typical saskatchewan style.

This is the time of year, when being fashion forward, becomes very challenging. In the last week, we have had sunny temperatures, followed by below freezing temperatures and a mini blizzard yesterday morning, that gave me the feeling summer would never come. It's also the time of year when everything in my closet needs to be thrown away. I have spent the last 6 months wearing the same sweaters, leggings, scarves and t-shirts and it's time to retire them until next winter. Only problem is, the constant weather changes make it nearly impossible to splurge on spring's hottest trends because it's still not appropriate to wear most of them.

It makes getting dressed in the morning such a challenge! Last week when everything was melting, the streets were a mess. It was as if the South Saskatchewan River had overflowed onto residential streets, and I'm surprised my little red car didn't get stuck in one of the hundreds of giant potholes buried beneath all that water. I didn't want to go outside. I don't have any shoes that I would risk ruining in puddles up to my knees.

Yesterday, there was a blizzard. Just when I thought I could finally retire my ugly black winter coat and leave the house in a nice blazer, I'm back to gross salt-stained boots, quilted jackets and fuzzy mittens.

I just want to wear the cute spring clothes I've been seeing in the magazines. I am so excited for my upcoming trip to Toronto to stop in at Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street, and grab an Alexander Wang tank top, and the coveted Twenty8Twelve butterfly dress that I have sweet dreams about. Hopefully by then, it may actually be nice enough to wear them without having to bundle up like an Eskimo.

closet space.

My biggest dream in life, besides having a shoe collection to rival Carrie Bradshaw's, is having a walk in closet big enough to house the entire population of Saskatoon. Mr. Big built Carrie her dream closet on Sex and the City, and Nick Lachey built his then-wife, Jessica Simpson one for Christmas, on their reality TV show Newlyweds.

I say, well done guys! To me, there would be nothing better than having a whole room filled to the brim with designer and vintage clothing. And not to mention shelf upon shelf of beautiful high heels.

Celebrity closets are more like their own private little boutiques, housing all their fabulous couture. Above, is a picture of Mariah Carey's closet. If I had that closet, I would see no reason to ever have to leave.

altitude chic.

With two big trips coming up in the next 6 months, as well as a possible move to my favorite city, it's time to start thinking about airport outfits.  Well, that and really trendy luggage.  

I have always been a big fan of airports.  Some of the fashion industry's most well known supermodels were discovered in airports, so I've always been a firm believer in dressing for success.  

Drapey, loose fitting sweaters, paired with light cotton tops, layered with scarves are usually a safe bet.  Airplanes are always so cold, and those facecloth sized blankets they give you, only cover one knee cap, so it's nice to have a few extra layers to cover yourself up with.

For bags, the bigger the better.  The more stuff you can stow away in your carry on, the more stuff you can buy when you arrive at your destination.  And we all know that the main reason I travel somewhere, is for the shopping.  I always carry a really big purse on the airplane, that way it still counts as a purse, and you can still pull on a small suitcase.  

I've always loved luggage.  I think that matching luggage sets are the most fashionable part of traveling.  When I was in Paris, I remember watching this beautiful french woman, with a long fur coat, perfectly manicured nails, and a cigarette holder, loading her full set of Louis Vuitton luggage onto a luggage cart.  She even had  a trunk! It was the most beautiful piece of merchandise I have ever seen, and to this day I have never forgotten how awestruck I was watching her load her bags.

My own experience with luggage, however, has not been so positive.  After asking for a set of luggage as a gift from my grandma, I received a set of 3 suitcases, in varying sizes, with a pattern of  multi-colored paw prints scattered across them.  I had asked for plaid or polka dots, but I can totally see how they might get confused with each other.  These suitcases, although perfectly proportionate, are not something I want to be seen loading onto my luggage cart.  I can't master the perfect airport outfit, only to be outdone by my paw print luggage.  It just wouldn't make sense.

Someday I will own my own very fashionable set of matching luggage, trunk included.  It may not be Louis Vuitton, but there are a lot of designers popping out some pretty cool luggage right now.   Betsey Johnson's line of polka dot luggage, with blue and red bows are super adorable, and just the right amount juvenile.  A few different styles are being sold at Winner's right now, and I'm hoping to spring for one before I leave on my vacations this spring.  

After all, no one ever got discovered carrying paw print luggage.   I might as well dig up my Barbie backpack, throw in my passport and call it a day.

Check out some of the trendiest celebrity travelers, above, with great style and even better luggage!

ruffles, lace, and shoes to boot.

Lately, I have had trouble getting inspired; in all areas of my life. I'm going to blame the cold, dreary Saskatchewan winter that has no end in sight. However, after flipping through the new issue of Elle Canada yesterday, my mood brightened.

Designers have gone all out for Spring/Summer 2009. The pale color palette, romantic ruffles, and abstract hemlines are a refreshing twist from the dull blacks and grays of winter that we become accustomed to. This summer is all about being a girl. Feminine prints and patterns, and voluminous skirts perfect for picnics, date nights, and cocktails al fresco.

Embellished mini dresses and boyfriend blazers are going to be my signature look this summer. Paired with a pair of hot strappy sandals, and really big hair, it won't be difficult to banish my winter blues.

To see the new spring styles for yourself check out http://www.ellecanada.com

golden statues everywhere.

Now that award season is underway, I am on constant dress watch.  I love award season, because designers really kick it up into high gear, and hollywood starlets never disappoint.  The Golden Globes were held on Sunday, and I have to say it seemed like everyone was trying to undo everyone else.  Cameron Diaz was fabulous in pink satin, Olivia Wilde was mesmerizing in a lavender colored chiffon dress that was absolutely breathtaking.  Jennifer Lopez and Eva Longoria-Parker were the real show stoppers however.  While Eva walked the red carpet, in a red satin gown with a scalloped sweetheart neckline and long train, Jennifer Lopez stunned in a gold Grecian style halter dress that sparkled almost as much as her enormous bling.  The dress itself actually reminded me a little of her infamous green Grammy dress from her P.Diddy days.  Even Hayden Panetiere, whom I usually don't like, surprised me.  She was a beautiful plum colored dress that had a jeweled belt. For more information on who wore what, check out the  official website of the Golden Globes at http://www.goldenglobes.org/ 

Now with the Oscars and Grammys approaching in the next few months, I could not be more excited to see what everyone will come up with.  I don't know about you, but I will be keeping my eyes on Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway come Oscar night.  those are two fashionistas that never disappoint.

'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.