Contests

It’s a 7 For All Mankind x The Backseat Stylers x Textstyles.ca Denim Party!

The hunt for the perfect jeans is a never-ending process. We ourselves have suffered through countless pairs of ill-fitting and unflattering denim in our search for that one pair that will hug and hide in all the right places, and we bet you have too. That’s why we’ve teamed up with designer denim brand 7 For All Mankind and Toronto street style site Textstyles.ca to bring you an exclusive denim party that will hopefully land you your holy grail jeans – finally!

On May 29, we and Textstyles.ca’s Stefania will be hosting a little invite-only soiree at the 7FAM store at Yorkdale Mall for 10 of our loveliest readers. Each guest will walk away with a complimentary pair of 7FAM jeans (!!!) and enjoy a personal styling session with yours truly, one-night-only shopping discounts, and cocktails and sweets to boot. Want in? We’ve got 5 spots to fill on our Backseat Stylers guest list, so check out the easy-peasy contest rules below to snag one of them. We can’t wait to outfit you in a swanky new pair of 7FAM jeans!

In the meantime, mark you calendars just in case you’re one of the lucky 5 (fingers crossed!) and start daydreaming about new 7FAM denim for the summer. We’re already rocking ours.

Prabal Gurung blouse / 7 For All Mankind back zip slim cigarette jean (available at 7 For All Mankind at Yorkdale Mall) / Alexander Wang shoes / Celine bag / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up

Contest Rules:

1. To enter, leave us a comment below, and ‘like’ The Backseat Stylers and 7 For All Mankind’s Facebook pages here and here.

2. For a bonus entry (complete step #1 first), follow @backseatstylers and @7FAM on Twitter and tweet the following: “The @backseatstylers & @textstyles are hosting a @7FAM denim party with free jeans, and I want in! http://bit.ly/13kHMv6 #7FAMYorkdale”

3. The contest closes at midnight on May 21, 2013. The 5 winners will be selected randomly and will be notified by e-mail.

4. Contest open to readers in the Greater Toronto Area only.

5. There are no prize substitutions and no cash value. Travel not included.

Sponsored by 7 For All Mankind

Fashion News

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target to Hit Stores This Fall

It’s turning out to be a busy year for Target on the designer collaboration front. First Prabal Gurung, then Kate Young, and now? 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Yes, you read right: the popular New York-based contemporary designer (and one of our favourites!) has created a limited edition collection of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories for the discount department store chain. “Since an early age, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of design evolution,” Lim said in a press release. “One of the reasons I wanted to collaborate with Target is because I felt that together we could create a collection that would inspire – one that is modern and chic, but still very accessible.”

The travel-friendly line-up will feature over 100 items priced from $19.99 to $299.99. The collection will launch on September 15, and will be available in most Target locations in the US and Canada as well as on target.com. Check out the sneak peek video here and watch this space for more on 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target in the coming months!

Image via Style.com

Events

Sarah Stevenson Crowned Toronto Fashion Incubator’s New Labels 2013 Winner

On April 30, Toronto Fashion Incubator held its annual TFI New Labels fundraising gala at The Carlu in Toronto. Chaired by Suzanne Rogers and emceed by a David Dixon-clad Dina Pugliese, the evening’s main event was the design competition runway show presented by Target and the crowning of this year’s New Labels winner.


Suzanne Rogers and Dina Pugliese

The show was the culmination of a six-month long competition that saw the field of contestants narrowed down to a very talented final four that included Christopher Paunil by Chalo Barrueta and Christopher Paunil, Paria Shirvani, Sarah Stevenson and SEVENTHIRTYONE by Maiko Suzuki and Defne Husrevoglu. With the support of beauty partner P&G Beauty & Grooming, the finalists presented four very distinct and well received collections in front of a discerning crowd of industry insiders that included designer Arthur Mendonça, model Stacey McKenzie, The Room’s Nicholas Mellamphy, and sponsor Mantella Corporation’s Sylvia Mantella.


Gabrielle Miller and Stacey McKenzie

If their audience didn’t already have them shaking in their fashionable boots, then the New Labels judges surely did. This year’s distinguished panel was made up of FLARE Editor-in-Chief Miranda Purves, TNT Boutiques’ Arie Assaraf, Target Divisional Merchandise Manager Elisha Ballantyne, Target Senior Vice President, Merchandising John Morioka, TFI President David Dixon and gala chair Suzanne Rogers.


Winner Sarah Stevenson with the esteemed judging panel after her win

After a short but tough deliberation, the judges named Sarah Stevenson, who presented a cohesive line-up of looks featuring gorgeous prints and laser-cut detailing, the 2013 TFI New Labels winner. In addition to bragging rights, the Toronto native’s prize haul included a $25,000 cash award donated by Suzanne Rogers, a full-page feature in FLARE Magazine, and the opportunity to design a collection to be sold exclusively in Target locations across Canada in 2014. Congratulations Sarah!


Table #8!

Check out the gallery below for 40 images from the 2013 TFI New Labels gala, featuring Canadian fashion both on and off the runway.

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Red Carpet

Admiring from the Backseat: The Met’s Costume Institute Gala 2013 ‘PUNK: Chaos to Couture’ Edition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute held its annual gala last night. The dress code? Punk. And with New York and Hollywood’s boldest names attending, we knew their sartorial choices were going to be a feast for our fashion-obsessed eyes.

From a fabulously punk Sarah Jessica Parker in a printed Giles Deacon design and custom Philip Treacy mohawk headdress to a fabulous but not so punk Jennifer Lawrence in an embellished black Dior gown, the red carpet was quite the scene. Lauren Santo Domingo brought the drama in a Dolce & Gabbana dress with exaggerated sleeves, Emma Watson looked all grown up in a sexy black Prabal Gurung number, and Taylor Tomasi Hill stunned in a printed floral frock with spikes by Thom Browne.

It’s a tie for top honours, though, between a fierce Anja Rubik, who showed up in red leather Anthony Vaccarello, and Rooney Mara, who was a vision in white lace Givenchy (déjà vu?). Who were your favourites on this year’s Met Gala red carpet?

Images via Just Jared, Styleite, Vogue

Street Style

The Canadian Street Style Lookbook – May 3, 2013 Edition


Bianca Venerayan of Kastor & Pollux, Toronto

We’ve been spotting metallic bags everywhere lately, and it’s not surprising given that they complement the current black and white trend so perfectly. Case in point: Bianca‘s fun black leather shortalls (want!) and silver candy wrapper clutch (adore!) combo.

Not to say that metallic accessories don’t go just as well with other colours. We love how Lisa paired a romantic palette of soft pink and white with a lovely rose gold clutch. Perfect for spring!


Jay Strut for Jay Strut, Toronto


Lisa Dengler of Just Another Fashion Blog, Toronto/Zurich


Jen Tam for Her Waise Choice, Vancouver

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Events

A Look Inside the Michael Kors Hosted and Alexandra Richards DJed Shindig in Toronto

Designer Michael Kors touched down in Toronto yesterday for a meet-and-greet at his swanky Bloor Street boutique. Amidst racks of colourful, summer-ready apparel offerings and display cases of the brand’s wildly popular accessories, Kors chatted up editors, stylists and loyal customers, danced to tunes spun by model/DJ/rock royalty offspring Alexandra Richards, and even autographed a few of his handbags for his fiercest of fans.

Yours truly spent the evening doing what we do best: catching up with some of our favourite fashion folks, including our partner-in-crime Nelia Belkova and the life of every party Stacey McKenzie; ogling outfits, namely those of Jay Strut and Aya McMillan, who both showed up in fabulous black and white jailbird stripes; and shopping, natch. We even had our very own Kors encounter, and a snap with the grinning designer himself to prove it.


Stacey McKenzie


Alexandra Richards and Michael Kors


Samantha, Caillianne and Rana Beckerman


Nelia Belkova and Aya McMillan

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Fashion News

Designer Michael Kors in Toronto Today, Plus His Top 5 Red Carpet Looks This Year


Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Pre-Fall 2013 at the Vogue Dinner for Michael Kors

Michael Kors has been on an epic roll of late. With a record-breaking IPO last year, a loyal fanbase that includes Michelle Obama, a spot on the Time 100, and soaring profits to boot, the American designer and former (and our favourite!) Project Runway judge is looking pretty unstoppable right about now.

In fact, Kors fever is about to hit an all-time high in Toronto with the #MKToronto bash this evening, where the designer himself will be in attendance. We can’t wait to hear some Project Runway-worthy pearls of wisdom.

Follow the #MKToronto hashtag for the scoop and stay tuned for our recap later this week. In the meantime, check out our 5 favourite Michael Kors looks on the red carpets so far this year.


Emily Blunt in Resort 2013 at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards


Solange Knowles in Spring 2013 at the United Nations World Food Programme Dinner


Olivia Munn in Spring 2013 at the Time 100 Gala


Karlie Kloss in Spring 2013 at the 2013 Grammy Awards

xx, T & S

Images via Just Jared

Retail Therapy

Say It Ain’t So: No Hermès Silk & Accessories Sale for Toronto in 2013

You’re going to want to sit down for this one, fellow Hermès fans. There’s no easy way to share this news, so we’re just going to go ahead and break it to you as gently as we can: the biennial Hermès Special Silk and Accessories Sale will not be held in Toronto this year. No official word on why from the scarf gods, but it’s definitely a no-go in 2013 according to those in the know over at TPF.

The downside? No half-priced silk scarves for me (and you!) and no swanky, discounted ties for the Mister. The upside? Hermès will reportedly continue its support of multiple sclerosis research at St. Michael’s Hospital in other ways, as can we. Donations to the St. Michael’s Foundation can be made here.

In need of your biennial (or more frequent) Hermès silks fix? Don’t fret – you can shop new at hermes.com or vintage at sites like luxury-scarves.com.

xx, S

Image via Fashion Gone Rogue

Street Style

The Canadian Street Style Lookbook – April 26, 2013 Edition


Ania Boniecka of Ania.B, Victoria

Just when we thought we had the aesthetics of our favourite Canadian style bloggers all figured out, one of them trotted out a delightfully unexpected get-up.

Ania, who regularly serves up one fierce look after another, has a penchant for dark colours and leather, and whom we’ve never seen crack a smile on her blog, blew us away this week with one of the cutest personal style posts we’ve featured to date. In it, she’s grinning from ear to ear, wearing a watermelon sweater and floral print cap, and carrying a skateboard she adorably confesses to not knowing how to ride. Cute overload? Not a chance. In fact, now that we’ve seen this side of Ania, we’re hoping she’ll come out to play more often.

How about you, dear readers – new season, fresh look?


Anik Lacasse-Richard of Montreal In Style, Montreal


Krystin Lee of Suburban Faux Pas, Toronto


Bianca Venerayan of Kastor & Pollux, Toronto

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Retail Therapy

Every Gorgeous Piece in Tiffany & Co.’s The Great Gatsby Collection

For those of us who have been waiting for what seems like forever for the arrival of The Great Gatsby in theatres, May 10 just can’t come soon enough. Carey Mulligan‘s Gatsby-themed editorial in Vogue and the slew of trailers have tided us over until now, but with just 2 weeks to go, we’re getting a bit antsy. Enter Tiffany & Co. with the best distraction of all: The Great Gatsby Collection, a stunning line-up of jewels created for the film with costume designer Catherine Martin.

Inspired by designs from the Tiffany Archives, “the jewelry symbolizes the story’s themes of wealth and privilege, and we approached its design with the utmost style and luxury in mind,” said Jon King, executive vice president of Tiffany & Co. The pièce de résistance? The Savoy, a breathtakingly beautiful headpiece of diamonds and freshwater cultured pearls donned by Carey Mulligan’s character, Daisy Buchanan. A close second is the to-die-for daisy-motif hand ornament, featuring diamonds, platinum and pearls – oh my!

Emerald-cut aquamarine earrings, black onyx bangles, sapphire and diamond rings – this is the stuff of dreams. Check out the complete, jaw-droppingly gorgeous collection in the gallery below. And in case you’re interested in owning a piece or two, prices are available upon request.

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