TGIF Track – Dancing On My Own (ROBYN)

Over the last little while, there’s been quite a buzz around the HBO series Girls deeming it the more ‘realistic’ version of Sex and the City. Naturally, with Sex and the City being one of my favourite series ever I decided to check out what all the hype was about.

I purchased the first season of Girls on Boxing Day, and let’s just say I finished the entire season in a couple of sittings. I’m afraid that using the word ‘love’ to describe my fondness of the show is an understatement.

Anyway, one of my favourite episodes is the third: Hannah (one of the main characters) finds out that 1) she has an STD and 2) her old college boyfriend is gay. Instead of moping about, she blasts this Robyn tune and dances by her lonesome in her bedroom.

What I love about the song is not only its uplifting beat, but also the empowerment it provides the listener. The lyrics emphasize that we all go through shitty times, but in the end we’ll get through it, with others or on our own, and this is OK.

Such a powerful moment on the show, and I can’t think of a more perfect song to capture it.

Happy Friday, all!

Much love,

B

A New Year.

It’s January 2^nd and I figured what better way to celebrate the New Year than spending some time reflecting; reflecting on the past year, and thinking about the one ahead. On the way back home a couple days ago, (yes, I spent NYE with my parents, playing Snakes and Ladders and sipping Jamaican rum cream) I thought about what I wanted to focus on in the coming year.

Although, I knew that it was important to first look back on 2012…

Last year I resolved to set aside more ‘ME’ time—time when I could be more creative and also time I could spend in creative environments. Today I can happily say that I fulfilled this resolution: I dedicated more time to blogging, photography, scrapbooking, taking tech-based workshops (thanks to HackerYOU and Ladies Learning Code), and of course pursued my love for fashion. Visiting two of the world’s fashion capitals (London and Paris) and studying at Central Saint Martins really opened my eyes to my love for not only fashion, but also the need to thrive in a creative industry. Upon returning from my trip I landed a PR/social media internship with Greta Constantine, which has given me the perfect outlet to explore my love for beautiful clothes.

So, what did I learn in 2012?  

1. Travel while you can—I know it isn’t always feasible; we have budgets, obligations, obstacles, but I plead you to please consider it. Especially while you’re young, (single, unmarried, dating…basically sans children) just do it. Traveling provides one of the great sources of inspiration and really puts things into perspective. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from traveling—DON’T sweat the small stuff.
2. Practice balance—This isn’t necessarily something I learned only last year, but it was a lesson the year definitely stressed. The need for balance is essential in every human being—we need not only be consumed in our careers, our relationships, hobbies or any ONE aspect of our life. We need to make conscious efforts to make time for ourselves and the things and people we love. Balance = happiness. 
3. DO YOU—Authenticity is a huge virtue. It keeps us grounded, keeps us good and keeps us happy. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to express what you DON’T want and what you won’t stand for.
4. Love yourself – This is an extension of the previous lesson. We must be truly happy with ourselves before we can be happy with other aspects of our life, whether it be in a relationship, career, friendship, etc. If you are unhappy with yourself or with something in your live, make it a priority to understand why and seek ways to fix it.
5. Challenge yourself—I personally love stepping outside of my comfort zone. I feel like I learn most when I do so. What I mean by this is try a new look or style, attend a networking event, a new workshop, travel, or eat a new type of food. New experiences breed open-mindedness and hey—if you end up hating that new type of food, event, or hairdo…you’ll end up with a great story.

If there’s one quote I can share that sums up my lessons learned in 2012 it would be this one by Neil Gaiman:

“Make new mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

Without further ado, here is what I resolve to do in 2013:

1) I will develop my personal and professional brand –I want people to know what I’m about, what I aspire to do and what I believe in. I will use this article as direction, and you should too if you have a similar goal.

2) I will be more expressive—no, this doesn’t mean I’m going to turn into a brash bitch, but it does mean I’m going to work on doing things that help me express what I truly want out of people, my career, and out of life in general. I will commit to expressing more of myself through creative outlets like blogging and photography, and of course in my everyday life.

3) I will ask more questions— Introspection is so important, and I only began to see the value of it towards the end of 2012. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life without truly thinking about why we do certain things and what we learn from them. So, I resolve to ask more of those ‘w’ questions: Why am I doing this? What do I want out of this? What have I learned?

There you have it—a look back at 2012, and a look forward into 2013. I can’t wait to make new memories, take risks, and give this year all that I possibly can.

What were your greatest lessons from 2012? Resolutions for 2013?

Until then, HAPPY 2013 to you ALL! I wish you all tons of joy, courage and prosperity to kick start this year!!

Much love,

B 

Moment of adoration.

While browsing through Vogue’s ‘Best Dressed’ issue, I couldn’t help but gawk at this beautiful photo of ’90s supermodels Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell.

I love when photographers opt to capture contrasts. Case in point: these finely dressed bombshells enjoying their hot dogs and beer.

Brilliant.

Love,

B

Share this:

One of my favourite blogs EVER is the Thought Catalog. Here is a fabulous post on things we should try to do daily. Such simple and integral asks that contribute to being the BEST we can be. Hope you all enjoy as much as I did.

Happy thoughts, happy FRIDAY!!!

Mucho love,

B

Holiday CRAVE-ings 2012 shopping party!

Loads of swag!

Last night I attended my very first CRAVE Toronto event! I had the night off and thought it would be a great way to find some holiday gift ideas, chat with other female entrepreneurs and share inspiration.

CRAVE Toronto is a company that connects small business owners with customers. They specifically support women entrepreneurs (YE YE!) through a range of events, symposiums and parties. I personally love them because I find it both very enlightening and empowering to meet other women who have big dreams, but can also talk about their journey thus far.

There were about 10 different businesses showing last night, but I want to share with you FOUR of my favourites (in no particular order):

1) STLTO—a stylish and fun approach to vino. With its minimalist chic label, STLTO is impressively owned by 20-something year old ( I swear I think her mom said she’s 24) Sarah Liberatore. I had a nice chat with Sarah’s mom who beamed with excitement over her daughter’s success. Sarah sells her wine both in Canada and the USA, though only carries her signature red and white at the LCBO. The white is an unoaked chardonnay and the red is a Malbec/Merlot blend. I tried the red and it’s perfect to have with a nice piece of steak, but also easy enough to sip on during your next night out.

2) VITALITY massage & fitness—Chernell Bartholomew is the mastermind behind this wellness venture. Both a registered massage therapist (RMT) and personal trainer, Chernell realized that a gap in her field existed when her clients started asking her if she’d perform in-house fitness and RMT sessions. Today, she’s a fully mobile entrepreneur, visiting clients’ homes, giving massages at parties and helping people reach their fitness goals.

3) RENT FROCK REPEAT (RFR)—This name may sound familiar to you because the lovely Lisa and Kristy of RFR were featured on Dragon’s Den just a couple months ago. The idea behind RFR is simple—if you don’t have the funds to spend on a new dress, take a peek into RFR’s extensive inventory and rent the frock out for a fraction of the retail price. I perused some of their gowns last night (keyword…SOME) and was amazed at the great selection of both international and local designers. Some include Greta Constantine, Pink Tartan, David Dixon, Badgley Mischka, and many more.

4) Laura Morris, Feng Shui Consultant – I think Laura was one of the most interesting people I spoke to last night. Laura’s business revolves around feng shui—she offers private consultations for people who want to begin practicing it in their homes. Not only is this a GREAT gift idea, but also a fab idea if you want to bring in more positivity (or simply wish to redecorate) in the new year.

What’s even cooler is that Laura also practices feng shui for your skin (essentially face reading). I don’t know about you, but I totally dig this kind of stuff. She’s holding an upcoming workshop next Tuesday, but also offers intimate workshops. For only $12 a person, all proceeds are donated to the Massey Centre for Women, and you can have the leisure of hosting a workshop in your own home.

All in all, the party was a great time and I left feeling so very inspired by the amount of entrepreneurial energy circulating the room. I love talking to people who take control of their lives and have the courage and ambition to pursue their dreams.

So, if any of this sounded exciting to you, OR you’re looking for a way to get out there and connect with small business owners, I URGE you to check out CRAVE Toronto! Maybe we’ll even bump into each other at the next event.

Until then, have a happy HUMP day, y’all!

Much love,

B

Greta Constantine — SPRING/SUMMER 2013

Over the last couple months I’ve had the privilege of working alongside fashion geniuses Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine as their PR and social media intern. It all started when I volunteered last year for TO’s World Mastercard Fashion Week and became intrigued with some of Canada’s talent; I checked out Greta C’s fall/winter 2012 collection and immediately fell in love. Their minimalist approach, yet edgy clothing was something I was drawn to.

It has been a surreal experience being able to work closely with Kirk, Stephen and their manager, Jesse. The last couple weeks leading up to show time were hectic— both the boys and their team worked late nights in the studio. Though much to my surprise, Kirk and Stephen seem to possess this constant aura of grace (with everything they do really, no matter how close it is to showtime or an approaching deadline).

Thursday was the big day. The show was held in the incredible Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District (which by the way currently has a beautiful Christmas market if you’re into pretty Christmas things). The venue carried the perfect ambience for the evening–the interior was a mix of Industrial chic and minimalist natural beauty.

 

Biases aside, the show was breathtaking—models walked through the crowd-lined catwalk, which honed a much more intimate feel. Each model wore a funky headpiece that brought a sense of fantastical beauty to each look, as well as sported these wicked talon-like nails courtesy of Tips nail bar. SO RAD. Also, I mustn’t forget that the boys kept their collection UBER-simple with only three hues: midnight blue, black and white.

   

Below are EIGHT of my favourite looks from the collection:

(Photo cred: Toronto Life)

     

     

     

     

Why do I love this collection?

1) I think the collection definitely captures a broad spectrum of femininity— we see androgynous elegance with pant suits, and ultra-feminine prettiness in the babydoll frocks.

2) I love how the collection is like a playground of silhouettes and crash of contrasts–sharp lines, tight cuts, dark and light hues.

3) I especially love the fine detailing and cut out patterns — it makes the frocks bold enough to be worn without accessories.

I can go on, and on, and on….but all in all the evening was truly magical. I’d love to hear what you think about the collection!! You can check out the full collection here. Which are your faves?

Until next time, I hope you have a restful Sunday evening and I’ll leave you with some iPhone snaps from show night!

Much love,

B

Models sporting their fierce TIPS nails.

Sponsor Stolichnaya premium vodka make special Kirk + Stephen-esque drinks!

     

        

Flick pick–Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel

If you’re looking for something to do on a quiet afternoon (those of you who are NOT into the whole Grey Cup fiasco) and happen to love fashion, history, and inspiration…. look no further and make a beeline for the TIFF Lightbox.

I’m talking about the The Eye Has to Travel, a film that captures the life of legendary fashion icon Diana (pronounced Dee-on-ah…yes, I was corrected) Vreeland.

The film captures Diana’s family life, love affairs and most importantly her professional career—what she ultimately lived for. The mixed media style of film is rather captivating; there’s a variety of interviews with family members, dialogue from Diana’s personal interviews and scenes from various milestones in her life.

What’s important to keep in mind is that Diana learned everything from the working world, and wasn’t big on higher education—at one part in the film she’s asked what her credentials are and admits to not having any formal education. It’s quite comical when she’s giving an answer to a reporter and asks, “Is that a verb? I don’t know much about grammar.” (LOL)

Though the entire film was filled with insight, I want to share with you SIX of my favourite Diana lessons:

1)   Trust in the universe—Diana talks about encountering numerous adversities while growing up, but believes that these should be cherished and learned from because one day down the road everything will come together.

2)   Turn criticism into motivation—Diana’s mom called her the ‘ugly’ duckling in the family, but instead of letting this get her down she took the criticism as motivation to stand out in some other way. Fashion was what she channeled her power through. Diana introduced the idea of playing up one’s ‘flaws’ and turning them into something beautiful.

3)   Being successful is CHIC—What I love about Diana is that she did NOT fit the traditional cookie cutter wife mold—Diana wasn’t concerned about learning how to make pie, she was concerned about making women stand out, being outlandish and showing the world that it’s actually quite CHIC to be a working lady.

4)   Beauty vs. attractiveness—“You don’t have to be born beautiful to be wildly attractive.”

5)   Meaning lies beyond the garments you wear—“A new dress doesn’t get you anywhere; it’s the life you’re living in the dress.”

6)   Follow your dreams—“There is only one really good life. And that’s the life you know you want and make it for yourself.”

So how can you mimic a similar life of fabulousity? According to Diana, you should arrange to be born in Paris.

The Eye Has to Travel is showing at the TIFF Lightbox at various times.

Have you already checked out this fabulous flick? I’d love to hear what you thought about it! What were your favourite lessons?

Until next time, hope you have a sunny Sunday and enjoy what remains of this chilly weekend!

Much love,

B

Jam out: F*ckin’ Problem– A$AP Rocky ft. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar

I love bad bitches that’s my f*ckin problem.

Can’t get enough of this beat. Hope y’all enjoy it too.

Much love,

B

Margiela x H&M

OK, so I have to admit that the Maison Martin Margiela (MMM) collection for H&M has been on my mind for quite a while now. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this exclusive collection, and I think that it’s only fair that I blog accordingly…especially since the launch is, well technically, TOMORROW!!!

Let’s start with a little background (and there’s no need to fret if you’re thinking ‘Margiela, WHO?!’): Maison Martin Margiela is a French fashion house that is known to embrace unconventional design. The brand’s garments are often reinvented through the technique of deconstruction. Personally, I think that the word ‘classic’ and ‘Margiela’ are synonomous to the notion of mixing oil and water. Though, I think this is great. I’m drawn to designers who think outside of trends and design garments that reflect their inner notion of beauty and style.

Margiela often carries an aura of mystery, which reflects the creative master himself as he kept an extremely low profile during his years as creative director—he never had his picture taken and remained backstage during all his shows. Fascinating. I urge you to check out some of his collections as you’ll get a better sense of what I mean when I ascribe ‘mystery’ to the brand.

Now let’s get to the goods– After perusing through the stunning collection that is Margiela x H&M, I wanted to share with you a few of my favourites:

1)   Suede jacket – I love this inside-out-style suede jacket. The colour makes it perfect for any season and the raw detailing gives it an unfinished look–$299.

2)   Dress—This gorgeous crimson red, ankle-length dress is just divine. I love how the asymmetric draping effect makes for a bold statement of elegance–$199.

3)   Leather shoes— I’m in love with these heels. The patent leather makes it perfect to dress up or down, and the acrylic wedge gives it that oomph factor. A complete modern twist to these beauties–$299.

   

4)   Leather bag—I’m obsessed with long gloves, and I love how they’re incorporated into a handle for this handbag. The timeless black leather makes it perfect to wear with any formal wear–$179.

5)   Shirt—I love how this circle shirt plays on a twist from the classic dress shirt–$99.

6)   Leather jacket—I love the unfinished, raw look of this inside-out jacket. I also love how the asymmetrical arms give it an edgy, offbeat look– $249.

7)   Candy clutch—I think this clutch is the perfect statement accessory for a dressy affair, or simply a night on the town–$69.95.

So, there you have it—seven pieces of the MMM x H&M collection that I am totally swooning over.

Check out the full collection and details here. Which are your favourite pieces?

MMM x H&M will be available in select stores this Thursday, November 15th beginning at 8am! So, maybe I’ll see some of your beautiful faces?

Until then, enjoy the rest of your night, and I’ll leave you with some of my favourite looks by MMM x H&M!

             

Much love,

B

Think about it…

“I just feel like transparency is the new mystery. Imperfection is the new perfection. The truth sets you free, isn’t that what they say?” –Katy Perry, Elle USA