Toni + Spring Media Preview

Hey Guys,

About a week ago, I was invited to attend a Spring preview event for Canadian plus size retailer Toni +. With locations in Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton, Toni + caters to the plus size woman looking for more high-end, designer items, and with labels such as Not Your Daughter's Jeans, David Meister, Donna Ricco, Lafayette 148 New York, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Marina Rinaldi, SULU and Yoek, they are doing a great job. I got to meet with Toni Tiraborelli, the owner and founder of Toni +, as well as Albert La Penna, Toni's right hand man and the company's VP.

The event was held in the morning at the Toni + store located in The Bay Queen Street on the fourth floor, and I was the first to arrive, so I got extra time with Toni to chat about all of the Spring fashions coming in and just to talk shop in general. I suggested the she start carrying the Greek brand MAT Fashion, which I totally love. She said she was going on a buying trip very soon and she would look into it, and I really hope it happens because I love MAT Fashion! We also talked a bit about her beginning to carry more youthful items in her stores, and how the younger generation is now emerging and growing in the workforce, and need high-quality and fashionable career and business casual wear. Her new in-house brand, Toni T, is meant to serve as a sort of cornerstone to this initiative.

We were treated to a lovely breakfast complete with pastries, fruit, and coffee, and got to see much of the Spring collection modelled. I also got to meet some fantastic people from all sorts of other Toronto media outlets. It was a great event, and I was very pleased to meet the faces behind the Toni + brand.

The models show us the first outfits.

Toni, Centre, chats with Melissa (left) and Karyn (right) from Killer Kurves, about plus size fashion

Lynn Spence from Cityline Toronto chats with and photographs one of the models in preparation for her segment on plus size style on Friday. Make sure you tune in!

And a couple of pictures of what I had on... Shirt - Evans via The Bay Square One, Skirt - LeatherCult.com, Tights and Bracelets - Forever 21+, Boots - Dots, Purse - Dots, Neckace - Laura, Earrings - Vintage Alfred Sung.

Also, make sure you check out CityLine this Friday, January 27th, and  you can watch a vido of Toni + being featured on Breakfast Television here.

Happy Shopping Ladies!

Outfit of the Day: Suede, Leather, and Silk

Hey Guys,

It's been a long time since my last post - sorry! The holidays have been so hectic (but GREAT) and my 5 year old laptop finally decided to give up the ghost, and would no longer hold or accept a charge, so I've been without a computer for a while (gah!). I've got it all figured out now, as I picked up a new one for a great bargain on Boxing Day. I couldn't really afford it, but I had no choice since I need a computer for school... At least the timing (near Boxing Day) was fortuitous. So blogging will be a bit easier for me now as well, which is great. It used to take me a couple of hours or more to do a post, but I am breezing through photo-editing and text composition on this new machine, so I'm pretty happy. =D

Now besides my technical troubles, I had a really lovely holiday and I will have many outfits to show you in the coming week (look out for dresses from Lucie Lu and Eshakti that I wore to recent functions soon). Before Christmas, I saw the most lux leather skirt on Fran from Frantic Dreams, and I just had to have one. I immediately put it on my Christmas wish list, and Santa was very good and put it under my tree!
I chose a different style and colour than Fran, and I truly adore both her skirt and mine. Being plus size, it's sometimes really hard to find anything other than "leatherette" (which is just a fancy word for pleather, people! Retailers be warned - you're not fooling anyone!). Leatherette is fine most of the time, I suppose, and more animal-friendly, but sometimes I would like the option of being able to buy real leather if I want it, just like my more-slender counter-parts, and not be charged a premium price simply because I am being offered the privilege of a non-synthetic in a plus size item. It's the same with polyester. You all know what I'm talking about!

The company that my skirt comes from is called Leather Cult, and they do custom leather work. You send them your measurements, and they make the item to your specifications. They have jackets, skirts, pants, shorts, etc. I have a 13" difference between my waist and my hips, so this is amazing for me. It sounds expensive though, right? Nope. Even with the customizations, and all the leather used to make my skirt, it cost less than $100! I am really in love with this skirt, if you can't already tell. There are a few other items on the website that I am coveting. Including, but not limited to, leather skinny pants. *drool*

So without further ado, here are my outfit of the day pictures. I can't wait to play around with this skirt some more and put it in a few more different outfits!

Red Suede Jacket, Purse, Scarf - Thrifted/Camisole - Forever 21+/Necklace - Laura/Boots - Dots/Skirt - Leather Cult