So I’m loving the Olympus PEN E-PL1 camera. It has a pretty steep learning curve and I’m nowhere near knowing all it’s secrets. I did take it out for a spin to catch the cherry blossoms blooming in High Park.
All the closeup shots were taken in Macro mode. There is a wonderful amount of crystal clear detail to see in the larger versions of these images.
The Olympus E-P1 marks the formal introduction of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds (4/3) camera system in the form of a high-quality, sub-compact digital camera. Designed around a 12.3-megapixel (17.3 x 13mm) Live MOS imaging sensor, the E-P1 enables pro-quality still and video imaging abilities in a small, unassuming package. Along with a new line of compact M.Zuiko Digital lenses, the new system is compatible with all existing 4/3-format fixed-prime and zoom lenses from 7mm through 800mm (114° to 1.5° AOV).(source)
The Olympus PEN E-PL1 ranges in price from about $570 to $700 depending on which shop you look at. There are different accessories you can buy like different flashes and lens.
United Nude has some amazing shoes for Spring Summer 2010. I’m particularly fond of the Frame style.
The United Nude Frame is a return to United Nude’s architectural roots. As the most important part of any structure is its frame, the shoe’s heel is lightweight carbon fiber, the upper is luxurious leather and together they seamlessly form one. The Frame is a sexy high heeled construction.
The lovely Nathalie Aktinson send me a link to the Tale wedge by Eileen Shields for Maria Cornejo. “These new Zero+Maria Cornejo shoes somehow remind me of you…” the message reads. She is completely on target here, I really like these wedge booties. The cutout is perfect and I love all the colourways. The white stands out to me the most.
I heard about magicians at Hermès on twitter earlier last week. I freaking love magicians so I made a mental note. I didn’t make concrete plans to see them immediately so I forgot about it. Fast forward to this past weekend and I’m walking around Yorkville with The Oracle. We started noticing people wandering around with silver horse balloons and orange ties. The Oracle said they were from Hermes. How could they not be with the iconic orange and horse motives. That is when I remembered the magicians. I needed a balloon and I needed to see the magician. I dragged The Oracle into Hermès.
Sure enough there were balloons and a magician. I discovered the event was a promo for the Sprockets Film Festival Family Weekend. Hermès is a sponsor. There were colouring books for the kids, cookies and even a cake. We chatted with the store manager for a while and the magician came over to perform tricks for us. I was acting like a total kid, jumping up and down and laughing hysterically at the sleight of hand. The magician was from France and pretty cute. I got an orange rose as a result of one of the tricks.
One of the sweet saleswomen in Hermès got me a balloon. I was very happy. It’s still inflated and floating 5 days later. I got a lot of looks from people as we continued shopping and on the subway home. They were just jealous they didn’t have a balloon.
I also managed to get one of the colouring books and crayons. It’s amazing what a simple Hermès ribbon can do to 3 crayons.
Wow, this Only The Brave Ironman Limited Edition Fragrance by Diesel is a strange movie tie in for me. To celebrate the world and folklore around the Marvel character Ironman, Diesel has created a limited edition Ironman version of it’s Only the Brave men’s fragrance. Appealing to the comic book geek Diesel?
Planet Perfume is decidedly glum and gloomy this spring 2010. Who can save it from boredom? Only a genuine, full-blooded hero! IRONMAN has come knocking on Diesel’s door, or is it the other way round? To celebrate the release of IRONMAN2, Diesel pays tribute to the original comic book creation. The indestructible superhero has lent his famous iron glove to a limited edition of the ONLY THE BRAVE fragrance.
The Only The Brave fragrance will be launched in June 2010 to coincide with the Ironman 2 movie release.
Featuring the highly original ONLY THE BRAVE fragrance. As much an attitude as a perfume, the fragrance embodies above all self-affirmation. A fusion of plant and animal kingdoms, it blends leather, styrax and labdanum. Lemon and violet express urban modernity, underscored by the strength and singularity of cedar and amber.
The raw materials of the fragrance sound interesting. I guess I shouldn’t judge it until I’ve sniffed. The bottle will be 75ml and will be available at The Bay, Sears and Shoppers Drug Mart for $85.00.
I have been dying for Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Multi Eyelet with elastic laces for years now. So when I had the chance to pick up a pair at $30 bucks I didn’t care about the colour.
When I visited Fawn a few weeks ago I was introduced by a great line out of New York called SHIN. Shin is a FIT 2007 alumni and was a finalist in the Gen Art 2008 Style completion.
Brian Atwood made a personal appearance at The Room. Brian Atwood is a CFDA award-winning footwear designer. He grew up in Chicago and studied clothing design at FIT. This formal model began working for Gianni Versace in 1996 on the Versus Line and then was promoted to chief designer of women’s accessories. This is where he learned all about shoes. In 2001, the Brian Atwood label was created. In 2003, Brian was awarded the Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design from the CFDA. I did a little interview with Brian on my lunch hour. I was a little taken back by just how good-looking the man is. The photo says everything.
Anita: You seem have everything right now. Celebrity fans, a 9+ year business that has been very successful, you are award winning. What are your next steps? Where do you see yourself in the future? What are you working toward?
Brian: Definitely opening stores and giving the customer more of an inside look at what they would look like in this Brian Atwood world.
Anita: Do you see yourself branching out to more than just shoes?
Brian: Definitely, possibility in Ready to Wear. Bags definitely will come. We have a small collection that mainly complement the shoes but I’m definitely eying that aspect. Anything that feels the synergies that goes with brand and the aesthetic of the brand. It could be jeans, could be sexy jeans. Could be anything that went with the brand.
Anita: You are originally trained as a fashion designer and you’ve moved into shoes and accessories. What do you feel is your favourite now. Do you still gravitate to clothing?
Brian: I still love clothing but definitely I have been sketching shoes for as long as I can remember. Before it meant anything to me. I can drape a dress, I can sew but really that foundation I was always interested in architecture. Building that shoe, there is such a small space on a shoe to make it work. It’s always challenging that how do we make the same impact of that dress and have that equally effective in a shoe. It’s very challenging.
Anita: I can imagine.
Brian: But nowadays you can put anything on a shoe.
Anita: That’s so true. (this is were I laugh and get lost in his eyes, I snap out of it and get back to the interview, ha ha)
Anita: What do you think are the next trends coming out for footwear?
Brian: Well I really think we’ve embellished them with everything we everything from studs to lizards. We have seen a return of the lower heel. Nowadays I think the platform and these really high heels have become a staple in a women’s wardrobe. I think now it’s just really just giving women beautiful shoes and playing on with colours and textures and keeping it luxurious.
That evening, The Room hosted a little cocktail party for Brian Atwood, select media and a whole wack load of Toronto socialites. I’m really ignorant of Toronto socialites. I know of and met a few of them and others I just see around a lot. There was a lot of money in the room, that I knew for sure. I noticed Chanel, Hermes, Alaia and Balmain on a few of the women.  A couple Birkins were battling it out, the croc won. I wondered about their individual routines for getting ready for such an event.
Yup, that's right. Head to toe Balmain people
Standing in this room watching them interact was the best people watching ever. Eventually Brian Atwood entered and everyone gravitated to him. Watching him work the room of these women was amazing. He commands the room and is really such a lovely person to interact with. It was easy to see why everyone woman wanted to talk to him.
I had a great time at the event and I got to see some of The Room’s great personal shopping and party facilities. I always love getting this insider view. There was fashion to gawk at, canapes to eat and friends to chat with. Yasmin Warsame showed up in one of my favourite pieces from Jeremy Laing spring summer 2010. She looked absolutely stunning. I even got a double kiss from Brian and a hug from Yasmin, I swooned. It was a good time.
Yasmin Warsame in Jeremy Laing
You are going to want to see the slideshow. I went to town snapping shoe pics with the Olympus E-PL1. I’m still in love with the Olympus E-PL1 and I don’t want to go back to my Pentax.
I’m not a loyalist when it comes to fragrances. I went from not wearing anything to having a whole collection (Thank you gift bags). I don’t stick to one scent like some people. I like the variety and the options I can play with. Right now I find myself wearing the D&G Anthology L`Amoureaux 6 fragrance a lot.
Dolce & Gabbana presents five perfumes of their collection The D&G Anthology, which arrives on the market in September 2009. Two other fragrances will join the collection next year. Â The collection The D&G Anthology was inspired by tarot cards and their marks.
The fragrances of this collection were named: Le Bateleur 1 (Tyson Ballou), L’Imperatrice 3 (Naomi Campbell), L’Amoureaux 6 (Noah Mills), La Roue de la Fortune 10 (Eva Herzigova and Fernando Fernandes), La Lune 18 (Claudia Schiffer).(source)
L’Amoureaux 6 has fragrance signatures of spices, juniper berries, bergamot, pink pepper, cardamom, birch leaf, iris root, wood and musk. Since the model is Noah Mills (Hot!), I’m assuming the fragrance is more masculine. I can see it being a unisex scent.
Inspiration – Personality: The Charmer
An incurable romantic in possession of an inherent nobility, dashing L’Amoureux melts the most cynical of hearts. Desired by all he meets, this charmer is all about intensity.(source)
It’s a very light fragrance. It’s much softer than some of the florals I tend to gravitate too. It works well with my body chemistry. It lasts a long time but it’s very faint by the end of the day. I love anything with Bergamont in it.
There is a D&G Fragrance Anthology – Noah Mills 6 L’AMOREUX, commercial TV. I’m not all jazzed about it, seems kinda cheezy until Noah drops the bathrobe. 🙂
TFI New Labels Design Competition
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels® Competition and Fashion Show Fundraiser evening.
The ELLE Event is also the lead-in to the one of the fashion industry’s most anticipated annual events – the Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels® Fashion Design Competition. As presenting sponsor of the New Labels® competition, ELLE Canada is thrilled to host this sophisticated fund-raising gala to help build the fashion stars of tomorrow.
Join event emceeAnne-Marie Mediwake from CBC News, to find out WHO will win this year’s New Labels Fashion Design Competition and walk away with a prize package valuedat over $35,000 including $10,000 CASH!
Enjoy the not-to-be-missed fashion show of the season, amazing prizes to be won, delicious cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, a VIP dinner, an ELLE Canada goody bag and all of this while schmoozing with celebrities and shopping at fantastic vendor booths!
TFI New Labels® VIP Cocktail
6:00 PM Â 7:00 PM
TFI New Labels® Cocktail
7:00 PM Â 9:00 PM
TFI New Labels® VIP Dinner
7:00 PM Â 9:00 PM
TFI New Labels® Competition & Fashion Show
9:00 PM Â 10:00 PM
