A word from… is a monthly news post contributed by the sponsors who support Final Fashion. All of my sponsors are intrepid entrepreneurs with a lot of personality, and I encourage you to check out what they are doing and making. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch!

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Ashley from Shopgirls says…

Shopgirls is excited to announce the arrival of Spring 2010 collections, which, as always, are exclusively Canadian-designed. Check out Stacey Zhang’s fresh new looks and prepare to fawn over Faren’s new Digital Grunge collection and Montreal-based Veronique Milikjovitch’s bias cut asymmetrical gems. New to Shopgirls: Matt & Nat bags and accessories, eco-friendly yet fashion forward. As per usual, you will also find the city’s best assortment of Yoga Jeans with new styles this season! These are but a few of our new arrivals… Visit us in the shop or on-line at www.shopgirls.ca.

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Nina from Toronto Fashion Incubator says…

Do you have the passion to be in fashion but don’t know where to start or what connections you need?

New TFI mentor Clint Scott has spent the past 12 years in recruitment, working with leading companies, locally and internationally. His passion and dedication has inspired him to coach hiring managers and partner with his clients to ensure they hire the best available talent for their needs.

Date: Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, 5:30pm Doors open for Coffee & Networking, 6:00pm Seminar Presentation with Q&A

Location: Toronto Fashion Incubator, 285 Manitoba Drive, Pod 3, Exhibition Place, Toronto

Tickets Available NOW online at www.fashionincubator.com/shop

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Darlene of Bijouxbead says…

Embrace Valentine Cocktail took place on Thursday, February 11 at Magnolia, 333 Eglinton Avenue West. The special event featured the wearable art of Bijouxbead by designer Darlene Martin who was there in person to greet guests.

The store was packed with a fashionable crowd sipping pink sparkling wine and enjoying cupcakes from Phipps.  Among the guests were  Yahoo! Canada’s senior lifestyle editor Renee Sylvestre-Williams, I Want I Got’s Anita Clarke, fashion designer Jamil Juma of Juma, The Soles of my Shoes’ Kimberly Lyn,  and executive director of the Toronto Fashion Incubator, Susan Langdon.

“I feel very fortunate that my work has been so well received by Toronto’s fashion community.  I was thrilled for the opportunity to show my work at Magnolia.  I attribute much of the event’s success to the diligent work of Magnet Creative‘s Gail McInnes.” -Darlene Martin, Bijouxbead

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Gwendolyne of Gwendolyne Hats says…

Atelier Gwendolyne presents

The Makings of a Teapot Pincushion

Cut and sew with felt to make your own!

This course takes place over 6 consequent Thursdays ~ April 22,  29, May 6,  13,  20,  and 27.

Held in my Atelier at the 401 Richmond St West building ~ Studio 433

Classes begin promptly at 6:30 and end at 8:30 pm

Instruction Fee is $240 plus GST, Material fee is $25 incl. tax.

Enrollment is limited, to reserve your place a non-refundable deposit of $30 is required

Call or email today 416-351-1219 gwendolyne@gwendolynehats.com

for other course information visit http://ateliergwendolyne.blogspot.com/

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Odessa of Buy Design for Windfall says…

BUY DESIGN SPRING SOCIAL is Windfall’s seventh annual dress up party!

On Saturday, April 10 at 8 pm, The Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s Distillery Historic District will be transformed into a dirty thirties fundraiser featuring a mess hall auction, croquet and badminton lawns and a swinging dance hall tent. Sip sidecars, sours and planters punch and parade across the big band stage in the boater pageant. Throw darts at the Beauty Balloon Buster game and sample brown-bagged bites from the country fare stands and bake sale.

Hosted by TV and fashion personality ADRIAN MAINELLA.

Tickets are $75 each or 6 for $375.  Visit our website at www.buydesignforwindfall.ca to order online or call 416-703-8435.

Very pleased to have my favourite fashion fundraiser, Buy Design for Windfall, supporting Final Fashion for February and March.  The theme this year is “1930s Spring Social” and the accompanying photoshoot was a lot of fun (yes I did a rare stint as a model).  Check out the gorgeous website which just went up this week to see the pictures, and if you’re going to be in Toronto in April be sure to buy a ticket. Buy Design always has the best crowd and the most fun, all in support of a marvelous cause.

A word from… is a monthly news post contributed by the sponsors who support Final Fashion.  All of my sponsors are intrepid entrepreneurs with a lot of personality, and I encourage you to check out what they are doing and making.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch!

Because of the holiday schedule, there are two sponsor posts this December, in case you were wondering.

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Darlene from Bijouxbead says…

I am planning on launching an online shop on my website early in 2010.

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Crystal from Fashion Crimes sends this…

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Michelle from Shopgirls says…

Feeling the post-holiday bloat?  Do not fret, Yoga Jeans will nip and tuck all your bits and still fit after you shed those extra pounds.  No need to pull out your fat clothes, simply drop by Shopgirls and we’ll take care of it!  Shopgirls carries the largest selection of Yoga Jeans which are now also available on-line at shopshopgirls.com

A word from… is a monthly news post contributed by the sponsors who support Final Fashion.  All of my sponsors are intrepid entrepreneurs with a lot of personality, and I encourage you to check out what they are doing and making.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch!

Because the December holidays interfere with the usual sponsor post schedule, there will be two sponsor posts this month – just a heads up.

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Nina from the Toronto Fashion Incubator says…

Every winter, TFI partners with The Drake Hotel to host a deliciously sinful fashion and food event taking place during Winterlicious, a festival of culinary delights in Toronto. At Guilty Pleasures, TFI accessory and apparel designers put their wares on sale at one of Toronto’s most interesting 19th-century buildings, The Drake Hotel.

LOCATION: The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto
DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010

Make SALES, gain EXPOSURE and have FUN while doing it!
This popular sale offers a guaranteed audience of 300 fashion enthusiasts who will enjoy a delicious Drake brunch before shopping for your wares (the brunch is already SOLD OUT!) The sale is also open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

DON’T MISS OUT! REGISTER BY DECEMBER 23, 2009 AND YOU’LL GET:

• A chance to WIN a party at The Drake Hotel for 40 – 50 of your closest friends where you’ll enjoy welcome cocktails & hors d’oeuvres
• Inclusion in The Drakes event press release
• An invitation to TFI’s Guilty Pleasures Designer Meet-And-Greet at The Drake Hotel where you’ll enjoy welcome cocktails and The Drake’s famous Strolling Dinner! It’s a great opportunity to view the space & have all of your event questions answered.

DOWNLOAD THE GUILTY PLEASURES APPLICATION AND SEND IT IN BY DECEMBER 23RD!

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Crystal from Fashion Crimes sends this…

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Ashley from Shopgirls says..

Stuck for last minute gifts this holiday season? Pick up a gift certificate at Shopgirls! Available in any denomination and without expiry, these beautiful cards are perfect for the creative loved one – they can be used for anything from our collection of over 90 designers across Canada, and will guarantee the recipient a fabulous and fun shopping experience!

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Julie from LIV by Au Lit says…

THE hottest look this season at LIV has been the legging/jegging/skinny jean with a high boot, a loose fitted tank (sequins optional) under a ‘boyfriend’ blazer or long cardigan. Dress it up for the holidays with a statement necklace and a stunning pair of earrings. We’ve really noticed that unlike previous holiday seasons, a lot of our clients are looking for comfortable (but always sexy) items rather than the usual holiday dresses. Hallelujah, no more dresses and tights! Let’s enjoy this while the sexy & sloppy trend lasts! Happy Holidays everyone!

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Gwendolyne from Gwendolyne Hats says…

‘Tis the season at Gwendolyne Hats
find many fantastic gift items for you and someone else.

It is the eighth month of Final Fashion’s sponsorship program and this month I am pleased have a new sponsor to introduce to you.  Interested in sponsorship?  Please get in touch!

Bijouxbead is a line of one-of-a-kind jewelry designed by Darlene Martin.  Darlene is a friend of Anita‘s but I’ve never met her in person – I’m looking forward to meeting her at her Holiday collection launch this Saturday. (You should come too!) She also chose to use the illustration I made for her badge on her newly relaunched website – looking pretty!

Again, I am very grateful to have returning sponsors.  Please check them out!

• LIV by Au Lit – gorgeous linens and housewares and chic casual clothing, available only in uptown Toronto.
• Fashion Crimes – fabulous dresses and accessories from the queen of crinolines, Pam Chorley, available only in downtown Toronto.
• PunkMedics – stripped-down simple skincare for vegans, the recently body-modified and other sensitive souls, shipped worldwide.
• Shopgirls – fashion and art boutique featuring some of Canada’s most creative fashion designers, plus so many fun events and workshops, available only in downtown Toronto.
• Gwendolyne Hats – unique and practical handcrafted works of art for your head, featuring fine materials and rare vintage buttons and trims.  Available only in downtown Toronto.
• Toronto Fashion Incubator – the world’s first non-profit organization created to support entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, offering services and resources to members both in Toronto and across Canada.

Thanks to Final Fashion sponsor LIV by Au Lit, I had a wonderful opportunity to invite 20 of my favourite fashion friends – writers, bloggers and stylists – to celebrate the beginning of the winter holiday season with wine and cupcakes and check out all the goods at LIV.  This is the second sponsored event I’ve done in the intimate, casual spirit of my old series of networking brunches, TFBB.

Here I am looking as festive as I’ll ever get!

Stylist Tricia Campbell meets shopping blogger Eden Spodek.

I love being a connecter of people – I tried to invite a mix of good pals from the TFBB days and newer friends that I’d like to get to know better – and of course people I think would like to meet eachother. I also tried to pick people I knew would love LIV’s chic, friendly style and the vintage-inspired jewelry of featured designers Edmoure Ralph.  All while keeping the event small enough to be intimate.  I’m lucky to have the enviable problem of knowing way too many awesome people so putting together the guest list was a happy challenge.

The girls of Fashion In Motion showing off some ornaments.

Kimberly of The Soul of my Shoes and Ashley Bartlett of She Does the City.  Marta of With Love… was also at the event taking photos for LIV’s blog, I was a bit too absorbed with introductions and conversations to get many good shots so I can’t wait to see Marta’s pics.

LIV’s owner Joanna Goodman and I at the end of a lovely evening.

Thanks everyone who came!  It was so much fun to see you all.  Roll call:

• Briony Smith and Danah Abdulla of blogTO
• Rea McNamara of EYE WEEKLY and Metro
• Emma Yardley of Canadian Living
• Johanne Durocher and Rachel of Fashion In Motion
• Jennifer Campbell of FASHION Magazine
• Gail McInnes
• Anita Clarke of I want – I got
• Jen Tse
• Linda Gaylard
• Nathalie Atkinson and Elyse of National Post
• Ashley Bartlett of She Does the City
• Afiya Francisco of The Style House
• Stefania Yarhi of Textstyles
• Tricia Campbell
• Renee Williams of Yahoo Canada Life
• Eden Spodek of Bargainista
• Kimberly Lyn of The Soul of my Shoes

It is the seventh month of Final Fashion‘s sponsorship program and once again I have the pleasure of welcoming new sponsors to the lovely far right sidebar.  Interested in sponsorship?  Please get in touch!  Serendipity brought me two new sponsors for November and they are…

LIV by Au Lit is a lifestyle boutique in Toronto located in the Eglinton and Avenue area.  Joanna is the owner; her family’s stores, Au Lit, carry luxurious linens for homes.  LIV explores the fashion and accessories that complement Au Lit’s aesthetic both in and outside of the home, including cozy loungewear and chic casual clothing from both Canadian and international designers.  I am looking forward to working with Joanna on some other projects very soon – watch this space for details.

Gwendolyne Hats are created by a long time reader of the blog who emailed me suggesting that we meet up.  I love meeting readers so we had lunch at 401 Richmond, the terrific building were Gwendolyne has her studio and shop.  She showed me her beautiful antique button collection, and the gorgeous fabrics and artisan trims that she uses to make her hats, bags and accessories.  I tried a couple on – not only is each hat a handmade, carefully considered work of art with great attention to colour and embellishment – they feel incredibly warm, so functional for a cold climate.  Gwendolyne is a passionate, intuitive woman who spontaneously offered her support to Final Fashion – I very much look forward to reciprocating.

Plus – encore applause for returning sponsors!

• Fashion Crimes – fabulous dresses and accessories from the queen of crinolines, Pam Chorley, available only in downtown Toronto.
• PunkMedics – stripped-down simple skincare for vegans, the recently body-modified and other sensitive souls, shipped worldwide.
• Shopgirls – fashion and art boutique featuring some of Canada’s most creative fashion designers, plus so many fun events and workshops, available only in downtown Toronto.
• Toronto Fashion Incubator – the world’s first non-profit organization created to support entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, offering services and resources to members both in Toronto and across Canada.

Thanks so much to all the sponsors and extra appreciation to Final Fashion’s readers for supporting the businesses that help support this site.

A word from… is a monthly news post contributed by the sponsors who support Final Fashion.  All of my sponsors are intrepid entrepreneurs with a lot of personality, and I encourage you to check out what they are doing and making.  Just click on their badges in the far right sidebar to get it straight from the source.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch!

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Sian from Fresh Collective says…

We’ve put our own twist on menswear for fall with this adorable pinstripe babydoll dress. With a full skirt and empire waist, there’s hardly anything “manly” about it and that’s why we love it! The subtle grey pinstripe pattern is perfect for the office when worn with a blazer and tight,s and then layer on some chunky necklaces and toss on a pair of sky-high heels and you’re ready for a night on the town! And for those of you who love plaids and tweeds, we’ve got them as well! Be sure to stop by Fresh Collective to see more fabulous fall merchandise from Fresh Baked Goods.

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Michelle from Shopgirls says…

Shopgirls‘ Signature Yoga Jeans – same amazing fit, new look! Only 300 pairs produced exclusively for Shopgirls. With traditional gold stitching and the Shopgirls asterisk embroidered on the back pocket, these are the hottest new addition to the Yoga Jean collection. $110.

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Crystal from Fashion Crimes says…

The artist featured in Fashion Crimes’ window during Nuit Blanche/“Out of Sight” on the night of Oct. 3, is Kathryn Walter, her exhibit is as follows:

Kathryn Walter – a tribute to the garment workers and independent designers that Queen West has been defined by, Walter’s performance centers on a sewing machine she has designed to power a film projector. Working from a store window, she will sew felt “remnants” or scraps. The faster she sews, the clearer the film projection behind her will be. The notion of remnants and the image of the Victorian-looking industrial buildings in the projection suggest an era of fine craft and hard work by individuals predating imported, mass-produced clothing.

Sponsors who joined Final Fashion in May, June and July have the option of submitting one guest post per month.  This post is a word from… Fashion Crimes and is a fascinating peek into the creation of a window display.  Enjoy!

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Our ‘09 TIFF inspired window concept had to be REALLY amazing to even come close to matching the wow-factor of the ‘08 window, which turned out to be one of our favourite displays of all time.

Last year’s TIFF tribute featured glam gowns worn by extravagantly made-up beauties strolling the red carpet, one of which who was “walking” a 7 ft. ostrich by a gem-encrusted leash. The other was being observed by 6 monkeys (taxidermy monkeys, to be exact!) who were eating popcorn.

SO, this year, needless to say, we were feeling the pressure. Upon putting our heads together, we came up with a fun concept in hopes to keep on par with the Film Festival window installations of the past.

Here is how the Brainstorm began:

For the styling we planned to dress the likes of Debbie Harry, Gwen Stefani, Karen O, Alison Mosshart, Grace Slick, Diana Ross and Amy Winehouse, of course. And because FALL makes for a huge stockpile of new accessories we set out to jam-pack the display with an overwhelming abundance of lavish pieces. Fall trends would be thoroughly represented with patent handbags, bulky accessories, punches of colour, a few plaid dresses (EVEN THOUGH Pam is allergic to plaid), structured silhouettes, leather gloves, shawls, cuff bracelets and pleatherette leggings.

Throughout the 19 hour production stint, Kat and Robyn (the fab production team) drank a total of 9 Red Bulls. At one point at around 1a.m., Kat mentioned feeling “very inspired towards a night of debauchery…” (Partying is infectious when you are surrounded by rock-goddesses).

From concept to creation – we were thrilled at what magically turned out by the next morning. Passers by were stopped in their tracks. Even all of our staff had to peruse the masterpiece, each for about 10 minutes.

This installation more than ever represents the designs of Fashion Crimes from over the years at its best… interpreted in a current way, just in time for the festival.