First of all, a huge round of applause to all of you who took the time to enter our Style Me Smart contest. It's not easy to put yourself out there the way you did and we think you are all very brave. And thanks, of course, to Lori of Stylesmarts for co-sponsoring this contest with us and for sharing so much valuable information on our blog for the past few weeks .All three of our finalists are wonderful and amazing women and we thank them all for being such gracious participants. It has been an amazing style adventure and we hope we got a few of you thinking about your personal style and how to best present yourself to the world.

Without further ado, the winner is...

Keri-Anne and her stretchy, black, zip-front acid wash dress!

And in case you missed her entry, here is the YouTube video she created:

Keri-Anne walks away with a full service package from Lori at Stylesmarts, a double Bloom Essentials pedicure date with her new stylist and $500 to get started on her new wardrobe. Shop 'til you drop!

Are you ready for even more exciting news?!

Lori has generously offered all our Bloomers an amazing opportunity to purchase her styling packages for $100 each. You can see what each of those packages includes by visiting her services page. If you don't see the specific help you need listed there just send Lori an email and she would be happy to tailor a package for you. The Bloom girls are doin' it and you should too!

 

Q:  I’d love tips for how to find raincoats and jackets that don’t scream “I’m a Mom” but are still practical to wear and reasonable to buy.

Great question, Lee Ann!  Coats are certainly an investment piece and wardrobe staple.  If you choose wisely - you will love it, wear it all of the time and should owe you nothing!  Here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid treading into the territory of “mom-wear”...

      1.  Make sure the coat fits you properly and offers a flattering silhouette

Here is a fabulous find!

This bright trench from Jacob at $129 is a steal!  Would provide a flattering silhouette to many body types and can easily be dressed up or down (the polka dot sleeve is subtle, but just gives it that something extra).  Also comes in black and beige (just be careful it enhances your skin tone!).  If you have a trench in a neutral colour, you can always add a personal touch by swapping in a different belt (neon skinny anyone?).  

I worked out the CPW (cost-per-wear) to give you an idea whether it is a reasonable buy.  Say you wear it about 12 times a month and wore it over 18 months in its lifespan (and I am sure you would keep a classic like this longer) it would come to less than 50 cents a wear.  Not bad!  

Some other local spots to check out:

Spank on West 4th and Plenty on Broadway usually have a great selection of outerwear.

Urban Outfitters on 4th would be a good place to check if you are looking for a more casual cargo or anorak style.

Q:  I want to know how to build a cohesive wardrobe out of the random items that exist in my closet - help!

Great question Nicole!  So many things come into play when building a cohesive, workable closet.  Some things to think about...

Does your wardrobe reflect your lifestyle and personal style

Does your clothing fit you and provide a flattering silhouette?  

Do the colours of your garments enhance your skin tone?

Here are my top picks for key wardrobe basis:

 Your Perfect Pair of Jeans:  If you find a pair you fall in love with, consider buying two and hemming one for flats and having another for heels.  A mid-rise straight leg is the most universally flattering.

A-line Skirt:  This is the most flattering skirt on all body types.  Can easily be dressed up or down.  That being said, the pencil skirt can also be a workhorse in any wardrobe (my recommendation would be to have both!).

Your Perfect Pant:  It is important to have a well-fitted pant in your wardrobe regardless of your lifestyle.  Right now I am loving the slim-leg ankle cropped pant.  Very modern, flattering on many body types and allows you to show off a cute shoe (much more fashionable than the capri!).

Fitted Jacket:  A structured jacket that nips in at the waist can really complete an outfit and help give the body some shape.  

Wrap Dress:  It is always great to have a dress that you can take from day to night and the wrap dress is the most universally flattering - can take you through all seasons depending on how you style and layer.

Little Black Dress:  The LBD is a style staple although I don’t believe it has to be black!    It is always important to have a fancier outfit (that makes you feel amazing) at the ready, so you aren’t panicking if invited out to some sort of event!

Blouses:  Great way to add colour and print to an outfit and move the style factor up beyond a t-shirt and jeans.  Blouses can be office appropriate or styled to look very casual.

Knitwear and T-shirts:  Easy for layering and extremely versatile - you can make these basics more unique if you choose some with visual interest, of course.

Accessorize with Statement Necklaces, Lightweight Scarves and Belts:  Add some personality and dimension to an outfit!

How many do you have?  Permission to shop!

Q:  I want to know how to build a cohesive wardrobe out of the random items that exist in my closet - help!

Great question Nicole!  So many things come into play when building a cohesive, workable closet.  Some things to think about...

          Does your wardrobe reflect your lifestyle and personal style?

• Does your clothing fit you and provide a flattering silhouette?  

• Do the colours of your garments enhance your skin tone?

Here are my top picks for key wardrobe basis:

Your Perfect Pair of Jeans:  If you find a pair you fall in love with, consider buying two and hemming one for flats and having another for heels.  A mid-rise straight leg is the most universally flattering.

A-line Skirt:  This is the most flattering skirt on all body types.  Can easily be dressed up or down.  That being said, the pencil skirt can also be a workhorse in any wardrobe (my recommendation would be to have both!).

Your Perfect Pant:  It is important to have a well-fitted pant in your wardrobe regardless of your lifestyle.  Right now I am loving the slim-leg ankle cropped pant.  Very modern, flattering on many body types and allows you to show off a cute shoe (much more fashionable than the capri!).

Fitted Jacket:  A structured jacket that nips in at the waist can really complete an outfit and help give the body some shape.  

Wrap Dress:  It is always great to have a dress that you can take from day to night and the wrap dress is the most universally flattering - can take you through all seasons depending on how you style and layer.

Little Black Dress:  The LBD is a style staple although I don’t believe it has to be black!    It is always important to have a fancier outfit (that makes you feel amazing) at the ready, so you aren’t panicking if invited out to some sort of event!

Blouses:  Great way to add colour and print to an outfit and move the style factor up beyond a t-shirt and jeans.  Blouses can be office appropriate or styled to look very casual.

Knitwear and T-shirts:  Easy for layering and extremely versatile - you can make these basics more unique if you choose some with visual interest, of course.

Accessorize with Statement Necklaces, Lightweight Scarves and Belts:  Add some personality and dimension to an outfit!

How many do you have?  Permission to shop!

 

Q:  How do you feel about wearing stripes or patterns (say a black and white stripe) with a bold colour?

Yes - yes - yes...love it!  Colour and pattern make outfits so much more interesting and pair effortlessly together...here are some tips:

Some of my fave prints for mixing? Stripes with floral or stripes with polka dots (yay stripes are also in the limelight now!).  

 images from: kendieveryday.com & 

goodlifeforless.blogspot.com

Have fun!

 

What do you do if you’ve lost your style...or maybe never had any to start with?

So glad you asked this question Trish - you are not alone feeling this way!  Developing your personal style can seem daunting, especially since we live in a city overrun with yoga attire.  I have always had a love of clothing and fashion, but probably couldn’t articulate my style until a few years ago - I actually hadn’t given it any thought!

Tips for getting in touch with your personal style (highly recommended before any major shopping excursion!):  

Mull over the following questions:

What image do you want to present to the world?

• What kinds of looks to you gravitate toward?

• Are there any celebrities whose style you admire/connect with?

• Think of 3 words to describe yourself...are these reflected in your everyday style?

Your style homework (permission to buy fashion mags!):

Flip through magazines or search images and make a file of looks you love.  As your collection grows, you will start to notice some themes:  maybe you are gravitating toward classic or elegant pieces, you may have an affinity toward feminine details such as ruffles or lace, perhaps you enjoy outfits that are artistically styled and allow you to express your creativity...

Or, check out the style inspiration boards on my Stylesmarts Pinterest page!

Typically we don’t fit into one “style” box, rather, our style personality is comprised of various      elements.  I would now describe my style as a combination of feminine and creative/artistic with a dashes of classic and casual (yes, I know that is sounding very much like a recipe - but I love that!).  

 What’s your recipe?