As we know, retail department stores can really become much more popular when they host parties and then document all the fun on their very own blogs (just look at b-insider from The Bay). It’s also an awesome platform to highlight trends and products and get people flocking to the stores to buy!

photos with Leandra Medine of The Man Repeller who was there to celebrate the launch of holts muse.

I finally just checked out the new Holt Renfrew blog today – http://www.holtsmuse.com. Holt Renfrew is Toronto’s haute department store destination for big-time labels with so much exclusive content possibilities, so I would expect that their blog would be top notch, no?!

Although it’s still new so doesn’t have a ton of content, I love the features: a shoe buyer’s diary in Paris, Behind the Seams with Smythe, Street style shopping (at Holt’s of course), A look at Holt’s employees….

As part of its launch, Holt’s Muse is searching for the NEXT HOLT RENFREW MUSE!

To enter, upload a streetstyle picture of yourself for your chance to win a Holt Renfrew gift card (sorry, don’t know how much it’s for) and have your picture featured on the blog https://www.facebook.com/HoltRenfrew?sk=app_210568622344959

photo Pink Tartan spring 2012 via SNP @ Toronto Standard

Well, as a stay-at-home (working) mom, I am living fashionably vicariously through others these days. While I recall happy memories burning the candle at both ends during fashion week in Toronto (the parties, the shows, the socializing!!), I’m busier doing other things – BUT do however take a moment here and there to catch up on some of what I’m missing.

My Favorite Places to Get the Lowdown on Toronto’s LG Fashion Week Spring 2012 Collections:

Nathalie Atkinson @ The National Post

Nathalie has this way of writing about fashion shows that gives the reader a detailed, visual glimpse into the scene. She not only presents an anecdotal account of her experience; she also describes color, cuts and textures, making her reviews my fave. Definitely one of the better writers (if not the best) on the fashion scene.

Sarah Nicole Prickett @ The Toronto Standard

With a reputation of being slightly harsh at times or just telling it like it is (so unTorontonian!), SNP documents the good, the bad and the “undeserving” as the Toronto Standard’s Style Critic this fashion season. She’s street schooled in current global fashion so I always welcome the chance to learn a thing or two…

Various Writers @ Toronto Life Daily Style

I’m a Toronto Life Magazine fan (mostly) so love that the blog is so diverse and easy to browse. But to tell you the truth, I don’t really read the blog all that much – just look at all the photos!

Paul Aguirre @ Blog TO

Almost gave this blog an Honorable Mention until I actually scrolled through the coverage. A little bit of fashion shows, some trendspotting, profiles…Not a lot by very impressive this season anyways (who is this Paul?!) Written with unbiased, open eyes…And great photos too. Oh, and there’s even a profile on Daniel Wilson – ex TSFer who is now the Social Media Coordinator for LGFW!

Amy Lu and Kevin Gonsalves @ Peroni Moda Files
So easy to read and look at!

So fitting to be unveiled around Toronto’s official Fashion Week – NOW Magazine’s (Andrew Sardone’s) annual Toronto Fashion Heroes list – in this week’s Fall Fashion Issue, complete with glossy pull-out of NOW Magazine:

“Here’s who’s changing style in the city and beyond.”

18 Waits

“It is a lifestyle which adheres just as much to Parisian cafés as it does to old English pubs, 1920s New York speakeasies, wood cabins by the lake, old upright pianos, poetry, literature, and 1970s rock and roll music.”

B Insider

HBC’s B-Insider.com blog by Christopher Sherman with editorial director Kate Corbett and executive editor Colleen Henman.

George Antonopoulos & Danier

“Calling Danier’s collaboration with George Antonopoulos a pleasant surprise is a serious understatement. Slap-across-the-face revelation is a more apt description for Object, the collection of coats, dresses and separates the seasoned stylist conceptualized for the leather retailer.”

Mercy

“Noted for their innovative use of fabrics and sentimental silhouettes, the design studio MERCY was founded in 1994. Jennifer Halchuk and Richard Lyle enjoy a symbiotic design partnership, always inspired by colour and textiles. ”

The Genteel

Fashion blog by Mona Chammas.

photo via http://www.blogto.com

Pretty Beauty & Books
“One of our favourite recent shop discoveries is Mirvish Village’s Pretty Beauty & Books (587 Markham), and not just because the boutique makeup space has a playful, whimsical look that’s a clever counterpoint to the industrial antique retail aesthetic so popular around town. Andrea Victory’s store is trailblazing a natural beauty movement by proving that you don’t need to go granola when you go green with your cosmetic choices.”

Been seeing these on guys and gals more and more these days…

via http://fora.mtv.ca/tag/toronto-street-style/

WEEK 1: Jenn McNaughton leaves her small town for Toronto to attend the Make Den’s ‘Fashion Portfolio Camp‘

by Jenn McNaughton

WARNING: Big City Dreams Now Closer Than They Appear

Fashion has always been an extreme passion of mine since I was six years old. Drawing my own ridiculous, tacky designs and making my own – unique to say the least – fashion magazines were hobbies of mine at the time while other children would ride bikes, make mud baths and kill bugs. Today, fashion is one of the largest aspects of my life and my childhood habits have developed into a more realistic and sophisticated dream of mine; to be a fashion magazine editor.

Coming from Cobourg, ON (small town located about an hour from Toronto), where personal style and diversity lacks, I always knew I had to live in the city. It doesn’t matter if you’re from a small town or the big city; it’s the love of the dream that motivates people and pushes them to success. There are opportunities everywhere you look, and the streets are your main source of fashion inspiration. My daily doses of inspiration when at home are from fellow fashion bloggers such as: ihopeyourecomingwithme.tumblr.com,www.girlsofto.com, fifthsparrow.blogspot.com, www.fashionotes.com, and cupcakesandcashmere.com.

On Route to T.O

I travelled to Toronto on Sunday, July 3rd to reside in the city for two weeks while attending a Fashion Portfolio Camp at The Make Den. Irene Stickney, Fashion Designer and owner of The Make Den, runs this camp for students who are university or college bound and looking to build on their fashion portfolio for applications. Design and journalism have always been aspects of the fashion industry I’ve practiced ritually, but sewing was never a skill I had tried before. I was interested in this camp so that I would be able to learn how to sew, but also to develop a strong, creative garment for my application.

Step 1: Fashion Fundamentals

Earlier this week, we selected a dress my own design to create, and went shopping on Queen St. for some fabric. We chose a lovely lavender palette to work with, in both materials; chiffon and satin. Also this week, I learned the fundamentals of pattern drafting, basic sewing, and drawing fashion figures. I now have more appreciation for fashion designers, and am now thinking about designing my own line in the future. I have now successfully and ambitiously completed my first week at the Portfolio Camp, and as Irene says, “Jenn you’re already starting to look like a tailor!”

Stay tuned next week, to see the finished product and all of our hard work at The Make Den!

Jenn,
www.trendforecast.tumblr.com

What I mean is – can the average person pull this off?!

I came across this first photo on The Sartorialist blog with photographer Scott Schuman commenting that this mixed pattern look is one of his favorites of the season. Now of course she looks beautiful, in context at Paris Fashion Week – but really, how many of us can get away with a mishmash outfit? Unless you’re a model or attending a fashion event, I think it takes style and grace to pull it off.

Not sure about this…Fashion editor Julie Sarr-Jamois pictured on All The Pretty Birds is well-known for her mismatching – but fur and bananas?

Of course Tommy Ton for Style.com

There are a lot of Mr. Newton’s really great street style shots at Harpers Bazaar. A few recent from Paris…

This sort of matches, but Toronto’s Sarah Nicole Prickett can pretty much pull off anything!

Next: Color-blocking! Apparently when it comes to wearing color this season – ANYTHING goes!

This site is actually quite hilarious – a gorgeous composition of fashion editorial with sometimes ridiculous, always sarcastic descriptive ‘quotes’ that absolutely make fun of fashion. I have no idea who actually publishes the blog, but I must say it’s brilliantly over the top and makes for great down time reading!

http://www.ihurtiaminfashion.com

I love the Beckerman ‘Bite Plate’ blog and have written about it before! Basically sisters and fashion designers Callianne, Samantha and Chloe take us on their life adventure of shopping, dressing up, collaborating and creating wonderfully colorful covetables!

For their latest collab, the gals (and Mommy Beckerman) spent many hours at Holt Renfrew, collecting amazing designer pieces and putting them all together in their Beckerman style. All items are available at Holt Renfrew…

Go to the blog to see all the photos and detailed descriptions: