Month: February 2011

CHAO & EERO Jewel

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Chao-Hsien Kuo, half of the design duo of CHAO & EERO saw my United Nude Spring Summer 2011 post on facebook. She then emailed me to let me know about their collection as she thought the aesthetic fit the kinds of things that catch my eye and end up on I want – I got. She was absolutely right. Chao & Eero Jewel is an independent Finnish jewelry design brand created in 2005 by a husband and wife team, Eero Hintsanen and Chao-Hsien Kuo. Both Chao and Eero are Finnish Master Goldsmiths with background of design education. The company is based in Lahti, a small city surrounded by forests and lakes. All the products are made and hand-finished with care and attention to the details in their studio in Lahti. I normally not one for heart shaped jewellery but CHAO & EERO makes the overdone and lame heart motive very, very cool. It’s different and a bit edgy.  The smiley face ring is just brilliant. CHAO & EERO can be found at Enflux in Vancouver, …

Thom Browne Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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I know what you are thinking. Thom Browne, really Anita! If you take away the show (the styling, makeup and presentation) from this collection there are a lot of amazing separates to be found, especially the jackets. I personally found the show visually interesting. The huge fake eyelashes on the models were distracting though. Some of the more showy pieces were based on the egg and cages. From a show perspective they were interesting but nothing you would wear. Style.com has some video from the show that will give you an idea of how the presentation played out. I wish I attended. Andrew and Andrew from Paper Magazine have a great little video too The plaid outfits were my favourites. Thom Browne isn’t for everyone at first glance, you really need to push past the visual presentation to see the gems in this collection. Here is another video from stylerumour.com. images: thefashionspot.com

I want – I got takes Vancouver and Whistler

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  Hello my dear readers, I’m on vacation. I’m in beautiful British Columbia right now hanging out with friends in Vancouver. Tomorrow I’m heading up to Whistler for some fun ski times. I’ll be keeping you up to date on my adventures. I’ll be trying to keep an almost regular schedule here on the blog with my travel updates in between. Things will return to normal when I get back on March 9. Cheers Anita

I want – I got does Toronto Design Week: Come Up To My Room 2011

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I attended some exhibits during Toronto Design Week from January 24-30, 2011. Toronto Design Week culminates with the Interior Design Show but many local designers showcase their exhibits at this time. It’s taken me some time to get my photos all together and organized. There is a lot of sorting, tagging, cataloging and purging of photos going on. It’s often a nightmare task I hate performing. It feels hella good when it’s done though. Come Up To My Room is an event I thoroughly enjoyed covering when I wrote for BlogTO. The 2011 edition would be my first CUTMR event since 2009.  This also the first CUTMR post for I want – I got.  The photos look so amazing because my friend Paul Bailk was around to snap away. Come Up To My Room (CUTMR) is the Gladstone Hotel’s annual alternative design event. This year’s show, curated by Jeremy Vandermeij and Deborah Wang, invites artists and designers to show us what goes on inside their heads. Coming together in dialogue and collaboration, participants are limited …

Cupido Designs Spring Summer 2011 Preview

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I attended the spring summer 2011 preview for the luxury jewellery store, Cupido. Cupido has locations at Bayview Village and Vaughan Mills. There were four brands at the preview: HERA, Baccarat Crystal, Gioie & Co and 3H Italia watches. HERA: Canadian jewellery designer, Hera Akarakas presents her debut line, HERA. Divided into two collections, “Paradise” and “Unity,” the ethereal pieces combine precious metals with the casual elegance of silver, as well as 18 karat gold, accented by diamonds and uniquely cut gemstones. The preview introduced a new Canadian jewellery line called HERA which I’m loving. There is a lot of intricate details in all the designs and the rings are my favourites. Baccarat Crystal: Founded in 1764, Baccarat is globally recognized as the preeminent leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of the world’s finest crystal products. The Baccarat Crystal pieces were very beautiful. I remember seeing a Baccarat Crystal lamp during my Bisha trip to New York. The rings were perfect cocktail pieces: huge, statement makers. I loved them. Gioie & Co.: Widely known …

ToyWatch Spring Summer 2011 Preview

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My favourite watch company, ToyWatch came to town to show off what’s going on for spring summer 2011. I’ve been mourning my beloved Neon Chronograph Plasteramics in Atomic Orange since the clasp broke and render it unwearable. I’m awaiting a replacement and I hope it’s the same.  My wrist hasn’t been the same since. ToyWatch introduced a kids line this season. The new styles this year are solid black or solid white. This is a very big trend I’m noticing in watch land that is keeping in step with the bright colour trend. At the preview, I got to see some of the Missoni x ToyWatch collaboration. This was pretty exciting. They are a little hard to wear in my opinion but oh so very beautiful. They aren’t your everyday watch, much to pretty. Various retailers across Toronto and Canada carry ToyWatch, check the website for more info.

i want: Spacematic Backpack by Three Thirds

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I’m heading to Vancouver and Whistler this weekend and I wish my laptop was small enough to fit in the Three Thirds Spacematic Backpack. It looks like the perfect traveling companion for someone with a lot of gadgets like me. Unfortunately I have a 17 inch laptop and not a 15 inch. Boo. You can also get the Spacematic Backpack online at A2ZANE and Threethirdsdesign.com. images: Threethirdsdesign.com

Complexgeometries Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Complexgeometries held their fall winter 2011 – 2012 presentation at The Westside Gentlemen’s Club. That’s right, a strip bar. Designer Clayton Evans had colour and collaborations on the mind for the season. It’s a surprisingly colourful fall winter 2011 – 2012 collection for Complexgeometries and I’m not complaining. The textile evolution of the line into fabrics other than jersey is progressing with charmeuse, silk, mohair, suede and wool. Collaborations came in the form of jewellery and shoes. Complexgeometries partnered with fellow Montreal designer, Mireille Boucher of Harakiri. See the Complexgeometries fall winter 2011 – 2012 presentation video by Jason Last. The towering platform boots came out of the minds of LD Tuttle and Complexgeometries. Clayton tells me they are 9 inches high. I’m simultaneously scared and salivating. It’s an extra 9 inches of height. Who the hell knows what I’ll use it for but I want it. I’d probably scare small children and some men. Do these qualify as Manrepller shoes? Ha Ha.  Thankfully there are some more reasonable short boots available in the collaboration …

Preen Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Preen fall winter 2011 – 2012 is so good. Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi were influenced by Diana Vreeland for the silhouette and the Northern California Arts and Crafts movement for the prints. All the crystal and metal beading was done by hand in India (I wonder what the label will say). I love that designers aren’t backing away from colour or prints this season. See the full Preen Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 Fashion Show.  You don’t get the original music with the rebroadcast of the stream.  Boo Watch live streaming video from preen at livestream.com This clip from Luisaviaroma give a close up vantage point Same with this final walkthrough clip from Bryanboy There are no retailers in Toronto carrying Preen but Gravity Pope and Reborn do. images: thefashionspot.com,nowfashion.com, vogue.com