Fab Photography: Mango Studios

When M and I were planning our '07 wedding, choosing the right photographer was one of our top priorities.  We wanted candid photos that captured moments not contrived poses, and we wanted to like the people who were going to be following us around that day.  As soon as we met with the team at Mango Studios we knew we'd found the company for us.  Not only do they do gorgeous work, but we loved the coffee table-type wedding albums that are their specialty.  (And the finished product they delivered us really lived up to the hype).  I would highly recommend Mango to any future brides (I know they travel extensively so even if you're not from Toronto they might still be an option for you).  Even if you're not getting married you should check out their site for some lovely wedding and engagement photos to look through.

Mango has also started a new "Shooting for Design" project, with new work promised in February of this year, where they work with interior designers and customers to provide photo art pieces customized for individual spaces.  Below are a sample of the photographs Mango produced for interior designer Moe Razi of Razi Design.

Alla Prossima

Street Chic: 01.29.10

Model-writer Josh Veldhuizen shot by Jason Jean of Citizen Couture.  Gorgeous girl and I love the boots and bag.

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Flowers in 3-D

An alternative to the bright floral prints sure to be a trend this spring -- floral appliqués.  Whether small and understated or oversized and glam they're everwhere, just take your pick.  Me?  I really wouldn't mind that Valentino bag, but I'll settle for some of the great pieces from the H&M Garden Collection.

H and M

Top Shop

Forever 21

Runway Photos:  style.com (Isaac Mizrahi, Jason Wu, J. Mendel, Luisa Beccaria, Rochas, Valentino)

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Tommy & Tavi

I love fellow Canadian Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil. I love his eye for detail and accessories and have been admiring his recent work from the shows for Style.com.  Now Tommy has shot blog phenomenon Tavi for Vogue.

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Focus On: Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant Spring 2010.  I love how she mixes rocker chick edge with a dose of femininity.

Photos:  style.com

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Beautiful Room: 01.26.10

I was going through some of my saved photos and I couldn't get over how gorgeous designer Julia Edelmann's Chicago living room is.  I just love all the elements of this room and how it manages to look chic and unique and comfortable all at the same time. 

I love the candlesticks and the Moorish-style metal gate, not to mention the perfectly placed objects on the ornately carved mantel.

Photos:  Traditional Home


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February Giveaway: Wine Rack

Thank you so much to all of you who participated in my first giveaway.  Now I'm excited to present another exciting prize!  This giveaway is sponsored by CSN Stores, a company out of Boston that offers a variety of web-based stores selling items ranging from bar stools and furniture to nursey items.  Best of all shipping on many items is free!

February is the month of love and Valentine's Day and what better way to celebrate (whether or not you have a special someone) than with a great bottle of wine?  That's why this month I'm giving away a Oenophilia Bali 12 Bottle Wine Rack.  If you're interested, see below for instructions on how to enter.

How To Enter:

1. Leave one comment on this post between today and midnight EST on Friday, February 19, 2010. (If you don't have a blog or contact info on your blog, please include your email address so I can contact you if you win.  Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.)

2.  For an extra two entries include a memorable Valentine's Day experience (cute, funny, romantic, not so romantic it doesn't matter!)

3. Become a follower of this blog and receive an extra entry. If you are already a follower please note it in your comment and you will also receive an additional entry.

4. Blog, Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway (and include the link in your comment) for an extra entry.

The winner will be chosen at random.  Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.



Good Luck!

SAG Awards 2010 & A Winner

I didn't get a chance to watch the SAG Awards, but going through the photos I was pleased to see that there were quite a few lovely looks.  Purple and white were big colours on Saturday as they were at the Globes.  Lots of blue was also seen, ranging from Drew's navy to Christina's pale blueish green. 

My favourite look was Nicole in Oscar de la Renta (you can see the full length here). The colours suit her so well, love the cut, and I am so glad to see the red curls are back in business.  The statement necklace from Fred Leighton just finished off the look.

I also thought Lea Michele's Catherine Malandarino was great.  So much better than the black pouf at the Globes.   The colour is amazing on her and she looks elegant, but still young and relaxed.

I'm also charmed by 30 Rock's Katrina Bowden's feathery white number.

Continuing the white brigade--Kate, Marion and Kyra.  Kate looked beautiful in her Emilio Pucci and what a great back view, perfectly enhanced by the Cartier necklace.  When I saw this dress it immediately reminded me of the white dresses Tom Ford designed in his heyday at Gucci (gosh - I loved those ads!)

Marion Cotillard, chic in Elie Saab.

Kyra Sedgwick - beautiful and romantic in Vera Wang

I thought Diane Kruger was so chic in Jason Wu.  The cut and colour was perfect for her.  Pacey really deserves nothing less. 

I know Drew Barrymore's Lhuillier has a lot of people split, but I like this one.  Much better than her Globes dress.  Great colour, but what is UP with the hair?

Meryl Streep looked so great.  Completely classy.

I'm kind of on the fence about Sandra Bullock's McQueen.  I love the blue, but something about the cut seems kind of old to me.  Either way I think Sandra is beyond adorable and just how cute are she and Jesse James?!

I loved the back of Christina Applegate's gown and the jewels in her hair.  She looked so pretty and feminine in her Robert Cavalli.  Subtle and understated for a designer so famous for his sexy creations.

 

Penélope Cruz chose black again but I think her L'Wren Scott really suited her.  Kinda boring maybe, but she's gorgeous.

I think Christina Kendricks is beautiful and I think her Carolina Herrera suited her, but kinda similar to Mariah Carey's dress, no? 

And while I'm not sure about their dresses can I tell you how much I love Julia Louis-Drefyus and Betty White!?

Glee's Dianna Argon is adorable, but not even she can save this Edition by Georges Chakras dress.  I'm assuming they forgot to snip off a piece of fabric before she stepped onto the red carpet.

And just...why Vera Farmiga?  Why?

Photos:  Fab Sugar, Just Jared, Socialite Life, TV Guide

AND THE WINNER OF THE I KNOW YOU WANT IT GIVEAWAY IS...

Erika @ Café Fashionista

Congrats!  And I'll be in touch about shipping your prize! 

Please tune in for details about my next giveaway,
which I hope to post soon.
Happy Monday everyone!!

Alla Prossima

Book of the Week: At A Loss for Words

Kingston, Ontario based Diane Schoemperlen's At A Loss for Words is a slim book, but packed with emotion.  The protagonist is a fortysomething writer who can't sleep and can't write.  To complicate the situation she's recently hooked back up with her teenage love and the novel takes us through their romance--from the first heady days of the reunion to the isolation she feels as she struggles to feel close to him despite their physical distance and beyond.

Without giving too much away someone should have given this woman He's Just Not That Into You.  Seriously.  I'm mean, we've all been there.  You want someone so badly you're willing to romanticize and put up with a hell of a lot in a bid to convince him--and yourself--that its meant to be.  Most of us also have a first puppy love not easily forgotten and what a great story it would be to find each other decades later and finally make it work...except that life is not always that pat, love not always that fated.

"At my age I should have known better than to get involved with you. 

At my age I did know better than to get involved with you.  But I did it anyway."

I enjoyed the unique writing style of the novel and it was poigant, but in some ways disappointing or perhaps just unsatisfying, if not altogether unbelievable.  The ending, I'm sure, was meant as a shocker, but perhaps the surprise was just for the lady herself.  This seems to be true in life as well as fiction, where people on the outside seem to be able to see bad relationships so much more clearly than the ones suffering through them.

3.5/5

Alla Prossima

Sesame Street Chic

Sesame Street was one of those mainstay shows of my childhood, like Mr. Dressup and Today's Special not to mention Polkadot Door, Mr. Rogers and Romper Room, which I watched just to see if that lady would ever see me in her magic mirror and say my name--she didn't.  These loves later morphed into Rainbow Bright, JEM and The Rockers and playing MASH in the schoolyard.

I think these photos from Harper's Bazaar, of designers posing with their creations and iconic Sesame Street characters, are just adorable.  Reminds me of a simpler time.

Oscar and Oscar (how gorgeous is that ballgown?!)

Carolina and Elmo

Derek Lam, Thakoon, Bert and Ernie

Francisco Costa and Grover

Vera Wang and Abby Cadabby

Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte with

Cookie Monster (my personal favourite)

Don't forget, today is the last day to
enter the You Know You Want It and
The Gospel According to Coco Chanel giveaway.
I will announce the winner on Monday -
Happy Weekend everyone!

Alla Prossima