As I write this article I had hoped that it would be 20 degrees and sunny. However, it is the beginning of May, the skies are grey and the temperature outside is less than balmy. But the sunshine and warm weather are coming. You gotta believe! And with that in mind, here are some of my suggestions for looking your best this summer in Vancouver.

Go through your closet and if possible put away all of your fall clothes, except for your jeans. This will give you a “real” look at what is left.

Put all your bottoms together and hang all of your summer tops together. If possible, find a place in your closet where you can temporarily store everything else. If you have a lot of “dressy” stuff, keep that separate as those items won’t be worn on a daily basis.

The next step is the hardest. Be honest with yourself and get rid of anything you haven’t worn in the last two years -- you probably aren’t ever gonna wear it again. If the pieces are worthy of resale, then take them to the local consignment store. If not, there are lots of goodwill bins around; the Developmental Disabilities Association has tons on the North Shore (find a list at www.develop.bc.ca/blnorthvan.aspx).

Now you can take stock of what you’ve got for the coming season and, more importantly, what you’re missing. If you have more bottoms than tops, then go out and purchase some fun new tops, jackets or both, and don’t be afraid to try the tunic style.

If it’s bottoms you lack, then you need to find a capri and pant (in neutral tones) and a skirt (Sandwich does some great ones). If you want to be a little more “forward,” purchase a pair of streamline walking shorts. If your plans this season include a couple of “dressy” events, invest in one or two great dresses. Sweet Chamise, a Vancouver company, has lots of fun dresses under the $200 mark. Don’t pass on a dress that has no sleeves because you hate your arms, pick up a great wrap or cardi and throw it over top. Believe me there are a lot worse parts of the female anatomy than our arms!

This summer, don’t be afraid to wear colour, it’s everywhere. Yellow is hot and looks great on most blondes. If you’re a brunette, try red and coral. Play around with colour and don’t be afraid to ask your salesperson.

Which leads me to my final bit of advice: shop in your favourite local stores and establish close relationships with your favourite salespeople. Like myself and many other small business owners on the North Shore, we take pride in the level of service we provide, and we really care about our customers. Shopping should be a positive and rewarding experience for all those involved. Just as you pick your favourite hairdresser, don’t be afraid to phone ahead and ask if your favourite salesperson is working.

And remember every trip you take to the States to buy that “great deal” at a clearance centre is another dollar you take out of the Canadian economy and many more dollars you put into your gas tank (not to mention the gas emissions you put into our air). Food for thought!

Have a safe, warm and happy summer.