Over the Knee

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Show Your Pretty Socks

Boho

Tights Fall 2009

The tights/legging trend is continuing its full-on popularity this fall as the masses have finally lost their fear of having fabulously coloured, decorative stems.


Most people CAN'T get away with all this color - stilinberlin.blogspot.com

More monotone - www.oslostil.com

On the runways for Fall 2009 (and in the nearest forever 21 near you), embellished tights are all the rage in tartan, lace, stripes and dots; stylized with legwarmers and chunky socks; and comfortably worn with shoes or boots.

A staple for any updated wardrobe though is solid color tights - for Fall 2009 try red and purple.

(I am so lucky to have received a box of Secret tights in the newest fall colors - including diamond weave, grey, brown, purple, magenta and red!)

Secret Fall 2009 tights cost under $10 and are so soft and durable - you can find them at department stores throughout Canada.

Grecian White

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Umbrella

http://www.sharkvsbear.com http://www.sharkvsbear.com http://www.sharkvsbear.com

http://www.sharkvsbear.com http://www.sharkvsbear.com http://www.sharkvsbear.com

White Shoes

Grey Shoes

Chilly Summer?

Remember seeing the socks with heels trend in magazines about two years ago? (could've been my Italian Vogues...) And then the look showed up on runways for SS08 (shown here Anna Sui) and continued into SS09 (shown here Burberry).

Well, gals in T.O. are finally picking it up and I kinda like it - not only do decorative ankle socks keep your feet warm during these chilly summer nights, it's cute and super easy to pull off (the fishnets are questionable)!

Ripped Jeans

http://www.sharkvsbear.com http://www.sharkvsbear.com http://www.sharkvsbear.com

Folded Jeans @ Harbourfront

Toronto's Harbourfront Centre hosts festivals most weekends during the summer (dj's, music acts, art, etc) at the perfect outdoor water front location between Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto.

There is an International Marketplace where you can find amazing deals on clothes, crafts and jewellery and a World Cafe with international take-out cuisine. Rent canoes, hop on a tour boat or sit on the patio and drink beer and watch the boats and planes go by.

Another day in T.O...

Dress to Express at the Ballet

The annual National Ballet Fundraiser is held in the dazzling Four Season's Center, by award winning Canadian architects Diamond & Schmitt. The translucent building is a natural habitat of culture vultures eager to indulge in an evening of dance and drinks. The dress code of this year's gala is "dress to express" - a wise choice at any cultural event. Far too many folks in Toronto dress to repress! Here are a few easy tips to get you from glum to glam.

THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET!

Biko Beauttah looks beautiful in classic black satin evening gloves. Go for broke by wearing a cocktail ring or bracelet over your satin, or take a trip to Northbound for opera gloves in latex or leather. (Don't worry boys, that's what 911 is for).

PEARLS PEARLS PEARLS!

Whenever adorning with pearls, you should always wear enough to make you wonder - "Is this too much?" The answer, of course, is always no! Gloria Sharp turns her Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors ensemble from fine to fab, by piling on the ocean gems.

FEATHERED FRIENDS

Paula takes a little black dress on new flights of fancy with this stunning fascinator by David Duncley of KCs hats. This Toronto designer has studied in England with Royal milliner Rose Cory and offers up a yummy selection of hair accessories for the bold and beautiful.

TOP IT OFF

While we are all ready to "go-go Ascot" to garden parties, the evening hat is a sure fire way to get gorgeous. Baronness of the Bias-cut, Lana Lowen (of Lowen Pope), turns heads in her own fire-engine red, 40's film goddess gown topped off with this black beauty from Wild Haagan.

All photos by Karen Brockest.

Sparkle in the City

Gypsy Caravan with 69 Vintage at the Drake

Pride (o8)

In anticipation of this year's Pride Week in Toronto, June 19-June 28, 2009 - I thought I'd dig up some unpublished photos of us hanging out with Club Fashion on Church Street last year!

Fashion Yard Sales

Last summer we took the clothing swap to the fashion yard sale - likely a new T.O trend. Looking forward to the summer!

More Fashion Figures

I'll be away for a couple of days, so in my absence some fashion faces from the archives:


Georgia Groom, stylist & boutique owner at a Town Shoes event

Rebecca Hardy, CNTM Cycle 2 winner @ Circa after a (2007?) Greta Constantine show

Zoomer editor Suzanne Boyd at a Fashion File party (maybe 2006)

Beckermanbiteplate Outfits

We love the Beckerman girls' newish blog - beckermanbiteplate - where the three designer sisters Callianne, Samantha and Chloe post pics of themselves and their super-stylish outfits - and aptly give each 'look' a name (Beckerman is New York-based but Toronto born and bred).

The Play Chicago + Dumbo the Elephant | Connect 4 + Rainbow

The Look: Jockey + Leopard | The movie 16 Candles + London Punk + Disneyland

This photo from the "Shake Rattle and Roll" Spring 2009 Campaign

Toronto Fashion Faces (archives)

Nathalie Atkinson, National Post style editor @ Fashion Week in Toronto (2007)

Jeff Rustia, Club Fashion host (among many other faces) at Fashion Week in Toronto (2007)

Common Cloth designers and sisters Kristina Bozzo and Melanie Talbot @ Holt Renfrew party (2007)

More Moustache

Designer Gals

Girls in Hats

Men @ Fat

Ladylike

Underground Fashion Throwdown at 69 Buy the Pound!!!

Nouveau rockers

Style fixture Biko Beauttah

Eye Magazine's Rea McNamara

Deadly Nightshade's Big Red

Respect Your (fashionable) Elders!

Daniel R. Wilson

Remember hipster kids, these ladies were fabulous when you were still fetal! The lovely ladies at the Mozart Unlaced Royal Conservatory of Music gala proved that age has nothing to do with style.

I spoke with a terribly chic woman in a pink suit about fashion through her life time and she said one of the problems now is that people don’t dress for occasion. “I’ve always been a different cat,” she said, “I’ve always liked to look nicely turned out. When I was young, even if you were dirt poor you still had a nice outfit for an occasion. Now a days people come to a bridal shower in jeans!” When I asked her the best thing about being her age she said, not having to be around to watch fashion deteriorate even more!

I also took notice of a fantastic lady dressed to the nines in colour! Her brightly striped knit skirt from Holt Renfrew and bright orange shawl worked with the cardigan her friend crocheted for her to create a very Marc Jacobs meets Missoni look.

The moral of the story is that there have always been cool kids, the lucky ones grow up to be fantastic adults.

Mozart Unlaced (The Royal Conservatory of Music Gala)

by Daniel R. Wilson

Mozart Unlaced, the fundraising gala for the amazing Royal Conservatory of Music was one of the most fantastic, elegant events this reporter has been to in ages. But also an event that made me feel rather inadequate as a human being.

Sitting in one of the spectacular new concert auditoriums listening to a small child of maybe seven years old - Emma Meinrenken - play the most heart-wrenchingly beautiful violin, one can’t help but remember being that age and doing little more than finger painting. Also I got to hear soprano Ambur Braid who was not only physically beautiful draped in a Gucci wrap dress with a heavy leather shoulder strap but had a stunningly powerful voice. Looks, talent and Gucci; I’d hate her if she didn’t send my little hear aflutter.

The event itself was posh to the nines with flocks of chic ladies and elegant men fluttering around as piano players, violinists, singers, cellists and harpsichordists staged performances in every nook and cranny of the new building. Braised short rib so tender it could be cut with a spoon was served on one floor, pikoras on another and decadent sweets on the main.

The highlight was in the four floor atrium where a dj roosted on a bridge near the glass roof playing beats while a violin player dressed for an Elizabethan ball and an opera signer sang bellow. They did a rendition of I Feel Love by Donna Summer which has also been covered by everyone from Madonna to Goldfrapp, which broke the mold of classical music and went beyond anything I had expected.

The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the leading musical education institutions in North America and has helped shape talent from all across the world into some of today’s most respected musicians and musical professionals. Visit www.rcmusic.ca for more information about the Royal Conservatory if you yourself know a budding prodigy or just want to show some support.

Baggy Crotches:)

Funny - Sonja, Vanja and I all wore 'harem' pants the same night! So comfy, super-stylish (2009!) and versatile!

Warm up to Spring Color

Fashion in Motion's Johanne Durocher

Wesley Badanjak, designer and [FAT] runway coordinator

Animal mix-in

Neckties

photos from Daniel Wilson

Prom is Coming

These are pix taken by Krist Papas - at a Fake Prom Party...

Girls in Pretty Dresses

Opposing Views

80s

With a touch of color...

Cocktailin' It

Sarah Nicole

Anita Clarke

Carolyn Rohaly

Karelle Steiner

Daniel&Brock in Philip's Studio

Nobody does bling like...

Kat!

Boys in Jeans

LGFW Daniel's Day 4

Everyone in fur!

Day Four was totally kick ass, largely due to the amazing rock bitch Nada sent down the runway. Models stomped (oddly not pausing at the end to pose so I hope there are still good shots) to the best soundtrack I've heard so far this season, Grace Jones' new single remixed with Manson's Beautiful People, NIN and an Audio Bullys' remix of Tiga.

Flaunting a sexy hybrid of Anne Demeulemeester and Rick Owens, girls were donned in black including lips and talon-like nails. I loved the oversized plum coloured coat with mutton sleeves, full skirts with massive silver charm belts and a perfect floor length skirt. And the monkey fur! Well, it was probably goat, but looked very monkey Demeulemeester in a cape and boot fringe. Amazing show, nearly made up for Morales not showing.

People were talking about Carlton Brown, the Jamaican designer who filled up at least a page on Twitter. I watched the show on the monitors - super hot models with pink socks on the runway led by Stacey McKenzie was still only ok, but I'm not sure who would wear and afford it except maybe gay divorce lawyers.

Ed Hardy was full of beautants: beautiful mutants. The abs! Holy hell, the abs! Mind-numbingly sexy but a little inhumanly perfect like they were cut out with a laser. The women were skin, bones and silicone. I was a little confused by the ski jackets with bikini bottoms and swim trunks with wool hats, but the standing room only crowd seemed pleased. I also discovered that there is something really creepy/hot about the combination of chiseled abs, balaclava and swim trunks.

I dashed after the Ed show to the Fashion House where there was already a line up for the Women X Women party and photography exhibit. The packed house included Pam from Fashion Crimes, Derick from The Star, Brooklyn from The FDCC and lots of other fabulous first name only people from fabulous places.

Former designer Ariel Garten won best outfit in my books in a Comme des Garcon tuxedo jacket and vintage Victorian work out pants.Miss Robin made a brief appearance near the end looking resplendent in white fur.

After Fashion House we made the jaunt over to The Spoke Club where mayhem ensued and the beautiful people started glowing (it was quite warm). Lots of lovely boys.

Greta Constantine with top model Coco Rocha who made an appearance at LG Fashion Week

FW Peeps

Biko Beauttah rocking the boat | Daniel Wilson with Project Runway/Ryerson grad Adejoké Taiwo

Photos from the Archives

(I'm sure I've said this a million times)
Here are some more - never published - photos - taken last March at the LG Fashion Fusion party.

Canadian Living Asst. Style editor Julia McEwen and Elle.com's Rachel Singer

Designers Lucian Matis and Wayne Clarke

Model Biko Beauttah and Matthew F.

Bustle designers (and PR judge) Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow looking amazing right after the birth of their first child!

March Photos-Contact

Fashion Week Wear

There's nothing like fashion week in the Spring to bring out Toronto's fashion crowd and all its eclectic clothing combinations! As always, I am looking forward to interesting prints, unconventional heels and mismatched accessories.

These are some photos taken one year ago. The "new" look then was high-waist skirts, boys in bow-ties and wonderful spring colors.

Mid-Fashion Week After Hours

Kimberley Mimran | Rebecca Tay, FASHION western editor


Decor & More gals | Irene Stickney & Laura Mensinga

Joe Fresh
There were definitely many hungover fashion-faces Thursday morning on, following mid-fashion week's party circuit. My attendance began at the Fashion House Condos where the Mimrans hosted a well-dressed and attended fete. Fashion editors, wealthy neighbours and business associates were treated to superb hors d'oevres and vodka martinis - in a brightly lit space that made it easy to check out all the eye candy.

Shinan Govani @ Spice Route
From there, we hopped across King Street to the gorgeous Spice Route with its lit torches guarding the massive front door. The party consisted of simply sitting in a large U-shaped booth, drinking Belvedere vodka and Moet (we caught Shinan for a brief moment) - and taking in the illuminated walls, Buddha statues and Asian-influenced decor. Individual washrooms have a huge glass wall that looks onto a grassy lane - complete with functioning fountains that take the lounge washroom experience to a whole new level!

Evan Biddell @ Burroughs
The coolest/hippest/hottest party of the week that I attended was undoubtedly the Evan Biddell after-party where we ran into dozens of faces from fashion students to fellow fashion week designers to actors and models taking great advantage of generous liquor sponsors (unfortunately I missed the next best Greta Constantine party at Fuzion)!

The open-concept, loft space was an awesome aesthetic with its floor to ceiling windows and warm hardwoood floors that supported several groupings of leather seating areas - no matter what corner you turned, you were sure to find interesting people.

Fashion Television's Glen Baxter managed to make it 'til 3 a.m., while poor Biddell likely didn't remember the end! On descent, packing into the ancient Burroughs Building (639 Queen St.) elevator with a few gals who couldn't put down their wine glasses, Shinan Govani specified a custom-order Susie Love tie before heading off to an after-hours up the street.

The prairie boy-turned city hipster is definitely everyone's new favorite, especially after handing out new K-Swiss kicks to everyone at his show!

[FAT] Day 2: Everything but the...

DJ Daniel Wilson in a one shoulder jumper by Andrew Kerrigan

Sonja Andic in a Kameleon watch necklace with Liza Zawadzka

Model and scenester Biko Beauttah before her NOW MyStyle runway debut

Sarah Campbell backstage preparing for the The Rage fashion show

Front row day 2

The Deadly Nightshades celebrate the fashion film, 'A Night out with the Deadly Nightshades' promoting sustainability in fashion and good times!

Stylist Kym Chambers, curating a [FAT] installation, '7 Straight Jackets interpreting 7 Deadly Sins' with Fashion Television intern Shenae Grimes

Imagine a spot where you can go, hang out with friends, listen to amazing bands, dance a little, catch some eye candy and do some seriously interesting people watching, peruse some multimedia art exhibits, watch a few runway fashion shows AND experience more than one performance dance show - all in a night. That's [FAT] Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week 2008.

Dancers kept us glued to our seats for Anna Smutny's "Thick Motions"

On Day 2, major kudos go out to the music and dance performances. Anna Smutney's contemporary dance troupe captured our attentions and held on so tightly as the three dancers extracted emotion and feelings with intense dramatic movements. Later in the evening a mucho caliente salsa couple spiked the energy and mood of the crowd with hip grinds, lifts and hot moves.


The Virginia Titty Killers, a multi-man ensemble (that I can't seem to find online), fronted by former runway model Kobe James, funked out like a George Clinton P-Funk band, except it was more rapping and singing - high energy and super stage presence!

Sick Sound System created a full-on orchestra of beat boxing and vocal percussion - more than impressive - you HAVE to check them out!

Art Attack: Easiest DIY Spring Trend

Toronto artist Beckie Dileo in her hand-painted dress | Random paint pants from Antoni&Alison (above) and YSL painted frocks

You don't have to be an artist to pull off the easiest DIY trend this spring - just grab some paint and do what the elitist designers at YSL, Chloe, Thakoon and Basso&Brooke do - throw it, spatter it and randomly paint it on your clothes.


Toronto-based Ndeur popular hand-painted shoes (available @ the Rage) | Looks @ Erdem and Dolce&Gabbana, Spring 2008

Flickr o' the month: T.O. Fashion Runway

We LOVE Flickr and all its wonderful albums upon albums of digital photos from all over the entire world, covering absolutely every subject. People post photographic details of their lives like their art or work; birthday parties and vacations and even just shots of their city and surroundings.

Every once in awhile I head to Flickr and simply do a search for 'toronto fashion'. This takes me to personal photos of events, fashion shows and designer collections.

The latest:
Over 75 photographers make up Toronto's Fashion Runway Group - a place for photographers to network and share ideas. Includes hundreds of shots from Toronto catwalks.

Others on our Flickr roll:
Fashion Events: Geekgirl
L'Oreal Fashion Week photos: Marilis
Store windows: Mannequindisplay

Do you have a Flickr account?

69 Vintage $-Mass Shopping Fete

69 Vintage held its annual Christmas Holiday shopping party, December 12, 2007 at its Queen Street West location. There has been a 69 off-spring location in Kensington ya know! Revellers drank spiked egg nog and festive berry juice whilst stripping down and slapping on vintage treasures in full view. Daniel Wilson, L'Oreal Fashion Week DJ, scored a cool green bomber coat. Leanne Delap, Globe and Mail fashion writer, acquired a chic gold link belt. Anna Von Francis, Pink Mafia Boss, played dress-up for guests. Jen, El Presidente of the new Toronto web site Shedoesthecity.com, was glamorous in a shiny silver dress. The boutique was packed to the gills with holiday joy! Of course, 69's Kealan Sullivan rocked it the most in thigh-high black boots and fur hat - Mistress of her domain.

Fashion Week Street Fashion

GO TO >>> STREET STYLE & PHOTOS

Music Fest Stylin!

Dressing for an outdoor music festival should result in a look that is groovy and effortless. Easier said then done. Myself and hundreds of others took the music fest dress challenge this weekend for the Virgin Festival on Toronto’s Centre Island.

Saturday delivered extreme heat and apparently melted my brain, as I donned heavy denim overalls worn with a black tank top and over that, a Gems&Junk slogan t-shirt from UKULA.

I should have gone with the kaftan! I got to the Island just in time for M.I.A. - fantastic show, but almost passed out from the heat. Hmmmm that didn’t seem to deter me from going to the steamy and most sweaty B-Live tent to dance for an hour to the Princess Superstar set, which was bloody amazing!!! I left the tent with overalls soaking in sweat to the point of not being able to move my legs. Had a moment of brilliance [well I thought so] and took off the overalls, hung them in a tree to dry and pulled down my black tank top to use as a makeshift mini.

As I surveyed the crowd I noticed lots of gal rocking the current skinny braided headband look a la Mischa Barton on the cover of October’s Teen Vogue. Of course I wasn’t the only one with a slogan t-shirt. And skinny jeans are still alive and well here in Toronto. The fashion highlight of the day had to be Bjork. She floated on stage wearing the most wonderful concoction of metallic ruffles. She reminded me of a musical cuttlefish. Her show was blindingly good – if her voice doesn’t make you well-up with tears – you are not human!

The day two weather report was completely the opposite of day one. I was in a state trying to figure out what to wear before I headed out the door. All I could think of was ‘waterproof’…..but being in fashion I just don’t own anything waterproof. I optted for bright green cotton trousers with a palm leave motif, a navy cotton top from THE RAGE and a bright red animal print scarf. My outfit was as about as ‘loud’ as an outfit can be. The Island weather was decidedly cool and the sky was dark and it did put a bit of a damper on the parade of fashion I was expecting. I saw lots of fun and colourful rubber Wellingtons – tres festival gear! Many people were wearing bright neon colours to brighten the mood.

I want to share with you my photos of people who I thought had some fun festival looks and my two favorite overheard quotes. While I was dancing like a maniac to Princess Superstar this one guy shouted out, “I’m sweating in my eyes!” Okay it was really funny at the time.
During the Bjork show – the bit where she sang alone to erratic piano accompaniment, an intense fan behind me said, “It sounds like Bjork smeared her brains all over an amplifier”.

It really did!!!

Please share with us any fun quotes you have from the weekend here in the comments section! Or anything! Your favorite show, the best beer tent, the cutest performer! We want to know. Thanks

GEEK-OUT!!!

Ohhh being a stubborn Taurus I hate change. But with the 'geek eye wear' trend staring me down, I feel pressure to give up my signature look of clear eyeglasses. What should I do?

I put this one out to you my beloved reader....do I stay with the signature clear plastic glasses [seen above] or do I follow the advice of stylist Maha and GO GEEK CHIC! before the trend becomes passe?

Help ME!

Trend...Hair Hair Everywhere

Talk about re-living the 70s (and we thought it would never happen!). Guys and gals all over town are sporting afro styles - big hair, curly do's and bangs for days. And then there's the face: moustaches, side burns and full on beards that have been so unattractive for so long...until now? It'll be interesting to see how long this takes to reach the masses (my bet, 1-2 yrs)

Trend...Backs

Watch your back Toronto! This October we're predicting a shift in t-shirt trends. At the start of the summer, most t-shirt graphic prints and slogans held centre stage, on the front of the shirt. In the last month, the trend for images and graphics and text has shifted from front to back. Here's the proof.

Trend: Hats

>> Go to more photos

Trend: Canvas Bags

www.torontostreetfashion.com/trends_photos/canvasbags.html

On the street...Hoodie

It's just a matter of time before these Japanese/hip hop/urban-inspired printed hoodies are seen everywhere!!

On the street...Composition

On the street...Colorful plaid

Erin Keatch, designer Las Valentias
July 21, Yonge & Bloor
Fairweather dress

On the street....Stripes

Taken at the Ryerson Sustainability Fashion Show, May 5, 2006
Daniel in 69Vintage stripes

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Toronto Street Fashion @ Sport Pig

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