Tag Archives: Bobby Raffin

levis party toronto

Levis x Lookbook.nu Global Style Party in Toronto

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On Thursday, I went to the Levi’s x Lookbook.nu Global Style Party in Toronto at the Drake Hotel. The event was hosted by Rachel-Marie of Jag Lever and Ellie Frost who won a contest for their DIY interpretations of the classic Levi’s 501s.

Rachel Marie and Elle Frost

Rachel Marie and Elle Frost

levis jeans party elle frost jag lever levis party guests ellie frost natalie ast levis party rachel marie jag lever levis party sushi at the drake

Drinks and sushi kept coming all night, and it was great to catch up with the Toronto bloggers and meet Rachel & Ellie. The hosts raffled off pairs of Levi jeans to lucky winners. The event is the first of a few Global Style Parties hosted by Levi’s and Lookbook. Their next stop is in NYC.

Guests could bring in their 501s and have a tailor rip, distress and alter them, and then you could use stamps and studs to add a personal touch to a classic pair of jeans.

levis patch jeans diy levis jeans studs diy

I brought in a pair of Levi’s I got at Value Village for $8 and the tailor agreed they would make an awesome pair of cutoffs.

levis jeans diy levis diy cut off shorts levis how to cut off shorts

Here’s a tip for getting perfectly frayed edges… after you cut off the legs, vigorously whip and shake the jeans to loosen the threads.

diy stamp levis diy stamped levis cut offs

Afterwards, I had fun at the studs and stamp station, where I stamped on my initials, a typewriter (celebrating my journalism degree!), a map of the world and a camera. To set the stamps, we used a heat gun, but you could probably do the same with a blowdryer or by putting them in the dryer at high heat.

levis party gues

Natasha didn’t have jeans to stamp, so she decorated her face instead.

rachel marie jag lever elle frost bobby raffinAt the back of the event was a photobooth where myself and the other Lookbook bloggers snapped a few photos all night long. Here I am with Bobby Raffin, Elle Frost and Rachel Marie.

levis cut offs floral shirt target

The dresscode was simple: wear your Levi’s 501s. I had a distressed pink pair I bought at Episode, a vintage shop in Amsterdam. I paired it with a vintage bag, floral tie shirt from Target and Bambi tattoo tights c/o Nowistyle to complete the garden-inspired look.

bambi tattoo tights nowistyle vintage bag floral shirt daffodils daffodilsThe event was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to DIY your jeans while meeting other stylish bloggers. If you live in New York or Sao Paolo it’s definitely not an event to miss!

see by chloe fragrance launch

See By Chloé Fragrance Launch Event in Toronto

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Yesterday, I attended the See by Chloé fragrance launch in downtown Toronto. A small group of bloggers and media gathered to learn more about Chloé’s little sister fragrance.

see by chloe white ghost chair

see by chloe fragrance

The eau de parfum was created by Michel Almairac, who also created the original Chloé fragrance. This new scent from the French fashion house is a flirty floral scent, wrapped in elegant packaging. The top notes are bergamot, with mid notes of  apple blossom and jasmine. The base for the fragrance is a classic and sensual mix of sandalwood and vanilla notes. While I’m not usually a fan of vanilla fragrances, I was surprised by how green and floral this one is. I love both bergamot and jasmine, and this scent has them perfectly balanced.

colourful floral arrangement

What really captivates me about this fragrance is its packaging. Picking up on Chloé’s signature pleated chiffon, the bottle is multi-faceted and simplistic. It reminds me of the original Chloé fragrance’s bottle, but it stands apart from its “big sister” fragrance. I love the punchy coral colour palette for the packaging. Pink is one of the hottest colours for spring, and coral has always been a huge part of this blog!

see by chloe fragrance chandelier see by chloe chandelier

The launch event took the chance to highlight the new bottle with this incredible chandelier, made up of dozens of fragrance bottles, affixed with coral cord. It was a unique chandelier idea I could only dream of replicating.

pink mini desserts

After learning about the fragrance, the attendees could taste some pink-themed desserts, and sip on a smoothie, while getting a one-on-one camera tutorial by a professional fashion and celebrity photographer, Dan Lim. We even got a chance to take a 5 second video and turn it into a flip book! It was a unique event idea that I have never seen before. Bobby Raffin and I had a lot of fun fighting over a huge bottle of the fragrance.

Courtesy of Coty Prestige Canada's Instagram

Courtesy of Coty Prestige Canada’s Instagram

Bloggers Julia Monson and Bobby Raffin.

Bloggers Julia Monson and Bobby Raffin.

Myself and Niside.

Myself and Niside.

black vero moda blouse brocade pants

I was trying to get over a cold, and opted to wear flat boots and be more comfortable in this Vero Moda blouse, Z. Co jeans (both from Marshalls), Forever 21 buckle booties and a huge school bag c/o Nowistyle.

see by chloe launch

To get your own bottle of the flirty scent, you can pick one up now at select retailers, including The Bay, Sears, Sephora, Murale and Shoppers Drugmart. Sephora has an exclusive 30mL size economically priced at $55, while the 50mL bottle is $85, and 75mL is $105. Also in the collection is a 150mL body lotion, $50, and a 150mL shower gel, $45.

Some images courtesy of Bobby Raffin.

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Bobby’s Bicycle

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I admit it. I’m having bicycle withdrawl. For five months, my bicycle (he went by the name of Chuck) took me everywhere I needed to go in the medieval and modern town of Utrecht. Now that I’m back home in Toronto, I’m looking for the perfect Dutch bike to fill this void. But yesterday, I had a twinge of hope when I sat on Bobby Raffin‘s old cruiser- complete with wicker basket and back rack- perfect for having a friend hop on the back.

The dress I wore was patriotic, in shades of muted cream, red and blue. The dress is a vintage cotton that I always wear whenever the mercury climbs to unbearable temperatures. But hey, 40 degrees sure beats the rain of Holland.

Yesterday, I picked up this bicycle charm from Juicy Couture at Yorkdale. I fell in love with the quirky charm, and after finding out it was on sale, I knew I had to add it to a link in my bracelet. The pedals and wheels even move! I might not have a proper bicycle yet, but I definitely have the perfect charm to adorn and commemorate my time in the Netherlands.

My friend Bobby also looks perfect for the summer heat in a light blue polka dot shirt, white shorts and a straw fedora to keep cool.

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Lavish & Squalor

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A little while back, I had the amazing opportunity to be styled by Bobby Raffin with pieces from one of my favourite stores on the Queen West strip, Lavish and Squalor.

I am wearing a vintage leopard print coat with leather riding gloves. When we were looking around the store, something about this jacket called my name. I’m a sucker for animal print, and the pony hair texture was so luxurious. I love that it has brown suede panels to break it up, and the contrasting lapels are a detail that’s very in vogue right now.

Underneath the coat, I’m wearing a burgundy velvet dress, also from Lavish & Squalor.

All of us involved in the shoot had so much fun, even if it was a freezing December day. I got a bit lucky though, the leopard jacket I’m wearing kept me pretty toasty! I think all of our looks showcase how layering can keep you warm, while still looking cool.

And there’s nothing like a fleece trapper hat and vest like Bobby’s (also from Lavish & Squalor) to keep you shielded from the elements. I love the way he’s layered a utility vest over a plaid shirt, yet somehow, it still looks urban and cool.

The gloves I’m wearing complete the vintage look, but I can’t help but be reminded of the ones Ryan Gosling wore in the movie Drive. I still can’t get over that jacket, it was the perfect winter topper!

All photos taken and styled by Bobby Raffin.

You can see these pics on the Lavish & Squalor blog too!

 

Versace for H&M Haul

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This Saturday morning, I didn’t sleep in and eat breakfast in my pyjamas while watching re-runs of my favourite reality shows. Instead, I woke up at 5 a.m. in hopes of scoring some covetable pieces from Versace’s diffusion line for H&M.

As per usual, I tend to go a little overboard, and walked out with a couple bags filled with goodies for myself, a couple Christmas prezzies and pieces for my fashionable little sis.

I had my heart set on the leather jacket, but they were sold out in the first rotation!

I got to the mall a little later, but I met Bobby Raffin who gave up his wristband to view the ladies’ collection for me! I’m so grateful because I got all the pieces I wanted!

Most notably, the panther collar ($69.95).  It looks spectacular in real life with the crystal glaring red eyes and heavy chain mail.  I will feature it in a look soon!

I mostly came to buy the jewellery line, and snatched the medallion bracelet ($39.95) and necklace ($59.95).  The prices were great for these statement pieces.  I’m not certain of the composition or quality, but judging by the sheer weight, they’re definitely worth it!

I picked up this silk skirt ($79.95) which features a punchy print.  The print reminds me of Gianni’s vision of Versace; Miami heat and sex appeal.  I adore the leopard print so much I got the matching scarf ($34.95).

I was hoping to get the leather high-top sneakers for my boyfriend, but the sharks snatched them up! I found one show lying around the store, but someone snatched up the pair when I let my guard down.  Lesson be learned: people go nuts for these diffusion lines! So instead, these leather oxfords are a great price ($99) for classic style.

The mens’ section featured some daring prints that almost rivalled the womens’ section! This shirt ($59.95) with a graphic pattern gives me a headache, but it looks so cool!

How cool was the palm print in blue? I’m wearing the cozy mens’ tee ($24.95) right now.

While I didn’t get the leather jacket or dress, these leggings are close! Although they’re spandex, I love the luxe upgrade with the iconic greek key designs running up the sides. These were a hot item, and nearly every girl got a pair! I think it’s because it was the only piece that everyone could wear.  As I mentioned before, most of the dresses were unflattering and cut weird, so the leggings were a good buy and a way to inject Versace style into your everyday wardrobe.