Words & Photos Tanya Murchie
STYLE is about knowing what you love to wear, makes you happy and feels comfortable … unique clothing pieces that give you the confidence to create your own look.
Purchase the best quality you can afford; not everything has to be new. Vancouver Island and Vancouver have amazing consignment shops. Personally, I love to mix old and new, consignment and vintage.
Below is a list of basic items. However be mindful, in this age of over consumerism, less is more and basic does not mean BORING.
Think base colour: black, navy, tan
Secondary colour: white, cream, red, pink, sky blue
- Shirts/blouses: cotton, silk, chambray, linen. From a classic button-down to ultra feminine. Pair with jeans, skirts, under a blazer or sweater.
- T-shirts/tanks: As many colours as you like, stripes or rockstar graphics.
- Sweaters: cardigan, pullover, zip – cotton, cashmere, wool.
- Blazer: Invest in good quality and it will last. A great blazer can be dressed up or down, worn over a dress or paired with jeans and a T-shirt.
- Denim jacket: Denim gives any outfit a casual feel – blue, chambray, white or black.
- Coats: Rain, winter, leather, fur etc. Choose wisely and wear what you love.
- Jeans: Wide leg, narrow, skinny, cropped, boot cut … . Choose what suits your body type, dress them up with a beautiful blouse or a T-shirt and leather jacket.
- Trousers: Think classic – wool, cotton, blends, linen. A great pair of trousers will take you many places and should last for years.
- Skirts: Mini, midi, maxi, straight, flare or flowing, cotton, silk, denim, leather or even a leopard print.
- Dresses: Always have a great basic style; think classic T-shirt dress or slip dress. Pair with a sweater, blazer, denim or leather jacket.
- Workout wear: Tops, shorts, leggings; choose appropriately for your sport.
- PJs/loungewear: From loose and comfy to silky and sexy – you do you girl!
- Shoes: Can you have too many? If they are sitting in your closet and not being worn, pass them on. Sneakers for every day, workout shoes, boots (rain, winter, fun fashion), flats, sandals and perhaps heels. Most important is comfort!
- Bags: Tote, crossbody, messengers, clutch, backpack … what suits your lifestyle?
- Everything else: Wraps, scarves, hats, gloves, sunglasses, belts. This is where you can have a lot of fun with colour and prints.
Remember, FASHION is what you are offered by designers and STYLE is what you choose – have fun and enjoy expressing yourself with clothes.
