MTV Video Music Awards aka Beyoncé's Baby Bump

Dear Readers,

Before I get to my summer recap, I had to do a quick post on the MTV VMAs.  Any music industry red carpet event is guaranteed to have a few how-outrageously-dressed-can-I-get-away-with looks.  This year, there were the usual loud and crazy "what is that?" outfits (think Nicki Minaj), most of which were fun and humorous rather than the more traditional scantily clad options.  Of course, Lady Gaga had run out of outrageous ideas, so she just showed up as a dude - Jo Calderone to be specific.  But even with all that going on, even with the Britney Spears Tribute, Beyoncé outdid them all...and looked fabulous (and normal) doing it...just because she was preggers!!

Beyoncé in Lanvin

Summertime Essentials

Hey All,

I hope you are having fun in the sun!  Sorry I've been kind of MIA lately.  Besides working, I've been out galavanting a little bit on my days off, enjoying the summer sunshine and lovely heat.  But I promise to update you on all my escapades and to post some more eye candy very soon.

To placate you until that happens, here is a blog post about me as part of Greta Constantine's Summer Staff Essentials blog series, detailing the top ten must-haves I can't live without this summer.  The series is pretty cute, so check it out ;)

Here's the original post on moi, written by GC's Digital PR Intern, Jill:

Corinne's Picks

Beach Bombshells & Bathing Beauties

Hello Lovelies,

I hope you are all enjoying a fabulous Summer!  One of my favourite things to do in the Summertime (or ever, period.) is to spend a day at the beach - I just love it!!  I find it very relaxing and inspirational.  I always have to be dragged out of the water, even though I like to just sit and soak up the sun too with a good magazine.  I even learned how to surf once (little-known fact)!

Anyway, even if it's not your thing, you'll love these beach babe photos:

Givenchy Swimsuit, Vogue, July 1953

Lovely Links à la Mode

Hooray!!!  I've been included again as part of Independent Fashion Bloggers Links à la Mode Weekly Roundup!  The posts this week, as selected by Fajr of Stylish Thought, are truly a feast for the eyes and food for the soul.  I've reposted all of the links below, so be sure to check them out!  I'm so honoured to be listed alongside such talented fashion bloggers!  Thank you IFB :)

The Beauty of Bloggers

Edited by: Fajr of Stylish Thought

Once a month, I pour through the links that the amazing members of IFB submit. Typically, I sit late Wednesday night after a long day and read through the thoughtful, helpful, stylish and beautiful posts that you guys submit. It is in these moments that I am truly in awe of how talented and gracious this community is. Full of spirited bloggers that discuss everything from the latest neon trend to the body pressures of fashion blogging. We are a diverse and dynamic group, connected through our mutual love of style and tireless support and encouragement of one another.
This week’s links are a testament to the beauty of blogging. Through eloquent prose, enigmatic portraits and style lessons from a mother to her daughter, IFB is rich with love and of course great style.

Links à la Mode: June 16th

• Ashley4Emergy: Move Over Mellow Yellow
• Beautifully Invisible: 5 Things HBO’s True Blood Taught Me about Fashion & Beauty
• By Anika: Sexy is a State of Mind
• Corinne Monique: La Belle Epoque Photoshoot
• Dress with Courage: Winner Takes All: Women and Competition
• Fierce Beauty and Fashion: Thoughts from a Plus-Sized Blogger
• For Those About to Shop: Fashion Bloggers, Nick Knight and the Old Guard
• Idil Vice: New Summer Heights in the City Hurt
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Fashion Memes: Franca and Miss Boss of Feminist Fashion Bloggers
• Inkblot Photography: Portrait Session: Kimberly Marcelle
• Love Brown Sugar: Don’t Believe the Hype
• Madeline Quaint: Illustrated Shoot: Birds of a Feather
• North on Harper: Fashion Savvy Need to Know
• Odetoawe: Cat Lover
• Oranges and Apples: Polka Dots Skirt 4 Ways
• Splendiferous Inclinations: Inexpensive Summer Outfits
• Stylish Thought: A Woman’s Right to Shoes
• The Loudmouth: Be A Better Shopper
• The Style Confession: Knock Off or Not
• Un-Stitched: Fashion Heirlooms

SPONSOR:
New Clothing at Shopbop: Feliks+Adrik, Rebecca Taylor, DL1961, Hanky Panky, Yosi Samra, Aiko, Spanx, Thayer dresses, KORS, Sara Berman, DVF.

Ladies Who Launch

Hello Lovely Readers,

One of the perks of being an intern with Greta Constantine is sometimes being lucky enough to tag along with them to Toronto's fashionable events ;)  I'm not really very good at being a social butterfly, but this past month I got plenty of practice hobnobbing with the fashion flock.  Also, I'm not sure if it was by miraculous coincidence or some subconscious self-challenge, but I designed/made a dress for each event (I actually had sewn another dress for the second-last event, which I will wear and post later, but I wore one of the same dresses again instead).  Anyways, I'll try and give you the run-down on all the events...it's another lengthy post, so get ready!

Exhibit A: The Grid Launch Party

The Grid is Toronto's new weekly magazine, replacing Eye Weekly.  As with all the events, drinks and hors d'œuvres were served :)  There was also a cool light show near the DJ.

my cut-out back sundress, super-tall Aldo shoes 
(courtesy GC :) 

Cannes Film Festival Favourites

Dear Readers,

Last week saw the closing of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.  It looked so gorgeous and warm there, I just wanted to hop on a plane and move to France ;)

All the celebs were there, decked out in their finest.  But in my opinion, Rachel McAdams stole the show - every single one of her looks was stunning!  Another favourite was the ever-daring-anything-but-subtle Fan Bing Bing - her choices are so crazy, dramatic, and over-the-top, yet somehow strangely amazing ;)  Maybe it's her confidence that carries the look?

The most popular colour of the festival was probably white, mostly of the lace variety, which was lovely and made me immediately want a white dress for summer... ;)

Below are my personal favs, in (mostly) red, white, and blue :)

Rachel McAdams in Marchesa - LOVE

Meet Me At the Met!

New York's Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute Gala this past Monday chose a special topic for the evening.  The traditional accessibly fun and sometimes trivial themes of past Galas were replaced by a more weighty, serious subject matter:  paying tribute to the work and memory of the late Lee Alexander McQueen and the unveiling of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibit in his honour, entitled Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.

God Save McQueen!

via: Telegraph

Dear Readers,

I must preface this by saying, had Kate Middleton not made the right dress choice last Friday, this post would not exist.

Truth be told, up until last week, I wasn't very excited about the Royal Wedding.  But I started to get into it, and come Friday morning, after I saw the (correct) dress, I just couldn't help myself!  I got sucked in to the frenzy of monarchical madness!!  (You might not be able to tell, but I wrote this post with a British accent!)

For anyone who missed the wedding and wants to catch up, this is basically what happened (and I dare any wedding naysayers not to enjoy this!):

Art Decoupage

Edward Steichen, Gloria Swanson (lace), 1924

Hello again Dear Readers,

I hope you were all able to take in some fashion shows this past season, or at least got to flip/click through photos of the shows :)

Here's some of what I was busy doing last month at the gorgeous Eastern-inspired Greta Constantine Fall/Winter 2011 show...

Green With Envy

via: The Eco Market

Hello Dear Readers,

My Valentine's Day post was so much fun, I've decided to follow suit and dedicate this post to the colour green, in honour of St. Patrick's Day!  I don't know about you, but my family always celebrates St. Patrick's Day...we're Irish, what can I say?

The above photo is what might first come to mind when you think of "green fashion"...ethical, ecological, earthy.  Now don't get me wrong, I love eco-friendly, sustainable fashion!  But the following photos are my initial thoughts when I mix the words "green" and "fashion:"