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Lupita Nyong’o Covers American VOGUE

19 June, 2014 Nelia Leave a Comment

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Finally an American VOGUE cover I can get excited about! After the disaster that was Kimye cover, I was so pleased to see the gorgeous Lupita Nyong’o on the cover of the July 2014 issue. And while the styling of the cover itself is pretty blah, her beauty radiates and improves it tenfold. Luckily, the rest of the photos are much better. Set in Marrakech, this shoot really inspired me to look into packing my bags and jetting off to Morocco for a week – to explore the bazaars, chill at the hammam, and just lounge around looking drop-dead-gorgeous and Lupita-like. I mean…that photo of her on the couch…she looks incredible!

So there you have it…first VOGUE puts a reality TV famewhore on the cover, and then follows up with an uber-talented loveliest and smartest actress around…Colour me confused. But since an American VOGUE cover is till a huge deal (sorry, Victoria Beckham), this is yet another win for Lupita, who’s already had a pretty kick-ass year so far. You go, girl!

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More photos after the jump!

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Friday Faux Pas: Kim Kardashian Covers VOGUE Magazine April 2014 Issue

21 March, 2014 Nelia 1 Comment

Is it April 1st? Because this one just doesn’t seem all that real. After weeks of rumours, we finally get our confirmation – Kim Kardashian scored a VOGUE Magazine cover. Well, not all by herself, of course. Kanye is ever present – eyes closed, cupping his blushing bride – the embodiment of love…and yet, all I can think about this cover is…barf…and also, WHAT ABOUT POSH?! It’s a well-known fact that Victoria Beckham has been trying and trying to land her own VOGUE cover for years now, only for Anna Wintour to deny her time and time again. But if Anna deems Posh too low-classy to be on her cover, then what the eff was she thinking here?! Clearly, the woman is losing it. She even approved the use of a hashtag on the cover! What’s next?! EMOJI? STICKERS? WINKY FACES?! And I get it…ratings…blah…blah…#worldsmosttalkedaboutcouple…blah…blah…But that’s what the tabloids are for, right?! Is Anna planning on putting The Bachelor on her May cover? How about Honey Boo Boo? Since when is VOGUE = US Weekly? All of these questions are circling in my brain, with no answer to be found.

But for all it’s worth, Friday Faux Pas is back, and ubelievably, this week’s faux pas is…VOGUE! Who would’ve thunk.

Photo Credits: VOGUE

Gwen Stefani in Vogue January 2013 Issue

18 December, 2012 Nelia 1 Comment

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Wearing YSL, and looking extra beautiful is Gwen Stefani on the cover of January 2013 issue of US Vogue. I’ve been a fan of Gwen’s ever since I was a skinny 12 year old, belting out Don’t Speak whenever I could, way before I could speak English, which is why I never miss a Gwen issue…and this one in particular looks great!

What do you think of her styling? Are you a fan? Share in the comments.

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Photo Credits: Vogue

Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part Two

13 December, 2012 Nelia 4 Comments

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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.”

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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!

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Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part One

10 December, 2012 Nelia 9 Comments

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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.

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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!

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Magnificent Obsession

18 June, 2010 Nelia 2 Comments

I am obsessed with this July US Vogue editorial by Peter Lindbergh. Magnificently obsessed. Seeing photos of Natalia and Ewan play house, going from adoring love to cheating, stealing, and leaving, made my heart jump and hurt a little. For Ewan’s character, of course. Aside from the obvious question of “Who would EVER leave Ewan McGregor, if they were lucky enough to have him???”, this editorial is perfection – which is a rarity for US Vogue as of late.

At first, I didn’t want to post Ewan-less photos, but since they are important to the story, I am leaving them in. The funny thing about these, is that the feelings I felt as a teenage girl in love with NSync/BSB/fill-in-the-blank-actor, came back with a vengeance, and here I am, staring at these photos…feeling the same butterflies in the pit of my stomach at a simple sight of a smiling, frowning, drinking his sorrows away Ewan. I saw him at TIFF last year…pretty close too, and yes, he is quite handsome. Very handsome, actually. Short, but oh-so-handsome…and his accent, it just slays me every time.

Anyway, here’s the US Vogue July 2010 editorial, appropriately named “Magnificent Obsession”, featuring #1 on my Freebie Five – Ewan McGregor, with Natalia Vodianova, in a role of his wife. Now, leave me alone, while I day-dream about my own love affair with Mr. McGregor, sans the cheating and stealing, plus lots of kissing and groping. Hope you’re having a great Friday! I know, I am.

Photo Credits: Vogue

Sarah Jessica Parker in Vogue May 2010

16 April, 2010 Nelia Leave a Comment

Though that Big/Carrie Vogue issue will always have a special place in my heart, any magazine that features the always lovely SJP on its cover will be bought by yours truly – simple as that. Any magazine that features Miley Cyrus, on the other hand, might just be thrown on the floor and stomped on…and set ablaze.

Photo Credits: TFS

Not Another Fat Model

18 December, 2009 Nelia Leave a Comment

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve gained some (20lbs) weight recently, but it really irks me when people throw around the “F” word (as in fat) at girls that are size 4 at the most. First Gemma Ward, and now Lara Stone? Lara’s story is in January’s Vogue, and gives us a rare glimpse into the not-so-pretty side of modeling.

Still, it’s not easy being a four in a land of zeros. We don’t tend to talk much about models’ inner lives. It seems enough that they are enviably thin, impossibly beautiful, and paid gobs of money to stand around in gorgeous clothes, but it can be hard on a young girl’s psyche to constantly hear how different you are. “It’s depressing when the clothes don’t fit and you are always the odd one out,” says Stone. Wearing black Azzedine Alaïa boots, a Balenciaga miniskirt, and a Chanel necklace, Stone looks every inch a supermodel at the peak of her career, but her size remains an issue. “I was on a shoot just last week,” she says. “And the stylist took out this tight corset dress and said, ‘Here, put it on,’ and I was like, ‘Who are you kidding?’ There was no way, so that was very rude of her. It’s like, come on, she’s a woman; whether you’re buying jeans at the mall or wearing couture, you know what it’s like for clothes not to fit. It’s not an easy kind of rejection, because it’s very personal. It’s you, your body. You take it to heart.”

Here’s hoping that more designers and stylists will take note of Lara Stone’s phenomenal success, and ensure that the girls that are walking down their runways and starring in their ads are not only beautiful, but also healthy. Though that might take a while.

Photo Credits: Louis Vuitton

Rodarte for Target in Vogue

20 November, 2009 Nelia Leave a Comment

So more and more Rodarte for Target photos have been popping up lately, but Vogue and Teen Vogue, understandably, got the first dibs for having the pieces as part of their editorials. Ahh…why don’t we have a Target in Canada? I really love Target, it has the best atmosphere for its type of store and they always have cute housewares stuff, as well as other miscellaneous crap that I always end up buying. Can we start a petition please? Bring Topshop and Target to Canada! Yes! Yes, we can! Anyway, my fave is still the leopard print dress on Dakota Fanning below, but the Vogue-featured pieces are also so very cute! The collection launches very soon (December 20th)! Can’t wait to see the rest!