Bond Never Wears Cargo Shorts

Cargo shorts always seem to be a hot topic 

Men love to wear them, women loathe to see their men wearing them and Abercrombie & Fitch gained notoriety selling them. 

I recently received an email from a mail client outlining what he wanted to focus on during out next shopping trip. One line read, "Shorts (but not cargo shorts, I'm not in college anymore!!). A few weeks later, he sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal titled "Nice Cargo Shorts. You're Sleeping on the Sofa!"

"Men want to be like James Bond. Bond never wears cargo shorts."

The article gives an entertaining look at the statement cargo shorts have made over the years, as well as their fashion history (they are said to have originated in the 1940s for military use). Our vote, perhaps give the style some time to recover and reserve the silhouette as outdoor wear, which is exactly what it was designed for.

Stay Stylish,
K&M

Megan's Destination Wedding Weekend Getaway Capsule

Start Prepping What To Pack

When I found out I was heading to Jamaica for a close friend's destination wedding, I was excited for two reasons. One, I've never travelled to the Caribbean and two, this would be my first real vacation in almost 2 years. Since we would be on the beach during the day and doing casual dinners at night, I knew that I wanted to keep my wardrobe simple. The bride requested that all of the guests wear white, so finding a white dress that could hold up in the heat and humidity was a priority.

Now here's a secret you may not know about stylists (or at least myself) - since we spend so much time pulling and scouting clothes for other people, we rarely take the time to shop for ourselves. It's true! But I ended up getting lucky and finding a gorgeous white lace dress at Bloomingdales one afternoon when I was prepping for a client. 

Left to right: Anthropologie beaded clutch, Kate Spade earrings, Bardot dress, Enzo Angiolini espardilles, Banana Republic chambray shirt, Old Navy flip flops, woven beach bag, Banana Republic shirts, sarong from Italy, Kate Spade bracelet and earrings, Missoni sunglasses, Steve Madden sandals, Helmet Lang dress, white cotton dress, Nine West sandals, Old Navy striped bikini

Use What You Already Own

The rest of the items I pulled from my own closet and added in a new denim dress and bikini from Old Navy. Since we don't have much opportunity in San Francisco to wear hot weather clothes, I didn't want to invest in pieces that I wouldn't wear often. I had actually paid full price for the dress in the store and then found it on sale online for 60% off. Shopping tip: if you buy something in the store always check to see if there's a sale online. Usually can you get it at a better price!

Resist the Urge to Overpack

Kimberly helped me pull all of my outfits together. She is a pro-packer and knows how to keep things down to a minimum, whereas I tend to want to add extra things in at the last minute just in case. In this case, I only ended up wearing about 1/3 of my clothes. My days were spent in a bikini and wrap and at night I threw on a dress and flip flops.

Always Remember To Pack Sunblock

My recommendation for packing for a beach vacation is to keep it simple and easy. Less is definitely more and you don't want to wear anything that is overcomplicated... especially when dealing with 90 degree heat! Oh, and pack lots of sunblock. I may have learned that lesson the hard way.

Stay Stylish,
M

Going for Gold: Behind the Seams of 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony

The Olympics have officially begun! While Kimberly and I are fans of gymnastics, it seems like fashion at the opening ceremony has become an event of its own in recent years. Team USA made their Rio entrance in Ralph Lauren, France wore Lacoste and Italy was decked out in Armani.

See all of the fashion from the opening ceremonies and find out what designers each country wore. 

Go Team USA!
K&M

Mens Shoes That are High on Style and Comfort

Megan and I have been inspired by footwear lately and earlier this week I blogged about how a change in shoes can create a quick style update.  There are so many great brands on the market that are concentrating on comfort and style. Today we are sharing our favorite mens casual styles that incorporate both so well!

Stay Stylish,

K&M

Allbirds Wool Runners $95

This New Zealand inspired Merino Wool sneaker has quickly become the talk of the town in SF. One of my clients actually first introduced me to Allbirds, raving about the comfort. The pairing of an urban sneaker that is suitable for running or lounging is perfect for the west coast mindset. I like the technical design, clean sole and neutral color options. They offer women's styles too and have partnered with a few local brands for limited edition styles!

Geox Mattis High Tops $220

Geox is another brand that has historically been comfort driven in design.  We love this modern take on the high top that is one part sneaker, one part boot. Paired with jeans or a track pant these will get you where you need to go.

Tretorn Otto Washed Canvas $50

Another long standing (1891 est.) sneaker brand, Tretorn, is a swedish brand built on quality.  These summery sneaks are a nice alternative to boat shoes and pair well with shorts or denim.

Naot Pilot $200

We love the Naot technology that includes an anatomical footbed that mirrors your footprint. These suede chukas have cork in the soles, so they'll absorb impact with every step. A pinch nicer that a sneaker, these dress up a pair of jeans or pair well with chinos.

Sole Relief: A High Heel That Actually Provides Comfort

IAttention ladies, we have good news. A comfortable, yes... really comfortable, high heel shoe may now actually exist! Dr. Joan Oloff, a California podiatrist, has redone the structure of the traditional heel to make it more comfortable. Read more here!

The Espadrille Make Over: DIY Your Way to on Trend Shoes

The easiest way to change your wardrobe is by updating your shoes

If you follow us on Instagram, you'll know that a good portion of our posts are shoes.  This is no accident, one of the easiest ways to quickly update your wardrobe is by updating your shoes.  A smart pair of shoes reflect not only craftsmanship and quality, but also trend and a healthy dose of personality.  As a stylist, I love looking at my clients' shoe collections, it will tell me a lot about them and where we need to go in a quick glance.

The DIY Pom Pom Espadrille

So, as we enter into the last month of summer, we thought it would be fun to play with a trend that has been very popular this season: The Pom Pom Espadrille.  I've owned a pair of neutral espadrilles for a few years and purchased them knowing that they could be temporarily switched up with a little creativity. 

How to Update Your Look without Committing

I still really like my current espadrilles and want to go back to them in the future, so I devised a plan for a temporary change. Like any trend it will die off in a year or two and I don't want to commit to that. Below are directions on how to easily build your own. It took me about an hour to put everything together--but the result was worth it and the cost savings was substantial!

Stay Stylish,

K&M

What you will need:

• Hollywood Fashion Tape
• Scissors
• Needle
• Pins
• Thread
• Snaps (if you want to reuse your laces)
• Laces/Cording (I used 1/2 yard per shoes, test how much you want to tie around your ankles)
• 4 Pom Poms
• Decorative Fringe Trim/Ribbon (I measured the base of my shoe and added 1/4 for fold over)
• Plain Espadrilles of your choice (Soludos has a similar here)

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3&4

Voila! New shoes for the season

Step 1: Sew (or glue with hot glue) snaps on connection point between pom poms and laces. Take care to fold over the laces for a clean finish and insure the snaps are the right sides. (I left the cording on the pom poms to make them easier to attach)

Step 2: Hand stitch (or hot glue) Ribbon on fringe for decorative finish. Pin layers together for stability when sewing.

Step 3: Lace the new cording through the shoes and snap on pom poms

Step 4: Cut Hollywood tape into small sections and affix to edge of shoes, making sure you have tape at end points and center.

Step 5: Stick fringe/ribbon on top of tape and press down for several seconds.

You are done! Enjoy and check that tape is holding after each wear, update as needed.

Yes Way Rosé: Jumping on the Frosé Trend

A few weeks ago a new word entered my cocktail vocabulary: Frosé. One of my good friends introduced me to a summer cocktail that is taking the East Coast by storm. She shared this recipe over a girls dinner and the vote was unanimous--Frosé is here to stay and West Coast friendly.

So, what is this drink and what makes it special?  A take on Rose, Frosé is the Elsa to the pink vino sisterhood. It's simple to make and incredibly refreshing during the summer heat. It does take a little planning to account for freeze time, but the rosé can be frozen in advance to cut down on prep time. Below is the recipe we used derived from Rick Martinez/ Bon Appetit magazine.

We hope you enjoy and it is equally as great sans alcohol with spritzer and lemonade as the frozen base.

Cheers,

K&M

 

Frozè (Frozen Rosè)

Ingredients

SERVINGS: MAKES 4–6

• 1 750 ml bottle hearty, bold rosé (such as a Pinot Noir or Merlot rosé)
• 1/2 c sugar
• 8 ounces strawberries, hulled, quartered
• 1/2 c fresh lemon juice

Preparation

• Pour rosé equally divided into three ziplock quart bags and freeze until almost solid (it won't completely solidify due to the alcohol), at least 3-6 hours. Like Sangria, the quality of the rosé does not have to be high.

• Meanwhile, bring sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add strawberries, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes to infuse syrup with strawberry flavor. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl (do not press on solids); cover and chill until cold, about 30 minutes.

• Scrape rosé into a blender. Add lemon juice, 1/2 c strawberry syrup, and 1 c crushed ice and purée until smooth. Transfer blender jar to freezer and freeze until frosé is thickened (aim for milkshake consistency), 25–35 minutes.

• Blend again until frosé is slushy. Divide among glasses. Garnish with mint or basil.

Let's Hear It For The Boys: Men's Trends to Watch For

Men's fashion can sometimes feel like it takes a backseat to women's clothing. But here at Canvas we love working with both men and women. So today, in honor of all of our fashionable men out there, here's a great read on the surprising trends that came out of summer's runway shows (hint: expect to see blonde hair, lots of hats and even some wide-leg pants). And while we won't be asking any of our clients to go platinum just yet, it is good insight into where future men's trends will be coming from.

Stay Stylish,
K&M

Ladies Who Picnic: An Afternoon with Taylor Stitch

One part of our job that Megan and I love is connecting people with local emerging brands and products.  What makes it even more exciting is championing women who are making their mark in business locally. The Bay Area has a unique talent pool of movers and shakers, but what we love best about the friends we've made over the years is their passion and grounded sensibility in building a greater community.

This Spring we caught wind that Taylor Stitch was bringing their "California cool" to the world of women's fashion and knew we had to jump on the bandwagon. When Megan and I saw their intro Indigo collection, we loved the quality, price points and easy of mix and matching pieces. These are clothes that you'll want to wear everyday. 

So we decided to gather up a group of our favorite ladies in SF to "power picnic" and try out Taylor Stitch's newest threads together.  When else do we get to sip rose with girlfriends and play dress up? Our gal pal, Theresa Lee, also joined the party and brought along her socially conscious line of Future Glory bags to complete our styling vision. They are handmade and incredible!

Below are a few snaps of our favorite looks on a group of ladies who make everything oh so lovely and always fun! A special thanks to Nathaniel Gerdes for capturing the moments and Jenny Meyers for lending a hand behind the scenes.

Make sure to check out the Taylor Stitch website to see their complete women's and men's lines. If you are new to the Taylor Stitch concept, they have two purchase methods: discounted crowdfunded workshop pre-purchase and retail ready to go. If you want to make one of these pieces your own, be sure to sign up with your email on the Taylor Stitch website and receive 20% off your first purchase.

Stay Stylish,
K&M

What We Are Wearing:

• Theresa: Sausalito Pocket Tee ($48), Isla Chambray Pant ($98), Madewell Oxfords (similar), Goorin Hat **The pants are now funded, so sign up for a retail purchase reminder)
• Nnena: Venice Dress ($168), Sunhee Moon Skinny belt ($88)
• Megan: Kimono Wrap ($158), Jigsaw Lace Camisole ($45), Natural Denim Greenwhich Pant ($128)
• Kimberly: Kathrine Indigo Striped Shirt ($125), Mira Dress ($118), 
• Melissa:  Orinda Silk Blouse (in production, sign up for purchase reminder), Greenwhich Chambray Pants ($128), Goorin Straw Hat (similar)
• Cassie: Denim jacket (similar), Luciana necklace ($58), Loma Dress in Olive ($168), Goorin Hat (Similar)

Dancing Toward the Weekend: Our Summer Playlist

Summer is in full swing, the temperature is rising and in the Canvas office we feel like dancing. To celebrate getting one day closer to the weekend, we've put together a new playlist of what's keeping us moving right now. Enjoy!

CANVAS SUMMER PLAYLIST

1. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake
2. Cheap Thrills - Sia ft. Sean Paul
3. This Girl - Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners
4. Something' Bad - Miranda Lambert
5. Revolution - Diplo
6. Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane
7. Featherstone - The Paper Kites
8. One Day Like This - Elbow

Stay Stylish,
K&M