fashion

What's new in dresses for spring?

Submitted by Suzanne on Wed, 02/25/2015 - 14:28
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Dresses are at the top of what I instinctively look for whenever I go shopping for a new season. Plum is my first stop. Not only do they start with a fit model that generally has the most common proportions but the many years of experience of the pattern makers means different designs must be made to fit exactly right before anything goes into production.  After the dresses are produced and out to the stores everyone in the company has tried them on to see exactly how they fit the huge variety of bodies working for Plum so they know how they will fit the customers.

So let’s take a look at some of the styles for Spring 2015!

The dress featured on the email will satisfy all dress requirements. Beautiful, sexy, comfortable and requires no ironing, thus travels well. You should try this on.

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If you're searching for something to kick off spring with a bang, this is where to start. Going to a cocktail party, this dress is a perfect choice, a casual date, this dress fits the bill. Speaking of fit, this dress feels so good on. I can say this because I've tried it myself.

Simone knit dress with criss cross back (black or navy dot) $110

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Feeling a bit like Julie from 'Mod Squad' circa 1970 (TBT) then this is the dress. Beautifully lined, v-neck front, sleeveless dress with zippered pockets. Comprised of 97% cotton with a hint of stretch for ease of movement.

Simone colour blocked shift dress with drop waist (blue or beige) $139

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Perhaps you lean more towards something less fitted, allowing for more movement, maybe you like to dance. Such a sweet, retro feel dress. I love it with the T strap heels, but, for fun would pair it with my Doc Martens, for a casual funky, ecclectic look. Why not!

Simone button front shirt dress (beige or black print) $139

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There are times when your image needs to be polished, neat and professional looking. What I like about this sheath dress is, the finishing details. The exposed zipper just brings it up a notch, giving it that unique edge. Fully lined, back zip, back slit, sleeveless dress. Looks simply stunning in ivory.

Simone sheath dress with zipper detail (black, ivory and royal) $139

Plum does not disappoint, kicking off the spring season with a gorgeous selection of dresses. So great to know you're wearing something that is unique, exclusive to Plum, and designed and made right here in Vancouver. 

Dress to impress yourself...because if you're impressed, so will everyone else be.

Yours in Fashion passion...

Suzanne M.  ... read the full post and reader comments

 
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Kate and I, and all of the Plum staff, want to take a moment to thank our customers for their business during the previous year and to wish you the best of the season.

We know you have more choices than ever of where to shop for your clothing so we sincerely appreciate that you have chosen our company.  It makes us proud that we can produce exclusively designed good quality garments right here in Canada at an affordable price.  So we are pleased that you have taken that into consideration when you purchase from us in your neighbourhood and on line.  Creating work right here at home benefits all of us.

We also want to publically thank all of our in-store employees who have helped you look your best.  They are committed to making you feel great about what you wear and are knowledgeable about what works for you as an individual.  Plum has received hundred of emails this year about the positive experiences you have had in our stores so we know you appreciate their dedication.

Thanks for your business and we sincerely wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Katie O'Brien and Ed des Roches

Owners of Plum

 

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Fictional Fashion Sells

Submitted by Katherine Lazaruk on Sat, 10/04/2014 - 10:40
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There’s a lively debate going on at Plum about whether or not fashion advertising should be ‘aspirational’ or ‘real’ or some component of both. 
 
‘Aspirational’ advertising presents something people will long for, something they would like to do or have, or even someone they might like to be.  The results are pictures of ‘ideal’ women.  Taken to the extreme, it can be interpreted as the ‘perfect body’ type, the photoshopped, elongated, chopped, airbrushed and fictionalized pictures we see in fashion magazines and advertisements that bombard us daily.  It can create a feeling that we have shortcomings and that we ought to be doing something differently.  This type of advertising suggests that if we only buy this or that product we’ll miraculously be saved... unfortunately it often works. The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has been profiting on these kinds of messages for years. It is what we have become accustomed to so it is difficult for advertisers to abandon those ‘aspirations’ for something more ‘real.’
 
‘Real’ advertising, such as the popular Dove Campaign for Real Beauty emphasizes diverse body types, diverse racial representation and advocates for fewer photoshopped images in ads for beauty products and fashion. This type of ‘real’ advertising is more about making people feel good about themselves and showing that a particular product isn’t restricted to a particular kind of person or designed to make you into anything other than who you are. 
 
We love that we have a diverse client base at Plum, from fashionistas to functional dressers and we do our best to accommodate as many of them as we can in our stores. 
 
We use professional models on our website and in our emails because it is what women are used to seeing and because the models are trained professionals. But we do not alter bodies in our images. We do remove blemishes and alter images as needed to remove wrinkles from fabric or slight imperfections in the images, smoothing out the edges. We feel that fashion can be aspirational, artistic and expressive and that everyone should be able to enjoy what it can do for them as individuals.  
 
 
We have invested in a new training program for our staff so they can help individual customers more effectively.  They have learned about colour, body, wardrobing, personal style and lifestyles.  Let us know what you think by commenting below – what do you love seeing in fashion advertising? Aspiration or real or both? 
 
 
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Fashion is biology?

Submitted by Katherine Lazaruk on Fri, 09/26/2014 - 12:38
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We recognize that not everyone loves fashion. Lots of people just want to get dressed for function and are in a place where how they look doesn’t seem as important as what they do. Fashion is still considered by many to be a frivolous or unnecessary expense. However, many people are unaware of the deep connection between how they look and how successful they are in life.

Although we try hard ‘not to judge a book by its cover’, the fact is that our brains aren’t wired that way. The part of our brain that judges is lightning fast, while the part that tells us to look beneath the surface is very slow. In the first moments of meeting you, people will be making judgements (often subconsciously) about how smart, capable, educated and likeable you are. They’ll also make assessments of your socioeconomic status, where you live, if you’re dating or married and if you’re trustworthy. People who ‘pass’ these judgements have an easier time with making social connections and building relationship than those who don’t. Every time you show up, you’re making a statement about who you are – the more accurate these statements are, the easier it is for people to get to know you.

Fashion is just one tool in the toolbox – it’s designed for you to pick and choose things to express who you are in a visual way. No matter what your value set is around fashion, there is something available for you to use to get your message across clearly. Are you a creative person? Maybe you’ll choose things that are more patterned, more colourful or more flowing. Are you a more conservative person? Perhaps solid neutral colours in modest cuts will suit you better. At Plum, we’re interested in helping you express yourself in the clearest possible way, so we’ve started an intensive training program with our staff so we can help you quickly find what you’re looking for and help you express your style in a way that suits you. Developed in conjunction with Katherine Lazaruk of ICU Image Consulting Inc., our program helps our staff understand colour, body shape, personal style and lifestyle more fully so we can help you find things that work. We call it ‘dressing with purpose’ and we hope you’ll join us on the journey as we learn how to serve you better.

 

What is your biggest fashion challenge? Email us at info@plum.ca (or post it below).   ... read the full post and reader comments

 
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The lines we choose in our clothes affect our appearance--we can either harmonize them with our features or contrast them to emphasize or detract from our natural shape. Unless you want to cancel your curves, the key to line is to know that curved lines emphasize the curves you naturally possess.

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Because they create a soft drape, curved lines emphasize the roundedness of the body. For this reason, you can create curves where you might be lacking with the garments you choose. If you have narrow hips, for instance, go for a skirt with a curvy pattern and a flowing fabric to create the illusion that you’ve got shape there. Or, if you want to create harmony, choose a curvilinear blouse with a rounded neckline (as shown above) to mimic the arc of your facial features. The eye will be drawn towards your face. 

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Clothes look sleeker when they are made up of straight lines as they don’t hold the gaze as long. Straight lines cut the visual space in the direction that the lines are positioned. That’s why a top with bold horizontal lines creates width at the bust, and vertical-lined jeans create length in the leg, so place these straight lines with care on the body. Because rectilinear patterns can hold attention longer than stripes, a geometric print blouse (as shown above) can create harmony with your straight-lined facial features while still maintaining the attention on you.  

Read more about the Rules of Line and How to Wardrobe at plum.ca

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