FROCK STARS: Get Ready for Frocktail 6

Photographed by May Truong and styled by Diego Armand/Perfectomag.com

Since its launch in 2009, The Frocktail Party has grown to become the city's most anticipated fashion fête. If you love dresses and supporting good causes (and who doesn't...), then you do not want to miss Frocktail 6. The big event is happening this Thurs night at the stunning Arcadian Loft in downtown Toronto, with 100% of auction proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). 

This year's designer auction is going to be epic, giving partygoers the chance to score designer pieces from Balmain, Gucci, Givenchy, Dior and Alexander McQueen. Some highlights include a personalized trench coat experience from Burberry and a golden ticket shopping experience from Kleinfeld’s and more! While the runway frocks are guaranteed to be gorge, it's always fun to shop the closets of local celebs, too. Rachel McAdams, Suzanne Rogers, Lainey Lui and Tanya Kim (among others) will have pieces on the auction block.

Epic auction aside, the party itself is always super fun. The Revlon Professional Style bar will ensure your hair is picture perfect all night long and CND will be offering up complimentary manis at their nail bar.  Not to be missed is the infamous Frocktail swag suite where guests will have the opportunity to fill their own gift bags full of products from Revlon Professional, CND and more! Oh, and there will be dancing. Oh yes, there will be dancing.

Check out The Frocktail Party site to sneak a peek at the pre-auction photo shoot and purchase your tix today. Hope to see you there! 

xx

Winter Coat Brands to Watch + WIN 2 Tickets to Heart of Fashion at the Shops at Don Mills

Camel Car Coat, $268, Oak + Fort

While the ubiquitous Canada Goose Parka is a fail-proof bet against the impending 'T-Rex of Winters', it's always nice to be reminded of some of the lesser-known coat brands out there. The Shops at Don Mills got in touch to share some of the amazing coats they carry so I thought I'd share them with you. One of my new favs? Oak + Fort. Have you seen? Have you been? Watch for more from Oak + Fort on Real Life Runway from now on.

Speaking of the Shops at Don Mills, the legendary Heart of Fashion event is coming up this Saturday Oct 25^th and aims to raise $680K. Crazy, right? Funds will go to support the acquisition of radioactive seed localization, which offers a non-invasive and extremely precise way of pinpointing and removing small tumours in the breast. North York General Hospital will be the only hospital in the GTA to have this technology. 

Over 500 stylish guests (including me!) will gather this Saturday to experience the fusion of food and fashion in support of North York General Hospital’s BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre(BDC). Guests will be treated to a night full of amazing food, cocktails, entertainment, a live auction (including coveted tix to this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London) and a fashion show featuring exclusive retailers from the Shops at Don Mills and prestigious Canadian designers Christopher Bates, Fotini Copeland and David Dixon. 

Now for the best part: the Shops at Don Mills have given me 2 tickets to give away to you! The prize pack is valued at $500 and includes 2 tickets to the Heart of Fashion event, including the fashion show, cocktail party and fabulous food stations. It's going to be an amazing night out and I can't wait to see you there.

HERE'S HOW TO WIN THE COVETED TICKETS:

1. Leave a comment below telling me your fav winter coat brand.

OR

2. RT the following: '@realliferunway is giving away 2 tickets to the Heart of Fashion and I want to go! RT to win. #HeartofFashionNYGH http://bit.ly/1zhYhtS' 

3. Contest closes 5 pm this Thursday. I'll announce the winner Friday morning!

4. Contest open to residents of Ontario only.

5. Good luck! xx

Oh, and if you're currently on the hunt for a cozy new winter coat, check out some the outerwear brands I'm loving right now:

 

Oversized Single-Breasted Coat, $218, Oak + Fort 

Nobis Meredith Coat, $845, Mendocino

Pajar Puffer Coats in Olive & Blue, $675, Leigh & Harlow

Akiva Coat, $850, and Kay Fur-Trimmed Puffer Coats, $750, both Mackage

Moscow Coat, $720, Madame Moje

THINK PINK: #BattlePink for Rethink Breast Cancer is On and We Need Your Votes!

When I was asked to take part in this year’s fashion battle in support of Rethink Breast Cancer, I was tickled pink.  I adore my job and I love helping women with their fashion choices, but using my fashion blog for something really important? Now, that’s a fashion challenge I’ll gladly take on.

Rethink Breast Cancer has enlisted the help of a small group of on-air personalities, stylists and bloggers, (including The Food Dudes, MTV Host Aliya-Jasmine Sovani, designer Janette Ewen and yours truly) to duke it out in this year’s #BattlePink, where we’ve been challenged to get creative with October’s limited-edition PINK products from brands like Aerie, OPI, Swarovski and Civello Salon.

My mission? Style up the Swarovski Slake Bracelet. Pink and glittery? That all you got? Since daughters, moms and grandmothers alike are all affected by breast cancer, I asked my 6 year-old to give me a hand. Our pic shows how we all support each other in this battle, whether you’ve been affected by breast cancer or not. Plus, if I’m honest, I’m hoping the cuteness will win us some extra votes ;)

You can vote for us or for anyone else. Seriously! The best  part? No matter who you vote for,  each vote counts to help raise money for Rethink Breast Cancer. So good, right? Plus, simply by voting, you’ll be entered to win a super luxe gift basket containing PINK products valued at $500.

Show your support and cast your #BattlePink votes HERE, and be sure to spread the word. Thanks for your time and for your support, beauties! Together we can help beat this thing!

Oh, and just in case you've never seen this clever vid from Rethink, watch 'Your Man Reminder' here: