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Ask a Geek: Calvin Klein Resort 2010 Models

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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 reader Anna wrote:

great pictures from the runway show, but I have always wanted to know who the models are that work for Calvin klein in this show. Do you know their names? Especially the one on the main picture, looks so much like someone I know but not sure.

Hi Anna.
You are like many fashion fans who wonder about the models that walk their favourite runways. You were interested in this girl from the Calvin Klein Resort 2010 collection.

Calvin Klein Resort 2010 on Style.com

Style.com is a great site for finding out model’s names. 99% of the time they have a label as you see in the image above. This model’s name is Jac.

image: style.com

Fashion Magazine Fall 2009 – 2010 Trend Event

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While I was on vacation from my day job I attended the Fashion Magazine fall 09 trend preview event. This was the magazines take on the key trends for the upcoming fall 2009 – 2010 season. I awlays find it weird to hear about the season during it’s execution in the market. By this time I’m already over the trends and just want to see the merchandise in person. Sometimes I get re-inspired or opinions change about collections after touching the garments. Prada fall 2009 collection is a good example of this effect, I’m totally gag over the collection now after seeing pieces in the store. Time helps to ease initial perception of a collection.

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The preview took place at the the beautiful Andrew Richard Design Loft in the east end high end furniture shop mecca of King Street. The space was beautiful and we were treated to drinks and canapes. There were a few Canadian Designers with samples for viewing in the space: Ezra Constantine, Miss Rowe and Mercy.

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The presentation was well rounded and included all the trends affecting fashion and beauty. It wasn’t just clothing and accessories, they also covered makeup, hair, fabric and colour trends. I rapidly took down notes and here they are put into the most readable form I could come up with.

Clothing Trends

  • Sharp Shoulder
  • 80s and 40s influenced the season – strong and structured tailoring
  • Bedazzled – sparkly everything
  • Grecian looks – one shoulder, urban warrior, leather armor and studs
  • Superheroes – Look to the Linda’s to work trend, Linda Evangalista, Linda Hamilton and Linda Carter
  • The New Power Suit – strong shoulder, crisp tailoring, strong edge
  • Brocades, tapestry, Rococo twist to things
  • Leather – Leather leggings, huge 80s influence, #1 fabric of the season
  • 90s Grunge twist – plaid, hunter and camping influences
  • Menswear – boyfriend jackets and dresses
  • Sci fi influence
  • Monsters Inc – fur all over everything. Last of the real luxury items that can’t be replicated by fast fashion. Fur sleeves

Must have items: Biker Jacket, Leather leggings, thigh high boots, sheath dress, black pencil skirt and white dress shirt, neckwarmers in fur and knit, gloves

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Colour

  • Black – including matte and textures
  • Reds – all colours and hues
  • Pink – the more shocking the better
  • Navy – new black of this season apparently
  • Metallic gold and bronzes
  • Rusty browns
  • Neon

Fabrics

  • Velvet
  • Tweet
  • Suede – shoes, bags and boots. Taking over patent
  • Lace

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Hair

  • Buns – used to bring prominence to 80s makeup
  • Pompadour updo – 80s hair, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls
  • Ponytail – again for 80s makeup. long, messy and curly
  • Glamour Curls
  • Rich Girl Hair – I wasn’t sure what this was all about. We made jokes about how this is the style where you stick money to your hair
  • Texture
  • Accessories in Hair – bobby pins, tassels, clips, bows
  • Headbands
  • Braids and twists – used for buns, wore loose
  • Obi – wrapped hair. I thought this was a terrible analogy and that Du Rag hair would have been more accurate. Obi’s are for the waist.
  • The Bob
  • The Half up Half down
  • Colour – blue, pink, red

Makeup

  • New Wave – 80s makeup
  • Valley Girls
  • Goth
  • Contouring – Major cheekbones
  • Red Lipstick – all colours
  • Naked Eye – barren of colour, no mascara or eyeliner. This really isn’t a make up trend to me. It’s the Tilda Effect according to Fashion Magazine

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geekiviews: Equmen Compression Clothing

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Equmen Compression Clothing

So, I was shopping with a male friend who decided to buy an Equmen Core Precision Undershirt. It’s goes by the male girdle when people are being snarky. The buzz about these types of products has increased in the last year and I was dying to get access to a user of the product.

Regular readers know I’m a fan of shapewear. It’s not about losing a lot of inches, but smoothing to leave clean lines. I had a feeling that the men’s version is similar in principle. I learned a bit more about the marketing from the website. There were three things the Men of the World need that Equmen delivers according to the website.

The weight angle:

I WANT TO LOOK AND FEEL SLIMMER
Look and feel more fit with style. Equmen’s CORE PRECISION UNDERSHIRT will help to trim and tone your physique for a more tailored look.

  • Streamlines Torso. Targeted compression wraps around core to trim stomach and smooth love handles.
  • Straightens Posture. Pulls the shoulders back to deliver a taller, more streamlined, confident appearance.
  • Visibly Sculpts. Body response fabric enhances muscle tone.
  • Improves the Fit of Clothes. Classic styling and immediate slimming effect improves clothing fit, from business to casual wear.

Of course they gotta get the golf in here somehow:

I WANT TO IMPROVE MY GOLF GAME
Correct posture and a strong core play a vital roll in golf. The CORE PRECISION UNDERSHIRT can assist golfers at any level by providing essential bio-mechanical support for peak performance from the course to the range.

  • Improves posture Correct posture in golf creates an athletic setup and optimal swing angle, allowing for balanced, powerful and consistent ball striking.
  • Stabilizes core Supports a solid base, helping to transfer energy from the centre of the body out to the limbs more effectively as you rotate through the axis.
  • Reduces fatigue Targeted compression helps you maintain form from start to finish.
  • Regulates body temperature Ventilated, moisture-wicking fabric keeps you comfortable throughout play.

The fashion/beauty angle:

SHARPEN YOUR STYLE WITH THE CORE PRECISION UNDERSHIRT
Discover the only sport-inspired undershirt that will dramatically improve how your clothes fit for a more tailored, polished look:

  • Improves posture
  • Visibly streamlines and slims
  • Enhances energy
  • Controls temperature and moisture
  • Immediately feel enhanced confidence from the moment you put it on. Your suit will fit better. Your appearance will sharpen.

Up your game in the job market today.

Equmen Compression Clothing

I think this garment will be as ubiquitous as Spanx is now. It will happen, give it time. I informed my friend during his purchase that I wanted updates on the garment and it’s performance. In exchange for his privacy I have some first hand accounts of what the Equmen compression clothing is like. My source bought the Core Precision Undershirt in black. He is a medium size. He wears a lot of suits so I was very interested in how the fit would change with the undershirt on and a dress shirt.

His initial test fit was a vest that had become a little to tight recently. I observed him with the vest on before wearing the undershirt and the results afterwards. The vest was looser with the undershirt on, he did lose some inches. He mentioned that the garment sucked everything in. He mentioned that getting of the shirt was a little bit of trouble.

I checked in with him a few weeks later and he was a new convert. He added the sleeveless version of the undershirt to his wardrobe. He mentions improved posture and better fitting clothing as major benefits. He wears the undershirt under dress shirts and sweaters and the tank under tshirts. The undershirt is better for posture than the tank but the tank is more comfortable. He mentioned that after a short period of adjustment they are comfortable to wear all day.

Equmen is available in Canada at Holt Renfrew and Topdrawers.com.

Quotes and images from Equmen.com

Depeche Mode Toronto 2009

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I went to see one of my all time favourite bands, Depeche Mode, on Friday. It was an incredible show and I thought I’d share some of my photos with you. There were taken with my blackberry so apologies for the quality.

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The show was amazing. A show for true fans as they didn’t play any of their popular hits. I was dying because of all the Black Celebration tunes they played. Dave Gahan is the sex. He looked amazingly hot the whole show, le sigh.

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I went crazy for a Question of Time, so here’s video from that night.

Pictures with The Sartorialist at Holt Renfrew

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I wrote about Cocktails with The Sartorialist at Holt Renfrew yesterday and I promised you pictures. Here they are.

Pictures with The Sartorialist at Holt Renfrew

It looked like we wouldn’t get to speak to Scott Schuman at all that night. He was mobbed by everyone. We did manage to get a few minutes to speak to him right at the end of the night as he was being ushered to The Drake. This first shot is hilarious. Danielle and I were talking about it on twitter and I call it Attack of the Fashion Bloggers. Danielle is keeping his attention with the handshake and I’m preparing to bite his head off. LOL.

Pictures with The Sartorialist at Holt Renfrew

The second photo is the respectable one with Scott looking dapper as all hell. Danielle mentioned that Scott had a great handshake and that is the truth. I love people who have a firm handshake. Something about limp wristed/dead fish handshakes turns me off.

Scott came into Toronto like a rock star and he looked like he enjoyed himself aka Hammered! I have to admit that I’m glad he did, it was fun. Much better to see him partying and having blast instead of straight laced and business like. Yo go Scott, I would have done the exact same.

I want to thank Jennifer and Nicole from Fashion Magazine for passing on these photos. Check out their coverage on the Fashion Magazine blog.

images: Nicole Stafford

Men’s Spring 2010 Fashion Show Venues

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Wallpaper.com did there seasonal post about fashion show venues. I always like seeing the photos of the venues before the people, models, photographers and clothing arrive.

Moncler

Moncler

The Moncler venue is stunning. The models walked on the deck of the pool.

Galliano

Galliano - My Favourite

I love the graffiti in venue, it was quite the contrast to the John Galliano Sprign 2010 collection.

images: Wallpaper.com.

Cocktails with The Sartorialist at Holt Renfrew

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I mentioned that The Sartorialist, Scott Schulman would be at Holt Renfrew for a public appearance. I didn’t attend that because I was invited to a private cocktail for Scott later that evening. The attendees included a number of fashion industry types, media and Holt Renfrew customers. People have been buzzing about what to wear to the event for the last week. The crowd didn’t seem any more fashionable than normal, but there were a few over the top trainwrecks that were amusing to behold. What did I wear? I went with what I call my superhero outfit, a Greta Constantine dress called the Kebede after model Liya Kebede. The back reminds me of a cape and all I could think about was flying. You can see the dress in the slideshow below.

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I grabbed a drink and then was asked if I wanted to do an interview with Fashion Television. Of course, I said hell yes. The interview was done outside by the I want – I got window. I talked a bit about the windows, blogging and what inspires me. I felt I explained myself well throughout most of the interview. Sometimes I even surprised myself with the way words were forming. I was asked a question that many probably wouldn’t have answered as honestly as I did, but hey that’s me. It will be interesting to see how that turns out on TV.

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Scott was mobbed as soon as he arrived. Cameras were going off, everyone was clamoring for pictures with him. I just stood back on observed. I wasn’t going to fight that crowd to say hi. Scott came in like a rock star and it seems he started the party early in the day. He had a speech and Q&A session but the crowd got restless shortly after it started. In Toronto style, they started talking amongst themselves getting progressively louder and louder through Scott’s speech and Q&A session. Le Sigh.

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Eventually Danielle and I got a quick moment with Scott before he left for The Drake Hotel. We said hi and introduced ourselves. I mentioned to him that I was one of the window bloggers too. He was very friendly and sweet. He’s very good at giving you that moment with him. It may be short, but you know that for those few minutes he’s engaged with you completely. It’s an amazing skill to watch as he worked the room. We took a quick photo and then he was taken away by some other people that wanted to meet him. As soon as I get a copy of that photo I will post it as Scott was taken away before I could get a picture with my camera.

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I have to admit I didn’t look at all the pictures. However, I got a sneak peek at his book The Sartorialist. It’s pretty cool and I have to admit I want a copy. It’s a paperback book and not the large and heavy hardcover I was expecting.

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Overall it was a really fun party. The atmosphere was jovial and we stayed until they turned up the lights to kick us out. The Sartorialist photo exhibit at Holt Renfrew Bloor Street will be up until July 29, 2009. It’s in the menswear section.

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I was too busy gawking and drinking to take many photos but here are the rest of them.