'TIS THE SEASON: Your Best-Ever Holiday Wardrobe

Photo via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Now's the time where we start to compile our wishlists and our seemingly endless to-do's. And while it's easy to let our wardrobes take a backseat since we have so many other things to check off our lists, here's some holiday food-for-thought for you. How can you take care of others when you haven't taken care of yourself? How can you shop when you're not properly outfitted? How, pray tell, can you host a holiday party when you're not the best-dressed babe in the room?

And so, I've put together the ultimate holiday wardrobe for you, from the coziest jammies (consider them your down-time partners in crime), to the best boots (some snow-friendly, some sparkly), to the most stunning party pieces to get you through the holidays in enviable style. 

It's all about holiday survival, ladies. And if survival requires shopping, you know I'm all for it...

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SPLURGE: The 2014 Luxe List

While my shopping M.O. is mostly about scoring good deals, I believe wholeheartedly in the occasional splurge. iVillage.ca asked me to round up a list of the season's most stylish splurges and while I had trouble narrowing it down, I think I've come up with a pretty stellar list just in time for the gifting season. Since I like to keep it real(ish), I've kept everything on this list under $1500. Enjoy...

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M'Oticons: DEL TORO x ALISON LOU

#drunkinlove loafers. Photos via M'oda 'Operandi

Every once in awhile, a collection comes along that's so stupid cute that you just need in. If you remember the super popular Charlotte Olympia astrological collection from a few years back, you might recall that 'should I, shouldn't I?' feeling. Well, here we go again. This time, it's all about emoticons jumping off your smartphone onto your lobes and loafers thanks to the new exclusive courtesy of Del Toro x Alison Lou at Moda Operandi. Pardon me while I swoon. Part of me feels like this collection came about 10 years too late (or I arrived 10 years too early) but the other part of me is like 'screw it'. I use emoticons on the daily. And I use words like 'on the daily'. If anything's going to keep me feeling young and carefree, it's buying useless crap like these shoes. And I will be able to take the BEST #fromwhereistand pics on Instagram.(sneaky link, thanks for the follow, owe you). 

Now, the only question is which pair? Help, please. Here are some of my favs, not including the also very cute emoticon studs. Trunk show is currently on for pre-orders at M'oda 'Operandi for the next 13 days should you wish to indulge in a pair for yourself or as a (most perfect and personal) Christmas gift. The loafers are spendy ($340) but, 'tis the season... Yup. #drunkinlove

happy fri!

#bombshell

#eyeofthetiger

#ido blonde (also avail in brunette)

#dramaqueen

#hammertime

#jetsetter

#gaypride

#partyintheusa (I LOVE THESE)

#rockstar

#smokinghot

#selfie

#puppylove

SNAP HAPPY: My Toronto Fashion Week Pics with a little (lot of) help from BLACKS

Training day with the talented Bardya at BLACKS. 

Okay, so here's my dilemma. I'm a fashion blogger. But my camera sucks. That is, it could be the camera, or it could totally be me. So, let's blame the camera.

With World MasterCard Fashion Week on the horizon and a new gig as digital correspondent for iVillage.ca, I reach out in a desperate eleventh hour appeal to my friends at BLACKS to see if I might be able to borrow a camera for Fashion Week. I already own an expensive SLR camera which is fantastic for shots of my family but for Fashion Week, not so much. I'm talking big, bulky and way too complicated for my basic photography knowledge - plus I have yet to invest in a proper zoom lens so can never get close enough to get any decent runway shots. For the last few seasons, I've relied on my smartphone to capture the action. But let's just say my pics are falling flat.

So I tell BLACKS what I'm after - something super easy to use, not too big (after all, I'll be running from show to show and don't need the hassle of a heavyweight), with high quality images and a stellar zoom. The response? We have the perfect camera for you. Oh, and by the way, you get to KEEP IT. Seriously?! Pinch me. 

Where it all went down - the brand new BLACKS boutique at Yonge & Eg.

I meet up with my camera guru, Bardya, at the BLACKS at Yonge & Eg in the middle of Fashion Week to pick up my new camera and get a one-hour tutorial between the shows. The new BLACKS stores (if you haven't had a chance to check them out) have been made modern for our digital lives with the coolest ways to finally get pics off of our phones and computers, including fun photo wall art printed on acrylic and metal, gorgeous photo books (Christmas gifts, anyone?), and even Made for Instagram prints.

They hook me up with a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS, a next generation point-and-shoot that Bardya believes will answer all of my Fashion Week woes. He gives me the lowdown: this camera offers the world's first 50x Optical Zoom lens in a compact digital camera, which goes all the way from a wide-angle 24mm to 1200mm to capture any shot. The camera even features 1080p Full HD video for any live action I might want to cover throughout the week. Bardya assures me that I don't need to know anything about aperture or shutter speed or even settings at first because the auto setting will pretty much do it all for me. Perf. 

Still, he takes me through the camera's super cool features anyway, including an Instagram-like 1x1 sizing option, an action mode for fast-moving models and my personal fav: the smooth skin feature, which irons out fine lines and wrinkles, evens out blotchy skin, and basically nixes the need for any post-pic Photoshopping. Genius. I head to Fashion Week and get to work (if you can call it work). 

I'm already totally smitten with this camera and can't wait to keep testing it out - from my glam fashion life to my photogenic little ones. Check out my Fashion Week pics below and see the results for yourself. Keep in mind that all of these pics were taken on the auto setting because I'm lazy and because this camera is SO FREAKING AWESOME. Next up? Street style.

Big love, BLACKS, for my amazing new camera! Mind blown.

Testing out the camera's black & white feature with the models backstage.

Pretty meets punk backstage. 

Sorry, got distracted there for a second. Nom nom nom....

The Caitlin Power presentation where I jostled for a place next to the pro photogs...

...but didn't really need to thanks to my crazy zooooom. Booyah.

Love this model.

Sometimes there's more action in the front row than on the runway.

A stunning look from Hilary Macmillan.

Cannot get over the details you can see with this camera!

A model gets a little touch-up at the Minnie Mouse dress competition.

Playing with shadow and light. 

iPhone vs. my new Canon PowerShot SX50 HS - think it's obvious which one's the winner. Speaking of winners, this dress designed by Sid Neigum won the Minnie Mouse competition.

Gorgeous colours at the WMCFW Press & Buyers' Brunch.

The lighting at a runway show is always the tricky part. 

Luckily, my new Canon PowerShot SX50 HS picks up every detail, even the fine print.

Love this big, bad, bearded model at Christopher Bates.

WERK.

Obsessed with this dress from Narces. This camera's so fast I caught it coming and going.

The way my runway pics look with my iPhone...

...and the way they look now. SUCH a difference!

The Lovely Joe Fresh Holiday Lookbook

Photos via Joe Fresh

The Joe Fresh Holiday Lookbook arrived in my inbox recently and since I've finally accepted the cold weather, I think it's only right to share it with you. In a word: dreamy. The styling is perfect - the Nordic knits, the chunky scarves, the faux fur trims, and even the socks worn with heels. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. And because it's all Joe Fresh, it's affordable and wearable, so this fashion dream can actually come true for you (and you and you and you). The holiday collection drops in stores throughout November and December.

Speaking of Joe, I'll be heading to Toronto next week for Spring '15 World MasterCard Fashion Week so be sure to follow me all next week on this blog (and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for my pretty people pics from the street, the studio and the big shows at David Pecaut Square.

Until then, happy weekend! Isn't it always?