Naro Lokuruka » The Backseat Stylers | Toronto Fashion & Style Blog

Spotted from the Backseat: Intermix Toronto Launch Party

by The Backseat Stylers | November 23rd, 2011

Intermix’s Crystal Torchio and CEO Khajak Keledjian

Intermix‘s first boutique on Canadian soil launched back in August, but the US retailer only officially celebrated last night with a shindig fit for Hollywood actresses, top Canadian designers and models, all-around fabulous people and…me. Far from the civilized breakfast date I had with CEO Khajak Keledjian when the store opened its doors, yesterday’s fête replaced coffee with free-flowing wine and an audience with Keledjian with a set by rapper Theophilus London.

It was a very well-attended affair. Keledjian was there, of course, with the rest of the Intermix Toronto team, as well as his co-hosts from The Coveteur. Oh, and actress Jessica Chastain, who I missed completely somehow. The ubiquitous Greta Constantine team was out in full force, as were big name Canadian models who’ve walked the runway for them, Tara Gill and Naro Lokuruka. The other two-thirds of my “blogger troika” (dubbed as such by FASHION‘s Randi Bergman), being Styleblog.ca‘s Nelia Belkova and Stylehog.com‘s Julia Seidl, kept me thoroughly entertained until Theophilus London took over that job.

Give the gallery a gander for party photos. I spied lots of Versace for H&M, just as much Joe Fresh and even a little bit of VAWK (OK, that last one was me)…

The Fashion Collective’s Dwayne Kennedy, Greta Constantine’s Stephen Wong, and model Tara Gill

StyleBlog.ca’s Nelia Belkova and Stylehog.com’s Julia Seidl

The Souls of My Shoes’ Kimberly Lyn and Wolff Public Relations’ Lauren Wolff

Fashion Director George Antonopoulos and model Naro Lokuruka

Chatelaine’s Tyler Franch

Me and my straggly rain-ruined hair (VAWK jacket / Zara blouse and skirt / Chanel bag / YSL ring / Alexander McQueen shoes

xx, S

Runways and Showrooms

OBJECT by George Antonopoulos for Danier Leather Fall 2011 – Complete Collection Photos

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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Events

Spotted from the Backseat: TNT 20th Anniversary Party Edition

by The Backseat Stylers | May 19th, 2011

Amanda Salmon of Greta Constantine in a Primer tank top

One of my favourite Toronto boutiques, TNT, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with a party fit for, well, Nicole Richie. The former Simple Life star (remember that show?) and designer of the House of Harlow 1960 and Winter Kate lines was on hand for the bash, though you’ll never know it from my photos; we were in the same room, but I managed to miss her entirely. Also in attendance were the evening’s host Dan Levy, the Greta Constantine team, there to launch their capsule collection Primer, and the three finalists from this year’s TFI New Labels competition, whose collections will be stocked at TNT this Fall. Toronto’s fashion set came out in droves for the shindig, and it was a night worthy of the store’s grand re-opening.

TNT was offering a 20% discount on purchases in exchange for donations in support of the Toronto Fashion Incubator, but there were too many partygoers and too little space for me and my friend J to get our shop on. I did notice that TNT is stepping up its designer game – I spied Matthew Williamson dresses and Miu Miu shoes in the mix – a sure sign that owners Arie Assaraf and Carrie Richmond are ready to compete with The Room at the Bay, Holt Renfrew and Intermix.

Since shopping was a no go, I focused on the fashionable crowd instead. From the coveted 3.1 Phillip Lim studded Edie bow bag to the FLARE Magazine x ALDO wedges, guests donned their most stylish duds in honour of one of Toronto’s most stylish shopping destinations.

TFI New Labels 2011 finalist Nikki Wirthensohn of NARCES (left) with a model in her design