Photo courtesy of Kym on lemien.ca

Jes Lacasse is a wardrobe consultant who knows style. She grew up absorbing Vogue, studied costume design and fashion history, and thinks about clothes all the time. Jes does personal styling and shopping for private clients and dabbles in lifestyle design. If you have questions about fashion, she wants to answer them — please e-mail her at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Your Sweet Bippy is where she blogs about style, shopping, cosmetics and self-love. She is also known to obsess over clothes on Twitter.

Happy summer, sweetnesses! We’re in the thick of it, aren’t we? I’m writing this in my bikini, sitting on the balcony, sipping ice water and enjoying the summer sun (doused in plenty of sunscreen, of course). I hope you’re enjoying yourself and keeping cool and stylish!

On to this month’s questions! Here are a couple of great ones I got this month!

Jes,

Please help me! I need some advice. I start a new job on Monday, and the dress is business casual.  I have 2 shirts that fit (1 blue, and 1 white with lavender stripes), 1 pair of black slacks (thanks Mom) and black shoes. I need to buy more things so that I’m not recycling my clothes during my first week (you know how important first impressions are). I want to exude an air of professionalism and career mindedness through my dress, in order to let my work speak for itself.

I’ve done some research on staples for business attire and they always talk suits and sport coats. My research was basically on askmen.com and YouTube videos.

What is your take on the important items?  I thought I better ask a pro!

Thanks!

Alex

Hey Alex,

This is a great question! First of all, good for you for getting that your appearance influences how your work will be taken!

Now, to the meat of the problem: you have nothing to wear to work!

Here’s what I see are the absolute basics of a men’s work wardrobe in a professional setting with a “business casual” vibe (oh, business casual, you are the bane of everyone’s existence, along with “creative black tie”!).

• Five shirts
• Two pants
• One suit
• Waistcoat, cardigan or sweater vest
• Jeans
• Bag, belt and shoes

And that’s it! It doesn’t seem like such a long and daunting list, does it? Of course, it’s not that simple. Since you are going to have so few clothes, you’re going to have to make sure that everything goes with everything else to ensure as much variety in outfits as possible.

Let’s start by talking about your palette. It sounds like the colours you tend to gravitate towards are on the cool spectrum, so I’m going to suggest that you stay in that spectrum to fill in the gaps in your wardrobe.

You already have a blue shirt, and a white one with a lavender stripe. Find three more shirts in that cool spectrum and you’re set. The colours and patterns (don’t be afraid of pattern!) of those shirts can be left up to you, but here are a few that I think could be nice with what you already have:

Pink check, indigo stripe, black & grey stripe, pewter paisley. All available at Sears, to stay on new-wardrobe budget!
On to the pants! Since you already have a black pair, I would recommend a nice grey pair of trousers. There, that was painless!

Your suit is a pretty big consideration. Since you want to mix and match as much as possible, I think a black suit with a grey pinstripe would be exactly perfect: that way you could wear the jacket with both pairs of pants, as well as with jeans.

Now, the waistcoat/cardigan/sweater vest question: this is very personal. I myself like to see a man in a waistcoat or a cardigan, but that’s not for everyone! If you feel like a sweater vest is going to be what you’re comfortable in, then go for that! Again, you’re looking to be able to wear it with everything else you’ve purchased, so make sure it’s in the correct colour range — a charcoal heather knit may be right.

Your jeans should be of a dark wash with no “weird stuff” going on — this means distressing, whiskering, embroidery, you know the drill. If you might see it on a guy wearing an Ed Hardy shirt, it’s not what you want! They should also be a straight leg.

You already have black shoes, so make sure you have a proper black belt and a decent black bag to go with it. Grafea makes this beautiful black leather briefcase that would be perfect for not just now, but for long into the future (I have it on good authority that their bags age beautifully and hold together for the long haul, so they’re worth the investment!).

And that’s it! Best of luck at your new job, Alex!

Hey Jes,

I’m looking for new shoes for fall, a pair of brown heels and a pair of flats to wear in my office. I want to spend less than $100 on the heels and less than $50 on the flats. I work in a conservative government office, but I want to be able to express myself as well. What should I look for?

Cheers,
Lu

Hey Lu,

Footwear is a great way to embrace trends, because no matter how conservative an office you work in, you can always get away with something a little more expressive in your shoes — of course, you don’t want to go overboard in a pair of Alexander McQueen Armadillos!

When it comes to your brown heels, we’re going to be seeing a lot more reptile skins in footwear this year. If you’re opposed to wearing skin, there are plenty of embossed synthetics on the market that will suit your needs. And since patent leather is also going to be trending hard this year, maybe find a pair with a high-gloss shine to them as well!

Top row: Bandolino Women’s Adiva Pump, Sergio Zelcer Women’s Wayne Pump, Martinez Valero Women’s Rosie Platform Pump

Bottom row: Ann Marino Women’s Glimpse Pump, Irregular Choice Women’s In For The Thrill Pump, AK Anne Klein Women’s Wystere Platform Pump

As for your flats (and I assume you’re going to be wearing them indoors), suede and fabric are both lovely options this fall/winter. This is a place where you can play with a lot of colour — think dark purple, emerald green, red… Whatever works best with your wardrobe!

Top row: Rocket Dog Women’s Magnum Fancy File Ballet Flat, Andres Machado Women’s Yellow Corn Suede Classical Ballerina, Funtasma By Pleaser Women’s Star-16G Flat

Middle row: Sergio Zelcer Women’s Pea Ballet Flat, Aerosoles Women’s Sbeckle Flat, Restricted Women’s Honeymoon Ballet Flat

Bottom row: Kelsi Dagger Women’s Tazetta Flat, BC Footwear Women’s Don’t Sweat Technique Flat, Miss Me Women’s Muse Flat

I certainly hope that’s helpful to you, Lu!

Well, that’s it for me this month! As always, please feel free to e-mail your fashion, beauty and style questions to me at jes.lacasse@gmail.com! Millions of kisses!

Photo couresty of roger g1 on flickr

Jes Lacasse is a wardrobe consultant who knows style. She grew up absorbing Vogue, studied costume design and fashion history, and thinks about clothes all the time. Jes does personal styling and shopping for private clients and dabbles in lifestyle design. If you have questions about fashion, she wants to answer them — please e-mail her at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Your Sweet Bippy is where she blogs about style, shopping, cosmetics and self-love. She is also known to obsess over clothes on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of Kym on lemien.ca

Hello darlings!

I hope you’ve been taking the time to enjoy the fantastic weather we’ve been having, and to take care of and love yourself as much as you can!

But you have questions, and I have answers. Here we go!

Hey Jes,

Do you ever get the urge to punch someone you notice is wearing a BumpIt? Can you explain to people how to backcomb? If the BumpIt is used correctly I respect it but many people can’t pull it off and don’t know how to backcomb.

Love,
Renée

Oh dear Renée,

In answer to the first question you asked, no, I’ve never had that urge! I understand where it might come from though!

Convenience products to make hairstyling easier are a tricky thing. Unless they’re used with extreme attention to detail, they can look rather tragic. Unfortunately, sometimes people use products (witness the BumpIt and the Topsy Tail) in a slap-dash effort to pull themselves together without bothering to check the rear view!

The best advice I can offer in terms of the BumpIt are as follows: backcomb, backcomb, backcomb. Then smooth, smooth, smooth. That’s going to be the trick to making the BumpIt invisible to an onlooker.

And if you don’t have the time/couldn’t be arsed to do so, just let your beautiful hair hang naturally, lovely girl! Use lots of hairspray, and check your rearview.

Your natural hair is probably less work!

Dear Jes,

Can you please explain something to me? Why does sunscreen expire? It’s so frustrating to pull out an half-used bottle from last summer and find I have to throw it away!

Jaime

Well my sweet, the short answer is that the ingredients expire! The chemicals which make it sunscreen-y (yes, that is a word) like zinc and titanium dioxide generally have a shelf-life of about three years. However, if before that time your sunscreen becomes lumpy, discoloured or smells funny, dump it!

Also, be careful of what sunscreens you buy, as some are more effective than others. I wrote about sunscreen yesterday on the blog!

@JesLacasse,

What the heck do I pack for a June trip in Canada? The weather changes so much! (Ottawa -> Regina -> Vancouver)

Teresa (via Twitter)

Well Teresa, it all depends on how long your trip is!

Honestly, you are very lucky to be going at a time of year that everything across the country is pretty temperate. Count on it being a few degrees cooler in Regina than in Ottawa, and maybe a couple of degrees cooler again in Vancouver (with a bit more dampness). But for the most part, you can pack however many outfits you think you might need, throw in a light jacket, waterproof footwear and a travel umbrella and you should be set!

Well kittens, I would love to answer your questions all night, but there seems to be a glass of wine and a patio calling my name! Please e-mail me your fashion and style questions at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Millions of kisses!

Photo courtesy of tavopp on flickr

Jes Lacasse is a wardrobe consultant who knows style. She grew up absorbing Vogue, studied costume design and fashion history, and thinks about clothes all the time. Jes does personal styling and shopping for private clients and is taking on the challenge of magazine editorial work. If you have questions about fashion, she wants to answer them — please e-mail her at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Your Sweet Bippy is where she blogs about style, shopping, cosmetics and self-love. She is also known to obsess over clothes on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of Kym on lemien.ca

Hello lovelies!

After a month off to experience Ottawa Fashion Week, I’m back to answer your pressing questions about fashion, style and beauty. In the time I was away, I did answer a question from Apartment613’s own dirty laundress Nadine Thornhill on the blog, addressing dressing your age.

However, the questions from you darling readers keep on coming in, and I want to answer them. Here we go!

Jes!!

This is my last year of high school, and I am struggling with what to wear to the prom. I’m not really super-feminine, but I’m not really a tomboy either. I basically wear jeans and t-shirts most of the time, because I’m really busy with school and work and drama. I’d like to wear something special for my prom, but not something that doesn’t feel like me. Any thoughts?

- Jeanette

Hi Jeanette,

Wow! What an exciting time for you! I fondly remember my prom dress, oh-so-many years ago… My mom and I made a red wool crepe halter-neck dress and I was in complete love with it… If it still fit me I would absolutely wear it again!

I think one of the keys to your question is that you still want to feel like yourself in your prom dress – you want to be comfortable but stylish, and not have to fuss too much with yourself all night!

To that end, I think a simple dress in a stunning fabric might be your best bet! Think of sumptuous crepes, heavy silks, or a lovely satin. A simple sheath dress in any of those fabrics (set off with sparkling jewelry and killer heels if you’re up for them) would look lovely and keep you comfortable and feeling like you with extra polish!

Hi Jes,

I’m a petite girl (5 foot 2, 130 lbs) I have an athletic build and I never feel the newest trends look right on me.

What should I be on the look-out for this spring?

I would love to hear from you!

- Lindsay

Hi Lindsay!

Thanks for writing! I know that having a body type considered non-standard by the fashion industry can be frustrating when it comes to choosing clothing, but just remember the first and most important rule when it comes to fitting your clothing properly: your tailor is your best friend!

When choosing clothing for a new season, and with the tailor in mind, you have to make sure that the piece of clothing you’re choosing fits at the largest part of you, and everything else can be tailored down to fit. Not every piece of clothing lends itself well to being tailored (items with complicated detailing, clothing with a lot of flow), however most items should be fine!

As for what to look for trend-wise this summer, it really matters more what your personal style is! Fashion is very exciting right now, with there being something for everyone when it comes to trends. Anything from 1970s bohemian inspired style, to biker/punk chic, to continued Mad Men inspiration can be found in malls and boutiques everywhere. Pick and choose the things that feel right for you, because shouldn’t getting dressed be about pleasing yourself first?

Hey Fashionista,

I’ve started to slowly build my work wardrobe with good dress shirts, nice suits and great ties, but I’m stumped on one thing – how do you know when to wear black shoes or brown?

- Bain

It’s great that you’re expanding your professional wardrobe! Good for you for thinking about how you present yourself at work!

The black or brown shoes question is actually deceptively simple. If you look at a colour wheel, you’ll notice that half of the wheel looks “warm” and the other half looks “cool”. By those words, we mean that anything that has orange/red/yellow undertones is warm (think about crackling fires and autumn), and anything with blue/purple undertones is cool (think about lake water on a sparkling bright day).

Generally speaking, for ease of use, you’re going to want to pair black shoes with cool tones and brown shoes with warm tones. So if you’re wearing chocolate brown pants, a cream shirt and an orange tie, pair it with brown. Grey pants, a blue shirt and a purple tie? Pull out those black shoes!

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, so most importantly trust your own eyes! If something doesn’t look right, it might not be! For some more in-depth looks at how colours work together, I wrote about colour theory for non-artists here to help you out.

And with that, it’s time for me to switch over to my spring and summer wardrobe! Please e-mail me your fashion and style questions at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Millions of kisses!

Photo courtesy of Kym on lemien.ca

Jes Lacasse is a wardrobe consultant who knows style. She grew up absorbing Vogue, studied costume design and fashion history, and thinks about clothes all the time. Jes does personal styling and shopping for private clients and is taking on the challenge of magazine editorial work. If you have questions about fashion, she wants to answer them — please e-mail her at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Your Sweet Bippy is where she blogs about clothing, shopping, fashion and cosmetics. She is also known to obsess over clothes on Twitter.

One of the cool things about my job is that not only do I get to help people when it comes to their clothing, but I also get asked a lot of questions about grooming. I’ve been reading fashion and beauty magazines for as long as I can remember, and have worked as a professional makeup artist. I love lotions and potions and products, and I love to share what I know with other people!

A little disclaimer: I am not a professional aesthetician by any stretch of the imagination. While I try my best to give the best possible advice, what I say may not be for everyone. Please use the same cautions as you would with any other information on the internet.

Dear Fashionista,

I take my time to do my hair in the morning, but it’s cold out right now so I need to put a hat on when I go out, thereby ruining all my hard work. What can I do?

Signed,

Head cold or hat hair

Hi! Thank you so much for your question!

Oh, winter. Isn’t it horrible? Ruining hair for all of us ladies (and men!) who put a little effort in looking good in the mornings!

You could just not care, accept the hat hair and laugh about it and move on (nope, that’s not my path either), or you could fight! (Yup, sounds about right to me!)

But fear not! There are many things you can do to make sure that your hat hair doesn’t get out of control!

The first thing you should make sure of is to be careful when selecting your hat. Choose a hat that isn’t too heavy or tight on your head. This will help prevent those creases in your hair.

The most important thing you can do before you even get your hat near your head is to make sure that your hair is thoroughly dry (using moisturizing products). If your hair is the slightest bit damp, it will dry beneath the hat and take on the shape of it, as the heat from your head effectively seals your style in whatever shape it is underneath the hat.

With that in mind, keep the shape of your hat in mind while styling your hair. If you can pick a style that’s going to look good locked in by your hat, more power to you! Also, do try to create volume in your hairstyle so as to avoid your hair being completely plastered to your head when you take your hat off.

Bonus for long-haired people: twist your hair up and hold it with a clip or tie it into a loose ponytail at the nape of the neck, then shake it out once you’ve taken the hat off.

If part of the problem with your hat hair is that you get all full of static electricity, you can try rubbing the inside of your hat with a dryer sheet or a wire hanger (a weird tip but it works!), or spritzing in a little Static Guard (which you can buy at the grocery store in the laundry aisle) or a sprinkle of a dry shampoo. You can also try spraying your hair (lightly, please) with a little bit of frizz-controlling hairspray, although in my personal experience I’ve found this to only weigh down my hair. Never brush your hair to get rid of static, that’s just going to make it worse! (I’m not going to get into the science of how static electricity works, I’m sure you can Google it…)

Hey Jes,

I really need to find a decent aesthetician who does great brows. I don’t mind if it’s waxing or threading. Hey, maybe a reference to each!

I just find most place do a quick wax/pluck and the hair grows back really quick and the arching isn’t so…er, stellar. In fact, my last experience almost reduced my left brow to a straight line. I don’t want look like Bert from Sesame Street!

Fearful of Unibrow

Unibrow is so scary! Unfortunately, it is sometimes very hard to find a good waxer, and a lot of the time what is right for one person might not be right for another.

I can basically recommend the two best places I’ve had success with when it comes to having waxing done (and I’ve been a lot of places and have a lot of horror stories).

The first place I can recommend is Il Paradiso Spa and Tanning. They have two locations, one at Lincoln Fields (2525 Carling Ave.), and one at 2277 Riverside Dr. I’ve only been to their Riverside location, but it was inexpensive, fast and efficient. The atmosphere wasn’t the most charming, but they got the job done and they didn’t leave me bleeding.

Secondly, Bossarts Salon and Spa at 161 Laurier Ave. W. are an excellent choice for waxing. Every time I’ve been there I’ve been so impressed with the service, the atmosphere, and the quality of the waxing. I’ve been left with very sparse regrowth, which took a long time to even start.

Always remember when going to have your brows done to give yourself a few hours before you have to do anything to allow for any redness or swelling to go down!

Jes!

I’ve finally taken up the challenge of growing a proper beard. At first things were going along smashingly, but now it’s getting unruly, and trimming with tiny scissors is giving me a headache. Is there an easier way? What are the requirements for maintaining a decent beard?

JRD

I love beards. Unabashedly so. I have been known to stop and stare at men with particularly good beards. And to me at least, a good beard is a neat beard.

I probably don’t need to tell you that I don’t have a beard. But I did do a whole mess of research for you on the best ways to take care of and trim your beard, so you don’t have to!

Before you get ready to trim your beard, it’s a good idea to give it a good wash. There are beard shampoos on the market, but I don’t think that they’d be necessary, as detergent is detergent. Be sure to allow your beard to dry completely before you try to trim it! Wet hair appears to shrink as it dries, and if you trim your beard when it’s wet you might take altogether too much off!

Once your beard is dry, you need to make sure you have the right tools on hand. Little tiny manicure scissors just aren’t going to cut it! (Ohhhhh, yeah, she totally went there with that joke!)

The best scissors you can use are barber’s scissors. They are very sharp and a high degree of precision can be reached with them. Use a comb, go slowly, and be patient!

If you don’t like using the scissors, but you do enjoy using the comb, you can try using a comb with a beard trimmer. This can go a bit faster than just a pair of scissors. As an added bonus you can use the trimmer to shave your neckline to maintain a well-defined beard.

As always, go slowly and you’ll end up with a lovely, well-shaped beard!

On that note, I’m off for a facial! Next month we’ll be discussing vacation wardrobes–please e-mail me your questions on packing your best looks, how to pack a suitcase, whatever! You can reach me at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Millions of kisses!

Photo courtesy of Kym on lemien.ca

Jes Lacasse is a wardrobe consultant who knows style. She grew up absorbing Vogue, studied costume design and fashion history, and thinks about clothes all the time. Jes does personal styling and shopping for private clients and is taking on the challenge of magazine editorial work. If you have questions about fashion, she wants to answer them — please e-mail her at jes.lacasse@gmail.com. Your Sweet Bippy is where she blogs about clothing, shopping, fashion and cosmetics. She is also known to obsess over clothes on Twitter.

Hi Jes,

I really adore my wedding ring, but I’m having a hard time wearing other accessories with it and need help. The ring is white gold, rather large (not ostentatious, just large profile due to the shape, not the stones) and mostly amethyst. Because of how blingtastic I find it to be, I can’t figure out how to wear my beloved costume jewelry rings or large bracelets (especially on the left wrist) without looking like I just stepped out of some crazy whackadoo lady’s closet. What sort of beginner’s rules could I apply to this to help me ease into wearing more of my bolder pieces again now that I’ve got a perma-accessory?

Katie

This is a great question, Katie! With more people gravitating towards non-traditional weddings rings (stones other than diamonds, often with larger and more avant-garde settings), this is something that I’m sure many people have a problem figuring out!

I suggest when you are just trying to figure this out that you keep the larger pieces away from your left hand as much as possible. I recommend to my clients that they keep to one real statement piece of jewelry, but because your wedding ring is an everyday piece, it shouldn’t have to count!

Try wearing big earrings, then graduating to a large necklace. Once you feel you can carry both of those off with aplomb, then move on to bracelets and rings.

Because your ring is so flash, I would say that when it comes to rings and bracelets that your are best off limiting them to your right hand and wrist. You want to avoid that whackadoo lady’s closet look!

I hope that this advice is helpful, and congratulations on your recent nuptuals!

Dear Jes,

How do you accessorize with belts? see girls with belts (skinny and fat ones) over their sweaters and their blouses, but I’ve never paired a belt in this way, and I don’t know how! My only experience with belts is to keep my pants from falling.

Cindy

Thanks Cindy!

The whole “belt-over-top” thing is terrifying to a lot of people, so don’t worry, you are in good company (and I include myself in that company, or did until recently!).

The thing with being comfortable with belts as an accessory is to be comfortable experimenting. Maybe pick up an inexpensive belt to start playing with (more on that in a minute), pull out a bunch of your longer (plain) tops and a full-length mirror, and just start playing! Take your cues from the way things are styled on mannequins or in catalogue photos. Try your belt on and look with a critical eye. Place the belt higher on your torso than you would if you were using it to hold up your pants. You want your belt to hit at the narrowest part of your frame, the natural waist.

When you’re looking for a belt to wear over things, you’re going to look for different things than you would normally look for in a belt for your pants. You can look for more exciting colours, interesting fabrics and skins, fancy buckles. Scale is important—slender belts are best on smaller frames, and the larger the frame the larger the belt can be (lucky me!). Additionally, because you are going to be wearing the belt at a narrower part of your body, you’ll be buying one that is smaller than ones you would wear with low-slung jeans, which generally are closer to hip measurements. This may give you a chance to play with teeny tiny vintage belts that may not fit at the hips.

As I mentioned, use a critical eye. While this look may be good for many women, there are exceptions to every rule. As with any trend, if it doesn’t look right on you, don’t wear it. You want to look your best, and if one trend passes you by, then the next might be perfect for you!

Photo courtesy of Mod Cloth

Hi Jes,

I’d love to be long and leggy like many of the high fashion models, but alas I am only 5’2″. I think these shoes (pictured to the left and below) are adorable, but my instincts are telling me they might be better suited to someone taller. What do you think?

Thanks!

Natalie

Hi Natalie!

First of all, 5’2” is an awesome height to be! Next time you tell someone your height, don’t say you’re only 5’2”, but that you’re 5’2” of amazing!

Now, onto your shoe question. I would be concerned about either pair of those shoes for most women. First up, the brown pair. I

Photo couresty of Mod Cloth

feel like they would maybe look alright with pants over them, but even then, with that textured top that might look weird. Because the top of the boot is cut so straight across, I feel like it would hit the ankle at a really unflattering spot on the leg, regardless of the woman. And of course, we all want our legs to look longer, not shorter!

As for the second pair, they are also really interesting—but I don’t know if they’d be the best for someone who isn’t all leg. Because they are open on the foot, that may be somewhat more elongating than the first pair, but I think that’s a pretty big risk. I keep going back to the picture and squinting my eyes at them. I feel like you’d want to see them on before you make any sort of decision about purchasing them.

I say if you can safely return them with no hassles, you should pick up the second pair, bring them home, and try them with a bunch of things to see if they work for your body and your wardrobe. And if not, back they go!

I now need to get to organizing my closet for 2011. Happy New Year, friends! Next month I’ll be answering your non-fashion grooming questions. I’m a bit of a product junkie so I’m happy to share what I know! Please send me your beauty-related questions at jes.lacasse@gmail.com.