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by The Backseat Stylers | February 15th, 2013 
Remember earlier this week when we broke the news that Zara‘s Canadian e-commerce site was going to be launching very, very soon? We don’t like to brag, but we were very, very right. The news is confirmed: the fast fashion retailer will indeed be offering online shopping in Canada starting March 6 – in just a few short weeks!
Mark your calendars and start saving your lunch money because Zara’s about to become that much more irresistible. We simply cannot wait! In the meantime, check out the Zara Woman February 2013 lookbook and get excited because online shopping is finally happening.
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by The Backseat Stylers | February 11th, 2013 
Ever since Zara began rolling out online shopping around the world, country by country, we’ve been praying fervently to the shopping gods for it to be Canada’s turn next. A hint at the timeline came in December when Inditex Group, which owns Zara, said in a press release, “the brand plans to open its online store in Canada during the 2013 spring/summer season.” That, fellow Zara fans, may be even sooner than it sounds.
Rumour has it that the fast fashion retailer’s Canadian e-commerce launch is imminent. Zara has yet to confirm the news, but whether it’s next month or later this year, we’re freaking out. The mere thought of Zara’s cheap and chic offerings being just a few quick clicks away is almost too much to handle. We’re already addicted, and soon we won’t even have to leave our homes to shop Zara’s always on-trend line-up of sharp blazers, stylish outerwear and edgy dresses and separates. Not to mention the shoes! Sounds like a dream come true to us.
Are you as excited as we are? Watch this space for upcoming updates on the Zara Canada e-commerce launch!
xx, T & S
by The Backseat Stylers | October 26th, 2012 
World Mastercard Fashion Week (WMCFW) is currently in full swing and there’s no more fashionable a city in Canada right now than Toronto. Whether it’s models strutting their stuff on the catwalk, editors and VIPs sitting front row, or bloggers getting a sneak peek backstage, everywhere we turn it’s a fabulous feast for the eyes.
Being surrounded by many of the most sartorially gifted industry insiders for 5 days in a row is both inspiring and dangerous; our fall/winter wish lists have grown rapidly while we’ve people-watched over the course of the week, not so stealthily ogling the sea of chic ensembles around us. Unable to resist the urge to shop, we snuck a trip to Toronto Eaton Centre (TEC) in between runway shows. Armed with the top street style trends we’ve spotted at the fashion week tents just down the street, we scoured the 3-floor fashion mecca for pieces that would help us – and you! – get the looks.
We loved freelance fashion writer Bianca Teixeira’s cobalt blue, double-breasted pea coat, which she donned over a similarly-hued frock for a monochromatic look on opening night of WMCFW. Want a vibrant pop of colour in your fall/winter outerwear rotation too? Stop by Toronto Eaton Centre for a teal lapelless option at H&M ($129), an oxblood wool biker coat with leather sleeves at Zara ($269) or a raspberry wool blazer with contrast piping at Juicy Couture ($361). These are sure to cheer you up on a rainy fall day.
Whether it’s zebra, cheetah, or snake, the animal print trend is going nowhere fast. While it was a wonderfully loud leopard print coat that caught our eye, you can start small with a scarf like Massimo Dutti’s woollen green snakeskin foulard ($59.50) or a handbag like Banana Republic’s ‘Jamie’ box clutch ($150). For those of you who are ready to fully embrace animal print, a dress is surely the way to go. Who needs a LBD when you can rock Ann Taylor’s zebra knit jacquard sheath dress ($98) or Juicy Couture’s ponte knit green python dress ($218) instead?
We’ve spotted everything from crisp white cotton button-downs to colourfully-printed silk blouses so far this week, and one of our favourites has been the studded collar shirt we saw on Jenn Campbell, FLARE Magazine’s Senior Digital Editor. TEC has tons of collared shirts to choose from and whittling the list down to just 3 was a tough task, but J. Crew’s silk boy shirt in heart throb ($158), Club Monaco’s ‘Patricia’ silk shirt with contrast leather piping ($149.50) and Mendocino’s graphic print blouse by Clover Canyon ($312, arriving in November) are our top picks.
When it comes to statement necklaces, blogger Nelia Belkova is the queen; we’ve seen her sporting one fabulous piece after another every day this fashion week. Go big or go home, her accessories philosophy seems to be, and it’s ours too. Hang a conversation starter like H&M’s insect necklace ($14.95), BCBG Max Azria’s rocker statement necklace ($178), or the Lulu Frost for J. Crew crystal petal necklace ($220) around your neck to take your fashion week outfit to the next level with some help from TEC.
It’s the last day of WMCFW today, and U.S. retailer EXPRESS, which is launching a new store at Toronto Eaton Centre next month, is set to close the week. We’ll be live-tweeting tonight’s 9pm show, so be sure to follow @backseatstylers and @toeatoncentre on Twitter for updates straight from the runway.
See you at the tents one final time this season – and then at Toronto Eaton Centre! After all those fashion shows this week, you’ll want to do some serious shopping at TEC’s newest boutiques: Canada’s first unisex J.Crew, North America’s first Massimo Dutti, and Canada’s first Ann Taylor. We know we will.
xx, T & S
Sponsored by Cadillac Fairview
by The Backseat Stylers | April 19th, 2012 
On Day 2 of World Mastercard Fashion Week, I pulled an ADR. I arrived at the fashion week tents in this outfit and left at the end of the night in this here ensemble. Soia & Kyo had sent over their lush leather ‘Remi’ jacket for me to sport at my front row perch next to Kreesha Turner at their Fall 2012 runway show, so I had to pull a quick change behind some clothing racks backstage in between shows. I have no shame.
Indecencies aside, I managed to redeem myself with a very patriotic outfit. I styled my brand spanking new Soia & Kyo jacket with my trusty orange OBJECT for Danier clutch and my most favourite VAWK skirt. Canadian from head to toe, almost. The shoes weren’t, but they’re McQueen and, well, that’s kind of all that matters.
If you’ve been digging my VAWK duds of late, by the way, you should head to the brand’s sample sale this weekend. You know I’ll be there bright and early, cash at the ready. See you there?
   
Soia & Kyo leather jacket (gifted) / Zara blouse / VAWK skirt / Alexander McQueen shoes / OBJECT for Danier clutch
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | March 29th, 2012 
After a brief respite from my Zara obsession, it seems I’m being pulled right back in by the sight of Liu Wen in a certain scarlet skirt with a delightful frill in the fast fashion retailer’s April 2012 lookbook. I’ve fully jumped on to the peplum bandwagon, and this linen concoction is everything I want in a skirt for Spring and then some. I need it now.
The skirt is was available here for $79.90, but, alas, it’s already sold out. I’m holding out hope it’ll be restocked. In the meantime, I’ll be searching high and low in my local Zara stores. Keep an eye out for me, won’t you?
xx, S
Image Credit: Zara
by The Backseat Stylers | November 22nd, 2011 
Holt Renfrew is currently holding a street style contest for the Canadian retailer’s newly launched blog, Holts Muse. Naturally, I had to enter. But what to wear in a sartorial battle with, well, the whole country?
With so many pieces in my closet that I’m currently obsessed with, pulling together just one outfit to represent me and my personal style was a tough assignment. After much deliberation, I stuck with my usual, trusty formula: smart-looking jacket + chic blouse + statement jewelry + fierce shoes + one pop of colour. And red lips, of course!
A caption to my photo was required, and instead of ‘Harbourfront Hoedown’, as T earnestly suggested, I titled my submission ‘The Mixologist’. Why? Because this ensemble combines the unexpected: contrasting patterns and different textures, feminine pieces with masculine touches, and fast fashion with designer items. It’s still only one outfit upon which to judge my street style contributions to the Canadian landscape (I’m so dramatic, I know!), but it’s very me.
Check out my submission in the Holts Muse contest photo album on Facebook here. And throw me a ‘like’ if you happen to – it’d make my day!
    
Zara blazer / Tara Jarmon blouse / Zara skirt / Stuart Weitzman shoes (gifted; available here) / Balenciaga bag / FALLON necklace and cuff / Banana Republic bracelets / YSL ring / Chanel glasses / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | August 6th, 2011 
Hola señoras y señores from Club Med Ixtapa Pacific in Mexico, where I’ve been soaking in some much needed rays on the beach and clocking lots of poolside hours this week. It’s been hot, hot, hot, but hammocks, umbrella drinks, a stack of fashion magazines and the occasional massage by the ocean have been keeping me too occupied to notice the sweltering heat too much. Tough life, I know.
Though I’ve been on vacation, I still snapped a few photos of an outfit, because I’m just that dedicated and/or vain. Either way, this Diane Von Furstenberg dress has been about the fanciest I’ve gotten all week, and I haven’t minded the sartorial break one bit. With the temperature as hot as it’s been and the promise of anonymity in such a faraway land, my fellow resort mates and I have been wearing as little as possible. Those skimpy ensembles aren’t appropriate for public consumption though, so you get me and my best puffed sleeve dress (Anne of Green Gables, anyone?) instead.
 
Diane Von Furstenberg dress / Zara shoes / Burberry sunglasses / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | July 24th, 2011 
Toronto-based photographer Luis Mora shot me at the Judith & Charles Fall 2011 preview recently. It’s one of those rare photos in which everything seems to be going right for me. Usually I’ll have some hairs out of place, my belt accidentally off-centre, my make-up a little more muted on film than in the mirror, my smile not quite a smile. But not this day. Kudos to Luis Mora for capturing me the way I imagine myself to look.
Zara trench / Banana Republic belt / Chanel bag / Banana Republic necklace / YSL ring / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
Photo Credit: Luis Mora
by The Backseat Stylers | July 22nd, 2011 
Russian socialite Miroslava Duma is one of my street style favourites. Whether she’s looking chic and sophisticated in Prada or relaxed in an Acne leather bomber, she always seems to be having fun with her fashion choices. Mira recently put aside her designer duds and stepped out in a colourful floral-print dress by Zara. With the lovely tulip skirt, oversized Louis Vuitton sunglasses and tousled hair, she looked downright adorable.
Mira wore the dress better, too, than that other expert mixer of designer and high street fashions, Olivia Palermo, don’t you think?
xx, S
Images via TFS, redcarpet-fashionawards.com
by The Backseat Stylers | June 26th, 2011 
I’ve been posting shots of my outfits at events only lately, but I promise I’ve been wearing clothes in between functions, too. I’d like to pretend that I’ve been wearing ultra-creative blogger off-duty ensembles, but that’d be an outright lie. When the cameras (read: Mr. Backseat Styler’s lone, reluctant camera) are off, I’m wearing the same damn things over and over again – partially out of laziness, but mostly because I just can’t get enough out of some of my recent purchases.
My FLARE x ALDO wedges fall into this category. I’ve been wearing them every opportunity I get and raking in the compliments at every turn. I tweeted recently that I’ve never owned a pair of shoes that garnered more love from friends and strangers alike, and that’s the truth. The neon orange and python wedges are incredibly eye-catching and surprisingly versatile. Best $135 I’ve ever spent.
My Biko Adoria necklace is another piece I’ve been wearing non-stop. You wouldn’t think chains and spikes would be my thing, given the overabundance of bows and ruffles in my closet, but the Adoria has been the perfect accessory to bring some edge to my otherwise girly outfits of late. I haven’t been able to take my latest Biko purchase off since I bought it.
So there you have it. I don’t have an endless closet – the shock! – and I rewear pieces all the time – the horror! Fess up – what do you have on heavy rotation so far this summer?
 
Zara top / Biko necklace / Sandro shorts / FLARE x ALDO shoes / Chanel bag / YSL ring / MAKE UP FOR EVER make-up
xx, S
Photo Credit: Nelia Belkova
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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