Fashion for Funds: Huge success!

I am happy to report that the Fashion for Funds event on Sunday was an unbelievable success.  Kate Reeve, the 12-yr-old girl who started it all, received a well-deserved standing ovation from the large crowd who came out on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of a long weekend.  The space was standing room only by 1pm, 20 minutes before the fashion show was set to start.  The event ended up raising over $8000 to benefit the children's hospices-Rogers House and Canuck Place.  This was over $3000 more than the goal amount Kate had set out for herself to raise.

The teamwork between hair, makeup, designers and models was unbelievable.  Everyone worked together to make the event move as seamlessly as possible, and despite the many quick changes, in general the reports I heard from my friends who came out to watch said it looked great from their vantage point.  For those of us backstage, it was a hot and sticky cloud of hairspray and mayhem, but it worked!  Everyone was in a great mood, which is always key and the hair and makeup crew showed how well they work under pressure.  Max Keeping was a fantastic emcee, occupying the crowd while we ran around backstage getting our collections in order.  DJ Ilon also volunteered his time and did a great job with the music.  Everyone involved worked so hard without complaint, showing what we can accomplish with solid teamwork and great direction.

Here are a few photos of some of my favourite looks on the runway:

Jana Hanzel



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz



Rachel Sin



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz



Undone Clothing 



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz



Shweta Wahi



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz



And myself

(I get three, mmkay?)

Nautical Swimwear



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz



Le Midi (French Riviera)



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz



La Belle Epoque



Photo credit:  Greg Kolz


I tried my best to amalgamate my three collections into a somewhat cohesive line for the show, but discovered it was pretty difficult.  I decided to go with a 70s feel, because that sort of worked with all three.  I asked Ilon to use disco-inspired beats for the music and had a whole makeup and hair concept involving modern day Farrah Fawcett-esque 'dos and natural, bronzed, girl-next-door faces.  Unfortunately, when you are sharing models with 4 other designers, each with their own concept, and when you are dead last in the lineup it just doesn't work out how you want it to...so a few of the girls came out with not-so-70s hair AT all.  Oh well, you live and you learn...

Thank you to those who were able to make it out to the event, blogged about it, talked about it or shared it on Facebook and Twitter.  It is thanks to everyone who had an interest in the show and the story behind it for making it such a great success.  Kate has already begun talking about making the event an annual affair.  All I know is that I am there as a designer or as a spectator-whichever she would prefer.

xo Amber

Cancun 2011 Lookbook FINALLY



Well, this is about a century overdue...not to mention incomplete due to my butter fingers launching the other camera to the bottom of the sea.  This compilation was produced using the bf's new camera purchased shortly before leaving for the trip, which was way too big and expensive to bring anywhere involving liquids and with the photos taken by our new friends we made while there!  Thanks Christina!

Hi, I'm a Canadian...in case you couldn't tell by my double-denim tag team, Team Canada mittens or my hockey duffel.
Shirt, socks, skarf and toque-Joe Fresh, jeggings and anorak-Urban Outfitters, mitts-Zellers, moccasins-gifted, duffel-ProHockey Life



Don't know why I look so menacing here.  I think we were annoyed about overcast skies upon arrival.

Wee!  Trying out the camera's different functions.  This one takes 25 frames super fast, so you can scroll through like a flip book!  The beds were already pushed together like this when we got there, hahaha.
Lace body suit and skirt-American Apparel




Hanging out in the gorgeous foliage...HA!
Shirt-Joe Fresh, dress-honestly can't remember bc it is so old, Sunglasses-Shopper Drug Mart, belt-Winners, Shoes that you can't see because the photographer constantly cuts off my feet-Spring

   


Mandatory shot of me in head to toe tacky souvenirs.
All-Cancun market where they took us to the cleaners and we failed to realise until much later.

 

Lounging on the beach!
Bikini-Tommy Hilfiger, necklace-NRML, sunglasses-Ray Ban





NYE outfit!
Bustier-thrifted, skirts-both American Apparel, shoes-some cheap store in Cancun, belt-H & M, necklaces (they're pocket watches!)-thrifted and stall at trunk show


 

Again with the feet cut off.
Dress-Young Janes, shoes-Steve Madden, necklace-thrifted



This dress is wonderfully scandalous.
Dress-Zara, belt-Winners, bracelet (the gold one, not the tacky plastic ones you have to keep on to be allowed anywhere)-Aldo, sunglasses-no clue, we posed with these and hopefully gave them back to the rightful owner.

  

At Coco Bongo, one of the last nights.
Lace tank and ruffled shorts-Winners, accessories-all Aldo, if I can remember correctly



Didn't end up wearing this to go for dinner for fear of messy Mexican dinner ruin irreplaceable white dress.
Dress-one of my creations!  Worn with vintage chain necklace laced around buttons.

  

At the most delicous Mexican restaurant of LIFE!
Dress-Fraishe in TO, necklace-thrifted, bangle-Aldo



YUMMM!  The only way to shoot tequila.

Only two months after returning from the trip, I could really use another vacation.  Couldn't we all?  Hoping to go to NYC soon to see my gorgeous model girlfriend!  Yeee!

Man, now I just want some damn guacamole...and maybe a teeny tiny tequila.

xo Amber

Queen of Hearts

Today's accessories:

Hairband:  Aldo

Ring:  gifted

Tights: H & M

Shoes:  Some reeeeeallllly inexpensive store in Cancun

Don't you just love my ghetto Blackberry pics?  Pixels, how I miss you in my life.

Today's soundtrack:

Maroon 5-She Will Be Loved.  Takes me to a different place in my life.

Justin Timberlake - My Love.  He's hot.  Whatever.

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream.  How everyone wants to feel in their relationship.

Gwen Stefani - 4 in the Morning.  I would kill a person for her hair.  Also, she says everything I have ever thought.

This weekend was so great!  I went to Toronto to visit my best friend who lives in the Beaches/Leslieville area of town, which is really beautiful.  It was her boyfriend's birthday party on Saturday, and after 11 years of them dating, he is one of my oldest friends as well.  I was also able to see some of my other great friends who also live in TO.

Saturday afternoon, my business partner Marie and I met with a gentleman who will be able to manufacture our swimwear line!  It was the most important step in my adventure so far, and to be able to walk away feeling confident and more informed felt so great.  I have a few more things I need to knock off before we move ahead to the manufacturing stage, but I am confident it will all come together.  I think Marie and I both felt the meeting was a potential deal breaker and could have been a major snafu had we not felt it had gone well.

Back to Love Day stuff, is this not a scene from every girl's fantasy?

This is a guy who acknowledges the girl is not, in fact, without faults...but that he still finds her wholly perfect WITH those faults, and not DESPITE them.  Man, I love that movie.

There are a lot of romantic comedy films that incorporate the "grand gesture" scene...the speech in front of a thousand spectators, the national TV confession, the workplace disruption, the smashing of many glass objects at the restaurant, etc, etc.

I am here to say on behalf of many women (I would never dare to say all), we don't want it.  The idea of a guy proposing on a jumbotron screen at a Sens game makes me want to be ill.  Mostly because I couldn't give a flying F--- about the Sens, but also because I think the moment needs a certain level of intimacy. 

I think on Valentine's Day, all a girl wants is to feel like her guy knows who she is and does justice to the unique relationship that they have.  I don't think that it requires an expensive night out either...just a bit of thought.  So don't freak out, just remember the things you love about that person and the right plan will come easily.

xo Amber

Predator vs. Prey

Several years ago, I was in Montreal with a few friends for the Britney Spears Circus concert tour.  We were all getting ready to go out and my friend Alex, who loves animal print anything, asked "is ok to mix predator with prey?".  I honestly do not think we stopped laughing about that for the rest of the weekend and I STILL quote it to this day.  I cannot even remember what the verdict was...I just know that I see nothing wrong with it myself.  Frankly, it's somewhat symbolic.  Remember in the Lion King when Mufasa explains the Circle of Life to Simba- how lions and antelope live together in harmony with one balancing the other?  How fitting, then, to have my giraffe print belt hold up my leopard print skirt.

Sorry I have the worst backgrounds of life for my photos...those of you with a patient and understanding photographer, I hope you appreciate it.

Shirt and belt - H&M

Shoes - Steve Madden

Skirt - Winners

Watch - Michael Kors

Necklace - vintage

Bracelet - Aldo

Tights - Zellers 



Sing it with me now:

"Maaaaaatsebenyaaaaabababeeetubabo..situnuuuuwenyamaaa.

MAAAAAAtsebenyababaBEEEtubabo..situnuuuwenyabaaaaaaa...hagabaaa...

It's the CIR-cleeeee, the CIR-cle of-a-LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!"  BOOM!

Elton...you complete my circle of life.

xo Amber 


PS. Going to TO this weekend!  Tomorrow I meet with someone who may be able to help me manufacture my designs!  Wish me luck :)

Inspiration: Lisbeth Salander

For anyone who has read the Millenium Series by Stieg Larsson, I hope you are as obsessed with it as I am, because I just can't get enough.  I read them this past summer/fall and shortly after watched the first film, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  I was really impressed with the Swedish-with-English-subtitles film, and overall thought the casting was really well done.  Noomi Rapace is perfect as the brooding Salander and does the role justice. I feel like if it had been done in the US, they would just butcher the characters with badly-casted actors.  I can just imagine Jessica Alba as Lisbeth Salander or something equally horrendous.   I just recently watched the second film, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and again I was so into it!  I think part of it is that Salander's character could not be more opposite of mine.  Aside from some intense mood swings, we have absolutely nothing else in common. 

• Lisbeth is a competent hacker who breaks into complicated computer networks without authorization.  I am technologically impotent. 
• She has a photographic memory.  I remember faces, but often have embarrassing moments where I can't "place" how I know the person, and just forget about me remembering their name.  I can, if I have served them only once in the past, quite often remember what they like to drink though.  It's effed, and outside of a bar scene situation, totally useless.
• Salander is skillful at concealing her identity, possessing passports in different names and physical disguises that she uses to travel undetected around Sweden and worldwide.  Um, that's sort of difficult to compare.  I have never needed to disguise myself for any reason.  I'd like to think I would be ok at it...then again, I break into a sweat when I'm quizzed  by the border officers going through customs, so probably not. 
• Due to her traumatic childhood, Lisbeth is highly introverted, anti-social, and has difficulty connecting to people and making friends.  I have been accused of having too many friends, and in fact have been told by someone "the last thing you need is another friend".  That person is crazy.

In honour of Lisbeth, I have dedicated a post to fashion influenced by her style.  I would probably never wear all of this together, but separately, absolutely!



Balmain leather jacket



Dr. Marten's Women's Phina Boot



Want Les Essentiels De La Vie Computer Bag

I feel like I might actually be good with computers if I had this bag....and a new, sleek lap top to go in it. 




Leather epaulettes by Logan Neitzel




Leather aviation cap by Logan Neitzel



So, who's ready to hack into some super cool, tricky network?  I'll just go grab my hand-me-down lap top without wireless internet and a battery that dies in ten minutes if it's not plugged in.  Ready?  "Amber, are you just Googling how to hack into a computer network?"  "No!  K, yes."

xo Amber

Love Lockdown

Happy February everyone!  It's snowy, but hey-at least it's short!  I'll likely be hitting up some Winterlude activities this weekend, joining the packs of skaters on the canal and standing in a 30 minute lineup for ho-cho and a beaver tail.  Mmmm, get in my bel-ly!

Oh yeah, and mid-month is EVERYONE's fave non-holiday!  St. Valentine's Day....statistically one of the most dreaded (and lucrative) days of the year.  And yet...I HEART IT!  I do, I really do!  As far back as I can remember, I loved the red and pink and white and all the Valentine cards and all the heart shaped candies.  As I got older, I loved going to the Valentine's Day dances at my high school and hoping for that boy to ask me to go, and still not even caring so much when he didn't (and believe me, he NEVER did) because then I could just spend the night with my girlfriends.  My best friends and I would send each other at least 10 Cupid-grams each, filled with inside jokes and just burst out laughing in the middle of our respective first periods when they were delivered, and then tell each other all about our reactions when we saw each other next (because we didn't have cell phones yet and so we actually had to SEE EACH OTHER to tell the latest news rather than instantly sending a text...oh how did we ever survive?).  It was always so fun!  I had this great shirt that I wore all the time, but that I especially liked to wear on Valentine's Day because it had all these little multicoloured hearts printed all over it.  I can't even remember what happened to that shirt...what a shame, since I would still wear it now. 

I think what I always liked about Valentine's Day was that while I was growing up, it wasn't about being in a couple-not at all.  Obviously in elementary school it wasn't, but honestly even through high school I still didn't feel like I was left out because I was single.  Eventually, when I finally did lock down a boyfriend, I failed to really subscribe to the idea that he was going to make the day all that more magical...it already was!  I still brought Valentines for all of my friends (not the whole class like in grade 3, since that would have been insanely difficult), and dressed up in the colours and just totally loved the entire day! 

Now, as an adult, after a few more relationships, I still really look forward to celebrating the day of Love.  I send my girls messages and give out cards, and wear red or pink (yes, right down to my underwear), and enjoy planning a nice evening.  This year my bf and I are going to see The Importance of Being Earnest, a play by Oscar Wilde, performed at The Gladstone Theatre.  I've been meaning to go and see a show there for a long time now, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to fulfill my wish! 

I miiiiight have made a big deal about Valentine's Day the first year my present bf and I were together (I won't go into detail on the scene), but in subsequent years I have realised that I had it right all along when I was growing up...it's not about the dinner and the flowers and the presents...it's honestly about making an effort to spend time with and to tell the people you care about how much you love them.  Oh, and having an excuse to buy more lingerie.  Wink wink.

Speaking of which...enjoy these cute numbers:

Agent Provocateur http://www.agentprovocateur.com/

Victoria's Secret http://www.victoriassecret.com/

For your footsies:

Aldo-on sale right now!

Don't worry, I'll be wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day on the 14th as well, but I figured I could help get everyone in the mood ;)

Love Always,

xo Amber