Why Jenna chow traded glam tops for a string of pearls

Jenna Chow worked as a DJ at various Vancouver radio stations for seven years, spinning everything from electronica to punk rock. The woman knows her music. These days, however, she’s more inclined to let you know when the Pattullo’s backed up than to take a song request. She’s the new traffic reporter for CBC’s Early Edition and On the Coast. In addition, she does “Jenna’s Picks” for Canada Now. With her new role, Chow has made a decision to dress in a somewhat more grown-up way. Gone are the baggy pants and glittery glam tops from Betsey Johnson. In their place are classics like polka-dot scarves and tailored jackets. Her inspiration, she says, is those frustratingly stylish Frenchwomen who always look so put together.

Desert-island accessory
“Pearl necklace. I have four, and three of them aren’t real. I like wearing them because I think they really finish an outfit. Even if you’re in, like, camouflage pants and a ratty T-shirt, you put on pearls and it just sort of gives it another dimension.”

Current foot fetish
“Peek-toe heels. I just bought some red ones. They’re fabric with animal print and an ankle strap. I got them at Aldo. I wanted animal-print shoes, and when I saw them, they kind of reminded me of a shoe that Betsey Johnson would make— minus the $400 price tag.”

Summer obsession
“I’ve just been on this wrap-dress craze. I was watching What Not to Wear, and they were talking about how wrap dresses accentuate every body type. I found this great store on 10th [Changes Clothing & Jewellery Bar at 4454 West 10th Avenue]. I was just walking by at night and they were closed, but I saw this perfect wrap dress in the window so I went back and tried a bunch on and bought a couple.”

Favourite jacket
“I’m not wearing it to death, but my favourite, favourite one is this pink, tweed-looking one that I got two years ago at Jacob. It’s sort of structured and it’s got three-quarter-length little sleeves, and it looks like a cute little Jackie O jacket. I wore it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I was saving it and saving it—I don’t know what for—and then finally I wanted to wear it, so I did.”

Lingerie philosophy
“As long as it’s comfortable and my bra and panties match, it’s a go. For me, I just feel better when I’m wearing the same top to bottom. I got this bra that’s really cute at La Senza about a year ago. It has, like, little martini glasses and, like, little wineglasses on it. I bought three pairs of boy shorts to go with it—pink ones with a little booze container on it, and yellow-and-blue ones with little Seabreezes and Cosmopolitans on it.”

Denim staple
Mavi jeans [in Marie cut]. “It’s a lower rise—hits the hipbone—with a flare at the bottom. Not a crazy flare, but a nice one. Boo to tapered jeans!”