Today we went 😜 with styling hacks! Watch the fun night with @k_positiv below. Krishna is a Hamiltonian who found out about our store during our Bollywood Event last June, and she has been following us ever since. Krishna is 5’5” and has a bra size of 34C. She is a little short-waisted and has broader shoulders. Her waist measurement is 33,” and her hips are 42”. She generally wears a size medium in tops and a medium/large in bottoms. This recap will be a bit different from our usual blog posts as the playing dress-up spirit really got us, and we tried style hacks and pairings we have never done before! Enjoy the show and check out the collection linked below!

Shop Krishna's Picks here!

Front Tie Top

Krishna was drawn to this Front Tie top while looking around the store as we got set up for our live. She absolutely loved the style and it was her favourite shade of blue! This top ended up going home with  Krishna. 

Tapered Tunic 

Krishna tried on the Tapered Tunic and liked the style! She loved that it was a very comfortable style and that she won't have to worry about how she looked throughout the day! Krishna liked the embroidery of this piece and liked either side to the front. Our Tapered Tunics are one of our styles with a wider neck which may not work for some of our customers who are narrower in the shoulders. We thought the wide neckline suited Krishna's features, and she shared that she would also use the broader neckline in styling the piece as an off-the-shoulder top! Some of our younger customers, like Krishna, style this piece as a dress with chunky heels! This one, in particular, is quite sheer, so if Krishna were to style it as a dress, she would need something underneath, like our Mina slip dress. The Tapered Tunic style was a 100% yes for Krishna, who agreed that these pieces are great for those with South Asian heritage who may have grown up in a more Western lifestyle, as it is a great way to rock your heritage in a more modern style!

Shrug 

Next, Krishna tried on the Shrug, which looked amazing! She loved the flow and drape of the piece but felt it wasn't her favourite style. Krishna wished it either covered more in the front or less as it makes whatever clothing you are pairing with it underneath disappear. Ultimately, she thought the style was beautiful, but it was a maybe for her. We also tried our Shrug style hack to create a better fit along the arms or back: gather some of the fabric along the bottom of the opening, clip it, or tuck it into the back of whatever bottoms your pair with the Shrug. This fantastic hack leaves the back of the piece straight so no one can tell you have done anything, and the Shrug fits more comfortably!

Poncho 

Krishna loved the Capelet Poncho and how versatile the piece was! The Poncho is a great piece; you can wear any side to the front and create a different look! By spinning the top around, you get a kimono sleeve style, an asymmetrical poncho length, and a tunic length style! Krishna is pictured wearing the Poncho asymmetrically with the arm tucked in to create a shorter sleeve on one side. Such a fun and creative way to style the Poncho! We also tried a style hack Mira uses when working in a Poncho. Mira puts all the fabric to the back at the neck to create a cape, and you can pull it down in the front a little to create a more hi-lo style. We then tried pairing the cape style over a maxi dress after one of our lovely customers, Margo Croteau, suggested putting them together for a very classy look! This is where our playing dress-up started to descend into fashion chaos!

Short Kaftan

Krishna tried on the Short Kaftan after the Midi Kaftan. We were interested to see if this style was as elongating as the Midi. She loved the Short Kaftan style and was slowly falling in love with all of SariKNOTsari! She loved that each piece felt so comfortable and flattering for the body. The drape of many of our styles comes out and then skims down, so you never have to worry about your appearance; you can feel confident! Krishna thought that the Short Kaftan was an excellent piece for her closet, and it was made from such a soft sari. When styling it for herself, Krishna said she would pair it with long boots or jeans and liked tucking the bottom corner in. Krishna also said she would want to wear something underneath, like a slip dress or different underpinnings.

Midi Kaftan

The Midi Kaftan was a real winner for Krishna; she absolutely loved the style! We were interested to see whether the long style would suit Krishna, and it was just perfect for her! The midi length elongated Krishna's figure; a common feature among South Asian women is for them to be short-waisted, so pieces that cut off at the hip highlight the short waist. In contrast, something cut longer, like the Midi Kaftan, elongates their figure. Furthermore, by trying on the Midi Kaftan, we realized that the V neck flatters Krishna's features more than the rounded neck. Because Krishna has a shorter neck and a more oval face, adding the V adds to the overall length as more skin is visible. We realized that the Midi Kaftan was the style for Krishna, so we just had to focus on finding the perfect fabric! Krishna first tried on the purple Midi Kaftan, and it looked beautiful as it brightened up her complexion and popped. We thought it was the winner, but then she tried on the Peach Midi, and we knew we had found the perfect piece. The peach Midi Kaftan is made out of chiffon silk, a material much lighter than the georgette, the two types of sheer silks we carry, so the drape and flow will be gorgeous because they are so thin. The peach was flattering with the black underpinnings underneath as it elongated and defined her natural figure. The style was a complete yes, and she loved the peach Midi Kaftan as she couldn't get over the fabric. 

Sculptural Tunic Dress

Krishna shared that she loves peacock greens and blues, so as soon as we saw this Sculptural Tunic Dress, we knew she had to try it on! It even paired perfectly with the peacock Mary Francis bag! So cute! She loved the drape and the cut on the bottom of the dress. While Krishna was trying on the dress, one of our viewers asked about what size the dress fits up to. The Sculptural Tunic Dress fits comfortably up to someone who is a 38C as the style is tight around the bust but flares out just underneath, so there is room for your hips, and you get a beautiful skirt. Krishna loved this piece, especially the pattern.

Self Pocket Dress

When Krishna first put on the Self-Pocket Dress, she had it on backwards, and it still looked gorgeous! The pocket may be on the backside; however, the back seam down the center creates a beautiful shape that channels the very tailored look of the 60s. Once the dress was turned to the original styling with the pocket to the front, Krishna loved the style even more! She found it less boxy this way and loved the pocket in the dress. Krishna was so sweet and positive to work with. We had such a blast styling and having fashion fun with her!

Phryne Dress 

Krishna was drawn to the Phryne dress when looking around the store. First, she tried on a size medium in Nemesia (on the right) and liked it; however, she felt it was a bit roomy on the shoulders. This was unexpected for Krishna as she shared that she usually fitted a medium well and was surprised there was still more room in the dress. Krishna then tried on the small in Zinnia (on the left), which looked amazing on her and was so flattering! She felt more comfortable in the small and absolutely loved the colour of the coral, a definitive yes! Because the Brynn Walker is so well-tailored and quite generously made in a beautiful fabric, Krishna, who thought she would initially be a medium, could fit an XS if we had it!

Phryne Dress with Shrug

We tried pairing it with the Shrug in a strike of creativity and loved the look! The Shrug highlighted the beautiful sleeves on the Phryne dress, and the funky pattern created a remarkable contrast. Priya shared that through working in fashion, her sense of style has started opening up as she has begun letting go of certain fashion 'faux pas". She loved the ruffle sleeve of the Phryne dress with the Shrug, even though it was a pairing only a few would initially try, as both have dramatic sleeves. Krishna also loved the look and thought the styling was so fun!

Boxy Babydoll Dress

By this point in our dress-up, Krishna had so much joy embracing that childlike fun and just playing dress-up! We were overjoyed that she was enjoying her time as that is the goal of our playing dress up's with you all: to feel no pressure to buy at all and have a chance to escape into the world of fabrics, silks, fun, and nostalgia of playing with clothes! The following style Krishna tried on was the Boxy Babydoll Dress. She tried on the brown dress first and put it on backwards again! However, with all our clothes, it doesn't matter which side is to the front as they are fully reversible! The brown dress was gorgeous, with the Fuschia detailing made of satin. Although she loved the fabric, Krishna wanted to try on a crepe Babydoll Dress as the brown one was too sheer. We chose a buttery soft floral Boxy Babydoll for Krishna to try on, as it was a gorgeous crepe, and she loves roses. Krishna absolutely loved this Boxy Babydoll Dress and couldn't get over the pattern. The dress's background colour is grey, making the flowers pop more without it being overwhelming. Krishna preferred the non-sheer Boxy Babydoll, so she didn't have to worry about underpinnings but mostly couldn't get over the fabric. So luxurious!

Maxi Dress 

Maxi Dress with Poncho

While we were playing around with styling the Capelet Poncho, it was suggested we pair the Poncho styled as a cape with our Maxi Dress, so we raced to grab one! She looked gorgeous in the maxi dress before we even added the Poncho! We styled the Maxi Dress to create a deeper V by spinning the dress so that the side that typically goes to the armpit is moved to the front. We found through trying on the other styles in the store that a deep V or V neckline suits Krishna. We styled the Poncho as a cape over the Maxi Dress, and we realized it looked like the dreamiest dupatta, a length of material worn as a scarf in places like India! In the picture above, Krishna has styled the Poncho as the kimono sleeve length with one side tucked into her shirt sleeve to create an asymmetrical look.

Maxi Dress with Vest 

Once we styled the Capelet Poncho with the Maxi Dress, we wanted to see what else we could play around with! We tried styling the Vest with the Maxi Dress, and although it wasn't the right shade of green, we started to get a good idea of how you could play with the styles. We first tried the Vest as an asymmetrical top over the Maxi Dress, a very quick yet elegant look! Then, we tried a styling technique that our coworker Ryan thought up on one of our mannequins: he put the Vest over the Maxi Dress, tied the belt through the arms, pulling the belt from the outside to the inside of the arm, creating an empire waist. He then tied the belt at the back under the Vest. When we recreated this technique, we had the shorter side to the front however having the longer side to the front instead would suit the dress pairing better. Krishna loved the Vest Maxi Dress pairing and the perfect layering effect created through the styling technique. We, along with our viewers, thought she looked like Cinderella!

Maxi Dress with Hi Lo

Krishna then tried on the Hi-Lo top, one of the staff's favourite styles, on top of the Maxi Dress. We felt this pairing was a lot of fabric and wasn't doing anything for Krishna, so we tried belting it with one of our sashes for a thicker belt to create more of a figure. We belted the Hi-Lo through the arms, tying it behind the back under the back of the top. It made such a gorgeous ethereal look! Krishna loved the styling; she loved how it was structured in the front and flowy in the back, creating a lovely little cape. We were so in love with the look we called over Shefali, and she joined us for the rest of the fashion chaos!

Maxi Dress with Midi Kaftan 

While playing around, one of our viewers, Margo, suggested styling the Maxi Dress with the Midi Kaftan on top. We found that when it was full length, you lost the dress skirt and thus the intention of combining the fabrics. So, with Shefali, the fashionista leading the charge, we created a styling technique on the spot. We hiked up the Midi Kaftan, bunching it in the back. We tied one of our sashes around Krishna's waist, tying the bow first. Finally, we tucked the bunched fabric into the bow to secure it. The result was just fantastic! The long bow at the back was adorable and looked so sweet in contrast to the brown of the Kaftan. The Kaftan over the dress was such an elegant look, way to go, Margo, for the idea! This styling and the others we tried this night were very easy. It was fantastic! If you enjoyed these creative stylings, definitely purchase a ticket for our fashion show in collaboration with Masala Gala to raise funds and attention towards human trafficking here in Canada and India. We have been crafting some fantastic looks with our silks, and the show will be at the Gage Greenhouse!

Maxi Dress with Kimono Sleeved Duster 

The final styling we tried with this Maxi Dress was pairing it with a dark Duster. We belted the Duster open with the bow to the back so the dress wasn't completely hidden. Krishna loved the contrast of the dark Duster with the light dress and how it pulled from the red in the skirt. This pairing goes to show how fabrics are so surprising! We have had this Maxi Dress for some time at the store and never realized how well it matched so many of our other pieces! A perfect base for creative fashion!

Jumpsuit 

Jumpsuit with Vest 

After loving the styling techniques we tried with the Maxi Dress, we were excited to see how to style the Jumpsuit. We love styling the Jumpsuit with a little top underneath like Krishna has here. Krishna loved the Jumpsuit and the option of having the dual pattern on one side or the floral on the other. We first paired a Vest with the Jumpsuit styled as an asymmetrical top with the shorter side to the front (pictured above). She looked terrific, and it was such a classic look! We thought that the shape created with the two styles was very similar to the shape created when wearing a sari or other Indian clothing! Krishna agreed, saying she felt like she was off to yoga because of how flowy the outfit was and how light she felt. Krishna couldn't get over the colours of the Vest as the pattern was made up of a very cool shade of green that seemed like a grey. Only when the Vest is paired with the Jumpsuit does the actual colour of the green come forth, a very neutral piece that worked to create such a whimsical look!

Jumpsuit with Boxy Top 

Focusing on using the Jumpsuit as harem pants, we paired the floral Jumpsuit with an essential solid Boxy Top. You must build further for this look through accessories like our statement necklaces from Suzie Blue. For this look, we layered one of the pink and grey mixed-shape necklaces with a Suzie Blue pink heart pendant necklace. Having this chunky jewellery added to the look while maintaining that light feel by styling wooden jewellery. At this point in the night, we were praising Krishna at this point for being such a positive, willing participant in our fashion ideas as we just kept throwing different fabrics and styles at her all night

Jumpsuit with Kimono Sleeved Top

Next, we tried pairing the Kimono Sleeve Top with the Jumpsuit. We first tried the green one (pictured on the left) and absolutely loved it! Shefali is the styling queen of our store, putting two fabrics together we would never think to use! Shefali saw the vision, sharing that these two pieces work together because they are both cool tones while the solid colour of the green pops and elevates the outfit. With this Kimono Sleeved Top, we used the belt to crop and secure the top over the Jumpsuit, blousing it at the back to create a hi-lo look. Once we tried the green Kimono Sleeve Top, we had to try another, so we grabbed a beautiful coral piece. Krishna loved this one even more than the last, as she loves pink so much! Krishna was giddy over this outfit because she looked and felt amazing! And we couldn't agree more!

Jumpsuit with Kimono Sleeved Jacket  

The last style we tried with this Jumpsuit was the Kimono Sleeved Jacket. We styled this vibrant pink and blue jacket by tying it in the front to create a blouse-like top. Although both patterns may seem busy, they work together similarly to the Kimono Sleeve top and the Jumpsuit, as the solid bright colour pairs nicely with the overall grey tones. We didn't end up using the belt to secure the jacket, so our innovative Shefali came in to turn the belt into an accessory. She wrapped the belt around Krishna's wrist to create a fabulous bracelet. Krishna loved the look and thought it was so funky!

We wanted to try a different jumpsuit, especially one that is more colourful and embroidered, as we carry many jumpsuits with such gorgeous designs and handwork. We tied this jumpsuit as a halter top to see what it would look like with a different neckline when paired with our other pieces. We found a beautiful Kimono Sleeved Jacket with the same colours and lovely sparkle detailing. First, we styled it the same as the last jacket, tying it in the front to create a fantastic blouse-like jacket. Next, we tried a styling technique Mira has been rocking, in which she styles the jacket the same way but wears it backwards so that the opening is to the back. She then secures the top at the length she prefers by tying the belt around her waist. Krishna loved the look; she felt it would be perfect for an event and loved how the patterns complimented each other. When tied this way, it creates a Kimono Sleeve top with more coverage in the front with a gorgeous open back that highlights whichever beautiful fabric you pair underneath.

Playing Dress Up With Denise and Barb!

Today we played dress up with longtime friends, Denise and Barb. While they look like they could be twins , their body shapes are just a little different. Denise is five foot five inches tall . She is short-waisted and wears a bra size of 34DD. Her bust waist and hip measurements are 38 inches, 31 inches and 38 inches respectively. Barb is 5 foot 5 1/2 inches tall, long waisted and wears a bra size of 36C. Her bust waist and hip measurements are 38 1/2 inches, 35 inches and 39 1/2 inches respectively.

 You can find all the pieces these lovely ladies tried on at this link!

Tops By Length

Boxy Top 

Barb: 

The first Boxy Top that Barb tried on was crepe silk (opaque fabric), and it felt a little short. She is longer-waisted, so she felt that while it was a beautiful piece, it was too short. We thought the Boxy Top style had potential, so we tried a different pattern and silk. Although not pictured, Barb tried on a sheer Boxy, which had a slightly longer cut, and she loved the print! Coincidently it was the same pattern that she pulled for her waterfall top! You will soon notice these lovely ladies have an eye for their chosen patterns! The final one Barb tried on was a boxy top with a sequinned black border. This Boxy Top was shorter than the last, and the black border made the top appear shorter when layered over Barb's black underpinnings. The sheer fabric works best on Barb, as it has a nicer drape!

Denise:

Denise had brought in a cardigan that she wanted to find a Boxy Top to match, and she found one that worked perfectly! Having the matching Duster for a Boxy/Duster set was an added bonus. Denise loves Boxy Tops! They are short; however, she wears them with longer underpinnings. She said that without the long underpinnings, she wouldn't wear the style. Oops, inside-out seam! When trying on her pieces, we realized Denise was wearing one of them inside out, but it was hard to tell because of our artists' excellent work in India! The French seam gets us all, our team and Denise!

Kimono Sleeve Top 

Barb: 

Barb tried on a crepe silk Kimono Sleeved Top, not pictured, that was a little stiff, so she tried on a different one. The one above looked much better, and Barb liked it much more! The second Kimono-Sleeved Top had a lovely drape and looked phenomenal on!

Denise: 

 The Kimono-Sleeved Top is definitely Denise's style! She first tried on the Kimono-Sleeved Top pictured on the left. The warm-toned piece Denise tried on was a faux silk piece made of malai silk, a cellulose-based material, which means it is not 100% silk. Because it is not 100% silk, it is a part of our Wabi Sabi Collection. Denise thought this top was very cute and liked that this one wasn't sheer as she only has sheer ones at home. She likes that the style is less boxy looking than she thought and that they are a great light piece for warmth on a cool night. Denise tried on many Kimono-Sleeved Tops throughout the night, and each one looked terrific!

Hi Lo Top 

Barb: 

Barb loved the Hi-Lo Top style! She loved the details of the Hi-Lo, like the borders and the beautiful cut. The purple one she tried on first was one of her favourites. Barb loved having the look of the boxy top but with a more flattering length. Barb then tried on the orange leaf Hi-Lo Top that is part of our Wabi Sabi Collection, as it's also made of Malai silk. Although these pieces aren't 100% silk, they are buttery soft, which Barb really liked! The last Hi-Lo she tried was the turquoise one made from the same fabric as the short kaftan she chose. The blue one looked fabulous on her as well. She definitely found her style!

Denise: 

Denise tried on a beautiful earth-toned Hi-Lo that had some beautiful greens! She loved the piece and the panelling on the pattern. The Hi-Lo Denise chose had a gorgeous gold and green threaded border that really elevated the piece!

Front Tie Top 

Barb: 

Barb tried on a beautiful Front Tie, pictured on the right, but we could not place the actual colour of the pink shade! The piece was a beautiful crepe silk and looked amazing when paired with our Casbah linen pants. Barb also tried on a lovely floral digital print Front Tie. This piece had a gorgeous green embroidered shoulder that looked so good on her. She likes to style the Front Tie Top by tying it in the front and tucking in the ribbon. It's the perfect blouse!

Denise:

Denise is familiar with the Front Tie Top and shared a style hack she uses when wearing hers at home. She takes the ribbon and ties the knot behind her back so it is hidden; it looks cute in the front, and there's coverage in the back! Denise also tried on a similar Front Tie Top and Kimono-Sleeved Jacket set, pictured under the Kimono-Sleeved Jacket style. She was surprised as it wasn't a pattern she would have picked for herself, but she loved it nonetheless! Denise likes to pair the Front Tie with pants or a skirt when styling the piece.

Waterfall Top 

Barb: 

Barb first tried on the animal print Waterfall Top, which looked amazing! She loved the pattern so much that she had pulled multiple pieces in it without realizing it! Barb liked the Waterfall style more than the Tapered Tunic as she loved the shape and how it was a more narrow style. This is definitely her cut! She looked so good we pulled a few more pieces in this style for her to try on. She looked great in the pink Waterfall with the flowers but wasn't a fan of the yellow and the look with a sheer fabric. Barb tried on a third Waterfall that was not pictured that she liked better; she found she was more of a fan of abstract patterns. While having fun styling the Waterfall on Barb, we played around with the piece's versatility, like tucking the front of the piece to create a similar look to our Hi-Lo top!

Denise:

Denise loved the Waterfall Top style; she always wears hers and pairs it with the matching cardigan! The first Waterfall she tried on was the two-toned pink one pictured above; however, she wasn't a fan of the pattern. Denise did not like the look of the circles on their shoulder. She found that she prefers more integrated patterns rather than two contrasting patterns. She tried on a beautiful periwinkle Waterfall Top afterwards, unfortunately not pictured, that she really liked as the tones and patterns suited her much better than the pink.

Side Tie Top 

Barb: 

Barb tried on a few Side-Tie Tops to find the best fit for her! She first tried the pink Side Tie pictured above but did not like the pattern as she thought it did not do much for her. Barb said that she looks best and gravitates towards dynamic patterns, so we pulled a sheer magenta side tie for her to try on. She looked great and loved the design. A very cute and effortless style, Barb likes to leave it untied to create a long blouse look!

Denise:

This was the first time Denise tried on the Side Tie style! She liked styling it with the sides tied, pulled long for a more structured blouse. Her final thoughts on the style: she liked it and thought it was excellent!

Short Kaftan 

Barb: 

Barb tried on a black and white Short Kaftan and loved the drape! She thought the fabric was fun, and the glittery stripe on the side made the piece extravagant! This piece was a definitive yes for Barb and was very flattering. Barb loved this piece because it was one of the first crepe silks she tried on during the dress-up. We grabbed a sheer Short Kaftan to see the difference in fabric and drape compared to the crepe. The piece we grabbed was the same fabric as the vest Barb pulled for herself! She looked amazing in the sheer piece as well. She shared that she likes to create an asymmetrical look when wearing it by tying the bottom corner.

Denise: 

The Short Kaftan was another style that Denise had not tried before, and she liked it! She loved the styling possibilities with this piece: tucking in the front, tucking in the whole piece like a blouse, or even belting it! No matter how she styled it, Denise looked great in the short kaftan!

Tapered Tunic 

Barb: 

Barb tried on the Tapered Tunic and loved the piece's look and drape! This piece looked beautiful on Barb and is a style that suits so many of our customers. This is why we can't get rid of the Tapered Tunic, cause it just looks so great on!

Layering Pieces  

Shrug 

Barb: 

Barb loved the Shrug and the gorgeous shape it created. She liked the pattern of the one she tried on and loved it even more when she flipped the Shrug, so most of the cream colour was on the sleeve. Such an elegant look! Barb showed how the Shrug is such a simple yet beautiful staple to add a pop of colour to your outfit.

Denise: 

Denise looked spectacular in the Shrug, further proving this style suits everyone! Denise tried on a neutral-toned Shrug first and thought it looked great! She then tried on a beautiful blue Shrug, and we found the matching Maxi Dress in the store! She loved the matching set, and we thought she looked marvellous!

Capelet Poncho  

Denise: 

Denise tried on a beautifully patterned Poncho, and she looked gorgeous in it! She liked styling it to look similar to the Kimono-Sleeved Top but loved the diagonal look better! Denise has a natural eye for styling pieces as she quickly pulled on the Elk Casbah linen pants to pair with the Poncho. We couldn't get over how perfect the Elk pants were for the look! Denise shared that she recently bought a pair in Elk for herself and found that it matches almost everything in her closet!

Kimono Sleeved Jacket 

Barb: 

When Barb was styling the Kimono Sleeved Jacket, she didn't tie the belt around her waist. Instead, she found it was more flattering and felt more comfortable feeding the belt through the arms of the Jacket. Styling the Jacket this way creates a beautiful shape without being restrictive and leaves a beautiful drape on the back of the piece. We also played around with style and did the Cardigan Style Hack with the Kimono Jacket; however, we used a magnetic button to create a more cape-like jacket style. Fabulous!

Denise:

Denise really enjoyed styling the Kimono-Sleeved Jacket! She paired the Jacket with a Front Tie Top with the same pattern but a different colour palette. By playing on the similarities of the pieces, the resulting look was very cool! Denise also tried the backwards style hack with the Kimono-Sleeved Jacket and created a collared blouse Jacket!

Cardigan

Barb: 

Barb had first pulled the gorgeous green Boxy Top to try on, and we knew she had to pair it with the matching Cardigan! The matching set looked amazing on her, so we wanted to see it with the Cardigan Style Hack: put on the Cardigan backwards, ruche up the front of the Cardigan and put it over your head, then straighten out the fabric to create a longer jacket style with lapels. We thought she looked amazing, and the set was so sweet!

Denise: 

Denise was quite familiar with our Cardigan style and pulled a piece that she had recently added to her wish list. As pictured above, the Cardigan was gorgeous; however, she thought it was more vibrant online. The colour she thought was royal blue was more of a denim in person, which she thought was lovely! She was attracted to the piece because of the pattern, as she liked the contrast of the delicate flowers with the striking stripes along the bottom.

Versatile Vest 

Barb: 

When trying on the Vest, we noticed Barb had pulled the same pattern in the Short Kaftan, so it was no surprise when she said that this piece was a yes! Barb likes the Vest for its versatility and loved the look when styled as the asymmetrical top, as pictured above. We could tell that Barb watched the videos as she showed us how easy it was to turn the Vest into a scarf in the blink of an eye!

Denise:

Denise looked amazing in the versatile Vest style! She found another piece on her wish list for a while, a beautiful dark green Wabi-Sabi Vest (not pictured). She finally got to try it on in person, and it looked so elegant! The beautiful piece was very rich, with such a gorgeous gold border.

Kimono Sleeved Duster

Denise: 

Denise initially pulled the Boxy top, and we found the matching georgette silk Kimono Sleeve Duster! Denise came in wearing a Duster of her own styled in the coolest way, so we had to ask her to show us how! Denise styled the Duster by tying the bottom of the front with a large knot and tying a knot in the sleeves. Then she added a chunky belt she found in her closet to add some weight to the flowy look! It looks amazing!

Dresses 

Midi Length Kaftan 

Barb: 

Barb really liked the Midi Length Kaftan, which looked beautiful on her! She loved the small details of the piece, like the cool gold triangle pattern only on the shoulders. The Midi Length Kaftan is a yes!

Denise:

Denise tried on a few Midi Length Kaftans but felt the piece didn't fit in with her personal tastes. She tried on a gorgeous blue Kaftan, pictured above, and she loved the fabric but felt it was too much material. Denise tried tying the bottom corner of the Kaftan to create an asymmetrical look which she did like a bit better. Denise had also pulled a gorgeous sheer piece because she loved the fabric, which looked like a stained glass window. She styled this Kaftan differently by belting it with a chunky belt and pairing it with a heavy cardigan. Denise liked this more because it was more fitted and found she wasn't swimming in fabric. Denise decided the Midi Length Kaftan was not the style for her; however, her creative styling prompted one of our viewers to ask Denise what she thought the best underpinning to pair with the silks would be. Denise shared that leggings are one of the best underpinnings to pair with the silks, like our terra leggings, and a comfortable tank top like our blue sky or orange village tanks. Denise definitely has some excellent styling wisdom!

One Shoulder Dress

Barb: 

Barb first tried on the One-Shoulder Dress on the right with the multicoloured flowers. Although she loved the style, she thought the colours were too muted for her, and the pattern needed to pop more. She then tried on the jewel-toned One-Shoulder and loved it! It was the perfect colouring for her and was very flattering. The One-Shoulder dress is such a stunning piece!

Denise: 

Throughout the live, we had been discussing one of the sari fabrics at the store called Peggy Bacon. Finally, although unfortunately not pictured, Denise tried on the fabric in the One-Shoulder Dress! Each sari we use can make around three pieces for our store, a vest in this fabric sold during the live, so the remaining pieces, this One-Shoulder and the Front Tie Top are the last of the pattern. Denise is more narrow in the shoulders, so when wearing the One Shoulder Dress, we pinned the neckline with one of our magnetic buttons so it sat more comfortably! Denise looked absolutely gorgeous in this piece and paired it with her cropped leggings. Once again, Denise's great eye caught that the Peggy Bacon fabric has the same shade of millpond blue in our Casbah linen pants! A perfect pair!

Boxy Babydoll Dress

Barb: 

The first Boxy Babydoll Dress that Barb tried on, not pictures, was a blue crepe silk; however, we felt that it was not doing anything for her. The fabric was a little stiffer, which affected the silk drape, and the vertical line pattern on the dress was too busy. We went to grab a dress in a different fabric, one that was sheer, to see whether the drape of the piece would be different. Coincidentally we grabbed the same fabric as a Kimono Sleeved Jacket she tried on earlier, pictured above! The sheer Boxy Babydoll Dress looked completely different on her, and she loved it! She looked amazing in the sheer fabric compared to the opaque one. The final Boxy Babydoll was a yes! Try pairing it with the Mina bamboo slip dress if you want to wear a sheer Babydoll without heavy underpinnings underneath.

Denise:

Denise was hesitant about trying the Boxy Babydoll dress as it is another piece with a more "boho" flowy look that she doesn't often gravitate to. She loved the fabric but found it too much for her. Denise styled the Babydoll dress with her belt to look more like a skirted tunic, and she liked the look a lot better because there was less fabric. Ultimately she thought that the Boxy Babydoll was a cute style, just not something she would wear herself.

Sculptural Tunic Dress

Barb: 

Our Sculptural Tunic dresses have been going like crazy, so there was only one left in the whole store! Barb did not love the style for herself, though, as she found it sat weird on the bust and wasn't a fan of the shape it created.

Self-Pocket Dress

Barb: 

Compared to the Sculptural Tunic dress, Barb liked this style much better, and we thought it looked adorable on her! The Self-Pocket is a very flattering style, especially in sheer! The dress that Barb tried on was part of our Wabi Sabi Collection.

Denise:

Denise was worried that the crepe silks in this style would sit awkwardly, but she was very pleased with how it felt and looked! This dress, in particular, was a more busy pattern than Denise usually wears, but she absolutely loved the style. She likes to style the dress with leggings paired underneath to add a bit more weight to the outfit and add some balance.

Jumpsuit 

Barb: 

Barb was not a fan of the Jumpsuit style on herself as she found it landed in a weird spot. With this particular style, we found that the underpinnings were weighing down the look, so Barb pulled up her leggings to see how they would look with a lighter feel. It looked so good on her, and she did like the style more without the underpinnings underneath but was still not a fan. While she felt the Jumpsuit was fun and comfortable, it was not a style for her.

Denise: 

Denise looked terrific in the Jumpsuit! She liked the split pattern on the legs of the jumpsuit and prefers to style the Jumpsuit with the belt to create a more structured shape!

Maxi Dress

Barb: 

Barb tied the dress with the deeper V to the front when putting on the Maxi Dress style. With the Maxi Dress, there are two necklines you can create, the first being the original rounded V neckline and the second being the side that is usually the armpit. When the straps are tied with the armpit side to the front, it creates a deeper V that is perfect for a different look and more comfortable for those with larger busts. Barb didn't like belting the dress, preferring a more slip-styled dress. However, she didn't let the belt go to waste, using it as an accessory like a scarf. She looked stunning in the dress and very sweet with the layers underneath, making it great for all seasons!

Denise:

Denise is quite familiar with our Maxi Dress style. She was one of our incredible models for our breakfast television segment and showed off the beautiful style! We found a matching Shrug, and Maxi Dress set that Denise loved! She likes to belt the Maxi Dress to create more of a definitive waist and looks great in it! Denise shared that she isn't usually a dress person, but she thinks the Maxi Dresses are magnificent!

Playing Dress Up With Lynn and Vicki!

This week we had our fun try-on with the styling professionals at Suttles and Seawinds! Both ladies are 5'5". Vicki is a medium on top and a large on the bottom. She is short-waisted. Lynn is a small on top and a medium on the bottom and is longer waisted.

 You can find all the pieces these lovely ladies tried on at this link!

Tops (by length)

Boxy Top

Lynn: 

Lynn found that the Boxy Tops felt a little short on her because she is long-waisted. Although the style is short, she would style it to her comfort by wearing something underneath for arm coverage or pairing the top with a pair of high-waisted jeans so she could give the Boxy a french tuck. Despite the style not being for her, Lynn likes the Boxy top as a layering piece for all seasons and absolutely adored the colour palette of the one she tried on.

Vicki: 

Vicki agreed with Lynn that the Boxy felt too short for her as she felt it highlights her tum because of where it landed. She also agreed that she would style it with longer underpinnings and high-waisted pants to complement the look! We have found that the Boxy Top style has a smaller size range than our other pieces because we make this piece with the small remaining portions of the sari after making the other styles. On our upcoming trip to India, we plan to work closely with our team on figuring out a style similar to our front tie style in length without the tie for those who love the Boxy Top but not the length. 

Kimono Sleeved Top 

 Lynn: 

Lynn was drawn to this Kimono Sleeved Top because she loved the colour and the embroidered trim on the back of the piece up-cycled from the sari lining. This colour was so flattering on Lynn and brought out the beautiful colours in her features. Although we can all agree that Lynn looks great, she said she wouldn't buy the piece for herself as she loves pieces with a bit more going on with the fabric or the embroidery. When discussing styling the kimono-sleeved top for those with narrow shoulders, viewers shared that using shoulder pads could help improve the drape. 

Vicki:

A fan of blue! When Vicki picked out this beautiful piece for herself, we noticed a colour pattern in her taste! She loved the fabric but would not choose this style for herself because she felt it needed to be longer and made her appear wide. We played with the versatility of the Kimono Sleeved Top by tying the sleeves, which adds more structure to the piece and weight for a different drape. When styled this way, Vicki liked the top more and would try the Kimono Sleeved Top styled this way with a longer underpinning. We suggest trying the Kimono Sleeved Top with the Orange Village Hi-Lo if you find the top too short as well. 

Hi Lo Top

 Lynn:

Lynn really liked the Hi-Lo top! She thought it was an effortless style, perfect as a beach cover-up or for going out at night! She also shared a style hack, tying the corners and making it asymmetrical for petite ladies, as Lynn has narrow shoulders. Lynn would also love to try styling the Hi-Lo top with a belt! 

Vicki:

Vicki absolutely loved the print and the colours! We were trying to figure out the decade of the print as it was just so cool -- possibly from the 80s or 90s. Vicki loved that the Hi-Lo top looks fancy with minimal effort! They looked fabulous; it was a yes for both ladies!

Side Tie Top 

Lynn: 

Lynn was a fan of the Side Tie Tunic and was really able to show her style through the piece! She styled it long and untied as an easy outfit to wear to the beach, then looked fabulous as she tucked it like a blouse, which she thinks would look great with wide-leg pants like the Bryn Walker Casbah. Lynn even used one of our scrunchies to create a knot on the inside of the piece creating a different drape. The Side Tie Tunic style was a yes for Lynn! We think that a sheer fabric would also look great on her and give a better drape since the one Lynn tried on was a thicker weave than usual.

 Vicki:

Vicki tried on a very flattering side tie, showing how much the difference in thickness of the fabric really affects the drape! Unlike Lynn, Vickie loves the feel of the Side Tie tied as she finds the structure with the ties flattering. This style was a big yes for Vicki; she also loved the versatility of the neckline!

Waterfall Top

 Lynn: 

Lynn and Vicki tried on the Waterfall Top next. This is one of the store's newer styles, and we absolutely love it. The waterfall top has two panels at the front to give a more column look, so you don't look boxy, with great slits that give you easy access to pockets and create a beautiful drape. Lynn loved this top and found it was another great style to play around with! The Waterfall Top Lynn tried on was all black on one side, and when the all-black is front-facing, there is a beautiful marigold flower print on the back for a pop of colour. Lynn said she would style this piece with a belt or by tucking the front in for a mini hi-lo look.

Vicki:

The Waterfall Top was also a fan favourite with Vicki as she came dancing toward the camera! She loved the colour and how it brought out her features. In her words, it is so much a yes! And she loved the sheer fabric!

Short Kaftan Tunic

Lynn: 

The next style we tried on was the Short Kaftan. Lynn found that the style was too much fabric on her and preferred the Kaftan when she could style it with a tuck or a pinched look. She tested the same elastic hack she had tried earlier with the side tie tunic and found that it made all the difference! She loved the gorgeous embroidery of the piece. Still, she ultimately decided that she would only wear the Short Kaftan if she could pin it in a way so that it did not feel like too much fabric. Lynn tried on many pieces made from a crepe fabric when trying styles, and we found that she often felt overwhelmed by these styles. We think sheer silks would be better to highlight her figure. 

Vicki:

Vicki absolutely loved the piece and the fabric! When wearing the Short Kaftan, Vicki prefers to style it with the v-neckline to the front. She felt very fancy and loved the minimal effort it took to feel and look so beautiful!

Layering Pieces 

Shrug 

Lynn:

Lynn loved the Shrug style and was a fan of how it drapes so that the fabric is visible from the front, but when layered, it won't hide the top underneath. We found the material beneath, and posture does affect how the shrug sits, but we have style hacks that can help to keep it on, like pinning or tucking the bottom inner seam! Lynn surprised us by creating a beautiful cowl neck scarf on the spot with a shrug in a fantastic style hack! She then tried on a second shrug cause the fabric just called her! A piece with beautiful embroidery and a pattern that features people and temples. She looked even better in the sheer fabric!

Vicki:

Vicki loves the Shrug and, specifically, the purple fabric! We noticed that Vicki had already started figuring out her SariKNOTSari style as she gravitated towards the sheer fabrics when picking pieces. When styling this piece, Vicki would wear the Shrug with a dress if she wanted something that would cover her shoulders but elevate an outfit. Vicki also surprised us with a style hack by creating a large blouse scarf by putting both sleeves of the Shrug over your head. These professionals are keeping us on our toes!

Poncho 

 Lynn: 

The Poncho was another style Lynn loved for its versatility, and she looked fantastic wearing it asymmetrically! She showed us many style hacks, like tucking the sleeve through the neckline or trying the bottom of one sleeve to create a different asymmetrical look. However, Lynn really blew our minds by styling the Poncho as a scarf and creating a French loop tie! she put the Poncho around her neck, put her hand through the neck hole, grabbed the rest of the scarf and pulled it through, securing it perfectly, and it looks beautiful! You can also put one corner of the Poncho through the neck hole, then tie the two sides together to create a beautiful knot! Lynn really is the Poncho pro!

Vicki: 

Vicki loved the design and look of the Capelet Poncho, and she looked just as marvellous in it! Vicki tucked the ends of the front of the poncho into the sleeves of her underpinnings to prevent the piece from spinning; what a good idea!

Kimono Sleeved Jacket 

 Lynn:

Lynn loved the fabric she chose for the Kimono-Style Jacket; she gravitated toward the pattern because of the two designs on the front of the Jacket. The juxtaposition adds a fun and funky vibe to the Jacket that Lynn loves to look for in her fashion! She loved this style and, despite having a narrow figure, she didn't "feel lost" in the fabric, which many of our petite customers are concerned about when considering purchasing the Kimono Jacket style. Lynn liked to style the Jacket by running the belt through the arms of the Jacket and then wrapping the belt around her waist in the interior of the Jacket. By doing so, she felt more comfortable with the created shape and found the arms weren't restricted. Lynn also played around with the style hack we got from our lovely customer Jackie Newell and made a gorgeous blouse that looked very French! So creative!

Vicki: 

Vicki tried on a crepe silk kimono sleeve jacket, which was one of the few crepe silk pieces she tried on during dress-up! She also liked the style and found it very flattering, especially when tying the belt on the inside like Lynn. Vicki also tried the fun styling hack of tying the bottom of the slits in the jacket together, creating more of a curved line in the front.

Cardigan

 Lynn: 

Lynn really liked the Cardigan style; it was an added plus that we had one in one of her favourite colours! Lynn is already quite familiar with the Cardigan. She knew immediately to drop the V at the back between her shoulder blades to get that angled cut in the front. When the Cardigan style is pulled too forward, you can lose the shape the hem creates, and you will instead get more of a straight cut along the bottom. Lynn also tried the styling hack for the Cardigan to make a jacket with lapels, a styling trick that Lynn liked and felt was very flattering!

Vicki: 

Vicki looked terrific in the Cardigan and loved the style! Vicki created a beautiful look using the Cardigan by tying the ends crossed behind her neck to create a lovely shawl/poncho combo that was so elegant! The Cardigan was a big yes for Vicki. 

Vest 

Lynn: 

Lynn loved the Vest, especially when styled as an asymmetrical top! She found the asymmetrical styling of the Vest very funky and such a creative way of playing around with your clothing! A styling trick Lynn would love to try would be to belt the Vest to create a gorgeous top to pair with leggings or over a dress.

Vicki: 

The vest was such a yes for Vicki! She absolutely loves the drape, colour and style! Just gorgeous!

Kimono Sleeved Duster

Lynn: 

When Lynn tried on the Kimono-Sleeved Duster, she was surprised by such a gorgeous pattern as she said that it was one she wouldn't have picked for herself but loved the colours. Lynn styled the Duster by tying the knot across the back rather than the front to leave it open. This is an excellent idea if it feels like too much fabric, as it cinches the waist and any excess fabric. She also shared that you could tie it across the back through the sleeves, tying the knot on this inside of the Duster at the back if you aren't a fan of the belt or ribbon showing. What a fabulous idea!

Vicki: 

Vicki loved everything about it! The colour, the pattern, the drape- all beautiful! Vicki likes to tie the belt on herself without including the Kimono-Sleeved Duster, as she likes the flow of the silk when it isn't tied down.

Dresses

Midi Length Kaftan 

 Lynn:

Lynn loved the Midi Length Kaftan, especially the beautiful yellow colour and fabric! She also loved the minor detail of the tiny flowers we use to mend our pieces to upcycle the silks and give them a new life! For styling the Midi Kaftan, Lynn said she would love to try belting it; however, it may limit arm movement. If you are interested in styling the Kaftan like Lynn but are also concerned about arm movement, we suggest bunching or pinching the fabric to the side or center, as Lynn did with the short Kaftan.

Vicki: 

Vicki fell head over heels in love with this piece and the pattern. Vicki shared that her whole life has been about lovely prints, and the Midi Kaftan she tried on was just breathtaking!

Boxy Babydoll

 Lynn: 

When trying on the Boxy Babydoll dress, Lynn felt like it was too much fabric for her; however, we thought there was a chance that the navy patch in the center of the piece was throwing off how it looked as it drew your eye to the center rather than across. Although it is not pictured, Lynn tried on a different Boxy Babydoll dress afterwards, and the new pattern made all the difference! In this style, she needs a fabric with a design that moves to carry the eye across in sheer silk.

Vicki: 

Vicki chose the same fabric for her Boxy Babydoll as her kimono jacket, which means she chose two of the three pieces made from that sari! Vicki really liked the style as she has some Boxy Babydolls at home! Another plus about the piece that Vicki tried on was that it was made from crepe silk, so you dont have to wear anything underneath if you want to carry the dress over into warmer seasons!

Self Pocket Tunic Dress

 Lynn: 

Lynn loved this piece! She couldn't get over the gorgeous colour pallet and the perfectly soft silk this dress was made of. Lynn said she would wear this dress over the Babydoll because it has a similar look without the excess fabric.

Vicki: 

Vicki tried on a blue sheer Self Pocket dress and loved it! All you need is a slip and a lovely necklace, and you'd be ready for an event! Vicki thought this dress would be beautiful to wear to a wedding!

And here's the highlights video :-)

You can find all the pieces that Nicky tried on at this link.

Tops (by length)

Boxy Top

Nicki was not a fan of the boxy top! Although she loved the beautiful fabrics, Nicky liked our longer styles better and found that the boxy top cut her off at an awkward spot. We learned that she loves the flowy styled tops and quickly moved on from the boxy's!

Kimono-Sleeved Top

The kimono styled top was a pleasant surprise for Nicky! She was concerned that it may cut her off, much like the boxy top, because of the similar length. However, she really liked how the fabric draped when on and loved the elegant detail of the sleeves. Nicky gravitates to flowy styles right down to her love of flared legged jeans, so this style was very comfortable for her, she felt gorgeous in it, and could easily see being a part of her daily wardrobe!

Hi Lo Top

Nicky absolutely loved the Hi-lo top! She really liked the light blue, though she said she wouldn't have considered the colour for herself, and really liked where the top landed in the front! She found that she loved the style but the neutral colour was not for her, she loves fabrics that pop!

Front Tie Top

Nicky liked the front tie top style! She loved the colour of the piece and really liked where the piece landed!

Waterfall Top

The waterfall top was a real winner for Nicky! She especially loved the royal blue piece which she picked out because the embroidery reminds her of that from Ecuador and felt like home. She also liked that the high slits meant easy acess to her pockets. We found the waterfall was a very slimming and flattering style for Nicky.  

Long Tunic with Side Ties

Really liked the side tie top, especially how she was able to control how it sits at her waist with the ties. She also really liked the fun fabric! 

Tunic Length Kaftan

When we first pulled the short kaftan, we thought that the piece was going to be too much fabric and may look like she was swimming in fabric. However, we were pleasantly surprised! Nicky considered both of the blue kaftans to go home with her as she loved the fit, drape, and felt very comfortable. She loved the embroidery of the first piece as it didn't add weight to the drape and had a beautiful subtle sparkle. She also noted that she really liked the drape of the sleeve without having to deal with the excess fabric we see with the kimono sleeved top. Overall, Nicky loved this style for the comfort and the look of having the top shorter in the front while longer on the sides. 

Tapered Tunic

 Nicky is our model for tapered tunics so we knew that this style would be amazing on her! She mentioned that she already has many at home and loved that you can wear it at full length or hiked up to sit at her waist. Her favourite was the tie dye piece, one of the pieces she considered buying, for the bright colours and the neat mirror detailing.

Layering Pieces

Shrug

 Nicky loves the shrug style and wears hers all the time! She loved the fun vibrant pink shrug with the gorgeous sparkling detail! The shrug is such an amazing piece for its versatility, it can be worn as both a shrug and a scarf as Nicky demonstrates! We also tried Mira's shrug hack where you tuck the inner bottom of the shrug in the waist band of your pants to keep the shrug from moving around or falling off the shoulders.

Poncho

Nicky absolutely loved the poncho! She ended up going home with the beautiful blue poncho as she fell in love with the amazing silver detailing technique called Mukesh. 

Kimono-Sleeved Jacket

Nicky loves the kimono sleeve jacket! She has many of them at home and says they are a great piece to add colour to her daily wardrobe.

Cardigan

 Nicky loved the fabric and the style of the cardigan! We tried out the flipping hack to get a new shape from the piece. Although it was very nice, we found that it flattered her better styled the first way. 

Versatile Vest

 Loved the versatile vest and all the various ways you can style this incredible piece! Although the colour was not for her, she is still a fan of the style! 

Kimono Sleeved Duster

 Nicky had a lot of fun styling the Kimono duster! She really liked the monochrome underpinnings with the duster, saying it was something she wouldn't think to do when creating an outfit. She felt very regal in these beautiful pieces! She felt like the first fabric was regal on its own but felt that she was the regal one in the second fabric! It's clear she loved the style but found the second one she tried on significantly better because of the drape of georgette silks. Although it is gorgeous, embroidery can sometimes add weight to the pieces that causes the fabric to be a bit stiff. We had a lot of fun trying on the dusters! Despite being comfy at home, Nicky's hubby was a big helper in making decisions about the pieces Nicky tried. Both she and her husband were blown away by the fusiza duster! She is a lover of colour but was surprised how amazing this vibrant piece looked on her! Nicky perfectly shows what a difference the silk can look like on the rack compared to when it is being worn!

Dresses

Midi Length Kaftan

Nicky was not a fan of the midi length kaftan! She felt it was too long and felt like it was wearing her. However, she did like the elastic technique for the piece as it creates the asymmetrical look she tends to gravitate to!

Jumpsuit

 Nicky was not a fan of the jumpsuit style. Although she thought the fabrics were beautiful, she did not like the length of the piece. The legs of the jumpsuit comes down to a peak to create a palazzo pant look however this cut was too long for Nicky. The bottom of the piece really throws her off as the peak brings her down with the shortest part being quite high, ultimately making her look and feel shorter and more grounded. This was also why she was not a fan of the stripped jumpsuit as the pattern brought your eye down and the length was not flattering with her height.  

Maxi Dress

 The maxi dress is on of Nicky's favourite styles. She loves how much wear she is able to get out of each dress as she wore them all throughout her pregnancy, before, and after, saving her from having to buy a completely new wardrobe. Nicky also loved the versatility with the piece!  She liked the shape created with the border when the maxi dress was turned to the side. This styling of the dress was perfect for Nicky's height as the longest parts at the bottom were now to the side with the shorter sides to the front eliminating any fears of tripping!

Not pictured here is her trying on one of the more embroidered dresses that we carry. We have recently found that heavily embroidered pieces are often shorter and, with this one, Nicky found it was quite tight in the breast. The one she tried is one of the pieces we had from the last shipment where they ran a bit small as our team tried to most efficiently use the fabric of the sari, which resulted in a tighter width at the top of the piece. She later tried on the final maxi dress, the brown and green one, which is made to be more size-inclusive as we try new ways of creating our maxi dress to avoid the tight width at the top

Boxy Babydoll Dress

 Nicky liked the fabrics of the babydoll dress but the style wasn't for her as she felt like it was wearing her. She liked the top part of the dress but found that the bottom sat at an awkward spot. Nicky preferred dresses made from a stiffer silk because there was more shape to the dress making it look less overwhelming with fabric. She also really liked that the sheer pieces highlighted her natural figure that was lost with the other baby doll dresses she tried. 

Self Pocket Dress

 Nicky has tried this style before, and even has a few at home, but this is the first time she tried on a sheer version. With the help of Nicky's hubby over live, we picked out the pink dress which ended up going home with her as they were both in love with it! The pink was her favourite look because of the colour and print. We found that moving patterns and abstract bright looks reflected her style more as she does not often wear darker tones. Once we realized the cut worked well for Nicky, we focused on fabric. The pink dress Nicky loved has a pattern that moves across the dress while the other fabrics created walls of colour that needed something added to make it pop. It is through playing dress up like this that we can really figure out your style and what to look for!

One-Shoulder Dress

Nicky loved the one shoulder dress as an evening dress! She loved the embroidered fabric, though she found it a little scratchy (but she said it was worth it). She really liked the drape and style of the piece so we focused on finding the perfect fabric! The black one shoulder dress ended up being a show stopper, and Nicky loved the piece even more with our sheer top underneath to give a more balanced look. 

Casbah Pant and Huxley tank in Bamboo

The Casbah pant was a style that Nicky wasn't initially going to try as she does not typically lean towards linen because she finds the creasing affects the drape of the piece when wearing it. Although she liked the wide leg style of the pant, Nicky was not a big fan of them on herself. The Casbah pant typically lands at the ankle however, with Nicky's height, she found she had to wear them to rest below her natural waist line ultimately losing the shape they create as they look more like full pants rather than the shorter pant style the Casbah is supposed to be. Based on Nicky's height, we talked about how the other style Bryn Walker pant we have coming in, the Renzo Pant, would be a better fit for Nicky because it has ruching along the side to control length, eliminating the extra fabric at the bottom that we see with the large Casbah Pant pocket. Although the pants were not a favourite, Nicky loved the Huxley bamboo! She thought it was very comfortable, an amazing bamboo piece, and thought fit perfectly!

Orange Village Hi Lo Tank

A very comfortable top, Nicky loved this piece!

What we discovered is that Ellen looks best in our dress styles that elongate her body, even though she actually looked pretty darn good in everything! 

Tops 

Boxy Top

Ellen was not a fan of the boxy top. She felt that it landed at the wrong spot for her—she said she would have liked it if it were a tad shorter or longer. We tried it under a duster, which worked better but still seemed to cut her in the wrong spot. 

Kimono-Sleeved Top

Because the boxy top felt short, we didn’t have high hopes to the Kimono-Sleeved Top, but we were wrong! It looked amazing on Ellen. We felt it would look even better if she were wearing dress pants instead of leggings. The style worked beautifully with her frame.

Hi Lo Top

The Hi Lo top was also elegant on Ellen. There was nothing not to love!

Front Tie Top

We decided that this style would work on Ellen if she had to have a blouse under a jacket or sweater, but we didn’t like it on its own, either frontwards or backwards because of the length. 

Waterfall Top

We loved this style! We tried it on both frontwards and backwards, and decided that we preferred when Ellen wore it, so that the front and left sides were different as opposed to the same. The big surprise was when we tried it on with a matching versatile vest, we couldn’t believe how graceful and flowy Ellen looked.

Long Tunic with Side Ties

We liked the style, but we felt that it cut in a little bit too much under the arm and ran a little too closely to her body along the sides. The length was great.

Tunic Length Kaftan

We already knew that Ellen would look beautifully proportioned in the midi length kaftan so we had our doubts about the shorter version. If we had to choose between the two, we would definitely prefer Ellen in the longer kaftan, but we liked the look of the short kaftan, perhaps as a bathing suit cover-up or with long boots. 

Tapered Tunic

This sheer style looked great on Ellen. We think it was flattering because it had the larger neck line, and because it was so sheer that you could see her body through the fabric.

Layering Pieces

Shrug

The shrug style did fit Allan, but she said she didn’t feel comfortable with just fabric on her arms and nowhere else. Even when we tried it on with a matching maxi dress, she just felt like it wasn’t the style for her.

Poncho

Ellens favourite way of wearing the poncho was tunic style with the longer side at the front and back. Because the kimono sleeved top looked so great on her, we knew that this style would also work if she styled it that way, squared with the shorter side to the front and back. Wearing the poncho asymmetrically also looked great. 

Kimono-Sleeved Jacket

Again, the issue we had with the style was that we had already seen Ellen in the longer version and preferred those elongating styles on her. We definitely did not like this piece flipped upside down and worn bolero style. It just seemed to add too much fabric around Ellen’s shoulders. 

Cardigan

The cardigan style was breathtaking on Ellen. We loved it when she were at the usual way, and then blew our minds when she flipped it upside down and wore it, using the “styling hack“.

Versatile Vest

We tried the vest on Ellen in a bunch of different ways, and decided it worked best on her as an asymmetrical top. 

Kimono Sleeved Duster

This style was a no-brainer. Ellen preferred it without the belt.  We realized that a matching boxy top underneath would probably be less flattering than a long tunic with side ties would be underneath. 

Dresses

We can’t say enough about how well this style suited Ellen! She was made for the longer dress styles for sure!

Midi Length Kaftan

Jumpsuit

Ellen’s extra height made the jumpsuit fall to the exact right length on her. Another winner!

Maxi Dress

We loved the maxi dress, tied at the shoulders and also halter style. We realized that Ellen looked better in vertical lines, then with big blocks of colour on the front of the dress.

Boxy Babydoll Dress

Ellen have never tried a boxy babydoll dress and she loved the style so much it made her do a spin :-)

Self Pocket Dress

The self pocket dress also looked like it was made for her body type. Beautiful! 

One-Shoulder Dress

By far Ellen’s favourite style is the one shoulder dress, which sets so beautifully on her shoulders, and shows off her curves and legs to advantage. 

You can watch the entire Dress Up Video Here:

Sandy and Katharine are sisters with similar bodies but different heights—Sandy is the taller of the two at 5’8” and Katharine is slighter shorter at 5’4”. 

Both wear size medium/large or a size 12 in most clothes, and both wear size 38C bras. 

Shefali and Mira were on hand to join in the fun.

This is what we learned about which styles best suit these two lovely ladies!

TOPS 

Katharine

There were a lot of first time tries for Kat! Personally she usually purchases ponchos, versatile vests, Hi Lo tops and kimono sleeved tops, and hadn’t branched out to our longer tunic length top styles. She loved the side tie tunic top, especially when turned to the back! And the length worked really well on her. She found the front tie top to not be as flattering. During the live, she tried it on with the tie to the front, and did not love how the tie looked when just loosely tied and dropped down. However we tightened the tie and turned the top into a blouse, and she liked that a lot more! The waterfall top was a new favourite of Kat’s. She loved the way it draped from the side, and we found that georgette silks fell better on her than the crepe silk we picked. When trying on the tapered tunic, she wasn’t at first a fan of how wide the top was. However the style grew on her, and she prefers the sheer silks. The boxy top in a sheer silk was another style she hadn’t tried before, but she ended up loving it!!

Sandy

Sandy’s selection of tops usually are Hi Lo, Side ties, and ponchos! Generally with all styles, she liked to wear them with the V to the back. Unlike her sister, Sandy prefers less vivid colours, and leans to earthier tones with greys that match her hair. Blues also worked great on her! She loved the kimono sleeved top, but prefers the ponchos due to their versatility. This was her first time trying on the front tie, and she wore it so the tie was to the back! She loved it, and tightened it around her to create a blouse that worked amazingly on her. The tapered tunic Sandy picked out was very fun, and she accessorized with an array of fun coloured coconut shell and wood beaded bracelets.

 

 

LAYERING STYLES

Katharine

Kat owns a few dusters, jackets, and tried those on during the live to show off how nice they looked on her! We found a beautiful jacket that had the most amazing embroidery! She usually wears the tie as a neck scarf, adding some personal flair. We also found that the cardigan looked great on her, using the styling hack of flipping the style over your head. (Check out our reels to find out how!) One style that Kat didn’t love as much was the shrug style, which we found looked good on her!! It was just that she wasn’t used to wearing that style, so she didn’t feel as comfortable in it. 

Sandy

Sandy had never worn a short jacket, and she loved it when worn using our upside down hack. We then added a button to create a square shape that added some sculpt, and really showcased the colours in the silk! The colours of the jacket she wore were particular favourites! The duster worn with the boxy top was a great set, and she loved the colour and pattern of the set we found! Her favourite style however, was the waterfall top worn with a silk cardigan flipped over. It added beautiful sculpt with the lapels created, and even though the set was styled with very similar fabrics, nothing clashed!

 

DRESSES/LONGER STYLES 

Katharine

Kat already is a big fan of the sculptural tunic dress, maxi dress, and one shoulder dress! So it was no surprise that these styles looked amazing on her during the live! We also ended up loving the short and midi kaftan on her. We discussed how the sheer silks in the midi kaftan worked better on her height since you were able to see her frame beneath the fabric. The silk jumpsuit was a little long on her, but we found that this shipment of jumpsuits was longer than our usual length (this has been fixed on our tailors end!) Kat also liked the self pocket dress style, but she didn’t love the fabric choices we had in store (more are coming this shipment!) 

Sandy

Sandy has loved our midi length kaftans in the past, but she didn’t love the one she chose because of the beige background of the fabric.
But it is a style she loves and wears often! She was not a fan of the one shoulder dress, but liked it a lot more on her sister. The self pocket and boxy babydoll are long time favourites of hers, and she looked so good in the ones she picked! Sandy also tried on a few maxi dress and shrug sets, and felt groovy and free in everything! She felt like Stevie Nicks in the simpler silk patterned dress, but the sparklier fabrics made her feel like a beautiful wedding guest.

Michele is 5’6” tall and is the shortest in her family (with the exception of her grandchildren)! She has broader shoulders and narrower hips— an inverted triangle body shape. Her bra size is 36D and her bust, waist, and hip measurements are 40”, 34” and 40”. 

Tops

Michele is most comfortable in her favourite style, the long tunic with side ties. The style was the perfect length to even out the width of her shoulders and her hips without making her look boxy. She looked great wearing this style both with the V to the front and the back. 

 We quickly discovered that Michelle looks best in prints that are asymmetrical and randomly scattered across the fabric. Patterns that were too repetitive ended up looking boxy on her frame. We forgot to try on a front tie top even though Michele owns one and enjoys wearing it. Michele also owns boxy tops and enjoys wearing them with higher waisted pants and skirts.  Check out this one that she ended up buying--Michele loved the how the reversible top allowed her to choose between warm and cool tones depending on which side she wore to the front.

While the waterfall top suited Michele, she felt that there was just a little too much fabric for her liking. The sheer version, made from silk georgette had a better drape on her frame than did the same style in a crepe silk.

 The hi lo top, however, worked well on her body frame.

Michele was surprised that the tapered tunic looked as good as it did—she thought that there would be way too much fabric. 

Customers who watched our live felt that the kimono-sleeved top suited Michele, but she personally felt that there was too much fabric horizontally across her body for her liking. 

TOPPERS

Another clear winner was the versatile, vest style. This style worked extraordinarily well when worn with a longer back or a shorter back (styled as a vest) and with the vest worn as a top. 

Michele was immediately drawn to several of the cardigan styles. When she wore them with a solid black underpinning, the result was an elongating black column through the center, which was very flattering.

Michele owns a duster but we forgot to try one on today 🙈. We did try on the kimono sleeved jacket and liked the look of it.

Oops! I just realized we also forgot to try on a poncho 😬. I think we were having too much fun chatting to be meticulous about picking one of each style to try on 💕

DRESSES

As with Heather from our last episode, all the dresses looked amazing on Michele. The boxy baby doll dress worked best when the pattern was asymmetrical and the fabric was sheer. 

The maxi dresses and jumpsuits looked incredible! Michele loved the versatility and the flowy fabrics.

The jumpsuits were equally well-received:

Michele liked the sheer sculptural tunic dress and is looking forward to when we have more in stock. 

Michele came in wearing a self pocket dress that matched the funky felted wool in her hair. The one she tried on in store didn’t look as good as the one she came in with, mostly because there was a small pattern in a rectangular shape across her front, which we now realize doesn’t suit her frame. 

The jury is still out on whether the one shoulder dress suits or not—it was really hard to get a sense of the look over top of her long sleeved black underpinning. We did discover, though that longer vertical lines in that style dress suited her better than more blocked patterns. 

Michele was hesitant to try on a midi length kaftan, thinking it would be too much fabric, but we realized that sheer fabrics work really well on her and the kaftan looked flattering. 

Thank you so much Michele for your patience and positive energy! It was so much fun playing dress up with you ❤️❤️❤️!

You can see all the pieces she tried on at THIS LINK.

Jacqueline has been focussing on health and self care and as a result her body had changed shape and she was keen to see how all our styles would look in her.

Jacqueline already owns several chiangmaicctv styles but there were some she had shied away from…until today!

Jacqueline is 5’1.5” tall. Her bra size is 38D. Her measurements are bust 41”, waist 36” and hip 48”. She describes herself as short-waisted and pear-shaped. Generally in tops she wears a size medium. In bottoms, she generally wears a size 10 or a medium. EVERYTHING looked amazing on her! See for yourself 😉

Watch the whole video here:

And here are some of her individual looks:

Jacqueline looked amazing in both Crepe Silk Shrugs she tried on. She is a new fan of this style and like that the shrug can be worn with either side to the top for different looks. We both liked how the shrug looked when little knots were tied into the ends of the sleeves to narrow the sleeves at the wrists.

We were both fans of this sheer Boxy Top. The length was perfect on her with her petite frame and shorter waist. 

The embroidery on this Crepe Silk Poncho wowed us both. I like how Jacqueline tied the sides together in different ways to create asymmetry.

Jacqueline said she already owns some of the Long Tunic with Side Ties. The style was a no-brainer for her and she was really excited to try this colour which she doesn't usually wear. 

We kept trying on Kimono Sleeved Tops because they just looked SO GOOD!!

This first one is sheer.

This red and black one was crepe silk. Both fabrics worked for Jacqueline.

 We were both surprised by how wonderful this white sheer kimono sleeved top looked. Jacqueline liked that she could wear either side to the front for two different looks.

Jacqueline had never tried on a Versatile Vest before.

Her favourite way to wear it was as a top!

She was also a fan of the sparkly border on this second vest.

We both liked the style of this sheer Tapered Tunic on Jacqueline, but we weren't sure about the colour against her skin tone. 

We both decided that we preferred the styling flexibility of the Waterfall Top instead.

We paired it with the matching Cardigan and loved the look!

We also thought the Cardigan looked great as a standalone wardrobe staple.

The Cardigan below was a crepe silk. We discovered that both the crepe and the sheer cardigan suited Jacqueline. Neither overwhelmed her petite frame.

Here's another sheer Cardigan, tied in front for a different look.

How much fun was this Sheer Hi Lo Top!!! And that Pink!!!!

I had thought that the Midi Length Kaftan might be too much for Jacqueline's petite frame, but the colours were perfect, and with a pair of heels, she was ready for a (comfortable) night on the town!

The crepe silk Tunic-Length Kaftan looked a little boxy until we tried this little hack to create a gather in the front, then voila!

The same style in the georgette worked with a gather as well.

And the crepe one below featured a fun little tuck to create some asymmetry. 

Jacqueline already owns a Kimono-Sleeved Jacket and she likes to tie the belt through the armholes to cinch the waist in front. The one below is in crepe silk.

We tied the sheer version of the same style in front to create a top and Jacqueline has the terrific idea of wearing the belt as scarf around her neck.

The Kimono Sleeved Duster was a hit! Both the ones she tried on were sheer and neither were too long for her petite frame.

We tried on SO MANY Boxy Babydoll Dresses, but the red crepe one was our favourite. 

The One shoulder Dress was a clear winner. This one went home with Jacqueline. Watch the Youtube video to see the totally different look when she wore the back to the front (it's reversible!).

How much fun was this Silk Jumpsuit!!!

And then we moved into a more classic look with the same jumpsuit style in more muted tones.

Finally, this Maxi Dress went home with Jacqueline as well. We spun it around so that what would have been the underarm was at the front and then tied the shoulder straps to create halter style. Watch the video to see how we did it.

Tonight we played dress up with Marybeth from @paddleadventurer 🎉 Marybeth travels a lot, and she found that the silks were a great weight for packing and travelling.

Mary Beth was comfortable letting us know that she is approximately 5’2” tall, is approximately a 34C bust size, is short-waisted and curvier through the hips and thighs. She is slightly more narrow through the shoulders and bust.

She has trouble finding clothing that elongates her and doesn’t cut her at her widest points. We discovered that smaller prints didn’t overwhelm her petite frame. Also, anything that was asymmetrical or vertically striped made her appear taller, which is what she wanted. We had to be careful not to choose patterns that drew the eye towards her hips as Marybeth didn’t feel comfortable drawing attention there.

We discovered a bunch of styles that suited Marybeth’s petite frame.

Her best style was the boxy top which cut her at exactly the right spot and didn’t overwhelm her petite frame.

The vest was also a clear winner, and she like wearing it as a vest, a scarf, and as a top.

We were surprised that the long, kimono sleeved duster suited her as well as it did. We both thought it would be too long, but instead, it was extraordinarily flattering, especially when belted.

The poncho was another clear winner. Marybeth liked how she could wear it as a scarf and also in so many different ways as a top. It was just the right amount of fabric, so as not to overwhelm her petite frame.

The cardigan, maxi dress, and jumpsuit also looked amazing! The jumpsuit was a tiny bit long at the inseam, but we were able to belt it, or tie it to adjust the length slightly.

Both kaftan styles, the long tunic with side ties and the front tie top, all overwhelmed her petite frame .

The length was fine on the self pocket dress and the sculptral tunic dress but they seemed to be a little bit too much fabric around her more narrow chest and shoulder area.

Thank you so much Marybeth for playing dress up with us tonight!!!

Wondering what our styles look like on our customers? Ever wonder what pieces our ladies personally love? Then get ready for a new series!

Every Wednesday we’ll be inviting one of our lovely customers to come down and show us what styles they prefer and what fabrics they ADORE!

Kim generally is a a size 18 or 1x. She is apple-shaped with great legs!! She is about 5'6" and wears a 42E bra.