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