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by The Backseat Stylers | May 3rd, 2013 
Bianca Venerayan of Kastor & Pollux, Toronto
We’ve been spotting metallic bags everywhere lately, and it’s not surprising given that they complement the current black and white trend so perfectly. Case in point: Bianca‘s fun black leather shortalls (want!) and silver candy wrapper clutch (adore!) combo.
Not to say that metallic accessories don’t go just as well with other colours. We love how Lisa paired a romantic palette of soft pink and white with a lovely rose gold clutch. Perfect for spring!
Jay Strut for Jay Strut, Toronto
Lisa Dengler of Just Another Fashion Blog, Toronto/Zurich
Jen Tam for Her Waise Choice, Vancouver
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by The Backseat Stylers | May 2nd, 2013 
Designer Michael Kors touched down in Toronto yesterday for a meet-and-greet at his swanky Bloor Street boutique. Amidst racks of colourful, summer-ready apparel offerings and display cases of the brand’s wildly popular accessories, Kors chatted up editors, stylists and loyal customers, danced to tunes spun by model/DJ/rock royalty offspring Alexandra Richards, and even autographed a few of his handbags for his fiercest of fans.
Yours truly spent the evening doing what we do best: catching up with some of our favourite fashion folks, including our partner-in-crime Nelia Belkova and the life of every party Stacey McKenzie; ogling outfits, namely those of Jay Strut and Aya McMillan, who both showed up in fabulous black and white jailbird stripes; and shopping, natch. We even had our very own Kors encounter, and a snap with the grinning designer himself to prove it.
Stacey McKenzie
Alexandra Richards and Michael Kors
Samantha, Caillianne and Rana Beckerman
Nelia Belkova and Aya McMillan
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by The Backseat Stylers | April 18th, 2013 
“Nice jacket”: two words that literally made my week, uttered by Viktor Horsting (or was it Rolf Snoeren? It was all such a giddy blur.) to me. The jacket in question? A mustard yellow blazer with contrast black piping designed by Viktor & Rolf themselves. The Amsterdam-based duo was in town earlier this week for a very well-attended meet-and-greet with Toronto’s fashion set at The Room at The Bay.
With HBC President Bonnie Brooks and VP / Buying Director of The Room Nicholas Mellamphy as hosts and DJ Mia Moretti spinning her magic, partygoers that included the inimitable Jeanne Beker, FASHION Magazine’s EIC Bernadette Morra and socialites Stacey Kimel and Suzanne Rogers spent the evening chatting with the charming Dutch guests-of-honour, sipping on champagne and admiring the V&R wares.
Dr. Lisa Airan and PR maven Suzanne Cohon stole the sartorial show with brightly-coloured frocks, the former in an orange Carven dress with cutouts and the latter in a fuchsia Roksanda Ilincic number (last seen on Ginnifer Goodwin!). The usually cool as a cucumber blogger Anita Clarke chose a peplum Roland Mouret to meet her fashion idols, while the effortlessly chic stylist Amy Patel paired her Margiela x H&M bodysuit with denim overalls for the occasion. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention blogger Jay Strut, who showed up in a heavily embellished Balmain jacket that made our jaws drop.
Check out the gallery below for some of our favourite looks from the night.
  
Image Credit: George Pimentel
 
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by The Backseat Stylers | April 16th, 2013 
Rag & Bone designers Marcus Wainwright (left) and David Neville (Image Credit: George Pimentel)
With a slew of international designers scheduled to drop by Toronto this month, Holt Renfrew threw down the gauntlet last week with a shindig in honour of Rag & Bone designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville. The third floor of the retailer’s Bloor Street flagship, home to its contemporary collections, was transformed into a party space complete with a graffiti wall.
With the design duo’s latest offerings on hand (including an incredible green leather jacket worn by Kate Moss in their Spring 2013 campaign), cotton candy and pretzel stands at the ready, and DJ Fathom spinning all the right tunes for a crowded makeshift dance floor, I had more fun that evening than at my last visit to Holt’s end-of-season sale. And that’s saying a lot, coming from a shopaholic.
It was a great night for street style spotting too – the storm raining down outside didn’t appear to deter anyone from showing up in their best Rag & Bone(-esque) duds. There were summery white frocks (take that, hail storm!), denim rolled and ripped in all the right places, and plenty of that black-and-white trend we keep hearing about. Check out the gallery below for our favourite looks from the Holt Renfrew x Rag & Bone shindig.
(Image Credit: George Pimentel)
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | March 30th, 2013 
Target officially launched in Canada last week with the help of some very bold-face names. Sarah Jessica Parker, Blake Lively and even mascot Bullseye the dog were on hand at the new location at Shopper’s World Danforth to celebrate the discount department store chain’s arrival north of the border.
Decked out in spring florals, SJP and Lively were joined by actress Elisha Cuthbert, Olympic gold medalist Adam van Koeverden, rapper Kardinal Offishall and media personalities like Ben Mulroney, Dan Levy and Tracy Moore on the red carpet and in the checkout line. Because who can resist a bit of pocketbook-friendly retail therapy in a Target store?
As Target locations continue to roll out across the country, one is sure to pop up near you if it hasn’t already. In the meantime, check out the gallery below for 30 images from the Target Canada launch and start getting excited!
    
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by The Backseat Stylers | March 18th, 2013 
Yours truly with Roksanda Ilincic
Roksanda Ilincic made a one-day jaunt to Toronto last week for a fête in her honour at The Room at The Bay. The Serbian-born, London-based womenswear designer brought with her a charming disposition and highly covetable Fall 2013 collection that both won over the city’s fashion set.
Not that she didn’t already have big fans here. Socialite Stacey Kimel, blogger Nelia Belkova and Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fashion Director Suzanne Timmins were all decked out in Ilincic’s unmistakably chic and colourful wares at the invite-only cocktail party. The statuesque designer herself chose a whimsical printed pink gown for the occasion, a design from the Fall runway collection that just debuted in London last month.
Those of us without the pleasure of Ilincic pieces in our closets (yet!) still showed up in our Thursday best: Jenna Naumovich sported the to-die-for, limited edition Giuseppe Zanotti for Kanye West ‘Cruel Summer’ heels, while Jessica Chiu donned a printed Prabal Gurung frock that made our hearts go pitter-patter. Yours truly decided on a LRD by another London-based designer, Mary Katrantzou, while T wore a patterned velvet blazer by Club Monaco.
Merely a day after The Room’s latest shindig, while we were still basking in the glow of meeting the lovely Roksanda, came news of the next: a month from now, on April 16, featuring Viktor & Rolf. Mark your calendars!
Hudson’s Bay Company’s Suzanne Timmins with Stacey Kimel
 
CTV’s Angie Smith and The Room’s Jenna Naumovich
Kimberly Lyn, FLARE Magazine’s Ryan M. Cheung, Nelia Belkova, me and The Genteel’s Irene Kim
Jessica Chiu and The Room’s Steven Baughan
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by The Backseat Stylers | February 22nd, 2013 
Julia Monson for Lookbook.nu, Toronto
If, like us, you’ve been shying away from the printed pant trend, it’s probably about time you get on board. According to some of our favourite Canadian style bloggers, patterned pants are going nowhere fast.
This week, Krystin sported a teal animal print pair with just the right amount of sheen, Ivy donned a green pair that contrasted perfectly against her sunny yellow jacket, and Nelia chose a black-and-white striped pair she fondly calls her ‘Beetlejuice pants’. In fact, Nelia confesses to owning 20+ pairs of “crazy pants” – now that’s dedication.
Are you a printed pant hoarder like Nelia, or a neophyte like T and me?
Ivy Xu for Lookbook.nu, Vancouver
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Andrew Eirich of The Realist, Edmonton
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by The Backseat Stylers | February 8th, 2013 
Michelle Y. for Lookbook.nu, Vancouver
All the gorgeous bags featured in this week’s Street Style Lookbook have S convinced that her bag collection is in need of a new companion.
I’m not much of a bag person myself, but even I can’t help but admire Michelle’s classic velvet Chanel Le Boy, Nelia’s stunning emerald Prada paillettes scale clutch, and Samantha’s fun Proenza Schouler camera leather shoulder bag. Which one is your favourite?
Samantha Beckerman of Beckerman Bite Plate, Toronto
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Vanessa Hong of The Haute Pursuit, Vancouver/Beijing
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by The Backseat Stylers | January 11th, 2013 
Lisa Dengler for Lookbook.nu, Toronto/Zurich
While most of us bundled up in our winter coats over the holidays, Nelia wore the most charming outfit during her vacation in Punta Cana. She couldn’t have looked any more perfect for a tropical getaway in her white daisy lace dress, pink earrings, and yellow bracelets.
Though it’s not nearly warm enough for naked limbs at home in Canada, Ania and Dani surprised us with their midriff-baring looks this week. I’m the kind of person who will wear three shirts under a parka in zero degree weather and stare incredulously at anyone wearing anything less, including joggers in spandex, barelegged ladies in skirts and ballerina flats, and boys walking around on campus in gym shorts (WHY???).
I would wear snow pants regularly if that were acceptable among adults. I admire Ania and Dani for being brave enough to show some skin in minus-zero weather, and looking chic and totally badass (and not insane) while doing it.
Ania Boniecka of Ania.B, Calgary
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Bianca Venerayan of Kastor & Pollux, Toronto
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by The Backseat Stylers | January 2nd, 2013 
What a year 2012 was! It started with a Toronto Fashion Week runway walk and ended with some Tiffany & Co. hardware. In between, we attended a lot of events, made some lovely new friends, celebrated our 3-year anniversary, wrote 373 blog posts, and more than doubled our reach. Not too shabby, by our measure.
Here’s a look back at our favourite moments from the past year. Thanks to all of you lovely readers, brands, PR folks and fellow blogger friends for showing us so much love. We’re excited for what 2013 will bring, and hope you’ll stick with us to find out!
S’s runway model moment for VAWKKIN at Toronto Fashion Week
The side of S’s head was on an episode of America’s Next Top Model. It was awesome.
A stylish road trip to The Somerset Collection in Troy, MI? Yes please!
T and model Irina Lazareanu, giving their best smizes.
Celebrating Three Years of Style with Style Blog, The Souls of My Shoes and our lovely readers…happy birthday to us! (Image Credit: You Just Got Spotted)
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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