Wristwear

Tommy over at Jak&Jil  and StreetFSN has gotten us thinking more and more about all the bracelets and bangles out there and how to wear them.

We obviously have a few of our favourite designers… Alexis Bittar and Pamela Love, despite their completely different aesthetic, have always had a special place in our hearts.

And because we can’t afford to shell out all of our pay cheque to adorn our wrist (but trust, we do wish we could) a few other, more affordable pieces that we still love below

Alex and Ani wire bracelet, $60 Cara Accessories peacock jewelry, $48 Cara Accessories wrap around bracelet, $48 Cara Accessories etched jewelry, $48 Goldtone jewelry, $39 Briolette bracelet, $34 MNG by Mango bangle bracelet, $36 Enamel jewelry, $25 Daytrip wrap bracelet, $12 Miss Selfridge mesh jewelry, 10 GBP

Some of our favourites for the season are these suede woven gold chains made by Genevieve Flavelle, available at La Merceria in Toronto. 

Insider Tips

Last weekend was one of our best friend’s birthdays. Her birthday present: an Axxium manicure from Tips Nail Bar. We’ll admit this is a selfish gift, as taking her meant we could get one too. 

The manicurists at Tips are out of this world. We cannot say enough amazing things about these ladies. (Apologies to all our IRL friends who have had to put up with the constant gushing). 

The birthday girl got a hair moon manicure. The Axxium base was a custom-mixed colour for Janine Falcon and was called You Don’t Know Janine (slight deviation from You Don’t Know Jacques). 

We finally got to try out Sophy Robson’s v-gap manicure. We knew we wanted something in a bright, coral shade, but weren’t sure about the correct colour combination. Thankfully, the lovely Rita was a pro and basically read our minds. The results are below (sorry about the iPhone pics).

Anyone who loves nails should go to Tips Nail Bar asap. They are rad. Also, the salon’s atmosphere is so fun - lovely staff, lovely clientele, amazing amazing experience.

We Love LF

Loving the spring lookbook from LF.  It pretty much sums up everything we want from the season; from the hot, dusty sepia-tone photos to the asymmetrical skirts, the bold colours and the native prints.

A few of our favourites below.

It breaks our hearts that there are not locations in Canada, but if any of you are going to be passing by one in NYC will you be sure to pick us up one of everything?

Rainy Days

April is just about upon us and we all know what happens before the May flowers and warm weather (it’s April showers… duh!).

As much as we love the ubiquitous Hunter boots and yellow-hooded jackets, we have an itch for something a bit more unique. Namely, some ruffles, gold buttons, and parasols that can shade us from the hot summer sun (!!!) and make dreary days a lot more bearable.

Agnona rain coat, Rag Bone cotton coat, Coat, AA Flannel Lined Rain Jacket, Burberry boot, Lace up boot, Boot,Umbrella,

Blast From The Past

Slowly but surely, spring is finally appearing in Canada. After a long, dreary winter we’re now able to wear lighter jackets and flash a bit of bare ankle. This also indicates that summer (aka. bathing suit season) is around the corner. Besides upping our time at the gym and cutting out desserts, this means it’s also time to engage in our most dreaded yearly tradition- bathing suit shopping.

Thankfully bathing suit designers heard our prayers, realizing that we’re not all blessed with the body of a Victoria’s Secret model and an alternative to the string bikini was needed. This season designers have brought back the retro, high-waisted bottoms and made bathing suits a little less scary.

(created on Polyvore)

Sweet Pleet

We first heard about Samantha Pleet through her collaboration with Urban Outfitters. It wasn’t until we saw some of her pieces in Robber last weekend that we were reminded of how wonderful her sweet and quirky designs are. 

Pleet describes her clothing as “intertwining elements of the mysterious and fantastical with a sense of modernity.” Her Fall 2011 collection was inspired by mythology, astrology and the enchantment she experienced on a recent trip to Iceland.

Oh, and did we mention her clothes are eco-friendly? It’s official, we’re in love.

(via Samantha Pleet, Need Supply, Robber)

Denim From Head to Toe

Remember in grade 8 when “Ready or Not” was the show you would rush home to watch after school? Amanda’s denim jacket + jeans combo was, like, the BEST! Then there was that episode where she checked out Peach Beserk and thought it was awesome and decided to cut up her jeans and draw flowers all over them, then her dad got all upset (because he had just lost his job that day)? Yeah, us too.

But then a few years later you were like “denim jacket?? No way, the only denim I wear is covering my legs and it is dark blue. Besides I never reeeaaally liked ‘Ready or Not’ that much anyways.” (Liar! Every 80s baby loved that show.)

Now things have come full circle and then some… The Canadian Tuxuedo, which used to be the laughing stock of fashion is back in style and feels sooo right.

Clockwise from top left we love it paired with a baby blue Chanel bag (via Subtlety of Taste), Elle France March (via Studded Hearts) and great vest.

A few pieces that we love below.  The key seems to be not matching shades of blue exactly (no one wants to look like they are in a denim hazmat suit) but really just to play around and have fun.  And isn’t that what fashion is all about anyways?

Flights of Fancy

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to use “works of art” to describe Maryam Keyhani necklaces. Simultaneously sculptural and delicate, Keyhani combines feathers, ribbons and gold chains in her dizzyingly beautiful creations.

Keyhani, a former painter (can’t you tell?), showed her latest collection in Paris. We’ve been following her exploits over Twitter and wish her luck - though with designs like these, we doubt she needs it.

(via Trendland)

Starting on the right foot

Talking about Fashion Week wouldn’t really be complete without talking about the shoes we loved.  More than loved.  What is more than loved? Worship?  These are shoes we worship.

These Proenza Schoulers looked even more fantastic on their way back up the runway than they did coming down it.

Amazing graphics from Balenciaga

Dries Van Noten took the lucite heel to a whole other level.  Seriously.  Look at those colours!

The Celine heels on the left are a bit more work apropos than the Margielas on the right. But OMG THEY MAKE YOUR FOOT LOOK LIKE IT’S FLOATING IN AIR AND YOU ARE A FAIRY PRINCESS!! How do these work?? Amazing!!

(images via style.com)

Pretty tips…

Part of what makes a fashion show so exciting is all the little details a designer thinks about. Aside from the clothes & accessories, they have to consider how to style the hair, makeup and… NAILS!!! From covetable to kooky, there have been some memorable nail polish designs this season.

We are obsessed with the chevron nails at Antonio Beradi. Expertly applied by the incredible Sophy Robson and her team, we are dying (and kind of terrified) to DIY these.

The gold-tipped French manicures at Jason Wu were super glamorous. 

Vena Cava’s nail polish rings were interesting. We’re not sure exactly how to feel about it. It sort of seems like something we would have done in grade five, like paint your nails with White-Out (was that just us?).

Finally, we love the playful Dalmatian-inspired nails for Topshop Unique. The show’s theme - “doggy style” - was echoed through the model’s top buns and painted-on noses.

(via Sophy Robson, WWD, All Lacquered Up, Sophy Robson)