Think Big, Go Small

by: Finency Anggreni Setioyuwono

Big bags are so 2010.

This season, designers are going smaller yet practical. From disco ball at Louis Vuitton to metal coin purses at Ralph Lauren, the Spring runways were full of tiny-yummy-glittery handbags.

From ASOS to Fendi to Reed Krakoff offer different options of wearable petite clutches, totes, and shoulder bags that can carry women bare necessities. Phone, lip-gloss, keys, wallet are the true minimalist women’s luggage.

Alexander Wang - Jade stingray, leather, and suede wristlet bag
$795 - net-a-porter.com

A roomy wristlet clutch with exceptional cool hardware and panels of exotic leather, Alexander Wang's off-white stingray, leather, and suede trunk-style wristlet bag is one quirky-cool accessory

Reed Krakoff - Boxer leather envelope clutch
$990 - reedkrakoff.com

Got a Python in only three-digits price? Totally worth the money!
Reed Krakoff's knotted strap black leather and python envelope clutch is a perfectly pared-down piece. Pair this fuss-free bag with a high-impact dress and directional platofm sandals for after-dark city style

Prada Canapa Striped bag

$795 - prada.com

Prada's stripes are the pattern of the season. This bag is so fresh and crisp, really suitable for the spring.

ASOS Leather Boxy Lock Bag

$89.65 - asos.com

Boxy lock bag, featuring a bold washed leather finish with a contrasting buckle strap, silver-tone hardware detailing and square boxy styling. The bold yellow hue is also on the trend with the lemon-colored Spring runways.

Kate Spade Essex Small Scout

$295 - katespade.com

The infamous Essex bag from Kate Spade is definitely the “it” bag for this season. Clean shape, functional, and affordable, who can resist this candy bag?

Sears Plugged-in?

By: Shelley Marie Johannson

Sears Canada Inc. has brought Skype into some of its shops. Giving customers the ability to get immediate opinions from friends and family about a possible purchase. Projected on a 58-inch screen via Skype in the “modern shop” providing a more interactive experience. This may also assist in the sales process, allowing customer to communicate with other people outside of the store.

Dene Rogers, chief executive officer at Sears, seems to be bring an edge to this old-world retailer with technology that is appealing to a younger demographic.

Sears is changing their online capabilities, such as giving customer the alternative to design their own furniture on the Web and up keeping the Sears website.

With this in mind, Sears desires to reduce the possibility of customers waiting to make a choice about purchases. The Skype concept is designed to connect the customer with people whom they value their opinion. Sort of like shopping with your friends and asking them how a garment would look!

In the future Sears is looking to provide free in-store WiFi allowing shoppers to use their phones or other devices to compare prices and styles online. Sears plans to add more interactive technology within the store locations.

Are fashion shows losing fashion to be more innovative?

By: Nicole Young

While working an event at 99 Sudbury, I was fortunate to be working an event that was something I would be interested in. It was a fashion show! It was “Italian Fashion 2011” featuring clothes from Harry Rosen, David’s, In Quattro, Milli, Perry’s, Via Cavour and Nicolas menswear and womenswear. They had a very innovative idea, instead of hiring models, they had dancers. At first it seemed very cool and different. They had the dancers, who weren’t wearing the clothing being shown, they were around hanging on mannequins while the dancers used the runway as their stage. But once the show was over, I realized that myself, or anyone else for that matter, forgot to look at the clothing. It was a good idea for them to think out of the box, but they really should have thought everything through before getting too excited with the idea and implementing it. Even myself thought it was great until it was over and I realized I just watched a dance recital, not a fashion show. They also had a contest going on. In each of the gift bags received, contained a “Passporto Moda”. The contest was to collect stamps from each of the six retailers and submit your completed passport for a chance to win a $1,200 voucher towards merchandise at any of the six participating retailers. All in all, good idea, but i believe this one was a miss.

The Next Social Media Obsession

by Kristie Scott

"Pin it!" my roommate Facebook comments on my shared photo of candy sushi I was so craving.
"You would say that" I think to myself as I am reminded of her typically cuddled on the couch, MacBook in hand, almost shouting to me "I can't stop pinning!"

Personal profiling knows many tunnels of expression in today's modern world of social media. And the latest infatuation to this phenomenon is "Pinterest", a website where users share their interests via "pinning" pictures of the things they like or are inspired by.

How it works? You open the story book of your many-pinning-adventures-to-come by first dragging the "pin it" button into your bookmarks or favourites bar. After this, find a picture from any site and directly pin it to one of your "boards" by simply clicking on the pin it button.

Boards are what categorize your pins, i.e. "Wedding Inspiration", "Style", "Food", etc. You can also "follow" other users and "repin" their pins. Sounds like twitter, except with pictures, right? Except Pinterest is a little more exclusive. You have to request an invite to join, or receive an invite from an existing user.

But don't fret my future pinners-to-be! After all, Facebook was once restricted to Ivy League universities, and look where it is now.

Rubber Up! -By Alex Svoboda

So Spring is here and the rain isn't being shy! Nobody likes cold, wet feet, and there's no need to compromise your style when staying dry. From the simple boots to crazy prints and heels, you can be classic or make a bold statement, there's something for every lady to keep dry in. So rubber up ladies with these fabulous finds with price ranges suitable for every budget.

Kate Spade 'Randi'

Hunters 'Original'

Hunters 'Festival' Tall


Jeffrey Campbell 'Marsha' in 'Artist Print'

J.Crew wool and rubber Riding Boot


KORS Michael Kors 'Stormy'

Burberry Plaid

UNDER $100

Treton 'TRE GLAD'

Glitter rain boots Forever21

Canadian Tire (yes really!)

Smoky Mountain 'Wellington' from getoutside

Diesel at Town Shoes

McClennan from Little Burgandy

Mini Marni

by Finency Anggreni Setioyuwono

The icon of hippy ecliptic style, Marni, is now making her retro and quirky characteristics available in miniature. Marni will launch their first childrenswear collection next autumn.

The designer and creative director of Marni, Consuelo Castiglioni, is inspired by the original adult Marni collections and took some of the pieces from those collections to create the shrunken version for the mini-Marni girls. The essences of playfulness and free movement are visible throughout her design. She will also take some of the details from Marni main line and re-interpret them in the childrenswear collection.

Targeted towards girls aged between 2 - 12, you expect everything from striped jersey T-shirts to her signature polka dot rain capes, which are the signature of Marni prints and pattern. Fabrics will come in cotton, silk crepe, and wool. We can expect the collection to hit the stores in July 2011 with prices ranged from $65 - $650.

When a famous brand launched a childrenswear line like Marni, matching an outfit with a lover or a friend would be a so-last-season thing to do. And when our little girl is wearing a fabulous outfit from Marni, we know we are raising the next it girl in fashion.

A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY CLOSET

A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY CLOSET

By Ibum Obu

Ok.....was rummaging through my closet the other day, Hmmmm...”What to wear"? And then I got thinking. If there were a piece of clothing which could fit any woman on any occasion, all year round, what would it be? For me the answer was simple, something I actually really like, and have a couple of. I don’t know about you but for me the one piece of clothing that I think would look good on any woman and any body type is….. drum roll please ok ok ok already I will say it … Blazers blazers blazers!!! I just love them, would love to collect them, if I could, I would have one in every color, style and design I can find, well maybe not so much but you get my point right. Almost like a t-shirt it’s a respecter of all ages and sizes meaning that almost anyone can pull it off and you can dress it down or up and wear them to almost any kind of event and still look fly. Even if you are going for a vintage or modern look, guess what?!! You can still pull it off with a blazer and accessorize it to fit your desired look.