Readers, gal-pals and my fellow style enthusiasts, it is with bittersweet feelings that I inform you that this will be my last post here at styleswept.ca. Over the past 18 months we have shared some incredible moments in fashion history (two rounds of awards season and all that implies, countless fashion weeks and the death of Alexander McQueen), discussed the merits of many a beauty product and engaged in countless debates on heated sartorial issues....

During the days of the original Wall Street era, a businessman was nothing without his Samsonite briefcase or some reasonable facsimile. As the days of double breasted power suits dwindled, however, so too have men’s attachment to those traditional cases—giving way to more modern (and ever so slightly more metrosexual) man bags…

When it comes to my hair, I am a creature of comfort. If it’s not down in its usual very straight/very blunt bangs state, it is usually pulled back in a pony for the gym or slicked back in a high ballerina bun for those between wash winter days. While I do covet flippy '50s ponytails, side braids, and sleek twists as much as the next gal, it just seems like they would take so much effort to achieve and, quite frankly, I can be mighty lazy…

After checking out the fall 2011 shows that have happened so far in New York and London one trend is abundantly clear: The groovy '70s are coming and any self respecting disco diva is going to need to embrace certain elements of this retro style if she wants to keep up…

When Hilary Duff first arrived on the scene, her image was as bubble gum as they come. Her look was more Disney princess than pop tart, but then again she was pre-pubescent and was actually employed by Disney at the time so perhaps that was fitting? As the years have gone by however, Ms. Duff has really come into her own in terms of style….

Though I don’t indulge in them nearly enough, I am a huge fan of facials. About twice annually when I do get around to letting an esthetician get their hands on my poor moisture-deprived skin it’s like starting over from scratch. Anyone who has ever had one will tell you there’s nothing quite like your skin feeling brand new—softer than a baby’s bottom!

Glossy mags have always gotten a bad rap when it comes to perpetuating unrealistic body images to women. And while there has been a major shift in the last decade from top models dominating the pages to celebrities taking over the majority of cover girl work, the message to the public still remains pretty much the same: You should aspire to look like this, even though this woman doesn’t actually even look like this without the team of beauty professionals and air brushers backing her up!

I’m all for androgyny. A woman in a well-tailored suit or even just hanging around in a bikini and a man’s dress shirt is at the top of my list of seriously sexy looks. I don’t think I’m alone with that sentiment either. But while I am a fan of breaking boundaries when it comes to style, I think there are some ideals that should be kept in mind when selecting what to wear…

New York Fashion Week is in full swing and, as usual, the array of looks marching down the catwalk are a mixture of pure perfection and pure insanity—style is art after all my friends. And we are also looking at clothes that are two seasons ahead with designers showing their collections for next fall while we are all shivering away dreaming of this coming spring….

If you single ladies out there base your Friday night prowling ensembles around a well placed miniskirt or a décolletage baring blouse, it might be time to start paying a bit more attention to your grooming habits if you are looking to catch the attention of the opposite sex…