by Annette Quinet | Jun 27, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Festive Wear….
For many Canadians July 1st is the start of summer. For those who are lucky enough to live in Ottawa, there are lots of things to do and celebrate Canada’s 149th Birthday. Downtown Ottawa is party central and the activities last all day ending with the fireworks at Parliament Hill but for some, partying to wee hours at some of the local bars and restaurants is on tap!
What to wear can be a challenge for this day especially if you are spending several hours in the downtown core not to mention what Mother Nature has in store for us that particular day. Many people like to show their pride and celebrate by wearing red and white. Sourcing red and white Canadian themed garments are not too difficult in Ottawa but it’s always best to purchase in advance. Hudson’s Bay is a great choice in-store or online. They have a great selection of themed garments for the entire family with some items on sale in addition to pieces in white and or red. Personally, I gravitated to the off shoulder white top with a back keyhole & tie closure. For infants, The Children’s place has some great options all at reduced prices. Gymboree is another source for some Canadian themed garments but also for anyone celebrating the 4th of July there are options as well online! Dollarama & Dollar type stores are also a great source for Canada T-shirts, ties, hats, glasses, rain ponchos and many other novelty items but the selection diminishes as the date approaches.
(Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Ottawa Citizen)
My preference is to wear white garments and use red as an accent. My reasoning is quite simple, I would rather purchase something that can be worn many times and plays a role in my wardrobe. As an Image consultant, I often speak to my clients about the Cost Per Wearing (CPW). Basically, you take the price of a garment and divide it by the number of times you think you will wear it. For example, the Off-shoulder white top that I referred to above at Hudson’s Bay is now reduced from $79.00 to $39.50 but I also have this app called honey that after downloading it to your operating system it automatically looks for further discounts (for many online sites), this past weekend, for this blouse there was an additional 20% off therefore before tax the top is $31.60. When speaking with a client prior to a purchase we discuss versatility of the garment in addition to price, style, and fit, this can be a deciding factor. Therefore, for this particular top, here are a few considerations, top is off shoulder, very current style, can be worn in the summer (warmer) months, can also be worn with shorts, skirts, trousers (therefore multiple looks) I would estimate it could be worn at least once a week approximately twelve times. Therefore $36.00 (with approx. tax)divided by 12(wearing’s) equals $3.00 (CPW) Finally, the last consideration will be how many years you will wear this item…is it so on trend that it will date itself and its wearability prematurely? Is this a style you think is classic and therefore look forward to many years of wearing etc. Of course, if worn more than one year you are reducing your CPW again. This is a great formula to consider when you are making impulse or investment purchases.
Generally, the CPW is high for novelty items and garments, however, this year there may be several opportunities to be sporting your patriotic ensembles, as we will be cheering on Team Canada in this year’s Summer Olympics in Brazil. Our house will be paying special attention to Beach Volleyball where fellow Canadian and family member Ben Saxton along with his partner,Chaim Schalk will be competing for Gold!
Canada Day is fast approaching and the sales are heating up online for many warm weather garments and accessories. For a list of upcoming online sales visit Racked .
As Canadians, we are so fortunate to live in this great country and to have the ability to fly our flag with a sense of pride. Happy Canada Day!
by Annette Quinet | Jun 26, 2016 | Giveaway |
Feeling the Frames
Tara Shields, from Ottawa, is the lucky winner of the Fabulous Oakley Feedback Sunglasses. Many thanks to all who entered and now follow The F-Word Paradox. We are building our subscription base one fabulous reader at a time and your support is a fundamental part of our success. Thank you!
Congratulations Tara, you now have your summer framed in such fabulous style!
Please keep reading and spreading the F-word a new blog and giveaway is coming soon.
by Annette Quinet | Jun 19, 2016 | Family, Uncategorized |
Father’s Day is today! A day to celebrate the men, who have taught us so much, stood beside us and loved us unconditionally. For me, there are 2 important men in my life, my dad Felix (yes another fabulous F-word) and Bernie-awesome dad to our daughter Isabelle, and step-dad to my older son and daughter. Each day I wake up thankful and feel truly blessed to have these two wonderful men in my life; we should all be so lucky.
As a daughter I have been very fortunate; my father is 86 years old and I get to celebrate this day with him. My dad is a very special person and he has touched the lives of many. As a father, a husband, a public servant, a writer and a part time professor he demonstrated remarkable characteristics and took each role very seriously all with passion, humor, wisdom and love. I have been so fortunate to have this wonderful and special father daughter relationship.
I also love to see the bond Isabelle has with her father and how each day he nourishes it with his love, guidance and presence. For girls this can be one of the most important relationships. These relationships have the ability to ensure a brighter future when they have good examples to follow.
This year for Father’s Day Isabelle made a beautiful card (pictured above) and painting for her dad (pictured below). He was overjoyed with these gifts and marvelled at her “works of art” with enthusiasm and pride. With these positive reactions Isabelle was also gifted because she felt proud, talented, loved and happy.
When I was the same age as Isabelle, I presented my dad with a painting I had drawn. It was a picture of a cup of coffee and some other artistic embellishments and the words “Good Morning”. This picture, now framed and hanging on the wall in my parents room is what they wake up to each morning. It makes them happy. Today, Isabelle’s painting has been placed in our room, it is also in a prominent location and it will be the first thing we see in the morning as well. I know it will make us happy and no doubt put a smile on our faces as we look at her masterpiece.
I truly understand how fortunate I am to have both my dad and Bernie. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that it saddens me that this day will be difficult for some. For my brother, Marc, who lost his only child, Thomas-Paul at 14, this is a day to reflect and remember, but also to celebrate the 14 years this amazing kid was with us and who was so very proud of his dad.
For my friends, who have lost their fathers I hope they find comfort in their memories and are able to celebrate those with laughter and love.
And lastly, for those children whose fathers never understood the importance of their role in the lives of their children, how sad to have missed out on those relationships. Let’s hope these “kids” grow up with courage and knowledge that they can do better and not repeat this cycle.
“The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” Peggy O’Mara
by Annette Quinet | Jun 12, 2016 | Giveaway |
Frame your Summer
I truly love Sunglasses; always have and probably always will. Very rarely will you ever find me not wearing a pair, regardless of which season we are in or whether it is cloudy or sunny outside. I love sunglasses as an accessory; in fact they maybe my favourite accessory.
Protect your eyes first. Sunglasses protect your eyes which is most important. The sun produces 3 kinds of light, UV (ultraviolet rays), Blue Light, and Bright or intense light. My eyes are very sensitive to bright light, which is why I need to wear sunglasses all the time. Health Canada has great information on the importance of sunglasses and this link will provide more information including standards for UV protection and how light can damage your eyes.
Next Frame you face to best accessorize your look. Sunglasses are now a multi -billion dollar industry. There are so many companies, designers, styles, shapes, sizes, and of course, price points to chose from. So how does one decide how to purchase that pair of shades? The best advice once you decide on your need and budget is to try, try, try!
Different frames work better on certain face shapes however use this as a guideline it is worth trying on a variety. A rule to consider is matching your face shape with the glass frame i.e. a square face shape suits a square frame. No two faces are the same, which is why some frames better frame your face, and thus look good. It is important that you like them and feel comfortable wearing them. This will be the first thing people notice about you, so work it to your advantage.
There are many options on where to buy your Sunglasses. Department stores like Nordstroms carry many Designer frames, Specialty shops located in most major shopping center such as Sunglass Hut carry a variety of sunglasses. Many clothing retailers such as Forever 21 and H&M have now expanded their lines to include sunglasses, you may also consider online shopping for your new pair.
Net-a-porter is a very popular site for designer sunglasses. You could also consider adopting the latest trend: “renting” your sunglasses. The premise is to wear the latest styles and shapes and then exchange them for a new pair. There is a monthly fee as well as an option to purchase. For more information check out Ditto.
For prescription lenses you can visit an Optician or an Optometrists office. Click here for the difference between an Optician and Optometrist. Most carry several lines of eyeglass frames including Sunglasses, prescription or non-prescription. Did you know that in Ontario Optometrists offices can only sell you frames and lenses at their cost? Click here more information on why glasses can cost so much.
Here is something for my readers this sunglass season: The F-Word Paradox is having a Giveaway; you have a chance to win these fabulous women’s Oakley Sunglasses – pictured above. To enter simply subscribe to my blog. A winner will be selected on the First day of summer, Monday June 20th, 2016. The winner will be notified via email.
However you decide to Frame your Summer just remember to always Protect your eyes and then Frame your Face for the best look.
