If I Was A Rich Girl.....+1

This post is gonna be short and sweet because I have some short but very sweet news.....

For those who care, and/or noticed, it’s been awhile since I did a post - before last weeks’ post, the last one was in April! Far, FAR too long between posts my friends....but I have an excuse! And it’s a DOOZY!

In April, I got some news....some very thrilling, life-changing news. News that has made me come to the realization that some things can be all encompassing, all consuming in ways too beautiful to describe......news that keeps you from writing a post because you’re too busy trying to really take in the news – what does it mean to me, to life, to the world and to the universe (OK, one step too dramatic but anyways).........wait for it....wait for it....

Actually, telling you straight-out is too easy, too simple, which I am not, (and which I have a feeling you are not either). If the title of this post doesn't do it for you, here is a teaser quote to help you figure out what has taken over my mind (& heart...awwww.....) and why it has me looking at this whole new world of clothes......

“The collection’s official consumer launch will be celebrated with a global children’s tea party in Gucci’s worldwide flagship stores in November.”

Need more? OK - Let’s just say this latest line from Gucci could not have come at a better time for me and the HB......(Get it? Got it? Good!)





Yeah me!

Will this change the content and direction of If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto – NO WAY!

In fact, in true Rebecca Bloomwood fashion, it just means If I Was A Rich Girl just found a whole new entire retail sector that was completely unknown to me before! And best of all, it’s filled with tiny, adorable clothes whose labels scream the names we’ve all come to love, no matter what stage of life you are in, (Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior) – PINCH ME! ‘Cause life and shopping does not get any better than now......

And now that I’ve firmly taken a hold of this news by the reins, the posts will continue to come as snarky (or glowing) and as often as usual.......(mmmm, you know I don’t do ‘usual’ right?)

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl....Toronto...+1!

Toronto: The Clothing Show

I LOVE shopping local. (Well, I love shopping. Period.) But I do get an extra special high when I find out about a hot new local designer, whose pieces I covet at first glance. So, even though the HB calls it a “glorified flea market”, looking for “hot” and “local” is why I check out the Clothing Show every year, and every year, it does not disappoint me.

Gutting the house and in the midst of renovations has really cramped my “personal” budget, so I’m currently in the business of only buying investment pieces – pieces that look GORGE with just about anything and will last me for seasons. (You know, that piece that every time you wear it, you get a boatload of comments from complete strangers saying, “Wow, that is an amazing [insert hot item here]”, and inside you throw yourself an I-am-so-smart party for dropping half your wallet on X piece, even though it hurt a little at the time - good hurt.)

So I have to stay away from the $20 pieces, because let’s face it, a $20 piece will get you exactly that far, (which is about until 20 after noon the next day before it is OUT...of-style, of-mind and out-of-this-season.)

So I stuck to jewellery this year and got this sweet little piece from Biko Designs.

[Pic via Stro1 Multimedia]

[Pic via Stro1 Multimedia]

And amazingly enough, I actually convinced the HB to come with to the Clothing Show this year!

Now one of the reasons, I took the HB from BF to HB is because he is hot all on his own but especially in his usual attire – jeans and a t-shirt. (And, no, it can’t just be any jeans and t-shirt, (which I had to teach the HB), it has to be a GREAT pair of jeans, the ones you have to hunt for, the ones that probably only look good on you and very few other people because they were “MADE” for you..... – and then add a smexy t-shirt.) If your guy can pull off the “jeans and t-shirt”, night or day, he is golden. It’s effortless god in my books!

But every once in awhile, the HB adds a hoodie to the look for those ‘cooler’ days, and again, pulls it off with sweetness. Describing the “jeans+t’shirt+hoodie” combination in words will never do the look justice but let me just say, when it’s done right, it’s like a tailored 3-piece suit – seriously! ....And I LOVE IT!

The HB’s closet is about the size of mine if you can believe it! (Can you say match-made-in-heaven!) So at the show he picked up a hoodie to add to his arsenal of staples – jeans, t-shirts, sneakers + hoodies. This one from Clothing Brand Experiment and their CBE Limited line.

[Pic via clothingbrandexperiment.com]

Me + the HB + the Clothing Show Spring 2010 = A Sweet Haul! Looking forward to the Fall show!

***And an extra special big-ups to Barganista and Jessica from the Clothing Show, where this little IfIWasARichGirl scored a free pair of tix to the Spring Show. (This is also how slowly but surely I will be able to soon drop the “If I Was”..........)

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl Toronto

Diesel & Toronto Fashion Week: VAWK

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I LOVE the business of fashion!

I love when those in the fashion industry figure out intelligent, new ways to sell clothes. I especially love when smart companies figure out ways to let the consumer ‘interact’ and engage with the clothes, in some form or another, before they’ve even purchased the clothes or are anywhere close to hearing the lovely ring of a cash register.

Because come on ladies, after all, it really is all about the “experience” of shopping that’s gives one a drug-like high that can last for days & days (and is what will bring you back to a particular brand or store, again & again.)

Whenever I see a new piece I-Have-To-Have, I immediately picture where I will be in it, who I will be with, and what I will be doing in it!!!!

No surprise then that I hate clothes on mannequins. Yes, the clothes look great on a mannequin but they never look the same on me, you or the girl (or boy) next door. They never look the same when you are moving, walking and sashaying across the city.

This is why I immediately fell in love with Diesel’s new “marketing” approach for its current Be Stupid campaign – an interactive video!

It doubles as a music video for “Hundred Lovers” by Josep Xorto, but for you and me, the best part is watching the clothes, IN ACTION, (oh, the logic), and if you see something you like, hover over it and click it to bring up more info!



[Via diesel.com]

Toronto Fashion Week

And it’s just as simple as that, isn’t it – seeing the clothes in action.....on her, on you, on him......For me, that’s one of the main appeals of attending fashion week. It’s an opportunity to see real people IN the clothes. And before you *tsk tsk* with a “models aren’t real people”, well, number one, yes, yes they actually are real people, and number two, you should have checked out the recent VAWK runway show for Toronto’s LG Fashion Week .

A showcase of intelligence at its best in the fashion industry, VAWK used “women-on-the-street”** as models for its Fall/Winter 2010 show during Fashion Week here in T.O. When the consumer starts to cry, “I want something different”, why not give them what they want? Trust me, they’ll LOVE you for it. (And yes, we are a finicky bunch, aren’t we? There may be times when you give us what we want, and we come to realize the way you did originally was better. Well, that’s when you get to hop onto your almighty soapbox and yell back at us, “I f$%&’in told you so!” But that’s a story for another day....)

Watch the VAWK Fall/Winter 2010 Runway Show video:


[via vawkcollection.ca]


And another tip of the hat goes to Sunny & Ben for using an uber-cool venue – the AGO. I don’t think it hurts to point out how forward-thinking VAWK is and continues to be, which is why I LOVE keeping on my toes by seeing what they are doing next, how they are going to take it to the next level. (VAWK was the first Canadian fashion show to be streamed live.)

Check out vawkcollection.ca for the VAWK Fall/Winter 2010 show music, behind-the-scenes shots, and stills of the complete collection.

If you’re interested in reading more about interactive video, check out this iMedia Connection article: Interactive video: A powerful beast

**For most, VAWK used ‘real' woman in its show. Not sure what that means, as every woman is real! To me, VAWK plucked women you would see every day, any day, in your neighbourhood – the one pushing a stroller...the one helping her daughter pack for uni...the one with a few grey hairs...the one who’s hawtness you envy because she’s not afraid to runway-walk everywhere (we all should)!

PS: None of the above is breaking news...just my spin........& don’t ask...I’m always late.....


Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Valentine’s Day is Every Day: Converse Spring 2010 Collection

We’re officially one month out from Valentine’s Day, so I thought I would remind you, as the HB so lovingly likes to remind me, that Valentine’s Day is every day!

You shouldn’t need a “day” to tell, or show, the cuddly, fleshy, significant other in your life how much you love them.

Write Your Name on His/Her......Foot?

In celebration of Not-Valentine’s Day, have I got a gift idea for you to give!

Just in time for this sweet Spring we’ve been seeing peeking around the corner, and perfect for putting your “mark” on your significant other, is Converse’s Spring 2010 Collection.

“This season Converse wants to share some love with its customers by introducing some “loving” styles as part of their Spring ’10 collection. The Chuck Taylor All Star becomes the perfect blank canvas for the pioneer of pop art, Robert Indiana, and his iconic “LOVE” artwork.”


Or sign off on him/her being permanently yours by tagging your hawt name on a pair of (PRODUCT) RED LOVE shoes.

Go for the Converse (PRODUCT) RED LOVEs and really ROCK OUT the world with Spring Fever L.O.V.E. because "a significant percentage of the sales (or portion of the profits) from these shoes go to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children."

Make-Them-Yours Deets:
Robert Indiana ($80); Converse (PRODUCT) RED LOVE ($80); Available in Toronto at Little Burgundy (in Eaton Centre) & Get Out Side (437 Queen St. W)

So of course....

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Frumpy to Fabulous – Taking It Up A Level at The Bay (w/ Fashion Magazine)

With the opening The Room, The Bay (at Queen & Yonge) has revamped and reunited itself with the REAL fashion world!




[Pic via Me & my BB]

Teaming up with Fashion Magazine for a great "launch"** event last Thursday, this Canadian department-store icon flaunted a new third floor that will have fashionistas flocking. That evening we were treated to X-Rated cocktails, sexy appies and a SWEET little candy buffet (yes, BUFFET!) – moving The Bay from frumpy to fabulous!

[Note about the event itself: *The Bay girls who were handling guest list & coat check were UBER-awesome and armed with patience, as A LOT of ladies came out to prance around amongst the designer clothes, swirling glasses in hand. I was there at 5:30 and left at 7:30 and during that time, I don't think the sign-in/coat-check line was ever less than 20 ladies. And let's just say there were some cats in the house - MEOW!]

Yes gals, they’ve brought in the big guns – Balmain, McQueen, Berardi, Matthew Williamson and Pink Tartan are just a few of the great designer brands you’ll find on the heavenly white and very chic third floor of this flagship store. And they’ve really opened it up (think high ceiling, open-concept loft) - you can actually WALK around without bumping into a rack – oh the logic!

Reinvention is great – think Madonna – when you can pull it off and appeal to an entirely new audience without looking like you’re trying too hard. (I highly recommend checking out the store’s new fashion candy from the first floor up, starting in the handbag section.... ..You won’t be disappointed!)

This revamp had me at hello, and I’ve added it as a stop on my emergency-shopping list.


*Note to self – Thursdays are mark down days, so if you make this a regular shop-stop you might get lucky and land a few stunning, investment-piece wardrobe must-haves at an IfIWasARichGirl price.

So...thanks to The Bay and Fashion Magazine for a fun little after-work bash and the killer takeaway bag that made its way home with me – here’s a list of what was in the bag:

[Pic via Me & my BB]

-- A Catherine Malandrino scarf (LOVE IT & actually wearing it as I write this post [pic above]! BEST. SWAG-BAG-PIECE. EVER!)

-- Givenchy’s Liv Tyler inspired scent, ABSOLUTELY IRRESISTIBLE (I will give this one away because I’m particular about what perfume I wear, [I am NOT a mix-it-up-everyday kinda girl], but I did LOVE the sexy roll-on applicator!)

-- Schwarzkopf BLONDME Shine Magnifying Spray, Illuminating Body Shimmer

-- OSIS+ Volumising Spray

-- A Sonia Rykiel chunky necklace

-- A Free People Lace bandeau top and mini purse

And of course a copy of Fashion Magazine

[Pic via a Fashionable Little Birdie]

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

**The Room at The Bay has been open since 2009