FASHION Magazine

The countdown is officially on.  I am leaving for Nantucket in less than four weeks and my packing panic has already set in. On top of my basics—Ralph Lauren swimsuit, J.Crew T-shirts, Milly sundress and Michael Kors woven tote bag—I know that my bags will also be stuffed to the gills with every lotion and label in my closet.

Ahhhh… Finally the summer (or almost. I still haven’t been to the McGill swimming pool, the secret chic summer hangout of every true Montrealer, so for me it’s still winter): the parties, the barbecues under the rain, the gladiators and pedis, and, of course, the holidays!!

By Natalia Ksiazek

Fans of Sarah Jessica Parker need not wait for the sequel to Sex and the City: The Movie to eye more of this star’s stylish frocks. Until Thursday, June 19, the pale pink, Oscar de la Renta gown wore by SJP in the ad campaigns for her first fragrance, Lovely, will be on display at Sears in the Toronto Eaton Centre.

I don’t know about you, but since last summer’s big bang (I’m talking hair here, not the origin of mankind or something dirty), I’ve toyed with the idea of growing out my fringe.

You may have heard: Luminato’s on this week. I went to the Giorgio Armani opening-night shindig at the R.O.M. on Friday with a couple of the FASHION crew. After a quick tour around the party, we ensconced ourselves in the VVIP room, which was outfitted with makeup touchup stations and a small cadre of living dolls outfitted avec Giorgio. (To get the full scoop on the party, including the celeb quotient, check out Michelle’s Fashionable Life blog.)

As summer heats up, so does celeb-spotting season.

Hilary Swank and Amelia co-star Ewan McGregor were filming at the Carlu on College Street one lovely Sunday afternoon. The film, based on the life of Amelia Earhart who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937, also stars Richard Gere and Virginia Madsen and is being directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding).

Gonzales: Soft Power (Arts & Crafts)

Okay, I admit it, it was the shimmering classic disco boogie sound of “Let’s Ride” that got me hooked on this album, but there’s a lot to love from Gonzales, the electro prankster showman/Grammy-nominated arranger/producer (ever heard of someone called Feist?)/multi-instrumentalist. What? You don’t play drums on Iggy Pop songs too? Whatsamatta’ you?

All of us fashionable ladies in the office can hardly contain ourselves when talk turns to Sex and the City: The Movie. (We’ve already bought our matinee tickets for May 30th!) So when I was asked to come by Davids on Bloor Street for an intimate little cocktail party to show off their Sex-themed windows, I could not pass it up. For the first time ever, Davids decided to unveil a window theme for their flagship store, with well-thought-out selections showing off the style of the four major females in the film (as well as the four leading men). Sponsored by Skyy Vodka, the low-key affair also showcased five yummy cocktails based on each of the women and one for Mr. Big, natch. The Samantha was naturally tarty, the Carrie was more refined, and so on.  

Sorry for abandoning you, dear readers, but I was buried under a mountain of veils, foam wedding cakes, $20,000 diamonds and countless dresses and bouquets. Yes, it’s production time for Mariage Québec and your poor Montreal editor doesn’t have a life!

Aloha!

At this point you’re getting to know me and my obsessions: funky fashion, France (its cakes, luxe, createurs and ironic humeur) and of course, sun and sea. So when I heard that the Bay was launching a new style department, Maison B., which carries hot brands like Tara Jarmon, Andy Thé-Anh and Ça va de Soi, I immediately cancelled my yearly shopping trip to Paris (but not my Grenada escapade!). We definitely need more cool brands like these (and soon, with the new TNT store in Westmount, we’ll be splurging on amazing stuff from my favorite French designers, too, but it’s a secret scoop).

Dear readers,As if it was not frantic enough to start a new job as the Montreal editor of FASHION (cocktail parties galore, lunch dates, an intoxication of beauty treatments, weekly trips to the hairdresser and dry cleaner), the next few weeks coming up are looking particularly intense.