Fusion Of Effects

Event: Power Ball XIX: Stereo Vision

2017-04-18T15:14:00.002-04:00

Power Ball is coming back on June 1st and you should start planning your outfit for that night!

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery is once again teaming up with Max Mara to present this year's special fundraising event and the theme is Stereo Vision! On that night, you will see special installations planned by design duo Pedro y Juana.

You can now purchase the tickets at The Power Ball site! I hope to see you on that night!

Object of Desire: Converse Chuck Taylor II Gum

2017-03-01T21:38:00.003-05:00

During this winter season, I have been wearing the Converse Chuck Taylor II Boot to keep my feet warm and dry (thanks to the neoprene insulation). Now that spring is almost upon us, it's time for me to go back to the lighter sneakers!

Converse has just released the Chuck Taylor All Star II Gum collection. What I like the most about this new sneaker is the gum rubber toe cap and sidewall, as this element adds a special touch to the normal Chuck Taylor design! Aside from the Nike Lunarlon sockliner, then new micro suede lining makes the sneaker more comfortable to wear.

To all my readers who live in Canada, you can now get a pair of this new sneakers at Foot Locker, Hudson's Bay, Little Burgundy and Sport Chek! This style comes in black, white, herbal and obsidian.

Courtesy of Converse

Object of Desire: New Balance 247 LUXE

2017-01-06T16:40:00.002-05:00

I am sure a lot of people will agree with me that New Balance sneaker is one of the essential items in your wardrobe because of its versatility. In 2017, the brand is introducing a new silhouette and it is called 247 (which means you can wear it 24 hours a day).

The Luxe is the first drop of this new 247 model and will be available at selected stores worldwide (240 pairs for each colour). The cool thing about this pair of sneakers is that it has the DNA from other silhouettes. It draws "inspiration from heritage models includes the asymmetrical detail on the toe vamp that is a subtle reference to the 1300; a collar strap design taken from the 574 and 576; and, a sleeker more lightweight version of the 998 midsole". I have seen the sneaker in real life and it is light and comfortable. It is also very stylish so will go well with many outfits in your wardrobe.

If you are a hardcore sneakerhead, I suggest you to find a way to get a pair of this limited edition sneakers before they are gone!

Courtesy of New Balance

Object of Desire: Converse Essentials Apparel F/W 2016 Collection

2016-12-09T11:47:00.001-05:00

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably see a lot of photos of me in some very cool outfits. However, on my day offs I wear a totally different set of clothing and those pieces must be comfy and timeless. Converse has recently released the new Essentials Collection and all the pieces are what I will wear on my day offs!

Just like a good pair of Chuck Taylor, this collection is designed for you to wear for a long time without ruining the fit. There are 3 key ideas behind all these pieces: quality, craftsmanship, and fit. As for the colour choices, most pieces come in the Converse classic palette such as light grey, egret, obsidian, red block, and black.

The collection is now available in Toronto at Good Neighbor, Blue Tile Lounge, NEON and online at www.theclosetinc.com. If you need my personal recommendation, I will suggest you to get the hoodie because it is very comfortable!

Courtesy of Converse

Walk the Walk: Valentino S/S 2017 Livestream

2016-09-29T11:25:00.000-04:00

Paris Fashion Week is happening right now and on Sunday, Pierpaolo Piccioli will present the S/S 2017 Valentino show. This is his first solo show so as a fan of the brand, I am very excited for it.

I will be live streaming the show on here at 9am EST and I hope you can join me to watch the runway show together. If you have twitter, you can tweet me @mistermkan and make sure you tag #ValentinoLive!

See you on Sunday!

Object of Desire: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II Boot

2016-09-28T17:06:00.005-04:00

I am not a big fan of the winter weather in Toronto because of the crazy snowstorms and freezing weather. One of the items I am constantly looking for is a good pair of boots to keep my feet warm. This season, I am thinking to get this pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II Boot!

The special about this pair of boots is that it is made of mesh-backed waterproof leather. I really like the neoprene collar and there is a 360-degree heat barrier to keep your feet warm. Because it is a winter boot, so it has a rugged, post-applied weatherized gum outside with deep grooves for traction. Of course, as part of the Chuck Taylor II family, there is also the Nike Lunarlon food bed for cushioning!

The new Chuck Taylor All Star II Boot will be available at Foot Locker, SportChek and Little Burgundy for $140 CDN. Which one should I get?

Courtesy of Converse

Dots[Connection]: Moonlight & Koi

2016-09-04T11:06:00.001-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

George V. Antoniou has recently created a new series and I am loving all the pieces! The illustrations are very surreal and he dresses some of the celebrities in Haute Couture pieces! Below is just one of the stunning pieces! [Read Here]

Courtesy of George V. Antoniou

I am a fan of jiiakuann's works and this Miu Miu Pre-Fall 2016 illustration is simply wonderful! It is surreal and reminds me of the traditional Chinese art. I can't wait to see more stunning pieces from this talented artist in the near future! [Read Here]

Courtesy of jiiakuann

Object of Desire: Alexander McQueen Moth Silver-Tone Cufflinks

2016-09-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

I always have a thing for Alexander McQueen's accessories, especially their moth design. Few days ago, I discovered this lovely piece.

This pair of cufflinks has the moth shape and I love the skeleton on its back. Even though it is a very small accessory, because of the shape and details, it can easily spice up your suit and tie ensemble.

This pair of cufflinks is now available at Mr Porter!

Courtesy of Mr Porter

Dots[Connection]: Last Days of Summer

2016-08-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

Fall is almost here and we are currently counting down the final days of summer. This Prada S/S 2016 illustration by Nastya Kuzmina is such a great piece to represent summer as the girl is transformed into a popsicle. It's a very interesting composition! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Nastya Kuzmina

VMA is tonight and I am sure a lot of you are going to be glued in front of the TV to watch the show! Juan Cruz Prats is inspired by the MTV sweater from the Marc Jacobs Resort 2017 collection and created this cool 80's style piece. I am loving every single detail of this illustration! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Juan Cruz Prats

#stmSnippet: Top Picks of TOM* S/S17

2016-08-25T13:18:00.000-04:00

Adding extra heat to our city, Toronto Men’s Fashion week was held last week and showcased some of the best menswear designers Canada has to offer. Each season these talented creators inspire us with their skill and vision. After carefully organizing and reviewing each Spring/Summer 2017 runway look, I have selected my top picks per category. Worthy of the editorial pages, yet highly retail ready, find who came out on top in the full blog post by clicking here.

See the full blog post and more photos from the runway by clicking here.

Photos: Che Rosales

Dots[Connection]: Mystery Humans

2016-08-21T10:59:00.000-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

This week, Mauricio had an interview with Samuel Harrison and as you may know, Samuel is one of the rising stars in the fashion illustration industry! I am always so interested in his style and this interview lets you understand his illustrated figures more! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Samuel Harrison

Maruka is back with some new fashion illustrations! The new series is inspired by the Alexander McQueen S/S 2017 menswear collection. I really like the mysterious vibe of these illustrations and the artist captures the details of the garments flawlessly! Great work! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Maruka

Object of Desire: Givenchy Cobra Print Silk Tie

2016-08-17T12:25:00.004-04:00

Ever since I bought my Givenchy S/S 2012 Bird of Paradise tie I have been hoping to get another cool print tie from this brand. Well, today I came across this!

This Cobra print is one of the signature elements from the F/W 2016 collection. The print is bold and can spice up your dress shirt + denim combination. As a tie collector, I probably will need to get this ASAP!

You can now order this on Mr Porter!

Courtesy of Mr Porter

Dots[Connection]: Clown vs Beauties

2016-08-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

A lot of illustrators have given Harley Quinn a fashion makeover and here is Shamekh's version! In this piece, he dressed her in an outfit from the Moschino F/W 2016 collection. I think the playful character of the villain really matches the brand.[Read Here]

Courtesy of Shamekh

Magdalena Kruszynska created yet another beautiful illustration! This piece is inspired by the Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2016 Alta Moda collection. The ladies look so regal and I am loving all the details! Great job! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Magdalena Kruszynska

#stmSnippet: Patio perfect essentials for him. [Outfit Post]

2016-08-11T12:13:00.001-04:00

Summer nights are for patio dinners and patio dinners deserve comfort and style. It’s no secret, I love golf shirts. If you run into me on the street there is a good chance I am in a black or dark blue solid golf shirt. They are my uniform and a happy medium between a boring T-shirt and a dress shirt. All the comfort of a T-shirt, snazzed up a bit with a collar.

They are my uniform and a happy medium between a boring T-shirt and a dress shirt. All the comfort of a T-shirt, snazzed up a bit with a collar.

See more photos and the full post by clicking here.

Photos by: Chenessa Lam

Object of Desire: Converse Counter Climate Shield Canvas Footwear Collection

2016-08-09T10:33:00.001-04:00

Fall is almost here and which means we need to start preparing for the rainy season. If you are looking for some nice water repellant sneakers (not rain boots) for this coming season, then this new Converse collection should be on your list.

The canvas in this Chuck II Counter Climate Shield Canvas collection has the durable water repellant (DWR) treatment which means your feet will not get wet easily. What is also so special about some of these sneakers is the top neon eyelets and the black high top even has a neon yellow bottom sole! If you like the normal Chuck II, then you can already imagine the comfort level of this new collection.

The collection is now available in stores and the price range is between $90-95 CDN.

Courtesy of Converse

Dots[Connection]: Super Power

2016-08-07T10:54:00.000-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

If you like Stranger Things and fashion, then you will love this piece! Nicolas created this beautiful illustration inspired by the character Eleven and she is wearing a coat from the Balenciaga F/W 2016 collection. Very cool combination! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Nicolas Roa

I am loving this Gucci F/W 2016 portrait by Juliane Hennes a lot! In this piece, the artist successfully captured the elegant vibe of the Gucci girl and the details are simply amazing! I am hoping to see more cool portraits from Juliane soon! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Juliane Hennes

#stmSnippet: Designing For Bigger Busts

2016-08-04T11:22:00.000-04:00

I met Miriam Baker in early 2013 as she was preparing to enter a design competition with the Toronto Fashion Incubator. She seemed timid yet driven and poured her heart and soul into her work. Now, nearly three years later (and having won that competition no less,) this young designer is moving forward with her business and perfecting her craft as she tackles the Canadian fashion industry.

In this #stmINTERVIEWED Miriam Baker talks about growing bust sizes, what she sees coming down the catwalk next and what drives her. To see more photos and read the full interview, click here.

To see more photos and read the full interview, click here.

All photos are courtesy of the designer.

Object of Desire: Nike iD The Unlimited Glory pack

2016-08-03T11:18:00.002-04:00

By now many of you probably know I am attracted to any fashion accessory that has a metallic colour palette and the following collection is going to be on my wishlist.

On Friday, August 5th, Nike is going to introduce a new colourway for its Unlimited iD collection and it is called the Unlimited Glory pack. For this drop, you can customize your Nike Air Max 1, Nike Air Max 90, Nike Air Force 1 High, Nike Air Force 1 Mid and Nike Air Force 1 Low in Gold, Silver and Red Bronze. I have been hoping to get a pair of bronze shoes for a very long time so this is probably the right opportunity for me to get a pair in Air Force 1 Low silhouette.

Make sure you go to Nike iD website to get your pair on Friday!

Courtesy of Nike

Dots[Connection]: Girl Power!

2016-07-31T11:57:00.000-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

The final 9 Balmain Pre-Fall 2016 illustrations are now up on Instagram and here is one of them! Rosalba turned 3 of the Suicide Squad members into high fashion models. They look amazing without losing their edgy personalities! Great work! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Rosalba Cafforio

Camille Pfister's latest project is dressing up some of her favourite iconic queens in Haute Couture pieces (plus Alexander McQueen). I really like the outcome and cannot stop looking at the details of the illustrated clothes! Amazing! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Camille Pfister

Object of Desire: Marni + Porter-Yoshida & Co Adjustable Twill Backpack

2016-07-27T11:38:00.001-04:00

I always have my eyes on the Marni x Porter-Yoshida collaboration and for this season, I am putting this bag on my wishlist!

The cool thing about this bag is that there are 2 ways to use it: you can use it as a backpack, or roll away the top part to make it a belt bag. The Marni pattern truly reflects the brand's aesthetic and also the green will go well with a lot of pieces in your wardrobe. As a big fan of Porter-Yoshida, I guarantee this bag can last you a few seasons.

You can now purchase this bag on Mr Porter.

Courtesy of Mr Porter

Dots[Connection]: Magic Show!

2016-07-24T11:20:00.001-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

This Schiaparelli F/W 2016 Haute Couture illustration created is one of my latest favourites by Studio Fantasma. I love the composition and I feel like I am seeing a circus/magic show here!Very well done! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Studio Fantasma

Bijou Karman and Gucci are always one of the best combinations in the fashion illustration world and I am in love with this piece a lot! It really shows the unique aesthetic of the brand and I can never get enough of Bijou's characters! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Bijou Karman

Object of Desire: Converse Auckland Modern

2016-07-21T00:54:00.000-04:00

Converse has a new addition to the Converse Modern Footwear lineup!

Converse Auckland Modern is a new silhouette that is inspired by Converse's "rich legacy in running innovation". The sneaker is very light because of the split knit upper and the lightweight Phylon outsole at the bottom with cushioning (the pattern does remind me of vintage Space Invador UFOs!). As for the modern technology, Nike Hyperfuse construction is applied in this model for durability and support. Overall, it is a pair of sneakers which you can wear for the entire day without feeling pain.

If you live in Toronto, you can now find the Converse Auckland Modern sneaker collection exclusively at Foot Locker on 247 Yonge Street and each pair is $130. If you live elsewhere, you can try your luck on Converse.com and select pinnacle retailers. The sneaker comes in Black/Soar, Black/White, Black/Lucid Green, Black/Action Red and Black/Dark Grey colorways. This collection has a very limited supply so I suggest you to head over to the store and get a pair as soon as possible!

P.S I do have a pair and highly suggest you to get 1/2 size up as it has a very slim silhouette.

Courtesy of Converse

Walk the Walk: Andrew Coimbra S/S 2017 Collection

2016-07-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

Andrew Coimbra has released the lookbook for his S/S 2017 collection and I am currently eyeing on a few pieces!

The designer always has a political topic that inspires each collection and for the S/S 2017 season, the topic is immigration. As a Canadian with the Portuguese heritage, Andrew uses Portuguese symbols such as the rose on bomber jackets, denim baseball jersey and french terry sweatshirts. Much like his previous collections, this collection is very sporty and many pieces are very versatile for different occasions. I personally am in love with the bomber jackets and also the graphic t-shirt (everyone needs a good graphic t-shirt in the summer).

What will you want from this collection?

Photographer: Karl Simone
Styling: Nadia Pizzimenti
Grooming: Cody Moorefield
Model: Ryan Hassaine (DNA Model Management)

Courtesy of Andrew Coimbra

Dots[Connection]: It's all about FOOD!

2016-07-17T11:14:00.000-04:00

Here is your weekly Draw A Dot. recap!

My S/S 2016 Haute Couture recipe collaboration project with Liz Joy is finally coming to an end. For this final piece, Liz is inspired by one of the looks from the Chanel Haute Couture collection and created the delicious croissant! In my opinion, this is a nice sweet ending! [Read Here]

Courtesy of Liz Joy

Minjee Kang took inspirations from the Red Valentino Resort 2017 collection and created this lovely piece! The collection really suits the fairytale vibe so I think it is a nice match for the artist to put Snow White and the Evil Queen in those outfits. [Read Here]

Courtesy of Minjee Kang

#stmSnippet: Walk A Milton Mile

2016-07-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

I don’t know what it is about French Canadian women, but they often have an amazing energy. Brigitte Foisy is a spark plug in the Canadian PR world with her various businesses which have all grown and adapted over the years. (She claims she started her second business when she was 15 mounting fashion shows in bars!)

She has a staff but refuses to say they work for her, informing me instead “we all work together.” She is a team player and encourages them to go after their dreams, to the point where she admits to directing one of her best team members to cut back on their work with her and set aside more time for other interests.

To see more photos, read the full #stmAPPROVED and discover why you need to buy a pair of Miltons before July 31st, click here.

Photos by: Stephen-Thomas Maciejowski