Category Archives: NYFW

I’M STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

I’m back!! Well, I was back last week, but I was busy catching up on work work, as in – my real life job, and getting all things sorted with the psychotic issue that seems to be my apartment (long story!) In any case, yes, I am back and seemingly with a leather dominatrix vengeance.

I am no stranger to leather. It’s my second skin, literally. I don’t know anyone who owns more leather than I do. This is why I wouldn’t be a good vegan, or vegetarian. I love leather too much. In any case, these pants were an impulsive no-trying-on-necessary purchase. I went shopping with the man friend over the weekend and we popped into Club Monaco – they were displayed on a wall that as soon as you walk into the store welcomes you – it was an easy run, a few people may have gotten knocked over, but it’s ok – really – I helped them up once I had the pants in my hand.

New York was a bit like that though, people coming and going, dinner with friends and those alike. The one word I would pick to describe my New York Fashion Week experience this year would be casual. I suppose really, I didn’t participate in “Fashion Week” as you know it, I mean sure, I was in the city during the time, and sure, I went to Lucky Magazine’s conference – but no – this year – I choose parks, art, good food, friends and Brooklyn over the tents at Lincoln Centre.

I wanted to get back to the reason why I started blogging, not that you ever came here to read my opinion on high fashion, but I figured, what’s the point in going to the tents when I would rather do what I love, scrumagging around the Brooklyn Flea markets looking for bobbles and finds. Bazinga!

I have slowly become a bobble fanatic. I was once a very minimal jewelry lover once upon a time – I hardly wore any jewels for years, but recently I have acquired gems both old and new, and welcomed them into my daily wears. This necklace from Hot Pop Factory is made right here in Toronto. It has quickly become a favorite – not only because of the amazingly talented couple who own the company (HI B&M!), but because of the love and genius behind the 3D sculpture. It really is a piece of art. Look to their website here for all of the info on their 3D printing product!

Noah Gunderson / Jesus, Jesus

IF I GO

In less than five days I will be waking up in Manhattan and running around wild with the blogosphere elite. I am blessed beyond words to have such amazing friends, and even more so, blessed that we get to bop around major cities doing the things we love. This will be my fourth season for Fashion Week, and I encourage you to take that jump, wanna come to New York Fashion Week? Ok, come! Just book a flight. If not this season, next! Get involved in one of the conferences that are held for bloggers each season, educate yourself – learn from the best, party like a rockstar at Bloggers Night Out and take to the tents. Sounds too difficult? … Than I am sorry dear friend, blogging is not for you. Blogging is difficult. You’ve got to take your faith into your own hands and push yourself to explore new territory unfamiliar with your everyday niche life. After all, isn’t that why you started blogging in the first place? I know that’s why I did.

See you in Manhattan!

HAT: Black Prim | Vintage from my Mum
SHIRT : Peter-Pan Polka Dot | LF
SKIRT: Black Velvet | Thrifted from my Mum
SHOES: Mary-Jane’s | Michael Kors

Gregory Alan Isakov / If I go, I’m going

WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING BY YOURSELF

hello world.

whelp, the time has come – New York Fashion Week is fast approaching, and although the rest of society seems to be grasping tightly onto whatever is left of August, I will be taking this weekend to start packing and planning for the streets of Manhattan for fall. (Not really fall, because it will be blistering hot outside, but you know what I mean).

I am excited to live out what is penned in my agenda, as it seems already my week is jam-packed with LuckyFABB, Fashion’s Night Out, Bloggers Night Out, a trip to the Brooklyn Flea, the MET, Shopping, and of course, catching up with old (and new) friends.

If you’re in NYC let me know – I’d love to say hi!

By the way, these pants – HOW amazing? I am obsessed and was thrilled when I won these bad boys on eBay a few weeks ago. I have switched my thrifting to online, as I find I actually spend less (gasp) than when in-store, AND it is a lot more satisfying. I get the satisfaction of purchase AND the satisfaction of arrival. haha! I swear I could justify anything.

HAT: Blue Velvet | Vintage
SHIRT : Electric Blue Western Button Up | Thrifted
PANTS: Jungle Leggings| eBay Thrifted
SHOES: Royal Crock Mary-Jane’s | Vince Camuto
NECKLACE: F21 turned DIY
ARM: Assorted Marc Jacobs & Vintage

Grimes // Oblivion

MY LOVE UPON YOUR DEVOTION

I would say I don’t do casual often here on my blog. If you follow me on instagram you’d get a real sense of my daily style (seeing as I don’t have the time to post on my blog daily). I tend to dress up even to work, on Friday’s especially. I just feel better when I look how I feel, it sets the mood for my entire day.

In university a prof told me always to dress up to an exam. To wear your prettiest dress, do your hair, – which resulted in me wearing heels. ALL my fellow students looked at me like I was nuts, or trying to hard, but the truth is – I honestly feel like I did better because I felt good. Track pants and top knots may work for some people whilst studying or prepping for an exam, but for me – I’ll take looking like a million bucks and scoring an A+ any day.

I suppose that pep talk comes from my prep-look, with commercials and advertisements all over the city citing back-to-school, I can’t help but be a little nostalgic – I loved school, and even more the school supplies lol, and although each year I look up new courses to try (next on my list is floral arrangements!), and set goals of new adventures to adhere too (blogshop, LuckyFABB) – it’s pretty great being done with exams in general, but I will never lose the urge to learn. Neither should you.

The Jezebels //\ Endless Summer | Sent to me by Allie from Allie Wears

YOU AIN’T THE ONE TO PLAY THE GAME

What can I say? Just when you thought this post was going so well – it was pretty and tame – until I had to go and post a ridiculous face. Pffft. Whateves. I do this for me.
Speaking of me, you know – because really, when it comes down to it, this blog is all about me – I was tickled to hear from Vince Camuto’s PR team the day before I left for Miami informing me that they wanted to send me a pair of Crocodile Mary-Jane’s. Which are divine by the way. Some of these photo’s will be used in efforts of a special project in the works – so look out for that – but until then, here you go.

This is going to seem awful, but I have yet to go through any of my photo’s from Miami … I know, worst. blogger. ever. I hang my head in shame (not really -), but in efforts to restore your faith in humanity, the cause has been a great one – the Bloggers Night Out team is prepping for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC which can only mean brilliant things. Not only is it our one year anniversary of BNO, we also have a few brilliant (brilliant and beyond actually) surprises up our sleeves, because from our first event til the last in Miami (seven events by the way this year), they have gotten better and better, and this one we are planning – well – it should be nothing short of exceptional.

Can’t wait to rock these shoes in Manhattan.

HAIM | forever

RUN THE WORLD

BAH! I really should be finishing packing – I still have SO much to do before Miami Swim Week! – I leave before this post is posted, so Thursday morning, at 6:30AM I was at the airport all ready to go up up and away!

This is just a quick post until I get back from Miami! I am headed there with my Bloggers Night Out gals Erika from Style Activist and Caitlin from Style Within Reach. We are hosting the only event for bloggers in Miami during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Swim Week – we are so extremely lucky to have sponsors like Plastics Make It Possible, Shick Quattro, LYST and Orchid Boutique – I am dying for a new bikini so cannot wait to get my shop on in Miami at our event!!

Make sure you follow along a-la twitter and instagram, – you know I’ll be giving you my daily dose – Also watch out for my rendition of Christina from Profresh Style’s ultimate dance moves, I am bringing it with me from New York, to Toronto, to Miami all within 24 hours.

JUMPSUIT: Vintage //\ Circa 1976 //\ Thrifted from my Mum
SHOES: Cuffed Laced Velvet //\ Vintage
BANDAUX: Wilfred //\ Aritzia

Lana Del Rey – Video Games

SAFE & SOUND

I read this rather interesting take slash somewhat insulting, and funny blog rant today about bloggers. Bloggers in general, not related to fashion or tech – although both were mentioned. The jist [and I am MAJORLY jisting] was that not all bloggers are writers, and that if you are a blogger, and consider yourself a writer (given the five simple steps stated in said post), you are, in fact, an idiot. No kidding.

I would never claim to be a er, “writer”. I write how I talk, speak – whatever. I don’t user grammar properly, because lets face it – unless you graduated with a major in-the-many-streams-of-English or have OCD, the only reason you would comment on a blog about grammar is if you have some sort of unruly hatred inside of you – and I am being serious. Blogs to me, are diary-esq, not some place to censor yourself, most of the time people write a gigantic run-on-sentences, to hell with it, most people TALK face-to-face in run-on-sentences so I don’t see why it matters, really, even if it comes with a price tag, you blog because you can. Period … and if you are hired on your ability to write, it’s that simple, they hired you because of your personal tone and voice … yet maybe not.

I literally just had to google the definition of a blog while I sit here, and ironically the definition is “a web site containing the writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc.,” … ha! bit me in the ass … but not quite, because I don’t agree with that definition if put up against Mayka’s post. At least urban dictionary gives a better definition for a blog, “short for weblog, a meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people are interested in their stupid, pathetic life that consists of such riveting entries as “homework sucks” and “I slept until noon today.” But I suppose quoting urban dictionary is like quoting wikipedia, which is something a writer would never do. So maybe my post holds no ground to you, and that is completely fine, but I’d like to think the guys and gals I know who do blog, particularly those who have a fashion blog, know we stand alone.

We know we are narcissistic, and our blog posts are somewhat uninteresting to [probably a large, colossal even] demographic of people, we know there are people out there who scratch their heads and have many WTF?! moments when it comes to fashion bloggers integrating and overhauling media, collaborating, fashion week, writing, editorial, promotion, modeling, designing, photographing, being photographed [breath...] etc……, and how ordinary people somehow manage to work with some of the biggest names and brands [subjectively] in the 21st century, but the truth is, we have made something out of it, we have figured it out, a way to capitalize on that fact that we aren’t writers, we aren’t models, we aren’t professional, and for me, personally – apparently not coy, and guess what, I’d like to think it’s because we write how we talk, speak, – WHATEVER! Without the proper use of grammar. Not that you can’t get ahead by being smart enough to know the difference between their and there [which, to Mayka's credit, you honestly should].

To read Mayka Mei’s take-with-a-grain-of-salt-funny-and-witty post click here, she is a very talented writer, as she would prefer to be seen, and I agree. Oh and Mayka, me wearing pink in this post wasn’t planned for you, but I hope you enjoy it.

On a swift switch back to me, I am happy to report the Bloggers Night Out soiree in NYC was apparently flawless, I am so proud of my team for being so amazingly talented, and our amazing sponsors who bend over backwards. I am also so excited to tell you that I am actually speaking at a huge conference in Toronto on Thursday hosted by one of the biggest Marketing Magazines – er – Marketing Mag, about young influencers, and – you guessed it – focused on blogging. BAM!!

I write how I talk, write – WHATEVER.

BLANT* done.

SWEATER: Vintage cashmere
DRESS: Worn as a skirt | Thrifted from my mum
COAT: The GAP Classic Trench
SHOES: Miu Miu Nude Pumps

* Blant: taken from Mayka’s defenition – is a “blog rant.” I [Mayka] made it up in hopes that everyone the world over will realize that mashing up words is not cute, even if it is effective in producing an awful-sounding word that sounds like an annoying goat who just doesn’t care.

SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW

This is just a QUICK post! The expo and conference the team and I have been planing for the last year of our lives ended yesterday, and I couldn’t be more proud or happy!! It went off without a hitch, apparently twitter was abuzz and we were a trending topic! NOTHING warms my heart more than to know hard work has paid off. Now I am off to get organized for 2013, and concentrate on the content that was provided and making sure it is available throughout this thing we here call the interweb.

Besides that, BNO is in full swing for February. Details will be released next week so please stay tuned! LOADS of love to you, my friends, family, boyfriend and readers for putting up with my lack of blogging over the last three months.

Now that I have a segment of my life back, I will get back into the groove. Loads of love.

LIPSTICK: MAC Cosmetics | Half N Falf
HAT: Vintage
DRESS: Worn as a skirt | Vintage
BLOUSE: Wilfred | Aritzia
SHOES: Nine West

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

I am in shock of how fast twenty eleven blew me by. When I think about it, this past year was such a huge part of the foundation that is, and will be, my career. I have chosen the path I want – and am perusing it – guns’-a-blazin. If I could offer you one piece of advise, is to tell someone who you admire your dreams – and they will, hopefully, help you make them come true. Twenty twelve is only just begun, and already I can feel the heat from the kitchen!! I am part of an amazing team and we are throwing a major conference here in Toronto surrounding digital media – it is inaugural but also has a ton of buzz and press about it already, it is something new for Canada – and something that will explode with the amount of dedication and love we have put into it. I cannot wait! Come February New York Fashion week will take over, and the Bloggers Night Out team is in full swing of planning several events across several states for the twenty twelve season. Last year this time I imagined what twenty eleven would look like, like Geneva from a pair & a spare, I too make a different type of resolutions list, more like wishes, hopes and dreams – and all but three last year came true. I highly encourage you to do so, I never would of if a friend of my own didn’t encourage me to do the same, and it is simply mind blowing what you achieve.

HAT: Thrifted from my Mum
LIPSTICK: MAC Cosmetics | Rebel
NECKLACE: Thrifted from my Gran circa 1960′s
BLOUSE: Kelly Green F21
SKIRT: American Apparel PVC
SHOES: Thifted Leather Oxfords {a steal!!}

FIRST FROST

Oh. Hello Gorgeous! The weather here in Toronto, as you can see from this post – has been beautiful. There is a chill in the air, but it is nothing short of a crisp breath-of-fresh-air. I fell in love with this cozy knit sweater as soon as I stumbled upon it at the LF Store on 5th Ave in NYC, the sales girl convinced me to buy it – who am I to fight her off? Whilst in NYC I only got out once – and it was my second last day. I was pulling my hair out from being so busy – I needed a little “me” time and took to the streets with my camera and wallet. I did all my damage at LF. I didn’t even bother going anywhere else. The tuxedo back of this white knit is my ultimate favorite feature – I have been searching for the perfect knit and gasped when I found it. Definitely a new added staple. Welcome home sweater.

These days though, I have been channeling my inner nerd – work is beyond insane, BNO is fabulously insane, and my Tortuous and Blonde glasses happened to arrive just-in-time to perfect, the very [insane] nerd-esq look. – I couldn’t help but mix textures in this outfit though, the massive [8ft] angora scarf, the polka-dot razor back, the ultimate teal JBrand coated pants and the velvety hunter wedges tops it all off. AH, alas – this is such a Sunday staple for me, even on a Sunday, heels are on my feet.

Other than the above rambles – there isn’t much of an update on my end, work, design, work, rudiger, wine! I hope you all enjoy this upcoming weekend and get some much needed me time in, and don’t forget to snuggle your little Rudiger!

KendallDonaldson

Love is where I am found.