It's a FASHION Party!

If you're in Canada and you feel like seeing my mug in print, pick up a copy of this month's FASHION Magazine (Winter 2011 issue, Taylor Swift is cover girl). I profiled 4 of the country's up and coming design talents. (who you've no doubt seen on this blog already): Rita Liefhebber, Thomas, Speech by Michael Mercanti and Carlie Wong.

The piece was cool on its own, but what really took it into radtown, was the portraits of three of the designers taken by Sean J. Sprague, my new FAVE photographer! Don't they all look like little angels? Or holy in cool factor?

I've scanned the piece for a bit of sneak peek but if you'd actually like to indulge (me) and read the words, you'll have to pick up a copy... yay!

Art Attack: Cecil Beaton's Other Genius

Nowness - aka the best website on earth - has turned the focus back to one of the original geniuses of fashion photography, the one and only Cecil Beaton. Beaton, who is most famous for his capturing of each and every glamazon of his day, from Marilyn to Audrey to Queen Elizabeth, has now been bestowed with the title of ‘magical diary keeper’, by having his collaged inspirations compiled into a new Assouline title, The Art of the Scrapbook, available at the end of the month. I have no doubt that the vibrancy of these frozen moments in pop culture will utterly delight the senses (and certainly at $250 a pop, the book will be a lot more reasonable than trying to score copies of a similar collectible titles from the 50's, which I have been trying to acquire for a good 3 years now... )

Talk of the upcoming book brought me back to my first discovery of Beaton’s ‘other’ work, when my ‘in-training’ eye was first assaulted with the wildly imaginative images that hovered perfectly between the worlds of fashion and art – specifically Surrealism – that were so intermingled during his earlier days of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

One photo in particular stands out as my all-time Beaton fave: ‘The Soapsuds Group’ at The Living Posters Ball of 1930. Pictured at the left is the photographer’s sister and sometimes muse, Baba, along with her two friends, Wanda Baillie-Hamilton and Lady Bridget Poulett. As the title suggests, the three young debs are posing as soapsuds. Soapsuds in the most fantastical bathtub ever to be imagined, the three ephemeral beauties appear like archways which make way for the experimental future of The Factory, Exploding Plastic Inevitables et al, transforming rich girl portraiture into dreamy art. Magnifique, right?

Once More For the Cheap Seats: Lanvin x H&M

Hey guys! So there's something really special happening in the world of fashion right now, not sure of you've heard about it? Juuuuust kidding. You would have to have been living under a rock, or actually just dead, to not have heard about the MUCH anticipated Lanvin collection that Alber designed for H&M. Yes, yes... you know, I get it. What I'm glad to fill you in on then, is that after ogling the flowery party dresses, sexy skirts, furry jackets, crayola jewels and pointed heels in person last Wednesday at the AGO (thank you for the lovely parting tote/notebook/bow tie/lipstick by the by... best ever), I can honestly say that the crazy amount of buzz has not been misguided. The wham bam pieces are just amazing and you would envision. True to Lanvin sophistication, but every bit as fun as H&M always is.

The good news is that the collection will available in store in over 10 sleeps (November 20th to be exact). The bad news is that you'll actually have to spend one night not actually sleeping to get your hands on even one piece. Here's to the spiked hot cocoa!

Talent Scout: Pink Cobra Spring 2011

I guess it really doesn't count as really scooping unknown talent when one of your besties is widely known as one helluva talented babe. Not only is Tania Martins the badass designer behind Toronto-based label, Pink Cobra, but she also co-owns the Queen Street West fixture, Carte Blanche, which Pink is sold at. Major, right?

Tania’s been pretty swamped lately working on her Spring collection, of which her look book and video have just been released. Largely an ode to sexy cutouts, pastel colours and overall tightness, the collection has got a handle on what the cool kids want to wear, and what the modern women need to wear. A long time ago, Tania told me that I might have had something to with the inspiration behind one of the gals in the video, but now looking at it, I see that there is just no way I’m as cool as any of these gals. But it’s those gals who Tania designs for, and successfully at that, since she IS one of them. Oh and hey, they're who you want to be too.

Tommy Ton Says: Thom Browne's into women now...

With all of the hullabaloo of the Spring shows, I must have completely glazed over the fact that Thom Browne, aka. the world's dapper-ist gent in ultra cropped pants, has officially delved into womenswear. Like, woah! While the preview of Spring was not a super publicized dealio, Tommy Ton was lucky enough to snap some lovely preliminary shots. As you can see, Thom’s take on the ladies envelopes his signature upper crust quirk, with pops of primary colours, loads of pleating and heritage fabrics.

Here's what Tommy told me about the collection: “Those photos were taken during fashion week. He held a very private cocktail with friends wearing the clothes and then after they headed to dinner all decked out in collection. No press releases or anything were made. I was honored he asked me to come by and take a few snaps. His attention to detail is impeccable and I’m just as anxious as anybody else is to see how he'll translate his singular aesthetic to women's wear. The official launch will happen next season when he has his first women's show. This was only a teaser and he just wanted to develop it first. It’s incredibly well made and bespoke is the best word to describe it”

Well there you have it kids, from the megablogger/horse’s mouth himself! Until Fall…