Month: January 2011

United Nude Spring Summer 2011

United Nude makes drool shoes. I’m constantly pining about these shoes and this has been going on for years. I’m really surprised I don’t own a pair of United Nude’s yet. It’s sad but true and I blame it on my resistance to order footwear online, I like to try them on first. They are architecturally driven shoes that are bursting with colour. My next NYC trip must include a visit to the United Nude store and more importantly a purchase too. The hardest problem will be trying to decide which ones to buy. I want them all. United Nude is available at Little Burgundy in Fairview Mall but they tend to carry the most boring of styles which doesn’t help me much. Edit: I`ve been told that the Balisi on Queen Street carries United Nude too. images: courtesy of United Nude

Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2011

Alexander McQueen under the direction of Sarah Burton is different. It`s a softer, kinder and more feminine McQueen. I miss the hard edge that was an undercurrent in all of Lee`s work. Sarah`s McQueen is a nice girl more than the tough girl vibe that Lee had. Lee is gone and I`ve spent my time mourning so now I`m looking towards the future of the house. This is the first collection from Sarah that really attracted me. Of course it plays up the nautical and military influences that I just can`t get enough of. There are some really great jackets that play up ceremonial military dressing.  You have your choice of large overcoats or slim, figure flattering jackets. The black boots are pretty hot too. images: style.com

Shoppers’ Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Sponsored It’s coming. That dreaded day that creeps up just after you just finished buying presents at Christmas. Valentine’s Day brings more decisions and anxiety around gift buying. Shopper Drug Mart has the perfect tool for gift giving and receiving, online wish lists. Browse the Shoppers Drug Mart Valentine’s Day Gift Guide on www.loveiseverywhere.ca and add your choices to a shopping list that you can save and refer to later. If you are looking for that particular something for Valentine’s Day you can create a wishlist and email it to your suitor. Not very subtle but it gets the job done. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were grateful in the end; you’re saving them time. I’ve selected a few items from the Shoppers Drug Mart Valentine’s Day Gift Guide that I think would make great gifts. For the man in your life, fragrances like Marc Jacobs Bang and Givenchy Play are tops. Bang is a personal favourite, and I use it myself. An LCBO gift card is put to good use and is an …

Kenzo Spring Summer 2011 Shoes

These are crazy geta inspired shoes from Kenzo this season.   My first reaction was pretty but I would never wear them but that has changed with time.  I also have a lot of ridiculous platforms why am I judging these.  I could see myself wearing the top two pairs.  I love the prints. Geta (下駄) are a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resemble both clogs and flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric thong to keep the foot well above the ground. They are worn with traditional Japanese clothing such as kimono or yukata, but (in Japan) also with Western clothing during the summer months. Sometimes geta are worn in rain or snow to keep the feet dry, due to their extra height and impermeability compared to other shoes footwear such as zōri. (source: wikipedia.com) I found a great link that talks about the different types of geta found in Japan. Traditional Japanese Footwear at wafuku.co.uk has lots of photos and descriptions. …

Boys of Milan & Paris Fall Winter 2011

Thank god for Tommy Ton and Justin Wu. They bring us beautiful male models lip syncing on camera. Swoon. I’m very thrilled to be presenting another video in collaboration with Justin Wu. He’s worked extremely hard this time around gathering all the boys in milan and paris for this special video and i’m so grateful he’s done it again for Jak & Jil blog. Thank you to all the male models who participated and made this video even more special. Enjoy!!! You can all thank me later.

BROSE Spring Summer 2011 Video

The Brose spring summer 2011 video added a new dimension to the clothes for me. I posted photos from the Brose spring summer 2011 collection last year and I now loved things that I had passed over. I’m still salivating over the strapless feathered dress. You can try your hand at winning a Brose dress by entering the “Long day at work contest”.

Givenchy Haute Couture Spring Summer 2011

My young university self is squeeling with glee over this collection. That girl who founded the York University Anime and Manga Association with some friends would be all over this Japanese robot influenced collection from Givenchy Haute Couture for the Spring Summer 2011. I’m stunned by this, just like the fall couture collection. I can’t wait for close up video and images. I’m loving the all Asian casting too. It might seem a bit gimmicky but I’m so glad to be looking at different faces. Lots of work went into some of these garments, like 2000 – 4000 hours worth of work. To see this stuff in person, it would be like going to a museum. If only I was independently wealthy, I would order every piece of this collection. The last time Riccardo Tisci showed a couture collection for Givenchy, the zipper pulls were bones. This season, they were wings. Fashion’s favorite goth took flight with a new obsession: Japan. Not the land of obis and geishas, he said, but the Japan of robot …

Holt Renfrew Valentine’s Day Windows

I hate Valentine’s Day but even the Holt Renfrew Valentine’s Day themed windows brought a smile to my face. Holt Renfrew’s Valentine’s windows celebrate all things love. For the month of February at Holt Renfrew stores across the country, cupid shoots his arrow at whimsically –themed mannequin couples. Each window is its own love story, with mannequins expressing their love for one another while wearing the colourful fashions and accessories of the spring 2011 season. Some of the window themes include, the romance novel, friends of Dorothy, dating games and kissing a sailor. images: courtesy of Holt Renfrew

I want – I got A Week in Review – Janelle Monáe, MAC x Wonder Woman, Danier Design Challenge Winner

A weekly roundup of stories from I want – I got. Featured Posts Louie Gong, Shoe Artist – Amazinf video on a talented artist whose medium is sneakers OPI x PUMA Canada x Browns Shoes – Browns shoes teams up with PUMA Canada for exclusive ballet flats that come with a special PUMA x OPI nail polish MAC x Wonder Woman – The next collaboration with MAC is Wonder Woman Diesel x Adidas 2011 -Adidas is collaborating with Diesel for a limited edition sneaker collection Janelle Monáe and Karl Lagerfeld – Love this video of Karl and Janelle. Danier Design Challenge Winner is Andrea Dineen Juma Spring Summer 2011 – This is one of Juma’s strongest collections yet. Upcoming Events and Sales Buy Design At H&M In Support Of Wear White 4 Windfall, January 26, 2011 Nella Bella Sample Sale, January 28, 2011 Wear White Bridal Blowout Sale – January 29, 2011 442 McAdam Sample Sale, January 27 – 28, 2011

i want: Jersey Grecian-draped Gown by Donna Karan

I’m still keeping my eye out for beautiful gowns. Donna Karan does great Grecian style gowns. The front slit and back detail make the very sexy without going too far over the top.  It’s also made of a fabric called cupro.  It was new to me so I looked it up. Cupro – The European cousin of tencel , Cupro is also somewhat similar to rayon in that it is reprocessed cellulose. Like tencel and rayon, the base material for cupro is a regenerated cellulose fiber . Cupro gets its name from cuprammonium, the process that is used to process the wood pulp or cotton linters that are its base material. In this process, the wood pulp or cotton liners are dissolved in an ammoniac copper oxide solution. Cupro fabric breathes like cotton, drapes beautifully, and feels like silk on your skin. Its slinky, curve-hugging drape makes it great for elegant dresses and blouses.(source: answers.com) Donna Karan is available at Holt Renfrew. images: net-a-porter.com

Prada Spring Summer 2011 Video Ad Campaign

I’m obsessed over this Prada Spring Summer 2011 Video Ad Campaign. I’m drinking the Prada koolaid very hard this year. The print ads were just so beautiful and now they’ve come up with this drool worthy video. How can I not love this campaign. It’s got of my favourite models, Kinga Rajzak and Mariacarla Boscono dancing around with Josephine Baker hair. I’m also loving Arizona Muse. Check out the behind the scenes video of the campaign. This is textbook example of what draws me to Prada. I want everything in the collection, even the coloured fur stoles. It’s great to be excited for Prada again. The last time for me was the fall winter 2007 collection. image: thefashionspot.com

Diesel x Adidas 2011

Adidas is a collaboration monster. They’ve paired up with Diesel again to come up with a limited edition sneaker collection. Diesel and Adidas first joined forces with a denim collection in 2008. The Diesel x Adidas sneaker collection features five classic Adidas styles re-designed by Diesel. They were launched on January 20th 2011 and there is only 10,000 pairs available globally. Thus Stefano Rosso, responsible for Strategic Brand Alliances of Diesel (and son of the company’s founder): “I am a huge fan of adidas, they inspire me and they were my myth when I was growing up. After the amazing denim collaboration, when Diesel’s know-how was infused by adidas’ spirit, we are now starting a new chapter of the partnership: the heritage of the two brands will come together applying our spirit on adidas classic kicks!” An adidas spokesperson commented: “Our two brands continue to share a great relationship built on our mutual respect and admiration for each others business and expertise. Following the recent collaboration in which we used the Diesel expertise in denim …

Donna Karan Pre-Fall 2011

Donna Karan is a designer who I think is good but I don’t really pay attention too. I used to think she wasn’t my style but I wondering after seeing this pre-fall 2011 collection from her. Military influences and bodycon dressing are two the the easiest ways to my fashion heart. I’m loving the colour palette and styling too.  Donna Karan is carried at Holt Renfrew. images: thefashionspot.com

Prada Spring Summer 2011 Ad Campaign

Prada and Steven Meisel, a match made in ad campaign heaven. What incredible and vibrant shots for one of my favourite collections of the spring summer 2011 season. The more I see these shoes, the more I fall in love with them. I heard that these great sunglasses will not be produced for retail. I’m really sad cause I had them lined up to be my next crazy pair. images: thefashionspot.com

MAC x Wonder Woman

Oh MAC collaborations, they are always so much fun. Wonder Woman, can you believe this. Banish any thought of being a Plain Jane: M∙A∙C and Wonder Woman have joined forces! For Spring 2011, take a trip to Paradise Island with a legendary line up of super-sized Mineralize Skinfinish, bold Eye Shadow quads, Pigment, Opulash, lipsticks and oversized Lipglass, jumbo-big Powder Blush and Penultimate Eye Liner, Nail Lacquer and Lash inspired by the larger-than-life Bold Babe. Dashing and dazzling, the iconic super heroine reminds us that inside every woman is a Mighty Aphrodite full of courage, confidence and charisma. Kaboom! Mission Accomplished! Wonder Woman will always be associated with Lynda Carter in my mind. I grew up watching the 70s television show.  I never got the invisible plane or the truth lasso but she was strong and had bulletproof gold bracelets. ] This isn’t the complete collection so you’ll have to check out the other offering when the collection hits the stores in North America on Feburary 11, 2011 and internationally on March 11, 2011.  The …

Prada Spring Summer 2011 Handbags

Another great thing to come out of the Prada spring summer 2011 collection is the handbags. It was all out colour. They are simple bag shapes, made out of cotton and probably priced a bit on the high side.  That doesn’t stop me wanting the schoolboy like satchels at all. images: tooklookbook.com

OPI x PUMA Canada x Browns Shoes

I like hearing about Canada-only collaborations. This time OPI, PUMA Canada and Browns Shoes have teamed up to bring exclusive products to the Canadian market. April marks the spring/summer 2011 launch of exclusive PUMA ballerina flats for Browns Shoes and B2. To celebrate this, PUMA Canada teamed up with OPI to create a special gift with purchase at select Browns Shoes and B2 locations. Limited to only 50 bottles per participating store, PUMA Red by OPI is sure to go fast! (while quantities last, some restrictions apply.) So Brown Shoes and PUMA Canada have teamed up to create a set of exclusive ballerina flats not sold in any other store. In turn PUMA Canada called on nail giant OPI to come up with the PUMA Red nail polish. I’m not into ballet flats so the shoes do nothing for me. I’m intrigued by this retail move. Technically over collaborations but I cant help but get excited by ones that involve the Canada market like this. images: courtesy of PUMA Canada

Louie Gong, Shoe Artist

I discovered this fascinating video of an artist, Louie Gong, whose medium is sneakers, typically Vans and Chuck Taylors. Louie’s work is very beautiful. I don’t think I’d even want to wear them outside, just put them in a glass box for display purposes. His aesthetic has resonated with people because he’s currently not taking any more orders right now. Business must be booming and I can imagine each pair of shoes takes a lot of time. images: Custom Coast Salish/ Northwest Coast style shoes by Louie Gong Facebook