-Iris Apfel, in Architectural Digest, on affordable style

Photo courtesy of Refinery 29

-Septembre

Photo courtesy of Tuula

When I see these silk and linen-blend shorts I think of warm summer days, cool breezes, cold drinks and comfy patio. Le sigh.

J’adore…

-Septembre

I used Divided By H&M in Ballet Blue, Divided By H&M in Sweaty Pink, H&M Nail Polish in Summer Sunshine, Revlon Nail Enamel in Posh and YSL La Laque Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in Pink Gold.

-Septembre

Photo courtesy of Danier

The handbag is hand-painted to give it a rustic burnished effect that is highlighted with long tassels. Add a detachable shoulder that conversts the bag to a crossbody handbagand you can see why I’m in love.

J’adore…

-Septembre

The ‘gentleman’ is the main theme for this season’s Milan Fashion Week. While some designers stuck to the concept and produced classic looks, others have taken this concept and put a spin on it to produce refreshing collections. Here are 5 collections which you should keep in mind for the coming fall/winter season.

Burberry Prorsum

Christopher Bailey has taken the classic approach by creating the British gentleman look. On the runway, there are a lot of suits and different kinds of jackets. In order to make it modern, Bailey has applied geometric and stripe patterns on some of the pieces and the results are very refreshing. This is actually the essential collection for men because most of the pieces are timeless and can be worn for many seasons. If you are considering a wardrobe upgrade, this is the collection you must have in mind.

Focus point: Jackets, gloves, animal handle umbrellas

Dolce & Gabbana

For this season, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana decided to bring all of us back to the romantic and artistic Baroque period. It is still about the gentlemen but in a very grand way. Embroidery is the key as many of the pieces are decorated with gold abstract patterns. If you are not a fan of embroidery, there are still other options for you to choose this coming season including such as the black velvet suit. Overall, I think this is the classiest collection of the Milan Fashion Week.

Focus point: Embroidered jackets, shoes, socks

Dsquared2

Hands down to Dean and Dan Caten for taking the gentlemen theme to another level. Instead of focusing on the classic gentlemen, they have decide to turn the target onto the next generation: the college kids. This collection has all the essential pieces for a college student such as hoodies, leather jackets and classic checked sweaters but of course they are all in premium materials. As I said to a lot of people, if everyone were dressing like this in my college days, I would have enjoyed my time at school.

Focus point: The glasses, the leather jacket, the jeans (heard a lot of compliments about this brand’s jeans)

Roberto Cavalli

This is the first collection for Daniele Cavalli as the head designer of Roberto Cavalli and I am very surprised by the results. The gentlemen theme still exists but the rocker DNA has been injected into the pieces to spice up the collection. Exaggerated animal print is no longer the major element of this brand. Instead, in this collection, you see a lot of plain colour pieces which highlight the premium materials. However, if you are still hoping to get the exaggerated animal print piece, the abstract zebra print will be your top choice next season!

Focus point: The colour pieces, crocodile print blazer and pants

Versace

Photos courtesy of Style.com

I think Donatella is thinking a different kind of gentleman when she created this collection. Instead of the classic look, she has taken inspiration from the soldier, biker and rocker. The entire collection is very daring and it really surprised me when Versace introduced the “flora-flage” (the brand has coined this term, a combination of floral and camouflage) on the runway. Also, the evening wear collection has really blown me away with the crystallized “flora-flage” pieces. Every outfit looks very masculine and you will need a lot of guts to wear some of the outfits.

Focus point: Evening wear, gold chain denim blazer, boots, leather jacket

-Marcus

A look from the Basch Fall/Winter 2011 collection during LG Fashion Week.

Photos courtesy of The Star

Eleventh Floor Apparel hopes to engage young fashion design students and to “provide an elevated educational platform for our next generation of design talent” with the competition. Students from Seneca, Ryerson, the Academy of Design, George Brown College and Fanshawe College will be participating in the competition which will choose two top designs from each school to show their designs in a media and industry fashion show on March 6, 2012 where the winner will be announced.

The first prize in the Basch It Up competition is a six-month paid internship at Eleventh Floor Apparel, $1000 clothing allowance from Basch, a $700 clothing allowance from Eleven Boutique and their design will be showcased and sold at Eleven Boutique among other goodies while the second place winner will receive a $700 clothing allowance from Eleven Boutique.

-Septembre

Danier Design Challenge winner Meagan Johnston (left) with a model wearing her winning design.

Johnston will receive a $5,000 cash prize and will see her winning design―a draped, hip length lamb leather bondage-esque jacket inspired by “Ancient Egyptian beliefs and the concealment of truth”―in Danier stores next fall.

Another shot of Meagan Johnston's winning design.

Jayson Araja won the $3000 second prize while third prize winner Brie Reid walked away the $2000 prize.

Jayson Araja (left) and Brie Reid with their winning designs.

Photography by Ryan Emberley

The Danier Design Challenge is a design competition that challenges third-year design students to create an original women’s leather garment. Students compete for the chance to win a cash prize and to see their garment in Danier stores. Students also receive mentoring by industry experts.

The design from last year’s winner Andrea Dineen was one of the top-selling garments from any Danier capsule collections.

-Septembre

The lucky employees will be outfitted in “scarlet, sleeveless jersey cocktail dress with an across-the-shoulder draped detailing” designed by the Draped Crusaders. ”We wanted to incorporate our signature drapery into a design that would complement the understated sleek lines of the Thompson’s Lobby Bar,” said Pickersgill and Wong.

Other fashionable Thompson Toronto collaborators include Jeremy Laing and Bustle Clothing.

-Septembre

The palette was inspired by this image by photographer Mila Victoria and used Wet N Wild Wild Shine in Sunny Side Up (the tangerine polish) and Ardene‘s ACO nail polish in Aruba Wave and Chic-Kita.

-Septembre

The sterling silver screws, which are available in a number of screw sizes, have been oxidized to give them a more industrial look (check out the creation process here). Keep your eyes on her Etsy shop and blog for new products (including some very cool Eazy-E and Biggie Smalls Moleskines) and opportunities to see the accessories in the flesh, er, metal at crafter’s markets.

Photos courtesy of Ghostface Knittah

J’adore…

-Septembre