Art | Style Blog | Toronto Fashion and Lifestyle Blog

What I Wore: Dream Wardrobe

nelia-belkova-kathryn-wilkins

How awesome is this illustration of me rocking my dream Spring 2013 pieces like the now-infamous checkered Louis Vuitton dress and these hot-to-trot Alexander Wang sandals?! Pretty amazing, non? Well, this is all thanks to my friend Marcus, who introduced me to artist Kathryn Wilkins and her lovely blog LOOKBOOKILLUST! Once I saw the multitude of gorgeous illustrations and the attention to detail that Kathryn puts into her pieces, I knew I had to commission her!

This isn’t the first piece that Kathryn did of me, but it’s the one I asked her to do for my blog’s new header. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I’m (very) slowly changing up the look of the site, and this adorable addition is just what Style Blog’s been missing. While deciding on what to “wear” for this illustration, I decided to go with aspirational dressing, rather than my good-old real clothes. Just because I can’t afford the entire Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 collection doesn’t mean that cartoon Nelia can’t.

If you like this illustration and would like one of yourself, or your dog, or yourself and your boyfriend/friend/husband/mom/goldfish, Kathryn is still accepting commissions, so if I were you, I’d jump on that before some huge company scoops her (and her talents) up. She already got a fun gig working for Bourjois, so who knows what’s next for this amazing woman!

What do you think of cartoon Nelia? Do you like Kathryn’s work? Share in the comments!

One more illustration after the jump!

2 Comments

Style Blog, February 1st 2013 | Tags: Alexander Wang, Art, Kathryn Wilkins, Louis Vuitton, Organic Style, Prada, Spring 2013, Trends, What I Wore
Posted in Art, Fashion, Organic Style, Trends, What I Wore

What I Wore: In Living Color

How awesome is this illustration created by the lovely Monica Smiley??? From the Style Blog logo on my iPhone, to the H&M floral pants and Chanel bag, I love the way this talented illustrator captured my style! Monica’s company Eighty Seventh St specializes in fashion-inspired greeting cards, and custom couture, and I’ve been a fan of her work for a while now. And finally…I have my very own Smiley original!

If you’d like a customized illustration of yourself (or your loved ones), or perhaps a box of her beautiful Holiday cards, head on over to Eighty Seventh St…I guarantee you’ll fall in love.

So…back to my illustration. What do you think? Share in the comments!

3 Comments

Style Blog, November 8th 2012 | Tags: Art, Chanel, Eighty Seventh St, H&M, Monica Smiley, Organic Style, What I Wore
Posted in Art, Fashion, Organic Style, What I Wore

TIFF 2012: Movies, and Galas, and Actors…oh my!

tiff-2012-celebrities

TIFF 2012 is coming, and excitement is in the air! For us Torontonians, TIFF is akin to Christmas+Birthday+Anniversary+The Oscars all wrapped up in a few days of celeb spotting, film watching, and then discussing it around the watercooler with friends/co-workers/anybody who would listen. Each year, I get a few personal highlights out of the TIFF experience…like that one time I took a photo of my friend Joanna holding hands with Brad Pitt (!), or that other time, when Ryan Gosling and I locked eyes for a few seconds, or another time when I took le bf to see a Kazakh movie with a scene of a baby lamb being born…that lasted for several minutes uncut. Yes, being in Toronto during TIFF is awesome. And this year’s film lineup is looking especially promising.

Some of the films I can’t wait to check out are Argo (with Ben Affleck), Anna Karenina (with Keira Knightley), Thanks for Sharing (with Mark Ruffalo), The Silver Linings Playbook (with Katniss…errr…Jennifer Lawrence), Cloud Atlas (with Tom Hanks), Imogene (with Kristen Wiig), Inescapable (with Joshua Jackson), and the opening film of the festival – Looper (with Joseph Gordon Levitt). Ryan Gosling is rumoured to attend the festival once again, this time for his second film with Derek Cianfrance – The Place Beyond The Pines. If all goes well, I might be watching A LOT of films this September! And don’t even get me started on all the style porn! Really looking forward to seeing Keira Knightley, Rachel McAdams, Gwyneth Paltrow, and others bring it on the red carpet!

So what about you? Are you planning on attending TIFF this year? Which films are on your must-see list? Will you be celeb stalking? Have you bought your tickets yet? Share in the comments!

Film list after the jump!

3 Comments

Style Blog, July 27th 2012 | Tags: Canadian, Celebrity Fashion, Events, Movies, TIFF, TIFF 2012, Toronto
Posted in Art, Events

Giveaway: One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale

One of a Kind Christmas Show 2011 is coming to town at the end of the month, and I seriously cannot wait to check out my favorite artisans, and to discover some new ones. Especially, since this year, I am all about collecting unique trinkets for our wedding. If you are on a hunt for amazing Christmas gifts, I know you’ll be able to find them at the One of a Kind Show! Seriously, that place is a gold mine (of presents). And to help you out, I will be giving away a pair of tickets to the 2011 Christmas Show and Sale in Toronto to one lucky reader!

Here’s what you have to do to win:

1. Leave a comment (1 per person, please)

2. Tell me which artisan(s) have you intrigued

3. For extra entries, please RT the following: “@styleblogca I’d love to win @OOAK_Toronto tickets! http://wp.me/p1WxbY-3bL #OOAKX11”

4. You don’t have to be a follower, but it’s always appreciated

5. This giveaway is open to Canadians only. Transportation to and from Toronto not included.

6. C’est tout

~~This contest closes on Thursday, November 10th at 11:59pm. Good luck!~~

And the winner of a pair of tickets is…drumroll…JennC! Congrats!!! I seriously wish I could give each and every one of you a pair of tickets, but if you didn’t win this time, check back, as our Style Days of Christmas are starting, and you really wouldn’t want to miss it!

23 Comments

Style Blog, November 7th 2011 | Tags: Canadian, Contests, Events, Freebies, Giveaways, Holidays 2011, One of a Kind Show, Shopping, Toronto
Posted in Art, Fashion, Freebies, Shopping

TIFF 2011: Swarovski Fashion Suite

Ahh, TIFF! Celebs in town, gifting lounges all over the place, and parties, parties, oh, and did I mention PARTIES? Yes, Toronto is the place to be during the first two weeks of September – there’s no doubt about it!

Last week, I met up with my blogger/real-life friend Monica to check out the Swarovski Fashion Suite at the Four Seasons Toronto. Not knowing what to expect, I was stunned by the one-of-a-kind pieces displayed.

Making its one and only Canadian appearance, was the handcrafted Daniel Swarovski Catwalk Collection, which included both clothing and accessories – all of which looked both stunning and unique, adorned with crystals, feathers, sequins, and leather…oh my!

And though, only real stars got shiny baubles to wear on TIFF red carpets, checking out the swanky lounge and oggling the priceless pieces (seriously, these are not for sale) was fun enough for us. Though I would definitely not complain if I had something this glam to wear to TIFF parties!

More photos after the jump!

1 Comment

Style Blog, September 13th 2011 | Tags: Art, Events, Four Seasons Toronto, Gifting Lounge, jewelry, Shopping, Swarovski, TIFF, TIFF 2011, Toronto
Posted in Art, Events, Fashion, Shopping

Stuart Weitzman Canadian Celebrity Shoe Auction

If you ever wondered what it’d be like to walk a mile in celebs’ shoes, today is your lucky day! Well, technically, September 1st was your lucky day…but nevermind that.

Check out these kick-ass Stuart Weitzman shoes, designed by a slew of Canadian celebs – from Jeanne Beker (“woman who lived in a shoe” shoe), to Rachelle Lefevre (“crossword” shoe) – all pieces are one of a kind, and can be yours for as little as $200! How? The Stuart Weitzman Canadian Celebrity Shoe Auction is being held from September 1st-September 21st, with proceeds donated to support the work of Ovarian Cancer Canada.

I love how creative these celebs were in designing their signature shoes…and just to add – they all did it themselves – with no help from the Stuart Weitzman folks whatsoever. Pretty impressive, right? And though it’s tough to choose a favorite – I would probably say that Rick Campanelli’s bright yellow shoes definitely made me smile. Which ones do you love?

To bid on your favorite shoe and read all about the inspirations behind the designs, please go to:

http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/stuartweitzman2011

More photos after the jump!

4 Comments

Style Blog, September 7th 2011 | Tags: Ashleigh McIvor, Canadian, Chantal Lacroix, Charity, Cheryl Hickey, Claude Laframboise, Emily VanCamp, Good Cause, Jeanne Beker, Ovarian Cancer Canada, Rachelle Lefevre, Rick Campanelli, Roz Weston, Shoes, Shopping, Stuart Weitzman
Posted in Art, Celebrity Fashion, Events, Fashion, Shopping

Wishilist: Banana-nails

My morning today was the opposite of good. Had to drag my butt out of bed extra early, so that I could stand in line for over an hour at some Civic Court, in order to set a trial date for my traffic infraction. Buckets of fun, right? Not!

Well, at least something made me smile this morning – these Prada Spring 2011-inspired nail designs by WAH Nails. What at first seemed like a pretty complex thing to do, turns out is super easy to recreate! All you need is: yellow nail polish, nail art pens in black and white, and a shiny top coat – c’est tout. If only getting Gwen Stefani’s “B-A-N-A-N-A-S” song out of my head was this easy.

Photo Credits: Prada, WAH Nails

No Comments

Style Blog, April 19th 2011 | Tags: Art, Beauty, DIY, Nails, Prada, Spring 2011, WAH Nails
Posted in Art, Beauty, Fashion

One of a Kind Spring 2011 Show

As you might remember, last Christmas was my very first time visiting the One of a Kind Show! And boy, did I have fun! This time, le boyfriend and I headed out full of high expectations, eager to discover some new artisans and do some shopping. Once again, we were not disappointed.

The Spring 2011 show featured hundreds of talented artisans and I had to exercise a lot of restraint not to end up going way over my budget, especially when it came to gorgeous jewelry! There were just so many amazing pieces to covet – too bad I couldn’t buy them all. Here’s the rundown of some booths that caught my attention.

Aromachology

Custom-made fragrances are as fancy as it gets, and Aromachology offers just that – mix and match your fave scents to make something truly unique for yourself, or for someone special.

atelier l.a.f.

Oh, this booth…I oohed and aahhhed for close to 15 minutes, while the patient (and lovely) brother/sister duo Laura and Andrew Floyd of atelier l.a.f. helped me pick out a piece for myself. I settled on a pair of La Cuerna earrings, though if I could, I would probably buy the entire collection.

Sweet Definition

The food aisle was unanimously voted our favorite of the day – food samples, anyone? And though my macaron from Sweet Definition was stale, the flavours were just right. I am hoping that this was due to the fact that we got there pretty late in the day, and got one of the last few macarons. I am definitely going to give Sweet Definition another chance to prove that their macarons are crave-worthy. But next time, I am showing up early.

Hoi Bo

Hoi Bo was one of the booths I actually searched for. And while last time, I fell in love with their beautiful leather jackets, this season, I left wanting one of their gorgeous silk dresses – so simple, and yet so powerful. If you missed them at the show, you can still pay them a visit at their Distillery District studio.

More after the jump!

1 Comment

Style Blog, April 4th 2011 | Tags: Aromachology, Art, atelier l.a.f., Barila, Biko, Cici Art Factory, Events, Hug and Kiss Designs, One of a Kind Show, Shopping, Spring 2011, Sweet Definition
Posted in Art, Beauty, Events, Fashion, Shopping

Giveaway: One of a Kind Spring 2011 Show and Sale

I’m so excited to attend this spring’s One of a Kind Show! This past Christmas was my first time attending, and I really had a great time. For anyone looking for unique and truly great gifts (for others or for yourself…I don’t judge), One of a Kind Show is a must-visit! And to make things a tad easier for you, I’ll be giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the Toronto Spring 2011 Show to two lucky readers.

Here’s what you have to do to win:

1. Leave a comment (1 per person, please)

2. Tell me which artisan(s) have you intrigued

3. For extra entries, please RT the following: “@styleblogca I’d love to win @OOAK_Toronto tickets! http://styleblog.ca/?p=9321 #OOAKS11”

4. Again, you don’t have to be a follower, but it’s always appreciated

5. This giveaway is open to Canadians only. Transportation to and from Toronto not included.

6. C’est tout

~~I will pick 2 winners on Monday March 28th. Good luck!~~

Jennie and Eliana, you guys both won 2 tickets each! Congrats! Please email me your snail mail addys, and full contact info, and I’ll make sure that you get your tickets!

For everyone else that entered, please stay tuned for another amazing giveaway! This one has me super excited!

20 Comments

Style Blog, March 24th 2011 | Tags: Contests, Events, Freebies, Giveaways, One of a Kind Show, Shopping, Spring 2011, Toronto
Posted in Art, Events, Fashion, Freebies, Shopping

One of a Kind Christmas Show 2010

I have a confession to make – up until last weekend, I’ve never been to the One of a Kind Show. Ever. If like me, you have yet to visit the lovely local artisan booths, don’t walk…run to their Christmas show and sale at the Direct Energy Centre this week. There’s definitely something for everyone: Christmas gifts, handmade postcards, unique jewelry, clothes, and accessories, home decor items, and so much more!

I was really impressed by it all! And since a picture is worth a thousand words – here are a few of the artisans that really stood out. Make sure to stop by their booths and say hi (and perhaps buy something one of a kind).

Toodlebunny by Trudy Wynans (Booth S-48)

Lovely earrings, gorgeous handmade necklaces – different and original. Loved it all.

Marmalade by Kate Singer (Booth R-52)

Russian dolls, flowers, and anchors…oh my! Kate Singer is a woman after my own heart with her adorably whimsical Toronto-made/handmade jewelry! I got the Matryoshka pendant, and am still lusting after the anchor/heart bracelet.

Avril Loretti (Booth L-21)

Hockey-printed totes, mustache-printed hankies, and lovely tea towels all would make perfect stocking stuffers this Christmas. And the fact that they are Toronto-made? Even better.

Mally Designs (Booth B-32)

For the little ones on your shopping list, these reversible leather bibs with magnetic clasp are guaranteed not to stain, and come in a variety of super cute designs. You can also ask for a customized version, selecting your own color, print, and adding a child’s name to the bib pocket.

Laura Kapp (Booth T-10)

Fab Siwash sweaters for the coldest of winters.

Hoi Bo (Booth S-19)

As soon as I caught a glimpse of a beautiful leather jacket, I knew that the Hoi Bo booth would be something special. And it really was. Shapes, textures, and structural detailing are all very intriguing in most Hoi Boi garments – bags, dresses, accessories. There were so many things I liked in that booth, I could’ve spent days oggling them. Perhaps a trip to their Distillery District store is in my near future.

SK Art (Booth N-34)

SK Art is another booth worth visiting, if you have a little one to shop for. Absolutely loved their original Robot artwork. Got the blue one to frame and give to my cousin, so that my nephew can have something lovely (and unique) hanging in his bedroom. Oh, and they also make beautiful postcards too!

Pook

These sock-toques seem to be pretty popular. And though I wouldn’t want one in my stocking, I do think these Pook hats (judging by le boyfriend’s ecstatic reaction) would make a good gift for the little ones…or a hockey fan in your life, as the toques also come in your team’s signature colors. Oh, and they are also reversible.

As for the last two photos…Unfortunately, I have lost their business cards…boohoo! But if you check out this year’s One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale, I am certain you’ll be able to find something to tickle your fancy…and make this year’s Christmas shopping a lot more fun! Let me know if you end up buying anything. Would love to hear about your OOKS experiences!

One of a Kind Show runs from November 25th – December 5th at the Direct Energy Centre.