Richard Fabregui » The Backseat Stylers | Toronto Fashion & Style Blog

American Express Canada Launches New Choice and ChoicePlus Cards

by The Backseat Stylers | November 26th, 2012

Photo booth fun with Nelia Belkova and Richard Fabregui

Over-the-knee stiletto boots or patent leather brogues? Python-print skinny jeans or metallic brocade skirt? My wardrobe presents me with rather critical sartorial choices on a daily basis, and, frankly, I relish in every single one I’m called to make. As a legitimate fashion addict, I enjoy debating such things as the merits of purchasing an oxblood leather doctor bag for everyday vs. a skull-clasp minaudière for evenings out, and making the decision that’s right for me and my closet, i.e. both! An equally important choice is which credit card I use to make those fabulous handbag purchases, a decision that just got a whole lot more exciting.

Chatting with chef Mark McEwan

Meet my next must-have acquisition: the new Choice or ChoicePlus Card from American Express. At the launch event on November 5, I was treated to an evening of choose-your-own-adventure fun, wherein my choices led to a night of cocktails with chef Mark McEwan at his restaurant Fabbrica, stylish caricatures and caviar manicures by The Ten Spot at Browns Shoes, and some good old fashioned shopping and photo booth shenanigans at Roots. It was a creative and clever way to remind me and the other attendees just how much fun it is to decide your own fate, sartorial or otherwise.

The likeness is uncanny

The freshly-introduced Choice and ChoicePlus Cards present me with the same power of choice that I have over my closet rotation. Where do I earn rewards? How do I redeem my points? I decide. These new offerings from American Express are designed to fit your lifestyle and unique shopping habits. You have the freedom to earn points everywhere you use your Card and the power to choose five places from over 100 retailers where you want to earn double points. As you collect your points, you have the power to choose how you’d like to use them. In other words, you can shop and earn points wherever you like and reward yourself with the things you love.

Earn double points on the purchase of a new fall/winter wardrobe at my favourite stores, and then redeem for a sunny getaway from the cold with TripFlex rewards? Sounds perfect to me! I’ve been tasked by American Express with test-driving either the Choice or ChoicePlus Card over the coming months, and I can’t wait to take it out for a spin on my upcoming holiday fashion shopping expedition. Stay tuned for my next report! In the meantime, read all about the Choice and ChoicePlus Cards here and check out this cute introductory video here.

xx, S

Sponsored by American Express Canada

Events

The Backseat Stylers x Fashion’s Night Out 2012: Part Two – Holt Renfrew, eLUXE and More

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

Events

Topman Summer Takeover at the Bay Toronto

by The Backseat Stylers | August 27th, 2011

Topshop continues to reign supreme at the Bay‘s Toronto flagship this summer! After the takeover of the 3rd floor by a potentially (socially) deadly combination of mojitos and a photo booth (remember these silly shots?) earlier this month, the Bay did it all over again this week in honour of the Topman pop-up shop on the 2nd floor. The city’s hipster men came out in full force to buy orange shoes, hit up the photo booth and play some ping pong.

Missed the fun? Don’t fret. Stop by the Bay Queen Street for your Topman (or Topshop) fix before summer’s end, or the Bay Yorkdale starting October 5th!

Continue reading →

Events

Topshop Takes Over The Bay in Toronto

by The Backseat Stylers | August 10th, 2011

The Bay threw a bash tonight in the Topshop Summer Takeover pop-up shop, serving up only the very best in fast fashion, mojitos galore and some good old fashioned photo booth fun. Nelia, Daniela, Richard and Marc and I had a ball goofing around behind the camera. In fact, I had so much fun that I now aspire to one day own a photo booth. When I do, you’re all invited to come play.

In the meantime, Toronto, get your Topshop on at the pop-up shop at The Bay on Queen Street this summer, or at The Bay in Yorkdale Shopping Centre starting October 5th!

On me: Sonia by Sonia Rykiel top / Club Monaco shorts / Gucci belt / Zara shoes / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up with Joe Fresh lipstick

xx, S

Events

Hip Urban Girls Throw First Anniversary Fête

by The Backseat Stylers | June 27th, 2011

Wendy Kam and Lisa Ng

The lovely ladies at Hip Urban Girl, Lisa Ng and Wendy Kam, celebrated their Toronto-based blog’s one-year anniversary last week with a birthday bash at SCHOOL Bakery & Café. The duo invited their very best social media friends to join in the fun, offering up SCHOOL baked goods, Joe Fresh make-up touch-ups and bottomless Diet Coke as added incentives. I couldn’t possibly turn all that and the opportunity to spend some quality time with Lisa and Wendy down, so off to SCHOOL I went.

A Joe Fresh polish change, lots of blogger chatter and one too many cookies later, I left the party feeling like it was my birthday. Thanks Lisa and Wendy for having me, and congrats on your one-year blog anniversary!

Toronto Is Fashion‘s Marc Piercey and Richard Fabregui