RW & CO. and SKYY Present #DOUBLEFEATURE‏

RW&CO. has created an innovative eCommerce website and partnered with The Coveteur for launch on the cutting edge of online fashion. The Canadian fashion brands' newly designed eCommerce website with innovation that brings shopping ease to you. Known for effortless & original fashions for Him & Her, RW&CO. plans to continue to pay attention to detail that is apparent in everything they do…from fashion to exceptional customer care. Sponsored by SKYY Vodka, the pre-TIFF launch event took place at a private residence in the Forest Hill area last week.

Fitzroy Boutique Online & In-store

Launching last month, www.shopfitzroy.com is an online store unlike any other in Canada, offering hard-to-find,high quality independent lines with everything priced at under $200. First launched as a pop-up shop in September 2011, Fitzroy Boutique is a Toronto-based store offering women a curated collection of pieces in their signature ‘boho-glam’ style. Canadian gals can now shop online at www.shopfitzroy.com while those in Toronto can choose to order online and pick up locally for free or simply shop in store at Fitzroy’s permanent “store-within-a-store” location inside BYOB Cocktail Emporium at 972 Queen St. West. Fitzroy also offers free domestic shipping for orders over $150. “While most online stores with similar price points and styles are based out of the States, Shop Fitzroy stands alone in being able to offer these international lines to Canadians without them having to incur the high duties cost to ship them over the border” points our Angela Pastor, Co-Owner of Fitzroy Boutique. Fitzroy continues to carry exclusive and independent lines such as the cutting-edge Aussie lines Bless’ed are the Meek, Pink Stitch and Ladakh and L.A. favourites like Brandy Melville, Show Me Your Mumu and Whitney Eve. “We are so thrilled to be launching our online store and to be able to bring some gorgeous, independent and exclusive lines to Canada at affordable prices” says Julie Buczkowski, Co-Owner of Fitzroy Boutique.

2012 Passion for Fashion Awards

On Monday, April 2, 2012, the third annual Passion For Fashion Awards took place at the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI). Out of twelve finalists the three winners were chosen as follows:

Passion For Fashion Award Prize $1,000 cash prize, a TFI Outreach Membership, and 50 hours of business and fashion industry mentorship
Emily Woudenberg

Eveleen Dollery Award Prize $1,000 cash
Dylan Uscher

Eveleen Dollery Award Runner Up $500 cash
Consuelo McAlister



ABOUT PASSION FOR FASHIONBorn from of a partnership between two cutting-edge organizations, A Passion for Fashion marries Youth Employment Services YES’s expertise in youth entrepreneurship with the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s (TFI) success in inspiring new fashion design talent between the age of 16 – 29. Now in its third year, this exciting program gives young fashion designers and entrepreneurs the opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship in the fashion industry, for FREE! The program is funded by the Ministry of Ontario's Youth Entrepreneurship Program.

Mercedes Benz Start-Up 2012

Mercedes-Benz Canada and IMG have started their search for the next Mercedes-Benz Start Up recipient. This year the semi-final competition interviews have expanded to four cities across Canada in order to ensure accesibilty for designers coast-to-coast.

For application download and program requirements visit:

www.Mercedes-BenzStartUp.com

An follow @MBStartUp and on Facebook.com/MBStartUp.com to stay up-to-date on news & info.

Fidelity Jeans

Inspired by rock and roll, the Spring 2012 Fidelity collection takes its iconic styles and updates them in new washes, from ultra soft Jett, to sexy stretch Ginza, to LSD, an acid wash. The collection comes in many different styles, and pants often come in a variety of colours and washes. Made in LA, using a blend of Italian & Japanese denim.

See Fidelity Jeans lookbook here.

Absolut Mode

ABSOLUT® VODKA launched its 2011 limited-edition bottle ABSOLUT® MODE last night at Malaparte (TIFF Bell Lightbox). Spanning eight decades of fashion design, the museum-style exhibit was curated by Jeanne Beker, host of CTV’s Fashion Television.
The one-night only exhibit featured personal items of clothing and accessories from Canadian style icons like Jeanne Beker, Suzanne Rogers, Stacey Kimel, Bernadette Morra and Lisa Tant. Dresses on display included Chanel, YSL, Oscar De La Renta, & Christian door including vintage couture. Also, were fashion illustrations by Fredereick Watson and new touch-screen design technology by Nytric Limited from Ryerson University School of Fashion.


“Fashion is the inspiration behind the beautifully designed ABSOLUT® MODE bottle and the genesis of this year’s event,” says Chris Bhowmik, Senior Brand Manager for ABSOLUT® VODKA in Canada. “ABSOLUT® created this unique exhibit in consultation with Jeanne Beker to pay tribute to Canadian and international designers and fashion leaders.”

Anti-bullying with The Right Hand Gal

It's emotionally charged and too often ignored. It can lead to lowered self-confidence and, in a few cases, even suicide. Some schools are implementing Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, but my question is: why is it only a week long?

Our friends over at The Right Hand Gal, Canadian sister team, Shawna & Randi Herlich, recently launched their Noble necklace. During TIFF, it was a huge hit among many of the celebrities but we want you to help us spread the word.

When I met with the lovely sister team, I was astounded with their enthusiasm and passion for the cause. Every one of their pieces is created with heart - Noble is no exception. Each pendant comes in either our unique triple plated pink gold vermeil or sterling silver. It can be worn as both a necklace or bracelet. They would typically retail for $200 in their regular collection, but with a goal of selling 1,000,000 pieces, The Right Hand Gals priced it at $45.

Let's make bullying a thing of the past. Help join the cause and raise money for anti-bullying initiatives worldwide, why not start with Noble - No Bull!

To check out Noble and The Right Hand Gal click here.

Fireball Charity Gala 2011 - Through the Looking Glass

You don't need a magic mushroom to fall into this rabbit hole, but you will need a stunning red outfit. On October 27th, Sheena's Place, a non-profit organization that provides support to those affected by eating disorders, is hosting their 13th annual Fireball Gala at The Hoxton. 

The Fireball Gala is proudly presented by Rogers and 100% of ticket proceeds will go directly to Sheena's Place, who will commemorate their 15th anniversary. Aside from a fabulous philanthropic night, there will be a DJ, delectable dishes by Parts & Labour's executive chef Matthew Matheson and cocktails that might make you shrink a few inches off the floor.

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?" -Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. 

Eating disorders affect 3% of Canadian women and if left untreated, can lead to death. Help Sheena’s Place raise funds for this amazing cause by stepping through the looking glass. Don't be late for this very important date!

Tickets are on sale now at SheenasPlace.org/fireball. You can also like Fireball on Facebook or follow @Fireball_SP on Twitter for the latest updates.

Jeanne Jeans - Fit Clinic

Finding the perfect pair of jeans can be a challenge; one pair of low-rise size 6’s may fit completely different from another, turning the joys of shopping into an unnecessary nightmare. Jeanne Beker, well-known Canadian Queen of fashion is bringing her personal style team to The Bay, at three different locations, to help you find your perfect pair of Jeanne Jeans.

Get introduced to Jeanne’s line, EDIT, which was launched just last year in 2010, learn which style suits and compliments your body shape and personality. Whether you are a “Joey” (Low-rise, “bottom lifting fit), a “Bekky” (mid-rise, waist slimming fit) or a Marylin (regular rise, Ultimate tummy control), Jeanne’s team will help you find your perfect match and will have you walking away looking stunning and confident. Not only will you be walking away looking great, you’ll get to leave knowing you’ve made a difference as $5 from every pair of jeans purchased goes towards Dress For Success a non-profit organization helping women strive and be successful in the professional and working world.

Be sure to join us at The Bay for the Jeanne Jeans Fit Clinic, on the following dates:

Sept 29, starting at 11:00 a.m., at the Bloor location (44 Bloor Street East)
Sept 30, starting at 12:00 p.m., at Queen and Yonge (176 Yonge Street)
October 6, starting at 12:00 p.m., at Yorkdale Mall (3401 Dufferin Street)

Art of Fashion + Giveaway!

October 1st, 2011 marks the 13th annual fashion design competition and designer sale at Art of Fashion, held this year at the Pantages Hotel in Toronto from 7PM to 1AM during Nuit Blanche. We're sending one of our readers plus a guest to the VIP cocktail reception at AOF from 6pm-7pm, where you will be surrounded by fashion industry insiders and influencers. You can enjoy a cocktail, while you kick-off Nuit Blanche, enjoy a few tasty treats and walk away with a swag bag (keep reading for details!)

Art of fashion is committed to fostering the careers of Canadian apparel and accessory designers by creating platforms for exposure.

“Year after year, I am overwhelmed by the amount of emerging Canadian fashion talent this competition attracts,” says Michelle Planche, founder of the non-profit, Art of Fashion. “This year, the judges will have an especially difficult time narrowing down our 10 designer finalists and choosing only one as Most Promising Designer,” she says.

After sifting through hundreds of applicants, the board of directors at Art of Fashion selected the following 2011 finalists: 

·         Albert Yuen

·         Christy Litster

·         Denise David

·         Elissa Contino

·         Joobo Shim

·         Katherine Laird & Jennifer Murtagh

·         Meghan Erin

·         Rebecca Collins

·         Seema Patel

·         Tiffany Briseno

VIP Ticket Giveaway

To win a pair of tickets to our VIP cocktail party on October 1st at 6pm at the Pantages Hotel, just tweet: @TorontoModa I want to win a pair of tickets to @ArtOfFashion's VIP cocktail party @sbnuitblancheto http://ow.ly/6Hn0Z

*Please note giveaway closes at 5pm on Friday September 30th. Winners will be announced on Twitter.

Aside from winning a pair of tickets to AOF, attendees can arrive in feathers, furs, flashing lights and fabulous heels to enter to win an award just for being red-carpet-glamorous.

As visitors strut the red carpet to enter the night of fashion and fun on October 1st, photographers will snap their photos and post them to Twitter. The most re-tweeted fashion-fab shots with hashtag #AOF11 will be calculated to win a two-night stay with any of the Skyline Hotels properties, including the evening’s host Pantages Hotel.

The winner will be announced on twitter at @ArtOfFashion and on Facebook the night of at www.Facebook.com/Art.Of.Fashion.Designers

For more information, follow @ArtOfFashion on Twitter or go to artoffashion.org.
  

Cutler and Gross Opens in Toronto

Cutler and Gross, a UK based one-brand optical destination, has officially opened its doors in North America in Toronto's Yorkville area. Forget the boring and drab, these frames are anything but.

Cutler and Gross carries both glasses and sunglasses in huge array of colours and styles. Some styles have a bit more sparkle and shine, while others are more tame. But there is surely something for everyone. You can even have a touch of fun and channel your inner: 1950's glamour; 1960's Mad Men; 1960's John Lennon, which may (or may not) include coloured lenses; or your 1980's Top Gun.

Sparkle and Shine

1950's Cateye

1960's Madmen

1960's Round Frame

1980's Aviator

Aside from the fact that Cutler and Gross makes extremely fashionable lenses (some of which are  fashion collaborations), they also strive for quality. Their frames are made from sheets of acetate. Every hole is drilled and pins and hinges are screwed in by hand. If you see their frames, you'll notice that they have slightly raw edges, which gives them a unique hand-finished quality.

 "We want to share with Torontonians our 40 years of eyewear expertise and personalized approach of investing in a pair of quality eyewear frames, which are a key fashion accessory statement. When customers come into our Cutler and Gross store, we want them to experience as so many of our clients have over the years, the excited-anticipation of receiveing their hand-made pair of eyewear.

This process can take approximately 4-6 weeks from when the Cutler & Gross stylist helps with the personalized style selection and fits the glass frames on the customer to sending the custom eyewear order to the Cutler and Glass manufacturing facility in Italy. We ensure that all the Cutler and Gross designs receive our personal stamp of approval, " states Marie Wilkinson, Head of Design for Cutler & Gross.

If you're on the search for a pair of fun and unique new frames, this is the spot for you. Their frames start at $470 and you can find their flagship store at 84 Yorkville Avenue. To browse their full selection of frames, go to CutlerandGross.com.

Top Trend - Into The Wild

In the past few years, we've seen a resurgence of fur. This year is no different. From fur to feathers, animal inspiration is everywhere. It's a great way to add texture to your wardrobe and take your wardrobe from drab to fab. Just be aware of what you're pairing it with, too much fur can be overkill.

Clockwise from top right: Fur Infinity Scarf, $460, UGG Australia. Ostrich Feather Skirt, $895, Pink Tartan. Snakeskin Print Pump, $145, Barbie by Town Shoes. Fox/Raccoon Fur Vest, $650, Judith and Charles.

West 49 Grows Up

West 49 is known for bringing quality fashion, footwear and accessories to Canadian youth since 1995. With its original customer base now older, West 49 has evolved from its signature youth skate/surf style into a more mature facet of the same realm. Keeping its appeal to the younger crowd, the new style has followed along closely with current and upcoming trends and styles that original customers who may have given up their skateboard for a briefcase will be able to appreciate on their day off.

Showing that they are more than just a “skater” store, West 49 has integrated current trends in prints and design such as the Navajo print and double-breasted coat into their women's wear making sure to keep the feel young while giving it maturity. Keeping the guys looking stylish are a variety of jeans from the likes of professional skateboarder Mark Appleyard and Ryan Sheckler.

Everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives, West 49 is a perfect example that you can grow older and still reach your original customers while continuing to entice the younger generation.

Volcom, Stone Brigade

Billabong, Love Letter

Plan B, Ryan Sheckler

Nixon, Rubber Player

Greta Constantine PRIMER

Greta Constantine, a ready-to-wear womenswear brand designed by Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, recently launched Collection 02 of Greta Constantine PRIMER. Known for their fabulously draped jersey dresses, PRIMER follows suit. With voluminous silhouettes constructed almost exclusively in cotton jersey and silks, the collection boasts lightness and fluidity.

"Greta Constantine PRIMER is its own entity.  It's neither Greta light nor a diffusion label," they contend.  "While our own design tendencies will always show through, we're designing with a different purpose in mind: to infuse day-to-day dressing with the chicness that people have come to expect from our Greta Constantine line."

And so, who is the Greta Constantine PRIMER woman?

"They're women of different ages, of different walks of life who all share an alluring confidence," the duo explain.  "And they're trailblazers -- they keep this city dynamic and vibrant. Bold and confident, one who isn't afraid to confront fashion wearing what she feels best in," the pair
concludes.

In that regard, it sounds like Greta Constantine and Greta Constantine PRIMER aren't so different after all.

 

 

Scotch & Soda Opens Up in the Eaton's Centre

Just in time for Fall, Toronto Eaton's Centre is now home to Scotch & Soda, which offers Canadians "Amsterdam Couture" for both men and women. The brand has been around since the 1980's but in 2001, the three owners decided to join together for a relaunch. Now in 2011, they are opening their fourth store in Canada alongside the Chinook Centre in Calgary, West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton and Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke.

There is definitely a collegiate feel to their clothing, from plaid work shirts, graphic tee's and cardigans to pleated pants, chinos and denim. The clothing is also merchandised in outfits for ease and convenience.

Although Scotch & Soda is a newer brand in the Canadian market, it's one that's quickly making their mark as a fashion-forward staple.

IZ: Izzy Camilleri Adaptive Clothing

While dropping off a competition application in The Junction, I came across an Izzy Camilleri Storefront that caught my eye and wandered in completely unaware of what I was about to encounter.

IZ Adaptive is Canadian designer Izzy Camillery’s line of accessible clothing for a “seated” clientele, and the store is the first of it’s kind. From the clothing itself to the layout and interior design, everything within this space is well thought out and quite aesthetically pleasing. Positioned in the storefront windows are Mannequals designed by Sophie Morgan, a paralyzed artist and model from London who has also starred on the TV show Britain’s Top Missing Model.

Luxurious fabrics and intelligent, purposeful design are the epitome of this line’s aesthetic. According to the IZ representative, the blocks had to be completely redesigned in order to develop patterns conducive to the common issues regarding wheelchair bound consumers. There are certain things that we take in life for granted, and I think it is amazing that this Canadian designer has come up with a line providing quality service to a previously ignored market base without sacrificing style or comfort.

So how does IZ differ from the regular retailer? First of all, the clothing: The patterns are designed with a seated clientele in mind. In order for the garments to fall properly in a seated position, they must be drafted in a more 3 dimensional manner.

Some of the design-related problems plaguing the seated community are as such: inability to put on or remove clothing with ease, long coats or dresses getting caught in the spokes of the wheels, waistline of the pants riding down in the back, body proportions that are not taken into account with standardized sizing. Additionally, IZ does a lot of custom work and carry various styles catering towards varying degrees of injury.

The actual store space: IZ Adaptive Clothing is a lovely, modern space with ample room to move about with ease. Panels displaying some of the pieces have the ability to slide back into the wall should more room be required, and the changerooms are large enough to allow for a 360 degree rotation in a wheelchair.

The clothing is all reasonably priced as well. This waxed cotton trench that caught my eye in the front window turned out to only be $260.00. Design is (and should be) everywhere,and be accessible to all. A line as thoughtful and cleverly engineered such as this truly deserves recognition.

For more information or to visit the store, the address is as follows:

2955B Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario www.izadaptive.com

Topman Takeover

The U.K is getting ready to invade Toronto with Canada’s first Topman store set to open at Yorkdale Mall on Oct 5^th. We were lucky enough to attend the Topman Takeover to view their brand new capsule collection and go through what the store would offer. The collection had a little something for everyone no matter your style.

With a live DJ set from Phantom Signal and an steadily increasing crowd I was pleased too see clothing for a more fashion forward male that was on point with present and upcoming trends.

We all managed to find a few personal favourite items among the collection.

I can’t  help but remember how Chenessa had mentioned to me months back how red pants were going to start becoming more and more prominent. Now I see them everywhere, including the new Topman collection. I will admit they feel as if they would be the most comfortable pants. My personal favourite from the collection is a red shawl collared cardigan taking influence from the popularity and resurgence of the double-breasted suit. The shawl collar gives it a nice vintage or “Grandpa” feel to it.

 

If you haven't already started, now is the time to dress yourself (or your man) in some of the hottest seasonal styles and must-have items from Canada’s own Topman collection.

For more Topman Takeover photos, go check out our Facebook page.

Suit Up with Indochino

We are living in a digital age, where anything is available at our fingertips through the Internet. From books and movies to custom-made suits that used to require you to sit down and spend time with a tailor explaining what you want.

Indochino, a custom suit brand which started in Vancouver, has made it their goal to provide men with a one-stop shop experience that is quick and easy wherever they are.

I had the opportunity to get the full Indochino experience this week and I was not disappointed. From choosing the style of lapels to how many buttons I wanted on my vest, I was able to customize my suit from top to bottom all online. When first ordering from Indochino you will be asked to give your measurements, which will then be saved and used for future orders, making the process quicker and easier the second time around.

If anyone is slightly wary about taking their own measurements or buying a suit online, the people at Indochino offer a 100% perfect fit promise. With this in effect, Indochino is the only online retailer who will pay to have your suit altered by any tailor in your area to fit up to $75, if however the alteration costs more Indochino will remake your suit for you free of charge - that is what I call top quality customer service.

With new suits added monthly you will always find something in style and on trend, ready to be customized to your preference you will be set for any occasion. Follow the link at the bottom and get ready to suit up!

And remember guys; women love a man in a suit.

indochino.com