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Toronto Fashion Week: Fall 2015 Favourites

WMCFW is coming, and while this season’s focus will be on Spring 2016 collections, I wanted to revisit last season’s shows, and share my Fall 2015 favourites. If you’re on the lookout for cool Canadian designs to invest in, perhaps you’ll find a few new faves as well.

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Mikhael Kale
Mikhael Kale has long been at the top of my fave Canadian designer list, and still his Fall 2015 collection managed to exceed all of my expectations. Artful embellishments, creative shapes, a mix of textures and exciting colours – it was my favourite collection last season, and one I would almost go as far as to compare to couture – it looked exquisite! So far, I only own one Mikhael Kale piece, but I am certainly itching to add more from this incredibly talented designer. Select pieces from his Fall 2015 collection are available at Holt Renfrew, so make sure to check them out in person – I have no doubt that you’ll be impressed.

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Hayley Elsaesser
Ever since I laid eyes on Hayley Elsaesser’s Spring 2015 Heavenly Bodies collection, I’ve been in love with her particular brand of eclectic maximalism. Her Fall 2015 Midnight Cowboy collection was true to her colourful aesthetic, full of fun prints executed on fairly classic silhouettes. There were matching knit crop top/skirt co-ordinates, bomber jackets, sweater dresses, and even a few things for the boys. I guess girls aren’t the only ones who want to have fun.

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VAWK
It’s hard to believe that Sunny Fong’s fun but sophisticated ‘DOT du JOURS’ Fall 2015 collection was originally inspired by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. There’s no trace of silliness that defined the animated film; instead, the collection was sexy and vibrant – with flirty cocktail dresses, glam gowns, and Sunny’s specialty – cool coats. Rounded shapes (meatball-inspired?) were featured prominently, adding an architectural feel to the collection. Another great showing from one of my fave Canadian designers.

More after the jump!
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Toronto Fashion Week: Fall 2014 Roundup

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I suppose it’s not a bad thing that spring is taking its sweet time getting here, because last month’s Toronto Fashion Week Fall 2014 shows feel as relevant as ever. Even if I am getting quite fed up with my winter clothes, I wouldn’t mind wrapping myself in some covet-worthy leather jackets, beautiful printed dresses, and fuzzy mohair sweaters that I saw on the runways in March. This season, thanks to Best Buy Canada and VIVA Beauty from Best Buy, I was fully prepared for the craziness of fashion week – my survival kit included a fancy Canon DSLR camera, complete with a brand new SD card, and some beauty goodies to get me through the week looking fresh – it was a lifesaver! This season, I also didn’t attempt being in several places at the same time, but selected a few days and a few designers to support, and I have to say that it really worked out well for me. I didn’t feel as burnt out as usual, and I still got to see and shoot some amazing Canadian designers at work.

One of the highlights of my week was Beaufille. The latest collection from Chloe and Parris Gordon was full of standout pieces worthy of a good catfight. Loose silhouettes, paired with cleverly placed slits and hook-and-eye embellishments, embossed leather and of course the piece that stole my heart – the red moto jacket of my dreams – it was all very wearable, modern, and oozed the cool factor. Definitely my favourite collection from the Canadian sisters. The only thing I hate about this is the fact that I’ll have to wait forever (6-8 months) to get my hands on my fave pieces.

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As usual, the Joe Fresh show was complete and utter mayhem. Even without a top model headliner, the show was packed, with people spilling out of their seats, and for good reason too. Once again, Joe Mimran showed a collection of affordable pieces that still managed to get hearts racing, and that will pretty soon be available not only in Canada and the US, but in 23 other countries worldwide! Not too shabby for a brand that began at a grocery store, non?

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But despite the big expansion news, Joe Fresh Fall 2014 collection was as Canadian as they come, what with a ton of cute jackets (wool, moto, puffers, you name it!), intarsia sweaters, and faux fur dominating most of the looks. But perhaps because winter and I, we are done professionally, my personal faves were the lovely dresses printed with ethereal images of landscapes and nature. Once these hit the stores, be prepared to fight me for them. Elbows up, ladies!

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Pink Tartan Fall 2014 was another collection quite heavily influenced by Canadian winters. While Kim Newport-Mimran stuck to her signature ladylike aesthetic, she mixed in a few unexpected patterns and fabrics, making this one of my favourite Pink Tartan collections ever (with the exception of this one).

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The collection was very “glam cocktail hour at the chalet”, what with cozy intarsia sweaters, black and red buffalo check, fur stoles, and ginormous fur mittens, mixed with full skirts, metallic dresses, and leather pants. Practical and chic? I would like one of each, please and thank you.

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Always a personal favourite, Mackage Fall 2014 show definitely did not disappoint. With scattered faux maple leafs lining the runway, the models rocked some of the best outerwear pieces I’ve seen all week. Clearly, co-creative directors of the brand Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy know what Canadians both want and need from their winter wares – style and function, and boy did they deliver!

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Fur trims, quilted leather everything, pops of fuchsia, Black Watch tartan pieces, oh my! It was unfair how good everything looked…and also quite dangerous for my wallet. And don’t even get me started on their bags! Simply put…this collection was the bomb-dot-com.

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More after the jump!

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Wishlist: VAWK for eBay Holiday Collection by Sunny Fong

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Christmas will be coming early this year, thanks to Canadian designer Sunny Fong and his latest limited-edition VAWK for eBay Holiday Collection that will be available from December 2nd to 8th.

Consisting of 9 festive pieces, Fong’s second eBay collection is even better than the first, and I have no doubt that it’ll sell in a heartbeat…so if you really like something, do not wait! The Manta Dress from the first collection is back, but it’s been glamified with sparkly sequins – perfect for the holiday parties. Leather studs adorn the new tie, cuff, and collar pieces, and fox fur was added to the chic Manta Caplet. There are also silk scarves and a pocket square finished with beautiful custom-designed prints.

One very notable addition (and my favourite piece) this season is the one-of-a-kind White Manta Gown, made out of thick stretchy ponte fabric, with strategically placed sexy (but classy) cutouts with sheer netting, and one that will work for a wide range of sizes (size 2 to size 8 to be specific). The fit, the cut, the fabric, and the design are all stellar, and the crazy thing is – the bidding price for this piece will start at only $0.99, with proceeds from the sale going to Kids Help Phone. It’s simply perfect for an elegant special occasion, and I can even see this as a laid back wedding gown too – pretty, versatile, and for a good cause? I think you may just have to fight me for it.

What do you think of VAWK for eBay Holiday Collection? Will you be bidding? Share in the comments.

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More photos and prices after the jump!

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VAWK for Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto!

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I’ve never been a fan of uniforms. Wearing something that everyone else has to wear is not my idea of fun. Having said that, when I heard that VAWK’s Sunny Fong was working on Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto’s Lobby Lounge wardrobe, I knew it was going to be special. But even with expectations set high, nothing could prepare me for the spectacular frocks that Sunny went on to create.

“I wanted the design to truly reflect a hybrid of my brand and what I feel Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto represents. I was inspired by the art work in the lobby, the Ming vase tea library and the ornithological theme that is prevalent in the hotel and the Zhang Huan ‘Rising’ sculpture,” said Fong of his inspiration. “When I met with Richard Cooke, we wanted something that seemed almost theatrical, so naturally I knew the silhouette had to be both sophisticated and sexy. I felt my desire to custom create a bold graphic print inspired by the Ming vase would absolutely make a dramatic statement.”

From the print, to the cut, to the details, the dresses are a breath of fresh air, a sight for sore eyes, and a huge departure from the usually drab hotel staff attire. Truth be told, I would absolutely love to own one of these beautiful pieces (uniform or not). Because while they were created for Shangri-La’s staff, the design totally stands on its own, as a regular (if stunning) dress.

Now the million dollar question is…where do I get one? Or should I just get a part-time job at the Lobby Lounge for a chance to snag one of these? Hmm…decisions, decisions.

What do you think of VAWK for Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto? Share in the comments.

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Photo Credits: Christian Stoyanov

Shopping: 5 Pieces Worth Splurging On

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I often get questions from friends and readers alike, asking me to cover what I consider investment pieces – expensive clothing and accessories that aren’t a waste of money. And while  most of the usual “investment” pieces aren’t really that great of an investment if you are looking to make a monetary return, in my opinion, sometimes it pays to spend a little (or even a lot) more on something that will make you happy for a long time, something of superior quality and craftsmanship, something that you could eventually pass down to your grandchildren. So if you are looking to buy something of substance, here are my top 5 pieces worth splurging on, and brands to invest in.

1. Quality Bag

A great quality bag is a must-have for any (and every) working woman out there. Unlike men, we really do need a place to stash our wallet/lipstick/compact/iPad/iPhone/book/snacks/keys/life…A woman’s bag is something that gets used day after day, so why not make it a great one? A timeless high-quality bag is definitely my number one investment piece to consider. Yes, a cheaper one would certainly do the job, but if you consider cost-per-wear (total price paid divided by the number of times the item is used), even a pricey purse could be affordable. If you love your bag, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll wear it everywhere and with everything. And given the quality of your investment, you’ll have it for years to come instead of being used up and thrown out like a cheaper version.

If you are going to make the leap and buy an expensive bag, you should consider its longevity. You don’t want to buy a super-trendy piece, only to realize that it’s totally passé three months later. Invest in a classic shape, and a solid colour. It doesn’t have to be “boring” black (although black is the most versatile), but make sure to pick a colour that you could pair with a few things in your wardrobe, and one that would make you smile too.

Brands To Invest In: Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Hermès, YSL

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2. Heirloom

Whether it be a luxurious timepiece, or a pair of  in-your-face of sunnies, every woman should have a statement accessory to make her outfits pop. Investing in a piece of jewelry, or an accessory that will surely become an heirloom some day down the road is much better than spending the same amount of money on a pile of fast fashion baubles that will break or become discoloured after a couple of uses.

One of my fave pieces in my jewellery box is a turquoise YSL Arty ring. Every time I wear it, I get compliments left and right, and I have yet to find an outfit I couldn’t spice up with that pretty cocktail ring. Same goes for my classic Chanel brooch – so far, I’ve pinned it to my blazers, shirts, and sweaters, but it can also be worn as a necklace, and a faux belt buckle. Don’t you wish your mom or grandma passed down something like that to you?

Brands To Invest In: Cartier, Tiffany and Co, Chanel, Prada, YSL

More after the jump!

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Wishlist: VAWK for eBay by Sunny Fong

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As a huge fan of Canadian luxury label VAWK, I am super excited to share that designer Sunny Fong is collaborating with eBay on a very special capsule collection launching on August 12th (available to September 15th)! The limited edition collection will consist of 7 gorgeous pieces, all priced under $120! Knowing how pricey Sunny’s VAWK designs are, I quite literally jumped for joy upon hearing how affordable this collab is. Picking up a couple of VAWK for eBay pieces is now firmly on my fall calendar.

So tell me, are you excited about this Canadian collab? Which piece(s) will you be buying?

Price list and item descriptions are after the jump.

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Toronto Fashion Week: VAWK Fall 2013 Collection

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By the time the 4th day of WMCFW rolled around, all I wanted to do was NOT make my way to the tents, and stay at home, wrapped in a cozy blanket watching bad TV…but if there’s one show that I simply couldn’t miss it’s VAWK, so off to the tents I went.

As usual, Sunny Fong did not disappoint. VAWK Fall 2013 collection was once again chock-full of drool-worthy coats and stunning dresses. He does those so well! Fong’s fall collection was inspired by hunting, and featured custom-made prints created by the designer himself, plenty of fur accents, as well as stag and wolf leather appliqué tops, that even the models backstage were swooning over.

I, on the other hand, was swooning (and still am) over VAWK’s outerwear and gowns. In less experienced hands, details like pleats on a coat could’ve been all wrong, but in Fong’s masterful hands, the end result was subtle, elegant, and simply stunning, making me want to rip those beautiful clothes off the models’ skinny backs and run into the night with my precious VAWK loot.

What do you think of VAWK Fall 2013 collection? What are your favourite pieces? Share in the comments.

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More after the jump!

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LG Fashion Week: VAWK Fall 2011 Collection

VAWK, presenting at LGFW for the very first time, was the one show I was looking forward to the most this spring. After hearing so many wonderful things about Sunny Fong’s previous collections, and seeing the label in person at The Room, I was ready for a closer look at the VAWK world.

When I told le boyfriend excitedly about the upcoming VAWK show, his first question was: “Is Vawk a type of a Viking Hawk?“…Umm, no it is not, and he was only half joking. For those that aren’t familiar with VAWK (aka “Viking Hawk”), it is a sophisticated ready-to-wear Canadian label for a confident modern woman – luxury and all. 

My anticipation and excitement were totally justified. Sunny Fong’s Fall 2011 collection was full of lush Mongolian furs, cream knits, teal coats, mixed in with a dose of leopard print and leather – all to die for. After a first few looks, I lost track of all of my “must-haves”, realizing that I will definitely need to ask for a lot more Bay gift cards for my birthday. Another really amazing thing about the label is their support of diverse models on the catwalk – Helen, a 63-year old Ben Barry model, walked to roaring applause, rocking the low-cut black sheath better than some stick-thin young-thing ever could.

Overall, the clothes were gorgeous, wearable, and grown-up – pieces I wouldn’t mind splurging on. The painstaking details are really what set Sunny’s work apart from the rest – his clothes are beyonditricate – delicate with an edge. Even model Tori Leach, closing the show, seemed blown away, as she nearly fell on the runway, with Sunny catching her in his arms – hands down, my favorite moment of LG Fashion Week this season.

Now, I am not going to lie and tell you that I wish fall was here again (summer! now!), but when it is…I do hope that I have a VAWK piece or two in my closet to get me through the weather – full on Viking Hawk styles.

More photos after the jump!

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WHAT I WORE

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