runaway love: April 2012

4.28.2012

Biko and the OOAK show for Dress to Kill Magazine

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Corrine Anestopoulos of Biko jewelry at the Toronto One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale. The Toronto-based jewelry designer launched her Spring/Summer 2012 collection, entitled A Light Odyssey Into Tomorrow online (at ilovebiko.com) in February. The new colourful designs are a great addition to this modern nostalgic jewelry brand.

The pieces are bright and fun but still have that antique-trinket-vintage amazingness to them. I put together this little video montage.. sorry about my terrible editing skillzz. (Tried something new. Maybe I should stick to writing.) For more on Anestopoulos' new collection read the profile I wrote for Dress To KILL mag.

photos: Elayne

4.20.2012

Streetstyle on West Queen West

On one of the lovely sunny days last month I decided to go to my favourite writing spots in West Queen West, French pastry shop Nadege. They make the best croissants, sandwiches and lattes and they have a super sunny patio that faces Trinity park in all its hobos/high kid glory. All that = Elayne's cure for writer's block. On my way there, I was stopped by a street style photographer/blogger for Propper Clobber.

Lookin' kinda unshowered and strange-faced but whatevs. That's how I do these days...

black cardigan, lace top, AA burgundy high-waisted trousers, Dolce Vita brown suede wedges
Photo: Proper Clobber

4.15.2012

SLAB by WOUDENBERG

Last month I went to the fancy Gladstone Hotel in ever-so artsy neighbourhood of West Queen West to see what the artsy artisans of Toronto had in store. (I like the word 'artsy'....nbd) The Gladstone's Artists & Fleas Market, an event created by the hotel's creative director Jeremy Vandermeji took place in the hotel's rustic Victorian ballroom. The place was full of artists and their craft, art, and designs. The one artist that really caught my eye was Emily Woudenberg of WOUDENBERG jewelry. Her latest collection of custom-made concrete jewelry, SLAB by WOUDENBERG, was so incredibly cool that I just had to write an article about it. So I did, for Dress To KILL. Give her a read ;).

Woudenberg's F/W 2012 collection features concrete pieces and materials like leather, rope, metal chain, studs, and semi precious stone beads. The collection was inspired by the artist's fascination with architecture, and the idea of concrete as a material for jewelry.

SLAB has this amazing dystopia, end of the world theme, that adds a grungy edge to any outfit. The designs are modern, sleek, beautifully crafted and have serious bad-ass feel.

Emily Woudenberg and her F/W 2012 collection Slab by WOUDENBERG
photo: Elayne

photo: Elayne

Concrete jewelry
photo: Elayne

photo: emilywoudenberg.com

Photo: emilywoudenberg.com

photo: emilywoudenberg.com

4.07.2012

The ShOws - Ruffian F/W 2012 for Dress To Kill

A few days after Fashion Week was over and done with, I got a call from my editor at Dress To KILL magazine. I thought my runway adventures were over (for this season at least) but NO! He wanted me to go to a secrete/super exclusive/only-for-the-fashion-elite runway show at the super glamourous Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Ruffian runway at The ShOws
photo: Elayne

"Elayne, can you make it to The ShOws tonight and review the Ruffian show.?"

My answer was an automatic YES! But I had no idea what The ShOws were... First thing that came to mind was - umm Mr. Bossman you need to be more weary of the use of capital letters, I believe it's spelt shows not ShOws. Shows how much I know (not a member of the elite squad I guess, Pffffff AM NOW! HA)... Anyway, once I googled it and found out that The ShOws were basically the cooler and more exclusive version of the normal Toronto Fashion Week, where designers like Jeremy Lang, David Szeto, Jean-Pierre Braganza - who are way to posh to show their lines during the scheduled Fashion Week with all those other Canadian designers - sent their F/W lines down the runway.

When I walked into the lobby of the Ritz Carlton Toronto, I got a glimpse of what it was like to be a rich Toronto businessperson. There were at least 25 suited-up, good-looking, 30 somethings laughing and drinking at the bar (it was like 6 pm on a thursday. Never too early to get your drink on). I followed the crowd of familiar Fashion Week faces up the shiny marble stairs to the lobby of the ballroom where the Ruffian show was to take place. The best thing about the whole experience : ALL THE FREE STUFF! As soon as I signed in, I was handed a little bag filled with lipsticks, shampoo samples, perfume samples, candies, etc. It was greaaat! They also had a huge table of coffee and tea options. (SO much more fun than Fashion Week).

After maybe 3 free coffees and 75 Jolly Ranchers, the ballroom doors opened and I was ushered into the runway room. As I wander around looking for my assigned seat, I was stopped by Lolitta Dandoy of Clin d'oeil magazine. She liked what I was wearing and took this somewhat unfortunate photo of me for one of her street style posts.

Ask me what I'm doing with my face. My answer: I wish I knew. It looks like I'm about to sneeze. At least my outfit looks cute...

The Ruffian show was fun. I sat next to, and made friends with, Mary Kitchen of CityTV. Nbd. The line was super Downton Abbey/British countryside. Real cute. For more info on the actual collection, read my article for Dress To KILL mag.

photo: Elayne

4.05.2012

Toronto Fashion Week F/W 2012 - It's overrrrrrr :(

Toronto Fashion Week was one long week of runway shows, interviews, writing, and chillzing with my fashion friends. It was a ton of work, but thinking back on it now, I really do miss all the fashiony stuff I got to do. I miss my media pass and the streetstyle photographers and the models, and all the clothes and the snobby fashion editors and the free makeup and awwwww I can't wait till next season!!!!

Runaway love and Naughty Mess for Hooters F/W 2012

Now that I've finally wrapped up all my fashion writing and reviews I can breathe again (only for a short while...but still. Breathing is nice). I will post a must have list of this season's runway trends soon soon but for now feel free to check out the runway accessory trend report and street style trend report I wrote for Dress To KILL magazine.

Also, my Day 5 outfit was pretty popular with the street style photographers. Here are some shots of me taken by Silhouetted Skyline, World of 4, FASHION mag, Curvy Geekery, Erich Deleeuw, Filler mag, and others.

(narcissism, narcissism, narcissism)

Levi's leather jacket, H&M tail top, AA high-waisted zipper shorts, orange neon bag, white thigh-high socks, Aldo floral wedges.

Toronto Fashion Week Day 5 - Travis Taddeo and Arthur Mendonca

On the final day of Toronto Fashion Week (not the actual final day...there were still the secrete ShOws - yes, it's spelt like that.) there were two collections that really stood out. The first was the super fun and edgy designs by fellow Montrealer Travis Taddeo. The other, a sexy lady 60s line by Ryerson alumni Arthur Mendonca.

Travis Taddeo's F/W 2012 collection, entitled Doomed Generation, was the epitome of edgy, badass, and freaking radness. I think I've called like 55 lines badass so far...and for that I apologize because when compared to Taddeo's line, no one gets near his badassiness. The line featured a lot of leather pieces and fur trim (poor baby animals...). The colours - fiery reds, ash greys, black, and white (hint of metallic silver) - really spelled out the rawness and dooms-day idea of the end-of-the-world theme. The first few pieces that came down the studio runway were super badass-chic, simple but sexy. There was a lot of black leather mixed with mesh and black fur. Can you say sexalicious? I can. I think I even said it out loud at the show..(oops. There goes my coolness. Out the window). The red leather biker jacket and pencil skirt combo really did it for me. It was bold and shiny and the orange fur trim took it to the next level. Taddeo also showed a lot of metallic silver and white for f/w on white and silver leather panelled pants and metallic skirts. Taddeo did a great job of creating a line that any 20-something fashionista would die to have in her closet. The collection was super wearable. It was as if Taddeo did it backwards (cause he's that cool) and came up with a line of streetstyle-for-runway. Fashionistas first, models and industry second. Loves it.

Maxi dress with cut-out
photo: Elayne

leather-trimmed cargo jacket with black mesh top and leather pants
photo: Elayne

Fur-trimmed leather biker jackets

photo: Elayne

White mesh top with metallic silver panelled pants
photo: Elayne

Red biker jacket with orange fur trim (poor baby animals :(...)
photo: Elayne

The lovely Travis Taddeo donned his own dooms day leather panelled cargo jacket at the end of the show. Lookin' like a badass. I like!

Designer Travis Taddeo in leather panelled cargo jacket
photo: Elayne

The Arthur Mendonca fall/winter 2012 collection also took to the runway on the final day of Fashion Week. With a line inspired by the 1960s housewife and Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, Mendonca showed highly tailored garments pumped with sexy appeal and bright colours. The show opened with a shiny fuchsia patent leather rain jacket, which was highly feminine in colour but rather masculine in tailoring. The collection consisted of several menswear-inspired looks in a variety of pinks and neutrals. Mendonca paid homage to Clockwork Orange by sending models down the runway in bowler hats and double-breasted trench coats. The designer also managed to channel the film’s sex appeal with bondage-like dresses with leather bodices, latex gloves, and lace stockings. The 1960s housewife aspect of the line came through in the form of a fuchsia paisley print sheath dress, white silk pleated A-line dress, knee-length pencil dresses, and a wool draped dress in sea blue that was shown with a matching sea blue fur sash. In contrast with the edgier black and brown leather garments, Mendonca made sure to incorporated several bright colours into his fall/winter line such as an array of bright lace overlays in sea blue, purple, pink, and yellow and a few vibrant blouses in neon and metallic baby blue. This line could transform any career woman in to the office goddess. Do it ladies! Throw those pinstripe pantsuits away and power suit it up with Arthur Mondonca!

Dominatrix Barbie anyone?
photo: Dress to Kill

photo: Dress to Kill

Bondage gown
photo: Elayne

Leather bodice pencil dress with fur circle scarf and bowler hat
photo: Elayne

Pink power suit with double-breasted buttons and bowler hat
photo: Dress to Kill

Sea blue wrap dress and fur sash - and the photo pit. (hey guys!)
photo: Elayne

Coloured lace overlay
photo: Elayne

4.02.2012

Toronto Fashion Week Day 4 - David Dixon and the bird ladies

Unfortunately, on Day 4 of TFW, I had a crazy busy day at school and missed all but one show. After class I biked home (like a wild person), showered, did my hair, figured out a last minute outfit, and ran out the door. I made it to the tent five minutes before the David Dixon show started. On my way in I was stylestreet snapped by Sweetspot. Here's what I wore.

Vera Moda blouse, vintage brown leather belt, H&M pleated skirt, H&M suede and neon shoes
photo: Bruno Wong of Sweetspot.ca

The David Dixon runway show was super entertaining. The show, entitled "The Birds", opened with a montage from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960s horror film of the same name. David Dixon's feathered feminine collection was very much 60s inspired. The collection consisted of elegant, form-fitting silhouettes in the shape of knee-length pencil skirts in black and white houndstooth, black petal chiffon, black feathers, and black sequins. There was also a lot of peplum action, mostly shown on white silk pencil dresses. Dixon also did the boxy 60s jacket in white wool over cigarette pants and pencil skirts. Since the show was called Birds, it did include a number of feathered garments. Dixon used a lot of dark feathers this season (much like our haute couture friend Lucian Matis) on long evening gowns, skirts, jackets, cocktail dresses and even showed a full feathered coat. There was also a hint of shiny teal (maybe even turquoise) in the collection to channel the shine effect of bird feathers. Ever actually looked at black feather closely? Well, normally there's hints of green or blue-green somewhere in there. Clever, David, clever.

Hint: feathers are good for F/W2012. Just saying.