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You Are Invited: Power Ball XIX – Stereo Vision

26 May, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

Power Ball is hands down my favourite fundraiser year after year. The combination of art installations, great fashion, music, and food makes for one fun soiree, and if you’ve never been, the party is next week on June 1st and you should definitely get your tickets ASAP!

This year’s Power Ball XIX: Stereo Vision promises to “be the portal where hidden worlds and alternate realities converge and collide, and are made visible to us in our earthly dimension”…not certain what that means exactly, but I know it’s going to be a blast.

If you’re not sure what to wear to Power Ball, pretty much anything goes, but dressing up according to the theme is definitely encouraged. One year, the theme was “Appetite for Excess” and I wore one of my favourite dresses from Hayley Elsaesser with a lip print all over, and colourful glitter in my hair. Excessive? That’s the point! Last year’s theme was the “Pleasure Principle”, and I donned another fave – a feathered Erdem gown, with hair piercings in my do – still one of my favourite party looks to date. But back to “Stereo Vision”…my outfit for this theme will be inspired by colour and 3D – loud and fun…and will be comfy enough to dance in and to eat in, because the food is always a high point of Power Ball. The only thing I haven’t figured out yet is my hair…but there’s still plenty of time.

I can’t wait until Thursday to finally see what this year’s Power Ball will have in store for the partygoers…See you there?

WHAT: Power Ball XIX Stereo Vision fundraiser
WHERE: The Power Plant, Toronto’s Harbourfront
WHEN: Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 9PM-Late
TICKETS: https://powerball.thepowerplant.org/reg/en/registration.html

Photo Credits: Image 3 – Mauricio Calero

Shopping: Orlebar Brown at Holt Renfrew

26 May, 2017 Nelia Leave a Comment

It may not look like it, but summer is on its way, and with it, sunny days by the lake/ocean/inflatable pool in your backyard. And while women usually have a wide variety of options available to them for such occasions – from cute bikinis to stylish one-piece swimwear, men’s swimsuits are usually limited to those ubiquitously unattractive board shorts in loud (and often unattractive) patterns. Well, British label Orlebar Brown is aiming to fix that gap by offering a wide selection of very stylish swim trunks for men – ones your significant other can wear to the beach and to the nearby restaurant with ease.

Last week, Holt Renfrew hosted an intimate dinner to celebrate the Orlebar Brown pop-up at the flagship store on Bloor St with founder Adam Brown as the guest of honour. Brown revealed that having a pop-up at Holt Renfrew was a bit of a dream come true, as the Canadian store was on his short list of retailers when the label first launched. Brown himself is a great spokesperson for the brand (charming, sophisticated, and impeccably dressed), and can be seen wearing the label in numerous Instagram snaps from various exotic destinations, along with photos of his two adorable dogs Arthur and Rudi.

And while the Orlebar Brown pop-up shop offers plenty of styles and prints to choose from, I love the brand’s “Design Your Own“ service. Apparently, family photos and snaps of pets are the most popular, but pretty much anything can be turned into a pair of one-of-a-kind swim shorts. Oh, and every pair of swim shorts comes with a 5-year guarantee!

The Orlebar Brown pop-up will be available until September 4th as part of Holt Renfrew’s Cool Summer concept shop on Bloor St. Happy Shopping!

Photo Credits: Holt Renfrew and George Pimentel Photography

What They Wore: YSL Beauty Club

25 May, 2017 Nelia 1 Comment

Earlier this month, YSL Beauty threw a spectacular bash in celebration of the iconic Touche Eclat’s 25th anniversary. The party was crazy fun and had everything: beauty claw machine, glitter tub photobooth, product engraving, makeup touch-ups, food and drinks, and a special performance by Coeur de Pirate. I go to a lot of parties as part of my job, but this one was particularly fun.

It seemed that most of Toronto’s fashion industry showed up to #YSLBeautyClub too, wearing their best “rock chic” looks – lots of moto jackets and so much black! I went with a printed “oldie but goodie” Hayley Elsaesser frock, with a fave Acne leather jacket on top, of course. Check out the rest of the looks in the gallery after the jump!

More photos after the jump!
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What They Wore: Fogo Island Shop Event at Holt Renfrew

18 April, 2017 Nelia 3 Comments

I’ve been loving Holt Renfrew’s H Project pop up shops for a while now, but I’m particularly obsessed with everything H Project’s Uncrate Canada has to offer, including the new Fogo Island pop up offerings. Last week, I attended an event hosted by Alexandra Weston in honour of Holt Renfrew’s Fogo Island pop up shop with special guest, Zita Cobb, Founder of the Fogo Island Inn and CEO of the Shorecast Foundation.

Speaking to the attendees, Zita Cobb referred to patchwork quilts as a “perfect metaphor for everything we are doing here. This little patch could be Fogo Island…one patch alone will not keep you warm in the winter. If you figure out how to stich yourself to the other patches and keep stitching and stitching, you have a quilt…..I want to say to Alexandra and your team, you are really wonderful stitchers. Thank you so much for stitching us in.”

The Fogo Island pop up will be available at Holt Renfrew Bloor Street (with some pieces available online) until early May and will stock a variety of vibrant quilts, delicious artisanal jams, and handcrafted home decor – all made on Fogo Island. So if you are looking for a unique gift with meaning, make sure to stop by and shop this lovely collection while you still can. And while you’re at it, check out the rest of Holt Renfrew’s Uncrate Canada offerings – I am obsessed with the Obakki and Laura Siegel dresses they have in stores right now.

More after the jump!
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You Are Invited: CHANEL COCO CAFÉ at Holt Renfrew in Toronto

2 March, 2017 Nelia 2 Comments

If you’ve always dreamed of visiting a CHANEL-themed cafe, then you’re in luck! Running from March 1 to March 26, COCO CAFÉ at Holt Renfrew Bloor Street in Toronto will welcome all with open arms, complimentary beauty services, and CHANEL-branded coffee cups. I got a chance to preview the space yesterday, and as always I walked away in awe of CHANEL’s ability to transform any space into a dreamlike wonderland, whether it comes to runway shows, or pop-up shops like the COCO CAFÉ.

Celebrating the launch of ROUGE COCO GLOSS, COCO CAFÉ features a variety of fun beauty stations, filled to the brim with covetable goodies. There’s a very instagrammable magnet wall, the cutest selfie backdrop, and lots of complimentary services:

CHANEL CHANCE “Juice Bar” fragrance consultations
Hydra Beauty “Bubble Bar” face or hand massages
Lip Lollipop Bar
Manicure Bar
Nail Photo Cam
Makeup Master Classes

For someone who loves CHANEL and beauty, this is the ultimate pop-up experience. Stop by, play with some beauty products, shop the new ROUGE COCO GLOSS before its official launch date (March 3rd), take lots of photos, and just have fun. The cheerful COCO CAFÉ and the beaming Lily-Rose Depp wouldn’t have it any other way.

More after the jump!
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Style Guide to a Smooth Valentine’s Day

1 February, 2017 Nelia 1 Comment

It’s no secret that Valentine’s Day is one of my favourite days of the year. I live for the cutesy boxes of candy and chocolates, can never say no to a cheesy teddy bear or two, and want to buy (and wear) heart prints all day every day during the month of February. Regardless of whether I’m coupled up or blissfully single, Valentine’s Day has always been my jam. Needless to say, I don’t mess around when it comes to planning my Valentine’s Day outfit and activities. Below are some of my personal Valentine’s Day tips, in case you need a few ideas.

1. #ChooseToSmooth
While I don’t generally encourage people to go out bare-legged in February, Valentine’s Day is certainly an exception to the rule. Wintertime can be quite rough on skin in general, and while some people use this time to let their leg hair grow wild, I find that shaving my legs regularly helps keep my skin nice and smooth, especially when I use Gillette Venus Swirl razor and shave gel. Venus razors are specifically designed for women’s curves with 5 individually adjusting Contour blades, and give me a quick (but long-lasting) shave, while gently exfoliating the skin all at the same time. And even when I’m too lazy to use the shaving gel, the water-activated MoistureGlide serum provides enough glide for a smooth and comfortable shave. As a result, my legs look and feel great during those rough winter months whether I’m grinning and baring it for Valentine’s Day, doing Barre on weekends, or just lounging around the house with le bf.

2. Plan Ahead
If you plan to go out on Valentine’s Day, then making a reservation ahead of time is key. Most restaurants will have various Valentine’s Day specials, but if you take too long, your options may be quite limited. If you’d like to try something new, Lavelle (where these photos were taken) is one of the city’s most beautiful new restaurants, with super romantic views of the city and a Valentine’s Day menu to drool for. Pre-buy your tickets online, and enjoy a (stress-free) romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.

More after the jump!
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You Are Invited: TIFF Cinematheque Presents Volcano: The Films of Anna Magnani

18 January, 2017 Nelia 1 Comment

One of the first posts on this site (way back in 2009) was about TIFF Cinematheque’s Italian Cinema showcase. I noted then that Italian films from the 50’s and 60’s were probably some of my favourite movies of all time. In part because I grew up watching them, and also because they still hold up so many years later. Well, starting this month TIFF Cinematheque will be showcasing more gems of Italian Cinema, this time focusing on films starring the incomparable Anna Magnani. If you’re not familiar with La Magnani’s body of work, this is your chance to see some of her most brilliant performances on the big screen. It’s the perfect wintertime date idea! More info after the jump!
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What They Wore: Holt Renfrew’s Uncrate South America

25 October, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago, the stylish Torontonians gathered at Holt Renfrew on Bloor St to celebrate the launch of Uncrate South America, the latest capsule collection of socially responsible products available exclusively at Holts. Made by artisans in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, this collection is chock-full of cool accessories, chic jewelry, and adorable toys – ethically-made using morally-sourced materials. If you’re looking for a unique present for any occasion, this collection should definitely be on your radar – there’s something for everyone.

You can learn more about H Project and Uncrate South America here. And check out the photos from the launch party below.

More after the jump!
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What I Wore: Cat’s Pajamas

11 October, 2016 Nelia 2 Comments

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve been obsessed with this Drake’s for J.Crew pajama outfit for a while now, so, of course, as soon as the collection landed in stores, I snapped it up. And while most people wouldn’t consider wearing silk pajamas to a fancy party, I wore mine to the Nordstrom Eaton Centre store opening, and spent the night saying “thank you”, because this outfit was a huge hit. Props to J.Crew for making a comfy outfit look and feel so exquisite.

But enough about my amazing PJs, let’s talk about Nordstrom! That store is a joy to shop in, and I’m really excited about its arrival in Toronto (they carry Madewell, y’all!). With a stunning shoe department full of both high-end and more affordable designer names, several fancy boutiques like Miu Miu and Loewe, a monogramming station (something I’ll surely be using come Christmas shopping season), an Alexander Wang shop-in-shop, and my new obsession – Sugarfina candy (the Jamaican Rum Snowballs are thebomb.com), this store has become my must-visit in the city, and pretty soon, there’s going to be a second location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre!

If you’d like to celebrate the opening of Nordstrom’s second Toronto location, make sure to grab your tickets before they sell out! The Nordstrom Yorkdale Shopping Centre Gala will take place on October 19th at 7pm, and gala proceeds will be donated to several charitable foundations. More details can be found here. See you there?

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Shopping: UNIQLO Toronto Eaton Centre Opens Its Doors

3 October, 2016 Nelia Leave a Comment

It’s been an exciting September in Toronto. First, Nordstrom finally opened its doors at the Toronto Eaton Centre, and last week UNIQLO did the same, with throngs of fans lining up around the block. Luckily, I was invited to check out the store the night before, but even during the pre-opening, the store was packed to the brim. As a fan of the Japanese retailer, I was ecstatic to finally be able to shop the packable ultra light down jackets, warm and comfy HEATTECH layers, and of course, the chic Ines de la Fressange x UNIQLO collection. I was also pleasantly surprised to find the “UNIQLO Meets Toronto” corner, chock full of Canadian-inspired goodies from shops like Drake General and SOUVENIR.

The store itself is huge, bright, and well-stocked, with two floors of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing neatly displayed. Though I am very curious to see how quickly product will be re-stocked after the first weekend in business. Another UNIQLO store will be opening at Yorkdale Shopping Centre this month, which will hopefully help with crowds and line-ups.

So tell me, are you excited about UNIQLO finally opening in Toronto? Share in the comments.

More after the jump!
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