MasterCard Stylicity 2013

World MasterCard Fashion Week is in full swing and with it, a strong desire to shop.  Just me? On Thursday, Stylicity hosted an exclusive event for a select group of editors and bloggers, complete with a private streetcar (ooh la laaa) and a private tour of some of the coolest hidden gems in Toronto. We hit up GOTSTYLE Menswear, pretty Parisian Boutique Canon Blanc, the super edgy Sauvage, ultra-charming 69 Vintage, and Hammam Spa, where I could have gladly stayed all day.  We finished off our afternoon with a yummy lunch at Crush Wine Bar served up by Trista Sheen of TopChef Canada.  As someone who's currently too busy (and too out-of-town) to regularly wander Toronto's neighbourhoods, this was so much fun.

As the official retail program for World MasterCard Fashion Week, Stylicity consists of a network of local retailers, spas and restaurants in Toronto offering unique discounts and experiences to customers throughout the month, including Teatro Verde, Banana Republic, Pink Tartan and Intermix, plus online etailers like eLUXE, asos, and Revolve Clothing.

Since launching in 2011, Stylicity has grown to include partnerships with more than 150 local Toronto retailers, restaurants and online national brands, all of which are offering sweet discounts until the end of this month when you use your MasterCard. For the full list of participating retailers, check out mastercard.ca/stylicity2013

Happy shopping! x

A wall full of bright pocket squares at GOTSTYLE Menswear

The super sweet Ticha Bijoux at Canon Blanc.  I took home the pink one :)

Caroline Phely, owner of Canon Blanc, gives us a quick scarf tutorial as only a Parisian woman can.

A spring trend report at Sauvage on Queen West

The girls at 69 Vintage are the best.  Champage, candies and vintage beauties...what's not to love?

The hallways leading to pure bliss at Hammam Spa

A Fashion Week dish by Trista Sheen of TopChef Canada at Crush Wine Bar

Hitchcock Blondes at Pink Tartan's Fall '13 Show

Runway photos by George Pimentel.  Stalker photo of Steven and Chris and slightly blurry image below by me (couldn't you tell?)

It was a packed house last night at World MasterCard Fashion Week for the Pink Tartan Fall/Winter 2013 show. Steven and Chris, Jeanne Beker and the rest of Toronto's top tastemakers were all on hand for Kimberley Newport-Mimran's show and I was seated second row, next to Susie Sheffman and the eLUXE team and close enough to touch the clothes (though I refrained, for obvious reasons). 

For Fall '13, KNP was inspired by a darker kind of beauty, “I always start designing a new collection with a muse. I envision her, her life, and then I dress her up. My muse this season embodied my favorite disturbing blondes- Constance Langdon and Marnie Edgar” she notes, “Beautifully dressed sophisticated blondes, but there is something underlying that you can’t quite put your finger on. This collection is all about rich luxe fabric—very Pink Tartan—a return to pulled together looks with a dark twist. As Hitchcock says ‘blondes make better victims’.”

This season, the show was styled by Cary Tauben, complete with Tippi Hedren-esque blonde wigs, black headbands and elbow-length black gloves.  The whole collection had a very sophisticated, very sixties feel and I loved it, I really did, and I get where he was going with it, but some girls just shouldn't be blonde. I mean, I would look (and have looked) completely ridic in a platinum blonde wig.  

Other than that distraction, I found plenty to covet from the collection including the cool black & green mesh pieces, the cobalt swing coat, the short-sleeved black & white dress with the long gloves and everything camel. Gor-juicy. Thoughts about the collection? Will you be a Pink Tartan vixen this Fall?

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H&M Goes Hollywood with Conscious Exclusive Collection

Photos courtesy H&M

Though awards season is behind us, the warm weather ahead gives us plenty of reasons to party, from prom to weddings to chic soirées. Luckily, H&M has us covered with its new Conscious Exclusive Collection full of glam red carpet-ready dresses and suits.  As with previous Conscious efforts by H&M, this collection is made up of clothing and accessories (for both men & women) made from more sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and Tencel, so you can do good while looking good. Win. Win.

Loaded with thoughtful details, the collection features dramatic gowns and sharp tailoring for women, and suits with a rock-and-roll edge for men. I'm particularly smitten with the women's off-white 3-piece suit, the black Balmain-esque dress with the white sculptural ruffle (NEED this), the white lace hi-low gown, and that frothy soft green number. Pretty, right? 

The Conscious Exclusive collection ranges between $19.95 and $399 and will be available in around 140 stores worldwide starting April 4th.

 

 

Click on the thumbnails below to check out the whole collection: 

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World MasterCard Fashion Week

My speed-packing efforts last night, 11 p.m. 

As I sit here, $45 away from frequent roller Prestige status (as deemed by VIA Rail, that is), hurtling along the tracks towards Toronto and the first day of World MasterCard Fashion Week, I contemplate the following:

• My suitcase is zipper-busting jammed. I wonder if my sister has a steamer/iron? Oh please let her have a steamer/iron, otherwise it's Dishevelled Chic for Fall '13.
• I packed 2 pairs of very cute, very high, very open-toe shoes, and apparently a last hurrah winter snowstorm is en route to the city. Bad choice? Fashion over function I say (especially at Fashion Week)
• I have an interview with Joe Mimran due for iVillage.ca, 2 other articles due and no Photoshop on my laptop. Plus, I'm on a ghetto old train car with zero plugs so my battery is slowly but most certainly wasting away. 
• I think I forgot to buy diapers before I left. Nope, I'm sure I forgot to buy diapers. Crap.

It's always a massive amount of work to leave my husband and kids behind for Fashion Week.  Meals pre-cooked, house in order, clothes put out, backpacks packed - not to mention stuffing 3 good outfits into a carry-on with zero room for sartorial error.  Once I get to Toronto, I'll take the subway up to Yonge & Eg to my sister's house, do as much work as I can, then head downtown to the Tents for a night of Fall '13 shows.  On today's schedule, I've got 4 fashion shows (Miz by Izzy Camilleri, Chloe comme Parris, Pink Tartan and Bustle), then a party for Glam Media at The Spoke Club and then Holt Renfrew's Opening Night party on Bloor.  Fun! This is so not my typical Monday. Watch, eat, drink, sleep, dress, repeat. Is there room for a nap in there somewhere??

I'll be in the city until Wednesday night (at which point child-minding tokens run out) soaking up all of the great Canadian talent. Will be sure to report back with pics from the runway and backstage and of course, all the fashion flock rocking their finery at the Tents. Can't wait to get this party started!

xx

Snake Charmers

Spring '13 at Proenza Schouler, Gucci & Erdem - photo credit: Fairchild Photo Services

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Snakes suck. I mean, not literally (I don't think?) but let's face it: they're cold, and creepy and can kill you. And so, I've never really been a fan. Now that I think of it, I don't think I know anyone who likes them. The sad part? It's so not their fault. A little baby snake with its cute little baby snake diaper is probably pretty sweet and I'm fairly certain it doesn't actually want to hurt anyone. It's just that, if someone was coming at me with a pitchfork or a shovel, I'd probably lunge, too, wouldn't you?

As it turns out, most people are almost as afraid of snake prints as they are of the slithery beasts themselves. And I'm here to tell you, as a full-blown ophidiophobic (yes, I looked that up), that when it comes to python, it's just not that scary. In case you missed the memo, 2013 is the Year of the Snake - that's right, the year where we celebrate all things serpentine - so I can't think of a better time to face our fears head on. So how do you wear python print? Think of it as the leopard's slightly edgier younger sister, something that's good in small doses, say in a shoe or a bag or a statement blazer, to add an instant dose of cool to any solid ensemble. Want to go all out? Try pairing a neutral python with a summer floral or opt for snake print done up in a pretty pastel or bold bright.

Before you know it, you (and maybe even I) will be sssimply sssmitten for snakes. Well, the print at the very least... 

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

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