2nd Annual Winter White Fashion Show

This post is LONG overdue, but it's better late than never.

This November, Sydnie Payne and I volunteered our time to Safire Hair & Esthetics to help them out with the 2nd Annual Winter White Fashion Show Fundraiser, at Boa Lounge on November 24, 2011.

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

Proceeds from the fundraiser went to Main Street Project to contribute to providing a safe, respectful and accessible place for individuals at risk in our community, and to give them an opportunity to make real choices. We were able to raise $1,000 for Main Street Project.

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

Two weeks before the show Syd and I reached out to Lisa St. Godard, President and Esthetician at Safire Hair & Esthetics, to lend a hand in the planning process. Syd and I were looking for a way to get involved in the Winnipeg Fashion scene, and to give back to our community. 

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

We ended up collaborating with Justin Burke, Owner of Runway Fashions and local model with Panache Management. Justin and I went to business school together, so it was nice to work together again. 

Photo Cred: Josh Alao

Syd and I pulled and styled over 47 looks from KLAS Clothing, Luxe + Charm Boutique, Swank Boutique, Out of the Blue, Connect Four Clothing, and Runway Fashions, for a total of 17 male and female models.

Photo Cred: Josh Alao

Photo Cred: Josh Alao

It was quite the successful event, with a turnout of over 100 people. 

Photo Cred: Josh Alao

Those two weeks before the show were unbelievably stressful and full of contacting designers/boutiques, contacting press outlets, coordinating with Safire Hair & Esthetics, ordering curtains for the venue, and coordinating with Panache management for fittings with the models.

Photo Cred: Josh Alao

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

The guys and gals over at Safire Hair & Esthetics did an amazing job on the looks for the models. Their hair and make-up was absolutely stunning.

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

I would just like to thank a number of people for making that night so amazing. Sydnie Payne, Lisa St. Godard and the entire Safire Hair & Esthetics crew, Thai at Luxe + Charm boutique, Mike Nava Owner of Connect Four Clothing, Out of the Blue, Kim Slezak designer of KLAS Clothing, Justin Burke from Runway Fashions, Murray Nagler from Swank Boutique, everyone at Boa Lounge, Main Street Project, Jackie Doming and Josh Alao our wonderful photographers, Melissa and all of the models from Panache Management, and all those who came out to support the fundraiser for Main Street Project!

Photo Cred: Jackie Doming

Photo Cred: Josh Alao

Florence

Florence + The Machine

Lately I just can't get enough of Florence + The Machine! I saw them perform this summer at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, and they blew me away. 

I'm in love with their newest album, Ceremonials, and can often be spotted rocking out to it on repeat in my car. (You should pick it up, or download it off iTunes...you won't be disappointed)

Dressed in Chanel

But beyond the fact that the band is awesome, I also have a deep admiration for Florence Welch. The first time I heard the bands new song, What the Water Gave Me, was when Florence sang it at the end of the Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 Paris fashion show last October. She was looking fierce, and it didn't hurt that she took the final walk down the runway by Karl Lagerfeld's side. 

Chanel SS12

Florence also has mad style. I find her to be edgy, and bold, and always somehow elegant. My favourite look was the Gucci dress she wore to the Gucci and RocNation Pre-GRAMMY Brunch at Soho House in LA in 2011. She was even the inspiration for Gucci's Fall 2011 collection, and had her entire on-stage wardrobe designed for her tour. Lucky girl...

Gucci

I found it really hard to pick only a few pictures of her to post, so if you like what you see, I encourage you to search for more of her greatest fashion moments. But these are two photo's of her that I think are rockin'.

dedica.la

last.fm

Golden Globe

I wanted to start off with a confession about last night's 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Once the red carpet was over, I didn't stick around for the awards. So if you're wanting to read an award recap check out Kulture By Katherine.

On a high note, I'm going to start off with some of my favourite gowns of the evening!

So, I'm a sucker for beading. I love anything that is covered in beads and gives off a vintage looking vibe. Salma Hayek wore a Gucci dress and was looking stunning. I like how the colours of her hair compliment the gold and black beads on her dress. This dress really reminds me of my favourite vintage beaded purse.

Salma Hayek

Sofia Vergara from Modern Family looked amazing in this midnight-blue Vera Wang gown. The colour is immaculate, and the fish tail bottom shows off her amazing curves. If I looked like that in this dress (or if I was her), I would never want to take it off. This may just be my favourte dress of the night.

Sofia Vergara

Emma Stone looked super edgy and firece in her Lanvin gown. Charlize Theron on the other hand looked very elegant and classic in her Christian Dior gown.

Emma Stone and Charlize Theron

And I just have to say it...Zac Posen owned the red carpet. Reese Witherspoon, Elle Macpherson and Kelly Osbourne all rocked gowns designed by Zac. They all were looking fresh, classy, and even a little bit edgy. The fish tail dresses added another element of elegance.

I LOVE Kelly's grey-toned hair. I think she really pulls off the purple tint it has to it, and is working the new trend. The colour of her dress is bold, yet refreshing.

Kelly Osbourne

The silhouette of Reese's dress complimented her figure wonderfully, and the softness of her hair made her glow.

Reese Witherspoon

Elle's dress is so fun, and the structure of it really intreaged me. Her colourful accessories looked great with her ivory dress. 

Elle Macpherson

Channing Tattum and wife Jenna Dewan looked like the perfect couple walking the carpet. Her beautiful Maria Lucia Hohan dress looked stunning with her purple jewels and bright eyes. He's not bad looking either.

Channing Tattum & Jenna Dewan

I could go on and on about all of the dresses that I loved off the red carpet...and the ones that weren't so hot. I'm going to leave you with probably the worst of the worst, atleast in my books.

I just cannot begin to imagine what Sarah Michelle Gellar was thinking when she decided that wearing a tie-dyed Monique Lhuillier gown to the Golden Globes was a good idea. I do like the print, but definitely not for this dress. The photo speaks for itself. 

Sarah Michelle Gellar

zeros for resolutions

With a week and a half of 2012 under our belt's, I've been told that new gym-goer's - and New Year resolutioner's  - are in full force, and are taking over gym's, supermarket's, and even Staple's. 

I'm going to make an assumption here. Loosing weight, getting in shape, and bringing organization into play, are probably the most popular New Year's resolutions that have ever existed.

I don't buy into the whole resolution thing. From an observer's standpoint the gym is always emptier in February, and people's lives can never stay organized for all that long... and maybe I know a little bit from personal experience.

In the past couple year's - especially in the last - I have been trying hard to stay focused on creating new goals, following through with them, and challenging myself everyday. Personally, I accomplish more that way. Why not take stepping stones instead of psyching myself up for something that may not be realistic with my lifestyle, or setting a goal that may not be as beneficial to me at that very moment. 

Don't get me wrong. I believe that I can accomplish anything I feel strongly about and can be anything I want to be. But I also like to take on the role of a realist.

Good luck to all you believer's out there. And to those of you who have already fallen through with your resolutions, it's okay to cheat a little...presuming you're going to get back on the boat.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

I also wanted to share this song, since I cannot get it out of my head! Enjoyyyyyy :)

What's Old is New

New year, new look, new vibe, new direction, new approach.

It's what I'm going for. Not only for myself, but for my blog.

I have taken a couple weeks off from posting - a much needed blog holiday, that just so happened to mesh with my much needed break from school - and have decided that I need to change this blog up a bit.

My blog revolved around fashion. What people are doing in the industry, what are the latest trends, and things that I thought were hip. All of this is great, and these things are still interesting to me, but instead of "reporting" about fashion, I want my posts to be more about my everyday life. I want to post about other things I like, even if they are not all about fashion.

I think it will give people a much more authentic vibe of how my personal style plays into my everyday life.

Over my break I had the time to get together with some old friends, many of which I haven't seen in awhile. I know any Creative Communication students can relate to that (not seeing any of your friends, besides the ones you see in school everyday). And I was also fortunate enough to spend part of my holiday, and Christmas, in California.

These pictures were taken in Old Town La Quinta. My family and I often go to Old Town Coffee Company for breakfast, everything is so delicious... and takes better in California!

Every Thursday night, Downtown Palm Springs has a street market. You can find unique artwork, clothing, accessories, food, olive oil & all kinds of vinegar, and many kinds of pets. Some one even had their pet pig with them.. I always wanted a pet pig.

I also found the coolest feather headbands and earrings. I LOVE feathers, so when I was faced with the challenge of picking just one, I left with three!

And who doesn't love a stick of deep fried dough covered in sugar? Anytime I see a churro stand I have to have one, they are one of my guilty pleasures.

"Churro's are as popular here, as Starbucks." - Kirstyn Gray 

   

                   

There was some really cool artwork at the market, but there was one artist that totally blew me away. Kurtis Rykovich is his name. He calls his pieces souls, and the illistrations are mainly of doll like girls. I find them to be mystical, and whimsical. The frames he uses on the paintings and sketches are all unique, some of them look very vintage. He also paints on clothing, bags, and pillows. 

Little Bo Peep, That Is Not A Sheep

My cousins and aunt joined my family and I the first part of our holiday, and I can tell you that it was a total blast. They left before Christmas but since my parents decided to not put up a Christmas tree back home, they helped us decorate one in our Cali home.

We did A LOT of shopping, and even scoped out a vintage store that I have been following online. The Fine Art of Design had some really unique vintage designer items, many of which were still out of my price range. But it was still fun to check out.

Our good family friends joined us on Christmas day, arriving just in time for morning cheese biscuits and mimosas! Every trip that we go on with Kirstyn and Mandi is always very entertaining since we are all so similar. But I'm sure we probably get a tad bit annoying to our parents. 

We went out to happy hour quite a bit - that's the thing to do in Palm Desert.

 

                    

During the break another one of my good friends Heather Longstaffe was visiting from Nashville. She's a singer/songwritter, originally from Winnipeg, and was able to make it to the radio show I co-host, That Pop Culture Show on 92.9 KICK-FM.

Regular hosts Allie and Bryan couldn't make it to the special show, but new co-host Sydnie was in the studio for her first show with main interviewer Josh and I, on That Pop Culture Show.              

Heather, Josh, Myself, & Sydnie in studio

I also have some great pictures of friends, afternoon skates, birthday parties, my attempts at making sushi cones, New Year's Eve, and some books I picked up over the holiday's!