Date Night - Decoded

A first date is awkward enough without worrying about what to wear. You want to be able to pay attention to the person you're with, rather than fussing with your clothing. 

In my single days, first dates weren't common enough that I felt super confident just throwing together anything I found in my closet.  I worried about how my clothes fit with the person I was going out with.

On one particularly memorable incident - I mean, date - I dressed the way I thought my date would want. He was a bit of a "bad boy", so I made sure I didn't look like a goody-two-shoes. This meant too much eyeliner, a lot of faux leather, and a hair style that should never be repeated. 

The entire evening I was highly uncomfortable. Not only with my clothing but with myself. I felt like I was pretending to be someone I'm not. It's not that I've never broken a rule, but I don't go out of my way to cause trouble. Being dressed up like a semi-punk vagrant made me act like someone else. 

So what's the moral of this story? Dress to suit yourself. 

When it comes to first dates, this can be difficult. The entire purpose of a first date is to find out if you like each other. Instinctively, we want to be liked, and the way we dress ourselves is one of the easiest ways to show who we are. 

Here is everything I've learned the hard way that you need to know to prep for a first date. 

Dress for the activity

Nothing makes me feel more like a fool than trying to do a physical activity in high heels. Since I love stilettos, this has happened more than once. Needless to say, a romantic walk in the park isn't very romantic when you start limping halfway through. 

If you aren't the one planning the date, try to find out in advance what kind of thing your date has in mind. This will allow you to dress appropriately and avoid packing extra bandaids in your purse. 

Dress for the weather

I grew up in Alberta. This means the weather changes on a dime, especially in the winter. A day that is supposed to be -10 degrees Celcius is perfect for ice skating, but a sudden breeze that makes it feel like -30 is not nearly as nice. 

Knowing what the weather is supposed to do is an important factor for avoiding a major fashion faux pas - mini skirts and Ugg boots, anyone? 

This will also prevent my famous "drowned-rat-on-prom-night" look (i.e. soaking wet with mascara running down my face". Worrying about whether or not your makeup is running or your hair is frizzing isn't what you want to focus on when on a date. 

Dress for yourself

No matter what you're doing, where you'll be, or who you'll be with, dress to suit yourself. If you love twirly dresses and flats, do it. If you prefer biker boots and chunky jewelry, go for it. Wear your bright colours, strong patterns, and hair accessories.

I can't stress enough that what you wear should make you feel good. Self-esteem should come from how we feel about ourselves, not what others say. While this is easier said than done, wearing something that makes you feel good on a first date is an excellent way to tell somebody that you like you - whether or not they do. 

Have a first date oops you'd like to share? Post it in the comments.

The Definitive Guide to Making Casual Friday Work For You

Who doesn't love casual Friday? While some offices are casual all the time, for those of us who are used to more formal attire Monday through Thursday look forward to taking it down a notch at the end of the week. 

When dressing casually for work, there are always guidelines. "Casual Friday" is not the same thing as "Wear Whatever You Want Friday". Here are some tips to make casual Friday work for you.

Do - Follow the dress code.

Whatever dress code your place of employment has is still applicable, no matter what day of the week it is. For example, jeans. I love jeans, especially our Skinny Denim Jean. Jeans are the obvious go-to choice for pants on casual Friday, since you can't wear them the rest of the week and they are so comfy.

There are some styles that are better suited to a weekend at the lake than a day at the office. Darker denim is naturally dressier than lighter shades, so opt for a richer shade of indigo. Super light washes should be avoided - they are far too casual for an office. 

Fit is hugely important for jeans no matter where you are. Jeans that are too small don't look good in any situation, and are far too uncomfortable for a full day at work. Any clothing that is too small is unprofessional, and sends the message that you can't dress yourself like an adult. 

General rule: If your jeans are faded, ripped, too tight, or have a frayed hem, don't wear them to work. Your best option is a fitted dark wash. 


Don't - Wear shorts.

This one is incredibly tempting in the summer. Unless your office is super casual, shorts are a bad idea. Yes, I even mean "dress-up" shorts (i.e. club-appropriate shorts that are made of the same material as dress pants. Cue Chelsea Peretti in Brooklyn 99 referring to the kind of shorts Jen Aniston would wear.)

The same rule for skirts and dresses applies to shorts - the hem should be no shorter than your fingertips when your arms are straight down by your sides. Being a valuable employee does not have anything to do with showing off your legs or tushie. 

General rule: No booty shorts. If it is alright to wear shorts to your office, try something longer. 


Do - Accessorize

Accessorizing is the easiest way to glam up a casual outfit. Adding earrings, bracelets, or a necklace instantly makes your clothes an outfit instead of a random assortment of pieces. 

Spring and fall are the perfect time to play with your accessories. Warmer temperatures are perfect for experimenting with pastels, whereas autumn gives you the chance to wear scarves and cute layers.

General rule: Take it easy with the jewelry. Putting on every piece of jewelry you own is equivalent to putting on every colour of eye shadow. 


Don't - Let your bra straps show. 

There's always someone. Having your straps hanging out is bad enough on teenagers, but as adults it is completely inappropriate. Showing off your bra straps gives the impression that you care more about being sexy than being an asset to the company.

Spaghetti-strap shirts should only be worn to work as a layer underneath something else. 

My favourite excuse is "they just fall down by themselves no matter what shirt I wear". There's an easy solution to this - tighten them! If that doesn't work, you need a new bra, and probably a proper fitting. Edit - check out our Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Bra Size.

General rule: There's no excuse for this. Don't do it. Going bare-armed in the summer is totally acceptable, but make sure the sleeves of your top reach your shoulder. In the cooler months, layers are your friend, especially to cover straps. 


Do - Think about what you'll be doing that day.

Want to wear your new super-cute wedges that you haven't broken in yet? Go for it. Just maybe not on a day when you'll be doing a lot of walking or standing. 

If you really want to wear heels on a day when you'll be running around, bring a pair of flats as backup. You'll thank yourself for packing them when your feet start to ache. Whatever you do, don't bring flip flops as your backup shoes. Not only are they a no no in the office, they are a hazard in situations like a fire drill.

Will you be meeting clients or your boss? In either situation, being professional trumps being casual. However, you can strike a happy medium. Bring a blazer with you, and wear it in your meetings. Adding a jacket to an outfit instantly makes it more professional. Just make sure that whatever you are wearing without the jacket is still OK for the office.

The same goes for bottoms. If you'll be at your desk most of the day, a dress or skirt is fine. However, on days when you'll be up and down a lot, or out in the wind, pants are the better option.

General rule: Prepare accordingly for your day so you don't get stuck in an awkward situation.


Don't - Apply "casual Friday" to your work duties. 

The idea of casual Friday is strictly for clothing. It does not apply to the actual work you need to do. By the end of the week it's easy to cut corners and think about leaving things over the weekend. Somehow, this gets even more tempting when the office is in casual dress mode. 

General rule: Friday is still a work day. 


What's your go-to style for casual Friday? Submit a comment and let us know.

Leggings Are NOT Pants

I love leggings. They're comfortable, soft, and stretchy. On days when real pants seem like too much work, leggings are there for me.

Somewhere along the way people have forgotten that leggings are not pants. I know, it's sad but true. Just as p.j. bottoms and scrubs on people who don't work in a hospital are not acceptable clothing choices for outside your home, leggings should not be worn as pants. 

There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important is that nobody wants to see your butt everywhere, no matter how nice it may be. Put it away.

When it comes to wearing leggings, the key is to wear a top that is long enough to cover your behind. Regardless of your size, if your tush is hanging out everywhere, your shirt isn't long enough.

Here are a few suggestions for items to pair with your beloved leggings:

A tunic

Tunic tops are great all year round. In the fall and winter, add a scarf for a cozy layered look. In the spring and summer, a skinny belt and long necklaces provide a bit of glam. 

The best part about tunics is that they are long. Most hit mid-thigh, which gives you ample coverage of your rear. 

Layered tanks

Layering your tank tops not only adds some dimension to your outfit, it also allows you to cover what needs to be covered. When the bottom tank is worn lower than the top tank, you get a pop of colour. The top tank keeps you from showing off all your cleavage. 

Long cardigan/blazer

Whether thick or thin, a long cardi or blazer dresses up your leggings. Black leggings and a black blazer mix perfectly with brightly coloured layered tanks, while long cardigans can be matched with booties for a cozy autumn style. 

No matter what you wear with your leggings, make sure it's long enough. After all, some things are better left to the imagination.

Have a suggestion for what to wear with  leggings? Let me know in the comments.

Successfully Shop Online

Online shopping is great – you can do it from home, in your pj’s, and not have to fight through crowds at the mall. Often sites have online specials and flash sales are a girl’s best friend (or at least her credit card’s best friend).

Sadly, online shopping has a downside – you can’t try things on. While overheating and getting irritated in a too-small fitting room isn’t ideal, it is better than buying something with no idea of how it is going to fit.

Here are some tips to make your online shopping experience even better.

Get to know the brand.

Each brand fits differently. Even with the concept of consistent sizing, a 12 on one site might be equivalent to a 14 on another, or an 8 on yet another.

Fortunately, no matter which outlet you choose, the same brand will have the same sizes. Once you find a manufacturer you like, you’ll have a better idea of how their sizes fit and how accurate their descriptions are.

Look for sizing charts.

An inch is an inch, regardless of the name on the tag. Sizing charts are great for determining the size of each item for each brand.

Finding the size chart might not be easy. If it isn’t listed on the retail site, you may need to do a little digging. Visit the website for the manufacturer, and if it isn’t posted, try emailing their customer service department.

Review the return policy.

Any store that values return customers has a decent return policy. Let’s face it, 14 days is not sufficient when it takes that long for the item to arrive.

A return policy is necessary for brick and mortar stores but is essential for online retailers. After all, not everything is a perfect fit. If you’re buying from a retailer that doesn’t offer a return policy, or isn’t able to accommodate a reasonable request (i.e. having the item delivered within the time specified in the policy) you should probably take your money elsewhere.

Read customer reviews.

Reading the reviews others have left will give you a much more accurate idea of how the items fit than the description. The description of the item is great for facts such as the material used, colour, or washing instructions, but doesn’t always hit the mark in terms of fit.

Customer reviews will give you information about how things fit, especially in regards to whether they are big or small compared to other brands.

Also, take note of any negative reviews. When you can’t find a single negative comment (such as “delivery took forever”, or “fits way too small”) it is likely that the company is deliberately deleting those reviews. After all, nobody can make everyone happy all the time.

The way a retailer handles other customer service issues is an excellent indication of how they would handle any issues you may have. Ignoring the situation is not handling it, so you can assume your problem would also go unanswered and unposted.

Taking the Panic Out of Prints and Patterns

Not all of us are comfortable wearing patterns. For years I refused to put on any sort of stripe, terrified that I would be confused for an inflated version of Waldo that everybody could find without looking.

Fortunately, this fear has dissipated and stripes no longer terrify me. If you’ve been dying to try a print but are nervous about becoming your own version of Waldo, here are some ideas to ease you into the world of prints and patterns, without the accompanying panic.

Start Small

No matter what print you choose, start by adding a small amount to your usual outfits. This could be hair clips, bracelets, or a belt. I had one friend who started with socks.

Once you’re comfortable with this amount, try something a bit bigger, like a scarf or tank top. Before you know it, you’ll be wearing an all-over print dress.

Choose Classics

Some prints are safer than others. Along with their timeless popularity, this is why they’re considered classics. Patterns such as plaid, pinstripes, and hound’s tooth are all classic prints and can easily be paired with solids.

Eventually, you’ll be bold enough to select large polka dots, geometric shapes, and metallics.

Be Neutral

The least stressful way to incorporate patterns is to start with colours you’re comfortable with. Often this means neutral shades.

Start with neutral colours such as black, white, and navy, and work your way into all the shades of the rainbow. If you want to add another baby step, move into burgundy, forest green, and deep plums. These shades aren’t technically neutrals, but they’re dark enough that you can pretend.

Pick a Signature

Once you know which prints you like, choose one that is your go-to print. This will become your signature pattern, and you'll be known for rocking it. 

Personally, I adore cheetah print. Keep in mind that no matter what you choose, moderation is key.

Once you’ve mastered patterns, the next step is flaming batons.