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Shopping: Kobo Wi-Fi Touch

The other day, as I was passing through The Bay, I noticed…Christmas ornaments peeking out from behind the curtain! GASP! It feels like summer just packed up its bags, and already there’s Halloween-a-palooza all over the place, and apparently Christmas on its heels.

While browsing NKPR TIFF IT Lounge offerings back in September, I walked away with an amazing gift – Kobo Wi Fi Touch! If, like me, you want to get your Christmas shopping done sooner rather than later, I want to make sure that you check out the Kobo Wi Fi Touch ($139), and consider giving it to a book lover in your life. They really might not know what they are missing!

Though originally, I balked at the idea of owning any type of e-reader. I cannot express how much love I have for my new Kobo! I still love the smell, feel, and look of real books, and I definitely own my fair share. But living in the city, though has its privileges, leaves very little room for an extensive personal library. Kobo solves that problem! My 2GB version has room for around 1000 books on it. That’s right. ONE THOUSAND BOOKS in one tiny little reader! Which also is quite a relief…because I hate lugging heavy books in my bag!

Kobo is stylish, lightweight, super-portable, easy to use, and it will actually make you read more. How? Well, simply because e-books are much cheaper than regular books. Had it not been for Kobo, I would never have discovered The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner! If you loved The Hunger Games, you will LOVE The Maze Runner! I tore through the first two books (The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials) in days on my Kobo, and finished reading the advanced copy of The Death Cure soon after. Fast-paced, thrilling, full of mysteries, and downright scary at times – The Maze Runner trilogy was an awesome read, that I did not want to put down, and with the final book coming out on October 11th – you really should get reading. You won’t have to suffer the painful wait for the next book to come out – you can read them back to back!

More after the jump!

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Giveaway: Finding Myself in Fashion by Jeanne Beker

When I was offered an advance copy of Jeanne Beker’s autobiography, I jumped at the chance! Jeanne is a Canadian institution, and I was really curious to find out just what her path to success was like. After getting through the book in 2 days, here’s what I thought.

Finding Myself in Fashion  is an inspiring read about one woman’s quest to live an extraordinary life. In her latest book, Jeanne Beker candidly opens up and shares many riveting stories about her life, her family, her business ventures, and her true love – fashion. Offering an intimate look not only at the fashion industry and its players, but at her life’s most interesting highs and lows.

The more I read this book, the more I realized that despite the privilege and the gloss, despite the glamourous façade, behind the scenes, Jeanne Beker is first and foremost a real woman and a mother, but one, who was never afraid to forge her own path, be it in fashion or in life. And for that, I truly have a huge amount of respect for her.

If you would like to win a copy of Finding Myself in Fashion, here’s what you need to do:

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

2. Tell me why you’d like to win this book

3. For extra entries, please RT the following: “@styleblogca I’d love to win #FindingMyselfinFashion by @Jeanne_Beker! https://styleblog.ca/?p=9837”

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

5. This giveaway is open to Canadians only

6. C’est tout!

The giveaway will close on May 15th, 2011 at 11:59 EST. Good luck! And the winner is…jessica!!! She said that she would love to win because “i love reading about brave, daring canadian biographies”.

Photo Credits: Penguin Group Canada

Giveaway: My Mom, Style Icon

When this book landed in my mailbox, I couldn’t put it down. Looking through some old-school photos of other people’s stylish moms, reading their stories, made me go right back to my own family photo album. My mom has a few photos that I really love to look at…especially from the 80’s, with her short black hair, high-waisted jeans, and cool sweaters – in those snapshots, she is the epitome of 80’s style – young, cool and not at all mommy-like. Makes me wish I had more photos of her from those days.

“Moms are people, too…fashionable people! Before we came along to yank on their skirts, they showed leg, sported killer bangs, and flaunted bikinis. Some even wore feathers and halter tops and drove around on motorcycles. Was their style shocking? Yes. Covetable? Absolutely. Based on Piper Weiss’s hugely popular blog of the same name, this book features 200 color photographs from decades past of moms showing us how it’s done. A perfect gift for mothers, daughters, and style mavens, My Mom, Style Icon is an entertaining celebration of the very first—and most important—style icon in a young woman’s life.”

If you’d like to win a copy of this book (right in time for Mother’s Day), here’s what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment, telling me what you love about your mom’s style

2. For extra entries, RT the following “@styleblogca I’d love to win a copy of “My Mom, Style Icon” #mymomstyleicon! https://styleblog.ca/?p=9746”

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

4. This giveaway is open to everyone!

5. C’est tout

This giveaway closes on Sunday, May 1st at 11:59pm (EST). Good luck! And the winner is…drumroll…textstyles! Congrats, and thanks for entering! Please email me your address, and we’ll ship you the book! Another contest is coming very soon, so stay tuned.

Giveaway: Strutting It by Jeanne Beker

Have you always wondered about what’s it like to be a model? First-class tickets to glamorous destinations, rubbing shoulders with top designers, easy, breezy, beautiful, and not much work? Well, apparently not. Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker, who’s been covering all things fashion for over 25 years, knows a thing or two about the “grit behind the glamour”, and isn’t afraid to share it. Jeanne wrote Strutting It to help young and ambitious model wannabes to get some perspective on the realities and pressures of modeling, not just the fun and fabulous aspects of it. With lots of personal stories, model profiles, and a ton of photos, Strutting It is a must-read for fashion lovers everywhere. And thanks to Tundra Books, Style Blog will be giving away 1 copy to a lucky reader.

Here’s what you need to do:

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

2. Tell me why you’d like to win this book

3. For extra entries, please RT the following: “@styleblogca I’d love to win #StruttingIt by @Jeanne_Beker! https://styleblog.ca/?p=8951”

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

5. This giveaway is open to Canadians only

6. C’est tout!

The winner will be chosen on February 25th. Good luck!

And the winner is…drumroll…My Bits and Bleeps! Congratulations!!! For everyone else who entered, there are more giveaways coming very soon! Thanks for entering!

Photo Credits: Amazon

Giveaway: Anna Sui Books

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, and courtesy of Raincoast Books, comes this lovely giveaway! The prize? 5 Anna Sui Books that will go to 5 lucky readers of Style Blog.

Anna Sui by Andrew Bolton was written to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her label in 2010, and includes juicy insights from Sui’s fashion shows, over 400 legendary photographs, most memorable fashion moments, and model stories galore! This beautiful book would be a perfect addition to any fashion/book lover’s collection.

What you need to do to win?

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

2. Tell me why you’d like to win this book

3. For extra entries, please RT the following: “@styleblogca I’d love to win 1 of 5 Anna Sui books! https://styleblog.ca/?p=8706 #AnnaSuiGiveaway”

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

5. This giveaway is open to Canadians only

6. C’est tout!

I will pick 5 winners on Monday, February 7th, 2011. Best of luck to you all!

And the lucky winners are: Elaine A, Sharon of The Backseat Stylers, Shoe Tease, Fiorella, and last but not least Amanda Wenek! Congrats, ladies! Please email me your snail mail addys, and your books will be on their way!

For those that didn’t win this time, another giveaway is coming really soon!

Photo Credits: Shopaholic pic : Anna Sui. Vogue Italia. October 1992. Photograph by Steven Meisel.

The Selby In Our Place

Well, not in my place or your place, but in Toronto! The famed photographer and illustrator Todd Selby visited our lovely (if slightly G20 handicapped) city to promote his new book “The Selby is in Your Place”. Holt Renfrew held the Toronto launch of his book at Parts & Labour restaurant in Parkdale, while fans got a chance to meet him at the Bloor St. Holt Renfrew book signing the next day.

If you still don’t know who Todd Selby is (have you been living under a rock?), check out his website. It’s chock-full of great and quirky decorating ideas, that you can steal from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Lou Doillon, and Inès de la Fressange, and many stylish others.

Photo Credits: 2nd photo – Jennifer Roberts for The Globe And Mail; all others – Style Blog

Lauren Conrad Style Book Cover

I haven’t watched The Hills in ages now, mostly due to my personal inability to sit through the vapid Speidi fakeness…Though I must admit, a couple of years back – The Hills was an obsession. I’ve always liked Lauren (LC) Conrad’s style, but ever since she left the show, I feel that her style has definitely evolved and improved. Is she qualified to write a book on style? This might be arguable, but regardless, I’d be curious enough to leap through the pages and will at least consider buying it. But this cover…I don’t know who was in charge of this cover, and whether this is the final version…I just can’t get behind it. There’s something about the limp bun on her head (not small or big enough to make a statement), it’s the “deer in the headlights” look in Lauren’s eyes, it’s the not-quite-there smile that is more uncomfortable than coy. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I really wish she’d reconsider this book cover.

Let’s excercise our snap judjement today…Is Lauren’s Style book cover a do or a don’t? Take the poll below.

[poll id=”4″]

Photo Credits: www.people.com

Sartorialist – The Book!

BookCoverG10_14Web1

So, Scott Schuman will be in Toronto tomorrow! Yay! Some of my fashionista girlfriends and I will definitely be attending to gush and blush as we take photos/get autographs from the Sartorialist himself! But, if you are truly a fan of this man’s work, then you must see this book! The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman. I believe it will be available in the US August 12th, and sometime in September internationally.

The book comes out in both hardcover (Bespoke edition…very freaking nice, but $175!) and paperback ($25 and still nice)…pick one depending on your budget. Either way, I think it would be a great addition to any stylish person’s coffee table. Think of the endless conversations (arguments) you’ll have about the many people and different outfits portrayed in Mr. Schuman’s first (and hopefully not last) book! Can’t wait to meet him and can’t wait to get my paws on this book!

Photo Credits: www.thesartorialist.com

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