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by The Backseat Stylers | March 7th, 2013 
We’re only 4 episodes in, but truth be told, The Face had us at ‘Naomi’. The new reality series, broadcast on Oxygen in the US and MuchMusic in Canada, has effectively replaced America’s Next Top Model in our hearts as our favourite reality TV modeling competition. Here are 6 reasons why:
1. The Coaches
The coaches are 3 working supermodels, none of whom require any introduction. Who better to learn the ins and outs of modeling from than the likes of The Naomi Campbell herself, former Victoria’s Secret Angel Karolina Kurkova and Canada’s own Coco Rocha. Their unique personalities and modeling styles make for a dynamic cast that has us asking, “Tyra who?”
2. The Models
As seasoned arm-chair modeling competition judges, we like to think we know what it takes to be a model. While the ANTM casting criteria seems to revolve more around sob backstories and odd personalities than actual talent, many of The Face contestants legitimately look like they have the potential to work in the industry. What’s more, their looks are diverse. The Face has already featured as many East Asian models in one season than ANTM has in 19 cycles to date.
3. The Challenges
No ‘booty tooching’ lessons here; if you don’t know what that is, trust us when we say that you’re better off. Instead, The Face contestants compete in both individual and team challenges each week, learning how to pose, walk, and everything in between from their supermodel coaches.
The team-based format puts a fresh spin on this reality TV genre and adds an interesting dynamic to the show. We’re #TeamCoco all the way, obviously.
4. The Host
We couldn’t have been happier when we found out that Nigel Barker, our favourite ANTM alumnus, would be hosting The Face. It might have something to do with our longstanding crush on him.
5. The Fashion
The series opened with Naomi, Coco and Karolina strutting their stuff for Zac Posen at NYFW, and it’s been an ongoing fashion show of sorts ever since. From Naomi in Azzedine Alaïa to Karolina in Prabal Gurung, each episode is a feast for our fashion-obsessed eyes, thanks to stylist and regular Vogue Italia contributor Patti Wilson.
6. The Naomi Factor
We watch each episode both fearing and hoping that Naomi will lay the smackdown on a fellow judge or would-be model, and she has yet to disappoint. In the series premiere, Naomi ferociously warned Coco and Karolina: “It’s game on from now on.”
We’ve been hooked ever since.
xx, T & S
Images via The Face
by The Backseat Stylers | November 14th, 2012 
Coco Rocha
The American fashion industry gathered in New York last night for the 9th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund gala dinner. Greg Chait, founder of cashmere label The Elder Statesman, won the coveted cash prize and mentorship program, while jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer Maguire and footwear designer Tabitha Simmons were named the runners-up.
The other story, of course, was what gala attendees wore, and we’ve gone ahead and picked our five best dressed of the evening. Red carpet favourite Emma Stone was an easy pick; the actress was decked out in a peplum look straight off the Burberry Prorsum Spring 2013 runway. Dakota Fanning, in pink Jason Wu Spring 2013, also chose a peplum for the occasion. Rounding out the top five were Coco Rocha in a printed Sono number, Karlie Kloss in a sheer, ladylike ensemble, and Alexa Chung in an unexpected pairing of baby blue and red.
Karlie Kloss
Emma Stone
Alexa Chung
Dakota Fanning
xx, S
Images via JustJared
by The Backseat Stylers | September 17th, 2010
by The Backseat Stylers | April 1st, 2010
by The Backseat Stylers | March 24th, 2010
by The Backseat Stylers | March 16th, 2010
by The Backseat Stylers | January 2nd, 2010 I’ve been on a bit of a fashion break of late; being pregnant and then having to care for a newborn has had me out of the style game to a certain extent. I’m only now gradually getting back into the swing of things and shopping in my pre-prego closet. In doing so, however, I’ve come to an unexpected conclusion: my style has become dreadfully predictable. The only thing worse than wearing a horrendous outfit à la Björk and her swan dress is to wear exactly what’s expected of you because you’ve done the same thing over and over and over again.
I’ve also come to a second, related conclusion: I’ve been accumulating clothes, shoes and bags at an alarming rate – there are too many items in my closet with tags still attached that have yet to see the light of day. It seems I’m not so carefully cultivating a collection of many variations of the same tops, jackets and shoes. How utterly uncreative and wasteful.
And so I resolve, in 2010, to cease purchasing the following:
1. Shoes. Most definitely no more special occasion, party shoes.
2. Outerwear for all seasons. Especially winter coats.
3. Tops with bows, ruffles, rosettes or similar frills.
4. Vests of any kind, until I figure out how to wear the ones I already own.
5. Cocktail dresses. Particularly sale dresses that are too big; I never get them taken in as planned.
6. Black blazers. Period.
7. Smythe jackets. Period.
8. Did I say shoes?
9. Silk scarves, until I can find a way to navigate Baby Backseat Styler and his drool/spit-up around them.
I also resolve to do the following:
1. Wear what I already own. Contrive new outfits out of old pieces.
2. Mix high and low. Not everything needs to be high – Jimmy Choo is unnecessary where Nine West will do the trick just fine.
3. Avoid purchasing pieces that are too specific and more than one wear would be unlikely.
4. Finally take cocktail dresses and jackets that are too big to the tailor’s.
5. Get rid of pieces that I will likely never wear again. Donate what can be donated. Sell what can be sold. Hand down what can be handed down.
6. Buy only what I do not already own. The same shirt in different colours/fabrics/patterns doesn’t count.
7. Shake up the wardrobe with colour. Enough of the black, white and grey already!
8. Resist the temptation of sales. If that skirt wasn’t at all interesting at regular price, then it probably isn’t all that exciting and/or necessary even at a lower price.
9. Focus more on hair/makeup/nails; these are worn every day.
10. Sacrifice once in a while. It may not seem like it at the time, but I know I’ll live without that cute top. Learn to admire from afar; I don’t have to own everything I love.
11. Read a book rather than cyber-window shop.
Wow – this isn’t one New Year’s resolution. It’s 20 resolutions. But if I put forth as much effort and determination towards these resolutions in 2010 as I did stalking Stella McCartney band jackets and tracking down sale Manolos in 2009, I’m sure to succeed!
xx, S
Images via The Fash Pack
by The Backseat Stylers | December 29th, 2009 With the end of a decade drawing close, an inordinate number of “best of” lists have been popping up and joining the usual year-end lists, and the fun will surely continue until the clock strikes midnight this upcoming New Year’s Eve. I’m a fan of lists that remind me of the highs and lows and shockers of the last 365 days – or, in this case, 3,653 days – so I’m not complaining. Vogue Paris decided to get it on the action and compiled a list of the top 30 models of the decade. ‘Compiled’ is a gross understatement of the impossibility of such a task, I’m sure, but I can’t seem to think of a better one at this moment in time. Regardless, the results are in and Canadian models took up 4 out of 30 spots – not so shabby! Here’s the list, in no particular order:
1. Gemma Ward
2. Agyness Deyn
3. Daria Werbowy
4. Lara Stone
5. Lily Donaldson
6. Natalia Vodianova
7. Natasha Poly
8. Doutzen Kroes
9. Anja Rubik
10. Freja Beha Erichsen
11. Chanel Iman
12. Iris Strubegger
13. Anna Selezneva
14. Irina Lazareanu
15. Karen Elson
16. Karlie Kloss
17. Kasia Struss
18. Kim Noorda
19. Catherine McNeil
20. Coco Rocha
21. Isabeli Fontana
22. Sasha Pivovarova
23. Vlada Roslyakova
24. Magdalena Frackowiak
25. Gisele Bündchen
26. Jessica Stam
27. Raquel Zimmermann
28. Lily Cole
29. Mariacarla Boscono
30. Maryna Linchuk
Kate Moss, by the way, is notably absent from the list. Not to fret, however, as she was honoured with her own list documenting a decade of covers for Vogue Paris. Very fitting.
xx, S
Photo Credits: Models.com, Vogue.fr
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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