London, London, London - An outfit post

Dear Canadian fashion and style,

Please do us all a favour and be more like the United Kingdom (preferably more like London). I know you try to be cool and "with it" by scooping up whatever trends and hand-me-downs big sister America is letting you get away with but what you haven't realized is that you're looking to the wrong fashion nation. American fashion is baby food compared to European fashion and doesn't even stand a chance against the style and creativity that oozes off EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the glorious, grundgy-yet-sophisticated, amazingness that is London. Street style for days. Every where you look there is a fashion goddess in an outfit so perfect you can't help but stare. EVERYONE looks freaking epic all. the. time. It's like being effortlessly stylish is embedded in a Londoner's DNA. 

I know, I can hear you now... "but we are Canadians, how can we compete with that?" It's hard for us to get pass America and the besties/popular-girl-fake-friendship she has with European fashion. America gets all the goodies first, wears the shit out of it, then dilutes it until it's fast-fashion knock-off shit. Then it's passed on to us. HOW BLOODY BRILLIANT...

Yes. I know. It's not our fault. We're just not as popular as America. Europe doesn't really know we exist... We will get her attention soon enough. For now Canada, all I ask is that you do yourself a favour and look to Europe for fashion inspiration. Get pass the bitchy sister and the lame stuff she's been giving you.  Be creative, be yourself, be effortlessly stylish like our friends across the pond!

Tell American Vogue you need to see other people and give British or French Vogue a call. You don't know what you're missing.

Lots of love,

Elayne Millar

a concerned fashion-loving Canadian living in the UK.

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Had to get it off my chest. For those of you who don't know, I've moved once again and am now living in the United Kingdom - Cambridge, Cambridgeshire to be exact, which is a 45 minute train ride away from the fashion Mecca city of London! OH EM GEE.

Every time I visit London I come home with bags and bags of glorious new outfits, pieces, and/or accessories and the nasty foot-long receipts that come along with them... (curse you Pound...you evil Canadian-Dollar-eating monster.)

Here is an outfit made up of pieces I found during my last visit. My new favourite items: TURTLENECKS AND SKORTS! Skort, Skort, Skort - best word in the dictionary.

Long-sleeve turtleneck crop top in gray from Zara
 with a black paisley print skort from TopShop

Toronto's World MasterCard Fashion Week F/W 2013 - Street styling

With Toronto Fashion Week comes the inevitable hoard of fashion bloggers and street style photographers, all of whom scour the tents and front steps of David Pecaut Square for interesting outfits, people and celebrities. As annoying as Toronto's fashion people want to pretend these bloggers/photographers are, the reality is we all secretly love them and are almost never actually annoyed when they want to take our photograph. Pfff saying no to free press? I don't think so. Possible new readers/followers? Come on now. That's just stupid. So here are some photos of me taken by some of Canada's fashion blogs and magazines such as shedoesthecity.com, Indecent Xposure, MTV Flora, FASHION, FAJO, and FLARE Magazine.

Here's a shot from style and fashion blog shedoesthecity.com taken at the Holt Renfrew after party on Day 1 of WMCFW.  Just hanging with some of my big-time Toronto fashion media friends. You know, just chillin. The party was great! Wanna read more about it? Click here.

long-sleeved leopard print tail dress from Forever 21,
black faux-fur shrug and black leather Western belt from H&M
Photo: shedoesthecity

Day 2 was a blur... I think I was working on the Laura Siegel behind-the-scenes feature I wrote for the National Post that day so I didn't spend much time at the tents. The feature turned out really well (after all my bloody hard work....) and I got a chance to hang out backstage and catch all the last minute, heat-of-the-moment runway action. I even snagged a little video of our girl Laura when it was all over. Check it out here!

Day 3 was a fun day of live blogging for the National Post. I basically had to run around from show to show speed tweeting and posting ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. It was mad. But I quickly got the hang of things and started posting some pretty witty stuff. (I'm not a Twitter person.. like AT ALL... so I was pretty proud of myself when I got email props from my editors back at the Post) Anyway, while running around like a frantic fashion chicken sans tête I posed for FAJO Magazine and once again for shedoesthecity.com.

yellow Chanel-inspired jacket from Zara, white American Apparel fitted crop top
orange satchel clutch from Aldo, patterned high-low skirt (tail skirt) from H&M
black leather and wood boots from Urban Outfitters
photo: shedoesthecity.com  

photo: FAJO Magazine

On Day 4 I caught the attention of several street style photographers with my "Bitch don't kill my vibe" tank from Brandy Melville. Thanks to Montreal's Indecent Xposure and FASHION magazine for the free press!

Levy's leather jacket, Brandy Melville tank over white and black striped H&M blouse
paired with vintage velvet bellbottom pants
photo: Indecent Xposure

photo: Indecent Xposure

photo: FASHION Magazine

hehe a little shout-out to my statement tee ;)

Look MOM! My name is in a FASHION Magazine article!!
screenshot: fashionmagazine.com

Day 5 was a blessing (YES IT WAS OVER! I COULD BREATHE AGAIN!) and a curse (NOOOO IT'S OVER WAHHHH! I HATE REAL LIFE). It was the last day of Toronto's World MasterCard Fashion week F/W 2013 and my entire wardrobe was sprawled out on the floor of my apartment. Sorry, but when your job is to get your Fash'On and strut around Fashion Week trying to look important, there is NO TIME for cleaning or putting away clothes. On Day 5 I was running out of outfit options... so I went with this one. MTV thought it was cute and grabbed a photo of me on my way to the Travis Taddeo show. They also asked me to be a part of their "Favourite Street-styler's mixtape". Pretty cool stuff.

looking a little fat faced in my leather-sleeved Zara cropped navy military jacket,
vintage blouse in navy silk, black disco pants from American Apparel
and my trusty black suede Lita boots by Jeffery Campbell
photo: MTV FLORA

Check out the playlist! It's actually really cool.
screenshot: MTV FLORA

A feature story about fashion muses

The last feature story I wrote for the National Post was a full-page fashion feature about some of history's most famous (and in some cases totally eccentric and amazing) fashion muses. It was published in the Weekend Post back in April and I totally forgot to blog about it...oops. It never made it on to the website, which is kinda weird because everything normally goes straight to the web these days and little is ever actually filtered out. The story must have just been overlooked (sad face). But whatever. My story made it to print in one of Canada's biggest national newspaper, if not the biggest (nice job Layne.) So I don't feel too bad about it. Since there isn't an online link, I guess everyone will just have to enjoy the lovely photos I took of the article in the paper. If you're feeling adventurous you can try and zoom in/piece the paragraphs together. Bahaha have fun!

Hi byline! I miss you and love you. You're really pretty <333

 Fun tidbits from the piece I found floating around in my notes:

"In the 1960s, the best example of a more modern muse was Andy Warhal’s Edie Sedgewick who became not only the artist’s source of inspiration but a living logo of the time period. 

Along with with the job of provoking creativity, an official muse often also provided her designer with feedback and criticism. Together they formed a collaborative relationship and produced work that was true to both their artistic visions. Fashion’s muses were people who were consistent in their personal style and were not influenced by trend."

....

"Back in the 90s and early 2000s Isabelle Blow, British socialite and magazine editor, was a famous muse to both hat designer Philip Treacy and fashion designer Alexander McQueen. By making Treacy’s extravagant hats part of her everyday flamboyant outfits, she single-handedly propelled the otherwise unknown milliner into designer stardom. Since his collaboration with Blow, Treacy has designed hats for several Haute Couture collections like Chanel, Givenchy, etc, as well as for celebrities like Lady Gaga and Sarah Jessica Parker. He also designed 36 hats for members of the royal family, all of which were worn on the day of the Royal Wedding. The most notable being the large pink bow-like hat worn by Princess Beatrice of York. Like Treacy, late designer Alexander McQueen also used Blow as a source of creative inspiration. Not only was Blow the first person to show undying support of his work by purchasing his entire Central Saint Martins graduation collection in 1995, together Blow and McQueen created the label’s outlandish aesthetic.

Like Blow, Lady Amanda Harlech was a muse to two of the fashion world’s biggest names in the 1990s, John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld. The then young British socialite and fashion writer first worked with Galliano in the days where the young designer was just starting out and had to rely on Harlech no only for inspiration but for financial support. Together they designed the garments that won Galliano the coveted position as  head designer at Dior. Soon after her designer had moved up in the world, Harlech fell upon another man in need of a muse, Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld. Harlech and Lagerfeld became inseparable and worked together for years designing fashion masterpieces for the French label. He received international fame and fortune, while she, his creative consultant and muse remained his silent partner." 

.....

That time I was in a magazine and didn't even know it ...X 2

Once upon a time (last January to be exact) I was wandering around the land of Facebook when I spotted an interesting post by my friend and favourite fashion photographer Jess Milan, creator of the fashion/food blog Lookbook Cookbook (LBCB). It was a photo of a two-page spread interview in Company Magazine UK. And guess whose stupid little face was plastered on it... Mine! Woah!?! I was in the February 2013 issue of a big UK fashion magazine!? Too cool! So obviously, I had to run out into the cold Toronto-winter streets in search of issues of Company mag for my parents and my super cute and always-proud-of-me Portuguese grandmother. After visits to 4 or 5 different magazine stores, I finally got my hands on it!

There I am!
Company Magazine UK, February 2013 issue
photo: Jess Milan for LBCB

The February 2013 cover

AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN! This time in a Canadian magazine! I'm also in the September 2013 issue of Fashion Magazine thanks to another article about Lookbook Cookbook. How cute. Check it out ;)

There I am! Oh man that banana pop... I still dream about it <33
FASHION Magazine, September 2013 issue
Photo: Jessica Milan

The September 2013 cover

If your interested in reading the full article about fashion and food blogging you can find it here on Fashion Magazine's website.  I couldn't find the online version of the Company mag one but wtvs... you could always zoom in to read if you're really dying to..

Toronto Fashion Week - Fall runway trend report F/W 2013

Can't remember all the great fall trends from the Toronto Fashion Week F/W 2013 runways? Have no fear! I have them all noted down for you in the Fall Trend report I wrote for the National Post last season.

After the fashion packed week of Toronto's World MasterCard Fashion Week, after all the runway reviews, makeup reviews, hair reviews, designer profiles, trend profile, bla bla bla, no sleep no sleep, I was asked to put it all together to create this ULTIMATE FALL TREND LOW DOWN!

Here are the trends!

(check out the full article on the National Post website.)

Winter Whites

Furs

Dark Lips

Biker Jackets

Floral Patterns

Leather Panelling

Capes and Burgundy

Photos: National Post

Fall Fashion Flashbacks - Mackage, VAWK and Caitlin Power F/W 2013 shows at Toronto Fashion Week

Guess what tomorrow is everyone!
It's October, which means fall fashion is here! YAY! Layering! Fall colours! Fall fabrics, patterns and actual clothing! Yes, yes, yesssss, don't get me wrong, I love the summer and its trends. I even wrote a fun summer trend report a few months back for the Post. You can check it out here! It's all about the crazy music festival attire we all love to flaunt around in during the hot days of summer.
Actually, it's a good read for right now. Think of it as a checklist of the things you should be putting away to make room for all the fall loveliness! Bye crochet denim mini shorts... see you next festival season :(

Coachella
Photo: National Post

I love the heat and the tans and the shorts and sun dresses, and the lazy relaxation of it all but lets be honest... summer fashion is fine, fun and okay. Fall fashion, however is EXCITING AND WILD AND GIVES YOU SO MUCH MORE TO WORK WITH! (Can you sense my excitement?...I'll try to tone it down not to offend my booty-short and side-boob loving readers. I feel you guys. Don't worry.)

Here are a few articles I wrote on the Mackage, Vawk, and Caitlin Power F/W 2013 shows for the National Post. Flashbacks, if you will, of the trends of last season's Toronto Fashion Week runways to get everyone as excited as I am for all the wonderfulness that is fall fashion.

Fall Flashback: Mackage F/W 2013 (full article)

Designers Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy took full advantage of the animal kingdom with a fur-and-leather heavy, street style-inspired line. The biker grunge collection went beyond the usual fur-trimmings we've been seeing so far on the F/W 2013 runways of Toronto Fashion Week.

Photo: National Post

Fall Flashback: VAWK F/W 2013 (full article)

Be it through fur trims and details, leather accents, feathered accessories, or animal graphic sweaters, designer Sonny Fong's collection played tribute to the nature of the north.

Photo: Elayne 

Photo: Elayne

Fall Flashback: Caitlin Power F/W 2013 (full article)

Designer Caitlin Power's muse of fall 2013 was the professional Parisian of the future. the sexy silhouette and high-gloss patent leather detailing in metallic silver, navy, bronze and burgundy makes you feel as though you've time-travelled to Paris and it's the year 2025.

Photos: Elayne
National Post 

Styling for Lookbook Cookbook!

Remember waaaay back when, when I posted about styling a shoot for Lookbook Cookbook? Yeah, like 6 months ago... If you don't (haha, which I'm sure no one does....) feel free to give my old post a read. Here's a little story of how it went!

The night of the shoot was a rather hectic one. I had spent the entire day pulling clothes and collecting accessories, etc etc. On top of all that I had to clean my nasty apartment because Lookbook Cookbook creator and photographer Jessica Milan and I decided to have the shoot in my tiny closet of a home. After what seemed like hours of preparation I had my outfits down and ready for shooting.

Styling the shoot was a piece of cake ( haha pun totally INTENDED). Since I've been modeling for LBCB for quite some time now, I was very familiar with the type of look Jess wanted. All my outfits were super casual and I made sure to keep them as LBCB-looking as possible aka super big on the high-waisted shorts, chunky jewelry and bright lipsticks. Most of the clothing used in the shoot was pulled from my very own closet and the jewelry was graciously loaned to me by my friend Corrine Anestopoulos of BIKO. If you are unfamiliar Corrine's amazing designs take a second and check out a post I wrote about her a few months back. She's one talented little lady.

BIKO jewelry. Spring/Summer 2013

I can't remember just how many looks I did in the end, but here are the ones Jess posted so far. First up is my caramel smoothie look. I'm wearing a nasty old black beanie, my tiger cut-off tee from Brandy Melville, an American Apparel lace bra, (can't remember what I was wearing as bottoms... maybe I was naked. Who knows.) fuchsia Smashbox lipstick, BIKO necklace and bracelet and Tiffany rings.

photo: Jess Milan

photo: Jess Milan

The second we have the pecan pie smoothie modelled by the lovely Hailey. She's wearing a Dream Big tee from Brashy Couture with BDG high rise shorts and BIKO jewelry. 

heheheheheh look!! I'm a stylist ;) (name is misspelled but whatevs happens all the time..)
photo: Jess Milan

photo: Jess Milan

And third, the MOST AMAZING THING IN THE WORLD, chocolate chip banana pancakes! AHHH I DIED! I'm wearing a Mickey Mouse print skirt from Urban Outfitters, a zipper-front vintage leather mini skirt and BIKO jewelry.

photo: Jess Milan

If I could eat these pancakes every day for the rest of my life I would die a happy (but very fat) woman.
Thank you Jess. Thank you so much.

Here are some behind-the-scene shots of goodies and outfits that have yet to make it on the site. Once Jess unveils the new treats, I'll make sure to post more info.

photo: Jess Milan

Amazing no-bake treats!! Sorry guys, I can't tell you what they are. Gotta wait for the LBCB post!

Catching that flash with my phone. That's behind-the-scenes action for you.

Behind-the-scenes at Folio's Spring 2013 fashion shoot

For those of you that don't know, on top of being a fashion writer for the National Post I am also the Editor-in-Chief of Ryerson Folio Magazine. I started working for Folio as the Fashion editor and was then promoted to Editor-in-Chief so obviously I have a soft spot for the fashion section. I take Folio's fashion pages super seriously and so I made sure to have the VERY BEST TEAM for this Spring 2013 issue. I wanted this issue's fashion editorial to be perfect. There was no way I was going to let a magazine with my name on it have some loser catalogue-worthy shit photography or tacky no-name designer outfits. I want Vogue or Vanity Fair! I want HIGH FASHION DAMMIT! And so I called in my three pros, Folio photographer Joseph Hammond, fashion editor and stylist Christian Allaire, and makeup artist Christina Ciddio

Rolled this thing around campus during the biggest bloody freezing wind-storm EVER...Good times with Chris. We managed not to wreck anything. Thank you, Fashion God!

My darling Chris pulled from the studios of some of Ryerson's most important fashion alumni. He got amazing pieces from Lucian Matis, LABEL, Amanda Lew Kee, and Rachel Sin. Using his amazing networking skills and fashion connections, Chris also managed to get the people from Ann Taylor to provide us with shoes and Artifacts Jewelry to lend us their amazing one-of-a-kind vintage pieces.

The amazinggg yellow croc-skin jacket by Lucian Matis. This thing made headlines last Fashion Week. It was one all of the Spring/Summer 2013 runway's best lists.

COLOUR BLOCKING. It's important. Thanks Ann Taylor ;) 

Together, Chris and I styled our model, the lovely Catrina Chen, while Joseph got his lighting down. Have I mentioned that Joseph is actually an amazing photographer? K, good. Check out his portraits. They're really something else.

Catrina in another Lucian Matis creation

Our buddy Joe being a pro

Catrina in Amanda Lew Kee. ALK makes sportswear sexy. Just saying

After an intense hour and a half of dressing, un-dressing, running, posing, styling, placing, BLAH BLAH fashion head-aching, we got it! We all left the shoot knowing that this issue of Folio was going to have a KILLER fashion spread.

AND GUESS WHAT! IT DOES!!

Get it while it's hot bitchezzzzz

Haven't seen it yet? Dude, what are you waiting for? QUICK RUN TO RYERSON! The magazine was launched last month at our Folio launch party (sick party, you should have been there. If you weren't invited...sorry, I guess you aren't cool enough) and is now available around school.

skirt and top by Lucian Matis
photo: Joseph Hammond

right: dress by Rachel Sin, necklace and bracelets by Artifacts Jewelry. Left: jacket and skirt by Lucian Matis, shoes by Ann Taylor 

Right: top and shorts by Amanda Lew Kee, necklace by Artifacts Jewelry. Left: Label dress and jewelry by Artifacts.