Category — culture

Lana Del Rey Carmen “It’s alarming truly how disarming you can be…”

I’m kind of obsessed with the video montage for Lana Del Rey’s Carmen.  When I used to have long stays in LA, I would play it on repeat instead of watching the depressing news.  On a brighter culinary note, there’s a Spanish tapas revival in Toronto of late.  This bodes well with my other obsession, channelling my inner senorita. Ole!

My favourite Spanish tapas are in no particular order:

1. Tortilla Espanola – a thick egg and potatoe omelet
2. Patatas Bravas – bite size potatoes (my favourite type are fried, obviously!) with a tomatoe and garlic sauce
3. Croquetas – Croquettes flavoured with béchamel combined with ham, shrimp or cheese
4. Manchego – A cheese made from sheep milk originating from the La Mancha region of Spain. Reminds me of lazy afternoons having wine with the locals in Marbella. Le sigh!

For a casual option, try the restaurant of the same name Carmen (922 Queen St. West) or for a more ritzy experience, try Patria (480 King St. West).  I’m going to go out on a limb and say, “Patria has the best Patatas Bravas in town.”

Free People Tier Maxi: You know how I feel about maxi-dresses of the hippie-dippy variety. They are perfect for dancing in the street.

Cabo San Lucas, Lover's Rock. Reminds me of that Sade album that I played on repeat "Won't pretend, that I intend to stop living..."

never happened!!  (ba-dum-pum)  This is especially true if you go to Cabo San Lucas to soak up the sun and take an extended siesta all day on the beach, then repose by the pool, gorge on salsa and tortilla chips only to siesta in your room and tuck in early to catch Kourtney & Kim Take Miami on E! Latino.  But if I was in Cabo with my girlfriends at 21, I would be that girl drinking pina coladas in the infinity pool, doing the hotel dance and waking up my neighbours at 4am from a late night dance session to latin house.  How can I judge the kids on Spring Break?  I was that girl.

Cabo San Lucas is a resort town on the southern tip of the Baja California.  Nestled amid the scenic mountains are million dollar mansions and a marina filled with bright white yachts.  This charming town has restaurants, bars and a few outdoor shops.  Perch yourself on the pier at La Casa Country, enjoy a plate of fish tacos, a major pina colada and people watch until the sun sets. Or indulge in some retail therapy at Ondade Mar for vibrant Columbian swimwear or uniquely latin caftans.

Much like an observer of street trends, I thought I would share some insights straight off the beach…

• Day Glow Neon – Perhaps you feel you’ve already done neon but it was huge on the beach.  To avoid neon overkill, many gals paired their bright bandeau with a black bottom or toned down the fluorescence by wearing a print accented with neon.  For the less fashionistah adventuress, muted neons in coral, pink and chartreuse are the way to go. 

Free People Yellow Neon Bikini with your matching straw fedora. Fedorable!

Fun fact: There were less string bikinis and more hipster bottoms. Mix it up with your J. Crew Neon Swirl Bikini

• Stacked Bracelets – Oh, you can never wear too many at once! The look is a mashup of skinny bangles, round beads, braided leather or string friendship bracelets.  To elevate the look add a few simple gold bangles, charm bracelets or a skinny watch.

Try this at home! Alexis Bittar and Cara bracelets c/o Nordstrom

• Haute Hippie Headwrap – Perhaps the beach is the best place for fashion risk-taking.  Swim turbans and headwraps abound!  Function meets fashion!  Not only are you shading your pretty little head from the sun, you are also making a MAJOR statement. 

This is my favourite way to wear a silk scarf on the beach. Take a rectangular scarf and tie at the crown of your head. Secure with bobby pins. Secret Garden Head Wrap

• Return of the Crop Top – Oh yes, 90′s resurgence. Save the fitted crop top for the teens and the 20-somethings.  Go oversize for that Flashdance/Let’s Get Physical, off the shoulder, laisser-faire, I’m casual vibe.

Nothing's better than a super oversize soft cotton tee. Roxy Sea Crop Top

Spoiler alert (a month later): Serena goes for a gold Georges Chakra and Dan cuts his hair. WTF, Dan is Gossip Girl?!!

OMFG! What happened to us? A crazy work schedule and a full social calendar in December.  It’s my fault.  But I promise, I will return with more frequent posts filled with witty repartee.  Of late, I am extra obsessed with party frocks.  Confession:  When I find a really great dress, I let the devil on my shoulder win, take it home and store it lovingly in a garment bag, deep in my armoire.  Stocking up, just in case.  If there’s an Armageddon, I’ll be reallyx3 well dressed. 

The Russian Fashion Pack featured in Elle

Nina Garcia, the lovely fashion editor of ELLE says via her Twitter:  “New Year’s Eve is the one occasion when your little black cocktail dress should not be your fallback choice. BE CREATIVE!” Note her use of all caps for emphasis.  Trust Nina.  She’s an arbiter of taste.  Well dearies, I agree.  Why not take a cue from the Russian clique taking over Fashion Week?  Look no further than the group of up and coming czarinas with risk-taking style and piles of their husbands’ money to burn.  Just go opulent + baroque + load it up with jewels and then multiply MOREx3

You can tell people you are channelling Vogue Russia for New Year’s Eve.

Pearls, diamantes, gold, beading, satin! More is more! Scarlet Johanson on the cover of Vogue Russia

Two of my favourite things: sequin & tulle in my favourite hue/drink - champagne. Aidan Mattox Sequin Tulle Dress

I am very particular about full sequin dresses. This gold number from French Connection is perfection!

Love the silver zig-zags and ruche detailed hem on this sexy Parker shift dress. Yeow!

Say cheese! We totally took this photo inspired by Vogue 1993 Beauty & the Beach. The memories are all flooding back!

I have a slew of friends who are packing their luggage for warmer destinations come mid-December.  There is only one word: jalouse! (that’s jealous in French).

Recently, at our annual fashionistah holiday brunch, we reminisced about our university graduation trip to Cancun. A few years later, older and wiser, I went on a girls vacation with my bestie C.  Before departing for the airport, I told her father not to worry if he saw bloody beaches on the news; it would be the trail of broken hearts we would leave behind.  Can you believe he let her go on vacay with moi? 

Two girls in Mexico?!!  It was a make or break trip for our friendship but somehow we managed to get into heaps of sketchy fun without the drrrrama.  Stuff that brings back fond memories of Mexico:

Tan faster! Australian Gold so you don't blind the locals with your pasty white legs.

Chloe sunglasses with the rhinestone heart detail. I still have mine. Do you have yours?

Dress for that tropical climate in an emerald green TBags Maxi dress. The best air conditionning is 'no pants.'

This Jemma Jube crochet bikini via Vogue Australia reminds of my bestie's from Preloved circa 2001. Cutes.

Serena loves sequins day and night. Are you watching season 6 of Gossip Girl?

It’s that time of the year again — party time!  Ooh, I am a naughty blogeress.  I blame my blogging blackout on my overstuffed social calendar.  I am quite partial, fond, obsessed with clothing that looks as though I accidentally got slimed on You Can’t Do That On Television, but in lieu of green slime, insert Elmer’s Glue, lost my footing and fell into a giant vat of sequins.  You gotta love a fashionistah for commitment. 

Tell someone your sequins are inspired by Daisy Buchanan as interpreted by Baz Luhrman. Channel Carey Mulligan in The Great Gatsby. All great outfits should have a back story. Trust.

Let’s not be so predictable this party season with the same old, same old.  Here are some sartorial sequin selections to get the DJ to play your requests, the effects guy to point the spotlight in your direction and kick off the social season.

Ombre sequins – A golden sequin lightly brushed with dye which gives an allover Monet effect.  That, or sequins strategically positionned to give off a gradient ombre (light to dark) appearance. 

I enjoy how the nude and canary yellow of this Alice + Olivia Camille Sequin Dress is understated (well, as understated as sequins go).

Two sided sequins – When you brush your hand in one direction, the sequins are black.  When you brush them in the opposite direction, the sequins are silver.  If someone lays a hand on your assets, proof of SCANDAL!  

Paillettes – Not for the fashionistah wallflower, paillettes are a larger circle sequin typically 1/2″ or bigger in diameter.  The effect is very retro meets giant scale fish.  Makes me want to wear extra thick liquid eyeliner and tease my hair into a giant beehive.

Go big, or go home: Juicy Couture jumbo paillettes. Seriously!

Save The Best For Last – You tell it Whitney!  Are you just happy to see me or are those sequin shoes on your feet.  I bet if sequins were around back then, Cinderella would have sequin stilettos.  I think this is a fun contrast if you are wearing a cocktail dress in a solid bold hue or a flamboyant LBD (little black dress).

Black or Silver? BCBG Two Tone Sequin Pump is a great conversation starter

I'm adoring Ella Henderson from XFactor UK with her winged out eyeliner, 1930's style and classic beauty. Oh and her voice at 16 is ah-mazing.