It’s a common maxim that a girl can never have too many little black dresses. With all the errands that get added to your list at this time of year, it can be hard to get to the dry cleaner in time to ensure that last night’s eggnog spill is done away with in time for the next bacchanal. The great thing about this LBD from Roxy ($32, offthewallclothing.com), besides the price, is that it’s made from a very washable cotton twill, so no third party involvement is required.
FASHION Diaries
All posts under ‘Dresses’
Daily Steal
The daily steal: Little black dress, $32
Fashion » Parties and Celebrities
Frocktail hosts competitive shopping for a good cause
The first annual Frocktail Party combined cocktails and competitive shopping, with all proceeds going to fund juvenile diabetes research. Held in Toronto this past Thursday, the sold-out event saw women showing up to bid on more than 80 pre-loved dresses and accessories, and men following in their wake to see the Shark Week behavior of the bidding babes.
While tastes varied, all Frocktailees agreed that with 100 per cent of the nights profits going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation—the night was organized by a group of young ladies who had seen their friend Vanessa Oliver deal with the daily realities of living with juvenile diabetes—there was no guilt involved in splurging. See photos from the party after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Daily Steal
The daily steal: Satin tunic, $20

Photography by Katie Ennis
Since the compliments keep rolling in, I have to tell you about the three-stripe satin tunic (shown, $20), and cropped bouclé jacket ($25) by George at Walmart (walmart.ca). The tunic is the epitome of high/low fashion when paired with tights and Michael Kors’ OTK Bromley boot. Who knew developing film at Walmart’s photo shop could be this fruitful?
Fashion
MTV’s Jessi Cruickshank wants you to shop her closet
Jessi Cruickshank is selling off the contents of her closet for This Is My Dress (mtv.ca/mydress), an auction the After Show co-host hopes will raise $8,500 to build a school in Kenya for the youth-helping-youth organization Free The Children (freethechildren.com). Bidding starts today on a cache of dresses that includes pieces from Canadian designers, a few international heavy-hitters and some sweet vintage finds. (There are even frocks from the wardrobes of Hills cast members.)
After the jump, we check out some of the dresses and chat with Cruickshank about living in a mud hut, Lauren Conrad’s contribution and what she wore when Brody Jenner sat in her lap.
Fashion » At the shows
Toronto: Katrina Tuttle Spring 2010

KATRINA TUTTLE Spring 2010. Photography by Angela Y. Martin
Not unlike fellow designer Jason Meyers, Halifax’s Katrina Tuttle designs clothes for parties, though Tuttle’s are of the garden, not nightclub, variety. And many of her spring frocks were garden variety indeed. Similar one-shouldered shifts marched out in textured white, pink satin with a tone-on-tone circle motif, a black and white paintbrush print. Better was Tuttle’s fun take on handkerchiefs. Fabric was buttoned and folded into bubble skirts gray and white, up the front of a translucent pale gray dress or into a strapless frock in three shades of aqua. (The idea was less successful creeping over the shoulders of jackets and yet more dresses.) A few standalone items of note were a strapless maxi in an oversized flower print, a bubble dress done in bright white jersey with floral burnouts and the final looks: two embellished, effusive pieces that seem to best display the kind of party Tuttle wants to attend.
See a gallery of the show after the jump.
Fashion » At the shows » Fashion
Accessories designer Jessica Jensen makes a foray into dresses
Handbag designer Jessica Jensen held her Spring 2010 preview on Friday night at the Thrush Holmes Empire gallery on Toronto’s Queen St. West. Jensen displayed the collection alongside works by her artist husband, Joshua Jensen-Nagle and both explored the same theme: the calm after the storm.
Jensen’s collection of simply-shaped totes, clutches and satchels was crafted from basket-woven leather and wave-like panels in soft greys, seafoam, purples, citrus green and blush. Read the rest of this entry »
FASHION Reporters
Montreal: Fall dressing with a bit of Lustre

Dresses from Lustre's Fall 2009 collection
I stumbled upon the cutest boutique ever on my way to a vegan treat at Aux Vivres (you have to try it!) last week. Lustre (4429 St-Laurent Blvd., 514-288-7661, lustreboutique.blogspot.com) has the charm of a high school crush and the look of a modern hip girl. As with many other stores I’ve mentioned in this blog, the owner, Yasmine Wasfy, is also the designer of the boutique’s eponymous house label. Read the rest of this entry »
FASHION Reporters
Toronto: A decadent stop for vintage
With an impressive vault of fine vintage couture, Divine Decadence Originals (128 Cumberland St., 416-324-9759) is a frequent destination for stylists, designers and celebrities from around the globe–the shop has counted Marisa Tomei, Milla Jovovich and Zac Posen among its visitors. Read the rest of this entry »
Fashion » The Styled West
Dare to wear Lily + Jae
Like most female Vancouverites, I struggle with seasonal transitions in the wardrobe department–especially the change from spring to summer. After searching for sensible investments during the recession (do I really need those BCBG stilettos?), I found a clothing line to quench my thirst for practicality, versatility and fun–Lily + Jae (lilyandjae.com). Read the rest of this entry »
Fashion
Sale alert: Ewanika dress event
Every time we walk down College Street we make a point to gaze longingly into the window of Ewanika (490 College St., Toronto, 416-927-9699, ewanika.ca), designer Trish Ewanika’s minimalist shop. Her pieces are always beautifully made and modern, with classic shapes and neutral tones that will last you forever.
Tomorrow, the shop is holding a dress event from 12 to 7. They’re taking 15 per cent off of any dress in the store and you’ll get a a special Ewanika shopping tote with every purchase. Read the rest of this entry »



















