Warm is the new black

What a great weekend!  Just one of those delicious food, big laughs, popcorn at the movies, crazy vintage deals kind of a weekend.  Oh, and I got a new winter parka.  Which can't be left out since it took up most of my Saturday afternoon.  It felt like I was Tommy Lee Jones and the role of the Fugitive was being played by The Parka.

The following marks the trials and tribulations of my hunt:

What:  A knee-length black parka with a fur trimmed hood.  Sounds easy, no?

Not:  shiny, lumpy, overly sporty, shapeless, noisy, overpriced for quality level, belongs in a rap video and/or mangy-looking fur.

1st stop:  Aritzia.  TNA makes a few parkas that essentially fit the description I gave, but I still found them pretty shapeless and overpriced considering none of them were 100% down, and the fur all looked pretty cheap.  Not to mention the store was a dee-saster when I got there....I think half of Ottawa was also parka shopping and I immediately became overwhelmed.  Average price = $300.

2nd stop:  Sports Experts.  Again, crazy hordes of parka shoppers.  There were a lot more brand options, including North Face, Lole, Sunice and a couple Canada Goose (geese?).  However, there were very limited sizes, and to be honest most of the styles seemed geared to an older customer.  Average price = $400.

3rd stop:  Norml.  The only kinds of parkas here were Canada Goose.  The good thing is that you know you're always getting the same price on CG and so you can just relax and try on the coats and if you like it, you don't have to keep going, trying to find a better price somewhere else.  At this point, the prices weren't really even shocking anymore and I tried on a couple styles, quickly determining that I wasn't into the coloured ones and really, truly just wanted a black one which they didn't have in my size.  Average price depending on style = $480

4th stop:  Roadtrip.  This was my favourite stop because I haven't actually shopped there before aside from peering in the windows and a few of my girlfriends have told me it is a hidden gem-literally-as it is located in the courtyard under condos and near Foundations and Social.  It carries a mix of brands at different price points and if you're looking for a dress for NYE or a holiday party, I highly suggest you check it out...specifically a gorgeous silver sequined number that I didn't even try on out of fear I would like it too much and have to put it back on the rack and walk away.  I needed to stay focused on what I came for.  I found two coats by Spiewak, which are apparently the same brand that makes the NYPD's and postal workers' outerwear.  They WERE pretty cute but to be honest they were really nothing special, as one style didn't even have fur on the hood and the one that did again had some super cheap-looking fuzz.  Although, because they were made from Thinsulate, they definitely weren't too puffy and they were definitely the most affordable at $250.  I decided to keep looking.

5th stop:  Expedition Shoppe.  Pretty much when I entered the store, one of the guys working there immediately offered to help me out, but assumed wrongly that I was looking for only Canada Goose...which they were almost sold out of.  When I said I wasn't in the market for any particular brand, he suggested a different parka made by Quartz, which is apparently made in Quebec.  The thing was a size small and was a freaking TENT...but very warm and comparable to a Goose if it had been a better size.  I actually think it was probably a Men's small or something, and honestly I didn't expect to find a lot there, I just wanted to check and make sure that I wasn't missing out on a different brand that I wasn't aware of, and the Quartz really was nice and had a REALLY nice fur trim and everything, so if you're looking for something like that then I suggest you check it out.  It was the only one I tried on because they were admittedly low in stock.  Price of Quartz parka = $450.

My new coat! 
Style:  Whistler Parka



6th (and final) stop:  Schad.  Sigh.  This was by far the hardest place to shop for me.  Not for lack of options.  Not for lack of sizing.  Not because it was busy or bad customer service.  In fact, the reason it was SO HARD was because they had SO many great parkas, an amazing sales team, and all possible styles and brands were in my size.  I told the girl working there what I was looking for and she immediately pulled out a perfect parka by Moose Knuckles...so cute, exactly what I described and who could hate that name?  Hahaha.  However, at $790, I just couldn't.  So, she showed me a few more by Rudsak, which I found to be ok but on the shinier side, and the hood was just oddly shaped with honestly kind of a crap fur trimmed hood.  The next coat was by Mackage and it had the softest-lined hood ever, which could be unzipped down the middle to lie flat if you weren't using it (sort of 70s-looking) and an asymmetrical front zipper.  I did like it, except again I found it too shiny.  Just not my thing, even though I did like the hood a lot.  So, finally, the very patient girl handed me a Canada Goose parka.  It was long-coming down to above my knees, slim fitting, with a belt, black, not shiny, and a big, awesome gorgeous fur trim.  It was perfect.  Mission accomplished.

I honestly hadn't set out to buy a Goose, and it was WAY out of my initial price range, but after shopping all afternoon I came to the conclusion that I just wasn't going to find anything under $400 that was even close to what I wanted or needed to survive the winter.  Sure, Canada Goose parkas are totally trendy, and often that can turn me off certain items (or in cases like UGGS I just never really liked them to begin with), but in this case I think this trend just might be right on target...because on this exTREMEly rare occasion, it's also fully functional and -dare I say the word- practical. 

In your FACE, Winter!

xo Amber

Helpful links:
http://mooseknucklescanada.com/
http://www.canada-goose.com/
http://www.quartz-nature.com/en/nouvelles.htm
http://www.rudsakstore.com/
http://www.mackage.com/
http://www.spiewak.com/
http://aritzia.com/

How Bazaar

It's Friday, folks!  My morning tea never tastes so good as it does on a Friday...I even find it easier to get up, despite frigid temps and the warm body next to me.  I figure, the sooner I'm up, the sooner I am at work and the sooner the day gets started.  This week has been particularly productive too, both at work and in my personal endeavours, which feels great to look back on all I have accomplished in just one week.  My gf Marie, who is also my business partner, came up from TO Sunday and we spend hours at the Starbucks down the street drafting our business plan and drinking multiple holiday warmers.  Following that great day, we met up with my financial advisor on Wednesday who explained all the possible options we have for getting the funding we need for this business of ours.  We also made a list of manufacturers in Canada who could potentially end up making our swimsuits!  How exciting!

I find that the one thing I have learned during this process is that you can't discount anyone as a possible resource for a business venture.  The guy who sells you your sandwich at lunch has a cousin in advertising.  Your friend's hairstylist knows a guy looking for an investment opportunity.  Your girlfriend's friend of a friend is an amateur photographer looking to bulk up his portfolio in exchange for a free photoshoot.  My best friend of life happens to be a producer on Dragons' Den.  She wouldn't in a million years let me go in front of Kevin O'Leary (I cry UNBELIEVABLY easily and he would sit there telling me "there are no room for tears in business" between sobs), but what she can do is help me get an idea of what investors are looking for when you ask them for their money.  Anyway, I won't bore anyone with this business talk anymore, but believe it or not as someone who has never taken a business course in her life, I am Disneyland-excited to get even more done in our little plan!

So, tomorrow morning I'm hitting up the annual Abbotsford House Bazaar 950 Bank Street across from Landsdowne Park.  I go every year because my gf Alex works there as the activities coordinator and she and the other hard working individuals put together this fundraiser every year...quite the time consuming event, but SO fantastic!  People donate clothing, jewellery and accessories (mostly vintage), as well as books and handmade crafts and baked goods and they are sold for very affordable prices, with all funds going back into the programming.  There's no better reason to go vintage shopping:  gems at low prices with a good cause.  PERfection.  I'm meeting up with our friend John who also loves vintage shopping and we are trekking over. I know from previous years not to wear anything difficult, specifically footwear.  Considering wearing a nude bodysuit and flip flops so I can beat those bazaar ladies at their own game.  OMG, aside from the Glebe Garage sale, I had never before experienced the merciless shoving, elbowing and grabbing of the bazaar shopper.  At first glance you think she's just a sweet older lady...many bruises later and with only the slim pickings left on the jewellery tables, you realise this is no sweet little granny and I CANNOT shove back, which I'm sure they are fully aware.  That was my first year's experience...in subsequent years I've stuck to the clothing and accessories area. 

Anyway, I can't remember all the great things I've found there, but some items include:  brown leather motorcycle gloves, several purses and scarves, a navy dress with gold buttons and shoulder pads which I shortened, a periwinkle blue dress that I wore out from use, a navy wool pleated skirt, an AMAZING yellow ensemble that I call my Jackie O outfit (60s style jacket with a dress that I had to make into a pencil skirt because it was too big-worn with giant sun glasses and little gloves, obvi.), and a couple pairs of shoes.  Alex is great too because she sees items that she "can't allow people who don't appreciate" to snag and will put them aside for me...like two authentic Stetson tweed hats, Ferragamo shoes, and an amazing Pierre Cardin dress that fits me like a glove.  In honour of tomorrow's event, I'm currently wearing the navy pleated skirt:

knit top: Zara; tights, shoes and ring: Zellers; belt, necklace and brooch; thrifted

Anyhoo, wrapping it up here...I can't wait for tomorrow morning.  You should come too!  And if anyone has suggestions of other vintage sales/events like the Abbotsford bazaar, please tell me :)

Happy weekend!

xo Amber

My Spidey Senses are Tingling....

In 1962, Stan Lee came up with a story about a young geek named Peter Parker who gets bitten by a radioactive spider while on a school trip to the science museum and discovers that he has acquired a couple new powers, including superhuman strength, extrasensory perception, and the ability to climb up walls. Now the story is taken in a new and creative direction as as Julie Taymor’s long-delayed rock musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, with songs by U2’s Bono and the Edge, opens on Broadway in January.  Taymor designed most of the masks herself, but for costumes, she turned to Eiko Ishioka, a 1988 Tony nominee known for her bold, graphic style a flair for the dramatic.

The following is a photoshoot spread by the acclaimed Annie Leibovitz that she recently did for the December issue of Vogue with the stars of the new Spider-Man Broadway, combining actual costumes with gorgeous designer gowns worn by Mary Jane, played by Jennifer Damiano.  Enjoy!

For Spidey’s signature skintight suit, Ishioka’s version evokes the aerodynamic uniforms she designed for the 2002 Canadian Olympic speed skaters.

Alexander McQueen red printed silk chiffon bustier dress.

Dior Haute Couture red-and-violet hand-painted satin organza dress.

Marchesa black-and-white hand-painted crinoline ball gown.

Marchesa sculptured sapphire satin-faced organza ball gown.


I'd climb a wall for that third dress, no spider bite necessary.


xo Amber



American Music Awards: The Hit List

For those who missed my fashion critic report on the New Hot 89.9, do not fret.  The following are the notes I made in preparation for my conversation with DJ Ryan Lindsay, detailing my opinion on the fashion hits and misses on the red carpet and in the performances of Sunday's AMAs broadcast.  I wasn't able to say everything that is outlined below on the air, so this is the long version!

BEST

Taylor Swift: 

Taylor wore a gorgeous dress on the red carpet.  It was a bejeweled, fitted mini and honestly I want it for NYE!  She wore her hair pin straight with new bangs, looking sleek and mature. T Swift looked just as great during her performance, opting for a classic head to toe black ensemble with a fitted blazer and leg-lengthening slim fit pants and heels.  Not a fan of her music, but I have to say that she appears to be very down-to-earth and poised and happens to be one of the only good role models for younger girls these days.

Katy Perry: 

On  the red carpet, Katy wore an embellished light pink floral strapless dress with blush coloured patent leather pumps and her hair and skin were absolutely radiating.  She kept the shine up during her performance (but more like a human Christmas ornament) in an cherry red glittery sheath which she eventually tore off to reveal a tight red bodysuit.  Digressing from the style topic, I was disappointed she didn't sing Teenage Dream on Sunday and went with her other single, Firework, which I am not really that into. 

ALMOST

Kelly Osborne: 

Neck-down, Kelly looked perfectly put together in a black lace dress that accentuated her newer, slimmer waistline which she paired well with classic open toed pumps.  From the neck up, however, her hairstylist did her absolutely no favours with the humungous soccer mom hair they gave her.  SO CLOSE Kelly!

WORST

Miley Cyrus: 

On carpet Miley wore a white strapless bandeau dress with a long, thin train coming out the back that looked like she had accidentally caught toilet paper in her underwear and had a long, double roll Cottonnelle strand trailing out behind her down the carpet.  During her performance Miley wore a sheer gothic dressing gown straight out of the Addams Family.  She told a reporter on the red carpet that her performance that night was inspired by the Beatles.  Between that and Justin Beiber thanking MJ during his acceptance speech, it was all in all a sad day for music history.

Ke$ha: 

Something about Ke$ha just bothers me...she's not as edgy as she thinks she is and I always want to take her down a peg, which is one of the many perks of being able to slam her on air!  She wore a long black maxi dress with a slit up her left leg and what looked like VHS film tape that she probably tore out of her Disney movie collection and stuck on her dress earlier that night as some sort of "message".  Don’t get me started with the hair and makeup...she reportedly did it herself and it showed.  I know she’s doing it on purpose (and trying REALLY hard), but there’s just something about her that I find really fake.  She just can’t pull off a Gaga, I’m sorry.  I did, however, mostly enjoy the performance she put on (minus the music).  She had a helmet with spotlights for eyes and her male back up dancers all wore platinum mullet wigs and heels…very Wall-E meets Rocky Horror.  So whoever styled that performance gets huge props!  (Note how I am incapable of giving her any credit.)

Rhianna:

I was really disappointed with Rhianna's style on Sunday.  Normally I can enjoy what she's wearing, but this time not so much.  She has dyed her hair a darker maroon colour from her fire engine red and on the red carpet she opted for a matching maroon sheer lace maxi dress.  I just wasn’t a fan at all of the over-zealous monochromatic look and the dress felt oddly old fashioned even though it was technically pretty revealing.  On stage she looked even worse with her badly styled skimpy ensemble.  It’s hard to describe really…it looked more like something a child would wear when playing dress-up and less like a celebrity who knows better than to wear underwear with a scarf tied around it and two scrunchies as arm bands.  She really honestly wore more skin than clothing and she's better than that.

PREGGERS AWARDS:

Pink:

Pink looked overall horrendous, not that I'm shocked. Her red carpet outfit was boring black but then her stage outfit involved bloomers and a sporty cropped jacket with a Tupac Shakur bandanna.  There is just no excuse for looking heinous, including being knocked up.  MIA performed on stage while 8.5 months pregnant and managed to look adorable.

XTina:

We of course don't know officially that Christina is actually pregnant...there have only been some rumours.  I'm just trying to do her some favours here because the only way she gained that much weight since filming Burlesque is if she has spent the last few months only eating KFC Double downs.  Either that or the studio hired the same graphic artists that worked on Avatar to create a digital version of Xtina called Christina Aguitar to do the entire movie, because the trailer has her looking very slim.  I suppose she is going through a divorce right now, so maybe it’s depression eating but considering she’s overdue for a scandal these days I’d like to think the reason for said divorce is due to an illicit affair resulting in a love child whose father is none other than Cher himself.  Beat that, Star Magazine.

** note: I am not calling her fat.  If this was her natural body type, I would not have mentioned this at all...however we all know she is normally a toothpick with boobs, so this represents a pretty significant weight fluctuation since losing the baby weight a while ago.

BEST COMEBACK:

NKOTBSB:

All the Kids and Boys looked great and wore age-appropriate ensembles on the red carpet and for their medley performance.  Did anyone else notice that Kevin from BSB was missing?  Not that he was the most vital to the group, but if Jonathon Knight can come out and perform with an ANXIETY disorder, then K-Rich can suck it up too.  Personally, every time they showed Jordan Knight I giggled like a pre-teen and grabbed my toes...it's sad but true.  The guys had the whole crowd going for their finale and I even spotted Ke$ha smiling broadly and mouthing the words to the songs.  Ah, the magic of boy bands.

Thus concludes my report as Hot 89.9's 2010 Fashion Critic!  I hope that those of you who were able to tune in last night enjoyed it and those of you who missed it, this is the extended version.  I am going to see about getting a copy of the recording somehow.  I'm also crossing my fingers that I get a call again for future red carpet events because that was SO much fun!

xo Amber

Amber Watkins: Radio personality?

A couple weeks ago I was listening to the New Hot 89.9 while driving (can't deny my love for Top 40 beats in the car).  There was an ad for a new contest called New Hot 89.9 Fashion Critic.   The contest winner has to watch the American Music Awards red carpet show this Sunday the 21st of November and then give a full report on air Monday night with host Ryan Lindsay-giving their opinion on the fashion hits and misses, etc of the night.

So, seeing as I clearly love to talk about my opinions, I obviously checked it out when I got home and sent an email that night, giving my reasons why they should choose me to be the new critic, yadda yadda.  Well, tonight I GOT THE CALL!  SO excited to have this opportunity...I am going to do this one up great.  Two minutes of on air glory!

TUNE in to the show on Monday night after 6pm.  Listen in your car, in the kitchen while you're making dinner, in the shower, I don't care!  JUST LISTEN!  89.9 FM or www.hot899.com to listen live online!

SO FUN!

xo Amber

HP, not the tech company

Behold:

 

Now this is a person who appreciates dressing for the theme.  Oh, Johnny Weir.  Can we collaborate on some figure skating costumes soon?  (He actually has his own costume designer, Stephanie Handler, but he apparently has a lot of say in his costume designs...would love to work with someone who enjoys a bit of flash.)

Moving on to the actual stars of this movie, here's the delightful Emma Watson, post-Late Show appearance promoting the new film. 

 

Princess and the Pea Coat!  Love her ability to sell every trench, double breasted and collared coat she puts on...must be why Burberry hired her for their Prorsum ads.  Genius.

And Daniel Radcliffe:

 

I had to use this one because it looks like this is his family he is posing with.  I have to give props for Dan's stylish getup....usually he looks like he just rolled out of bed, fought off a Deatheater, chased down the Golden Snitch and got to the red carpet in the nick of time.  I also have to commend the Broderick-Parker clan for dressing for the theme as well.  Matthew looks like a professor at Hogwarts, their son James Wilkie is one year shy from the Sorting Hat, and SJP...well...she just dressed like a witch to this one...and I love her, but the most exciting thing about this dress is her right boob trying to escape. 

Next up is Rupert Grint:

I left the "teenstarsworld" watermark there because it's awesome.  As is his red carpet look.  Well done, Ron.  No ugly Christmas sweater from mom on this kid! 

And, finally: 

 

Now THIS is commitment to the role, people.  Insane dress plus disheveled hair plus perma-frown is Bellatrix Lestrange approved!  Tim Burton is one lucky guy...he must have never believed he would actually end up married to the woman of his dreams.  I actually wonder if he managed to get his hands on the machine used in Weird Science.

SO!  Who wants to go and see the new HP with me?  Meet you there...Silvercity, Monday, 7pm...I'll be the one dressed as Dumbledore.  I'll just recycle my grade 3 Halloween costume when I went as Merlin the Magician during a 2-year obsession with The Sword in the Stone. 

xo Amber

Batman vs Superman

Intrigued?  Good.  I hooked you.  In my humble opinion, Batman is just better....no real reason.  I just love the character better-especially that he is really just a human with awesome gadgets and vehicles.  I like his outfit better-classic black rubber.  I like the brooding, dark world that is Gotham and I love what both Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan did with the movies (and I do my best to forget the atrocity that was Batman & Robin, henceforth to be referred to as "the one that shall not be named"...damn you Schumacher).  The villains are better.  The men who have played Batman are better actors and generally hotter than the ones who have played Superman.  Bruce Wayne is just as cool as Batman, not some clumsy fool with no confidence.  But that's just my view!  I mean, Superman has his own huge cheering section for a reason.  He's a good guy with some inarguable talent...but Lois can have him.



On Batman: black rubber body suit and mask with chest and ab outline and nylon cape, both DIY; accessories: steel

On Superman: Body-con indestructible suit cape, DIY by Kents from indestructible blanket (Superman cut it with his heat vision) he had when his capsule crashed into Earth;hair gel: Indestructible hold Dep

The title of this post is somewhat nonsensical....why would we pit two superheroes against one another in any good plot?  Well, I feel the same way about fashion.  It's a situation that can only be solved by individual taste. 

The following are some fashion match ups with my personal "winner"

Animal Print:

Leopard vs. Zebra:  Leopard.  Hands down...or should I say paws down?  I have loved the print for many, many years...and have thus accrued quite a few spotted items:  rubber boots, 2 scarves, 3 shirts, a dress, tights, and a onesie.

Heel:

Kitten vs. High: the higher, the better...especially with a hidden platform to absorb some of the pressure.  I just love the way high heels make me feel...powerful, feminine and seductive.  Until I go down hard on concrete...

Wedge vs. Stiletto:  I am just loving the wedges, specifically for spring/summer.  I somehow have collected 4 pairs.  They look amazing with dresses, shorts, and ankle grazing pants.  I feel like I'm on stilts and they are so deceivingly comfortable!

Inspiration:

Runway vs. Street Style:  Street!  I think the reason why Tommy Ton is such a genius is because he can spot people who have that ability to look effortlessly chic - uptown, downtown, workwear, streetwear.  I want everything they are wearing and yet it's not listed out for me for where to buy.  I can't get that excited over runway looks, I don't know why.  (Side note:  I impulsively added TT on FB and he either gets a gajillion friend requests a day and can't keep up or just outright ignored it...sigh.)

Shopping:

Mall vs. Boutique:  Ooh, now we're getting down to the nitty gritty.  Both really are great depending on how you feel, but I promised to choose my own winner in each section, so I'm going with boutique.  I really do love that feeling of getting something so unique, that nobody else (or limited numbers) has.  Especially if I got a steal of a deal!  There's nothing more satisfying than being able to tell someone else you got your dress for $15 and no, there are no others like it...SORRY.  Insert wide-eyed apologetic look with internal smug dial right at max.

Brand new vs. Vintage:  Anyone who knows me knows I prefer the latter.  It goes with the section directly above.  I can't get enough of one-of-a-kinds.  I stopped at my fave vintage shop, Memory Lane in Marmora on Hwy 7, while driving to Peterborough this weekend.  It's my favourite because the lady  has no clue how much she should be charging for the items she has...and although you need to fend her off as she shadow-shops over your shoulder, commenting on EVERY ITEM YOU TOUCH, I do appreciate her obvious love for all things vintage.  I never leave empty handed and this time was no exception.  I bought two purses, a navy cape (huge grin, seal clap) and a hilarious lavender coloured one-piece straight out of 1987 Street Legal complete with shoulder pads.  Thinking I'll convert it into a dress just for wearability's sake.  Oh, but it's good!  And guess how much all of that was?  $46.  Ya.  I'm not even going to sugar coat my smugness.

Think I'll end this here...there are just so many endless match-ups.  This could last for days and I need to rip myself away from this computer and have a drink.  Bruce Wayne would.

xo Amber