It’s here! It’s here! My vacation is here! So even though I won’t be able to check in on Twitter and email as often as I usually do, I did schedule a few posts for next week – make sure not to miss them! I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks, but I’ll definitely share some pics once I’m back!
Can you guess where I’m going?
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What would you do if you received a year’s worth of your salary upfront…without having to work for it? If that sounds good to you, make sure to stop by any Banana Republic store in North America starting September 3rd – September 6th, and see if you won up to $100,000!
So, lovelies, if you won the money, what would you do with it?
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Billabong – the name is almost synonymous with surfer clothing, no? Apparently - wrong. After attending Fall 2010 preview at the Yorkdale store last week, I realized that Billabong not only caters to surfer dudes, it has a fashionable side as well!
The first thing that caught my eye as I entered the store was a multi-color Portola cardiganwith fringe detailing – a super amazing boho piece, perfect for wrapping oneself during the cold winter nights. I knew I had to have it. Throughout the store, I spotted a few other cozy-looking cardigans, faux leather jackets, super cute black dresses, and a ton of on-trend accessories. Wait, at Billabong? Yup, at Billabong.
Other than Billabong, The Yorkdale location carries brands such as Element, TOMS, Nixon, Von Zipper and Dakine.
And of course, there are rows of bikinis. Bikinis and shorts that are available all year-round. So if you’re looking for one in the middle of January, Billabong is definitely a safe bet.
For guys and boys, the collection seemed to be a bit more grown up from what I remember. There are still plenty of hoodies and t-shirts to go around, but there are also classy button-ups and sweaters available for the dressier occasions. Another cool thing that Billabong store carries is Saxx underwear. It’s pretty great to see a small company with a great idea represented at a bigger store. Plus, guys seem to looove Saxx. If you don’t believe me, get it for your man, and see him rave about the…ahem…extra support.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with the Fall 2010 collection, and having worn my new cardigan around the house, I can’t wait to take it out for a spin in the real world! I’m definitely packing it for my upcoming trip and will share some pics after I come back. You may see more Fall 2010 pieces on Style Blog’s Facebook Page HERE.
Now what about you, lovelies? Do you shop at Billabong? Let me know in the comments.
Huge thanks to Micki Benedetti for the invitation!
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All of my fashion prayers have been answered – Lanvin for H&M line is coming to a store near you in November! And as Alber Elbaz put it in the H&M video released this morning, he only said “I do” to H&M going luxury, not Lanvin going public. This makes me even more excited, because what it essentially sounds like to me is that the quality of this collection will be somewhat better than your regular H&M collab – but I guess we’ll have to wait until November to see. I know, I’ll be lining up bright and early to get my own little piece of affordable Lanvin luxury H&M…even if I have to fight for it. Bring it on!
“H&M is proud to announce that its next designer collaboration will be with Lanvin, one of the most influential brands of the 21st century. Designed by Lanvin’s artistic director Alber Elbaz and menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver, the collection will go on sale in around 200 H&M stores. It will be launched November 20th in North America and on November 23rd in the rest of the world. The collection of both womenswear and menswear will be revealed to the world on November 2nd, just three weeks before the clothes hit the store, making the launch of Lanvin for H&M one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year.”
Photo Credits: H&M
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We live in a world where celebrity clothing lines are dime a dozen. And while I have no idea who in their right mind would ever even consider buying something with Heidi Montag’s name on it, when The Bay invited me to attend an intimate preview of Jeanne Beker’s new clothing line EDIT, it really made sense. After all, Jeanne is an iconic figure of Canadian fashion with an immaculate sense of style and an immense knowledge of the industry – who better than her?
And though Jeanne didn’t design the collection herself (“I’m not a designer!” – she exclaimed), she did have a hand in editing the collection to create a selection of simple, yet timeless pieces, ranging in price from $79-$195 and sizes 2-16. There’s a classic pencil skirt, a structured blazer, crisp white button-up, ubiquitous LBD – all staples in any working woman’s closet. My favorite of all was the cozy cape ($195), that came in grey and camel colors – such a versatile and fun piece to rock for fall – definitely a must-have on my list. But EDIT is not just for the ladies at the office - available are also Jeanne Jeans and Jeanne Jeggings, with portion of sales going toward Dress for Success.
The launch of EDIT not-so-accidentally coincides with the 25-year anniversary of Fashion Television, which drove Jeanne to do something a bit more personal to share with the world. The collection consists of 25 pieces, and will be available at 65 Bay stores come September.
To see some of the looks modeled by Jeanne Beker herself, check out Style Blog’s Facebook page here.
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As much as I wish that summer was here to stay, the grim reality is that fall is just around the corner. And though I love the warmth of long summer days, fall fashions are much more interesting and…dare I say…grown-up? Seeing these new pics of H&M’s Fall 2010 collection, makes me feel slightly better about the impending cooler weather, and the necessity of wearing sweaters and jackets again. Love the ladylike blazers and skirts, the chunky knits (even the squirrel pullover!), and abundance of camel. Haven’t seen most of the pieces in stores yet, but I’ll definitely keep my eyes open.
Are you excited about fall fashion? Or do you wish that it was summer all year-round?
Photo Credits: H&M
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If you can believe it, last year was my first time at The Ex! And of course, after the addictive games, and stuffed toys, and horrible unhealthy food – I knew I’d be back again. This year, le boyfriend and I went during the opening weekend. It was a gloomy, rainy day, but we both had an amazing time. It’s a bit scary how much fun one could have just by being surrounded by hordes of people and screaming kids, paying way too much to win a silly toy, while being rained on standing in endless lines to buy greasy, fried food! And last weekend it felt fantastic to be young and happy and in love…feeling like a little kid at a fair, eating mini donuts, looking for Snazzy Napper to make fun of, and finding this place full of tacky things and glittery lights extremely romantic. The entire place was one huge Faux Pas – and I loved every minute of it.
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As a blogger, I spend a lot of my time online. 9-5 at the office for my day job, and then a few more hours at home scheduling posts, answering emails, reading pitches, and of course, as a girl in my twenties – shopping online. As I got older, my real-world shopping trips got more sparse, and my online deal hunting time increased dramatically. And why not? It’s so convenient – just click and pay…et voilà!
So when Gap PR invited me to attend Gap Canada’s Online Shopping Launch, I was thrilled! Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic have had huge presence worldwide and in Canada for many years now…but we weren’t able to shop online until now. All three sites, one shopping cart, free shipping (over $50), warehouse in Canada, no tariffs - easy, peasy.
Shopping at the event was easy too. Attendees were given $100 to spend on any Gap Inc. items available online, via www.GapCanada.ca. After initial browsing, I selected a cute double-breasted sweater from Gap, and some socks from Old Navy, clicked Checkout, and was done in mere minutes – the way online shopping should be.
Gap Inc. is a huge corporation…and all this ease has made me wonder why we (Canadians) didn’t get online shopping sooner. Thankfully, Gap Inc. Direct President Toby Lenk was on hand to answer some of my questions. He and Debbie Podberesky (VP Gap Inc.) shared that though online shopping could’ve been offered to Canadians much sooner, the infrastructure was not in place to allow direct shipping from Canada to Canada, which would’ve meant that packages would be shipped from the States, incurring tariffs, and making in-store returns nearly impossible. With a new warehouse in Southern Ontario, shipping is supposed to be fast and efficient, while returns and exchanges - a breeze.
I also wondered about the goods’ selection online – having shopped firsthand myself, I noted that many items offered in stores or on the US site were noticeably missing. But Mr. Lenk confirmed that it’s just a timing issue – the site is still in its early stages, and more product will be introduced as time goes on.
But as expected with any brand new launch, my online shopping did have a minor setback – an email stating that my order was cancelled. After phoning the number on the email, and speaking to very courteous and helpful support staff, I was informed that due to a large number of sequential prepaid credit card orders, the system halted said orders, suspecting potential fraud. The problem was fixed, and it somehow made me feel more secure about shopping at Gap Canada online, if mildly confused at first. A couple of hours later, all orders were re-instated, my package was still scheduled to arrive at my house in 5(ish) days. Hooray!
Now, I don’t know how fast I’ll be getting my goodies in the mail, so I can’t vouch for speediness and packaging, but as soon as that parcel arrives at my door, I’ll make sure to let you guys know all about it and post some pics too!
Are you excited about being able to shop Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy online, all on one site? Let me know in the comments!
UPDATE: Got my package in the mail 2 days after ordering. That is TWO days with FREE shipping. If that’s not amazing, I really don’t know what is! The sweater was a bit big on me, so I went in the next day to exchange it. Brought the bill with me, sales associate processed the exchange without questions. I got a pair of jeans instead of the sweater…and they fit like a dream. They’ll definitely get a lot of use on my upcoming vacay. Look out for pics!
I Wore: Pants – Gap; Shirt – H&M; Shoes – Zara; Bag – Longchamp; Belt – Nine West via The Bay
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Leave it to Forever 21 to plagiarize offer an affordable substitute to Miu Miu’s highly coveted (yet, highly unaffordable by many) Mary Jane platforms. I’m pretty sure these will be gone before you can say “knock-off”, but for the quick and thrifty ones, these Posy Platforms are probably the answer to their fashion prayers. Will you be getting a pair of these for yourself? Let me know in the comments.
Photo Credits: Forever 21
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For the longest time, the coveted corner of Yonge and Front has been occupied by Shopsy’s – the restaurant that I’ve been to a few times, and which left absolutely no impression on this rookie foodie. So when I found out that its days were numbered, there was no sadness on my part – on the contrary, I was super excited to hear that Oliver & Bonacini was coming to take Shopsy’s place!
Yes, O&B is a franchise, and yes, it’s not a cozy mom and pop shop, but it doesn’t mean that it lacks personality - though it did seem like that at a first glance. The restaurant is huge. There are a few dining rooms, stylishly appointed – a far cry from its previous occupant – its minimalistic design is pleasing to the eye, and the huge patio is a godsend on hot summer nights, and for the after-office-hours crowd.
A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by for a quick Sunday afternoon bite without my camera, and last week I came back for brunch (pics below) with le boyfriend and his mom. On my first visit, I went for my staple brunch fare – eggs with bacon and toast ($12.95)…and it was, as expected, great – runny egg yolk and crispy bacon - YUM! Le boyfriend tried their Grilled Chicken Panini with Gazpacho ($13.25) and both were delicious! I am a big fan of the chilled Spanish soup, and I found it very flavourful and refreshing – with chunks of avocado and just the right amount of spiciness.
On our second visit, I opted for a dish that I usually don’t tend to order – Eggs Benedict ($13.50), which came served on scrumptious cheddar scones and covered in hollandaise. I’m not a huge fan of potatoes in the morning, but le boyfriend sure did help himself to the well-seasoned home fries on my plate. It’s ok, because his Poached Eggs ($13.95) didn’t have potatoes, but came with some polenta and veggies. Not a huge fan of polenta, I didn’t try his dish, and it wasn’t le boyfriend’s favorite either. But I guess, it’s a matter of preference.
Last, but not least, le boyfriend’s mom went with Savory Smoked Ham Crepe ($14.95), which she definitely enjoyed, and which also looked like the healthiest dish on our table.
The service was amazing. Our server was extremely accommodating and attentive, refilling our coffees even after we were done eating, and were waiting for the rain to stop. Wish more places treated their customers this way – it definitely made me want to come back again.
Overall, the proximity to my office will absolutely make O&B my new favorite after-work dinner place, and with a great menu, fantastic service, and fun decor, it surely is a great addition to the area. And judging by the daily crowds on the patio – I’m not the only one to think so.
Photo Credits: Top image – Oliver & Bonacini, all others Style Blog
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Hello, lovelies! Meet the new addition to the Style Blog shoe family – my new Via Spiga leopard print peep toe pumps. Got these babies at The Bay deeply discounted…basically 75% off original price! Now if that’s not a good deal, than I really don’t know what is! While shoe-shopping, I spotted a few cool pairs by L.A.M.B., Botkier, Halston – all aditional 40% off the last reduced price. If you’re looking for a pair of shoes – make sure to stop by The Bay before the sale is over!
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The Angels are landing indeed. This Thursday, August 26th, the first ever Victoria’s Secret store in Toronto will finally open its doors! And to give its customers something really special, VS is flying Adriana Lima in to sign autographs at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre location. If you’re wondering where your boyfriend is this Thursday between 1:30 and 3:30pm, Yorkdale might be a good bet.
Oh, and if you spend $100 or more, you’ll get to jump into the VIP line, which (as noted) should be faster than the regular ol’ lineup.
Are you excited about having Victoria’s Secret in Toronto? I used to work there (at the NYC flagship location), so I still have some unworn items in my drawers (hence no need for more) – but I sure am excited about the lotions and the beauty products! And though Adriana Lima is not my favorite Angel, if I didn’t have to be at the office that day, I might’ve ventured out to get a glimpse. Will you?
Photo Credits: Yorkdale.com
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Rainy weekend in Toronto – what better time to wear my new Vivienne Westwood x Melissa Lady Dragon shoes? Love them so much, but unfortunately, they are too small for my feet…and size up was too big! I think I’ll just have to keep them in their box to look at when I am feeling blue – those hearts would cheer me up in no time!
But I do wish, I could wear these shoes more often…they are just too cute! Oh well…maybe one day my feet would shrink magically? Anyone know a good foot diet?
I Wore: Shirt – Gap; Jeans – Urban Outfitters; Belt – Nine West; Sunglasses – H&M; Bag – Longchamp; Shoes – Vivienne Westwood for Melissa
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Last year, STYLESENSE held Toronto’s very first Stiletto Sprint. It was a great event that I had the pleasure of participating in. If you weren’t there last year, I highly recommend that you try the sprint this year! All proceeds from registration fees will be donated to Look Good Feel Better, Canada’s only national charity that addresses the appearance related effects of all cancers affecting women. And you will have a chance to win some pretty great prizes! “The winner of the women’s final will receive a whopping $10,000 in cash (not to mention fame and glory)! Women’s second and third place will receive $2,500 and $1,000 respectively.” And if your man or guy friend is interested in supporting Look Good Feel Better, then he too can put on some stilettos and run like the wind (seriously, last year’s men’s race winner ran super fast) - the winner of the men’s final gets a prize of $1,000!
Date:
Friday, September 17, 2010
Time:
Registered participants to arrive at 6AM
Races take place between 6:45AM – 8:30AM
Location:
STYLESENSE, Heartland Town Centre, 5915 Rodeo Drive, Mississauga, Ontario
Registration Fee:
A minimum $25 donation to Look Good Feel Better. Plus, for every dollar you donate above $25, STYLESENSE will match it! (to a maximum of $20,000)
For shoe specs and registration, please go to www.stylesensestilettosprint.ca
For more photos from last year’s event, click here. If you do decide to join the sprint, make sure to send me some photos and let me know the results! Good luck!
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I wanted to show you the whole outfit, but unfortunately…the rest of the photos came out blurry and out of focus…and no, the photographer wasn’t drunk, and yes, I should’ve let him use flash…le sigh. But in any case, here are my new lovely shoes!
They were extremely comfy when I bought them (thanks to the stretchy elastic bands), but now, after a couple of wears, they are actually slightly painful (thanks to not-so-elastic bands over my toes). I have to make sure to break them in before my trip – otherwise, I might end up barefoot in Milan, and that’s not a look Italians would appreciate (derelicte is so out). So far, I bought some Dr. Scholl’s shoe tape, and it seems to work ok. But I might actually have to resort to more drastic measures…all in the name of fashion. If you have some shoe tips, send them over, I’m curious to see if there’s something else I could do (short of bringing a pair of flip-flops along).
I Wore: Boyfriend Jeans – Urban Outfitters; Shoes – Steve Madden
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