September is fashion frenzy. Every year I get to savour fashion weeks and film festivals in equal measure. I’ve already shared my thoughts on New York Fashion Week so it’s time for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). As I leafed through the coverage, I was drawn to one topic. Have you heard about #AskHerMore?

It’s that time again. It’s New York Fashion Week. While the streets are flooded with the usual fashion community, a newer movement, too, is hitting the streets. Designers, models, stylists and supporters flooded Times Square for the #PlusIsEqual Lane Bryant event. The campaign is calling for support in representation of all sizes of women in fashion. Excuse the forthcoming location pun, but I think it’s much overdue in terms of time.

For most of us, the face we are born with is the face we have for life. I was born with a serious face. What does a serious face look like? Well my version of it manifests like so: strong brow bones with angular brows; sharp, defined nose and jaw line; and maybe the most influential feature, my down-turned slim lipped mouth. Likely if I had any one of these features one its own it may not have such a severe effect. But I do. More simply put, I am in possession of a resting bitch face (RBF).

I look forward to the MTV VMAs every year as it wraps up the summer and gives us a reason to clean our pallets for the fall. The show is a bit of a free-for-all. It can get messy. It’s so entertaining.  Plus, from a style-watch perspective, no real spoilers here, people tend to dress like assholes. At the VMAs, celebrities dress to be seen, or if they do not, they learn on the tabloids come Monday, that they don’t exist. 

Have you ever heard the expression, “I dress for function, not for fashion?” This often comes out of the mouth of folks who wear a uniform for their profession. Be it health care, athletes or tradespeople, function is paramount. It also comes out of mouths of people who just don’t give a damn. Have you ever thought about function in fashion for dancers?

Despite the latest economic crunch, Calgary is putting their money where we all can see it. Not just their homes, cars or engagement rings. No, it's on their shoulders, on their backs and perched in the crooks of their arms. Logoed bags, wallets and luggage are taking over.

August has felt like a “last chance” month for me for many years and 2015 is no different. With just over three weeks left of summer before Labour Day ruins our sunny fun, it’s now or never. I work best with a deadline that empowers me to make the most of the self-imposed pressure. Get after it. Why not tackle a list of summer sartorial to do’s that will balance frivolity with a sense of accomplishment? 

In recent tabloids and blogs I am seeing a theme surfacing but not addressed head on. It seems to be on hot rotation, baiting relentlessly on headlines but no one is really sinking into the meat of it. With our societal obsession with the vanity of celebrities and their lives we have become not only enthusiastic about following their day to day, we are vocal. As we fill the comment forums we can’t seem to make up our minds about the standards of beauty.

While many Calgarians were at Folk Fest this past weekend I was at the Pennywise and Danzig concert at MacEwan Hall. I could talk about Folk Fest but to save everyone time, I won’t. It’s basically Coachella-Lite from a style perspective. Rather, I’d like to focus on what the punk and metal community wear; it’s back to black.

I have realized I tend to comment from the female perspective. Sorry fellas, I do not mean to leave you out I simply write what I know best. I want to remedy this by shedding some bright light on a fantastic contributor to the world of fashion. Ladies and gentlemen, please get to know the incomparable Tommy Ton.

The couture collection presentations are in full swing and with couture comes luxury. The luxury brands, buyers, parties and, of course, fabrics were on opulent display. Silk, velvet, feathers, wool, and fur, to name a few such beautiful, textured fabrics. You know what those all have in common? They come from an animal. Za Za Zoo. Reviewing the couture presentations I started to think about how some people get very vocal about the animal products used in the collections.

Another Stampede is upon this great city and among the country bumpkin’ décor, I’ve noticed something. There’s a presence missing in the downtown-working crowd. I’m ready to put out a red-hallelujah-alert. As the parade came through our fine streets last Friday I asked myself: where have all the khaki’s gone? Sweet justice! The offenders have left the city.