Idiosyncratic Style

Who holds the key to your heart? Maybe it’s your one true love, but what about all the other great loves of your life? Your parents, siblings, best friends, children… chances are there are a number of people who have claimed a little piece of your heart. This Valentine’s Day celebrate ALL the people you adore with a beautiful token of affection; a key to your heart.

- Use an old house key, interesting vintage key or decorativekey from a craft store
- How you decorate it is up to you, be inspired by the muse you are creating it for
- Try paints, textured paints, gems, studs, fabrics, scraps of paper, feathers….
- Let the creativity flow, use anything reflective of your relationship with each one
- You can give the key as a trinket or incoporate it into an item the recipient can appreciate - necklace, keychain, bracelet, earrings, a pin, cuff links…

Keys I made inspired by all the people I love...

Wrap the key thoughtfully, attach a little note and send the package in the mail, no matter how close they are. The many loves of your life are sure to be delighted.

Written by Kaitlyn Regehr

Whether you are venturing out on a special night for two or staying in with pals, here are a few thoughts on feeling extra fabulous this Valentine’s Day (or any day).

Become a ‘Sexy Lingerie’ Woman
It is a misconception that sexy panties are for the young or the risqué and incorrect to assume that if you’re not spending Valentine’s Day with someone special than you shouldn’t indulge in lacy bits. Whether you are wearing a little black dress or your sweatpants, a fantastic pair of panties can do wonders for your confidence and general self-awareness. Even if nobody else sees them, you will feel them. So give your self-esteem a boost and become the kind of woman that wears sexy lingerie… it’s that easy.

Treat Yourself to a ‘Good Hair Day’
Women who take the time to treat themselves generally feel more fabulous. On a special day, take this pampering to the next level. A good hair day can change your entire perspective, so go to a salon and get your hair done. Ask for a junior stylist if you’re working on a budget. Get a blow dry and then curling or straightening, whichever you prefer. For as little as 20 dollars, you can walk away with beautiful hairstyle for your night out or just for the enjoyment of some quality pampering.

The Self-Esteem Makeover
Whether you’re in a relationship or not, Valentine’s Day can sometimes provoke anxiety. Give yourself a self-esteem makeover and become a confident woman who deserves the best. Tell yourself 3 things you love about your appearance, 3 things you love about your personality and then tack on 1 extra fabulous bonus attribute, just for fun.

Extra Credit: Try doing this exercise with someone else and list each others attributes. It can be very romantic with a partner or possibly a great bonding experience with a close friend. Who knows, you might even learn something really fabulous about yourself that you never noticed before. 

Sexy Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

A Little More Than a Box of Chocolates…
Take a classic heart shaped box of chocolates and take a little bite out of each one. Include a note that says, “I’ve tried them all and none taste as sweet as you”.

The “Come Home Soon” Gift
Send a mysterious package to the office. Inside, put a new pair of sexy panties with a note that says, “Come Home Soon!”… It’s sure to get your honey home sooner.

The Sexy Little Black Book
Get a small notebook that will tuck away into a pocket. Fill the pages with all the reasons you think your partner is sexy, everything from the way they make you feel to the way they look in those old pair of jeans. The little black book of sexy is something your honey can open up anytime they need a little boost.

Wishing you a sexy Valentines Day… Whatever you do, just be fabulous doing it!

Kaitlyn Regehr is a pin up model, burlesque choreographer,  host on Television’s  Re-Vamped and creator of  the Pink Ribbon Pin-Ups Calendar. 

Photos from the Pink Ribbon Pin-Ups Calendar: Photographer - Dana Brushette | Wardrobe Stylist - Kristen O’Reilly | Make-up Artist - Larissa Palaszcuk

Edited by Retro Chick

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• Dramatis Personae – Interview with the designer behind ‘i am dorkas’
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• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS – Interview with Janeane Marie Ceccanti
• Style Symmetry – How to Choose Items at a Clothing Swap Party
• 39th and broadway – 5 Questions Before Beginning a Fashion Career
• The Coveted – Suzy Menkes, Facehunter (and more) about blogging
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• A Few Goody GumDrops – Giveaway: sophisticated beige mock-snake clutch
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• Bonne Vie – Invest in Quality Denim; How-To Tips from Denim Debutante
• Denim Debutante – Aeropostale Gives Back with Teens for Jeans Campaign
• fête à fête – Clarins debuts first certified organic beauty soap
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• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Evolving Influence Conference NYFW 2010

Lately, sequins are shining all over the place. If you’re not ready to unleash your inner showgirl, but want to play around with a little sparkle, try adding a dash of razzle-dazzle to your winter outerwear with this DIY project.

Supplies:
Winter hat
Pack of individual sequins
Thread that matches your sequins
Sewing needle

Instructions:
Place a sequin face up on the top side of the fabric.
Start with your needle on the back side of the fabric and come up through the hole in the center of the sequin.
Make sure to leave a tail on thread on the underside.
Put your needle back into the fabric just above the top of the sequin.
Double knot the two ends of fabric tightly at the back and cut off the excess thread.
Sew the sequins on uniformly or scattered randomly, it’s up to you.

If you plan to cover the entire hat, understand that it will take a while, so be patient and have fun with it or line up a great movie marathon to keep you entertained. If you don’t have the time or patience, be sure to choose only a small portion of the hat to cover, just focus on the trim or create an easy design to realize.

Wear your new sparkling topper with your regular winter coat to help you shine your brightest on even the gloomiest winter day.

Depending on where you live, winter can present serious fashion dilemmas by stressing a need for warmth. Residing in frost bitten Canada, these are my best ‘below zero’ tested ways to beat the chill in style.

Sweater by Banana Republic, Socks by Falke, Silks by Hanro, Toque by Forever 21 and Jackets by Canada Goose

Take it from the top
It doesn’t take brains to figure out that you need to cover your head in order to maintain a comfortable temperature. A knit toque is a time-tested way to keep your brain from freezing, but stylish options are endless. Toasty toppers can range from the neo-snood to the come-back of the Russian fur hat, so finding one that suits your idiosyncratic style should be easier than shoveling the driveway.

Winter Hats by Michael Kors and Nobis

Get your piggies in a blanket
On certain days of the year, industrial winter boots (such as Sorels) are a must, but if you don’t want your podiatric style to suffer, simply slip into ski socks. The warmth they add to your fair weather boots will make all the difference. If you live in a really cold climate, it would be worthwhile to buy your favorite fall foot trends a half-size up to allow extra room for even the really thick ski socks.

Ski Socks (clockwise) by Bridgedale, Marks & Spencer and Thorlo

Cash in on cashmere
Even the lightest weight cashmere will go miles in it’s abiity to keep your core temperature from dropping. Cashmere is now available at so many different price points and in such a wide variety of styles that there simply isn’t any excuse not to own this classic closet staple, wherever you live.

Sweaters by J Crew

Slink into a second skin
Just like zipping in a lining to your fall coat, adding a thermal layer will winterize all your fall faves. Afraid of adding too much bulk? Invest in 100% silk long underwear, they are ultra-thin without losing the power of heat retention. Still worried about bulk? Use the oldest trick in the book and layer nylons underneath your jeans.

Thermals by (top) Kari Traa & (bottom) Ginch Gonch

Go for the golden egg
If you are the type of person who can never be too warm or if it’s just so cold that all else fails, invest in the best, The Canada Goose. These parkas are on par with getting a full body hug from the fluffiest, friendliest polar bear! Seriously, explorers wear them on arctic expeditions, a-listers wear them shooting in deep-freeze locations and anyone I know that finds Canadian winters just a little too cold for comfort embraces even the coldest snowstorm in a Canada Goose coat.

Jackets by Canada Goose

How do you keep your marshmallows toasted and rumps roasted all winter long?