Year: 2013

Hudson’s Bay Company x Converse Jack Purcell – Fall 2013

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Converse is killing it for Fall 2013. There is the Maison Martin Margiela collaboration and one featuring an iconic Canadian institution, Hudson’s Bay Company. Those of you that covet Hudson’s Bay Company stripes, these are the sneaker for you. Available in the unisex Converse Jack Purcell, Duck Boot and women’s only Helen silhouettes, each style embodies the Hudson’s Bay Company wool point blanket stripes, with features such as threaded stitching and antique brass eyelets, and the Jack Purcell and Hudson’s Bay logos on the foot bed. These silhouettes also carry an official “Seal of Quality” maintaining the authenticity of Hudson’s Bay Company. Additionally, the Jack Purcell Duck features a leather collar and heel stay, as well as embroidery on the tongue of the shoe, creating an elevated style that merges these two iconic brands. (source: Press Release) The Converse x Hudson’s Bay Company Jack Purcell collection is available exclusively at Hudson’s Bay Stores and will retail for $120-140.

Honeymania by The Body Shop

Honeymania Collection by The Body Shop

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It’s been over a decade since I’ve shopped at The Body Shop. In university, I was obsessed with their fragrances and the colourful glycerin soaps. Other brands caught my eyes over the years and I moved away from The Body Shop. Fast forward to now and a package from The Body Shop arrives at my door. They are launching a new product line called Honeymania. They have partnered with Beza Mar beekeepers in the remote Sheva rainforest in Ethiopian highlands to bring community fair trade honey to incorporate into the Honeymania product line. The beekeepers work with the bee’s natural cycle and use traditional techniques so that their use of the bees and the rainforest is sustainable. The hand harvested honey is food grade and it’s sold by luxury brands as table honey. Launching in stores on October 7, 2013, Honeymania will feature Lip Balm, Soap, Shower Gel, Body Butter, Bubble Bath Melt, Body Scrub and Eau de Toilette. Each product has a delicate scent with notes of floral honey blossoms and sweet honey. The …

Converse x Maison Martin Margiela – Fall 2013

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I talked about changing up my shoe game but Converse keeps calling me back. This collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela is pretty awesome. “Converse is thrilled to partner with Maison Martin Margiela. The collection perfectly embodies each brand’s spirit of individuality and self-expression unifying Converse and Margiela’s conviction of unleashing creativity,” says Matt Sleep, Converse Senior First String Designer.(source: Press Release) The first-time Converse Maison Martin Margiela collaboration features the Chuck Taylor All Star and the Jack Purcell sneakers, each completely hand-painted in Maison Martin Margiela’s iconic white paint. Covering all canvas, eyelets, laces and soles, they naturally crack and shed their outer coat of paint to reveal the original colors beneath.(source: Press Release) “The Maison has always been obsessed with white; it is used as a layer to give an incognito feeling. A sort of poetry, with the passage of time, the shoe asserts itself,” says Maison Martin Margiela.(source: Press Release) There are four colour ways available: red, black, navy and Margiela-exclusive vintage yellow. This limited edition collection are availalbe at Margiela stores and …

Changing Up My Sneaker Game with New Balance and Palladium

Changing Up My Sneaker Game with New Balance and Palladium

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Fall weather means parting with my sandals and covering up with closed toe shoes. My sneaker collection loves fall because I forget about them in the summer and they sit unused. Normally my sneaker game consists of Tretorns and Chucks of various styles. I have a thing for high tops and I have my Vegas Adidas and a great pair of Alexander McQueen for Puma kicking around too. This fall I wanted to change the silhouette up in my shoe game and that came in Palladium and New Balance form. Palladium is a French company started in 1920. Their famous Pampa boot was born in 1947 and the French Legion adapted them for their use. I’ve been receiving their press releases for a few years now but never saw the shoes in person. That changed this summer when I went to a Fall Winter 2013 preview. I really like the shape of the shoes and the different treatments they came in. Palladium loves colour and you can find the perfect colour for you in canvas …

VAWK x Shangri-La Hotel Toronto

VAWK x Shangri-La Hotel Toronto

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The Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto is celebrating it’s first anniversary. Together with Sunny Fong of VAWK they unveiled new Lobby Lounge attire for the female staff that he designed. “I wanted the design to truly reflect a hybrid of my brand and what I feel Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto represents. I was inspired by the art work in the lobby, the Ming vase tea library and the ornithological theme that is prevalent in the hotel and the Zhang Huan ‘Rising’ sculpture,” said Fong of his inspiration. “When I met with Richard Cooke, we wanted something that seemed almost theatrical, so naturally I knew the silhouette had to be both sophisticated and sexy. I felt my desire to custom create a bold graphic print inspired by the Ming vase would absolutely make a dramatic statement.”(source:Press Release) The design is inspired by architecture and design of Asia. The dress is a take on the tradition gipao. The print reminds me of blue and white porcelain that began development in 14th century China. I really like the design of …

Anna Sui Nail Collection

Anna Sui Nail Collection

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Anna Sui has some of the prettiest nail polish packaging on the market. I’d buy it for the packaging alone. The Anna Sui Nail Collection has 45 shades and styles.  The Nail Colour N Collection comes in a black bodice shaped bottle. It comes with a more traditional nail polish brush for regular application. I attended an Anna Sui beauty preview and received a sample of Nail Colour N 402 which is a very dark red with some gold glitter. I really liked the formula, the brush and it stayed chip free for a week. The Nail Art Colour N Collection come in a black bodice shaped bottle with a ruffle dress for easy identification. It has a brush that is flat with short and firm hairs to allow for nail art applications. I haven’t tried the polish in this collection yet but it claims the solid shades only needs one coat and that the glimmer shades are very sparkly and shiny. I’m very curious to try this nail polish out because of the one coat …

Polygale Jacket by Moncler

i want: Polygale Jacket by Moncler

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While I’m enjoying what probably is the last heatwave of the summer, I’m also thinking of the upcoming fall and winter seasons and the fashions it brings. Yes, I’m still obsessed about owning a Moncler winter coat. This Polygale Jacket by Moncler would be perfect for hitting the ski hills as I like longer winter jackets for running around the city. This one has a detachable Raccoon fur collar. images: moncler.com

Mulberry is Now Open in Toronto

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Mulberry opened their first two Canadian stores recently. The British company, founded in 1971, is known for their luxury leather craftsmanship. Rural English references in their designs results in an aesthetic they define as ‘Le Style Anglais. “Toronto is a key location in Mulberry’s North American expansion,” says Carl Barbato, President of Mulberry USA. “With the country’s expanding luxury market and consumer base, creating a strong presence in Canada is the next natural step for Mulberry.” Toronto is the lucky home for the stores found on Bloor Street West and the powerhouse Yorkdale Mall. Before opening in Toronto, I didn’t have much hands on experience with the brand. I’ve posted about their sweater craftmanship before and I’ve seen some of their bags in Holt Renfrew. Shortly after the opening, I was invited to check out the Bloor Street location to get to know the brand. The Mulberry store finishing is beautiful. Designed by British architects, Universal Design Studio they use timber, limestone and oak as features to complement Mulberry’s dedication to craftsmanship and luxury. Both …

MAC Indulge

M·A·C Cosmetics lndulge

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The M·A·C Cosmetics ad campaign for the lndulge collection are so colourful. I get excited everytime a new campaign lands in my inbox. The Indulge collection features lipstick, eyeshadow, lipglass, fluidlines, creamblend blush and my favourite nail polish. The Indulge Nail Lacquer collection includes – Magnificent Feast Sparkling True Gold (Frost) – Sinfully Sweet Sparkling Champagne With Gold Pearl (Frost) – Discothéque Super Glitter Silver (Pearl) – Impassioned Bright Warm Pink (Crème) – Rebel Mid-Tone Cream Plum (Crème) – Screening Room Bright Mid-Tone Teal (Crème) Each polish retails for $19 and I’m feeling the Crèmes more than the metallics. The M·A·C lndulge collection launches today at all M·A·C locations and www.maccosmetics.com images: courtesy of M·A·C