"A couturier must be an architect for design, a sculptor for shape, a painter for color, a musician for harmony, and a philosopher for temperance." ~ Cristobal Balenciaga

Monday, May 14, 2012

Across the Universe


Hello Everyone!

Just a quick post about something very exciting in my life right now.

My beautiful friend Vania Georgieva is a national finalist for Miss Universe Canada 2012 and I am sponsoring her with a custom-designed couture gown!  Vania is a lovely person inside and out.  Not only is she gorgeous, she is smart (she's studying Economics and Political Science at the University of Ottawa), kind (she has volunteered for numerous causes, including recently raising awareness and support for SOS Children's Villages Canada), and is one of the most positive and luminous people I know.  You can read more about Vania on the Miss Universe Canada website.  And if you have a minute, please VOTE for her to win the People's Choice Award, which will be announced during the Miss Universe Canada 2012 Preliminary show this Thursday, May 17th!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

To Dream the Impossible Dream



Hello Lovelies!

Did anyone watch Vogue's live streaming of the Met's 2012 Costume Institute Gala red carpet last night?!  What did you think?  Who was on your best-dressed list?  I have posted my favourite looks below, but first let's talk about the occasion for the night's celebration, the Met's Spring 2012 Costume Institute exhibition, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.

I really hope I'll somehow be able to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year to view the new exhibition!  I'm a long-time fan of both Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.  The exhibit explores the similarities between these two Italian fashion powerhouses through Baz Luhrmann-directed videos of simulated conversations between the two women about their work.

Here's a little video about the exhibit (you can find more at the Met's website):

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Please enable flash to view this media. Download the flash player.


Now on to the sequins & feathers!!!  Many of the Met Gala looks had a fittingly 1930s or surrealist element to them, including my first pick: Anna Wintour in a custom Prada dress, which pays homage to Schiaparelli's 1937 Lobster Dress which featured a lobster painted on it by Salvador Dali!

Anna Wintour in custom Prada

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Fashion Fiesta!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This year's Cinco de Mayo inspired a post about how Mexico, and other Central- and South-American countries have influenced fashion, especially in the last few years which have really seen a revival in exoticism.  I choose to include Spain in this collection as well, since my notion of Latino culture is quite romanticized, having never been to any of these countries (yet).  Being a Canadian with Irish and German heritage, I have no idea why I celebrate Cinco de Mayo but I do, albeit in my own little way.  Perhaps I have a little latina somewhere deep down inside me ;)  I am an avid salsa dancer and would love to learn flamenco and tango as well, and I wish I could speak Spanish, so maybe that's part of it...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy (and yes, as usual I posted LOTS of pictures...celebrations aren't a time for restraint)!