Kania Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

Kania Spring Summer 2013
Kania Spring Summer 2013

I enjoyed opening the Kania Spring Summer 2013 lookbook, the images are beautiful. Kania is the brainchild of Ottawa based Stacey Bafi-Yeboa. She is a former Broadway dancer and that experience heavily influences her designs. Kania is designed and manufactured in Canada. The Spring Summer 2013 Kania collection is called Tropical Luxuriance. Stacey brought in Tanzanian model, Herieth Paul who moved to Ottawa when she was 14.

Kania Spring Summer 2013
Kania Spring Summer 2013

Welcome to a world where fashion meets dance and where fantasy is reality. A private island where you can escape the ordinary and be submersed in luxury. Steamy nights and hot summer days rule your world. You’ll sense the relaxed beauty of the Caribbean and be transformed into the glamour of an African queen. As you step into paradise you’re ready to let go, to let loose, to be noticed, to be free. Is it a dream? No … you’ve just entered the island of KANIA… get ready to experience…TROPICAL LUXURIANCE(source: press release)

Kania Spring Summer 2013
Kania Spring Summer 2013

Stacey’s dance background is evident in the clothing. Everything is sexy but comfortable looking. Stacey began her design career when friends started to request the outfits she made for dance auditions. Kania is available online at kania.ca and in Toronto at Shopgirls and Any Direct Flight.

images: courtesy of Kania

Sarah Stevenson Design Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

Sarah Stevenson Spring Summer 2013
Sarah Stevenson Spring Summer 2013

Sarah Stevenson Design Spring Summer 2013 collection reminds me of the sea and Ming Dynasty porcelain. Sarah is a textile designer so she creates the prints herself and has them transferred to silk. Pattern Observer has a great interview with Sarah. All of her pieces are made in Canada. For those people who tend to skew a bit more conservative in their clothing can add a pop of colour and print with one of Sarah’s beautiful scarves. You can find Sarah Stevenson Design online at Ukamaku and sarahstevensondesign.com.

images: courtesy of Sarah Stevenson Design

AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 – Tathya’s Garden

AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 - Tathya's Garden
AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 – Tathya’s Garden

I’m a secret pomegranate junkie. It’s a problem that developed when I worked close to Chinatown. During Ppmegranate season, I developed the habit of buying up copious amounts of the fruit, taking advantage of the 3 for $5 pricing that dominated the many of the fruit sellers in the area. I knew which shops that consistently brought in quality pomegranates, knowledge after weeks of experimentation and research. I made the most of the short season and ate my way through it at every opportunity. I don’t work close to Chinatown anymore but my pomegranate addiction hasn’t stopped. My local grocer brings in good pomegranates during the season. They know my habits really well. So, it’s not a surprise that I love Anu Raina’s pomegranate dominated Spring Summer 2013 collection.

AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 - Tathya's Garden
AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 – Tathya’s Garden

My SS13 collection of prints is inspired by my memories of witnessing the majestic Echinaceas, the dew drop laden Daisys on the lazy Sunday mornings, the beautiful Pomegrante trees that humbly bore the weight of the biggest and reddest ever Pomegrantes, the riot of colour and fragrance that invaded the senses as you walked into Tathya’s Garden through heavy and massive wood/metal doors. Tathya was my maternal grand father who lived in a large house by a beautiful stream in Kashmir. He was a quiet Mathematics teacher who loved his garden the most.
While the little kingdom of flowers faded away with time, this collection is a tribute to the happy and carefree childhood spent playing in Tathya’s garden. – Anu Raina(Source: press release)

AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 - Tathya's Garden
AnU RaiNa Spring Summer 2013 – Tathya’s Garden

This collection just screams warm weather which is really pretty odd since pomegranates are a cold weather fruit for me. Spring Summer 2013 is full of flirty summer dresses and colourful separates. The prints are used with exquisite precision. Anu Raina is available at a number of locations in Toronto including Shopgirls Gallery Boutique, Studio Fresh, Homegrown Boutique and Distill Gallery.

images: courtesy of Anu Raina

Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook
Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

Toronto based designer, Dennis Merotto’s Spring Summer 2013 collection is perfect for office dwellers like me.  It’s beautiful, simple and professional but doesn’t skip out on the playful side by utilizing prints and colour blocking.

Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook
Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

The collection is combines silk, cotton, linen, leather, modal and polyester into wide legged pantsuits or easy wearing colour blocked tent dresses.

Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook
Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

Nathalie Atkinson wrote a great piece on Dennis at the National Post. He’s an industry heavyweight who worked behind the scenes for a long time whose now striving for his own spotlight.

Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook
Dennis Merotto Spring Summer 2013 Lookbook

images: courtesy of Dennis Merotto

CND Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 LookBook and Video

The CND Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 LookBook was a neat little take away from my Shellac manicure experience. It talks about CND trends on the runways, designer partners and even step by step instructions to recreate a few styles.

I’ve included a few pages of the lookbook here but you can download the full thing on the CND website.   Jen Kao’s nails (1st photo and below) are amazing.  So much work and layers of polish were needed.

 

Our cover concept plunges into the moody, trippy twilight-world of Jen Kao, embellished underwater-Avatar fantasy swirls and dominatrix swagger.  Our team created cloisonné-like, decidedly decadent nails edged in golden dagger-tips. The designer’s new collection spins a psychedelic head-rush of peacock tones in silhouettes cut for strutting: cinched, fringed corsets and the pure funk of purple satin platform boots. Flyness overload! Ziggy Stardust era references, like sharp-shouldered jackets in acid-bright prints and lurex leggings, call for nails that can’t wait to boogie down the dance floor. (source Lookbook)

CND also created a video for the fall winter 2011 – 2012 season during New York Fashion Week. They interview the designers (like Jen Kao, Jason Wu, Diego Binetti and) and head CND artists. It’s really interesting to see how much work goes into these shows.

I love this look from Jason Wu.  The colours are perfect together

For Jason Wu’s show this season, our team crafted almond nails in layers of Dark Ruby and Bloodline,
with baroque, 24-karat tips. (source Lookbook)

I love the look from Diego Binetti’s show. I’d love to have this manicure but I don’t like my nails that long and this style looks like length helps the effect.

For Diego Binetti’s show,  we created a darkly dangerous nail with a wicked, whip-thin silhouette. This designer’s lavishly beaded fabrics and black headwraps met their match with CND’s slim-line  enhancement contoured and slenderized with a base of Blackjack, then armed and dangerous with Dark Ruby and Bloodline detailing. (source Lookbook)

images: CND.com

Illusions d’ombres de Chanel

Illusions d’ombres is name of the new Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 makeup collection from Chanel. I only really concern myself with the nail polish but I loved the imagery that went a long with the product shots.

There are 3 polishes for fall, Peridot, Quartz and Graphite. They will be available at Chanel counters beginning August 22, 2011.

I’ve placed a lot of my metallic nail polishes on the back burner recently because their bright counterparts are more fun and a bit obnxious.  However, Chanel’s metallics are making me rethink that decision.

Peridot is a green and gold combination. Graphic sounds really interesting with silver, gold and platinum combined together. Finally, Quartz is a bronze and pink mixture.

images: courtesy of Chanel Canada

Juma Spring Summer 2011

Juma Spring Summer 2011

Juma’s spring summer 2011 collection is there best yet in my opinion. I remember getting a preview last summer and freaking out. The collection is inspired by Alia’s and Jamil’s time in Africa. The collection is really print heavy and they’ve made some great choices. I love the flamingos.  Jamil send me a bunch of the lookbook photos so I thought I’d make a gif of the entire collection.  Voila.
Juma Spring Summer 2011 Lookbook

Juma Spring Summer 2011 Lookbook


I took some photos at their spring summer 2011 fashion presentation in October at The Spoke Club.

Juma Spring Summer 2011

Juma Spring Summer 2011

WUYORK Collection 3310

WUYORK Collection 3310

WUYORK, an amazing accessories company I found out about last year has a new collection out.

WUYORK Collection 3310

WUYORK Collection 3310

18 odes to the bow

an obsession with the most simple and elegant of shapes
a passion for the most exquisite materials
a breathtaking sensibility inspired by art & architecture
impeccable detailing and construction of the highest technique
an exploration of the duality of the homme and femme
an undercurrent of raw sexuality
the sublime beauty of the butterfly
freedom from the confines of the expected(source)

WUYORK Collection 3310

WUYORK Collection 3310

The bowties are imppecable. I always enjoy the lookbook images, they are always quite striking.

WUYORK Collection 3310

WUYORK Collection 3310

images: wuyork.com

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 Lookbook


Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook

I was very excited to received the Smythe Fall Winter 2010 -2011 Lookbook. I knew I would be drooling over coats again like I’ve done in years past.  Smythe is one of the brands that have been coveted on I want – I got from the beginning.  Here are my favourites pieces from Fall Winter 2010 – 2011

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook
I like the closure detail on the camel coat.
Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook
I was a fan of the red tartan jacket and I'm dying over the blue one

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook

There are jackets for everyone: leather, bold shoulders, classic military and equestrian styles.

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook

Smythe Fall Winter 2010 - 2011 Lookbook

Smythe can be purchased at Holt Renfrew, TNT Woman, Canopy Blue and Andrews in Toronto. Online shops carrying Smythe include net-a-porter.com, shopbop.com and saks.com.

lily + jae Spring 2010 Lookbook

lily + jae Spring 2010 Lookbook

lily + jae is a Vancouver based contemporary fashion line created by Jude Feller. She spent seven years working in the costume department for film and television before starting lily + jae.

lily + jae Spring 2010 Lookbook

I like it when designers include behind the scenes videos like this one for the Spring 2010 lookbook.

I see a lot of the “On the farm” Spring 2010 trend in the lookbook and while I’m not a fan I found some looks I enjoy from lily + jae

lily + jae Spring 2010 Looks

Lily + jae can be found in Toronto at Aritzia – Bloor and Yorkdale, Charlie, Distill and Vocado.

images: courtesy of lily + jae

Dandi Maestre Spring 2010 Lookbook

Dandi Maestre Spring 2010 Lookbook

Toronto based, Dandi Maestre’s colourful Spring 2010 jewellery caught my eye at the Holt Renfrew Pop up shop. I loved seeing this burst of colour in her designs. She recently send me her new lookbook and it’s stunning. The line is branching from jewellery to include more accessories that still fit with her signature style. I love it. There are a lot of photos but I can’t help but share this with you all.

Dandi Maestre can be found at Holt Renfrew, the AGO, Thieves Boutique and Ziliotto Designs in Toronto. Check out the website to find other locations across Canada and the US.

images: courtesy of Dandi Maestre

Balenciaga Menswear Lookbooks Fall 2007 and 2009

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I got the Fall 2007 Balenciaga Men’s lookbook at the Meatpacking district store in NYC. I was there for fashion week and was checking out the stores in the area.

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I prefer the Fall 2007 collection. It’s very preppy, which was keeping with the Balenciaga Fall 2007 woman minus the lego shoes.

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The Fall 2009 lookbook I got in the menswear sections of Holt’s bloor street. Not as exciting as the Meatpacking District, le sigh. I like the simple layout of the lookbooks. The format hasn’t changed either, I like that.

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The Fall 2009 collection is a lot more sleek and angular. I like the use of colours. I didn’t really see the connections with Balenciaga women’s as it was drapey, sparkly and full of prints.

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200911_BalenciagaFW09Mens5

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Quiksilver and Roxy Spring Summer 2010 Preview

Quiksilver Spring 2010

I got a sneak peek at Quiksilver’s and Roxy’s Spring 2010 collection last week.

Quiksilver Spring 2010

Quicksilver Spring 2010 had a muted palette that was used to evoke the worn in look. Raw edges and shredding were also used to create that “well loved” character to the clothing. Oversized is a big trend in the collection. I loved the pieces that were oversized and incorporated shredding. The reverse rose print tshirt and tank top were also favourites of mine.

Quiksilver Spring 2010

Quiksilver Spring 2010

Quiksilver Spring 2010

You can see photos of all the items that caught my eye from the Quicksilver line in the slideshow. Some of the pieces are show in the lookbook photos.

Roxy Spring 2010

Roxy was opposite to Quicksilver and bright colours were dominate. Colour blocking and florals were common themes. There were a few rompers that I liked and the neon striped cropped tshirts.

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This top was like looking back 20 some odd years. They're back.
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One of my favourite pieces. I love the colour

image: scanned by me from the Quicksilver and Roxy Spring Summer Lookbooks

Philip Sparks Spring 2010 Lookbook – Behind The Scenes

I was lucky enough to catch the photoshoot for the Philip Sparks Spring 2010 Lookbook. I didn’t want to post my pictures until the lookbook hit the streets. Now it’s out, I can share some of my behind the scenes experience.

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The table of accessories. I did my Fun with Hats posts with items from this table

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I was drooling a little when Damien walked in the door. He’s legal, but way too young for me.

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Philip and Mackenzie talking about the shot

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See all my photos from that day

TÔ Long-Nam Fall 2009 – 2010 Lookbook

TÔ Long-Nam Fall 2009 - 2010 Lookbook

I received an email from designer, TÔ Long-Nam. Of all the information I’ve received from designers over the years here, this was the best crafted email I’ve read. I appreciated the attention the detail and biographical information immensely.

He was born in Viêtnam, grew up in Munich and went to school at the Academy of Fine Arts Berlin-Weissensee in Fashion-Design. Long-Nam worked with famous stylists Victoria Bartett and Patti Wilson. His forey into fashion design started as a design assistant for Lanvin menswear.

TÔ Long-Nam Fall 2009 - 2010 Lookbook

Positive encouragement after participating in the 21st International Fashion Competition prompted him to start his own line. He has also collaborated with designer Alessandra Facchinetti while she was at Valentino. While working on the Spring 2010 collection he is working for Superfine London, a denim company I’m very fond of.

All this information was great, but I would have been sold at the photos. Long-Nam says this about his Fall 2009 – 2010 collection:

Force has always been a keyword in the design principles of TÔ Long-Nam. For Fall/Winter 2009 the collection found inspiration in the human body and, in particular, the intricacy of the muscles within human anatomy. The soft architectural structure of each muscle, their unique composition, their diversity and their ability to function harmoniously to produce graceful motion formed the foundations of the collection. Based on this understanding, the collection shows a variety of garment constructions borrowing from the gentle and elegant contours of muscle design. Curved seams, round finishings and tactile fabrics united with female proportions delivers a collection which is powerful and modern, but which remains forever feminine at its core.

TÔ Long-Nam Fall 2009 - 2010 Lookbook

As the owner of an Honours B.Sc in Kinesology, the muscular aspect of the collection is very appealing to me. I like the way those images have been incorporated into the clothing. The clothing has some masculine qualities that I like.

The collection boasts an array of constructed signature jackets whose architectural designs are executed with an attention to detail that exposes an innate understanding of couture. The essence of the design remain in its transversality. They were designed for any kind of woman, for a maximum number of situations, both work and play, which increasingly seem to be performed in the same outfits. The jackets are cut with a discreet fitted waist to accentuate the female form. The round shapes of the seams follow the female morphology while the back panelling displays the collection’s aesthetical translation of muscle design to fashion design. The jackets employ the use of different fabrics to reflect the diversity of muscle fibres. These materials have been chosen for their varying degress of tactility. The collection uses a mixture of luxurious fabrics to offer a variation of black color shades such as: perforated silk satin, silk satin, cashmere/wool blend, a wool gabardine blend with a silky finishing and a lacqued crêpe de chine. Soft fabrics are combined with raw ones and matt fabrics with shiny ones, in order to sharpen the harmonic contrast between the arrangement of straight lines and round curves.

When I got home I decided to do some googling and discovered that TÔ Long-Nam is carried by Holt Renfrew. The Spring 2009 collection is in the store. His name is absent from the designer list for Fall 2009. I will be keeping my eye out for TÔ Long-Nam’s Spring 2010 collection.

images: courtesy of TÔ Long-Nam