'tis the season of tacky christmas sweaters.

Ohhh the joys of Christmas time in elementary school.  Besides the obvious fun of singing christmas songs, and dancing jigs in the school's annual christmas pageant, you could always count on your teacher to sport one of those hideous christmas sweaters with the dangly reindeer, and sparkly christmas trees.  Now, I look back on pictures of myself as a youngster, and my outfit choices weren't always geared towards People Magazine's, Best Dressed list, but anything is better than one of those sweaters.  Seriously, anything.  

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/ugly-christmas-sweaters-461208

Some doozies for your viewing pleasure.

Now with a sweater so loud and irritating, its hard to imagine any sort of accessory that could possibly compliment it.  However, elementary school teachers, all clearly shop at Avon, because they would have jingle bell earrings, strings of christmas lights on a bracelet, santa clause hats on their heads, and snowflakes around their necks.   Some of my teachers also sported festive socks, just so the Christmas cheer was spread out evenly throughout their entire body.  Even at a young age, I knew this was bad.  Just plain wrong on so many levels.  

You can always tell an elementary school teacher when you see them out in public.   They still sport the tacky Christmas parifanalia, even years later.  I can't believe they still keep room for them in their closets.  

 I say, with the Christmas season well underway,  do it up right: throw on your nicest cocktail dress, grab a pair of shiny stilettos, drape yourself in pearls or rhinestone costume jewellery and show the town what Christmas is supposed to look like.  

seeing red.

For me, there is nothing quite like the feeling I get when I flip open a fashion magazine and am hit in the face with the season's hottest items.  Although I am not one to necessarily follow trends, it is nearly impossible for me to contain my heart attack when I see what shoe god Christian Louboutin has come up with now.  That little sweep of red on the sole of every perfectly proportioned shoe is enough to send any fashion fiend on a tailspin.

Even more of a thrill for me than fashion magazines, is the thrill I get seeing ordinary people wearing such enviable designer pieces out on the streets.  

When I was in New York, there were plenty of sophisticated women carrying enormous shopping bags labelled Barneys, Saks 5th Avenue, Tiffany's & Louis Vuitton, and being the nosy fashionista that I am, I couldn't help but wonder, "What do they have in there?".  It took every ounce of strength I had not to brush past closely, in hopes of sneaking a glance at my equivalent of one month's rent.

For me, these pieces seem like artifacts best kept in national museums.  The poise and elegance it takes to pull of a classic Chanel suit, in my mind, is only suited to rich society women who spend their days attending luncheons, and planning charity events.  A Louis Vuitton duffel bag, on the shoulder of the teenage girl in front of me in airport security, surely means she's an heiress or socialite... possibly  both.   And those Louboutins on the woman waiting at the hair salon.  I can't help but imagine her as an ass-kicking super hero, saving the world with a click of her red soled shoes. 

 My imagination is endless, and I create a world of wealth and glamour for these strangers. 

For each designer luxury item I see, comes a world of possibilities, a world of insight into these people's lives.  Suddenly, they are the Donald Trumps and Paris Hilton's of the world, when indeed they may have done without dinner for a month, and are now living in a cardboard box, sleeping next to their fabulous shoes or handbag.

Just ask Dorothy: there's a lot of power in red.

all about the circle scarf.

It has come to my attention that Saskatoon's newest fashion hothouse, American Apparel, will now be carrying my favorite accessory of all time: the circle scarf.  I don't know what it is about them that I love so much; maybe it's the way they can be worn so easily, and just drape over your entire body, but I love them.  I saw one last year on Urban Outfitter's website, but before I had a chance to save up the money for shipping, I was out of luck.  They sold out in record time.       

Shortly after, I had the genius idea that I would knit myself one.  Or several; all in different colors, but that idea lasted about as long as it took Urban to sell out of them.  I have come to the realization, that knitting will never be my thing.   You can understand my excitement when I came across one at H&M in NYC.  I purchased a grey, knit one but it will be cool to have them at my fingertips. 

Well, my fingertips and about thirteen thousands other peoples.  

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am never fully dressed without a scarf.  I own about 40 now I'd say, and am always willing to add to the collection.  The one thing, however that bothers me about my scarf collection, are the fringes on the ends.  I love fringed bags, I love Christian Louboutin's 'Forever Tina' fringed boots, but I just don't like fringed scarves.  I just feel it gives a polished look, too much of a bohemian finish.   

Not so, with the circle. I can't wait to run to AA and pick myself up a dozen or so in various colors. 

Below, are the good kind of fringe, the fabulous kind of fringe by Christian Louboutin.

celebrity fashion file.

These days it seems as though you can't open a fashion magazine, or log onto a celebrity gossip blog without seeing a new clothing line from one of Hollywood's "IT" girls. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have had three clothing lines, starting with a mk and a collection aimed at tweens, and now their newer luxury lines, The Row and Elizabeth & James.  Lauren Conrad, from the Hills fame, has the Lauren Conrad Collection, and Lindsay Lohan just launched a whole line of her signature staple, leggings.  It seems as though every young starlet is eager to cash in on the billion dollar fashion industry, by becoming triple threat performers. 

I often wonder, with so many celebrity lines, what will become of the talented students that study at some of the world's most prestigious fashion schools.  After thousands of dollars of debt, years of hard work and working for free, will they ever stand a chance in the world of high fashion.  It is questionable.  With the runways being dominated by stuff by duff, leggings a la lohan, edie rose, and dVb, it will become increasingly harder for run of the mill fashion designers to break into the business. 

Although fashion and Hollywood have always gone hand in hand, it is my belief that reality television shows such as Project Runway and America's Next Top Model, have enticed celebrities to try their hand at 'design'.  I use this term loosely, because I often wonder what percentage of celebrity clothing lines are endorsement, and which percentage are completely designed and created by the celebrity herself.  With world tours, reality tv shows, talk show appearances, awards shows, and movies to film, I find it hard to believe that so many of these celebrities really spend long hours in front of fabric swatches, sketchbooks and sergers.  I find it hard to believe that they can find time to create garments, draft patterns and drape materials.  It is of course just my opinion, but how will we ever know?  They all claim to "be 100% involved in every aspect", and "would never wear anything I wouldn't wear myself".  

With Justin Timberlake, Heidi Klum, Rachel Bilson, and Elizabeth Hurley being the latest to join the celebrity fashion bandwagon, I wonder who will do it next? 

Personally I would like to see what Madonna would come up with. Now that she's single again, maybe she has a few extra seconds to spare.

Here's my lastest, and definitely strongest peeve: a lack of good shopping in Saskatoon. Although we have a good handful of independent stores such as Frakas, Tonic, 640, Ann&Rosie/Durands and Divine, its still almost impossible for one to define their own unique style.  Chain stores such as Costa Blanca, The Gap and Le Chateau are some of our most popular fashion hotspots and you end up seeing multiple women in the same, or at least similar style as ones you, yourself already own. 

The recent addition of American Apparel to our retail repetoire didn't help matters in the slightest.  If Saskatonian women weren't already dressing the same, the new uniform for the city has become leggings, baggy t-shirts, and long cotton cardigans. It appears as though the 80's has vomited all over this fine city, and I don't see this trend disappearing anytime soon.

For me, it's come down to online shopping. Bidding wars on ebay, large shipping and handling fees, pretty much anything to guarantee a fresh and unique look.   My poor credit card can never get ahead.  It's used nearly as often as my cellphone.  I subscribe to every online store's newsletter, so my inbox is always overflowing with the  latest deals, promotions, sales, and "do not pay until 2009s". 

Does it work? For the most part. The look of disappointment in the eyes of my complimenter is always satisfying, knowing that they can't run out to the nearest mall or outlet store and pick up an exact replica.  But there's also the downside as well: sizing issues.  I don't know how many times I've received a box where everything was either too big, or too small.  Sending stuff back is always a hassle, and paying shipping three times is never fun.  This is usually the case with vintage, or with designers I have never worn before. 

As much as the retail situation in Saskatoon frustrates me, I know that the market here is not really one that could incorporate too many elaborate designers, or expensive boutiques.  Too many hippies, and too many bargain shoppers.  Not a lot of people in Sasaktoon are willing to shell out tons of beer money for expensive clothing.

Too bad, because the 80's are long over and it's time for Saskatoon to clean themselves up.

a shout out to the shoe gods.

I am not a tall person; not even close. Standing at only 5 feet, 2 inches tall it isn't any wonder that my love of stilettos has only grown stronger over time.

I definitely judge a book by it's cover, and by that  I mean, the shoe by its heel.  I'm not a fan of the kitten heel, its far too matronly in my opinion, and although I've come across many beautiful flats, I generally pass them by without so much as a second glance. 

For me, it's all about the heel. I love the new Marc Jacobs 6 inch "stunners" seen on Victoria Beckham recently.  I don't think it's possible to find any negatives.  They are like sweet sweet heaven for your feet.

Also I have to brag: on a recent trip to NYC, I was able to score myself a stunning pair of YSL pumpes, basically hot of the press.  After scouting Saks, and the YSL flagship I was finally able to find my size.  I had to lie coming back over the border, the shoes were the cost equivalent of my entire weekly limit, but totally worth it.   Worth every penny.  

I love the feeling of putting on a fabulous pair of heels; it's a feeling like you're on top of the world.  (Even though for me, I still barely manage to make eye contact with anybody).  I love knowing that everyone is looking at my feet, with envy.  

Maybe it makes me shallow, maybe it sounds materialistic but I would be willing to sacrifice a great many things for the opportunity to wear some of the seasons hottest heels.  

I love how lately my favorite designers such as Louboutin, Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, never compromise on heel height.  It almost at times appears as though they are trying to trump each other for who can create the highest tower. 

I say, fine by me and keep up the good work fellas!  I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Off to strut my stuff.