Photo credit: Raymund Galsim

Designer Appearance by Jessica Jensen and Trunk Show at The Room
Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 12:00pm – 6:00pm
The Room – The Bay, Queen Street

Jessica Jensen Spring Summer 2010

Inspired by the settling storms of the early summer New Jersey coastline, the collection explores themes of calmness, stillness and optimism. Texture is a collection highlight: from fluid wave overlays to classic 45° basket weaves and custom panel weaves. The coastal storm palette invigorates the 39 sku collection as deepened greys and neutrals play off bold colour accents: Storm Grey, Seafoam, Mineral, Dusty Lilac, Citrus, Grape, Blush, Earth, and Black.

(The line is available at an accessible price range, from $498 to $1298. Small leather goods, such as the Envelope Clutch, Wristlet and Woven Coin Purse are $198.)

Jessica Jensen is a graduate of Ryerson University’s Fashion Marketing program. She’s marketed and designed licensed accessories for over 25 international brands including: Roots, Buffalo, Elle, Calvin Klein, Nike, John Varvatos, Michael Kors, and Lulu Guinness. Jensen debuted her signature handbag collection in 2007 and is lauded for her modern design philosophy and affordable, effortlessly stylish, luxury handbags. www.shopjessicajensen.com

Prices for the Birds!
This is me checking out all the hair feathers at Ransack the Universe (post and more pix to follow) – all cheep, cheep, cheep (couldn’t resist)!
Prices are crazy like $10 each or 4 for $10 or 3 for $10…. Anyhow, you can DIY or support local peeps.

Ransack the Universe is part of the 69 Vintage Collective.
In the basement:
1207 Bloor St. W., Toronto (east of Lansdowne
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 12-7pm

The new Balisi location on Yonge St. north of Eglinton independently stands out in its new neighbourhood amongst area favorites Lululemon, Aritizia and Sporting Life – but the residents of midtown Toronto should be very thankful for the injection of uber-cool, exclusive brands and yet another excuse to stray from the ‘North Toronto’ look.

Recently opened, this is the fourth Balisi boutique in Toronto (others on Queen, College and Danforth). Proprieters and partners Rehlee Balisi and Cory Kierstead have been successfully doing their thing for the past four years which is buying and bringing mainly edgy European labels to Toronto, focusing on fearless footwear while growing their retail business in a time of retail uncertainty. Each shop carries slightly different items to match area shoppers, and is staffed by highly experienced stylists.

On Yonge Street, stylist Dale Hodder explained what shoes had memory foam insoles, how to wear what (in ways you wouldn’t figure out for yourself) and what psuedo-celeb clients are going for.

For this article, I tried to distinguish the most contemporary and exclusive labels – and realized it’s all exclusive. The selection of Brazilian, plastic Melissa shoes is off the chizzy, the Vivien Westwood’s for Melissa are plentiful, there are Fly London sandals ; avant garde United Nude, handcrafted Miz Mooz, and my favorite the expensive Neosens. For men, plenty of sneakers and denim. Also, a wall of handbags, mens fashions from Japan, affordable accessories and an interesting little book collection thrown in to the whimsy.

If you’re in the hood, definitely go see Dale:

Balisi
2507 Yonge Street (north of Eglinton), Toronto
416.487-7111
+ http://www.facebook.com/balisifashionsinc
+ http://twitter.com/balisi

Well, they’re saying that we’ll start seeing trendy women wearing bowties this year – and it’s likely true, what with American Apparel and Forever 21 selling bowties geared to gals. I personally haven’t seen this at all in Toronto yet – but here’s some boys in bowties…soooo refreshing after seeing guys in Clubville still wearing oversized hanky scarves!

photos: lostinthewillderness.com | lostinthewillderness.com



photos: lostinthewillderness.com | lostinthewillderness.com

Dr. Martens Iconic 8-Hole Boot Turns 50 this Year

by Daniel Wilson

From Curt and Courtney, to That Gaga woman, to Madonna, PJ Harvey, and pretty much everyone in between, every rock star we idolize has worn Doc Martens on stage at some point during the highs and lows of their careers. They cross boundaries from a Bruce La Bruce art porn about gay neo Nazis to a Yohji Yamamoto runway show and have managed for fifty years to say, ‘I’m cool, I’m edgy, I’m practical or I don’t care’.

Even setting aside their fabulous, (and fabulously hard to find in Toronto) designer collaborations with the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Mr. Yamamoto, the Doc Marten brand has offerings for spring and next fall sure to set the chicest or grungiest of hearts aflutter.

Be sure to keep an eye open as they push the iconic 8 hole boot shape into all sorts of new forms. I loved the white boot with flocked black polka dots and a heel (yes, a Doc Marten heel – see below), in glossy black patent leather embossed with a tiny floral print.

And if you happen to be one of the handful of people in the world watching The Oscars this weekend, check out Jack Nicholson’s feet to see the customized silver metallic Docs he will be strutting.

The Dr. Martens Spring/Summer 2010 Collection includes the 8-Eyelet boot in both metallics and in canvas-like TecTuff Express leather, both durable and water-resistant – a more summer-like feel.

In Toronto, find Dr. Martens at:

http://www.getoutsideshoes.com

http://www.neonclothing.ca

http://www.softmoc.com

http://www.docsleathers.com

The XXI Winter Olympics start today – Friday, February 12, 2010 in Vancouver, BC.

Olympic Chic to me is simply to keep warm!

‘Official’ Canadiana (olympic) Apparel
Red down-filled coat – http://www.canada-goose.com
Roots Wristlet & Yukon Earflap – http://canada.roots.com
Fur-lined hoodie, Canada tank and socks – Park Life for Aritzia
HBC toque, Canuck tee, Scarf – http://store.hbc.com/