Happy Birthday Times in NYC

I got treated to a fun birthday gift - a trip to New York City. 

Time spent laughing with my beautiful friends, catching live music, browsing/touching/trying on fashion, savoring coffee, and eating delicious meals throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as checking out gallery openings and parties were highlights. Visiting new'ish gallery, 319 Scholes, for its JstChilln/READ/WRITE exhibition was worth the trek to Bushwick which, I clearly seem to be enjoying in the photo below!

But my favorite part of the trip was time spent wandering with the best company, discovering the tiny pieces of magic the usual hustle often hides. My tender toes had their bootcamp back into Spring with the sheer volume of walking I did. 

In my Master's thesis published a few years ago, I wrote a lot about the act of walking, and what subconscious desires and deliberate intentions comprise the simply-perceived, though actually quite complex, activity. I was reminded of this in New York where I must have spent 12-14 hours each day walking, playing the role of the flaneuse. The staccato rhythm of the city; a conveyer belt of fast ideas, commercial cacophony, and grand dreams in constant cyclical motion. 

Walking The Highline on the radiantly sunny afternoon on my birthday ad me glistening, and content with a very full heart.

Doc Martens (London), full-length printed jumpsuit (Glasgow), Rick Owens leather jacket (Paris), fur & feathers (Montreal), worn in NYC whilst galavanting the Highline on a chilly and sunny bday afternoon

A quick meeting with a possible collaborator at NPR, an interview with an artist for my Art21 column, and a snappy consulting session with a styling client allowed me to squeeze a bit of very fun work in to my leisurely vacay too.

For my fashion fiends: 

1) I was birthday-gifted the Junya Watanabe piece of my daydreams. (!) A navy and white striped dress/shirt/lifeline. 

2) Too bad for my pocket book, I discovered that silk, floor-length, jewel-toned FENDI gowns are my JOINT!!

3) I found out that Steven Alan designs are something to behold when you actually try them on. The fit is impeccable. 

4) I should give royalties to my dear friend whose custom furs which I wore in NYC were traffic stoppers; I got asked about them everywhere I went.
5) I think Opening Ceremony has always had it going on, and their website these days is a slick combination of inspiration, and convenience. But their actual NY stores these days? Dismal windows, oppressively hot temperatures and cluttered 'merchandising' complete with decrepit displays falling apart with nary a person to reassemble them. FAIL. However, mega customer service points to everyone at the Jil Sander, Alexander Wang, Zero and Prada boutiques for all their enthusiasm and help when I visited. (I'm writing a piece for a publication right now on shopping high-end in NYC and so my radar for merchandising and customer service was particularly sensitive!)

6) I got picture taken by "Babes at the Museum" style blog! I lamented to the lovely photographer, Xavier, that I may not be 'babe enough' the day he asked to take my photo at PS1 but he reassured me with subtle flattery and you will find my awkwardness evidenced here in the result:

And in these two photos (above and below), I'm caught by my photographer friend, while I was playing with my necklace at brunch in Brooklyn. The light captured here was too beautiful not to include some evidence of it! 

SO much love. A perfect birthday. With every passing year, life keeps getting better and for this, I am truly thankful.

- - Et aussi un grand 'merçi' a tous mes amis a New York qui m'a montré des temps merveilleux. 

xo

Fashion Minute

Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space - Online Retail for Men

Most of my personal styling efforts these days are aimed at gentlemen. My mission? (I won't bother feigning humility here)... I help men look their hottest. I make each man find and hone a personalized style that is super comfortable, unique, and authentic to whom the guy already is. I'm not transforming guys into trend hounds. Instead, it's critical to me that my client walks away confident, stylish, and skilled in how to shop and dress for himself with ease.

Shopping for dudes is another beast unto itself. It takes far more research and scouring than womenswear does. Of course as you know, shopping online has helped democratize fashion, making quality clothes more accessible despite geography. Gone are the days where 'shopping in London' (or New York, Paris, or Milan for that matter), is a privilege few are afforded. Now, the 'nets (and a willful credit card!), deliver the goods straight to your door.

And YET, shopping online for men has been somewhat 'meh' until recently. Of course there is the highly curated Opening Ceremony, and accessible UK-based ASOS but the former is specialized toward hardcore hipsters (in denial obvs), and ASOS is amazing but vast and thus requires a very good eye to find the right stuff. I lovelovelove the new'ish Dalston-based 'lifestyle project' LNCC for their unpretentious, holistic, and very fashion-forward aims but not many of my clients seek experimental clothing. And SSENSE.com has the potential be an amazing site for menswear but unfortunately the mens' buying utterly lacks vision, a fact which is evident in their inundation of 2001-esque graphic Tshirts, polo t-shirts (in 2011, really?!), and blah GStar jeans blocking sightlines for the good brands like Raf Simons and Acne that they carry. SSENSE purports to be edgy with their editorials but the menswear falls waaaaaay short. SSENSE missed an opportunity to be the "It" gentleman's store on the block: in trying to be 'everything to everyone' it thus fails to be anything to anyone.

Some of 'Mr. Porter's Style Icons' on mrporter.com

ENTER new kid in town: Mr. Porter, "the male counterpoint to Net-a-Porter, the high-end fashion e-tailer". People say it rips off brilliant menswear mag, Fantastic Man. I say, HALLELUJAH! Finally, an online retailer offering men uncompromisingly quality, flattering, designer clothing. Admittedly, some of the 'style advice' on the site is stodgy (in a charming kinda way), but the editorials and styling is tops and the selection/buying is perfection so as a consumer you can't go wrong. It would be amazing to be a part of this team as a buyer or stylist! In the meantime, I will be sending my gentlemen clients to Mr. Porter.

OSCARS

The Oscars. They happened and sadly, they were BORECORE. Poor host Anne Hathaway - she's probably well-meaning but she came across as a try-hard cheerleader and her sidekick, soap opera hunk/overachiever James Franco was ostensibly high yet, dull. I wasn't going to bother posting anything on at all on the Oscars but I received several emails from clients asking me, 'so... what'd you think of the dresses?!' So here it is. Mila Kunis' stylist deserves an award for putting her in that lilac Elie Saab Haute Couture for SpringSummer 2011 gown. Likewise for Natalie Portman whose violet-colored Rodarte dress tastefully draped over her expectant belly bump in the most flattering way, and the ballet beau on her arm wasn't too shabby an accessory either. Cate Blanchett was obviously freakishly beautiful as usual, this time in Givenchy. Done!

Painted!

Recently, my friend, Montréal-based artist Kevin Ledo, painted me (the large centre canvas in the pic above). I met Kevin when I interviewed him for my CBC radio column, "On the Verge" several years ago. Since then, we've become goods pals. Kevin is best known for his 'Guiding Light' series where he examines the iconography prevalent in fashion photography.

I love the way the painting turned out. Kevin managed to capture an honest, and pleased expression on my face that I think I tend to make before I crack up with laughter. Thanks Kev!

Montreal Vintage Score! - Copper Brown, 1940's Silk Velvet

 

 "From dark wine and the thousand roses there, the hour rushes into the dream of night." - Rainer Maria Rilke

This dress wouldn't fit me but it's perfect for beautiful (and tiniest!) friend Yumiko. Like everything, she wears it well.

London Calling - Part 1

I've been meaning to post pics from my last visit to Londres, UK. Unfortunately, while the shopping was brilliant (Dover Street Market, LNCC, Shoreditch), most places wouldn't allow photos to be taken, and my fancypants camera (ch-ching!) doesn't exactly pass for 'inconspicuous' so I was always caught, Canon-handed. So please accept the above and below photographic documentation as my postcards to you: evidence that your curly haired companion ran (quite literally) around London in the name of fashion, art, friends, food, and music.

Got my fair deal of art too, with several days spent at Tate, White Cube, the National and smaller galleries in East and South London. I was hoping to bank some interviews for my colomn on RCI/CBC radio in Canada but schedules did not permit. Next time for certain. Cheerio!

Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h - Unique Jewelry in Montreal

Type 'unique + jewelry + montreal' into Google search, and I expect to see one of my talented jeweler friends' websites like Harakiri, Pearls Before Swine, or Thierry Huard's line to pop up. No such luck. However, if you are looking for a unique and artistic piece of jewelry while shopping in Montreal, the under-the-radar place I send my pals and styling clients to for quality, design-conscious, handmade jewelry from around the globe is Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h Bijoux d'Art.  Already a fave among Montréal ladies with good taste and cash to burn, this shop front gets bypassed very easily I'm afraid, because of its wordy name and its low-key signage on the exterior.

Although the word 'curate' is thrown around too loosely these days (in place of where one should say 'filter' instead), and especially in hybrid artistic/commercial settings, this gallery-meets-shop is one case where the fact that it is actually curated is appreciated. Owner Noel, chooses lines based upon instinct, and appreciation of fine craftsmanship. In most cases, he is the sole Canadian vendor of many international designers' work. Noel also holds exhibitions in the shop much in the same way one would hold an art opening but in this case, you actually get to handle the wares! The other factor to make this store exceptional is that Noel himself is incredibly kind and helpful, a rarity on Laurier West - the boutique street where his shop can be found.

This is not a shop for the trend-oriented: so don't come here for the goth-meets-hiphop-meets-rock-punk accessory of the season. There is nothing here to satisfy your craving for Pamela Love'ischt nor Urban Outfitters-waspiness. This is jewelry for art lovers and fashion-forward femme fatales. Jewelry for women who fit in nowhere but are comfortable everywhere.

My next acquisition from the store will be from London-based Karola Torkos - be still my hearty heart!

** UPDATE: the store has relocated to 4836 Bd St Laurent **

Sheer perfection

My apologies but I have no idea where this photo originally came from. Some of my favorite songs sound like this combination of quiet colors and exaggerated shapes.

JUNYA WATANABE - steals my heart

Most women don't want to wear something that 'hides their waist', 'shortens their legs', or doesn't overtly show off one asset or another. Junya Watanabe is not for them. Watanabe is for a woman whose persona is what she shows off. If there's such a thing as a 'Watanabe woman', it's unbeknownst to her. She's a lady who doesn't care about capital "F" fashion. She sees style as an expression of elegance and fun at the same time.

Watanabe's trademark inventive draping, geometric anomalies, and handle on wildly unconventional proportions fills me with an inexplicable joy. I'm not even kidding. And with a description like that you'd expect something hard, angular, avant, and 'conceptual', right?  But once you get past hair stylist/visionnaire Katsuya Kamo's masks that the models wore in these images from style.com from the SS/11 show, its the whimsical stripes, comfortable fabrics, perfect layering, and flat oxfords that make this collection wearable after all.

So far off the course of 'trend-making', there isn't a single reference in this collection to what young'ins are going nuts for on highstreet but never mind that: all the more reason for me to be inspired to experiment with these looks.  This is what the possibilities of exploring imagination in fashion looks like.

Nobuyoshi Araki for Barney's - Food for Thought

Since discovering Haruki Murakami's novels as a teen, his stories and scenes revisit me at completely random moments in my life. The same stands for the images of photographer Araki, an artist who also deals with love and death and the theme of melancholy; the perpetual chase for something lost that cannot be defined nor found. Now, the work of these two Japanese visionaries finally collides, although not directly.  Kiko Mizuhara, who will play lead in the film adaptation of Murakami's book, Norwegian Wood, just modeled in Barney's holiday campaign shot by Araki. The photos grasp a mild version of the sensuality that Araki always achieves without the 'death' undertones he usually evokes.

All photos Courtesy of Barney's New York (2010).

The cliché display of saccharine frivolity in holiday campaigns is apparently meant to encourage indiscriminate shopping-mania. But the overly accessorized, blingy blonde and brunette gals with bylines that read, 'all that dazzles!' and 'sparkle sparkle!' are a real turnoff for a window shopper wanting to be inspired by something different in a holiday campaign. Araki and Mizuhara do something different, something unexpected with their  shoot for Barney's. The saturated color and gorgeous, filmic blur make me dream, make me wonder. This will be the best holiday campaign for a North American department store this year. No contest. 

Denis Gagnon @ Musée des Beaux-Arts - BLOGGED for Art21

Installation view of Denis Gagnon exhibit at Musee de Beaux-Arts. Photos by yours truly (bien sur!)

By the by, for those who didn't know, I am the Canadian columnist for amazing PBS program Art21's blog site. My latest article on Art21 is about Montréal fashion designer Denis Gagnon's current exhibit at the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Read it HERE.

Cougar Boots

Wearing "Ringo Starr" Cougar Shoes,  Anna Sui floral leggings, Complex Geometries long-sleeve &  RayBans.

Usually rainboots and winter footwear are awkward and heavy. To dodge those burdens in the past, I've gone for quirky alternatives to the classic Hunter wellies. A pair of sleek and slim $300 Donald J Pliner rainboots LEAKED water after six months of wear. A non-waterproof rainboot? No thanks. Next, I threw some cold euros down on a pair of Ferragamo "Freeze" rainboots whose material lining came undone. Sometimes 'Made in Italy' should read more specifically, like in this case: "Made With Kids Glue in Italy". Ever try to replace lining in a pair of boots? I couldn't find a single cobbler who'd agree to do it. Finally, the worst was when I dropped a painful $500 on a pair of gorgeous rubber and cow hide boots from (possibly now defunct) luxury brand called "Trans(parent)".  Despite their unique look (what I imagine Rick Owens could style his Apocalyptic models in), the combined smell - yes, I said 'smell' - of the rubber and hide combo was too potent for them to actually be worn. Perhaps in a vacuum-sealed glass cube they could moonlight as a sculpture in my living room? Next I turned to Canadian saviour-brand "La Canadienne" with a boot that was truthfully, warm enough to be worn in an ice storm. However, when the soles became separated from the boot due to the glue coming off, I decided it was the last time I would spend excessive amounts of cash on original-looking boots that purport to be 'quality'.

Singing in the rain, wearing: Prada coat, Audrey Cantwell leather leggings and "Regal" Cougar Rainboots.

The solution arrived on my doorstep last week in the form of a pair of rainboots and a pair of winter boots, courtesy of Cougar Shoes (whose winter boots from the 70's-80's, used to look like this. RAD!). Both of my new pairs are exactly what I'm looking for: waterproof, warm, comfortable, well-cut. The price tag reads only $85 for the "Regal" rainboots and $200 for the height-adjustable, fur-lined "Ringo Starr" winter boots. But it could have just as easily read: "worth every penny." These boots were made for more than walking, and that's just what they'll do.

Please fill out this one-minute survey by Cougar shoes please! http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/413388/feedback  For every survey completed, Cougar shoes will donate $2 to the Red Cross.

On Sacred Things

My childhood memories of growing up with my four siblings are to me what shoes are to most girls. I covet them like little gems rotating in the palm of hand, glistening in the sun. Perfect morsels of love, light, love (hit repeat). But I love shoes too. For better or worse, shoes are one of those items in my family of seven, that never experienced the hand-me-down tradition. Whichever shoes each kid had, they had until they wore out. I remember one pair vividly that my sister Jessie (two years older than me) wore in primary school: bowling-like, red-burgundy Cougar's. She loved them, their soft leather changing over time. 

I loved Jessie's Cougar's too, so much so that if they existed now in my own size, I'd make them my signature everyday shoe. Jessie, a most caring, beautiful and stylish individual, lives in Scotland now where she is a doctor. I visited her and her husband a few months ago where they just purchased a lovely home. 

And any day now, my sweet sister - pictured above at 7.5 months pregnant - will become a mother when she gives birth to her first child (she is due tomorrow!). And just like that, the realization hits that we are not kids anymore. 

When I opened a care package that I just received from the Cougar shoe company, my first thought was 'wow, I remember when my sister had a pair of Cougar's! and now she's going to have a kid of her own who'll wear little people shoes!' Cougar has no idea of this backstory, and naturally, their styles have changed with the times and don't look anything like what they used to, when I was a kid. However, this enduringly Canadian brand continues to celebrate the tradition of making quality product coupled with unique design. I'll let you know how my boots go this week as I testdrive them in Montreal's rain and cold. My fingers are crossed in the meantime that Cougar may one day reissue those old styles and that this soon-to-be aunt will have the chance to buy her niece or nephew a pair of burgundy leather Cougar's one day soon enough too.

POP MONTREAL FASHION SHOW

Every year, POP MONTREAL International Music Festival, puts on a fashion/design fair called PUCES POP, of which there is a fashion show/competition for new emerging designers. This fun event for our vibrant artistic community provides an unprecedented opportunity for local designers to showcase their work without the financial investment of participating in capital "F" Fashion Week. In a bizarre and lucky twist of organization, POP managed to book the  Rialto, a much more beautiful venue to showcase clothing than the tents downtown. I know the work that goes into the event as I was the coordinator in its second year. This year coordinator extraordinaire was Marilis Cardinal, who invited me to participate in the festival in a very different way: as host!

Alongside the other host Julien Ceccaldi, we introduced designs by six emerging labels in Montréal.  You can find descriptions and brief interviews with the designers on my friend Serah-Marie McMahon's fashion journal, WORN, site, (where you can also read Jackie Irvine's recap of the show). 

 Although from my place onstage I wasn't given the best view of the garments, I had a sneak-peek beforehand and was thoroughly impressed by the calibre of work put into the collections.

Photos of Fashion Pop taken by talented Richmond Lam via my girl Chloe's (featured above) blog.

The stylist in me was tempted to offer suggestions and tweak the clothes on the models backstage, but I kept the hands-on urge at bay! Félicitations goes to the winner, Natasha Thomas and to all the other designers for their imaginative work. It was by far, the best showing of designers to date in the Puces Pop Fashion Show.

Get Norwegian This Fall

Norwegian Wood is a label run by my friend/collaborator Angie Johnson for whom I have styled and, ahem/yikes(!) modeled for. Like me, Angie's based in Montréal but she's got her entrepreneurial eyes set on the world and her designs reflect it. She strays from the few specific design aesthetics for which Montréal is most known (namely black and minimal), by making clothes and accessories that are eclectic and bright; often using mixed print and vintage fabrics. I admire that a moment in fashion when "more is more" is unfashionable, Angie GOES for it.

Thanks to blog accolades from heavy hitters like Susie and the Tavster (Style Rookie), I'm happy to say that Norwegian Wood is one independent fashion designer whose climb is on the steady and exciting rise.

I wanted to wait until the Fall season actually hit to share photos from our F/W shoot so that you get a chance to think about pieces you might consider integrating into your current wardrobe. I love the Landscape dress (centre) which you can get right now on Etsy.

The inspiration behind the collection was an eccentric archaeologist whose love of ecological artifacts gets interpreted into a closet of autumn-colored treasures. Angie modernized the collection with original accessories predominantly combining chain, fringe and (of course!) wood. Here's an old post from Style Bubble with photos from the shoot (styled/modeled by me and photography by April Lea).

P.S. Photos from our latest collaboration -- SS11 shoot -- will be up soon!

Kudos to Angie: love working with her and very much looking forward to watching her label evolve.

xx Fashion Minute

Early Mornings on the Airwaves

Here I am. So profesh, I know. This is what I look like at 5am doing arts features - covering music, art, film, dance, fashion - on CBC Radio in Montréal. Of course, an audience of listeners can't tell what you're wearing over the radio airwaves, but when I hit the mic, I know I can feel it.

At that unheavenly hour, my pores are screaming for oxygen, water - anything but makeup. On this day, a pale blue Stella McCartney blazer and my beloved but seldom-worn Chie Mihara heels provide the ticket to waking me up. Got these Japanese-woodblock and soft black leather bad boys in Chicago and despite their towering prowess, they're extremely comfortable.

Of course, being on the microphone and talking about tonight's must-see show, the new Arcade Fire album, or the latest music festival to come through Montréal is worth waking up for without any complaints! Next week on another program on radio, I'll be covering Fall fashion highlights on Radio Canada International programme, The Link.

Raf Simons SS07

When fashion photography is at its best, it can show off how silhouette is the most important tenant of style. It goes beyond the pale of the embedded and implied details. Refinery is no doubt an important aspect of actually dressing oneself, but in photography; silhoutte, shape and proportion are king. No one knows this like Raf Simons. In the above Simons' SS07 spread, darkened outlines of vagabonds on a river bank evokes the undeniable power of youthdom. Boys, guys, bros, young men in the making. Shadows at night, near water. These bodies are not about fashion; they're about desire, making trouble, recklessness.

The same effect is achieved (mais, sans vetements içi!) in photos by photographer Alex deBrabant for a new shop/collaborative space in Montréal run in part by my dear friend Andrew Ly. Here, stoic model Keir Knight (formerly a professional ballet dancer), speaks volumes with his silhouette alone, quietly harnessing the energy of a wild horse in wait.

Robert Pattinson at Twilight Premier Today

Dark raspberry, rakish, fitted-to-perfection GUCCI suit on Twiglight star, Robert Pattinson. More gentleman should consider donning some color in their suits.

Norwegian Wood - MAXIMALISM

Sneak peak shot from my shoot with for my friend, Angie, the designer behind Montréal women's clothes and accessories label Norwegian Wood (image via Angie's Twitter feed). That's me fixing a shoelace on the model, Joelle, (oh the glamorous work of styling!). I styled the shoot, and it was my second project with Norwegian Wood and my third project with superfantastic photographer, April Lea. The collection can be described as PRINT POWER. In the face of the subdued minimalist trend that is about to hit streets like an erupting lolcano, NW's maximalism is a bold and welcome move.

Here are more shots from the online campaign/lookbook:

Lucky feather, Lucky birthday, Lucky Girl

Someone got seriously spoiled for her birthday! A few weeks ago, I began drooling regularly over the chairs at a design-conscious furniture store in Old Montreal and found this chair - my favorite one in the shop - in my office on my birthday! Pictured above, you'll notice a box in real vintage-eighties textbook wrapping paper (remember those?) Inside was an amazing, new digital Canon camera for my birthday (which I was very reluctant to accept!). I was unnecessarily spoiled rotten, but totally grateful for these gifts and a fab party with lovely friends, cakex3, and best of all -- a trip to NYC!

She's snapped!

Your's truly (wo)manning an AKAI APC for a minute at the launch of SNAP Magazine's latest launch. Stay tuned to SNAP's website next month for my interviews with other of our city's finest culture cats!

Bijougraphie

I know it's a good day when the first thing I'm inspired to put on is colorful, pretty, and unique. As I got dressed this morning to cover Montréal Fashion week shows, I put on a necklace I recently modeled for the Bijougraphie SS10 catalogue. 

Though you can't tell unless you feel them in your hand, the 'baubles' are actually rondured wood that has been hand painted in glossy acrylic and finished with vibrant, varnish enamel. The gorgeous colors, detailed brush strokes, and mix of natural with synthetic, expose a miniature spherical canvas that is surprisingly easy to wear. I look serious enough in the pic to devour the photographer, but I promise the necklace normally has me smiling. Photograph: Mercedes la Rosa, Bijougraphie SS10 catalogue

Snapped at NY Fashion Week!

I got street style snapped during New York Fashion Week in my Audrey Cantwell silk striped dress, Alexander McQueen belt, White Label leather gloves, and Lanvin silver sneaks. Photo: Elsa Lindström


What would you call a week-long event that describes positive havoc, sensory overload; requires boundless energy, and looks like the word "WOW" sounds?

NEW YORK FASHION WEaK. And I just got back from it.

With no time to blog while I was there, here's my lowdown, mostly via photos. This post can't possibly include everything I checked out but includes stuff from the days before my camera died! I'll start with the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference I attended and which I researched beforehand for my esteemed colleagues over at CBC Radio One in Toronto on a program called Q. 

The fabulous Diane Pernet and I before she went on stage as a panelist. 

The "Future of Fashion Blogging" was the best-moderated panel and had the heavy hitters; Bryan Boy, Tavi, and Susie debating the status of the celebrity fashion blogger and its impact on the fashion journalism industry. I had the chance to chat with Scott aka The Sartorialist for a while before darting off with Dustin Pittman to catch the stunning Halston presentation of their new Fall 2010 line. 

I met the bubbly Sarah Jessica Parker who recently announced partnering with Halston. Marios Schwab, the designer behind Halston, was present and chatty with the press. He told me the inspiration behind the clothes was 'liquid nitrogen'. 

I  loved the earrings by Jacqueline Rabun: elegant and bold.

Ran into Susie again and we talked about Dazed Digital. I wonder how long before she leaves the youth rogue online magazine; she seems disenchanted by it and expressed a desire to work on her blog more. Since she is "THE" blogger; the talented and hardworking helm of fashion blogging, it would be welcome to see her blog develop. Hearts to Susie!

I also ran into Editor-at-Large of American VOGUE, Hamish Bowles, whom I met outside of where I was staying in the West Village a few days earlier. We walked a few blocks together; discussing the sadness of Lee McQueen's death, the rise of online magazines, and his own unconventional sartorial savvy. Wikipedia says of Hamish, he is 'recognized as one of the most respected authorities on the worlds of fashion'. And yet, despite the grandeur of his position, he was sincere and likable. 

Me with Gaeun Joo, Editor of Korean VOGUE, showing off our matching silver sneaks. 

The shows at MILK and at the tents at Bryant Park, had me running between two totally different hoods; pining for better weather in my heels! Derek Lam, and 3.1 Philip Lim were too packed for me to pull out the camera, and by the time I tried to at Ralph Lauren and J. Mendel, it was clear that I wasn't going to get good shots, and I didn't want to! A fashion runway programme is over so quickly, I chose to focus on watching the presentations 

Other than when I have done fashion interviews for television, I've always found frontstage to be where the real action is. Backstage on the other hand is just a sea of hairstylists, dressers and MUA's swarming around iPod-fiddling models as they aimlessly get their hair yanked and eyebrows pulled. There's not much time to take in the artistry. While it is definitely special to behold the garments backstage before anyone else, in the end, the ideal place to view clothes is on display on an actual body; against the intended backdrop, to the beat of booming music on the runway. 

Nonetheless, backstage is where you'll find celebrities milling about. Backstage at denim wizards, G-STAR's spectacle, British model Agyness Deyn caused a near riot among paparazzi when she showed up in her dyed-black lid. Meanwhile, I chatted (en français!) with cute Garance Doré who posed for me while a froufrou-looking Kelly Osbourne was being interviewed in the background by MTV.

Random selection of photos I took of pals at a couple of the Fashion Week parties that I bothered to bring my camera to!

Other critical "New York Stuff: Seen and Heard" worth mentioning:

I frequented Tartine in West Village way more than one should in two weeks, and same goes for dancing at the SubMercer Lounge (but I blame their dope hip hop DJ's for that!). New York's most janky and not-to-be-missed institution is the Museum of Moving Image in Astoria. Here, the beautiful Biba and I found the most random (read: AMAZING) assortment of unrelated, dusty paraphernalia from sitcoms and films, including an odd Egyptian-themed screening room, game show signage, and a small sweater collection from The Cosby Show's Cliff Huxtable character.

Honorable art mentions: as usual, I hit the major museums and galleries. Gabriel Orozco at MoMa blew my mind as did Tino Seghal at the Guggenheim.

Meandering through the Lower East Side and Chelsea galleries was fun, particularly meeting up with my pal Jon at the Shaquille O'Neale-curated exhibit, "Size DOES Matter" ?! Crazytown.

Had a minute to peep my home boy, melody-making-hip hip-electronicist (!!) Nosaj Thing's gig at New York's Le Poisson Rouge with Daedalus and Jogger which, despite having seen him perform numerous times before, was incredible.

I'm thrilled that I didn't have too much time for shopping because I did plenty of it right before NYC. However, I had been hearing good things about Downtown Brooklyn and so I did do a run through it and had pleasant surprise; meeting fellow fashion blogger, Zana Bayne, at the store where she works as a sales assistant. She posed for me amidst Ann Demeulemeester pieces that it hurt to leave behind.

Just the week before, I had been discussing Zana with my lovely friend, clothing designer Audrey Cantwell after they did a swap of their wares. Happy coincidence.

And after two weeks of fun, fashion, work, and friends, I am back home in Montréal and excited to get back to work!

* All photos are taken by me unless I'm in them, in which case I wrangled an anonymous bystander to do the honors!!