Month: May 2011

i want: NARS Summer 2011 Nail Polish

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NARS has two new nail polish colours for Summer 2011 that I’m liking. NARS makes great, long lasting nail polish and I really enjoy my Spring 2011 colour, Desperado. Kismet is described as “Fate, destiny, a predetermined course of events. This metallic sunflower nail polish was simply meant to be.” Ecume is described as “An opaque white nail enamel that is at once vintage-inspired and avant-garde in sensibility.” The entire Summer 2011 NARS collection is quite pretty too. There is lots of bold colour. images: courtesy of NARS.

Lanvin Dolls Spring Summer 2011

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The Spring Summer 2011 edition of the Lanvin Dolls collection is now available atLuisaviaroma. I don’t collect porcelain figures but I think the Lanvin stuff is fun.     The snowglobe is my favourite. images: www.luisaviaroma.com

i want: Miriam Salat Earrings

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Jewellery designer Miriam Salat uses resin, sterling silver, 18kt gold vermeil and cubic zirconias for her hand crafted namesake jewellery line.  The collection has bracelets, necklaces and rings but the earrings are what grabbed my attention.  I love dangling statement earrings. Miriam Salat jewellery can be purchased online at miriamsalat.com. There aren’t any Canadian retailers at the moment. images: miriamsalat.com

Fitz & Fur by Roslyn Griffith Hall

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Fitz & Fur is a jewelry collection created by Toronto based stylist, Roslyn Griffith Hall. Reclaimed is Fitz & Fur’s style. Throughout her travels, Roslyn attended vintage markets and estate sales and like many antiquing junkies she acquired a lot of things. There are so many objects used in the jewellery like watches, thimbles, skulls, heart-shaped lockets, lockets, keys, coins, letters, rings, pendants, spoons and guitar picks. Fitz & Fur uses those vintage finds for bracelets, necklaces and earrings. I had some vacation time recently and went to Roz’s cool little studio in my neighbourhood to check out the collection in person. Fitz & Fur uses religious imagery as inspiration. The cross is a comment element found in many pieces and makes rosaries using skull shaped bone beads from Thailand. She has recast the beads in silver because it’s becoming hard to find the bone ones in Thailand. The charm bracelets and everything but the kitchen sink necklaces are my favourites from Fitz & Fur. There is so much detail in the necklaces that you never …

CUTMR 2012 Call for Submissions – Ends May 31, 2011

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Come Up To My Room 2012 Call for Submissions COME UP TO MY ROOM 2012, The Gladstone Hotel’s 9th Annual Alternative Design Event January 26 – 29, 2012 (Coinciding with Toronto International Design Festival and the Interior Design Show) Submissions Deadline: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 ATTENTION: DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS, VISUAL ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, SCULPTORS, WRITERS, MUSICIANS, SET DESIGNERS, PROP MAKERS, SOUND ENGINEERS, CERAMACISTS, TEXTILE ARTISTS, CRAFTS PEOPLE, FILMOGRAPHERS, PRINT MAKERS, NEW MEDIA ARTISTS and ALL CREATIVE MAKERS: The Gladstone Hotel seeks Expressions of Interest for innovative, cutting-edge, contemporary design and installation-based projects for The Gladstone Hotel’s annual alternative design event, COME UP TO MY ROOM. The ninth instalment of CUTMR will take place from January 26 to 29, 2012 at the historic Gladstone Hotel in downtown Toronto. Site-specific work will be mounted in the rooms and public spaces in the second floor Gladstone Gallery and ground floor spaces of the hotel. Ideal candidates for juried consideration are practitioners who approach their discipline with a radical personal vision, and who use design to converse, connect, collaborate and construct …

Second Nature Boutique’s Fashion Show & Fundraiser: “Love you to Pieces” – June 5, 2011

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Second Nature Boutique Presents A Fashion Show & Fundraiser “Love you to Pieces” Please join us for an afternoon event in support of Juvenile Diabetes Research. Enjoy browsing the Art Gallery while sipping on champagne and indulging in Hors d’oeuvres. Watch our models as they hit the runway showcasing pieces by Oscar De la Renta, Chloe, Miu Miu and more. Come prepared to find that special piece to add to your spring and summer wardrobe! Thank you for helping us to make fashion fun & affordable and participating in making a difference. Date: Sunday June 5th, 2011 Time: 1:00P.M-4:00P.M Location: Denison Art Gallery 33 Wingold ave, Toronto www.denisongallery.com Free parking Admission: $40 Tickets available online or in store www.secondnaturebtq.com loveyoutopiecesfashionevent@gmail.com

Yohji Yamamoto through the SHOWstudio Lens

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SHOWstudio has two brilliant videos about Yohji Yamamoto. The first video is called In Conversation with Yohji Yamamoto. It’s a one and one interview with SHOWstudio.com fashion director Alexander Fury. This interview has me excited for the upcoming documentary, Yohji Yamamoto: This is my Dream. The next video is called In Conversation, About Yohji Yamamoto. Photographer Nick Knight, art director Marc Ascoli and graphic designer Peter Saville discuss their work on Yamamoto’s seminal 1980s catalogues in a one-off conversation chaired by Madga Keaney, captured on film and edited by Ruth Hogben.(source)

Primary Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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While I was in Vancouver, I learned about a New York based fashion line called Primary which has a Canadian connection.  Vancouver native, Cleo Schroeder worked in the film industy in costume and styling before branching into design. She moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design in 2007 as part of that transition. Primary was created in 2010 by Cleo and Steven Ahn. The first thing you notice about Primary is this incredibly striking model staring back at you. Christina Caradona serves at model/muse for Cleo. Leather, silk and wool are fabrics of choice for Primary luxe casual looks. I love the whole collection with the skirts, dresses and jackets being my favourites. Primary is available online at primaryny.com and in Vancouver at Charlie & Lee. images: primaryny.com

DANIER x Greta Constantine SKIN Launch Party

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DANIER x Greta Constantine collection is so good. I had no inside access to these designs this time around.  So, the debut of the collection at the Neubacher Shor Contemporary gallery was a complete surprise. The gallery is a beautiful space with adjustable white walls, a huge window and exposed brick. It’s a great space for hanging artwork with the high ceilings. The six look collection ranges in price from $399 for a sleeveless bolero with exaggerated lapel to $999 for an asymmetrical, draped coat with rounded back. Key colour motifs include black, slate, eggplant, walnut, and lava, in a variety of fabrics ranging from Italian lamb leather to silky suede. As part of the capsule, Kirk and Stephen designed a contemporary take on the obi belt, a welcome addition to each look. “We sought to find a happy medium between fashion and function; to offer silhouettes that were appealing to the eye and still flattering on a variety of different body types,” explain Kirk and Stephen. The collection features several jacket types in leather …

Jonathan Saunders Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Jonathan Saunders‘s Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection was in my top ten. I love the colours, prints and silhouette. Jonathan Saunders was inspired by Paul Outerbridge‘s early photography, glass from well renowned glass designer, René Jules Lalique and English painter, Euan Uglow. I’m looking forward to a print and colour heavy fall. You can find Jonathan Saunder’s at The Room in Toronto. images: vogue.com

i got: Luxirare Suede Minivest

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As soon as I returned from my Whistler vacation I ordered the Luxirare Suede Minivest. I like vests in theory but I find them very, very hard to style. After months of hiding, I debuted the vest at the Greta Constantine x Danier Skin event. Looks like I will have to do some more research on how I can incorporate this great little vest into my wardrobe. I think maxi dresses might work for the summer. Jackets and sweaters would be good combination in the winter. How do you style your vest? Outfit breakdown: Luxirare Minivest, Sheer grey dress by Cheap Monday, Joe jean leggings (courtesy of Holt Renfrew), Aldo Black lace up boots, Black tank top by Gap, Dandi Mastrae earrings, Orange Toywatch (courtesy of ToyWatch Canada), Hermes bracelet.

Gap Fall 2011 Preview

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Wide leg pants were a passing fad for the Gap.  Cropped and skinny pants dominated the Gap Fall 2011 preview. There are a lot of leather looking pieces that are to give the look of leather for less. Sexy is a keyword I’m hearing a lot from Gap staff. Sexy is not a word that I associate with the Gap. Utilitarian and adaptable is what pops into my head. That’s probably not what they want to hear, ha. Some of my favourite pieces are the Light Grey Biker Knit Jacket and the Steel Grey Oversized Knit Cardigan.  There were a lot of cute jackets too. I didn’t see any interesting shoes at the preview. Seems nothing is going to top the amazing Fall 2010 platform boots I love. I’m never blown away by Gap previews but I always find something to love when the season hits because the collection is so large. See all the photos from the Gap Fall 2011 Preview Edit: I originally wrote this post before Patrick Robinson’s exit from the Gap. It will …

i want: Opening Ceremony x Pendelton Spring Summer 2011

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I’m still enjoying this collaboration. Opening Ceremony x Pendelton Spring Summer 2011 collection has some great pieces. These wool Ruffle Bottom shorts are so cute.  It looks like a little skirt.  The colour combination is just perfect. This wool Print Felt Jacket is another fun piece.  I love that it’s cropped.  Cropped jackets go well with maxi dresses and are perfect for spring summer layering The Cropped Knit Poncho is made from cotton but a wool version would be great in winter.  I just like the pattern and shape of this item. images: ssense.com

Quadrangle Architects 25th Anniversary Party at Corus Quay

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One of my favourite parties from last week was the Quadrangle Architects 25th Anniversary at the Corus Quay building. I was dying to get an invite to this party because I wanted to see the Corus Quay building first hand. Corus Quay, the new Toronto headquarters for Corus Entertainment, is located on Toronto’s waterfront. Corus Entertainment is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company, and a market leader in specialty television and radio, with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. Corus Quay was designed by world-renowned architect Jack Diamond of Diamond and Schmitt Architects. The interior was outfitted by Quadrangle Architects Ltd., an expert in broadcast architectural design. Corus Quay is an amazing building. The party hosts took guests on a tour of the building where we learned many facts about the building. Not only does it have interesting architecture and interiors, I was totally geeking out over the many, massive server rooms in the building that contains storage enough for 2 petabytes of data. After seeing the building …

Stacey Zhang Toronto Boutique Launch Party

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Montreal based designer, Stacey Zhang has opened a boutique in Toronto. She’s chosen a strip of Queen Street West that was independent boutique friendly until the corporations moved in many years ago. It’s a brave move to  complete for foot traffic with Zara, H&M and the Gap. Stacey Zhang aims to provide stylish women with affordable,ready-to-wear collections that are ethically produced and limited in quantity, maximizing the time and care spent in creating each garment. Known for highly detailed and structurally unique clothing, Stacey Zhang features styles ranging from fun, flirty dresses to sharp business attire to feminine, chic casual wear. With organic cottons, relaxed linens, luxurious silks, wool and sustainable bamboo as staples of past collections, the designer is also known for her impeccable selection of fabric. She is continually researching practical ways to replace fabrics with more ecologically sound and sustainable threads. Both Montreal and Toronto boutiques feature a wide variety of unique accessories handpicked by Stacey on her travels throughout Europe and Asia. Stacey plans to make the shopping experience at the Toronto …

V by 69 Vintage

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V by 69 VINTAGE is a new shop brought to you by Toronto Vintage mogul, Kealan Sullivan.  Kealan’s empire includes 69 Vintage and 69 Vintage Collective/Buy The Pound.  V by 69 Vintage will feature all the prized vintage finds Kealan doesn’t sell in the other shops. Everything in the store is for sale and that includes fixtures, books and gardening supplies. This is a high-end vintage shop because of the rarity of the pieces and all clothing is restored and repaired. V by 69 VINTAGE is a new creative vintage retail space which will showcase a series of changing monthly thematic concepts. Through art direction and careful product selection, the space, contents and merchandise for sale will transform entirely each month to reflect a new theme, ultimately creating an exciting retail experience. This new store is an opportunity for us to share our love and appreciation of vintage and to present our treasures in an innovative way in the form of distinctive curated collections. Our first theme is titled “THE VICTORY GARDENS” and runs from …

I want – I got’s Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 Fashion Trend Forecasting Reference – Updated December 14, 2011

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I want – I got’s Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 Fashion Trend Forecasting Reference This is a listing of fashion trend forecasting reports for Fall Winter 2012 – 2013. They are posted for reference and easy access. This page will be updated as more fashion trend forecasting reports come up. Updated December 14, 2011 – HOME INTERIORS REPORT F/W 2012 – 2013 TREND BIBLEKID'S COLOR TREND REPORT F/W 2012-13 DESIGN OPTIONS Updated October 30, 2011 – Pantone Color Forecast – Fall/Winter 2012/2013: REFOCUS Updated October 27, 2011 – WOMEN’S ACCESSORIES KEY ITEMS F/W 2012-13 TRENDSTOP.COM Updated October 27, 2011 – KID’S COLOR TREND REPORT F/W 2012-13 DESIGN OPTIONS Updated October 27, 2011 – KID’S TREND REPORT F/W 2012 – 2013 TREND BIBLE Updated October 27, 2011 – WOMEN’S COLOR TRENDS F/W 2012 – 2013 DESIGN OPTIONS Updated October 27, 2011 – WOMEN’S APPAREL F/W 2012-13 CAREER TREND MPDCLICK.COM Updated October 27, 2011 – HOME INTERIORS REPORT F/W 2012 – 2013 TREND BIBLE Updated August 24, 2011 – WOMEN’S CONTEMPORARY COLOR F/W 2012-13 DESIGN OPTION Updated …

Primer by Greta Constantine Spring Summer 2011

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Collaborations are the news in Canadian fashion so it’s good to see something that isn’t about one. Greta Constantine has created a capsule collection called Primer which consists t-shirts done Greta Constantine style. Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine are bringing their master drapery and attention to fit to a whole new audience. The capsule collection, aptly named Primer, serves as the base coat for a woman’s wardrobe and is to consist of both separates and dresses. But don’t expect basics. Every piece in the collection features a subtle feminine twist like leather straps on a tank top to allow for easy belting or draped t-shirt dresses with exaggerated pocket detailings. This is all part of Stephen and Kirk’s desire to re-imagine contemporary staples. As Stephen elaborates, “designing the collection demanded that we consider what makes a t-shirt so perfect. Fabrication, lengths, colours. While a woman may be willing to suffer through a pair of heels, comfort without looking comfortable is what we sought to achieve with Primer.” The line, with prices ranging …

Converse Spring Summer 2011

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I’ve been wearing my Converse for the past couple of weekends so I feel like I can talk about Converse earnestly now. It’s Converse weather people. I’m the type of person who wears my Converse in the warmer months as they don’t offer much protection in the winter. So this season Converse teamed up with DC Comics and they have some great choices in design from Batman, Superman, The Joker and Batgirl. There are a lot of great styles for the comic book fan. I also got to see the Marimekko x Converse collaboration. They are a fun shoe that I’m liking for summer. There were some interesting offerings from Converse by John Varvatos this season too. I really like this woven looking pair. See all my photos from the Converse Spring Summer 2011 Preview. Best bet for finding these styles in Toronto is Get Outside.

Boutique Denis Gagnon

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Denis Gagnon celebrated the opening of his new boutique in Montreal last week. I was invited to attend the opening but I was stuck in Toronto. Thankfully, Denis’s PR sent out some great shots of this beautiful store. It will be one of my first stops when I hit up Montreal this summer. Boutique Denis Gagnon 170B rue Saint-Paul Ouest Montreal, Quebec # 514.935.6360

Denis Gagnon x Lancôme Fall 2011 Makeup

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Here is my last bit of Denis Gagnon related fashion news today, a new makeup collaboration with Lancôme for Fall 2011. The collaboration will become available in Mid August at select Lancôme counters. To reflect the brand’s philosophy of partnerships between arts and beauty, Lancôme pursues its mission to promote excellence by associating with talented Canadian fashion designer Denis Gagnon. This artistic collaboration between Lancôme and Denis Gagnon started in 2010 with the celebrations surrounding the designer’s 10th anniversary and the related exhibition of his work organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. For this occasion, Lancôme had created makeup looks to complement the Spring-Summer 2011 collection of Maison Denis Gagnon. In the fall of 2011, Lancôme will continue this association by launching a limited edition, exclusive makeup collection created in collaboration with the fashion designer. These beauty looks, created by makeup artist Lora Spiga in collaboration with Denis Gagnon, feature smoky and sophisticated eyes that ooze self-confidence, combined with a seductive mouth in shades of nude to intense purple. “I wanted to create …