Across the Universe

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick post about something very exciting in my life right now.

My beautiful friend Vania Georgieva is a national finalist for Miss Universe Canada 2012 and I am sponsoring her with a custom-designed couture gown!  Vania is a lovely person inside and out.  Not only is she gorgeous, she is smart (she's studying Economics and Political Science at the University of Ottawa), kind (she has volunteered for numerous causes, including recently raising awareness and support for SOS Children's Villages Canada), and is one of the most positive and luminous people I know.  You can read more about Vania on the Miss Universe Canada website.  And if you have a minute, please VOTE for her to win the People's Choice Award, which will be announced during the Miss Universe Canada 2012 Preliminary show this Thursday, May 17th!

To Dream the Impossible Dream

Hello Lovelies!

Did anyone watch Vogue's live streaming of the Met's 2012 Costume Institute Gala red carpet last night?!  What did you think?  Who was on your best-dressed list?  I have posted my favourite looks below, but first let's talk about the occasion for the night's celebration, the Met's Spring 2012 Costume Institute exhibition, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.

I really hope I'll somehow be able to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year to view the new exhibition!  I'm a long-time fan of both Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.  The exhibit explores the similarities between these two Italian fashion powerhouses through Baz Luhrmann-directed videos of simulated conversations between the two women about their work.

Here's a little video about the exhibit (you can find more at the Met's website):

Now on to the sequins & feathers!!!  Many of the Met Gala looks had a fittingly 1930s or surrealist element to them, including my first pick: Anna Wintour in a custom Prada dress, which pays homage to Schiaparelli's 1937 Lobster Dress which featured a lobster painted on it by Salvador Dali!

Anna Wintour in custom Prada

Fashion Fiesta!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This year's Cinco de Mayo inspired a post about how Mexico, and other Central- and South-American countries have influenced fashion, especially in the last few years which have really seen a revival in exoticism.  I choose to include Spain in this collection as well, since my notion of Latino culture is quite romanticized, having never been to any of these countries (yet).  Being a Canadian with Irish and German heritage, I have no idea why I celebrate Cinco de Mayo but I do, albeit in my own little way.  Perhaps I have a little latina somewhere deep down inside me ;)  I am an avid salsa dancer and would love to learn flamenco and tango as well, and I wish I could speak Spanish, so maybe that's part of it...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy (and yes, as usual I posted LOTS of pictures...celebrations aren't a time for restraint)!

Something to Celebrate

Woohoo!  I made IFB's Links a la Mode roundup again!  Thank you Independent Fashion Bloggers!  And Happy Bithday Jess!  Now I feel like it's my birthday too!

Be sure to check out all of the amazing blog posts in the list!

Birthday Gifts

Edited by: Jess of Fresh Jess

It’s my birthday today! What better way to kick this day off than seeing what’s bringing IFB wardrobes to life lately? Your latest Links a la Mode round up features style icons Stevie Nicks and First Lady Michelle Obama; Earth Day-inspired tips on being green; avant-garde accessories; trend reports; quick & easy DIY tutorials and some of the most beautiful outfit style posts around. Need some help figuring out what to wear for your next bike trip or spring business conference? We’ve got you covered there too. This week’s posts are like presents for my Google Reader. Now let’s celebrate!

Valentina, Valentino

Hello Lovelies,

Spring is in the air!  Ahh, Spring...a time for flowers, baby animals, and new fashion ad campaigns!

Has everyone seen the beautiful Spring 2012 ad campaign for Valentino?!  The elegant and feminine Spring collection by Maria Grazia  Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli was photographed by Deborah Turbeville, featuring models Bette Franke, Fei Fei Sun, Maud Welzen, Zuzanna Bijoch, and Clement Chabernaud.  The pretty campaign was shot near Turbeville's home in Mexico, although the setting's textures and colours makes me think of sunwashed stones and romantic ruins in Italy.  The exquisitely delicate and graceful designs against the unrefined backdrop, punctuated by sunlight or shade, made for an ethereal and slightly distant tableau.

I was so struck by the gorgeous Valentino images that I was inspired to create a photoshoot of my own for my sister's upcoming cello concerts this Spring and Summer.  I regularly use my lovely sister, Kathleen, as a model, and you may remember her from a previous cello photoshoot we did a while ago.  For this shoot, it was difficult to create a background that gave the feeling of a sun-drenched Rome here in Toronto, but with some assistance from my location-scout-extraordinare Mother, I think the suggestion is there :)  Kathleen didn't really have a dress she wanted to use for the shoot, so I designed and made a gown for her.  It's actually eco-friendly - I didn't have any material around that quite fit the bill for the colour/texture she was after, so I used some old curtains of hers that were lying around (and were on their way to be given away!) that were just right.  If curtains are good enough for Scarlett O'Hara or Maria von Trapp to sew into something to wear, they're good enough for me!  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos!!

Here is a sample of the original Valentino ad campaign:

Golden Girl

Dear Readers,

I had hoped to have this posted a little sooner, but c'est la vie, as they say ;)

Celebrities showed up for the 84th Academy Awards in every colour under the sun, including black and white.  There were metallic lovelies and some red stunners, as well as many pretty pastels and nudes, jewel tones and brights, with some total wild cards thrown into the mix.  The green carpet eco trend was also still going strong with some gorgeous designs.  As promised, here are all of my picks for favourite dresses from the Oscars.  I've included gowns seen both on the Oscars red carpet, as well as at the Vanity Fair after party.

Meryl Streep in eco Lanvin
this dress is a winner!

The 2012 BAFTA's Green Carpet

Dear Readers,
With only one week to go before the Oscars, I thought we'd review this year's BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards.  In contrast to the colourful Golden Globes and last year's BAFTAs, the BAFTAs this year were, for the most part, a black-and-white affair, similar to the SAG Awards' red carpet.  Any Academy Awards colour predictions??!  There was another interesting and 'colourful' trend at the BAFTAs - a few celebrities were going green with eco-friendly and sustainable designs!

Think Pink!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I don't know if you remember my Valentine's Day tribute to red last year (which I recently added to, so please be sure and revisit it :) , but I thought it would be fitting to pay pink its dues this year!

But first, lets watch this to set the mood:

Rocking and Rolling in the Deep

Dear Readers,

Sunday night's red carpet at the 54th Grammy Awards (or should we just call it the Adele Awards?) was a bit more subdued than it was last year.  Most of the celebs showed up in black, with a few metallics thrown in to the mix.  Here are a few of my favs from the evening:

The 2012 SAG Awards: In Black and White and Shades of Grey

Hello Lovelies,

Are you all getting excited for the Oscars?!  I know I am!   Between now and the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26th, there's only one more movie star red carpet event - the BAFTAs, which happens next Sunday, along with the Grammys!  Although not as visually exciting as the Golden Globes, the celebs were on display last Sunday for the SAG Awards.  For the most part, the stars played it pretty safe and shied away from colour, keeping it black and white or silvery grey.  This was pretty much the opposite of the rainbow of hues seen at the Globes.
Lets take a peek at some of my favs, shall we?

Jewel Tone Globes

Dear Readers,
It's that red carpet time of year again when the movie stars get their pose on!  Sunday's Golden Globes certainly did not disappoint this year (unlike last year's lackluster affair).  There was lots of colour and sparkle, as there should be, as well as interesting textures.  To start us off, I've grouped a few of my favourite jewel tone lovelies together:

Silver and Gold

Happy New Year Dear Readers!

Can you believe it's 2012?!  I hope you all had/are having a lovely holiday!  Here's some photos full of sparkle and glitter to boost your Christmas spirit :)