The International Art Fair

My friend Miranda and I decided one fantastic Toronto night to head on over to The International Art Fair to enlighten ourselves, get a little smarter, observe and critique the stunning work that our fellow artists have to offer and maybe sip a glass of wine...or two.

While I loved a lot of these pieces a lot of them were the price of a hefty down payment on a car...wait make that a house. Nonetheless a good time was had by the both of us, and yes we strutted around cameras in hands, attempting phony english accents and talking about our non-existent yachts. Don't you just love the sophisticated art crowd? ...yeah me too.

True Blue

Don't you just love these pictures, a real blue toned vibe, just in time for Halloween which is just a few days away. Very carnival, cirque, ring leader themed.

Images courtesy of Fashion Photography Blog

Looklet

I have a new obsession and it's called Looklet, it's basically a lookbook for generally shopping obsessed fashion savvy stylist kinds that take satisfaction in getting to create their own looks on models slightly better looking and thinner than they are! Here are just some of the looks I've created:

Achilles heel...

I have an Achilles heel, my weakness has always been shoes. There are months when give or take you gain a few pounds here and there. Winter months are like this for me, I hibernate, and I eat and I gain. I like to just think I am trying to keep warm. No matter how round I may get, my feet remain the same. My size 6 never lets me down. I always laugh when I hit a store and I just got paid...it's a game of good cop bad cop. Should I buy the shoes and the dress? Just the dress? Okay just the shoes right? When all else fails and I realize that realistically I have bills to pay, shoes always win out over clothes. I figure certain pieces might go out of style or I might outgrow them, heck come spring when I shed all the cushy winter weight they will out grow me!

So it is in this spirit of practicality that I ask you, is it so wrong to want these pony skin Finsk pumps even given the extra fat price tag? I think not! Wait, what is 278 Euro in Canadian dollars?

To shop or not to shop?

Cost of living really has skyrocketed in Toronto, for one I can remember a time when houses didn’t cost you half a million dollars, for a prestigious 10x10 spot downtown. Remember when Payless shoes really did cost you less, when Canadian staples like Le Chateau and Aldo were well priced? Yeah me too. These days there has been a spike in the retail sector. Spikes in retail merchandise have lead me to think outside the fashion box. Vintage shopping is not just for the artsy crowd anymore. All over the city consignment shops and vintage stores have seen a rise in consumer ship. However while we should all support this renewing and eco friendly idea, it can become difficult to shop vintage when you are not a size XS or 0. I guess back in the 70’s girls never heard of McDonalds! I digress, vintage shopping really can be fun and because a lot of the merchandise is well priced you can afford to alter or hem your purchases.

As well as vintage shopping, it’s a good idea to head over to some of your favourite shops or their websites for some online shopping. Having worked several years in retail management I can tell you that collections both clothing and home décor come out a season early. That is why when we were in the dead of summer enjoying whatever sun we could get; the stores were already selling fall scarves, knee high boots and tights. It’s a good idea to check out your favourite stores because a lot of them are having sales.

At Aldo, the majority of the time a pair of great pumps will set you back over $100 but there are ways to multitask your purchases. Yes I said multitask...trust me. Right now Aldo has tons of clearance shoes on their on-line website, sure some of them are peep toe gladiator sandals, but with a little ingenuity and some opaque tights these shoes can be worn in the fall and then again in the summer. If that’s not a 2 for 1 special then I don’t know what is. $30 for real leather shoes...I think I love this idea!

Courtesy Google Images

Courtesy of Chictopia

Courtesy of Chictopia

So head on out and look for sales and deals, or stay in and shop from the comfort of your cozy couch.

black & blue... & yellow all over

I need to move to the UK, why oh why can't we have ASOS here in Canada? Anyone up for a faraway roadtrip? The only upside is that you can find some ASOS clothing listed on ebay, but alas I haven't been a size XS since middle school.

Crushn'

I have a major crush on these outfits from UK retailer ASOS. Problem is, as I am the avid ebayer, I have been lately forced to cut down on all the international purchases due to those dreaded customs fees!! Sometimes they cost more than the merchandise itself. Why oh why can't all of the UK retailers like TOPSHOP and ASOS open up locations in Toronto, please? oh well I may just have to forego reason and order some of these looks anyway.
P.S. I heard a good while ago that TOPSHOP was supposed to come to Holt Renfrew, does anyone out there know if this has happened yet?

Circus freak

Came across these amazing circus inspired pictures featured in Vogue Italia with model Karen Elson. I have such an affinity for nostalgia and growing up I always remember going to the circus when it came to town. These stunning pictures capture the vivid and bright child-like essence of that time when we were just kids and in awe of the Greatest Show on Earth.