Internet It-Girls

Internet It-Girls

Move over Nicole Richie and the Olsen twins, fashion bloggers are among the new flock of style stars. Here we profile four of the finest.

In this time and age where the Internet reigns supreme and the blogosphere is overflowing with an endless supply of fashion blogs, there are only a handful that are truly It-worthy. Individuality and longevity is key in enticing new as well as keeping current followers loyal. Here we have handpicked four bloggers that have managed to do just that.  Each chosen for their superb sense of style, charming personal commentary and beyond enviable wardrobes, we felt it would only be selfish to keep these leading ladies a secret.

Style By Kling

Thanks to a keen eye for fashion and an enviable collection of thoughtfully assembled ensembles, blogger/editor/stylist Elin Kling proves she’s a true industry pro. The Swedish beauty that heads the magazine StyleBy is a fashion force to be reckoned with. Collaborating with H&M on an exclusive collection has placed her in a category along with names like Stella McCartney, Alber Elbaz and Donatella Versace. Much like her professional life, Kling’s approach to dressing is thoughtfully planned and perfectly executed. With a minimal and slightly androgynous aesthetic, Kling opts for classic basics with an edge. Thankfully there’s nothing minimal about the inspiration this triple-threat has to offer.

www.stylebykling.nowmanifest.com

Caroline’s Mode

Caroline Blomst has created a source of street style photography that oozes inspiration. In addition to her blog Caroline’s Mode, this stylist also edits the industry favourite site Stockholm Streetstyle. Her alluring shots of her own wearable looks have admirers infatuated.  This innovative blogger claims she doesn’t read any other blogs, and we believe this, as her style stands out in a world of trend fanatics. Mixing luxury pieces with inexpensive basics, Blomst truly embodies good taste. And may we add she does a fabulous job of consistently blending fellow Scandinavian designers such as Filippa K into her effortless ensembles.  Ms. Blomst takes casual-chic to another level.

www.carolinesmode.com

The Haute Pursuit

Creating The Haute Pursuit was a growing process that allowed Vanessa Hong to find a style all her own. This chic canuck keeps it personal when it comes to her online contributions, giving readers a peep inside her life as a self professed fashion freak. The former model and Aritzia sales associate distinguishes herself as one of the few Canadian bloggers with a serious global following. Even with a minimalist approach to dressing, the garments she acquires are anything but simple. Her striking ensembles inspired by Alexander Wang, Theyskens’ Theory and Givenchy have readers smitten.

www.thehautepursuit.com

The Man Repeller

From overalls to harem pants – she loves everything that most men hate. The Man Repeller, a tongue-in-cheek blog fashioned (no pun intended) by writer and Parsons graduate Leandra Medine, turns fashion on its head and makes the unusual cool. “If Alexa Chung and Hamish Bowles had a baby, that would be my style,” declares the self-deprecating blogger. With signature phrases such as “vive le neon” and “more is never enough”, Medine has crafted an envelope-pushing style that has attracted big brand collaborations with Rachel Roy and Barneys. Maybe her style repels men, but it sure does attract us!

www.manrepeller.com

The Front Row

The Front Row

Under the Influence: Of the fashionistas of 2012/13

Anna Wintour: “The Devil Wears Prada”

For anyone who claims their interest in the world of fashion would have heard of the name of the living legend, “Anna Wintour”.  She has been the editor in chief of one of the most prominent fashion magazines of all time, Vogue, since 1988. Wintour is known for her bobbed haircut and a pair of black sunglasses matched with very feminine-floral-style outfits for many years. Some might claim that her style is rather “boring”; however, it is certainly in her amazing talent to have such a distinct style on her own and to never fall behind the trend.

Miroslava Duma: “The Russian It-Girl”

Miroslava Duma has been a familiar face to us even before she started to go freelance, from many fashion blogs on in the Internet such as The Sartorialist. She was an editor for Harper’s Bazaar Russia and is now a freelance writer for many fashion publications. She is not tall at all and has rather a petite figure unlike many of the model-like fashion editors who are tall and skinny. She mixes such hot and edgy high fashion items in her own style that fits her frame. Which ultimately makes her stand out in the Fashion world where it’s filled with tall and lengthy skinny women.

Aimee Song: “Girly-meets-grunge”

This fashionista from the lala-land, Aimee Song (pronounced Aw-Mee), has a fashion blog and an instagram account followed by millions of fans around the world. Known for her “hobo-chic” style, she adds a little more touch to what could have been a typical California girl style by playing with a Prada or Chanel and a pair of worn out jeans in one outfit. She is also known for her hair colour that has been the ultimate must-do hairstyle this year, the ombre hair. Go check out her style at songofstyle.blogspot.com/

Olivia Palermo: “The Gossip Girl”

Known as the real life Blair from the TV series “The Gossip Girl”, Olivia Palermo’s style shows what a real upper-east-side rich girl dresses like. This “rich-girl” from Upper East Side of New York quickly gained her fame when she became one of the cast members of a spin-off of MTV’s television show “The City”. Unlike her extravagant, glamorous, and fancy style at the Fashion shows and events, her everyday-outfits, which I adore, are casual but yet very chic. This fashionable New Yorker turns around what could have been a rather dull outfit like a cashmere sweater with a pair of flats into something more stylish and chic.  Let’s not forget her signature red manicure that adds a touch to her style either!

Kate Middleton: “Royal Highness”

The Duchess of Cambridge has become a wannabe and a role model for millions of women across the universe ever since her and Prince William’s Fairytale-like wedding last year. What she wore during the Royal couple’s visit to Canada was a hot topic in the Internet fashion community. Her looks are not as edgy as the other fashionistas mentioned in this article, but she pulls any outfits with her own sophisticated style and makes it look classy and stylish. She is also known to be a strong supporter of the British Fashion community; wore a wedding dress from Alexander McQueen and seen to be wearing outfits made by British designers in various public events. Very looking forward to see the “royal-preggo style” in hopefully the near future!

Crown of Glory

Crown of Glory

MANE-taining your most versatile accessory

Hair, everybody has it. Long, medium and short hair all have a common factor, which is the need for tender loving care.  Being knowledgeable in proper care techniques is the difference between splits and glamour.

Lose Some Gain Some

The first step is a traumatizing step; however trimming your hair is something that needs to be done. That is if you want a glorious mane. The ends of your hair are older and more fragile than hair closer to your scalp. If you leave your hair untreated, the ends of your hair will begin to split, and the split will continue up to your scalp. This is a cause of frizz. Once your hair has become dangerously split, you will have no choice but to cut off major lengths to get a healthy look. Therefore, bite the bullet while it is fresh and trim every six to eight weeks.

Light Bright Shine

Washing and conditioning your hair is only half of what it needs to stay soft and look resilient. Hair needs to have its own pampering time, where it receives conditioning treatments. But do not run to the nearest drugstore and grab anything off the shelf and say that’s, that. Opt for a more organic and beneficial route. Coconut oil is the best treatment you can give your hair. Not only does it not have harsh chemicals, it smells good and works. Unlike other oils, coconut oil has the ability to penetrate hair follicles, providing moisture to your hair. An added benefit is that this oil promotes new growth when massaged in the scalp. For best results add coconut to your weekly routine.

Deep Fried

It is almost impossible to go a day without heat styling your hair. If you have straight hair, you want curly hair and if you have curly hair, you want straight hair.  Maybe, you just want to enhance what you have, which commences the everlasting cycle to obtain perfection. Heat can be damaging because it takes out naturally proteins and natural oils from your hair. Therefore, perfection will not be seen if your hair is not being protected during heat sessions. Before you turn on the heat, apply a heat protector to your hair. Protectors come in sprays that can help hold the style and serums that give added shine to your hair.  These products must be used every time you use heat.

Natural Hair is Good Hair

There is nothing that stresses your hair out more than over styling it. Your hair cannot breathe with all the hair products nor relax with the constant straightening and curling. Your natural texture may not be appealing to you, but just like you need to be you, your hair needs to be itself too. Try to have at least one day a week were you wear a style that is natural to your hair. This will give it some time to recover from everything that you throw at it. Also, keep in mind if you opt for an up-do try not to tie your hair too tight. Hair that is tied tightly will pull out from the root, which can eventually cause balding.

Hair is inescapable and important to your image. If you hair does not look good the chances are you do not look good.  Maintain a healthy diet and take the steps that are necessary to make your hair look as alive as you are. 

Don’t Break the Bank! A Helpful Guide to Holiday Parties

With the party season approaching, there’s nothing worse than getting lost in the crowd.

For those of us on a budget, there can be no worse a time of year, than the Holiday Season. Starting as early as mid-November the Holiday invites can start to roll in. Between classes, and gifts for others, there can be little left in the piggy bank for purchasing a new dress. But do not let this discourage you from attending all those fabulous parties on your agenda; there are many resources available to those of us living on a budget.

Your greatest friend during Holiday party season, or any season for that matter, is the little black dress. Investing in a good quality dress will last you longer than that cheap trendy dress you had your eye on in Forever XXI. Just because your buying a black dress does not mean it has to be boring. If your own personal sense of style allows it, look for a dress with that something extra, to really make you stand out in a crowd. Strong shoulders, asymmetrical hemlines, sheer panels, or an interesting cut, are all examples of little extras that help straddle the fine line of classic and trendy. Once you’ve found the perfect little black dress, the challenge in creating it’s versatility lies with the accessories. Jewelry in particular can be your greatest comrade, just ensure that your jewelry does not over power the over all look of the dress. Remember the classic rule “before you leave your house, take off one accessory.” Black not your colour? Try another classic statement dress in white, or red. As long as the dress fits you well, and your adventurous enough with your styling no one will know you’ve been a repeat offender.

Not a dress girl? Invest in a classic pair of black pants. Not only will they serve you well during the Holiday season, but you can also transition them into your every day wardrobe. Black pants, just like the dress are staple items that can make or break a wardrobe. When shopping for your classic pair of black pants think Audrey Hepburn in, well pretty much anything she wore pants in. Audrey is also a great inspiration for that little black dress you were hunting for.  Clean lines and strong tailoring on the perfect pair of pants will not only be able to last you season to season, but it will also stand the test of time, there is little difference between this year and last years black pants.

If your bored of the little black dress, and feel as though you’ve expired all your pant-shirt-jacket combinations, it may be time to hit up your local vintage shop. For a few dollars, and a lot of patience you can easily find a new outfit for under $40. The key when shopping second hand is, just like the little black dress, and those classic black pants: tailoring. When scouring the racks at Value Village, look more for the potential in an item than the actual item itself. Remember, you are shopping out of date items, but if you believe anything about fashion, believe in its cyclical nature. Those palazzo pants might be from the 1980’s but with a slight alteration and dye job, they can become your new statement item.

Above all else, do not let your small piggy bank get your down. The Holidays were never meant to be about spending excess amounts of money, on either gifts or clothes, it is about spending time with the people that you love and who love you despite your adventurous outfits. 

Holiday Makeovers: Become The Most Exciting Presence In The Room

Holiday Makeovers: Become The Most Exciting Presence In The Room

     Every year around the holiday season, life becomes a whirlwind of activity. Between school, work, holiday parties and trying to find that perfect gift, many people tend to forget about themselves. While some folks can handle the pressure of looking good on the go, many simply burn out and require a Christmas Miracle. With the following quick and easy tips, you can treat yourself to a simple holiday makeover - making sure you see some action under the mistletoe!

     First thing’s first - wearing all red and green is a major holiday no-no. While it may work for a theme party or Santa’s elves, it is neither fashionable or cute (unless you’re one of those aforementioned elves!) We suggest picking one colour or the other - but avoid wearing both together. A black dress with a bright red lipstick and red heels will give you pizazz at any holiday soiree. For the gentlemen - a plaid button-up shirt with jeans (or even khakis!) will give you a taste of the holidays, without making you look like the Christmas Tree. If you are ever in doubt about pieces in your wardrobe, our best suggestion; ask a friend to go through your closet with you and help you decide what you should keep and what could be donated to charity. Many of us hold onto clothes forever, despite the fact that we know we may never wear them. A third-party is always a good judge of what can stay and what should go. Pack up your unworn goods and donate them - it’ll fill you with Holiday Spirit, while at the same time serving you better in the long-run.

     Are you looking bushier than Santa Claus on Christmas morning? Then perhaps a haircut should be in your future. While a trip to a fancy salon would be nice, most of us don’t have the time or the money come the holiday season. That’s no excuse for looking like a shaggy dog however, since there are many cheap alternatives to spruce up your ‘do. While we often turn our noses at the idea of amateurs going near our head with a pair of scissors, many local beauty schools offer their services at drastically low rates so that their students can get in practice. It may seem like a scary idea but in reality, a basic trim is pretty hard to screw up and can go a long way towards improving your overall look. The good news is that hair grows back and small mistakes are often easily fixed with just a little bit of product. Other hair tricks to help you out in a pinch? High pony-tails are easily reined in, and buns can take you from drab-to-fab in a pinch!

     Finally, some quick tips for last-minute touch-ups. Make sure your nails are cleanly cut and polished at all times to keep things looking clean and professional. A little bit of clear polish goes a long way but we won’t discourage colours if it’s what your heart desires; just don’t go crazy with neons and your summer colours. Stick to warm and dark colours that compliment your wardrobe selections.

     If you stick with our tips, we think you’ll be too busy under the mistletoe to come down with a case of the Holiday Blues!

New Issue Theme Vol 9 No 1

Theme (TBC): Under the Influence

(NB: The Global Issue)

Keywords

• innovative
• insightful / informative
• creative
• edgy / controversial / alternative
• sophisticated
• inspirational
• worn
• critical
• community driven (independent industries in the city)
• related to childhood
• accessible

Theme Ideas

 

Community

Homegrown

Accessible

Childhood

Local artisans and artists

Less corporate

Independent fashion communities

Influence of bigger cities - NY London LA Vancouver Montreal

 

"IN"

INdependence

INspiration

INfluences