Wellington & the Yummy Sweater

I have a friend. We'll call her Wellington. I am extremely fond of Wellington and as it happens, we have been spending quite a lot of time together lately.

The first time I went to visit A in San Francisco, I did a fairly shoddy packing job. Packing is an art I have dedicated myself to only recently. It takes patience, wit and dedication to be an excellent packer. Throw in ever changing micro-climates and a city you've never been to, and you have quite a challenge on your hands. But I digress.... (I warned you way back when, didn't I?). Point is, it was during this visit that, due to a lack of weather appropriate clothing, I ended up borrowing the Yummy Sweater. It was made by Free People and was a goes-with-pretty-much-everything-grey. It was potentially the softest, coziest, most scrumptious piece of clothing I had ever touched. That's me in Napa wearing the Yummy Sweater for the first time. I wore it as much as I could over that 6-day visit and it was with a heavy heart that I left it hanging on the back of A's bedroom door the day I left. I dreamed about that sweater. I coveted that sweater. (Hell, I even contemplated stealing that sweater!) But it was not to be found. It had come out three seasons earlier and had been so popular, FP could barely keep up with the re-orders. There was zero chance of finding one.

But then, unbelievably, I was walking (and by walking, I mean shopping) on Queen street West, flipping through the racks at Aritzia. And there it was. Just one. I couldn't believe it. A Yummy Sweater of my very own? The mere hint of hesitation flashed across my mind: it was 2 sizes too big for me. I pulled out my mobile and my wallet simultaneously and, whilst walking to the register, I speed-dialed A. I gave her a quick run-down and we were both in agreement. Buy it. Definitely. Could shrink it in the dryer. Too good to pass up. Amazing to have found it.

The thing is, three years have passed and I have hardly worn it. The sleeves really are too long, despite numerous rounds in the dryer. The funnel neck too floppy (I think cause the shoulders are too wide). And though it seems crazy bananas to be give something away when I am not even half way through Fashion Rehab (gulp), it is even more crazy bananas for the Yummy Sweater to be hanging, lonely and unworn in my closet. So, I am giving my Yummy Sweater to Wellington. Wellington is a goddess. Tall and gorgeous and kind.

I can't think of a better match.

Love, P

Save Us From the Saddlebags

Saddlebags. Saddlebags. Saddlebags. No matter how many times I write it still reads like a gruesome horror novel. Why? Because this style is not flattering on anyone. Not even Kate Moss could rock these fuschia saddlebag pants from the Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2010 collection. I do not want to offend the designers at this Italian megabrand, but is it really necessary to draw attention to an area that most women spend so much time trying to take attention away from? We don't just do the Stairmaster for our health, you know!

I say we band together and put a stop to this madness. No more unflattering legwear! No more Hammer (oops-I mean harem) pants, or jeans so low that they go hand-in-hand with a Brazilian bikini wax, no more silk saddlebags, and most importantly no more "underwear as pants" (I can't even believe I had to write that, Lady GaGa!). Let's embrace the flattering styles out there and wear what actually looks good: pencil skirts, wide leg trousers, a-line skirts, cigarette pants. The possibilities are endless.

Oh, and one more thing, please don't get caught leaving your house pretending that sheer nylons actually qualify as pants...because they don't.

Love, A

Fall(in') in love...

Is it just me, or is this season in fashion particularly fresh? And luscious? And just soooo gorgeous???

I feel like it has been a long time since I have been this jazzed about a new season on the runway. (Yes, jazzed. I said it.) The irony that it just happens to be during the only time in my life when I am not able to partake in the all amazingness is not lost on me...

Flipping through the Big Books of September (Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, etc...) found me sitting alone in my neighborhood cafe yelping "Oooh...love this!" (turning the page), "Aaaah (sigh)...I totally want this", and repeating pretty much until I made my way though them all... I have since ripped out my faves and plastered the walls of my dressing room with these photos of my new inspirations. Yes, I said "dressing room". My closet is a room. But that is a story for another day...

So, grab a big ol' mag (or two or three), head to your local coffee shop/tea house, tuck in and crack that spine!

Fall never looked so good...

Love, P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #2

Brushstroke Sheath Dress by LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's $50

So cute. So perfect for cocktails with the ladies. Throw on your black booties and chain link bag and you are ready to go. I'll meet you there, and the first round is on me.

Love, A

Your Vote Counts

Our poll, “Consequences of Quitting Rehab” is almost closed (last time I checked there were only 20 hours left). I just wanted to give a shout-out to all of our Fabulous Fans who first voted, and then to those who voted for what I think is the most appropriate answer. Yes, it would have been funny to see our manes tumble to the floor in a heap leaving us as bald as Britney Spears in her moment of insanity, and it could have been fun to mock us as we wore the same shirt for 30 days, but alas you did the right thing. You chose charity. You believe that other people should benefit from our loss and I couldn’t agree more.

It was a close race. The winning vote (at 40%) was for us to donate half of our wardrobe to charity (or proceeds of, should we decide to auction it off) while 32% of you wanted us to host a clothing drive once a month, for a year, for a women’s shelter. Either way, charity rules!

Ok, I just had a really selfish thought that I am almost ashamed to admit. I just glanced at my closet and the idea of saying goodbye to some of my things made my throat tighten. Would I have to give away my DVF wrap dress? Would I have to give away my favorite biker boots? What about my jewelry?

Would I have to give these booties away?

But then I remembered that I am not going to drop out. I am going to stick with the program. We are already 1/3 of the way through. I still feel nervous about the whole thing, but I guess (sigh) I am happy that if I do have a complete and utter breakdown and crack under pressure, I know that my clothes will find good homes.

Love, A

Tasty Two-Tone Pumps!

My lovely Dad came to visit me recently and while he was here, we went to see the movie "Julie & Julia". He had read an excellent review in the New Yorker (to read it for yourself click here) and I'd also heard from A that it was worth seeing. Apart from loving it absolutely (Julia, Julie, Nora, Meryl & Amy - geniuses all!) and feeling surprisingly emotional in that darkened theatre, I found myself once again transfixed by a piece of the wardrobe in the same way as I was when I went to see "The Proposal" - remember "It's in the Bag"? This time, it was a pair of shoes that grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go. They were stunning two-tone forties style pumps worn by Meryl who played the part of Julia (for those of you under a rock out there!) Julia could cook and she had style? Mon Dieu! Seems that she was quite the woman!

And clearly, Ann Roth is a genius, too. (No surprise here - costume designer for Working Girl, The Birdcage and Midnight Cowboy??? This woman is way beyond genius in the wardrobe department... No pun intended!) Not only do I love her for choosing to use these marvy shoes in quite a few scenes, but for putting together all of Julia's outfits. They really were fabulous.

If you haven't already seen it (I was definitely a bit late on this one), I highly recommend. For the story, for the performances and for the fashion! (Who knew?)

Love, P

Recessionista Fashionista

Yes, the Dow Jones has lost more weight this year than Renee Zellweger after filming a Bridget Jones movie, but as we know what comes down must soon go up, right? Or is it the other way around? Anyway, one positive outcome of the current “situation” is the insane amount of collaborations going on between high-end designers and mass-market retailers. Here are the top ten reasons to celebrate your dollar going further in fashion than any other time in history.

1. Anna Sui for Target
2. Christian Siriano for Payless ("Slither" boot pictured here, $49.99)
3. JIMMY CHOO for H&M (all caps and bold for obv reasons)
4. Alice and Olivia for Payless
5. Norma Kamali for Walmart
6. Jil Sander for Uniqlo
7. Kate Moss for Topshop (ok, she’s a model but obviously a style icon)
8. Carlos Falchi for Target (get ready for faux python bag fabulousness!)
9. Missoni for Converse (only for men thus far but we all know to just go down 2 sizes and ladies these can be yours, too!)
10. Rodarte for Target (Holiday Collection)

Love, A

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #1

Yes, it has begun. And right at the top of the list is an item that I have been obsessed with for months now. Who doesn't want to buy a sweet new pair of skinnies at the beginning of the season???

That's right. The Gap Skinny Jeans at a cool $69.50. They're just so...marvy. (sniff.)

Love, P

Buttons on the Loose

I was having a chat with one of our East coast Fabulous Fans (and one of my nearest and dearest) the other day and she told me that she was having a mini-crisis at her house. Buttons. Buttons were the crisis. And they were everywhere! And what's worse, they were buttons in little baggies. You know the ones. They come hanging alongside price tags and contain one or two extra buttons for that coat, cardi or BB (who is a clear front-runner in our poll below by the way - have you voted yet???). This, in my opinion is a very well-intentioned bit of customer service on the part of the brand/designer. But it does have some annoying and potentially incriminating side-affects.

My poor friend told me she was beginning to feel like should anyone come to visit, they may question how exactly she brings home the bacon. After all, no one really knows what to do with these extra buttons. Nor what to do with the baggies. And my friend's house was strewn with them. Littering her floor, dresser, fruit bowl... She knew how it looked.

So, I suggested she do what I do (or in this case, did): as soon as I cut the tags, I would take the buttons, remove them from their little plastic homes and put them away in a small vintage case I found in the country a few years ago. Whenever I need a button, I know just where to find one in any size or colour.

And, incidentally, those little baggies are great for toting around a daily supply of vitamins!

No muss. No fuss. And no suspicious baggies.

Love, P

Babes in Toyland

I have a daughter. It is true. The cat is out of the bag. Yes, maybe I have mentioned a word or two here and there about pregnancy or weight gain (the two, of course, go hand in hand) but I have yet to actually come out and say, “I am a mom”. Well, I am. I change diapers. I clean up puke. I blow on hot food to cool it down. I watch "Baby Einstein". I stroll, I swing, I cuddle, I giggle, I do it all. My baby’s name is Elle, and I love her.

I once thought there was absolutely nothing “fashiony” about being a mom. I think that is why I have kept (albeit subconsciously) my motherhood separate from my life as a Fashion Rehabber and blogger. Before having a baby I was someone who wore skinny jeans and heels often, someone who put fashion ahead of function. I worked in fashion. You could find me on any given day with a 5 oz martini in my hand, gossiping about celebrity style and bitching about cheap fabrics and unattainable sales goals. I was so happy and so miserable all at the same time. Then I became pregnant and those martinis quickly became a distant memory.

After pregnancy comes a baby (total shocker) and then I did not know who I was anymore. I think I wore more flats this past year than I have since I was twelve. I think I may have even gone a whole month without wearing make-up. I certainly created a very meaningful relationship with my yoga pants. Up until now I had let my pre-conceived notions about parenting and style (or lack of) rule my life. I felt like if I made the effort to look good and the end results were nothing like they had been before, I would never ever recover. Instead I just cruised through motherhood looking half-assed and feeling even worse. Well, I am back now. I realize that I can look as good as I once felt and that I do not need to categorize my style by whether or not I birthed an 8lb baby. If I want to throw on my vintage pearls and my chain link booties while walking my baby down the street, I will. I can handle the stares. I never followed the rules before, so why would I start now?

Love, A

Jean Jacket Vs. Boyfriend Blazer

This past weekend, I read what I consider to be quite the controversial article in the Globe & Mail Style section denouncing the hot item for Fall- the Boyfriend Blazer in favour of the old faithful Jean Jacket. Literally, the first line reads, "Here's the thing about jean jackets: They're the anti-boyfriend blazer."

And so, war is declared, I think. BB's vs. JJ's. I must say I am torn. I love the BB (and we know A likes it!) for its freshness and pulled-together-ness. Plus, the romantic notion of wearing men's clothes, especially your man's even if it isn't really his. The JJ also has something to offer; they're timeless, they don't wrinkle (as mentioned many times in the article) and they really do go with pretty much any colour or style.

As for me, I am stuck with a blazer/jacket from two seasons ago in the wrong cut and a jean jacket that I absolutely love, but that is white - definitely harder to pull off as the mercury begins to dip.

What would you choose?

Love, P

Mo' Buyer Blues

I wanted this past Saturday to be all about to me, to be called “Ali’s Day”, if you will. I wanted to eat whatever I wanted, to look how I wanted, and MOST OF ALL to buy what I wanted. The eating part was easy (eggs Benedict), the dress part was easy enough (brown tank, white jeans) but the buying part was clearly an issue. Unsure as to how I was going to solve that conundrum, I pondered the possibilities and came up with a most insane idea. I thought that I would cure my no-buying blues by going into a couple of stores to try on a few things. Couldn’t hurt, right?

While I was sourcing some goods in shop number one, I had a fleeting sense of what it might feel like to have an affair. I thought how awkward it would be if I ran into someone I knew while I was running around with my arms piled high full of things that am most definitely not allowed to purchase. It felt like I was cheating on all of our supporters, as well as myself, but deep down I knew I wasn’t really doing anything wrong. Trying is definitely not buying.

Highlights of this no-buy excursion included a two-toned tank dress with a high-waisted skirt and one killer pair of ripped skinny jeans. Soft fabric, fabulous fit, great length, great price. I probably stood in front of the mirror for about ten minutes visualizing all of the places I would go in these jeans and how I thought I’d actually be a happier person if I owned them. After summoning the courage to finally take them off, I left the fitting room, handed all the items back to the salesperson (sorry!), walked out, and essentially felt way worse than I did before.

That day I discovered that there aren’t any cures for the no-buy blues. My trip to the shops proved not to be cathartic at all. Throughout this near four-month journey I have shopped my closet (a phrase that is becoming just a little irritating to me as of late), DIY-ed up and down and all over my apartment, have upped my charitable contributions, have joined the gym, I have even made Barefoot Contessa’s coconut cupcakes in hopes of finding some kind of retail therapy substitute. The bottom line is that my love for shopping is what it is and clearly there is just no replacement.

Love, A

365 FashionRehabTube

Ok, so it doesn't have quite the same ring to it as YouTube, but it could catch on, no?

But video-ing is not what we're here to do. Not shop is what we're here to do. Or not do.

Anyway...as you, our Fabulous Fans know, at the beginning of last week, A and I flew to L.A. for some business. We paid a visit to Fred (Segal) while we were there to take a peek at some of the newest pieces for Fall. Herewith I give a mini view...

Love, P

No Gifts, No Glory

In what seems like a very distant memory, we made a rule that we would be able to accept gifts but not actually use them until our year in Fashion Rehab was finished. In retrospect this idea seems oh-so harsh but deep down we knew it was the right thing to do. After all, what would have stopped people from buying us all of those items that we have been coveting? Then where would we be? This, however, does not distract from the fact that a gift received can sometimes turn into an all out whining session.

My first gift since Fashion Rehab began was a fabulous lime green laptop bag from my mom. It is super cute, great for looking the part of a blogging pro in the cafes of SF, and who doesn’t love lime green? Unfortunately rules are rules, so the bag currently resides at my mom’s house in Canada and my laptop remains here, in its dreadfully boring black foamy run of the mill laptop case.

The next item I received was a random "gift with purchase" thong from my esthetician, if one could even count that as a gift. (FYI-my purchase was a bikini wax- I think a more appropriate gift might have been an ice pack and some boy shorts, but what do I know?)

My most recent offering came in the form of a thank you for co-hosting a baby shower for my very adorable and very pregnant friend, Michelle. It is the most gorgeous blue striped linen scarf from Wendy Foster in Santa Barbara. I love it. I want to wear it now. I want to drape it around my neck, I want to wrap it around my shoulders, I want to tie it around my head a la Marilyn Monroe (ok, so that might be a bit extreme but please allow me to revel in my pity party moment). The point is, this rule sucks but it can’t be amended. We have made it this far and there is no turning back! That is what I keep telling myself as I sit here gazing longingly at the scarf, looking for a possible loophole in our own set of rules.

Love, A

If I Could, I Would

Some of you may be wondering how this project has affected our wallets. Well, we have actually been keeping tabs on what we would have spent and up til now this is where we're at: A = $1,656 and, well, I came in a little higher at $2,355. If you remember my post Money Honey, I had a bit of a windfall back in the spring. I am still dreaming of those Louboutins...

Both of us have items on our list that we desperately loved and that were extra painful to walk away from. For me, that would be the gorgeous bag I spied in the window of the Coach store on Bloor Street. Named the "Maggie", she is the most marvy, go-with-almost-everything shade of peach (who knew?), perfectly medium-sized to fit all your daytime needs with brilliant hardware to take her seamlessly in to nighttime fun. Maggie is $398.

Second on my list is Duwop's new lip stain in Black Currant - $20. Anyone who knows me well, knows I die for anything black currant (lest we forget the travel sweets, Miss C?). This obsession began long, long ago even before my love of shopping, if you can believe it. When I was very young, I lived in England with my family and when I would go to the pub with my Dad, I would always order grape juice, something they didn't have. They gave me black currant cordial instead and bam! I found the first on what is now a loooong list of favourite things.

A has her "ones-that-got-away", too. Top of her list? The oh-so-popular, chic-cardi-substitute (no disrespect, lovely cardi. Winter is coming and we could not get through it without you!), the boyfriend blazer from the Gap coming in at a cool $98.

And Clinique's Vitamin C Lip Smoothie in Nude-tricious, $17.50, which she is absolutely dying over!

These, along with the other items on our list, will remain in the stores and out of our closets/makeup cabinets (sniff!).

Love, P

P.S. As part of our experiment, we have decided to keep up our tallies to get a true perspective on how much we will have saved by the end of the year and how much more crammed our closets would have been! Look for "If I Could, I Would" as a regular feature on the site where every week we will highlight those super-fab items that we are lusting after behind our Fashion Rehab bars.