Shopping

STORE PROFILE: Kaleidoscope Kids’ Books

Photo by David Kawai.

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

It’s March Break, the kids are at home, and they’re either bored to tears or making mischief. If you’re a parent looking for affordable ways to make it through the rest of the week, may we suggest Kaleidoscope Kids’ Books.

As the only shop in the city catering solely to children, it’s a fun place to spend the day — plus it’s in the Glebe, so there’s no shortage of cute cafes nearby from which to grab a bite. And with the weather forecast offering warm but wet, an independent book store is a pretty safe bet. It’s also a great way to entertain a wide range of kids — they carry titles suitable for rocking baby to sleep and more mature books that might just give adults the creeps.

Speaking of titles, get the little ones pumped by checking out this trailer for I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. For fantasy lovers who like a strong female lead, the shop has Cinder, the first in a new series by Marissa Myers.

The Look: Bright and inviting.

Perfect for: Whiling away March Break!

USP: Great location on Bank Street means you can combine a visit with a fun lunch — or continue the book bliss and head over the bridge to Ottawa Public Library Sunnyside branch.

Kaleidoscope Kids’ Books. 1018 Bank St., 613-232-7406, http://kaleidoscopekidsbooks.ca

Get the scoop on over 435 local stores in the Ottawa Magazine Shopping Guide 2011/2012. Access the Shopping Guide online or get your copy at Britton’s and other newsstand locations.

3 Comments

CONTEST! FASHION Magazine’s 35th anniversary, and other musings on lipstick

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Name that lipstick! It's a raspberry hue, but certainly Canadians can come up with something clever to capture the colour — and 35 years of fashion history.

Earlier this week, we received a press release from one of our sister publications, FASHION Magazine. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the magazine, they’re teaming up with L’Oréal Paris to launch a limited-edition lipstick — and they’re inviting Canadians to name the shade!

We like contests, and we love when our company is affiliated with anything fashion-related, so we read on.

The contest, which runs until April 1, asks Canadians to enter a name that reflects the colour of the lipstick (and maybe the last 35 years of fashion, perhaps?). A panel of judges from L’Oréal Paris and FASHION Mag will create a shortlist of five names; from April 2-24 the public can vote on their favourite.

The prize is certainly cool: in addition to $500 of L’Oréal swag, there are tickets for two to FASHION Mag’s party (spa treatments + dinner included!) and a $2,000 shopping spree.

But something else in the presser caught our attention, and started an interesting discussion.

“Lipstick is the go-to item in a woman’s cosmetic bag — the beauty perennial that finishes her look, gives her confidence, and allows her to express her individuality to the world,” says Bernadette Morra, editor in chief, FASHION Magazine.

Read the rest of this story »

STORE PROFILE: Lauzon Music

The showcase of guitars for sale at Lauzon Music will amaze any guitar aficionado. Photo by David Kawai

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Every year when we research for our Shopping Guide, we meet people who intrigue us with niche information. They offer stories that beg for more attention and passion that makes us remember what a rich urban landscape Ottawa has to offer. Ken Lauzon at Lauzon Music was one such person.

From the moment we stepped into the elegant West Wellie shop we became immersed in his world. The showroom of gleaming pianos is only the beginning. Downstairs in the repair shop, Lauzon beamed with pride when speaking of their skilled technicians.

But perhaps most exciting is their collection of limited edition guitars. These go fast — sometimes before they’re in store, some guitar aficionado has caught wind of the fact that a 1960 Les Paul, played and signed by Eric Clapton, is available. Nevertheless, its fun to chat with the staff about the big-ticket items and dream big. Check out their Facebook page for a glimpse of what’s in store; local photographer Scott McGuigan has made artwork out of these instruments.

Read the rest of this story »

EVENT REVIEW: Five things we saw at Ottawa Fashion Week

A favourite from the Jana Hanzel/Emilia Torabi collection. Photo by Sarah Fischer

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Let’s start this post off with a disclaimer: we don’t attempt to ‘cover’ OFW. Covering means attending all the pre- and post-events, all runway shows, and having a decent base of WordPress skills to translate our observations into something comprehensive and pretty that accurately reflects what we took in. We have no such skills, and we don’t have the time (on top of managing multiple print projects and maintaining this site) nor the expense budget to camp out at the Westin! (One of us has a baby bump to keep fueled with fatty nutritious food, after all.)

But we can offer our opinions on what we did see. For one thing, it was fun! The event is definitely becoming a social event, with fewer people looking anxious or bored and more attendees using OFW to mix and network, dress to impress, and get involved. There was a palpable buzz surrounding the crowds of people hanging between shows. A great sign.

Read the rest of this story »

1 Comment

GREAT IDEA: Rent Frock Repeat offers practical (and pretty!) solutions to wardrobe dilemmas

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

All the buzz in the lead-up to Ottawa Fashion Week is making us envious of those with walk-in closets full of designer duds. (Do those people worry about what to wear, or is it just a matter of taking a stroll through their personal collection and choosing something that strikes their fancy?) Indeed, we’ve started to wonder what to wear to the biannual showcase that is OFW. We’re thinking of taking a casual approach, and yet we can’t help but envy those that put together a killer ensemble and stand out in the crowd.

Mark & James violet one-shoulder minidress by Badgley Mischka. Retails for $345, rents for $90, sizes XS - L.

All these wardrobe woes (call them #firstworldproblems) made us remember a unique operation based out of Toronto. The gals at Rent Frock Repeat (RfR) seem to have a real handle on this mindset: the need to appear stylish and trend-savvy at important events, the realities of a clothing budget and closet space, and the availability of designer clothes — plus the time it takes to track down the right dress!

While we didn’t have time to rent-a-frock for this weekend’s OFW shows, we wanted to get the lowdown … and start planning for the next big event. In this week’s installment of SHOP TALK, we chat with RfR’s Kristy Wieber about what’s hot right now, how the business works, and what’s in her closet.

Where do you go to add new pieces to the collection?
We buy new, fresh off the runway, directly from the designer. We’re heading to NYC next week to buy for Fall 2012, but we also buy directly from Canadian designers as well.

What are your most popular dresses right now?
Right now, due to the gala/fundraiser season, we see a lot of floor-length gowns being rented for black-tie events. It just makes so much sense to rent a gown for a charity fundraiser and use the money you saved on the dress and put it towards the charity. Our motto is “Rent the dress, donate the rest!”

After renting a dress and falling in love with it, can I buy it?
No and trust us, our customers fall in love with so many of the dresses that they can’t wait for their next event to try out a different one. RfR lets you experiment with fashion without the buyer’s remorse. Think of us as your virtual online closet — not only do we save you money, but closet space as well.

Read the rest of this story »

STORE PROFILE: L’Occitane for Valentine’s Day

The L'Occitane store at the Rideau centre is sleek, luxurious — and stocked with gift-worthy products. Photo by David Kawai.

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

At first glance, it may seem an odd choice for Valentine’s Day. Aren’t we supposed to show our love with chocolate and flowers and sappy red cards?

Maybe it’s the effects of pregnancy — sensitive skin, an adversity to chocolate, and a nesting instinct that drives me to clear the house of clutter — but what I’m craving are useful items that make me feel comfy. (Plus my hubby is a gardener. Please no more plants!)

A few months ago, I picked up a tub of L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream, and I have been thoroughly loving the after-shower belly application. Though I first bought it in a vain attempt to avoid stretch marks, these days it’s just a good excuse to feel pampered, gaze down at my belly, and slow down in the morning. (Though not visible yet, I now accept stretch marks as one of motherhood’s unavoidable side effects — maybe even a badge of honour!)

Read the rest of this story »

Comments Off

MODEL WATCH: Local model Veronica L. wins MIM contract, looks to OFW casting call

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Every day we seem to receive another announcement about a casting call or new up-and-coming model in the area. We’re not sure if it’s because of the steady growth of Ottawa Fashion Week or the skyrocketing success of models like Herieth Paul — either way, we figured it was time to poke our nose into the world of modeling and take the pulse on the local scene.

Veronica L. recently won a full modeling contract with local agency MIM. Photo courtesy MIM.

This week, we tracked down the latest name making headlines: Veronica L. She’s just 13 years old, but has just landed a free modeling contract with Models International Management (MIM). At 5’11″, she easily surpasses the industry standard of 5’8″ and sports an athletic frame honed from years practicing synchonized swimming and gymnastics.

While MIM spokesperson Jessica D’Angelo describes Veronica as humble, she made no mistake about her talent:

“In front of the camera, Veronica had a serious fire about her,” says D’Angelo. “She was very shy, but so open to putting herself out there.”

Veronica beat out over 60 people — men and women, kids and teens — at the event, held at Bayshore Shopping Centre.

She describes the event as fun and “not stressful at all.” She found out about the contest through her friend, Megan W., who currently models with MIM — plus her mother has some modeling experience, so maybe it runs in the family!

Next up for Veronica: the Ottawa Fashion Week casting call.

Read the rest of this story »

SHOP TALK: Erica Wark offers fur vest styling tips

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Erica pairs bright red cropped pants with a delicate, neutral blouse, and adds another pop of colour with her pumps. Photo by Cindy Orti

Sarah came across a beautiful faux fur vest while on vacation over Christmas — as soon as she put it on at the store, she was smitten. But also a bit confused.

“I have been wearing it around the house because I instantly feel more confident and sexy in my new statement piece. But, the more I thought about it I was at a loss for what to wear under it!”

Sarah called up our friend, stylist Erica Wark, for some advice — Erica is a big fan of faux fur, as you can see on her website.

“Faux fur is a great way to update any look,” says Erica. “Layering is such an important tool when it comes to the winter, so why not do it all while adding a luxurious feel to your outfit!”

She offered the following rules of thumb when putting together an outfit with a fur vest:

“If you’re adding faux fur, always make sure the items underneath are streamlined or of a softer texture. Otherwise you’ll be adding extra bulk to the body, and nobody wants that.”
Read the rest of this story »

OPENING: David’s Bridal

The peplum isn't just for the runway, as seen in this White by Vera Wang gown. Photo courtesy David's Bridal.

Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Even if you’re not in the market for a wedding gown, the news that U.S. retailer David’s Bridal is opening a location in Ottawa is pretty big. After all, this means more affordable cocktail dresses and sparkly shoes — not to mention the fact that Montreal shoppers could be coming this way for a change!

The 8,000 sq. ft. store, which opens tomorrow at Trainyards, is the fourth to open in Canada, will be the exclusive source for White by Vera Wang, a line that offers VW signature style at prices that range from $600 to $1,600. (And those are higher price points than the other collections at David’s; prices for Galina Signature, Oleg Cassini, and others start at $300.)

If you are hearing wedding bells, though, then the opening has the potential to be a game-changer in terms of planning.

Read the rest of this story »

GUEST POST: D e g a i n e brings winter style inspiration from London, Barcelona

This week, Shop Talk welcomes guest blogger Farah Ragheb, aka D e g a i n e, who shares images and style advice from her jet-setting life.

Last year I left O-town behind and moved to Spain to indulge in the carefree life of the Mediterranean. (More than anything I was looking forward to enjoying a different way of life — one that didn’t include a brutal winter!) After a year of living in Barcelona and travelling across Europe (especially London), my eyes were opened to the different looks that thrived in various world class cities. I saw how the atmosphere of a city reflects the style of its residents. Plus, having seen nothing but Canadian winters, I was interested to see how other cultures dressed for the colder season.

Guest blogger Farah Ragheb interprets Barcelona style with a sweater from Aritzia, and Forever 21 shorts. Belt and tank from Urban Outfitters. Boots from Barcelona Boutique.

Barcelona has a beach city vibe, one that was both vibrant and laid-back. The style on the streets always reflected this feeling: basically a mix of rocker chic and cool, casual comfort. Studded boots, oversized knits, denims, layers of different pieces, leather jackets, harem pants, and vibrant hints of color were all regulars in BCN. I used what I saw on the streets of Barcelona as inspiration to create a look that incorporated this style and my personality.

London on the other hand, had a whole different vibe. To sit by and people-watch was interesting because so many styles are so authentic and different. Given this vibrant variety, it only makes sense that London has recently been named the fashion capital of the world (over longstanding New York City).

Read the rest of this story »