LEÇON 4: what to pack

I always have the same problem whenever I travel: I pack too much and don't wear half the stuff I bring. On my currect vacation, I am away for a month, so intelligent decisions needed to be made. I packed weeks in advance to make sure I packed what I needed, no impulses. Some voyaging rules...

1. Pack clothes that can be layered. Simple dresses are the easiest things to layer - shirts overtop, sweaters overtop, tights underneath, skirts underneath, even other dresses overtop... You can mix a simple dress with so many other clothes that no one will know you're actually wearing the same thing over and over again...

2. Pack clothes in basic colours. Blacks, beiges, navys, olives... Even basic patterns like skinny stripes... If you lay your clothes out on the floor before you pack them, and there is a general colour palette goin on, then you won't have a problem creating many outfits or layering your items.

3. Pack at least four pairs of shoes. Seriously. Casual sandals (like beach sandals that can get wet or mucky), fancy sandals (that could be worn out to dinner if need be, and if you don't feel like wearing heels), heels (because there will def be a time when you'll want to be dolled up), and some sort of loafer/covers-your-whole-foot shoe (because if it rains, sandals don't cut it).

4. Pack nice clothes. Don't opt for "comfy" clothes just because you are traveling. To me, a loosely-fit cotton dress is just as comfy as sweatpants, yet looks a million times better. The trip I'm currently on, I packed my nicest things, so I have no choice but to look good and put together.

5. Pack beforehand, then eliminate items you might not wear. Then go through your stuff again a few days later, and eliminate some more. If you're like me, you'll probs shop a lot wherever you are, and you'll be thankful to have a half-full suitcase going there and a full-to-the-brim suitcase coming back.

Black slip: Club Monaco. The easiest thing to layer, ever

Dress: Wilfred. As comfy as pyjamas

Shirt: Tommy Hilfiger. A fancy top, dress up or dress down

Shirt: TNA. Basic stripes, easy to throw over

Blazer: Talula. A light jacket easy to layer as well

I cheated a brought six pairs. Matiko studded loafers, Ralph Lauren heels, Puma runners,

Camper sandals, Banana Republic sandals, Old Navy sandals

Other essentials: Mac eyeshadows, Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer sunscreen, John Frieda Frizz-Ease smoothing hair cream, Ray Ban clubmasters, and lots of jewelry

Mac colours: purples, pinks, creams and golds. Looks perfect with a tan

LEÇON 3: sweats done right

I think the key to pulling off any sort of "sweats" is getting ones that fit you properly. Gone are the days of tight elastic-ankled sweatpants or baggy sweatshirts. If you're going to wear sweats, you'll be making a statement whether you like it or not, because they will either say I'm lazy or they'll say I'll wear sweats if I want to and still look damn good. How to look the latter? Buy something plain and fitted. No bagginess, no logos, no weird linings. Plain goes with everything, and fitted always looks good. Here my black hoodie is paired with a short skirt, dressy black flats, and lots of jewelry. Or you could pair fitted sweatpants with heels, if you dare. Just because you're wearing sweats does not mean you should dress down.

Skirt: Talula, Hoodie: American Apparel, Shoes: Calvin Klein, Bracelets: handmade, Necklace: American Eagle

LEÇON 2: the big sweater

I like easy outfits, ones that don't take a lot of brain power to decide. The big sweater might just be your best friend this summer if you want some no-fuss ensembles. It's got a cabin-fever/camping-throwover kinda feel going on, but could easily be tossed over a swimsuit after a day at the beach for an outfit all its own. Voici three different looks with the big sweater: paired with shorts for a simple look, layered over a maxi dress with boots for a cozy evening around the campfire, and by itself with red heels for a night out.

Sweater: French Connection, Shorts: TNA, Snakeskin Purse: Coach, Maxi Dress: Wilfred, Boots: Old Navy,

Red Heels: Aldo, Shoulder Tote: Kate Spade

LEÇON 1: how to support your team without always wearing a jersey

Canucks are in the playoffs, there is a game every other night, but I just can't bring myself to wear a jersey each time we play. I think it goes against my fashion rule to not wear the same thing every day (sorry Vancouver..). But, if you're like me - a true fan at heart and never a bandwagoner - then you have to have another option to show your support other than donning a team uniform.

Fortunate are we to have blue and green as our colors (imagine having black and orange for Philly, or teal for San Jose?). They totally work together, in whatever shades you find. In fact, it's better to mix your shades, monochromatic outfits are sooo in right now. Not a fan of face painting? Mac's eye shadow in Freshwater is the perfect shade of electric blue to accent your look.

Jean Jacket: Gap, Blue Top: American Eagle, Olive Skirt: Talula, Blue Shoes: Camper

 Add a few bits of tasteful Canucks paraphernalia, like Johnny Canuck and Linden's #16..

After the game tonight, a few guys decided to chirp me on the corner. "Nice blue shoes gurl," "No man, they're magenta," "Nice magenta shoes gurl. Where you goin magenta shoes?" "Looks like magenta shoes is ignoring us boys. Now magenta shoes is walkin away boys."

Leçon pour des garçons: get your colours right if you're gonna yap at me!