A New York Minute with Smart Set

Big yellow taxis in the heart of NYC

It isn't often that you get offered a flight to New York for the day, and in my case, 'not often' means never. And so, when Smart Set asked me and Johanna (aka rlr mini) to fly to NY to check out their Summer '13 campaign shoot, we immediately replied, 'Mais, oui!'.  Here's a little recap of our super fun New York minute on set with Smart Set:

5:20 am - Alarm bell rings.  Johanna and I get everything 'did', then rush out the door into the -20 chill.

6:01 am - Parked at YYZ, through the gate, and we wait.

8:29 am - Flight supposed to leave but something is amiss.  Our suspicions are confirmed when the pilot announces that the plane's 'computer' is 'broken'.  I'm not an engineer but methinks this sounds unsafe.

10:04 am - Pilot finally announces that unfortunately we will have to find a new flight.  Seriously?! Does he know that we were supposed to be in NY at 11? Luckily a fellow Toronto blogger, also en route to NYC, has this travel thing all figured out.   She calls us, already on board another plane mind you, and chirpily instructs us to bust it to the new gate for the 10:15 flight. We sneak our way past a crowd of fellow frustrees and manage to flirt our way onto the plane. Phew. #sistapower

11:59 am - In New York!! Eek. A black Lincoln picks us up and whisks us off to the heart of Chelsea. We head into ROOT Drive-In Studios where the shoot is already in full swing.  Models, photographers and about 30 other 'crew' scurry about the busy set. Catered lunch is laid out while boys in distressed jeans and girls in black leggings dig into the Perrier and crudités.  

12:00am - 1:14 pm - We are ushered behind a black curtain where we get a sneak peek at the brand new collection, guided by Smart Set's gorgeous Eugenia.  She explains the brand's key trends, from preppy bright resort tunics (v. Tory Burch), to tailored blazers paired with matching cropped pants, to easy, breezy dresses. Johanna falls in love with a pair of printed pants.  I am smitten with the lightweight knits.  The re-branding efforts are obvious; everything looks decidedly fresh, modern and quite honestly, far more fashion-forward than I would have expected from Smart Set.  

1:30  2:15 - We walk to local trattoria, La Bottega, for lunch (it's attached to the super cool Maritime Hotel.) Wood-fired pizzas, pastas and salads are served up by a woman who looks like Halle Berry.  We chat with the Smart Set team and the other bloggers who've been invited to the shoot - Élodie Laetitia Parthenay of Hello Elo, a Parisienne transplant who now lives in Montreal, and Casie Stewart, Toronto's digital darling and social media consultant.  Pretty pumped to be in their company. 

2:22 - Back at the shoot, we snap loads of pics of the models in full-on campaign mode.  The girls dance to mad tunes in bright dresses and playful shorts and look perfectly ready for summer.  We discover how models actually achieve that windblown look - it involves fans AND treadmills.  And you thought being a model was easy...

3:00 - Jo and I are ready for our close-up, intimated but strangely turned on by the boom mike and video crew.  Eugenia asks us questions about our favourite pieces from the collection (love the neon rubber bracelets, tunics, summer dresses, printed pants), our favourite spring trends (graphic stripes), and how we plan on incorporating the Smart Set pieces into our wardrobes this summer; I can think of a million ways, and it's not just because I'm feeling swayed by the wining/dining ;)

4:00 pm - Black Lincoln has returned to whisk us back to the airport.  Traffic is surprisingly good so we get to LaGuardia in record time :(

5:30 pm - Take off time.  Jo and I realize we went to NYC without spending a single penny. Never, ever thought that was possible. We cry a little about not having time to shop (not even one store! sniff) but vow to make up for it next time. Oh yes, we will make up for it. 

7:15 pm - Back in Toronto. I drop off Jo at her house, pick up my mom (who has so generously offered to watch the kidlets), drop her off in Kitchener, and drive back home to London in a semi-comatose state.

11:00 pm - Kiss my babies, back in bed.  Was it only just a dream?

We loved our NY minute and can't wait to shop the new collection once it hits stores. Thanks for the fun Smart Set.  Can't wait to do it all again (hint, hint ;)) x

The art direction board at the photo shoot

How to Flirt with a Photographer 101

Photographer: "That's right ladies. Big smiles"

Camera Guy: Yup. Best. Job. Ever.  

Johanna and I wait for our close-up with Smart Set's Eugenia Dourakis 

Click on the thumbnails below for our day played out in pics:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   

 

Block Party

Crepe Color-Blocked Shirt Dress, $36.94, Old Navy 

I'm loving this colour-blocked shirt dress from Old Navy.  It's crisp, modern, and absolutely effortless and its smart colour-blocking will work wonders at concealing any signs of an indulgent weekend.  Not even noon on a Monday and already I've found something I want to bring home - this does not bode well...

Love, Actually

Girl holding balloons - photo by Jodi Miller Photography

Love might make the world go 'round but it also has the tendency to drive us mad.  In highschool, I remember crushing on a guy so intensely that I cried myself to sleep for the better part of 2 years because I 'loved' him so much.  When we finally went on our first date, he ate with his mouth wide open, bragged incessantly about his massive biceps and called me 'babe'. Crush turned to crushed, and that epic one-sided love story exploded in a fiery crash.  Then there was my first real boyfriend, who was a genuinely great guy but at 21, his Greek family was way more intense than I could handle. 'You marry my son, go to Greek school, make lots of babies. Done!'  Um, next?

I'm finally married to an incredible guy with two heartbreaking beauties and have experienced more love than I could imagine in the past few years.  And while I do love the odd OTT romantic gesture (see below for the ultimate), I've had a bit of a grown-up epiphany.  Love isn't all Tiffany boîtes and butterflies, and it isn't even about Ryan Gosling-style makeout sessions in the rain. Tiffany boxes mean we can't go out for dinner for the next 2 months, and kissing in the rain? I've tried it - bit of a mojo-kill when the kids are staring at you, pounding on the windows from the confines of their carseats.  Love is a rollercoaster of open bathroom doors and unwashed dishes punctuated by the occasional fizzy champagne pop on a Wednesday night.  It's about little Post-its left on the kitchen counter with those 3 little words.  And really, in the end, trite as it may sound, it's about loving yourself because once you can do that, everything else somehow falls into place.  

This little gift guide is all about treating you, with perfectly lovable presents you can buy yourself or oh-so-subtly suggest to your +1 (click on the thumbnails below for where to buy deets) Happy Valentines y'all! Whether you're single, hitched or somewhere in between, hope you're feeling the L-O-V-E x

Originally posted in The CLOSET

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   

 

Stunna Shades On

They say it's worth it.  They say that a good pair will change you.  But $400, $500, even $600 on plastic that I will at some point sit on, scratch or otherwise maim seems irresponsible. 

I have a $300 credit at NET-A-PORTER. Is now the time? Am I old enough to handle them? Fashion blogger self says NO, this is something you MUST try on.  It's so obvious.  Dreamy self says, 'Goooo, get theeemmm. The Alex Wang ones. Those are pretty. You will liiiike them. Nooo, you will love themm!"

Then again, I am wearing an eye patch today thanks to ingrown eyelash surgery (yes, this actually happens) Perhaps this is impairing my judgment...

(ps - Pirate jokes appreciated. The worst is pity. Yargh)

Oliver Peoples, Thierry Lasry and Alexander Wang Sunglasses, all at NET-A-PORTER

It's Black. It's White.

H&M's super gorge, super graphic Spring 2013 Campaign - photo H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

I remember it well.  Toronto Fashion Week, Fall 2012 (my powers of recollection are staggering) and the editors, bloggers and remaining fashion flock were rocking their finery in front of the wind-blown tents at David Pecaut Square.  Girls in neon short shorts, sky high heels and super bold frocks and of course, the too-cool-for-school editrixes in their bright coats, flat brogues and crazy expensive shades.  As always, it was a rainbow of notice-me hues as the peacocks (myself included I'll admit) tried to get captured by the street style paps. 

Then out she walked.  A blonde, bobbed 20-something.  Stark black and white striped pants, a black sweater and red lips.  Simple, cool, in a throw-back Mary Quant meets Taylor Tomasi Hill kinda way.  And while the bloggers all backflipped their way around the windy square,  she simply stood there and waited.  And the mesmerized photographers all circled the girl, lured to her like moths to a super fierce flame. 

As much as I love colour, black & white can be equally striking.  Whether you opt for graphic stripes, checks, polka-dots or fearlessly wear them all together, nothing looks more modern, more right, right now.

Check out some of my fave black & white finds in stores now - a perfecly seasonless way to get a jump on spring (no backflips required) x

Studded Barrel Bag, $50, ALDO

Stripe Chiffon Shirt, $29.90, Garage

Statement Ring, $6.95, H&M

Slim-Fit Printed Trousers, $24.95, H&M

Python Print Sneakers, $29.95, H&M

Ponte Knit Stripe Dress, $79.95, Le Château

Faux Leather Tote, $49.95, H&M

Graphic Striped Top, $14.95, H&M

Printed Trousers, $49.95, H&M

Legacy Leather Tanner Tote, $498, Coach

Striped Knit Moto Jacket, $69.95, Gap

Leather Crossbody Bag, $69, Danier

Houndstooth Pointy Toe Pump, $39.99, Le Château

Printed Chiffon Blouse, $24.99, Smart Set

NIXON The Rubber Player Watch, $199.99, Boathouse

Printed Scarf, $14.95, H&M

Zipper Tote Quilted Box, $398, Roots

Renee Top, $79.50, Club Monaco