Cover Me: Blog Me Please

Paris Here I Come…

Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist

Want some tips on how to be photographed by your favorite blogger, here we go. Use these street shots from (The Sartorialist) Paris Fashion Week, Fall 2012 as inspiration.

Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist

First, get creative: Photographers want to be excited. They comb the streets and stake out fashion venues to find cool fashionistas, so standing out from the crowd will help you get snapped.

Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist

Second, get comfy: Your style needs to be effortless. Photographers can sense when someone is just putting on a show for attention. You want your style to be imprinted with personality. That will get shutter bugs to shoot.

Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist

Three, get a life: You want to enjoy your city, travel, and cultivate your passion for life. Photographers need a face that tells a story. Pretty and fashionable is not enough. You want to intrigue your audience with something hidden. Blog photographers capture people out on the streets during their daily routine, so getting out helps your chances of being snapped.

Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist
Source: The Sartorialist

For extra style tips check out my post with Jen V., she gets her photo snapped all the time.

Cover Me: Riddle Me This…

Stepping Up

During NYFW Fall 2012, J.Mendel gave us a big show.  Front row seats were full of celebrity guests. Fashionable noted, two sunglass clad twins. Also spotted front row was fashion commentator and stylist, Mary Alice Stephenson. I got a chance to speak with fashion’s globe-trotting Queen backstage at J.Mendel.

rby-mary-alice-stephenson-prabal-gurung-fall-2012-s2
rby-mary-alice-stephenson-prabal-gurung-fall-2012-s2
kristen-wiig-2012-oscars-j-mendel-dress
kristen-wiig-2012-oscars-j-mendel-dress
J.Mendel: Pre-Fall 2012
J.Mendel: Pre-Fall 2012

For this year’s Academy Awards red carpet breakdown, Wendy Williams called on Stephenson. She has also  dressed major celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker,  and she  is a major contributor to Harper’s Bazzaar, so I knew I was in good hands talking about the inspiration for the J.Mendel show. Minus her credentials, I may have been a little taken by all her compliments to my outfit.

J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012

 Kristen Wigg won Oscar gold in  J.Mendel this year. J.Mendel is known for amazing furs and modern evening wear, which did not disappoint. I picked a few pieces to highlight Fall 2012.

J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012

Closet Confessions: Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012

Crisis Averted

I can’t say Spring/Summer is one of my favourite fashion seasons. I envy all those light airy people cycling the seawall, playing volleyball at the beach, and sauntering down sideways in light tee’s and cut off shorts–WTF. I am hot, I hate everything in my closet, and I can’t wear layers, I am in consent denial.

Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012

In my Givenchy post, last week, I hinted that sometimes I feel lost in my clothing decisions. I felt in a bit of a crisis, as I am watching all these great colourful clothes for Spring. What the hell I am going to wear. Givenchy had some nice ideas, and I have become a great fan. However in my denial of Spring, and of course always shopping a season ahead, boots for Fall entered my mind all weekend.

Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012

Therefore, like any fashionista, I was up till 5am scouting every website to find a good pre-season deal. I didn’t find any boots, but what I did run across was some amazing stuff from Rick Owens Spring/Summer 2012. My friend in NY is always wearing his clothes, but I never felt compelled to wear Rick Owens myself. My friend is super creative and works magic with a make-up brush, so I leave creative identity to him. However, Rick has won me over.

Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012

These gender bending creations summed a time of breakout expression. Leading my critical thought, Madonna “What it feels like for a Girl.” The concept of men in female garments, has been done to death in the nineties, but Owens has made if feel masculine and contemporary. The looks are strong and confident with no apology–I like that.

Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
Rick Owens: Spring/Summer 2012
lenny-kravitz-rick-owens-high-heels-boots-dress
lenny-kravitz-rick-owens-high-heels-boots-dress

Fashion’s new direction of deconstructing rules, has built a new construction of male identity. As to not make my post so designer driven, I am posting some street style photos to bridge fashion creativity and street reality, based on Rick Owens Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

rick-owens-by-hanneli-mustaparta2
rick-owens-by-hanneli-mustaparta2
Street Style: Rick Owens
Street Style: Rick Owens
Street Style: Rick Owens
Street Style: Rick Owens
Daine-Walker-Wooster-St-An-Unknown-Quantity-Street-Style-Blog2: Interview with this blogger to come...
Daine-Walker-Wooster-St-An-Unknown-Quantity-Street-Style-Blog2: Interview with this blogger to come...
Wong Faye: Rick Owens Shoes
Wong Faye: Rick Owens Shoes

*side note: please click LIKE on my Facebook link, if you like, and follow on twitter for updates.

Muse Closet.

Fashion Chat: Jeanne Beker

“What You Takin’ bout Willis”

If you told me I would be talking to Fashion Television Host Jeanne Beker one day, I would say your smoking crack. Well light up the pipe because, I am in a haze. Recently during NYFW Fall 2012, Reem Acra show, I had a moment to chat with Fashion Television host, Jeanne Beker, about her career and fashion insight.

Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012

Let’s start with the show, Reem Acra, Fall 2012. say what?!! Yes, not many of us our familiar with this designer. Well let me tell you who does know Reem Acra: Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Lopez. Madonna wore Reem Acra to this year’s Golden Globe Awards, and won, well best dressed for me, and Jennifer Lopez has also been seen in a Reem Acra creations. The collection was sexual, sensual, and fun; the models were confident walking down the runway. Also, Reem Acra has an amazing Bridal collection that is on par with Vera Wang. Here are some looks from NYFW Fall 2012.

69th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals: Madonna Reem Acra
69th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals: Madonna Reem Acra
taylor-swift-nashville-symphony-ball-2011-reem-acra-dress
taylor-swift-nashville-symphony-ball-2011-reem-acra-dress
2012 Univision Winter TCA Breakfast: Jennifer Lopez in Reem Acra
2012 Univision Winter TCA Breakfast: Jennifer Lopez in Reem Acra

Back to Ms. Beker. What do you say when your faced with a women you’ve grown up with your entire life. Living in rural Alberta, she was my only connection to the fashion world. Over 25 years in the business, and still going strong. Hence, you will see how nervous I was speaking to Fashion Television’s talk Queen.

Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012
Reem Acra: Runway Fall 2012

First, I must say she was delightful. To be honest I’ve had my eye on her job forever, plotting my move to conquer, however after meeting and chatting with her I concede. I will be more than happy to find my own way, as Jeanne is the master of her craft. Growing up, my battle was between Tim Blanks and Jeanne Beker, both Canadian, and both covering fashion. Tim always seemed to be on point about his assessment of each collection: smart, insightful, and exact. Meanwhile, Jeanne felt more free and unrehearsed. I met both during NYFW Fall 2012, and I respect them both as trail blazers for Canadian fashion coverage. Both put Canada on the map, as champions for fashion. We may not have pockets as deep as Americas, but damn it, we’ll help you sell shit and expose you to the world. “Well done!”

Reem-Acra-Fall-2012-Bridal-Collection
Reem-Acra-Fall-2012-Bridal-Collection
Reem-Acra-Fall-2012-Bridal-Collection
Reem-Acra-Fall-2012-Bridal-Collection
Reem-Acra-Fall-2012-Bridal-Collection
Reem-Acra-Fall-2012-Bridal-Collection

I must have done something right in my life, at some point, because as I think back and wonder how, not only do I get to share space with Jeanne Beker, but she is standing in front of me talking. I hope you enjoy my backstage interview with Jeanne at Reem Acra. I skipped interviewing the designer, to wait and speak with Jeanne, it was a toss-up, but I am glad I did.

JeanneBeker-nophotographer
JeanneBeker-nophotographer

Closet Confessions: Identity Crisis

Who Am I?

Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012

I spend a lot of time obsessed with everything fashion, so much so, that I get lost in my mind. I see everything, I want everything, and I can never get my look right. Personally, I know who I am inside, but outside I am in consent evolution. I’d like to say I take fashion risk constantly, but sadly no, I am way to self-critical. In my younger days, I was obsessed with designers like Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci (Tom Ford days), and  D2, love my Canadian boys!! Now, a little older, a little more travelled, and almost out of university, NOW WHAT?

Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012

In middle school I was sporting Dolce and Gabbana to every party, yes we partied a lot. High School was all about Prada, I thought Prada’s intellectual style would translate into good grades–nope! Summer’s in Japan led to DSquared, and Tom Ford’s Gucci days of cool. I felt at ease with myself at this point, but as University wore me out, and my clothes became lacklustre. No time for style when you’re sprinting to class.

Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012

Back on the fashion block, I am perplexed about what to wear next. What will define my new understanding towards style? Travelling has been great way to observe new looks, cultures, and perceptions. However, I still haven’t found my signature look. Walking away from fashion to study has left me in a position of new discovery.  I am enjoying for the first time, in a long time, not knowing what to wear. I love walking down the street and checking people out, attending the shows, and saying “I’ll try that.” One collection that has snapped my attention for a couple of seasons now is Givenchy. Givenchy Spring 2012, men’s collection has me wanting to take a fashion risk, step out from my comfort zone, and into rock-hard style.

Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012

Like a child, I am discovering fashion all over again. The cards have shifted so much in the fashion world, as new designers take centre stage, and established designers draw the curtains closed. There is a storm  brewing in fashion, one that is wild and unpredictable.  The names of the future are being etched as we speak. Keeping our innocence of exploration is what will keep our eyes to the horizon.

Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012
Givenchy Spring 2012