Letter to Mr. Claus

Dear Santa,
 
This year, I've been good and I'm asking for things that sparkle and shine.

1. Silk Dress, $178, French Connection.
2. Rouge Interdit in Rouge Cancan, $31, Givenchy, Sephora.
3. (top to bottom) Bullet Choker, $880, Estate Bracelet, $770, Estate Ring, $193, all Lia Sophia.
4. Selene Suede Bootie, $200, Geox.
5. (left to right) Quilted Coin Purse, $75, Quilted Flap Shoulder Bag, $295, both MICHAEL by Michael Kors.
6. Noble Knights Lash & Line Kit (includes {from left to right}: Teal Pigment, Blitz & Glitz of Fluidline, Zoomblack Zoom Lash mascara, all in a limited edition tartan bag, $44, MAC Cosmetics.

It's all about having fun with a little bit a glamour and a whole lot of glitz!

Merry Christmas,
Tina

PlastiChic Sample Sale

On December 7 2010, next Tuesday, PlastiChic is having a Sample Sale from 10am to 6pm. These cute and stylish watches have been featured in magazines as the "It Gift" this season and now you can get your hands on them for less. They're fun, colourful and did I mention they're digital? I'm not sure about you, but for me, that is a huge bonus! Mark it down in your calendars, it's less than a week away!

Holiday Gift Guide

Can you believe that the holidays are just around the corner? It's true that time flies and in just over a month, we will be celebrating Christmas! Toronto Moda has composed our very own gift guide. You can access all posts under the heading "Holiday Gift" on the right side of the page under "View Topics". Or you can also just read and click - the windows will open up.  With secret Santa, gift giving and wish-list making, we want to make life a little bit easier for you.

If you're hosting a party, we found two Party Favourites which are holiday must haves for Christmas entertaining. However, if you've decided that going out is more your scene, we found a few Show Stopping items that are stylish and chic. Either way, you'll need make-up that highlights your features perfectly. We found just the Holiday Hues for you!

When it comes to giving presents, it might be hard to find exactly the right one. We managed to narrow it down to a few categories.

Bath collections that have you Smelling Like a Rose are phenomenal. Kiehl's has a classic collection that can be used by all for an all over soft and smooth clean. Fruits & Passion has a set of fruity foam baths that will relax and energize. We even found a Sampler from Bliss that offers everything you need to bring out the va-va-voom.

If you're into organic and all products that are Naturally Infused, here are a few items that fit the natural selection. Olay and Pantene are household brands but they recently branched out into botanical fusions. Eco-friendly Notebooks that can be planted(post-use) are not only neat but very useful!

For the Functional Fanatics out there, we found Imedeen, a vitamin-like supplement that will revitalize your complexion. Not to mention, a super slim electric toothbrush from Oral B. Functional doesn't have to mean boring, it should still be fashionable yet practical.

Some people just can't get enough. You need to Up The Ante and get them something that screams "wow". These could be given in addition to other gifts, but really, they're amazing enough on their own. La Senza has a baby doll set that works double time to bring you the ultimate in all that's cute and comfy. Speaking of cute, vanity is often the focal point. By Toronto's own Conniemarie Howard, the Vinitas Compact reminds us that we are beautiful no matter what. The last item in the Up The Ante category, Daisy by Marc Jacobs, is not just aesthetically appealing, it smells great too! Cute, comfy, vain, beautiful and smelling deelish!

There is one thing we can't forget. Presents are great, but what about Stocking Stuffers? They are the little presents that widen our smiles just a little bit. Of course we don't need them, but really, when do we NEED anything? The bigger the stocking the better.

There it is for the gifts that go above and beyond. So goodluck in finding the perfect gift or compiling the perfect wish list! Don't forget - Christmas is right around the corner!

Holiday Giveaway!

We want to spread some holiday cheer!

Tell us what's on your wish list for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate!

Don't forget to leave a comment that includes your name and email so we can contact you!
 
Deadline: Dec 15 2009

Image courtesy of santa.com

Stocking Stuffers

We all need a few small accessories to throw into the stockings. Stocking stuffers are the icing on the cake, and what is cake without icing? 

Minty Glint
High gloss, incredible moisture and long-lasting breath freshening seems too good to be true right? Never. Bigelow & Co's  Mentha Lip Shine(pictured right) is a great every day gloss that leaves your lips with a tingly sensation. At $7.50 each or 3 for $15, you can afford to grab a few for the stockings and even a few for yourself!

Red Ahead
OPI's holiday colours are sure to put one over the edge with Christmas spirit. Nails are an easy way to add the glitz to the little black dress. Smitten With Mittens, pictured left, would be amazing when paired with a simple dress and a bold red lip. Or if you're a bit less daring, they also have colours that are more on the neutral side. 

Quick Fix
If you didn't incorporate a bath collection into your gift, it's not too late to throw it into the stocking! Joe Fresh's Bath Collection(pictured below) offers rich, favourful scents and textures with vibrant colour packaging. And the best part, the prices range from $2-6, so you don't have to break the bank to get it all.

Mentha Lip Shine, $7.50 each or 3 for $15, Bath and Body Works.
OPI Nail Colours, approx. $11, select professional salons.
Joe Fresh Bath Collection, $2-$6, select Joe Fresh stores.

Up The Ante

If the other holiday gifts don't tickle your fancy, have a look at the items that will definitely get the 'wow factor'. These aren't your typical holiday gifts, so don't expect a typical reaction.

Close for Comfort

Cute meets comfy in La Senza's Fuschia Ruffle Baby Doll with Matching Panty. This set is absolutely adorable. And the best part, no one would think that the set is $29.50!

Eye of the Beholder

Designed by Toronto's own Conniemarie Howard of Howard Studios, the Vinitas Compact(pictured below to the right) is inspired by 'lead white'. It reminds us of our constant search for beauty and is a physical reminder that we ourselves are beautiful. 

Scent-Sational 
If a sophisticated and elegant fragrance in a sparkling floral bouquet isn't enough for you, why not go for the limited edition option? Daisy by Marc Jacobs launched their Silver Edition of the Eau de Parfum for the Holiday season(pictured below, on the left). If that STILL isn't enough, top it off with a Daisy Solid Perfume Pendant(pictured below, on the right). It's beautiful and can be worn as a pendant or a pin. If that doesn't do the trick, I give up, nothing will. 

Fuschia Ruffle Baby Doll with Matching Panty, $29.50, La Senza.

Vinitas Compact, please contact for pricing, howardstudios.com or 416.859.5058

Daisy Marc Jacobs 100mL Silver Edition, approx. $100, select cosmetics counters. 

Daisy Marc Jacobs Solid Perfume Pendant, $40, select cosmetics counters.

Come Out Smelling Like a Rose

We all want gifts that are fool-proof. With a plethora of options out there, how do you know that your gift will be loved? Bath products are used by all and are considered the ultimate in no-fail gift giving. 

Show Some Skin
The Crème de Corps Holiday Collection by Kiehl’s is a classic. Their Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish exfoliates dead skin while their Rich Body Moisturizer keeps skin hydrated. This line is formulated with Beta-Carotene, Squalane and nurturing oils derived from Sesame Seeds, Soybeans, Almonds and Avocados. It is ideal for extremely dry skin but can be used for anyone. Above and beyond everything else, 100% of the net profits are going to benefit children's charities around the world.

Burst your Bubble

Fruity, fragrant and foaming! Fruits & Passion offers a set of six colours and scents in their Fruity Foaming Bath Collection in Christmas tree lights. Today I feel like Field Berries, tomorrow let's do Grapefruit Guava.

 
Trial and Error
Samplers are easy ways to try a bunch of products and see which one(s) work best for you. Bliss’ Best Of Bliss is a collection of their most beloved skincare and body blends. It includes body butter, soapy suds, an instant energizing mask, foaming wash and a packette of SPF 15 daily moisturizer. Everything you want and need in one simple set. 

Holiday Hues

In the beauty world, palettes are the ultimate multi-tasker. Who doesn’t love make-up that works as hard as you do?

Smoke Alert

Here's your chance to celebrate the holidays alongside NARS. After 15 years of colour innovation they are introducing two palettes: Everlasting Love containing intense eye hues to create the perfect smoky eye and Wild at Heart to boasts bold lip shades for a deeply pigmented pout.

There is something scintillatingly seductive about a smoky eye. These palettes are great gifts, but why wait, I’d run out and grab one for myself.

Golden Goddess

Au Natural is one way to roll, but why not highlight those amazing features with Clarins’ Palazzo d’Oro Collection.

A golden hue on the skin creates the look of a healthy glow. We can use it to accent brow bones and check bones. We can also use it to bring out the eyes and even add that hint of shimmer to the lips.

The Gold Attraction Eye Quartet & Liner Palette comes in a luxury gold case. With a silvery pink base colour, chestnut and sparkling brown on the top lids and pearly yellow-gold for a soft highlight, this palette has everything you need to create the look.

Soft, subtle, delicate and iridescent create the perfect harmony for every golden girl out there.

Bold Beauty

If smoky eyes and golden hues don't seem to fit then maybe you’re looking for something a bit more daring.

Quo’s “I Shimmer I Shine” Intense Pigment Baked Collection is affordable at $45. With 16 baked eye shadows, three baked blushes and three assorted applicators, blending is quick and easy.

Bright blues, emerald greens – these jewel tones are to die for.

Naturally Infused

Do you want to introduce some natural ingredients into your beauty regime but aren’t sure how? Some of the biggest brands out there have decided to work alongside nature rather than against it. 

Second Nature

Olay’s Botanical Fusion Body Wash(pictured right) is infused with nature-inspired scents while both hydrating and restoring the skins natural moisture. It leaves your skin softer than a babys bottom!

 
Silky Smooth
There’s no better feeling then brittle-free, healthy hair. Pantene has their Nature Fusion shampoo(pictured below to the right) and conditioner which combines Pro-V technology with naturally-derived ingredients. When your skin has that healthy glow and your hair shines from natural radiance, what more can you really ask for?

Noteworthy
Since we are on the topic of Naturally Infused...How about a few Plantable Notebooks?

Eco-friendly notebooks may seem like an oxymoron but Botanical Paperworks has done the unthinkable. Christmas cards, gift tags, party favours and notebooks are now plantable – when you’re done with it obviously. There are seeds fused into the paper so that they grow into fragrant spruce trees or wild flowers. The Write and Grow Journal is pictured Below.

As much as technology has taken over our world, there is still something about having a tangible piece of paper to write on – why not use plantable paper.

Olay Botanical Fusion, $9, drugstores and grocery stores nationwide.
Pantene Nature Fusion, $6, drugstores and grocery stores nationwide.

Botanical Paperworks, $25, Pistachio, Paper Ideas, Grassroots and online at botanicalpaperworks.com

Holiday Show Stoppers

I wasn't going to incorporate clothing into the holiday gift guide but two items jumped at me and I couldn't resist sharing them! 

Timeless Classic
If you regularly follow Toronto Moda, you might have caught the post about Alfred Sung's PURE Collection. I am a huge fan of the Alfred Sung label, this includes the PURE line. The dress pictured to the left is beyond phenomenal. It is a great cocktail dress in an ultra luxe material. And believe it or not, the dress is $44.97. With the perfect accessories, this dress is the essential LBD(little black dress).

Head Turner
A LBD pairs amazingly with a bold shoe. Geox's Empires State Building Collection is just that! Characterized by a 5 inch heel that replicates the skyscraper and a palette of rhinestones in different finishes and colours, this shoe is screams for attention. 

Party Favourites

Having people over is part of the holiday festivities. It brings out the holiday spirit in all of us with a Christmas Tree, Christmas lights and gingerbread houses. But Christmas crackers are so passe, so what is the new “it” thing in entertaining? 

Tasty Treat

Chocolate fountains are too expensive right? Wrong! Cadbury has made it easy and affordable to get your very own chocolate fountain. For $50, Cadbury's Mini Chocolate Fountain is compact and easy to manage. Who can resist a chocolate fountain? This is ideal with fruits like strawberries, but who said you couldn't throw in a marshmallow? If you want your party to outshine the rest, this might be the way to do it.

Haute Water
The new Paul Smith designed Evian bottle is sure to “wow” guests. The new limited edition bottle is designed with the famous Paul Smith stripes. This is a great addition to the holiday gathering and it's an easy way to add some jazz to the essential.

Cadbury Mini Chocolate, $50, select Kitchen Stuff Plus stores.
Paul Smith Evian Bottle, $4.99/750mL, available at gourmet retail locations across Canada.

Fuctional Fanatic

For some of us, functional wins over fashionable. Some of you like to think that you aren’t superficial but what’s wrong with looking good? 

 
Skin Deep
If you have friends that are always complaining about dull complexions, Imedeen can help! They work like vitamins to enhance the skin from the inside out. We can only hide so much with make up, why not try to improve the actual texture, structure and quality of our skin. And the best part, it doesn’t just target the face, it works on the whole body! You’ll be their BFF(best friend forever) after giving them Imedeen. Who doesn’t want healthier, younger looking skin?

Some people prefer the practical gifts – men in particular. Buying them another wallet won’t work, they love the one they have, and it even has the perfect grooves, although it might be held together with duct tape or an elastic band. So move on to plan B – the functional gadget.

Hand Held
The eyes might be the first thing people see, but your teeth will be the first thing people notice. Dazzling white’s are never a bad thing. Oral B’s Pulsonic is an easy way to achieve that goal. This slim, sleek design emits over 27,000 vibrations per minute for cleaner and whiter looking teeth.

Beautiful skin and beautiful teeth – looking better on the outside means feeling better on the inside.

Imedeen Classic, $80/60 tablets, available at the cosmetic counter of leading pharmacies and at select spas, plastic surgery and dermatology clinics nationally.   
Oral B Pulsonic, approx. $80, available at mass retail, drug and grocery stores.