Staying in style can often break the bank account. That’s why Anita Sharma turned to Canadian fashion designer extraordinaire – David Dixon – to find out how fashionistas can still look sharp without going broke.
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Had a chance to hang out with the mod designer of Cutler & Gross, Marie Wilkinson and Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker.
I had the lovely opportunity of catching up with Reyhan Sofraci, Creative Director of Montreal-based swimwear company Aqua Di Lara. Reyhan says the strong loonie is hurting her bottom line.
Designers are putting the final touches on their collections as they prepare for LG Fashion Week in Toronto. The official week kicks off tomorrow, October 19th, but one man decided to showcase his Spring/Summer 2010 collection a little earlier. I had an opportunity to catch up with menswear designer Philip Sparks at his Toronto studio. It’s a small collection but quite unique and truly Canadian.
Sparks says he was inspired by the Canadian cottage life: canoeing, fishing and portaging. Ah, yes, we’ll have to wait a good while before we can savour that lifestyle once again. Meantime, check out his offerings for S/S ’10.
Who knew toilet paper could be soooo sexy? I couldn’t believe the designs created by fifteen of Canada’s top fashion designers – and all for a fantastic cause: Battling breast cancer. The event was sponsored by the makers of Cashmere toilet tissue. They even turned out a special edition of pink toilet paper! The show featured showstopping gowns (yes, gowns) from designers including Project Runway Canada alum Carlie Wong and Sunny Fong.
High fashion is not just limited to suits and handbags. The French have long cornered the market on fine lingerie and their reign continues. I checked out a fashion show in Toronto recently, where top French lingerie designers showcased fall’s trends on Canadian models – great combination, eh?!
Nothing makes a cool statement like a pair of classic aviator sunglasses. Check out my article and video produced for Sun Media. The article gives expert advice on finding the right pair while the video showcases the latest models – on our model!
Enjoy.
Not quite sure what took me so long but I finally bought a pair of sleek, slim black pants. They are actually
more like leggings but with piping running down the centre front and back leg. That essential detail gives the “pants” enough structure to be worn at the office with a blazer and or/crisp, button-down shirt. In other words, your boss is unlikely to send you home with a note asking your mother to dress you properly.
I’m someone who loves to buy on sale – even to the point where I get things I don’t need, just because it was 20 or 30% off. Unfortunately, staple items rarely go on sale (usually sold out by mid-season) so if you want to add instant sex appeal to your fall wardrobe without being “overly ambitious” bite the bullet, pay full price and enjoy your purchase for the entire season. Skinny jeans/ pants,/leggings have and will continue to be around for a while so display those tight glutes and gams.
If you haven’t hit the gym recently or are worried about some, ah, “extra bit of baggage” or just want to err on the side of modesty, stick with black and wear a top or jacket that covers your backside. Keep in mind though, leggings can be slimming (thanks in large part to Lycra) and your butt probably isn’t as big as you think it is, so show it off!!
I need a new winter coat! I blame my current obsession on Linda Lindstrom. The Toronto-based designer made quite the comeback at LG Fashion Week previewing a fantastic Fall/Winter 2009 collection which will definitely have women flocking to her store later this year.
Lundstrom re-emerged with a stronger focus and brand which still includes her legendary fur-trimmed Laparka, created more than 20 years ago and a big reason for her international success.
Like many Canadian companies, Lundstrom was hit hard by the volatility and sharp rise of the Canadian dollar – a key reason why her company filed for bankruptcy. At the time, though, she said “It’s premature to say it’s over.” Lundstrom was right.
She has a partner – Eleventh Floor Apparel – handling her business affairs now. That allows her to get back to what she does best: design elegant, sexy outerwear (yes that is possible) that is both wearable and affordable. Best of all? The clothes are still made right here, in Toronto. Welcome back Linda!
Check out the Evan Biddell runway show, along with Barbie’s 5oth anniversary and Rowenta’s new products at LG Fashion Week in Toronto.
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>LG Fashion Week with Anita Sharma from scottwitter on Vimeo.
The boys from ZZ Top are absolutely right when they sing ‘coz every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man‘. Spring is just around the corner and while a lot of men anticipate seeing women in sexier outfits, women have a lot to look forward to as well – thanks to Harry Rosen.
The legendary retailer walked me through his flagship store in Toronto to preview upcoming spring trends for menswear. The multi-level emporium on Bloor Street is perfect for the man who craves one-stop-shopping. It caters to many different price points with suits ranging from $1,000 – 25,000. The hip, cutting edge fashion is on the ground floor while made-to-measure suits can be ordered on the top level.
Menswear: Spring Trends with Harry Rosen from Anita Sharma on Vimeo.
This season the look is lean and classic. Think, Barack Obama but with more than just white shirts. The President’s famous Canali suit is available at Harry Rosen too. I’m told that suit went flying off the shelves after his jacket label inadvertently flashed for cameras, proving he’s not the only Obama with retail clout.
President Obama's Canali suit makes the front page.
Countless customers have grown up with Mr. Rosen maintaining their relationship with the premium retailer whilst climbing the corporate ladder. It’s easy to see how and why he has been in business 55 years and is still going strong. He is charming and passionate about making men look great whether it’s a suit for work or casual wear for the weekend.
Mr. Rosen has a lot to say and show you so check out the video. We’ll have more with him in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned…
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