Vintage-Look Fidelity

Distressed Denim by Canada's Fidelity

http://www.fidelitydenim.com/

Show Your Pretty Socks

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.

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)!

9 Spring Shoes (2009)

One of the greatest things about Spring and longer sunny days is the burst of color indoors and out! And shoe stores this Spring 2009 are no exception.

In a twist of trends, shoes for sale are every color of the rainbow, in patterns and stripes; animal skins and suedes. There are fringes, gaudy beads and baubles and tons of decorative details. Of course the gladiator sandal and strappy heels reign for the masses this year, but now black is boring as sandals are multi-colored. A new look for Toronto is the 'bootie shoe', which was HUGE in Europe last year and likely your best investment this year as it'll work next as well!


Aldo (in most malls - outlet on Yonge Street)
$75 gladiators | $100 orange | $90 Lacau


Browns (locations in HBC stores and most malls)
$150 suede purple | $120 reptile | $130 bootie shoe (all the rage in Europe last year)


Another chain store by leading Canadian shoe retailer, The Aldo Group - Little Burgendy has three Toronto locations, offering name brand (youth styles) footwear.
Shown $100 wedge | $50 sandal | $189 (my splurge) cork pumps

Statement Legs 2009

Nay: Winter Legs

YAY: Spring Legs!!!

Baggy Crotches:)

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

80s

Nobody does bling like...

Kat!

JOE Fresh Spring 2009 Trends

by Julia Teeluck


(photos from FDCC fashion week site www.lgfashionweek.ca)

At the top of the Canadian fashion chain sits the Creative Director of Joe Fresh Style™, Joseph Mimran. As the force behind the successful Alfred Sung, Club Monaco (bought for millions of dollars from Ralph Lauren Corp.) and Caban stores, Mimran is the Chair of the Fashion Design Council of Canada; and heads Joseph Mimran & Associates, a brand and design consulting business that works for Pink Tartan, Tevrow + Chase and the Loblaws PC line of home merchandise.

The Joe Fresh Style line of cheap 'n chic clothes for the family - sold at Loblaws Super Centres around the country - is presented in a high-style fashion show each season at L'Oreal Fashion Week. The brand targets “the time-starved, style-hungry moms on a budget” and stands for “fresh, accessible style.”


Julia Teeluck: Can you summarize the overall goal or look for Spring 2009?
Joseph Mimran: What you saw is a small microcosm of the entire collection. [A total of 47 outfits were shown.] I mean, our collection is made up of hundreds and hundreds of pieces. [...]So essentially, what we do is distill it down to a nugget of an idea based on what we’ve done for the season, for the catwalk.

[There are 350 stores nationwide. The stores are constantly replenished and updated. Elaine Quan, who is the Senior Manager of Public Relations at Joe Fresh Style said that one store can receive a shipment of approximately 80 boxes in a month.]

"For the catwalk, what I really wanted to do was, I wanted to focus on some of the yoga and active pieces that we do because that is a very big piece of our business as well.

[To set the mood before the show began, the lights were dimmed and tranquil instrumental music was played. The audience sat in the dark and were instructed by a deep, somber voice to close their eyes, relax and breathe.]

"I wanted to mix it [...] with the streets wear to show the customer [how to mix and match] and to give it a different spin than we’ve done before. [I wanted to] put many of the new silhouettes like the genie pant and the exaggerated jumpers and the one piece together in a way that would be wearable.

"The accessories were clear, again, sort of a hint for the need for transparency in today’s society and the importance of that and how all that all ties together into a new-age kind of look into the future.

JT: Do you have a favourite item out of the collection?
JM: I think certainly, the pieces that I love the most are the ones that talk to the clean aesthetic. But at the same time, it is about the newness of the silhouettes. I love all the new silhouettes. I think they’re really really fun and interesting. Those are the pieces I gravitate to. It’s hard for me to pick a favourite because I love so many.

[In fact, Joe checks and approves every piece before it makes it into the final collections. It is no wonder that he loves so many of them.]

"One of my favourites was the “memory taffeta” bubble skirt [$39, available in various colours like orange, bright yellow, soft blue, pink, and lilac] that came out at the end. It’s more of a street wear piece, but with the elastic hem it gave it a little different sports vibe.

JT: If you had to choose a fruit to represent the collection what would it be?
JM: You noticed that the girls were carrying oranges in their transparent totes [$24]. Orange is the colour of our brand and represents a freshness and a zest.

Insider Tip: The store with the most selection and that gets the good stuff first is the Real Canadian Superstore location at 2549 Weston road (at Hwy 401).

Doc Martens in Toronto

Could it be?! Docs are making a premature comeback as a hot new trend among the tweens along with a multitude of other 80s styles.

Already, the clunky, laced-up boot is being bought up in faraway places such as Hong Kong and Glasgow. However, like most shoe companies these days, Dr. Martens and its air cushioned soles are now available in even more options: patent pinks, flourescents - I've even seen vegan options!

Apparently, there are 70,000 possible varieties of Dr. Martens, starting at 3-eye and rising to a 20-eye boot. They were popular for postmen in the 60s, then became notorious when skinheads and bad boys donned them through the 70s. In the 80s, the masses adopted the style and they became uniform for rockers and musicians.

In Toronto
You can find Docs in many shoe and goth stores on Queen Street West (around Spadina).

As the first store ever to offer Dr. Martens, Neon, 391 Queen St. W. has brought them back again with a huge selection to choose from claiming that they charge $30 less than other stores.

Shown:
Dr. Martens 1460 8 Eye Boots in Pink Smooth, $109.99
Dr. Martens 1460 8 Eye Boots in White Smooth, $109.99
Dr. Martens 14 Eye 2 Zip Boots in Red Patent, $129.99
Dr. Martens 14 Eye Side Zip Boots in Silver Broken Promises, $139.99
Dr. Martens Phoenix Alexia Rigger Boot in Black Mirage, $129.

Over the Rainbow Seasons Picks

1. Sam Edelman's Ursula Tall Fringe Boot $269.
2. Faux suede bucket bag $80.
3. Colour block bangles $25/each
4. Challenger Grease Relaxed Jean by PRPS $365.
5. Sushi Thermal PJ Top & Pant by PJ Salvage Originals, $61/each
6. Unisex Eagle Merino Zip Sweater by Kanata Hand-Knit, $265.
7. Sundance II Boot by Ugg, $330.
8. Print Dress by Yumi, $95.
9. Soia and Kyo's Margo Houndstooth Jacket, $320.

Over the Rainbow, 101 Yorkville Avenue

Essential Style: Cuff Wear

by Daniel Wilson

Once upon a time men dressed up and putting on a pair of cuff links would be as natural as putting on socks when getting dressed. Then came Casual Fridays. North American men began going to work looking like out of work golf caddies in baggy khakis and corporate freebie polo shirts. Slob became acceptable and we entered the dark ages of mens dressing.

But now there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel as men have discovered the mirror and the accessory. Bay Street is belting out its demands; if our female coworkers can have fun getting dressed, why can’t we? Why do they get the great jewellery and this seasons 'It Bag' while we’re left with festive holiday neckties?

Enter Chris Zownir, a former Bay Street Boy himself, as its knight in armor, a champion in the fight against Bay Street Blah and his company Cuffwear.

“The Bay Street uniform is still pretty standard,” says Chris, “but cuff links give men a chance to be unique. Its something fun.”

And his designs are fun. With images like martinis, bulls and bears, buy and sell signs and Bond girl-esq ladies, Cuffwear offers men myriad chances to wear their mood, if not their heart, on their sleeve.

At $65-90, Chris’ cuff links are priced low to inspire creativity. You can own several pairs for different moods or mix and match, “and if you are staggering home in the morning,” says Chris, “ and realize you lost one you haven’t ruined a several hundred dollar investment from Tiffany’s”

Inspiration comes from the fashion in the 60s TV show Mad Men, but its not just the clothes. “Maybe, just maybe,” says Chris, “if men return to more traditional fashions and style elements they might return to traditional manners. Opening the door for other people and just general politeness.”

Stylish men, polite or otherwise, can find Cuffwear at Rolo, Gotstyle, The Coop and Rego all in Toronto or online at cuffwear.com.

Other places for Cufflinks in Toronto:
Green Shag, 670 Queen Street West
Courage my Love, 14 Kensington Ave.
Barbie's Basement Jewellery offers custom cufflinks
www.linkyourshirt.com

If Hermes made Flip Flops...

by Daniel Wilson

If Hermes made flip flops they might be acceptable. They would be tasteful, maybe a cherry wood sole with black or Hermes orange alligator straps; they would be subtle and elegant. But Hermes does not make flip flops and the ones that are out there are simply not acceptable.

From queers in the Village to the ginos and 905’rs at Circa - people in Toronto are universally slapping their way around town this summer with that irritating sound unique to this hideous footwear.

The argument in favor of The Flop is that it’s easy: you can just slip it on and go; and that it’s comfy. A driving shoe, a loafer, a deck shoe and a cowboy boot, a Vans skate shoe, a moccasin or even a Croc. All these footwear options are easy, as with flip flops, they don’t have the problem of those silly and confusing laces some shoes have… And they’re comfy! Flip flops have no support or cushioning for the arch, ball or heel and they come with the irritation of that little piece of cheap plastic between your toes.

Maybe some people think flip flops are sexy, it’s one step closer to naked after all.
I myself don’t find a calloused, hair flecked foot particularly appealing, and I fall short of imagining a lifestyle that allows time for twice weekly pedicures and toe waxing, but that’s just me.

Consider, if you will, the hygienic implications of flopping down for a roll in the linen (crisp and white as snow), with a person who, essentially, has been walking barefoot through the filth and offal of the streets or the grunge and scum of a night club.

Finally I plead to The Flop wearer to think of your own safety. We live in a city and the ground is full of hazards unknown. Used needles and broken glass, dog pooh and cigarette buts, stilettos poised to stomp on your toes and drunken revelers holding slippery beer bottles ; do you really want your feet, tender and pink, exposed to that?

Hermes does not make flip flops, but they do make a lovely driving shoe. Try one on. It might change your life, or at least save you a tetanus shot.


Last photo of chemical reaction of cheap flip flops - see story here >

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

What to wear to Fashion Week

Of course we encourage personal style to reign, especially at Toronto's foremost week of fashion; but we'd thought we'd offer a few very basic tips to being sharp and spotted amongst thousands of the city's best (or at least most interestingly) dressed!

For Spring 2008:
Oversized Jewellery: rings, bracelets and neckwear. Wooden, big beads, natural textures.
Coloured Tights: yes, coloured tights are still 'in', especially since this trend hasn't gone super-mainstream in this city. Ladies, you can do it! (Why not even try coloured footwear?!)
Belted/High-waist Skirts: Lady-like meets urban chic. Not only for hipsters!
Colour: Yellow, purple, blue, pink. You name it - just get out of that black!

During the last fashion week, Liza asked Toronto's style icons about their thoughts...

Adam: "It is better to dress in a unique way to express your own personality." | Marlene: "Wear comfortable shoes!"

Alison: "Try to anticipate the trends you are going to see, and be the first to wear them." |
Rolyn "If you're not confident enough to put an outfit together, go for something basic and add an unusual detail to it, or go for style in an outrageous accessory."

Fashion Week Street Fashion

GO TO >>> STREET STYLE & PHOTOS

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!