LOVE FOOL | Heartbreaker Fashion

via Sunday Times

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Mention Valentine's to any group and you're guaranteed to score a few eye-rolls and looks of disdain. Valentine's? Seriously? We don't NEED Valentine's to show that we love each other. It's such a cheesy holiday. Red roses are SO obvious. 

And it is. And they are. But there's something about having young kids and never having time for a coffee break let alone a proper night out, that makes me pine for the days of long stems and dinner dates. Sure Valentine's is a little cheesy. But as life gets busier, it's kind of nice to be reminded of the need for romance. As long as they're tulips, not roses. Oh, and I hear Colette is still taking reservations. Ahem. Whether you want to go all Bachelor-style with OTT displays of contrived romance or prefer to pass the day like any other, there's no denying that red & pink is a combo to love. 

This Valentine's I've fallen head over heels for these two pretty shades. I adore either colour worn head-to-toe but especially love when you pair red & pink together. Try a red maxi dress with a little pale pink bomber. Or try popping on a pink sweatshirt with a cute red baseball cap. Scroll through the slideshow below and have fun playing matchmaker. Hearts will be broken (in a good way)...

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GOOD JEANS | Get to Know Spring's New Cleaned-Up Denim

A relaxed but refined denim look from Chloé Spring '15

Originally posted in The LOOK

When it comes to fabrics, nobody has it as tough as denim. Seemingly gentle women have been known to go to violent extremes to get what they want out of their fav pair of jeans. In fact, I've committed a few heinous denim crimes myself - I'm ashamed to admit that I've thrown acid on, rubbed sandpaper across, even ripped apart the knees of a perfectly innocent pair of skinnies, just because they didn't look cool enough. Well, enough. The guilt is too much. 

For Spring '15, designers must have been feeling a little remorseful, too (or, um, maybe they just missed the seventies). From Chloé to Michael Kors to Stella McCartney, taste-makers opted to return to pure, clean denim in everything from wide-legged jeans to denim shirts to refined little dresses and long skirts. While dark indigo is back in a big way, powder blue denim is right on trend, too. The key? Keep it simple, sweeties. Step away from the sandpaper and give your jeans a break.  I've handpicked 30 pieces from Intercity Shopping Centre to help you as you shop, plus a few slightly distressed picks for those of you who need a little time to transition...

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Uniqlo is Finally Coming to Canada

No trip to NY is complete without a stop at the massive 89,000 sq. ft. Uniqlo on 5th Ave.

While some of us continue to mourn the loss of Target, today's news (kind of, sort of) makes up for it. After years of speculation, Uniqlo is finally coming to Canada! The Japanese fashion-fashion giant announced this am that it will open its first two Canadian stores in Toronto in 2016 - the first at Yorkdale Mall and the second at Toronto Eaton Centre. “We embrace this milestone as an important step in the growth of our brand,” said Larry Meyer, chief executive officer of Uniqlo USA and Canada.

Uniqlo is a powerhouse in the cheap-chic world of fashion, with over 1,500 stores now operating worldwide. The store carries well-designed basics in every colour, making it a go-to for stylish minimalistas everywhere, including celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow. So what makes it different than a Joe Fresh or GAP? While Uniqlo has the power of scale to keep its prices low, its focus remains on fabric over fashion. According to this article in NY Mag, Uniqlo keeps a team of takumi, or textile “masters,” on staff who specialize in areas like dyeing or sewing. A typical order will be around a million units of denim, fleece, or cashmere—often all the material the supplier makes. The company further increases its buying power by offering a smaller selection of fabrics, across a more limited selection of styles, than most other retailers.

We can't wait to finally be able to shop Uniqlo at home but as always when a retailer enters the Canadian market, we approach this new relationship with a healthy amount of cautious optimism. Will the prices be as awesome as they are in NY? Will we get the selection we expect from a giant like Uniqlo? And most importantly, how will this takeover affect our beloved Joe Fresh?

 

Happily Ever Après

via Vogue Australia

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I started skiing at Chicopee Ski Club as a tween, and it was all downhill from there; I experimented with powder, drank too much, and I'll admit that at one point, I even turned a few tricks.  Looking back, I blame it on the fact that there just wasn't much else to do in Kitchener back then, especially in the long cold months of winter.   As soon as school was over and pretty much every weekend, my friends and I would get dropped off at Mount St. Chicopee where we'd hit the slopes (okay, fine, it wasn't exactly powder) until our cute, snowpant-clad selves couldn't handle the cold anymore, at which point we'd hit the chalet for some hardcore hot chocolate and serious boy-watching. 

I still ski today but I'll admit that one of my favourite parts of the experience remains the 'après' - the part where poutine is not only available but encouraged, where I get to catch up with my favourites by the fire, and where ski bunny style is embraced in all its cozy glory.

Luckily, you don't  have to know how to step into a pair of bindings to score that coveted après-ski style this winter. From chunky knit sweaters and headbands to the best wind-burn simulating bronzer, every self-respecting ski bunny knows that when faced with a big hill on a cold day (or not), looking good really is half the battle...

SEE MY CHALET-READY PICKS HERE...

THE NEW | 15 Trends to Try in 2015

Kendall Jenner in Vogue

Originally posted in The LOOK

My favourite thing to do in the middle of a deep freeze is avoid it. No, really, I stay as far away as possible from any natural air, sprint to the closest heated car or building whenever I have to be outside, and generally make any excuse I can to not have to go out at all. My dog and I go on winter runs, not walks, so he and I get exercise but limit the potential for frostbite. And when skiing, you can literally only see the tip of my nose. I look ridiculous but my Hot Hands-warmed thumbs are giving the thumbs up inside my oven mitt-sized mittens. 

While avoiding the cold, I spend my time dreaming. Dreaming of warm places, dreaming that a plane ticket will find its way into my cold hands, and dreaming of spring fashion. The spring runways were loaded with temptations that I can't wait to wear. And since 2015 is officially here, I see no reason why we can't start wearing some of spring's pretty pieces right now. 

These 15 finds will help bring you right up to speed for 2015...

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