals is a great jumping off point to add colour and interesting textures.
- Accessories make the outfit. So many times we forget about the simple things and we walk out the door leaving behind the items that can finish off our outfit. By watching Kate Middleton's style we see that every outfit needs a little something. For Kate this could be the perfect solid rounded toe pump, a simple yet elegant clutch purse, a sophisticated drop earring, or pendant. The Duchess never overdoes it, which is a lesson for all of us. So look for a simple brooch, a fabulous drop earring, or the perfect neutral clutch purse and mix them into your wardrobe.
- It does not have to be expensive. If you take one lesson from Kate Middleton's style it should be that you do not need to spend a lot of money on clothing in order for your outfit to look expensive. Mixing more expensive items with less expensive items gives the illusion that you broke the bank without actually having to do it. The Duchess has been known to mix in items from Topshop, Diesel and Reiss to name a few, but it is how she mixes the pieces that makes the outfit look expensive. Do not be afraid of purchasing some trendier inexpensive pieces and popping them back to your neutral wardrobe staples to achieve your “Kate-like” style.
Style is ultimately about knowing yourself and expressing who you are. It's about being comfortable in your own skin. Despite the occasion or the event, the stylish woman seems to have that special charisma that commands attention. 
Confidence is the hallmark of having true style.
Women often ask me how they can begin to tap into their style persona. I advise them to ask themselves some honest questions: What do you like? What makes you feel good? Whose style do you admire and why? What image would you like to project? In addition to looking at these answers for inspiration, there are seven universal style personalities that you can use as a guide. If you begin to discover yourself in one or more of these personas, your next step is to start ‘owning’ it.
The Romantic:
The “Romantic” is the type of woman who is truly feminine at heart. She wants her clothing to be understated yet fun and girlie so that her beauty can really be the focal point. Her closet may be filled with ruffled tops, soft jackets with bows as accents, lace blouses, and flowy skirts and dresses rather than pants. Her color preferences will be on the softer end of the spectrum, warm pinks, sky blue, aqua, coral, or salmon. She will likely prefer to wear shoes with heels than flats.
The Diva:
The “Diva” is the woman who wants to be in the spotlight. She may not be the most beautiful in the room but people gravitate towards her because she rocks her style and exudes confidence and charm. The Diva’s closet may be filled with bright colors, funky prints, exuberant designs with lots of flash and accessories that dazzle. She wants to be noticed and she wants to be the center of attention so she will go to the extremes of fashion if she needs to.
The Outdoorsy:
The “Outdoorsy” style woman projects a casual, laid back image, characterized by a friendly, approachable look. She’s wholesome, carefree and natural without being sloppy or lazy. Sporty typifies the ‘all American style’ of blue jeans and a button down. This woman’s closet is filled with relaxed separates, classic styles, and jeans and flats. She has minimal accessories because she does not like to spend too much time getting dressed up. Effortless and comfortable are her style watchwords.
The Traditionalist:
The “Traditionalist” is a woman who favors classic styles and projects a very traditional, conservative and business like image. She is practical and functional when it comes to her clothing. Her closet is filled with suits, classic silhouettes, very conservative styles and not much variation in color. She probably has a ‘uniform’ for her casual wardrobe. Being fashionable is not particularly important to her.
The Sophisticate:
The “Sophisticate” is a woman who values fashion as a status symbol. She projects a refined, stately and high maintenance image that is characterized by a cultivated and polished look. This woman will always look impeccably put together from head to toe. She invests in clothing and grooming because they are an important part of her lifestyle. Her closet is filled with timeless pieces from brand name designers, and clothing in the most luxurious fabrics. The Sophisticate values quality as much as she does style.
The Seductress:
This woman is very comfortable in her skin—so much so that she projects a sexy and provocative look. She exudes sensuality and is uninhibited in her fashion choices. She delights in figure contouring designs, and her closet will be filled with pieces that are exciting and designed to reveal and emphasize her sex appeal. She will own the highest heels, the shortest dresses, the most daring undergarments and she will use animal prints and cutouts as accents in her clothing. If she wears slacks they will be figure hugging.
The Eclectic:
This woman thrives on the element of surprise and whimsy. The eclectic woman is free spirited and independent in her fashion choices. She wants to be the non-conformist and uses clothing to express her individuality. Her style may be hard to define because it’s so all about her. Her closet will be filled with period pieces, classics, trendy items –everything is fair game. It’s how she puts her ensembles together that makes her stand apart from the pack. This woman is likely to set her own fashion trends.
Whether you identified with one or more of these styles, the point is to use this guide to really establish a style persona that is distinctively yours. My tagline ‘Presence with a Purpose’ conveys that ability to project a sense of ease, poise or self-assurance; it is energy and an attitude. It can be magnetic.
