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by The Backseat Stylers | September 12th, 2012 
Shopping parties are the best when raided with an equally fashion-minded sister (at The Bazaar by RAC Boutique). (Image Credit: Richard Fabregui)
And just like that, Fashion’s Night Out Toronto has come and gone, but while it was here on September 6, we sure took full advantage. It was a jam-packed evening of shopping party after shopping party, the very best kind by our measure.
We kicked off our night at Toronto Eaton Centre (check out our recap), and the FNO fun was only just beginning. Next stop? Holt Renfrew, of course, where we joined a very magenta street party complete with pink confetti, limited edition pink Diet Coke bottles and a pop-up shop selling exclusive Holt Renfrew 175th anniversary paraphernalia. There may have been some confetti throwing and dancing in the street on our part (and photographic evidence).
From there we made the short trek to Hazelton Lanes to pay The Shopping Soirée, hosted by Toronto Fashion Incubator, TNT and Fashion Cares, and the MasterCard Stylicity Lounge a visit. There we chatted with a Mary Katrantzou-clad Suzanne Rogers, ogled the Kara Ross jewels on Gail McInnes and Kelly Claman, and caught up with some of our favourite fellow fashion bloggers, including Style Blog‘s Nelia Belkova, who also chose Clover Canyon for the occasion (take a gander at our FNO outfit post). There were also tables and tables of stylish goods to covet.
Our next destination was equally full of temptation for the pocketbook. A chauffeured BMW (by the way, how sweet is that?) took us to The Bazaar by RAC Boutique. More of the city’s independent boutiques than we can name had assembled together at the Burroughes Building to offer a carefully curated selection of chic offerings. The whimsical necklaces from Foe and Dear and statement jewelery from Love of Mine, in particular, were very hard to resist.
With closing time for Fashion’s Night Out just around the corner, we made one final stop at eLUXE‘s FNO bash. There was just enough time to admire the exclusive Smythe x eLUXE tuxedo jacket and make use of the photo booth with Toronto Is Fashion‘s Richard Fabregui. Fashion’s Night Out wouldn’t have been complete without the obligatory jumping session in the photo booth – am I right or am I right?
And with that, the clock struck 11pm, FNO was done for the year, and yours truly returned to our hotel room and ordered everything off the room service menu to cap off one hell of a Fashion’s Night Out. Till next year!
Me and Nelia Belkova – Clover Canyon loving twins! (Image Credit: Richard Fabregui)
Pink lemonade at Massimo Dutti at Toronto Eaton Centre – yes please!
Live-tweeting Toronto Eaton Centre’s fabulous FNO fashion show with PR all-star Jenna Stothers.
I really, really like confetti. Especially the pink kind at Holt Renfrew’s Hot@175 street party.
Well hello there, Gail McInnes, Glenn Dixon and Suzanne Rogers (in Mary Katrantzou!), at The Shopping Soirée at Hazelton Lanes of course.
Fabulous Kara Ross statement necklaces for all! Except me…I need to work on that.
Bloggers Richard Fabregui, Nelia Belkova, Marc Piercey, Anita Clarke and me at The Shopping Soirée at Hazelton Lanes. (Image Credit: Nelia Belkova)
Jeanne Beker at the MasterCard Stylicity Lounge. (Image Credit: Justin Charles)
Chauffeured BMW pour moi et mes fellow media types. No big deal.
Being silly with Richard at The Bazaar by RAC Boutique.
Actor Adrian Grenier and his entourage (see how we did that?) at The Bazaar by RAC Boutique. (Image Credit: Ashlea Wessel)
Working on my photo booth jumping game with T and Richard at eLUXE’s FNO event.
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | September 11th, 2012 
Image Credit: Mike Palmer
It’s been 4 days since Fashion’s Night Out hit Toronto, and we’ve finally recovered from having all together too fabulous a time party-hopping around the city, in sky-high heels, no less. We’ve spent the last few days nursing our sore feet back to health and basking in the glory of one very fun night that kicked off for us at – where else? – Toronto Eaton Centre.
Me with Susan, our very first FNO giveaway winner
TEC had invited The Backseat Stylers to live tweet during their FNO party, a task that couldn’t be more up our alley. We’re addicted to both fashion and Twitter, so it was the perfect gig for us. We spent the evening gifting tweeters with official Fashion’s Night Out branded t-shirts and totes; we felt like stylish Santas – though S prefers her Clover Canyon dress from Mendocino over a red suit – and may have found our new calling in life.
The fashion show, hosted by She Does The City’s Jen McNeely, featured the latest fall arrivals from Juicy Couture, Gap and Stuart Weitzman. The chicly styled looks (and gorgeous models) were a hit with the big crowd of FNO revelers, and with us as well. Between a sharp black riding jacket by Juicy Couture, a grey blazer with neon trim from Gap, and Stuart Weitzman’s to-die-for shoes and boots, there was plenty to covet and add to our growing fall wish list.
It was quite convenient, then, that TEC’s doors were open until 11pm for some fervent late night shopping. We took the opportunity to stop by the freshly-launched Massimo Dutti boutique and newly-renovated Harry Rosen store for a closer look. Located on the upper level, both retailers will have new neighbours in a few short months with both Ann Taylor and J.Crew setting up shop this fall. TEC is just getting better and better, and we can’t wait to shop the new stores for some new autumn wardrobe additions.
FNO revelers strike a pose
Missed the FNO shindig? Don’t fret. We’ve got a fabulous contest for you to make up for it. If you haven’t yet heard, we’ve teamed up with Toronto Eaton Centre to give one lucky reader of The Backseat Stylers a $400 shopping spree, lunch at Trattoria Mercatto and a mini style consultation with us! Contest details are over here. Enter now before the contest closes tonight at midnight. Good luck!
Free FNO swag make for happy shoppers
Thanks Toronto Eaton Centre for including us in your FNO festivities and to all you lovely readers for joining us for a gloriously fun time! We’re already counting down the days until Fashion’s Night Out 2013. Till then, follow TEC on Twitter and Facebook for news of upcoming fashion events.
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by The Backseat Stylers | September 11th, 2012 
“You always make me overdress!”, T complained, midway through Fashion’s Night Out last week. That may be true, but when you’re choosing a getup for a FNO gig at Toronto Eaton Centre, the bar is set high.
For my FNO outfit needs I headed to TEC a few days before, and it wasn’t long before I found a gorgeous Clover Canyon neoprene frock at Mendocino; it was lust at first sight. Everything about the dress – the bold print, form-hugging fabric and new-to-me colour palette – was completely out of the box for me. But what better day to push my sartorial boundaries than on Fashion’s Night Out?
While I hit up TEC, T raided my wardrobe. She pulled my favourite Equipment blouse and oft-worn Club Monaco faux leather shorts and paired them with to-die-for Stuart Weitzman booties. I’ve never worn these three pieces this way, and I love how she borrowed them from my closet and made them completely her own, with fierce accessories and hairdo to match.
Were we perhaps overdressed for the occasion? Perpetually. And that’s the way I like it.
    
S: Clover Canyon dress / Biko necklace / OBJECT for Danier bag / Alexander McQueen booties / MAKE UP FOR EVER makeup + NARS lipstick
T: Equipment blouse / Club Monaco shorts / Stuart Weitzman booties / Alexander Wang clutch / Forever 21 tank top
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | September 6th, 2012 
Fashion’s Night Out has finally arrived! And with so many exciting events on the official FNO Toronto calendar and only 5 hours to fit it all in, we thought we’d give you a hand by narrowing it down to our top picks for the evening.
We’ll be kicking off our Fashion’s Night Out at Toronto Eaton Centre and you should definitely join us for the fashion show and FNO merchandise giveaways between 7-8pm. After that, we can shop till we drop (or until 11pm) at TEC, or hit up some (or all, if you’re a speedy shopper) of the following:
- Aime by Monica Mei (198A Davenport Road, Upper Level)
Preview the latest collection and receive a gift with purchase where a portion of proceeds will benefit Fashion Cares (Elton John Foundation & Aids Committee of Toronto). Tunezy will be spinning tunes on the back patio and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
- eLUXE (355 Adelaide Street West, Ground Level)
Debuting its exclusive Smythe for eLUXE blazer, eLUXE will host guests with a trunk show from Rebekah Price, branded sweets from Megan Wappel designs and six giveaways. Photostar will be onsite snapping all guests.
- Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor Street West)
Holt Renfrew presents “Hot in the City” street party on Bloor Street West. The store will be open until 11:00 p.m.
- INTERMIX (130 Bloor Street West)
Fall in love with must-know designers, exclusive product and covetable pieces. ILIA beauty will treat you to a natural pop of colour while the DJ spins of-the-moment music. Champagne and sweets will be served. 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
- MasterCard’s Stylicity Lounge (Shops at Hazelton Lanes, 87 Avenue Road)
Visit the Stylicity Lounge to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, complimentary styling and make-up applications from Maybelline and Redken, mingle with fashion stylists and enter for a chance to win a MasterCard gift card. Shop The Peacock Parade’s Fashion’s Night Out sale onsite for special offers.
- THE BAZAAR by RAC Boutique (The Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St West)
The Bazaar will bring together a wide array of Toronto retailers including: Lab Consignment, Drake General Store, Rescue Vintage, Robber, Philistine, Chloe Comme Parris, Foe & Dear, Love of Mine, Fashionably Yours and more. Goods will include everything from jewellery to shoes to a wide array of clothing. The Bazaar will feature music, snacks, beer and cocktails. Attendees will have a chance to win a pair of plane tickets from Porter Airlines to anywhere Porter flies.
Visit the The Peacock Parade to buy official Fashion’s Night Out tees and totes, on sale now. On Thursday, September 6th, at 11am est, The Peacock Parade will launch its special Fashion’s Night Out sale, featuring exquisite jewelry from Kara Ross, and luxurious cashmere from White & Warren. Free shipping on all items in the FNO special sale!
- The Shopping Soirée (Shops at Hazelton Lanes, 87 Avenue Road)
The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI), TNT and Fashion Cares invite you to shop men’s and women’s accessories and apparel. Spend $200+ and get a special Fashion Cares 25th anniversary retrospective book. Spend $500+ and be eligible to win two VIP Gala tickets to Fashion Cares on Sept 9th featuring Elton John (a value of $3000), PLUS two VVIP passes to the after party and two all-access event passes! 10% of event sales will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation and the AIDS Committee of Toronto. FLARE Magazine editors will be on duty helping guests style some of the industry’s finest fall pieces from TFI ‘s design stars and the racks of TNT’s international brands.
- Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge Street)
For one night only, Toronto Eaton Centre will extend mall hours, remaining open until 11:00 p.m. In addition, the mall will host a public fashion show at 7:30 p.m. in Centre Court, featuring signature looks from retailers Stuart Weitzman, Juicy Couture and GAP. Throughout the night, Toronto Eaton Centre will give away official FNO collection items via Twitter (www.twitter.com/toeatoncentre).
Don’t forget to follow @FNO_Toronto, @toeatoncentre and @backseatstylers on Twitter, and tweet us with the #FNO_Toronto hashtag to win some official FNO swag.
Happy Fashion’s Night Out everyone!
xx, T & S
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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