Fashion Friday :: Resort Wear

[trip style = all-inclusive/resort]

{Editor's Note: As All-inclusive Month draws to a close with Fashion Friday, we're ending on an haute note with what to wear as you sip icy umbrella drinks under a banyan tree.}

"Going on holiday doesn’t mean taking a vacation from stylishly living it up." - Rachel Zoe

Do you ever get the feeling you're walking in circles? Especially when you're travelling? During my first trip to New York, I was exploring Nolita and SoHo and I kept passing a chichi resort wear shop called Calypso. I wasn't lost - it just turns out there are five Calypso boutiques in Lower Manhattan alone. (Which reminds me of a scene in the classic 80s movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun when Helen Hunt distracts a nun by belting out "Day-o" so Sarah Jessica Parker can skip out of choir class, to which the nun says "Miss Stone, there is a time and a place for calypso music.") But I digress...

Resort wear was traditionally getaway garb for the wealthy winter in St.-Barts crowd, but it's about more than Calypso and caftans - it's evolving into ready to wear. Resort collections hit the runway in May and June. If you could score an invitation to any fashion show, I'd recommend Chanel resort: over the past few years, Karl Lagerfeld has held his all-expenses-paid shows in South Beach, Venice and Saint-Tropez. Oui, merci!

Now what to wear? (clockwise from top left) Matthew Williamson printed silk-chiffon kaftan, House of Harlow 1960 carey sunglasses, DVF jama shorts, Topshop yellow sunspot print shorts, Calypso Enshallah tuby bag, House of Harlow 1960 chelsea sunglasses, DVF maryelle bikini, Marni rope and chain necklace, Aritzia Talula exeter blazer, Enzo Anglioni darwyn espadrille booties, Marc by Marc Jacobs wedge espadrille sandals, Aritzia T.Babaton bette tank, Forever 21 layered wood beaded necklace, Tory Burch vivian rattan clutch, Topshop crochet kimono sleeve dress

Trip Styler Tip: Leave your stress and basic black at home - break out the brights! If hot pink and lemon yellow make you feel like an extra in a Katy Perry video, opt for white, nude or prints instead. And remember - a sarong can be your best friend on holiday! A final note for the fellas: skip the Hawaiian shirts and go for solid colours in breathable fabrics from surf shops or staple stores like J.Crew and Banana Republic. Linen is also appropriate, but only when you can get your hands on an iron.

Related All-inclusive Month :: Introductions All-Inclusive Month :: Matchmaking All-Inclusive Month :: Packaged VS Unpackaged All-Inclusive Month :: Tricks of the Trade Don’t Judge an All-Inclusive until Day 3

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by fashion blogger Heather.}

[Runway photos via Style.com]

Fashion Friday :: Cozy in the City

[trip style = urban + weekend getaway]

While everyone else flies south for the winter, there must be some logic in doing the opposite, right? Don't let a little thing like winter stop you from visiting your favourite northern hemisphere cities. One of my guilty pleasure internet pastimes is looking at street style blogs. What I love about the cold-weather-city style blogs at this time of year is seeing how people do cold well. People who dress for function - and fashion - in winter conditions. They make a chilly vacation destination seem a little less scary.

Now what to bring?

(clockwise from top left) Madewell silk cargo shirt, J.Crew cashmere v-neck sweater, Club Monaco vera coat, Temple Bags wool tote, Oliver Peoples sheldrake sunglasses, Anthropologie raw citrine earrings, Free People angora convertible gloves, Anthropologie dessau scarf, Madewell biker boot, Madewell rail straight black jeans, Topshop ladder detail socks

Trip Styler Tip: 87% of all lost earrings fall out during the winter. Okay so I made up that stat, but it's got to be something like that. Scarves are the #1 culprit, followed closely by change rooms. Again, I made that up, but I bet I'm right. Always wear earrings with tight backings while wearing scarves and toques. While wearing hook earrings, pinch the hook and add a spare plastic backing if possible (save them when you buy the earrings).

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.}

[Street style photos via The Sartorialist, Refinery 29, Mr. Newton, Face Hunter]

Fashion Friday :: Après Ski

[trip style = ski]

{Editor's Note: We're taking some time off over the Christmas holiday. I wish I could say time away as in staying in a glass-bottomed hut in French Polynesia, but not this year. We'll be back with regular posts January 4th. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!}

Friends of mine from California and Washington travel to Whistler every January. Unlike most mountain visitors, they don't ski and they don't snowboard - they "après". And these girls are serious about their après.

If you Google "après ski", you'll mostly find photos of women in ski suits and bikini tops. Unless you were an extra during the filming of classic ski films like Ski Patrol or Aspen Extreme, you've probably never seen these bikini-clad après skiers - at least this side of 1992.

There are a couple popular settings for après ski (which literally translates to "after skiing") - straight off the slopes on the patio, still in your gear, or inside the bar or hotel lounge, showered and changed into smart, casual and cozy clothes that will carry you straight to dinner. You want to be comfortable, but it's après, so you want to be noticed, right? Picture Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. (Just kidding.)

Now what to pack? (clockwise from top left) Aritzia Wilfred Free vintage fleece striped sweater, Aritzia T.Babaton silk cashmere tie cardigan, Vince sequin front sweatshirt, L.A.M.B. dolman sweater dress, Canada Goose kensington parka, Rag & Bone eleanor pants, Rag & Bone mallory lace-up ankle boots, Burberry double faced cashmere scarf, toque and gloves, Sorel torino waterproof boots, Super francis basic sunglasses (at Vincent Park), Free People cable beanie, Aritzia Wilfred leopard scarf

Note: Designers love coming out with moon boots or mukluk-style furry boots. Unless you'll be spending time in Moscow this winter, just say no. And while we're talking boots, yes - it is acceptable to wear Uggs on a ski vacation.

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.}

Fashion Friday :: Airport Style

One of my favourite guilty pleasures is people.com's airport style photo gallery. There's something about celebrities in airports...Stars - they're just like us. Except they usually look fantastic (no Juicy velour or baggy sweats to be found, unlike their fellow travelers). There may not be paparazzi waiting for you in Arrivals, but everyone can look "camera ready" without sacrificing style for comfort. But please remember: no one can measure up to the Singapore Airlines flight attendants strutting through the concourse. It's just not possible. Accept it.

On your body
The name of the game is layers. Your plane could be chilly or warm, and the temperature may vary between your departure and arrival cities. Start with a tank or light tee and leggings, and build from there. Pop on a dress or skirt and add a sweater and light jacket. Bonus: if your luggage gets lost, you have an extra outfit. Also, avoid jeans on long flights, unless they're super stretchy, in which case they're really just jeggings, which is an embarrassing word to say out loud.

In your hands
Push the limits on "personal item" size. Stay within carry-on limits or make sure your bag is pliable in case you get questioned. Stuff a smaller option in your luggage so you're not stuck with a big handbag for your whole trip. Slipping your laptop directly into your purse saves you a piece of carry-on luggage, so invest in a laptop sleeve. Finally, bring a colourful passport holder to lessen the likelihood of losing your most precious travel document.

On your feet
Wear your bulkiest footwear (ie. boots) through the airport and pack a pair of washable slippers for the flight, or wear a pair of Toms the whole way (they're as comfortable as slippers, but no one looks at you like you're doing something socially awkward). And don't forget to wear socks to avoid walking barefoot through security!

Trip Styler Tip: A scarf is your travel BFF. Wear it through the terminal and use it as a pillow or blanket on your flight. And if you're bringing a hat on the plane, wear or carry it to avoid it losing its shape in your luggage.

Now what to wear? (clockwise from top left)
Cath Kidston holiday bag, James Perse men's lightweight fleece sweatshirt, Nordstrom travel ballet slipper, Toms classic canvas slip-on, Nordstrom tissue weight cashmere wrap, Wilfred Free wrap jacket, Topshop leather leopard passport holder, American Apparel piqué dolman sleeve dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs pretty printed computer sleeve,  Burberry shimmer check travel slippers, Levi's trucker jacket, Ted Baker men's ausky plaid slippers, Talula rose leggings, TNA wool pant, James Perse ribbed daily tank, Mossimo women's knit layering top

Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.

Fashion Friday :: Fall Weekend

[trip style = weekend getaway]

There's a popular collection of short stories called The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing. It's a New York Times Bestseller, but I've never read it. I do, however, remember the cover. It has an image of a girl in wellies, tights, a red jacket and a trapper hat - and it's the inspiration for the first Fashion Friday post.

When summer fades away and the leaves begin to fall, I instantly want to surround myself with wool sweaters, pumpkin lattes and weekend escapes. Living on Canada's West Coast, I have plenty of options - Tofino, Whistler, the Gulf Islands, Washington State - but no matter where you live, I'm sure there's a cabin calling your name.

Now what to pack?

Men (clockwise from top left)
Filippa K peter herringbone check shirt, Cheap Monday original jeans, H by Hudson angus tan washed lace up boot, Paul Smith Jeans shawl collar waffle cardigan

Women (clockwise from top centre)
Free People military platoon jacket, Madewell belmont boyshirt, Bop Basics faux fur trapper hat, Loeffler Randall rain boot with back zip, American Apparel winter legging

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.}