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by The Backseat Stylers | October 12th, 2012 
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Is there a better way to make a sartorial impression than with a punch of red? I should think not, for it seems that whenever I wear a plain bright red toque of mine someone will always surprisingly declare, “I love your hat!” S recently wore a stunning red lipstick that everyone was obsessed with. An impressed makeup artist – whom I would expect to know everything there is to know about makeup – drilled S about it, while a curiously informed gentleman attempted to guess the brand.
This week, Nelia showcased the colour of the season – oxblood red – with her gorgeous FLARE x ALDO handbag and her elegant MOON Apparel crepe dress. Two looks from one blogger in the same edition of the Lookbook is a first; we just adored the ensembles too much not to include them both!
Looking equally chic was Anik in her burgundy sweater, black midi skirt, leopard-print scarf and camel suede boots – all the elements of a perfect fall getup. Brighter shades of red were no less popular, with Bianca donning cute red socks and M’C Kenneth sporting one of the most beautiful watches I’ve ever seen.
Caillianne Beckerman of Beckerman Bite Plate, Toronto
Bianca Venerayan of Kastor & Pollux, Toronto
Gracie Carroll of Gracie Carroll, Toronto
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 5th, 2012 
Gracie Carroll of Gracie Carroll, Toronto
The transition, it appears, is now complete. We’ve leapt brogues first right into fall, and there’s no turning back now. Only a few weeks into the season, autumn dressing is already at its finest.
This week, Jen sporting a gorgeous oxblood leather skirt, Nelia donned a fitted boucle frock, and Ivy was looking all warm and cozy in a deep green oversized knit. As for Gracie? Her head-to-toe sartorial ode to Toronto is so damn good that we’re at a loss for words, for once in our blog lives.
Jen Tam of Her Waise Choice, Vancouver
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Caillianne Beckerman of Beckerman Bite Plate, Toronto
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by The Backseat Stylers | September 28th, 2012 
Sydney Hoffman for Lookbook.nu, Toronto
This week, bold and clean cuts, such as Sydney’s elegant vintage (inspired?) coat with charming gold hardware and Joandy’s pencil skirt with cut out front, caught our eye as much as statement pieces, like Sydney’s brilliant two-tone green pants and Joandy’s Givenchy Rottweiler shirt, did.
S and I are planning to sprint to the nearest Joe Fresh to find Nelia’s gorgeous houndstooth blouse for ourselves. Hunting down must-have items is our favourite kind of exercise, and we’re thinking that Lily’s sweatshirt, loose-fit pants and Gucci heels might just be the perfect kind of outfit for such occasions.
Lily Nguyen of Bleed For Fashion, Vancouver
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Lisa Dengler of Just Another Fashion Blog, Toronto/Zurich
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by The Backseat Stylers | September 21st, 2012 
Nigel Lew for Lookbook.nu, Vancouver
It’s been a confusing sort of week on the weather front. There were hot days that warranted pretty floral shorts like Camille’s and rather cold days that called for some serious bundling up à la Alyssa.
In between, we also enjoyed a few perfectly crisp fall days. Everyone, it seems, took the opportunity to don the first fall fashions of the season: Nelia sported an eye-catching new knit, Nigel layered like a pro, and Liz took her biker jacket out for a spin.
Even yours truly have our leathers and riding boots at the ready. Bring it on fall! We’re ready for you.
Nelia Belkova of Style Blog, Toronto
Camille Normandin for Lookbook.nu, Montreal
Caillianne Beckerman of Beckerman Bite Plate, Toronto
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by The Backseat Stylers | September 14th, 2012 
Samantha and Caillianne Beckerman of Beckerman Bite Plate, Toronto
It’s been quite the eventful week in fashion, and Canadian style bloggers have been spotted everywhere, decked out in the most fabulous prints, no less.
Anya sported a stunning floral printed blouse by Sandro at Fashion’s Night Out in Vancouver, while Jay looked BA (my friend – and perhaps only my friend – uses this acronym to mean “bad ass”) in Givenchy while in New York for fashion week.
At Toronto Life’s celebration of the city’s most stylish, Nelia paired a striking Clover Canyon tunic with a dazzling emerald statement necklace. Samantha, on a late-night ice cream run with twin Caillianne, was all about the prints too, and a fantastic new blue ‘do.
Julia Monson for Lookbook.nu, Toronto
Kira Paran of Northern Style Exposure, Edmonton
Anya Georgijevic of I’m The It Girl, Vancouver (Image Credit: Ania B.)
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 31st, 2012 
Kira Paran of Northern Style Exposure, Edmonton
Every Thursday we click through a ridiculous number of style blog links in the hunt for our latest features for The Canadian Street Style Lookbook, and you know what? It’s like opening a box of chocolates…we just never know what we’re going to get. (Yes, we really did just make a tired Forrest Gump reference – it’s the Friday before a long weekend!).
Most weeks it’s the geniusly styled clothes that blow us away, sometimes the chic shoes, once even it was the gorgeous hair. This week, though, it was all about the accessories for us. Imagine Kira’s dress without the arm party; the look just wouldn’t be complete. Vanessa’s t-shirt without the animal-print bag – that wouldn’t be nearly as fierce. Or even M’c kenneth’s outfit sans the sunglasses; those babies take the ensemble to the next level.
What in your accessories drawer is giving your looks that extra bit of oomph?
Lily Nguyen of Bleed For Fashion, Vancouver
Vanessa Hong of The Haute Pursuit, Vancouver/Beijing
Kate Masters for Lookbook.nu, Victoria
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 21st, 2012 
Me, Kimberly, LOFT Store Manager Dyanne and Nelia
It’s the last segment of our #StylishRoadTrip saga! To refresh your memory, Kimberly Lyn (of The Souls of My Shoes) and Nelia Belkova (of Style Blog) and me made an easy 4-hour trek to The Somerset Collection in a swanky yellow Ford Focus a few weeks ago. I’ve already chronicled the damage we did at INTERMIX, Saks Fifth Avenue and Madewell, among other stores, but we obviously couldn’t leave Troy, Michigan without a sneak peek at two retailers arriving in Canada for the first time later this year, Ann Taylor and LOFT.
From what we saw (and shopped!), the two sister specialty chains, both owned by Ann Inc., will be more than welcome additions to the Canadian retail market. The way we see it, Ann Taylor has us (yes, petites included!) covered from Monday to Friday with its chic office garb and cocktail party-ready dresses, while LOFT has all the cute casual wear we’ll need for fun weekend outings and date nights.
Nelia, Kim and I all took full advantage of the opportunity to raid both boutiques before they open up shop in Toronto in a few months. At LOFT, we each bought the exact same striped sweater. Fashion blogging triplets! For the record, I found the sweater first, but who’s really keeping track? At Ann Taylor, it was the accessories that caught our eyes. The neon necklaces and easy-to-wear cuffs made for fun pops of colour, and we couldn’t leave Troy without taking some home with us.
Now that we’ve had a taste of what LOFT and Ann Taylor will be bringing with them north of the border, we can’t wait to shop their new boutiques in a few short months! Check out the gallery below for more photos of what’s in store for us, Toronto, and start getting excited.
    
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 14th, 2012 
INTERMIX is one of my favourite shopping destinations. Whether taking a stroll through Yorkville in Toronto, window-shopping in Soho in NYC or browsing online, I never pass on the opportunity to intermix (definition: to shop until one drops at an INTERMIX boutique).
Such was the case as well on my recent road trip to Somerset Collection in Troy, Michigan. When Nelia Belkova (of Style Blog), Kimberly Lyn (of The Souls of My Shoes) and I drew up our shopping plans, a visit to INTERMIX Somerset was high on the priority list.
And for excellent reason. We arrived at the store to find a whole gaggle of cheerful, friendly staff waiting to welcome us, with champagne and Godiva chocolate-covered strawberries at the ready. Assistant Manager Irene Yeldo and her lovely staff had also pulled aside their top picks of the new fall arrivals for our perusal, helpfully suggesting pieces that would fit our respective styles. In short, they spoiled us (thank you!). We weren’t complaining, but our pocketbooks were on high alert.
With gift cards generously donated to the cause (i.e. my fall wardrobe) by Somerset and INTERMIX burning a hole in my pocket, I scoured the expertly-curated offerings for pieces to bring back with me to Toronto. There were plenty of worthy candidates: a gold tone lacy cuff by YSL, an indigo Proenza Schouler PS1 (a bag that’s been on my wish list since I first laid eyes on one), and a pair of strappy B Brian Atwood snakeskin booties.
In the end, I decided that the one item I just couldn’t live without was a pair of exclusive rag & bone/JEAN for INTERMIX white skinny jeans with black tuxedo stripes. In fact, they fit me so well that Nelia pointed out, in an impressed tone of voice, that I didn’t even need to get them hemmed. To which I replied, “That’s because they’re supposed to be capris!” Hashtag shorty problems.
Capris or not, kudos to INTERMIX for filling a hole in my closet I never even knew existed. And please be sure to keep a YSL Arty ring (yes, I need a second one) and one of those Equipment blouses with the snakeskin print trim aside for me. With fall just around the corner, I’ll be back for them very soon!
Me with the lovely INTERMIX Somerset team
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 13th, 2012 
We’re always reporting on the most stylish looks at the swankiest shindigs in Toronto, and we finally have the opportunity to do the same for our own inaugural event, Three Years of Style, co-hosted with Nelia Belkova of Style Blog and Kimberly Lyn of The Souls of My Shoes on August 7 at the Thompson Toronto Rooftop Lounge. With $650 worth of prizes on the line in our style contest, guests showed up in their Tuesday evening rooftop party best, and we just couldn’t stop snapping.
Attendees brought their sartorial A game, and we’d expected no less from the most stylish blog readers and supporters out there. Glam Canada Editorial Director (and grand prize winner!) Aya McMillan‘s Clover Canyon printed pairing was a unanimous favourite, but the decision wasn’t easy with runners-up Jessica Chiu in fierce neon orange Christopher Kane and Liane Fong in a lovely mint green, pleated confection.
Also showing up in style were Hamilton-based blogger Jentine Gootjes of My Edit in a lovely lace frock, The Genteel Editor-in-Chief Mona Chammas in a geeky chic get-up, and PR extraordinaire Vanessa Morcom in a fabulous coral ensemble. Rocking impressive arm parties and sky-high stilettos, ours was one of the most stylish crowds the Thompson rooftop has seen.
Admittedly, that put a bit of pressure on us as hosts. What do we wear to throw one of the biggest blog bashes of the year, to be attended by many of Toronto’s most sartorially gifted? After much deliberation, S donned a summery white frock by Judith & Charles, and accessorized with Marni for H&M jewelry and – what else? – Christian Louboutin pumps. T stuck to her staples for this summer: green skinny jeans, a crisp white shirt and sharp burgundy brogues.
What did you wear to Three Years of Style? Check out the gallery below for 28 style snaps from the Thompson rooftop – you might just spot your stylish self. Missed out on the fun this time? Give our event recap a read and start counting down until next year’s soiree!
   
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by The Backseat Stylers | August 7th, 2012 
I’ve never been one for road trips, mostly on account of the guaranteed bout of carsickness and bad memories from childhood bus tours. But when it comes to shopping, there isn’t much I’m unwilling to endure, as you know (case in point: that bitter cold wait for Lanvin x H&M), so when Kimberly Lyn of The Souls of My Shoes and Nelia Belkova of Style Blog suggested a shopping road trip, naturally I was in.
As for the destination? I decided it was high time my fellow Toronto fashion bloggers were introduced to one of my absolute favourites: Somerset Collection in Troy, Michigan.
Me, Nelia and Kim with our sunny Ford Focus
After an easy and smooth 4-hour drive from Toronto to Troy with Kim behind the wheel of our sunny yellow Ford Focus (what a trooper!), the three of us checked in at a local hotel and readied ourselves for a good night’s sleep in preparation for what would turn out to be an epic 10-hour day of shopping at Somerset. Yup, you read right: 10 hours!
Somerset Collection is clearly no ordinary mall
How do 3 shopaholics spend 10 hours at one mall? Quite easily, actually. Especially when said mall is Somerset Collection. With two glorious boutique-filled buildings separated by a street and connected by a bridge, Somerset’s over 180 stores range from Neiman Marcus, Intermix and J.Crew on the North end to LOFT, Madewell and Nordstrom on the South side.
Lacoste shoes (gifted) for our epic day of Somerset shopping
In short, more than enough stores to fill an entire workday’s worth of shopping, and then some. What kept us going during our marathon Somerset visit were the sustenance from J. Alexander’s (the fish tacos are highly recommended!), our cute and comfy Lacoste shoes and, of course, our iron will.
Oh hello there, Neiman Marcus shoe department
Detailed accounts of our escapades will follow, particularly our visits to Intermix, Ann Taylor and LOFT, but suffice to say our day at Somerset was a resounding success, thanks to the well-curated store directory, incredible customer service and excellent timing on our part (the very end of sale season!).
Incriminating evidence of a shopping expedition gone a little too well
As impressive as Somerset was the Focus’ ability to hold three shopaholic fashion bloggers, our suitcases, enough road trip snacks to feed the Canadian women’s soccer team, and all of our shopping bags. Somerset Collection x Ford Focus turned out to be a road trip made in heaven. I simply can’t wait for round #2. So, who’s in?
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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