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by The Backseat Stylers | March 4th, 2012 
British actress Lily Collins covers NYLON‘s March 2012 issue in a Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 collar and black leather peplum top combination that is absolutely to die for. I fell head over heels for the top as soon as I spotted it, but immediately wrote it off as a runway piece that would be way out of my snack bracket. It turns out I was dead wrong, and I’m overjoyed.
Not only is the gorgeous top by everyone’s favourite fast fashion retailer, H&M, but it’s also 100% lamb nappa leather with a $99 price tag that’s within my reach. Make no mistake – it will be mine. I’ll be stalking my local H&M non-stop until that happens. In the meantime, those of you lucky enough to have online shopping available in your countries can buy me the top online at hm.com.
xx, S
Image Credits: NYLON, H&M
by The Backseat Stylers | February 16th, 2012 
Back in December, we posted a very colourful sneak peek of George Antonopoulos‘ Spring 2012 outing for OBJECT for Danier. We know you’ve been dying to see the complete collection, so here, finally, is the campaign and lookbook for the fashion director’s second collaboration with Canadian leather retailer Danier.
My wish list for this second OBJECT line was quite lengthy after the preview, and these images aren’t helping to narrow it down. The caramel leather shorts and perforated suede henley are must-haves, so they’re not budging from the list any time soon. The royal blue leather pants are to-die-for and I’m feeling sartorially brave these days, so those are staying on the list too.
I’ve also still got my eye on a second croc-embossed banker’s envelope. The black version from the Fall 2011 collection has become a wardrobe staple, and I need it in white for Spring. Or maybe orange. Or perhaps both? Decisions, decisions…
What’s on your OBJECT Spring 2012 shopping list?
  
xx, S
Images courtesy of Danier
by The Backseat Stylers | December 1st, 2011 
When Danier recently announced the latest addition to their roster of designer collaborators, Toronto-based Philip Sparks, there was an audible cheer from fashion-conscious men across the country. An accessories collection to call their own, one they wouldn’t have to share with the ladies? Definitely cause for excitement. Today, we got a sneak peek at the collection at the Danier Spring 2012 preview, and it’s everything they – and we! – hoped it would be.
Sparks’ designs for Danier are classic, functional, and downright attractive-looking. “We started with a nostalgic idea of travel and how people once boarded airplanes and train cars with a wardrobe of carryalls, duffle bags and cases,” says the designer. “Then, we updated that mix to include iPad cases and backpacks filled with extra pockets and compartments for contemporary travelers who expect the functionality of five bags in one.”
The results are highly covetable. In fact, I’m disappointed that the collection won’t be available in time for the holidays; a swanky new briefcase would’ve been a perfect Christmas gift for the Mister. Or me, for that matter. Because if the men thought they wouldn’t have to share this collection with the women, think again.
   
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | November 25th, 2011 
I’ve been obsessed with leather this season, so when I spied Michelle Williams on late night television wearing a gorgeous leather dress from Valentino‘s Spring 2012 collection, my jaw dropped. It may not have been a look you’d have ever seen Marilyn Monroe in but, for what it’s worth, I’d wear it in a heartbeat.
Leather gives off a tough vibe, but the ladylike silhouette of the dress and the lovely floral embellishments balance it out to make for one very chic piece. Perhaps Marilyn would have worn it after all?
xx, S
Image Credit: mirror.co.uk
by The Backseat Stylers | November 16th, 2011 
I’m obsessed with velvet and leather this season. I just bought these Loeffler Randall velvet stilettos, and I’ve been wearing my OBJECT for Danier leather pieces non-stop ever since the temperatures dropped. But one piece that incorporates both fabrics? Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d find such a thing, and yet here’s this navy blue velvet blazer with leather piping staring me in the face, combining the two together perfectly. To die for!
Oh, but it’s by Miu Miu, of course, and it retails for $1,195. Ouch. Aaand it’s already sold out on Net-a-porter. Phew! Saves me from having to sell my left something for it. The story ends well for my pocketbook today, but I’ll still be daydreaming about this little jacket all winter…
xx, S
Image Credit: Net-a-porter
by The Backseat Stylers | October 23rd, 2011 
George Antonopoulos and me
You know that feeling of loving a new purchase so much that you want to wear it right away? I didn’t get that with my leather dress from the OBJECT for Danier line by George Antonopoulos. In fact, I adored it so much that I wanted to save its first outing for a special occasion of sorts, rather than just any ol’ day.
After sitting patiently in my closet for a month and a half, my new leather frock finally got its inaugural call to duty for none other than the opening night of this season’s LG Fashion Week. With the Spring 2012 collection from Arthur Mendonça, for whom Antonopoulos serves as Fashion Director, on the agenda, I thought it the perfect opportunity to take the dress out for a spin.
The Alexander McQueen winged booties I paired my OBJECT dress with were also a piece that had a delayed debut after I purchased them last winter. Do you save particularly beloved new purchases for special occasions too?
OBJECT for Danier leather dress / Biko Jewellery necklace / Alexander McQueen boots / Balenciaga bag
xx, S
Photo Credit: Jessica Chiu
by The Backseat Stylers | September 11th, 2011 
Kimberly Lyn, George Antonopoulos, Nelia Belkova, me, Tricia Campbell-Hall
All summer I counted down the days until the OBJECT for Danier Fall 2011 collection would hit sales floors, and last week the long wait finally came to an end. Toronto-based stylist George Antonopoulos‘ inaugural collection for the Canadian leather retailer launched with a trunk show at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre store on September 7th.
Canadian fashion heavyweights like FASHION‘s Editor-in-Chief Bernadette Morra, Zoomer Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Boyd and Toronto Star‘s Derick Chetty, stylists, fashion bloggers and fans descended on Danier’s Yorkdale location to be the first to shop the lush collection of leather separates, dresses and outerwear. With constant line-ups at the changing rooms and registers, much of the stock on hand was snapped right up that evening.
Yours truly was lucky to be able to snag two fierce pieces, the leather henley shirt and mini dress (pictured below). Can’t wait to take them out for a spin! Check out the full Fall lookbook here, and be sure to stop by your local Danier store before the collection sells out.
As for what’s next, Antonopoulous has already been dropping hints about his Spring 2012 outing for Danier. “There’s lots of colour,” he revealed, to our utter excitement. And footwear, too! Knowing how covetable the first OBJECT collection is, we’re dying to see what Antonopoulos has up his sleeve for his second. Time to start replenishing my OBJECT fund in preparation for Spring!
 
xx, S
Image Credits: First photo by Ryan Emberley / Danier, all others courtesy of Danier
by The Backseat Stylers | August 20th, 2011 
With Fall ad campaigns jumping out from the pages of September issues and lookbooks arriving in my inbox, I’m starting to feel ready to transition to a new season. Cooler weather means that fabrics I stored for the summer get to come out and play again, and I’m most excited about putting leather back into the rotation. With leather shorts, pants, a dress, and jackets of course, already in my closet, what I’m looking to throw into the mix this Fall is a leather top.
Enter this 3.1 Phillip Lim raglan top with leather sleeves. The combination of the two fabrics and contrasting colours brings college football to mind, which is oddly appealing to a very non-athletic me. I can already imagine pairing this top with my Thakoon pants and Chloé wedges, staples in my Fall wardrobe last year.
And that’s the key for me this time around: investing in fresh, new pieces that will work seamlessly with what I’ve already got in my closet for years to come. This top definitely fits the bill. Though the price, a steep $725, not so much. I’ll have to work on that part.
What do you have your eye on for Fall?
 
xx, S
Images via lagarconne.com
by The Backseat Stylers | May 27th, 2011 
Canadian leather retailer DANIER is on a roll. We’ve already covered their Fall 2011 designer collaborations with Mark Fast and Greta Constantine this past week, and now here’s a third – this time with renowned Canadian fashion stylist and director George Antonopoulos. Called OBJECT, the stylist-cum-designer says the collection is made up of “modern classics in leather that are effortlessly integrated into anyone’s wardrobe. Attainable and affordable, the designs are investment pieces translated in leather to create a new language of dressing”. The verdict? These babies are going to sell like hot cakes.
I came to this conclusion even before I saw the stunning collection campaign featuring my favourite Toronto model, Naro Lokuruka. The designs speak for themselves, and each piece is hotter than the next. The tops in particular blow me away; from the scoop neck leather tank to the fitted leather henley to the oversized t-shirt with leather sleeves, I want them all.
The draped leather tulip skirt is a must-have as well – every woman needs a black leather skirt in their closet and OBJECT’s is a sophisticated take that I can see myself wearing for years to come. And those croc-embossed banker’s envelopes Naro’s clutching in the campaign image above? One in each colour, please.
My OBJECT wish list is long, and my DANIER wish list even longer, thanks to all these designer collaborations. Who’d have predicted that a good chunk of my Fall 2011 budget would be going to DANIER, a retailer I haven’t shopped in years? Certainly not me, but with so many lustworthy OBJECT pieces vying for a spot in my winter wardrobe, I’m only happy to oblige.
OBJECT hits select DANIER stores this October.
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by The Backseat Stylers | May 26th, 2011 
Back in February, Canadian designer Mark Fast showed a Fall 2011 collection at London Fashion Week that included a number of leather pieces manufactured by Canadian retailer DANIER. The leathers were met with mixed reviews, but Fast fans back in his homeland, including myself, have been anxiously awaiting the reveal of his Fall 2011 capsule collection for DANIER nonetheless. Inspired by Fast’s designs for his main line, the 7-piece collection was revealed yesterday at the DANIER Fall 2011 editors preview in Toronto.
Unfortunately, the fierce hooded leather cape coat that closed Fast’s LFW show didn’t make the cut, but there was still much to get excited about. The cropped leather overalls in the collection were a definite stand out; I’d never touch a denim pair myself, but these I’d love to rock (though I’m not sure I’d know how). The buckled funnel neck jacket and T-shirt dress with lace up detailing aren’t far behind either on the covetability scale. The designs are unexpectedly tame for Fast, but what the collection as a whole lacks in blatant sex appeal – what Fast’s knitwear has come to be known for – it makes up for in wearability and versatility, which are pluses in my books.
The collection is due to hit select DANIER stores this October. Price points are much higher than your usual DANIER fare, but, then again, this isn’t your usual DANIER fare. How else would you get your paws on a pair of chic black leather overalls?
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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