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Oscars 2018: Best and Worst Dressed


I was so excited to watch the Oscars tonight, but both the outfits and the show itself felt kind of lackluster, non? I don’t really know what I was expecting, but none of it lived up to my high expectations. There were a few gowns and suits that looked pretty good, and I did stay up late watching this thing, so here are my personal faves.

Saoirse Ronan’s Calvin Klein felt vaguely Paltrow-ish, but in a good way. She looked fresh in those matching pink pumps and minimalist styling, and I loved the back of that gown. Her Lady Bird co-star, and my personal Best Leading Actor winner Timothee Chalamet looked fly af in that white-on-cream Berluti suit paired with the coolest boots…I want all of this for myself! 


Nicole Kidman’s blue dress isn’t my personal cup of tea, but she did look amazing in it, and it’s interesting to look at. I’ll take her gown over any of the other pretty nude frocks, thankyouverymuch. Lakeith Stanfield’s blue suit fit him so perfectly, I wondered whether he was sewn into it. Either way, I love it.



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Holidays 2017: Bacardi Party Bus with Luis Fonsi in Toronto


Thanks to my college years in Houston, I have a special fondness for Latin music, so when the Bacardi team invited me to a holiday party hosted by Luis Fonsi, I replied as quickly as I could type. And while most people probably know him as the Despacito singer, my love for Fonsi’s music goes back to 2003 and his fifth album Abrazar La Vida (give Quien Te Dijo Eso a listen if you like heart-wrenching ballads in Spanish), so I was super excited about this event.

The pre-party was held at Baro with plenty of delicious Bacardi Holiday Mojitos and Latin-inspired nibbles. Food and drinks kept on coming even after we boarded the party bus – decked out with fun Christmas decorations and stocked with yummy Coquito cocktails served in coconuts. Once Luis Fonsi joined us on the bus, the party really kicked off – people were dancing, taking photos with the Despacito singer, belting out Christmas songs, all while enjoying their cocktails and touring Toronto’s most famous landmarks. It was a little surreal to be sure – I mean how often do you find yourself sitting next to an award-winning singer on a bus?! He did seem to enjoy himself – sipping on Bacardi cocktails and singing along to *NSYNC’s Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays song (fun fact: Fonsi and Joey Fatone used to be in a musical group together back in high school).

Eventually we had to let Fonsi go, but not before one last dance with the iconic Andrea Bolley. What a fun way to celebrate the holiday season! And while we can’t have Luis Fonsi partying with us every day, we sure can make those delicious cocktails and infuse some warmth into the freezing December nights. Find the Bacardi holiday recipes after the jump (my fave is Coquito – it’s creamy and sweet, while the Holiday Mojito is nice and refreshing), and impress all of your friends with delicious cocktails at your next holiday party. Feliz Navidad!





Bacardi Holiday Recipes and more photos after the jump!
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Hermès Boutique Opens at 100 Bloor Street West in Toronto

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For months now, I’ve been walking by the giant orange Hermès box at 100 Bloor St West eagerly awaiting the opening of the huge new store, and on Tuesday I finally got a chance to see it for myself. Airy, bright, beautiful, and spanning two storeys, the new boutique is certainly an upgrade from the more quaint location just down the street. The magnificent oval staircase with leather-lined handrail is the centerpiece that stuns and awes when you first enter the store, but the meticulously curated “universes” of the boutique are what make this Hermès location really shine. From the exquisite tablescapes, to cozy (in a luxuriously Hermès way, of course) sitting areas, to rare bags on display, this boutique is beyond a doubt a special place to shop. I still have much left to explore, since on preview day, the store was packed to the brim with stylish guests, but I am planning on making a leisurely stop later this week.

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After the sneak peek of the beautiful new store, the guests in attendance were shuttled off to a private after-party at Evergreen Brickworks, where a magical winter wonderland complete with ice-skating, games, and a surreal pastel-rainbow-like landscape was created. I wouldn’t be embellishing if I said that it was one of the best parties I’ve attended this year. We danced, ate cotton candy and foie gras, indulged in champagne…and Champagne Papi!!! That was the ultimate surprise – just as we thought the party couldn’t get any more fun, we noticed people gathering near the stage, and so we joined in, only to be treated to an intimate performance by Majid Jordan and Drake! We even got a little standup routine from the latter, who jokingly scolded his mom for not wearing Hermès to the party. Drake is reported to be quite the Birkin collector, so the brand love is real. Needless to say, having Drake sing right into my face, just feet away from me was an experience I won’t soon forget.


Several sightings of rare Birkins later, we were back on the shuttle to Bloor Street, and ready to call it a night. And what an unforgettable night it was to celebrate the arrival of the bigger and better Hermès boutique in Toronto! If you’re a fan of the brand (not unlike Drake), please do yourself a favour and stop by the boutique to see its beauty in person. You never know who you might run into!





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Emmy Awards 2017: Best Dressed


Emmy Awards aren’t usually my fave for red carpet fashion, but this year there were several celebs in standout looks that made me sit up and pay attention.

Let’s start with the fab Tracee Ellis Ross in CHANEL Haute Couture – she looked incredible, and she was certainly feeling herself – just look at her instagram! Stunning, stunning, stunning!

Zoe Kravitz is always my fave, and so gorgeous, so it’s no surprise that she’s wearing one of my fave looks of the night – the magical Dior Haute Couture gown. It’s colourful, it has texture, and she’s rocking it with that pixie cut. Also, if you haven’t watched Big Little Lies yet, Zoe is great in it.

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Evan Rachel Wood has made a commitment not to wear gowns this year, and I love how creative her red carpet looks have been. Her custom Moschino by Jeremy Scott pantsuit is both elegant and fun at the same time, and I love how regal she looks in it.


Tessa Thompson was another fave tonight in a glorious Rosie Assoulin gown. The vibe is somewhat similar to that of Zoe’s Dior, which could be why I’m so drawn to it – I can never resist a good rainbow gown. I also love the metallic sheen of this dress, the pleats, and the movement of the skirt – it’s just so fun! Can’t wait to see Thompson’s outfits on her Thor promo tour!


Last, but not least, I am really into Sarah Paulson’s Carolina Herrera dress. It’s not as fancy as the other gowns, but the open back and the sleeves make it a standout for me. Plus, who doesn’t love Sarah Paulson?

Which looks from the 2017 Emmy Awards are your fave? Share in the comments!


Photo Credits: VOGUE

TIFF 2017: #Cumberbrunch with Grey Goose Canada and Deadline

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It’s not everyday that you get to attend a very intimate panel with a bunch of movie stars, delicious Grey Goose cocktails, killer views, and a pair of seafood towers…but that’s exactly what I did on day 4 of TIFF. Last Sunday, I found myself on top of the world the rooftop of Lavelle staring at the handsome cast of The Current War film. Led by Deadline Hollywood’s Joe Utichi, the panel consisted of Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Writer/Executive Producer Michael Mitnick, and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon and Nicholas Hoult.

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The actors seemed to be in great spirits, cracking jokes, enjoying their Grey Goose Caesars (both Cumberbatch and Shannon had two each, but who’s counting), and chatting about all things electricity, relationships, and muttonchops. When asked a slightly baffling question about getting ugly for a film role, Cumberbatch quipped that he “loved being ugly in this film” as Edison…even though no noticeable changes were done to the actor’s appearance beyond wardrobe. But he did seem to have a sense of humour about the whole thing. In response to the question about the cast’s own relationship with physics and sciences and how it impacted their acting, Cumberbatch confessed that he “was really bad at physics at school”, while Hoult’s response was slightly less modest: “I understood everything and I think that shines through in my performance”, he said with a laugh. Hoult also shared that the cast took a science lesson to prepare for their roles.“Nick is a bright boy”, added Shannon, while Cumberbatch concurred that Hoult did better than the other two in class. Beauty and brains!

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After the panel, my friend and I seized the opportunity to say hello to Hoult and grab a photo with the actor…and in case you were wondering, yes, he is very good looking (and tall) IRL, and was super nice about our fangirling.

The Current War will hit theatres on November 24th, and the full video of the panel is embedded below for your viewing pleasure.



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TIFF 2017: Favourite Moments

TIFF is arguably one of the most exciting times to be in Toronto, and this year’s festival has not disappointed so far. Here are some of my fave TIFF 2017 moments, from fundraisers to celeb sightings.

1. Priyanka Chopra at TIFF Soiree
While I wasn’t able to make it to the TIFF Soiree this year, I followed the fancy affair on Twitter. Priyanka Chopra was this year’s guest of honor, in town to promote Pahuna: The Little Visitors, a film she produced with her mother, screening at this year’s festival. Chopra’s Soiree appearance was in service of TIFF’s Share Her Journey campaign aimed to promote and empower female voices behind and in front of the camera.

“One-third of the films selected for the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival are directed by women, with an even higher number of female-identified short filmmakers at Festival (42.4%) and the director-driven Platform programme at gender parity. Films by women at Festival this year include the solo directorial debuts of actors Greta Gerwig, Brie Larson, and Molly Parker, as well as new work by Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Dee Rees, and documentarians Alanis Obomsawin, Agnès Varda, and Jennifer Baichwal.” If you’d like to support women in film, you can donate here: http://www.tiff.net/shareherjourney/

2. Call Me By Your Name Premiere and After-party
My Day 1 of TIFF began in the best way possible – with tickets to the premiere of Call Me By Your Name, a Luca Guadagnino film starring the impossibly handsome Armie Hammer and newcomer Timothee Chalamet. Going in I had no idea who Chalamet was, but after watching the film I am now in awe of this talented young New Yorker and his magnetic screen presence. The movie was a stunningly filmed coming-of-age love story set in a small town in Italy; it captured the angst, the pain, and the joy that comes with that first love. And while it was a two-hour long affair, I wanted to watch it all over again once the credits started rolling.After listening to the director and the leading men give thoughtful and eloquent answers during the Q&A, le bf and I hightailed it to the film’s swanky after-party at STK Yorkville. I had the chance to congratulate Armie and Timothee on the film, and got le bf to snap a photo of Armie and I…which he sadly bungled. Thankfully the in-house photog captured our mini photo-fail and I still ended up with a memento of my brief Armie moment.


3. Julianne Moore VIP Reception with L’Oreal Paris
Celeb encounters are always an exciting part of TIFF, and this year I was lucky to have been invited to an intimate Julianne Moore reception hosted by L’Oreal Paris. Julianne arrived looking as stunning as ever, and shared a few thoughts on her favourite red carpet moments from prior years. She stressed that every red carpet moment is a result of a “professional collaboration”, and that if left to her own devices, she’s actually not that great at blowing out her own hair. When asked about her top beauty tips, Moore shared that she wears moisturizers with SPF since she was 23 years old, she pays regular visits to Joanna Vargas for facials in NYC, and that “sleep helps”. She also revealed that she owns the same pair of Givenchy heels in every colour because of how stable they are, even if they don’t look it.


4. Mongrel House
One of the liveliest places to be during TIFF is Mongrel House, with nightly parties that have everything from table tennis to live karaoke to free poutine. This year we spotted Stellan Skarsgård, having a great time, laughing and chatting with the attendees. Shia LaBeouf and Canadian tennis player Denis Shapovalov also made an appearance. With a lengthy list of Mongrel Media movies screening at TIFF this year, there’s a good chance more celebs will be stopping by in the coming days, so keep your eyes peeled if you find yourself near the beautiful Campbell House at night.

5. Papillon Grey Goose After-party at STK
STK Yorkville is playing host to several film parties during TIFF this year, sponsored by Grey Goose and Nordstrom. One of the first parties held at the fancy steakhouse was for Michael Noer’s remake of Papillon, with star Charlie Hunnam in attendance. The handsome actor happily posed for photos, taking selfies with everyone brave enough to ask. A selection of delicious Grey Goose libations was on offer, but the coffee-based Star of Film Noir cocktail was my fave (Grey Goose vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur…yum!), and gave me a much-needed boost of caffeine for TIFF.

More TIFF moments are coming to the website soon! Including Jake Gyllenhaal in Stronger, and brunch with Benedict Cumberbatch!

Photo Credits: 2 – GP Images WireImage courtesy of TIFF, 2 and 5 – Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca, 3 – Ryan Emberley, 4 – Mongrel Media

Beauty: Introducing GABRIELLE CHANEL


For the first time in 15 years (!!!), the House of Chanel has released a brand new fragrance – GABRIELLE CHANEL, named, of course, after the the inimitable Gabrielle Coco Chanel. Created by Olivier Polge, GABRIELLE is a fresh floral fragrance with warm notes of Jasmine, fruity scent of Ylang-Ylang, fresh essence of Orange Blossom, and a finishing touch of Grasse Tuberose. This feminine fragrance is an instant classic, and the streamlined yet striking square bottle only reinforces its timelessness.

To celebrate the new fragrance, a beautiful mini film starring Kristen Stewart and directed by Ringan Ledwidge was released, capturing the essence of the rebellious spirit of Gabrielle Chanel. If you’re still not familiar with the designer’s history of breaking the rules and reinventing herself, make sure to watch the Inside CHANEL videos linked below. They offer a fascinating glimpse at Coco Chanel’s life and of course the history of CHANEL.


As for me, I am smitten with GABRIELLE CHANEL. I’ve been lucky enough to wear it for a few weeks now and it’s my current go-to perfume – can’t get enough! The new fragrance is now available at all CHANEL Beauty counters in Canada, so make sure to stop by and try it for yourself.


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Met Gala 2017: The Best, The Worst, and The Meh


I was about to write a ragey post about all of the boring and unimaginative looks from this year’s Met Gala (I’m looking at you Gwyneth Paltrow/Salma Hayek/Jessica Chastain/etc), literally shaking my head at all of the A-listers who showed up in prom-wear even though they have access to top tier designers…but then I decided not to. Instead, here are my favourite looks: Rihanna flawless in Comme des Garcons, Solange in Thom Browne, my new fave Ruth Negga in Valentino, Pharrell and Helen Lasichanh cool as always in Comme des Garcons, and Cara Delevingne in CHANEL Haute Couture. Of course, there were a few other standouts – Lily-Rose Depp in CHANEL Haute Couture looked both perfectly age-appropriate and interesting at the same time, Zendaya looked smashing in a Dolce and Gabbana ball gown, Tracee Ellis Ross was dressed perfectly appropriate for the night in Comme des Garcons, and Lily Collins looked both edgy and sweet in Giambattista Valli.

If I had to pick a few looks for the Worst Dressed list, I would choose Gisele Bundchen in a forgettable dress styled with a pony tail (why even bother?!?!), Gwyneth Paltrow in an ill-fitting minimalistic Calvin Klein that was so offensive to me on a night honouring Rei Kawakubo, and Bella, Gigi, Kendall, and Hailey – all for different reasons, but all missing the mark. Sarah Jessica Parker was noticeably absent this evening…prompting an instagram treasure hunt and conspiracy theories. I for one, missed her creative interpretation of the theme. And though, admittedly, I don’t always love what she wears to the Met Gala, at least she’s never ever boring.

What did you think of “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” red carpet? Share your fave looks in the comments.





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Oscars 2017: Worst Dressed


How boring was the red carpet tonight, you guys?! What a letdown! A sea of blah gold and red dresses, with nary a hint of imagination. Of course, I did have a few faves (though picking more than two was a tough task), but let’s start with a few baffling choices first.

First (and certainly worst) is Dakota Johnson in Gucci. That godawful dress! What is that dress??? It reminds me of Sandra Bullock’s character’s wedding gown in The Proposal. I can appreciate Dakota’s attempt to wear something unexpected, but the colour, the fabric, and the styling are all wrong for her. Pair this wrinkly mess of a dress with limp hair and blah makeup, and you have a major wasted opportunity. Dakota is a vibrant young actress, and her Golden Girls-inspired look tonight is super baffling, unless she lost a bet, or someone at Gucci has a juicy piece of blackmail on her. Otherwise…I really don’t get it.


Next up is Felicity Jones in Dior, whom I also really like…but her dress belongs on a little girl at a ballet recital, not on the Oscar red carpet.


I actually really liked Alicia Vikander’s ruffled lace dress, but that hair! That hair belongs in the shower, tied up so that you don’t get it wet…not on the red carpet. There’s effortless hair, and then there’s this hair…


Michelle Williams usually brings her A-game to any event she attends, so admittedly I hold her to a higher standard. So when I saw her in this simple (read: boring) gown, I felt disappointed. It’s obviously not hideous, but it’s also not Michelle Williams-worthy. 


Unlike Michelle Williams, I don’t usually hold Halle Berry to a higher standard of red carpet dressing, but I really, really didn’t like her Atelier Versace gown tonight. There’s something so messy about that black mesh on the bodice, and the one-shoulder thing feels very dated. Of course, Halle Berry has superior genes, and she still looks more beautiful than most people, but as far as gowns go, hers was definitely not my favourite.

Photo Credits: VOGUE

SAG Awards 2017: Best Dressed


Over the last few weeks it seems that the world has gone insane, so in case you needed a distraction, here are some pretty celebrities wearing pretty gowns at the 2017 SAG Awards. Truth be told, I was pleasantly surprised to see some really exciting choices on the red carpet this year. Nicole Kidman wowed in a birds of paradise Gucci creation, Michelle Williams looked flawless in a glittering Louis Vuitton gown, while Black-ish star Yara Shahidi wore a delightful Naeem Khan beaded frock. Evan Rachel Wood made good on her promise to skip dresses this season and wore yet another impeccable Altuzarra suit, this time in rich blue velvet. Janelle Monae who’s also known for her beautiful suits chose an intricate CHANEL frock instead, accessorised with the cutest hair-do ever. 

Michelle Dockery (aka Lady Mary Forever) wore a colourful striped Elie Saab gown (similar to Yara’s), and as someone who loves colour, stripes, and Downton Abbey, this was definitely a hit for me (though that hair was a tad too severe). Kirsten Dunst looked lovely in a bridal-like Dior gown (very appropriate for a newly-engaged star), while Thandie Newton’s Schiaparelli creation looked like it belonged in a museum…in a good way. And while I’m usually not a fan of the “naked” dress, Taraji P. Henson looked simply stunning in her Reem Acra gown. Lastly, I loved Claire Foy in The Crown, and perhaps my judgement is clouded by my adoration of the actress, but I quite liked the Valentino gown she wore on the red carpet (paired with gorgeous Tiffany & Co. earrings), even if the dress wasn’t my absolute favourite.

And there you have it, my SAG Awards 2017 Best Dressed. Share yours in the comments!





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