Summer 2011: Epilogue

I'm not going to comment on how long it's been since my last post.  It's extremely evident.  Moving forward, what an amazing summer that was!  Yes it went by quickly and yes I spent a lot of time indoors, hunched over my desk/my friend's dining room table working on what needed to be done, but wow...I seriously have a lot to show for it!

In the perfect culmination of everything I have been working toward, I had organized an amazing creative collaboration:  Grunge & Glamour at the Gladstone, held in Toronto at the Gladstone Hotel.  The event started with hip hop DJ Marko, followed by TO rock band The One-Look Donnybrook and ended with my swimwear runway show (accompanied by The OLD).  Visual artist Nick Sweetman covered the walls of the venue in his artwork.  It was so satisfying to see it finally come together...often we make plans or think of great ideas and they don't always materialize.  This is one of those ideas that not only came to be, but turned out even better than the original seed of thought.  The venue was perfect for the feel we were going for and the Gladstone staff were unbelievably amazing to work with the entire time.  We sold out the tickets and received so much positive feedback.  In the process, I was able to work with old friends, make new ones, and close a chapter on a part of my fashion design.  Also, the collection that I showed for the G & G event will be my last one that I made on my old sewing machine and likely will not be shown again.  The morning before the show, I drove to Newmarket to pick up my fresh new collection, which will be debuted at Ottawa Fashion Week at the end of this month!  So begins the next chapter...

Here's a shot of me with my models after the show.  I was lucky again to work with an amazing team.  The girls were so fun and had such great attitudes...the Green Room was a total party.  Hair was styled by the talented Kyle Hannaford from Head Candy Salon in Toronto.

Photo credit:  Santiago Ortega

For more photos from the runway show, click here or here.

Cheers to a new season!

xo Amber

Grunge and Glamour at the Gladstone

Consider this your official invite to the latest and greatest event I am very happy to be a part of!

A bit of history:

A few months ago I was speaking with my friend who lives in Toronto on Facebook chat (we were both slacking at our desk jobs, what can I say?).  We were both talking about our side projects-my fashion design, his rock band called The One-Look Donnybrook.  I mentioned I wanted to do another show in Toronto this summer, and he suggested I have The O.L.D. play for the show.  Over the course of several weeks, we had put together a pretty solid vision and had also included his friend Nick Sweetman, a Toronto visual artist, to the lineup.  Finally, as of a few weeks ago, Nick brought in his friend Marko Orlic to DJ as well.  And so the event was complete...an incredible collaboration that will showcase each of our talents with absolutely no room for boredom and only the opportunity for one amazing time!

So...come!  I can't wait to see it all come together :)

xo Amber

Expecting the unexpected

Taking a mini-break for some brain babble in the form of a blog post:

Starting this fashion line is the closest I have ever been to having a child, or I suppose what I imagine it to be like:  In the first stages, it's just so exciting!  I announce the news to everyone who will listen and want to shout it from the rooftops how happy I am and how great I feel about it!  Then, the full weight of the situation starts to sink in.  My entire life needs to change to fit this into my plans: My apartment isn't big enough, I don't have enough time, I have to prioritize everything, not least my finances.  Meanwhile, back hurts, I'm constantly wearing "comfy pants", and using my situation as an excuse to eat junk food.  I can't sleep and I'm always anxious about how it will all turn out.  What should be the name be?  Will I be good at this?  When will I see my friends?  So many open-ended questions with no absolute answers.   But....all those scary points aside, it doesn't dispel how freaking excited I am about it all, and somewhere deep down I know it will all turn out OK.  At least this is where I am at in this entire process.  Sitting here, surrounded in patterns, with a path to the fridge and one out the front door.  An empty bag of chocolate covered raisins somewhere in there too.  (I wanted to buy Crispers, but the crumbs would have been everywhere and somehow I doubt my manufacturer wants to receive these patterns with salt and vinegar finger smudges everywhere.  Gross.)

Embarrassed to admit this was not just my night snack while tracing patterns, but also (looking down in shame) my breakfast the next day.  Judge away. 

My new pet!

Do not be fooled, this is actually a sofa.

***Allow me to take a pregnant pause to mention in passing that I am not, in this stage of my life, interested in having a child, nor do I think I actually know what it would be like.  So much respect to the mamas reading this, because I know it's probably 100 times harder than what I'm trying to do right now.

I leave for Toronto Tuesday morning and can't wait to get out of Ottawa for a couple of days and once and for all hand over this work to the professional who will then somehow turn a pile of paper cutouts and fabric into a complete sample swimwear line.  INcredible.

Until then, I still have a lot to do if I want this kid to be healthy.

xo Amber

Amber's Fall/Winter 2011 RTW (Really Truly Want)

Seeing as I did a blog post a half a year ago with the Spring/Summer 2011 RTW faves, it felt right to do it again for the Fall/Winter season.  I know some of you will hate me for it, but I really enjoy all four seasons this country has, and thank goodness I do, because I don't plan on moving anytime soon.  My absolute favourite season is, indisputably, the Fall.  The changing leaves, the crunching sounds when I'm walking home, Thanksgiving dinner and Halloween.  That's my paradise.  Then, the fashion makes it even better: cozy knits, tall leather boots, layers and textures are all just so YESSSS!!!

NOTE:  I am not trying to hurry the summer along.  You have got to be crazy if you think I need this summer to be over.  There's still SO MUCH I NEED TO DO OMG.  Also, I do enjoy my skin with some colour, so please let this last month feel extra long PLEASE.

So, without further ado:

Halston

This newest collection from the revamped fashion house did not get the best reviews, however I do love these two looks VERY much:

L.A.M.B.

Gwen wanted to make sure the audience for her NYFW runway show understood that her newest collection isn't about sticking to one genre or style.  She set six different moods with six distinct styles to clearly set them apart from each other.  I have only chosen four here.

Fantastic jacket.

Love this cape!

Hermes 

Newest accessory:  The Falcon.  This is how you ace Trend Prediction 101

Gucci

This line is phenomenal.  There were so many great looks to choose from, including lots of luxe furs and perfectly tailored jackets and coats.  My favourites though were the sheer dresses in various gem tones, black and my favourite-polka dots...these are just a taste of what Gucci's Frida Giannini sent out on the runway this season.

Proenza Schouler

The colours and texture of the material of this dress are amazing!

 Burberry Prorsum

Um, hi gorgeous coats and jackets and furs and LOVE.

That's it, I'm adding fur to every sleeve of every sweater in my closet.  Done.

Michael Kors

Love the furs.  Love the monochrome head to toe, including the models' skin tones.  

Unreal.  Anyone else craving a chocolate sundae?

Diane von Furstenberg

Hello sex on a stick.  These dresses look like they've been poured on from a paint bucket as the models walk through naked.

This is how not showing skin gets you EVERYWHERE.

Versace

I enjoyed the range offered in the fall collection.  From fierce leather looks to soft feathers and furs, there was something for every woman.

 Lanvin

Get in my closet, dress.

Balmain

This is how showing a lot of skin also gets you EVERYWHERE.

 DSquared

And finalement...my absolute favourite collection.  Beware, this is not for those who like to play it safe.  This is for those who like to gallop into the forest on a hot tempered mare to chase down the guy who cheated at the poker table and stole all your gold.  Giddy-up!

This is not a fanny pack.  These are a pair of saddle bags, one on either side, just to keep you balanced.  

Plaid hot pants:  All about practicality.

Well, hello handsome gunslinger.  Let's ride off into the sunset...although I'm not sure how you'll manage getting on the horse with those shtight jeans.

I actually could have gone on and on and on with this post, but I feel like people will likely lose interest at photo #2,356 or however many I have up there.  The point is, I love fall fashion.  That is all.  In summary, I enjoy gem tones, FURS, falcons, tailored coats, layering, sheer, denim and leather.  What's your favourite collection?

xo Amber

PS.  Speaking of practicality (re:  plaid hot pants), I just bought a leather halter top at a consignment shop called Heathers in Westboro.  The leather halter top has a collar.  I also bought floral printed pumps.  I feel it was a savvy purchase, non?  You know what, I don't care.

Summer 2011: Thus Far

I really struggled with the title of this blog post.  I feel like since it's been OVER A MONTH since my last post, that most fitting title would acknowledge how much I need to catch up on...as in the entire summer.

In a nutshell, these last few weeks have been a total blur.  Between my actual moneymaking job, plus the new money sucking business (I finally went to City Hall and registered it too, so exciting!), patternmaking, seeing friends, celebrating a grillion birthdays (a LOT of people apparently get busy in October, because July is just one long birthday jam), and my recent trip to Toronto, I legitimately can't even remember all the finer details of it all.

My Toronto visit was so amazing because of how much I was able to accomplish in only about 24 hrs.  First, I picked up this ginormous roll of manila paper that I need for my patterns.  This thing weighs over 100 lbs and is apparently going to last me years of patternmaking for my swimwear.  Which is both fantastic AND frustrating seeing as I think I have mentioned before the lack of space in this apartment.  I genuinely welcome any suggestions on how to somehow integrate it into my living space without it just being a huge totem pole of paper in the middle of the living room.  Then, I drove to Newmarket to meet my most favourite person ie. the man who knows everything about manufacturing fashion designs.  This meeting was particularly important because I was showing him what I have so far with my patterns and if he told me that I was doing it all wrong, then these last few months would have been a total waste of time and resources.  Fortunately, he gave me only positive feedback and reinforcement for my plans.  By the end of this month, I will have sent him everything he needs to create my sample collection, and from there it will be under a month before I receive it in its glorious completion!  INSANITY!  From that meeting, I travelled back downtown to Queen St. West's garment district to go fabric shopping.  Not even the disgusting stop-and-go traffic could slow down my great mood.  I managed to find 4 fabrics I loved and bought them in under 2.5 hours.  I've never been so decisive!  Finally, Tuesday evening I met with my girlfriend and PR/event marketing extraordinaire Marie Chevrier and a group of talented musicians/artists and venue scouted for a show we are planning for the end of August.  I don't want to say too much yet about the event before all the details are ironed out, but it will be amazing.  We found some great spaces and met new friends and I celebrated my fabulously productive day!

So, that's the latest and the greatest.  Sorry I've been such an epic failure with the posting.  I can honestly say that the only thing suffering from my loss of day job is this blog.  I just don't sit in front of a computer anymore, which is indescribably FANTASTIC, but on the other hand I really enjoy blogging and just haven't been keeping up with it.  I hereby make a promise to myself that I will try harder now :)

I will cap this post off with some pics from the one night I was able to go to Bluesfest!

Metric Played!

Photo credit:  Greg Kolz
Emily Haines is such a hottie.

Yes, beer and live music!
Blouse-Pink Violet, shorts-Aritzia, sandals-Urban Outfitters, watch-Michael Kors, bag-thrifted, necklace-gifted and made by my talented friend.

Oh, look who I bumped into!

During My Morning Jacket...loved!

Well, that's it for now friends!  Hope your summer has been as great as mine so far!  

xo Amber

Richard Robinson Grande Premiere 2011

Hello!

Last Saturday was the Richard Robinson annual end of the year fashion show.  The students were able to show off their hard work and I was able to sit in the audience and just enjoy the show instead of being backstage!

Here are some photos from the event of my favourite pieces and collections:

Stephanie Ross

I absolutely died (pun intended) over this collection.  I loved the entire concept with blood-splattered brides.  It reminded me of a combination of Kill Bill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie) and of one of my ultimate fave flicks, American Psycho.  Particularly the part where he brings his bloody sheets into the dry cleaner's, hahaha.

Photo:  Richard Tardif

Photo:  Tina Picard

Photo:  Tina Picard

Photo:  Tina Picard

Photo:  Tina Picard

And a few other designs that I enjoyed:
(all photos by Tina Picard)

Lidia Beausoleil

Rebecca Knox

Yesha Raval

Francine Lavack

France Renee Miron

Lily Cunha

Although I was not a fan of all the clothing shown on Saturday, I acknowledge the work that goes into the design and production as well as the techniques used to create them.  I know I have a lot to learn and after seeing the Richard Robinson show, I realise I do need to look into a few courses in the future to improve my skills and know-how.

Tomorrow is my final fitting for my pattern-making, then we need to grade the size 4 patterns up and down to create different sizes and from there make the patterns in a more durable material so that the manufacturer can use them for production.  Baby steps, but I'm making progress!

Stay tuned :)

xo Amber