With any field of work, there may come many questions. “How do you spend your days? Whom do you work with? How do you get paid?” These are all questions I’ve fielded. One of my most frequently asked questions – on set, with a client, my family, friends, and people I meet outside of the industry – is, “But, like, what do you actually do, do?”

After a vacation at home mostly bopping from cabin to cabin, I realized I barely wore makeup. When I went back through that time, the only days I put it on were because family photos – haunted with knowledge that those photos will probably be on loved ones walls for decades – were being taken. When it was just the boat, my loved ones, and me I didn’t bother. Interesting.

I’ve been told I think about certain things too much. I believe there’s a lot of truth to that. Let’s be clear: no one is saying that I am especially wise in my in-depth thinking, rather, it’s what certain things I spend my time thinking about that may be interesting.

All around the globe, June marks the most mega major month that we celebrate Pride. As an ally of LGBTQ persons and the community at large I feel that positive, inclusive changes have happened, thank Dumbledore, but I am acutely aware that I have so much more work to do.

I often get asked,” What’s the trend I need to get this season?” or, “What’s the one thing I should buy this year.” To which I often respond, likely somewhat disappointedly to their eager ears, “It all depends. May I ask you more questions first?”

One of the ways I try to get to know someone and their style is to ask questions. A.lot.of.questions. How people respond and what they share can be so helpful in getting some understanding. What people share personally helps to lay out the foundation. Then, together, we can build upon that and get them a personal style that they love.

When you hear the phrase, “The one that got away,” what do you think of? Long lost lovers that you parted ways with yet contemplate now and then? A pet that’s gone that you still mourn for many years later? Or even a vacation you decided to pass on because you feared going away for too long? Turns out I’m not romantic.

Have you ever heard the question, “Who do dress for?” For me it’s a no brainer; it’s me of course. Not many others choose to wear many of the items I love dearly. Some are silly. Some are un-feminine (whatever that means). Some are just questionable. That got me thinking. How many of my beloved items are glorious to me but hideous to others?

Now that it’s, dare I say it, spring, it’s time to pull out those lost relics of Canadian closets: sandals. After being cooped up in boots for the past half year, it’s time to let the toes peek out. My feet have been craving some airtime, big-time. I have quite the collection of open toe shoes ready for the season, but I wasn’t ready. More specifically, my feet weren’t ready. They needed a lot of TLC.

Cargo shorts used to be a fashion joke to me. I understood the utility. Certainly, they had a lot of pockets to hold all sorts of the wearer’s trinkets and treasures. The washed out cotton looks better with every trip to the laundry and, with all that washing, they become more comfortable. But comfort and utility alone are not enough for me. I used to think they looked horribly lazy and that the wearer was either mountain bound with their dog or given up on life. Cruel, yes. But not unfounded, I would argue. Regardless, I’ve challenged my previous judgment. I want to find a way to make them work for me.

People go to Vegas for a varity of reasons but dressing with purpose is ever present: mini dresses on bachlorette parties, suits and ties for the VIPs (or wannabee VIPs) and some of the most casual looks you will see in a city that boasts so much glitz. It is a fashion frenzy on display on the strip. Even the sweat pant contingent that woke up that day and said, “I’m in Vegas, let’s not only pack sweats, let’s wear them!” 

Through this blog I will share my interest in the stories and the insight behind the fashion. For instance, I gravitate towards stories that dig into the business of fashion: who are the key players, what moves are they making, how well (or not well) is a company executing it’s brand through its actions, what are the customers saying? I will also seek out the human-interest elements in fashion. Topics such as diversity and inclusivity on and off the runway, ethical or moral issues including manufacturing workplace conditions, choice of fabrics, behaviors in and out of the spotlight and philanthropic partnerships. And I’ll try to simplify and sometimes even myth bust. That’s my way of trying to help others navigate through the plethora of choices and have a little fun along the way.