What to wear to a vineyard wedding? Anne Waters has your style tips!

By Anne Waters

A wedding is exciting—so much love and care packed into a day filled with family and friends.  The day is normally a series of events, from the ceremony, to cocktails, to the reception.  One should be dressed for the occasion.

One of the newest trends in weddings is to hold them at a vineyard or winery, and in Essex County, there is no shortage of options for couples wanting a more rustic outdoor event.  Vineyard weddings may be outdoors, but this does not make them casual.  In fact, they can be very sophisticated affairs, even more formal than a garden party.  You may not need to wear a floor-length gown, but you are going to need a dress that is elegant and charming for the event.  Furthermore, you will need to consider your comfort level over a longer period given that you will probably attend both the ceremony and the reception at one venue.

It is a great time to inject romance into your style with lace or sheer netting, which are both a part of this year’s summer collection.  J/S Collections uses embellished sheer netting over a satin sheath to create an elegant and sophisticated look.  Its dresses with matching boleros are also a favorite, allowing covered shoulders for the ceremony and warmth on a cool summer day.  The bolero is also great for women who do not like to show their upper arms.  Both dresses, shown with jacket, have empire waists, which are a great way to hide a thicker mid-section.

Frank Lyman and Joseph Ribkoff always offer a host of dresses for consideration for your party.  A little black dress is suitable for any occasion.  This one by Frank Lyman will easily take you from a late afternoon ceremony into a late evening party.

A trip out in the  country is a great time to show off bold and bright jewel-toned dresses.  I love this off-the-shoulder pink dress by Joseph Ribkoff.  It has a three-quarter-length sleeve to hide the upper arms while highlighting the décolletage and neckline.  It is both sophisticated and bold.

For those of you who are daring, this is a great occasion to add a hat to your ensemble.  Keep the sun out of your eyes during an outdoor ceremony—and it is just darn chic.  Here are a few hats we have in the store to complement any outfit you might have.

Whatever you decide, don’t forget to wear a great pair of dancing shoes and pack a matching pashmina to avoid being chilly from the air conditioning or cool weather.

Remember, your best style is confidence.

How To Be Fashionable This Victoria Day Weekend From Anne's on the Avenue.

By Anne Waters

The Victoria Day long weekend is a holiday that we all love.  It marks the transition from spring to summer and, more importantly, we begin to wear our white pants and shoes!

So what should you wear this weekend?  Here are some tips from me and from our fashion boutique stylist at Anne’s on the Avenue.

To the ballpark (or soccer field): If you are parents of children or teens, it wouldn’t be unusual for you to be hitting the ballpark this weekend.  Further, it could be a date for you because the Detroit Tigers are playing at home this weekend.  There is no reason not to look stylish at any of these events.  Spanner has some great looks that are athletic and feminine and can easily be worn to the park, day or night, to give you an alluring and sportive look.

To the concert hall:  Whether attending Casino Windsor or the DTE, music is all around us this holiday weekend.  This is a great way to show off your handsome charm in rock star–inspired Rock ’N Karma outfits.  They are easy to wear, and the miracle-fit fabric is flattering on all silhouettes. Also, spontaneous mosaics and prints are always fitting for a concert hall. My picks are as follows:

To dinner: Windsor is known for its great Italian restaurants: from Vito’s to Toscana to Mezzo’s—you will not be disappointed.  They are also hot spots for the Windsor social scene, places to be seen and to see. You will want to bring your sophisticated elegance to any of these dining establishments.  Frank Lyman and Joseph Ribkoff are perfect for the occasion. There are so many looks to choose from, it was difficult for me to narrow them down to these few. Be sure to check our website for more dresses and pantsuits.

To antique shopping:  It is a great time to hunt for bargains at your favourite antique spots.  For these jaunts, I would recommend these skinny jeans by Yoga Jeans and styles by Spanner.  Skinny jeans, for me, have a real vintage feel to them.  When you pair them with a great fitted jacket by Spanner like this white zip jacket shown below, they are the perfect yang for the jeans (jeans = yin.)

Whatever you do this weekend, we hope it is safe and wonderful.  Our fashion boutique, whether online or in-store, offers a collection of garments that is elegant and sophisticated, bold and avant-garde to suit any woman’s style. Remember: your best style is confidence.

How Skinny Women Can Dress To Look Curvy!

By Anne Waters

If you are a skinny woman, you are lucky in many ways, as most other women would be jealous of your figure. Fashion designers design for your body type so your fashion choices are unlimited. However, you may not feel blessed, because you may want more feminine curves than you do. Luckily, you can dress cleverly to make your figure more curvaceous if you want to.

Waist

Perhaps, like most skinny women, your waist is long and is not that much smaller than your bust and hips. To create the illusion that there is a bigger difference between your waist, bust and hips you need to make your hips, bust and possibly shoulders appear wider. However, you can also point out your waist visibly and help it look smaller by wearing a wide belt in a dark colour.

To make your waist seem smaller in comparison to your hips further, wear skirts, dresses and pants with that have a mid-rise waist.  Avoid high or low-rise jeans and pants, and opt for those that have a medium or regular waist height.

Hips

To create more width at your hips wear empire-line dresses, baby-doll dresses that flare, and skirts and dresses with width and detail on the hip area. Skirts and dresses with hemlines that end at your knees and kick out will also be flattering. If wearing a pencil skirts or shift dresses, you can belt the waist or wear a jacket that flares at the hips.

You can also wear tunics that flare at the hip and cinch at the waist if you don't want to give up your tights or skinny jeans.

Tops

To make your bust appear larger, and thus create the illusion of curves, wear tops with feminine details at bust level. Frills, lace, embroidery and other embellishments will help. Also, you can add a great statement necklace which will create the same look as frills and lace.  

You will want to avoid deep V or scoop necks for that will draw attention to your smaller bust line.

One-shoulder blouses and tops are great to drawing attention away from the bust line and to your shoulders and neck.

Prints and Colour

Don't forget to play with prints and colour.  They are a great ally in creating illusions you need to be more curvaceous.  And being thin, you have a number of options!  Here are a couple of my picks:

Being skinny need not mean that you have to have a boyish figure. By dressing cleverly, you can easily make your waist appear smaller and so create the illusion of curves.

Remember your best style is confidence. Don't forget, our fashion boutique is online and we ship our fashions anywhere in the world. Just out website at www.annesontheavenue.com. 

Need a little motivation to clean out your closet? Take a Look at Spanner Fashions That Are On Their Way!

Well, our last few blogs have been focused on cleaning out your closet and hopefully you're  donating your gently used professional clothing to W.E.S.T. So today, we thought we would try to give you a little motivation on why you need to make room in your closet if haven't already!

As many of you are aware, we carry Spanner fashions. We are the largest seller of Spanner fashions in South Western Ontario, which means we know how much you love their clothing. Well, we haven’t gotten all of their Spring and Summer fashions in yet, but they are coming.

So here is a look at what is to come from their collection with a brief description of each of the lines.

GLOW

“Active refinement - the evolution of energetic fabrics into wearable, sporty silhouettes. A sophisticated combination of turquoise and yellow, contrasted with clear white and grey creates an impact for the season.” This collection also uses reflective tape for styling. It is very sporty look for your casual summer days.

 LAGOON

“Lush ,vibrant  hues borrowed from nature reflect a colourful spectrum of saturated botanical greens and sea blues- the cool palette is warmed by a touch of sand.” You are going to want to be near a lagoon when you wear this collection. The colours are so soft and vibrant that it creates an aura of calmness.

 MALIBU

“Sun bleached dunes and a perfect blue sky are the elements that evoke the casual vibe of this easy, relaxed collection.” This collection will remind you of those summer days when you hung out at the beach! You will love how effortless this collection is to wear.

 CANDY FLOSS

“Gauzy voiles and casual garment washed poplins are the perfect alternative for a hot summer day. Carefree splashes of candy colours in mix and match florals create a lighthearted feel.” With Windsor’s hot summer days; this line is going to sell quickly. The collection is very feminine and its’ mix and match pieces can take you from the office to easy weekend days. You will love this line.

 ALLURE

 “Fluid simplicity - soft, feminine layers evoke a draped romanticism that mixes warm, tinted neutrals with soft cream and blush.” As Spanner’s description states this is a very romantic collection. It is for those days and nights when you are feeling amorous about life.

 BLACK WHITE

“The simplicity of black and white combines modern geometrics with graphic abstract stripes for maximum impact.” Who doesn’t like Black and White? It is a classic combination of colours. This grouping has a little bit of a rebel feel to it.  You are going want a piece or two from this collection.

So be sure to follow our Facebook or Twitter channels to know when these collections arrive in the store.  We will post as soon as they are available in-store and online.

Remember your best style is confidence.   And don't forget to drop off your gently used professional clothing to help W.E.S.T. in their annual get ‘Ready For Work’ clothing drive.

Organize, Preserve, Store and Renew!

By Anne Waters

It is official.  We finally are getting Spring's weather which means it is time to organize, preserve and store all of your winter fashions.  Here are a few my tips to get you started:

1. Take inventory:  If you have not worn an item for more than two years, chance are that you are not going to wear it again. You need to identify these garments  then it is time to scan your closet for those items of clothing that need repair, no longer fit, or need to be cleaned.
2. Sort: Create piles of clothes by those that need to go to the cleaners or be washed, clothes that you will donate, clothes that need to be discarded, and clothes that need to be stored.
3. Repair and Clean:  Repair and wash all of your clothes that you are going to wear next season.
4. Storage: Once all your clothes are clean, store your sweaters, and tops in storage bins and hang trousers and dresses in full length garment bags.  This will ensure your clothes are preserved and remain clean until next winter.
5. Pack Up: Clothes that can be donated to  Anne’s on the Avenue which supports Women’s Enterprise Skills Training (W.E.S.T) in their annual get ‘Ready For Work’ clothing drive-by providing gently used professional outfits for women can be pack up in simple garbage bags.  They don’t need to be cleaned.  We will have them cleaned for W.E.S.T. (This is for the month of May  only)
6. Throw Out: Yes, it is time to let go of those articles of clothing that are faded and worn.  
   

Now, you are ready to shop. Once you have clear idea what is in your closet, you are able then to discern what can be added to your wardrobe to renew it for Spring and Summer.  It is easier to buy enhancing pieces of clothing when you clear on what is in your wardrobe.  Of course, we are here to help you with selecting pieces to enhance and grow your wardrobe either in-store at our fashion boutique or online. Here are some our fashions that would renew any wardrobe:

Remember your best style is confidence.

Revitalize, Renew, Reclaim and Repurpose This Spring!

By Anne Waters

Spring is a time to revitalize, renew, reclaim and repurpose.

Revitalize:  You feel it in the crisp morning air.  It  lingers in your soul. It is time to give new life to your garden, house, closets, creativity and wardrobe.  It is a time where it is out with the old and in with the new.

Renew: You find yourself restoring yourself and things around you to a new freshness.  There is a vigor in your purpose as your soul replenishes those things that need to be renewed this Spring.

Reclaim: It is a time to restore everything back to its’ natural order. You demand balance and rescue those things that are in an undesirable state.

Repurpose: You know how to give something a new purpose.  It’s original use maybe over but it is not useless.  You let it live again.

Why do you do this?  Because you are the modern woman that knows how to move through nature’s transitions with ease and style.

As you go through your Spring rituals, I want to extend an invitation to you to repurpose your any clothing you may not be using. 

How many of us have stood in front of our closets and have stated, “ I have nothing to wear?”

There are women in Windsor and the surrounding areas who dread job searching and/or starting a new position because when they look in their closets and say “I have nothing to wear”, they mean it literally.

May is “cleaning out your closet” month.  Anne’s on the Avenue, CKLW and IXL Cleaners have teamed up for the eighth year to support Women’s Enterprise Skills Training (W.E.S.T) in their annual get ‘Ready For Work’ clothing drive-providing gently used professional outfits for women.

Cleaning out your closet to donate clothing to the ‘Ready for Work Program’ results in a dual sense of fulfillment. The donated clothing helps to empower women on her journey in search of a new job; and also empowers the woman that donated the garments.  Not only are you assisting other women in our community; you are now able to focus on your own future with an uncluttered mind, uncluttered closet and a giving heart.

We don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so please help these women dress confidently to ease the pressure of a job searching, attending interviews, and starting a new job.

Our goal is to collect another 3500 garments in the next 4 weeks-help us to make it happen.

For the month of May, donations can be dropped off at:

Anne’s on the Avenue 

344 Manning Road, Tecumseh Ontario

519-979-7735

W.E.S.T.

647 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 201, Windsor Ontario

519-256-6621

IXL Cleaners

1409 Tecumseh Rd. East or 2991 Dominion(at Grand Marais)

  

All fashions shown in this blog are by Frank Lyman.  Frank Lyman is a Canadian Designer who has been doing fashion for over 30 years. And he knows how to revitalize, renew, reclaim and repurpose. These fashions are available online as well as in our fashion boutique.

Dressing For Any Age

By Anne Waters

As women, we all have that moment when we look into our closet and think, “I have nothing to wear.”  And really, it isn’t that we have nothing to wear, it is just that what is in our closet no longer suits us for whatever reason.  From time to time, what is in our closet may not be suitable because of our age.

 Our bodies, minds, and lives go through a series of transitions—usually from a maiden to mother to wise woman.  If you have never been a mother in the physical sense, you may have nurtured a career, a talent, an animal, or the planet, but you more than likely have a piece of that mother archetype floating in your psyche. This is but one example of a phase of life that influences your psyche and your fashion choices are influenced by your psyche. 

But age does not mean you cannot be fashionable: chic, elegant, or sexy is appropriate at any age.  How you create those looks will vary.  Today, I want to focus on fashions by Joseph Ribkoff.  If you are not familiar with Joseph Ribkoff, he is a designer from Montreal.  He has been in business for more than thirty years, and all his clothes are manufactured in Dorval, Quebec.  He is one of Canada’s premier designers and the exclusive wardrobe provider for Miss America.  He and his design team know how to dress women.  You will also find that Joseph’s styles and designs transcend age.  This is my example:

Blouse:

This blouse is a great look for all ages.  If you are twenty-something, wear it with a great pair of white skinny jeans, pants, or capris.  It will give you a great casual evening look.

If you are thirty-something, you can still wear the skinny style pants, but you would look fantastic in fuller trousers that have a flat front with no pockets.  You may want to minimize your hips and not add any bulk to your midsection.

If you are forty-something, you can still easily wear this blouse with cigarette pants or jeans, but you could also consider wearing wider pants in a jersey material.

If you are fifty- or sixty-something, you may not be comfortable baring your shoulders, though there is no reason not to.  Assuming that you may not like this much skin showing, you could easily wear a matching cami.  I would recommend the cami match the colour of the pants to keep the lines of the silhouette clean and crisp like in the photo above.

This blouse is fantastic for full-figured women of any age.  It covers the arms, which some women like as they age, but will keep you cool with its chiffon fabric.

Joseph Ribkoff's capri pant with side zip.

Capri pants:

We love the capri pants for spring, and Joseph has ensured that he included several styles in his collection.  In the picture above, these are traditional trouser-like capris, which look great on anyone at any age.  Joseph also created a pair of cigarette-style capris with a zipper accent at the leg.  They are great if you have long, lean legs.  Again, age doesn’t matter.

The outfit above can easily be worn by anyone at any age.

Other classic blouses by Joseph Ribkoff that transcend age:

Remember, your best style is confidence.

All clothing shown is available in-store at our fashion boutique or on-line!

Note: It is that time of year again—May is “clean out your closet” month.  Anne’s on the Avenue, CKLW, and IXL Cleaners have teamed up for the eighth year to support Women’s Enterprise Skills Training (WEST) in their annual “Get Ready For Work” clothing drive. They provide gently used professional outfits for women.

Our goal is to collect another 3500 garments in the next four weeks.  Help us to make it happen.

In the month of May, donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

Anne’s on the Avenue 

344 Manning Road, Tecumseh, Ontario

519-979-7735

W.E.S.T.

647 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 201, Windsor, Ontario

519-256-6621

IXL Cleaners

1409 Tecumseh Rd. East or 2991 Dominion Rd. (at Grand Marais)