Jeanne Beker signals a perfect fit of the blue jeans worn by Lorraine McElroy at Apropos in Port Stanley. (Derek Ruttan/Sun Media)

We may be pulling out our cold-weather wear as winter approaches and searching for those lost mittens, but Jeanne Beker is already thinking spring and summer.

Beker, the host of CTV's Fashion Television, gives us a hint of what's to come in the fashion world once the warm weather returns.

Expect transparent fabric, lots of colour, asymmetry, shoulder detailing and flowing silhouettes, she said. Also expect a lot of original looks.

Beker doesn't like the term trends. "I think it's old-fashioned to think in terms of trends because now everything goes. Something that just copies an obvious trend, to me, isn't that exciting."

She is pleased that many women are confident enough to go their own way in fashion.

"We all crave direction because we're all a little insecure in our choices maybe, but at the end of the day women are really dressing — and Canadian women especially — with a great sense of style."

She said a collection has to be different to catch her eye.

"These days I'm just looking for clothes that fit beautifully and are exciting . . . and something that I haven't seen before, said Beker, who was in Port Stanley recently as part of a jean-fitting clinic at Apropos clothing store. The clinic was sponsored by FDJ French Dressing, a Montreal-based company that has been selling jeans for more than 20 years.

Beker suggested each woman should have about 15 to 20 pairs of jeans.

"It's like, 'How many shoes should you have?' Now there are so many interesting jeans with so much detailing and so many different types of denim. People are living in their jeans from morning til night, and partying in their jeans and dressing up."

When purchasing jeans, make sure you get the right fit. "Be patient," is her best advice. When shopping, a woman will have to try on a lot of jeans to find ones that enhance her shape.

The same holds true for all the outfits in a woman's wardrobe. Make sure you buy the correct size and purchase something that highlights your best features, she said.

"We all have illusions of ourselves. We buy something a little bit smaller because we think it will encourage us to lose weight. We get something a little bigger because we're self-conscious of our bodies and we want to cover it up a little bit. You have to find the designers and the labels that really work for your body."

Beker, who covered Toronto's fashion week last month, said while there were some great fashions, not all of the collections were "runway worthy."

"I'm not really interested in seeing T-shirts coming down a runway. Call me jaded but ... some of the things were a little lacklustre.

Beker said she was impressed with some of the collections, mentioning Paul Hardy, Pink Tartan, Nada, Joeffer Caoc and Joe Fresh.

"It was a respectable job that was done and there were some great highlights."

She also suggested that perhaps a weekend of shows is better than a week and that the events should be open to consumers.

"I know they said they made 100 tickets available to each show, but I think they should do more shows, especially for the public, because we have to make the public aware of how great our Canadian designers are."

At the Port Stanley clinic, Beker was stunned with the turnout and the style of local women. "I'm telling you, there is such an edge of style here in Port Stanley. I'm not kidding. Everyone just seems so chic and elegant."

Finding the right jeans

The Gear

-Bring a good size pocket mirror.

-Dress casually with a top that stays over the pant.

-Wear the shoes you’d usually wear with your jeans.

The Drill

-Consider your height.

-Almost half of the population (40%) fits into the petite category. If you are 5"4 or less, try to find jeans made in petite size that will have shorter rise, length and inseam.

-Consider your thighs, not your hips, to find the proper fit.

-Consider your waist. Choose the rise of the waist to your liking. It’s all a matter of preference and comfort.

-Consider the structure of the jeans. Are the front pockets sewn into the fly? This will tuck in your tummy.

-Are the back pockets parallel to the waist (and not the yolk)? This will flatter your bum.

Try

-Even if it’s a style you’ve owned for many years and bought many pairs in the past, no pair is exactly the same. This is even more relevant when you wish to buy a different colour. Dyes tend to react differently to shrinkage in the production process.

Assess

-If the jeans are too small at the hip but the waist is okay, try to find a style with a fitted shape.

-If the jeans are too big at the hip but the waist is okay, try to find a style with a more generous fit.

The bubble factor

-If a long and vertical bubble appears at the front of the jeans, they’re too big. Try a size smaller or, if the waist is okay, try a more giving style.

-If a long horizontal bubble appears at the front of the jeans, the rise is too long. Try a style that sits lower on the waist or the petite version.

Get Movin’: Sit, bend and squat

-The jeans should feel comfortable when sitting.

-Bend and squat! Your pocket mirror will be handy here. Or just feel with your hands to make sure nothing is being revealed.

Keep it on

Denim and lycra react to the warmth of the skin and expand. A jean that may feel too small may just be the right size after a few minutes. A good pair of jeans will grow but will not get out of shape.

Try its sister

-All jeans are manufactured according to a range of tolerance so try two or even three pairs of the same style, size and colour to make sure you make the right choice.

Source: FDJ French Dressing