Well friends, it's that time of year again. Believe it or not, retailers need to start making room for fall merchandise pretty soon (excusemesummerhasn'tevenhappenedyet), so now is a great time to shop the sales and put together a summer wardrobe on the economical. While sales are indisputably awesome, they can be a bit overwhelming and tiring if you go in without a game plan. So here are some simple tips on making the most out of the sale season.
1) Take stock of your wardrobe before you go. Where are your gaps? Most stores have a 'final sale' policy on sale items. If you get home only to realize that you bought a repeat of something you already have, you're likely to be stuck with the double.
2) If you happen to be on the smaller or the larger side of the size spectrum, this is your time to shine. Get out there and get shopping. Median sizes tend to get snapped up right away, leaving smaller and bigger sizes to be discounted when it comes sale time.
3) When you find a great deal on an investment piece (a blazer or a great dress, for example)- or even just something that you really liked but the sizing is a bit off - go for it. Having some minor alterations done will be worth it in the long run, and you'll wind up with a piece that not only was on sale, but was custom tailored for you!
4) If you want an entire outfit at a great price, don't be shy about asking the sales associates for advice on how to pair items. Trust me, they (we!) see the clothes worn in every combination imaginable and will be happy to pass along the unique product knowledge to you.
5) Quality over quantity. If you're at a sale trying to decide between two or three tops that you have lukewarm feelings about and one blazer that you love, always go for the love. In this case, less really is more.
Don't forget to visit our fabulous sidewalk sale this Thursday through Sunday (June 21-24) and put my handy tips to good use! And I'm not saying you'd want to hang out with me, but just in case you do, I'll be at our Kitsilano location Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Last Wednesday, Plum was lucky enough to attend a screening of the documentary “Miss Representation,” by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. This film has been making waves after being shown at the Sundance Film Festival 2011 and on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. As both a woman and a media-conscious person, I was curious to see what it was all about.
The film analyzes the negative impact the media has on the minds of young girls and women. This, of course, is not new information, per se. However, "Miss Representation" stood out to me because it delved deeper than just saying (I am paraphrasing) 'media representations of scantily-clad women are bad for our daughters because they objectify women.' In short, what I took away from the film is that a culture as a whole is deeply affected by these images, men, women, and children alike.
The point that the film makes is that we all grow up in a society that largely focuses on a woman's appearance rather than her intellectual value, and this is harmful to us all. Children are raised in an environment in which they all learn to believe that women do not make good leaders. When they reach adulthood, few women are prepared to aspire to leadership roles, and there are men who are prepared to quash the ones who do. And then suddenly you find yourself living in a country that is 51% women aaand...represented by only 25% of the parliament. Stat here Yikes!
"Miss Representation" celebrates strong female role models with the aim of counteracting the outpouring of negative, sexist messages we are often subjected to. Interviews are conducted with "politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists, and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson, and Gloria Steinem." -Miss Representation 'About the Film' page The interviews generally revolve around their experiences as women in the public eye (and under public scrutiny) -the challenges, but also the victories.
My only critique of "Miss Representation" (you may already be able to guess it, based on the list of interviewees) is that it has a significantly American slant. For example, one of the more shocking facts they throw out, hold on to your hats, is that Iraq and Afghanistan both have more female members of parliament than the United States. That being said, the majority of the examples they use are valid the world over, if indirectly.
Nevertheless, seeing the film was a moving and challenging experience, and I would wholehartedly recommend seeing it, and sharing it! I left the theatre with a new internal mantra: Lead by example and become a role model as a strong and confident woman, not only for your own benefit, but for the benefit of those around you as well. (Hmm yes, Ok, it's a bit wordy, but I think I can make it work).
One of my most well-guarded industry secrets is that fashion is (get in close, I'm only saying this once) cyclical. Oh wait, that's no secret at all. It seems to be a matter of course that each year our favourite fashions of the past are reinvented for the latest season. This year, I've been most excited about the 2012 reimagining of the early 1960s.
Take this classic example of the shift dress. Just fitted enough to show off all the right curves, but free enough that you'll be sure to channel that '60s spirit of simple modernity.
Sleeveless dress with low scoop back, in Black or Yellow, $129 now $99
This next dress has me seriously considering hopping the next plane down south to Georgia, mint julep in hand. Its figure-flattering shape and the fact that it's 100% cotton (you heard me) make it a summer staple. If you do get mistaken for Emma Stone in The Help, you're welcome.
Sleeveless button-front dress, in Raspberry, Royal, and Black, $119 now $95
You might have noticed that both of the dress featured above are on s-a-l-e. Well yeah, just because the weather in Vancouver, Calgary, AND Kelowna is ridiculously out of season doesn't mean you have to be. Join me in a collective boycott of the unseasonable June blues and say YES to spring style!
All price reductions effective June 6, 2012.
So tell me, what is your favourite fashion trend of the past (or present)? Let me know! Leave me a comment here or tweet me at @PlumClothing
This summer, you might not be lucky enough to be embarking on a Roman Holiday (unless of course you are in fact Audrey Hepburn and this is 1953). But hopefully you are planning to take a summertime getaway some time in the next few months. For your travels this summer, think Aztec Holiday.
These bold colours and prints evoke the life and spirit of the Mayan Riviera. So even if you're travelling no further than the edge of the patio this summer, you can still feel like you're in your own tropical paradise.
There are so many reasons why this look is a great addition to your summer wardrobe (aside from it being completely gorgeous). Take this number, pictured below. It's light, airy and flows away from the body to keep you nice and cool without sacrificing style. You can wear it simply, like this, all through the day and then style it up in the evening with a waist-cinching belt (try brown leather) and some chunky heels or wedges.
Print Dress in Purple, Orange, and Blue, $89
Now, I know that this is a bold print and I know that can be scary for some. But honestly, taking prints along when you travel is some of the best packing advice I could offer. Prints have this almost magical ability to camouflage wrinkles and stains, making them the most low-maintenance articles to wear.
If you simply can't take the leap and become a total print-cess, pair an Aztec print top with white jeans for a toned-down version of the same look. And that's all there is to it! With your travel wardrobe taken care of, all you need to worry about is enjoying your summer!
As you can see, this week on the blog, we’re featuring a brand-new dress from Smash. The bold geometric floral print is not only completely gorgeous, it’s also part of a huge trend for spring and summer this year. For women who might shy away from the girly floral, a geometric print is the perfect answer. It’s an effortless way to balance femininity with a modern edge.
Our buyer and merchandiser extraordinaire, Katie O’Brien, has a knack for finding lines like Smash. She seeks out lines that keep up with the trends yet are still not “disposable fashion.” Translation: current styles that won’t look out of place next season. This can often be a tricky balancing act. Katie knows that the majority of Plum customers would rather have a well-made, stylish item rather than the absolute-trendiest-thing-on-the-market-right-now. When it comes to building a wardrobe that lasts, being stylish trumps being trendy every time (I'm hearing a collective sigh of relief from everyone who wasn't quite ready to hop on the neon trend bandwagon).
- Katie O'Brien
Katie is in charge of assessing what Plum can produce for itself in Vancouver, and then filling in the gaps with other brands. While it is taxing, she confesses that this process of sourcing is her favourite part of the job. Her search for quality merchandise takes her to New York and Los Angeles several times each year. And a lot more goes into her hunt than "Oh, that's a cute top, we should carry that." She specifically looks for colours and styles that will complement the merchandise that Plum is producing itself, while still retaining quality and affordability. The end result is a store full of clothing that has been hand selected to work together as a complete wardrobe. Katie puts in the leg work so you don't have to!
So I'm curious, what are your favourite brands? You can let me know by commenting on the post or by tweet tweeting at me on Twitter! @PlumClothing
(Pro tip: this link will not take you to our full Spring 2012 collection. To see even more photos of the great items we have in store, click here instead!
- Katie O'Brien
