Flathead Valley What's in Store: Kalispell, Montana News

Next month is my birthday and for an early birthday present I bought myself the hottest pair of boots. The brand is Born, the name is Tatiana, the place is The Toggery. These boots are comfortable, sexy, and so in style. Knee high boots are extremely popular this season and are great way to spice up your look. If you’re needing a way to take your footwear up a notch, stop in at the Toggery and take a look at their fabulous tall boot selection. Check out their other footwear brands like Lucky, Naot and Simple.

Every year, when Halloween comes around, I always wait until the last minute to find a costume. The racks in the stores are usually empty by the time I get to it or the prices are just insane for what is left. So my costume usually comes from my closet. For whatever reason I have some period pieces that can usually translate and end up working really well. One year I went into my closet and came out a pirate – it was perfect because "Pirates of the Caribbean" was very popular. Last year, I went into my closet and came out a mime! This year I am dressing up as a geisha. "Memoirs of a Geisha" is one of my favorite books and I love the costumes in the movie. I was sent a kimono this summer, but I haven’t found a reason to wear it, although for Saturday it will be perfect. I am going to wear tights underneath (because lord knows it will be freezing) and wooden flip flops with socks. And the most important part of my look is the makeup. That will definitely take the longest, but it will make my costume just as perfect as the others around me. When it comes to costumes for Halloween, I prefer to use my own goods and buy accessories to make everything come together. It ends up being an inexpensive way to enjoy the night!

We have seen them everywhere; good ones, bad ones, ugly and clunky, but you haven’t seen anything like these. Emu Australia is a wonderful brand of premium sheepskin and wool boots. They share a similar style to Ugg boots. Emu’s claim to fame against the steadfast Ugg is they have built in arch support. Unlike the copy cats out there, Emu boots are a fashionable way to keep your dogs warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Sportsman & Ski Haus in Kalispell have styles like the Paddington, Stinger, and the beautiful King Cross that are flying out the door, so get em while it’s hot!

A billion years ago, I remember when people wore matching everything. Actually, it was the '80s and I was only 6, but I remember it! It bore me then and it bores me now. My stomach actually turns when I see this horrific crime being committed. Like the other day, I was buying coffee and a man in front of me was wearing a leather trench coat over a leather blazer and they were both black, AHHH! Never do you want to layer leather’s unless you’re about to roll off your hog before sliding under the vehicle next to you.

The worst possible thing you could do to your body is dress it in all the same pattern. This makes you appear as one giant glob of fabric and frankly it can be grotesque. These days fashion is about mixing and matching: inexpensive with expensive, bright with bland, textures with textures and even certain patterns are combined. This allows you to wear the clothes and not the other way around. It also makes your look more refined and sleek. If you are having trouble with this mix match style or you need help with color combinations, send me a picture of the piece and I will help you find how it fits in your wardrobe!

Before I moved to Montana, the only Patagonia I knew of was a place in South America. Today, of course, it is one of my favorite brands. The other day one of my friends told me because of it being such a well known brand is why people call it "Pata-Gucci." My first piece of Patagonia clothing was a hoody, nothing too crazy, but last winter I bought one of their capilene zip necks and fell in love. Capilene is a great way to layer for this time of year and it is one of the most popular fabrics on the market. Capilene is available in four different levels depending on activity use: Cap 1 is the lightest weight fabric for mild activity, Cap 2 is the fastest drying out of all because of the weight and permeability of the fabric, Cap 3 is a good for all base layer and Cap 4 weight is the warmest and has a grid inside to wick moisture.

Summer has just passed and so far fall is more like early winter. If you have gone into season shock like I have and need a way to slip into fall with a little more grace, do so with a great pair of tights. Tights are hot this season and not in just your typical solids like black and brown. You can find tights that are printed, faux leather, and even shimmering! This year's tights are being worn alone as pants rather than last year's accessory. Ladies rock your tights with an oversized sweater and a pair of great booties. Not only can you find tights in any local store, they are an inexpensive way to give your wardrobe a necessary update. This look is cozy and super fashionable so be sure when you see a funky pair of tights you incorporate them into your
wardrobe to brighten up your fallen days.

This past weekend I was at a wedding in New York. Of course I had to get some shopping in at some of my favorite stores like H&M, Express, and The Outlets at Woodbury Commons. Well I bought the coolest accessory; it is a shawl, sweater and scarf all in one for only $10. This is going to be the first item I make for myself, because it is just that fabulous and it was all over the runway for this fall 2009 season. OK, so let me explain how it works. It is one piece of fabric that is sewn on one seam. It is about 20 inches in length and 30 inches wide when it is sewn together (before it is sewn 60 inches wide). Today I wore it as a shawl and decided when I make mine I will definitely tweak some the dimensions on the width, just too slouchy for my liking. I could not find a picture of the exact one that I bought, but this one in the picture from Etsy is quite similar, just not as wide. You can wear it around your neck, over your shoulders or even over your head. This accessory is a great piece to wear that will keep your warm all winter long!

Ever since I can remember I have always loved clothes and shopping. I've watched runway shows and knew my brands by the time I was a freshmen in high school. I took art classes and I knitted my first oven mitt at the age of 7, that I believe my mom still has in the kitchen drawer. I went to a fashion college and surrounded myself with talented people and famous designs in the museum at my school. I have been inspired by brilliant designers my whole life and last year my Christmas gift was a sewing machine. I was thrilled because I have always wanted to make my own clothes. I am not necessarily trying to become a designer, but just tap into another part of my creative self that allows me to indulge in my ideas and make great clothing in the process.

The only downfall is I do not know how to sew. So for the last year, my brand new sewing machine has been hiding underneath my desk collecting dust in the spare room. I keep telling my boyfriend I will use it I swear but, I just really hate to read instructions. I usually get so excited about the finished product I forget what I read and have to go back and do it again. So here I sit, staring down what looks like another long winter to come and I find myself needing an escape from the cold and dreary months that loom ahead. Now is the time. I vow to immerse myself in color, pattern and fabric, knowing full well that nothing but a tiny instruction manual lies in my path. By the end of this winter I will have created at least one functional and fabulous look and want to share it with you. Art inspires art, any motivational stories or examples of your fabulous creations that will help me get through this would be amazing!