Personal Shopping: Michael Sheridan

Michael Sheridan trying on dress shirts at Mexx.

It’s no surprise that I love shopping. I love shopping with men even more. And I love making men feel great about themselves in the process.

On September 19th I had the pleasure of taking Michael Sheridan shopping. Michael has just recently changed jobs within his department at the Canada Revenue Agency, which means an increase in pay, travelling for work (he’s in Summerside at the moment), and giving training to employees. All of which mean it's time to step it up in the wardrobe department.

I’ve known Michael since 2004, and his personal style has definitely evolved in that time. When I first met him he wore mostly faded jeans, beat-up Blundtstones, and paisley shirts over band T-shirts. His style now is much more refined, while keeping the same cute, casual aesthetic he’s always had.

First on Michael’s list was dress shoes, and while we were making our way toward the men’s shoe department at The Bay at Bayshore, we came across a rack of ties that were 30% off. Michael and I pulled out seven slender Ben Sherman ties, and we winnowed that pile of ties down to four that he liked best.

Michael was reluctant to look for shoes at The Bay since he claimed that he had looked there before and hadn’t found anything that he liked. I convinced him to let me take a look “with my eyes”, he agreed, and I zoned in on these Calvin Klein beauties:


Calvin Klein shoes–hot.

Michael tried them on and fell in love*.

Following The Bay, we headed to Banana Republic. Michael had been browsing their website and since he was in the market for a suit, he thought that they might have one that would work for him. While we were there I pulled some additional items for him to try on, including this sweater:


Look how handsome!!!

Because I’ve known Michael for so long, I have to admit to getting a little misty over this outfit. He looks so nice. If you’re a nice girl reading this blog, he’s single! What a catch!

He also tried on a white and a grey long-sleeved T-shirt to wear under long-sleeved shirts in the winter–the white was far too sheer, but he did pick up the grey.

However, he was looking for a suit. So when he tried on the one he had been looking at online, he was hoping that it was going to work for him. Unfortunately, because Michael is on the shorter side, the proportions of the jacket were wrong for him. The top button was quite low on the torso, and the jacket was too long, making it look like he was a little boy playing dress-up in his father’s suit. Michael was disappointed but I knew we would find him something else.

And find him something else we did! We spent a good 45 minutes browsing the racks at Mexx, sending Michael off to the dressing room with a very large pile of things to try on, including this suit:


Winning suit!

The fit of the jacket was perfect through the chest, and the only tailoring that needed to be done was to hem the pants and take up the cuff on the jacket slightly. This was the suit for him.


Tailoring is important.

Michael is fortunate to be a bit of a clothes horse–it’s pretty rare that he will try something on and have it look strange. Case in point, every item he tried on at Mexx was golden. He ended up buying the suit, a pair of dress pants (grey windowpane plaid flannel), a belt, and six dress shirts. Maybe he bought more? Probably. I don't remember. I’ll have to arrange a time that he and I can get together to take some pictures of him in his suit once it’s back from the tailor’s.

We had a great day. What do you think of Michael’s purchases? Tell me in the comments!

*He has since e-mailed me to tell me he has worn them to work and they have proven comfortable, albeit a bit pinchy during the breaking-in process.

Meet the Newest Apartment 613 Columnist!

During the Fringe Festival, I had the opportunity to meet François Levesque of Apartment 613 at the bloggers' meet and greet. We chatted a while and connected, and I approached him a few days later about doing a column for them. I was thinking fashion advice.

Well, they totally went for it! I was stupidly busy with moving and the like for the remainder of the summer (also why the blog has been neglected for a while), but I am pleased to announce that my first Apartment 613 column comes out next Tuesday, October 5th! It will be appearing the first Tuesday of every month. And I’m having a contest!

Whoever can come up with the best name for my Apartment 613 column will win an as-yet-to-be-determined prize! I really don’t know what it will be, but I promise it will be cool! To enter, leave a comment with your idea for what my fashion advice column should be called!

Also, please don’t hesitate to comment with your fashion dilemmas and questions, or you can email me at yoursweetbippy (at) gmail (dot) com. I am so looking forward to this new adventure!

Fashion of the Fringe: Brad MacNeil

OK, so remember how yesterday I talked about Brad MacNeil being my Fringe crush? Just look at him, people. He dressed like this every night. Not only was he charming and hilarious as the cohost of Chats With Cat in the beer tent, he looked incredibly dapper doing so. His outfits were usually variations of the above theme—dress shirt, blazer, jeans, good shoes. He's effortless and comfortable, with the right degree of style.

More than once I caught myself peeking at his ring finger. (Which, I'm sad to report, has a band on it.) But look how handsome!

I'm going to be putting in some serious work on the blog over the next few days—the movers have come and got my stuff, and I don't get it back until next Wednesday. The only thing I have to entertain myself is the internet. So I might as well blog!

My Summer Crush.

OK, so during Fringe Festival I had a "fringe crush". Yes, I had been there with my boyfriend, but hey, if someone as charismatic and handsome as Brad MacNeil so much as looks your way, of course you're going to swoon a little.

So imagine my surprise and delight when today on Twitter I saw this message from @thebradmacneil: The #mysummercrush finale will have a fashion theme. If @JesLacasse doesn't show up it's a failure.

So of course I'm going.

My Summer Crush is put on by Ottawa's own CRUSH IMPROV, directed by Al Connors. (I saw the Company of Fools production of A Midsummer Night's Dream that he did this summer, and it was great!) It's part of the Summer Fling Festival at Arts Court. Saturday night is the last show, and it is apparently something to do with the fashion industry. (Well, I know a little more than that but I don't want to give it away.)

Tickets are a measley $12.00, and the show starts at 8:00 in the Arts Court Studio.

Now I just need to figure out what to wear...

On self-esteem.

Recently, I have come under criticism for acting like I'm "all that". (Someone actually used those words, and I wanted to tell them that 1995 wanted its catch phrase back, but even 1995 doesn't want it.)

Here's the thing: of course I have issues with my self esteem. Show me a woman who claims she doesn't, and I'll show you a liar.

For your enjoyment, here is a (partial) list of things I have a problem with when it comes to my body and me as a person:

• I have been struggling with my weight since the mid-1990s. From my mother telling me that the last time I looked good was in October of 1996, to working in the fashion industry, to trying to shop for clothing, I have not been satisfied with my weight for over a decade.
• My breasts are large. Like, can't-button-a-shirt large.
• My nasal labial folds are getting more pronounced.
• My eyes are small.
• I'm lazy.
• I'm dispassionate.
• I'm selfish.

However, and this is the important bit, none of these things matter. Because I am generally an upbeat person, with a huge laugh, an amazing group of friends. I have been told time and time again that I am too self-aggrandizing when I say things like, "I'm amazing," or "My life is awesome." Even worse, I've been told that I'm faking it and that I'm actually miserable.

But you know what? I'm not. I truly love my life. I am working to change myself every day. So what if I like nice clothing? So what if I lust after the newest Chanel nail polish? 

My life rules. So does yours. I like you. I like me. Anyone that tells you that your life is somehow less than you know it to be can, in the words of my mother (who isn't always awful), take a long walk off a short pier.

Now, I'm going to get on my bike, go and pick up a bottle of wine, and have dinner with my friend and talk about our goals. So there.