Preview | HERA Jewellery Line
Peeking into the lightly lit party room of Toronto’s trendy and hip Brassaii restaurant on King street, I had the change to preview the entire HERA jewellery line (some of you may remember I featured one of the rings in my November Favourite Things 2011) - alongside the brand’s debut collections, ‘Paradise’ and ‘Unity.’
Hera Arkarakas is the proud designer and creative director behind her namesake line - a veteran in the jewellery industry, Arkarakas created the line based on her personal style wherein statement jewellery is a focal point. HERA isn’t your normal run of the mill collection, a line that combines precious metals accented by diamonds and uniquely cut gemstones - the detail and craftmanship that goes into all the pieces are stunning and rival that of world renowned designers and brands. An example, the above photos of my favourite pendant, from the Athena Collection, a beautiful drop pendant in 925 silver with a brilliant midfinish gemstone. Some of you may say, yeah it looks like John Hardy piece, but these are more refined and I find more polished. ABSOLUTELY WANT IT! This pendant retails for $750 CDN.
My other favourites are these ultra luxe cocktail rings, and what a friggin’ statement! Like, hello, who is not staring at you with these babies on?! HERA’s signature leaf design rings from the Paradise Collection are simply STUNNING and available in various metals like 925 silver & 18k gold and have an array of gemstones. And the oxydized finish is my favourite!
To view the entire HERA line and to find out where to buy, visit DesignsByHera.com
Shopping | Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2012
Valentine’s Day is around the corner and I whipped up a few gift ideas for both men & women. Hope they help!
Marc Jacobs’ classic Lola fragrance gets a revamp with this OH, LOLA! on the go! The flirty facet of the original LOLA is always just a spray away with the OH LOLA! Marc Jacobs Purse Spray. Wrapped in a feminine flower print, the toteable spray twists to reveal a sprayer for use. OH LOLA! Eau de Parfume Purse Spray 20 ML $45. Available exclusively at Bay Stores across Canada February 2012.
Another classic gets an injection of variety. Calvin Klein Eternity for men Summer is sure favourite for the warmer weather. Light, vigorous and fresh. The top notes include a citrus mix, mint, coriander, watermelon and ocean air accord. Star anise, galbanum, and lily of the valley are in the heart, placed on cedar, patchouli and amber. $60 CDN
You can’t go wrong with Tiffany & Co. So here are some great pendant’s that vary in metals and price range. Paloma’s Venezia Goldoni heart pendant in white gold with diamonds $3,200 CDN, Paloma’s Venezia Goldoni heart pendant in 18K yellow gold $990 CDN, Paloma’s Venezia Goldoni heart pendant in yellow gold with diamonds $3,200 CDN and Paloma’s Venezia Goldoni heart pendant in sterling silver, $195 CDN
Shopping | Holiday Gift Guide 2011
The holidays are here and I’ve got an assortment of gift ideas for you to potentially give to that last person on your list you have no idea what to get! Whether it’s the hostess with the mostest or difficult-to-please coworker, I’m providing practical, fashion forward items!
Umbro releases it’s capsule Speciali 92 collection -celebrating it’s 20th anniversary of its iconic football boot. First up the classic silhouette of the Anthem Jacketis reinvented and crafted from soft leather. The jacket features flat knit rib trim on the collar and a tonal black Umbro double diamond logo on the chest. In addition, the lining features a digital print which details key Speciali moments.
I had to incorporate another item from the ultra-limited edition collection (some items are numbered only up to 92 like the ball and 1992 like the leather shoe) next up a soft leather weekend bag with alloy studs on the base to protect the full grain leather. The bag also has an interior screen, printed with iconic Speciali moments in soccer history. Speciali ’92 is available at Umbro online, In2Sports in the GTA and will soon be available on their website www.in2sports.ca - and they ship nationwide!
This Holiday Season, give the gift of celebration in a bottle with Campari and Aperol! These trendy Italian aperitifs are a unique gift alternative to a bottle of wine or champagne, giving your host or hostess a chance to try something new.
For the host with a sophisticated palate, Campari served on the rocks with a splash of soda is a classic Italian concoction that is both luxe and refreshing. This delicious, red bitter was developed in 1860 and is still served in its original bottle! Aperol, Italy’s #1 spirit is brand spanking new to the Canadian market. Slightly bittersweet, Aperol is perfect for the Holidays with its unique citrus taste. Be sure to tell your hostess to try Aperol’s signature drink, the Spritz (a mix of equal parts Aperol, Prosecco and soda). Nothing says, “thanks for your hospitality” quite like an elegant bottle of Aperol!
If you boys have that special someone that is willing to dish out a little more for you then Calvin Klein’s line of timeless watches would be a good option. The ck city watch is understated elegance - with an over-sized rose gold PVD case and traditional brown leather strap. Suggested retail price: $295 available at independent fine jewelry retailers and select The Bay stores.
Shopping | One Of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale 2011
With the impending doom that is the holiday shopping disaster it’s always a relief to find something or somewhere that makes your life easier.
Marking the unofficial start to the holiday season for many, The One Of A Kind Christmas Show started this week on the 24 and runs straight through until December 4th! I was invited to the media breakfast to preview the show and dig into some beautifully crafted breakfast goodies - I say crafted because the breakfast was prepared from some of the many artisans on location at the OOAKS, and honestly the food was borderline art! That slice of bacon quiche pie I ate, divine!
The friggin’ sock monkey guys! Too cute for words!
Last season I got to experience The One Of A Kind Show: Spring Edition and had a blast! This marks my first OOAKS Christmas Show and it’s a million times better!!! But I think it’s better because I won a Nescafé Dolce Gusto coffee maker, and you all know how much I’m addicted to it! That’s all fun and gravy, but I just opened the box, (I know, 3 days later) and realized the box was missing the water tank! So boo, I couldn’t make the drinks just yet, but not to worry, I’m sure it’ll get sorted out this week.
My friend Chantel, (below) who writes for Pink Mafia, and I took to the aisles of booths of the OOAKS and found a few that stood out, MY FAVOURITE, obviously was the Enchanted booth (booth W-24). A husband-wife duo behind a Surrey, BC based company that re-purposes fur pieces. Beautifully remastered with linings, leather piping throughout pieces like that coyote vest I’m wearing (and still tossing and turning in bed, thinking about it.) and overall breathing new life to pieces that have been discarded by previous owners!
Another favourite was, as how he describes himself the “cool & refreshing illustration” of Dave Murray. The Toronto-based artist works with classic canvas and heavy-weight cotton paper. His most popular and my favourite, word maps were just brilliant! Murray uses words, adjectives and nouns really, to form maps of Toronto neighbourhoods! The closest to me would have to be The Annex. I told Murray that he needs to make my neighbourhood, and turns out that he lives down the street from me over by Davenport and like Ossington I think. Hello, I’m by Davenport & Dufferin. Maybe I can persuade him to make one of our neighbourhood!
Make sure to pop by the OOAK Christmas Show and Sale, the tickets are only $12, trust me, you won’t regret it!
Shopping | My Versace For H&M Experience
As all of you know, Versace for H&M launched a couple days ago on Saturday November 19th (which is pretty much sold-out at most locations) and many of you have asked, Tweeted and emailed me asking what I bought and how it went down.
I’ve been one to never like fast-fashion and the luxuries that the High Street provides the mass public is lack-lustre collections and nothing short of dismal quality - but when I visited the H&M showroom here in Toronto for the S/S 2012 preview I was a receptive to that I was taking in.
In turn, I was surprisingly pleased with what Versace and H&M put together for the highly anticipated collection. So I decided that I’d go down to the big and knowing that Eaton Centre and Bloor street location would be a total mad house, I opted to head to the Yorkdale Mall location.
I arrived at around 6:30 in the morning (stores opened at 8) to find out I was only one of the first 150 people in line. Totally scored, because many camped out the day before at the downtown locations! Security escorted us into the mall and wait time in line wasn’t so painful, Nick Sean ended calling me because he saw all my tweets so it turned into a shopping date!!
Shopping | November 2011 Top Favourites
There has never been a season like this one for boots! Our friends at GAP have created these belted moto-boots. These rugged bad boys are for women (but they have a wicked cool, masculinity about them, buying them), and go with everything you already own in your closet! Retail for $134.95 and are available at GAP locations across the country.
It’s never too early to start thinking about Spring and this pop of cheer has got you covered! Canadian accessories brand, Luha Boutique is designed and created in Montreal with inspiration on richly coloured purses with great construction that are easy to wear. Luha Boutique purses, clutches and wallets are all designed by Lucianna; who spends a lot of her time researching for the right fabrics and trimming for her designs.
The Lilith clutch is perfect for daytime - it’s made of printed cotton twill fabric with a contrasting white zipper. Front pleats are beautifully gathered together with matching satin. Fun and fresh! Available online for $30.
GUESS Seductive Homme is designed for the confident, sexy, free-spirited, sophisticated man. His innate magnetism and playful charm are his greatest assets…and make him impossible to resist (Hmm, sounds like me). GUESS Seductive Homme’s top notes combine the unexpected, spicy cardamom with bracing mandarin pulp and exotic pink pepper. The heart of the fragrance features vanilla orchid, crushed violet leaves and rich, luxurious vetiver. Once the scent unfolds, warm seductive notes linger on the skin: smooth amberwood, creamy sandalwood, patchouli and skin musk. A sexy, intoxicating statement of irresistible masculinity.
GUESS Seductive Homme retails at $59 for the 50ml and $75 for the 100ml, the fragrance is available November 7th at Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, London Drugs and of course GUESS stores.
HUDSON Jeans and ISKO have collaborated to create the perfect pair of jeans; the collaborative product is inspired by an active/on the go lifestyle encompassing the ultimate in flexibility and comfort. And what a better style for all those boots that are on trend right now!
One of the world’s leading premium denim brands, HUDSON Jeans and ISKO, a worldwide leader in denim fabrics production and innovation, utilize their latest denim product, F&F – the Future Face of Indigo. This patented revolutionary new fabric is the first woven technology with a knit look combining the perfect fit and lightness of knit fabrics with the shape retention of woven fabrics, with an extraordinary natural cotton touch.
Hera Designsis a Canadian jewellery line with an emphasis on bold and beautiful statement pieces with prices ranging from $90-$3000 (What? I had to incorporate some luxury goods as well). These pieces can be worn by Men and Women alike and truly encompass Canadian design. HERA Designs can be found Cupido in Bayview Village & Vaughan Mills, Matt Baily on Crescent Street in Montreal, Davidson Jewellers in Ottawa, Knar Jewelery in Oakville and Jubilee Jewellers in Ottawa.
Above ring with serial number, HR11SHMTBSP in sterling silver with black spinel accents & hematite mist centre stone, retails for $695. The perfect sparkle for the coming Holiday season!
Event | Grafic Woman & Grafic Online Launch
Last week, Toronto media, fashionalities and the like were whisked away to the lovely town of Woodbridge, ON (where to my sweet, sweet, surprise has not changed one bit since I literally grew up there) to enjoy in an amazing and dare I say outlandishly good party to celebrate the launch of online boutique, Grafic Online.
An event titled, “Playing With Fire,” I was left to wonder where all the fire was when I got out of my chauffeured Porsche Cayenne, (courtesy of the über luxe Pfaff, no, but seriously, hiring them for everything.) but I was in for a scorcher when I found out why later.
Located at 3883 Rutherford Road at Hwy 400 in Woodbridge (Vaughn, Maple, or whatever you want to call it.), Ontario, Grafic has established itself in the neighbourhood with Grafic Man a store catering solely to men; and now, with it’s sister store Grafic Woman & Grafic Online, promising to take over Canada
The new 1,500 square foot women’s wear and accessory store (seen above) is clean, contemporary and down right sexy (the design; courtesy of interior designer Johnson Chou, whose projects also include Intermix, TNT [my favourite] and Blowfish Restaurant [amazing sushi, by the way]).
The store caters to a diverse clientele whose demands and needs vary based on lifestyle, price points and favoured design talents, some of the home-grown and international designers include, Camilla Skovgaard (God, those SHOES!), Pink Tartan, Hoss Intropia, Line Knitwear (love, John!), Nicole Miller, Smythe, DL 1961 jeans and more.
Grafic Man store
Oh, this is why it was dubbed playing with fire! Right, well tell that to my make-up that I swear I felt melt off my face sitting front row during the show that showcased merchandise available in store!
Shopping | Celebrate Father’s Day With UMBRO
Remember when I was invited to preview the UMBRO S/S 2011 collection - told you that UMBRO was a brand re-injected with a modern day twist and fueled with the vigor it was once known for? Well I thought what a better way to promote a classic than some helpful tips and key pieces from a classic brand, that Dad (or any older man in your life that certainly grew up with the brand)!
Last week I put together a gift-idea list from TIMEX watches, now here are some great gifting ideas from UMBRO. Hope this helps!
The New York Cosmos - Umbro was a partner of The New York Cosmos during the 1970s when they were unquestionably the world’s coolest club. As part of the club’s recent rebirth, Umbro has applied its celebrated football-tailoring ethos to a new on-field performance kit and off-field lifestyle line for The New York Cosmos club. Umbro successfully created a range that will look great on the new generation of players and the fans that the club will attract.
Peter Saville for Umbro - Since his first work for the fledgling Factory Records in the late 1970s, PETER SAVILLE has been a pivotal figure in graphic design and style culture. In fashion and art projects as well as in music, his work combines an unerring elegance with a remarkable ability to identify images that epitomize the moment. He has been commissioned to work with such notables as Givenchy, Stella McCartney, John Galliano, Christian Dior and EMI but most famous for his record sleeve designs for musical groups, New Order and Joy Division.
In addition to designing the new fabric of England jerseys he has also designed Modern England, a capsule collection for the Umbro brand. This collection features the signature graphic of the classic St. George’s cross symbol displayed through four different coloured crosses. The traditional Red Cross graphic is present alongside the blue and green, which are present in the official England team crest. A new addition of a purple cross is a blend of the red and blue colours to represent England and its vibrant, multi cultural layers.
To see the rest of the awesome options, including shoes more information and where to buy, click the link!
Sale | Ukamaku’s 5:1 Jewellery Sale
You all know that I’m not on the band wagon of sale because I can’t stand rummaging nor knowing the fact that I have things of previous seasons. Classic pieces, forever. There’s a reason why Louis never has a sale. That being said, one can’t miss an opportunity when a sale is only for one day, and it’s an exclusive sale!
Our friend’s over at Ukamaku, Canada’s online fashion community, are launching the 5:1 Jewellery Sale - 5 Days, 1 Designer on sale for ONE DAY. ONLY.
The sale runs from Monday June 20 to Friday June 24 and you can save up to 50% off Canadian Fashion jewellery by Kristen Laborde; Terra Moda Designs; Don’t Ask; Emily Woudenberg: and Gardé Del Avante.
The designer sale will be exposed the morning of the sale, so to ensure you don’t miss out on your favourite Canadian jewels, check back daily to see who is revealed!
Shopping | Celebrate Father’s Day With TIMEX Watches
Since TIMEX launched it’s TIMEX Originals collection last season, the TIMEX brand has been rehashed all over. From American Apparel to hipster West Queen West stores selling vintage TIMEX watches to the endless celebrities now wearing TIMEX watches - the brand is reinventing it’s self for a modern clientele!
Our friends over at TIMEX want you to celebrate dad with their classics and timeless pieces that some of you may very well remember while growing up! The IRONMAN watch? Hello, had two of those! Take a gander below - and see if dad would want to join the TIMEX revolution!
The Urban Outdoorsman - Whether your dad just likes the idea of the outdoors or is truly a master of the outdoors, the Expedition Military Chronograph is for him. With military inspired aesthetics wrapped around a premium analog case for exceptional style and performance, this watch is sure to make your dad the envy of anyone in the urban jungle. $185.00
The modern day superman - Is your dad constantly on the go? Whether he is in a business meeting, at the range with friends or out for steak with business associates, the Ironman 42-Lap Dual Tech features an analog dial and digital sports watch all in one. This watch will allow dad to easily transfer from a workout to a night on the town or a day in the office. Shown in both the metal band (above) and plastic band (below), available exclusively at The Bay. $135.00 – 155.00.
The Businessman - Dads with Don Draper’s classic sense of style will love this TIMEX Vintage Originals watch, inspired by the 1960’s and featuring a rose gold-tone case, brown crocodile strap and crème dial. $105.00
Photos: TIMEX Watches
Event | Vaughan Mills New Media Challenge
Last Saturday Julio and I were invited to partake in the Vaughan Mills New Media Challenge. Always up for some good competition and style, we jumped at the opportunity. Our day started at Union Station where we climbed aboard the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle.
The Shopping Shuttle offers convenient and relaxing daily excursions to Vaughan Mills daily starting Sunday, May 1st and continues free, twice-daily service through to Friday, September 30th, 2011. The 49-passenger Shopping Shuttle features plush seating and overhead storage in a climate-controlled motor coach. Identification Bracelets to access the Vaughan Mills Shopping Shuttle are distributed on a day-of, first-come, first-served basis from the City Tours & Attractions Desk located inside the Great Hall of Union Station. I’ve heard the bus is PACKED on a regular basis, so arriving early for your shuttle is probably a good idea.
\
Upon arriving at the super mall, we were given $100 gift cards to use for the challenge. We had only one hour to purchase our ultimate fashion find before presenting it to the judges. That might seem like a lot, but Vaughan Mills is so expansive, it was really barely any time at all! The challenge had us literally running at times through the mall, leaving a trail of confused customers and sales clerks in our paths.
;
To continue reading click the link
Shopping | Valentine’s Day Gifts Day Two
Day two of our Valentine’s Day shopping lists and this time we’re featuring accessories. From ‘charming’ bracelets for women to intricate bow ties for men, we have more gift options for your special someone.
Persona Charm bracelets and accessories are a chic, modern version of the charm phenomenon. Offering hundreds of combination of symbolic silver beads, Brazilian agate, shell pearl, murano glass, hand painted enamel, Swarovski crystal and 18K gold plated charms to express your ever-changing mood.
Now, I don’t want to limit Persona jewellery to just women with the above picture shown. With Persona offering such a wide range of different colour leather bands and sterling silver chains it makes it an easy option for men as well. I should know, I’ve gifted some to male friends.
Persona is available at all The Bay locations and fine retailers throughout the country. To find out more or to order your personalized gift visit Persona World online. They’re also offering a, “Buy one Persona bead and receive 50% off another” promotion from today until February 4th; you better hurry!
TOMS shoes has a wonderful new take on their classic show; a perforated nylon red-orange ‘Siebe’ style. And at $60 CDN, you can’t go wrong with this pair. Available online at TOMS Shoes.
Why is it that men believe that carrying around a bag is inappropriate? Hate to break it to you boys, it’s become highly acceptable and completely necessary, what with you needing to carry your ever-expanding daily necessities. So drop you’re pride and be happy when your significant other buys you this versatile Nella Bella tote.
Available in three different colours watermelon (shown), white and black this practical canvas tote offers men (and women) the ease of everyday wear and the necessary space to lug around the daily amenities of life. Fashion and function at the highly reasonable price of $80. Nella Bella is available at Capezio stores and fine boutiques across Toronto and Ontario or at Nella Bella online. Funny, we carried Nella Bella at Casual Affairs Clothing one season, maybe we should again?
For that fashion-forward man in your life or perhaps he’s look for an alternative to the mundane ties and/or bow ties he’s wearing now. Look no further than these exquisite Gregory Allen bow ties.
Born and raised in Toronto, Allen is the founder and creative director of the Gregory Allen Company. The company creates high-end limited edition men’s shirts with intricate details and a hand signed inscription for authenticity and these eclectic almost flamboyant bow ties. These bow ties retail at $100 each and available at GOTSTYLE The Menswear Store.
