On Thursday my lovely editor, Odessa of Plaid Magazine invited me to the Canadian Opera Company’s Operanation, which is the must-attend arts fundraiser of the fall.

Photography by Trevor Negin

Photo by : Becca Lemire of She Does The City

I wore this amazing vintage dress I picked up from a  shopping event Plaid put on back in the spring, and by chance we are hosting our 3rd vintage shopping event Vintage Crawl Toronto tomorrow (Tuesday) from 7pm – midnight across downtown Toronto. I always find the most wonderful dresses at these events. I’m just saying, and hoping. See you out there Toronto.

Dress: Vintage from Chosen Necklace: Vintage from my grandma Shoes: Franco Sarto Clutch: Roots

Sweater: TopShop    Skirt: Central Park West    Boot: Ecote    Socks: Urban Outfitters

I love when  outfits are inspired by things other than fashion. I feel like my latest plaid mini obsession is, not only because I work for Plaid Magazine, but possibly brought on by No Doubt and the insanely fabulous Gwen Stefani.

The new album is perfect, if you haven’t heard the title track, Push & Shove ft. Busy Signal and Major Lazer, you must! It will be on repeat for a while.

I’ve said it once, and I’ll probably say it a million more times before the season’s up, fall is all about texture. Ones you can feel, ones you can see, the ones your mind creates when it mixes prints and patterns. Today’s outfit was a little daring mixing these unreal red plaid cords I picked up the other day at Urban Outfitters for the Plaid Magazine Fall Winter 2012 Issue Launch Party (where I work as the art director), with my favourite leopard boots.  I also paired it with a textured sherpa coat I got for $5 at the end of last season.

As the seasons changes from summer to fall, then fall to winter, I feel like clothes change from fun and inspired into dull and repetitive. My goal is to continue to work excitement & creativity into my closet, and always look at clothing in a different light.

Jacket: Old Navy  Sweatshirt: Roots Canada Pants: BDG Boots: Jeffery Campbell  Necklace: TopShop  Rings: Gifts and Banana Republic

Photography by Trevor Negin

Jacket: Talula Babaton  Top: Lark & Wolff  Skirt: Central Park West   Gold Collar: Vintage  Pearl Necklace: Vintage  Pearl Earrings: Vintage  Shoes: H&M

Photography By Trevor Negin

I love that preppy and sartorial garments are all the rage this season. Typically lady-like menswear, well cut of course, will flatter most body types really well, though, for us busty girls finding great shirts are hard to find.  Choosing silk, or even a polyester blend fabric for a blouse may help, if you have this problem too.  Mixing structured pieces with more feminine ones, like a blazer and shirt with a pleated A-line skirt, is a nice way to soften a potentially hard outfit.

Plaid Magazine (where I am the Art Director) just launched it’s Fall/Winter 2012 issue. Order it online now or wait for it to appear at a Chapters/Indigo location near you!

xo b

Skirt: Joe Fresh Runway     Tank: American Apparel      Spiked Jacket: Forever 21    Cork Purse: Vintage    Shoes: Jeffery Campbell

Photography by Trevor Negin

 So clearly, like every other fashion lover in Canada, I’ve been patiently awaiting the arrival for Toronto’s Fashion Night Out, unfortunately though I’ve been so exhausted lately, I only ventured out for a bit.  As a retail junkie, it was a great time to celebrate the shops, especially the 175th birthday of Holt Renfrew #hot@175. I ended early where as the rest of the stylish Torontonian  ran off to party the night away at Toronto Life’s Stylebook Party celebrating the most stylish people in Toronto, like my friends and Plaid Magazine’s Editors Odessa Paloma Parker and Robert Weir.

Shirt: Zara   Pants: Joe Fresh Fall 12   Belt: Banana Republic   Shoes: Michael Kors  Necklace: Family Vacation

I’ve recently started working for The Hudson’s Bay Company as a graphic designer and it’s pretty unreal, to be honest! The Bay is such a great brand and I so excited to design for this Canadian Icon. That being said, I went from a casual dress work environment to a very corporate, and I must say I’m excited to rework my closet to create a more polished look.

Fall is one of my favourite seasons, and as the new lineup hits the stores, my heart and wallet skip a beat (thank g.d for the new job!). I’ve been decorating in Kelly Green for a bit now around my apartment, and when I saw these pants at Joe Fresh, there were really no questions. (Similar pants are available at The Gap, I was hours away from buying those to be honest.) Kelly Green works so well in my very collective style home and closet, matching almost any print, pattern and colour I throw at them.

And Plaid Magazine where I also work as an art director is now 1 of the 25 Magazines You Should Know in Toronto!
check it out Fall Winter 2012 is available soon

Photo by Mike Lewis

Top: Lark & Wolff  Pants: American Eagle   Croc Belt: H&M  Ring: Vintage  Wedges: Joe Fresh

There are some days, when you have no idea what the day will have in store. These days its best to dress in simple pieces that are comfortable. I would always recommend wedges (if your going to to do a heel) for days that are 8+ hours, as they are much easier on your body.

The editor of Plaid Magazine, where I work as the art director, asked me to share with their reader’s Where I Go back in January, these are my suggestions for shopping, food, on the weekends, and where I pick up my inspiration.

Also Check out Plaid Magazine Spring/Summer 2012 available online and at locations across Canada
Financial planners agree that subscriptions make more sense.

http://www.plaidmag.com/2012/02/barbara-ann-solomon

Dress: Zara  Sleeveless Shirt: Lark & Wolff  Shoes: Steve Madden  Necklace: H&M

So I work a number of jobs, and my favourite by far is working with a talented group of creatives on Plaid Magazine. I work as the art director for the print issues. This is what I wore to celebrate the Spring Summer Issue of 2012.

Oh this is Trevor reading the issue

The lovely cover girl Wei Guo

And of course some of the Plaid Magazine crew.
Robert Weir, Beauty Editor, Mark Binks, Staff Photographer, Odessa Paloma Parker, Editorial Director, and me!

Check out Plaid on THE SCENE x Lomography