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the shOws – Jean-Pierre Braganza Spring Summer 2012

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the shOws - Jean-Pierre Braganza Spring Summer 2012

Jean-Pierre Braganza is one of the four designers that showcased their Spring Summer 2012 collections with the the shOws at the Ritz-Carlton. the shOws is the brainchild of Paola Fullerton.

“Our aim is to put the spotlight on Canadian Designers, Hair and Makeup Artists and Models and build a property that benefits not only our designers, artists and retailers but also our supportive sponsors, by showcasing the very best of Canadian talent at home and abroad to our media, buyers and stylists.

the shOws - Jean-Pierre Braganza Spring Summer 2012

The purpose of The ShOws is to bring together our most talented and creative Canadian designers each season and allow them to present their collections here in Toronto to the fashion industry without incurring any production costs themselves. We want to support them here at home and give them every possible opportunity to continue to build their brands.” – Paola Fullerton, Founder & Creative Director

Jean-Pierre Braganza is a Toronto ex-pat who has shown at London Fashion Week since 2004. He worked with Roland Mouret before starting his own label. Jean-Pierre was my favourite of all the shOws designers. His bold prints, strategic cutouts, asymmetrical details and geometric designs won me over from the first studded look. There were a lot of Art Deco influences in the collection expressed with prints and silhouettes. How could I not love a man who loves crazy platforms. The shoes complemented the collection perfectly. Jean-Pierre teamed up with UK-based shoe company Dune to produce these beauties.

the shOws - Jean-Pierre Braganza Spring Summer 2012

He perfectly balanced his neutral staples like black, grey, white and cream with vibrant orange and red. I liked the subtle hip level cutouts he featured in blazers and dresses. It was an accessible way to add a bit of skin to a garment without scaring away potential women buyers. Jean-Pierre’s spring summer 2012 inspiration includes The German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Ben Nicholson and his studio beauties. The collection had a good balance of dresses, suiting and separates with all pieces being more desirable than the next.

the shOws - Jean-Pierre Braganza Spring Summer 2012

I stopped taking photos and video on the second day of the shows but I found a video from London Fashion Week. The lineup and music are exactly the same.

Full collection photos for Jean-Pierre Braganza’s Spring Summer 2012 collection are on torontolife.com. Jenna’s photos are amazing.

Jean-Pierre Braganza is available in Toronto at
Carte Blanche
758 Queen Street West
Toronto
(416)532-0347

Image: Jenna Marie Wakani, tumblr.com

the shOws – Thomas Tait Spring Summer 2012

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the shOws - Thomas Tait Spring Summer 2012

Thomas Tait is one of the four designers that showcased their Spring Summer 2012 collections with the the shOws at the Ritz-Carlton. the shOws is the brainchild of Paola Fullerton.

“Our aim is to put the spotlight on Canadian Designers, Hair and Makeup Artists and Models and build a property that benefits not only our designers, artists and retailers but also our supportive sponsors, by showcasing the very best of Canadian talent at home and abroad to our media, buyers and stylists.

The purpose of The ShOws is to bring together our most talented and creative Canadian designers each season and allow them to present their collections here in Toronto to the fashion industry without incurring any production costs themselves. We want to support them here at home and give them every possible opportunity to continue to build their brands.” – Paola Fullerton, Founder & Creative Director

Thomas Tait studied at La Salle College in Montreal and then went on to graduate with an MA from London’s Central Saint Martins. He was the youngest person to do so. Thomas’s second collection is my first real exposure to Tait’s designs. I had heard his name before but was pretty ignorant to what the collection looked like.

the shOws - Thomas Tait Spring Summer 2012

The show started out with some Balenciaga like cocoon coats. This would be typical of his minimal design focus. Many pieces had voluminous shapes that hid the curves of the body and produced a straight line silhouette. The styling, colour palette and clothing made me think of golf and tennis for some reason. Thomas Tait had a really interesting fabric that shimmered in the light and had a bit of texture. Thanks to the internet I learned that it is a pleated jersey with a clear print and coloured foil overlay. It worked well with his neutrals of black and white as well as the pastel pink and greens that added a pops of colour.

the shOws - Thomas Tait Spring Summer 2012

Overall, I liked the collection. I love the minimal silhouette and the fabric treatments. Thomas Tait collaborated with Cutler and Gross on the fabulous eyewear.

Full collection photos for Thomas Tait’s Spring Summer 2012 on torontolife.com.

Image: Jenna Marie Wakani, Cutler and Gross Facebook

I want – I got’s Guest Editor Picks at Dealuxe.ca

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I’m not a huge online shopper. I love the tactile nature of shopping too much. The shipping fees and import duties really keep me away from online shopping. I like that there are more Canadian options popping up these days. One of my favourites is newcomer, dealuxe.ca.  They support Canadian designers, have great sales, super fast shipping and an easy to use website.

Dealuxe Guest Editor - October 19, 2011

I was so excited when Erin Green of Dealuxe contacted me about participating in their Guest Editor feature. I selected 6 feature items and described how I would wear each piece. It’s winter and the list is heavy on the Smythe. I selected another 6 items to round out my selection Editor’s picks.  See all 12 of my picks.

Technicolor Ultra Mall Book Launch – October 22, 2011

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Technicolor Ultra Mall Book Launch – October 22, 2011

It’s with great pleasure that I post about my good friend Ryan Oakley’s book launch. I always knew he would be published and it’s finally happened with his first novel, Technicolor Ultra Mall.

The Technicolor Ultra Mall book launch is on October 22, 2011 at 3pm and is open to the public.  Ryan will be available to chat with fans. Most of all, Technicolor Ultra Mall will be available for purchase!

Bakka-Phoenix Books
84 Harbord Street
Toronto

Celine Spring Summer 2012

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Celine Spring Summer 2012

Celine’s Spring Summer 2012 collection didn’t come across very well in photos but it’s quite beautiful in video.

Celine Spring Summer 2012

Phoebe Philo worked the wide belts, modified peplums, culottes and pleated skirts.

Watch the full Celine Spring Summer 2012 fashion show.

Celine Spring Summer 2012

images: vogue.com

Nail Fun at I want – I got

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I’m a nail polish junkie. Here are some of the latest polishes I’ve been playing with.

Neon green nails

American Apparel Neon

A Day at the Island with Philip Sparks

Deborah Lippmann – Bad Romance

Wearing American Apparel neon nail polish on the toes. So bright

American Apparel Neon

Sparkly nails
Deborah Lippmann – I Know What Boys Like and Today Was A FairyTail

Loving the colour of Chanel Peridot. Thanks @luxual so much

Chanel – Peridot
Words cannot describe how in love I am with Peridot! It really is my favourite polish right now.

Got bored with my nails and decided to try this painting over them thing

Mermaid’s Tears by OPI

Toronto Life Stylebook and Toronto’s 12 Most Stylish People

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So, its been a funny year for me. I was one of the city’s most stylish people according to Derick Chetty of The Toronto Star and I helped choose Toronto Life’s 12 stylish people. It was weird being judged and then to flip the coin and do the judging. My partners in judging crime included Fashion editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra, The Bay’s Christopher Sherman and torontolife.com’s Kevin Naulls. It was a really interesting process to be a part of. I’m pretty proud of our selections. Get over to the Toronto’s 12 most stylish people post on torontolife.com and check them out. Just don’t read the comments, I haven’t.

It’s pretty cool that our stylish Torontonian list was featured in the first print edition of the Toronto Life Stylebook which features fall fashion finds, Toronto’s Top 200 stores, street style and fall fashion trends. It can be found on newsstands or purchased online. The only thing that rubs me a little wrong is the illustration of me used. I’m gonna be blunt, it’s a distorted, ugly version of myself.  The illustration was based on this photo which I think is really nice. I’m not going to post the illustration here, you’ll have to pick up the magazine to see it. I thank god that it’s tiny.

image: torontostreetfashion.com