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Nicholas Kirkwood and Sophia Webster Party at The Bay in Toronto!

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The Bay is clearly ON FIRE this month! After hosting the lovely designer Sam Edelman two weeks ago, the magnificent department store welcomed not one, but two uber-talented British shoe designers at Toronto’s newly renovated “largest in Canada” shoe floor – Nicholas Kirkwood and Sophia Webster.

Having met Kirkwood a couple of years ago at the same location, I felt pretty lucky to get another chance to chat with this young and inspiring designer. He was just as approachable and easy to talk to as he was back in 2010, and as you can tell from that pic above, we are now BFFs for life! True story*. I also got to meet Sophia Webster, who used to be Kirkwood’s design assistant, and who has obviously learned a lot from her mentor – her shoes, just like his, are truly drool-worthy and must find their way to my wardrobe one of these days…soon.

Like most parties at The Room, this one was THE place to be if you’re into people-watching, what with stunning clothes, beautiful shoes, and notable attendees like Bonnie Brooks (in a pair of Kirkwood zig-zag shoes), Greta Constantine designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, Suzanne Rogers, Stacey Kimel, and Kim Tanenbaum, mingling with the guests of honor, who were both swarmed by an army of adoring fans for the majority of the night.

I know I’ve said this before, but if you still haven’t been to the gleaming new shoe floor at The Bay (Queen St and Yorkdale), then you are truly missing out. Even without designers in attendance, the shoe department is a sight to behold…and a place to find the most amazing shoes. My BFF Nicholas Kirkwood totally loved it and so will you.

*Not a true story

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More after the jump!

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Tommy Ton for Saks Fifth Avenue Spring 2013 Shoes!

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Speaking of gorgeous spring shoes…check out this amazing spread shot by the Canadian street style photog Tommy Ton for Saks Fifth Avenue! Featuring some drool-worthy styles by Salvatore Ferragamo, Fendi, Valentino, Altuzarra, Jil Sander, Derek Lam, and more, these photos are making me drool all over my laptop!

Right now, I am straight up OBSESSED with these lace-up Ferragamos. They are insanely hot, and I need them in my life ASAP. The heel looks super high, but the design also looks sturdy and secure, so I probably wouldn’t break my ankle. Just in case, I’d like these flat snakeskin Valentinos as well…you know, to mix it up!

What do you think about this photo spread? Are you getting excited for spring? Do tell!

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More after the jump!

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Wishlist: Fall 2012 Surrealist Accessories

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From Nicholas Kirkwood to Diane Von Furstenberg to Lanvin to MAC Cosmetics, it seems everyone is embracing the surreal and the abstract in fashion. And for someone like me, who loves all things quirky, these pieces are simply perfect. Last week, I actually saw the Kirkwood flats at The Room, and was so tempted to buy them, but I’m afraid le bf would kick me out of the house, if I’d brought another pair of weird-looking shoes home. Obviously, I will still keep an eye on them, just in case a pair is available in my size come sale time.

What do you think of this artsy trend? Are you as into it as me, or do you find it weird? Let me know in the comments!

God Save The Queen: Panel Discussion/Trunk Shows

The morning after the oh-so-fabulous God Save The Queen party at The Room, I woke up excited and ready to go. Why excited, you might ask? Well, not only did The Bay fly the fab Brits into Toronto for a party, the designers were also on hand to showcase their Spring 2011 collections, which were open to the public the next day. Unable to pass up such an incredible opportunity, my schedule was planned around the The Next British Invasion.

Having apparently missed Charlotte Olympia’s trunk show, I was a bit bummed, but was really looking forward to the panel discussion with the designers and Bronwyn Cosgrave at the helm. And it was well-worth the wait!

Having prepared for the day by reading some of the designers’ previous interviews, it was still fascinating to hear the Q&A straight from the artists’ mouths in an intimate environment. Designers were asked about their personal journeys and how they came to be who they are today. Best response of the day definitely went to Charlotte Olympia Dellal, who, when asked why she chose to design shoes of all things, replied with “What girl wouldn’t want to make her own shoes?”. A response that drew many ladies in attendance to nod (and whoop) in agreement.

Jonathan Saunders offered some insight into collaborating with Topshop, while Nicholas Kirkwood shared stories about the upcoming opening of his first standalone store and the late Isabella Blow – style icon credited with much of Alexander McQueen’s success. Giles Deacon provided some comic relief for the day, by addressing Cosgrave’s “Lindsay Lohan” question by saying that he had to get rid of “loads of needles” at Ungaro…”sewing needles that is”. Mark Fast let us in on reasons why he chooses to make his clothes by hand and Erdem Moralioglu told us that his secret for dealing with bad reviews is to “move on quickly”.

I know that I’ve said this before, but it felt almost surreal to be listening to these incredibly talented designers lined up in front of us, gathered in the same room. And judging by their interaction, one could definitely tell that they genuinely enjoyed each other’s company too. Erdem confirmed this by offering that they “have a wonderful sense of community where we all know each other and we’re all friends”. They certainly seemed friendly enough – no claws in sight.

The panel discussion was followed by a string of trunk shows, featuring beautiful Spring 2011 clothes from London, which even Jeanne Beker couldn’t resist attending.

By the end of the day, one could clearly see that both events were hugely successful – an incredible opportunity for Canadians to get a glimpse behind the curtain of the fascinating world of British Fashion Royalty, courtesy of The Room and its creative director Nicholas Melamphy. And judging by the direction The Bay has taken as of late, and by the willingness of the new and established designers to be seen and for their brands to be carried at the venerable Canadian retailer, this might be one of the first events of such scale in Toronto, but it certainly isn’t the last. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next!

Marios Schwab, Leith Clark, Erdem Moralioglu, Jonathan Saunders, Giles Deacon, Nicholas Kirkwood, Olympia Dellal

Nicholas Kirkwood and I. He shared that he was going on a quick trip to Niagara Falls right after the trunk shows  – a place we all take for granted, yet it’s fascinating for the Brits. Who would’ve thought?

My fave Kirkwood for Rodarte wax heels…drool…swoon…le sigh.

God Save The Queen: The Next British Invasion Party!

Last week, the most amazing thing happened. A group of prominent young British designers landed in Toronto to be feted at The Bay’s own Room on Queen St. Having swooned over many of their collections on Style.com for years, it was an incredible experience to have been able to meet and mingle with such creative geniuses as Canadian-born Erdem Moralioglu and Mark Fast, Jonathan Saunders, Nicholas Kirkwood, Giles Deacon, Marios Schwab, Tom Binns, Mary Katrantzou and the lovely Charlotte Olympia Dellal – all huge names worldwide, and all partying together at the same Room at the same time! When I first got the invite, I think le boyfriend went deaf from my…ahem…excitement. Huge thanks to Sandra for the invite! You’ve made my year!

I must say that I was quite nervous and starstruck by most of these talented individuals, and as Sharon of The Backseat Stylers put it, sometimes you have to remind yourself that designers too are people. If there was one designer that I really REALLY wanted to meet it had to be Erdem. I’ve always been fascinated by his beautiful, feminine designs and thankfully, the designer himself was just as charming in person. As a Canadian, who once upon a time went to Ryerson, he said that it felt great to come home, where he still has a lot of friends and family.

Later on at the party, I also got a chance to meet and speak to Charlotte Olympia Dellal, whose fun and fab outfit (peep the banana clutch) and whimsical shoes stole my heart, as did her cheeky personality.

Other attendees that night included Tommy Ton of Jak and Jil, whose photos are a huge inspiration to thousands of fashion lovers everywhere, and who is also notably a Canadian, Lisa Tant of Flare Magazine, Dan Levy of MTV Canada, and dozens of amazing Toronto bloggers. I had such an great time hanging out with Sharon and her hubby, Kimberly of The Souls of My Shoes, Lisa – The Hip Urban Girl, and meeting stylist Tricia Campbell Hall.

There were so many stylish people to photograph, so many beautiful (and I mean REALLY beautiful) clothes and shoes to look at – I can truthfully say that this was the event of the year in my books. So much talent and fashion under one roof, it was intoxicating.

And that’s the thing about the new Room at The Bay. It offers a wealth of labels to even the pickiest of shoppers, all carefully displayed in a gorgeous, brightly lit space, featuring trunk shows straight off the latest fashion shows, and giving its customers an opportunity to actually meet the designers. Even on a regular shopping day, The Room is an experience in itself, but pair it with what happened at The Next British Invasion gala, and you’ve got yourself a sure recipe for a night to remember. It might not feel like The Bay you already know, and perhaps it isn’t. This newly-improved Bay is way better!

What I Wore: Dress – Jacob; Blazer – Zara; Socks – H&M; Bag – Prada; Shoes – Miu Miu

Photo Credits: Style Blog, Last Photo Courtesy of The Backseat Stylers

Don’t Miss – This Week in Toronto!

LG Fashion Week is almost here, and it seems that Toronto is buzzing with excitement! But until next week, there are plenty of things to do and see for fashion lovers in the city. Here’s a list of the do-not-miss events happening this week:

1. God Save the Queen at The Bay (Friday, October 15th)

If there’s an event this October that makes one forget about Toronto Fashion Week altogether, this one is it. For all those Brit Fashion fans, The Room at The Bay is hosting a two-day “British Invasion”, which includes designers Mark Fast, Erdem Moralioglu, Jonathan Saunders, Charlotte Olympia Dellal, Nicholas Kirkwood, Marios Schwab and Giles Deacon showing off their designs, fresh off London Fashion Week runways. And though Thursday night is guest-list only, Friday, October 15th is free for all.

Spring 2011 trunk shows will include Charlotte Olympia at 11am, The Next Wave of British Fashion Panel Discussion at 12pm, Giles Deacon at 1pm, Erdem (woohoo!) at 2pm, Nicholas Kirkwood at 3pm, and Jonathan Saunders at 4pm. This is your chance to see Spring 2011 collections up close and personal before they even hit the stores. Definitely an opportunity not to be missed. See you there?

2. Eleven Boutique Celebrates Canadian Art & Fashion

This month, Eleven celebrates top Canadian fashion designers along with the work of local Canadian artists; beginning with an installation by Toronto born artist Jenna Pietrobon, amongst a backdrop of this season’s most coveted Fall fashions and accessories.   Closing the celebratory month is a shopping evening partnering with local neighbour, The Guild Shop, the Ontario Crafts Council’s retail gallery since 1932.
 
Eleven Art Installation
When: Now Showing until October 15th
 
Celebrating Canadian Art and Fashion
When:  Thursday October 28th, 5pm – 8pm

Eleven, a boutique that carries a lot of Canadian fashion/jewelry brands is a must-visit on your next trip to Yorkville. And if you can squeeze in some culture, while supporting Canadian art & fashion? Even better.

3. Sears Canada LG Fashion Week Promotion

As one of the Fashion Week sponsors, Sears teamed up with LG for the following fashion week promos:

– Visit one of the participating stores and fill out a ballot to win 1 of 5 V.I.P. tickets to the Sears Attitude Fashion show at LG Fashion Week on October 20, 2010.

– 1 of the 5 ticket winners will also win a LG Steam Washer & Dryer* (Selected winner must be present at the Fashion show on October 20 or will forfeit the prize).

– Purchase a new LG Steam Washer & Dryer and receive a $100 Sears Gift Card, October 8 – 24, 2010

4. Dare to Wear Love Show

Ok, so this one is not happening this week, per se. But it is for a good cause, and tickets are already available, so you’d better move fast if you’d like to attend. This year, all seats are being sold in order to raise funds for the grassroots organizations in Africa on the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic, supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, October 22, ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive cocktail party in the Fashion Environment at Heritage Court. Following the party, guests will experience Dare to Wear Love, an uplifting and unforgettable show full of African-inspired fashion, dance and music.

More than 25 talented designers including Brian Bailey, Evan Biddell, Damzels In This Dress, David Dixon, Comrags, Linda Lundström, Lucian Matis, Pat McDonagh, Jason Meyers, Nada, Kingi Carpenter, Izzy Camilleri, and many more will produce one women’s or men’s ensemble for a mix of professional models, celebrity models and friends of the designers to wear down the runway. Each designer is given six yards of eye-catching fabrics sourced from Africa to create their one-of-a-kind look.

Wishlist: Keith Haring by Nicholas Kirkwood

How amazing are these Keith Haring by Nicholas Kirkwood shoes? These sure would round out my collection of “crazy” shoes quite nicely. My favorite is definitely the blue-man-heel pair, but since these four are only a sneak peek, there are other styles to look forward to. The collection will be available worldwide in February 2011, with a special eight-day pop-up shop, launching online in September during London fashion week.

Are you excited to see the rest of Keith Haring-inspired shoe styles? Let me know in the comments.

Photo Credits: www.style.com

Atelier Swarovski in Toronto

Last week, Al and I were lucky to be invited to the launch of the Spring 2010 Atelier Swarovski collection in Toronto. The exclusive Atelier collection includes pieces designed by “world-renowned and Canadian-raised fashion designer Jason Wu, the talented and acclaimed UK fashion designer Matthew Williamson, footwear designer Nicholas Kirkwood and talented jewelry design duo Anthony Nak”, and is available for he first time in Canada at the Bloor Street Gallery store only.

As a huge fan of Matthew Williamson’s psychedelic prints, Jason Wu’s classy dresses, and Kirkwood’s ah-mazing shoes, I was super psyched to see their pieces. But to my surprise (and delight), Anthony Nak’s vintage-inspired art-deco pieces were my favorite of the bunch. The yellow crystals looked like perfect amber doppelgangers, and I could totally see these as something I would pass down to my grandkids. I also loved Nicholas Kirkwood’s simple designs, which is surprising, since he’s known for his footwear, not jewelry. Gold earrings from his collection could dress up any outfit without being too showy or over the top. The same could not be said about Williamson’s designs. His jewelry is not for the shy ones, with huge multicolored geometrical shapes to wear around your neck or on your ears. Not for me, but interesting to look at.

Overall, I walked away liking a few pieces from the collection. As someone who’s never considered Swarovski as a place to shop for jewelry, I’ll be keeping my eye on these new collections, as more than a few pieces were worth a second look. If you love jewelry and are interested in checking out Atelier Swarovski, stop by the Yonge/Bloor location, or go on their official site www.atelierswarovski.com.

Anthony Nak

Jason Wu

Nicholas Kirkwood

Matthew Williamson

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