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Don we now our gay apparel: like that stunning LBD for New Year's Eve and beyond


The versatility and universality of the Little Black Dress


haves in 2015. So, let’s look toward that one piece that’s


I


going to right all your wrongs: the little black dress (LBD). Even as you find your festivities drawing to a


close, you don’t have to give up your glam look until next Christmas. Tere is a staple that runs through all the seasons: the little black dress. It represents an ideal of the perfect sexy item – and women who know this usu- ally have more than one in their posses- sion. Accord i ng


to


In Vogue Ally Champagne


fashion lore, Coco Chanel introduced the little black dress back in 1926. Up un- til then, the colour black was used only for mourning. From that point on, like with many other fashion revolutions


she spurred on, the colour black quickly tran- sitioned from dowdy and sad to sexy and hot. Te little black dress has so many great as-


pects. It is slimming and creates the illusion of height. Being a neutral hue, you can enhance your outfit with countless colours, not to men- tion endless accessories (both fine and costume jewelry). Tis dress is one of the few closet treasures


which flatters all body types (coming in all sizes from 2 to 22), the price ranges from $20 to thousands of dollars, and it is the most popular simple design on the market. Te majority of women desire to own at least one because it can get them through so many occasions look- ing the part.


Dress it up or down Part of its versatility is being able to dress


it up or down. It is likened to a blank canvas, because you can take it to a five-star event or to a simple afternoon business luncheon. If you change only the accessories, you can wear it a couple times a week without anyone noticing (and you’ll feel like trying to get away with it!). Opt for a fabric that works for you as well as a


texture you can wear at any time of the day and any time of the year. Popular fabrics include ponte, gabardine and jersey. Classic, clean lines are the best, and it is advised to keep the length at or just above the knee to keep it professional. Te neckline can vary on this item but a scoo-


pneck or a v-neck flatters the well-endowed. Self-conscious of your arms? Opt for short sleeves or three-quarter sleeves. But should you feel your arms are worthy of attention, the sleeveless sheath would be great for you. Fashionistas’ advice is to also bare your


legs with this look, or wear a very sheer hose. Patterned hose is making a comeback and cur- rently being added to this attire as well (sounds like a chance to break from the status quo). Te party look can include long, dangly ear-


rings, a clutch purse in any colour, and a styl- ish pair of stilettos. You might also consider a terrific pair of boots, either short or knee high. I would recommend a shorter dress hem for the boots. Te work luncheon look can be ac- cessorized with a bright blazer, long necklace, matching earrings and another pop of colour in your flats. It is worth considering putting aside money


to buy a more expensive version of the little black dress rather than spending on a cheaper style. If you choose wisely, this is one purchase you will wear often and enjoy for many years to come.


14 Smart Biz


t’s a new year. Your slate is clean and all of your past fashion transgressions are forgiven. It’s time to look forward to must-


New year, new you Resolutions are completely attainable – but first, identify the ‘why’ behind them


Greet the new year by celebrating with friends and living in the moment – then plan your big moves for the new year. Photo by Adam Baker. W


hat I love about the new year is that it is a time to reflect on the past, savour the present with friends (hello cham- pagne!), and look forward to the future. A new year can


feel like a fresh start which in itself can be a catalyst for positive change. But – I have a little bone to pick with New Year’s resolutions. So you made your list of goals for the coming


year: start working out, save more money, find more work-life balance. Yes! Love it! But there’s an important step that is missing and that is the why: the core, underlying feeling that you want to experience. Some might be obvious, and some might take a


little more unpacking to get there, so channel your inner two-year-old and keep asking yourself “why?” until you uncover your core, desired feeling. Here’s an example: “I want to start working out.” Why? So that I can get into shape. Why? Because I want to look good on the beach


at my cousin’s destination wedding. Why? Because I want to feel confident. OK! So now we know that the core desired feeling


something outside your comfort zone like joining a Toastmasters group for public speaking. You may also find that once you have identified the underlying


desired feeling, the action step that you originally had in mind might not line up so well after all. It’s like when you’ve had a really bad morning so, hell yeah, you’re going to have three doughnuts for lunch because obviously that will make everything better. But if you sat with the feeling of your crappy morn-


ing for a minute, you might come up with other more effective actions like re-arranging your afternoon to make it less stressful or problem solving the morn- ing’s stressors directly (although, sometimes three doughnuts totally is the best solution – let’s be real.). Te other reason for identifying the underlying


Note to Self Faye Armstrong


in this case is to feel confident. Your core desired feeling can be any feeling you can imagine, but let’s use confidence for example’s sake. Working out may help you get there, but it is not working out itself that is the true goal. Te true goal is to achieve your core desired feeling of confidence. Identifying this is helpful for two reasons. One is that it can help


you to more strategically choose actions that directly align with the feelings you are seeking to achieve. Working out and getting into shape are great action steps toward gaining confidence, but there may be other things you can do that can attribute to your goal of feeling confident, such as saying affirmations or doing


desire is that it is a powerful tool for motivation. You know how when you were a kid, it was near impossi- ble to save your allowance unless you had something specific that you were saving for? Te thought of those brand new rollerblades (what’s up ‘90s kids?) – or better yet, the feeling of freedom gained from having them (“I can get to 7-Eleven way faster on these”) –


made it easier to fill that piggy bank instead of spending it all on Slurpees and Spice Girls stickers. When you’re making your resolutions this year, consider chal-


lenging yourself to identify the “why” for each of them and then rewrite your resolutions to reflect your answers. Tis can help you get clear on what you truly want and stay on track to get there. When there’s a “why,” there’s a way! Faye Armstrong is a life coach based in Winnipeg who is passion-


ate about living life to the fullest and helping others do the same. For a little motivation or to learn more about personal coaching, visit www.fayeaarmstrong.com.


Fighting off a financial hangover It’s the season to indulge, but try these tips to avoid exuberance and financial instability


T


he holidays are always an expensive time. Between all the presents, bak- ing, decorations, and new winter


boots, it can be one expen- sive time for the average millennial. No one wants to make a


“Christmas Budget” – trust me. No one does. And many young people


spend their money hop- ing that their “Christmas bonus” will cover the add- ed expenses they had this month. Because let’s face it: it’s


rare for a millennial to save for the holidays in advance. Between dinner dates, new- borns, or changing apart- ments – who has time for that? But there’s no reason you need to have a


financial hangover after Christmas wraps up. With a few money-savvy tips, this can be one of your best holiday seasons yet. Swap treats with friends


‘80s and ‘90s babies remember the Easy


Bake Oven, and as we age, many of us like to show off all the skills we’ve learned in


www.smartbizwpg.com


the baking department. But instead of splurging on the ingredients for your rum balls, short bread, gingersnaps and fudge, pick one treat and ask a cou- ple friends to also make a different treat. Make enough for four servings (this is way more affordable than buying different ingredients for a bunch of recipes), and then swap a bit of your cookies for some of Amanda’s egg- nog Florentines. You might discover a great treat in the process! Plan a gift exchange


Instead of buying for eve-


Young Money Vanessa Kunderman


ry person in your family, opt for picking names this year and agree on a budget with everyone. By sett ling on


$100 for one person instead of spending $50 each on ten people, you save money and possibly uncover a new family tradi- tion. It’ll be the family joke to see who has to buy for crotchety old Aunt Eileen each year.


Support local wares


With the rise of the Internet and online shopping, many people are making their


purchases on the web, and punishing their credit cards in the process. Add in potential duty and shipping fees, and that cute hand-carved keychain for dad is looking rather expensive. By shopping at local stores, not only are you encouraging small businesses, but you’re also keeping your money in your own economy. A cozy Mine Clothing sweater reppin’ your Win- nipeg pride beats those tired American Apparel zip-ups any day. Sorry! Invite your pals over


Who doesn’t like to plan an ugly Christ-


mas sweater party? Instead of venturing out in the cold to a hip restaurant, invite your best pals over and ask everyone to bring a treat and a bottle of wine. You don’t need the $200 dinner bill for you and your date in order to have a memorable holiday experience with your friends. Put on Chic Gamine’s new Christmas


album, and chow down on Amanda’s eggnog Florentines while you sip vino together. Do a gift exchange if you’re organized enough, or just sing carols together between dripping red wine on that hideous sweater. Vanessa Kunderman writes every month


on money issues facing millennials. Email her at: hello@vanessakunderman.com.


January 2015


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