Pink Tartan Launches E-Comm Site

Image courtesy PINK TARTAN

Something must be in the air this week because yet another retailer is going online.  This time, I was especially thrilled because said retailer is Pink Tartan, Kimberley Newport-Mimran's extended closet full of luxe, sophisticated sportswear and chic accessories.  The site launches tomorrow and will ship to Canada, the U.S and internationally.  #trouble

Visit pinktartan.com and check out the gorgeous behind-the-scenes video below to get properly tempted. Can't wait for the Fall '13 show next week at World MasterCard Fashion Week - will be sure to take lots of pics xx

PINK TARTAN - Campaign Video from pinktartan on Vimeo.

Zadig & Voltaire Coming to Canada

Images from the Spring '13 Lookbook courtesy Zadig et Voltaire

It's so tough to get that perfectly layered Parisian look; luckily certain labels have perfected the art so we don't have to.  With stores like Scotch & Soda, Zara and All Saints now (or soon-to-be) so blissfully available to Canadians, our morning mash-up has gotten a whole lot easier of late, making us realize that it's not always about how you wear it but what labels you choose to wear. 

As reported by Retail Insider, Zadig & Voltaire is coming to Canada! The popular French label, started by the grandson of the founder of Lacoste, has that whole layered, I-just-threw-this-on, rocker vibe all figured out. Zadig & Voltaire will open both men's and women's shop-in-store locations inside of Holt Renfrew stores in Toronto (Bloor St.), Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal. As for the price? I'm not gonna lie - it's not cheap (items are mostly in the $200-$500 range)- but the brand is still way more affordable than its similarly cool French sisters Balmain and Isabel Marant, so definitely worth the investment if you can save up.

Check out the video below for a stamp of approval from Britain's top girls-about-town including Poppy Delevingne and Tallulah Harlech. I wish I had a British accent. I just do.

ps - Did Sophia just call it a skirt? Clearly, someone was not paying attention at the presentation. Tut, tut.

Spring Fling

Leather School Bags, Joe Fresh, $99 each. Photo courtesy Joe Fresh

Back to work, back to the grind, and a headache's en route to my too-relaxed mind.  

Mondays can be a real shock to the system; which is why I was thrilled to come across these cool leather school bags from Joe Fresh.  Briefcases/laptop bags don't often turn my crank but these are both pretty and practical - sort of like a spoonful of sugar for your work week. I plan on getting the white one to tote around during World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto. It looks sturdy enough to handle my laptop, a pair of heels, and any treats that come my way, while simultaneously satisfying the street-style paps lurking outside.

One other thing that makes this particular Monday a little easier? It's March! Could not be more thrilled that spring is almost here...xx

Miu Miu boutique opens at Holts

Photos courtesy Miu Miu

Just got these images from my Prada contact in NY (had to say that because it sounded so super cool) and had to share.

Today, Miu Miu officially opened its first point of sale in Toronto at the Holt Renfrew Bloor St. store. The corner, designed by Architect Roberto Baciocchi, is entirely dedicated to the brand's bags and accessories collections.

The boutique is (not surprisingly) ultra luxe, with rich damask and cool stud details, along with matte gold counters and crystal display cases.

Me likey! Miu? 

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?