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

Win Big at the Shopgirls Night

Shoppers at this Tuesday's Shopgirls' shopping event are in for some treats, literally! Our generous sponsors have donated some great door prizes. Win a "steam dream" package from Rowenta, a $100 gift certificate from Town Shoes, beauty products from L'Oreal Paris or Lacoste fragrance! 

F-list members will enjoy two hours of discounted shopping, wine, entertainment and special guests. We have space for one more winner and a friend to join 20 already shoppers! The first person* to email info@f-list.ca with SHOPGIRLS in the subject line will win this coveted slot. Hurry!

Rowenta's ‘Steam Dream’ package includes a Precision Valet Garment Steamer + travel Ultra Steambrush (value $300). Click here to follow Rowenta's backstage antics during LG Fashion Week.

* Note: Email time stamp closest to blog posting time will win.

Win a Fashion Show Experience from Philip Sparks

Whatcha Reading? The Book Lover's Ball

On February 11th I stopped by the 6th annual Book Lover's Ball in support of Toronto Public Library and its 99 branches. Each year this is a dazzling display of food (with hors d'hoeuvres care of Chef Marc Thuet), silent auction items and a novel-inspired fashion show to raise money to support the library's collections and services. While this year's runway show appeared to be a smaller affair than the one in 2010, it's always a fun integration of art, where literature meets fashion. 

Six designers paired items from their collection with Town Shoes, Anzie jewelery and novel inspirations including Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love, Artist Arthur's Mystify, Judy Fong Bates' Midnight in the Dragon Cafe, Shilpi Somaya Gowda's Secret Daughter, Jeffrey Deaver's 007 novel Carte Blanche and Camilla Lackberg's The Ice Princess.

Nadya Toto

Samuel Song

Envers

Second

BOSS by Hugo Boss

Romona Keveza

Win $100 to Town Shoes

Spring 2010 has arrived at Town Shoes. Enter to win $100 gift certificate!

Nothing puts a smile on my face faster than a new pair of shoes. Who wouldn't smile with a little kick in your step? So one lucky F-list member will win a prize pack that includes $100 gift certificate to Town Shoes. Complete your profile at www.f-list.ca for YOUR chance to win! (One winner will be drawn this Wednesday.)

New shoes not your thing? Please. But if that's not enough convincing, see the blog post below for more reasons. There are more prizes to come, but don't wait! Register with the F-list today!

The F-list
Are you on it?

The Quick Road to Street Style

Above, Peter and the Wolf gets a street style makeover on designer Philip Sparks' custom Quick shoes. Top, Lisa Tant's mix of leather and lace.

A lot of gauntlets being thrown around in the fashion industry this week. On Wednesday night The Bay reopened a gorgeous, fully re-imagined St. Regis Room to a crowd of fashion oglers, betting high on attracting the Holt Renfrew customer and their python leather wallet.

Then last night Town Shoes made an impressive move to distinguish itself with the addition of Quick Shoes brand from Holland. Think Puma meets K-Swiss - a healthy blend of street style and sporty sneaker. (The brand actually began in 1905 making wooden clogs.) The added twist came with a handful of Dutch streetwear artists who accompanied the line to Toronto to add some flare to both the launch and the shoes.

Their assignment? Customize sneakers for Toronto's top tastemakers based on a personal theme. The Dutch streetwear artists used paint and the occasional applique to give each pair a unique tie to its new owner. Most participants chose themes that invited a somewhat obvious artistic interpretation - "Dior" for Robin Kay, "military style" for Phillip Bloch. Some of Toronto's fashion literati opted for less translucent instruction like The National Post's Nathalie Atkinson's "surrealism, Schiaparelli, sporty" and journo David Livingston's "simplicity".

The fun of the evening was discovering how each theme played out in paint, and the brilliance of Town Shoes was to keep the designs secret until the launch. In order to see your shoes, you had to show up. (F-list creator Leesa Butler's "water" shoes will debut at the Green Gala in Toronto, March 5, 2010.)

It's doubtful Flare magazine's Lisa Tant will be seen sporting her yellow and pink 80's-punk-meets-ethereal-laced high top sneakers. But you gotta give Town Shoes credit - make that street cred - for bringing something different to the table and to Toronto streets.

We hope the kids take notice!