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Bonnee McLachlan
CITY: Calgary
BLOG: Prada in the Prairies
About Bonnee
Hailing from the boulevards of Cowtown, Bonnee McLachlan is a private eye for the fashion trends of Western Canada. Having shimmied from the dance stage to her media demo reel, Bonnee is no stranger to trendy, Fendi, or footloose and fancy-free. Watch out, Calgary, she’s on a mission!
Who is your style icon and why?
Prince – he’s fearless, with a ’tude to die for!
What’s your favourite item in your closet?
That would have to be the little black dress – it always reminds me to appreciate my God-given curves, and with one simple accessory, I can go from conference call to cocktails!
What was your favourite childhood outfit?
I think it would have to be one of the many dance costumes, sewn by my mother. One outfit comes to mind, a sassy fuchsia number that resembled a 1920s flapper dress. This gem managed to work its way into my everyday rotation – to the grocery store with my mother, a couple of dental visits and, of course, my elementary school talent show. By the time my dance recital came around, several layers of fringe had to be replaced. It made me feel like a princess or a fairy, which is how all little girls should feel at least one time in their lives.
What’s your worst outfit ever?
Once again, my mother – bless her generous heart – decided to make a denim jumpsuit, which was waiting for me under the Christmas tree one year. It was acid-wash, which was awesome, but she went a little crazy on the poufy MC Hammer pant legs. This made it incredibly difficult to walk, but as you can imagine, performing the “U Can’t Touch This” shuffle was a breeze. My mom would be so excited whenever I wore the jumpsuit, she’d remind me of how she watched MuchMusic daily just to get a sneak peek of the video, so she could get the pant legs “just right.” So, I had no choice – I had to be sneaky. I’d always have a back-up outfit waiting for me in my backpack when I got to school. Maybe it’s time to let that cat out of the bag; it’s been nearly two decades.
Name a current celeb whose style you admire and tell us why.
This is a no-brainer. Charlize Theron is winning the fashion race in Hollywood, hands down. Whenever Charlize graces the red carpet, camera flashes go mad and the South African stunner isn’t fazed one bit. Charlize is the whole package – she exudes confidence, and her perfect ballet posture allows her to pull off any style and cut with ease. She rarely strays from her urban-chic style, which leads me to think she is being authentic in her fashion rather than contrived. Charlize recently gave the red carpet a thrill in Paris, when she wore a how-low-can-you-go white satin dress, spiced up with leopard-print, peep-toed pumps and a lime-green clutch. How edgy is that?
What’s a trend you hate?
Those wide waistbands that were invented to be worn under a shorter T to get the layered look; I’ve personally witnessed girls subbing these in for a miniskirt – ugh! If you want the layered look, why not simply add layers?
Why do you love the shopping/fashion scene in your town?
Just last week, I was invited to a “surgeons’ dinner,” where I had to schmooze and mingle with my boyfriend’s colleagues. There was a sudden urgency to locate “that perfect dress”…it’s not every day you rub shoulders with such an academic and seemingly refined crowd. So, I figured if I couldn’t talk colon resections, I had to look downright fabulous. I needed something polished and decadent enough to legitimize my invite. I found myself casually strolling the malls with confidence just a couple of days prior to the big event, knowing that Calgary would have something chic and reasonably priced to offer. Little treasures seemed to pop out of the racks, like they were waiting for me to arrive.
