Sailor Stripes and Sequins by Jessica McLeod

While getting dressed every day is somewhat of an event for me, I particularly love event dressing. This is a look I wore recently for Yam Magazine’s Fashion Inferno in Victoria BC. It was a fun fashion event that served as a fundraiser for the Victoria firefighters. The setting was fabulous, right by the harbour. The weather taking a cooler turn and the fashion show being out of doors led me to this look. Part Coco Chanel part Michael Jackson – incongruous inspirations keep it interesting – in a sailor shirt with black oxfords and white socks. Also I am clearly channeling the crosswalks which I am standing in front of in these photos. I added a little leather clutch by Jen V Designs which I picked up at Victoria’s Out of Hand Artisan Fair last year. It has been a staple of my event dressing – I love adding an unexpected jolt of colour and print, especially with a more monochrome look like this. The scantily clad fireman – oh yes didn’t I mention that?

You see the Inferno referred to firemen modelling underwear in between fashions from local boutiques. My favourite collections were the amazing handmade lingerie and the showing from Amelia Lee Boutique – particularly a pair of sequinned pants. Speaking of sequins, I was sporting them too. Turning my favourite shiny blazer right way round provided the perfect jazzy element to pull my jeans and tshirt into evening mode and kept me warm as the sun set and the harbour winds crept in. While I opted for jeans over shorts, I made sure I cuffed them to expose all the glory that explodes forth from white socks and black oxfords. Sometimes you have to sacrifice an ankles warmth. Nonetheless my wardrobe choices kept me warm. There were also the giant fireplaces every where. Those helped too I suppose. On second thought maybe it was my red hot lipstick. The power of fashion.