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Bijouxbead Holiday 2009 Interactive Pop Up Show Community Reception

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BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

I attended the Bijouxbead Holiday 2009 Interactive Pop Up Show Community Reception to get a look at the collection of necklaces influenced by Canadian Designers

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening
David Dixon

The show will kick off with a unique interactive display of eight one of a kind necklaces, all of which happen to be eight stranded, designed to pay homage to eight Canadian Fashion Designers.

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening
Evan Biddell
BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening
Paul Hardy

Each piece was a thrill to design; I studied these designer’s spring summer 2010 collections at great length, that were shown at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week. I came up with colour, texture and scale for these pieces based on my interpretation of the clothing in their collections that were most notable to me.

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening
Vawk
BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

Andy The Anh

Unlike my previous collections, this collection is exclusively glass, crystal and sterling -a big departure for me. All together, I incorporated over thirteen thousand six hundred pieces of glass and two thousand four hundred pieces of crystal into these eight necklaces.

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

Amie

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

Brandon Dwyer

Also, for the first time in Bijouxbead history, I will be introducing crystal and sterling earrings. Over thirty colours will be represented.

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

There was a necklace dedicated to Jason Meyers, but it was sold before I arrived.

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

BijouxBead @ FTJCO Pop Up Shop opening

December 1 – 14
The Atelier of The Fair Trade Jewellery Company
523 Parliament St., Toronto
647-430-8741

Hours
Mon-Tue by appointment only
Wed-Fri 12:30pm-8:00pm
Sat-Sun 11:30am-6:00pm

Ask a Geek: Where to find classic/retro swimwear in Toronto?

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Norma Kamali Bill Jersey Swimsuit

Sometimes readers ask me questions. If they are of value to all my readers I post them online. If you have a question, please feel free to submit it using the contact form. I’ll definitely do my best to answer it.

I want – I got twitter follower @edlynne wrote for a friend:

Where are there good non-skanky swimwear stores in Toronto?

I replied to this query on twitter but I thought it would be good to record the answers here for everyone. First, I had to understand what non-skanky swimwear meant. I had thoughts of this person wandering into the many shops on Yonge Street that carry a variety of skankwear. I came to understand that the friend was looking for more classic/ retro swimsuit shapes.

I had the following stores in mine for more classic/retro swimwear options.

I also suggested ordering a beautiful swimsuit from Norma Kamali online. Just because they are so gorgeous and perfect.

Candice Best tweeted the following additional stores to try

swimwear: decent options with lines like Eres, Vix at Sandpiper(yorkville) + LaMerceria carries Colombia’s Touche – gorgeous cuts!

Do you have a suggestion to add?

image: normakamali.com

This is the Burroughes Designer Department Store’s last day. This is what you are missing.

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Burroughes Designer Department Store

It’s the last day of the Burroughes Designer Department Store’s last day. Check it out before it’s gone.

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store

Burroughes Designer Department Store Blog is a great resource for learning more about all the designers participating.

Burroughes Designer Department Store
639 Queen Street West
Toronto

Thursday, December 3, 4 pm to 9 pm
Friday, December 4, 11 am to 9 pm
Saturday, December 5, 11 am to 9 pm
Sunday, December 6, 11 am to 6 pm
Get in touch by e-mailing at burroughesstore@gmail.com.

Drake General Store Rosedale Preview

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I got a sneak peek at the new Drake General Store location in Rosedale. It’s so damn adorable. It’s very similar to the Queen location in the fact that reclaimed materials are used for store fixtures and antiques are peppered throughout.

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The wood came from a barn that was built in the late 1800s. As soon as I found out, I had to rub my fingers over the wood. When I encounter an object that is old I always touch it (if possible). It’s like I’m trying to feel history or some residue memory of the lives the object has encountered. When I was visiting the Taj Mahal in India, I make sure I touched the marble and embedded gems. I still can’t get over that building, just wow, stunning.

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I think the location choice is a brilliant idea. It fits quite well with the neighbourhood. I dare say I like this location better. The Rosedale location also has some items that are exclusive and won’t be found on Queen West. Both locations share the same charm and Canadiana spirit.

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Carlo Colacci and Joyce Lo have a great eye when it comes to choosing collectible and cute items that are so much fun. I squealed over many things during my visit (Hitchcock Barbie). I kept noticing things I overlooked. There is a lot of product but it’s arranged it a way that makes it enjoyable to discover something new. The Drake General Store is a great gifting shop.

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Here are a list of my favourite items, you could interpret it as a Drake General Store “i want” Gift Guide.

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Fortune teller fish $1.25

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Drake on the road travel kit $49

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Japanese Espresso set $55 – There is only the single set. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

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Hitchcock The Birds Barbie $90 – Limited Edition.

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Where the Wild Things Are Kubrick – $18

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Pendleton Chief Joseph blanket – $275

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Mountie napkins $4.50

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Felt owl ornament $12

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Red Canoe RCAF bags $150

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Wizard of Oz Barbies $90

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Cessna bag $90

Drake General Store Rosedale Preview Slideshow

Drake General Store Rosedale
1011 Yonge Street
Toronto

i want: Thieves Wool Ecotone Bodysuit, the Shop Sustainable Edition

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200912_ThievesEcotonebodysuit

I’m loving the Thieves bodysuit. The one pictured is wool, but it also comes in bamboo. It’s ridiculous but I want it. It’s very sci-fi.

Thieves is part of Shop Sustainable this holiday season

Shop Sustainable is a city-wide initiative that challenges consumers to shop ethically this holiday season. Its goal is to raise general awareness for eco friendly products, and at the same time promote many Toronto based and online retailers who carry them. The program is a collaboration of Fashion Takes Action and Evolution Green.

It might seem like eco friendly products are hard to find, but in reality there are several Toronto based retailers who make doing the right thing a lot easier for consumers. Shop Sustainable has something “eco” for everyone, including adult and children’s clothing, toys, personal care products, products for the home, coffee, chocolate, stationary, gadgets and gear and more.

The retailers participating in Shop Sustainable include: Baby on the Hip, Bullfrog Power, Caterpillar Baby, Chocosol, Daily Apple, Eco Flora, Greencricket.ca, GreenIsBlack.ca, Grassroots Store, I Recycle Computers, KaiKids.com, Kids on the Hip, Lileo, Merchants of Green Coffee, Me To We Style, Mountain Equipment Co-Op, Pistachio, PlanetForward.ca, Preloved, Sugar Moon Salon, Thieves, worldSALON, Zero Point and 889 Yonge. In addition, Sporting Life’s uptown location is participating as they carry the eco friendly, Canadian made clothing line Guats, who is a sponsor of Shop Sustainable.

In addition to feeling good about doing the right thing, Shop Sustainable is offering further incentive via an online contest opportunity. Consumers can visit http://www.shopsustainable.ca for their chance to win a gift basket valued at over $1000, full of eco friendly products from the participating retailers.

image: thieves.ca

The Coat, Philip and I

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HoltsTiff09AnitaPhilipFur

I was send a video that brought back memories of taking this photo with Philip Sparks at the Holt Renfrew TIFF party. It was Philip’s idea to get for me to wear the racoon fur buffalo coat from the Fall 2009 collection. We come into play at 0:38 in the video. It’s originally from Radio Canada

We had a total blast taking the photo and I’m glad the moment is recorded somewhere. Loves It!

Anita <3s Philip.

The Blanket Statement by The Hudson’s Bay Company

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The Blanket Statement by The Bay

I was invited to the preview of  The Blanket Statement in the Hudson’s Bay Company Shop on Queen Street.  The Blanket Statement is a collaboration that saw 10 Canadian designers rework the traditional Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket into coat. In addition to unveiling the 10 one of a kind coats, the event also showcased new items created for the Hudson’s Bay Company Shop.

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Erdem

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Harricana par Mariouche

Harricana par Mariouche

Specialty items from fashion to home to collectibles have been created by several Canadian fashion designers and artisans — encompassing everything from organic T-shirts to artisanal maple syrup cubes to women’s recycled fur accessories.

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Todd Lynn

Todd Lynn

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Lida Baday

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Jeremy Laing

Jeremy Laing

My favourite coats are a toss up between Comrags and Smythe.

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Comrags

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Smythe

It wasn’t just womenswear designers, Krane and Klaxon Howl created something for the guys.

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Krane

Krane

IMGThe Blanket Statement by The Bay - Klaxon Howl

The new collection at the Hudson’s Bay Company Shop included custom made canoes, canoe paddles, Pink Tartan Hudson’s Bay Point cardigans, $75 pure maple sugar cube (I was astonished at this item to be honest. I even had to twitpic it.), specially made tshirts from Shared, chocolates, chunky sweaters, Virgina Johnson printed scarfs, Point blankets, fur hats and stoles.

The Blanket Statement by The Bay - Pink Tartan

Holt Renfrew Pop-up Shop is now open till December 6, 2009

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I got a sneak peak at the Holt Renfrew Pop-up Shop last night. It’s situated in the Fashion House showroom and is now open to the public.

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I liked the setup. The Holt Renfrew visuals team came in and gave it a “general store” store feeling. The clothing is casual with a lot of tshirts, relaxed sweaters and plaid button up shirts. Denim was the staple pant but there were a few non denim choices too. There were a lot of non clothing options too like jewellery, candles, bath products, scarves and hats. Great options for gift giving and a smart move with the holidays coming up.

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The Christopher Sherman ties come in little envelopes. Really cute.

I love the Christoper Sherman ties, Philip Sparks curling sweaters, the kick ass Dandi Maestre jewellery and silvery hat.

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The clothing wasn’t as androgynous as I expected but it does have that unisex feel. There’s also a range in prices. I saw a fabric necklace/scarf thing for $22 $28 and then I would see an oversized Balenciaga Motorcycle bag which is around $2000+. Don’t feel too intimidated, walk in if you are curious.

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The Holt Renfrew Pop Up Shop at 560 King Street West Toronto is open:

Wednesday, December 2 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 3 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, December 4 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 5 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Well looky here, Vogue.com has decided to write about the Holt’s pop up shop too.