Have you ever heard the expression, “I dress for function, not for fashion?” This often comes out of the mouth of folks who wear a uniform for their profession. Be it health care, athletes or tradespeople, function is paramount. It also comes out of mouths of people who just don’t give a damn. Have you ever thought about function in fashion for dancers?

Despite the latest economic crunch, Calgary is putting their money where we all can see it. Not just their homes, cars or engagement rings. No, it's on their shoulders, on their backs and perched in the crooks of their arms. Logoed bags, wallets and luggage are taking over.

August has felt like a “last chance” month for me for many years and 2015 is no different. With just over three weeks left of summer before Labour Day ruins our sunny fun, it’s now or never. I work best with a deadline that empowers me to make the most of the self-imposed pressure. Get after it. Why not tackle a list of summer sartorial to do’s that will balance frivolity with a sense of accomplishment? 

In recent tabloids and blogs I am seeing a theme surfacing but not addressed head on. It seems to be on hot rotation, baiting relentlessly on headlines but no one is really sinking into the meat of it. With our societal obsession with the vanity of celebrities and their lives we have become not only enthusiastic about following their day to day, we are vocal. As we fill the comment forums we can’t seem to make up our minds about the standards of beauty.

While many Calgarians were at Folk Fest this past weekend I was at the Pennywise and Danzig concert at MacEwan Hall. I could talk about Folk Fest but to save everyone time, I won’t. It’s basically Coachella-Lite from a style perspective. Rather, I’d like to focus on what the punk and metal community wear; it’s back to black.

I have realized I tend to comment from the female perspective. Sorry fellas, I do not mean to leave you out I simply write what I know best. I want to remedy this by shedding some bright light on a fantastic contributor to the world of fashion. Ladies and gentlemen, please get to know the incomparable Tommy Ton.

The couture collection presentations are in full swing and with couture comes luxury. The luxury brands, buyers, parties and, of course, fabrics were on opulent display. Silk, velvet, feathers, wool, and fur, to name a few such beautiful, textured fabrics. You know what those all have in common? They come from an animal. Za Za Zoo. Reviewing the couture presentations I started to think about how some people get very vocal about the animal products used in the collections.

Another Stampede is upon this great city and among the country bumpkin’ décor, I’ve noticed something. There’s a presence missing in the downtown-working crowd. I’m ready to put out a red-hallelujah-alert. As the parade came through our fine streets last Friday I asked myself: where have all the khaki’s gone? Sweet justice! The offenders have left the city.

Working out is not a natural inclination for me. I don’t really enjoy it. I don’t look forward to going. Rather, it’s a necessity for a more healthy, balanced life. I admit, I make excuses and sometimes it takes a lot to haul my ass to class and get moving. Once I’m there, it’s fine. I get through it and bask in that endorphin kick glow afterwards. Like many things for me, working out seems more palatable with the right gear. For me, that’s often times black coloured workout gear.

A couple weeks ago Amy Schumer was presented with the Trailblazer Award at the GLAMOUR Woman of the Year Awards. In her acceptance speech she used her brash, filthy language and deliberate, paced phrasing to entertain and thank her supporters. She, too, openly admitted her weight to the crowd. That’s trailblazing. 

The announcement and public reveal of Caitlyn Jenner caused quite the stir. The ripple effects of her big Vanity Fair cover cannonball extended past the pop culture world into mainstream grocery store stands and talk show television.

What started as a dress code debate in the Toronto area fuelled a small, yet compelling, revolt worldwide. The same source reports that Halket, the founder and loudest voice, went to her social media channels to encourage supporters to wear a crop top on Tuesday, May 26 to show their distaste for the perceived discrimination. The article states the movement dubbed #CropTopTuesday on social networks and school campuses was born. We now know that male and female students alike sported the midriff baring bandwagon.