Zara does basic very well. The striped shirt and blazer will get ample mileage.

Zara is a store I visit regularly and often spend hours and hours in. I actually prefer to shop there alone (unsupervised = dangerous), but it gives me an opportunity to look at everything (since there’s always new stock) and try them on the countless pieces I pull. This weekend was no different. 45 minutes later, I officially adopted the chunky knit trend - a wide collared cardigan and oversized scarf and light-washed skinny jeans. Here are a few more looks in store.

Faux fur makes everything more glamourous.

A fun Friday night outfit. Love the look of this spaced out oversized tee and jeggings.

This looks like a modern take on the classic grandpa sweater cardigan. Cardigans are definitely a favourite of mine cause they’re so easy to wear and cozy.

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Girl of the Week, EMAN AZIZ has been spotted beautifying Style Spy girls at our past events. A professional makeup artist, you can catch Eman working on fashion, print and video shoots or providing makeup expertise at Make Up For Ever at The Bay downtown. Sweet as can be, meet Eman.

I’m rockin…Bedo Leggings, H&M collared shirt, French Connection belt and Zara shoes. I’m also wearing a handmade, one-of-a-kind brooche by a local designer named Timothy Hung. His pieces are amazing and they are all unique and personalized. I love his stuff.

Daily essentials…Black liquid eyeliner, a good pair of boots and a tall non-fat vanilla latte.

Current obsession…Lady Gaga. I’m obsessed with her style, her makeup, her music, and her crazy antics. I love it all.

Shop Till You Drop…Everywhere! H&M, Urban Outfitters, Bedo, Aritizia, Blubird, Holts, Twigg & Hottie, American Apparel, Zara, my guilty pleasure Forever 21, I could go on and on.

Style inspiration/icons…I love Ashley Olsen - she always knows how to make either dressing up or dressing down look amazing. Rihanna - her style has evolved so much and everything she wears is fierce. I’m also inspired by fashion I see on the runways and fashion I see everyday on the streets. Plus, I love reading fashion blogs and getting inspiration from them.

Won’t leave my home without…My blackberry, my mini makeup kit (with my touchup essentials) and my umbrella (hey it is vancouver, you never know).

Must-have beauty product…All 10 shades of Make Up For Ever’s Glossy Full glosses - I can’t live without them.

Go-to-gloss…#4 Glossy Full Gloss by Make Up For Ever. It’s great to wear on it’s own or wear over top liner or lipstick.

Best drugstore line…Maybelline, they’ve got great mascaras.

Playing on the iPod…Everything and anything! Tonnes of Britney, Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon, Metric and Black Eyed Peas.

Dream collaborator…For makeup artists it would be top celebrity makeup artist Billy B and for photographers I would say the amazing Mario Testino who’s shot everything from Burberry and Gucci to Princess Diana.

Erica Lam, The Style Spy
erica@thestylespy.com

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What’s old can definitely be updated and made new again. Last month, Aldo launched a contest to promote Aldo DIY, a collection of studs, buttons and bows to embellish and update your accessories in a flash. The public was invited to “design it yourself” and use different materials to give their pair of shoes or bag a one of a kind look. Judged by industry insiders at Teen Vogue and Aldo, Vancouver’s very own shoe lover, blogger and DIY extraordinaire, Aimee Laurel was a contest finalist. Aimee livened up and transformed the wedge heel of her favorite Aldo mary janes by hammering and covering the heel in gold thumb tacks. Drawing inspiration from a Jeffrey Campbell wedge bootie, the juxtaposition of demure mary janes with some major hardware reflects Aimee’s own hard and soft fashion style. A personal shoe creation that she absolutely loves and a tribute to her shoe fetish and Aldo addiction - now that’s seriously crafty.

Aldo Lucresha studs $4 CAD
Mittag Multi-Chain & Broach $20 CAD
Oats Bows $6.98 CAD

Jan Tong, The Style Spy
jan@thestylespy.com

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It’s catfights and cake fights on tonight’s episode of the City. Erin and Olivia showdown at work while Roxy and Whitney have an awkward cake fight on the set of Whitney’s photo shoot for her collection’s look book. It’s all a little uncomfortable but highly fashionable. Let’s shop our way through the second to last episode of The City.

- Wow that was quick. Three episodes ago, they were just sketches and now little Whitney has a complete line. The magic of television.
- At the models casting for Whitney’s look book, one quick critical and judgemental look from Kelly Cutrone and you’re a model who’s either in or out in one second flat
- Liking Roxy’s green racer back dress with black booties, or is that dress actually a top? With Roxy, you never know
- It’s hilarious to hear Kelly say “fairy tale tea party” when discussing Whitney’s look book theme. Kelly’s like a bull in a china shop. Can’t see her at a tea party, ever.
- Not loving Whitney’s denim overalls/corset top. Too farm girl.
- Whitney’s collection is totally my style. Girly, soft colour palettes with some fun party dresses thrown in. Don’t even get me started about the lovely tea party theme. I’m happy to see that Whitney’s collection has some depth and isn’t just made out of jersey fabric. Ahem, Lauren Conrad, you know who you are.
- I couldn’t help but get a little giddy when Whitney clocked Roxy in the head with some cake at the look book shoot. I can only hope it was Whitney’s passive aggressive attempt to get Roxy back for leading her astray in episodes 1-7.
- When pulling looks for another Today show segment for Elle, Bryn suggests a slinky black sequined dress for the size 14 model to which Olivia responds: “I could pull it off, I just don’t know about everyone else” Amazing.
- I felt a little warm and fuzzy inside when Olivia went shopping in the same black and grey striped blazer she wore in last week’s episode. It’s nice to know that “socials” repeat outfits as well. I guess the recession has really affected us all.
- Love the model’s sweater with the sequined shoulders. Must find when I go to NYC next week.
- Looks like Whitney was inspired by her fairy tale tea party. Her flouncy pink and blue top and skirt at the People’s Revolution office is just scrumptious if not a bit on the Stepford wife side.
- Kelly Cutrone’s wearing zebra booties! Girlfriend may sport the boring black teas, but she knows how to accessorize with footwear.

Best Outfit of the Night: Whitney’s clothing collection was the focal point of this episode and I loved all of it. Fun, girly, party looks. Must see it live in stores to see if the quality is up to snuff.

Needs a restyle: Whitney’s denim overall/corset top at the look book model casting. Totally not a fan.

We’re almost done prancing through the fashions of The City. Sadness. Until next week’s season finale.

Jan Tong, The Style Spy
jan@thestylespy.com

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