RLR Loves: Long-Sleeved Sheaths

 

Snake-Print Dress, Wool-Blend Sheath and Stella McCartney-esque Sheer-Sleeved Sheath, $94.90 - $109.90, all from Mango

As women, we have to deal with loads of less-than-glam responsibilities - periods, labour and keeping up with the Kardashians, to name a few.  Sigh...the burdens of being a woman aren't always easy, but I believe that we've been given two incredible reasons that make us lucky to be ladies:  heels and dresses.   When I'm feeling more bedraggled than bedazzled, I always put on a dress to instantly feel pretty.  And just because it's cold outside shouldn't mean that you give up your womanly rights.  Pants have their place in every wardrobe but a long-sleeved sheath dress worn with a knowing smile will always make you feel like the best-dressed girl in the room.  RLR Tip:  A long-sleeved sheath will take you from boardroom to boîte without missing a beat.  Wear it with opaque tights, a black blazer and pointy-toed pumps to look ready to conquer your company.  Once 5:00 rolls around, whip off your blazer, throw on some sparkle (try earrings or a statement necklace) and add a pair of killer wedge booties.  How easy is that?!

Confessions of the Black Legging Brigade

With black leggings comes responsibility.  For how to wear them right (like this model from Gap, www.gapcanada.ca), check out my article in Metro.

Oh, and I just drew the name for my LG Fashion Week care package of fun.  And the winner is....

SARA LANCASTER

Hooray for you!  Treats will be coming in the mail shortly!

Check back next week for loads of fun frocks (so many amazing ones to drool over) to get you ready for party season, the prettiest slippers you've ever seen and lots of other fun fashion treats.  On that note, off to have a little Friday afternoon drink.  Is 2:00 too early?  Happy weekend!

xo

Found: A Proper Topper

When it comes to coats, I'm all about making a statement.  Sure, you wear a coat to keep you warm, but you can also use it as a serious weapon in your style arsenal.  Add this fabulously feminine military coat to your wardrobe and it will instantly fire up everything else you own with its luxe wool/cashmere blend, empire waist and trompe l'oeil peplum pockets.  It's perfect for now and will be even more amazing over the holidays for everything from Christmas shopping to not-so-silent-night soirées.  I'm smitten...I am. 

Find the Contemporaine Military Coat now at Simons.ca  ($278)

Cozy, Comfy, Cool

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Eniko Mihalik shot by Terry Richardson - Harper's Bazaar, November 2011

Fashion is all about fantasy.  In pictures, runway shows, movies and magazines, I want to see the impossibly glamorous model wearing a sheer, glittery gown with skyscraper boots, a pure white furry hat, and vampy red lips while strolling, sockless, through an enchanted wood.  Oh, and don't forget the well-trained owl, perched on her hand.  Is it just me or is he smizing?  In real life, this girl would not have had a happy walk - think rabid owl bites, running mascara, hypothermia and a serious dry-cleaning bill.  Sometimes, fantastical fashion just doesn't work for every day.    

Does that mean that you should ignore your fashion fantasies in favour of practical footwear.  I say, NEVER!  A great winter boot should keep your feet warm and dry and look beautiful while doing it.  A tall, flat boot (much more chic than heeled versions, in my personal opinion) gets you from A to B in comfort and style.  And when it comes time to dressing up this season, whether for work or going out, opt for a fun little ankle boot in a great colour, print or sleek silhouette.   

Check out my top picks - from the cozy to the comfy to the cool - and you'll be officially booted up for the season.  Once you find a boot you love, you'll wear it every single day - making it well worth the investment.    In my own little fashion fantasy, I'd be able to buy every single one, but sometimes it's fun to pick a favourite.  Which one will you choose?

1. Shamp Boots, ALDO, $100; 2. Silver Sparkle Uggs, Soft Moc, $254.99; 3. Manitobah Mocassin Boots, Town Shoes, $299; 4. Raponi Boot, Spring, $99.99; 5. Sorel 1964 Premium Boots, The Bay, $140; 6. Tall Lace-Up Winter Boots, ALDO, $110; 7. Lacoste Boots, Town Shoes, $145; 8. Mocassin Boots, Spring, $69.99

1. Terboss Leather Riding Boots, ALDO, $180; 2. Laughead Two-Tone Leather Boots, ALDO, $170; 3. Russian Vamp Boots, Roots, $288; 4. Steve Madden Flat Riding Boots, Town Shoes, $180; 5. Synthetic Deare Boots,ALDO, $100; 6. Hunter Lace-Up Wellies, Town Shoes, $240; 7. Fyler Leather Boots, Naturalizer, $159.99; 8. Sperry Top-Sider Qulited Boots, The Bay, $100.

1. Python Print Block Heel Boots, ALDO, $140; 2. Alfreda Cut-Out Booties, Guess, $139; 3. Vince Camuto Suede Bootie, Le Château, $180; 4. Canvas Lace-Up Ankle Boots, Gap, $99.95; 5. Python Sole Boots, Spring, $79.99; 6. Material Girl Fur Bootie, The Bay, $100; 7. Maytorena Short Lace-Up Boots, ALDO, $80; 8. Nine West for Town Shoes Wedge Boots, Town Shoes, $190

An LG Fashion Week Photo Diary

 

Camera at the ready, fingers steady, I hit up Toronto's LG Fashion Week - my 3rd but the city's 25th!

 

The tents at David Pecaut Square:  where most of the Spring collections were shown this year.

Front-row fixture (and attention-seeker extraordinaire), Stacey McKenzie, rocks striped leggings at the Joe Fresh show. 

The lowly ponytail goes high-end on the Spring 2012 runways. 

Backstage at Korhani Home.  See?  Models - They're Just Like Us. 

Or not...

A model takes on the challenge of making a rug look like couture while carrying a live bunny.  Props. 

Ever wondered what a model sees at the end of the runway?  Usually, it looks a whole lot like this. 

My line sheet and name tag at the ATTITUDE Jay Manuel show 

Fuzzy Hat Girl faces off against Chick with Big Rings in a Street Style Face-off.  Tough Call.  I choose Chick with Big Rings because I really don't like fuzzy hats.

A L'Oréal Paris makeup artiste perfects a model's look backstage at Pink Tartan.  Blazer with a capital 'B' and that rhymes with 'C' and that stands for Cool. 

 

'Don't mess wit my bags.  No.  Seriously.  Don't mess wit my bags.'

I had a fantastic time at Toronto's LG Fashion Week Spring 2012 shows and left feeling inspired, (and a little tired) but super excited to be a Canadian.   Homegrown designers rocked this year's runways with looks that were anything but shy and retiring.  Joe Fresh, Attitude Jay Manuel and Pink Tartan put on amazing shows (as always) but the small designers with the smaller budgets were equally, if not more, impressive.  As fluffy as it seems, the fashion business is indisputably tough but these amazing talents continually strive to perfect their art to create beautiful clothing.  For the hits (and misses), the trends I saw everyone wearing, the sites that editors can't live without and reasons to get excited for spring, read on here

I promised to post these pics last week but I just couldn't keep up with time.  Mea culpa :(  To make it up to you, I'm giving away loads of treats that I picked up throughout the week including makeup from L'Oréal and Nip + Fab, Hair products from Pantene, accessories from Jay Manuel and Joe Fresh and more. 

To win my care package of fun, tell me your favourite Canadian designer by commenting below or on the Real Life Runway facebook page.  Simple!  I'll draw the lucky winner this Friday.   Off to cure a serious chocolate hangover.  A Kit Kat should do the trick, non?