The Bay Spring Trend Event - helping me be incredibly fashionable!

Christelle and I had the great pleasure of attending the Spring Trend Event which was held at the Queen Street Bay's White Room last week. I don't know about you, but I like it when someone very plainly spells out the trends to me, what's involved in them, how to wear them and what to buy - it makes my life so much easier!

First we got our makeup trends from MAC: Terra Copper (beautiful shimmering copper on the eyes and lips); Raw Fined (an almost natural look with perfect, glowing skin); Pop Classics (with an amazing bright pop of colour on the eyes or lips); and Ice Dreams (beautifully pastel eye shades).

And then we were on to fashion!

The colours for spring are coral, orange, bright red, bright pink, greens - neon, yellow-green, grass green, blue - denim, royal, soft and warm neutrals, soft and pretty pastels and then white moving into summer.
As far as patterns go we are looking at stripes, florals, colour block, rustic lace and crochet and tribal.  And they have grouped all of this into 4 themes:

Hyper Colour with bold blocks of colour
Riviera Redux emulating the seaside glamour of the 1950's with red, white, blue with pops of yellow and hot pink.
Modernist - classic items in beautiful fabrics and neutral colours that feel luxe.
Pretty Hip - 70's folk feel but not hippy dippy - with soft colours, florals, crochet and denim.

Some of the items you will want to make sure are in your spring wardrobe: an essential shirt, modern shift, flat sandal, something striped, cropped pant, maxi lengths and a summer tote.

What really impresses me is the variety of lines that The Bay is carrying these days including Pink Tartan, Theory and Rachel by Rachel Roy (which has some amazingly low price points on many of the items they were showing, my spring wardrobe will be including some of them for sure) - so if you haven't checked The Bay out lately - you're in for a surprise, and a treat!

I'm busy planning my spring wardrobe, if only the weather would cooperate!

- Lisamarie -

Fall for denim with LOULOU's fall fashion blowout edition!

It probably won't surprise you to know that the ultimate Canadian shopping guide, otherwise know as LOULOU - is my very favourite magazine!  Heads up, the fall edition has hit the stands and it is a must-have if you are starting to think about all the fall trends and where to get them!  My favourite part is the denim report - 14 pages of denim, denim and even more denim - with jeans being my daily wardrobe staple I am always on the lookout for what's new and exciting!  Just to whet your appetite, here's a preview:

Are jeans on your fall wish list?  Would love to hear what everyone's favourites are!

- Lisamarie -

Do You Want to be BIGGER THAN KANYE WEST? We Know How!

...without ABUSIVE USE OF CAPITALIZATION! I've got a few ideas to give Kanye a run for his money. Our rapper dons a necklace almost as big as his ego in his latest video called "Power" and since big accessories are all the rage, I prepared my own selection!

How about a big furry hat/cape/roadkill? Ke$ha leads the way with this bizarre combo (even for a stage outfit) to the big accessories mental asylum. A necklace made with Christmas lights paired with gold diaper pants will definitely make you stood out from the crowd (and what's up with the broken toys on stage?).

For a do-it-yourself approach, go to your local hardware store and pick a couple of yards of this beautiful gold chain for a bargain.

If the previous chain is too heavy, you can still pretend with this amazing knitted chain, to be bigger, stronger, faster than Kanye. Knit is so badass!

If you want to be bigger AND weirder, you could purchase a big necklace with a huge cockroach inside or other accessories with bugs (all found on sea of shoes), just to raise the creep factor.

However, if you prefer something more sophisticated, YSL has beautiful bold accessories.

I know which ones I'm going to pick. Hint: it's not the accessories with roaches.

-Christelle-

Big Bold Prints for Sonia Rykiel, Proenza Schouler and Suno 2011 Resort Collections

I'm not much of a print person unless the prints are bold and interesting and the latest resort collections include many designs with geometrical and architectural patterns: it's all over Sonia Rykiel and Proenza Schouler's collections while Suno is inspired by ethnic prints. So, I'm quite liking this but... the dreaded jumpsuits are still everywhere even though they look better than Tyra's!

Pictures: Sonia Rykiel

Pictures: Proenza Schouler

Pictures: Suno

-Christelle-

The 80's are back with a vengence at Esprit!

Anyone that lived through 80's fashions the first time, finds the thought of them coming back horrifying!  It appears that the designer at Esprit either doesn't have that issue or is too young to have suffered through it already because Esprit's Fashion Rocks Collection is giving me one of those bad flashbacks!

How about a cropped and studded denim biker jacket for $119.50 - I must admit I kind of like the studs but if you made this pink and leather it would look just like the jacket I wore to Bon Jovi back in the day...

Stretch Zipper Leggings - $35.50 - can anyone say spandex!  Stryper wishes this kind of innovation had existed back then!

Flashdance anyone?  Oversized Slub Jersey Tunic Tee - $39.50

Leggings go acid washed!  Acid Washed Denim Leggings with Decorative Studs - $69.50

Jersey Tunic with Studs - $45.50 - this one I would actually wear - it has an 80's vibe but is still modern looking... the rest - well - once was enough for me!  You can find the Fashion Rocks Collection online at www.espritshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Hot Pick: Big Necklaces, Big Ideas

 Big chunky necklaces are everywhere this season and I really have to pick a a couple of new pieces for myself, but I haven't quite decided yet. There is so much choice!

Metallics

This Falconiere (above) bronze-tone metal chain and multicolored Swarovski crystal necklace ($460) is big but still somewhat casual.

 Knot Crunchie Collar from Topshop ($75) offers a cheaper alternative.

After a night out, I got a few more ideas:

Le Chateau and Aldo offer cheap and cheerful necklaces ($20-25)

Pearls and Ribbons

7-row pearl and ribbon necklace by Adele Marie ($83)

Black Ribbon and pearls from Lanvin ($496) - available at colette.fr

Stones

Green Onyx necklace by Siman Tu ($850)

Veined Turquoise Necklace by Siman Tu ($745)

-Christelle-

Diversity? More like Hypocrisy!

When I came across this picture from the latest Sportmax's campaign, I thought this model needed to eat a few sandwiches. Clothes do look better on tall, slim figures, and that's why models look the way they do and not like me. But models should look healthy and not like Biafran survivors. I mean look at those thighs, they are unreal.

On the other hand, I'm also sick of the "Big is Beautiful" mantra. No, big is not beautiful. That's why millions of westerners spend ridiculous amounts of money to lose weight. A little fat doesn't hurt and can be sexy but when I saw this picture, I just rolled my eyes:

Sure, her face is absolutely stunning. But how is that belly supposed to be inspiring? It's not healthy either. This photo shoot is not about diversity. Bull crap. This is more a case of making a bunch of overweight women feel better. If magazines were so concerned about diversity and representing their readers, where are the Latina, Black or Asian models ?

You know what, send me hate mail, I don't care: I don't want to see either of these models in my magazines. How about using healthy looking women instead?

-Christelle-

Looking Back: 2009 Was The Year of Sexy Photo Shoots and Crazy Pop Stars

Marloes Horst models a few 2009 fashion trends for Black Magazine.

Over-the-knee boots and asymmetrical designs were big this year.

The ubiquitous shoulder pads (on a Azzedine Alaia dress) reminded us of the 80's...

...and nudity was virtually in every fashion shoot. Vogue France even published a 2010 Calendar with all but one topless pictures.

Rihanna and Lady Gaga  took fashion to new dizzying heights. They both wear lingerie as outerwear here, another trend for 2009 as well as over-the-knee boots.

-Christelle-

Hot Pick: Carlie Wong Designs a Modern, Yet Feminine, Collection for Spring 2010

I discovered Carlie Wong on the first season of Project Runway Canada: I liked her designs and I've always thought she had left the show way too early. Fortunately, her reality TV days are now far behind, and Carlie has definitely matured in her Spring 2010 collection. This collection is very architectural with sharp, geometrical lines. The designs are modern but still feminine: dresses in lace and silk soften her collection.

Carlie's collection is available in a few boutiques in her hometown, Vancouver, as well as in a couple of boutiques in Montreal and Toronto. Check her website to see where you can get yourself one of these pretty dresses.

$520 - Prices are in Canadian Dollars

$740

$780

$380

$700

$400

-Christelle-