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LONDON FASHION WEEK ESSENTIALS
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CHANEL’S LITTLE BLACK JACKET
This past fall, people from around the world, from Seoul to Tokyo to London, were able to witness one of fashion’s most captivating exhibitions. The exhibition showcased hundreds of black and white photos of Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite muses sporting Chanel’s iconic jacket. Men and women filled galleries around the world to view this amazing collection, and celebrate the history of this brand. If nothing else, it proved to be an inspiration on how to wear your own tweed black jacket – Chanel or otherwise.
The Little Black Jacket exhibition contained Lagerfeld’s photographs of celebrities wearing the Chanel tweed jacket, all with their own individual flair. Sometimes classic, sometimes a little edgier, but always Chanel, each was styled by the one and only Carine Roitfeld. This iconic jacket shows the astounding versatility of Chanel’s vision through Lagerfeld’s capable hands, and solidifies the little black jacket’s future as a timeless classic.
Click here to see the videos (for some reason they won’t embed properly):
GET NAKED THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
Wondering what to get your man this VDay? Let’s be honest, most of us are probably planning to dress up in our sexiest lingerie, which don’t get us wrong, isn’t a bad thing. But isn’t that a little overdone? Chances are, he expects it. Why not surprise him this time? Why not get him some ‘male lingerie’? And before you go off thinking of man thongs or something equally scary, we are talking quality stuff here. He will love it, we promise (and so will you!). Just don’t tell him its male lingerie and you’ll be golden.
Introducing NAKED, a line of luxurious, sexy and comfortable underwear and loungewear. Unfortunately, they only design for men at the moment, but we are begging them to release a line for women (fingers crossed). Ladies, this line is HOT and trust us, you want to see your men in these. The tailoring contours all the right places, and the fabrics are sourced from the finest mills in the world. NAKED’s micromodal line is made with fabric from an Italian mill, and is seriously softer than silk. And if you’re wondering which style to get? We suggest the microfiber trunk, in red of course.
Now if you happen to be in the Vancouver area this weekend, you are in luck. NAKED is hosting a pop up shop at the Bay downtown, and will be providing a male model for lucky customers to preview the brand on. Unfortunately, the pop up shop (and model) will not be making its way down to Toronto, but no worries…you can pick up a pair of NAKEDs at Holt Renfrew, GOTSTYLE or on their website, www.thenakedshop.com.
Come on people, let’s get NAKED!
TORONTO FASHION INCUBATOR GUILTY PLEASURES SALE
We had the pleasure of attending the Guilty Pleasures Sale in Toronto this past Saturday. The event was hosted by Toronto Fashion Incubator at the Drake Hotel and was an full of stunning treasures to pull at our heart (and wallet) strings.
Our favourite purchase of the day? Adorable bracelets from Shop for Jayu.
BOXNOIRE SELECTS
Each week, we will share you with our must-have items of the moment. These are hand selected items are the essentials that each of us at BOXNOIRE simply can’t live without. Up this week, Karyna’s picks…
1. Madewell Silk Cami [ $78.00 ]
2. Alexander McQueen Velvet Flats [ $645.00 ]
3. JCrew Flower Lattice Necklace [ $268.00 ]
4. Rag & Bone Metallic Booties [ $550.00 ]
5. Kate Spade Handbag [ $498.00 ]
NEW YORK FASHION WEEK ESSENTIALS
So are you wondering what the must-haves are for NYFW? Don’t worry, we’ve sorted through all the options to bring you the things you simply shouldn’t live without.
MYKITA: THE NEW TREND IN GLASSES
If you haven’t noticed already, glasses have become less of a necessity and more of an accessory. If you want to look more edge, casual or are missing that final touch – what do you do? Throw on a pair of glasses, obviously. Except it wasn’t so obvious until recently, and specatcle design had been kind of boring until some smart people took advantage of the trend to try and spice things up.
And let’s be honest, is there anyone who is not tired of those wayfarer frames that all the hipsters are wearing? I mean it was cute at first, but enough is enough, people. Move on already. You’re not original, and you look like a dork. Try something different.
However, if you still like the idea of glasses, we did see something during Paris fashion week that was a perfect blend of innovation and craftsmanship. If you’re interested in buying into this trend, you have to take a look at the collaboration between Damir Doma and the Berlin-based brand Mykita.
It’s futuristic and vibrant colouring make this the perfect accessory to stand out from the crowds. Without being too over-the-top, these glasses are majorly cool, and nothing like the typical thick-rimmed glasses that are taking over the masses.
If you’re anything like us, you’re probably dying to throw out your boring black (or brown) specs and try something on the wild side. Thankfully, you don’t have to travel to Berlin to grab a pair (though that isn’t such a bad idea), you can get this new look at Centre Vu in Montreal, the only place that the brand is currently carried in Canada. If you aren’t in there, give them a call – I’m sure they can help you satisfy your craving for these gorgeous glasses.
Check out Mykita’s and Centre Vu’s website for more info.
TO LIVE IS TO LOVE – L’AMOUR FOU REVIEW
Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it. – Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent, a name known around the world that invokes images of exquisite beauty and artistry. One of our all time favourite designers, and a pioneer within the history of modern fashion, Yves Saint Laurent influenced the way we see fashion today. Naturally, when it was announced that Pierre Thoretton would be directing a documentary on the life and times of the celebrated Yves Saint Laurent, we were intrigued.
L’amour Fou is the third instalment of the documentary series, and to be honest, we were apprehensive. We knew that though Yves Saint Laurent created a beautiful world of fashion, he suffered from many demons. And, we just weren’t sure if that was something we would want to see, or something that would change our opinion of him and his overwhelming success in the industry.
However, when the opportunity came up to see L’Amour Fou at the Paris Theatre in New York, we simply couldn’t say no. We didn’t regret it.
L’Amour Fou offers a beautifully melancholic view into the life and mind of Yves Saint Laurent, through the eyes and voice of his life partner of 50 years, Pierre Bergé. Throughout the documentary, Pierre recalls the love which Yves had for his material possessions, and the ensuing depression that would follow the fleeting joy these possessions brought. Unfortunately, despite the great beauty which Yves Saint Laurent was able create, he only felt truly happy twice a year, for the 24 hour period during which his collections were shown.
This moving documentary focuses on the sale of the treasures that the couple collected over half a century, during at 2009 Christie’s auction for almost $500 million. L’Amour Fou is a very truthful representation on the relationship this couple shared, with Pierre as the rock on which Yves held on to, and on which he was able to construct his empire.
The documentary incorporates vintage footage from when Yves was very young, shy and Pierre’s insight into the memories of the experiences the couple shares is both personal and intriguing. Without being overly edited, L’Amour Fou does not focus on the consumption issues Yves face, without totally ignoring the fact that this was a serious problem that the couple faced (and thankfully overcame).
L’Amour Fou is a haunting representation of the success of the fashion empire Yves Saint Laurent, and how fragile the man behind the brand was. His demons were never quite fully balanced by his love of beauty, and unfortunately, these ruled his life. Despite this, he was able share his genius with the world, and was deeply loved by his partner in life, Pierre.
ALTERNATIVE BEAUTY TIPS
We all know that the beauty industry is booming, and there’s a reason why – there are about a billion products available, all with very high price tags. And while yes, we do love our Ole Henriksen cream and Fresh black tea facial mask, sometimes the best solutions are right beneath your nose. Literally, all you have to do is walk into your kitchen.
These are our top beauty picks, all simple, easy to find and best of all – affordable! They may even work better than the expensive stuff…but you didn’t hear it from us. So the next time you’re skin is begging for moisture, or you need to zap that pimple, try out one of these alternatives before running to the nearest Sephora. Chances are you have them around the house, or can pick them up at your local market!
ALOE VERA
Probably one of our favourite beauty picks, like ever, aloe vera has a thousand and one benefits. You can use it fresh from the plant as I way to treat burns, irritation and even bug bites. It’s also wonderful when mixed with rosewater as a daily cleanser.
OATMEAL
Not only is it a great start to the morning, it can also double as a fantastic scrub to slough off any dry, dead skin. Mix it with some chamomile tea (let it cool it first!), honey and almond oil for the perfect facial scrub.
AVOCADO
This next beauty pick is so good, we have to stop ourselves from devouring it on the spot! Avocado, when mixed with honey, a few drops of cider vinegar and some sesame oil, provides a rich and luxurious facial cleanse that is the perfect way to treat your face once a week.
HONEY
Honey obviously has a ton of benefits, and when mixed with other main beauty picks, it can really make a different. However, it’s pretty great on it’s own as well. Pucker up those beauty lips, and make them more luscious than ever, by making a lip scrub using honey and brown sugar with a dash of lemon juice.
LAVENDER
Take some dried lavender, a little bit of oatmeal and a handful of baking soda…grind it up inside a food processor and add it to your bath for a treat at the end of the day. Seriously try it…enough said.
CUCUMBER
Well, cucumbers are a classic. We’ve seen them in the movies, and your mom probably taught you about cucumber facials as a kid. But try blending some cucumber with honey to make a wonderful toner that will leave your skin feeling fresh!
GREEN TEA
You know the benefits of drinking it, but if you let it cool in the fridge, and pour it into a spritzer bottle, it makes the perfect toner. This is also an amazing spot acne treatment.
OLIVE OIL
It might be kind of scary to think of olive oil as a moisturizer, but this stuff is a miracle. Mix it with distilled water, vitamin E oil, avocado oil, liquid lecithin and a little grated beeswax for a fabulous moisturizer that will leave your skin feeling smooth as a baby’s bum.
Are you running off to pick of some of these fabulous goodies right away? Or are you sorting through your sephora collection thinking WHY did I spend that much money? It’s OK, we’ve been there, done that. xx
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOGA
Ok girls, so let’s be honest – we’ve all thought about yoga at one point or another. Some of us love it, anddd others kind of don’t see the point. For the record? Those who love it tend to be super, amazingly, inhumanly good at it…just sayin’. And, that’s just not us. Not yet, anyways.
In any case, we got back from holidays at the beginning of January and low and behold, a new yoga studio opened up just next door. How frickin’ convenient right? We had tried plenty of yoga classes, but had never found a way to stay motivated. Here’s a tip, have one open up next door and you’ll really have a hard time finding an excuse.
So, walking past this place day in and day out got us thinking – let’s give yoga another shot. No more crappy excuses not to work out, and MAYBE it might be fun this time. I’m sorry, but having some crazy women push our legs past our ears, or speak in an irritatingly false calm voice is just not our cup of tea. But hey, we believe in second chances.
Fast forward a few weeks and we have a confession to make. We have become utterly addicted. Yes, yes, ADDICTED to yoga. Guess what everyone was saying is true! Of all of us, Marie has become the biggest yogi. In her own words, she needs Hot Hata class. The detoxifying heat (and damn it’s hot!), not only helps you increase flexibility, but it does wonders from stress release and relaxation. Seriously, she can go on and on about the benefits of yoga, but the truth is – it’s really just a good time to get away from daily worries.
If you’re a current yoga fanatic, we can finally say – we understand! If you’re not, and you were as skeptical as us…two words: GO NOW. Seriously. You’ll feel refreshed, energetic. You’ll have less aches and pains. You might not need your morning coffee (don’t quote us on this) and that man of yours? Well, he’ll be saying all types of thank you for your increased flexibility. And as an added perfect, for those of you who are more adventurous…you’ll be able to try tons of positions you never thought you’d reach. Think about it.
WARNING: This can be highly beneficial and seriously addictive.
Oh, and if you’re in the Toronto area? We highly suggest Chopra Yoga…first class is free! xx
BOXNOIRE 