|
|
|
by The Backseat Stylers | April 12th, 2012 
The Mister, baby and me sported matching Superman Converse shoes this past weekend because, you know, that’s just how we do. We’re the biggest Superman fans around, and what better way to show it then through our footwear choices? Exactly.
The rest of my ensemble was a little less heroic looking. Smythe jackets and Balenciaga bags are pretty super, by my measure, but the Converse x DC Comics Chuck Taylors were obviously the source of my superhero powers. Or so I told the little one.
Want a pair too? Enter our giveaway over here for a chance to win some superhero kicks of your own!
  
Smythe blazer / T by Alexander Wang t-shirt / J Brand cargos / Converse x DC Comics shoes / J.Crew necklace / Balenciaga bag / YSL ring / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | March 14th, 2011 
I recently attended a launch event for the Lexus CT 200h, the world’s first compact luxury hybrid. It was a lovely evening hosted by Ken Shaw Lexus here in Toronto that included a cocktail reception and a private mini-concert by Juno-award winning singer-songwriter Melanie Doane. My takeaways from that evening? Hybrids are where it’s at, fiddles are cool (thanks to Doane’s inspiring performance), and I apparently had the hottest shoes of the night, according to a stranger in the know.
Continue reading →
by The Backseat Stylers | January 28th, 2011 
ASOS pattern wrap blanket cardigan / Snood from Pacific Mall in Toronto / TNA belt / Forever 21 tank top / J Brand jeans / Chanel bag / Burberry boots/ Make Up For Ever makeup
It was so bitterly cold here in Toronto last week that I basically ate, slept and played in my heavy duty Canada Goose parka for 7 days straight. Parka and snow boots do not a blog-worthy outfit make, however, so I braved the elements for no more than 5 minutes so that Mr. Backseat Styler could snap me in my cozy winter garb…and even then the ensemble is only barely worthy of a post. You’ll have to bear with me, because frostbite-inducing weather makes it rather difficult to pull together a stylish outfit.
I would’ve preferred to hibernate in my comforter all day long, but dim sum is worth getting out of bed for, so I did the next best thing and took my new ASOS blanket cardigan out for a spin. Layering on the snood I so happily found at a boutique in Pacific Mall (self-proclaimed largest indoor Asian mall in North America, LOL) that sells Korean imports, I could almost pass as being unaffected by the cold in these photos. Almost. How swimsuit models shoot outdoors in the winter is beyond me; they must be superhuman!
Are you struggling to stay chic in this weather too, or am I the only weak one?
Continue reading →
by The Backseat Stylers | January 9th, 2011 
McQ cardigan / Forever 21 tank top / 3.1 Phillip Lim leather jacket / J Brand cargos / Chloé wedge booties / Make Up For Ever make-up
I’m chained to a desk Monday to Friday, so I’m used to living in dress pants, with some respite on the weekends via my jeans. Over the last 6 months or so, since I ramped up the personal style posts, I’ve become a bit more creative. Still no booty shorts for me, but I’ve happily added patterned leggings, frilly skirts and comfy but chic jumpers to the wardrobe. One of my best discoveries, though, has been these J Brand Houlihan skinny cargos. They’re a great alternative to jeans and leggings, can be dressed up or down, and fit like a glove. Oh, and I got them on fantastic sale from Revolve!
This whole ensemble, in fact, is like a greatest hits album of my shopping triumphs over the last few years. From the leather jacket via Barneys to the studded cardigan via the White Space at the Bay to the wedge boots via Saks, all were purchased on significant sale after much patience on my part. Knowing I got a fantastic deal always makes me enjoy wearing a piece that much more. So there you have it – I’m a self-confessed sale-aholic who shows no signs of imminent recovery! Any other addicts out there?
Continue reading →
by The Backseat Stylers | September 1st, 2010 
Just when I finally convince myself that I can’t possibly justify another pair of skinny jeans, along comes the Proenza Schouler x J Brand Fall 2010 collection and I find myself lusting after a handpainted pair of graffiti skinnies, of all things. They’re currently available for sale on proenzaschouler.com, but at $550 a pop and with a pretty safe bet that I’d ruin them on my first wear, I’m relegated to admiring these babies from afar. But, damn, these are cool. xx, S
Image via Stylecaster
by The Backseat Stylers | August 20th, 2010 
At the beginning of this year, I made a whole bunch of New Year’s resolutions, most of which I have thus far failed miserably in keeping. I had resolved, for example, to halt the purchase of vests until such time that I had figured out how to wear them. I must confess that I did, in fact, buy a vest or two since I made the resolution, but have yet to solve the mystery of how to style them. I decided, last week, that despite having failed in stopping myself from purchasing more vests, it was not too late to work on the second part of the Vest Resolution – to actually wear them.
Feeling inspired, I pulled out this Club Monaco military vest I’d purchased late last year and had yet to ever wear out. I stood, stumped, in front of my closet for quite some time, until I finally came up with this ensemble. I was quite pleased with the results! One vest down, another dozen or so to go.
Continue reading →
by The Backseat Stylers | July 19th, 2010 
Last weekend for my friend S’s 30th birthday bash (Happy belated!), I paired my new Aime by Monica Mei silk top with my one and only pair of red shoes. We had a fantastic night out on the town – me, my top and my shoes. So much so that when it came time to pick an ensemble for this weekend’s birthday festivities for my friend T’s big 3-0, I decided to wear pretty much the same thing. That’s right – I wore almost the exact same outfit two weekends in a row (I switched up the jeans). Shameful, no? Not really. No one other than my beloved Mr. Backseat Styler was the wiser (completely different crowd) and – save for this little blog post here – no one ever would be. I’m enamoured with my magical Aime top that seems to cinch and create curves in all the right places…why shouldn’t I live in it?
by The Backseat Stylers | May 13th, 2010 
While anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new J Brand pencil leg jeans in Ghost I ordered from Revolve (I got them to price match Tobi’s sale price – yay!), I happened to overhear 2 young men in their early twenties animatedly debating the merits of $300 designer jeans during a subway ride yesterday. I listened in amusement as they scoffed at the thought of laying down that much money for denim. Their conclusion? “Jeans are jeans.” After they disembarked the subway, I couldn’t help but wonder – were they on to something? Are all jeans created equal, and all of us who buy designer denim suckers with a capital ‘S’?
I thought about the denim buying habits of those of us at The Backseat Stylers. If there’s a sucker in the group, it would potentially be me. Though my collection isn’t overly extensive and I’m always buying my jeans on sale, I must admit that I traded in my Guess denim in favour of 7 For All Mankind, Paige and Rock and Republic a few years ago. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with my new J Brand and Acne jeans. The younger Backseat Styler T, on the other hand, isn’t buying what the designer denim brands are selling. Her go-to jeans are from Urban Outfitters, and though she’ll admit that they smelled a little funny when she first bought them, they’re now odour-free and fit fantastically.
So what’s the difference between my J Brands and T’s UO jeans, other than how they smell – is it quality? Fit? Are designer jeans hand stitched by magical elves with permanently blue-stained, little hands? A certain university professor and a comment he made way back when that all jeans come from the same factories in China comes to mind. I’m also reminded of the time I discovered that my Mexx dress shirt had one Dolce & Gabbana inscribed button sewn on it.
If it’s not about quality, then what is it? Some might suggest that the designer denim purchase is merely about buying status, that perhaps walking around with those Rock and Republic ‘R’s on your butt give you just a little more bounce in your step. That could be the case, I suppose, but I would argue, from experience, that an ill-fitting pair of designer denim will always be trumped by a pair of jeans that didn’t break the bank but that fit like a glove. And if 2 pairs of jeans are comparable except where it comes to the price tag, then why spend the extra hundreds?
In the absence of hard evidence either way, I have no choice but to propose a Backseat Styler experiment. The next time I’m on the hunt for a new pair of jeans, I’ll have to ask T to accompany me to UO. If there’s a chance I might be able to cut my denim budget in half (more money for shoes!), why not give it a shot?
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | November 21st, 2009 
If you haven’t yet heard, Aritzia is currently celebrating their 25th anniversary by holding their Biggest Sale Ever. Now those of you who are intimately familiar with Aritzia sales know that upper management has quite the sense of humour or perhaps don’t actually know what the word ‘sale’ means, because discounts historically have been in the range of a measly 10-15% off. This time around, however, they actually seem to mean business and there are some deals to be had. Sure, they’re only offering 10-20% off on their house brands, but they’re making up for it with 25% off on all denim. There’s even a selection of Rock & Republic, Seven For All Mankind and Hudson jeans available for only $149.99 – rather unheard of at Aritzia. Did I mention Uggs on sale as well? If you haven’t braved the crowds yet, get there ASAP before what’s on your wishlist sells out. Do try to stay level-headed though, as all sales are final. As for me, I knew walking into the store was a bad idea, but curiosity got the best of me. Next thing I know, I’m walking out with a pair of J Brand Pencil skinny jeans I never even knew I needed.
xx, S
|
|
THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
|
