EASY DOES IT FOR SPRING
Easy fit. Easy care. Easy to pack. Easy on the budget. Easy on the eyes. And, most of all — fun.
Easy does it for spring. That is the fashion philosophy being embraced by the friendly team at Katie’s Kloset in Market Mall, a charming independent boutique featuring select Canadian and international designer brands.
“We are all about fun; that’s how I describe the store,” says Pam Riemer from Katie’s Kloset. She says they started to feature Canadian designers and manufacturers once the home-grown fashions started to become available again. Canadian womenswear manufacturers all but disappeared about 20 years ago but have started to reappear in the past few years.
Their designs this year are perfect for a modern woman on the go. And they are just what you need if you are a woman who loves clothes and just wants to have fun wearing them.
Colours this spring run riot from cool blues and greens, to vibrant orange and watermelon pink, sometimes blocked with black or white, sometimes in patterns. Shapes are easy from body huggers, to flattering A- lines to soft and loose.
Pants are a little looser this year, according to Riemer. “Capris are not as narrow as before; they are a little wider at the bottom now,” although you will still find everything from leggings to wide pants to culottes to the newest jumpsuits. You will now see denim in everything, not just pants.
Dresses are important again this spring, although lengths are a little longer, according to Riemer, varying from knee-length to mid-calf to patio. This is a big change from a few years ago when Riemer said women would come into a store and buy a skirt suit with pants optional and later a pantsuit with an optional skirt. Those days are now long gone with many more flexible and flirty mix-and-match options.
Tons of colourful and pretty tops pair with pants and skirts including the cold shoulder tops that we started to see the last few seasons.
Pretty Woman is an example of a Vancouver-based manufacturer. Designed with real women’s bodies in mind and sizes from small to 3X, the jersey fabrics in these ensembles are weighted so they hang away from the body beautifully. Colours run from turquoise to magenta to blues to patterns to solid black with camel tops. Prices start at $99 while dresses run to $120 and up.
Other Canadian brands to look for include Crystal, gitanic and Bali. Crystal is a little less expensive than Pretty Woman and a little lighter fabric. Easy to pack, it features a myriad of colours, and lots of mix-and-match separates.
One of the funkiest brands in Katie’s Kloset is gitanic, featuring polka dot capris, wild block colours with multi patterns or black and white. There are even touches of Lurex® trim. Lots of little layering pieces help complete an outfit. One example that could take you anywhere all summer is a cute little textured black dress with a V-neck and cap sleeves.
Bali can be edgy with lots of tops to pair with elegant pants and leggings. Longer dresses feature brilliant spring colours. Tops features asymmetric or handkerchief hems, as well as flattering wrap styles. A butterfly top features wide sleeves and some of the pants feature the newest high waists.
Katie’s Kloset also looks beyond Canadian borders to bring fascinating fashions to its style-conscious customers. A line from India, Baba, is also very popular, according to Riemer. These free-flowing ensembles are cool and comfortable, constructed mainly of viscose with lace trims. Great for travel, you can steam them out in the shower or hang them to damp dry. Look for pants, dressers, tops and dusters. Each outfit comes with its own scarf—great for travelling if you need to suddenly cover your head or warm your shoulders. Colours include pinks, corals, tangerine and teals.
Finish your ensemble with a cute pair of Luv shoes. Look for styles with unique trims like lace, rounded heels or gold metal finishes. An interesting detail is a unique hook that works with a buckle for easy on and off. Also popular are high boots that will get you through spring and low booties that will be popular all summer.
With a visit to Katie’s Kloset in Market Mall, creating a stunning spring and summer wardrobe has never been easier!