Fashion in Motion

Capezio Shoes' spring campaign offers us a perfect shoe season

Few collection launches get us as excited as new spring shoes.

What shall you slip into as you pull your spring trench from the back of the closet and head out for a gloriously sunny March afternoon? Why, perhaps a pair of snakeskin flats by new label Marc Fisher, or an easy pair of uber-cool loafers by G.H. Bass & Co.

Whatever your heart’s desire, we want it all: give us spring, sunshine and rainbows for the toes. We’re a-flutter with the new wave of spring shoes at Capezio Shoes.

Steve Madden "Tuxxedo" shoes add an edge to the spring floral print

In the spring we go out more, smile more, and sit a little longer on park benches and cafe chairs, basking in the sunlight. A little shopping on the high street, or drinks after work with the gals? Sexy platform heels trimmed with cork by MICHAEL by Michael Kors signal the return to summer afternoons and and breezy style.

For the rainy days we suggest trekking in mid-calf Hunter boots in this season’s new shade of turquoise (see below). School’s almost out but retro Converse and Keds are back in full force in vintage colours and soft nude shades.

Spring and new shoes are synonymous in our vocab; here’s how to wear our fave new finds from Capezio Shoes this month:

Spring Trench & Out the Door:

Perfect accessory shoes to the trench: Marc Fisher snakeskin flat $115, MICHAEL by Michael Kors pump $178, and Converse high tops $60.

Business as Usual:

Spring into the office! Clockwise from top left: Steve Madden "Tuxxedo" $100, Jessica Simpson demi-wedge $115, and Santo Franco wrap wedge $135.

Party Frocks and Friends:

It's a date: Marc Fisher crushed sequin heeln$110, BCBG leather metallic platform $150, and Steve Madden pumps $120.

Lazy Sunday Walk in the Park:

Lazy spring days. Clockwise from top left, Keds in sandy hue $40, Santo Franco embellished flat $125, and Hunter short boot $140.

Next week we will decode key trends in footwear and accessories.

Stay tuned for our post, video, and upcoming giveaway from Capezio Shoes!

All images courtesy of Capezio Shoes.

Accessories video:

Danier’s spring summer collection is full of happy surprises: you’ve never seen a leather collection that is this versatile, edgy, and forward-thinking.

With careful artistic details such as fringes, ruffles, and mixed fibers, Danier’s collection for spring is thoughtful, easy to rework to dress up or down, and offers us a spring break vacation. Something about the freshness of spring has transformed the label as an accessories and jacket destination whether you’re looking for spring’s classic faves with a Parisian-inspired twist or unexpected garments such as suede or leather shorts- not your Mom’s idea of leather goods. And just when you thought you’d seen it all in leather- well, Danier pulls out of the hat a leather cardi (yes! really- they made one!). Think of it as designer Danier.

With careful colour palette choices in yellows, purples, and blues, and playing with sheer printed scarves to accompany the classic biker jacket or your prim cut-out blazer, we have every reason to wish for a speedy winter so that we can welcome this fun and art-inspired collection. The pieces are all priced under $499, which is extremely reasonable for quality tailored leather garments. You’ll be impressed with the attention to shaping and body-accent or slimming details in the coats and jackets, as well as the careful mixing of knits with leather for a sleeker silhouette. Watch out for the studded accessories: we love the men’s belt with barely-poking studs and it’s just the kind of thing we can see ourselves ‘borrowing’.

Also on our wanted list: the leather hoodie (pictured below), the brown leather ruffled cropped blazer (shown at bottom), and the simple fold-over messenger bag (his and hers.)

Watch out, Danier, we’re coming!

Today I had the pleasure of getting an insider look into the exciting spring trends that we will be embracing very soon.

I headed off to Sears where I met with Cynthia Florek, Brand and Trend Director at Sears Canada. Cynthia took me on a guided spring tour showing me the key pieces and trends that we will be seeing on the retail racks and the hippest street scenes this coming spring.

Danier's spring collection includes casual takes on the men's essential vest and other wardrobe must-haves

Danier’s spring collection is full of happy surprises: you’ve never seen a leather collection that is this versatile, edgy, and forward-thinking.

With careful artistic details such as fringes, ruffles, and mixed fibers, Danier’s collection for spring is thoughtful, easy to rework to dress up or down, and offers us a spring break vacation. Something about the freshness of spring has transformed the label as an accessories and jacket destination whether you’re looking for spring’s classic faves with a Parisian-inspired twist or unexpected garments such as suede or leather shorts- not your Mom’s idea of leather goods. And just when you thought you’d seen it all in leather- well, Danier pulls out of the hat a leather cardi (yes! really- they made one!). Think of it as designer Danier.

With careful colour palette choices in yellows, purples, and blues, and playing with sheer printed scarves to accompany the classic biker jacket or your prim cut-out blazer, we have every reason to wish for a speedy winter so that we can welcome this fun and art-inspired collection. The pieces are all priced under $499, which is extremely reasonable for quality tailored leather garments. You’ll be impressed with the attention to shaping and body-accent or slimming details in the coats and jackets, as well as the careful mixing of knits with leather for a sleeker silhouette. Watch out for the studded accessories: we love the men’s belt with barely-poking studs and it’s just the kind of thing we can see ourselves ‘borrowing’.

Also on our wanted list: the leather hoodie (pictured below), the brown leather ruffled cropped blazer (shown at bottom), and the simple fold-over messenger bag (his and hers.)

Watch out, Danier, we’re coming!

The display of Canadian-designed coats using the Hudson's Bay point blanket as well as other themed items s open to the public at The Bay's downtown Toronto store. It will be moved across the country for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

We were all feeling very Canadian yesterday evening as we gathered at The Bay’s downtown Toronto store for an event unlike any other. The Hudson’s Bay  famed point blanket was the star of the show and all things Canadiana set the mood for this unique collection by Canadian designers who reinterpreted the blanket into modern coats. The point blanket first appeared on the Canadian marketplace during the fur trade in 1780 and were later adapted into coats and robes worn by settlers and First Nations people.

Point blanket coats in The Bay window, circa 1987. Image courtesy of HBC.com

With the arrival of the Olympic torch in Vancouver this winter and HBC’s special role as the official clothier for the Canadian Olympic team, the point blanket coat collection and assorted accessories for purchase represents an important part of our Canadian identity- now and then.

Included in the list of designers: Pink Tartan, Smythe, Jeremy Laing, Comrags, Lida Baday, Krane, Klaxon Howl, Harricana par Mariouche, Erdem. Each designer had a choice of which blanket colour they would attempt to transform into a modern coat. The collection is worth checking out: if you didn’t have a soft spot for the point blanket before, we’re sure that you’ll have a hard time resisting the colour-themed accessories such as the over-sized accent pillows.

Our absolute favourite: handsome canoes finished with the iconic stripes on their hulls. Now that’s camping.

This collection was self-described by David Dixon as a departure from his usual more structured looks. It was a spring breath of fresh air for 2010 when bright citron rows of delicate chiffon swayed down the runway along tops, dresses and skirts. Who wouldn’t want a classic cut dress with a fun full skirt detailed with rows of semi-circled ruffles? Middle-eastern inspired and straight out of the garden of whimsy. Pin-wheels of chiffon, satin skirts, and a knock-out strapless dress layered with spiky metallic tabs for a new disco era. Genius, beautiful, and our most memorable collection of the night.

Images courtesy of Peter Lytwyniuk at StudioLit.

Designer Camilla Jorgensen presented Toronto a fabulous collection of bold one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces for the Micalla label’s spring 2010 collection. It’s no surprise that Micalla accessories are finding their way onto the most coveted wrists and necklines of the Canadian fashion scene.

Working with Swarovski crystals and unique gemstones from around the world, designer Camilla Jorgensen has crafted a collection that exudes the beauty of nature through strong statement pieces.

Micalla jewelry designer Camilla Jorgensen shows one of the pieces from her spring 2010 collection

Images courtesy of Micalla.

Barbie by David Dixon

What’s not to love? This fun collection of mix-and-match pieces is Barbie at her best: black-and-white prints, hot pink skinny belts, and fun trenches to skip your way into spring. The collection’s adorable footwear (available at Town Shoes) corresponds nicely with the flirty and whimsical collection that any real-life doll would adore. Tasteful but fun party dresses are a crowd favourite. Another brilliant Barbie-inspired collection by David Dixon that leaves us wanting more.

Images courtesy of Peter Lytwyniuk/StudioLit.

Evan Biddell Spring 2010 Collection Video:

Evan Biddell’s technologically-thoughtful collection for spring 2010 delivered the ultimate this week in Toronto: the element of surprise.

Revealing an exciting collection of accessories partnering fashion week sponsor LG and accessories designer Rita Tesolin, Evan Biddell fused together futuristic design in fabric and hardware. On the runway, textures of liquid metal juxtaposed over-sized tent shapes in solid colours and light sandy jerseys trimmed with bright orange. Big is in: harem pants and enormous proportions on sleeves and hems.

Best in show: accessories integrating LG’s newest Chocolate telephone unveiled moments before Evan Biddell’s runway show. Jeweled with dark crystals and seamlessly mounted on clutches, necklaces, and cuff bracelets, the mobile phones’ display spun twin digital logos of Evan Biddell’s stylized “EB”, making them look like glowing robot eyes.

This “Unnatural Disaster” collection took us to a far-away land of sand dunes and technologically-enhanced reality. But we’re already there- this new world is here, now. It’s called planet EB+LG.

So where are we going? Evan Biddell asks: will Earth survive the trip?

Evan Biddell Spring 2010. Image courtesy of Peter Lytwyniuk/StudioLit

All images courtesy of Peter Lytwyniuk/StudioLit.

FIM Video: Spring 2010 Collections by Attitude. Only at Sears, Pink Tartan, and Joe Fresh Style.

LG Fashion Week Day 3: Runway rundown of today’s spring 2010 presentations:

Reva Mivasagar

A beautiful collection that was inspiring, beautifully coloured, and absolutely wearable. Like a fantastic cookbook that takes a single ingredient and whisks it into a series of marvelous reinventions, Reva Mivasagar’s concoctions in silk showed us constructed looks with kimono-inspired wrap blouses paired with flowing printed-silk chiffon skirts. The collections’ many colours and themes ranging from Art Deco (beautifully re-interpreted as a glitzy flapper dress) to North American native art left us wondering if there’s anything that this skilled designer can’t do. We can’t wait to see more from this exciting new perspective on the Toronto fashion scene.

LOVAS Wesley Badanjak

Wesley Badanjak’s cheerful collection oozed with old world charm hailing all the way from the designer’s roots in Croatia. The collection of separates and pretty dresses featured over-sized prints on layers of chiffon, bold plaid checks on blouses and skirts, and neutrals paired with bold colours.

Katrina Tuttle

After a hot start at Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week for fall 09, Halifax-based Katrina Tuttle debuted at LG Fashion Week with an exciting collection for spring 2010.  We might call this collection “Print Love” after Tuttle’s show of flirty and colourful looks. Best in show: fun appliqued dresses with silks in deep jewel tones.

Attitude. Only at Sears

Attitude. Only at Sears made a strong fashion statement on the runway with a youthful and well-tailored collection of strong looks for wide range of Canadian women looking for the ultimate fashion score: style at an affordable price. The collection is priced between $24.99 – $99 and will attract serious street cred for its sharp tailoring in blazers with fanciful detailing like a cut-out back slit.

Pink Tartan

Hello, shoulders! Pink Tartan by Kim Newport-Mimran offered a throw-back to our ’80s love affair with shoulder pads and emphasized the upper body with the shoulders in mind as the key feature. Structured trenches trimmed with glossy round metal buttons revealed sequined mini dresses. The collection’s feminine looks were nearly all balanced by strong dark brown leather working belts.

Joe Fresh Style

This collection for spring by Joseph Mimran played with neutrals and offered slim pants, see-through blouses trimmed with solid tone-on-tone tape-like cotton, and fun check pants and simple sheer cardis for the men. The accessories and intimate apparel stole the show with lovely gathered bras ($16), over-sized straw hats ($12), nude-shaded body shapers ($14) and too cool retro eyewear ($19). Best in show: soft and full pleated skirts paired with organza sleeveless shirts covered with large flat rosettes.

More from the runway at LG Fashion Week coming up this week- Evan Biddell, Lucian Matis, Nada, Rudsak, and more fab Canadian design.

Special thanks to Peter Lytwyniuk at StudioLit for the runway images.