ERICA ON FASHION

Visa's Plan It Prom Hits Global Toronto

2013-05-17T09:07:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of chatting with Mina Rhee of Global News, about Visa's new app called Plan It Prom. It's a free app available at www.practicalmoneyskills.ca, that helps teens stay on budget for prom!

Check out the video below for more about the app, and how to look great for your prom with dresses from Laura Canada!

Here are some of the looks we did, and Behind the Scenes from our Global News shoot!

BTS: Ottawa Citizen Great Gatsby Shoot at St Laurent Centre

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Check out some of the Behind the Scenes shots we got from last week's Ottawa Citizen shoot depicting the roaring 20's!

Ottawa Citizen Great Gatsby Editorial

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to work once again with the talented Janet Wilson and Wayne Cuddington from the Ottawa Citizen, creating an insightful and extraordinary Great Gatsby scene at the St Laurent Centre shopping mall.

With the help of St Laurent Centre's wide range of stores, Designer Lee Ann Lacroix, Make Up Artist Leslie-Anne Barrett, Models International Management and of course my girls Delaney and Caroline Holley, we were able to recreate a modern day scene from the epic tale of Great Gatsby.

Here are some of the fab shots from The Citizen

To check out the Behind-The-Scenes video, where to buy it, and more photos, visit

Ottawa Citizen online.

More BTS pics to come soon!

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2013

2013-05-08T11:20:00.001-04:00

Over the last two days I've been on both Rogers Daytime Ottawa and CTV Morning Live Ottawa showcasing fantastic and original gift ideas for Mother's Day.

Here's a look at some of the fabulous finds we discussed this morning!

Here's the List of Products and Where to Buy Them:

All Bath and Body Works products are available HERE

Danier Bags and Wristlets available HERE

Tristan products (shoes and clutches) available HERE

Smart Set scarves available HERE

Micropedi is available at Shoppers Drugmart

Raincry Brushes are available at www.raincry.com

Rimowa iPad and Writing Cases available at www.rimowa.com

Rotary watches are available at www.rotarycan.com
Pulsar watches are available at www.pulsarcan.ca and Sears

Seiko are available at www.seikocan.com and The Hudson Bay Company

Happy Shopping Friends!

The Great Gatsby hits Prada's Flagship in NYC

2013-05-01T17:43:00.000-04:00

The Great Gatsby hits theatres on May 10, many fashion-lovers in NYC got a sneak peek at costumes from the movie at the opening of the “Catherine Martin and Miuccia Prada Dress Gatsby” at the Prada flagship store last night.

Gatsby stars Carey Mulligan and Isla Fisher, and other Prada and Miu Miu fans Florence Welch, Katy Perry, and Maggie Gyllenhall were all in attendance to catch some of the incredibly designs by the dynamic duo.The dresses that were on display were recreations from vintage Prada and Miu Miu runway looks made exclusively for the film.

Prada’s “Dress Gatsby” costume exhibit will be on display in NYC until May 12, when it moves on to Tokyo and Shanghai; but if you're like me and won't be able to attend, check out some of the highlights from last night!

All images from fashionista.com

Look of the Week: Paisley Prints

2013-04-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

Paisley isn't just for your grandma's drapes any more. It's everywhere for spring, and count me in! I bought this skirt at the Outnet a few months ago, and I've been rockin' it ever since.

Dress Shirt ASOS, Necklace Rene LeBlanc, Skirt Jil Sander, Shoes ALDO.

Photos by Cindy Orti.

What I'm Wearing: The Chambray Shirt

2013-04-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'm loving the new denim trend, the chambray shirt.

It's so incredibly versatile and manageable for the office, drinks with the girls or running around on weekends. This one is from J Crew, but I've seen them all over the place - some for as low as $20!

Chambray Shirt J Crew, Silver Necklace ZARA, Pearl & Hot Pink Necklace Rene LeBlanc, Skirt J Crew, Crossbody Rebecca Minkoff, Pumps Joe Fresh.

Photo by Cindy Orti.

A Look Back at Season 6 of CBC's Steven & Chris

2013-04-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I wrapped my last segment of season 6 with CBC's Steven and Chris. I can't believe it's already been two wonderful years with the boys and their incredible team.

Here are some of the highlights from a year gone by!

3 Ways to Wear It

Light Wash Denim

The Turtleneck

Houndstooth

Hosiery

Fabuless - Looks for Under $100

The Classics

Holiday

Spring Trends

Transition Wear - Winter to Spring

The Oscars

Celeb Looks for Less

And tune in on Friday, April 26th for an incredible Travel fashion show!

To find out where items are from, or to watch the videos, visit
http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/!

Look of the Week: Croc Print

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

As the weather finally starts to warm up to spring, I'm all about skirts! I actually wore this one for St Laurent Centre's holiday campaign and loved it so much, I bought it!

A black pencil skirt is a staple in any woman's wardrobe. I loved this one especially because of it's faux crocodile print.

To turn it into a more "spring-esk" skirt, I styled it with a striped sequin blouse and leopard pumps!

Blouse Alice and Olivia, Skirt Anne Klein, Pumps Le Chateau, Necklace BCBGMAXAZRIA.

Photos by Cindy Orti.

What I'm Wearing: The Leather Printed Skirt

2013-04-17T11:05:00.000-04:00

This is the kind of skirt worth splurging on - it can be dressed up for events or dressed down for a meeting. It can also be worn three seasons - spring, fall and winter; depending what you wear with it!

Top ZARA, Skirt Tibi, Shoes ZARA, Clutch Banana Republic, Bracelets Michael Kors and ALDO.

Photo by Cindy Orti.

Celeb Looks for Less: Jessica Alba

2013-04-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

Jessica Alba looked fab in her jet-setting street style, heading home from a St Barts vacay with her friend Nicole Richie. Alba sported a beautiful Michael Stars sweater in bold tangerine, a pair of white khakis, Tory Burch fedora, Chanel platform wedges, and a Kate Spade tote.

Here's how to get Jessica's look for less!

J Crew Panama Hat $58, Cheap Monday Sunglasses $41.56, Tangerine Iris & Ink Fine Knit Cashmere Sweater $168, 'Love Languages' Long Charm Necklace $50.92, MANGO Bangle $24.99, Medium Enamel Bangle in white $29.71, Capri Pant MANGO $21.99, Sperry Sandal Wedges $118, C Wonder Tote $98.

Image of Jessica Alba from celebritystreetstyle.com

BT Toronto - Fun Ways to Rock Black & White

2013-04-10T09:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning I visited the BT Toronto team to chat spring trends, more specifically, how to wear the black and white trend for any occasion, featuring Costa Blanca and TNT!

Check out the segment HERE!

Celeb Looks for Less: Emma Stone

2013-04-08T11:26:00.000-04:00

In March for a movie première, Emma Stone wore a stunning look from Lanvin in classic black and white (which is totally on trend for spring, I might add). I also loved the way she layered the two necklaces to add some visual interest to an overall basic look. Definitely added an element of surprise.

Here's how to get her look for less!

Alexander Wang Tee, Mango Glitter Dress, ALDO pumps, Topshop Necklace, Etsy Floral Necklace, Joe Fresh Smoky Eye Palette, Joe Fresh Nude Gloss.

Image of Emma Stone from People.com.

What I'm Wearing: Same Skirt, Two Ways

2013-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

You may remember this skirt from earlier this week, I wanted to show how to transition this skirt from a more winter look, to spring! To do so, I changed out the snakeskin Equipment top, to a Joe Fresh peplum blouse and Tibi striped peplum jacket (nothing says spring more than a striped jacket or top!).

Tibi Peplum Striped Jacket, Joe Fresh Blouse, Mulberry Alexa Tote, Joe Fresh Pumps, Michael Kors Watch, Bracelet and ALDO Spiked Bracelets.

Photo by Cindy Orti.

Celeb Looks for Less: Miranda Kerr

2013-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

Miranda Kerr was out and about in new York City in a sexy all-black outfit - and for those of you who love to wear all black, this is the way it's done!

Kerr accessorized with a Givenchy bag $2,405, Stella McCartney sunglasses $190, The Row sweater, and satin Manolo Blahnik pointed-toe pumps $595. She finished off her fabulous look with bright red lips - perfection!

Here's how to get her look, for less!

Get the Look

Coat Cole Haan $477.88, Sweater MANGO $24.99, Sunglasses Cheap Monday $31.33, Leather Leggings Michael by Michael Kors $81.99, Lipstick Joe Fresh $6, Pumps TopShop $96, Leather Doctor Bag ASOS $130.54.

Image of Miranda Kerr from celebritystreetstyle.com

What I'm Wearing: Vinyl Skirts

2013-04-02T10:20:00.000-04:00

I know what you're thinking - what? A vinyl skirt? That can't be comfortable... well in fact it is, and pretty rad too! Transition wear is tough; so I thought this look was the perfect hybrid between spring (open toe sandals) and winter (burgundy colours mixed with a long sleeve blouse).

Here's how I wore it this week:

Blouse Equipment (similar HERE), Skirt Tibi, Shoes ZARA, Clutch Banana Republic (similar HERE), Necklace Lulu Frost for J Crew.

Photos by Cindy Orti

Celeb Looks for Less: Olivia Palermo

2013-04-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

At fashion week awhile back, Olivia Palermo wore a mix of prints and texture featuring a Tibi jacket, Topshop blouse and pants, sequin Tibi tank, Monika Chiang shoes and Whistles bag.

Here's how to get her look, for less!

Get The Look

Faux Fur Jacket Lucky Brand $39.97, Sunglasses ASOS $26.11, Peplum Blouse TopShop (her actual top!) $96, Belt Joseph Abboud $25.56, Skinny Printed Denim Joe Fresh $39, KG by Kurt Geiger Pumps ASOS $78.32, Crossbody Clutch ASOS $182.75.

Image of Olivia Palermo from celebritystreetstyle.com

What I'm Wearing: The Cigarette Pant

2013-03-28T09:47:00.000-04:00

Today I'm running around meeting clients and jumping into meetings so I thought it would be appropriate to wear something comfortable & chic! These pants from J Crew were my focal point, so I built the look around them!

If you're wanting to try out a pair of cigarette pants in a lighter shade, look for ones that have a darker line (like mine) on the inseam. It's not only fashion-forward, but it's also slimming!

Top Le Chateau, Pants J Crew, Jacket Helmut Lang, Pumps Kate Spade, Clutch Banana Republic, Necklace Rene LeBlanc.

Photos by Cindy Orti.

Look of the Week: Bubbles & Bobbles

2013-03-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Transition months are always tough to dress for, which is why I'm wearing a short sleeve sweater and jacket combo for the ever-changing weather throughout the day!

Jacket BCBGMAXAZRIA, Top Kenzo, Leather Pants J Brand, Pumps Joe Fresh, Bag Mulberry.

And in case you missed me on Monday night on ET Canada, here's the Toronto Fashion Week Recap HERE.

I'm wearing a Joe Fresh Dress, Rene LeBlanc Necklace, ZARA Sandals.

Photos by Cindy Orti.

Toronto Fashion Week: Day 4 & 5

2013-03-23T10:01:00.000-04:00

The last two days of Toronto Fashion Week have come and gone, here are the highlights from David Pecaut Square.

Rudsak

Next year Rudsak celebrates its 20th anniversary and the designer of the brand, Evik Asatoorian found inspiration for his fall collection from the 70's. The bombers, leather and fur coats and trimmed leather wool jackets for both the men and women were right on the money.

VAWK

For fall 2013, Sunny Fong found inspiration is our grand backyard; the Canadian wilderness. I loved the wolf and deer sweaters, along with the skinny leather pencil skirts for the women's and peacoats for men. As usual his tailoring was impeccable, my personal favourite was the black dress with fur puffs on the skirt; reminded me of something you'd see on Jason Wu's runway.

Travis Taddeo

Taddeo's collection presented on Friday and was sponsored by the NAFA (North American Fur Association). It was of no surprise that his collection was made up of all varieties of fur: coyote, raccoon, beaver and recycled fox. Black, long, draping layers were also a strong feature in this collection. I loved the fur vests and snoods that were featured yesterday - even on the men they looked uber cool.

Pavoni

Designers Mike Derderian and Gianni Falcone of Pavoni built their fall collection around romance ideals. Lace, embellishment, jewels and tulle were strong forces on the runway. From full ball gowns to sexy mini's, this collection had a little bit of everything. Reminiscent of Valentino, it felt like we were watching the show in Paris, not downtown Toronto.

That's it folks! Last night marked the end of Toronto Fashion Week featuring fall collections from designers all over Canada. Hope you enjoyed following the shows on EOF. Look forward to seeing you all back here for September when it all starts over again!

All photos are from Toronto Star. Images by Kevin Beaty.

Toronto Fashion Week: Day Two Recap

2013-03-20T15:39:00.000-04:00

Day Two has come and gone, here's what people are talking about...

DUY

Duy Nguyen was chosen by the Mercedes Benz Start-Up program to present his couture-inspired collection last night. And it was something to remember. His cascading gowns with mixed fabrics including sequins and wool (LOVE THAT!), were absolutely spectacular. His precision really stood out, making it all the more evident as to why he won such a prestigious honour. I look forward to seeing many more collections to come at TFW.

LINE Knitwear

Designed by John Muscat and Jennifer Wells, this collection was truly what 20 and 30 something's wear in the cold winters of Toronto. These looks had street style snaps written all over them. I particularly loved the embellishment on some of the knits and leather skirts - those were two must-have's for fall 2013 - no doubt about it.

David Dixon

Dixon is famous for well-tailored, sophisticated clothing for the confident yet feminine woman. This season was a reminder of that with his elegant shapes, feminine fabrics and colour choices. I particularly loved the houndstooth embroidered pants and skirts, as well as the tulle and embellished gown; simply stunning!

Laura Siegel

Laura has studied at both Parsons in NYC and at London’s Central Saint Martins College, so to say she has talent, would be an understatement. This season she was inspired by India (which was evident through her layering techniques and choice of fabrics). I personally loved the high cowl necks and wrap coats - those were stand-outs of the collection.

Stay tuned for highlights from Day 3 including Joe Fresh!

All images are from Toronto Star. Photos Taken by Keith Beaty

Toronto Fashion Week: Day Three Recap

2013-03-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Mid-Week and the fashion ain't slowin' down! Here are the highlights from last night's shows...

Matis by Lucian Matis

Beautiful muted hues, thick knits and light chiffons, this collection had a little bit of everything. Matis continues to perfect his craft, offering tailored coats, floor-grazing dresses and turtleneck tunics. I particularly loved the muted prints and textured tweed separates.

Christopher Bates

Nice to see some more menswear on the runway! I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of Timberlake's suit & tie theme with military-infused trench coats and boots. The collection incorporated decades of men's designs; the roaring 20's with suspenders mixed with the 60's bond-like tailored suits. I think a lot of men will relate to what was shown on the runway last night.

Mackage

No one does jackets, leather bombers and coats quite like Canadian label Mackage. Their luxe fabrics mixed with trendy, yet classic designs have set them apart for years (I must admit, I have a leather jacket from them that I LIVE in come fall, and it's kept its shape for years - a definite investment piece for cooler weather!). This season was all about keepin' warm (how appropriate considering the crazy weather we've been dealing with!). Down-filled jackets in bright shades, along with layered leather and fur. I particularly loved the men's lumberjack styled coat with leather sleeves, along with the models delicious Bordeaux lip colour. It was also nice to see some of the models rocking the label's new handbag line - very fresh, yet incredibly wearable.

Joe Fresh

I can't get enough of JF these days... and this collection for fall was the cherry on top. The homage to Paris mixed with Karl Lagerfeld influence was the perfect mix to create a spectacular show. And check out that sparkly sleeved jacket! I'll take two please (the best part about Mimran's show is it's affordable!). The cute pixie wigs in black added the perfect finishing touch.

All images are from Toronto Star. Photos by Keith Beaty.

Toronto Fashion Week: Day One Recap

2013-03-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Mr. Blizzard outside, I was unable to attend the much anticipated opening night of Toronto Fashion Week last night; and it looked like quite a night!

Here's the recap of TFW - Day One:

MIZ by Izzy Camilleri

MIZ by Izzy Camilleri, is the designers first collection under the label that's geared toward mature women. The clothing certainly highlighted sophisticated glamour, especially the high-waisted pencil skirts, caped houndstooth and snakeskin printed blouses. I personally liked the faux-fur scarves and metallic sheen to some of the collection - on another note, I hated the hair; looked too matronly and not fresh in the least.

Chloe Comme Parris

You could see the 90's grunge influence from miles away - much like Top Shop's LFW fall collection, CCP featured oversized coats, military influences, platform loafers and layered velvet and longer hemlines. The simple make up and messy braided hair added to that era, creating a well-rounded collection.

Pink Tartan

Kimberley Newport-Mimran isn't new to the Toronto Fashion Week scene, and it showed, once again, in her fall collection. The designer's effortless sophistication continues to prevail season after season, and last night's show featured many must-have's for fall: the camel cape, the fur trimmed coats, fur shall's, and of course her lady-like dresses inspired by the 50's & 60's.

Bustle

Designers of the label, Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow were on fire this last night. Their stand-out collection featuring bold prints, pristine tailoring and unique designs cultivated a truly impeccable menswear line. Inspired by London culture, the clothing read vintage rock stars mixed with Royal sophisticate. I would snatch up several pieces from this line if I were a man... just sayin'.

All photos are from Toronto Star by Keith Beaty.

EOF: Look of the Week

2013-03-18T11:22:00.000-04:00

Considering we're expecting another snow dump tonight and tomorrow, I figured I better bundle up yet again (won't spring show up already?!?) for another cold week.

What I'm Wearing Today:

Mango Oversized Jacket, ZARA Faux-Fur Scarf, BCBGMAXARIA Runway Belt (OLD), J Brand Leather Pants, Miu Miu Loafers, Mulberry Bag.

PS - Toronto Fashion Week starts tonight! Stay tuned for recaps and highlights from all the incredible designers!

All images are photographed by Cindy Orti.

Highlights from Paris Fashion Week F/W 2013

2013-03-11T11:42:00.002-04:00

Paris fashion week is one of the coveted spots for a designer. It's where fashion meets art in its truest form. Here are some highlights from the top shows of the season.

Miu Miu

Mixing old world with new age is what Miuccia Prada does best. The polka-dot suiting mixed with stripe witch-like socks, sailor collars and calf-length skirts; I think this season was the perfect hybrid of whimsy and wearable.

Alexander McQueen

Obviously what Sarah Burton did for pre-fall trickled into her fall 2013 collection. Although it was only 10 looks, each were incredibly powerful, taking notes from the Anglican Church. The detail and time that would've gone into each look was nothing short of amazing. She did this all, not to mention, VERY pregnant, with TWINS! Can you say woman power? I think so...

Balmain

Large shoulders and hips, structured sleeves and lots of embellishment is what made up Balmain's fall collection. For most women silhouettes of such magnitude would likely be unthinkable to wear, but for some reason it strangely worked. I will admit this is for the fashion-forward, runway attending, kinda crowd; but I can't help admire the more masculine approach and the power those shoulders gave the teeny-tiny models.

Celine

Wow, talk about a stellar collection. The construction and comfort was impeccable - even the poncho-styled jackets with tied sleeves made the lust-worthy list. The first and last look (which I've shown you above) were highlights for me. I love how elegant yet cozy the model appeared; something I think all women strive for in their wardrobe (now if only we could afford it ha!).

Chanel

Embroidery, tactile, and monochromatic florals donned the chanel runway. Equally exciting were the shoes and bags (the signature Chanel logo on a globe-like handbags made for a sure sell-out this fall). Once again the shapes and textures are what made this collection so beautiful. Lagerfeld really can do no wrong it would seem!

Louis Vuitton

Marc Jacobs continues to reign supreme in "doing it all". With LV this season, he was able to create a care-free collection that was all about the details.The oversized coats and angora tops, mixed with pajama-like pants and feathered tops (not to mention the fur bags - how cute are they?!) made for an angelic collection. The pastel shades mixed with deep greens and purples were the perfect balance in this boudoir-esk runway show.

Dior

What I love most about Simons' fall collection was the use of a woman's silhouette. The exaggerated cuts and unusual hemlines made for an overall interesting collection. I particularly loved the updated Audrey Hepburn-esk black and white dress as well as the houndstooth knit top and skirt combo. The drape coat in red also made for a timeless piece.

Valentino

Luxury and craftsmanship are synonymous with Valentino - the appliqué, embroidery, embellishment etc... that's what the brand is known for. What it isn't known for however, is the simplicity that we saw on some of the garments this season. The long-sleeved red dress and the short black dress with lace collar stood out to me in comparison to the blue and white embroidered gown that we're used to seeing. I thought that overall it was a nice variety to see both ideas used here.

Giambattista Valli

I love designers who use masculine and feminine qualities in their tailoring and Valli is one who does it with precision. From the masculine parka that opened the show to his girly metallic and white cascading gown, this was a show that had it all. My favourite? The mint green jewelled coat - how stunning is that?!

Isabel Marant

No one does Parisian-chic quite like Marant. From the neutral layers to the ponyskin wedge boots with velcro straps, this was another collection that is sure to sell out. The structured coats and shearlings were especially lovely, and the winter white that peeked through every once in awhile was especially nice.

Lanvin

Alber Elbaz has managed to pull off another eclectic yet cool collection for fall. It's amazing how he can do over-the-top appliqué and ridiculous blingy necklaces mixed with monochromatic, neutral knits all in one show and make it work. I especially loved how each model wore different make-up to suit their face - that's something you rarely see, and in this case, it worked.

All images are from www.style.com