I am Miss Cape-able (Tips For Wearing Capes)

I have long been in love with capes and ponchos, probably some kind of attachment behavior from childhood after watching too much TV. Many heroes and heroines that I like wear them (ok, those maybe cloaks 'technically') and they all look absolutely charming and cool. Thus, I'm rather glad to see that fashion designers/ manufacturers are making a great variety of them these days, which sometimes make me think maybe capes is now weighing the same as coats in terms of importance in winter clothing.

Inspiration for my cape addiction

Anyway, back to reality. To look good in capes, below could be some useful tips:

1. If your cape is patterned, its best companion would be a pair of single-color tight pants/leggings/jeggings. Unless you're confident in your skills of matching patterns, don't risk or both of your cape and your bottom piece will hate you - because either of them get the attention they deserve.
2. On the contrary, if your cape is in single-color, you can match it with a flower-patterned dress or a two-tone pants. Doing so you can subtly highlight the details of your bottom piece.
3. If you want to create an elegant lady look, try matching a white cape with a black pencil skirt and a pair of pumps. Think about Victoria Beckham (well, then maybe a pair of leather gloves as well).
4. Never wear a bottom piece that is shorter than your cape, this will make you look like you have forgotten your pants! (unless you want to wear the cape like a dress, like YSL below...)

Clockwise from top left: Pringle of Scotland x 2, Rag and Bone, YSL, Limi Feu, Fendi

Ok, I'll go on day-dreaming about my movie heroes while you can start searching your Cape-tain Sparrow! Ciao!

As Two-tone Continues...

Apology for not writing sooner, we had been crazily busy this month with the setting up of our online shop (wahey! It's been launched finally this week! You can go have a visit at www.kanastore.net, no pressure though!) and starting tweeting in Twitter (again, feel free to follow us @kanastore). Afterall it's a good sign that things get rolling huh?

A quick topic for this week - Mixed-fabric Winter Coat

Yeah you may have noticed this in many fashion shows lately, Givenchy, Fendi, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, Prada and the list goes on...

Clockwise from top right: Givenchy, Prada, Stella McCartney, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fendi and Givenchy

Combinations are infinite: Fur (which we hope is faux), leather, wool, and even cotton and satin can all be mixed. First it was Phoebe Philo bringing us the stormed-the-world two-tone tote bag (and its variations still seem limitless!) and now we are getting the two-tone trend extended to other fashion items (in fact you also see those bi-color dress shoes don't you?). We say, the more the merrier! Hey designers, can we also have the below accessories/ gadgets in mixed materials or colors? Pleasssseeee...

• watches
• shades (i know i know, Chanel already got us flurry shades...but more please!)
• ponchos/ anoraks for sports
• swimsuits
• bracelets
• caps/ visors
• ballerinas
• iphone/ ipad/ tablet pc covers
• music headphones
• notebooks/ organizers
• bedspreads and slippers
• etc etc...

My ultimate secret wish is a pair of two-tone DM boots (vibrant colors, not just black and white), what's your wish?

Wardrobe Audit

While our little shop is busy stocking for autumn and winter, it must also be your time to re-organize your wardrobe (or walk-in closet if you're lucky). To help you to start the 'painful' process, we've some little recommendations here:

To throw away/ to donate/ to be remade into something else useful

• any item that is so worn out, damaged, shrunk etc, especially t-shirt, that you will very likely purchase its replacement when summer comes again
• any item sat in your closet this entire summer because the size doesn't fit you anymore or you got a new favorite this year

We're definitely NOT encouraging wastage here. On the contrary, we help to ensure that those poor items which are left sitting at the corner of your wardrobe can now be relocated to where they should belong. 

To keep even in autumn and winter

• a few t-shirts, especially single-color ones, because you will still need them in autumn and winter, to be worn underneath your cardigan/ leather biker jacket/ down jacket/ poncho/ parker/ faux fur coat etc.
• jeans - they're all-weather, aren't they? you may keep a pair of your favorite denim shorts too, they go well with your over-knee boots
• summer scarves - yeah we know you'll wear wool/ down/ fleece/ furry scarves in adverse winter, but silk/ chiffon scarves make nice accessories, for example as hair band and belt

To clean and store properly for next spring/ summer

• tank tops and vests - you wouldn't need them in the cold except camisoles as underwear
• put away the many nude-color pantyhose you wear to work (maybe just leave a pair or two just in case), you'll mostly wear trousers or wool socks when the cold comes
• bikinis/ swim-suits - that's obviously right? (unless you're a regular swimmer/ have a heated pool/ not fear of the cold at all!)

Ready to start now? Will try to give you some more tips if we can think of! :)