The Big © : Copyright and Fashion

I just finished a post on Chictopia about copyright and blogging which you can check out here. After doing lots of research, I had fashion and copyright on the brain. I kept my Chictopia post as brief as I could, but it is such a complex issue, especially since blogging and online media are such new mediums that copyright legislation has not really caught up yet. I found it all super interesting, but perhaps that is just the dorky librarian coming out in me.

During my research into copyright, style blogging, and fashion in general, I stumbled upon this video, a TED Talk (which are amazing, on so many fabulous topics) which talks about copyright in the fashion world. Although this particular talk really is more about copyright and how it applies (or doesn't) to fashion designers and less about bloggers, it is still totally well worth a watch.

What are your thoughts on copyright and blogging? Copyright and fashion? Fill me in.

Rondes et Fashion

I stumbled upon this editorial from Elle France via Runway Revolution,  that features curvaceous, or "voluptueuse" models, this time, the lovely Robyn Lawley photographed by Lee Broomfield.

Being on the "ronde" side myself, I have to admit that I am always excited to see a feature with styles and shapes of garments that might actually look good on me. Robyn Lawley certainly more than does justice to all these garments - I think she looks stunning!

I am definitely feeling inspired by the colours and shapes of the pieces in these shots, and it is nice to see a European magazine promoting curvier ladies and not talking about how they should wear stocky shoes to "match their sturdy legs".(Some good comments about that Sartorialist post on The Cut) however stylish they might be. Dear Mr. Schuman - note that a curvy lady can pull off a stiletto heel as well as any size 0-2 gal. Just take a look at Ms. Lawley in her red heels, above.

Music Monday - Sara Bareilles

I thought for this weeks Music Monday post I would share an artist who I have been listening to lately. Do you ever go through phases where you listen to songs you really like over and over until you are kind of sick of hearing them, only to rediscover those same songs when you stumble upon them again?  I think that's what happened with me and Sara Bareilles. She writes beautiful songs, is a fantastic singer and pianist, but it's been a while since I've listened to her music, and I am glad I've rediscovered it.

King of Anything and Love Song were two of the songs that I initially really liked, but I have to say, one of her newer songs, Uncharted, is my current favourite. The video is a bit odd, there are a bunch of random singers / people lip synching along, one of whom I was actually convinced was Tieka the first time I watched the video. I soon realized the error of my ways - just a doppelgänger I guess? In any case, it is a fantastic song and well worth the listen.

What are you listening to lately?

In My Makeup Bag

It's been a long time since I've done a really beauty focused post, so I thought it was about time to share a few of my favourite make-up bag mainstays.

First up, Quo Concealer. I love this stuff. I initially picked up a similar concealer at Shoppers, from a now defunct line called Red Earth. When they stopped making/carrying this four colour concealer I was so upset, but the Quo line has provided an almost as good substitute. This stuff has saved me on many an occasion.

My other favourite concealer is a new discovery (although I am already on my second pot) - Boi-ing from Benefit. This stuff is gold, seriously. A little pricey, but so worth every penny. And shade "1" is actually light enough for my uber-pasty complexion.

As for cheek colour, I love Georgia Peach, also by Benefit. I love the gentle colour, it adds the look I want but is totally subtle. Winner in my books.

The Nars Multiple Stick in Luxor is another favourite of mine. It adds the perfect soft shimmer for a night out, but I think my favourite use for it is a little dab in the corner of my eye on those days when I feel (and look) a little tired. The shimmer brightens up my eyes and makes me look more awake immediately.

As for eyes, I love love love the "Crème eyeshadow" palettes from Revlon. I have lost count of how many of these I have gone through. My two favourite palettes are Seashells and Not Just Nudes. These are so easy to use and blend, and although sometimes a re-application is necessary, they continue to be favourites of mine.

Currently my mascara is Captiv'Eyes from Givenchy. I love it because it is actually really brown.  I have sought long and hard in the drug-store lines for truly brown mascara and can never find it. The best option is black-brown which is essentially still black, which looks really stark against my super-fair skin for every day. So I checked out the higher end mascaras and finally found the real browns I want. This one from Givenchy has become a fast favourite.

I generally don't do a lot for lips other than gloss, but I do really like the lip stain from Covergirl. It gives a nice colour and then I pop on some trusty Labello. I'll sometimes wear lipstick when I'm going out, but this is generally my go-to for every day.

Last but not least - perfume. I love love love perfume but rarely wear since there are a lot of people who are sensitive to scents, at my last job particularly, although I am hesitant to wear it to work now although there are no scent-free signs up. In any case, in the evenings and on weekends, I do indulge. My current choice is Amazing Grace by Philosophy, although my other absolute favourite is Wisteria from Crabtree & Evelyn. I gravitate towards gentle scents, usually floral.

As a note, I will mention that none of these items have been gifted to me, or provided for review by companies, they are all honestly products I've picked out over the past months/years, and are all pretty much constant contents of my makeup bag.

What are some of the beauty products you swear by? Any recommendations?

A Final LGFW Roundup

This last post doesn't feature the complete roster of designers who showed during the remainder of LG Fashion week in Toronto, but you can see a few that caught my eye (for both good and bad reasons, although mostly good). It was a pretty great week for Canadian fashion, have to say - want to know more? Read on.

This collection from Juma presented earlier in the week but somehow managed to slip past me when I was doing my Tuesday post. There were tribal prints and soft kerchief-esque dresses and flowing shapes. This was also one of the few lines to incorporate menswear too (with one particular eerily androgynous male model). I personally loved this collection, especially all the prints. You can check out the rest of the collection here.

At Vawk (from Project Runway Canada alum, Sunny Fong), there were a lot of business-like staples in neutrals with pops of rich burgundy and teal (my favourite colour), interspersed with touches of fur (I think real, in this case). Fur isn't my thing, but I loved the cable-knit details on dresses and blazers, as well as the really pretty hair. Does anyone have a better detail shot of it? If so, please send my way! I would love to try to copy it.

Unlike the knitwear monstrosities that walked Denis Gagnon's runway mentioned in my last LGFW post, the knits from OR by Angela Chen were something that I can (and will) totally get behind. They were unique and eminently wearable. I particularly loved her knit skirts. How chic and cozy! Seems like the perfect thing to wear on a cold Canadian winter day, in my opinion. I'll be on the lookout for them to add to my 2011 winter wardrobe, for sure.

Another favourite for me was the collection from Line Knitwear. I loved the layered looks, it reminded me of something one of the chic older ladies from Advanced Style might throw together, (see especially that mustard crochet cardigan - far left) and that her granddaughter might just as easily want to borrow from Grandma's closet. I think my personal favourites were the full length crochet dresses in various colours. So pretty and perfect for fall.

I have to once again agree with the folks at Fashion - Amanda Lew Kee's fall collection started out with promise. Pretty velvet pencil skirts (although I'd take mine with the slit a little lower down, not SO much leg), some leather and surprisingly subtle studded trousers, but then, wait for it (LGFW "face-palm" moment coming up below)...

She then delved into wrapping paper, tinsel, and the kind of sheer that can only really be described as gratuitous boob, although hidden in some cases by awkward ruffles or flowers. It just got worse and worse until I was wishing I had the first few models re-walking the runway and reminding me that there were some actually sophisticated pieces to start off with. Personally I don't think that the wrapping paper (or as so elegantly described by Caitlan Moneta - "gasoline-spill iridescent foil aprons") and tinsel will be catching on for fall.  See the rest of this collection here.

Last but certainly not least, the collection I'd been waiting for with baited breath all week, the fall line from Sarah Stevenson. Those of you who have been following for a while may recall my post on her spring line during the last fashion week in Toronto. I fell in love then with her amazing prints, and was also excited and pleased to learn that all of her pieces are ethically made here in Canada. Needless to say the Fall lineup did not disappoint, it stands out as one of my favourites of the whole week, hands down.

There were such romantic colours, shapes, and floral prints, I had a hard time picking out just a few favourites from the collection (actually most of it is featured here, although you can check out the remaining looks here). I think my top two looks from Stevenson's line were the opening long sleeved blue dress, as well as the t-shirt sleeved dress with the floral skirt (above right). I look forward to the day that these dreamy garments find their way to either Holt's or some other retailer here in Ottawa. Beauty!

Overall, while there may have been a few misses, but there were definitely a lot of hits on the runways in Toronto, and I am excited to see (and shop) these looks towards summer's end.  You can check out full (and seriously great) coverage of these and all the other shows from LGFW via Fashion Magazine.  What were some of your favourites from this past week's fashion?

All photos by Jenna Marie Waikani of Fashion Magazine, collages by me

Nature is Here

For something a little bit different, I thought I would share this video with you all. It comes from a fellow Islander and filmmaker, Millefiore Clarkes (check out more of her work here and here). I just thought her short film of the beautiful MacPhail Woods  is pretty much a perfect (and beautifully filmed) example of what I miss about my home province. 

When I was growing up my sister and I played for hours in our family's back woodlot, which looked fairly similar to what you see here, to be honest.  I do love living in Ottawa, but given the chance (and/or a job prospect), I'd be back to the serene woods and sandy shores of my dear Prince Edward Island in a heartbeat.

Music Monday - The Wailin' Jennys

For this edition of Music Monday I thought I would share a group of singers that I grew to really like while living in Winnipeg (which is their home province) - The Wailin' Jennys.



 It might be that growing up singing folk songs in the Queens County Music Festival every year has instilled in me a love for all types of folk music. In any case, The Wailin' Jennys definitely fall into the folk category. They often sing traditional folk songs, or also their own original songs, mostly a capella, although they do play instruments as well.



I think what I like best about these ladies are their beautiful harmonies - their voices blend so beautifully, and don't need any special tricks to sound wonderful, they just do.



If you like what you hear, one of the "Jennys", Ruth Moody, has her own solo album. My roommate while I lived in the 'Peg introduced me to it, and I pretty much instantly added it to my itunes and have been listening to it ever since, along with the original Wailin' Jennys tunes. She is coming to Ottawa and performing at the NAC on the 3rd of May, and I'm hoping to check her out in concert then.

Hope you enjoy these ladies and their tunes! What is on your playlist lately?

LGFW - Tuesday's Offerings

Since Joe Fresh was such a favourite as to get an entire post, I thought it only fair to continue with the LGFW roundups featuring thoughts on the other collections presented on Tuesday.

First up, Denis Gagnon.  I wasn't sure what to think of this collection. There were edgy, urban looks, tough leather jackets mixed with soft pleats which I liked. Also a lot of tulle, which normally is a big win with me but I wasn't sure here. Sarah Casselman gives a similarly mixed review here which I pretty much totally agreed with.

At every fashion week there has to be a bit of a "WTF" moment (think Chanel "Chewbacca"-esque outfits in Fall 2010 for example). Mr. Gagnon provided that at LGFW with these ... knits. I can't even imagine Miss Man Repeller herself working these into an outfit, they are just so... not wearable in any circumstance. This was a boo for me, my apologies Denis. There were other things I liked!

Next up, a very urban and gritty collection from Chloé Comme Parris. The sisters, who design together, put together a strong showing for their second time out at LG Fashion week. While the items are not generally the type of thing I would personally turn to in my closet, there were definitely some pieces that I think will be big with editors and bloggers alike.  Some great accessories too and  - how great is that backpack?

Also, I will mention that I kindof  felt that it was a bit reminiscent of Alexander Wang's Fall 2010 show . Agree? Disagree?

Pink Tartan - this is a consistently popular line, namely, I think, because it is always pretty and stylish without being too trendy, you can count on classics from Ms. Newport-Mimran. Her look this time round was what she described as "couturitarian" and I felt like it worked. She made use of parachute-esque fabric for some pretty shirtdresses, and focused generally on neutrals - blacks, greys, khaki, injected with some shots of a pretty plum. I personally leaned towards the shirt dresses and full skirts.  Yet another successful collection from a Mimran on the Toronto runways.

I'll have one last roundup on the LG Fashion Week shows coming up later this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled. I would also love to hear your thoughts on your favourites, likes, dislikes, or what other shows you are looking forward to seeing (I personally can't wait to see what is coming up from Sarah Stevenson). Let me know in the comments or send me a note via Twitter!

All photos from Fashion Magazine, collages by me