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

Zadig & Voltaire Coming to Canada

Images from the Spring '13 Lookbook courtesy Zadig et Voltaire

It's so tough to get that perfectly layered Parisian look; luckily certain labels have perfected the art so we don't have to.  With stores like Scotch & Soda, Zara and All Saints now (or soon-to-be) so blissfully available to Canadians, our morning mash-up has gotten a whole lot easier of late, making us realize that it's not always about how you wear it but what labels you choose to wear. 

As reported by Retail Insider, Zadig & Voltaire is coming to Canada! The popular French label, started by the grandson of the founder of Lacoste, has that whole layered, I-just-threw-this-on, rocker vibe all figured out. Zadig & Voltaire will open both men's and women's shop-in-store locations inside of Holt Renfrew stores in Toronto (Bloor St.), Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal. As for the price? I'm not gonna lie - it's not cheap (items are mostly in the $200-$500 range)- but the brand is still way more affordable than its similarly cool French sisters Balmain and Isabel Marant, so definitely worth the investment if you can save up.

Check out the video below for a stamp of approval from Britain's top girls-about-town including Poppy Delevingne and Tallulah Harlech. I wish I had a British accent. I just do.

ps - Did Sophia just call it a skirt? Clearly, someone was not paying attention at the presentation. Tut, tut.

Miu Miu boutique opens at Holts

Photos courtesy Miu Miu

Just got these images from my Prada contact in NY (had to say that because it sounded so super cool) and had to share.

Today, Miu Miu officially opened its first point of sale in Toronto at the Holt Renfrew Bloor St. store. The corner, designed by Architect Roberto Baciocchi, is entirely dedicated to the brand's bags and accessories collections.

The boutique is (not surprisingly) ultra luxe, with rich damask and cool stud details, along with matte gold counters and crystal display cases.

Me likey! Miu? 

JEM and the Holograms LIVE at Holts

Before Gaga and WAY before the Biebs, there was the one (the only) JEM. Jem was her name, no one else was the same, Jem was her name.  In case you missed the memo, JEM and the Holograms are coming to Holts this holiday season! Squeee! Holt Renfrew stores across Canada will carry the first four characters from the original collection, including CLASSIC JEM, her alter ego JERRICA BENTON (owner of Starlight Music), magical holographic computer SYNERGY and RIO PACHECO, JEM's road manager and brooding love interest. Oh, Rrrrio...sigh...

Each character comes dressed in a truly, truly, truly outrageous look, which includes a set of rockin’ '80s accessories like knee-high holographic boots, oh-so-magical-and-infinitely-powerful starburst earrings and of course bad-ass loafers for Rio.  Hey, what's in the bag, Rio?

CLASSIC JEM, JERRICA BENTON, SYNERGY and RIO PACHECO are available for $125 each (limited quantities of 1 character per customer) at Holt Renfrew stores across Canada starting November 17th!  No sign of The Misfits yet - they must still be on tour... Um, best gift, like, ever!  

Is it too late to dress up like JEM for Hallowe'en?  I am SO making that happen!

P.S - Okay, I SO did not make it happen. Still, I see absolutely nothing wrong with busting out the iridescent purple tights on say, any given Friday night. I'm on it.

Holt Renfrew Giveaway

I can't help it.  I simply must.  To say thanks for the amazing response to RLR Treat Week, we're going out with a crash, boom, bang.  What would you buy at Holt Renfrew if you could?  Would you splurge on a pair of Choo's or get that Mulberry/Marc Jacobs you've always wanted? Would you go to La Mer or would you go for something sinfully sparkly?  Leave a comment below to win a $50 Gift Card to Holts!  Contest ends at midnight tonight.   Thanks to everyone for such an amazing week and happy Friday! xo