Fall Fashion Style Guide

A change of season calls for a change in wardrobe! A look at what’s #trending for fall and winter right here on Prince Edward Island (that’s right – everything you need to stay on trend is already here!)

By Meredith Morrison

Did you feel that? That “nip” in the air? It’s called fall and guess what – it’s here.

Sure, the temperatures may have started to dip from the mid to high 20s we enjoyed in late August, but now we’re starting to heat up as we feverishly search for the key pieces that will make up our fall/winter wardrobes. Come on, we all do it. It’s that ‘back to school’ feeling that still gets to us, even though our days of scribblers and duotangs are long behind us. Now that the kids are back behind their desks looking sharp in their new duds, it’s time for parents and kids at heart to do their own grown up version of ‘back to school’ shopping.

When dissecting the ‘what’s hot, what’s not’ of fall fashion, it can get pretty overwhelming (and expensive!) if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The best place to begin your lesson in Fashionomics 101 is at a fashion show.

What? PEI has fashion shows? Yes, we do!

The Charlottetown Mall recently held its Fall Fashion Show on September 3, highlighting the latest styles for fall/winter 2011-2012. Giselle and Heidi may not have been there to sashay down the catwalk, but this all ages show featured our very own Panache Models wearing the hottest in style merchandise that’s in stores now, ready to wear and easier on the wallet than a trip to Dior. It was an opportunity to see what trends we should be looking for and more importantly, what’s available right here on PEI.

Celebrating the diversity of the customer, the Fall Fashion Show brought out the best of the best from each of the Charlottetown Mall’s participating stores. From high class to classic, there was something for everyone. The fashion show not only got our wheels turning as to what should be our first purchase of the season, but it also provided the necessary visual aspect potential customers need to make an informed purchasing decision before shelling out money for just any trend.

“To see the clothing on a body and not just on a hanger, it adds life to the garment,” says Virginia MacIsaac, manager of Samuel & Co., which specializes in women’s career, casual and evening wear. MacIsaac’s love of all things fashion and attention to detail made her the natural choice as organizer of the Fall Fashion Show. When patrons see the clothes on the models, it gives them an idea of what it looks like and how it fits, explains MacIsaac. Plus, it reminds us all that winter really is just around the corner and whether we like or not, we’re going to have to start trading in our Bermuda shorts and flip flops for wool blends and boots very soon.

“Who wants to wear winter clothes now? I sure don’t!” laughs MacIsaac. “But now is the time to start thinking about fall and winter because it’ll be here before we know it.”

So what exactly are the trends we should be looking for? We break down the four hottest styles on the runway that will have you looking fall fabulous all season long!

Leather

A fitted leather jacket, either cropped or just grazing the hip, is a must this season for women. Guys were sporting the leather look as well, but the style is boxier and less structured. As stylish as it is warm, a leather jacket can take any outfit from ho-hum to super chic without sacrificing comfort. Basic black and brown will go with just about every item in your wardrobe, but if you want to try something a little different, try a fitted leather jacket in this season’s “it” colour, camel. Leather is also popping up in other garments, such as leggings and pants, so explore your options when it comes to this trend. Nothing is off limits!

Prints

Animal prints, floral designs, polka dots and stripes are everywhere, which indicates that bold is beautiful this season. They add a playful touch without going overboard when used sparingly as key pieces of an outfit. The look was ultra feminine as we saw these patterns on flowy tops, skirts and dresses that really spoke to the female figure. Don’t be afraid of over-the-top prints, embrace them and have fun playing dress up with this trend.

Slim Cut

We saw the return of slim cut dress pants and jeans last year and this trend shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The same goes for leggings and jeggings – keep these items on your fashion radar! On the runway, slim cut bottoms in dark colours such as black and dark denim were paired with long belted sweaters, flowy, feminine tops and knee-high boots. One fall/winter essential item that pairs perfectly with a slim cut pant is the poncho. Ponchos are huge this season and look even better when paired with a slim cut bottom and boots; it’s one of the hottest looks for fall. Try on a variety of sizes and styles to find just the right slim cut style for your body type. They do exist – promise!

Camel

If there is one colour you need in your wardrobe this season, it’s camel. Consider it the new black – this ‘not quite tan, not quite brown’ hue is showing up in everything from shoes to suits. Jewel tones such as emerald green, sapphire blue and amethyst purple really pop against this shade, as does ruby red. Add some camel to your wardrobe for an inspiring look that can go from the boardroom to the cocktail bar – it’s versatile, classy and super sexy.

A change of season calls for a change in wardrobe! A look at what’s #trending for fall and winter right here on Prince Edward Island (that’s right – everything you need to stay on trend is already here!) By Meredith Morrison Did you feel that? That “nip” in the air? It’s called fall and guess [...]

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A “G” Thing

On the scene at the GGGallery’s Grand Opening

 

Story by Meredith Morrison

Photography by Stephen Harris

When G! found out that an art gallery was opening up on Victoria Row called the GGGallery, it was like finding out we had a long lost cousin. We just had to know more about the place that shares our namesake. What was it like? Would we have any similarities besides our love of the seventh letter of the alphabet?

All was revealed when G! attended the GGGallery’s grand opening on June 25. Entering the gallery, located just below street level on the Row, a colourful vibrant scene alive with people, great food and of course, beautiful art at every turn was our first indication that this was going to be a fabulous night. It was one of those ‘are we still on PEI?’ moments as started to make our way around the room; none of us had ever seen anything quite like it. The GGGallery wasn’t just a feast for the eyes; it was a feast for the senses.

Owned by Cliff Wright and contemporary Canadian artist Tania Doucet, the GGGallery was formerly located on Lwr. Malpeque Road in a studio attached to the couple’s home. A combination of Doucet’s original artwork and pieces from other local artisans, the space became increasingly smaller as more artwork was being produced. So, the couple went on the hunt for a more spacious location and quickly found their spot on Victoria Row. “I found sometimes to be overwhelmed with a lot of artwork in a small space,” says Doucet, “so I wanted to have a more classic gallery look where people could walk around and not be afraid of bumping into anything and also could stand back and look at the artwork and not feel overwhelmed. This was a good space for that.”

Decorated in red and gold, the GGGallery certainly has that classic gallery look Doucet was hoping to achieve but there’s also an air of whimsy and fun that doesn’t go unnoticed. The artists who share the gallery with Doucet’s contemporary, vibrant artwork, including Matt Bowness for Overman and Emily Howard, certainly add to the GGGallery’s mystique. At every turn, there’s something new to catch your attention, another story to be told. It was getting hard to eat the eclectic menu of appetizers that looked like works of art themselves.

Can we take a moment to talk about the food? Wow. Almost as impressive as the artwork itself was the menu created by Chef Ilona Daniel of the Daniel Brenan Brickhouse. Inspired by different pieces throughout the GGGallery, Chef Ilona prepared a menu that was as delicious as it was intriguing. From individual forests (yes, forests!) constructed from mushroom pate and greens entitled ‘Mystic Grove’ to ‘Exquisite Pestilence’ (madras curried chicken salad on baby biscuit), the food complemented the art perfectly. You almost didn’t want to eat it because it worked so well with the decor (but, of course, we did; this is Chef Ilona we’re talking about, after all).

It goes without saying that the night was a total success. In a follow up interview with Doucet, she revealed that she thinks the night set a good precedent. “We try to do something a little bit different,” she says. “There is an attitude when you’re a new artist coming to Prince Edward Island that you need to focus on traditional Island scenes painted in a traditional way; it’s a complaint I’ve heard from many artists who feel their creativity is stifled because they need to produce this certain kind of artwork. When we opened the gallery last year, I said, I’m going to take a chance and I’m going to see what happens. I’ll do some Island artwork but I’m going to do it with a different interpretation. The response has been really good. Same with the opening – people were surprised by just the sheer change of our new location and they’ve been very positive about the work as well.”

Starting in October, the GGGallery will be hosting a series of rotating themed exhibits that will feature artworks by a variety of local artists. October’s theme will be “The Dark Arts” in preparation for the spookiest day of the year, Halloween. A new month brings with it a new theme, so it’s a great opportunity for new and up and coming artists to come out and flex their creative muscles in the cooler months.

Creative, vibrant, and a little irreverent…looks like G! and the GGGallery have more in common than just a letter.

On the scene at the GGGallery’s Grand Opening   Story by Meredith Morrison Photography by Stephen Harris When G! found out that an art gallery was opening up on Victoria Row called the GGGallery, it was like finding out we had a long lost cousin. We just had to know more about the place that [...]

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G! Gets Zesty: Think Outside “The Box”

Next time you get a hankering for macaroni and cheese, kick things up a notch with Zesty’s rich and creamy take on this classic comfort food

By Zestycook (aka Cory Gallant)

We all love our comfort foods. Whether it’s fresh homemade stew, chili, grilled cheese sandwiches, warm biscuits or lemon meringue pie, we find ourselves reaching for those ‘go-to’ foods that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside when we’re in the mood for something filling and satisfying. Comfort foods take us back to a place, a memory or a feeling that’s safe; they give us a sense of emotional well-being when we dig into them. As the nights get cooler and we find ourselves pulling on our long, fleecy pajama pants, we can’t help but want to nourish ourselves with a familiar, tasty dish.

For me, nothing screams comfort food more than a big, heaping bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese. I like mine creamy, cheesy and with a few additions that take ordinary mac and cheese to a whole new level. The creamy texture of the homemade cheese sauce, the saltiness of the bacon, and the burst of ripened tomatoes really add a nice balance of sweet and salty to this dish. The addition of the crispy, golden brown bread crumbs sprinkled on top gives the dish a nice crunch before hitting the creamy, cheesy gooeyness. Overall, the combination is nothing short of spectacular.

Of course, this dish is going to take longer to put together than your regular boxed mac and cheese but the results will speak for themselves. And don’t even try to make a “healthy” version; this is comfort food, people! Real butter and real cheese makes this real good! Go ahead and treat yourself – we can all use a little comfort from time to time, so preheat the oven and get started on this restyled classic I know you’ll love.

 

Zestycook’s Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese

Béchamel Sauce (this will serve as the base for the cheese sauce)

Ingredients
2 cloves
2 bay leaves
1/2 small onion, peeled
2 1/4 cups of milk
3 tablespoons of flour
3 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of thyme
salt
pepper
nutmeg

Method
1. Use cloves as tacks to adhere bay leaves to onion.
2. Place onion in a heavy saucepan with milk.
3. Bring to low simmer over medium heat; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a separate, heavy pan, combine flour and butter and stir over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. This cooks the starchy taste out of the flour.
5. Remove from heat and set aside.
6. Remove onion from hot milk.
7. Return cooled flour to medium heat and slowly add in hot milk, whisking to remove lumps .
8. Bring to high simmer, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring for 20 minutes.
9. Add salt, pepper, thyme and nutmeg to taste. If there are lumps in the sauce that whisking will not smooth out, strain sauce through a fine strainer.
10. Add 3/4 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Set aside until macaroni is cooked and ready.
11. Makes 2 cups of sauce.

Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients
350 g macaroni, cooked and prepared
2 cups cheese sauce
8 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)
2-3 tomatoes diced, seeded
1/2 cup freshly made buttered breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Butter a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish.
3. Put the cooked macaroni into the casserole dish, pour the cheese sauce over top and stir gently.
4. Toss in the tomatoes and half the crumbled bacon and gently mix together.
5. Sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top and spread the crumbs on top of the bacon.
6. Bake uncovered until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling (about 30 minutes – oven times vary).
7. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
8. Enjoy!

Zesty Tip: Melt a little butter to stir in your breadcrumbs before topping the macaroni and cheese.  This will help in the browning process as well as the flavour.

The next time you think of comfort food, look no further to the foods you loved growing up and make them the way you want – there is no right or wrong way to restyle your favourite dishes! Cook what you love and love what you eat.

For more comfort food ideas, check out www.zestycook.com.

Take care,

Zesty

Next time you get a hankering for macaroni and cheese, kick things up a notch with Zesty’s rich and creamy take on this classic comfort food By Zestycook (aka Cory Gallant) We all love our comfort foods. Whether it’s fresh homemade stew, chili, grilled cheese sandwiches, warm biscuits or lemon meringue pie, we find ourselves [...]

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