Holidays 2012 | Style Blog | Canadian Fashion and Lifestyle News

Holidays 2012: 5 Sequined Pieces to Rock This Holiday Season

27 December, 2012 Nelia 1 Comment

Tis the season to get your sparkle on! With all the festive events going on, it’s pretty much a given that sequins are all-but required as part of the usual holiday uniform. And though I prefer my sequins toned down (i.e. paired with something not-so-glam), I know that there are plenty of people out there that prefer to go all out, and why not? That’s what the holidays are for!

And this season, Yorkdale has a pretty sequined number out there for everyone! From the majorly blinged out dresses at Mendocino, to the uber-chic sequin tees at J.Crew, to the super fun sequined trousers at LOFT, you can inject your wardrobe with as much (or as little) sparkle as you’d like. Personally, I’ll be rocking my striped sequined tee from J.Crew with a pair of jeans and a pair of statement earrings to a holiday soiree this season, but I have my eye on that gorgeous hippie-like Billabong dress too.

5 Sequined Pieces to Rock This Holiday Season after the jump!

[Read more…]

Happy 175th Anniversary, Tiffany & Co.!

19 December, 2012 Nelia 2 Comments

Tiffany-Co.-Toronto-Flagship-Private-Shopping-Session

Last month, something pretty epic happened. Tiffany & Co. invited yours truly, along with 3 of my blogger besties to experience the magic of Tiffany during the holiday season. Rocking our LBDs, we got to try on and play with anything our hearts desired during our after-hour private soiree, and boy, did we ever indulge!

As someone who’s always been obsessed with Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this unique experience was certainly one for the history books. The girls and I tried on everything in sight, from canary yellow diamonds (my fave), to Elsa Peretti bone cuffs (stunning!), to diamonds by the yard (!!!). I felt like a kid at a candy store, only way luckier!

Accompanied by the lovely Andrea Hopson, Vice-President of Tiffany & Co. Canada, the girls and I munched on Tiffany-blue petit fours, and sipped champagne in honour of the company’s 175th year anniversary…all the while pinching ourselves.

tiffany-and-co-holiday-shopping

Needless to say, after the whirlwind shopping spree, the girls and I had to add more than a few Tiffany & Co. pieces to our Christmas wish lists. Here’s hoping that Santa will deliver (pineapple salt and pepper shakers for me, please!).

As for all of those guys out there, if you still haven’t gotten a gift for that special woman in your life…and let’s face it, most men leave to the very end…you can never go wrong with something (anything!) from Tiffany & Co.! Seriously, just seeing that blue box with a perfectly tied ribbon puts a huge grin on anyone’s face. It’s no wonder the company has been around for almost two centuries!

Do you wish for something from Tiffany & Co. this holiday season? Which pieces are your favourite? Share in the comments!

tiffany-and-co-holiday-shopping

More photos after the jump!

[Read more…]

Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part Two

13 December, 2012 Nelia 4 Comments

Canadian-Fashion-Insiders-Gift-Guide-Holidays-2012-Grace-Lee-final

Welcome to part two of our Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide! If you are still on the hunt for that perfect gift this holiday season, make sure to check out our experts’ picks for some fun and fresh gift ideas. Whether you are looking for something stylish, practical, or simply adorable, we’ve got you covered!

1. Grace Lee, Lead Makeup Artist, Maybelline

Having watched Grace do her magic backstage at Toronto Fashion Week for two seasons now, I am still in awe of her makeup skills and her personal style. If you are shopping for Grace this holiday season, her wishlist includes the Grace Coddington Memoir, an iPad mini, and a custom-made closet from California Closets (me too, pretty please!).

For Christmas this year, Grace will be giving some practical presents like Starbucks gift cards, and Baby Lips lip balms from Maybelline (I’ve seen Grace also use them on cheeks!). Additionally, she will be picking up some adorable rings from ByBoe (how cute is that bow ring?!) for her friends and family.

As for her favourite places to shop for Christmas gits, Grace shares that she can never go wrong with Holt Renfrew, Williams Sonoma, and La Di Da Boutique. When asked what gets her into the holiday spirit, for Grace “it’s all about the kiddies. Once the tree, lights and decorations are up, I always feel festive.”

Canadian-Fashion-Insiders-Gift-Guide-Holidays-2012-Talia-Brown

2. Talia Brown, Stylist

“Growing up in the North, Holiday spirt was sprung with the dusting of the snow, the smell of the fire and the taste of good old fashioned cocoa. Here in Toronto you, can feel and see the joy in the streets, the eye candy of the window displays and of course the music that just becomes part of the movement. The hustle and bustle,the busyness of the shoppers, all in good spirit, of course.”

When I first met Talia, I was smitten with her sweet and bubbly personality, and her talent for styling. This holiday season, Talia is wishing for a perfect pair of rag & bone ankle booties, a Chibi Lady purse by ela in rose gold, and a gorgeous lace dress from LOVER. Ever the stylist, the three pieces go really well together and make for an amazing holiday outfit. Here’s hoping she gets it all!

On Talia’s shopping list this season are adorable (and yummy) gifts that she’ll be sharing with her loved ones, like the Peppermint Bark from Williams-Sonoma, the limited edition Missoni x Holt Renfrew stuffed animals (they are the cutest!), and luxurious lipstick from YSL, perfectly matched to her girlfriends’ personalities.

Talia will be doing some holiday shopping at MoRoCo Chocolat, The Cashmere Shop, and Bicyclette this holiday season.

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part One

10 December, 2012 Nelia 9 Comments

Canadian-Fashion-Insiders-Gift-Guide-Holidays-2012-Ela-Kowalewska

The holidays are almost here, and if like me you still haven’t started your holiday shopping, don’t worry and get happy, because this year, I asked some of my favourite Canadian Fashion Insiders to share their stylish holiday wishlists and gift ideas with us. What will a designer, a model, a photographer, a make-up artist, a stylist, an editor, a blogger, and a PR maven be getting and giving this holiday season? Read on to find out!

1. Ela Kowalewska, Designer, ela Handbags

One of my favourite Canadian accessories designers, Ela is without a doubt one stylish lady. This holiday season, on her wishlist is a gorgeous Cartier Juste un Clou ring (yes, please!), Margiela’s Untitled perfume, and a weekend stay to relax and play at Langdon Hall. As for her Give list…all I can say is her loved ones are pretty lucky, because this season she’ll be giving some pretty sweet presents. On Ela’s shopping list is the editor’s pouch from her namesake line ela, Caudalie beauty elixir (one of my fave skincare brands too!), Byredo Parfums’ Gypsy Water, and Tkees flip flops, among other lovely presents.

As for her favourite places to shop, Ela counts Holt Renfrew, eLUXE, and Chapters as her holiday mainstays. “Aside from spending quality time with family and friends over homemade dinners/cocktails on both sides of the Atlantic a touch of snow (sprinkle will do), a good Christmas market as well as a few laps around the Somerset House skating rink get us into the holiday spirit,” shared Ela.

Canadian-Fashion-Insiders-Gift-Guide-Holidays-2012-Jason-Hudson

2. Jason Hudson, Photographer

Not only is Jason one of the most talented photographers I know, I am also obsessed with his personal blog. Chronicling the people he meets, the events he attends (and works), the delicious food he cooks, along with personal stories and helpful tips on a variety of subjects, his website is more than just a blog – it’s pretty much a life guide, and a very helpful one at that.

What more, Jason and his partner Jeff will be setting off on an adventure of a lifetime this December, taking a year off to travel the globe! Appropriately, on Jason’s wishlist this season is a new luggage set from Heys (something durable, that will survive a year of constant travelling), MacBook Air to record his adventures, and a pair of new Persol sunglasses, which he’ll surely need while sipping delicious drinks in Honolulu.

As for what he’ll be giving to his loved ones this holiday season, Jason shared that his go-to host gift is the “super Canadian” Sortilege Maple Whisky, and that champagne flutes from Tiffany never fail – “the blue box is high-impact and exciting, and the glassware is classic.” Jason and Jeff will also be buying a map of the world for their nephews, so that they will be able to “follow us on our travels around the world!”

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

Style Days of Christmas: Philips Giveaway

4 December, 2012 Nelia

philips-giveaway

It’s Day 12 of our Style Days of Christmas Giveaways, which means that this will be the last and final stop for the gravy train (teehee) this year. I hope you all got to learn about a few awesome products, and perhaps even got to walk away with a prize of your own. If luck wasn’t on your side, don’t fret…there’s still ONE MORE giveaway to be won…and it’s a good one.

Up for grabs is a fun Philips package that includes the wet and dry Philips Lady Shaver*, a selection of fun and flirty nail polish, creams and lotions, a bamboo comb, and a stylish new wash bag to hold all these goodies. This package would make a perfect gift for a special woman in your life, or an even better gift to your own fab self! Want it? Enter below!

philips-lady-shaver-giveaway

Enter after the jump!

[Read more…]

Style Days of Christmas: H&M $100 Gift Card Giveaway

3 December, 2012 Nelia

H&m-gift-card-giveaway

Style Days of Christmas are almost over, but not until there’s an H&M giveaway! Style Blog wouldn’t be Style Blog without H&M, and their fun and trendy fashions for less, and today, I want one of you to get your hands on a $100 gift card from my favourite brand.

With the holiday season upon us, everything you need to put together a perfect party outfit is available at your nearest H&M store. Right now, I am obsessed with all things shiny and loud, and have been visiting daily, to make sure I don’t miss the day the below pieces finally hit the stores. I mean, that “cookie monster” furry clutch? I need it in my life! And those matching leopard print blouse and jeans? Perfection!

So what are you waiting for? Enter below!

h&m-holidays-2012

Enter after the jump!

[Read more…]

Style Days of Christmas: Danier Leather Giveaway

28 November, 2012 Nelia

Last week, I wrote about the Danier Leather Spring 2013 preview, and today, on day 9 of Style Days of Christmas I want one of my lucky readers to win a $100 gift card from Danier to either spend immediately on a bunch of awesome winter necessities, or save it until those beautiful spring goodies hit the stores. The choice is yours.

Personally, I’ve been eyeing the entire Greta Constantine Skin capsule collection, which features some must-have Danier pieces like the sexy leather detail dress and skirt, leather combo vest, obi wrap leather belt, and jersey and lamb leather leggings. Those are the sexiest basics I’ll ever own! So if you’d like a skirt or a vest of your very own, make sure to enter this giveaway below!

Full lookbook and giveaway details after the jump!

[Read more…]

Holidays 2012: Estée Lauder Zodiac Compacts

28 November, 2012 Nelia 3 Comments

While the more thorough holiday gift guide is coming very soon, I couldn’t wait to share this pretty little gem with you…actually 12 pretty gems! How adorable are these Estée Lauder zodiac compacts? Not sure about you, but I am pretty into my zodiac sign (Gemini), and I couldn’t resist the lovely packaging of these translucent powder compacts when I first spotted them at The Bay Holidays 2012 preview back in July.

To make this an even better present, why not engrave the name of the person this compact is going to? They will surely treasure (and keep on refilling) this compact for years to come!

What do you think of these Estée Lauder zodiac compacts? Share in the comments!

Photo Credits: Estée Lauder

Style Days of Christmas: Kiss My Face Basket Giveaway

27 November, 2012 Nelia

Kiss My Face has been around for 30 years, offering natural, effective, cruelty-free products, made with only the finest ingredients. From skincare, to hair care, there’s a Kiss My Face product out there for everyone! And today, on Day 8 of Style Days of Christmas, I want one of you to have an awesome Kiss My Face basket of your own, full of only the best natural goodies! Whether you’d like to treat yourself, or share the basket with your loved ones this holiday season, make sure to enter this giveaway below!

Enter after the jump!

[Read more…]

Style Days of Christmas: Mavi Jeans Giveaway

26 November, 2012 Nelia

Hope you are having a great Cyber Monday, kids! Welcome back to Style Days of Christmas! Today’s giveaway is a pair of Mavi Jeans from their Holiday 2012 collection! If you are not familiar with Mavi, they make the comfiest jeans I’ve ever had the pleasure of wearing. But it’s not all about the comfort factor, however, these jeans are super stylish too! You can see two of my favourite pairs here, and if you’d like a pair of your choice from the brand’s holiday collection, make sure to enter below.