Joe Fresh Style

Joseph Mimran, creative director for Club Monaco and Alfred Sung never fails to impress. Silver hair slicked back and clad in an equestrian blazer, white button up shirt, and jeans, the designer carried himself with a confidence to make any fashionista notice. A tad intimidated, the first thoughts in my head were, “This is the man who designed my Girl Guide uniform and all of my favorite serious clothing choices!" Men and women across Canada find his taste infallible in any situation, as have I from the second grade to, most likely, my grave.

Mimran’s collection of affordable and fashion-forward pieces available at Superstore were among the first to be shown throughout L'Oreal Fashion Week.

On Oct. 22, the show kicked off with Canadian supermodel Heather Marks in a simple white button-up shirt and plaid silk-pleated skirt. Models continued to mill though the runway in low wedge gold round -oe pumps and adorably preppy white dress shirts, which looked like they had popped out of a 1960s romance movie.

When asked about how he has affected the fashion sense of Canadians, Mimran said: "I hope that I've affected it in a really positive way. I hope that there is a sense of style that when people think of Canada, they think of what I've contributed."
  
Stripes, plaids, and even neon brights were re-translated on the runway for what Mimran calls "a rebirth of the classics; a redefinition, a merging of French style with preppy style which is uniquely Canadian".

"This season I was very 60s inspired; I was thinking of doey-eyed girls, very long legged girls. You know, Heather Marks was a perfect model because she's quintessentially Canadian."

You don't have to be a supermodel to appreciate the collection. Featuring mini skirts and large floppy sun hats, the collection reflected a youthfulness that will be appreciated by all Canadian women.

Mimran said fashion is all about everyday life. "The influences that are out there, (I) sniff things out and reinterpret trends." One of the favourite trends being reinterpreted this season? Neon pinks and yellows! It’s definitely going to be a sunny summer for 2008. Mimran also recreated the little white dress using floral appliqué, white stone beading, and flattering cuts on all body types. Keep your eyes peeled this spring before all the goodies are gone!

Patricia Fields at Payless

Celebrity designers and affordable stores have been gaining momentum in the malls, so its no surprise that we are met with yet another delicious deal!

Patricia Fields, costume designer for Sex and the City has collaborated with Payless Shoes to bring the bourgeoisie more disposable fashion.

While most of us would not drop upwards of a $1000 on a pair of extravagant but fun shoes, we are able to pick up some funky “Ziggy Stardust” inspired silver heels and boots just in time for the holiday season.

Although the collection is not large, (3 pieces to be correct) it is certainly fun and perfect for the Carrie Bradshaw in all of us. Fields used tons of faux snakeskin, and multi appliqued metallic perfect for making that little black dress stand out.

The “Tempura” platforms are a surprising $40, the “Sushi” boots $55, so there’s no need to charge your groceries to your credit card!

If you’re too lazy to boot it out to the Payless store, check them out online at www.payless.com

Irina Lazareanu – The New Face of Fashion

If you’re impatiently awaiting Fall’s newest treasures and don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket, fret no more! Le Chateau is running a new campaign with none other than the famous face of Irina Lazareanu. The design darling has been a favorite of all top designers, and she adds her own brand of je ne sais quoi to the Canadian fashion brand. This fall, everything from cubist inspired pieces to delicious footwear additions are a part of the collection.

My personal favorite of the collection are a pair of square toe silver platforms, so all girls with a size 7 1/2, hands off please! Le Chateau is famous for bringing design to the masses as you can see from their low-luxe version of the famous double strapped black patent Miu Miu heel. Also, you might be able to get your hands on their delectable platform croc Mary Jane heel inspired by the lovely Christian Louboutin. Until I can afford the real thing, these will have to do!

Enjoy lusting (and grabbing!) the newest must haves @ www.lechateau.com.

The Society: Life on the S-list

While most young scenesters are spending their extra time hitting the clubs, they may not be gaining anything from the experience but a hang over. Gone are the days of culture, while celebrity role-models seem to be preoccupied with less than legal activities. So, what’s a twenty-something to do when they want to escape the shallow? Seeing an immediate need to putting the “social” back in socialite, Amanda Blakely and Ashleigh Dempster have created The Society, a non-elitist club which includes activities such as photography lessons, private film screenings, book clubs, Spanish lessons with twist, and, of course, philanthropic soirees.

The Society was an idea spun from their involvement with Rethink Breast Cancer's social soirees, and a yearning for something more fulfilling than what Toronto had to offer. The girls still organize the annual Boobyball - this year’s them is "Glamified". Always ready to push the limits, the venue Up Country furniture store was transformed into a gigantic rock star hotel room/playground reminiscent of the glam rock era. Cotton candy booths, a Guns and Roses cover band, mini VIP rooms, and more made guests feel like true rock and roll royalty.

The Society knows how to rock, but they also understand the importance of cultural education. Dempster explained that the Society's activities were based on things that they themselves wanted to try, but which weren't presented to them in an enticing way. "Why aren't we going to the ballet, [so] what's stopping us?"

Apparently nothing at all. Events range from cocktail/language nights to architectural bike tours around Toronto. Tamara Glick, six month member and image consultant, enjoys the Society because every event is "an exciting experience, there's always something a little bit unusual. You're going to do something that you haven't done before". Who else can you go with to take polo lessons, learn how to DJ or check out a ballet movie screening in the ballet studio itself? The S-List is the only one that you want to be on if you're looking for out-of-the-box entertainment. Recently members have been given special charms to flash for special treatment at restaurants, spas, clubs and more. Apparently the "S" stands for splendidly spoiled!

Started a little over a year ago, the Society has grown from 200 members to approximately 1200, all by word of mouth. Sarah Wickens, a consultant who was referred by her friend, remarked that the Society is "a great organization that lets you reach out and touch the arts a little bit more than you normally would without having to hit the thousand dollar plate dinners." Blakely and Dempster explain that they wanted to keep the Society personal, so that they could know every single person who joins. Since membership is on a referral basis, these girls really do know their customers. "You can trace any member to the founding members." if you're interested in joining but don't know an S-List soul, don't be discouraged. To get your foot in the door, head down to an event to make nice and mingle with the culturati. Glick says, "In the Society you have an opportunity to meet people that you might not otherwise run into".

"Amanda and Ashleigh are inspirational - they're our age, they're doings some really great things. It's great to meet women like that", say television producers Jocelyn Mercer and Connie Contardi, who joined just a month ago. Their reason for joining? "[We were] looking to network with other young entrepreneurial, ambitious, philanthropic women who were creatively driven." They certainly came to the right place considering that most members are well educated and looking for cultural stimulation. There's a 60/40 split of women to men, who range in age from 23 to 35 and are in a place in their lives where they aren't settled down yet.

The Society doesn't seem ready to settle down either. On Thursday, November 8th, the group will be spreading its socialite wings to the Big Apple itself.

If you live in Toronto or New York, find a way to get yourself on the "S" list! A world of culture and excitement await you.

The Society: www.thesocietytoronto.com

The Seen @ Aritzia

Bryanna Brown & Sarah Forsyth

The kick-off party for “The Seen” – a photography exhibition at Aritzia’s Bloor Street boutique in Yorkville – turned out to be the spot to be seen for GTA hipsters. It was truly an event to behold with star studded Canadian talent from all aspects of the visual arts.

It wasn’t exactly clear how the party was “saluting” the film festival but there was an abundance of liquor, food and fierce chicks, so no one seemed bothered. The party was hosted by Aritzia, Gen Art, Rock & Republic, and Flaunt Magazine and featured the work of nine young photographers including host Ryan McGinley, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner – he calls Toronto “Awesomeland” – and Kanako Sasaki, whose work will be on Artizia’s shopping bags this season.

The evening was a true representation of Canadian cool. Socialites swam around the party like sharks in everything from Aritzia to Proenza Schouler. Despite the fact that this was an art event, the invitees weren't initially looking at the walls. The room full of eyes inspected every hipster and fashionista, judging who was fit to be there.

By midnight, the store was crammed with beautiful people and gentlemen slyly chatting. While "Seensters" sipped on white cranberry martinis, DJ Stretch Armstrong was revving things up with hits by Kanye, Timbaland, Justice vs. Simian, and Justin Timberlake. Everyone was dancing, including Emily Hanes of Metric who was seen canoodling on the dance floor with her fellow band mates and KOS.

The ladies from Common Cloth stopped by, and Jessi Cruickshank and Dan Levy from MTV showed up fresh from filming The Hills: The Aftershow. Jessi was wearing one of the newest silver stunners by Artizia’s new Mint line. The new collection features plenty of silky trapeze dresses, (perfect for layering during the cold winter months) and silvery frocks perfect for day or night. Also new this season is the high-waisted Marc Jacobs for Wrangler jeans line.

Sitting pretty wasn't the only reason for this gathering of the glitterati. Aliya Naumoff, the curator of the Seen, gathered seven talented photographers to show off their works to the public from September 8th-16th.

The images showcased glimpses of unexpected beauty in the world that we live in. Even the simplest images captured a sense on long lost romanticism. According to Hannah Jung, a good portrait "captures the essence of one's personality". While most city dwellers are far too busy to stop and smell the roses, Aliya's selection of photos and photographers inspired in its viewers a childlike awe. Jessi Cruickshank commented that, in photography, it’s "important to make you feel the images and capture the emotion". This evening, even the hipsters’ icy hearts were melted.

Although the photography came second to networking, Aritzia fulfilled its promise to connect fashion, culture, music and art in one “uber-hip” evening.

Canada’s Most Stylish: Emily Ames

This month, GLOSS got the chance to have a chat with the winner of the Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Most Stylish, Emily Ames. The eclectic redhead shares her most memorable lessons with GLOSS in getting that Je ne sais quoi effect and separating yourself from the masses.

GLOSS: What is your favorite fashion find from your shopping spree prize?
EA: I snagged a fantastic leopard jacket made from rabbit fur by Bebe. It’s just massive and ostentatious and will glide seamlessly into the eclectic mix of clothing that I call my wardrobe.

GLOSS: What are your tips for fall fashion? How will you update your wardrobe for it?
EA: I’ll probably begin by chopping off all my hair back into a cute short cut as well as incorporating lots of interesting hats into the mix- channeling the late, great Isabella Blow. As I have a yet to become a milliner’s muse, I’ll most likely stick to more subdued hats. Oh and lots of neck scarves, copping a Faye Dunaway-classic. Additionally, I will most likely feel compelled to bring my short shorts into the mix by layering a couple pairs of opaque tights underneath them.

GLOSS: What inspires you in your styling?
EA: I get utterly giddy around designs that manage to simultaneously burst with creativity while also succeeding in maintaining a tailored appearance.

Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour just baths in sixties couture by Pierre Cardin and Yves St. Laurent. Absolutely stunning aesthetic in that film which I find undoubtedly inspirational. I also have a penchant for Kate Jackson of The Long Blondes who does a fine execution of a sultry secretary-chic look that manages not to shriek horn-rimmed glasses.

Yet, my all time fashion icon remains to be the magnificent Edie Sedgwick, despite the suffocating saturation of hype that was Factory Girl. The woman defines fashion for me.

GLOSS: Your favorite designers?
EA: If I had millions of dollars I’d dress myself in any collection that Hedi Slimane has illuminated by Dior Homme. I’ve fallen in love with Jeremy Scott’s flair for the outrageous, and Luella Bartley rock n roll amalgam of edgy feminine is really appetizing. The classic shapes of the sixties pioneered by Balenciaga make me weak in the knees. Nicolas Ghesquiere has done a fantastic job reinvigorating the namesake to remain modern and current as ever.

GLOSS: What are you best finds for a girl on a budget?
EA: A $5 vintage fur hat that mounts on my head like a gigantic Russian Folklore-esque crown. It’s pretty attention seeking and I most definitely have to be in a “look at me- no shame” sort of mood or it really doesn’t fly while I sit on the bus.

GLOSS: How do you set yourself apart from the crowd?
EA: To be honest, “that’s so hot right now,” doesn’t really appeal to me, at all. I don’t intentionally do major trends unless I can reconfigure them into my wardrobe with the utmost of ease. That’s not to say I don’t get inspiration from Vogue or Nylon or ID, rather that I would prefer feeling like my outfit is a cornucopia of references all mashed into one well style entity. I like the idea of looking at fashion like adult dress up- putting unusual clothing elements together to make something utterly fresh that wakes me up in the morning and makes me excited to embark on another busy day. I’d hate to feel like I’m merely posing in my clothing.

GLOSS: What are you taking in school, what do you plan to do with your degree?
EA: I’m half way through a Specialization in Media Studies at the University of Western Ontario. The program is an interdisciplinary theory based course load that ranges from Cultural Studies to Technoculture. I couple my in school endeavors with various extracurricular activities like editing and writing for various campus arts mags, hosting and producing a radio show, and also VJ-ing for local TV show on Rogers. I’m really into writing and hope to fuse my passion for music, fashion, and culture into an exciting future career.

GLOSS: What is your favorite piece of clothing and why?
EA: By far one of my most prized pieces is my worn in Harley Davidson black vintage tee that reads “Been to Hell and Back” on the backside of the shirt. It’s far too oversized and I have to pin the back to make any resemblance of having a waist, but the soft, worn, cotton is utterly heavenly next to my skin. Nothing compares! It’s very Easy Rider meets the flair of Marianne Faithfull in Girl on a Motorcycle…well I like to think so at least.

The Amazing Alpargata

As we Canadians delve further into the summer months, the novelty of open-toed high heels and flip flops wear off as we begin to develop sores on our tender tootsies. If you want a shoe that isn’t sky high and that you can wear all day and around the house, Alpargatas are for you!

Originating from Spanish shoemakers in Cataluña, this lowered version of the espadrille has been worn by young and old. The unisex shoe was a favorite of Surrealist Spanish artist Salvador Dali, and has most recently been sported by style maven Sienna Miller.

This comfortable, chic footwear is made from a thin cloth covering and a raffia sole. Reminiscent of a devolved Vans shoe, these lightweight wonders do not make you sweat! Affordable and soft, they are best for shopping trips, travelling and running errands during the summer months.

As a regular air traveller, I am usually annoyed by my swelling feet on airplanes. Since I picked up my own pair of pomegranate-red Alpargatas, my eight-hour flight went by more quickly than it ever has (the new in-flight entertainment features might have also helped). Perfect for travellers on flights and treks, the fabric allows your feet to breathe and move comfortably.

If you’re unable to boot it over to Europe to pick up your own pair, it’s easy to find a quality pair from TOM’s at www.tomsshoes.com or Urban Outfitters. For $38, not only will you receive one pair of shoes, but the charity-based company will send a free pair of shoes to an Argentinean child in need. Paying it forward has never been so fashionable!

Changing Up Your Shopping Perspective

Those of us who have the chance to cross the pond this year may stumble across a once in a lifetime European shopping experience: Changing Rooms.

Not your ordinary, cramped space, this surrealist exhibit is a mobile shopping excursion for designers all over Spain.

A simple, steel shipping crate has been transformed into an ultra-minimalist boutique, luring international hipsters to inspect the fantastic wares of well-established yet lesser-known designers.

If you’re interested in setting yourself apart from the crowd, try picking up some inspiration from the changing room. Twenty-eight designers have participated in this fashion event, and as they travel to twelve different locations, the stock changes as well. While shopping, you’re guaranteed to pick up a piece that is one of a kind.

The ship storage locker is a container of ideas and talent. The space at the port of Barcelona has recently been recycled into a shop. However, unlike your regular boutique, every two months a team of two European designers place exclusive, limited edition garments on the racks, ensuring that you won’t encounter an embarrassing doppelganger situation at your next soiree.

For those unable to afford the clothing, the project has released an adorable book showcasing creations from each designer for only 3 euros. For the creative minds of consumers and designers alike, the book also features 200 blank pages for where you can doodle and take notes until your heart’s content.

Next time you find yourself in need of some European inspiration, check out www.changingroom.org, and see what they have in their storage container.

LOD: The Little Orange Dress

If you’re tired of what we all know is in store for the fall (black, grays, sequins, etc.) , grab fashion by its dainty (yet dangerous) horns and take a walk on the wild side. Pick up an orange mini-dress to brighten up your wardrobe.

Fun and fearless, going for a mandarin hue will take you on a smooth ride through the Indian summer. For now, you can wear it with a pair of stacked heels, ankle boots, gladiator sandals or even a polished pair of metallic thongs. Come fall and cooler days, simply layer on top of solid tights or wear over jeans to get the most out of your orange outfit.

Having sashayed its way onto five different runways this season (YSL, Chloe, Luella, Fendi and Temperley), the orange dress is surprisingly more easygoing than obnoxious. In fact, bold beauties Camille Belle and Jaquetta Wheeler haven’t shied away from the hue, and neither should you. A definite must if you’re interested in causing a colorful commotion, (and stirring up the usual boring room of little black dresses).

From Mandarin to burnt orange, this colour matches the tan you’ve been working on all summer and warms up your wardrobe as the temperatures begin to drop. Luckily for fashion fanatics, the trend is brilliant on brunettes, breathtaking on blonds and ravishing on redheads. The LOD certainly doesn’t play favorites. Pick up your head turner today, you won’t regret it.

Common Cloth: Nuit Blanche

On the evening of Saturday, September 29, 2007, fashionistas and art enthusiasts gathered on Gwynne Avenue to await the showing of the Common Cloth Spring Summer 2008 fashion show.

This year Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo decided to hold their fashion show during the Nuit Blanche art festival, so that passersby could peer in while models pounded the pavement in sexy jersey dresses which ranged in length from mini shirt dresses to the floor.

The show kicked off with a bang with models stomping to Montreal-based band Famous Lovers. The first stunner of the evening was a floor length artichoke dress. Main staples of the collection followed with short shorts and diamond back cut outs on simple and elegant dresses and shirts.

The designers seemed to be emoting their own personal style with models styled in classic aviators and natural wavy hair resembling designer Melanie Talbot's signature style. The 1970s-folk-era-inspired pieces all gave an air of simplistic sexiness, which gives Canadians something to look forward to after a freezing winter of complicated layering.

Grey jerseys, cottons and white linens adorned the long leggy models, re-inventing the basic tank top and short set. The collection spoke to everyone from the teenage trend-setter to the cosmopolitan professional.

The collection seemed to characterize an intelligent woman, while showcasing work pieces as well as fun party girl outfits. Khaki shorts, cigarette pants, wide leg high-waisted jeans and beautiful white shirts were sprinkled lovingly throughout the show.

Determined to step up their business, Common Cloth is also coming out with their very first accessories line later this year.