Certain fashion staples never fall out of favour, such as the little black dress or the urban hazmat suit. Safeguard against the fickle winds of change with today’s Groupon: for $40, you get $100 worth of clothes and accessories from Wise & Proper’s online store.

Vancouver local and graphic artist turned couture curator Elizabeth Law of Wise & Proper is now in her ninth sartorial season of creating classic, sophisticated, and playful fashion lines. With a wide array of quintessential staples and antique accessories, the burgeoning boutique offers a modern take on timeless looks. Daring debutantes can don any number of stylish variations of the little black dress, such as a stretch silk ($84) or cap-sleeve dress ($128), and frolicsome frauleins can give the whole idea of formality a solid dressing down in a strapless jersey knit ($92) or summery white eyelet dress ($98 regularly, $68 on sale), perfect for slow-motion reunion hugs and buffalo-wing-eating contests. Rebuff the inappropriate advances of Father Winter in one of Wise & Proper’s chill-spurning sweaters, such as the 100 per cent cashmere deep V cardigan ($178) or a cashmere, wool, and silk blend crewneck sweater ($138 regularly, $89 on sale). Finally, accessorize with an antique locket ($42–$68), a lace shawl ($42), or a jumbo grandfather clock.

Wise & Proper limits each run and stock is updated regularly, so you can strut self-confidently knowing that there’s no danger of running into a similarly dressed postman. A portion of online sales goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Detailed measurement of each garment is available upon request.

Reviews

The clothing of Wise & Proper has been featured in Solo Lisa, Georgia Straight, and Cable Car Couture.

• The secret of Law’s success is plain: her clothes are pretty, wearable, appropriate to Vancouver, and affordable. – Pieta Woolley, Georgia Straight
• [P]layful, alluring and feminine. If you are in search of the perfect little black dress, you’re in luck. – Sarah Ward, Cable Car Couture