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by The Backseat Stylers | January 15th, 2013 
“How many plaid blazers does a person need?!” exclaimed Nelia when she spotted my latest Club Monaco purchase. I didn’t realize we were counting, but the answer is obviously a really, really high number, as evidenced by the count in my closet.
It appears I have a plaid jacket problem that I hadn’t quite identified until my dear friend so kindly pointed it out. My guess is that it’s closely linked to my Smythe addiction. In my defence, though, this is the only brown plaid blazer with navy sleeves that I own. I’m fairly certain.
On a side note, I managed to mix black with brown and navy with black all in one outfit – potentially breaking two so-called style rules - and the world didn’t come to an end as many, including T, would fear. Ponder that one.
  
Club Monaco blazer / Club Monaco blouse / Joe Fresh jeans / FLARE x ALDO bag / Ralph Lauren boots / MAKE UP FOR EVER makeup
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | September 20th, 2012 
As we wait patiently for news of the official launch date for the FLARE Magazine x ALDO Shoes Fall 2012 collaboration, here’s a look at the oxblood shooties in action, on none other than the designer herself, FLARE Fashion Director Liz Cabral. Over the last few days, these to-die-for shoes have been featured on Style.com, the New York Times Sunday Styles and, of course, on You Just Got Spotted.
The FLARE x ALDO collaboration will be available in October (see the complete collection), though the exact launch date is still a mystery. How much longer until we can get our hands on a pair too, Liz?
xx, S
Image Credits: You Just Got Spotted
by The Backseat Stylers | August 30th, 2012 
Back in July, FLARE‘s fashion director Liz Cabral announced that she had teamed up with ALDO Shoes a second time for a Fall 2012 limited edition offering. Naturally, I did a celebratory dance in my beloved snakeskin wedges from the first collaboration. I’ve been waiting patiently for more information ever since, and we’ve finally got some via FLARE’s October 2012 issue.
Get ready to shop not one, but two pairs of shoes designed by Cabral and the ALDO team…and handbags too! All with price tags under $200, the mini collection features a lace stiletto bootie ($175) and an oxblood shootie ($155). Trying to pick just one will be futile: one of each, please!
No word yet on when the second FLARE x ALDO collection will be available, but when it finally launches it’ll be sure to sell out fast. In the meantime, stay tuned for more details!
UPDATE #1:
The complete FLARE x ALDO Fall 2012 collection has now officially been revealed! In addition to the highly covetable lace stiletto bootie and oxblood shootie we gave you a sneak peek of earlier this week, the collection also features a faux croc bag that comes in two bold colours, blue and red, and will retail for a very reasonable $70.
“I’m confident the oxblood shoe will turn up on the street-style blogs, while the black lace pair should prove a hit on the holiday party circuit”, says Cabral, with which I wholeheartedly agree. “As for the bag? At first, Aldo was planning on producing only one colour. But after lots of debate on the merits of red versus blue, they decide on both!”
Having a tough time deciding yourself? Don’t fret – the affordable price tags mean you can buy the entire collection for under $500 before taxes and you have until October to save up. The official launch date is yet to be confirmed though, so watch this space!
UPDATE #2:
As of October 5, the collection is now finally (woohoo!) available in limited quantities at the following locations:
Montreal – Eaton Centre
Toronto – 50 Bloor Street West
Toronto – Yorkdale Shopping Centre
Vancouver – 1025 Robson Street
Calgary – Chinook Centre
In other words, GO, GO, GO!!!
  
xx, S
Image Credits: FLARE
by The Backseat Stylers | July 26th, 2012 
Liz Cabral at the launch of the first FLARE x ALDO collaboration
FLARE Magazine Fashion Director Liz Cabral made a rather unexpected and epic announcement via Twitter last night: there’s going to be a round #2 to her collaboration with ALDO Shoes!
This tweet literally made me squeal because (a) I’m a shoeaholic and (b) I expect a shoe designed by Liz Cabral and ALDO to be nothing short of genius, based on the results of their first joint effort. The FLARE x ALDO wedges released in April 2011 were an instant hit (see the evidence here, here and here), and are officially the most complimented pair of shoes I own.
The second FLARE x ALDO collaboration will be revealed in September and available in stores and online in October. Liz has hinted that the collaboration involves more than a shoe. What do FLARE, Liz and ALDO have up their proverbial sleeves this time around? I can’t wait to find out!
xx, S
Image Credit: Anita Clarke
by The Backseat Stylers | June 6th, 2012 
After last week’s post featuring my beloved Erdem blouse from Spring 2011, I continue to gleefully shop my own closet for warm weather clothes. From the deepest, darkest corner I pulled out this Inhibitus jumper from an incredible China trip 2 years ago. I had hoped that putting it on again would instantly transport me back to the fabulous shopping malls and bustling night markets of Hong Kong, but it sadly hasn’t happened yet.
On the upside, I also managed to find my FLARE x ALDO wedges in the mess that is my shoe closet. I wore them out and about in some of the priciest luxury boutiques in the city one day, and the compliments came non-stop. These babies are universally adored. I always feel bad breaking the news, though, that they were a limited edition shoe from last year that has long since sold out. Perhaps we’re due for another fabulous shoe collab. How about it, FLARE, ALDO?
  
Inhibitus jumper (from Hong Kong) / Prada sunglasses / Chanel bag / ALDO x Flare shoes (last seen here) / FALLON cuff / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | June 26th, 2011 
I’ve been posting shots of my outfits at events only lately, but I promise I’ve been wearing clothes in between functions, too. I’d like to pretend that I’ve been wearing ultra-creative blogger off-duty ensembles, but that’d be an outright lie. When the cameras (read: Mr. Backseat Styler’s lone, reluctant camera) are off, I’m wearing the same damn things over and over again – partially out of laziness, but mostly because I just can’t get enough out of some of my recent purchases.
My FLARE x ALDO wedges fall into this category. I’ve been wearing them every opportunity I get and raking in the compliments at every turn. I tweeted recently that I’ve never owned a pair of shoes that garnered more love from friends and strangers alike, and that’s the truth. The neon orange and python wedges are incredibly eye-catching and surprisingly versatile. Best $135 I’ve ever spent.
My Biko Adoria necklace is another piece I’ve been wearing non-stop. You wouldn’t think chains and spikes would be my thing, given the overabundance of bows and ruffles in my closet, but the Adoria has been the perfect accessory to bring some edge to my otherwise girly outfits of late. I haven’t been able to take my latest Biko purchase off since I bought it.
So there you have it. I don’t have an endless closet – the shock! – and I rewear pieces all the time – the horror! Fess up – what do you have on heavy rotation so far this summer?
 
Zara top / Biko necklace / Sandro shorts / FLARE x ALDO shoes / Chanel bag / YSL ring / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
Photo Credit: Nelia Belkova
by The Backseat Stylers | April 27th, 2011 
The last pair of shoes showcased in our “Coveting from the Backseat” feature was a pair of Nicholas Kirkwoods retailing for $1,195. Before that, an $850 pair of Giuseppe Zanottis. Sensing a pattern? I am too; apparently, I have very expensive taste in footwear. The newest pair of shoes on my want list is just as luxe. With a genuine snakeskin wedge heel, neon orange insole and tubular black straps, the FLARE x ALDO collaboration shoe would look right at home next to those Kirkwoods or Zanottis. The only difference is, with a very reasonable price tag of $135, these babies are a steal.
I caught up with FLARE‘s Fashion Director Liz Cabral and ALDO’s lead designer Anna Sheldon at the collaboration’s launch party on April 26th at the ALDO boutique on Bloor Street in Toronto, and chatted about the shoe on everyone’s lips.
BSS: How did the design of the shoe come about?
AS: It’s Elizabeth’s shoe. She’s so stylish and has such a strong sense of style. She came to us with a lot of ideas.
LC: Having seen (the trends for) this season, I had a really good idea of the elements I wanted to highlight. I wanted it to be a wedge, and I wanted to incorporate python, and some colour.
AS: She had a very sure idea of the kind of wedge that she wanted to work with. She knew she wanted to do fluoro orange, a pop of it somewhere; we decided it should go on the insole of the shoe. She also wanted to use the natural python with some tubular on the upper of the shoe – something soft but structured. Really, it was (Elizabeth’s) vision. We (at ALDO) just pieced it together.
BSS: Do you feel the end product is in line with the aesthetic of the ALDO brand?
AS: I definitely think it has the ALDO DNA. It’s fashionable, and sexy.
LC: I really wanted the shoe to be sexy, but not victim-y. It’s got a subtle sexiness to it that fashion people will love.
BSS: I can see the shoe bridging the gap to women outside the industry quite nicely as well. It’s a very versatile design.
LC: I hope people are open to it. There’s a lot going on, but it doesn’t overpower the shoe. It all works together. And it’s such an easy shoe to wear. I’m all about fashion and being fashion forward, but I don’t buy anything that isn’t functional or comfortable. I don’t want to feel like a victim of my clothes.
BSS: What’s up next for you and FLARE on the design front?
LC: As an editor, going into the design process is definitely a mentality shift. Designing is a tough gig; it’s a very vulnerable thing to do. When I made this shoe, I thought “I hope people like it!” FLARE is all about experimentation and having fun. Whatever happens next, we’re open.
Given my level of excitement over this collaboration with ALDO and the hot new pair of shoes in my closet, I can’t wait to see what Cabral and FLARE design next. In the meantime, snag a pair of these fabulous limited edition FLARE x ALDO wedges before it’s too late – they were produced in very limited quantities and are sure to sell out fast. Click here for store availability and to buy online starting April 27th – today!
xx, S
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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