That Coach Bag Is So Last Season

As quoted by a close friend, "Fritz Helder are the only relevent thing happening in fashion right now."

Disco ball faces??? Genius!!!

Happy Birthday Dolls!

I can't believe it's already been a year since the Damzels ladies opened their rock n' roll chick boutique, Doll Factory by Damzels in Leslieville. They are celebrating their first year at their store at 1122 Queen Street West tonight between 5 and 8pm. The last party I went there we were treated to a burlesque performance and a little tutorial in pasty twirling. (So naughty and oh, so fun!)

This is the perfect place to pick up some fab clothing, jewellery, undies and beauty products for all the cool ladies you know - as well as the perfect party dress from Damzels in This Dress.

My fave item is the undie set with cool guitar pick earrings packaged in 12 inch record sleeves designed by the ladies. Totally rockin'!

How Luxury Lost It's Lustre

I'm reading Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Lustre by Dana Thomas. I can't guarantee on when I'll be finished. Between work and trying to read it on crammed subway cars in rush hour, I've only just gotten about a third through, but I will try and squeeze in some time to share my thoughts.

If you want a history of the luxury industry definitely pick it up. It's a really interesting read (well, so far anyway) and it's chock full of facts and stories about all the major luxury brand labels.

I've never been a label whore and I've never understood the draw to the Louis Vuitton handbag that everyone seems to covet - real or fake. But I do love that she brings it all out to the forefront about most luxury brands being owned by major publicly traded companies and mass-manufactured in the same factories as Walmart. Just check out the LVMH website to see who they own.

Seems like Thomas is making quite a scene in the international fashion community. A recent clip from Fashion Television interviewed the author on the book and tried to get many of fashion's influencers to voice their opinion on the topics discussed in the book - many kept their mouths zipped tighter than their grasp on their $3,000 Balenciaga purse. Check out the clip here.

If you do decide to read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Cause This Is How We Go Out...

Leslie Hall cracks me up. She can go out with us anytime!

Breaking and Shaking it Down!

I am hosting Breakdown Shakedown: Party Deux with my industry pals, April and Michael - and you're invited!

Last year, April and I decided that the holiday party season need a little spice to shake it up so we decided to throw a party. And a party it was...

We packed The Social with a few hundreds of our industry friends and colleagues and had an absolute blast!

This year is at the Stones Place at 1255 Queen Street West on Thursday, December 6th from 8pm till 2am.
If you are in fashion, film, TV, commercials, casting, marketing, production or advertising - we expect to see you there! Mingle and jingle with designers, stylists, hair & makeup artists, agents, models, actors, casting directors, photographers, editors, directors, pr reps, production, television peeps and a whole pile of really fun people. We just want to get everyone together in the one spot to rock it out! It's gonna be wicked - we promise!

If you're on Facebook, you can add yourself here.

TFI New Labels Fashion Design Competition

For those designers who are watching Project Runway Canada and cringing at the "reality" aspects of the show - don't worry, the originating design competition, TFI New Labels® Fashion Design Competition is looking for emerging Canadian designers - without the Made-For-TV drama.

The TFI (Toronto Fashion Incubator) is a non-profit organization which is dedicated to supporting young and emerging designers. Over the past twenty years the TFI can boast to having contributed to the careers of many of Canada's top designers, including PRC judge, Brian Bailey, Joeffer Caoc, Farley Chatto, Comrags, David Dixon, Pina Ferlisi, Foxy Originals, Colette Harmon, Juma, Todd Lynn, Arthur Mendonça, Mercy and Siphay Southidara.

The winner receives a prize package valued at $25,000 from ELLE Canada magazine. Submission Deadline is December 10, 2007. Download the application here. Pass on the word to any of your talented design pals.

Last year's event celebrated the TFI's 20th anniversary with a gala event at the historical Carlu in Toronto. Check out the event here.

Spice Girls on BBC Special

Here's the Spice Girls performance of Stop from the BBC’s Children in Need special filmed the day after the Victoria's Secret show.



Same outfits. I wonder if the performance is the exact same from the VS show. Let's just hope they pull out something new for their tour. I'm trekking on down to Vegas for their December 8th show at the Mandalay Bay. I can't wait!

Hooked on Fig Leaves

On recommendation by Henna of Canadian Beauty, I found my new favourite lingerie store. Having spent years trying to find the best fitting bras at the best price, UK-based online lingerie store, Fig Leaves is now my new best friend. They carry a wide range of top brands at great prices.

I am not a fan of the mass-produced, cheaply made lines available in stores and I could never find my size. After being professional fitted, I know what my true size is and can easily shop online by own size, rather than be disappointed that a style doesn't even carry my size. Girls: I highly recommend you get professionally fitting, you'd be amazed. The best part about Fig Leaves is that if it doesn't fit, or if you don't like it - you can return it for free. I'm hooked!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Spices Up

The Spice Girls performed their first (er, live?) performance together in almost ten year at the Victoria's Secret fashion show which was taped in Los Angeles on Thursday.

As excited as everyone was to see them, it was a little disappointing to hear about the lip-syncing. But I do love the retro military look - much better than that awful video for Headlines (Friendship Never Ends).

Check out the Spice Girls performing Stop and their new single in their reunion television debut at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which airs on Tuesday, December 4th at 10pm on CBS.

Speaking of Victoria's Secret, has anyone noticed the slow transformation of La Senza? The former Canadian company (now owned by VS's parent company, Limited Brands) has been stocked with Victoria's Secret Beauty and now their collegiate PINK line is in stores. I know a lot of people who are salivating over the prospective of La Senza turning into full-blown VS stores. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Holts Adds Soul to the Holiday Season

Holt Renfrew's annual holiday window unveiling is going to be a lot more soulful this year with a performance by the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin.

The window unveiling and performance is taking place on Tuesday, November 6th at 7pm at Toronto's Bloor Street location. (It's also the same day that the Kate Moss' Topshop AW07 line hits the store.)

The store then is staying open until 10pm for some late night shopping, with a portion of proceeds going to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Holt Renfrew always does a great job on their windows, I'm really interested to see what they have come up with this year. Mind you, with the crowd expected at this event, I'll have to wait till the following day to get a good look.

The House of Helder

Almost two years ago I was at The Social in Toronto having drinks with a friend, when a group of people took to the stage. I could totally picture them as Madonna's backup dancers from back in the Danceteria days. They even did a cover of "Everybody". They sang, they danced and totally rocked it!

They are Fritz Helder & the Phantoms. Their music style is a mix of everything from early Madonna to Prince to Cameo and I am totally a fan. They've just released their first album, "Greatest Hits" which you can order it from their newly updated and fantastic website: www.fritzhelder.com.The CD Release party is happening on Thursday, November 22, 2007. You do not wanna miss seeing these guys live!

Speaking of Madonna and her Danceteria days, here's a video of her performing "Everybody" at the club back in 1982.

FDCC Confused About GSUS

I'm not sure if I was the only one who spotted this during L'Oreal Fashion Week, but take a good look at the following images and tell me what you think is wrong.
If you want to catch up on what happened last week visit: L'Oreal Fashion Week, Now Toronto, blogTO, Toronto Street Fashion, Toronto Star, FASHION Magazine, Flare Magazine, and ModelResource.

(If you didn't catch it - GSUS is from the Netherlands!)

New Sephora Opens on Bloor

For those of us who can't stand malls, Sephora is opening its first Toronto street level store at 131 Bloor Street on Thursday, November 1st with an exclusive invitation only event.

Canadian jazz singer, Dione Taylor will be providing light entertainment while guests sip cocktails and chase the servers around to get the last mini poutine.

Makeup artists from Make Up For Ever are going to be on hand to give you that little extra bit of colour - if the booze doesn't get there first. (Bonus points for spotting the spelling mistake on the website tag.)

Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) owns the chain of beauty stores. The company also owns a surprising amount of the world's leading luxury brands including Donna Karan, Fendi, Givenchy, Mark Jacobs, Celine, Emilio Pucci, and of course Louis Vuitton. (Oh, and they also own Make Up Forever.)

I expect the cocktails will also be LVMH brands, perhaps a little Moet & Chandon or some Dom Perignon.

I'm just hoping the gift bags contain a Tag Heuer. (Yes, they own them too.)

Chelsea Rodgers Was a Model

Prince's new clip from the Matthew Williamson show for 'Chelsea Rodgers'. Apparently Ms Rodgers was a model.

Blame it on Diesel

Diesel recently launched a viral video for the Diesel Freezy Sneakers using footage of Aarlf Smaks from the 70's giving a disco dance lesson. Boogie on.

Victoria's Spicy Secret Revealed

Victoria's Secret announced this week that they will be selling the Spice Girls Greatest Hits CD exclusively in their retail stores when it is released in the US on November 13th. Posh, Ginger, Baby, Scary and Baby will also be making their first reunion television appearance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Tuesday, December 4th. The exclusive deal will last for a two month period, after which the album will be available nationwide in all record stores. Spice fans are going to be flocking to VS during the Christmas season, which means mega-Christmas sales for the mass-marketing lingerie giant.

FASHION Magazine Celebrates 30 Years

Canada's first magazine devoted to fashion, celebrated their 30th anniversary with an exclusive VIP sit-down dinner and party at the Moss Park Armoury in Toronto recently. Attendees were treated like supermodels, having to enter the room on a runway created just for the night and having faux FASHION Magazine cover photo shoots.

The issue features Canadian models Heather Marks, Julia Dunstall and Meghan Collision on the cover, while inside the "Our Girls" portfolio features some of FASHION's favourite models from the past three decades.

View the video of the event here.

Madonna in a Bottle

The recently publicized $120 million deal in the making between Madonna and Live Nation is making major headlines. The decade long, lucrative deal would include the rights to sell three studio albums, promote Madonna's concerts, and sell licensing name rights and merchandise - which could include a fragrance.

In an already over-saturated celebrity fragrance market, Madonna's scent would have to be bold and the marketing concept behind it would have to be something no one has done before. (Have you seen the awful P. Diddy ad for his "Unforgiveable" fragrance for women?)

Gwen Stefani's recently launched fragrance, L for her clothing line L.A.M.B seems to be doing tremendously well, especially due to her hot ad campaign.

Interestingly enough, Madonna was reportedly shopping around a fragrance concept called "Holy Water" about a decade ago. Let's just hope if Madonna does do a fragrance, that she comes up with a better name this time round.

Update: It's confirmed! Madge is leaving Warner Brothers Records. In a press release, Madonna issued the following statement:

“The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift. For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I’ve never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless. Who knows how my albums will be distributed in the future? That’s what’s exciting about this deal — everything is possible. Live Nation has offered me a true partnership and after 25 years in the business, I feel that I deserve that.”

“My time with Warner Bros. Records has been great. I appreciate their hard work and value the many relationships I have developed over the years with the label in the U.S. and around the world. I have an album coming out with them next year and I’m excited about it. We still have work to do together.”

2 Hearts

Pint-sized disco diva, Kylie Minogue released her new video for her first single, 2 Hearts. It is from her upcoming tenth studio album, simply entitled, X which will be released next month. Enjoy!

The Interpreters of Fashion

Stylists: The Interpreters of Fashion, due out at the end of this month, takes a look at the fashion industry’s silent influencers of style. Of course, with the US and Canadian dollars being pretty much on par right now, those north of the border are looking to pay about $61.11 for the book, while lucky Americans get a deal, paying only $47.25.

The people in the book are, mostly, names you have never heard of. They are not in your face like most designers feel they have to be, but they are a major role in what fashion is today. They take the current season’s best pieces and take it to the next level. Their role is to push the envelope of fashion. Their work is seen in every fashion editorial, advertising campaign and runway show. They decide how outfits should be pieced together, which accessories work best and sometimes give creative direction from the start.

It is one of the most draining and hardest jobs in fashion and not a position just anyone can take on, however with top stylists in the US commanding rates of up to $5,000 per day it is a role that many who love fashion want to fill.

Video of the Week: Björk - Innocence

One of the world's most fearless and inspiring performers, Björk held a contest where fans could create a music video for her new song, Innocence; her second single from this year's Volta. The winners are a French couple named Fred & Annabelle. They created a computer animated video using images from the album cover and liner notes.


The result is this:

Apart from the animation of Björk's face, the video fits in so well with the song and is very much "Björkish". I am sure the other 500 or so entries were just as, if not more, fantastical and imaginative.

CIRCA 2007

Probably one of the most anticipated club openings in Toronto's nightlife history, CIRCA opens officially this Friday to the public.



I'm heading off to the pre-public launch this Thursday. There are a lot of high hopes for this place, let's hope it lives up to the hype.

Montreal Jumps on Skinny Model Bandwagon

Montreal is the most recent city to jump on the "we won't let skinny models walk our runways" bandwagon that has been swirling around the industry over the past year. Apparently, organizers say they are "making every effort" to have models who appear to be too thin be withdrawn from Montreal Fashion Week, which takes place between October 9-11.

Could this just be a ploy to get international recognition to the Montreal fashion scene?

Modelresource talked to the agents who know their market and who know their models to get their expert opinions. Click here for the article.

Video of the Week: Take It Like a Man

I saw them perform recently at Mod Club and have been listening non-stop to their debut album, Galore which was released officially this past Tuesday. Here's Dragonette's video for their second single, Take It Like a Man.


The inspiration: 70's porn. (Ooh, so naughtily good.)

Shoes Outta A Science Fiction Magazine.

Marc Jacobs recently showed his Spring/Summer 2008 collection in New York, premiering his back-to-front heeled shoe, which many are claiming as the first ever. (See top right image.)

However, after a little investigating, I found that they are not quite as original as one may think.

I found a copy of the cover of issue of Galaxy Science Fiction from January 1955. (See image at left.)

Then I found images from Japanese designer, Junko Shimada collection for Fall/Winter 2007. (See bottom right image.)

Not quite as original as you thought.

It's always interesting to see designers doing something a little different from the norm. It makes us step back and look at how we see things, but let's try and keep it original.

Vero Moda

Affordable European clothing stores are taking over Queen West. After the addition of Spain's Zara, then the much anticipated Swedish H&M, the Danish line, Vero Moda decided to open it's first North American store in Toronto. Having over 700 stores internationally, selecting Toronto as its first store location in North America is a bit of a risk considering the city's more conservative relationship with fashion.

Sure, we flocked to H&M and Zara on opening weekends, changing in the middle of the store to avoid the hour long waits at the change rooms, and the same with the recent addition of California chain, Forever 21, but do we really need another cheap knockoff retailer? Even the location gives pause for thought, being more West Queen West than simply Queen West. (The store is located just west of Bathurst at 632 Queen.)

Perhaps being able to boast about having former Victoria Secret model, Gisele as the brand's spokesmodel will help create a buzz, but so far no one seems to be talking about it.

No Anorexia

In reaction to last season's tirade about skinny models on the runway, Italian women's wear brand Nolita recently launched their controversial ad campaign, featuring a skeletal woman who has suffered from anorexia for 13 years. The woman, photographed by Oliviero Toscani, is Isabelle Caro, a Frenchwoman who weighs just 70 pounds at 5'5". The ad launched just in time for Milan Fashion Week and has sparked much debate across the world.

I doubt this image will keep thin models out of the fashion industry, but perhaps it will focus people's attention to what a healthy body image should be. It's just too bad that time and time again it's the fashion industry that gets targeted as the primary culprit. (Hollywood anyone?)

Many of the models used on the runways are still girls who haven't yet developed those sexy curves that come with becoming a woman. The models work with the world's top photographers, makeup artists, stylists, and re-touchers to create an image for the fashion brand. Fashion photography is an art form. And yes, unapologetically it creates unattainable, but fantastically beautiful images using all the talent and skills of a team of people with a creative vision beyond what most people can possibly dream.

The hiring of models falls on the shoulders of the designers, who have seen possibly hundreds of young models. An experienced eye can tell if a girl is too thin for her own frame and hopefully they are responsible enough to acknowledge it and not hire that girl.

Let's be realistic: ugly people don't sell, but anorexia shouldn't sell either.

Cosmo TV Coming to Canada

Corus Entertainment and New York-based Hearst Corporation are planning on bringing Cosmopolitan Television to Canada in early 2008. The channel launched in Spain in 2000, and is now in more than 20 countries around the world.

What should we expect? Well, my guess is lots of girlie guilty pleasures: Sex and the City re-runs, every single Julia Roberts movie made in the 90's, and a bunch of make-over shows.

Just what we need...

Hot Voodoo

W Magazine loves their Moss.

Say what you will about Kate Moss, but she is a great model. It's so rare for a model to channel so many different muses from Marlene Dietrch to Marilyn Monroe and really pull it off well. The October 2007 issue features a stunning story shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.


Click here for the full slide show.

The inspiration: Marlene Dietrich's role as a nightclub singer from the 1932 movie, Blonde Venus.

The Body Shop Founder Dies

Dame Anita Roddick, The Body Shop Founder, died today at the age of 64 following a brain hemorrhage. The long time human rights and environmental campaigner founded The Body Shop in 1976 with no training or experience in business. Thirty years later, The Body Shop has over 2,045 stores in 51 different markets.

She was the woman who started a business based on conscious. Asking consumers questions like, "Why waste a container when you can refill it?" and "Why buy more of something than you can use?" She used her experience from the Second World War where everything was reused, refilled and recycled out of necessity. She believed that businesses had the power to do good and wanted to use her stores and her products to communicate human rights and environmental issues. She was involved with many different campaigns, teaming up with organizations like Greenpeace.

Retro Flashback: Jitterbug!

Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (1984)



My first crush was George Micheal. The first moment I fell in love with him was during this video where he's wearing the neon yellow fingerless gloves, hugging himself singing, "Cuddle up, baby, move in tight, we'll go dancing tomorrow night. It's cold out there, but it's warm in bed. They can dance, we'll stay home instead." (Oh, my prepubescent heart.)

This is where the recent trend of the large font t-shirts started. The designer, Katharine E. Hamnett designed the "CHOOSE LIFE" and "GO GO" t-shirts roughly the same time she designed the "FRANKIE SAY RELAX", "FRANKIE SAY WAR! HIDE YOURSELF" and "FRANKIE SAY ARM THE UNEMPLOYED" t-shirts. As with any trend, fakes sprouted up all over the place, using the phrase "SAYS" instead of "SAY".

Now these t-shirts are knocked off all over the place and you can find them in H&M and Forever 21, with saying like "REHAB IS THE NEW BLACK". A far cry from where Hamnett's political and social messages originated.

"Sarah Mower said I was the most copied designer in the world - to the point where I had to consider designing something I would be happy to see copied." - Katharine E. Hamnett.