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When heading to Seattle to shop there are bargains galore for Canadian shoppers.  If you stay for 48 hours, your limit is $400 — So start your engines and get shopping…

1. Chelsea Premium Outlets

With stores like Coach, Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan and Kate Spade…how can you resist!  Join the free VIP club to have access to discounts and special offers available at customer service in the food court.

2. Target

Always a hit for decorating your condo or dressing yourself!  Isaac Mizrahi and Rodarte have designed discount lines for saavy Target shoppers.  Next designer up to the plate is William Rast (Justin Timberlake’s line) but not until December 2010.  Sorry!  You’ll pass many Targets en route to Seattle along the I5, notably in Bellingham (Bellis Fair Mall) and Burlington.

3. Nordstrom Rack

Not to be confused with fab department store, Nordstrom.  This is where clothes not sold at Nordstrom go for another chance at life.  $100 Rock and Republic jeans, $90 Nanette Lapore and DVF dresses, $70 Coach shoes and $40 Bestey Johnson watches—its like Christmas in September!  You can even find housewares on the main floor.  Go downstairs for clothing, stay on the main floor for purses, sunglasses and watches (and even Spanx for uber cheap), and head upstairs for all those shoes.  Top floor is for men, but who cares.

4. Macy’s

While Macy’s is not quite as high-end as Nordstrom, it’s still pretty fabulous.  Make sure to ask your hotel or the customer service desk at Macy’s for your 11% discount card for being an out-of-state shopper.  It even works on sale items.

5. Trader Joe’s

Yes, you can spend all of your money on clothes but with 2 bottles per person as the alcohol limit stock up at Trader Joe’s.  You can get bottles that sell for $30 in Canada (7 Seven Deadly Zins) for literally half price.  There are locations in Seattle and Bellingham that will serve you well.  Target also has some pretty good wines at cheap, cheap, cheap.  They sometimes even sell a crate that if you buy 3 wines, you get the 4^th for free!  Ah-mazing.

As I mentioned on Monday, all hail the return of the timeless lady.  Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2010 collection is magnificent.  I loved everything about it and can’t wait for the looks to trickle into the mainstream.

I can definitely see the hemlines lengthening and becoming fuller in the coming seasons with fitted tops balancing the look.  Because I die for shoes and bags, my breathe was taken away when I spied the shoes rounding out the timeless LV looks.

If I could justify the $815 and buy these LV shoes I would never take them off .  I can see the headlines now, tragic car accident caused by silly girl staring at her new LV shoes moving up and down on the gas pedal instead of the road.  Really, it’s not suffering from insanity if you’re loving every minute of it.

Check out the show for yourself:

Dear Tina Fey,

I don’t often write fashion love letters to celebs , but you looked GORGEOUS at the Emmy Awards in your Oscar de la Renta gown. You were the embodiment of classic, chic, contemporary style.

I loved your hair, tied back in a simple pony that showcased the high neckline of this beautiful dress.  The gown defined your waist exquisitely and the Art Deco embroidery is beyond breathtaking.  You (or your stylist–if we’re being honest with each other) chose accessories that accented the dress rather than stealing the show.

I know it’s been a tough road for you at red carpet events, but girlfriend, you can laugh at all those worst dressed lists cause you looked A-lister F-A-B!!

Love,

Fashion Chronicles

Oscar de la Renta hardly steers a girl wrong and Tina definitely rocked this timeless Oscar de la Renta gown from his 2011 Resort Collection. If this gown is considered resort wear, reserve my spot at that place next January!!

Actually, if you’re anything like me, take a look through all the dresses in Oscar de la Renta’s collection (particularly at the end) and start placing bets to which red carpets they’ll start appearing worn by the next Tina Fey wannabe.

Images courtesy of JustJared.com

Emmy Bonus

Dear John Hamm,

I love you and wanted to tell you that I would never send you a Dear John Letter.  But I also heart your gf, Jennifer Westfeldt, because she wrote, starred in and produced one of my all time favourite films, Kissing Jessica Stein. Which you were also in before you became the complicated Donald Draper — in case you forgot.

Love,

Fashion Chronicles

The September Issue has arrived!  My Vogue was so large this year it wouldn’t squeeze into my mailbox so I had to pick it up at the Post Office!  I was ecstatic to lose myself in the many pages.

Of course all the Fall trends were laid out in February during New York and Paris Fashion Weeks but they are now hitting the stores–which couldn’t excite me more!

Among all the lists of Fall Trends, here are a couple of my faves…

1. Cashmere Crewneck

It’s a basic item that can be worn under a tweed blazer, or worn on its own with a crisp, white shirt underneath.

Of course cashmere is the costly investment choice, but there are lovely blends like this J.Crew Cambridge Cable crewneck for $74.

2. Full Skirts

Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton suitably channeled his inner Donald Draper for his fall collection.  Watch for full skirts, paired with low cut bustier style tops that emphasize voluptuous curves.

Also, the elegant pointed-toe shoes with retro block heel and oversized bow are simply to die for.  All hail the return of the timeless lady!

3. Sequined Cardigans

Last night I was out for dinner and saw a girl totally rocking a sparkly cardi…she looked amazing.

Marc Jacobs RTW Fall show unveiled the sparkly cardi in February but I really like this Steph Sequined Cascade Cardi by Alice + Olivia.  Yeah, it’s pricey ($495), but I am sure you can find a cheaper version at Forever 21 or H&M.

More fall reports to come…

1 The Trench Coat

Nothing says classic more than a Burberry trench.  The classic colour is tan (left), but black or navy might better suit those with a fair complexion.  One of the nice things about splurging on a Burberry trench is many come with a removable cashmere-wool lining so you can wear it practically year-round.

For those who can’t justify shelling out the cash, there are beautiful non-Burberry trenches out there.

To remain classic and contemporary, go for a simple trench in a classic colour (tan, navy, black).  Never choose one that has tacky embellishments adorning the lapels or pockets.  Keep the length around the knees — if you go too long you’ll look like a WWI British Army veteran.  The Classic by Tommy Hilfiger and the Nathalie by Club Monaco are two of my fave non-Burberry options.

Check out #2 The Perfect Jeans or #5 Classic Black Pumps

2 The Perfect Jeans

My perfect pair: 7 For All Mankind

Perhaps it’s an oxymoron to say “perfect jeans” in the same sentence, but it can be done.  Understanding that my perfect jeans aren’t your perfect jeans, here are a few guidelines you can follow to ensure success.

1. When shopping for jeans, go to a store you are comfortable in and where you know the salesgirls will help you—and not make you feel fat.  Grab as many pairs of jeans that you can and try them all on.  Experiment with different rises (high vs low), widths (skinny, wide leg) and lengths (30″, 32″, 34″ and, for those long legged ladies, 36″).

2. Avoid jeans with rips and too much distressing.  Those can defo be cute, but are too trendy for the classic pair of perfect jeans.

3. Stick with darker washes, which retain their classic status and are uber flattering.

4. Jeans with a slight boot cut (not flared) are also classic but more importantly hang nicely over your shoes.

5. Many women buy multiple pairs of jeans for differing heel heights (ie flats versus 2” and 4” heels).  A huge faux pas is wearing jeans that are too short for your heels.

One of my current classic style icons is Jennifer Aniston.  Nobody can deny she always looks fabulous in her perfect jeans, not to mention her perfect hair.

Stay tuned for #1 The Trench but don’t forget about #3 Classic White Shirt…

3 Classic White Shirt

This is an important closet staple that is both trendy (worn underneath your fave t-shirt) and classic (worn with a business suit). Head to stores like the Gap for high quality, basic cotton shirts well under $50.

Back in January, I wrote about caring for your classic, white shirt.

Check out #2 The Perfect Jeans or#4 The LBD…

Image courtesy of Gap.com

A classic LBD can take you from the office to a cocktail reception in a matter of hours.  SJP it up with a chunky necklace full of baubles and sparkles or Jackie-O it down with a basic cardi and single strand of pearls.

To keep your LBD classic, look for one with a higher neckline as neckline trends come and go.  Also, the hem should sit slightly above your knees when standing–keep that LBD classy rather than trashy.

It should be made of a sturdy but lightweight fabric like a cotton/rayon blend or thin wool.  Avoid heavy wool fabrics that counteract the slimming effects and limit wear during the warmer seasons.

DVF and Karen Millen (above) design gorgeous dresses, but so do J-Crew and Banana Republic (below).

Banana Republic, Black Wool Sheath Dress, $150

Check out #3 The Classic Shirt or #5 Classic Black Pumps…

A classic woman always has classic items in her wardrobe that keep her stylish in a given year, decade or lifetime for that matter.  There are 5 classic pieces that I can’t live without and neither should you.  If you spend the money to invest in well made versions of each item, they truly will last a lifetime.

5 Classic Black Pumps

Whether Nine West or Manolo Blahnik, a pair of tall, pointy, black leather pumps is the only shoe you will ever need.  Although its unlikely you’ll ever only one want one pair of shoes!

Style tip: To keep it professional, limit those stilettos to heights under 2.5”.  For every other occasion — the sky is literally the limit!

Check out #4 – The LBD…