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by The Backseat Stylers | November 8th, 2012 
Despite the antics of a hurricane named Sandy, the 2012-2013 edition of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show taped last night to a celebrity-packed audience at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York. The highly-anticipated show saw the biggest names in the modelling industry, including show opener Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karlie Kloss, Doetzen Kroes and more, strut their fabulous stuff in elaborate and over-the-top lingerie and, for the chosen few, Angel wings.
It’s tough to follow last year’s Kanye, Jay-Z, Maroon 5 and Nicki Minaj combination, but this year’s musical acts were no less spectacular. Rihanna, Justin Bieber (who’ll be performing at the Grey Cup 2012 half-time show this month!) and Bruno Mars all took the stage.
The highlight, however, had to be Alessandra Ambrosio, my favourite VS Angel, modeling this year’s million dollar bra, a jeweled creation worth $2.5 million. The rest of the runway show was split into themed segments: “Circus”, “Dangerous Liaisons”, “Calendar Girls”, “Pink Is Us”, “Silver Screen Angels” and “Angels in Bloom”.
Check out over 60 photos from the fabulous show in the gallery below. I’ll be counting down the days until the show airs on December 4 on CBS. VS Fashion Show viewing party, anyone?
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by The Backseat Stylers | November 7th, 2012 
Sunny Fong was the very last Canadian designer on the World Mastercard Fashion Week calendar this season. With the 8pm timeslot on a Friday night, one might worry that the burnt out fashion week crowd might give in to the temptation to skip out on the closing night shows and hit the bar instead, but they didn’t. Instead, they came out in droves – as they have every season since Fong’s line VAWK was reborn after his Project Runway Canada win – to see what is always one of the best collections of the week, and he made it more than worth their while.
Fong showed two collections, his lower-priced contemporary line, VAWKKIN, followed by his main line, VAWK. The former had debuted last season (remember that time I was a model for an afternoon?) with chic office-ready garb for the Bay Street crowd, and Fong continued in that direction for spring with a largely black-and-white stream of day-to-night dresses and separates. These were sophisticated looks with which the accountant in me would happily fill my work wardrobe. The white collared blouse with sheer black sleeves and skirt to match was a standout.
The second collection was much less practical, and delightfully so. The 13-look line-up was everything Fong’s fans, including Katy Perry and Elisha Cuthbert, love about VAWK: bold, sexy and dramatic. From the moment model Rochelle ten Holder opened the show in a jaw-droppingly stunning sheer black dress to when the final fringed eggplant purple gown turned out of sight, I was completely enamoured. It was one red carpet-worthy number after another, styled impeccably by Tricia Hall. The Niki & Lola-designed jewelry, including that Madonna-esque cone bra that had Twitter abuzz, perfectly complemented Fong’s strong collection.
Even tentative models who strutted only halfway down the runway, thanks to a super slick catwalk, couldn’t distract from the gorgeous designs. In fact, it was my favourite spring collection from VAWK to date, and a very high note on which to close Toronto Fashion Week for the season.
     
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by The Backseat Stylers | November 1st, 2012 
I have a confession to make: I went a little camera-happy backstage before Arthur Mendonça’s runway show at World Mastercard Fashion Week last week. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of models being dressed and hair and makeup being touched up, I snapped an inordinate number of photos of the same gorgeous subjects wearing the same fabulous pieces from Mendonça’s Spring 2013 collection. I just couldn’t help myself; the clothes, the styling (by fashion director George Antonopoulos) – it was all so irresistibly chic and sophisticated.
Mendonça’s designs have a timeless quality to them, yet still manage to feel current. The ladylike line-up featured a soft colour palette of whites and pastels, lovely, waist-cinching obi belts, and smart tailoring. There were no loud prints or busy embellishments here; these are the types of garments that stand out in a crowded room because they’re well cut, simple in design and flattering on the body.
Model Naro Lokuruka’s light blue pant suit and white vest combination was a definite favourite, as was Mendonça’s upmarket take on the on-trend varsity jacket. Standing there backstage, amongst all those beautiful clothes, I came to an important realization: I need some Arthur Mendonça in my wardrobe, stat. Check out the gallery of 33 images from backstage and the runway, and I’m certain you’ll feel the same way.
    
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 31st, 2012 
Joe Fresh has been rocking my world lately; I’ve been buying up the Fall collection like nobody’s business. Along with my milk and eggs, I’ve been stocking up on coloured pants, silk blouses, and skinny jeans that fit like they were made for me with each trip to my local Loblaw store. This recently developed addiction to all things Joe had me even more excited than usual to see the Spring 2013 runway show at World Mastercard Fashion Week last week, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The show opened with none other than the legendary Pat Cleveland, who sported the first in a series of black and white looks that made my heart go pitter patter. I’ve been embracing colour recently, but a return to my old, monochromatic ways would be more than welcome. I feel the same way about metallics, which I happily abandoned a few years ago. The latter half of the Joe Fresh show may have just brought me back to the shiny side with a stunning metallic leather laser-cut dress and printed gold leather skirt that I just have to have.
Quite a few of those runway pieces will be on my grocery shopping list come spring, and at Joe Fresh price points the Mister can’t possibly complain. Besides, fashion over food, am I right?
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 30th, 2012 
“Lucian Matis is the only show I care to see,” a certain blogger declared to me last week, immediately after the runway presentation for his eponymous line. My own list of must-see shows may be a bit longer than that, but I could certainly understand why she would feel so strongly about Matis’ work. Season after season, his collections never fail to surprise and delight. In fact, as a sometimes society photographer, one of my greatest pleasures is spotting an unmistakable Matis creation from across the room. So what might my camera capture next spring?
What Matis sent down the Toronto Fashion Week runway last week was to die for, to say the least. Known to be heavy-handed with the embellishments, there was surprisingly no sequin, bead, or flower petal in sight. And yet the designs were undeniably Lucian Matis in their dramatic flair, played out in voluminous peplums rather than feathers, and beautiful mosaic prints instead of paillettes. Sans the delightful overabundance of embellishments typically found in a Matis collection, the designer’s Spring 2013 wares were no less covetable than usual.
Standout looks featured eye-catching peplum dresses in croc-embossed fabrics, one in light, airy silk and the other in dark, heavy leather. I have no doubt I’ll be seeing both of these gorgeous creations on a red carpet in the coming months.
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 29th, 2012 
With a media preview, fashion show and after-party on the schedule, the final day of World Mastercard Fashion Week was unofficially Express day. The U.S. retailer of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, which has over 600 outlets south of the border and a new store set to open at Toronto Eaton Centre in November, closed out fashion week with a bang with the help of a supermodel, a top Canadian band, and a very on-trend Spring 2013 collection.
Jessica Stam, one of my favourite models of all time, opened Express’s runway show in a cute striped frock, and was followed by a stream of pretty party dresses, ladylike floral print pieces, and a whole lot of peplum. The show highlighted chic, easy-to-style looks that will have us (and you!) covered for every occasion, from office meetings to first dates, next spring. The men in our lives won’t feel left out either; Express sent out one handsome male model after another looking quite dapper in the brand’s suit offerings.
And if we weren’t already taken with Express after a stunning Stam closed the show in a pleated LRD, the after-party, featuring a private performance by Canadian band Dragonette, sealed the deal. Express + Jessica Stam + Dragonette was just too fabulous a combination to resist.
In between songs, Dragonette singer Martina Sorbara confessed to the crowd, “I learned today that peplum is in style.” And Express, I would add, is definitely the place to find it. Shopping date at the new Toronto Eaton Centre store next month? Yes please! In the meantime, follow TEC on Twitter and Facebook for updates on Express’s upcoming launch.
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 24th, 2012 
Earlier this week, ELLE Canada did a little feature on me and my thoughts on fashion week, and when asked for my must-see shows, I named Pink Tartan among my top 3 with no hesitation. Over the past few seasons, head designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran has knocked our socks off with chicer than chic peplums, feathered skirts and head-to-toe emerald green ensembles that I’m still dying over, and the Spring 2013 collection she presented on opening night of World Mastercard Fashion Week this week was no less covetable.
Down the runway came a stellar cast of models that included Irina Lazareanu, Amanda Laine and pink-haired Charlotte Free in one ladylike look after another. The show opened with sweet butterfly print and lovely mint green floral pieces perfect for spring, and closed with a series of silver and gold metallic print separates that I would happily wear right now and into the holiday season. In fact, there’s a certain gold reptile print midi skirt that I’ve been daydreaming about since Monday’s show. I need it in my life, now.
Is it spring yet, Kim? Because I can’t wait to get my hands on this collection.
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 30th, 2012 
Sandro has to be my favourite brand discovery from the last few years, hands down. Stocked at TNT boutiques and The Bay’s The White Space in Toronto, as well as at its New York flagship and online at sandro-paris.com, the Paris-based contemporary label has become a go-to for feminine yet edgy pieces that are always right on trend. Take a look at the quality and the price tags though and it’s clear this isn’t fast fashion; Sandro can hold its own next to contemporary heavyweights like Diane von Furstenberg, its neighbour in The White Space.
I’ve been buying plenty of Sandro for a few seasons now, and their Fall 2012 collection is about to hit my pocketbook hard. The 26-image lookbook includes all that I could possibly want for in a fall wardrobe: smart coats and blazers, uber-cool separates, and even a cute party dress, all perfectly downtown chic. I’m coveting everything leather, especially that incredible biker jacket with the rabbit fur appliqué. And I’ll take one of those gorgeous snake-print blazers too…with the matching pants, of course. What are you eyeing?
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 27th, 2012 
The holiday previews continue! Next stop? Why, Ann Taylor, of course. By now I’ve attended their Fall 2012 preview and popped by their boutique at The Somerset Collection, so I’m starting to get a bit anxious for their fall arrival in Toronto. How much longer until me and my fellow Torontonians can finally get our hands on their stylish workwear, cute party dresses and to-die-for costume jewelry? Not soon enough, by my measure.
The holiday preview was chock full of pieces I can’t wait to add to the rotation during the holiday season and beyond. The pearl-embellished knitwear (perfect for the office), the glitter smoking slippers (in all available colours, obviously), and so very many of the statement necklaces are all on my Ann Taylor holiday wish list. Perhaps even a zebra-print satchel. What’s on yours?
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 15th, 2012 
There was a period of my life during which I had a serious addiction to Banana Republic accessories. I couldn’t stop buying the jewelry, in particular, and I found myself buying new pieces on a weekly basis (you know, when they had those irresistible 40% off coupons every Wednesday!). Thankfully (for my pocketbook, not my wardrobe) the obsession has been less intense the last few seasons, but all that is about to change.
I attended Banana Republic’s Holiday 2012 preview last week, and was very, very tempted to steal just about all of it, especially the accessories. Between the statement jewelry, timeless leather bags and chic shoe offerings, there are quite a few pieces on my wish list. The Anna Karenina-inspired collection was intriguing too for a lover of all things black like me.
Fall’s not even here yet, and I’ve already got holiday on the brain, thanks to Banana Republic. Check out the gallery for a sneak peek of the collection and start making that wish list! Race you to the closest Banana Republic this holiday season?
    
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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