Month: August 2012

Holts 175th – The Magenta Collection

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Holt Renfrew is turning 175 this year. It’s amazing that this retailer has been around since 1837. Holt Renfrew started as a hat shop in Quebec City and over the years developed and expanded across Canada. In the 1930’s, Holts began it’s luxury focus and even welcomed Christian Dior in 1947 when he launched the “New Look”. The company was under foreign ownership for many years and in 1986 it was purchase by The Westons moving Holt Renfrew into the company it is today. Holt’s partnered with many of it’s luxury brands to create the limited edition, Magenta Collection. It was cool to see some Canadian faces in the mix like Smythe, Naked & Famous, Mackage, Moose Knuckles and Canada Goose adding their magenta inspired pieces. There are a number of limited edition items available outside of the ones I’ve posted here. You can see the entire Magenta Collection online at Holtrenfrew.com. images: courtesy of Holt Renfrew  

Judith & Charles Fall 2012

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There are lots of American companies moving into the retail space in Canada. It’s nice to see home-grown companies pushing their own expansions. Montreal based Judith & Charles is opening their first 1700 sq ft flagship store at First Canadian Place (my old work stomping grounds) opening in September. Designers Judith Richardson and Charles Le Pierrès started the brand in 2008. They aren’t newbies in this business and before Judith & Charles they were the exclusive North America licensees for the Parisian brand Teenflo. Judith & Charles has 10 retail locations in Canada and a store in New York City. The fall collection uses leather, suede, and fur details and has influences from 50s silhouettes. The colour palette is neutral but incorporates trends like teal and oxblood. You can see the entire Judith & Charles fall 2012 collection on their website. I’ve included my favourite looks here. Fall/Holiday 2012 is also up if you are looking ahead. Judith & Charles  is available at their Bayview Village location and at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. images: Courtesy …

i want: Strappy Booties by B Brian Atwood

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I haven’t had a drool worthy shoe moment for a long time, then I saw these crazy, beautiful booties on the Intermix website.  These exclusive to Intermix booties are from B Brian Atwood which is Brian Atwood’s lower priced shoe line. I love the cognac colour of these shoes but I know the 5″ stiletto heel is just a bit too high for me and the platform is only a quarter inch. I know my limits and I’ll be satisfied with just staring. These are available exclusively at IntermixOnline.com. I’m not sure if they will be available at the Toronto location. images: intermixonline.com

Vogue Paris September 2012 – Le Noir Partie 2

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I’m dying to get my hands on the September 2012 issue of Vogue Paris. There are some great editorials in the magazine and my favourite is Le Noir Partie 2 with Suvi Koponen. This editorial is just so striking. It’s got that creepy gothic feel happening. This is my favourite shot. I find it a bit unsettling with her face covered. Photographer: Mert & Marcus Model: Suvi Koponen Styling: Joe McKenna Hair: Garren & Daniel Martin Make-Up: Lucia Pieroni Nails: Lorraine Griffin images: thefashionspot.com

Shop Like A Blogger: Anita Clarke

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My friend Samra BBMed me with a video project involving Glow Magazine where she works as an online editor. I kinda get a kick out of doing video things so I said yes. The video is part of their Shop Like A Blogger series. Basically, I went to Shoppers and talked about my top beauty products which were nails and mascara (duh). They also gave me a $100 gift card to make those things a reality. The video turned out really well and I’m pretty pleased with it.

Flare Magazine x Nadege Macarons

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Macarons and fashion are always mentioned together. I should be over everything related to macaron but I’m not. They are just too damn tasty to ignore. Flare and Nadège teamed up to create macaron based on shades from the fall winter 2012 – 2013 collections. You can see all 10 of the creations at Flare.com. Toronto’s top macaron maker Nadège Nourian, of Nadège Patisserie, has created one-of-a-kind shades just for FLARE inspired by the season’s hottest hues. “This is one of the most challenging projects I’ve ever worked on,” shared Nourian while on set for our macaron photo shoot, “but it was incredibly fulfilling and so much fun to do.” See these delicious confections paired with top looks from the international runways for a sweet visual treat. Four of the ten custom marcaron created for the editorial are available for purchase at Nadège Patisserie for a limited time. The flavours are (top to bottom in above photo): Chocolate cherry, inspired by Givenchy , Grand Cru chocolate from Brazil, inspired by Balenciaga; Cotton candy, inspired by …

Fashion Cares 25 Ad Campaign

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The Fashion Cares 25 ad campaign has just been released and man how good does Tara Gill look in this. Smoking! They are working that glitter theme and I love it. This is Dane who is also with Elmer Olsen models. He’s looking great too. A new block of tickets for Fashion Cares 25 at $195 have gone on sale at Ticketmaster. Fashion Cares 25 take place at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts on September 9, 2012. Photography: Chris Nicholls Creative director: Phillip Ing Hair: Tony Masciangelo Makeup: Melissa Gibson images: chrisnichollsphotography.com

Chanel x Fashion’s Night Out Nail Polish

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Chanel is creating another Fashion’s Night Out collection. Last year, Les Jeans de Chanel was only available in the US. I had a friend track them down for me. Luckily, Canadians will be able to purchase them at Chanel Bloor Street, Holt Renfrew Bloor Street and Holt Renfrew Vancouver this time around on September 6, 2012. Les Twin-Sets de Chanel is a three shade collection of lipstick and nail polish duos. I really like Provocation and Infidèle with Provocation being my favourite. I’ll be tracking those two down on September 6. images: fashionmagazine.com

i want: Tunic by Dinh Ba

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This knit tunic by Montreal designer, Dinh bá popped up in my Facebook newsfeed. It got me thinking of how cosy knits are in the fall with pleasure instead of summertime disdain. i’m not ready to purchase knits yet but this tunic can be found at distill gallery in Toronto. image: distillgallery.com

Lanvin Fall – Winter 2012 Ad Campaign

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I love, love this campaign by Lanvin for the fall winter 2012 – 2012 collection. Alber Elbaz grabbed some unique individuals from New York ranging from 18 to 82 years in age. It looks great and I love the selection of people. I’m also loving the number of black people in the campaign, yay Alber. “I was interested to bring these clothes back to the street somehow, and seeing how they look on different ages, different sizes,” Elbaz told WWD. “It felt like a crazy family, and I like that.”(source) The accompanying Lanvin Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 ad campaign video is really good too. No dancing this time, the just people talking. You can see the rest of the campaign online at the Lanvin Facebook page. images: Lanvin Facebook

I want – I got x Wendy Ding

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I’ve been lucky with getting illustrations of myself made. At Textstyle’s 4th anniversary party, Toronto based illustration Wendy Ding sketched me unbeknownst to me. I’m wearing a Mara Hoffman dress from Rac Boutique and a Nine West handbag.

OPI x James Bond – Man with a Golden Gun

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OPI is the collaboration kings in the nail world. I think OPI Man with a Golden Gun will be the very best. That’s right, OPI and James Bond. OPI is celebrating James Bond’s Golden Anniversary with this special polish and a whole collection based on Skyfall, the latest Bond movie due out this year. Man with a Golden Gun is a top coat that contains 18 karat gold and comes in a limited edition gold coloured bottle. It will be released in October and will retail for $37.50. I need to get my hands on this badly. image: OPI Facebook

i got: Dickensian Volume by strangebeautiful

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I blogged about one of my latest nail polish interests, The Dickensian Volume by strangebeautiful. I ordered the set from the States and decided to share some photos of some of the colours. Jane Schub (strangebeautiful) has drawn inspiration from the dark side of Dickensian times. Referencing the Brothers Grimm, Dickens, Edward Gorey’s The Loathsome Couple and dark earth elements such as coal and shale. The moody and mysterious polishes come in ten metallic shades. The packaging for the Dickensian Volume is really pretty lovely. The forumla on the nail polish is thicker than most I use but it dries extremely smooth and perfect. I found the brush a bit difficult to work with. While I love the packaging to death but a shorter brush would be perfect for this polish. None of the polishes have names or numbers so it’s a bit hard to tell the difference from photos. Some of the blacks have hints of red, blue or green and there are a number of different shades of grey.

Janelle Monae is the next Covergirl

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I rarely pay attention to new beauty ads but this one involves Janelle Monae. She’s now the latest Covergirl and has a huge advertising spread in the September issue of Vogue. “I believe it’s time that women truly owned their superpowers and used their beauty and strength to change the world around them,” said Monáe. “One of my core values is to help redefine what it means to be a strong and beautiful woman in the music and fashion worlds and to empower the wonderful things that make us unique. Becoming a COVERGIRL is truly an honor and a gift: it opens up a new platform for me to inspire women to feel stronger, braver and more beautiful inside and out.” “Ever since Janelle made her electrifying arrival on the music scene, she has captured our imaginations, stirred our souls, and made us all move our feet,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, VP and General Manager, COVERGIRL Cosmetics. “Janelle is a true force of energy and a beautiful spirit who truly delights in her creative journey, …

I want – I got Greeting Cards by Eighty Seventh ST.

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Monica Smiley of Eighty Seventh ST. creates hand illustrated fashion inspired paper products. Monica is a Toronto based illustrator with a degree from Ryerson’s School of Fashion. eighty seventh ST is a chic brand of hand illustrated paper products with a high fashion edge. A whimsical collaboration of art and design, eighty seventh ST offers unique gift ideas from greeting cards, to art prints, and custom design projects that go beyond design borders. Our products are 100% designed and produced in Canada, and all products can be 100% recycled. In collaboration with eLuxe they produced the best event swag item ever: personalized, illustrated greeting cards. For every attendee to eLuxe’s open house there was a set of greeting cards with our own personal Monica Smiley illustration. Completely amazing!

i want: Duck Bag and Backpack by Baggu

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Backpacks are such a huge trend right now and I’ve been overloaded with backpack pitches. Now I’m interested in backpacks. I have an MEC pack that’s very good but not stylish in any way. It’s also too big. I’m currently enjoying a Nella Bella backpack from the Fall Winter 2012 collection but I could use one a bit smaller. Baggu creates simple cotton handbags in vibrant colours. I love the simplicity of these packs and the colour schemes. The Duck Bags are really cute too. Baggu bags can be found at Magic Pony in Toronto and The Drake General Store. images: magic-pony.com

i want: Maryam Keyhani Fall Winter 2012 – 2013

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Ever since reading Overdressed, I’ve been thinking about spending my money with a bit more caution when it comes to fashion. High on my priorities are well made, wearability and country of origin. I’ve decided that less is more and I want to stop those random H&M or Zara purchases and save for a couple of big ticket purchases a season. The fall, I want a Maryam Keyhani necklace. Maryam’s work is as stunningly beautiful as she is. I really feel like these necklaces portrays her aesthetic perfectly. And who doesn’t want a part of that. Maryam’s necklaces feature folded silks, structured metal and strands of pearls. Maryam Keyhani is available at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. images: torontolife.com

I want – I got x Bombay Sapphire Cocktails

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It’s not every day you have Olympic themed cocktails created just for you in cleared out bar. This terrific experience at Suits in the Trump Tower was thanks to Raj Nagra, Bombay Sapphire Master Mixologist. I filled out a questionnaire about my food tastes a week before the event and Raj came ready with three Olympic cocktails for me. He was so bang on with every drink, they were a delight. I’ve included  the I want – I got x Bombay Sapphire Cocktails so you can try them at home. You want to, believe me. BRONZE – Macchiato Martini 1 part (30 mL) Bombay Sapphire 1 part (30 mL) Tia Maria 1 part (30 mL) Espresso Pinch Sichuan pepper Method: Shake with ice and fine strain Glass: Cocktail Garnish: Milk froth and nutmeg SILVER – Cucumber & Dill Smash 2 parts (60 mL) Bombay Sapphire 2/3 part (20 mL) Agave nectar 6 chunks Skinned cucumber 1 thumbnail Deseeded jalapeño 1 Large sprig of dill ½ Fresh lime Pinch salt Method: Muddle cucumber & agave nectar …

Triarchy Fall Winter 2012 – 2013

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Canadian denim brand and I want – I got favourite, Triarchy took their bright skinnies and traveled all the way to Peru to shoot their fall winter 2012 – 2013 lookbook. The result is a very beautiful lookbook. Such a refreshing change from the standard way I’ve seen denim presented. Triarchy is available at Dutil Denim in Toronto images: courtesy of Triarchy

60 Years of Designing the Ballet & The Tutu Project – Till September 2, 2012

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The Design Exchange is hosting two exhibits for The National Ballet of Canada: 60 Years of Designing the Ballet and The Tutu Project. Both exhibits will be at the Design Exchange until September 2, 2012. 60 Years of Designing the Ballet This exhibition offers an intimate look at the design of one of Canada’s most celebrated treasures – the National Ballet of Canada. The exhibition is organized thematically – highlighting the various ways in which the ballet as an institution is designed through hundreds of items from the ballet’s archive. The exhibition provides a private invitation into the world of one particular company. This exhibit brought me right back into The Nutcracker world again. I had to snap a photo of the Cannon Doll costume sketches and swatches. There are a lot of costumes to check out and set pieces to see up close and personal. You can even try on a tutu and try out ballet moves right in the exhibit. Admission is $10.20 for the 60 Years of Designing the Ballet exhibit. The …

Moncler S Fall Winter 2012 – 2013

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Japanese designer Chitose Abe of Sacai has another great Moncler S collection for the fall winter 2012 – 2013 season. I’m dreaming of a winter jacket right now. M The fall winter 2012 – 2013 collection is described as: Moncler S is a project which this season is set to become even broader for an interpretation of the Moncler world that is original and contemporary. Little coats and capes open into large flared and enveloping skirts. Diamond quilting effects and quilted rolls alternate in the same garment, providing movement to surfaces and modelling the figure. Careful research goes into materials that underscore the purity of the design. Ultra soft deperlant flannel in prized New Zealand merino wool is both waterproof and stain-proof. Extreme attention is also lavished on the details with the bell and flower-bottom sleeve as unmistakeable style code of Moncler S. I love that these designs break the mold of the traditional down filled jacket. After seeing the rise of Canada Goose and others over several years, I’m thoroughly bored of the silhouette. …