Even in these trying times people still want to look good. A lot of us have seen changes in the past year to our work situation, our bodies, our stress levels and our minds. Now more than ever we need a wardrobe that gets the job done when we have so many other things to worry about.

It has been a great honour to help my clients find their personal styles in these difficult times. It has not been easy and I am so proud of all the sacrifices people have made to help keep us all safe as we get through this together. We’re not out of the woods yet but I feel that this year will be a year of regrowth and I am excited for what the future holds (but maybe wait on your big travel plans until 2022!)

~ Jen

The good news is you don’t need a lot of time to get a great gift.

Most gifts fall into 3 main categories: Romantic, Practical or Fun. Figure out what kind of gift you want to give and finding it becomes a whole lot easier:

Romantic – These are the wants. When it comes to Romantic I think some of the best kind of presents are the things people would love to get but don’t often buy for themselves.

Think pampering. With the stress of the holidays it shows you care when you put gift for some R&R under the tree. Whether you go big with a getaway trip or smaller with a massage or mani/pedi gift certificate we can all use a little more “me time” in our lives.

Practical – These are the needs. Have they just celebrated a new life milestone? Use those as inspiration for a thoughtful and useful gift:

• New job
• New home
• New baby

Fun – When it comes to fun toys are an obvious one for kids (and the kids-at-heart) but what about the adults on your list? These could be gadgets or a fun experience.

A great option that means you get to skip the mall is giving an Experience. It could be cultural with a membership to a museum or a memorable night out with a concert.

Regardless of what kind of gift you need, it’s often possible to shop from home! A lot of experiences are available for online purchase. Theatre tickets are usually available as an e-ticket right after purchase. Print them out. Wrap them up and you’re done. Best part is the Christmas spirit lives on after the holidays when they go to the event.

Lastly if you are going to visit your local mall, make the most out of your visit:

1. Take advantage of the extended store hours to avoid big crowds
2. Pick a store you know they already like find a helpful sales person and let them guide you – get a gift receipt if you’re still not 100% confident on your choice at least you know they like to shop there and can exchange after the holidays
3. Some stores and the malls will wrap your gifts. That way you leave with everything ready to go under the tree

1. Consider the venue
Heels may look nice but they aren’t that practical for weddings where they’ll sink into the grass, beach or on rocky terrain. In those cases, a flat or wedge is a better footwear choice.

2. Consider the dress code
No one wants to outshine the bride and groom but at the same time it’s not great to be the most casually dressed at the wedding.  Knowing how formal you should go with your look is key to striking the right balance.

3. Consider the weather (outdoor wedding)
If it’s going to be hot, it’s important to figure out a way to stay cool. Breathable fabrics, light layers and my favourite, folding fans can be a lifesaver during the ceremony, not to mention a lovely looking accessory.

4. Picking Patters and Colours
This comes down to personal preference since it’s important to feel comfortable and like oneself in the chosen look. For women an easy way to skew is towards something “pretty.” Florals work really well and to be on the safe side its usually a good idea to avoid all-black or all-white/off-white looks unless explicitly requested by the bride and groom (back to #2).

Attending a wedding isn’t always cheap. There’s transportation and gifts and other costs involved so when you’re trying to save a little wearing a dress/shoes/accessories you already own can help. When shopping for a new look consider picking something that you can wear again to other special occasions or even work. For versatility, it could be as simple as a shoe/accessory change or adding a blazer or cardigan.

Blouse: vintage Sears – this one gets compliments every time I wear it (Value Village), Skirt: vintage Gérard Pasquier (Consignment/Charity store in Oakville ON), Shoes: Franco Barbieri – made in Italy (Value Village)

Top: Ellen’s Design – washable silk (Salvation Army – Marpole), Neck-piece: DIY from these (Salvation Army – Mount Pleasant), Skirt: vintage Courrèges Paris (My Sister’s Closet), Shoes: Marcello Paci (Wildlife Thrift)

Blouse: Riva silk (Buffalo Exchange San Francisco), Necklace: no label (Salvation Army – North Vancouver), Skirt: Emporio Armani – made in Italy (Salvation Army – Kitsilano), Bag: no label (Value Village)

Blouse: Diane Von Furstenberg – silk (Value Village), Skirt: Diane Gilman – silk (Value Village)

Coat: Talbots (Value Village), Dress: silk slip liner from this DVF dress (My Sister’s Closet), Sunglasses: no label – the lenses fold out very similar to this pair (swap)

Dress: vintage Heikkilä – made in Finland (C’est La Vie Consignment Boutique), Necklace: vintage Whiting & Davis (My Sister’s Closet), Bag: Cosci – Hand Made in Italy (Value Village), Belt: Genuine Farm Reared Cobra – Made in Thailand (Value Village)

Dress: vintage POSH by Jay Anderson – Want to learn more about the designer? I wrote about him here (Community Thrift and Vintage), Bag: Sublime (Value Village), Shoes: Chadwicks (Wildlife Thrift Store)

Dress: vintage no label (The Salvation Army Thrift Store – New Westminster), Necklace: No label (Value Village – Coquitlam), Sunglasses: vintage Serengeti (Value Village), Belt: vintage crocodile leather by Omega (Value Village)

While this quote may have been found in the current issue of Homes & Living magazine I believe it can be applied to wearing items from different eras and decades in a refreshing and current way. Making old look anything but – in fact we have the potential to make it look better than new (and totally original to boot)!

When people think of thrift shopping different things comes to mind – and maybe not all positive. But buying used can mean significant financial savings, finding truly one-of-a-kind items, as well as being good for the environment (talk about win-win-win). There is however a time investment necessary (always be sure to check quality/condition) and it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy the hunt. Who knew recycling could not only feel good but LOOK so good, too?

To illustrate my point I styled 12 different looks (on my judy dress form) from some of the many thrift/vintage/consignment/charity/swap/flea market-found items in my own personal wardrobe. Most of them I’ve acquired since moving to Vancouver some 6+ years ago or so and some I’ve had for even longer than that. I’ve done my best to recount/recall where I acquired each and every one of them to the best of my memory.

I have been “green shopping” for nearly a decade now, ever since I  first started my post-university career in advertising and needed to look office-professional and wanted to do it without spending my entire pay cheque. The thrill I got from it (not to mention the unique treasures I’ve found along the way) have kept me coming back ever since.

Perhaps seeing these looks might inspire others re-think (and recycle) gently used fashion in new and creative ways.

Before we retire those warm and wonderful winter coats for the season here are the first 4 looks. I’ll be sharing the next four shortly. So stay tuned!

Coat: vintage – no label (Value Village) Scarf: no label – wool (Salvation Army), Brooch: Chanel (Flea market), Clutch: Aldo (My Sister’s Closet)

Coat: vintage Jack Goldstein couture – made in Canada. This past year I updated the buttons on the sleeves with new ones from Dressew Supply – an easy thing to do if the fastenings aren’t ageing as well as the rest of the garment or if you don’t like the buttons the piece came with. (Value Village), Dress: Banana Republic (Front & Company), Bag: No label – Vintage 1940’s (Deluxe Junk Company – now closed) – This was the purse I used for my 2011 wedding.

Coat: Zara (Salvation Army), Scarf: no label (The Hanging Rose), Clutch: Calrelli – made in Canada (Salvation Army), Shoes: Geox (Wildlife Thrift)

Coat: Lindzon – made in Canada 100% pure virgin wool (Salvation Army) Faux Fur Collar: H&M (Value Village), Brooch: no label (Salvation Army), Blouse: Jones New York (Salvation Army)