Fall in Love

Dolce & Gabbana Menswear Fall '12 Ad Campaign - courtesy Dolce & Gabbana

I'm a sucker for a good love story.  Whether it's Romeo & Juliet, William & Kate,  or Emily & Jef, I just love a perfect pairing.  Still, a love story isn't exclusive to people.  In fact, I've already fallen in love several times this fall - with the perfect bag, a pair of pants and countless times in the shoe department.  You see, we're in an open relationship, my wardrobe and I.  We've agreed that as long as they make me look good, I will take good care of them and love them all until they're old.  Win-win.

Have you met your perfect match this fall?  These three runway-inspired looks set my heart aflutter and now I'm playing matchmaker for you.  I hope it's love at first sight for you, too.  Sigh...

 

Burberry Prorsum Autumn '12 Ad Campaign 

Perfect Pairing: Charcoal and Mustard Yellow (with pops of blue)

Love Profile:  Tall, dark Brit seeks fun-loving companion.  An eclectic risk-taker with a penchant for layering.  Loves to cuddle up on a cold night. 

Perfect Date: Danier, American Eagle, Ricki's, Sears, then ALDO.

Natalia Vodianova for Guerlain Fall '12

Perfect Pairing: Black & Red (with tan & gold accents)

Love Profile: Classic beauty seeks worldly partner. Loves market-strolling, long lunches and weekend trips to Paris.

Perfect Date: A shopping trip at Le Château, Garage, ALDO, Bootlegger and Danier.  

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012 - style.com 

Perfect Pairing: Black & Blue (either bright cobalt or navy)with a dash of leopard

Love Profile:  Edgy Sophisticate seeks Commitment-Phobic Daredevil.  Loves the unexpected, especially in the form of a leopard bag or a blue suede shootie.  Looking for a good time.

Perfect Date:  Stops at Le Château, Bootlegger and ALDO at Intercity Shopping Centre, of course.  The sale racks had better watch out.

The Horsey Set

Dree Hemingway for Ermanno Scervino - Autumn 2012

Originally posted in The LOOK

As long as I can remember, I've been a city girl. I would look at the cowboy boots, hats, spurs and far-from-rad plaid in country music videos and feel something akin to mild food poisoning. When my friends would flock to our local bar for some honky-tonk, I'd tag along and even sing (Ohhh, way down 'yonder on the Chatahoochie, never knew how much that muddy water meant to me....). I'd even line-dance a little (because seriously, it was kind of a precursor to the flash mob, no?) but the stylista in me just couldn't handle the ill-fitting jeans, the tacky hats or the cliché my-dog-just-croaked-and-now-I'm-gon'-die-toooo lyrics. Not to mention horses; as in, I won't even mention horses after the number of near-death experiences I've had in their presence. Can horses smell fear? Then again, as the years went by, I grew to admire a small but mighty group of boot-stompin' babes: the fearless Dixie Chicks, the hilarious Dolly Parton, the style-obsessed Carrie Underwood and the bad-boy bashing Taylor Swift. Even A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow have gone a little bit country these days.

But horses gone haute? This fall, designers joined the horsey set in a big way, giving us plenty of ways to get in touch with our inner country girl, be it full-blown spur-jangling country as seen on the Isabel Marant runway or the more refined equestrian aesthetic perfected by Altuzarra, Givenchy and Herve Leger, complete with sleek riding boots, equine prints, and chic tweed blazers. Like country music, I'm loving this trend in small doses, with a cute little cowboy boot here, or a cropped riding jacket there.

So, how 'bout you? Will you hop on the horsey bandwagon this fall? Yay, or neigh? Check out my favourite country finds at Intercity Shopping Centre right now. (And be sure to look at them boots, ya hear?) 

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Opulence Overdrive

Baroque opulence reigned at Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2012. Source: style.com

Originally posted in The LOOK

August always marks the beginning of fall..well, in the fashion world at least. The hotly-anticipated September issues hit newsstands bursting with fall's most covetable finds, while tired sale racks are replaced by shiny things for the new season.  I don't want to rush summer (I mean, it's only the first week of August) but now's the time to start thinking about fall...

And this season, there's a lot to dream about.  Where once opulence was considered over-the-top and out-of-touch, designers piled it on again in a big way, with brocade, feathers, black and gold all over the fall runways, from Dolce & Gabbana to Ralph Lauren.  So why all the flourish and fuss?  Blame it on the blockbusters;  The Great Gatsby hits the big screen this December, extending our spring obsession with the roaring twenties. Flapper fringe, drop waists, feathers and art deco accents will give you that Buchanan-babe vibe, perfect for an East Egg soirée.   I'm most excited about Anna Karenina, though, coming to TIFF this September.  My inner Czarina can't wait to layer up with faux fur, crystals and military wool coats once the mercury drops to Moscow levels.  With bold colour so prevalent for the past several seasons, moody black looks decidedly modern again, and lends a practical side to all the excess. Invest in the basics, be it a good wool coat or a well-made pair of boots, and then decorate with sparkly (yet affordable) abandon.  After all, excess is only good in moderation (or something like that...)

Load it up.  Pile it on.  'Tis the season for opulence, darlings!

Leo DiCaprio (as Jay Gatsby) with Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton (as Daisy and Tom Buchanan) in the upcoming The Great Gatsby

Source: IMDb

Stretch Deco Bracelet, $15, ALDO

Crochet Fringe Mini Dress, $150, Le Château

Metallic Snake Embossed Crossbody, $39.95, Le Château

Gilded feathers at Ralph Lauren Fall '12. Source: style.com

Necklace with Glass Beads and Fringe, $39.99, Sears

Colour Block Metallic Pumps, coming this fall to ALDO

Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina. Source: cineplex.com

ATTITUDE Belted Coat w Faux Fur Collar and Cuffs ($229.99) and Wrap Style Coat with Faux Fur Collar ($179.99), Sears

Ruched Lace T, $35, American Eagle Outfitters

Parkhurst Faux Fur Headbands, $20 each, Sears

Crepe de Chine Blouse, $39.99, Le Château

St. Basil's Cathedral X-Large 3-D Puzzle, $39.99, Sears

Cocoa Jewelry Crystal Antique Cuff, $60, Sears

Victorian Suede Ankle Boots, $119.98, ALDO

Style Crush: Poppy Delevingne

Style Crush: It-Brit and Chanel Brand Ambassador, Poppy Delevingne

Sibling Connection: Poppy's younger sis, Cara, is Burberry Prorsum's current model/muse

Her Crush-Worthy Look: A London cool girl by day and fearless print-mixer by night, Poppy always keeps things sophisticated. Her look at the Christian Dior Spring '12 show in Paris is a lesson in simple chic; one standout piece (like her OTT necklace) is all it takes to bring her outfit from basic to brilliant.  This Stella & Dot white coral pendant adds the perfect pop to a cool cobalt dress, while the strappy neutral sandals will give you the illusion of extra-long legs.

Summer Hours

Printed Cotton Shirtdress, $39.95, Gap

Printed Espadrilles, $14.95, H&M

It's Thursday, which in summer terms really means Friday, non?  And at 4 pm, your mind may have already transported you up north somewhere; the inviting waters gently rocking the dock, the sounds of loons and cork pops and crackling fires making up your hot summer playlist.  Whether you have a family cottage (don't even tell me if you do...) or have been lucky enough to make the invite list, you'll need pretty packables to look chic all weekend long.  For my list of 10 cottage essentials, check out this week's post at iVillage.ca

Is it wine time yet? x