Modelling for/Review of SexyPlus Clothing Toronto

Hey Guys!

Last weekend, I got to go and hang out with Stefanie from SexyPlus Clothing on Yonge Street in Toronto. Stefanie invited me to do some modelling for her, and I shyly, yet happily, agreed. I was supposed to do some runway modelling for her back in early December, but the event ended up being cancelled, so I was glad I finally got the opportunity to work with her! The shoot was a lot of fun, and I got to try on about 5-6 different outfits. Stefanie also wanted me to do a review of one of her pieces, so I'll show you some of the outfits I modelled and the dress I ended up picking out for my review.

The store itself is really lovely. It has a very warm, inviting atmosphere, which partially has to do with the layout and design of the store, but mostly is because of the lovely service provided by Stefanie and one of her shop associates who was there, Michaela. While I was modelling and changing outfits, I got to see them both work with a number of customers, and they each made the women who entered the store feel immediately at ease, which is so important, especially in a store dedicated to dressing plus size women, who can often have trouble with self-esteem and confidence (not that this is exclusive to plus size women, but it's certainly a pervasive issue in the community). A couple of beautiful women came in and tried on corsets. They sheepishly allowed themselves to be assisted by Stefanie and Michaela, but by the time they were finished being laced-up, their faces resembled a renewed, or perhaps newly-found, confidence that they didn't seem to have when entering. It just goes to show how important clothes are in terms of affecting one's own self-perception. These women, first ill at ease, were now proudly walking out of the changeroom into the store, where several people could admire both their beauty and their new confidence. What an inspiring scene!

The actual changerooms themselves are very comfortable. There is a hook for your purse (it's actually labelled) a hook for your coat (again, labelled) and a long closet style bar where you can hang all your garments up comfortably without having to worry about things getting all tangled together or falling off. The changeroom is large enough for a plus size person to very comfortably dress and undress, and there is (what I like to call) a husband chair just outside with a big ol' pile of manly magazines (with stuff about cars, and motorcycles, and pumping iron, etc... lol). They also have girl magazines in case you bring a straight size friend with you for their opinion. Sometimes I find change rooms are way too hot. Stores use the hottest type of lightbulb available, and by the time you're on outfit 3 or 4, you're sweating up a storm and you're ready to go home. I found the temperature in Stef's store (and her dressing rooms particularly) to be just perfect. I was totally comfortable the whole time. Stefanie has set the store up in such a way that you can be sure you will have a comfortable, relaxing, enjoyable, and successful shopping trip.

Now to the actual looks Stef chose for me to model!

The perfect outfit for a tropical getaway...

Love this dress...!

This was my favourite dress of the day, a stunning a luxurious Joseph Ribkoff number. It would be perfect for FFFWeek!

Left to Right: Myself, Stefanie, and Michaela

Another beautiful Ribkoff piece...

And from behind...

Stef cracking me up during the shoot...

And look how cute my Peter looks!!! So handsome. <3 Love that jacket on him!

After awhile of modelling, I got to pick out my piece that I was going to review. I chose this beautiful, full skirted, faux-double breasted dress by Chic Star. The quality of the fabric is really beautiful, and the workmanship is excellent too. The design is stunning. The dress is remniscent of the Ribkoff one I love so much, but it's a bit more casual, which means I can be sure I'll get more wear out of it. It's a lovely dress that's very comfortable and that I know I will wear again and again. What do you ladies think? =D

Dress - Chic Star Design, courtesy of SexyPlus Clothing/Turban - Domino Dollhouse/Gloves - Urban Behaviour/Belt - Forever 21+/Shoes - CBX

Styling MTV's Sheena Snively!

Hey Guys!

So I mentioned before that I was given an amazing opportunity to style MTV host Sheena Snively at the beginning of the month. I have been anxiously waiting for the editing to be done and the video to be posted, and it's UP!!! I wanted to make sure I gave you guys the inside scoop, a sort of behind-the-scenes look at the styling I did and my experiences, so that's what this post will be about.

Sheena was an absolute dream to work with, and I think I can actually call her a friend after getting to style her! She is so warm and open and sweet, and I was REALLY excited to get to meet her, but she seemed excited to meet me too, which was so weird for me because, like, she's the celebrity, ya know? But she did seem really happy to see me, and I was super flattered about that. I studied Sheena's fashion on her facebook fan page and in her videos to get a sense of her style before pulling samples for her. It's SO important for the person you're dressing not to feel as though you're dressing them in someone else's style. They need to feel like themselves, just the best possible version of what that is. I made sure I was careful with all of the selections I made for Sheena, and I really think that she was pleased with everything I picked out for her. She especially liked the DKNY pink moto jacket from Lane Bryant, and the ruched back boots from Torrid. She was also so excited to learn about a less-known brand called Domino Dollhouse that offers fashions that are really consistent with her youthful, edgy style, and she loved the Dahlia Pencil dress, Pretty Kitty cardigan, Miss Fancy Top, and Bowie Metallic Leggings in Red that they sent.

All of the samples I pulled from the different retailers had been sent directly to MTV, and I was so eager to see all of the items in person so I could get a better sense of the garments. Sheena had waited for me (very patiently, I might add) before she even tried anything on, but I am pretty sure that the wait was killing her, as she was super excited to finally get to put on the clothes. She looked absolutely fantastic in all of it!

When I got there, I put several outfits together out of all the lovely pieces that had been sent, and we got to filming. I got to be a bit silly on camera with Sheena, which was awesome, and I don't think she was expecting that at all, lol. We had a total blast working on the video, and afterwards, Sheena gave me and Peter (who was there snapping LOADS of photos) a tour of the MTV Building, which used to be a Masonic Temple, and thus, is very creepy. It was lots of fun to have her give us the grand tour! Without further ado, here are a few photos of the shoot, Sheena looking absolutely fantastic in her new clothes, the MTV FORA video, and links to all the lovely stuff Sheena's wearing. I'd love to hear your comments! =D

Checking out all the stuff that was sent to Sheena when I first arrived...

Chatting with Sheena and Leeor, editor of MTV FORA (right) about all the pieces!

The first outfit pull. A red leopard blazer from Addition Elle and a black leatherette panel dress also from Addition Elle.

Putting some bangles from Torrid on Sheena... She was really excited about the bangles!

Sheena and I chatting about how hard it is to find bangles that fit at accessory stores, and how you try to fit your hand in ones that are too small anyways... LOL.

Outfit 1 - Blazer and Dress - Addition Elle/Bangles and Shoes - Torrid

Outfit 2 - Ruffle Shrug and Oxford Shoes - Torrid/Miss Fancy (Pink) Top - Domino Dollhouse/T3 Jeans - Lane Bryant

Outfit 3 - Striped Sweater, Tripp NYC Skinny Pants, Leatherette Boots, and Leopard Bangle Set - Torrid

Outfit 4 (which Sheena doesn't look at all excited  about, lol) - Pink Moto Jacket - DKNY for Lane Bryant/Shoes - Lane Bryant/Leopard Bangle Set, Black and White Lip Service Skirt, Belt, Cami - Torrid

We're getting excited about how awesome these red metallic tights from Domino Dollhouse are...

Outfit 5 - Blazer and Top - Torrid/Leggings - Domino Dollhouse/Shoes - Lane Bryant

Sheena's interviewing me about my blog here... This part didn't make it on the cutting room floor :(

Peter took a shot of me in between outfit changes =D

Sheena looking adorable in Domino Dollhouse's Pretty Kitty Cardigan.

And here in Domino Dollhouse's Dahlia Pencil Dress.

A final shot of all of the fine ladies who worked together to make this happen!

And just me and Sheena... LOVE this shot! =D

And that's a wrap! It was SUCH an awesome experience to style Sheena, and I really hope I am invited back to do it again! You should definitely check out the MTV FORA video (below) and see the antics we got up to. Pretty hilarious! =D

Six Take: A Tale of Six Cities (Toronto)

Hey everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post! I've been working on this epic six-take featuring city-inspired style. Since I am from Toronto, and it's such a diverse city (both in population and in terms of its architecture and things to do, I couldn't just take pictures of one place and outfit, so I took inspiration from a number of different locations across Toronto. I've been putting together the outfits and shooting them for over a week! I hope you like it!

Toronto is situated on Lake Ontario, one of the 5 great lakes. The lake is a big part of Toronto culture and recreation, with residents and visitors flocking towards it on hot days. There are loads of beautiful yachts docked along the shore, as boating is a favourite pass-time of Torontonians. I interpreted Toronto's love of the lake with this nautical look.

Hat, Purse, Earrings, Necklace, and some of the Bracelets - Thrifted/Shoes - Penneys (Ireland)/Skirt and Camisole- Ricki's/Tunic - Forever 21+

Another really amazing part of the city is Kensington Market. It's crazy colourful community with lots to see and do. Since it is a market community, there are loads of vendors selling everything from fresh fruit to linens, meat and fish, chocolate, baked goods, and clothing. It is a very socially conscious neighbourhood, so you find a lot of vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, organic, and fair trade options there. There is a street in the community that consists mostly of eco-friendly fashions (more organic and fair trade, and of course, vintage), and I absolutely love getting lost in it on a Sunday afternoon. I interpreted this neighbourhood in my outfit as sort of nouveau-hippie/bohemian chic. 

This car is a project called the "Community Car Reclamation Project." It's an old car that has been totally gutted and has been reclaimed as a street garden. It's permanently "parked" in a municipal parking spot, but the city would never dare to try to remove it because of its significance to the community (not to mention the logistical difficulties of such an undertaking).

Earrings, Purse, and Skirt - Thrifted/Necklace - Dollarama/Top - Dots/Scarf - Costa Blanca/Shoes - Target/Sunglasses - gifted from Kmart/Hat - Domino Dollhouse

Another important part of Toronto that I wanted to highlight (probably because I am there so much) is the University of Toronto. It's my Alma Mater, so I couldn't resist! Many of the buildings on campus have been around since the 1800s, and it's one of the best preserved parts of early Toronto as there were a couple of massive fires around the turn of the century here. It's a beautiful place for a walk, especially on a hot day, since there are loads of shady trees to sit under. These pictures were taken in front of Hart House, which functions sort of like a student centre for U of T students. I interpreted U of T style as sort of preppy - the summer scholar...

Jacket - Thrifted/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Purse - a gift from my Dad (tag says Esprit)/Shorts - Dots/Camisole - Forever 21+/Bracelet - Dollarama/Necklace - Gifted from Charming Charlie

St. Lawrence Market is another really fun part of Toronto. The building that houses the market used to be Toronto's city hall (way back when Toronto was still called York). It also functioned as a jail for much of the late 1800s. Today, it is where Torontonians go to get their produce at the Saturday farmer's market and all of their spices, seasonings, meat and fish during the week. On Sundays, it even hosts antique vendors. I interpreted this Toronto site by wearing a fruit themed outfit. I kind of feel like I'm channelling Carmen Miranda a bit here!

Scarf and Clutch - Thrifted/Shorts - Dots/Top - Forever 21/Shoes - Target/Sunglasses - ASOS/Earrings - Etsy store called Bonjour Button

And the last area of Toronto of which I did a style interpretation is the Distillery District. The buildings in this district are some of the best-preserved examples of Victorian-era industrial architecture in the world, and as a result, have been the backdrop for quite a few films set in this era, including Cinderella Man and Chicago. The plant in this area was owned by William Gooderham and James Worts and produced rye-whiskey. In the 1920s, after the decline of the (short lived here in Canada) prohibition, the company was purchased by Harry C. Hatch and was renamed Hiram Walker (who still make Canadian Club). The rye-whiskey was produced at this site until 1990, after which it was converted into "the distillery district" which is now home to loads of trendy restaurants and boutiques, a excellent theatre, and functions as the backdrop to many important art exhibits (including Nuit Blanche). I interpreted this area of Toronto into my style by trying to emulate the style of the roaring twenties, just after the distillery was purchased by Harry Hatch and prohibition had ended.

Dress - Penningtons - Shoes - Redress NYC via Target/Purse - Gifted from Jessica at Chic in Every City (she's awesome) by Simply Be/Hat - Thrifted/Necklace - Garage Sale

So, lovelies, what do you think of my city and my style?

Make sure to visit all the other wonderful bloggers participating in this take of six cities!

Jessica - Too Many Sequins - Australia

Sarah - Queen Sized Flava - Montreal, Canada

Rikke - Sticky Sweet Danish - Copenhagen, Denmark

Yoli - Diva in Deep Thought - Baltimore, USA

Jessica - Chic in Every City - Philadelphia, USA