Take Me Back To Manhattan

Hello Readers!

So, at long last, after traveling through Spain, Italy, Turkey, & Egypt, I've returned to NYC!  The lovely Hotel Belleclaire was kind enough to generously sponsor me again during my visit.  Situated in the Upper West Side, their location is ideal.  It's close to Lincoln Center, Central Park, the subway, & lots of restaurants & stores.  It's also not too noisy a location, which is nice & unusual for NYC.  It was such a nice place to come back to after the meetings of the day.  I was so lucky to have the chance to partner with them again!  Here are some photos of the visit, including one of my Corinne Monique pieces on display in the hotel lobby :)

above the clouds

Upper West Side

my fashion crew

Hotel Belleclaire lobby

Corinne Monique fashion installation

such pretty orchids

Broadway

view from Central Park

Garment District

Well, that's it for now...more to come!  Thanks again to the beautiful Hotel Belleclaire!

Until we meet again,

Corinne

xoxo

I Don't Think You're Ready For This Jelly

Hello Lovelies!

It's finally Spring!!!  & Summer will be soon approaching!  In honour of the warmer weather, I thought I'd share a post on my Corinne Monique Spring/Summer 2014 collection with you :)

The collection, entitled 'Medusozoa' & shown during New York Fashion Week, was inspired by my trip to the tropical Caribbean last Spring for Tobago Fashion Week.  It was my very first time visiting the Caribbean & it had a big impact on me.  The 'Medusozoa' collection continued my debut 'Year of the Serpent' collection's focus on a sense of exoticism, but this time centered on the colourful and exuberant carnival celebrations or fetes of the islands.  The collection also drew inspiration from the equally exotic & beautiful sea life in the Caribbean ocean, especially the jellyfish.  Medusozoa is the scientific name for the strikingly exquisite yet fearsome & poisonous jellyfish, alluding to the powerful & intelligent mythological character Medusa.  Medusa is the embodiment of all things feminine, having qualities & symbolism similar to the serpent, & the term also means ruler or queen.  Like the jellyfish, Medusa is said to have been ravishingly beautiful as well as terrifying, turning men to stone with one glance.  

Nights (and Days) in the Gardens of Spain

Hola amigos!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  It's super duper hot here in Cairo (my current home-away-from-home), but I know it still feels like winter back in Canada, so here's a post for my peeps to heat things up :)

A while back, before I officially debuted my line, Corinne Monique, I designed and made a few capsule collections.  This post features one of those collections entitled 'Latinada.'  The collection was inspired by Spanish, Mexican, and South American painters and composers, by Latino and Hispanic artists who conjure up images of faraway terracotta-tiled, sunkissed villas and ladies with flowers in their hair, swaying in the breeze.  Press play & close your eyes...

{ http://youtu.be/aSf8Z5xuMBQ }

{ http://youtu.be/sIvmYMXB7FQ }

Now open your eyes!

Miquel Barceló

Ricardo Chavez Mendez

Playing With Fire

Dear Readers,

I've been going through all my photos & finding some little gems while tidying things up a bit.  I came across a shoot I did with my uber-talented cellist sister, Kathleen Long, a while back, using a Corinne Monique dress from the Latinada capsule collection, shoes I inherited after a Greta Constantine runway show, & probably half the jewelry I own haha (ok, ok, I own more than that...but I'm just saying it was a lot of layering).  It was a very last-minute, "hey, lets go do this before it gets dark out" kind of shoot we did for a poster for one of Kathleen's performances.  We shot it in the last hours of daylight at the Toronto Music Garden, down by the Harbourfront, another location scouted by my ever-supportive mother, Norah Long.  The shoot featured Kathleen with her cello, much like the Valentina, Valentino photoshoot we did together with the custom couture recycled gown made from curtains.  But this time, the inspiration behind the shoot, & the end result, was much different from that sweet & sombre shoot.

For hair and makeup, as well as the set, I was inspired by Beyoncé's Run the World (Girls) video, directed by Francis Lawrence & shot in the Mojave Desert, California.  I loved the smoky, post-apocalyptic look of things and Beyoncé's gladiator-esque armour-inspired looks, featuring pieces designed by Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Gareth Pugh, & Emilio Pucci, among others.  I also had Kathleen do a quick study on some of the poses which brought across a sense of power & authority in order to capture a similar aggressive, assertive image.

Legacies and Links

I am happy to announce that my post about the amazing and iconic Jeanette "Cookie" Cooke-Dabney, The Life of a Legend and Death of a Diva, was selected this week to be featured among the 20 best links to be rounded up by Independent Fashion Bloggers and included in Links à la Mode.  I am looking forward to reading all the posts (listed below) and I urge you to do the same.  I am so very glad more people will know more about Cookie and how beautiful a person she was.  It really means a lot to me to be able to share the life of my friend, model, and muse, if only in a small way.  Cookie's life, love, and legacy should be shared...Cookie, as well as her family, deserves that and so much more.  She is greatly missed but never forgotten.

~

Stepping Up the Style

The thing that keeps fashion interesting is that it's a never-ending project. But that doesn't mean we don't like to strive for perfection anyway. Whether it be following your favorite fashion icons, saying no to the trends, or breaking cliches, style can always be stepped up even when we simplify our wardrobes. This week we have a solid round up of style related posts, so be sure to check them all out!

Links à la Mode: January 23rd

• Al Balsam Life: Dress For Business: Spring 2014 Mens' Edition
• April to August: Review: Zara Pointed Ankle Strap Flats
• Burgundy Whispers: Winter Essentials
• Corinne Monique: The Life of a Legend and Death of a Diva
• Elegance Hunter: How to Succeed at PFW
• Fashioned by Love: 5 Dresses Every Woman Should Own: It's a Wrap
• Flower City Fashionista: What Not To Wear, Even When People Tell You You Should
• Frantic but Fabulous: How to Steal Outfit Ideas from Your Favorite Magazines
• Free Ur Closet: Eco Love: Fashion and Beauty
• Hunting in Heels: Hardcore Metal: 5 Metallic Shoe Picks
• Lara Lizard: I'm a better blogger because I'm prettier
• My Fashion S/ash Life: Short Afro Heroes
• Rhinestone Religion: 5 Winter Skin Lifesavers
• Romeo Style: Monday Men Style: Shoulder Slingers
• Style Bizarre: Get the Style of Omahyra Mota
• Sweet on Style: DIY Headbands
• The Stylish Butterfly: Black and Gold Artsy Nails You Can't Wait to Try
• The Undercover Princess: Breaking the Prom Cliches
• V is for Violet: Fashion Design and Merchandizing Professions
• We Are Ready Made: Sex is Around The Corner

SPONSOR: EastDane David Galan, IRO.Jeans, MSGM, Raleigh Denim, Tretorn Shoes, Jack Spade, Ullens, Ferragamo, Rivieras, The Natural 

The Life of a Legend and Death of a Diva

"There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go." ~ Author Unknown

Jeanette "Cookie" Cooke-Dabney 11/29/1955 - 1/20/2014

Cookie 'werking' the runway in the gown I designed and made just for her.
photos: Brooks Fotographie & Brian Branch Price

Yesterday, the world of fashion lost one of its brightest stars and greatest spirits, a true model in every sense of the word.   I lost my great mentor, a beautiful model and muse, and a special friend whom I loved dearly.  You may not know her, but you would have loved her too...everyone did.

Cookie, the amazing designer Willie Hall, and me at NYFW 

Gipsy Queen

Hello Loves,

Yes, I'm still alive ;) 

I've been a traveling gypsy since September and I don't always have internet access, but I promise to update you all with my tales eventually :)

I've gone from Toronto to NYC to Virginia to Spain to Istanbul to Italy to Egypt!   Crazy, I know!  Anyway, since NYFW and VAFW last fall, I have been so inspired design-wise for my upcoming collections!  I have experienced so many new and exciting places, cultures, and people.  There are many photos to come of all my travels...I know it's been a bit of a dry spell (hey, I am in the desert, after all), but a monsoon of posts is about to happen, so get out your umbrellas! ;)

Talk soon,

Corinne

xoxo

Things That Go Bump In the Night

Good Evening...

Here's a little dose of creepy couture for your Halloween hoots...be afraid, be very afraid...& don't blame me if you have nightmares!

NYFW Trunk Show

Hello my Lovelies!

It's been a little while, but that's because I've been real busy with a ton of exciting new happenings, including showing during New York Fashion Week again!!!

To get started, I want to talk about my NYFW Trunk Show for my new Spring/Summer 2014 collection, 'Medusozoa' (I'll discuss the collection itself as well as the runway show in detail in a following post).  

I was lucky enough to have my stay sponsored by our parter, the beautiful Hotel Belleclaire on the Upper West Side of NYC!  I am so grateful to have been provided with a lovely (& enormous) room to showcase my new collection to buyers & media.  Select pieces from the new collection were also on display in the hotel lobby, along with displays by Suja Juice, Stella & Dot, & Korto Momolu, all of whom I adore.  

I also took some of my gorgeous models out for a spin to Lincoln Center (more about that later too), so we had to stop on the red carpet in the lobby for some photo ops ;)  These lovely ladies caused quite a stir with Hotel Belleclaire's guests!

Solie'l Paden, Casey Barber, Amanda Gooden, & Jessica Magary

Here we all are posing with out Suja Juice (so yummy!) before we head out to knock 'em dead at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center!

More exciting news (& TONS of photos) to follow soon!!!

Again, a HUGE thank you & shout out to our partner, the Hotel Belleclaire & especially to Adisa Feratovic, Director of Sales & Marketing, for sponsoring our stay & making is such a positive and joyful experience!

Stay tuned...!

Corinne

xoxo

Roundup Redux

How exciting is this?!  I've made Independent Fashion Blogger's Links à la Mode again!  Thank you IFB!  I am so grateful to be chosen alongside these other fantastic bloggers - please be sure to read their posts!!!

Picture Perfect

Whether it be styling the right outfit, looking good in glasses, or finding treasures in your closet, ultimately as fashion bloggers we share our fashion story. Through words or through photography, this roundup takes a closer look at making life more beautiful, fashion icons like Lilly Pulitzer who passed away over the weekend, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli.. and the downward spiral of the house of Saint Laurent. What are we going to do to keep the world beautiful? Sustainable fashion and shopping our closets? And how will we document it.. there are fantastic photo tutorials in the mix to. Enjoy!

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup, April 11th

• Aesthete News: Saint Laurent Goes Rogue with Marilyn Manson and More
• Clever Little Buttons: Fashion Icon Lilly Pulitzer - I will Miss Her
• Coco and Picasso: "Fashion is a B*tch"
• Corinne Monique: The Year of the Serpent
• DIY Doyenne: Iconic Figures in Fashion: Chanel and Schiaparelli
• Ethical Fashion Blog: Is there a sustainable fashion revolution taking place?
• Fashion is Evolution: Adventures in Free-lensing
• Floral & Flannel: Four Eyed and Fabulous
• Inspirations and Celebrations: Designer Spotlight - Lilly Pulitzer
• Magnolia Reverie: Some tips for self-portraits
• Margo and Me: California Coachella Cool
• Miss S.J.: J Brand Denim Dedication at The Dressing Room
• Oh to be a Muse: What's Your Shoe Game Like?
• Rose and Pine: Spring Florals for Under $85!
• Real Girl Glam: 4 Ways to Wear Boyfriend Jeans
• Tailor Spy: Welcome to Buttons State!
• Twelve52: Does Beauty Blogging Make Us More Self-Conscious?
• The Fashionable Wife: Shopping Your Closet
• The Photogramps: 10 Tips for Great Blog Photos
• Wishing for Chanel: Dynamic Denim Mary Katrantzou/Current/Elliot collab

SPONSOR: New @Shopbop: 3x1, Alas, Star Mela, Beth Richards, Flogg, Moyna, Thierry Mugler, Ulla Johnson, Friends & Associates, Star Mela, & Stella McCartney Sunglasses

Draw A Dot

Hello again!

See, that wasn't too long of a wait, was it? :)

Just a quick post on a fashion illustration contest I've entered put on by Draw A Dot. x SixLee x Fashionary.

Since SixLee's S/S 2013 collection was inspired by Juan Gatti's paintings, I chose to contrast the layered and airy pale blues and greys of the SixLee piece in my watercolour illustration with a fun Gatti-like background.  If you like my illustration, you can vote for me to win the contest by clicking on the photo of my illustration which will take you to it's Facebook photo link.  From there, 'like' the photo, as well as 'liking' Draw A Dot.'s Facebook page to vote for me!

You can also check out my Facebook page dedicated to my illustrations if you like!  And be sure to contact me directly if you are interested in commissions, orders, or collaborations :)

Thank you!

Corinne

xoxo

PS Thank you all for voting for my illustration - it made the final five!!!

The Year of the Serpent

Dearest Readers,

I am so sorry for the almost year-long delay in posts, but I was so busy with so many exciting and wonderful projects!  The coming posts on all the news will be well worth the wait, I promise!

For my first post this year, I wanted to tell you all about my début fashion show of my eponymous womenswear line, Corinne Monique, during New York Fashion Week this past February!  Thanks to some wonderful sponsors, friends, and family, and to Rogues Gallery Presents, run by the extremely talented Ron Cooke, who put on the Emerging Designer Showcase, I was able to live the dream.  It truly still feels like it might have all been just a fabulous dream and I keep having to pinch myself to remind me that the experience was real!  I was the only Canadian designer invited to show & I actually ended up closing the Showcase, which was such an honour as the other designers I showed with, Urban Masala by Sehar Peerzada, Willie Hall, Mikasa La Charles, Diane Linston, 7T7 by Tarique Tabani, and Brehon Williams, were all amazingly talented.

My Fall/Winter 2013 collection, entitled ‘The Year of the Serpent,’ was inspired by a sense of wanderlust surrounding the exoticism of the Far East and is a modern take on the Orientalism of bygone eras.  The decadent and dramatic, yet controlled collection examines the symbolism of the poisonous serpent, a mythological creature familiar to all cultures, and often a symbol of female power.  The Orient of my mind encompassed Asian locales including China, Japan, Tibet, Russia, Mongolia, Iran, Indochina, and India, with a few non-Eastern influences thrown in from other sunny faraway cultures, such as Argentina, Spain, Peru, and Mexico.  Here are a few photos of my mood/inspiration board, fabrics, including hand-felted silk, and my sketches:

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!