Lights, Camera, It's Vanessa!

There comes a time during a Toronto winter when looking out the window in the morning is like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates; you just don't know what the h -e- double- hockey -sticks you're gonna get. Baby-dolls, this is that time. It may not always taste good, but you're gonna have to get dressed anyway. The question is, what do we wear ? I say, try something like this.

On this day, it was fog and Vanessa, a hair stylist at Yorkville's Earth Salon, brightened up the Annex in this hot number. Inspired by fashionistas on the edge like Agyness Deyn and Alexa Chung, V owns the look like only she can. Doc's are most defiantly back (in case you didn't get the memo). Vanessa picked hers up secondhand in Kensington Market along with her leather jacket and shades. She purchased her zippered acid wash skinny jeans at Urban Outfitters while the Balinese scarf is a souvenir from her travels in Australia. Her hat and zip-up, both by Element, are "borrowed" from her roommate who represents the brand. ( It just so happens that one of my BFFs and my favorite artist Juliana Neufeld is the first Canadian Advocate for Element and you can check out that awesomeness by clicking here) Represent.

In driving school they said never to shine your brights in the fog. But who cares, we were on foot and some people just can't help but shine (even while hungover). She's not famous, but I'm thinking she's a star. Thanks Vanessa!

Dig This: Rachel McAdams on Vogue

'Exciting' and 'cover of Vogue' haven't been terms I've used together in the same sentence lately, unforch. But doesn't our home girl Rachel McAdams look hot rocking the Jan 2010 cover of Vogue. So exciting!! Shot by The Prince of Natural Light himself (and one of my very fave fashion photogs), Mario Testino she's the picture of silver screen sophistication. But don't fret my pets, we haven't lost this one to the glitz of faraway places; Rachel knows where she's from, in fact, she still lives here! Don't her eyes just twinkle with that particular Ontario Girl charm (It's a thing you just can't fake, trust).

The article was rad too. Reading it made me excited for the things to come: lady- like silhouettes for spring 2010 (get pumped for the corset top!) and sunny walks in Kensington Market, where if I'm lucky one day maybe I'll run into the girl herself and turn this into a street-style post...

Until that day my friends, we'll have to settle for an article and a couple of photographs. If you missed the issue on newsstands you can check them out by clicking here!

'Make Mine a White Russian'

Happy New Year! This is it Kiddos, this is the big one, it's 2010 (rejoice!) and it's going to rock our socks!

(Confession: I took this photo back in late '09 but it's such a great look that I didn't think you'd mind.)
When I spotted Marina and her awesome ensemble on Queen West the temps were downright frigid. She didn't seem to mind. I think it was the fur hat. Could it be that mother has been right all along... that a properly covered head actually does equal a warm body? Well my loves, this ain't your mama's hat (but could be your Great Auntie Franny's)! The hat's a throw- back and the look is fresh as snow.

I'm loving this mix of the bold (fur hat!), with the subtle (well cut coat, shoes, Acme brand jeans), with the dark (the colour black). It's is not unlike that other mix of bold, subtle and dark... The White Russian!!! Vodka, milk and coffee liqueur? I say, why not!? And while it's unlikely that while ringing in new year any of you uttered the words ' yo Barkeep, make mine a White Russian' maybe you should have, because like Marina's fur hat it can warm a girl up and get her through this crazy thing called winter. Well done Marina and cheers to the new year!

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!