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

Yes we Cannes!

May 11-22 celebrated the Cannes Film Festival.  I know,I'm sliiightly late on this one, but didn't want to forget to post this one of my favourite red carpet looks!  I don't know about you, but I can't think of a more perfect setting, and can just imagine taking in the picturesque sights during the day and attending swanky parties in the evenings-the ocean as an endlessly changing backdrop. 

Diane Kruger in a gilded Calvin Klein dress, alongside Pacey.   My 16 year old self is jealous.  Who am I kidding, so is my 27 yr old self.  Sigh.

The gorgeous Gwen Stefani in a Stella McCartney jumpsuit with husband Gavin Rossdale

Kirsten Dunst in Chanel

Uma Thurman is breathtaking in this Armani Prive gown

Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams.  Love this Maxime Simoens Couture dress.

The eccentric Tilda Swinton kept it classic, with statement heels.  She's starring in the movie adaptation of "We Need to Talk about Kevin", one of my favourite reads!

Zoe Saldana in Georgio Armani

OK, that's it...get me a damn yacht and a damn glass of bubbly right MEOW!

xo Amber

Who likes the Merry-Go-Round?

Over the last couple of weeks, my life has certainly followed a slightly erratic path.  Without going too detailed, between the devastating outcome of the election for myself and my friends that tossed us into an unwanted decision-making situation and my own personal ups and downs that I have experienced, I certainly feel like I have been taken for a ride.  This is where a good movie quote can come in handy just to feel like you’re not alone.  This one is from the 1989 film Parenthood starring Steve Martin as Gil Buckman.  If you haven’t seen it, I sincerely suggest you rent it right now.  It’s hilarious.  Need more incentive?  A young Keanu Reeves plays “that Todd”, who is really just like every other pre-2000s movie role he has ever played, but still SO funny.  It's one of mine and my bff's all-time favourite movies.  OK, on to the quote:

(Gil has been complaining about his complicated life; Grandma wanders into the room) 

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. 

Gil: Oh? 

Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! 

Gil: What a great story. 

Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it. 

I can honestly say I have quoted that scene with some degree of paraphrasing so many times because of how often it seems a propos.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that even though yes, there are inevitable ups and downs, I have to continually remind myself that it’s what keeps things interesting.  

On that note, below are a few images from a casual photo shoot I wanted to do at a little carnival near my apartment at Dow’s Lake.  Unfortunately at the time it wasn’t open yet.  The workers were setting it up, hanging prizes and making cotton candy, but the rides weren’t running yet.  So, we just took a couple of photos and continued on our bike ride.  I have always loved carnivals.  Maybe it’s because of the disgustingly delicious food, or for the nostalgic feeling they bring about.  Or, maybe I, with my freakishly small hands, nomadic desires and gypsy ancestry, just feel at home.  Who can say?

Pretty sure in those stilts I would be tall enough no matter what

American Apparel bodysuit, H&M belt, skirt bought in Buenos Aires, vintage necklace,  Michael Kors watch, all other accessories and shoes are Aldo

My bf made me post this one because it was his fave, even though I'm not so sure how I feel about it.

No, I did not bike in those shoes. 

So....the question is, which do you prefer:  The merry-go-round or the rollercoaster?

xo Amber

Ottawa Fashion Week F/W 2011: Fave looks

Alright, so I have some pics now to show my fave looks from this season's Ottawa Fashion Week.  As hard as it was to get excited about Fall and Winter fashions, since we are all currently looking forward to Spring and Summer apparel, I think I have a pretty sizable look book of my favourite designs.  All photos, unless otherwise captioned, are by Greg Kolz.

 ElizBourk

An up-and comer from Montreal, Elise Bourque had not even participated in a "real fashion show" until this weekend.  With just a blog and a dream, Miss Bourque proves that talent and creativity can drive a fashion line more than anything else can.  Judging on the feedback I heard from her show, she is going to have a hard time filling orders in the coming year!  I don't even know her and I'm beaming with pride :)

Loved the use of fur (obvi), the cozy yet stylish feel to every piece, and the perfectly styled looks the models wore on the runway.

Comfy and sexy?  Sign me up.

Fur, feathers and 'coon tails...triple threat!

Not to mention she used such naturally gorgeous models.  They were all fresh-faced, youthful and looked comfortable in their ensembles.  Well done!

The Escape Movement 

This was my favourite look from The Escape Movement.  HOWEVER, that being said, I think overall I was distracted by the accessories.  In fact, I may have been misled into thinking the line was interesting because the hats and the scarves and the models' hair and/or faces were great.  Scrolling through the pics from this line, realistically as much as it is wearable, I needed something fresh and new to get excited.  I am not good at "basics shopping"...buying plain tank tops and tshirts makes me yawn, even if I absolutely need them.  The tees with "ESCAPE" written on them kind of remind me of Dorry from Nemo, heehee!

Photo:  Ottawa Sun



Khala Morgan

Hi, I'm Amber and I like Vintage.  Ipso Facto, I enjoyed the Mad Men retro feel of Khala Morgan's line.  Further explanation seems unecessary.  Take note of the capelet (cute!) and the houndstooth print skirt below.  The models were perfect for the look too, and the hair and makeup were exactly what the line needed to complete the look.

Adib Simon

Designer Luciano Adib was born in Cordoba, Argentina.  Seeing as I am half Argentinian (specifically the lower half), I was particularly interested in what he had to show.  His collection was definitely different, with some of the looks being totally wearable and some not so much.  It is always hard to know when a non-cohesive collection is meant to be sort of all over the place, when the designer has emalgamated three collections into one (which I had to do for the fundraiser last month), or when it's simply that the designer hasn't quite figured out what their "voice" is.  Either way, there was a mix of boho-chic (as seen below), haute couture, clubwear and something that looked like it must be an homage to his home country. 

Micalla

Look up "luxurious" in the dictionary and one of these pieces should be under there.  The collection concluded the first night and easily stole the show.  Gorgeous models with cascading clusters of jewels and pearls, and perfectly red, sparkling lips.  WANT WANT WANT!

Panache

by Jana Hanzel and Emilia Torabi

I chose close-ups for this collection because I wanted to really show what parts of the looks I liked.  For the first two, I just was so overjoyed by the hats!  I like the military cut white jacket on the left as well.

The colour and the detail of the jacket on the left is adorable.  The grey tailored suit on the right is something I would wear to work.  The entire collection is geared to the working woman, so there were certainly some pieces I would have use for on the Hill.  The last look is head to toe great.  Loved the pink, the ruffle, and the big fur hat!

Rachel Sin

I liked this gold sparkling blazer.  I enjoy the entire look actually, with just the simple black bra and black pants, allowing the jacket to stand out.

Serendipity

I really wished that designer Kelsey McIntyre had only shown bridal because it's clearly her forte.  This dress was the showstopper, saved until the very end, and on its own without seeing the rest of the looks, is very promising.  Personally, I would have liked to have seen an entire bridal collection.

Adrian Wu

With much anticipation surrounding his newest collection, young designer Adrian Wu certainly got everyone's attention with his pieces he sent down the runway.  Showing skill and vision, his collection was not exactly Ready to Wear, but it did earn respect from fellow designers.  I enjoy a cohesive, well thought-out collection, regardless if I am going to be able to wear the pieces or not.  I know some people who came hoping for off-the-runway wearable clothes were potentially disappointed, but I think over the course of 3 days it was decidedly fresh and slapped everyone awake after mostly neutrals and mainstream looks.



Photos:  Ming Wu



Photo:  Ming Wu



Designer Adrian Wu

A few last points:

1. I was going to do a Hits and Misses post, but I looked through all the photos, and I honestly feel like the majority of the collections were, whether I LIKED them or not, well-made, and seemed to have a target market of consumers that WOULD like the designs.  So, I'm going to leave it at that.  I also feel it's bad karma to tear apart other designer's work.  It's really hard and really brave to put yourself out there like they did this weekend, so kudos to each of them!
2. I have to find out what the deal is with those damn shoes that so many of the designers used in their collections.  Are they donated?  If I were to show next season, do I have to use them?  I watched a few models almost go down AGAIN this season, and I have to ask...what is the need?  After the last model for Adib Simon almost broke both her ankles and was literally saved by the designer who had been holding her hand,  I finally asked my model friend during intermission if those shoes are actually as hard as they seem to be to walk in.  She went through a line-by-line explanation of the mechanics involved with a successful navigation of the runway using those shoes...and the simple answer is yes-they're really not easy to walk in.  All I know is, I'm avoiding them at all costs and will do everything short of spray the runway down with an adhesive to keep my girls from going down.
3. A few of the designers from out of town were no-shows at the event.  I find that difficult to comprehend.  I can understand for smaller events that are mid-week having a business partner or a representative appear in your place.  However, for something like a Fashion Week, no matter where the location is, I am absolutely shocked and semi turned off about a designer that can't make it to the show.  It's a weekend, the Argentinian designer made it happen, and how can you possibly trust something that big to someone else to figure out?  It's nuts.  I am way too much of a control freak to be ok with that.

OK, I think that's huge enough.

xo Amber