Purge before you Splurge at Jonathan+Olivia

Like most people, I spring clean in April. And I mean, I all out clean. Clean out the closet. Detail the car. Purge my computer files. See the dentist. Last night I gave a pile of clothes I no longer wear to a girlfriend, but I saved a few key pieces for Jonathan+Olivia's THIS IS WEST QUEEN WEST - SOS, a clothing drive in aid of CAMH.

From April 22 to 28, Jonathan+Olivia are collecting items -- think nice things you don't wear any more -- to provide appropriate attire for the patients of CAMH as part of the Suits Me Fine Boutique program. The CAMH Suits Me Fine Boutqiue provides patients with clothing to wear during their treatment, or for job interviews post treatment. Many patients are challenged by strained financial resources, job loss or homelessness and are not able to afford clothing and essentials. Clothing is also provided by the boutique to patients who are admitted with limited clothing, such as those who come by ambulance or those who are coming through the criminal justice system.

 

As a thank you for your kindness, anyone donating and making a purchase at J+O during the drive can enjoy a 10% discount to splurge on something new during the week of the clothing drive. Don't try to bring in tattered, soiled or unsightly items, that would just be rude. 

You can track donations on J+O's Instagram page using the hashtag #closetangel. As well, they'll showcase the donated clothes in a special window installation throughout the week, which grows 

bigger and bigger as more people join the cause. 

Viktor & Rolf fall preview at The Room

Recently Toronto was named the fourth largest city in North America (take a seat Chicago!), but we aren't yet acting like a major player on the continent. When international designers roll through town -- you know, the celebrities of the fashion world -- we have a hard time not divulging our "aw shucks"-ness at their presence. 

This is not a bad thing. It's just very, very Canadian. It's what endears people to Canadians (well, that and our social policies). Last night the fashion duo Viktor & Rolf held court at The Room for a party to preview their fall collection. So I doused myself in Flowerbomb and hit the Bay...erm, I mean The Hudson's Bay.

We may be humble Canadians but we know how to throw a party. While the bespectacled pair worked the room, bespectacled waiters worked the champagne and hors d'ouevres and DJ Mia Moretti worked her magic with the music. 

Toronto Fashion Week - Part Deux

Fashion week isn't just about what happens on the runways, it's how we capture and share it. Since the dawn of Twitter, live events are for the audience -- whether actually in attendance or not -- to offer their play by play. Now with Instagram and Vine, it's not just about what we say, but how we see it. I saw many use Vine  to record the final walks from designer shows in New York, London and Paris, so I put my own spin on it frequently last week. What else can you say in six seconds?

One of my favorite moments of the week was the Joe Fresh show. If you wouldn't have guessed in a million years that the fast fashion of Joe Fresh could be heavily influenced by the British impressario Malcolm McLaren, you don't know Joe Mimran. McLaren and his girlfriend Vivian Westwood were largely responsible for the punk style of youth in the 1970s. Joe went straight to Paris for punk (with a hint of jazz) in the form of a French ingenue, a stylish young thing who, channeling a young Carine Roitfeld, donned mostly black. He brought us art in the form of Ed Ruscha -- an artist known for painting words on large canvasses -- and his lettered sweaters that wrapped up the collection. And then he brought us the best after party of the week. That's Joe.

Photo by George Pimentel

Photo by George Pimentel

Loved this...

I skipped out on Friday's shows due to commitments for Canadian Music Week (why, oh why does everything have to happen at the same time in Toronto?) but not before co-hosting FGI Toronto's Speed Networking event with Fashion Takes Action. This is the second season we've worked together with IMG to host the event during fashion week. Speed networking matches you up with someone new every two minutes, so if you're not good at conversation, you will learn quickly!  The event was sold-out, thanks to everyone who came out for it. Check out FGI on Facebook and Twitter for more upcoming events.

Ready, set, go!

Toronto Fashion Week - Part One

Spring may have announced itself on the calendar this week, but the weather is still pushing its winter agenda, much to the dismay of the fashion crowds. Trust me, we are so over winter. It's finally time for fashion week in Toronto. We're both ready for spring and all about fall.

Snow gently falling on the tents

World MasterCard Fashion Week has become a fine mix of our emerging and pro designers. In between the shows we mix in a bit of business, like DHL Express Canada's fashion industry panel moderated by yours truly. The event featured DHL Canada's president Greg Hewitt, IMG Fashion Director Jarrad Clark, designers Christopher Bates (Christopher Bates menswear) and Adam Taubenfligel (Triarchy), Roxanne Joyal of Me to We and Mark Zimmerman from MaRs Discovery District. The panelists were a great bunch who offered insight on starting a business, global reach and logistics acumen.

DHL Express Canada fashion industry panel

Toronto Fashion Incubator took over the studio area for two days to present the annual TFI Press & Buyers breakfast event. This showcases up and coming designers in a boutique tradeshow platform.
The organization I head up, Fashion Group International, hosts our speed networking event on Friday.

Opening night included Canadian fashion stalwarts Izzy Camilleri (with a new line Miz), Pink Tartan and Bustle, with up-and-comer label Chloe Comme Parris snuck in-between. I had the pleasure of being asked by Sony Canada to shoot the Bustle show with their new Xperia tablet. Fun! 

My latest accessory, the Sony Xperia tablet

Shot with Sony's Xperia tablet

Shawn & Ruth of Bustle Clothing

I love how designers support each other -- Ruth is wearing Triarchy's gold denim. The next night featured Mercedes-Benz Start Up winner DUY and last year's TFI New Labels winner Sid Neigum. Major talent, these boys. But truthfully, would we see their true potential without the help of these design challenges? Likely not. There's more to come this week, stay tuned.

DUY

DUY

Sid Neigum

Sid Neigum

Giveaway! Pretty on the Outside

Those of us old enough to remember Billy Crystal's 'Fernando's Hideaway' skit on Saturday Night Live will recall the character's famous credo, "It is better to look good than to feel good." I don't necessarily agree that it's better, but I do believe looking good can help you feel better, no matter your mood. 

Like most women, what makes me feel better is a great pair of shoes, a good hair day or a brand new manicure. What makes me feel great? Having all three at the same time.

Yesterday was International Women's Day, so I'm continuing the celebration with a giveaway just for the ladies. Between now and Saturday, March 16, 2013* enter to win a prize pack designed to give you great hair, great nails and great shoes.

My friend Caitlin knows the power of a great manicure

To enter, you must do two things: 1) either comment here on this blog post telling me what makes you feel pretty on the outside or post a photo on Instagram using the hashtag #prettyontheoutside and 2) add your name to our mailing list by opting in here. (If you're already opted in, you're good!)

Prizes include:

Rowenta Beauty Curl Active iron (retail value $179.99)

SensationNail by Nailene Invisible Gel Polish Starter Kit, LED lamp included (approx. value $50)

A $100 gift certificate to Town Shoes

* Open to all residents of Canada except Quebec. Only one entry per person. You must be 18 years or older to enter. Only one blog comment or Instagram post is required to fulfill requirements for #1. Period ends at 11:59PM on Saturday, March 16, 2013. One winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and contacted via email. If the selected winner does not reply within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. #prettyontheoutside

Stylelab a Screen Awards Success

You don't have to work in fashion to agree that the red carpet is usually more fun than the awards show. And while last week's inaugural Canadian Screen Awards may not have the same level of glitz and glamour as the Globes or Oscars yet, we are a talented bunch and damn it, we ought to look good too. 

Global TV's Rosey Edeh - outfitted by Stylelab - on the red carpet

That was my thinking behind launching Stylelab, where Screen Awards nominees could rent applause-worthy apparel and accessories for their big night. (Because really, how often are you going to wear that dress again, ladies?) Stylelab made red carpet fashion accessible for men and women with apparel and accessories from Rent Frock Repeat, MMCrystal Jewelry, Off the Cuff Resale Designer Menswear, Cuffwear and Kara Ross.

Guests could relax in our lounge area provided by Andrew Richard Designs and enjoy refreshments courtesy of tabl'eau filtered water. Tabl'eau is a new Canadian company whose philosophy "how far should your water travel?" is simple and yet so revolutionary. (Perhaps that's why it's the water of choice for Toronto's Soho House, among other top venues.) Their sparkling water mixed with Monin flavorings gave everyone a little pep in their step. And might I add, it would be perfect for lounging on the patio come summertime!

   

Stylelab had something to offer everyone whether they needed a full outfit or just a little icing. This is the part of the business I love most - making people feel great. It was a fantastically fun two days, especially when eTalk and Oh So Cosmo stopped by to shoot the action. 

Rent Frock Repeat with eTalk

Off the Cuff Resale Designer Menswear on eTalk

Carrie-Lynn Neales, nominated for SEED, showed off her Stylelab goods for The Gate magazine.

#Stylelab Introduces High Style, Low Commitment

In the post-Oscars chatter of best and worst dressed, we often fail to mention that red carpet style usually comes care of a Hollywood stylist. But what if you don't have a stylist, and you still want - dare we say NEED - to look amazing on your big awards night?

This is the conundrum most people in the industry face. They're not big name celebrities with designers and diamond makers fawning over them. But, they make the television and film worlds go 'round, and without them there would be no awards show at all.

I have this group in mind when I launch #Stylelab this week for the nominees of our first ever Canadian Screen Awards. Over two days we will outfit nominees in gowns, dresses, suits, jackets, jewelry and accessories from these amazing brands:

Rent Frock Repeat
Off the Cuff Resale Designer Menswear
MMCrystal Jewelry
Kara Ross
Cuffwear

It's an approach I call "high style, low commitment". All items in the lounge will be available for rent at a fraction of the retail cost. Returning an item is, in most cases, as easy as dropping a bag into a mailbox. Decide to keep it? Everything is available for purchase too. Andrew Richard Designs and tabl'eau filtered water will make the lounge a comfy place to hang, so RSVP today!