LBD, Little Boring Dress?

The Little Black Dress has been recognized as such an important fashion necessity, it's been given its own acronym (LBD). Ever since ever since its debut in Breakfast at Tiffany's, this stand alone piece has continued to show its wardrobe worthiness.

S.P.

 In fashion the LBD is your rock; your go-to, no fail, always appropriate, always look good, always feel good outfit of choice. (Not to be confused with the rock one would wear on one's finger). But just because this piece is solid, doesn't mean you can get lazy. Don't let your little black dress become your little boring dress.

The foundation is solid and sophisticated but to really add style bear in mind two A's: Architecture and Accessories. (Yes, double A's know how to have fun too!)

Architecture: The fabric: stiff wool vs cozy knit, the cut: full length up to mini, the hem, the neckline, the buttons the sleeves the zippers and on and on and on! All of the essential elements that allow a 'simple' LBD to be so varied and unique.

Accessories: Earrings, Necklace, Bracelets choose one or many! They are  the decor, the finishing touches, that take your dress  to the next level, add your personality and make your dress so memorable. Don't limit yourself. Remember you can really mix it up with belts, bags and boots too.

S.P.

Your Little Black Dress: Feel free to wear it many times, and many ways. They say every woman's wardrobe should have an LBD. No one ever said you can't have more than one!

Special thanks to Sylvie Prud'Homme for her fabulous illustrations. We love your work and look forward to seeing more of it!

Get Party Prepped!

It’s the ‘holidays’. A word that normally denotes rest, relaxation and escape is, at this time of year, anything but!

I can remember the days when the afternoon before a planned event I would giddily make my way into my closet in search of just the right look for that night. Half the fun of the event was the prep. I could easily spend hours trying on all kinds of creative combinations until achieving that ever-so-coveted perfect look. 

That was then. This is now. With hair appointments and manicures a vague memory, I begin to get dressed minutes before dashing out the door. To my dismay, I discover that the outfit I mentally prepared is in fact a pair of shoes I gave away ages ago, and next to my great black pants, my perfectly flirty top is in fact, navy blue.  A complete fashion flop!

Ladies, learn from my mistake. At this time of year, with so many social events and even more photos being taken, making time to make yourself party ready is a MUST.  I am not saying this to add to your seasonal stress. Au contraire! Make it fun!

Use your manicure appointment as a date to see good friends.  You’ll all enjoy a break from holiday meals!   

Get some closet therapy. Set the timer for one hour. Then go! 

1.       Pull out all your glittery, sparkly, velvety, and lacy pieces.

2.       Try them all on.

3.       Eliminate anything that doesn’t look and feel great.

4.       Mix and match as you wish

5.       Enjoy having an amazing roster of go-to party looks.

1.     

An hour of closet time may seem difficult to squeeze into your already hectic schedule but trust me,  making it a priority now will allow you to enjoy yourself and be party perfect later!

Casual as Cashmere

The Comeback of the Blazer

Well we can’t exactly call it a comeback because blazers never really left. From tailored jackets to boxy cropped sleeves, this style phenomenon has managed to adapt quite easily with the times. Thankfully this year there are tons to chose from!

Blazers and jackets help ease the transition from summer to fall by covering those cute summer dresses, making your summer wardrobe work appropriate and fun. Here are 3 basic blazers necessary to complete every wardrobe.




The Boyfriend Blazer
The Boyfriend Blazer by definition is worn narrow, boxy and slightly over-sized. This gives the casual and comfortable look that can dress up your basic T-shirt and jeans. This blazer is perfect over printed summer dresses as well as with leggings.

The Tailored Fit
Tailor Jackets are no longer just the conservative, working woman’s staple. The jacket has evolved into the perfect style statement you have been looking for. Classic black can last for years but how great is a coloured or printed fitted jacket?! Worn with a pair of jeans or a simple skirt, this easy layering piece stands out above the rest.

Cropped Blazer A little more casual than the others, the cropped blazer is cute yet still sophisticated. This jacket is best worn with fitted clothes or A line skirts or dresses.








All in all blazers are more than just a statement of style or a layer of warmth. Whether it’s the classic fit, cropped cut or the boyfriend blazer, they all are indispensable to your wardrobe.

Now that we've started accepting Fall clothing, the store is changing colours as yellows, browns and reds pour in! Despite the fact that fall means cold weather is just around the corner, we look forward all year to the amazing fashion that this season spouts out!

For many, Fall also means back to school. Most of the time the focus is on students and what they need to be wearing on their first day back but we'd like to focus on the often neglected but always fabulous teachers!

Teachers find themselves in the middle of the fashion spectrum, they aren't expected to wear business suits but often are allowed to wear jeans. So it can be tricky to find the balance between too casual and too business.

Since you're on your feet all day doing a number of different tasks, above all you need to choose comfortable clothing. This does not mean frumpy or un-stylish.

Choose skirts and dresses that are longer but have a colour or print for interest.

Make sure sweaters or cardigans are fitted, or add a belt over top to cinch your waist, to avoid looking like a potato sack.

Spice up your simpler classic pieces with colourful accessories like a statement necklace, a scarf or some bangles on your wrists.

Fall always seems to brings neutrals back into our colour palettes, which is awesome because it makes it super easy to add red, blue and yellow pieces into the mix.

As for casual Friday? Don't take casual too far, you still need to look put together. Try adding a boyfriend blazer to your jeans for a sophisticated yet comfortable look!

Don't forget, whatever you wear, wear it with confidence and a smile and you'll be ruling the school in no time!

Steak&Stilettos

Our girls getting everything ready for the show

For our latest event we teamed up with Steak restaurant, located in the Byward Market, to put on a hot night of fashion and summer drinks!
Every Thursday night, Steak sponsors a night of fabulous fashion-inspired food called Steak & Stilettos. This month we were happy to be apart of it and added a fashion show to the mix.

Models rocking cocktail inspired fashions.

The show featured Angie's Models who strut outfits inspired by Summer drinks including the Cucumber Collins, Sex on the Beach, Cosmopolitan and Champagne.



We provided the clothing, Accessories were provided by both DressitUp and Sunglass Hut and Shoes were provided by Niclaire.There was also a marketplace where local vendors set up tables to sell fabulous Summer goods.

Shoes and accessories from Niclaire.

Tricky Trends

Edition 1: Neutrals


We get it, neutrals and minimalism are on-trend this summer. Beige, ivory, nude, taupe, black, gray and white are all fantastic because of their versatility. They can go with any colour and even look great mixed together, which is why we recommend investing in a few neutral pieces. A huge plus with these items is that, because they are understated, you're not going to raise any eyebrows if you wear them often. Sadly, people are going to notice if you wear your favourite printed dress every other day.





With nudes there is a fine line between chic sophistication and borderline nakedness.  Be careful not to wear items that are too similar to your skin tone.  Take this as a Public Service Announcement: it's called nude for a reason. When you wear nude, you look naked!  We usually love when people look twice at our outfit, but if someone's looking twice to make sure you're wearing clothing, that is not the kind of attention you want.  Try to reserve nude colours for your accessories such as a sweet beige bangle or some wicked nude heels that will elongate the leg and go with everything!


So whether you're decked out from head to toe in neutrals or just adding a beige top to an outfit, check twice before you leave to make sure it doesn't look like you're breaking any laws.


Because that's what it looks like, and that's the naked truth!



You looked twice, didn't you?!

Shopping day with AMHstyle and Youville

Friday June 17th, the AMHstyle team had the opportunity to bring a smile to the girls at the Youville Centre. What could be a better present than new clothes, shoes and accessories?

At AMHstyle we give our consignors the opportunity to donate their clothes that aren’t quite the right fit for the store to a charitable organization. Our first donation went to the Youville centre in downtown Ottawa. The Youville Centre focuses on helping young single mothers, giving them the tools they need for a brighter future. From high school education and parenting courses, to an in house day care, the centre has proven to be a necessary home away from home for these young ladies.  And it was our pleasure to bring them everything from designer jeans to flip flops.
 

The girls first dove into the sunglasses and flip flops, donated by Dress it Up. Then came the jeans, tops, shoes and bags. In one lunch hour we had found almost every article a new loving owner. It was equally fun and exciting for us as it was for the girls.  
 




From the set up of the racks and tables full of goodies to watching them empty, the Youville Centre day was a complete success. And we were so happy to be a part of it all.

It Takes a Runway

Missed the fabulous event It Takes a Runway last week? Here are all the fun details!! 

AMHstyle and our neighbours, The Guest Room, were the venue for a charity fashion show event to raise money for the SOS Children's Villages. The event was organized and hosted by the lovely Betsy Leimbigler, a Miss Universe Canada contestant, who we have already voted the sweetest person around!

The night started off with the beautiful and classical designs of Emilia Torabi hitting the catwalk, showcasing her impeccable tailoring and flair for the upscale.

Jana Hanzel’s cocktail party inspired pieces followed with bright hews and intricate headpieces that are sure to steal the spotlight. 

Ottawa's do it all fashionista Erica Wark emceed the evening, asking Betsey skill-testing questions to prepare her for the Miss Universe Canada pageant, as well as giving out fabulous door prizes. 

The last runway shows of the night featured the unique and oh-so-stunning pieces from local jewellery designers: Leah Christina, Pish Posh, Mafia and Pica. All worn to perfection and the necessary spunk by our beautiful models. 

In the end, the event was a huge success. Everyone had a great time mingling and enjoying refreshments and most importantly over $500 was raised in support of the SOS Children's Villages. Thank you to everyone who helped out and good luck to Betsey!! We are behind you all the way!

Please visit soschildrensvillages.ca if you would like to make a donation to their cause.  

Too many clothes and no more excuses!

Recently at AMHstyle we found ourselves complaining about digging through closets and spelunking through mountains of clothes!  Since Ottawa's weather can be tempermental at times, we often find that our tank tops are right next to the sweaters we will be wearing the next day! As a result, our closets and drawers end up being packed to the brim!

Picking out your outfit each day should not be an extreme sport!

This week we decided to take spring cleaning seriously and here are our tips for you to give it a try!
1) First off start with a good attitude, don't dread cleaning and sorting your closet, get excited! If your closet is pretty cluttered, taking some time to go through it will actually be really fun and enjoyable. You are guaranteed to find something you had forgotten you even owned and in that way it's like shopping but better because there are no lines and no guilt!

2) Now that the weather is warmer, put really thick winter items higher up or packed away since you won't be needing these. Then put lighter layering items for cooler days together in one spot.

3) Sort clothing into different piles.
 Items you still wear should be placed into the closet or drawer in a way that makes sense to you, for example by categories like short sleeves, long sleeves, colour, etc.
Items you no longer wear should be sub-divided into three areas.

• Things in good condition to consign with AMHstyle  
• Things to donate/give away
• Things you don't want to get rid of quite yet --- The best way to figure out if you are actually going to wear these items, is to keep them separate and check over the next few months to see if you're getting any use out of them. If not, toss them to make room and if you do wear them, re-integrate them!

4) A little time now, will save lots of time later! Try items on to see if they are not only fitting but also in line with your current clothing esthetic.
A clean and organized closet will make mornings a lot less stressful, provide more time and energy for other things, as well as making it easier to pick out a killer outfit since you can see all of your fabulous options!*

*For more fabulous options come visit us at AMHstyle, we refresh our closet everyday!

The Building Blocks of Summer

 There has been construction going on in front of AMHstyle for the past few months and as a result of our giant windows, we see bright neon green, yellow and orange passing by frequently! Maybe it's the heat getting to us, but are the construction workers trying to emulate the Summer runways for 2011? Probably not, but nonetheless with Summer officially just a few weeks away its time to start integrating colour into our wardrobes!!

Something we saw a lot of this year and can't wait to try is colour blocking. Colour blocking is a bold look and is basically what it sounds like: wearing different blocks of colour. This can be done by wearing a dress with different sections of colour on it or by mixing up clothing pieces that are each a seperate colour. Since it's summer, the idea is to go with bold and bright colours.

This trend goes to the extreme on the runways, but there are ways to take the inspiration, subdue it and make it yours! Experiment with adding colourful accessories to your outfits or adding one colourful piece to neutrals, for example some pink shorts with a taupe top.

There are different levels to this trend and you can choose to embrace it and take it as far as you want.  Remember that some colour is key! Don't worry too much about matchy-matchy, the idea here is a couple of bold colours that are put together to scream summer!!

Summer Love: Cargo Pants

The skies may be grey but I found a ray of sunshine in my wardrobe: cargo pants. Three pairs later and I am still in love.

There is something wonderful about the balance of military menswear looking subtly sexy on a woman’s physique. The key to making these pants look stylish (as opposed to utilitarian and uniform issued) is the roll of the cuff. Pants worn to the ground completely covering your footwear look like you are wearing them for protection. Roll up the cuff (some cargo pants come with a wicked little tie to help you with this) show some skin,

and throw on a pair of heels. Instant impact!
 

The neutral colours of khaki, green, with some grey or black make mixing and matching really easy. Go bold or with pattern but please stay away from camouflage print!

Paired with a t-shirt or sparkles at night, cargo pants work. A refreshing (and comfortable) alternative to day-after-day in denim, cargo pants are definitely my new favourite.



All the extra little pockets are great too!

Rock it in your rain wear

The snow banks have melted and the wind chill has blown away. Spring is here and it’s time to enjoy! No more turtlenecks, down filled coats, mitts, hats or boots. But it’s not quite time to bust out your bikini either. In fact, the rite of passage to earn your sun-filled summer entails suffering through a week (or two) of rainy days. Don’t let the dark skies get you down. Challenge the weather and still look your best.




Wet and soggy is never a good look. If it is raining don’t try to ignore it. Work with it!

Step 1 – Get the Right Coat. For work a waterproof or water resistant trench coat is the best way to go.
Look for something that falls just above the knee, is belted and tailored. If you are feeling more relaxed or the rain is more intense, a good old fashioned rain coat is never the wrong choice. You can stay dry and stay stylish at the same time.
Step 2 – Get the Right Accessory. Not only is an umbrella practical (protects your highly styled hair from the rain) it is also fun! Pick something with bright colours or a great pattern to bring life to a drab day.
Step 3 – Get a pair of Rubber Boots. A few years ago rubber boots were available only at hunting, fishing and garden centres and they came in yellow or black. Now you can get fantastic boots ranging from designer to discount labels in every combination of colour and pattern. There is no excuse not to own a great pair of rain boots. You should never start your day with soggy feet.

No shoe, synthetic or leather, can stand up to the abuse of puddles and soaked sidewalks. Get yourself a great pair of rain boots and even on the darkest days they’ll put a spring in your step!