The Metropolitan Shopper

Wow. So...it's been over three months since I last blogged. This is probably the longest break I've ever taken from blogging, but life has been a whirlwind lately. In addition to graduating university and taking a week-long trip to celebrate, I started working full-time, moved to a new condo downtown, am getting involved in the local fashion/film industry on the weekends, and am spending more time hanging out with friends. Over the past few months, so many things in my life have fallen into place, and I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness. Living downtown has been my dream for many years, and as I wake up everyday to a view of the river and the energy of downtown, I find myself so grateful for all the opportunities I have been given.

But that's enough about my life. I've missed sharing my thoughts about fashion these past couple of months, so let's get right into it. I've been frequenting the malls more often now that I'm less than 15-20 minutes away from all the hot spots in the city. Here's a look at three interesting pieces I tried on at H&M:

Look #1: Giving the Cold Shoulder



The off-shoulder/exposed shoulder craze continues as shoulders strand strong as the latest erogenous zone. I've mentioned before I'm not a huge fan of fully flaunting my shoulders, but can find compromise in the cold shoulder trend. This dress had been on the store mannequin for a couple weeks, and everytime I saw it, I admired those two single straps running over each shoulder. I thought it was a unique variation on the trend. Finally, I gave in and decided to try the dress on. I was afraid I would be overcome with the adrenaline of finding a piece I love (and thus feel the desire to buy it), but thankfully, that didn't happen. The length and shape of the sleeves emphasized the width of my upper arms, and I felt strangely like a robot with stiff shoulders. The awkwardness of the sleeves was so prominent, the straps - the main reason why I liked the dress - dwindled into oblivion.


Look #2: The Little Mermaid

This dress was an amusing one. The tiered layers were reminiscent of the 1920s (and you know how I love Gatsby fashion), yet the way the ruffles were angled also reminded me of a mermaid. I didn't think the dress would actually look that good, though it did turn out better than I thought. The ruffled tiers might be a bit obnoxious for my personal tastes, but it was statement-making and fun. My only issue with the dress was how deep the V-neck was - so deep I had to keep it cinched with one hand. I don't like going bra-less or wearing crazy bra substitutes, so a gown like this wouldn't be too practical for me.


Look #3: Halting Traffic

Lastly, a halter dress. With my aversion to revealing my bare shoulders, I didn't think I would be able to pull off this dress. I kept telling my good friend I wouldn't do justice to a halter dress, but once I put it on, I had to take it all back. Because it looked great. I was surprised by how well it fit, and in retrospect, I believe the square neckline, embellished halter, and torso cutout all worked in beautiful harmony to even out and lengthen the wide-shoulder feeling I often get from exposed shoulders. If you look in the mirror behind me, you can also see the halter straps came with tassels on the end. An added touch of glamour. I wouldn't be able to pinpoint the science behind why this particular style of halter works for me, but it goes to show anyone can wear anything - it's just about the magic of finding the right design and cut for your own body.