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By The Backseat Stylers, on May 17th, 2012 
Spring has finally sprung! But is your closet ready? I’ve finally packed all my winter gear away (yes!!) and have been evaluating my warm weather wardrobe from last year. Some pieces are looking rather haggard and beyond saving, while others now seem like, well, questionable purchases in hindsight. The conclusion? I don’t need a whole new spring wardrobe (nor can I afford it!), but a few essential updates are in order, stat.
A seasonal closet refresh that won’t break the bank means only one thing: a trip to Sherway Gardens! The upscale fashion and lifestyle centre is one of the best shopping destinations in Toronto’s west end, thanks to its over 200 stores, including many of my favourite retailers. My spring wish list isn’t long, and I know exactly which budget-friendly boutiques at Sherway Gardens will have what I want need:
1. Sweet Skirts - M for Mendocino
I’m ready to shed my black tights and show some leg – under some darling little skirts, that is, like the ones I’ve spotted at M for Mendocino at Sherway Gardens. Ever since I was introduced to Mendocino‘s trendy, more affordable sister, it’s been on my list of stores to visit for my fast fashion needs. My spring wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without the ladylike, blush-coloured skirt ($49) and whimsical turquoise polka dot skirt ($62).
2. Lightweight Knits – The Bay
With my thick winter knitwear packed away for the season, my sweater drawer is looking rather sad and empty. What it’s sorely lacking is a few lightweight knits like RACHEL Rachel Roy‘s Country Lace Pullover ($109) and Open Tie Back Pullover ($89), which have been on my wish list ever since I spotted them at the brand’s spring preview. Both styles are available at The Bay at Sherway Gardens, where generous sales may mean snagging these sweaters for up to 40% off.
3. Spring Jacket – Club Monaco
The arrival of spring calls for a new spring jacket! From light parkas to jean jackets, the possibilities are endless. The price tags on my two picks from Club Monaco, the Christy motorcycle jacket ($239) and Emma short trench ($279) aren’t cheap, but they are classic, investment pieces that can be worn for many seasons to come. Club Monaco’s Sherway Gardens location has many more styles where those came from, too.
4. Coloured Denim – Gap
Resistance is futile: coloured denim is where it’s at, so it’s time for me – and you! – to get on that bandwagon. Gap at Sherway Gardens offers jeans in different cuts and all the hues of the rainbow, starting at $69.95. I plan on taking the coloured denim leap in a pair of emerald green jeans this spring. I might even get my courage up for a pair of bright yellow skinnies by the time summer rolls around. What colour will you be rocking?
5. Wedge Sandals – ALDO
Surely there’s no better excuse for new shoes than a new season! This spring, I’m on the hunt for a new pair of wedges. ALDO Shoes at Sherway Gardens has plenty of open and closed toe styles to choose from and in a range of colours. A neutral-toned pair to wear with my new coloured jeans, like the Kanosh ($120) or Botwin ($90), is definitely a must. But which pair to choose? Perhaps there’s room in the budget for both after all.
So there’s my five-stop trip to Sherway Gardens all planned out, though I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll be making unscheduled visits to many of my other favourite retailers along the way. Holt Renfrew, Stuart Weitzman, Sephora…here I come!
Inspired to plan a shopping excursion too? Tell us what’s on your wish list for a chance to win a $100 Cadillac Fairview shop! card® gift card that will kick-start your very own spring shopping spree at Sherway Gardens! Contest rules are below – good luck! And be sure to check out Sherway Gardens’ brand new blog The Endless Closet and online store directory and follow the centre on Facebook and Twitter to help you plan your upcoming trip.
xx, S
Contest Rules:
1. To enter, leave us a comment on this blog post telling us what’s on your spring wish list and ‘like’ Sherway Gardens’ and The Backseat Stylers’ Facebook pages here and here.
2. For a bonus entry (you must complete step #1 first), follow both @sherway_gardens and @backseatstylers on Twitter, and tweet the following: “Step into spring with the @sherway_gardens x @backseatstylers $100 Cadillac Fairview shop! card #giveaway! http://bit.ly/KbVTqZ #contest”
3. The contest closes at midnight on June 17, 2012. The winner will be selected randomly and announced on June 18, 2012. The winner will be notified by e-mail.
4. This giveaway is open to our readers located in the Greater Toronto Area only.
5. There are no prize substitutions. Prize does not include travel and cannot be redeemed for cash.
SPONSORED BY SHERWAY GARDENS
Image Credits: Sherway Gardens, M for Mendocino, RACHEL Rachel Roy, Club Monaco, Gap, ALDO Shoes
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 17th, 2012 
Chloë Moretz in McQ Fall 2012
I’ve been a longtime fan of McQ, and now that Alexander McQueen‘s creative director Sarah Burton has taken over the creative reins, the diffusion line has become even more covetable than ever before. Burton’s first collection for McQ is for Fall 2012, but 12 must-have pieces are already available for pre-order exclusively at Net-a-porter starting today – check out the gallery below.
I’m dying to get my hands on the broderie anglaise velvet bell dress and Black Watch plaid coat, but with the two pieces alone ringing up at an astounding $13,315, sadly it will never be. It seems that not only does Burton bring with her the unmistakable Alexander McQueen aesthetic, but also price tags that are significantly heftier than McQ fans have been paying until now.
McQ has now moved out of my snack bracket, unfortunately, and I’m rather devastated. If the price points of $765 to $12,030 don’t faze you though, go ahead and place your pre-order over here so I can live vicariously through you, please and thank you.
xx, S
Images via Just Jared, Net-a-porter
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 16th, 2012 
Last October, Montreal-based designer Denis Gagnon closed the Spring 2012 edition of Toronto Fashion Week with a line-up of models prancing and dancing down the catwalk in the most incredible collection of florals, leathers and tuxedo-inspired pieces.
I was so mesmerized by the designs and accompanying theatrics that I froze during the runway show and failed to snap a single photo. With nothing but a wish list to show for my efforts, I never did get a blog post up about one of my favourite Canadian collections for spring, but I’m making up for it now with the lookbook.
I want it all: the floral print blazer, floral print collared-shirt, floral print clutch…you get the picture. Like what you see too? Check out Denis Gagnon’s complete Spring 2012 lookbook here and then go find a stockist near you over here.
  
xx, S
Image Credits: Rainer Torrado
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 15th, 2012 
FASHION Magazine Editor-in-Chief Bernadette Morra in MARTIN LIM
May 6, 2012 marked the second annual SPARK Gala, a fundraising event hosted by the Children’s Aid Foundation in support of children and youth living in the child welfare system. Held at The Carlu and co-hosted by Global Toronto anchors Anne Mroczkowski and Leslie Roberts, the Gala honoured five inspirational Canadian luminaries, including FASHION Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Bernadette Morra, actress Lisa Ray, rock musician Randy Bachman, figure skater Patrick Chan and singer Jackie Richardson.
The rousing performances, which followed an exquisite brunch created by celebrity chef Mark McEwan, certainly lived up to the Gala’s theme, “Rhythm and Soul.” In addition, Montreal-based designers Danielle Martin and Pao Lim, winners of the inaugural Mercedes-Benz Start Up design competition last year, presented their MARTIN LIM Fall 2012 collection, a beautiful reflection on the contrast between structure and movement.
All in attendance were fabulously dressed, including SPARK Gala chair and co-founder Andrea Weissman-Daniels in a stunning Oscar de la Renta dress and Kara Alloway in an electrifying Manish Arora jacket and festive Brian Atwood ‘Mojito’ sandals. Fashion luminary Bernadette Morra showed her support for MARTIN LIM, donning a dress from the Spring 2012 collection that won the design duo their MBSU crown.
Andrea Weissman-Daniels declared the Gala a tremendous success, having raised over $400,000 towards helping create opportunities for youth to engage in sports, arts, and cultural activities. For more information about the Children’s Aid Foundation, please visit www.cafdn.org.
Fashion Designer / Creative Marketing Director of Ports 1961 Tu Ly
 
Spark co-founder Andrea Weissman-Daniels in Oscar de la Renta
Kara Alloway in Brian Atwood ‘Mojito’ sandals
xx, T
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 14th, 2012 
H&M held its Fall 2012 press preview last week while I was enjoying the hot and sunny weather in Hawaii. With Fall being the very last thing on my mind, T took one for the team and attended the preview on our behalf (zero arm-twisting was required – she’s a long-time fan). When she sent me the photos she’d snapped, however, I felt just a twinge of jealousy; I do hate to miss a good preview. Who wouldn’t want to see the next collection before it hits sales floors?
So because I know you love a sneak peek as much as I do, check out T’s photos from the preview as well as images from the lookbook in the gallery below. Key garments for Fall 2012, according to H&M, include the tailored coat, zippered-ankle pants, over-sized cable knit cardigan, bouclé sweatshirt, long-sleeved dress, collarless blouse jacket, printed leggings and embellished shoulder pieces.
Will you be partaking?
  
xx, S
Image Credits: Press preview photos by The Backseat Stylers; lookbook images courtesy of H&M
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 12th, 2012 
I was just privately lamenting the lack of blog post-worthy ensembles from Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge of late, and it seems she got the message from over the pond. Kate stepped out in a stunning Jenny Packham number yesterday at the British Olympic Association concert in London.
The teal silk dress with lace cap sleeves and a jewel-embellished belt was an inspired choice, and easily one of her most glamourous looks to date. It’s right up there with the pink sequin Jenny Packham she wore last summer to the ARK gala.
Do the upcoming London Olympics mean many more fabulous looks to come from the Duchess? Here’s hoping!
  
xx, S
Images via Just Jared, Daily Mail
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 11th, 2012 
Christian Louboutin is celebrating his brand’s 20th anniversary with a bang. Because a retrospective exhibition isn’t enough, the luxury footwear designer has plans to launch a new beauty line next year, WWD reports. The company has entered into a joint venture with Batallure Beauty LLC to expand into as yet to be revealed beauty categories. How mysterious.
The luxury line, which will be distributed globally, will “mirror the quality of the shoes, of the bags, of all the DNA of the brand,” said Louboutin. Still, the move is rather unexpected for a shoemaker, but the designer explains that both his platform pumps and tubes of mascara will have the same aim. “Beauty products also have to do with empowering women,” he said. “That’s very much the job of the shoes I’m designing.”
The first Christian Louboutin Beauté products are expected to launch in late 2013. By then, you might just be able to get your hands on some Louboutin red lipstick and nail polish to match the soles of your favourite shoes.
xx, S
Image via Bloomberg
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 10th, 2012 
Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly fit more Smythe jackets in my already Smythe-filled outerwear closet, designers Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe go and add a whole other collection to their annual offerings: Pre-Fall.
Fall has traditionally been the time of year when I find myself giving in to the temptation of yet another Smythe piece, and now with the creation of a Pre-Fall collection, my pocketbook is certainly going to be in trouble. I’m loving everything army green in this collection. The parka with the fur-trimmed hood and the shawl collar blazer are on my newly created Pre-Fall wish list. I’ll have to make some room in that aforementioned outerwear closet.
What do you think of Smythe’s first Pre-Fall offerings?
  
xx, S
Images courtesy of Smythe
By The Backseat Stylers, on May 9th, 2012 
Honorary chair Suzanne Rogers and sponsor Sylvia Mantella
On May 3, Toronto Fashion Incubator celebrated its 25th anniversary with a fundraising gala at the Royal Ontario Museum, aptly dubbed TFI25, that was attended by a who’s who of Toronto’s social set and fashion industry and fit for Barbie herself. Chaired by Suzanne Rogers and emceed by a Greta Constantine-clad Jully Black, the evening featured a VIP dinner, a Barbie-inspired celebrity runway show, the annual TFI New Labels design competition fashion show and, of course, an after-party.
Singer and TFI25 Master of Ceremonies Jully Black
After a 6 month long competition, finalists Patrick Larrivée, Sid Neigum, Jameson Kane by Genevieve Pearson and Stanley Capobianco, and [blak] – i by Diego Fuchs and Helder Aguiar showed four very well received collections that made the TFI New Labels judges’ decision that much more difficult to make. “Judges are in big trouble from @SusanAtTFI”, FLARE Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Lisa Tant tweeted, ”because we can’t decide and won’t come out.”
FLARE Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and TFI New Labels judge Lisa Tant
Tant was joined on the judging panel by TNT Boutiques’ Arie Assaraf, Toronto Star‘s Derick Chetty, TFI President David Dixon, TFI Executive Director Susan Langdon and the gala’s honorary chair Suzanne Rogers, who donated the $25,000 grand prize. In the end, Edmonton native Sid Neigum was named this year’s TFI New Labels winner, taking home a prize package valued at $60,000, which included a feature in FLARE Magazine and a design studio at the TFI sponsored by Arie Assaraf.
TFI New Labels winner Sid Neigum and model
Those weren’t the only prizes up for grabs at TFI25. The Barbie-inspired fashion show featured celebrity models like Dina Pugliese, Tanya Kim and Trish Stratus in designs by VAWK, Arthur Mendonça, Anastasia Lomonova and more. While past TFI New Labels winner Sarah Nicol of Sar Couture was awarded the $10,000 cash prize, it was actress Tara Spencer-Nairn in VAWK who stole the show with her robotic runway walk, tweeted FASHION Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Bernadette Morra.
Dina Pugliese in Barbie-inspired dress by Stema
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By The Backseat Stylers, on May 8th, 2012 
Last night, The Met’s Costume Institute Gala saw movie stars, musicians, designers and models walk the most fashionable red carpet of the year. Though I missed the first ever livestreaming of the arrivals, I’ve gotten all caught up on who wore what via the countless photos on the internet, and have landed on my best dressed of the evening.
The top spot easily goes to Cate Blanchett in a feather embellished black Alexander McQueen gown – a showstopping combination. Following closely behind is gala co-chair Carey Mulligan in a sequinned Prada number and the most incredible ‘do. A risk-taking Diane Kruger, also in Prada, is a controversial pick with her voluminous purple gown and its feathered hem, but I loved it.
Rounding out my best dressed list are the stunning Rooney Mara and knockout Gisele Bündchen, both in Givenchy Haute Couture. Black is anything but boring when Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci is involved (let’s pretend we never saw this).
Did you watch the red carpet arrivals live? Which were your favourite looks?
   
xx, S
Images via Just Jared
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