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Rewind 2014: A Year in Photos

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It’s official…2014 is out, 2015 is in! But before we move on to all things new and exciting, I wanted to do a little revisiting, in part to look back on the wonderful year that 2014 was, and in part to have this post for posterity, and in case I ever need a reminder of some awesome things I did last year. If you hate those “me, me, me” posts, then this one may not be for you. Sorry (not really).

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2014 started out pretty well for me, unlike 2013 (credit card fraud galore!), I kicked off the year with a brand new video segment I created in partnership with Yorkdale and Max Kopanygin, called Styled By Nelia. Since January, we shot 9 segments, with 9 amazing retailers, and plan to shoot lots more in 2015. Since I truly hate to be on video, this was a huge challenge for me, but I got more and more comfortable with every episode we shot…and hope to get a little better with each video going forward.

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In February, I had the pleasure of participating in a photoshoot for eLUXE’s Spring 2014 lookbook, featuring Canadian bloggers. And as I will find out later, this will not be the last collab with eLUXE that I would shoot in 2014.


At the beginning of 2014, I also go to test out the Olay Regenerist Luminous skincare line, with beautiful results. Freckles, be gone!
More after the jump!
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What They Wore: Celeb Looks from Met Gala 2014

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What’s more important – adhering to a dress code or bringing something fresh to the red carpet? Last night at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, some celebs decided to pay homage to the celebrated American designer Charles James, while others chose to wear something exciting instead. No shade to James, but after seeing one too many taffeta-clad celebs, I cheered when I glimpsed Lupita Nyong’o’s Prada amazingness. Sure, it wasn’t exactly inspired by Charles James, but it was fun to look at, and if anyone could pull off the bejeweled net dress with feathers, it’s Lupita. Same goes for Kirsten Dunst’s Rodarte Star Wars gown – amazing, and probably not the most appropriate for that particular theme, but still…so cool! Another look I couldn’t resist last night was Chloe Sevigny in Kenzo, which was probably much too modern for last night’s theme, but I loved it all the same.

But it wasn’t solely the rebels that caught my eye, I absolutely adored Liu Wen in a Zac Posen stunner (which I just got to see at Holts last week!), Emmy Rossum in a floral Carolina Herrera gown, Giovanna Battaglia in an 0ff-the-shoulder Dolce & Gabbana, and Hailee Steinfeld in a very theme-(and age)-appropriate black, white, and pink Prabal Gurung gown.

Mostly though, I was underwhelmed with last night’s red carpet looks. My favourite Style Fille Diane Kruger looked washed out in pale blue (though Joshua more than made up for it!), SJP disappointed in a messy Oscar de la Renta, Johnny Depp came dressed as Colonel Sanders, Kate Upton, who isn’t exactly a high-fashion darling, looked frumpy in a Dolce & Gabbana gown, and the rest of the lot just looked…been-there-wore-that.

What do you think of last night’s Met Gala red carpet? Which celebs got it right in your opinion? Share in the comments!

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More celeb Met Gala looks after the jump!

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Zac Posen Fall 2014 Trunk Show at Holt Renfrew

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One of the best perks of being a blogger is meeting incredibly talented fashion industry insiders – designers, photographers, makeup artists, stylists, editors, PR pros, you name it. And while over the years I’ve met my fair share of famous designers, meeting Zac Posen at Holt Renfrew this week was somehow extra special. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Posen was loveliness personified – approachable, interesting, interested, enthusiastic, and just so nice. In the industry, where poker faces are the norm, and snark is commonplace, it was such a pleasure to meet a designer so friendly and so down-to-earth.

Posen was in Toronto for a special fashion show hosted by philanthropist Suzanne Rogers, with proceeds benefiting Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Boost Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention. The day after the show, the designer stopped by Holt Renfrew to attend the Zac Posen Fall 2014 trunk show, with 10% of all purchases made from the evening donated to The Fashion for Passion Foundation in support of Boost Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention.  He circled the room accompanied by Anna van Ravenstein – Pat Cleveland’s beautiful model daughter. Van Ravenstein fluttered around, showing off Posen’s breathtaking Fall 2014 collection, exuding the same boundless energy and playful personality that her famous mother possesses in spades, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

After checking out the collection, making mental wishlists of the dresses that I would buy if I could afford them, I finally got my chance to meet the man of the hour. Along with Hannah Yacobi and her FAJO Magazine team, we chatted with the designer about his Russian heritage (had no idea!), about his show, and of course, fashion. When it came time to snapping photos, after the obligatory “normal” pic, my new BFF turned his face towards me as I turned beet red for a priceless photo. We all laughed, said our good-byes, and he went on to charm the next lucky attendee, as we were left gushing about his loveliness. Just another day in a life of a blogger.

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More photos after the jump!

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Golden Globes 2013: Best Dressed

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Last night’s Golden Globes did not disappoint. Don’t you think? I truly loved Amy and Tina hosting the show, but I wish I’d seen a bit a lot more of them during the broadcast. Watching the red carpet broadcast before the show, and live-tweeting it was also a ton of fun for me. Thanks to those of you who participated in the best/worst debates! It made watching the Globes alone in my pjs a lot more social. So on to my personal best dressed list.

There were quite a few celebs last night that wowed me with their picks (or their stylists’ picks). Let’s get started, shall we? First up, we have Kerry Washington in Miu Miu. To me, this was an unexpected and perhaps a bit casual choice, but it felt fresh and interesting, and it wasn’t a mermaid-cut gown, and I loved it. Kerry has really been killing it lately in the style department, and this look is no exception.

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Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen. That body! That hair! That dress! Sublime.

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Nicole Richie wore a stunning sparkling blue Naeem Khan gown, looking fresh, classy, and so-so-so beautiful! Can you believe that this is the same woman from that reality show starring Paris Hilton? Me neither.

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When I saw Katharine McPhee in this amazing Theyskens Theory dress, I gasped. It is everything an LBD should be – sexy, elegant, and stunning. I could do away with those plastic straps on her shoes, but other than that, from her hair and make-up, to her choice of accessories, McPhee is a vision in black.

More best-dressed after the jump!

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Emmy Awards 2012: Best Dressed

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I realize that Emmy Awards are just the beginning of the award season and aren’t as prestigious as, say, the Oscars, so in order not to use up all of their “good” outfits, the stars choose their safer options to get the red carpet circuit started…but was I the only person that found the majority of Emmy’s attendees wearing the I-AM-BORED-OUT-OF-MY-MIND-I-COULD-FALL-ASLEEP gowns? My gawd, even some of my favorite actresses wore dresses that belonged on one of those Desperate Housewives of Idaho broads.

Anyway…there were a few ladies, who I actually thought looked exciting at the Emmy’s…and they were…imaginary drumroll…Julianna Margulies in a gorgeous…GORGEOUS Giambattista Valli printed gown, January Jones in a lovely and dramatic Zac Posen stunner, Emilia Clarke in a fresh embroidered Chanel dress, Ginnifer Goodwin in a Monique Lhullier orange-crush beaded frock, and my favoritest lady of all – Tina Fey in an elegant Vivienne Westwood gown.

So these are my personal faves, but what about you? Which gowns did you like/love/hate/couldn’t care less about at the Emmy’s this year? Share in the comments!

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More after the jump!

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2010 CFDA Fashion Awards: Noteworthy

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Lincoln Center’s 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards are usually a sight for sore eyes of the fashion-obsessed. This year’s event, though brought out some major star power, did not necessarily impress in the style department. Perhaps it’s just me, but a lot of the dresses were “been there worn that”, and majorly lacked the “wow” factor.

But among the bad and the boring, there were a few ladies (and gents) that looked both interesting and stylish.

SJP attended wearing Alexander McQueen. The actress honored the late McQueen with a speech and runway show, so the dress was both an appropriate and a touching gesture.

Two couples (well, Devon and Zac aren’t a couple-couple, but they did walk the carpet together), two gowns, great effort by both. Have been in love with Devon Aoki for the longest time, and I absolutely adore her Posen gown, her man-candy (Zac Posen as an accessory, anyone?), and her makeup. As for Iman, I don’t necessarily love this Giambattista Valli dress – but it’s Iman…and David Bowie is her husband and date. And she snagged the “Fashion Icon” award. Enough said.

This being Fashion Awards, there was no shortage of supermodels in attendance. My personal favorites were Irina Lazareanu in Philip Lim, fellow Canadian Jessica Stam in Yigal Azrouel, and Michael Kors’ favorite Carmen Kass showing off her sexy back.

The two outfits that definitely elicited emotion, were worn by Dree Hemingway (yes, that Hemingway), and Jessica Biel. I don’t know if it’s Dree’s hair accessory, but I am a bit undecided about her CFDA getup…perhaps she should’ve pressed her suit better, before wearing it? As for Biel, I think the fact that I don’t particularly like her as an actress (or her fashion history), is clouding my judgement. I do, in fact, like this citrus-colored DVF dress, and can imagine someone like Nicole Richie rocking it without much criticism…so I think I’ll give this one thumbs-up for effort. Though I still think she’s a crappy actress (Easy Virtue made me want to stab both my eardrums and my eyes out).

So what did you think about 2010 CFDAs? Was your favorite not listed? Let me know in the comments!

Photo Credits: Jezebel, www.style.com

The Met’s Costume Institute Gala 2010: Best

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Wow, with the exception of Coco Rocha’s Zac Posen aqua-delic gown, my other Best Dressed picks are all solids. Oh my! And while I do believe that it’s best to be brave for an event like the Met’s Gala, I cannot help but be drawn and inspired by these ladies (and gentleman). It is my Best Dressed list, after all, so please don’t hate me too much if we don’t see eye to eye.

Rocha’s Zac Posen gown is absolutely beautiful! I think it was a brave pick and I love Coco for it! My all-time fave Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein and her cute boyfriend Joshua Jackson both sizzled on the red carpet, and though her dress is very similar to the one Ashley Olsen wore last year, I think Diane makes it look fresh for 2010 with her minimalistic hair and accessories.

Kerry Washington in Thakoon for Gap looked red-hot, while Rachel Weisz in custom Oscar de la Renta looked so pretty and radiant – I had to include her in the lineup! And finally, Zoe…looking statuesque and gorgeous in her one-shouldered Calvin Klein gown – simplicity never looked better.

Do you agree with my picks? Do you think they are too safe? Sound off in the comments. Next up – the bold and the brave of the Met’s 2010 Gala!

Photo Credits: www.nymag.com, www.fabsugar.com

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