Oh my goodness some one take my credit card and charge this Prada shoe to it right now! I think I’m in love.
Shoe specifications:
Outer, patent leather
Colour, silver
Heel height, 10 cm
Why I chose this shoe: by the opening sentence of this blog post you can tell I’m absolutely in love with this Prada pump. Why you ask? Compared to other footwear I’ve featured in my weekly Shoe of the Moment entries this one is pretty safe – yes. However, it’s the classic silhouette and minimal adornment – the black bow is so cute – that makes it standout all the more. Footwear designs like this never go out of style.
You know him as DJ Tony, the resident disc jockey and America’s favourite sidekick on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but his real name is Tony Okungbowa. Tony not only spins the wheels of steal (aka: turntables) on the daytime talk show but he’s also an actor, film producer and man of style. He was recently in town as the special guest DJ for the Second Annual Right to Play Ball and I was able to snag him for a few minutes to get the scoop on his love of footwear.
The shoes you are wearing right now, who are the by?
These are by Australian designers called Songs for the Mute. They’re custom made out of a canvas-linen mix and dyed using a special method, they’re incredible.
When and where did you get them?
I got them last summer when we were in Australia at a department store called Harrolds, one of the best stores in Sydney and Melbourne.
Most memorable experience while wearing them?
I wore them to the Moca Gala in LA a couple of weeks ago, I danced all night and they held up very well.
Do you have a favourite pair of shoes you like to wear?
I have some great travel shoes which are like Grenson boots with a Thinsulate sole, because you can dress them up or down and they’re great for travelling, comfortable and you can wear them with jeans or a suit.
Shoes by Songs for the Mute
If your shoes could have a soundtrack to them what genre would it be and what would it be called?
Wow… well that’s a hard one because I collect sneakers. I also have more than 100 pairs of shoes and they cover the gamut from very traditional English Church’s and brogues to very avant-garde shoes and boots. So it would be Quadrophina meets Tom Ford’s film A Single Manmeets American Gangstermeets a Warm December.
If you could walk in someone else’s shoes who would it be and why?
To be honest with you, as cliché as it sounds, most of my heroes are dead; however it’s individuals like the everyday man, my neighbour for instance who is a single dad and whose son wants for nothing. That’s my hero and that’s whose shoes I would walk in for inspiration.
If you could design your perfect pair of shoes what would it look like?
Oh my! I would love to designs my own pair of shoes. They would be a cross between Carpe Diem, Songs for the Mute and a pair of retro Nikes.
Will we see a footwear line by Tony Okungbowa in the future?
Oh yeah, absolutely! Fashion is so important to me that designing shoes is an extension of my artistic skills.
L-R: Johann Olav Koss, President and CEO, Right To Play; Glen Baxter, Chair & Founder Right to Play Ball.
The tagline for the Second Annual Right to Play Ball was “Where the fashion and finance crowd play and dance the night away in support of Canada’s fastest growing international humanitarian organization.” Recently held at the swanky Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto the event attracted the city’s business, fashion and sports crowd under one roof and on one dance floor.
On the ones and two were DJ Tony Okungbowa, The Ellen Degeneres Show’s house mix master, and renowned Montreal DJ Jo Jo Flores whose tunes had the crowd letting loose some wicked dance moves.
Guests in attendance included Rosie MacLennan (2012 Olympic Gold medalist), Director X, hip-hop artist Kardinall Official, singer Glen Lewis and model Stacey Mckenzie who spent 99.9% of her time lighting up the scene with her carefree dance moves and impromptu DJ booth visits. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a fancy shindig where so many people got down on the dance floor. And guess what? I didn’t event have to take off my heels the entire time dancing.
By the end of the night more than $55,000 was raised for Right To Play allowing the organization to further its goal to help children in disadvantaged environments “overcome the effects of poverty, conflict, and disease” through play.
L: Glen Baxter, DJ Tony Okungbowa and Johann Olav Koss. Lower right: DJ Tony Okungbowa and DJ Jo Jo Flores.
hr2 Address: 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan, ON, L4K 5W4 Phone: 905-886-2427 Store hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00AM-9:00PM / Sunday 11:00AM-7:00PM
If Einstein’s theory of relativity is E=mc2 then Holt Renfrew’s new shopping concept for customers equals hr2. This new shopping format looks to expand the reaches of the luxury retailer to a wider audience who has a penchant for designer brands at irresistible prices, which translates into affordable luxury or to be blunt, cheap, however you want to look it.
I recently attended a sneak preview of Holt Renfrew’s second hr2 store at Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre - the first hr2 opened last month in Brossard, Quecbec. hr2 has taken over the nonexistent Holt’s Last Call outlet store (may it RIP) and it has been completely redesigned into a modern, well-lit and colourful space offering men’s and women’s fashions, footwear, accessories and jewellery. More than 150 brands line its shelves and racks such as DVF, Kate Spade and Michael Kors, and needless to say I was happily lost in all 25,000 square feet of the store.
Each section within hr2 is perfectly primed and ready for an easy shopping experience. The handbag section took me well over a hour to fully appreciate and the shoe section… well I spent most of my time there. When I saw Prada shoes for $329 and Louboutins for $199 (which I did purchase) I was completely lost in the experience.
My final verdict on Holt Renfrew’s hr2? I will be back for more shoes.
As you wake up this long weekend morning you’re probably thinking to yourself, “What should I do first today? Should I clean, do the laundry or go to the gym?” My answer to these difficult questions is none of the above – you should go shopping!
RUSDAK, one of Canada’s leading brand in leather, is having a flash sale this weekend only (May 18-20). As they say 2012 is the new 2013 and you can scoop up the best of RUDSAK’s fall and spring 2012 collections, and get 50% discount on sales items – I’m always on the lookout for a good deal no matter the season.
I’ve already did some fashion reconnaissance for you; the outerwear is to die for, but the DIMA coat is truly drool worthy (originally $495, for sale $249.99) and the Sally blazer is perfect for year-round use (originally $245, for sale $179.99).
Make sure you use promo code: RUDSAK2012KIMBERLY. The code is valid only at rudsakstore.com from now until Monday 11:59 p.m. EST. Let your inner shopaholic out and allow the shopping adventures begin!
It’s the long weekend here in the T-Dot (aka: Toronto) and boy am I happy it’s Friday! This weekend marks the end of all things winter and the start of the summer social season; barbecues, art and music festivals, and weekends spent up north at the cottage is how we roll around here. And I got just the shoes to keep you looking fresh and stylish.
Shoe specifications:
Outer, linen/silk blend fabric with crepe sole
Colour, multi-coloured
Heel height, N/A
Why I chose these shoes: these Loeffler Randal shoes are fun, flirty and look really comfortable. I typically prefer floral designs on high heel shoes but it’s nice to see it on a pair of flats, especially when they’re designed well. For my local people (in Toronto) Augustina Boutique is selling these floral sensations online in case you need to up your fashion ante when cottaging up north; however, for my non-Canadian friends Lyst is selling them online.
Did someone say “Sample sale and giveaway?” Why yes that was me!
PYA Importer is having its seasonal sample sale from May 22-25, which means you better have your wallet and credit card ready to score some serious designer finds – details here. Brands such as DKNY Intimates, Edun, Toscano and, my favourite, LINE Knitwear can be bought for up to 80% off. Hello!
To get you ready for this shopping extravaganza I’m giving away this beautiful striped linen sweater by LINE Knitwear to one lucky reader. Retail $150.
Leave a comment in this blog entry, make sure to include your e-mail address when filling out the text box.
For an extra entry tweet: “Giveaway alert! Say the magic words: PYA Sample Sale + win @LINEKnitwear sweater on @kimberly_lyn’s blog http://wp.me/p2LFdT-1nG”
The giveaway closes on May 22, 2013 at 12:00 a.m. EST. I will announce and e-mail the winner. Thanks again to the lovely team from PYA Importer and LINE Knitwear for their generosity!
Psst! If you don’t win the sweater, don’t fret, it can be found at the sample sale for purchase.
N.B.: this giveaway is open to readers located in the Greater Toronto Area only. Please allow for a few days for shipping. There are no prize substitutions.
So you thought it was summer time huh! Seeing the temperature in Toronto drop below 10°C this past weekend and Tic-Tac size hail falling from the sky is not my idea of fun in the sun. So like the good ol’ Canadian I am out came my winter jacket, hat and scarf; these pieces are never too far from reach.
I pillaged this fire engine red jacket from my mom’s closet – happy belated Mother’s Day mom – and donned my second favourite accessory, a big floppy hat. I purchased this hat on pure whim will browsing inside Holt Renfrew’s flagship store on Bloor Street; Holt has, in my opinion, one of the nicest selection of stylish chapeaus in the city and for the price of $80 I couldn’t resist picking up this bad boy.
The first time I heard about London’s legendary department store Harrods I was in my pre-teens. My über sophisticated Aunt E was visiting from London and recounted her experiences shopping the floors of the store; the centre of style, luxury, clothes and, of course, designers shoes. It wasn’t until I visited the city years later did I realize how utterly amazing Harrods truly is. The history of the store is evident the moment you walk through its doors, the building takes up more then 1 million square feet and the shoe floor alone seemed to go on forever.
The store is a must-see for any shopaholics visiting London; however, if you’re not travelling across the pond any time soon you can still get the Harrods experience online and shop for my favourite accessory… shoes!
Shoe specifications:
Outer, suede and patent leather
Color, black
Heel height, 11.5 cm
Why I chose this shoe: the moment I saw this Saint Laurent heel on Harrods.com I said “Oh my god!” and nearly fell off my chair. It’s a simple design, uncomplicated in its structure exuding sophistication in the daintiness of it’s stiletto heel and suede covered vamp; yet, this shoe hints at hidden wonders with its over sized patent leather buckle and ankle cuff. However, the best part of finding this sandal on Harrods.com is that they ship worldwide. Woo hoo!
Forget the TV series Project Runway! Canada has the original version which has been running since 1992 and it’s called TFI New Labels Fashion Design Competition.
Held annually by the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI), this national competition features the country’s up-and-coming design talent in one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year allowing them the opportunity to showcase their sartorial skills in front of a panel of judges, industry movers and insiders.
Sarah Stevenson, fall/winter 2013
The perks of participating in this year’s New Labels competition included the chance to win the Suzanne Rogers Award For Most Promising New Label, a cash award of $25,000, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop an exclusive collection for Target to be sold in stores across Canada in 2014. Can we say amazing?
Sarah Stevenson, Paria Shirvani, Christopher Paunil and SEVENTHIRTYONE were the four designers participating in this year’s competition. Each had their own distinct aesthetic from floor length floral evening gowns, asymmetrical suite jackets, feminine ruffles and kimono-inspired outerwear.
And the winner is… Sarah Stevenson! For fall/winter 2013 Stevenson was inspired by “Dutch still life paintings from the Baroque period” which lead to the creation of floral frocks in the form of a silk chiffon blouse, pencil skirt and long-sleeved maxi dress.
Before she was announced as the winner, Stevenson’s collection was my absolute favourite the moment I saw her first look come down the runway, I knew instantly it was going to wow the judges. Should have bet a pair of designer shoes on it!
L-R: models in Sarah Stevenson; Sarah Stevenson; John Morioka, SVP Merchandising for Target Canada; Suzanne Rogers; Chloé Rogers; Dina Pugliese, Host.
