Boxing Day Madness

Ever wonder what would happen if you gave up shopping for a year?

Love, A&P

Happy Happy, Merry Merry!

Season's Greetings to all of you fashionistas out there! May your holidays be filled with love and joy (and, of course, lots of shiny, sparkly things!).

We are taking a little time off this week to meet up in our hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia where we are spending the holidays together, but will back at the end of the month with a full report on how/if we survived Christmas in Fashion Rehab...

Stay tuned!

Love, A&P

It's A Wrap

The end of the year is almost upon us, and it soon will be time to start making resolutions. This year I will not have to make a list because my resolution has already been made. There really isn't anything harder for me to give up than what we have already started here at Fashion Rehab. Yes, alcohol (as mentioned in our latest poll) would be hard, but having been through a pregnancy, I essentially had to give up drinking for a year anyway. Not eating chocolate would be unfortunate but I would get over it, and coffee, well, that was a vice I gave up years ago along with those nasty little things called cigarettes. Who knew I would turn into such a responsible adult?

Could shopping be the final frontier of vices for me to check off my list? With less than six months to go, I would like to say that I feel fairly confident (about 75% sure) that I can make it until May. Some of the situations that I have been in so far have gotten me close to the edge, but luckily I have always retreated back to the land of no shopping. For those of you considering curbing your spending, or even attempting this experiment in the New Year, I offer you the following advice:

1. Don't go out with your friends. Seeing what they have will only make you crazy with envy and send you running, with credit card in hand, to your favorite boutique.
2. Don't go to parties. You will inevitably want to buy a new cocktail dress and when you can't you will become angry and drink too much, thus ending up sick on your bathroom floor.
3. Travel is completely out of the question. Packing for any trip is always call for a new bikini or stilettos and, don't forget that when you actually get to your destination you can't even shop the local market to buy anything new and pretty for yourself!
4. Stop using the Internet. Super saver emails, sample sale updates, free shipping, black Friday, green Monday, whatever day it is, there is ALWAYS a deal to be had. Just don't even bother turning on your computer anymore.
5. Breathing. Breathing makes you inhale and then exhale. During the exhale you may think wow my tummy doesn't look cute in this shirt, and maybe these jeans are a little low waisted and I really could use a new bra and then...well, you know the rest.

With these tips you will be sure to commit to any resolution featuring the words "no" and "shopping"!

Want my real advice? Set a budget for the year. Don't buy repeat items. Finish a tube of lipstick before buying another. Try moderation. Easier said then done, right?

Here I am in Palm Springs, in "happier times" (pre-rehab), showing off a birthday gift of an armful of bracelets.

Love, A

Stop'n'Shop

I can't stop shopping. Seriously. Kind of like the Energizer Bunny, I just keep going and going (minus the furry pink outfit and floppy ears).

Those who know me well, know that I tend to over do it in the gift department (surprised?). My nearest and dearest have put strict restrictions on me over the years and the severity of those restrictions seems to increase as the years go buy (ooops! talk about a Freudian slip...)

As of right now, I am waaaay over my Christmas budget. There are so many cool things, tempting gift ideas, and brilliant stores like the shop at The Royal Ontario Museum, Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie, Type (my fave T.O. bookshop), Bookhou (which I mentioned just last week in The Thrill of the (Pur)Chase), The Japanese Paper Place...

Even though I've checked off everyone on my list (which I have), I keep seeing the most awesome and amazing things and thinking to myself "There just has to be someone I can give this to!" (Which I have already done. At least twice).

I CAN'T STOP!!!!

Holy Cow. And so goes the holiday season in Fashion Rehab.

Love, P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have # 22

Big Buddha Eclipse Clutch, $38

This super yummy clutch is only $38 and will go with basically everything in your wardrobe! I really wish I had it to wear with my Banana Republic ivory linen dress while I am on vacay this Christmas, but sadly there is no chance of that.

Maybe next year.

Love, A

Closet Tips with Kathryn Lovell

Here at 365 FR we recently caught up with Kathryn Lovell, founder of KKL Image Consulting, a San Francisco-based style and image consulting company. Due to the endless hours P and I are now spending in our closets, we thought it would be wise to seek out the opinion of an expert and find out what the key components are to both a fabulous and functional closet.

Kathryn offered the following tips:

1. Season: Only keep one season of clothes in your closet at a time if possible. Down coats and sun dresses shouldn't live together.

2. Function: Group your professional clothes together, your cocktail and evening clothes together and then your plain casual clothes together. You'll know where to look for whatever you're getting dressed for.

3. Color or category: You can arrange everything by color or category, e.g. all blue tops together or all turtlenecks together. Pick one method and stick with it. When you start feeling tired of all your clothes, switch it over to the other system. It'll make everything seem new again.

4. Lighting: No matter how big or small your closet is, make sure it has adequate lighting. Being able to clearly see what you have makes a world of difference when you're getting dressed. If your closet doesn't have a light, add one with a simple light kit.

5. Short stacks: Short stacks are less likely to fall over, which minimizes closet chaos. Add hanging shelves or use expandable kitchen shelving to increase your shelf space.

6. Labels: It may seem overly obsessive compulsive, but labeling where things go in your closet makes it easier for you (and other people) to put things away, correctly.

For more information about Kathryn Lovell and her services offered, please check out her website at www.kklic.com. While you are there, be sure to visit her blog called "Mint", which features biweekly style tips for updating any fashion connoisseur's closet.

Love, A

All About Audrey

As many of you have probably already heard, there was an auction this week in London where dresses worn by one of my style icons were on the block. A mix of thirty-six dresses and accessories worn by the luminous Audrey Hepburn fetched $435,180, with a portion of the proceeds going to The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.

When I was a little girl, my parents had a modest collection of VHS movies. Among them was one called "Sabrina", which The Mater told me was one of her favourites when she was growing up. Naturally, I had to see this movie that my mother had loved so much. It was "Sabrina" starring Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn (I think The Mater might have had a girlhood movie-star crush on William Holden). I fell in love immediately. But not with the man who played David Larabee, with Audrey. She was so beautiful, so completely likable and her style! Icon is not a word used without just cause and fashionistas and style critics the world over agree on this one.

So, sit back and have a peek at a movie that has become one of my all-time favourites starring a woman whose style sense, and sense of self, is beyond compare.

Love, P

To see some fantastic pictures from the sale, click this

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #21

Club Monaco flower headband $29

When The Mater was in town a little while ago, we went to Club Monaco on Bloor street where we bought her a gorgeous teal cashmere scarf for her birthday. While we were there, I came across this totally adorable headband. It fit my teeny tiny pea-head perfectly, didn't pinch and was super cute.

Headbands are enjoying a fabulous comeback right now. Sparkles, velvet, ribbons, or fabric flowers (like the one on my wee head above), they can be the perfect addition to any holiday outfit. So, as you have heard me plead so many times before; I can't, so could you?

Love, P

The Borrow

When was the last time you borrowed an outfit from a girlfriend? Five, ten years ago? I bet if you were born after 1980 it was probably only five or ten minutes ago! Why is it that as we get older we stop borrowing clothes from each other? Is it pride? Possessiveness? Laziness? Who knows? Regardless of the reason I am here to tell you to get over it and start borrowing from your friends. And, of course, to start lending to them in return. Not only is it an obvious money saver and closet refresher, it is also a fun bonding experience. Both P and I can attest to that, we have been sharing our wardrobes for years.

I recently caught up with my friend Cat this past weekend with a request to borrow any denim from her that might currently be out of rotation in her closet. Don't worry people, I didn't show up empty handed! I came armed with one tasty bottle of Sangiovese to quench our thirst, and one white strapless linen dress for Cat's winter getaway to Miami. I left two hours later with a warm feeling in my heart and two "new" pairs of jeans! Of course we will swap back in the New Year, but in the meantime we both added a little freshness to our wardrobes without buying a thing.

So this holiday season instead of fighting the crowds at your local department store, why not call up some of your closest friends, swap wardrobe details, and arrange to meet at each other's houses, clothes in hand. While you are there don't forget to put on some fun tunes, pour a stiff drink and savor the moment. Clothes may come and go, but friendships last forever.

Love, A

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #20

HTG Denim Leggings, Forever 21, $19.90

The jegging. You either love them or you hate them. I think they are fabulous. Denim divas Paige and Hudson both make them at a much higher price point, but I don't think I would pay over $100 for such a trendy item. These ones are a great deal from Forever 21 and have contrast stitching (key when sporting the jegging) and belt loops.

So, what are you waiting for? Take one for the team and go out and get your jegging on.

Love, A

Untitled

I just can't deal... I mean... Seriously... Could you... Just... Why now?... Honestly... It hurts... Because May is soooo... What I'm getting at is... I'm strong, but... I... Don't.... Can't... Hang in... Too hard... Dying.

Love, P

A's Yuletide Musings

Since Lady P has been featuring some of her thoughts on shopping during this holiday season, I thought as her partner in crime I should let you all know where I stand for Christmas 2009. Basically I have a million things running through my head day and night about what to buy, when to buy, whether or not to buy, etc., so I figured I would just share a few of my random holiday musings with you.

1. I am pretty ambivalent about whether someone gets me something I can use now (like a spa gift certificate) or later (like a CC Skye cuff). When in doubt, just buy for my daughter, she can accept anything.

2. P really is a thoughtful gift giver. Some of my favorite past prezzies from her include: Frye boots that she found at a sample sale that were just a tad too big for her (how thoughtful to share when I am sure she was just dying for her own foot to grow 1/2 an inch), a framed photo of my man and I from Halloween, the cutest "Just Married" bridal bikini to wear after my beach wedding, and she even went shopping with my guy one year to help him buy for me and I ended up with a cashmere sweater and a Nars make-up palette! Those really were the good old days. Sniff, sniff.

3. Girls are so much easier to shop for than guys (unless the aforementioned are in Fashion Rehab, of course). Guys say they don't care what you buy them but at the end of the day, I think they really do. Most guys think that clothes are boring, they don't do spa services and sometimes it seems like what they want most is time away from us! Think about it. Flat-screens, surf boards, golf memberships, video games, all of these scream "dude time" to me.

4. Last year I could have asked for any type of Christmas gift and I chose to sponsor a woman in Rwanda (it has been amazing and I am doing it again, sign up if you can at www.womenforwomen.org) but this year I also would have really liked to have that red Marc Jacobs bag. How's that for irony?

5. My real Christmas list this year includes something for my kitchen called a "spider skimmer". It really is almost too boring to tell you about but I don't want you to feel left out. It is a stick with a colander at the end of it used for scooping up food out of boiling water...hey, are you still there? Wake up!!! I just nodded off for a bit, too, but wait, I still have one more thing to say.

6. In the end all that matters is that you are around the ones you love, right?

Oh, and that you make it to the liquor store on Christmas Eve before it closes.

Love, A

Deliciously refreshing "Warhol Crush" holiday cocktail.

(recipe can be found on www.marieclaire.com)

Cheers!

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #19

Coach Poppy Sparkle crossbody mini $138

Ok, seriously? I am dying.

Love, P

P.S. I got a postcard in the mail the other day offering me 25% of anything from Coach. No joke. (help)

The Thrill of the (Pur)Chase

It's hard to believe that it is already December - the last month of the 2009. It is also hard to believe that we have just entered the 7th month of this crazy, nuts, bananas project. What isn't hard to believe is how much I love shopping, even when it isn't for me. I have yet to physically begin my holiday shopping (though, to be true, I have already picked up a few things for Mr. Darling). Apart from that, I have just the list in my head or, rather, the list in my iPhone (I'm a big list-maker). So, even though I haven't actually hit the stores and started purchasing, I will tell you that the mere thought of it is thrilling - kind of like Christmas morning when you are six. Even though I'll be in the stores not shopping for myself, I'm excited that I will be shopping at all. I don't know why the thought of shopping for others is so exciting. Maybe it is because I am one of those people who absolutely loves to buy gifts. And, I am not afraid to say, I'm good at it. I listen very carefully to people all year long and take note when they mention that they're out of something, that they wish they had something or that they miss something that they think they have lost. I remember what they say, as best I can, and try to find it, fix it or replace it. Gift buying is really great fun for me. It is, after all, still shopping.

It is going to be especially fun this year because there are a few more little ones than last year. I have three new additions to my extended family; Little O, Little A and, of course, the very Little J and it is going to be extra fun shopping for them at my new favourite store in Toronto, Bookhou.

Bookhou's hand painted Animal Softies

Get out of town! How totally cute are these guys???

The real question is, "Will I be tempted to slip in a few marvy things for myself?", which, who's kidding who, is not an unreasonable question/concern. In years gone by, my ratio of gifts for me and gifts for others was easily 2:1. In my defense, there was always many a holiday party to buy new outfits for... But I digress (surprised?).

I really can't say for sure. It has been seven long months... We'll just have to wait and see. I promise to return with a full report. In the meantime, wish me luck, cross your fingers and here's hoping I don't break.

Love, P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #18

Yummie Tummie Lace Bodysuit, net-a-porter.com, $110

I guess this really is a lust-have! You may think it is strange for me to air my "dirty laundry" on our blog for all to see, but what I have to say is this: Amen to this designer for this ultra-sexy, very chic, and totally tummy-firming updated version of yesterday's girdle.

Love, A