Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm wollen mittens, brown paper packages tied up in strings … you get the idea.

Here are a few of my favourite things for Fall 2009

Buckles, studs, rips and tears. Fall is all about danger and hard rock. So whether you are picking up the season’s must have Siwy jeans or dressing up your LBD with a pair of studded Giuseppes, make sure to keep the rest of your outfit classic and clean to avoid looking like a Metallica groupie.

A note from the Queen,

S.

One of my favourite things about my job is diving into my client’s closets. It’s the easiest way to discover where they’ve been, who they were and even who they aspired to become. While most people eventually come to terms with letting go of their past i.e. their prom dress and “skinny” jeans, it still amazes me how many times I find a boxed wedding dress hiding in the corner of a closet. You wouldn’t keep a thousand dollars in a box, so why keep a dress that you will never wear again?

I know I know, I’ve heard my clients excuses as they clutch desperately onto the box; “My daughter may want to wear it”, “I just can’t give it up” or “I may wear it again” and to that I say “trust me your daughter won’t want to wear it” or “your wedding photos are the best way to preserve memories” and “honestly? really?”.

I recently discovered a magical website where old wedding dresses can turn into a new pair of Christian Louboutins: http://www.smartbrideboutique.ca. It’s totally free and really quick and easy to post your items. You can sell everything from your dress to your candle holders recovering some of the costs of your wedding while helping another local bride save on her upcoming wedding.

So dust off your dress, take a deep breath and begin visualizations of all the things you can do with your new “found” money.  While I will be dreaming of shoes - feel free to expand your imagination to weekends away, a new wardrobe or even a, gasp! retirement fund.

A few tips straight from the gurus at SmartBride Boutique:

·        Post your dress as soon after your wedding as possible.  You’ll recoup about 50% of your investment provided your dress is clean and without stains or damage.

·        Use great pictures – the best ones are with you in the dress. You should have photos from your professional photographer, or even friends and family after your big day.

·        Provide as much information as possible – outline any alterations that were done to the dress, and provide your bust, waist, hips and height with shoes at the time you wore the dress.

A note from the Queen

S.