Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Channelling Michael Jackson...

Hello Amazing ANTM Fans!

Today’s recap of the latest ANTM All Star episode brings a load of star power, glitter power and girl power!  The girls are told that the first challenge of the day involves being on a carousel and jumping off the moving platform onto a runway modelling the Kardashian Kollection.



The Kardashian sisters and Miss J

Khloe, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian arrive on set and tell the girls that the winner will receive a complimentary outfit.  The models are all thrilled to be meeting the Kardashians and all of them talk about how much they love the clothes. 

Lisa strutting down the runway

Bre balancing on the carousel

The girls all try to look graceful and stay standing while tripping over their heels and leaping onto the runway, but it is Bre and Lisa who come out on top and tie for the win.

There is tension in the house among Bre and the other girls, particularly Shannon and Lisa.  Bre seems to rub everyone the wrong way and they have a hard time getting along.  Bianca does her best to defend Bre and lets her know that the girls in the house are all ganging up on her and wanting her to be out of the competition.  Bre says that she will not be persuaded to bow out just because the girls want her to and vows to tough it out and fight to the finish.

The next day’s challenge allows the models to channel Michael Jackson by working with his former stylist to emulate certain eras throughout his career.  The girls are thrilled to be wearing his clothes and do their best to imitate Michael’s moves and energy.  Mr. Jay brings in LaToya Jackson to surprise the contestants and offers up her advice and guidance as each girl poses. 

LaToya and Mr. Jay giving advice

For the first time in ANTM history, LaToya is given the power to declare the winner of the shoot and to pick the girl that goes home. 



Laura

The winner of this challenge is announced as Laura, with Shannon and Dominique following in a close second and third. 

Shannon

Lisa and Angelea are announced as the bottom two. 

Lisa

Lisa is called out for always striking the same pose, while Angelea is called as being inconsistent from week to week.  LaToya says that all the girls gave their love, expression and passion to the photo shoot and in honour of her brother’s loving nature, she chose to send no one home.  Angelea and Lisa are ecstatic to hear the news and hug LaToya in thanks and appreciation. 

As we moonwalk into this week’s episode, I am so excited to see Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha making an appearance!  Looks like a fierce shoot!  Let’s see who survives this week’s cut!

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J 

Coveting The Coveterie...

Hello Lovely Fashionistas!

When I first walked down the alley towards The Coveterie, I wasn’t sure I was in the right place.  It is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Yorkville and had I not been given strict instructions to walk to the back of the building, I would have surely missed it altogether.  As I climbed the stairs I saw a black door with ‘The Coveterie’ painted in small lettering and I suddenly felt very privileged to be let into the best kept style secret in town.

I was warmly greeted by Natasha Geddes, who is fondly referred to as a retail veteran and brings with her 15 years in the fashion industry. 



Natasha Geddes



A graduate of the Fashion Marketing and Merchandising program at Toronto’s International Academy of Art and Design, Natasha knew at an early age that she was interested in all things fashion.  Natasha worked her way up in the ranks and at the age of 24, she was hired as an Assistant Buyer in Designer Sportswear at respected retailer Holt Renfrew.  She finished out her time at Holts as a Buyer of Designer Footwear and then as a Buyer for Leather Goods, before leaving the company to create the Coveterie in 2011.

Designs by GRETA CONSTANTINE

In meeting Natasha, you can sense immediately that she has a keen sense of upcoming trends, what the public want in a designer and how to appropriately market the brands she represents in her showroom. The Coveterie is a cozy space that gives buyers and media the chance to see the cutting edge of fashion in an intimate environment.  What makes her showroom different is Natasha’s personal attention to detail, style and understanding of the collections she chooses to highlight.  She not only knows the collections inside and out, but also develops personal long standing relationships with her designers and invests heavily in helping them to gain well deserved recognition for their brands. 

Designs by Ka'Kia

Natasha stocks her showroom seasonally to coincide with the Fall and Spring buying periods and makes sure that she is constantly filling her space with pieces that she would wear and can see the public wearing.  Featuring Canadian and international designers, Natasha takes time to carefully select who she works with and currently carries designers like Greta Constantine, Ka’Kia, Oh Dina! and Rachel F.  A vast majority of the clothing she features are ready to wear and she also showcases accessories, purses and sunglasses.

Accessories by Oh Dina!

Although not for the general public, The Coveterie serves as a crucial link between the designers, the buyers and eventually, the consumer. 

Designs By Rachel F.

Keep an eye out for any of the brands Natasha supports in a boutique near you.  Chances are it is her expert style and sales  savvy that has helped to bring that coveted piece right into your fashionista closet!  Check it out at http://thecoveterie.com

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

Styling Into Fashion!

Hello Darlings,

I am always amazed at the terrific people I have met so far on this ANTM Live journey.  I can say with absolute certainty that these past few months working on this show has been the experience of a lifetime getting to speak with iconic designers, bloggers and profiling fantastic exhibitors.  Today’s feature interview is no different. 

Bryanna Brown

I recently sat down with Bryanna N. Brown http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bryanna-Brown-Styling/161929663839797, fashion stylist, writer, blogger and web series producer.  She spent some time with us to share how she got into the business, what her future goals are and how important it is to do what you love. 

Styled by Bryanna Brown

Bryanna started off studying political science at Western and while there decided that it would be fun to join a club on campus.  She instantly fell in love with a fashion club called ‘Style Society’ and started getting involved doing fashion shows and launching a magazine.  In her last year, she became the editor and then went into journalism school at Humber.  Upon graduation she interned with Fashion Television, FLARE magazine and assisted with photo shoots and styling.  It was then that she broke out on her own and is now freelance styling. 

Styled by Bryanna

Bryanna then felt that she really wanted to differentiate herself from other stylists and started her own web series called ‘Je Suis TV’  http://jesuistv.tumblr.com. ‘Je Suis TV’ features great interviews with designers like Chloé Comme Parris, and gains behind the scenes access to high fashion photo shoots and exclusives from the hottest people in the industry.  One of her most popular features consists of brief videos showing fashionable Torontonians she runs into on the street.  Bryanna currently has over 1000 people a week accessing her series through Facebook, Tumbler and VIMEO.  For a small start-up series that just began in March, Bryanna is quickly gaining attention and establishing her reputation as an innovative presence in a very crowded social media scene. 

Styled by Bryanna

Bryanna is creative, fun and down to earth and knows the value of establishing sound relationships. She has formed an amazing partnership with The Fashion Collective http://thefashioncollective.ca, for whom she does regular video postings that feature their respected designers.  She will also be talking to Toronto Tastemakers and asking them why local fashion films are so important.  A true jack of all trades, Bryanna has made a name for herself as a fashion correspondent on CP 24, been featured on Much Music’s #Trending and has styled for magazines like Plaid, Gloss, PaperCut and Toronto Life. 

Styled by Bryanna

In the future, she sees herself continuing to work in web media and bringing even more attention to her brand.  I, for one, can’t wait to see how she continues to blog, film and style her way to success!

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

A visit to the hospital, the morgue and the elimination room...

Good day faithful readers!

Another day, another fantastic recap of the latest episode of ANTM All Stars! Angelea starts us off talking about how scared she was being in bottom two.  She promises herself that she will work harder to keep going in the competition.

We see the girls drinking and having a good time and Lisa talks about how during Cycle 5, she was highlighted as being a big drinker and a party animal.  She recounts how she went to celebrity rehab and now makes a lifestyle choice not to consume alcohol so she can keep her eye on the prize and a firm grip on reality.

The girls receive mail from their families and they all find it a great encouragement at this stage in the game.  Kayla talks about feeling very uneasy that Isis went home.  She starts feeling sick, takes some headache medicine and feels her heart start to race.  She becomes increasingly sick and the girls try to take care of her, but she starts to vomit and is immediately taken to the hospital.  Everyone is very scared for her and the girls are terrified as they wait for news about Kayla and how she is doing.  Everyone is nervous and hopes that she returns to the competition.  Kayla arrives back in the house at 2AM and everyone is thrilled to see her.  Kayla tells everyone that she had cardiac arrhythmia and says it could be due to consuming too much caffeine or stress.  She says she is glad to be okay and back in the house.

The next day the girls pull into a sound stage and Mr. Jay tells them they will be auditioning for a role on CSI - Crime Scene Investigation.  Bianca says she feels like she can do everything and that none of the other models have acting chops.  The girls receive a tour of the set and Mr. Jay stops in the autopsy room and introduces Anthony Zuiker, the executive producer.  Anthony pops up from one of the autopsy tables and the girls scream in fright.  He tells them the winner of the challenge will air in a fall episode of CSI.  The girls have 30 minutes to learn their lines and audition.  Kayla says the lines are complicated with medical terms and that some of them are ‘longer than her face’!  She knows that even though she is just getting over not feeling well, she can’t let that stand in the way of her doing well in this challenge.  The girls ask if someone will help them pronounce some of the terms and Anthony teaches them how to say ‘Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer’.  Mr. Jay rushes him off so he can’t offer the girls anymore tidbits.  The girls madly study the lines and some of them feel more comfortable than others.  The girls start to audition and most of them are all nervous and generally terrible!  The medical terms trip them all up and it is not looking good for anyone so far.  Angelea comes in and kills it.  She manages to spew out all the medical terms and performs very smoothly.  Bre also does relatively well despite her nervousness.  Lisa finishes out the round and messes up the lines, forgetting what she is supposed to say.  Mr Jay expresses disappointment in Lisa as he expected her to do well.

Bre during the CSI acting challenge

Mr. Jay announces that Bre and Angelea had great auditions.  Anthony names Bre as the winner of the challenge and you can see that Angelea is crestfallen to lose. 

The next day Tyra mail comes and says that ‘when you’re a star you have to express yourself’.  Everyone is excited and expects to do a photo shoot for Express clothing.  The client is Lisa Gavales, the Chief Marketing Officer of Express, a sexy and sophisticated brand for women and men.  Mr. Jay said that each model will be playing a role: the girlfriend, the flirt, the socialite and the cool chick.  Three gorgeous male models are brought in to help the girls in the shoot to exemplify their personas. 



Angelea

Angelea is representing a socialite and poses with all three guys.  She does really well and makes a great impression.  Kayla is still not feeling well and is trying perform, but is having a tough time.  Bianca comes across as too artificial and Mr. Jay pulls her aside and asks why it isn’t going well.  Bianca says that of all the girls, she is the only ‘real model’.  The other contestants are not pleased with her over confidence.  Alexandria comes across as ‘too old’ for the shoot and skews more of a 40+ audience in her portrayal of a socialite. 



Alexandria

Camille

Camille is concerned that being 33 years old is not the right representation for Express and worries that her photos did not turn out well. 

Lisa comes in and is supposed to portray a ‘cool chick’ and tries to strike interesting poses, but ends up coming across as very odd and tries too hard to impress.

Back in the house Camille continues feeling very insecure about her age and how the other girls have an advantage over her.  Kayla talks about how she is having challenges this round with her health concerns, but remains committed to performing well.   

At elimination Laura is again wearing a cute number made by her seamstress grandmother.  The judges love her picture and says she looks sweet and sexy.  Kayla does an amazing job despite feeling under the weather and she comes out looking fierce. 

Dominique

 Dominique does really well and truly stands out in her photo.  Bre’s photo doesn’t work well and looks too contrived.  Allison has a terrific photo again and has been strong week after week.  Camille’s photo does not translate well and it looks like she could be in danger.  Lisa’s photo ignites frustration among the judges and she blames her male co-stars being tired as the reason for the bad pic.  Angelea has a great shot and despite her egotistical attitude, she does well. 

The winner for this challenge is Angelea, who is thrilled to have come from the bottom to the top.  The runner-up for best photo goes to Dominique.  The bottom two are: Lisa and Camille.  Tyra explains that both girls are polar opposites, Lisa being out of control and Camille being in control.  She says that both girls made excuses for their lackluster photos.  Tyra tells Lisa that she is still in the running to become America’s Next Top Model All Star and Camille is sent home.  She talks about continuing to try to succeed in the industry and says that being eliminated is not the end for her.  She is proud of what she accomplished while on the show.

Can’t wait for the upcoming episodes when we see appearances by the Kardashians and La Toya Jackson, as well as fantastic cat fights and a captivating fight to the finish over the next few weeks!  Stay tuned and stay stylish!

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

Long Hair, No Hair and learning not to fill your cheeks full of bun!

Hello America’s Next Top Model Fans!

After a few weeks off, we are finally back in Top Model form and have a double dose of ANTM!  For those of you who don’t know, episodes 2 and 3 aired this past weekend on Saturday back to back.

I totally love the new intro for the show!  How fierce is the whole rock star video feel? This episode starts off with the girls talking about the amazing prizing for this cycle’s winner, including a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl, a guest correspondent role with ‘Extra’, a cover on Italian vogue, as well as a blog on Vogue IT. 

Isis is still basking in the glow from her previous win and she feels very confident that she will take the competition all the way. Alexandria reflects on how she was really upset that the fans didn’t seem to like her, but says that even though people don’t seem to take to her,  she has a lot of support from friends and family back home and feels that she is truly just a ‘misunderstood star’.  Sheena talks about how hard it is to be an Asian in the modelling industry and feels like she wants to make her mark and really represent her culture.  Tyra then walks into the apartment with Martin Lindstrom, a brand strategist who works with fortune 500 companies and also represents Tyra. Tyra tells the girls that Martin is a genius at what he does and even though he is harsh, he gets results.

Martin talks to all the girls about how they can stand out and stretch their 15 minutes of fame over a lifetime.  He tells them that they all could use help establishing their brand because he hasn’t seen any of them on the cover of a magazine or on a television show outside of Top Model.  He tells the girls they have asked fans what image they each portray and how these labels compart to how the girls brand themselves.  Each girl is given a different word that they embody based on fan feedback.

Laura is ‘daring’.

Sheena is ‘unexpected’

Kayla is ‘free’

Shannon is ‘trustworthy’

Dominique is a ‘survivor’

Allison is ‘unique’

Angelea is ‘persistence’

Bre is ‘girlfriend’

Camille is ‘proud’

Isis is ‘inspiration’

Laura is ‘lovable’

Alexandria is ‘tough’

Bianca is ‘candid’

The girls are told to think about everything they say and every action they take and how to exemplify their brand. 

The next day brings the girls to see Mr. Jay at Siren Studios in Hollywood.  Miss Jay then comes in and introduces singer Ashlee Simpson who talks about how each girl’s image and brand is so important to their success.  Mr. Jay says that the girls are going to receive Ty-Overs, a.k.a. Tyra Makeovers! 

Alexandria's new shorter do!

Bre's cropped cut

The most drastic makeovers are the girls who get their locks chopped off.  Alexandria looks fabulous with a new shaggy do and Lisa also looks fabulous with her shorter crop.  Only Bre is extremely dissatisfied with her very short cut and threatens to quit and leave the competition because she is so unhappy about the way she looks.  I actually think her hair looks really sleek and sophisticated with her asymmetrical cut.

                                                           

Mr. Jay walks in with lunch for the girls from the famous Pink’s Hot Dogs.  He explains that the photo shoot they’ll be doing will be a picture of each girl with their very own hot dog creation that represents their brand.  The winner will be featured on the Pink’s website and they will ‘model’ their ANTM dog! 

Laura puts everything on her hot dog including beans, chili, BBQ sauce and everything that would be on a cook out!  She performs really well with innovative and fun poses and starts things off with a bang.

Camille has a hard time making it look natural and suffers the ultimate insult when Mr. Jay brings Laura in to ‘show her how it’s done’.  Angelea impresses Mr. Jay and looks refined and beautiful and Bianca also does well in her shoot.  Sheena adds rose petals to her hot dog and tries to do something ‘unexpected’ like her brand, but has a hard time getting a good shot.  Alexandria looks amazing and cries in reaction to her new makeover.  She feels so happy with her new look and has an amazing session. Kayla has a hard time and Mr. Jay advises her to ‘try not to fill her cheeks full of bun’!  Lisa creates a hot dog with no bun and Mr. Jay loves the poses she strikes.

Lisa's winning shot

At elimination, Ashlee Simpson joins the judging panel.  The judges think that Bianca and Lisa did really well and that Kayla and Sheena performed the worst.  Before the winners and losers are announced, Tyra pulls out a razor and says that although she had initially encouraged Nigel to grow out his hair, it does not suit the ANTM brand and she immediately shaves off his hair!  I for one, am relieved…Nigel looks incredible without the added hair!

After Nigel’s quickie makeover, they announce Lisa as the winner and Bianca as the runner up.

Kayla

Sheena

Sheena and Kayla are then announced as the bottom two and Sheena gets sent home.  Sheena talks about how disappointed she is that she didn’t go further in the competition and how she didn’t have a chance to show her true star quality.  She says she is okay with being eliminated because she will always be remembered as an All Star.

Do You Have ‘Booty Tooch’? Episode 3 Recap

The girls open this episode talking about how two strong girls have gone home and everyone is a little nervous seeing great contenders go home so early. Lisa is thrilled to have won Best Photo but knows it is not safe for anyone.  Isis talks about how she is here to win.  Allison acknowledges that she is strange and quirky but knows that she is smart and has the energy to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Kristin Cavallari from ‘The Hills’ and ‘Laguna Beach’ drops in to see the girls at the mansion and shares her experiences being a reality t.v. star.  She talks about misperception and how no matter what they do, they will always have haters and it is key to remain true to themselves if they want to succeed.  Kristin talks about finding a great agent and publicist and how she is now producing a reality show and a shoe line.  She encourages all of girls to make smart choices and to decide what their brand will be. 

The girls later arrive at the Grove Mall and Nigel Barker informs them that they are to be interviewed by Mario Lopez from ‘Extra’.  Angelea is excited and talks about how beautiful Mario is!  The girls are split into two teams and the winning team automatically receives immunity from elimination. 

Mario interviews team one and Lisa first and although she answers her questions well, she interrupts other girls and constantly high-fives everyone during the interview.  Isis talks about the importance of educating the public about acceptance and her transition from male to female. 

Team two is up next and Bianca makes the mistake of saying she sometimes experiences ‘word vomit’ when trying to communicate her message.  Allison demonstrates an ease in front of camera and Camille talks about how she has a degree and if modelling doesn’t work out, she will continue to pursue a career in fashion.

Nigel informs everyone that team two comes out on top and Allison is the big winner of the ‘Extra’ interview challenge.

The next day the girls head into Siren Studios and see people on dancing on stilts.  Mr. Jay tells the girls that there will be teams of two and each team will consist of one girl from the winning team and one from the losing team.  Each pair will model on stilts and it is up to the girls to make an impression. 

Dominique and Allison

Most of the girls fall multiple times and try to pose in creative ways.  At elimination, only Dominique, Isis, Angelea, Lisa, Alexandria and Laura are at risk of going home.  Kristin Cavallari joins the judging panel.  Allison is announced as the winner and Tyra mentions that the effectiveness of her picture is in her ‘Booty Tooch’ – her ability to give her derriere more shape and attitude by arching her back in a sharper angle.

The bottom two are announced to be Isis and Angelea.  Tyra explains that neither girl took the worst photo, but because of the immunity challenge, they were now the bottom two.  Isis is sent home and says how she is shocked to be going home so early.  Isis says she will continue to make appearances, public speaking engagements and establish a presence in the entertainment industry.

I am sorry to see her go home.  Isis was one of my favourites and I definitely think she had a lot more to give.  Let’s see what drama and excitement next week brings!

                                                                                               

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

The Art of Fashion!!!!

Good Day Ravishing Readers!

Today I am pleased to share pictures and thoughts from the incredible Art of Fashion event http://artoffashion.org  that took place on October 1, 2011 at the Pantages Hotel during Nuit Blanche.  It was a wonderful evening celebrating Canadian design talent and proved to be a great night full of fun and fabulosity!

Art of Fashion strives to provide support, mentorship, guidance and exposure to 10 emerging designers in an innovative way.  Each year the designers bring their collections to life in an exhibit space and through a fashion show where they compete for 2 awards: Most Promising Designer, which is decided by an industry judging panel, and Best Exhibit, which is voted on by the public.

This year’s collections were presented by the following designers, Breeyn McCarney, Joobo Shim, Meghan Erin, Christy Litster, Rebecca Collins, Albert Yuen, Seema Patel, Katherine Laird & Jennifer Murtagh, Elissa Contino and Tiffany Briseno.

Congrats goes out to:

I had a wonderful time meeting some of the Art of Fashion judges and profiling them these past few weeks.  It was also a pleasure to meet the competitors and see their creativity in bringing the theme ‘Choreology’ to life.  The movement, textures and beauty of each designer’s installation was something to be admired and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for all of the entrants! 

Check out this great video from the Art of Fashion!  http://vimeo.com/30139286

ANTM Live Fashion Show Producer, Kendra Francis and her 'fashionista-to-be'!

Our new friend, David Dixon and Most Promising Designer Albert Yuen

America’s Next Top Model Live fashion show producer and AOF judge, Kendra Francis was very impressed by the designers she saw and will be featuring some of the winning designs on our ANTM Live Main Stage Fashion spectacular!  Make sure to come out next May 4 – 6 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and check out the Art of Fashion booth at our show! 

Congratulations to Michelle Planche and her entire team at the Art of Fashion, we are thrilled to be partnering with such an amazing event and look forward to a stylish year ahead! 

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

Captivating Kendra…

Good Day Fabulous Fashionistas!

Kendra Francis

Today’s interview is with Art of Fashion judge and ANTM Live Fashion Show Producer, Kendra Francis, designer of the label FRANKE www.iamfranke.com.  We are so excited to see the amazing show she will produce for America’s Next Top Model Live and can’t wait for you all to be dazzled by our Main Stage Fashion spectacular! 

When you first meet Kendra, you can’t help but be taken aback by her striking beauty and charisma.  She clearly loves what she does and is meant to continue to pave the way in the fashion industry.  As a former contestant on ‘Project Runway Canada’ Kendra made a name for herself among a sea of female designers and really brought attention to her streamlined designs and innovative use of fabrics.  This year Kendra celebrated the 10th Anniversary of her label and had notable celebrities model her clothing for a fashion shoot.

She is a true renaissance woman and while working on developing her fashion line, still makes time to create wedding dresses, stunning gowns and one-of-a-kind pieces for celebrity clients and everyday women.  Read on to get a glimpse into this stylish maven’s life.

When did you start becoming interested in fashion?

When I was about 13 years old I discovered fashion through my older cousin, she used to make little fashion drawings and it was then that I was drawn to the creation of clothes and have been obsessed ever since. I made my first dress at 13 from a Butterick pattern.

What has been your biggest influence in starting your own line?

When I created FRANKE I really wanted to create something that spoke to the woman I wanted to be at that time and it drove me to create collection after collection and as I evolve, the label evolves.  I enjoy being an entrepreneur and having the freedom of creation and creating beautiful pieces from a simple piece of fabric.

Why did you choose to become involved with the Art of Fashion?

I believe in anything that can help an up and coming designer is vital and I am glad to be a part of that process.  It's a long journey and it's important to mentor those coming after you and to share your knowledge and experience.  It's actually very rewarding.

What would be your advice to emerging designers?

Go into this career choice knowing that its 80% business and 20% Creativity and Fabulosity...it's a lot of work but don't let it discourage you.  Your mistakes will be your biggest rewards and follow through on your gut instincts.

What trends do you see for fall?

For fall there are 2 major trends this season that I love. One is the Nouveau Grunge with the long Maxi Skirts and oversized sweaters a la Alexander Wang.

I also love the Boy look, very tailored with fitted shirts, tailored pants and suspenders with a great pair of loafers and pulled back hair.  Love them both and will be rocking them this season.

What are your favourite pieces to wear?

Right now I want big chunky sweater dresses and tall boots. 

I love a great t shirt dress or shift dress that can be worn multiple ways and take you from day to night.  Multifunctional pieces...love them.

If you could dress anyone, who would it be?

Carine Roitfield and Kate Lamphear...I love their personal styles and what it says about their power and personalities.

Thank you to Kendra for taking the time to share her thoughts with us!  Make sure to check out Kendra’s collection and support Canadian design!  We will have fantastic pictures from our evening at the Art of Fashion next week!  Stay tuned and stay gorgeous!

Until next time my Glamazons!

Cecilia J