Friday, March 26th, 2010 | Fashion Week, News, TopPictures, Toronto
Breeyn McCarney Premieres FW10 Collection
By Zoe
Some
Toronto designers are opting out of the LG Fashion Week and have been showing their latest collections in what Toronto Life Magazine has dubbed “Rogue Fashion Week.” Joining in on the brouhaha was newcomer Breeyn McCraney who showcased her debut collection yesterday evening at The Courthouse in downtown Toronto.
Inspired by the concept of finding beauty in destruction, and by the book Hard-Boiled Wonderland, McCarney presented her unique vision to a packed house. What’s interesting is how McCarney spins ordinary clothing construction concepts with different fabric choices and treatments—like creating a collar from leather in contrast to softer material. The declaration of “fur is in” for Toronto was made clear with shoulder tops and carefully crafted rabbit fur sweaters graced the walkway.
Notable pieces of this collection were her bodice dresses, which were adorned with beading; disassembling vintage jewellery, McCarney hand-beaded vintage pearls onto one dress and strung together rows of black seed beads for another. To no surprise, guests exited in awe.
McCarney’s collection is currently only available as made-to-order, and shows promise with her unique design aesthetic.
For more information, visit www.breeyn.com.
–Barbara Leung
Images courtesy of Breeyn McCarney.
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 | Accessories, Fashion Week, News, Philanthropy, Toronto
Empire state of mind
By Zoe
POSHGLAM reported on these oh-so-wicked GEOX shoes here, a specially crafted heel with the iconic Empire State Building as inspiration.
These one of a kind “prototypes” are hand crafted in Italy and quite a showstopper for the spring/summer ’10 collections in Milan. The midnight blue sequined shoe pays homage to lovely Empire State Building, with a towering 4.7 inch, rhinestone embellished heel the soul is still state of the art GEOX breathable, lightweight and waterproof.
The shoe is being auctioned to Canadian women, and all proceeds are being donated to Dress for Success, an international not for profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire and career development tools.
“GEOX is happy to contribute to the wellbeing of women who want the best for themselves and their families,” says GEOX chairman Mario Moretti Polegato.
Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success provides each client with work appropriate outfits when she has a job interview. Dress for Success currently operates in 75 cities around the world including Toronto.
“Thanks to GEOX, the funds from this auction will help us to continue to provide Canadian women with the tools they need to further their careers and succeed in life,” explains Jessica Roelink, Executive Director of Dress for Success Toronto.
To place your bid on the Empire State Building shoes visit www.ebay.ca after Feburary 26 and search “Geox shoe benefiting Dress for Success”.
For more on GEOX please visit www.geox.com.
Monday, December 7th, 2009 | Accessories, Celebs, New York, Toronto
Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection: jewelry for everyone
By Zoe
For Carole Tanenbaum, what started out as a small interest 25 years ago amassing intriguing and vintage costume jewelry pieces quickly mushroomed into a collection consisting of over 15,000 pieces dating from the Victorian era through the 1980s.
And she hasn’t stopped looking for more to add. With plenty of stock to show, Tanenbaum approached Holt Renfrew 15 years ago and proposed the idea of hosting a trunk show with costume jewelry. Holt Renfrew took Tanenbaum’s idea to the next level to offer on her collection as a department–the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection.
Nowadays, the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection is featured on numerous magazine covers and spotted on many celebrities including Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, Molly Sims and Elisha Cuthbert.
Her collection also includes a unique line of vintage compacts, hair accessories and purses. Selections from the collection are made available at Holt Renfrew and at Seedhouse in Canada, and Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and at www.caroletanenbaum.com
Images courtesy of Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection.
- Barbara Leung
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 | Accessories, Celebs, Fashion, Toronto
Bags that cha cha cha
By Zoe
We all find different ways to cope after we hear crappy news—like you’re breaking up with a boy or getting the pink slip. When Torontonian Lori Chamers unexpectedly left her graphic design job of three years, she canned the nine to five grill for something a little more shall we say, in the bag.
Design handbags she did, with the result being cha cha, a Toronto based line adorned by celebs like Lady Gaga, Fergie, Denise Richards and Audrina Patridge.
“When I first started making handbags I would find the leather in second hand stores, used jackets, and skirts,” she says from her workshop. “I would cut them up and make them into something new. I really wanted to get back to that because it’s important to me as an individual and as a company to make environmentally sound choices wherever I can.”
Chalmers is so attuned to detail she lines each bag with organic canvas. At most times, she cuts and traces the leather herself. The cha cha collection is comprised of sexy metallic clutches, retro hobos and effortless wristlets that can be dressed up from day to night, and range from $85 to $500. Chamers is such a bag lova she writes a blog about her daily happenings as a designer.
The Entourage City Tote Cognac (above) is $340.55 and Entourage Classic Tote (below) is $311.77; these and others from cha cha are available here. Check out Chamers’ blog here.
Stella 3-in-1 Leather Shopper (first below) is $315; COCO Hip Bag (second below) is $195.
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 | Fashion, News, Toronto
Unleash your inner-shopoholic with LUXaholic
By Zoe
There are so many sites we bookmark as our favorite digital destinations to snap up shoes, bags and clothes. With LUXaholic.ca, the idea of online shopping goes one step further with an interactive approach that boasts forums, blogs, live chats, news updates, articles and surveys.
Launched in mid-October, Toronto-based president and owner Maria Nassiokas aimed to develop an online portal that focused on creating styles and looks for whatever occasion—whether that’s work, play, a date or the night out. The site caters primarily to younger women who love to appear fashionable and stylish, but don’t want to break the bank.
Clothes are categorized by “purpose” from Partyoholic, Workoholic and Chilloholic, and showcases labels from Los Angeles, New York, the UK and Canada as well as accessories. Some of the brands include: Lipsy UK, BB Dakota, and Canadian favorite C’est Moi.
Nassiokas says she developed LUXaholic into a culture of Canadian fashionistas to bring the top fashion trends, ideas and opinions together into one store. All the added features help to develop an exciting and interactive LUX shopping and style culture.
“With consideration to the finer details of innovation, we stand alone in providing the ultimate, interactive on-line fashion experience,” she says.
The looks pictured here are from their launch party, and are all available to purchase at luxaholic.ca.
Thursday, October 29th, 2009 | Accessories, Fashion, News, Toronto
Building the perfect heel
By Zoe
Geox Empire State Building Shoe
There’s nothing more iconic to the New York City skyline than the Empire State Building. It’s presence. It’s architecture. And now–the pump.
Italian design house GEOX unveiled the heel, aptly named the Empire State Building Shoe at Milan Fashion Week. The five inch heel was crafted to replicate the building, and looks way bold in gold and silver.
The heel is covered with rhinestones and the line includes a closed and opened toe style in a bold palette of patterns, finishes and colors. GEOX always boasts comfort in their shoes with lightweight, waterproof. The company has placed an emphasis on its exclusive breathable technology which allows feet to breathe via a patented membrane placed in the perforated rubber sole
Cool.
And real soon, GEOX will soon re-open its Toronto Yorkdale flagship store that’ll house its largest children’s section in the world.
For more information go to: www.geox.com
Monday, October 26th, 2009 | Fashion, Haute Press, Toronto
Haute Jackets
By Zoe
Smythe
Toronto-based fashion designers Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe know how to top of the perfect outfit. Since 2004, the two have artfully created Smythe—contemporary, form fitting jackets masterfully tailored in nostalgic colors. And they’re very much on the backs of celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Zadie Smith and Rachel McAdams.
The BFFs began in high school, where they would draw out dresses for their semi-formals. Now a staple in all your fave rags from Vogue to InStyle, this all-made-in-Canada pieces line is experiencing an quickly expanding following. The fall collection includes such items with interesting names such as the Dickens, with a rustic haberdashery feel and le smoking, a fitted equestrian-inspired jacket.
But Smythe is so versatile—the two design for real life and not just the runway. That results in an appeal for fashion-savvy modern day girls, moms or career women. No wonder it’s such a hot commodity.
Jacket prices start at $500, for buy info visit SmytheLesVestes.com.
Smythe
Smythe
Monday, October 26th, 2009 | Celebs, Fashion Week, News, Toronto
Toronto’s Fashion Week Dares to be a Great Finish
By Leah
The closing show of LG Fashion Week, “Dare to Wear Love” hosted by Hoax Couture and the FDCC, filled viewers’ hearts with compassion and left them in awe this past Friday night. The show’s focus revealed both fashion and support for the Stephen Lewis foundation’s mission to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Those who came to the podium to wrap up the events included FDCC president Robin Kay, LG Canada’s senior marketing manager Frank Lee, Chris Tyrell and Jim Searie of Hoax Couture, and Stephen Lewis himself. Following their words, the show went on to display the creations—constructed from African fabrics—of 25 of Canada’s top fashion designers, included: Evan Biddell, Lida Baday, David Dixon, Pam Chorley of Fashion Crimes, and Lucian Matis.
In addition to fab designers, a wide range of well-known Canadian figures strutted down the runway, including politician Olivia Chow, music artist Jully Black, and Etalk’s Traci Melchor.
For more on Friday night’s closing event or to donate to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, visit DareToWearLove.com. Images courtesy of Rock-it Promotions Inc., credit Brian Summers.
- Barbara Leung
Monday, October 26th, 2009 | Celebs, Fashion Week, News, Toronto
Brandon R. Dwyer Tells Canada That It’s Time for Summer
By Leah
As Toronto’s LG Fashion Week came to a close, some of the most anticipated designers’ creations strutted down the runway, including those of several Project Runway Canada alumni. One of which on this last day was Brandon R. Dwyer who debuted his collection in Toronto.
Although the collection was designed to be worn for this upcoming spring and summer, much of the crowd was left with a taste of beach and seaside wear. Featuring tangerine orange, white, and teal colors in stripes and solids, the daytime dresses showed off fitted torsos that were followed by A-line skirts. In addition to the A-line shape, Dwyer managed to incorporate several bat-wing sleeves and bubble hems into his outfits.
The showstopper that affirmed promise in Dwyer’s fashion endeavors, though, wasn’t the piece featured last on the runway. Rather, it was one that was revealed mid-show when Dwyer began sending his models down the runway in evening wear. Beautiful crystal work adorned a v-necked cream gown that left the audience in with mouths agape and eyes lit with awe as the model graced the runway.
Images courtesy of BlogTO.
- Barbara Leung
Sunday, October 25th, 2009 | Celebs, Fashion Week, Men, News, Toronto
Toronto’s LG Fashion Week: Canadian Designers Show Men What It’s Like If You’ve “Gotstyle”
By Leah
One of the most anticipated shows of LG Fashion Week did not fail to disappoint. With a room of packed full of fellow fashionistas, Gotstyle storeowner Melissa Austria treated onlookers with a taste of the many Canadian designers that she carries in her King Street W store.
Tackling the great feat of presenting so many designers by dividing it into four parts, a wide range of styles were spotted – everything from the laidback and casual wear to the urban trotter and even to the smart and chic man. Adding to the model lineup were several Canadian celebrities: Michael Landsberg, Nico Archambault, and Ben Mulroney.
Designers included Christopher Bates, Costa Pavlou, Bustle, Skmpeez, Red Canoe, Juelz Rok, Gregory Allen, JUZD, 1921 Jeans, 18 Waits, Maison St. Pierre, Kwasi, Lipson, Trepaul, and Empire Clothing.
Images courtesy of blogTO.
- Barbara Leung
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Trina Turk Spring 2011- Palm Springs Eternal 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Tadashi Shoji Spring/Summer 2011 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Diego Binetti Spring/Summer 2011 
POSHGLAM Fashion’s Night Out Event with Lena Erziak 
Natalie Portman in Rodarte 
Go Vintage With Patricia Nash Handbags 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Kaelen Farncombe Spring 2011 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Yoana Baraschi Spring 2011 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Tracy Reese Spring 2011 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Rebecca Taylor Spring 2011 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2011 
Verbatim Inspiration NYFW: Georges Chakra Edition Spring 2011 
Jessica Alba in Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2010 
Stay Warm With Adrienne Landau This Fall 
Tweet this Giveaway | A Boudoir Collection Set from Brulee 
Emmy Awards 2010: Get the Look – Emily Blunt’s Sophisticated Updo 
Chloe Sevigny Rocks Ippolita Jewelry 
Emmy Awards 2010: Stars in Oscar de la Renta 
FOLLOW POSHGLAM TODAY!