Crochet Bikinis @ Shopgirls

Pricila Gomes, a local knitwear designer that originally hails from Brazil, is offering up exotic hand-crocheted bikinis in a multitude of colors and styles! Starting at $135 - only at Shopgirls.

Shopgirls Gallery Boutique, 1342 Queen Street West

Another day in T.O...

Dress to Express at the Ballet

The annual National Ballet Fundraiser is held in the dazzling Four Season's Center, by award winning Canadian architects Diamond & Schmitt. The translucent building is a natural habitat of culture vultures eager to indulge in an evening of dance and drinks. The dress code of this year's gala is "dress to express" - a wise choice at any cultural event. Far too many folks in Toronto dress to repress! Here are a few easy tips to get you from glum to glam.

THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET!

Biko Beauttah looks beautiful in classic black satin evening gloves. Go for broke by wearing a cocktail ring or bracelet over your satin, or take a trip to Northbound for opera gloves in latex or leather. (Don't worry boys, that's what 911 is for).

PEARLS PEARLS PEARLS!

Whenever adorning with pearls, you should always wear enough to make you wonder - "Is this too much?" The answer, of course, is always no! Gloria Sharp turns her Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors ensemble from fine to fab, by piling on the ocean gems.

FEATHERED FRIENDS

Paula takes a little black dress on new flights of fancy with this stunning fascinator by David Duncley of KCs hats. This Toronto designer has studied in England with Royal milliner Rose Cory and offers up a yummy selection of hair accessories for the bold and beautiful.

TOP IT OFF

While we are all ready to "go-go Ascot" to garden parties, the evening hat is a sure fire way to get gorgeous. Baronness of the Bias-cut, Lana Lowen (of Lowen Pope), turns heads in her own fire-engine red, 40's film goddess gown topped off with this black beauty from Wild Haagan.

All photos by Karen Brockest.

Sparkle in the City

JUMA in T.O.

Find JUMA 2009 Spring/Summer collection in stores! The collection is modern, clean, sporty and can be dressed casually or formally depending on how you accessorize it.

Womens Stocklist:
Pho Pa (Toronto), Oak (New York), Victoire (Ottawa), James Boutique (Montreal), Turtle (Boston), Pink Sugar (Calgary), Tenth & Proper (Vancouver) and others

Mens Stocklist:
UPC (Toronto), Oak (New York), Boutik (Calgary), Two of a Few (Vancouver), U&I (Montreal) and others

Platinum: Fritz & the Phantoms

Fritz Helder & The Phantoms, the fantastical Toronto-based music/fashion/full-on glam gang is gaining momentum in the club circuit as the first act signed to Nelly Furtado's Nelstar label (mar09).

The “Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition” is scheduled to be released in the coming weeks (July 2009) throughout North America via Last Gang Records.

Check the website for release details AND follow Fritz Helder, Pastel Supernova, Silk Helder & Diego Superstar as they blog about their international adventures >>



These photos from last Spring's special ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto) project where the four member group did one of the things they do best - dressed up in designer outfits and struck a pose or two for a special to help raise funds for AIDS.

Shown here, local designers Greta Constantine and Oligarchy (top) - who designed limited edition garments that were sold to raise funds for the *Fashion Cares (Aids Committee of Toronto) fund. See the full shoot and details about which garments remain for sale on the website >>

Dress Canadian Celebs

The Style Box Showroom, Toronto's hot new Canadian-only designer showroom exclusive to celebrities, musicians, politicians and influential personalities, is now accepting applications for residency! Housed in the Toronto Fashion Incubator (www.fashionincubator.com), only 15 designers looking to promote their brand through affordable product placement will be granted a position.

Selected designers will also be given the opportunity to show their most elaborate pieces during the ultra-private TIFF '09 Preview Event with a guest list restricted to the most influential film festival attendees, performers, media and high-profile stylists.

For designers interested in The Style Box Showroom, or more details on promotional management services for new and established Canadian designers, contact Amanda Brugel amanda@thestylebox.ca or Gail McInnes gail@thestylebox.ca.

Online Boutiques for Canadian Designers

FashionCan builds and manages online boutiques for independent Canadian designers. What a great low-cost option for designers to confidently hand over admin and tech duties to a company that has already built up a clientele of successful working designers such as House of Spy,Snoflake, Valerie Dumaine, etc...

The boutique sites are clean, easy to navigate and shop from!

Also, head to Fashioncan.com to find Canadian designers selling wares online >>

Toronto Designer Sale Jun26-28

Free
June 26-28, 2009 until 9 p.m.
The Burroughes Building
639 Queen Street West

Bloggers made into Mannequins @ Holts

This Friday, June 26 Holt Renfrew Bloor Street (@Bay) will unveil its latest window scheme inspired by ---- Fashion Bloggers.

The blogger windows will be displayed across Canada at nine stores and will feature high-profile bloggers such as The Sartorialist’s Scott Schuman, Tommy Ton (Jak & Jil) and 17-year-old Texan Jane Aldridge (Sea of Shoes). Local fashion blogger Anita of I want I got even made the list, an amazing mention I'm sure as only a very small handful were chosen!

I'm not sure how any of the bloggers were involved in any of the planning (I hear none) - and as of yet we don't know exactly what to expect although it is possible there will be mannequins dressed as the bloggers! Hilarious!

NEW: Holts Official Press Release:
"National Windows Pay Homage to Online Style-Leaders
TORONTO, June 23 /CNW/ - This Friday evening, Holt Renfrew, Canada'sleading specialty retailer, will pay tribute to the newest international style
influencers - fashion bloggers - with a national window installation
celebrating their diversity and spirit.
Six bloggers were invited by Holt Renfrew Creative Director John Gerhardt
to be part of the celebration. The bloggers are a diverse mix of fashion
leaders from around the globe and include Scott Schuman
(thesartorialist.blogspot.com); Jane Aldridge (seaofshoes.typepad.com); Anita
Clarke (iwantigot.geekigirl.com); Tommy Ton (jakandjil.com); Bryan Boy
(bryanboy.com) and Garance Dore (garancedore.fr/en).
"Bloggers have become the fashion world's new celebrities," says
Gerhardt. "They're knowledgeable and influential contributors to the modern
media landscape. Their opinions and visuals are relevant, creative and
thought-provoking, providing a constant source of inspiration. We are honoured
to pay homage to their style."
At Holt Renfrew's flagship location in Toronto, two of the
blogger-inspired windows will be equipped with a 24-hour interactive touch
screen for the public to cast votes to help select Holts Contemporary
Correspondent. The two Toronto finalists will be competing in a series of
fashion-related challenges being held over six weeks. Votes can also be cast
through Holt Renfrew's Facebook page and the winner will be determined based"
on total number of public votes.

My Tagalongs Travel Accessories

On my last trip to Vegas, although it was sweltering in the desert - I almost froze my butt off on the plane since the airline stopped distributing blankets due to the Swine Flu outbreak.
Fortunately, I actually brought my own blanket/pillow duo (and really only because I recently received the package in the mail!) - a warm, convenient MyTagalongs 'Undercover Traveler' blankie/pillow/mask combo. A great idea if you don't want to share pillow germs with the previous guests! I even bought one for a friend and she was happy simply for the 'I wake for food' velcro mask signage!


I also brought along with me the Sunhat to Go. I love this concept - it's a sunhat in black or beige that conveniently rolls up when not in use and easily unrolls into a well formed sunhat! Perfect for travel! ($18us)

My Tagalongs is a new line of 30 lifestyle accessories that are specifically designed to save time and make life a little easier. They sell in Toronto at various shops and ONLINE >> go here for list.

Speech: Jewellery for Dudes

Speech by Michael Mercanti, a Toronto-based handmade line of rugged "pirate chic" jewellery has found its way onto the pages of Teen Vogue, refinery29's pipeline and is well endorsed throughout the blogsphere.

Nails and screws that look like they've been pulled out of a wall; swords and daggers and even mini Manolos and Louboutins adorn leather and chains - rock 'n roll embellishments, if you will mainly for men but equally striking on babes (although apparently a line for women is in the works).

Speech also has t-shirts available >> check the website for more info.

In Toronto,
Carte Blanche, 758 Queen Street West
george C, 21 Hazelton Avenue

Fashion Camp - 1 Day Workshop

July 6, 2009
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FASHION WEEKLY's Fashion Camp

A one day intense workshop filled with fashion industry guest speakers including designer and past Runway Canada contestant Jason Meyers, Overcat Communications PR guru Audrey Romoff and the list goes on...fun workshops from industry sponsors as well as career guidance information.

The FW Fashion Workshop will have amazing prizes sponsored by The
Sewing Studio, Jeanne Lottie designs, Much on Demand,, Mary Kitchen from
Fashion Television and much more……

$95 includes lunch and goody bag
>> http://www.fashweekly.com/v2/fashioncamp.html

Rad Hourani in Vogue Italia

PHOTOS BY STEVEN MIESEL
STYLED BY KARL TEMPLER
www.radhourani.com