All posts filed under: Accessories

I want - I got Loves Poppy Barley

I want – I got Loves Poppy Barley

I’ve been completely spoiled by my custom fitted boots from Poppy Barley. It won’t be possible for me to buy another pair of tall boots off the rack again because nothing is going to fit as well. Poppy Barley is an Edmonton based shoe brand that I first heard about in the summer. They offer custom, handcrafted footwear that is Canadian designed and ethically made in Mexico. Sisters, Kendall and Justine Barber are the brains behind the brand. The idea of Poppy Barley came to Justine when she was on vacation in Bali. She came upon a local shoemaker and was disappointed when a pair of boots she wanted didn’t come in her size. The shoemaker said no problem, measured her feet, processed her address and payment. A few weeks later, her custom made shoes showed up at her door in Edmonton. While this is an affordable option for many shoe buyers in other parts of the world, it isn’t common in Canada. Justine had the idea that she wanted to bring custom made footwear …

Sully Wong x Amanda Lew Kee Swalk Hi Sneaker

i want: Sully Wong x Amanda Lew Kee Swalk Hi Sneaker

I have a saying that I’ve repeated a lot these days, “I need another one of these like I need a hole in the head”. Lately, its been applied to coats, sweaters and shoes. I said it to myself again once I spotted the Sully Wong x Amanda Lew Kee sneaker collaboration. I don’t need another pair of sneakers because my closet is full of them but the Sully Wong x Amanda Lew Kee Swalk Hi sneaker is one incredible shoe. Amanda has incredible style so I had big hopes for the design when I heard about the collaboration initially. She has surpassed anything I could have imagined. The shoe is perfection, I cannot lie. “The SWALK HI collaboration personifies all aspects, both in design and philosophy, which Sully Wong and I share as a team. The design itself is sleek, smart, and constructed with the finest attention to detail and luxury materials. Together we are aiming to give the women’s market a sophisticated limited edition option, in the realm of casual athletic footwear, focusing …

Eye Sandal by Pierre Hardy

i want: Eye Sandal by Pierre Hardy

I’m not big on the Evil Eye trend in fashion from an aesthetic point of view. That being said, I’m falling for these Pre Fall 2014 Pierre Hardy Eye Sandal and Pumps. They are obviously influenced by the talisman but I like the quirky and anime like take he’s used in the design of these shoes. I love that the eyes are the most dominate feature on the shoe. The size of the eye and its placement make these shoes look so freaking cute on. In the kitten heel, there is just the perfect amount of toe point showing. It makes me want to squeal with delight. There are a lot of variations on the shoe. You can see there are kitten heel and regular heel sandal varieties. Pierre has also switched up the materials and colour combinations. He mixed leather, pony and suede. I’m particularly taken with the pony hair sandal in dusty pink, it’s absolutely spectacular. I haven’t seen any Canadian retailers with the shoes yet but you can find a variety of …

A Clockwork Orange Canvas Book Bag by Out of Print Clothing

i want: A Clockwork Orange Canvas Book Bag by Out of Print Clothing

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess is one of my favourite books. I re-read the book and watch the Kubrick movie it every couple of years. The art by David Pelham from the 1972 Penguin softcover is my favourite rendition of the book’s cover. A quick Google Image Search on “a clockwork orange book” will give you a list of other covers and it’s easy to see why David’s work is so iconic. You can see some other famous David Pelham covers over at Flavorwire. So when Out of Print Clothing created their A Clockwork Orange series using this iconic cover image I had to own it. I purchased the grey A Clockwork Orange sweatshirt and it’s easily the most commented on piece of clothing I own. The shirts and phone cases are great too but the A Clockwork Orange Canvas Book Bag is calling my name. Now, I have no damn need for another canvas bag, I have a closet shelf full of them but I just can’t resist the all over print of …

Totem Dopp Pouch by Bookhou

i got: Totem Dopp Pouch by Bookhou

I almost walked away from the Bookhou Totem Dopp Pouch. I was visiting City of Craft for the first time with Monique from MoonRox and we both had our eyes on it. Why the hemming and hawing? Well, I really like cross body bags. They are my staples as they are versatile and easy to carry. Pouches and clutches are kinda a pain in the ass and I only really use them when going to something formal. That being said the Totem Dopp Pouch print was gold and I really liked the oatmeal linen it was made from. So, I spent the 30 bucks and picked one up, at that price it was hard to say no. Totem Dopp Pouch measures W 25.4 x H 17.78 cm. It’s large enough to carry the essentials (Wallet, Smartphone, Keys, Gum, Mascara and Lip Balm) and it’s not bulky. The print placement varies on each pouch due to its handmade nature. The outer material is 100% linen and the lining is 100% cotton. The Totem Dopp Pouch has …

ALDO Fights AIDS with Waris Ahluwalia

ALDO Fights AIDS with Waris Ahluwalia

ALDO Fights AIDS. ALDO and Waris Ahluwalia (designer and CEO of Waris Loves You and House of Waris, actor and globe-trotting tastemaker) have teamed up to raise money for Partners In Health and its HIV/AIDS programs. Waris and ALDO created a really cute friendship bracelet that come in four different colours for $5. All the proceeds from the sale of the #FriendFight bracelets will go to Partners in Health. Partners In Health strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair. In 1998, Partners In Health’s HIV Equity Initiative in rural Haiti was one of the first programs in the world to provide free, comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment in settings of poverty. The program’s success changed how the world approaches and funds diseases of the poor. Today, Partners In Health provides housing, water, food, and psychosocial support to thousands of people living with HIV; addressing the root causes of poverty and disease, and not just the disease itself. …

I want - I got's Holiday Gift Guide - Philip Sparks Shoes

I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Fashion, Beauty and Jewellery

It’s that time of year again and I want – I got is putting together massive Gift Guides of things I think would be perfect to give as gifts this season. The fifth edition of the Gift Guides is the one we’ve been waiting for Fashion, Beauty and Jewellery. This is a big one and I could go on for days with selections. Who doesn’t love the 20s? It’s my favourite style era and I love these Vintage Style Flapper Dresses by Cabaret Vintage. They range in price from $195 to 350 and are available online or at the Queen Street location. It’s really unfortunate that I don’t own anything by Comrags yet (Note to self, remedy this in 2014). I love the Quartz Border Ed Tunic by Comrags for $335. It’s available online or at their Toronto location. Philip Sparks’s Footwear is amazing. I love every style with the tall boots being my absolute favourite. They range in price from $350 to $495 and are available at the Ossington location or online. The ultimate …

Danny Chelsea Boot by 3.1 Phillip Lim

i got: Danny Chelsea Boot by 3.1 Phillip Lim

There is a damn good reason the Danny Chelsea Boot by 3.1 Phillip Lim is sold out online is sold out online. It’s the most perfect Chelsea Boot ever! I wanted the rose gold Quinn loafers but The Room didn’t have my size. My heart was broken. I wandered the shoe racks deciding what to do. Finally, I bit the bullet and went for the Danny Chelsea Boot. I don’t regret it one bit. What makes these the perfect Chelsea Boot? Well the almond toe shape is slim but roomy. The shaft is streamline and fits under slim pants perfectly. The fit is perfect, they didn’t require breaking in at all. I’ve been wearing the boots nonstop since I got them and they are so incredibly comfortable. My heels are very, very, very lonely at this point. I don’t think they’ll see the light of day until the snow starts and I have to start wearing winter boots. images: 31philliplim.com, me

Damir Doma x MYKITA Spring Summer 2014 Sunglasses

Damir Doma x MYKITA Spring Summer 2014 Sunglasses

Easy way to my heart is through sunglasses. MYKITA always has great collaborations and I’m loving the Damir Doma Spring Summer 2014 ones. There are two styls, Vivien and Rita. I like the combination of transparent material and wisps of colour that penetrate throughout. “VIVIEN” & “RITA” are a statement, the two oversized butterfly-style frames are flamboyant, eccentric and larger than life. They are awash with colours that were infused into the transparent material employed: a frozen melange of rust-red, green, aubergine and blue colour clouds. This two new sunglasses models are available in three colour combinations: Cloudy Blue (transparent with dashes of ink blue), Cloudy Brown (transparent with rust-brown hues) and Cloudy Purple (transparent with rust red, green, aubergine-coloured and blue colour clouds). Both frames are fitted with tinted lenses from pioneering optical solutions specialist Zeiss and will go on sale in spring 2014 at all MYKITA Shops and the Damir Doma flagship store in Paris.(source) images: blog.mykita.com

Holt Renfrew x Paul Smith x Movember Mittens

Holt Renfrew continues with it’s designer charity collaboration with Paul Smith and a cause close to my heart, Movember. I think this is the cutest collaboration yet, limited edition mittens in Paul Smith’s iconic stripes. Holt Renfrew is looking to reach it’s goal of providing $100,000 to Movember through the sale of the mittens this season. I think they’d make a great gift. Holt Renfrew has collaborated with renowned British designer Sir Paul Smith on an exclusive collection of mittens for Movember. Paul Smith created the limited edition mittens uniquely for this partnership, which are available only in Canada and only at Holt Renfrew. Every pair of limited edition Paul Smith mittens purchased will help support the men’s health programs run by Movember. In Canada, Movember supports prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives in the area of education, awareness, research and survivorship. “We’re absolutely thrilled to collaborate with Paul Smith and Movember on this special edition mitten collection,” said Alexandra Weston, Holt Renfrew’s Director of Brand Strategy. “We partnered with Paul Smith to create …

Proenza Schouler Spring Summer 2014 Video

Proenza Schouler Spring Summer 2014 Video

Proenza Schouler can do no wrong! This Spring Summer 2014 collection is so very strong with every look hitting the right notes in my style playlist. Jack and Lazaro relayed their inspiration to Hamish Bowles at Vogue: looking at the ice-cool seventies interiors of architects and designers like Joe Colombo and Paul Rudolph, and the monumental organic furniture of the Brazilian Sérgio Rodrigues, and the North Californian J. B. Blunk. “Glass and chrome and white lacquer,” said McCollough of those vintage interiors that turned them on, “mixed up with a shaggy Moroccan rug.” “It’s minimal,” added Hernandez, “but there’s a warmth, an earthiness to it with all those green plants.”(source) The shoes, the shoes. I want the shoes so badly!! As always, I try not to make too many final judgements on a collection without seeing the video. The Proenza Schouler Spring Summer 2014 fashion show is amazing! I’m so in love. I also took a look at the Proenza Schouler Spring Summer 2014 trunk show on Moda Operandi. It’s just stunning. Proenza Schouler is …

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

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.

Converse x Maison Martin Margiela – Fall 2013

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

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 …

i want: Octopus Necklaces by Lost Apostle

A few weeks ago, I went to an event for Etsy Canada. We were introduced to some of Etsy’s biggest Canadian partners and talked about their Affiliate program. I received a personalized gift bag at the end of it. It was curated with me in mind and featured some designers the Etsy folks we up my alley. That’s how I discovered Lost Apostle. Lost Apostle is based in Montreal and creates bronze and silver jewellery for the person who doesn’t want something dainty and feminine. We are talking animal skulls, anatomical hearts, flying picks, syringes, feathers and hand grenades. I received the Human Skull necklace in bronze from the Etsy Canada gift bag but I’m kinda obsessed with Lost Apostle’s Octopus pendants. They come in Silver and Bronze and there is also a choice of leather straps instead of gunmetal. Too adorable. If that isn’t enough, there are Lost Apostle Octopus earrings to match. I’m dying. Lost Apostle is pretty affordable also with prices starting around $30 and going up to $300. The Octopus necklaces …

Vawk for eBay – August 12 – September 15, 2013

Sunny Fong of VAWK has teamed up with eBay Canada to launch a seven piece limited edition collection called Vawk for eBay on August 12, 2013. Everything will be priced under $120 and will be available at Buy It Now pricing until September 15, 2013. I got the scoop on inventory and it’s really limited, if you have some favourites you need to purchase on August 12th. An added bonus is that eBay is providing free shipping. The Manta shift dress at $119 is a steal and my favourite piece of the collection. There is something for the guys too with the Duo leather skinny tie at $69. images: courtesy of eBay Canada

i got: Kaiyra Sandals by Nine West

It seems we skipped spring and moved right into open toe shoe wearing weather. I honestly thought I wouldn’t wear sandals until closer to June but there I was wearing peep toes at the end of April. A new summer season means new wedge sandals. I was having a particularly bad day and used my Nine West gift card to cheer me up. I love a good wedge sandal and I have more than a few pairs of them kicking around. I was debating between the Kaiyra and Shaky sandal. The blue and green patterns of the Kaiyra won out. They have a 5″ cork wedge with a 1″ platform. They are high but comfortable, the perfect shoe dimensions. I still might get my hands on the Shaky sandal, they are on sale now. So is the Kaiyra if you are interested.

i want: Body Jewellery by Dolorous

Toronto has a number of great jewellery designers and Dolorous is one of them. Danielle Singer, designer, uses brass chains and various vintage components to create her beautiful, minimalist designs. I’m really into her body jewellery right now. Menat Broad Collar Body Chain is my favourite piece by Dolorous right now. It would make a great statement piece on a long gown for formal occasions. It also would be great more causally too. It’s $278.64 at here Etsy shop. The Menat Broad Collar Body Chain, inspired by medieval accessories, is a modern style of body jewelry meant to be worn across the shoulders. This beautiful and flattering statement piece is made with two draping strands down the front and three across the back, connected at the shoulders with a section of ornate vintage copper chain from which several strands of brass chain are draped, creating a cap sleeve style look that allows the piece to balance comfortably across your shoulders.(source: Dolorous Etsy Page) Crystal Lattice Body Necklace is another great piece that would make a …

Hi-Tec Urban Hike

Hi-Tec and NKPR teamed up to take media on a Toronto Urban Hike in order to discover the new collection of walking and hiking shoes built with the fashion lover in mind. Each participant was given a choice between a number of different casual but functional shoe styles to try out. I went with the Sierra Lite Original high tops in pink. Thanks Hi-Tec! The Sierra Lite Original is Hi-Tec’s original suede and mesh walking boot. The shoe has the qualities of a hiking boot with a high fashion look. We gathered at the NKPR offices in our best urban hiking street style outfits and put on our shoes. It was interesting to see what styles everyone picked. Pink was very popular with the women but only two of us went for the high top Sierra Lite Originals. I was very impressed that they came with a second set of pink laces and I immediately began to switch out the white pair. They really wanted to show us that you don’t need to break in …

The Great Gatsby x Tiffany & Co.

The Great Gatsby opens on May 10, 2013 and I’ve definitely bought into the hype. Not because I think it’s going to be a great movie but just for the visual spectacle of clothing and jewellery. Baz Luhrmann makes some great visual movies but I’ve never given a damn about the story he’s trying to tell. I’m not a huge Tiffany & Co. fan but The Great Gatsby collection is pretty stunning and caught my attention. It’s inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s film and created in collaboration with Catherine Martin, Costume Designer. The Savoy headpiece with pearls and diamonds makes me lose my mind. It’s crazy beautiful even to me, a person who isn’t the biggest fan of pearls or diamonds. Tiffany & Co. is doing the full social media coverage for the collection and created this short video featuring the jewellery. An exclusive video by director Baz Luhrmann about the exquisite Tiffany jewels featured in his film “The Great Gatsby.” Tiffany collaborated with the film’s Oscar®-winning costume and production designer Catherine Martin on the bejeweled …

i want: Aldo Rise x Preen Buito High Heel Sandal

I’m a big fan of the Aldo Rise collections and I’m a huge fan of Preen. So when these two get together, I get a little giddy. For Spring Summer 2013 Preen and Aldo released three styles of shoes with two different colourways per style. I’ve already picked up the Musilova style which has a pointy toe, asymmetrical vamp and ankle strap. It’s in a bone colour and the leather has some texture to it. I’m also a big fan of the Preen x Aldo Rise Buito Sandal. It wasn’t available when I purchased the Musilova thankfully because I would have walked out the door with both. All the styles from the Aldo Rise x Preen collection are $155 and can be found online at aldoshoes.com or in select Aldo Stores like Eaton Centre. images: aldoshoes.com

i want: Spring Summer 2013 Flats by Loeffler Randall

It’s Loeffler Randall day at I want – I got. I waxed poetic about the Rider Bag and now I’m loving their spring summer 2013 flats. I remember seeing these shoes in the window of Augustina last week. I was most taken with the Odile Sneaker. I love the dark florals in silk and linen with the espadrille details. The Odile Sneaker retails for $225. The other cute flat from Loeffler Randall is the Luella Mignon Flat Sandal. The colour is spectacular. It’s so intense and saturated. They retail for $325. Both shoes are available in store and online at augustinaboutiques.com. images: augustinaboutiques.com .