Two new favorites

Hello everyone!

If you feel like trying new things, check out my two latest discoveries: Mother magazine, and the blog Bluebird (by one of Mother magazine's two co-editors, James Kicinsky-McCoy). You will not be disappointed.

Halloween fashion

Hello everyone! Are you ready for Halloween?

Our house is decorated, kids' costumes have been purchased (although sizes are not quite right), and even I got a disguise (I am going for the look above. Yes, really.). I cannot wait! 

P.S. If you are staying at home to welcome trick or treaters, I think this dress and some makeup would make a perfectly fashionable gothic mom. (Yoox has pretty good selection, too.)

In awe on a Tuesday night

Hello everyone! Have you heard of Pari Ehsan?

I have read about her over the summer, on my phone, in the dark, next to the sleeping baby. I had thus never had the chance to see properly her stunning images, which merge fashion and art and have (rightfully) warranted her CFDA's inaugural prize of "Fashion Instagrammer of the year". I rediscovered her today via the edit she curated for Holt Renfrew in occasion of the new exhibition on Michelangelo at at the Art Gallery of Ontario (see above photo).

Now I am a (Instagram) follower of @Paridust, and you should be too.

P.S. More art and photography that inspire me, and other blogs I love.

Feeling lucky on a Friday

Hello everyone!

Today it was Friday the 17th, which in Italian folklore is the unluckiest day of the month. This is why I drove extra-carefully to Beyond the Rack Warehouse Sale in Lachine, where I was expecting to find phenomenal designer deals.

The sale is well-organized and the staff is super-nice. Today there were no lines to get in, and inside it was crowded but not unbearably so. Unfortunately the corner with designer items is so small that reminded me more of a garage sale rather than a warehouse sale. (I am sure I have more designer items in my closet, which is no particularly well stocked). In addition, I found that the price of most items was high for a warehouse sale. (For exemple, the two Burberry coats available were 699.99$, the one cashmere Burberry sweater was 299.99$, and the two Proenza Schouler PS11 were 999.99$). That said, since I was lucky enough to get there half an hour after opening, I was able to come home with the bag of my dreams: the only Celine's shoulder bag available, which seldom goes on sale and whose price was about 70 percent off retail.

The sale continues through Sunday, October 19. A sales representative told me that there are no plans to restock. If you are looking for great deals on designer items, do not waste your time driving to Lachine unless you need foam-memory pillows (priced at 19.99$), a small selection of Ralph Lauren's summer kids clothing (which was already quite picked out at noon today), or a Steve Madden puffer (priced between 49.99 and 89.99$ depending on the style).


Pictured, from the top: my first Celine bag; the inside of the warehouse; no name shoes; Steve Madden's puffer jackets; the designer corner; look-expensive Sergio Roma suede booties (priced at 39.99$; totally worth it if you wear 3 inches heels).

Love the place you shop: Indigo Chapters

Hello everyone! Do you shop at Indigo Chapters?

I love fashion finds from unexpected places, and Indigo Chapters is one of them. Besides being my one-stop destination for books, stationery and paper goods (including those by Kate Spade and Garance Dorè), I am a big fan of their handbags and accessories.

This clutch is my latest find. It is as beautiful, but much cheaper, than a Clare V. foldover clutch, and it fits perfectly into this tote, which you'll forget it is made of faux leather because of its clean lines and Celine-sque appeal. (If I had not already have too many totes, I'd by it in this color as well). And now that temperatures have dropped, I am considering buying this scarf, which is immensely soft. 

One piece of advice: Indigo Chapters has always great online deals (and Matt & Nat, and Baggu bags...), so check there before you hit the store!

P.S. More great places to shop in the Montreal area here.

Good things come to those who wait

Hello everyone! Did you shop Canadian Thanksgiving's sales?

The final shopping destination is now Christmas. For all of us leaving in Canada, there will be few promotions awaiting, but across the border (where all the good sales are anyway) discount shopping is just picking up steam.

Discounts will continue to get better until after American Thanksgiving, so there is no rush if you are trying to snatch the best deal. However, if you need or want to shop right now, there are three places where you want to point your mouse to:

Yoox
Yoox's Dreambox discount announced last week and unveiled today is 20% off (code: LOVEDREAMBOX). Time to get those wishes off your list, since Yoox sales are hard to come by.

Shopbop
Shopbop's Friends and Family is 25% off until October 16 (code: FAMILY25).

The Outnet
The Outnet has a very good handbag sale right now, which includes the almost-never discounted Clare V.

Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks' Friends and Family is 25% off until October 26 with code FRNFAM. Saks also has duty-free shopping and free express shipping without a code.

Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus has yet another duty-free promotion + free express shipping until October 26 (code: DUTYFREE). These come by often (there has been pretty much once per month since last January), so do not feel rushed.


Art: The Wait by Jean Béraud.

Clare V. has hit The Outnet

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

There are still a few hours left to shop those Thanksgiving deals but... Drumroll please: Clare Vivier (now rebranded Clare V.) has hit The Outnet. (I guess it was just a matter of time, since Net-a-Porter started carrying Claire V. last year).

I  love this pouch and this weekender, and I am drawing on an imaginary blackboard the following equation: handbag designer that never goes on sale + The Outnet = maybe I'll pass on the Thanksgiving deals. How about you?


Photo: A lovely being.

The best of (Canadian) Thanksgiving sales

Hello everyone and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Whether you are celebrating or not tomorrow, I am sure you are game for a few good deals. Do not expect Black Friday-type discounts, but here is the best out there -- and most of them are conveniently online so that if you end up eating a lot of turkey, you may do your shopping right from the couch. :)

Aritzia
Aritzia's online-only sale has a limited but interesting selection. Premium denim by J Brand and Citizens of Humanity is 40% off, and several knits are 40-50% off (I love this one, but beware because it fits large, so you may need to go down a size). And, if you want to catch up with the graphic sweatshirt trend, search no more and point your mouse here. Shipping is free if you spend 150$ or more. Ends Monday, October 13.

Yoox
You have until tonight to add items to your Dreambox, waiting for a surprise discount tomorrow. From past experience, the sale is never more than 15%, but Yoox sales are hard to come by. (Sometimes free shipping is also included, a saving of 15 CAD)

Joe Fresh
Joe Fresh never has a good sale, and their clearance section is pretty much a joke (think shorts in October, and with only one size remaining -- the "new Fall styles" added a few days ago were 2 pairs of jeans on final sale that are pretty much sold out now). This is why you have to get excited about 25% off sweaters, including cashmere and merino. I am not a fan of their cashmere, but I am holding my breath with their merino sweaters. Shipping is free if you spend 50$ or more. The sale ends October 23, but hurry because there is not restocking of sold-out sizes. Also, knitwear is not available in stores in Quebec, so you need to shop online for this one.

Holt Renfrew, Ogilvy and HR2
Hold Renfrew only (Ogilvy and HR2 are explicitly excluded from this sale) offers up to 30% off select Fall merchandise. The list of exclusions is not indicated on the website, so you need to get downtown to check out the sale (all stores are open with their regular hours tomorrow). I would be shocked if there is anything interesting, but at least you can get a taste of Holts' "Bella Italia" Italian immersion.

The Hudson's Bay
The cybersale goes live tomorrow but you can preview it here. Nothing too exciting except for 40% off at Topshop. (I am sure 35% off tops and blouses will have a mile-long list of exclusions, and the sale at Aritzia beats the 20% off premium denim)

The GAP group
The GAP groups is always running a sale, and this one is nothing special. GAP offers 40% off until tomorrow, Banana Republic offers 40% off, and Old Navy up to 50% off. Lots of exclusions, so beware.

Across the border
US sales will not begin until mid-next week (for exemple, Saks' Family and Friends sale begins on October 16). I follow Madison Avenue Spy for updates on the best deals, since now most US department stores ship to Canada as well.


Art: Thank you by Trey Speegle (via 20x200 Fall Edit).

Did you celebrate National Handbag Day?

Hello everyone! Did you know that yesterday was National Handbag Day?

For the occasion, I sported my pre-Phoebe Philo Celine bag (remember when it launched in 2009?). I also almost celebrated it by purchasing a new bag. YSL mini-Muse, no less. When this beauty popped up at Amuze (which I discovered through Madison Avenue Spy), I thought I was going to come full circle with my obsession, which goes way back.

After adding it to my cart I even got a 5% off coupon and I almost did it. I then realized that I had a question about delivery times and I gave a call to their toll-free number. That's when my problems begun. After three unanswered phone calls, one unanswered email, and three unanswered messages I sent through the site's live chat (I was getting desperate), I got nervous. Internet research revealed that Amuze has amost 40,000 Facebook followers. I found only one person who indicated she never got her purchase (although as few who gave positive reviews). Yet I chickened out.

Today, two days after my unsuccessful contact attempts, a customer representative did answer my email. I could still make it to purchase the bag. I do not think I will though... the moment has passed. And I am still nervous about this bad customer service.

Dear Zara, we need more info

Hello everyone! Did you check out Zara's latest lookbook?

Whether you are a fan of Zara or not, we can all agree that their styling is among the best. (I mean, who could ever make a 100%-polyester-anything so attractive?) I have huge mood swings when it comes to Zara (I must buy! I must return!), and I always go back.

Since my budget is far away from the cost of these Celine pants that I love for Fall, I obviously hit Zara's website (I am stuck at the office with a presentation to finish by tomorrow).

Don't you just hate it when not all items on the picture are available for sale? And there is no "expected date" indicate anywhere?

Dear Zara, I need more info. I need to know when these pants will be in stock. Regards.

FW14 trends | Beyond les culottes

Hello everyone!

After this season's coats' styles, let's talk about pants for FW14. That's where our conversation could turn to les culottes (all about it here), and possibly stay there for a while.  But. In whatever way you style them (and I have seen a few cute options, like this one), they are just not my cup of tea.

A pair of fluid pants, however, it is an entirely different story. Celine's version above is the natural follow-up of a key trend of last spring.

Are you team culottes or team fluid pant?

FW14 trends | Coat, please!

Hello everyone! Did you read our Fall editorial yesterday?

Since last weekend, I am in fall swing. Add to that my outerwear obsession (remember this post?), and you will understand why I am so bummed that this perfect price-quality ratio GAP coat is sold out, even though it keeps staring at me from their homepage (Emerson Fry has a similar style in navy, but at a much higher price point). FW14 is all about clean, understated lines, perhaps with a touch of fur like Kim Kardashian did so well (I never thought I was going to write that).

What coat are you wearing this season?

The Fall Fashion Edit: Duplicity

Hello everyone and happy Monday!

Like it or not (I do, Fall is my favourite season), coat season is here. Yesterday, as I took the rest of my coats out of storage, I had a major flashback. To the fur galore at the Max Mara store in downtown Milan, which I came across during a brief passage there during our summer trip. Once we got back to Canada, and I started catching up with the stack of magazines trapped on mail hold while we were gone, fur and animal prints were all over their pages, too. (The August issue of most magazines can be thin, but man does it make the best preview of the Fall trends.)

A month into (almost) daily updates on the Fall trends, though, and I began to draft in my mind an editorial titled "Unfuss". Because fur aside, FW14 still has that 90s minimalism to it, which we have grown accustomed to in the past few years.

I was putting away my fashion magazines last week, and the caption of Elle Canada's trend report (The Wild Bunch) caught my attention: "At Celine, Phoebe Philo's sophisticated take on animal prints...".  That's the key to FW14: unfussy embellishment, whether you will cover yourself in fur or not. (Did I say fur?)

Which interestingly makes FW14 a transition season, too, because most of SS15 is a return to the look-at-me nineties, to cite the Huffington Post. (I mean, even Rick Owens had flashy yellow all over its latest collection).

You may be obsessed with her or not, but it always begins with Celine.