LG Fashion Fix!!!

Hello Ravishing Readers!

It seems only yesterday that we were at LG Fashion Week seeing the Fall/Winter Collections and here we are again looking at the Spring/Summer offerings of our homegrown talent!

Our own Special K,  ANTM Live Account Manager, Valdie

Me and ANTM Live Show Manager Stacey Evans

The warmth inside the Fashion Week tents combined with bright and vibrant colours from many of the collections almost convinced me that the cold weather was just my imagination! 

Two gorgeous Fasionistas!

We saw incredible shows including Joeffer Caoc, Michi, Tosca Delfino and the Mercedes-Benz Start Up show, which featured up and coming Canadian designers. 

The Joeffer Caoc Collection

We had a fantastic time eyeing the fabulous and fashionable, ranging from the veteran, Jeanne Beker to Bustle’s Shawn Hewson and the always gorgeous home reno hosts, Colin and Justin. 

One of our favourite collections from the Fall/Winter fashion week, LOVAS, put on a spectacular show again with some tailored dresses, natural flow and innovative colour blocking.  Take a look at these too gorgeous dresses that demanded our attention:

The LOVAS Collection

Naturally we were most curious to see the Sear’s ATTITUDE line by Jay Manuel and he definitely did not disappoint his masses of fans.

ATTITUDE by Jay Manuel

Jay’s show was chalk full of breezy fabrics, stunning prints and luminescent hues that couldn’t help but lift your spirits on a cloudy day.  In a mass of baby powder, gorgeous pieces made their way down the runway accessorized with fedoras and head scarves galore.

Everything felt fluid and seemed to complement the female form very well.  Jay clearly knows his audience and his entire collection was met with ‘oohs and ahs’ as the models sported very current and wearable looks for the everyday woman. 

If the crowds were any indication, it was pretty obvious to this fashionista that his brand is stronger than ever and bound to even greater success as fashion weeks go by.

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

HARNESSING YOUR QI…

Hello Ravishing Readers!

Today I am pleased to profile one of our fantastic ANTM Live exhibitors, the OMANI CLINIC www.omaniclinic.com.  Renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, Dr. Martin Siu, recently invited ANTM Live to join him at the opening of his new clinic in Yorkville.  He is bringing his knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine and state-of-the-art western technology together to provide innovative health & beauty treatments during ANTM Live 2012.

Dr. Martin Siu

At the opening, I had the pleasure of hearing about Dr. Siu’s perspective on maintaining ourselves from the inside out and harnessing our Qi (pron. chee), or internal energy.  You can tell from speaking with him that he truly believes in helping people feel better and works diligently to significantly improve the lives of his clients through his expertise.  Dr. Siu works closely with his son, Herman Siu, and both of them practice Auricular Medicine. 



Herman Siu, me and Dr. Martin Siu

This particular field is a highly developed system of diagnosis and treatments for ailments anywhere in the human body by expertly examining the ear and treating the client through acupressure or acupuncture.  Dr. Siu can help encourage weight loss, alleviate stress and discomfort and literally drastically change anyone’s state of health from negative to positive. 

One of the most interesting and innovative treatments is called Cosmetic Acupuncture. This is a chosen form of personal beauty care for many celebrities and the OMANI CLINIC is excited to be able to provide this efficient and effective treatment that helps maintain a youthful appearance.  Better yet, there are no side effects, down time or medical risks involved.   It is also great for removing fine lines and wrinkles, treating acne scars, giving clients an instant facelift, revitalizing skin, as well as stimulating collagen production and increasing blood circulation and elasticity. All done using either the traditional fine acupuncture needles or cold laser treatments.

Thank you to Dr. Siu for sharing your expertise with ANTM Live!  Be sure to visit the clinic for a personal assessment and see what he and his staff can do to help balance your lifestyle.  The OMANI CLINIC is sure to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and recharged! 

Until Next Time My Glamazons!

Cecilia J

Thanks to Raymond Siu of Raymond Photography for the pictures! http://www.raymondsiu.com/

Costa Rica with Vital Steps!

Good Day Lovely Readers!

Today we have a terrific promotion through one of our great exhibitors, Vital Steps http://www.vitalsteps.com/.  Read on to see all the exciting details! 

Have you dreamed of a getaway on a secluded beach? Well, it’s time to dream bigger! Add on a spa resort with luxurious accommodations, a gourmet restaurant, seaside bar, a golf course and a fitness studio and you’ve got a total mind and body experience that won’t be matched!

Discover a renewed enthusiasm for your health and wellness with Jo-Ann James as you create special moments to be cherished as well as celebrate Vital Step’s 14^th anniversary!

You will stay at the Cloud Forest Hotel where you and guests from around the world will enjoy the relaxing charm of authentic late 19^th century Central American ambience as you explore one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet. Just 75 minutes from San Jose’s international airport, the Cloud Forest Hotel and Natural Reserve, lies within the borders of a private biological sanctuary that protects one of the planet’s most rare and precious jungle habitats: the Cloud Forest. It is a mesmerizing world of mist, mountains and the magic of nature!

You will have the opportunity to do everything from swimming and snorkeling at white sand beaches to hiking, zip lining, and bird watching in an untouched rainforest. Each day will include an early morning and late afternoon session of relaxation, stretching, and meditation.

Call to secure your spot for this one of a kind experience! Call 416.785.8828 or send an e-mail message to inquiry@vitalsteps.com

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