Joe Fresh Spring '13

Johanna (aka rlr mini) and I hit up the Joe Fresh Spring '13 Show

Here's my hot-mess pretzel look (read: I sprinted to the shows after my train arrived late), as papped by FLARE Magazine (left) and after - hair down, heels on, basking in the post-show glow (right).  

As tweeted by rlr mini, "Can you spot the @realliferunway in her natural habitat?"

The Joe Fresh finale.  See Jeanne Beker in the front row?

I could go on and on...Really I could.  But it's Friday at 4:00.  It's been a very long week, and it's Pizza/Movie Night at our house.  Yay! A picture (or 60ish in this case) says a thousand words and so I'll leave you with photos from Wednesday's Joe Fresh Spring 2013 show - always my favourite at World Mastercard Fashion Week.  For Spring, it was a mash-up of '60s mod, with graphic black & white prints, pops of bright yellow, soft blue and metallics, with a cameo by '60s model, Pat Cleveland.  So cool, so fun, so very Joe. My favourite looks? The white Pierrot-collar blouse with the pleated yellow skirt, the croco suit (w matching handbag - yum!), the Hitchcock-esque grey bird print pants with the printed blouse, and pretty much all of the metallic looks at the end.  Thanks for the invite, Joe!  More fashion week pics (including my fateful front row seat at Lucian Matis) next week.  TGIF! xoxo

Photos by George Pimentel

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Cool Marinière

A Harper's Bazaar cover from June 1951

Broadway T, $29.99, StyleMint 

Shorts, $24, Joe Fresh

Pursuitment Espadrilles, $98, Anthropologie

Buoy 6 Nautical Rope Bracelet $22.95, Etsy 

Women's Bahama Boat Shoes, $75, Sperry Topsider 

Striped Underwire, $100, J. Crew

Nutcase Fashion Rope Necklace, $47, Etsy 

Pleated Mini in Awning Stripe, $104.99,  J.Crew

J. Crew Dapper Striped Linen-Blend Shorts, $65, Net-A-Porter

Hey, Sailor! Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm, $19, MAC Cosmetics 

When it comes to fashion, only a handful of trends stay afloat from season to season.  I like to think of nautical stripes as the Madonna of fashion - perenially cool, always relevant, with nary a major screw-up.  This year's nautical finds are (kinda like Madge) a little bit knotty, a little bit nice, esp. in the accessory dept. with wild chains, glitter, neon ropes, and oversized clamps guaranteed to float your boat.

As for the Breton striped shirt, you can never go wrong with a legendary Saint James (spun in Normandy by the French purveyor since 1850, and worn by everyone from Pablo Picasso to Coco Chanel).  If your budget (or your conscience) can't navigate the splurge quite yet, I've found a comparable version (point your eyes north, maties...or up, whatever...) for 1/3 of the price at StyleMint that looks and feels mega-yacht luxe.  Scared of the horizontal stripe?  Just remember:  the smaller the stripe, the more slimming the effect.  As for fit, keep pieces relaxed, not tight.

Now go ahead, go overboard.  I dare you...;)

Ohhh Canadaaa

Birthday parties are always fun, but Canada Day brings it to an entirely new level. As we approach our country’s 145th birthday, we prepare to honour our true north, strong and free with barbeques, beer (a local microbrew, of course), and a round of light-up-the-sky fireworks.

Whether you’re heading to our nation’s capital to party with thousands, or are keeping it tight with friends and family in your very own backyard, these finds will help you wear Canada from head to toe. They might not scream red & white loud, but these two looks are a subtle way to show that you’re proud.

For the full story (and where to score these great Canadian finds from La Canadienne, Matt & Nat, Joe Fresh and more), check out my story this week at iVillage.ca.

Festival Style: Splurge vs. Save

Rosie Huntington-Whitely and her crew invade Coachella. Photo credit: PacificCoastNews.com

As you plan your foray into festival territory, it's important to strike the perfect combination of casual and cool. From SXSW to Coachella to Jay-Z’s upcoming Made in America, the season of music festivals is in full swing. Get with the band in these festival essentials, perfect for swaying, jumping, and fist-pumping in enviable style.  For my top 10 splurge vs. save picks, check out my full article at iVillage.ca

Hooded Anorak, $49, Joe Fresh

Multi-Coloured Skull Bracelet, $15, ALDO Accessories

Paper Straw Bag, $29.95, H&M

Printed Tie-Belt Shorts, $24.94, Old Navy

H by HUDSON Mirar Boot, $275, Revolve Clothing

Joe Fresh/Flare Revenge Party Pics

The entrance to the Queen/Portland Joe Fresh store where the Revenge party took place.  LOOOVE this store! 

Revenge star Christa B. Allen chats with a similarly-attired Kimberley Newport-Mimran (Joe Mimran's Pink Tartan designer wifey)

Joe Mimran (THE Joe Fresh) was my bestie (for 15 seconds, anyway) and graciously indulged my celebrity stalker side.  I could not possibly hide the goofy grin.

James, my husband and fave +1, looks on in bemusement.  I'm sure he's thinking, "Wow. She's such a famewhore" 

A pretty party-goer rocks shades of white and a cool graphic tee.

Revenge's Christa B. Allen also graciously obliged a pic.  Did you know she played Jen Garner's young self in '13 Going on 30'? Google it.  

 

Nobody ever takes pics of the paps.  These guys were working the room all night long.

The Joe Fresh Gift Bag that each of us took home at the end of the night (this pic by Ryan Emberley)  I'm giving mine away to one lucky winner; Read below for how you can take it home.

When you get an invite from Joe Fresh and Flare Magazine, the RSVP is always, "I'll be there +1"  And so it was that my willing-and-ready husband and I boarded the train and headed to Toronto for the season finale screening of Revenge at Joe Fresh's Queen & Portland store.  

We mingled, hors d'oeuvred (not a word but I like it), and shopped our way through the night with my man-crush, Joe Mimran, Christa B. Allen and Toronto's fashionable set and then, watched the nail-biting season finale of Revenge.  All in all, a supremely fun night and though I quite honestly hadn't watched Revenge before, I'm now hopelessly addicted. Arg.  There goes another night.  Thanks to Joe Fresh and Flare for the invite! xo

PS - Leave a comment below for your chance to win my Joe Fresh gift bag.  I'll accept entries until tomorrow at noon! For more party pics, click on the thumbnails below: 

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