Sophisticated, elegant and eclectic
Shop owner and former teacher likes a classic wardrobe that is also ‘a little outside the box’
Kari Morrow-Floren was almost 30 years into her teaching career with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board when opportunity struck.
She was browsing her favourite dress shop — Ruth’s in Ancaster — when she learned that the owner was planning to retire and close the store.
Kari voiced her disappointment at the thought of her favourite shop’s impending closure, but the then-owner had a simple solution: “She said, ‘well you can buy it,’” recalls Morrow-Floren, who took the reins a dozen years ago, renaming it Kari’s of Ancaster.
“We get to retire fairly early in teaching,” says Morrow-Floren, now 63, who taught grades 2 to 5.
“And I couldn’t see myself sitting at home. Teaching is very active and I was very active in my job and I thought there’s no way I can just sit at home.”
So after spending two years learning the ropes of running a shop, while continuing to teach full time, Morrow-Floren decided to pack in her teaching career and turn her full attention to Kari’s.
An avid user of social media, Morrow-Floren posts regularly to the shop’s Instagram and Facebook pages, showcasing looks that are sophisticated, elegant, but with a dash of what she refers to as eclectic.
Classic black pants might be paired with a top that features an asymmetrical hemline or a Joseph Ribkoff jacket with a funky collar.
“I probably dress more on trend,” says Morrow-Floren, who often wears looks from the shop to show clients how a particular piece might be worn. “And what I do is I endeavour to get my customers to look a little outside the box and try different things. So I try to wear things that are a little different.”
Florals were huge this fall, explains Morrow-Floren. So when the red floral lace Carmen Marc Valvo frock she dons here arrived in the shop, she plucked it right away as a top option for New Year’s Eve. She pairs it with black patent Walking Cradles pumps, a black and rhinestone Sergio Ferrari clutch, and accessorizes with a chunky Lofttan statement necklace and earrings by EL-KA International.
“I find that it’s really good that you feel good about what you’re wearing,” says Morrow-Floren, who is planning to ring in the new year at Cavallo Nero and the Barracks Inn, both in Ancaster. “So there may be a day that I get up, and it’s a dreary day, it might be a day I wear colour. I don’t wear black all the time — I do love colour.”
Most eye catching piece:
My coats — I have some unusual coats. I do have a bit of a coat fetish … it’s because of all the years out on the
playground. And so I always like a coat that is practical, is warm, but I now want coats that are — I don’t know — that catch attention. That are stylish. That are going to make my figure look the best it possibly can. There will be times when I’ll wear down coats because it’s cold outside, so if I do that, I want a nice soft colour or something that’s going to keep me warm as well as comfortable.
Quirkiest wardrobe item:
I have quirky glasses. Something that is different and eye catching.
Wardrobe must have:
A slim black pant with a black cami, a great bra — that’s very important — a little black jacket that you could put over dresses or you could put over (a patterned dress) … to help cut the pattern. A little black dress.
Best purchase:
Body Hush and Spanx. They’re one-piece body garments … it doesn’t let allow back fat to show … so what I’ll do is if I’m going somewhere I’ll just throw one of those on … because it’s really important that if you’re wearing a dress that you look good both front and back. Sometimes what happens is women will look at themselves in the mirror and they look at the front. And they don’t look at the back.
Regrets buying:
When I was in Turkey, we went into a little leather shop and they talked me into this purple leather jacket that ties in the front. And I’ve worn it a couple of times and I spent a lot of money — it’s lovely, soft leather. It just does not work with a lot of the clothes that I have.
Loves to shop at:
Miller Shoes, Hanley’s (Shoe Shoppe and Eyewear Boutique), Bliss Bras. When it comes to beauty items, Ancaster Laser Medispa, that’s where I buy my skin care products.
Ridding her closet of:
I need to rid my closet from some of my coats … I think that women in general, what they need to do, is look at clothes and (ask themselves), does it make them feel good to wear it? And if I have some coats that no longer make me feel good to wear them, that’s when I’ll get rid of them.
Splurges on:
My skin care products and treatments at Ancaster Laser Medispa ... I use Zo Skin Health by Obagi and she does lovely treatments to help me look a little bit better. She does Ultherapy but there’s all sort of (non-invasive) treatments that she does — she’s helped me eliminate some of the pigments on my face.
Beauty product she can’t live without:
Lancôme Matte Shakers in RED’Y IN 5 and the skin care products.