IF I WAS A RICH GIRL....TORONTO

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

2010-07-26T17:28:00.006-04:00

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

2010-07-19T17:02:00.008-04:00

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

2010-04-20T16:26:00.019-04:00

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

2010-03-13T12:02:00.008-05:00

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)

2010-03-11T17:01:00.016-05:00

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

What’s Next: Burberry 2010 Autumn/Winter Show

2010-03-04T16:15:00.013-05:00

Dear Burberry, You give GOOOOOOD show...

I am by no means a serious fashion writer/critic/blogger/tweeter/expert etc.

I’m what you would call your ‘bare-bones’, straight-to-the-point ‘fashionista’ – I LOVE clothes (ALL styles of clothes and by all types of designers) and I LOVE shopping – Done & Done!

But I often do *wonder* things about the fashion industry, much in the same fashion Cookie Monster philosophizes....

And I’ve been mulling this over for awhile now but after last week’s Burberry 2010 Autumn/Winter show, I had to get it down in writing and ask – What’s next?

You see, it is now the norm (or new ‘trend’ if you will) that fashion shows by the world’s top designers are globally live-streamed - giving front-row all-access to anyone, and everyone, who’s interested.

There have been a lot of bumps along the way and the live-streaming hasn’t always been the greatest, often cutting out and/or freezing altogether just from the sheer number of people trying to watch.

However, for me anyways, Burberry nailed it – no trouble in site, streamed perfectly from start to finish and I especially loved being able to tweet right on the homepage as I watched (again not new but FUN every time)!

But taking it to the next level, like any good showperson would, the Burberry show was.........wait for it.............in 3D!!!!!.......Actually, not too much of a shock – after all this Avatar hoopla, someone had to do it. It was really just a matter of who would do it first.

And don’t get me wrong, with all this ‘Wow-Factor’, the honest-to-goodness, best part about the Burberry show was the clothes – oh, the clothes, the bags, the shoes, the jackets.....ahhhhh. *Daydream a little*

*Coute Que Coute has my favourite collection of pics from the show*

And that’s just it isn’t it? The ‘Wow-Factor’ combined with a GORGE collection is kinda like a Triple Threat (or double-threat in this case). If you have the foundation – an exquisite, to-die-for collection – and you are, and always will be, just-THAT-good - does it hurt to play the game and seal the deal with a bit of a ‘Show’?

But then where does ‘taking-it-to-the-next-level’ end – will it end? If it’s all about engaging the audience, creating a spectacle, reaching out further and so on, the furthest I can see this going is to actually put the audience in the dress and on the runway themselves....oh, and do it globally, live-streamed, in 3D from Mars. *Will LOVE IT*

[Pic via Wikipedia]

So I am looking forward to seeing if ‘What’s Next’ shows up here in Toronto at this year’s Fashion Week. Will some of our top Canadian designers add a touch of new, take things to a whole new level.....or have we hit a plateau? Da Da DAAAA! Oh, the suspense is going to kill me!

Toronto LG Fashion Week: Fall 2010 Collections
Date: March 28th to April 1st, 2010
New Venue: 30 Ordnance St.
Register

The evolution of the fashion show....what do you think...where do we go from here? Where would you like to see it go from here? (Oh, and just to keep you up at night philosophizing too, an even bigger question for your - Does exclusivity in the fashion show world exist any longer? Should it?)

Watch Burberry’s 2010 Autumn/Winter Show here:

[Pic via Burberry.com]

Love Love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

*Update – March 9, 2010*

Well, that didn’t take long! Looks like Canadian fashion designers are IN for What's Next!

"Canadian designer label NADA showcases Fall 2010 collection with 3D short film": http://bit.ly/NADA3D

Hot Together – Swarovski & Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

2010-02-12T11:55:00.009-05:00

The beauty of ‘Tough & Frilly’

I’m the type of girl who adores pairing a hot pair of jeans with 6-inch LB’s or, right now, a military jacket with a Carrie Bradshaw-style big, poofy, ballerina skirt (check March issue of Flare, pg 42), so it is no wonder that I am, and always have been, a huge Tim Burton fan. (Uh, the hot mess that is Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands, is a no brainer that equals TOO beautiful and WAY HOT!)

And don’t even get me started on Beetlejuice (Classic!), Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas! Knowing that I absolutely LOVE his movies & style can give you a good sense of the type of people, art and fashion I find fascinating & hot, hot, hot!

So when I heard about Swarovski launching a collection of unique jewellery pieces that captures the spirit of Disney’s Tim Burton-directed Alice In Wonderland, three words came to mind: WOW, GORGEOUS and SOLD! (The all caps represent how fast my heart started to beat when I heard too!)

“The line features a host of vintage and gothic details inspired by the outlandish personalities found down the rabbit hole including the Mad Hatter, Red Queen and the instantly recognizable Cheshire Cat.”

The collection will be in stores in about a week (the last week of February) at Swarovski Gallery stores across Canada. Each a beautiful combination of ‘Tough & Frilly’, here are my FAVE pieces – GORGE!:

(The White Rabbit: Tea Party Pendant; $160)

(The White Rabbit: Round Hall Key Pendant; $130)

(The Mad Hatter Necklace; $160)

The movie itself opens Friday, March 5th, 2010, I’m sure at a theatre near you!

Love Love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Baby It’s Cold Outside! - Soïa & Kyo, Sorel and Canada Goose

2009-12-09T17:10:00.014-05:00

One thing about being Canadian, especially in Toronto, is that we make cold look HOT!

Last year’s Mackage still looks good but if I had my way, next up on my holiday wish list would be the ‘Betty’ wool coat from Soia & Kyo and a pair of Sorel’s 1964 Pac Premium Ltd. boots.

[Pic via www.soiakyo.com]

Deets:
- Soia & Kyo ‘Betty’ Wool Coat ($375.00); Available at these various stores in Toronto

[Pic via Sorel.com]

Deets:
- Sorel 1964 Pac Premium Ltd. Boots ($400.00); Available online at Sorel.com

And just to show that I can be practical in my fashion desires, I am absolutely swooning for a Canada Goose jacket this year! (Because those REALLY friggin cold and windy days are NOT an excuse to cheat style!)

[Pic via canada-goose.com]

Deets:
- Canada Goose Expedition Parka in black (approx. $600.00); Available at Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor Street West) and Lileo (Building 35-55 Mill Street in the Distillery)

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

WANTED: NEW WARDROBE

2009-12-02T17:46:00.011-05:00

It’s happened to me again – I’ve been robbed!

Not really......but it sure feels that way. It’s a horrible, sinking feeling...you know the one....The one where you open your closet(s) in the morning and see that YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO WEAR!

Although my closet is busting at the seams with ‘stuff’, that’s all it really is now...just ‘stuff’...'stuff’ that has seen its day and that day was SO yesterday. (Expect a call soon Clothesline!)

Now this USED to be a quick fix for me...a spoonful of West Queen St. West here, a touch of Vaughn Mills there and a dab of cross-border shopping at OFF 5th to smooth out the edges, and I was good to go in about a week or so.

But a house, shopping sprees and quite a few all-out vacations later, and let’s just say I didn’t become If I Was A Rich Girl out of thin air!

So I’m compiling a list, and checking it twice and sharing it this holiday season for all to see in the hopes that ‘Secreting-It’ will bring a few (or more – wheee!) to my doorstep....

First on my list, a little something I like to call ‘Office Holiday Party’ dress! You’ve been on my mind for awhile...

[Pic via canada.frenchconnection.com]

Deets:
- Sequin Spirit Dress ($398), FCUK at 11 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Rent The Runway – Love, Wear, Return

2009-11-11T11:01:00.010-05:00

LOVE IT!

I’m so excited....my heart is beating too fast! *Giggle*

That Brian Reyes dress I saw in Vogue last week on my doorstep tomorrow, AND my credit card not maxed out – Oh My!

[Pic via BrianReyes.com]

This is an “If I Was A Rich Girl” fantasy come true, so if you haven’t heard of RentTheRunway yet, then get your fingertips a-clicking girl!

The site itself sums it up best – short, sweet, simple, and to the point:

1 LOVE
Browse through our array of A-list designers and find a dress you love. Or two!

2 WEAR
Schedule a delivery date and your dress will appear on your doorstep, in two different sizes. Just to be safe.

3 RETURN
Put your dress in our handy pre-paid package and drop in the nearest mailbox. We take care of the dry cleaning!

Designers include Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger and Proenza Schouler, and rentals run from $50 to $200 for a four-night loan.

And I’ll take a side of Louboutins with that please....

[Pic via Christianlouboutin.com]

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

California Dreamin....But Back At Home Yorkdale Is You!

2009-09-29T18:41:00.015-04:00

For those of you following me on Twitter, you know I’ve been on vacay in California for the last two weeks BUT I’M BACK BABY!

California was AMAZING and a definite highlight was an outlet mall close to Palm Desert (where we spent the first week), and where I fell in love with these gorgeous Gucci boots - Hysteria.

(Pic via neimanmarcus.com)

To my utter devastation, (I’m still crying on the inside), they didn’t have my size! And so begins The Hunt! But more on that and Desert Hills Premium Outlets in another post (Gucci, Prada, Jimmy Choo --- Oh MY!)....

I thought since I was on vacation and didn’t HAVE to do anything, I’d have much more time to blog and catch up on posts I’ve been wanting to do about all the crazy things I’ve done / am doing recently, as well as do a play-by-play of the trip. Notsomuch!

Since I didn’t HAVE to do anything, I decided to do nothing at all ---aaahhhh....--- and tweet! I tweeted up a storm! - Or at least that was tweeting up a storm to me!

But don’t you worry your pretty little head because I’ve still got it all here; locked up in the vault that is MY pretty little head. So in the coming days, all those posts will spill out in each of their due time.

Right now, now that I’m back in Toronto, and speaking of malls, I wanted to keep it local for a minute and let all the people who have been hiding their inner Catwalker and/or Rockstar know that NOW is the time to LET IT OUT!

Although your inner Catwalker or Rockstar should ALWAYS be free, now is especially a good time to SET IT FREE with Yorkdale’s contest Yorkdale is Me.

The contest is looking to find 10 shoppers to star in the mall’s spring 2010 ad campaign shot by fashion photographer Chris Nicholls (SWEET!)

(Pic via chrisnichollsphotography.com)

AND, if you are one of the beautiful 10, you will also receive:

--- A $1,000 Yorkdale gift certificate (Not enough for even a half hour of shopping but still LOVE IT!)

--- Two-hour wardrobe consultation with a member of the Yorkdale Dream Team

--- Toronto Fashion Week sponsor prize package

--- VIP access to the spring 2010 collections during Toronto Fashion Week (LOVE IT!)

Best part? Bring your BFF! Because for this one, you can apply alone or with a friend, sibling, mother, grandmother, on-and-on – it’s up to YOU!

Check www.yorkdaleisme.com for all the deets, and if you go all the way, I’ll be your date for the VIP access to the spring 2010 collections during Toronto Fashion Week – no prob!

Hurry, hurry – the contest only runs until October 9, 2009!

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

BlushPretty: Try Before You Buy

2009-09-09T22:28:00.008-04:00

On The Hunt!

I’ve been On-The-Hunt for some time now for the perfect eyeliner. I did some poking around online to see what the ladies thought was hot and got pointed to Maybelline’s Define-A-Line eyeliner, so I ran out and got two. Spontaneous-Purchase-Regret Alert!

I should have TRIED it before believing the hype because by the time I got to work, I looked not only like a raccoon but a raccoon that went on a paint-the-town-red bender, then fell asleep with all their eyeliner still on then woke up late for work, and so rushed out of the house like that! NOT FUN!

In other words, it does not stay put, it is not smudge-proof ---- it melts…FAST (in 0 to 60, I swear)!

And so I’m looking for a new love…I mean eyeliner. Went on a hunt trying to find Bobbi Brown’s Gel Eyeliner because I’ve heard great things about that. In that hunt, I’ve learned I should always start at Holt’s. I always hear rave things about Sephora though, and always start there, always only to be told, rudely usually, “Not here - Only at Holt’s.”

(Pic via bobbibrowncosmetics.com)

And it’s true - 75% of my beauty products come from Holt’s. It’s always there, and there’s always someone there with a smile. Love it! (I guess when something always works and never gives you a problem, you don’t think of it as quickly as something that doesn’t work, and gives you trouble and causes you stress. Tsk tsk - I’ll have to work on keeping the positive experiences top of mind more.)

So a heads up I received the other day couldn’t have come at a better time, and I’m looking forward to giving it a go.

BlushPretty, an online resource for women looking for make-up and beauty insight, is hosting what they call a Beauty Board Event. Back to the good, old ‘Try-Before-You-Buy’ days, that we all miss and love, BlushPretty’s Beauty Board event allows attendees to try and test the latest beauty products on the market.

Brands up for review include:

It promises to be a sweet night of just a few of my favourite things including wine, makeovers, product demos, free samples and gifts.

It all goes down Sunday, October 25 from 5 p.m. through to 9 p.m. at The Hudson Condominium Party Room (438 King Street West, Toronto, ON).

The night includes a VERY reasonable price tag of $20, a portion of which, best of all, goes towards an amazing charity - The Pink Tulip Foundation, “Empowering and inspiring young girls through awareness and education about healthy lifestyle choices to promote breast cancer prevention.”

For more information, visit: www.blushpretty.com or http://blushprettybeautyboard.eventbrite.com/

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

LUSH on Queen Events

2009-08-27T19:02:00.010-04:00

LOVE IT!

On Sunday evening, a couple friends, the HB and I had a fun time at LUSH on Queen’s “Steamy After-Hours Spa Night.” It was a nice, exclusive-feel, RSVP-only event where you chose to be pampered with either a “fresh LUSH facial, an environmentally-friendly 20 minute hand and arm massage or a beautifully effective 20 minute foot massage.” I don’t know what you would have chose but the HB and I were all-over the 20 minute foot massage!

This location on Queen is not the biggest and there isn’t a lot of moving room at the best of times, and lo and behold, it seemed like all those who had RSVP’d arrived at the 7 p.m. start-time – on-the-dot, which meant crowd-ed. At least that’s what it felt like at first with a lot of ‘scuse-me’s as people shuffled around looking at product while waiting their turn for whatever pampering they had chosen. (There were only a few station of each ‘pampering’ – 2 hand & arms stations, 1 foot station and 1 facial station. – but they brought another foot station out later, which really moved things along!)

But don’t get me wrong – it was ALL GOOD! I think it just took a bit of getting used to because we were in a store. After a while, and especially once the snacks and refreshments came out, it really felt like a friend’s small house party – only in a house that smelled really, really good, and where you wanted to eat everything around you – Oh My!

The staff here are all absolutely amazing as well, and it shows that they enjoy their jobs – I mean, c’mon, giving a complete stranger a 20 minute foot massage – and a great one at that - with a smile on your face the WHOLE night deserves HUGE kudos in my book. That’s a sales rock-star at their finest!

As a whole, it was very educational and I learned a lot about how many products LUSH actually carries. (I usually go there for one thing and one thing only – the Soft Coeur (Honeymooner) Massage Bar – which I’ve come to use as a perfume because it smells beautiful. It’s a sweet-to-do I learned from my sister awhile back. She is a LUSH fan to the fullest!)

But that night we went home with a few things that are completely new-to-me and just as great, and which I am sure are now staples in our vanity, including Ocean Salt body scrub and Flying Fox shower gel.

I’m pretty sure we spent a good two hours there and I felt wonderful when we left. We all left with a “steamy goody bag”, and one of the BEST-discoveries-ever was in that bag – a sample of LUSH’s Karma Kream Body Cream, which smells AMAZING and which means I smell extra-AMAZING!

I’m not loyal to a body cream right now but have been on the hunt for one for years. It’s important to me that whatever i use is made up of all-natural ingredients, and I’ve tried many different brands from my local health food store including Kiss My Face, Burt's Bees and Attitude Organic and too many more to name them all here. Haven’t really fallen in love with any of them either because they didn’t really moisturize, were too expensive for a small amount or didn’t smell good.

So Karma Kream – you’re up next! Your company throws a great event, so I have a feeling you will not disappoint!

Check out LUSH events at www.lush.ca/shop/events/ (There's one this Saturday that me and the sis will be checking out - Official End of Summer Luau - so if there's still room/time, you should get in on this LUSH-action!

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Shopgirls Walk the Walk for Windfall

2009-08-20T16:05:00.009-04:00

LOVE IT!

I am a sucker for silent auctions, so what could be better than a silent auction at one of my favourite neighbourhood shops - all for a FANTASTIC cause? Umm.....nothing!

I adore the idea of "fabulous customers as models"!

It all goes down at Shopgirls on Wednesday, Septemer 9 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. - and tickets are only $15 if purchased before August 24th ($20 after).

Hope to see you there - and cheers to hoping I outbid you :) !

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Lancôme Prime Time Event at The Bay - Aug 13 - 26

2009-08-11T11:30:00.012-04:00

I have been on the hunt for the perfect primer for me and this looks like an interesting place to start....

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Frugal Fashion Week: Frugalista Brunch and ShopCrawl – Post Mortem

2009-07-29T16:59:00.030-04:00

So I had an OK time at Frugal Fashion Week’s Frugalista Brunch and ShopCrawl on Saturday...Not great...just OK....

HIGHS

- Shopping before breakfast/first-coffee-of-the-day: The indoor market-like-shops set-up inside the Drake was wonderful – clothes, jewellery and handbags – who could ask for anything more

- The Drake Brunch: One word – Superb – a mouth-watering assortment of baked goods, Drake’s Housemade Granola and Soft + Sexy Scrambled Eggs, and of course – lots of coffee

- Windfall Clothing: Proceeds from Frugal Fashion Week, which I believe included the silent auction, benefited Windfall, Canada’s ONLY new clothing bank

- A good friend: A Walk & Talk with a good friend down one of my favourite shopping paths WQW

- Discovery: Found a couple new spots along the WQW path that I’ve added to my LOVE IT! Shops List including shoe-and-so-much-more-shop Chasse Gardée (Queen & Dovercourt) and pastry shop Nadege Patisserie (NE corner of Queen and Gore Vale) – loved their open-kitchen concept!

- Fieerce Fashion House: Bought two pieces from Fieerce Fashion House - similar to the ones below - that I absolutely LOVE IT! The skirt I got is red with BIG gold buttons and the dress I got is black with gold highlights (*will update with pics of the actual pieces....)

(Pics from fieerce.com)

And Julia Tommasone, Fieerce’s Sales Director, was absolutely AMAZING at helping me out 1) With one glance she picked the exact right size for me 2) She dug deep in the boxes to find that dress size because there were none left on the racks 3) She let me take the dress downstairs to try on in the bathroom before I bought it – perfect fit – and I don’t just mean the dress!

LOWS

- Fashion Show?: I know it is FRUGAL Fashion Week but just two looks came out as part of the fashion “show” – seriously? We had to laugh when the MC said...”And now our last look.......” ---- “Last look”! There was only one before it! The “First look”!

- Gift Bag: The gift bag left MUCH to be desired. Again, I know this was FRUGAL Fashion Week but I don’t think that means unwearable. My gift bag came complete with a broken pair of earrings – so broken, I had no idea what they were and my HB and I stared at it in its packing trying to figure out what the hell it was. The card SAID jewellery, and there were earring hooks but there was nothing attached them – what was supposed to be attached – two big round colourful shells of something – had come unglued and were just hanging out at the bottom of the packaging!

And besides those, there wasn’t much else in the bag – a couple glacéau vitaminwater, which was a b@%#* to carry on the crawl, a copy of TCHAD (this I did like but again, a b@%#* to carry on the crawl) and a can of Dufflet’s Tart Cherries in Pure Milk Chocolate + Madagascar Vanilla.

Haven’t tried the cherries yet, so will let you know but either way, NOT fun to carry on the crawl. Not sure who made the sacrifice of leaving the gift bag and coming back for it after the crawl but smart and lucky you if did. I, on the other hand, am a bit compulsive when it comes to moving forward rather than back --- sigh.

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...Toronto

Summer Sales! Imelda, Shopgirls, Body Blue Denim Lab and Portobello East

2009-07-23T16:29:00.009-04:00

This whole ‘Where is summer?’ thing is not so bad because across the city this week the Summer Sales have begun! I have faith in Mother Nature that she will bring the heat – LOVE IT! – so I have no qualms with stocking up on gear so late into the season because in all honestly, I think I’ve only been able to bust out ONE summer dress so far! This, my friends, is a shame... BUT counter that with a great sale, at just the right store, mixed with a little ‘good timing’ = PuurrrFECT!

Starting it off in my neighbourhood - Roncesvalles Village – is Imelda shoe boutique. Imelda is a spin-off of one of my other favourite stores, Frock, and from my stalking of the shop, I believe this is Imelda’s first sale – Wheee!

I adore the set up of Imelda – lots of room for me to stand back and take it all in – ahhh – and they carry El Naturalista, Fly London (my personal favourites), Miz Mooz, Dolce Vita, Hunter, Jump and Clarks, along with some killer handbags.

Once you’ve added some summer style to your ‘soles’, take a stroll around the corner to Shopgirls, which carry beautiful pieces from fantastic local designers and is also the place to hook yourself up with a pair of Second Yoga Jeans....

And if you know me at all, you know I’m a jeans-girl (much like guys are a leg-guys or boo – oh never mind, you get the point!), so I’m a big fan of Body Blue on Queen. They too are currently having a sale, and on first glance, I saw that shoes are 30% off but I just got an email forward from a friend letting me know that Body Blue’s entire summer collection (almost) is 30-75% off!

This Sunday, July 26 is also the first Portobello East...

“A new style of market is in the works. Unlike traditional farmers markets that sell grandma’s homemade jam, Toronto will soon have a fashion and art market selling unique pieces from local designers and artisans. Inspired by the famous, long established European markets, Portobello East market provides a low-cost venue for local artists and designers to show and sell their work directly to the public.”

Portobello East will run on the last Sunday of every month from July through to December at the Fermenting Cellar at the Distillery District. Admission is $5.

***If you are a local designer, Portobello East still has limited exhibitor spaces in other categories besides jewellery (they’ve sold out of jewellery spaces for July and August).

******

*Update – July 24, 2009*

On my way home last night I saw:

1 – There is a rainbow of Hunter Boots in the window at Imelda (Again, wheee – SALE!)

2 – Frock is having a sale TOO! So just like Doublemint gum, Double Your Pleasure, Double Your FUN!

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...

reco Jeans - Recycled Denim

2009-07-17T17:51:00.010-04:00

LOVE IT!

This is brilliant! As I move more and more towards making earth-friendly, responsible and sustainable purchase choices, reco Jeans has introduced to the list of options a staple of any wardrobe – a great pair of jeans. (EVERYONE looks good in a great pair of jeans – it's all just about getting the right ones for you!)

“reco is an eco-friendly, fashion forward brand. We are extending the lifestyle of “living green” with an exclusive line of recycled denim....

reco is maintaining a natural essence by naming styles after endangered plants for men and flowers for women. In addition, we have broadened our beliefs beyond fabric and consider external details of your jeans. The tags, for example, are printed on both recycled and or plantable seeded paper. The goal is to eliminate waste. Every little bit helps.”

My favourites are the Texas Snowbells – HOT!

Pic from recojeans.com

As yet, availability seems unclear, as prices haven’t even been set yet because - FUN FUN - they are actually taking bids for the first 300 pairs! recojeans.com

“What is the price?! Well, YOU get to decide! How much are reco jeans worth to you? We want to appeal to your sense of involvement by asking your opinion on the pricing of our brand. What would you pay when purchasing reco jeans in a retail store? We have devised an auction style promotion for you to determine the price. Your bids will influence pricing for future seasons.”

I’ll be keeping my feelers out for these, and when I do get my paws on a pair, check for me in my reco jeans & a plain white T (and heels, of course)!

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...

Frugal Fashion Week

2009-07-15T10:01:00.010-04:00

LOVE IT!

I am looking forward to checking out Frugal Fashion Week – especially the Frugalista Brunch presented by The Drake Hotel on Saturday, July 25.

Tickets are $35 and for that very budget-friendly price, you get:

- A 3-course brunch
- Fashion Shows
- A SWEET silent auction (I ADORE silent auctions!)
- And a West Queen West Shop Crawl (The shop crawl is on both Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th – just look for the ‘F’ in the windows of participating boutiques!)

Add a shopaholic friend to the mix and this ticket has everything I love and everything I love to do on a lazy Saturday – dine, shop, talk/gossip and then shop some more, and maybe even win something along the way!

A few other lovables about this event:

- Energy-packed gift bags
- Sneak Peeks – “Fashion shows will take place inside select boutiques, allowing shoppers a sneak peek at what will be hanging in frugal closets this Fall!”
- Winners and M.A.C. have donated to the Silent Auction

And it looks like ‘a few of my favourites things’ (a.k.a. shops) are participating in the shop crawl as well: FAWN and Thieves.

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...

Rock Star vs. Toronto Women

2009-07-10T17:27:00.004-04:00

This morning I saw a guy who looked like he just stepped off the stage as lead singer for the hottest, ROCK-OUT rock band ever - (insert your favourite rock band here) – and he was walking down King Street. As smooth-operator as he looked though, it just seemed odd....looking like that and just walking down the street – doing nothing in particular....and all alone.

It made me realize that I am so glad to be a T.O. woman!

You see, so many Toronto women walk down the street – doing nothing in particular – looking like we just stepped off the runway or off the cover of the hottest fashion magazine – and nothing ever seems wrong or odd about that. That’s just our style...that’s just the way we roll – HOT every day, all day.

Men – not so much...It’s odd to see you all dolled up and comes off fake or trying too hard. I like my men in jeans and t-shirt - always sexy - or a well tailored suit - and you are good-to-go!

Not trying to save the world with this observation – just an observation. And maybe it only applies to me. Would love to know what men think about all the dolled up women in Toronto – honestly, truly, deep-down inside – do you love to see us in the skinny jeans and heels with the face-eating sunglasses? Or the high-waisted skirts and tank tops? Or could you care less and wish we would bring back the jeans and t-shirt, or dare I say it – sweat pants?!!!! UGH

On that note, it will be interesting to see the results of Lou Lou Magazine’s latest contest...

LOULOU Street Style contest: Vote for your favourite man! http://bit.ly/iDSS8

“CONTESTANTS WERE ASKED TO SEND US A PHOTO OF A MAN WHOSE STYLE THEY THINK IS AMAZING”

Hmmm...I picked my favourite – whose yours?

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...

STRUT - The Wine with Legs

2009-07-08T17:15:00.009-04:00

Although the TTC advertising caught my eye yesterday - a bit of sexy always does - I just heard about STRUT 'The Wine with Legs' today, and what I think is a fantastic street-level initiative....

STRUT Grassroots Event Locations – Free Bottle Offer (http://www.strutwines.com/)

If you show up at one of the locations listed, on the right date, between 9 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., you get a coupon for a free bottle of STRUT wine. Just take yourself and your coupon to Wine Rack to get your bottle, and then get your summer 2009 sangria-, spritzer- or just-a-glass on!

I'm looking forward to giving the 'Cab Couture' a try!

*One side note though - the 'creative' for STRUT looks very similar to the last Paolo Coelho book, The Winner Stands Alone...hmmm

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...

Here We Go!

2009-03-16T16:53:00.006-04:00

I am always late.

So why should starting a blog be any different. Everybody I know has a blog, is starting a blog, wants me to check out their blog or you can read their blog at DOT DOT DOT...

So it's my turn - 'I'm Coming Out' and here now beyotches and just like coming late to any party, ready to rock - so take me and this blog however you like - preferably 'fashionably-late' or 'better-late-than-never'.....

Love love,

If I Was A Rich Girl...