Can You Handle It?

Love (LOVE!) this top-handled tote from Zara.  It's a hot, colour-blocked mess of neutrals, meaning you can literally wear it with everything, yet the clean, classic lines keep it from looking busy. You can carry it by its smart top handles or go hands-free with the longer shoulder strap, and the zip-top will stop your goods from spilling out, should you decide to swing it wildly over your head with abandon or execute a perfect cartwheel. One never knows when the mood might strike...

The Suede Combined Shopper chimes in under $100 (just barely but still...) at Zara.  

And sorry for the inconsistent posting this week.  My little girl started JK (sniff) and my son started pre-school (double-sniff) so I've been knee-deep in lunch boxes, backpacks and Kleenexes all week long.  I had no clue that back-to-school was so much work! Ohh, and SO EXCITING!  I've been asked to be part of Cityline's Fall Fashion Special so I've been shopping like mad to help style the show.  If you want to catch me on it, set your PVR's for Tues, Sept 18th on City TV!  xoxo 

Over the MOON

All photos courtesy Mimran Group Inc./MOON

In my back-to-school rush, I wasn't able to attend the MOON Fall Preview last week but just got my paws on the pretty collection pics.  I can always count on the brand for unique, affordable finds, perfect for seamlessly strutting from boardroom to boîte.  The fall collection features modern-meets-classic silhouettes, bold colour-blocking and textured knits.  More than anything, its the jewel-toned colour palette I love most;  pops of magenta, cherry, turquoise and tangerine set against a more subdued backdrop of black, cream, navy, mushroom and caramel.  My fave pieces?  The cherry ottoman dress and the magenta lace pencil skirt (both currently en route to my house! yay! Love blogger fringe benefits) and that mustard bow dress (top pic) which I cannot wait to welcome into my closet. 

Until now, MOON has only been available at The Bay but starting Sept 15th, you'll be able to shop MOON 24/7 with the launch of its new online shop, moonapparel.ca.  There, you'll find MOON's collection of sleek dresses, expertly tailored toppers and double-knit slim pants, all under $119.  To complement the line, MOON will offer accessory designer collabs with covetable brands, like Sorichetti leather handbags and Chan Luu's gorgeous cashmere and silk scarves.  Oh, and free shipping & returns, too.  What's up with the Mimran family? I want some of that magic.  Perhaps Mimran is the new Midas?

Click on the thumbnails to check out the fall collection below.  Oh, and last thing (I promise): If you're in Toronto, don't miss MOON's Pop-Up Shop happening Sept 14-16 from 11am-6pm at 171 East Liberty St (Suite 360) in Liberty Village for first dibs at the new F/W 2012 Collection. Plus, if you 'like' MOON Apparel on Facebook, you'll score a 20% discount. Sweet!

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The New Mom Uniform

Photo courtesy Zara

After a long, loungy summer, the first week of September can feel awfully busy.  Between packing lunches, dressing your little ones and getting to class before the bell, there’s never much time left for #1. So how then to look chic in a Back-to-School minute?  Check out my top 10 ways to look stellar in a flash at iVillage.ca this week, so you'll be drop-dead gorge for those early morning drop-offs.   Happy 1st day of school!  Anyone else ready for a big, fat vacay already?

The Horsey Set

Dree Hemingway for Ermanno Scervino - Autumn 2012

Originally posted in The LOOK

As long as I can remember, I've been a city girl. I would look at the cowboy boots, hats, spurs and far-from-rad plaid in country music videos and feel something akin to mild food poisoning. When my friends would flock to our local bar for some honky-tonk, I'd tag along and even sing (Ohhh, way down 'yonder on the Chatahoochie, never knew how much that muddy water meant to me....). I'd even line-dance a little (because seriously, it was kind of a precursor to the flash mob, no?) but the stylista in me just couldn't handle the ill-fitting jeans, the tacky hats or the cliché my-dog-just-croaked-and-now-I'm-gon'-die-toooo lyrics. Not to mention horses; as in, I won't even mention horses after the number of near-death experiences I've had in their presence. Can horses smell fear? Then again, as the years went by, I grew to admire a small but mighty group of boot-stompin' babes: the fearless Dixie Chicks, the hilarious Dolly Parton, the style-obsessed Carrie Underwood and the bad-boy bashing Taylor Swift. Even A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow have gone a little bit country these days.

But horses gone haute? This fall, designers joined the horsey set in a big way, giving us plenty of ways to get in touch with our inner country girl, be it full-blown spur-jangling country as seen on the Isabel Marant runway or the more refined equestrian aesthetic perfected by Altuzarra, Givenchy and Herve Leger, complete with sleek riding boots, equine prints, and chic tweed blazers. Like country music, I'm loving this trend in small doses, with a cute little cowboy boot here, or a cropped riding jacket there.

So, how 'bout you? Will you hop on the horsey bandwagon this fall? Yay, or neigh? Check out my favourite country finds at Intercity Shopping Centre right now. (And be sure to look at them boots, ya hear?) 

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A Gabrielle Johnson Guest Post!

Style Expert Gabrielle Johnson knows a thing or two about fashion.  The exceptionally stylish Central Saint Martins grad and former Sweetspot editrix has worked with some of the biggest publications in the business and currently spills her fashion and beauty secrets for Toronto Life and Glow Magazine, among others. Gabrielle agreed to write a guest post for RLR to help us harness the power of the peplum for fall.  Lucky us! Check back for more guest posts in the coming months from Ms. Johnson and other members of Canada's fashionable flock...

Forget one-season wonders: Pretty peplums — those ultra-feminine, flattering flared ruffles currently spilling forth from the waists of tops, skirts, dresses and jackets everywhere — dominated designer runways for spring and fall 2012.

This season, we’ll be working the peplum at the office, on weekends and after hours (and showing you how to master the looks, too). We love a fashion trend with staying power.  

OFFICE CHIC
A flouncy peplum top becomes office-appropriate when paired with sleek, simple basics. Team this gorgeous wine-coloured 3.1 Phillip Lim belted satin-twill peplum top (US $550) with a smart black pencil skirt or slim-cut tailored trousers, and keep the accessories minimal. The best part? It’ll take you from endless meetings in the boardroom to after-work cocktails with colleagues, no costume change required.

WEEKEND CASUAL
We’ve grown accustomed to seeing stylish celebs like Emma Stone rocking OTT peplums on the red carpet, but take the ruffles down a notch and suddenly the peplum is perfect for weekend brunch.  This super-soft Autumn Cashmere button-back peplum sweater ($310) is just begging to be paired with skinny jeans, ankle boots and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. We can feel the leaves crunching underfoot already.

EVENING AFFAIR
Did we mention that the peplum is a godsend for women with curves? It creates the ultimate hourglass silhouette, nipping in the waist and sensually grazing the hips.  Show off your best assets in Zara’s embroidered faux-leather peplum top ($69.90); wear it with a flirty skirt or your tightest pants, depending on the level of bad-assedness you’re hoping to project.