I have a secret for you. Promise not to tell anyone? Shhh… Come closer… Closer… I love Phillip Lim! What do you mean you already knew that?! Oh, right, you read my posts (here, here and here) and I sound like a broken record am a true fan.
Well, infashionistas, brace yourselves, Monsieur Lim has done it again! This time, he stole my heart (pun intended) in the form of a T-shirt. Yes, I have fallen head over heels over a I (heart) NY Tee shirt!
You all have seen the classic I (heart) NY logo a billion times. One of the greatest American graphic designers, Milton Glaser , designed it in 1977, and literally made New York history with what is now one of the most recognizable and copied logo of all times. I always loved it, but those horrendous touristy tees never fit right.

And then, Philllip Lim happened. He just makes everything he touches so cool! This one has an upside down heart and a Spanish twist, the cut is perfect for lazy week ends and swimming pool sides, and it instantly became my laid-back staple for the summer. I went on a kid-less romantic getaway with jerry and sported it all week end.

I first got the simple version, and then spotted the decked out one with embellishments. Featured on Garance Dore fashion blogger/icon, which was of course sold out. I didn’t give up (another surprise…not) and as soon as I hear they were restocked I jumped and got mine! I (heart) my new tees!

It is no coincidence that our Mackage NY flagship store is 3 doors down to Phillip Lim’s on Mercer. It is one of my favorite streets to shop, and we are also just steps away from Rag and Bone… Good neighbors!

In other related news, never ceasing to amaze, Phillip Lim will be doing a collaboration with Target for a collection in September.

I have to say I was super surprised of these news, I was never a big Target collab fan (as opposed to H&M, or Topshop). But I trust him (almost) blindly, and so I will be on the look-out, as should you! It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get their hands on some very
infashionated stuff!

It’s always so exciting and inspiring for me to watch new trends as they are born from the minds of the creative designers around the world and eventually come to reality on the streets, being interpreted by fashion lovers everywhere. But exactly how is a trend born? Some of what we see on the runway seems very “out there” and hardly wearable, and most fashion shows are meant to be watched as a works of art, and made to make us dream and get inspired. (Hello Alexander Mc Queen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood!) But the magic of fashion is just this: we see something we fall in love with, something to desire, we get that glamour feeling, and then we try to apply it in a personal and practical way, or as Tim from Project Runway would say: “Make it Work”!
One of the trends that I really loved this season is the “collage” trend. It was everywhere, from New York, London and Paris, and it really caught my eye. It is a very graphic, very pop art look, that can be fun and intricate if done right.

Not only in fashion, this trend is also found in contemporary art, editorial, fashion illustration, graphic design…

The “sweatpants” I’m wearing here is anything but your sporty usual pair, the sequin collage makes it trendy and fun, while keeping a real downtown hipness. I love them!

I’ve already confessed my sequin fetish and undying love for Phillip Lim, and these are just the best of all worlds for me, and the perfect way for me to try my hand at the collage trend. Don’t you think they are SO inFashionated?!

Probably the biggest dilemma in every modern woman’s life; juggling a career and a family life is definitely not the easiest of tasks. This conversation has been red hot lately, with such people as Sheryl Sandberg from Facebook recently writing a book about it, and the CEO of Yahoo Marissa Mayer taking only a week maternity leave after the birth of her child, this topic is definitely one of the big feminist issues of our society. I constantly prioritize and I sometimes have to sacrifice some things for the greater good…hence my being MIA here for the last month. This blog is a place where I really enjoy sharing my thoughts and life with you guys, but unfortunately I sometimes must put it on the side for a minute. (or a month!)
The first three months of the year are the busiest in our industry,finalizing the collection, doing tradeshows and preparing and executing our Fashion show. This year was even crazier because Passover practically lapped over Toronto Fashion Week, and I hardly had a minute to catch my breath. I basically landed from Toronto the day after our Mackage FW13 show and drove directly to the grocery store to shop for the dinners I was hosting the next day for close to 20 people!!! I was in line with a full shopping cart laughing like a coocoo by myself just thinking how I really live an extreme lifestyle.

But the craziness is over, (temporarily) and I am back and glad to be here!
Now let’s get to it! Fashion week is over, and I want to share with you what I thought were the most inspiring and beautiful shows for Fall 13.

It all starts in New York, and although the biggest buzz is always about Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs…my favorite by far is once again Phillip Lim! His collection inspired by the biker lifestyle was so cool and wearable. I love the fact that he took the sweet away and brought in some badass. The styling also was right on point, I really adored it. These are some of my favorite looks.

At Proenza Schouler, the ladylike were so dreamy. It was Soft and sophisticated while being always so contemporary and forward. Although these days I myself want to look more like an effortless downtown girl, this collection made me feel like dressing like a posh uptown lady.

Off to Paris! Of course Givenchy was one of my most anticipated: loved the cloths but did not get the styling, what was up with the hair? Or was it swimming caps? I’m all for a creative out there show, but this was too close to ugly for me. However, the clothes were as fierce and dark as always, every piece was lust worthy. It was actually inspired by the Givenchy archives and the designer Riccardo Tischi said “I was like a gypsy—you know, gypsies are always recycling old clothes. It was really one of the most fun collections I’ve done in my career.” I loved the fashion gypsy metaphor, very inspiring and creative.

Kenzo had a big come back this year, and became an instant fave, with their new creative directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon (from Opening Ceremony). The collection is wearable, fun youthful and fresh.

Acne this year showed in Paris instead of their usual London. Their runway was spectacular but only fit for a 6 ft tall model (not yours truly!) Creative director Jonny Johansson collaborated with the artist Katerina Jebb, and they explored the archive of historical garments at the Musée Galliera, the Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris so it was most fitting to show it in Paris.

Lanvin…As always, spot on. Alber Elbaz is one of today’s most talented and creative designers and he literally gave this old French House a new life. I am literally obsessed with his accessories! A simple idea…yet so new: enlarge words. LOVE LOVE LOVE them! They kind of reminded me of those hip hoppers of the 80s like RUN DMC and Public Enemy. The clothes, timeless, precious, elegant. He stayed true to his aesthetic with his sophistication with a dash of cool and casual. What an amazing visionary.

In London Stella McCartney worked the fine line of androgyne beauty by infusing some femininity in men’s clothes, or was it the opposite? Her runway started with oversized pin striped masculine clothes which were followed by more feminine silhouettes. My favorite part of her show was the oversized coats in bright purple. I really liked the felt baseball cap. I have to be honest big clunky shoes are not my thing, I feel like the make even the most svelte lady look like a bull.

At Erdem we were in for a surprise. I’ve told you about my fascination with his sense of print and color…Well this time, he was all about black. Even his colorful prints were all infused with some black, giving a really film noir femme fatale mood.
His plays with different types of lace and matte and shine were brilliant. This young designer is on everyone’s must watched list for a reason: he keeps us guessing, and we want more!

In Milan, Frida Giannini killed it again at Gucci. She really gives this brand a second life since Tom Ford has left it. This show did not disappoint, her use of color was super tasteful, with some beautiful dark fuchsias, burnt orange and light teals, great leathers, and super sleek leathers. This collection was contemporary and classic all at once, and very very feminine.

Of course after all NY, Paris, London and Milan Fashion week there was Toronto! We had a great show at Mackage; this collection is one of my favorites that we made. (Maybe I always say that. Just maybe)
As you can see from all the runway favorites it is a coat season so it was very exciting as coats are the DNA of our brand. This season we went with more bold colors, and played a lot with layering: coats on top of leather jackets, leather leggings in lieu of stockings. Two words: BAD_ASS. And we have a big announcement: we launched our new handbag collection! You know what a bag fanatic I am, so it was time Eran and I took a shot at it and I’m so happy we did.

A lot of you asked me where to find the music of our show, which was by Brendan Fallis … my gift to you: you can download it here.

FW13 is officially behind us, what were your favorites? Worse?
You know there isn’t a dead beat in fashion, and so we already move on to SS14! Infashionated works in the future!

One thing I am certain of, is that how you feel, how you perceive and see yourself is exactly the image you exude and give off to people around you.
When the day ahead calls for me to be a strong business woman; managing my team, negotiating accounts and meeting buyers, I want to look and feel like a fierce, strong, effective pro, in shorter words “like a boss”.
A good pantsuit is to me the equivalent of Clark Kent’s Superman cape, transforming me instantly into that powerful business woman, ready to fight super villains.

Pantsuits have evolved over the years, since they were made popular in the mid 60s by French designer Courreges. Slowly but surely, they became the staple for working women across the globe, more comfortable and less revealing than their skirted counter parts. These words automatically bring images of political figure Hillary Clinton, and women who mean business and want to be taken seriously.

Only in the last few years have pantsuits really become so stylish, feminine and trendy, out of the pin stripe and grey wools that were so predominant in the last 25 years.
This season they made such strong fashion come back, with jewel tones and prints giving a fun factor seldom seen before.

Look at the suit you see me wearing here, sharp and edgy, but the lace makes it flirty and feminine enough for me to stay my girly self! This Rag and Bone hat has been glued to my head a lot lately, I wish I could wear it everyday, it gives any outfit that edge I like and makes even the most “professional look” feel super cool.

PHOTOS BY Richard Bernardin

Wearing: Elizabeth and James Suit and Shirt/ Handbag Givenchy/ Shoes Miu Miu

With this outfit, I feel Dressed for Success and ready to take on the world! You can be professional and keep it inFashionated!

PS: I also have been watching the TV show SUITS, a NYC lawfirm drama, and I’m wondering if I was a little influenced by it?! Do you guys watch it too?! Im hooked

I`ve been running around so much since I last wrote, I`ll give you all a quick recap of the past weeks for you to get a glimpse at the madness and the mileage accomplished.

Since I came back from Turks and Caicos, Eran and I had to divide and conquer, so he went to NY for a menswear tradeshow, and I took off to Berlin to attend a tradeshow called Premium.

Our Booth at Premium Berlin

I was so sick while I was there, my night cap was a shot of Nyquill to get some rest and be functional in the AM. I wish I got to do more in Berlin, but apart from dining at two cool spots, NOTO and Dos Palillos, I really didn’t get to see much. A girl’s gotta eat!

A quick stop back at Montreal head quarters for fittings and I was off to Dusseldorf to meet with our new distributor and give them a little product knowledge. The people we work with there are wonderful and represent awesome brands like Givenchy, Kenzo, and of course Mackage!

I then zoomed to Copenhagen for some meetings at the Gallery tradeshow, and got to stop at a great department store called Illum for a quick spree. I got a good Acne fix, and discovered Stine Goya, a new fave of mine.

Illum Department store

In the evening, I had dinner at Fiskebar, in this most awesome location with a camp fire at the entrance, with a very meat packing district feel to it.

Again a pit stop in Montreal and I was on my way to NYC with Eran to show our collection to some of our favorite clients, accompanied by our trusted and amazing NY sales team.

My Wardrobe at the Ace Hotel

We met up for dinner with Meaghan from Purse Blog at a hot spot called Catch. It was a great evening. Dinner was delicious and awesome people watching, as we were surrounded by Hollywood royalty: to my left Jada Pinkett and her daughter Willow Smith were enjoying a nice mother daughter time, and in front of us, rapper Bow Wow and producer Germaine Dupri were chatting it up.

All this was good and fun, but on Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t take the distance anymore: I needed to go home, and kiss my kids and husband! So I hopped on a plane and surprised them. Well… I probably should have warned Jerry I was coming home, the poor man almost had a heart attack and thought I was an intruder!!!

Running around the world is a big part of my job, and I love it, but as you can tell I hardly had a minute to sit down! Now it feels so good to be home for a full week, surrounded by the men I love!

In the heart of winter, when the landscape is all white and everyone is wrapped in layers of blacks and greys, one of my ways to stand out from the bleak of the season is to go all out with strong prints and bold colors. Unexpected contrasts, surprising hues, daring mismatches are all part of the game. The Erdem blouse and skirt you see me wearing on this picture is a great example of this: almost psychedelic, a happy flower print to heat up the coldest winter day.

PHOTOS BY Richard Bernardin

WEARING: Erdem Blouse & Skirt/  Christian louboutin Shoes

Few people understand prints and colors as well as Erdem Moralioglu, designer of this great British brand. A fellow Montrealer of Turkish and English origin, he studied in London where he interned for the legendary Vivienne Westwood, and then moved to New York to work for Diane Von Furstenberg. Having learned from two of the leading ladies of fashion, he went on to open his own brand in England in 2005, where he quickly became recognized and won some of the most coveted awards in Fashion.

Every season, his trademark prints are even more beautiful and surprising than the previous, always keeping it ultra feminine, with form fitting cuts, and timeless pieces.
One of the most challenging trend this season is to do print on print, and with Erdem, you can`t get it wrong.

You probably saw Sienna Miller in this look from SS13 at the Golden Globes last Sunday. I swear, TV didn’t do justice to how detailed and gorgeous the dress was. I think she also probably could have vamped up with more make up, or lipstick, but HEY, she`s gorgeous, and always super stylish.

To inFashionate your winter, I strongly suggest you dare play with unexpected prints and colors, maybe go for a total print on print look, and bring some life to your outfits!

2012 was a very busy year for both of us, so as a well-deserved escape from the cold and bleakness of Montreal winter, Jerry and I decided to take the kids and go on a trip to the beautiful islands of Turks and Caicos. The crystal clear blue waters, the tropical sun and warmth were an instant energy reboot. The island is super tiny, so a good way to go visit the surroundings and get around is to go bike riding. I honestly don’t think I rode a bicycle since I was 12. I was a bit rusty at first (do you think the 6” Lanvin wedges have something to do with that???), but it was so great, that feeling of freedom, wind on your face, truly exhilarating! There is nothing like it!

About my outfit: remember these pants? Yes! They were part of my post “Runway look even prego” post when I was pregnant… I told you guys I would wear them after baby was born! So comfy, perfect for my bike stroll!

The shoes I just love, they are kind of old (SS11) but I wear them everytime I get a chance I especially bring them on all my beach vacations, they are super high, but have a nice wedge for solid comfort, and the printed canvas looks like snake for a little wild girl touch. They also are a birthday gift from the hubby, so I may be a little sentimental about them

I just had a blast riding this bike in Turks and Caicos and will be shopping for one as soon as I get home…I don’t want to wait for another 20 years before I get back on one! Any suggestions on a good cool one with a vintage-y feel? You know your girl’s got to keep it InFASHIONated!

You all know by now how much I love dresses: a lot. And do you know how cold it is where I come from? Very.
Only one thing can resolve my sartorial weather conundrum: stockings. They are an integral part of my cold weather attire. Fall season officially starts the day I redo my stockings drawer.

In the 1920s, they called them “nylons”, and got popular because of Hollywood, and the hemline rising.Their popularity increased throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and then, a steady decline began, leveling off in 2006 with American sales less than half of what they had once been, mostly due to dress codes everywhere becoming a little more lax.

PHOTOS BY Richard Bernardin

WEARING: Aqua By Aqua Dress/ Hue  Stockings / Christian louboutin Shoes

Today, they are back in the spotlight full force, partially because of Kate the Duchess of Cambridge, who is never ever seen without them : it’s palace protocol!

I think tights are more than a trend or an accessory, they are like a photoshop magic wand, giving the wearer instant flawless legs.
They can add a little oomph to your winter outfit, mine here give me starry legs, and there is a plethora of prints or colors, even studded ones.

Wolford

Hue

I love tights so much, that I was mentioned in a NY times article which covered them as an essential style element : “Pantyhose, it’s back at work”.
Ladies, embrace the cold weather and Infashionate your legs with a fun pair of hosiery!

Oh, how I love the holiday season! Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus or none of the above, there surely is an event in your agenda that calls for a party outfit. (That is if the world doesn’t end tomorrow!)

Of course, I took total advantage of the occasion and had all my boys, young, younger and…not so young get prepped up with me. I have to say I am very happy with the end result! Aren’t I the luckiest woman, surrounded by these dashing fellas?!

Clearly you can never be too young to rock a vest…check out how Nathan and Baby Rafael look in their dapper vests and urban skinny black jeans! My old NY room mate Julia gave Rafael these adorable wool Toms shoes, comfie, warm and hip! Nathan is wearing his Footmate leather shoes, I adore these and sadly he is almost growing out of them, these are great, and an essential part of his wardrobe.

The man of the house a great sense of style, and always looks to-the-9s, super manly-man in his blazer and black tie, very gentlemanly, and…HOT!

As for yours truly, being surrounded by my men makes me feel even the more feminine and womanly so I played the part with a thick wool lace skirt and a soft white blouse. I am the only girl in this family still, but who knows, I might hopefully one day have a little daughter to be a girly girl with me…

This holiday shoot was a lot of fun, I love the whole “studio” look in the picture, it’s unusual and surprising, and will look great framed in my home.

So from my family to yours, we wish you a new year filled with delights and wonders, and very inFashionated holidays!

Last Saturday, Jerry and I went to a Mad Men themed party, and got our ‘60s ON! A theme party is the perfect excuse for me to get back to the little girl in me who just wants to play dress up: I cannot tell you how much I enjoy getting into character!

I knew I could find all the perfect ingredients in my wardrobe so Friday night, my sister came to help me sort out through my million options and pick the perfect outfit. She teased me on always being last minute, which has become a signature of mine. Fortunately though, my closet was full of flirty feminine very very ‘60s dresses.

I pulled out this really fun dress bought years ago for my wedding shower….Paired with the right shoes, accessories and hairdo, and I was about to blast into a different era.
8 years ago I was in LA with Eran getting inspiration in vintage stores when I found this lush fur shawl from the ‘60s. I don’t wear it as much as I wish, but this was the perfect occasion!

As a statement accessory, I chose my mom’s clip-on earrings which were absolutely perfect pair except for the fact that one of them was missing its clip! So I did what any infashionated women would do: I grabbed double face tape and stuck that earring on my ear.

I bought these Louboutins years ago and I LOVE them. They are a bit out of trend, but I know trends come and go so I am holding on to these patiently. Well, last Saturday they were right on trend, so they got an opportunity to dance all night!

After a long day at work jerry was still dedicated to make my hair go back in time with a lot of teasing , my bangs on the side and a half pony. Then he said “babe you need to do a long black eyeliner for this look” so I did. I was done and ready to go!

The party was a blast and everyone there looked the part and played it well…I got to see a lot of dear friends I hadn’t seen in a while, and we celebrated Jerry’s birthday ‘6os style!

A theme party is a the perfect excuse to get back to the little girl in you who just wants to play dress up, and pull out all these forgotten gems in the back of your closet. I didn’t need to go shopping to find the perfect look; all I needed was a little imagination and a lot of inFASHIONated spirit!