Friday 31 October 2014

Fall in love with Autumn


Fall has been busy for me. Work has been intense with Christmas around the corner, and I want to spend every minute of this beautiful season with friends and family. See the season through my lens.


Exploring my alma mater, The University of Toronto, and the changing leaves.



Van Gogh's sunflowers are in my mother's house and pumpkins all in a row.


My boyfriend, Ajay is Indian and together with our friends celebrated the beautiful Hindu festival of Diwali. As you might be able to tell from the last photo it was absolute carnage and I'm still full.

Wednesday 29 October 2014

World MasterCard Fashion Week - Fashion Saturday



Fashion Week has come and gone and I'm here to fill you in on what you missed. I and blogger Sarah Rose of The Fashion Filter checked out World MasterCard Fashion Week's Fashion Saturday presented by BMO. Saturday highlighted Canadian designers, and I couldn't be more proud of the ambitious fashions on display.



One of my favourite things about fashion week is seeing how the attendees dress. It's like an entirely other kind of fashion show.




 Fashion is about breaking rules, and I couldn't be more sick of the "no white after labor day" law. I've always had trouble mixing my metallics, and that's the theme behind this look: mixed metallics. You may remember this white quilted midi skirt, courtesy of Topshop at the Bay, from the post "Out and About Double Date to Yasu". I was so hesitant to put this away with my summer clothes because I was sure I could get more out of it. The gold textured crop top is thrifted and has been sitting in my closet for longer than I'd like to admit. It has an interesting silhouette with a dramatic V at the front, and big covered buttons at the back. The mixed metallic clutch, if you can believe, was a find from Chinatown along Spadina. I've made a concerted effort to seek out hidden gems and there are so many little unassuming stores in Chinatown! I finished this look with sleek silver stilettos from Aldo shoes. The cut of the leather mixed with the clear plastic creates a dramatic V to match the cut of the crop top.

Sarah and I were invited backstage to see a rare glimpse of all the action happens pre-show. Guess what? Now you can glimpse it too!




Models get cold! (More than most others, jokes the makeup artist)



Jumping in on Sarah's #selfie



Makeup was courtesy of Maybelline New York, hair courtesy of Redken.

And of course, Fashion Week is all about the fashion. We glimpsed the highlights of Spring 2015, and gabbed with hairstylists and makeup artists about the easy-going beauty of the upcoming season.

My favourite looks for the upcoming season came from Hayley Elsaesser, Matthew Galagher and Stephan Caras. All three designers showcased an updated silhouette, a step away from traditional cuts but distinctly feminine.

Haley Elsaesser




Haley Elsaesser made use of bright colors and textured details. Her collection was awash in prints of mouths and hands, in what reminded me of Fall 2014's popular print of eyes. 

Matthew Galagher




Matthew Gallagher showcased brilliant pastels and a blue reminiscent of the late 90's early 2000's. His looks were sleek and detailed not with extra embellishment, but with a mixup in fabric, allowing the pieces to be more open to interpretation

Stephan Caras



Stephan Caras channeled 70's glam with his collection of golden gowns. His opening piece showcased matching separates with a flowing train. His looks varied in cuts, from cropped separates with exaggerated sleeves to long haltered gowns. I was particularly fond of this last piece shown above with clean lines and a loose turtle-neck.



After the show I had an opportunity to meet and chat with the designers. There's nothing quite like talking shop with someone so talented and creative. To see the thought processes behind each piece is truly eye-opening and connects you to creative process behind each piece of fashion. It's so great to see such great fashion coming out of Canada and I couldn't be more proud of the work done.

I can't wait for the next Fashion Week, and you know I'll be there to give you the inside scoop!

Wednesday 22 October 2014

iYellow #WinemakerRaw Toronto




I seem to meet people everywhere nowadays. I was out with my friend for drinks at the Harbord Room the other day and, of course, she was late (you know who you are). And so I struck up a conversation with the gentlemen beside me. Somewhere in the mix I mentioned Britton Diaries and Tran, who was next to me, excitedly told me all about the iYellow Wine Club, with which he works as a wine blogger.

I'm always ready to give my opinion on food but I'm pretty unsure when it comes to wine. I think I can confidently discern what I like, and what I don't like, but I wouldn't know where to begin in describing my tastes.

The iYellow Wine Club reached out to me and extended an invite to their #WinemakerRaw event. It was a lovely opportunity to try some Flat Roof Manor wines of the South African estate, Uitkyk, which I will have you mention, only I was able to pronounce. This won me a particularly yummy Pinot Grigio and ultimate bragging rights.

The iYellow Wine Cave, so aptly named, has a distinctly speak-easy feel nestled along Queen West, but hidden from the main strip. You get to the Cave through the back alley and enter through a graffitied door with the iYellow logo.



I should maybe stop here and explain why it's called "iYellow." The iYellow Wine Club gets its name from its founder, Angela Aiello. Go on, say her last name aloud you'll see what I mean.

The Wine Cave itself is a stylishly decorated basement. It's dark and intimate and charming. The iYellow Wine Club is a place where you can taste wines from all over the world, learn about the wines you love and meet other wine lovers! The wine club plans regular events, tours and wine school classes for you to attend a la carte and you can also learn on your own via their website.

The iYellow Wine Club is creating a new movement in wine here in Toronto. Aiello's aim is to make wine, and wine-knowledge more accessible. She wishes to build people's confidence and after speaking to a few of the club's members it's clear to me that iYellow is doing just that. "I learned more in one hour than I have all year" Aiello quotes a member.



I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Estelle Lourens, the winemaker of Uitkyk Wine Estate. Did you know that South Africa has been making wines for 350 years? The estate, Lourens explains, is better represented overseas by Flat Roof Manor, a much more pronounceable name for those not familiar with any Germanic language. She went on to explain that the topography of South Africa is really the key to the region's success: it varies so considerably that a great many types of grape grow well there. She was appointed as winemaker to Uitkyk in 2000, and under her guidance Flat Roof Manor has been in the LCBO since 2006.

After my touring of the venue and talking with Aiello's team I'm genuinely interested in the work done with iYellow. I love the educational stance taken, but also the accessible approach. Too often I'm stuck in the wine section looking at the number of labels as a judge of a wine's character. I'm intrigued by the idea of becoming a little connoisseur, and Ajay and I have gotten in the habit of escaping to wine country, but the knowledge has always seemed just out of grasp. Something that only an abundance of free time and a life of luxury could afford me. But iYellow challenges that notion.

Membership is free and gets you on their e-newsletter which lets you in on all the juicy (haha, get it?) events held in the cave. The club currently boasts 10,000+ members and is growing every day. Their events are not only a great way to learn about wine, but meet interesting people. Check them out!

Monday 13 October 2014

Collaboration with The Noteworthys Part I



I've said it once and I'll say it before: NOW is the time to live in Toronto. Just this past year I have met so many interesting people, and made life-altering connections. Some weeks ago I had the opportunity to work with the up-and-coming "The Noteworthys", a Toronto-based network which connects clientele to designers.



I'm particularly excited about their project and you can stay in the loop by signing up early here.

I was asked to take part in their very first photoshoot where I got to bring a little of my own personal brand to the scene.



I like to have fun with my fashion and this 90s throwback croptop and overalls combination is just that. The sneakers make it a little more current as the white lowtops which were all the rage this Summer have carried into Fall nicely. The oversized nature of the overalls make a big (ha) statement about shape and silhouette: the loose fit creates an androgynous look, but the form-fitting crop top brings in an element of girliness.





My friend Krys, pictured above with me, introduced me to founder Nundini of The Noteworthys. This collection of photos is just the first in a series of three. Collaborating with her and her team was such a wonderful experience. It's great to be a part of a Torontonian movement to make fashion more accessible. This city really is in the midst of a creative surge and I couldn't be more excited to live it first hand.

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Jewelry J'adore




I'm going to rock that "NO" necklace when I go out, so when I get unwelcomely hit on I can just point to ma' chain. All are new finds from Chinatown and Kensington except for the square ring, which is an heirloom signet ring passed down to me from my Grandfather.

Monday 6 October 2014

Mortician Lace - Fall Lookbook


Let's talk about two of my favourite trends for the new season: all over lace tops get an overhaul in delicate detailed beauties and metallics continue to be the new neutral.

I have for far too long kept my blacks at the back of my closet. With skin as fair as mine it's pretty easy to get washed out, but this lace turtleneck find in black has me digging through my wardrobe. I love this night-on-the-town look because it's edgy, but still fairly casual. The distressed denim makes the otherwise avant-guarde outfit more approachable, and the glimpses of metallic compliment the black without drawing too much attention.


What are your favourite looks for a night on the town? Let me know in the comments below.