Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas my little Elves! Silk stockings, killer heals, and Santa? A no fail look for the naughty and the nice (...but mostly just the naughty). Hope the holiday finds you merrily dressing it up and living it up! xoxoxoxoxox A.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Yes my Bunnies, it's that time of year again I'm afraid. The time of year when we bid a tearful goodbye to Chic Fall Layering and say hello to its cousin Wacky Winter Bundling. It can a be confusing and painful time but it need not be ugly! To get through it we must act in the way that we would when our own crazy cousin comes to town uninvited; cringe a little on the inside, briefly consider an escape route and then slap on a smile and act as if we're loving it.

It was a downright nippy day on Queen West when I took this photo. My hands may have been like ice but my heart warmed when I spotted the likes of Jillian walking to work in her wintery best. This outfit is such a gloriously rad collision of prints, textures and shapes. Girlfriend's look is seriously on fire.

I'm just two ticks away from renaming this blog www.I Bought My Outfit at Value Village.com/ And I Still Look Better Than Ya'll. Jill's fabulous printed jacket, lace-up booties and toasty leopard- print earmuffs were all found at the VV. Her skinny black jeans come courtesy of American Apparel and her scarf is straight-up Burberry! Shopping second hand is not only an avenue of style for Jillian but also part a personal philosophy. She feels that plenty of clothes and things exist already in our world and tries to recycles the best of the old when possible rather than always going in for the new! To this I say: Rock On!!

P.S. Earmuffs are Back!!!

A for Ainslie, I for Inspire

One of the things I love about this city (and this life) is that sometimes out of the gray comes something so fresh and beautiful that you can't help but feel inspired. And Darlings, I'm not talking about the Starbucks gingerbread latte (so maybe I am, a little bit). No, I'm talking about this deliciously coordinated ensemble that makes me want to turn my face skyward and say 'thank you fashion Gods, thank you!'

Ainslie was out talking, walking and sipping coffee with her friend Jessica (please see post below) in the Annex when I stopped her to ask just how she came to look so cool. Her answer dear friends, may surprise you too. She came to look this way by scouring the racks at her trusty neighbourhood Value Village to find this sweet striped top, great mini skirt, and killer lace up shoes. She threw on a sassy belt from Zara, a wonderful tube scarf from H&M (one of which I'll have to pick up ASAP) and topped it all off with a glorious red vintage London Fog coat!

We may not all have such a great eye for pulling a look from vintage threads (don't I wish), but darn it, we can still try! Ainslie, your name is tricky to spell, but your outfit is simply w-i-c-k-e-d!

Paint It Black

A wise man once noted that it seems in the future, human kind will eventually convert to wearing a single uniform (assuming, of course, that the future will look like it does on t.v.). And while for some of you this statement may seem dismal I say , not necessarily so! Perk up Chickadees, the future will not be grim, but it just might be wearing black.

I hereby nominate this look, as modeled by Jessica, to be the uniform of the future! While the bottom half of the uniform has long been agreed upon; we're definitely going with boots over leggings, the top half had yet to be resolved... until now. Let's just say it: this jacket is spectacular! The cut is so beautiful and flattering while the pocket and shoulder details (a big story this fall) are downright adorable. Completing this look is a delicious Marc by Marc Jacobs black leather satchel, which unfortunately can't be seen clearly in the photo but can be checked out by clicking here.

Jessica, a Women and Gender student at U of T, loves to shop vintage as much as she loves to wear black (a lot!). Jessica has found that the best vintage clothing comes from New York City and her killer jacket is no exception! I photographed Jess while she was out for a coffee and a stroll in The Annex with her equally stylish friend Ainslie, who will be featured in a later post (cuz I've learned that the stylish often roll in pairs.) Thank you Jessica!

I Want a Sunday Kind of Look

They say that breaking up is hard to do.  And my darlings, we know how true it is.  And yet, I've always been more inclined to say that waking up is hard to do (I for one, am not the biggest fan).  But there are a few things that can get me right out of bed early on a Sunday morn: bacon & eggs, good friends and the possibility of a really, really rad outfit (hey, I'm no Linda Evangelista)! Dang, I should have bought that lotto ticket because lady luck was on my side this Sunday when I got all three in one go! I stalked down Mitch and his killer look at brunch in Mirvish Village. 

Friends, this is what I like to call a Sunday Kind of Look; It's a look that lasts past Saturday night. It's easy to look sexy in the dark of the bar (three drinks in and everyone looks fly).   But it takes extra special styling skills to bust out an outfit of this caliber in natural light, before noon on a Sunday. No I wasn't at church, but can I get an 'Amen'? (Amen!)

Mitch only had a quick second so I don't have the details of his 'fit.  But he was so sweet he even posed for me on both sides of the street for the different lighting.  Amazing. Thanks Mitch!!

Big White Tent? Heels so High They Might Kill Ya? P.E.T.A? It Must be LG Toronto Fashion Week!!

So It’s Fashion Week in Toronto and you didn’t get invited to any of the events? Well buck up Sweetheart, neither did I! But that didn’t stop me from pacing back and forth in front of the big white tent like a fashion- crazed lunatic with a camera. Oh no it didn’t.

The looks coming down the runway inside were all Spring/ Summer 2010 but outside in Liberty Village last night the weather was still Fall‘09. And as Toronto’s fashion elite rushed into the warmth of the venue I witness some of the wobbliest walking I’ve ever seen. If being seen at Fashion Week doesn’t bring out that extra inch of high heel in a gal, baby nothing will!

Many a polished look passed me by while I lurked outside, but I like a little edge. And then, up walked Alisa. While making her way backstage this model has so much edge she could keep Gillette in business. Her look is mighty fierce but her shopping philosophy is down to earth. The boots are from Urban Planet. The tights, jacket and bag are hot finds from Winners, while the ultra mini-dress comes from Costa Blanca. She’s a girl who loves to add drama and ummph to all her outfits. Alisa, I admire your boldness, but mostly I just admire your legs. Well girls, maybe next lifetime.

Alisa walked in the Bustle (designed by Project Runway Canada judge Shawn Hewson) show last night.

Check her out on the runway in the turquoise bikini!

And for a special treat click on the last runway picture (mom, this means you!)

DO WE DIG? Duck Shoes Edition

 

Now, I know that nothing pleases a Hipster more than busting out an ironic choice of shoe, but my lovelies, are we ready for the second coming of... The Duck Shoe? 

I was wandering past Town Shoes in the Eaton Center yesterday on my lunch when the soft gleam of a certain familiar plastic caught my eye. ' Say What?? Are those Duck Shoes?????' And indeed they were, in a choice of three classic colours. 

Yes, I use to own at least one pair. And yes, so did the rest of my family (Dad might still). And yes, it was 1991  and we did live in the Maritimes.  But no, we weren't featured in the Land's End catalog that year sadly, but thank you for asking! And I hadn't seen a real live pair since. 

We've witnessed the rise of the 'weather shoe'.  These days fashionistas are just praying for the rain so they can step out in their Hunter Wellies. And when the weather drops enough (heaven help us) sure, you'll see me in my Sorels on a Sunday afternoon. We're lovin' it, we're feeling hip while feeling dry. Are Duck Shoes the next step? Without yet having seen anyone sporting these little slip -on wonders on the streets of Toronto looking cool, or otherwise, I'm wondering, Duck Shoes: DO WE DIG?

Red Is Best.

Kathy Stinson once said: Red Is Best, and honey, it still is! It's the colour of rage, the colour of love, and the colour that brightened up an otherwise dull day in October when it came walking towards me in cardigan form. I found Sam doing some vegetable shopping in Kensington Market the day after Nuit Blanche. This OCAD student had been up all night participating in a group performance piece and was probably looking to blend in with the peppers, but I couldn’t miss him!

In this outfit Sam manages to look both cozy and hip with a little dash of sexy, a tough combo I've been trying to pull off for the last decade. Inspired by interesting colour and shape he works the look in his fave sweater (from Value Village) in his fave shade, natch. The scarf was stolen from mom, and the trench was stolen from a friend's ex boyfriend (and that's where all of our best clothes come from, no?). The jeans are Levi's with a self styled rip and the shoes are Adidas with killer gold details. Since we're on to details, a special shout out goes to Sam's rad hair, recently cut at W on Queen St. Wicked.

Just Throw Her on a Catwalk and Call Her Heather Marks*

(* Is it me, or does Beatrix here remind you of Canadian model Heather Marks?)

It was over to Queen West for me yesterday where spotting a well-dressed hipster is as sure as the winter is long.  About to start her shift at American Apparel, Beatrix, also a fashion student, makes looking fab seem so easy you almost want to hate her for it. But don’t even think about it honey, because she’s clearly such a doll!

The top, skirt, and tights, all American Apparel, are dandy but I think the jacket and boots are out of sight! And where did they come from you ask? The former is from Value Village and the latter, mom’s closet where Beatrix finds many a wearable garment and much of her fashion inspiration.

I asked Beatrix what her fave piece in the store is lately and she said it would have to be the Disco Pant (as seen here) Wowzers! If you do choose to squeeze into these hot little numbers (and maybe I will) ladies: Boom! Prepare to turn some heads like our gal Bea!

Frockin' it into Fall: Dresses From Day to Evening in Yorkville

If you say we really have to start dressing for the crisp fall weather, then gals, let’s do it right! It was back to Yorkville for me last night where the drinks may cost a fortune but the looks are… priceless.

It was a spoil of fashion riches as the film set flocked to the ‘Ville to see and be seen in their TIFF best. While undeniably polished all the looks tonight reflect the joyous ease of throwing on a frock for fall and going about your day, no matter what adventures you may have (or celebs you may spot).

Lien & Jo

Christina

Kristen & Courtney

Vintage White Tennis Short Shorts? I Think YES!

I ventured into Yorkville tonight in hopes of photographing fashionable film buffs or celebrity hangers on, but found inspiration instead in a lovely Ryerson fashion student doing her own thing on Bloor street.

With the TIFF hubbub in full swing but streets away, Samantha looked like a breath of fresh air in an outfit that breaks about a thousand rules. Wearing a look almost completely made of white a week after Labour Day may be cheeky, but I say: fashion rules are for sissies!!

Samantha finds fashion inspiration from far away lands and times long past, scouring vintage shops at home and abroad. I’m a sucker for these vintage white tennis short shorts taken from mom’s closet (WARNING: proceed with caution when attempting this look at home). Her ruffled tee comes from Top Shop of London (one day soon girls, one day soon) and the booties are vintage from Paris! Bien Oui! Girl, you look rad!

The End of Summer in Kensington or Jumpsuits Done Right

I know that any good fashionista lives for fall, but I have to confess: summer just really is my season.   And great outfits like this one help me to hang on just a bit little longer!

When Samantha came walking down the sidewalk in Kensington Market on Sunday, I thought, hell yes!  Now here is a jumpsuit done right  (and trust, we’ve all seen at least one go wrong this summer).  Good fit? Check!  Cool print?  Check!  Almost looks like a dress so you are not quite sure if it even really is a jumpsuit? Check and check.

You’ll never believe the killer deals Samantha scored on her accessories.   The sunglasses come courtesy of Claire’s, yes that Claire’s, for $3.  And the shoes were purchased during some sort of a crazy 4 pairs for $20 sale at Payless!   Word.

A special thank you to Samantha for being my very first subject!