Second-hand shopping is a lot like discount department store shopping. They both have a bunch of items continuously rolling in and out, so you never know what will be in the store that day. It’s a treasure hunt! You need to dive in: rack by rack and, sometimes, item by item to be sure you’ve seen it all...  It’s hell for some. A delight for me.

John Galliano has been hired as the creative director of Maison Martin Margiela. How can this be? Does the fashion world have the memory of gold fish? It was just three years ago when he was ejected from Christian Dior for his caught-on-camera anti-Semitic statements while in a bar in Paris. Since then he has been convicted and fined for his crime. But come the new year at the couture Paris fashion week, there he’ll be, at the helm of all of Maison’s lines. 

This past week Karl Lagerfeld and the team at Chanel created a scene for the Spring Summer 2015 presentation at Paris Fashion Week. The collection was presented on “Boulevard Chanel” – an indoor constructed Parisian street scape. While the collection was fantastic, totally wearable and uber desirable, I was drawn more to the spectacle of it all. 

While in transit is an opportunity to be stylish. Often, I express this through a high, stiletto-heeled shoe. I am happy to clippty-clap my way to and from work taking the city bus. I am pleased to throw on a pair of sky high heels and take in a sports game. Oh, those enthusiastic cheers and hoots aren’t for my shoes? They are for the game? Weird. Further, I like to shop stylishly and often wear the harmonizing shoes. However, I feel as though the varied ground walkable to Calgarians is a death trap for beautiful shoes.

The next trip I have on the radar is a week trip joining friends on their sailboat off the coast of Costa Rica. All things considered, this should be a great time to try to pack very lean. With no specific events or formal dinners to attend, I considered what I would NEED need. Once there, a couple of day dresses, a few button-down shirts, swimsuits and some shorts? Accessories should be covered with a hat, sunglasses, sandals and slip-on shoes. Throw in a few bangles, funky earrings and a couple necklaces and I’m set, right? Tell that to my escalating heart rate. 

September brings many things. Fashion weeks, back to school shopping, and watching football are just some of the activities that come to mind. The CFL is well underway and NFL is now, too, in the groove. This past weekend I was at a Calgary Stampeders game. While enjoying popcorn - I mean the game - I took a hard look around. There are so many people wearing team gear my mind started churning. 

Last week I advised what I would be watching for at this September’s Ready-to-Wear New York Fashion Week (NYFW). I must say, after reviewing over 100 presentations I am underwhelmed. In the pursuit of newness, I admittedly may misinterpret solid showings for, “been there, done that” lacklustre.

Instead of getting the end of summer blues, I will focus my attention to the next great thing: September’s New York Fashion Week (NYFW). In anticipation of the next eight days, I thought I would share what I’ll be watching for. Of course I will be awaiting each collection’s sartorial vision for the upcoming season – that’s a given – but I’ll also be watching for other details. I want to see the choices brands make behind the collections

With the last days of summer upon us it’s time for the annual MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). Award shows are not only a celebration of the year’s best artists and their achievements, but they are also an opportunity to talk about what so-and-so wore. I will say that the VMAs are not so much about the best dressed. Rather, I suggest that it’s more about who is the most memorable. 

Some girls dream of their wedding day while others plan their future home. Since I was a little girl, I dreamt of visiting, and shopping in, Manhattan. Finally there, I was not going to waste much time. In my less than 72-hour visit, I had dedicated the better part of a day to my favourite past time of shopping. Being the independent spirit I am, and wanting to explore the city for myself, I mapped out a rough itinerary for my big day.

Tight, bright and exposed skin was the M.O. The usual “no shoes, no shirt, no service” certainly did not apply. Faux fur space-esk boots and fanny packs were aplenty. Purposely weird and tacky outfits, along with the adorner’s body, are celebrated, not judged here. I came to realize that music festivals seem to come with unspoken dress codes. Some call it festival fashion while others take a firmer side calling it just costumes. Regardless of where you are on that spectrum it’s interesting to take a closer look.

Being the somewhat rational person I am I thought to myself,  “Just how big of a deal is she?” I took a look at some of the numbers available and here is what I found. The DailyMail.co.uk (take the source with a grain of salt please) notes 40 walking appearances in various shows this past season. Her net worth is reported at $1 million as of March 2014. It is also worth mentioning that Cara has a namesake Mulberry Collection with the fashion brand. A gal with her own designer bag? That means something.