1. Do send out your RSVP early: Don’t assume that a verbal “I’m coming, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” is enough. No matter how close you think you are to the bride, a formal RSVP is always necessary when it has been requested on the invitation. Why? Most brides will probably have a master list or folder where she keeps all her returned RSVPs. It’s this file that she will refer back to when she plans the seating, the meal selection etc… Even if she knows, you, her best friend, is coming, its always easier to have everything in a neat little place where she can refer to. So don’t make her life even more difficult by neglecting to RSVP. Another note is, if a formal card is requested to be sent back, then do so. Don’t make up your own method of replying (ex. email, phone etc. ) along the way.

2. Don’t bring an uninvited date: This is when reading “between the lines” is necessary but literally, you should read EXACTLY what is on the address line. If the envelope and card is addressed to you with your name only, then you must accept that you are invited as a solo guest. If your host is giving you the option of bringing a date, then your invitation will be addressed to you “plus one” or you “and guest”. Having said that, if you are bringing a guest, then RSVP accordingly. Don’t RSVP for one and then bring a date on the day of the wedding!

3. Don’t wear white (or black): You’d think this one was a no brainer. But it is still one of the most obvious and embarassing faux pas being committed. Only the bride should be in white on her wedding day. Wearing this color will make you appear completely inconsiderate in the eyes of the bride, her family and all of the other wedding guests. Another color to avoid is ALL black. In some cultures this color is associated with mourning and is shunned at festive events. Wearing all black in the daytime is to be avoided, but that doesn’t mean you have to nix it altogether. Adding a dash of color with a colorful scarf or cardigan will make a big difference. You can take those items off as you head into the evening event where all black for cocktail hour and dinner is acceptable.

4. Don’t upstage the couple: This is the bridal couple’s special day to shine and have all the attention on them. After months of planning and hard work, this is their once in a lifetime chance to have a day all their own. Avoid wearing ostentatious getups that will draw the spotlight away from them. Don’t wear cleavage bearing or short, sexy hemlines. Don’t complain about what you have been asked to wear. Whether the couple requested guests to be in black tie or even costumes, don’t make a fuss. Sure you might not look great sporting a fascinator but if it has been requested and would make the couple happy, then do it. Just remember, its not about you! In general, just be respectful, dress up in a festive outfit that shows you took time to look good but also leaving the spotlight for the bride.

5. Don’t Skip the ceremony and go to the reception: Sure we all know that wedding receptions are parties and parties are a lot of fun! However, don’t treat the wedding ceremony and the reception as two separate events. Although some guests get antsy sitting through an hour long ceremony full of rituals that they’ve never heard of and sometimes even conducted in other languages, it’s still important to your hosts that you are physically present to witness the special bond they are making with each other. Don’t forget, thats why you were invited in the first place. Next time, (that’s only if you lack the basic decency to really muster up some excitement for the wedding couple) try using the visualization of a booming party and open bar later on in the evening as your motivation.

Get a Dress for $15!**

**with purchase of any regular priced dress.

One discount per customer, per coupon card. Both dresses must be regular priced. Second dress must not exceed value of $100. Cannot be combined with other promotions. Some restrictions apply. Full details in store.

In store use only. VIP GOLD members will continue to enjoy the 15% off everyday discount in our online store. You will receive the 15% off coupon code in your monthly Member Email Newsletters.

See more in our online dress shop: www.mimimcqueen.com

FREE Flower Purse Holder!!!**

**with any regular priced $50 purchase.

One Gift per customer, per coupon card. Some restrictions apply. Full details in store.

In store use only. VIP GOLD members will continue to enjoy the 15% off everyday discount in our online store. You will receive the 15% off coupon code in your monthly Member Email Newsletters.

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20% off New Arrivals!!!**

**Get 20% off any one regular priced Spring new arrival.

Discount applies to one item per customer, per coupon card. Some restrictions apply. Full details in store.

In store use only. VIP GOLD members will continue to enjoy the 15% off everyday discount in our online store. You will receive the 15% off coupon code in your monthly Member Email Newsletters.

See more in our online dress shop: www.mimimcqueen.com

Will you be lucky enough to “catch the lettuce” in the Chinese New Year’s Lion Dance? What does that even mean? Join us today at Metropolis at Metrotown to see the Lion live in action.

Chinese New Years differs every year due to the Chinese lunar calendar but its safe to say that it usually falls in either January or February. During this time, many traditional celebrations are enjoyed with family and friends to start off the new year in the right way. Many Chinese people believe that how you start off the New Years will foreshadow how the rest of your coming year will be so its very important to bring in as much luck as possible and at the same time ward off all the bad or unlucky things.

And that is the meaning behind the Lion Dance tradition. It’s usually performed as a ceremony to scare away evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune. It’s a very lively and entertaining spectacle involving the loud rhythmic banging of drums and martial arts. The “lion” is made up usually of 2-3 (sometimes even more!) dancers working underneath the elaborately decorated lion costume to bring the lion to life. Some lettuce is hung up along with a lucky Red Pocket with money inside for the lion to gobble up. Once he reaches the lettuce, he will tear it apart and throw it back at the audience.

Phonetically, the word “lettuce” in Chinese also means “Good Fortune” or “Prosperity“. That is why it’s important to “catch the lettuce” when you see it being thrown at you during the Lion Dance. Make sure you reach up high and grab as much as you can

(Can’t make it today? Join us on Saturday January 28th at Richmond Centre for another performance!)

Last night a couple girlfriends and I went to the Taboo Show in the Vancouver Convention Centre. It’s dubbed as Western Canada’s largest Adult Trade Show with live entertainment, provocative seminars (we watched a live demonstration on how to perform bondage with a semi-nude young lady), unique shopping and fashion shows.

The live shows and shopping experience is pretty self explanatory (one of the large selection of all kinds of adult sex toys and paraphernalia all in one place) so I won’t go into details here.

Two of the most unique vendors that I’d like to mention are F.alt Photography and PinupPerfection Photography. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, they can help you create a sexy gift for that special man in your life ♥

F.alt Photography

With F.alt Photography (short for Freak Alternative Photographics), photographer/artist extraordinaire, Nikita, will take photos of you against a white background and use her own artistic magic to re-edit, re-touch and illustrate your photos to create one of a kind portraits like the ones you see above. I think these can also make wonderful one-of-a-kind works of art or conversation pieces for your home or business. She’s based in Alberta so you will need to contact her for local in-town sessions which I hear she is holding in Early February. www.falt.ca

Pinup Perfection Photography 

The second vendor that really caught my attention was PinupPerfection Photography. This locally based Photography studio (located on 750 E. Hastings) provides a pretty comprehensive package to ensure they capture the best of your inner bombshell. I loove that they provide hairstyling and make up application for your photo shoot. You can get your hair and makeup done with your photoshoot for only $125 with their Valentine’s Day Special! I don’t know any man who wouldn’t want to have a beautiful and sultry portrait of the woman of his dreams  http://www.pinupperfection.com

The Taboo Show run from January 19-22 in the Vancouver Convention Centre (East Building) 1055 Canada Pl. Vancouver, BC. Tickets are $20 at the door and $15 online plus a $1.89 Fee. A nice savings, if you’re buying a few tickets at once.

All opinions are my own and are not endorsed or paid for by any of the companies mentioned above.

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In store use only. VIP GOLD members will continue to enjoy the 15% off everyday discount in our online store. You will receive the 15% off coupon code in your monthly Member Email Newsletters.

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How is your holiday shopping going? It seems that every year, there are going to be those who shop early in November and then there are those who shop right near the end. Which is better? Shopping early has its advantages in that you avoid the crowds, you get first picks at all the merchandise and you have enough time to order in the exact model or size you want which really reduces your stress level. Shopping later has its advantages too as you get to enjoy the deeper discounts closer to holiday time but now you’ve also got to contend with the crazy crowds of other frenzied shoppers for parking spots and merchandise.

Having said that, it’s not too late to start your shopping today! Here are a few things you can do to reduce the stress level and get the most out of your holiday shopping this year:

- Go Early! It might be cold and dark in the early morning but do try to make a trip down to the mall before lunchtime. You’ll thank yourself when you get there and find that the merchandise you want is neatly laid out and organized on the shelves and other shoppers aren’t pushing you aside to get to it.  Around lunch time and thereafter, you’ll see the traffic really pick up as people on lunch breaks and kids off from school also start their shopping.

- Can’t get up early enough?  Try going around dinner time (usually between 5-7 pm). This is usually the time when the first wave of shoppers have finished their shopping. As they get ready to go home for dinner, you’ll see the parking spots clear up and during this short downtime, the stores may be refilling merchandise back onto the shelves.

- Split up. You may want to share more holiday moments with your significant other but shopping hand in hand with him or her is not necessarily the best holiday event to partake in together. There is just so much going on around  you that it’s easy for your husband to get annoyed while looking for parking or you may be equally frustrated yourself when you ask him for his opinion on your choices and he tells you to “get whatever”. Try to do your shopping alone or you can decide to split up the shopping. And once you’re done, you can take your time making your holiday memories a romantic one by taking a walk in the snow or sharing a kiss underneath a dazzling array of Christmas Lights.

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Do  keep it elegant and festive. 

Don’t go overboard with the holiday themed pins and paraphenilia. Just one festive pin or cute winter hat is enough to pull off a great holiday ensemble. Avoid wearing green and red together. Even if its the holidays, you don’t need to end up looking like Santa’s Little Helper  

Do pay attention to the details on the invite. Note the time, venue and activities to determine the appropriate attire. If the event is during the workday, then wear something a little more fancier than what you’d usually wear to the office. You can pair a silk, cashmere or velvet top with a nice pair of trousers and add on pretty accessories like sparkly earrings or a drop necklace. 

Don’t wear anything too sexy or revealing. Remember, these are still your co-workers and superiors. You have a professional reputation to uphold and you still want them to see you in the same way the next day. Furthermore, if you’re in a corporate environment, your superiors may be judging how you handle yourself in social situations since meeting important clients may be an integral part of your job. Avoid hemlines that go any higher than 3 inches above the knees, backless items, deep plunging necklines, ostentatious fur, out of control sparkles or outrageous getups. 

Do ask co-workers what they are planning to wear and how they will get to the venue. Perhaps they have gone to similar events in the past and can fill you in on what to expect in respect to how the event will unfold. In some companies, office holiday parties can turn out to be an informal staff meeting with snacks and awards. In other companies, it may be a black tie gala where you should look and be at your best in order to get noticed for the job promotion. You just don’t want to show up having prepared for something else entirely. 

Don’t assume you can bring your friends or family. Make sure your invite specifically say that it is okay to bring others along and do note how many.

Do thank your host for a lovely evening. You know its common courtesy to do this in social situations of a personal nature but this is surprisingly overlooked when its a party held by your company. It’s always nice to recognize the amount of time, effort and money spent on arranging the party. Doing this will really make you stand out in the crowd. You should seek out the relevant parties and thank them in person before you leave. These people include the person footing the bill and the person who organized the event. Make sure whomever you invited along also comes with you to say a simple thank you too.

1. You can never go wrong with a Little Black Dress. The hemline of this dress is of an appropriate length. The shape is understated but it has a sparkly neckline that adds a nice touch for formal events. If your event is a sit down dinner, you can pair this dress with a bolero cardigan to avoid exposing too much skin. 

2. Red is always a great color choice for the holiday season. If you’re planning on wearing red, match it with neutrals like black, silver and white. Although, you might think its very festive, avoid pairing it with green. 

3. If red is too intense for you, purple is a nice alternative. From Eggplant, violet to lavender, there are just so many shades to choose from. Eggplant purple errs on the safe side since it’s a nice dark colour that almost looks black in low lighting. Below we’ve chosen a light purple evening dress cut from a fancy satin fabric adorned with pretty gem stones. The simple shape follows the contours of the body but isn’t too tight or inappropriate. Its a feminine look that matches surprisingly well with a daytime blazer. When you button up the double breasted blazer, you can even wear this dress at the office before the party. 

4. This structured taffetta number is cut from a sophisticated Navy Blue and has spaghetti straps that ensure your dress stays up as you dance and move about. Navy Blue really POPS when paired with white. It will really enhance and bring out the best in this elegant colour. Avoid pairing it with black as it will darken up your outfit and does nothing to highlight the colour. The scallop design in the bust area is excellent for adding volume to the chest for those who are not well endowed. 

5. This last pick is a conservative Little Black Dress that has a lot of coverage and can be worn again in the daytime at the office. If you choose to wear something simple like this, make sure you add some sparkle to your look by adding pretty accessories.  

We hope this article was helpful to you. Have fun at your event and send us your comments, suggestions or funny holiday party stories