My One-On-One with Kimberley Newport-Mimran & A Pink Tartan Giveaway

Pink Tartan's new washable line for The Shopping Channel. Photo via The Shopping Channel.

With its ultra-luxe fabrics, ladylike silhouettes and to-die-for tailoring, Canadian label Pink Tartan has quickly become a sartorial staple for chic women everywhere, including no-last-names-necessary celebs like Gwyneth and Charlize.

Fresh off her turn at Toronto's World MasterCard Fashion Week, and a few days before the launch of her gorgeous new washable collection for The Shopping Channel, I caught up with president and head designer, Kimberley Newport-Mimran, for a quick chat about what makes Pink Tartan tick.

Read the full interview on iVillage.ca...

Now for some exciting Friday news: KNP and the lovely folks at The Shopping Channel have offered RLR readers the chance to win a $100 GC to shop the new Pink Tartan Collection, and you'll need to act fast to win.

CONTEST RULES:

1) Leave a comment below telling me why you would love to put Pink Tartan in your closet.

2) Tweet the following for a bonus entry: "@realliferunway & @theShoppingChan are giving away a @PINK_TARTAN GC to shop the new collection & I want to #win! http://bit.ly/P9a6x3"

3) Contest closes tomorrow (Saturday, March 29th) at 5 p.m. We'll contact the winner via email.

4) Contest open to residents of Canada only.

5) Best of luck, lovelies!

Don't forget to mark your calendars. Pink Tartan launches this Sunday, March 30 on The Shopping Channel. Tune in live at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. or shop the collection online at theshoppingchannel.com.

What's Your Number?

Photo courtesy Smart Set

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

There's always talk in the fashion world about what's age-appropriate. Can a woman over 30 wear a mini? Can a grandma wear platforms? While I've seen women of all ages wear highly inappropriate things, it very rarely has anything to do with her age, but instead, with the way she wears it. If you're 40 and have amazing legs, why not wear a mini? If you're a trendsetting 70 year-old and want to wear a jumpsuit, I say go for it. Whether you're 17 or 70, confidence is key to pulling off any look.

Graphic tees, sweatshirts and tanks work at any age, but undoubtedly depend on the graphic itself. A tee that says 'Party, Sleep, Repeat' on my mom might look all kinds of wrong, but a shirt that says 'Wasted Youth'...kind of funny, right? Same goes for pics of space cats, emojis or boy bands which travel a supermodel-thin line between irony and fashion tragedy...

READ MORE...

Line We Love: 424 Fifth Collection

Originally posted in The CLOSET

When Lord & Taylor and Hudson's Bay joined forces a few years ago, we knew that good things were bound to come from the merger. After all, both department stores are the oldest in their respective countries yet have somehow managed to stay cool and current through the years, kind of like Prince. Or Madonna. Or anyone else epic enough to go by one name. I digress. 

The latest offspring of these hip department store parents? The exclusive new private brand, 424 Fifth, named after the address of Lord & Taylor's iconic Manhattan flagship. Just launched at Hudson's Bay and Lord & Taylor stores across Canada and the U.S, the already-buzzed-about line, comprised of women's apparel and accessories, is already being touted by editors and bloggers as a must for fashion savvy women. And this fashion blogger wholeheartedly agrees...

READ MORE...

FRESH EXPEDITION: Backstage and Front Row at the Joe Fresh Fall 2014 Show

Photos courtesy Joe Fresh & George Pimentel Photography (bc my iPhone 4 sucks)

I'm a lucky girl. As a Joe Fresh #virtualfrontrow Blogger, I scored an all-access pass to the Joe Fresh Fall 2014 show on Wed night, the most coveted ticket at Toronto Fashion Week, including a backstage pass and an invite to the intimate after-party at LEE. It's no secret that, all affiliations aside, I am a superfan of Joe Fresh. But for Fall 2014, Mr. Mim outdid himself with a collection that looks characteristically fresh and wearable, but noticeably elevated. As I blogged about earlier Joe Fresh is set to take over the fashion world quite literally over the next few years, with plans to open up 120 stores in 23 countries covering the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Korea. Anyone hoping to compete on an international level has to step up one's game, and Joe looks primed to do just that.

The loden green, golden brown, sophisticated greys and pops of signature Joe Fresh orange made for the perfect non-black palette for the colder months - v. Michael Kors-esque which I loooved. While the colours were rich, the details were surprisingly decadent, too, with oversized accessories (cocoon scarves, clutches and fur-trimmed toques), zipper details on pant legs and plush feathery faux-furs that looked far from budget, though we all know that budgets won't be busted with this collection. Overall, one of my favourite collections from Joe Fresh yet. And as I said yesterday, much as I love them both, Joe Mimran > Kim Newport-Mimran this season, don't you think?

Scroll down for the full Joe Fresh Fall '14 experience - they edited the last song out of the runway video below so click on the SoundCloud link to hear the #selfie track by The Chainsmokers that closed the show. I'm calling it: this is the new 'Baby Got Back' of the 2010's so you'd betta download it stat.

 

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Joe Fresh Fall Winter 2014 Fashion Show from Joe Fresh on Vimeo.

See the Pink Tartan Fall '14 Collection from World Mastercard Fashion Week

All photos by George Pimentel Photography

It's officially (though there is absolutely no evidence to support this) spring! While most people are just starting to pack away their coats, gloves and boots, the fashion crowd at World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto has already geared up for Fall 2014. Though this move has killed most of my Fashion Week plans, I was lucky to be able to attend some of the hottest ticket shows last night. First up was Pink Tartan, one of my all-time fav Canadian labels. Designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran's luxe designs rarely disappoint and last night was no exception. 

Staying true to winter-ready Canadian Style, Newport-Mimran incorporated a mix of both faux and real bone, leather and fur, with pops of red buffalo check and houndstooth. Inspired by übermodel Verushcka, from the iconic 1966 Vogue shoot "The Great Fur Caravan," the collection was more strong and sexy than sweet. With the exception of a few velvet brocade and lamé fabrics that I'd rather not revisit and some strangely oversized fur oven mitts (why the big paws, KNP?), there were several looks that I can't wait to try out come fall (check out looks 3, 9, 22, 31 and 36), plus some cozy fur hoods that I wish I'd had on hand this winter.

Stay tuned for backstage and runway pics from Joe Fresh and Mackage. Hint: Joe Mimran > Kimberley Newport-Mimran this time around. As they say, all's fair in love and fashion... 

Happy 1st day of Spring! #yay

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