Events

You Are Invited: Hermès Canada Charity Silk Sale in Toronto

6 April, 2015 Nelia

Amazing news, guys! Hermès Charity Silk Sale is coming to Toronto on April 23rd, and if you’re a fan of the brand, you won’t want to miss it! In the past, merchandise included scarves, ties, bracelets, and small leather goods, with really good discounts offered. The sale will be held in support of Multiple Sclerosis Research at St. Michael’s Hospital, so it’s for a good cause too. Not much else to say, except…see you in line?

WHEN: April 23, 2015 8am-7pm
WHERE: Metro Convention Centre
255 Front St West
North Building, Room 201
ALL SALES ARE FINAL

Karl Lagerfeld Visits Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos in Toronto

6 April, 2015 Nelia

Last week, Karl Lagerfeld graced Toronto with his presence, and EVERYONE at the party went crazy over the famously outspoken designer…yours truly included. Trying to score a moment with Karl, people pushed shoved, and screamed, with Kaiser’s security team barely able to control the mob. The reason for Karl’s first visit to Canada – a collaboration to design the lobbies of the newest Yonge and Eglinton condo development Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos – his first real estate project in North America!

“It’s interesting to design public spaces in a big building like this. It’s a vision – you can use modern furniture, modern architecture – things I’m really interested in. It’s up to me to find an idea of what will make this building different from the other buildings. The minute you enter, you have to feel that you’re in a place that’s special.” Karl Lagerfeld.

With DJ Leigh Lezark of the Misshapes at the turntables, and guests like Suzanne Rogers, gossip queen Lainey Lui, and every Canadian fashion magazine editor in town, the room was abuzz with excitement, and once Karl actually showed up, the excitement went through the roof, with even the coolest industry folks turned into gushing fanboys (and girls).

To my amazement Karl was actually quite lovely…he doled out small smiles, handshakes, and obliged to take photos with the bravest attendees. After snapping out of my stupor, I fought my way through the crowd, and asked the designer to autograph my brooch, while my friend Sharon asked him to sign her CHANEL bag. Shockingly he not only signed our things, but smiled at us as well. After shaking his begloved hand, I was basically the happiest ever. Love him or hate him, Karl Lagerfeld’s unique vision has transformed brands, and made him one of the most iconic personalities of our time. And while his $4-million dollar cat Choupette was in town too, sadly she did not make an appearance. Rumour has it, she was resting her paws at the Four Seasons Toronto after a couple of busy days in NYC.

If you are wondering whether Karl’s demands were diva-sized, they really weren’t – a plate of sliced mangoes, another plate of salmon sashimi, and Diet Coke is all he’d reportedly asked for, and what we actually saw served at the roped-off VIP area.

And while I wasn’t one of the lucky few that scored actual one-on-one interview time with the designer, the few interviews that he did give are MUST READ material – Karl’s answers are never boring. Sharon and I even made it into one!

If you’re curious about the project that enticed Karl Lagerfeld to attach his name to it, on April 25th, the public is invited to visit the Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos for the grand opening of the presentation centre at 2131 Yonge Street in Toronto.

More photos after the jump!
[Read more…]

Foodie: Easter-Inspired High Tea at Shangri-La Hotel Toronto

29 March, 2015 Nelia

Last weekend, I took my mom to the Shangri-La Toronto to try the hotel’s latest Easter-inspired High Tea menu. Having already experienced the regular High Tea at Shangri-La last June, I had high expectations for the revamped menu. As we arrived at the Lobby Lounge, live piano music playing softly in the background, we settled into the comfy couch overlooking a fireplace, and took our time selecting our teas. Once our tea selections were made, we impatiently waited for the delicious tower to arrive. The menu promised a selection of the usual mouthwatering staples like Atlantic lobster brioche roll, honey baked ham with caramelized onion on sourdough bread, Pacific smoked salmon on dark rye, and warm English scones, with Easter-inspired additions of spiced hot cross buns, tropical Easter egg (coconut cream, mango curd and crispy meringue), and the religieuse profiterole (baked choux pastry with white chocolate orange blossom cream and lemon glaze). It all sounded and looked amazing.

I let my mom judge each plate, her enthusiasm growing with each bite. It was her first time experiencing the Shangri-La High Tea, and she was loving every minute of it. With our scones, we were served caramelized white chocolate jam, strawberry preserves and Cornish clotted cream, and I have to tell you that caramelized white chocolate jam was divine. I am not even embarrassed to share that we totally polished off the entire ramekin…with a spoon. Delicious!

By the time we got to the last plate – the prettiest of them all, we were almost hesitant to cut into the exquisite-looking desserts…almost! Of the four desserts, my favourite was the tropical Easter egg, which looked like a fried egg, but was instead a combination of delicate coconut cream, tangy mango curd, and crispy meringue. It was so good! Obviously the milk chocolate and raspberry verrine, Simnel fruit cake, and the religieuse profiterole were delicious as well. With the last dessert finished, we settled back into our comfy couch, chatting, sipping our White Rose tea, and enjoying the rest of our perfect afternoon at Shangri-La.

If you would like to try some of the limited-time offerings served at the Easter-inspired High Tea, it will be available until April 6 and is priced at CAD$42 per person or CAD$25 per child, served daily from 2-5 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge. And if that’s not enough, with the purchase of a chocolate Easter Egg ( the “Golden Egg” or “Toy Egg”) or the Easter-inspired High Tea, guests will receive a complimentary petite milk chocolate egg with the chance of receiving one of five winning ”red tickets” placed among the petite milk chocolate eggs. One winning petite chocolate egg will be revealed every other day throughout the Easter promotion period from 28 March to 6 April, 2015. “Red tickets” will signify that the person who received the petite egg has won the prize. The prize includes a tour of the pastry kitchen at Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto with pastry chef Kate Seigel for one person (the prize winner) and complimentary High Tea for a year in the Lobby Lounge of Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto for the winner and a guest (two people) once a month for twelve months (May 2015 – April 2016). Free High Tea for a year?! May the odds be ever in your favour!

More after the jump!
[Read more…]

YOU ARE INVITED: Live-Tweet The Oscars 2015 with Yorkdale Style Council!

20 February, 2015 Nelia

Oscars-2015-live-tweet
I had so much fun live-tweeting The Golden Globes with you that I’m doing it again! This time, I’ll be taking over Yorkdale’s Twitter account to live-tweet The Oscars 2015! If you plan on tuning in for red carpet arrivals and the show, make sure to tweet with me (@YorkdaleStyle) using hashtag #YorkdaleOscars, and you’ll be entered to win one of three Yorkdale gift cards! Winners will be selected at 11:00pm EST, and I will announce their names at the end of the show at 11:30pm EST.

Have lots of opinions on celeb style? Love Neil Patrick Harris? Want to know where you can find a red carpet dress lookalike? Tune in this Sunday, and let’s watch The Oscars together!

Twitter Account to Follow: @YorkdaleStyle
Hashtag to Use to Qualify: #YorkdaleOscars
Live-Tweeting from 6pm-11:30pm EST
Prize: Win one of three $50 Gift Cards
Winners will be drawn at 11:00pm EST

YOU ARE INVITED: Live-Tweet Golden Globes 2015 With Yorkdale and Win!

9 January, 2015 Nelia

1024.GGlobes.Amy.Tina.mh.010213
Last year, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey KILLED IT at the Golden Globes. They came, they hosted, they made fun of Leonardo Di Caprio and George Clooney, they were laugh-out-loud funny and adorable, and I couldn’t get enough. This year, the dynamic duo is back to host the 71st Golden Globe Awards, and just like last year, I’ll be live-tweeting it all – the fashion, the winners and the losers, and my fave Amy and Tina moments.

This year, however, as a member of Yorkdale’s Style Council, I’ll be taking over Yorkdale’s Twitter account, and that’s not all! If you plan on watching the Globes, make sure to tweet with me (@YorkdaleStyle) using hashtag #YorkdaleGG, and you’ll be entered to win one of three Yorkdale gift cards! Winners will be selected at 10:30pm EST, and I will announce their names at the end of the show at 11pm EST.

I’ll be live-tweeting from the comfort of my couch, but I still plan on wearing something glamorous so that I can pretend that I’m actually there…I may even bust out a bottle of bubbly for the occasion. Sounds like a pretty awesome way to spend a Sunday evening. If you like the idea, join me, Amy, and Tina this Sunday, January 11th, and let’s tweet those Globes!

Details after the jump!
[Read more…]

Shopping: Gap Yorkdale Grand Re-Opening

17 December, 2014 Nelia

gap-yorkdale-grand-re-opening-2
Last month, Gap celebrated the grand re-opening of their Yorkdale store. Lucky woman that I am, I got to host the opening, hang out with a few readers and shoppers, do fun in-store giveaways, dress the mannequins, get a hand massage from the Aveda team, and eat a ton of cupcakes. It was a fun soiree, with lots of pre-Christmas shopping, crazy stripes galore, with a brand spanking new store as the backdrop for the festivities. Speaking of the new store – it’s now bright, inviting, and a lot easier to navigate. During construction, shopping at Gap Yorkdale could get a bit hectic, but now it’s all back to normal, and the store looks better than ever. If you’re at Yorkdale, make sure to stop by to check it out.

gap-yorkdale-grand-re-opening-9

More photos after the jump!
[Read more…]

You Are Invited: Grand Re-Opening of Gap Store at Yorkdale!

7 November, 2014 Nelia

gap-yorkdale-invitation-style-blog-nelia-belkova

After a couple of months of renovations, Gap Yorkdale is finally ready to unveil its shiny new store, and you’re invited to celebrate this special occasion on Thursday, November 13! To make this party truly special, Gap is going all out with yummy treats, fun giveaways, discounts, mini makeovers, and a DJ spinning fresh tunes. Seriously, guys, this party is going to have EVERYTHING!

So on November 13th, grab a few friends, and stop by Yorkdale Shopping Centre to check out the new Gap store. You may just score a Mystery Gift Card Makeover…and we’ll bond over our mutual love of stripes. See you there?

COME CELEBRATE THE NEW GAP STORE
YORKDALE MALL – 3401 DUFFERIN STREET
HOSTED BY NELIA BELKOVA OF STYLEBLOG.CA
DJ + FASHION + REFRESHMENTS + GIVEAWAYS + DISCOUNTS
THURSDAY, NOV. 13TH, 5PM – 9PM

Travel: Queen of the Night in NYC

31 October, 2014 Nelia

qot-diamond-horseshoe

When I first heard about Queen of the Night I was definitely intrigued – a live-show that’s neither a theatre production, nor a musical, with a sexy circus twist, and an interactive dinner served in the darkness, with performers clad in Thom Browne-designed costumes? Sign me up! Well, the chance to see it all go down came up in September, when I was in New York for fashion week, and, of course, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

queen-of-the-night-decor2

Before the show, my friend and I were taken downstairs, a cocktail in hand, to spend some time exploring the venue, while the sexy butlers (who we soon found out were the night’s performers too) mingled with the crowd, luring people into secret rooms, asking some to complete a scavenger hunt in order to win a kiss. We weaved our way in and out of several rooms, checking out the intriguing decor, and watching an attendee hit on actor Bryan Greenberg in a wax-covered room. His fiance Jaimie Chung was there too; seated just behind the couple, we observed them laughing throughout the show, enjoying the performance. Celebrities like Hugh Jackman, Jude Law, John Legend, Jessica Alba, and Adriana Lima, among others had enjoyed the show at The Diamond Horseshoe this year, so you never know who you’ll run into on your visit.

queen-of-the-night-decor3

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

What I Wore: Operanation in a Pinch

24 October, 2014 Nelia

Operanation - Light Up The Night. Toronto, ON, Canada. October 17, 2014. (Image: Ryan Emberley)

I know I’ve already waxed poetic about how much I loved Operanation, but I wanted to dedicate a second post to my outfit…this is a personal style blog after all. As mentioned in the previous post, I had a bit of anxiety while trying to figure out what to wear and still stay true to the theme of the night – Light Up the Night. With my newly grey hair, certain colours just don’t work for me anymore, and recently I have been sticking to a muted palette of black, grey, and white – none of which would be ideal for the night’s theme.

So in a bit of a panic, I stopped by H&M a couple of hours before the party and saw this sparkly maxi dress. It didn’t look like much on a hanger, but I could feel its potential, whispering to me…”puuutt meee onnnnnnn”, and so I did. And not to sound full of myself, but in a sea of very expensive gowns, I didn’t feel even a little out of place. It really isn’t about how expensive (or inexpensive) something is, but how that something makes you feel. And obviously, this dress made me feel like a bombshell. A definite keeper.

Also, in a bit of a gross disclosure, my hair in this photo has not been washed in 6 days. It looks nice and wavy, but only because I wore it in a looped ponytail all day, which gave my hair a lovely kink. To spruce up my do, I sprayed some glitter hair spray onto my silvery locks, and while you can’t really see the full effect, I really loved how sparkly my hair was. I think I’ll do it again. And yes, I am a 30-year old that loves to spray glitter in her hair…what’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing.

So tell me, have you ever worn something really fun but inexpensive to a major event? Share your stories in the comments!

operanation-fall-2014 yourphoto

I Wore: Dress, Belt, Earrings – H&M; Shoes – Zara; Clutch – DVF

Photo Credits: 1 – Ryan Emberley; 2 – Becca Lemire

What They Wore: Operanation 2014

22 October, 2014 Nelia

COC Operanation October 16th 2014- Tara Noelle-34

I’ll be honest with you, I am not a fan of galas. Don’t get me wrong, I do love to get dressed up once in a while, but when I have to go to a big gala event, where how you dress actually matters, I get anxious. Plus, I like to be in bed by 11pm (don’t judge!), and most galas just get going around that time. This is precisely why I’ve never gone to Operanation until this year. But after finding out that Yelle was going to perform, I pulled up my big girl pants and decided to go. And boy, was I a fool to have avoided it all these years!

First of all, Operanation was an amazing place to people-watch and witness some great fashion go down. I won’t go so far as to call it the Met Gala of Toronto fashion, but it’s pretty damn close. Most people stuck to the theme of the night, and lit up the room in neon gowns and accessories, sparkly beading, and pops of colour.

And then there was Yelle…Their performance was everything I hoped it would be and more – energetic, engaging, and SO MUCH FUN! I danced, tried to sing along (my French is very limited), and just watched Julie Budet (Lady Mary lookalike) do her thang. Oh, and members of the COC’s Ensemble Circle joined her for a few songs too. Best ever!

On top of the cool performance, and great people-watching, there were also limited-edition designer slap bracelets – coolest raffle entries possibly ever. One lucky girl walked away with a $10,000 shopping spree from The Room (!!!), while a few others snagged COC-sponsored prizes. There was also a churro bar, a photobooth, half-naked Calvin Klein models, hourly drag queen flash mob…in the immortal words of SNL’s Stefon Zelesky – Toronto’s hottest party of the year is Operanation and it has EVERYTHING!

Operanation 2014 (Tyler Rumi) 60 Operanation - Light Up The Night. Toronto, ON, Canada. October 17, 2014. (Image: Ryan Emberley)

More photos after the jump! [Read more…]