Timeless Dior

[Photo courtesy of Holt Renfrew]

Last Thursday, I attended Holt Renfrew's presentation of Dior timepieces with special guest Bernadette Morra from FASHION Magazine. It was an eventful afternoon featuring a speech by Bernadette and a display of exclusive and limited edition Dior fine watches. The timepiece that stole the show was the Dior Christal Passage n° 2 with diamonds and mandarin garnets, a $260,000 couture watch that John Galliano had designed to match an haute couture runway look.

Bernadette Morra is not only a top fashion journalist and the acting editor-in-chief of FASHION Magazine, she is also a fine watch collector and the creator of Firstwaternews.com, an online magazine covering the finest in watches and jewellery. Her busy schedule may include globetrotting for the latest fashion inspiration and visits to Grasse where fresh rose petals are concocted into the famous Chanel No.5, but she always makes time for fine watches. Bernadette’s speech evinced the deep appreciation she has for John Galliano and Christian Dior, while her smile and the sparkle in her eye conveyed a passion for fine timepieces. From our conversation, it seemed that she was not particularly one to chase the dernier cri in watch design but one to truly appreciate the fine craftsmanship and timelessness of exclusive watches. It was a pleasure to speak with her and I hope you’ll enjoy the interview as much as I did.



The Interview...
with Bernadette Morra

Carolina: I understand that you are a watch collector. What is your favorite piece from your collection?

Bernadette: It would have to be my Cartier Panthere, in gold, with a diamond bezel. I’ve had it for 3 to 4 years, and still get a thrill when I see it on my wrist. I think “wow” every time I look at it.


Carolina: Vintage or New?

Bernadette: That’s tough, as I love both. However, you have to be very careful buying a vintage watch. You can’t tell the condition of the internal movements, or if there are any replaced parts. It’s hard to be 100% confident in buying a vintage watch unless you take it in to be checked. But with purchasing new from a reputable brand, such as Dior, you always know what you’re getting.


Carolina: What was your first Dior purchase?

Bernadette: I think it was a J’adore Dior t-shirt. They’re so much fun!


Carolina: On a similar note, what’s your favourite Dior piece?

Bernadette: My favourite piece is a beautifully shaped black jacket with a fox collar and hourglass cut. I purchased this from a resale shop in Monaco called Le Dressing, which must be one of my most loved designer resale shops in the world. Many French women only wear their clothes for one season, so this shop always has a new and amazing selection every time I visit.

xo,

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Orchidea

Sans Souci floral romper, F21 ring, Zara belt, Chanel & HRH Collection pearls, YSL tribute sandals

How could 5 3/4" towering heels be comfortable? Well, you can put that question to rest when you've tried a pair of YSL platform sandals! I recently treated myself to a pair during the Neiman Marcus sale. For me, the golden rule when it comes to purchasing a pair of designer shoes is that I need to make sure I'll still love & wear them in 5 years time. I believe in the investment of timeless, classic pieces, and by asking myself this question before each purchase, I've avoided quite a few overly "trendy" pairs I know I'd regret today. These Yves Saint Laurent Tribute sandals have been on my mind ever since they were introduced in 2007. Dozens of colors, materials, and trims later, these platform sandals have truly become iconic in present day 2010. The yearly remake of the now classic sandal means the seasonal ones often go on sale, which is how I ended up snatching these in the color "Orchidea".  Classic shoes in a striking purple and matte "painted" leather at 30% off, it was hard to say no! They perfectly compliment the floral romper I got from a store in Toronto called Mendocino Clothing. I spent some time at one of their locations looking through their fantastic collection of brands from LA, NYC, etc - I think an expansion to Vancouver is in order!

Ps. Thanks Alexandra for the "Coco" mixed chain necklace with pearls! The Coco Chanel inspired necklace from HRH Collection is available on Etsy: blueaudi!







xo,

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Coco Struts for a Cure

Elizabeth & James top, La Rok skirt, Zara heels, F21 & FineFinds rings, Balenciaga city bag

While I was in Toronto, I had the pleasure of attending an amazing event for a great cause - Strut For a Cure. The girl behind the event is Erika, a 12 year old girl with a big heart and a supermodel cousin. Coco Rocha needs no introduction. In a short period of 5 years, she has made herself a household name and claimed the title of being one of the most versatile models in the industry.  The busy lady spent most of the night being interviewed while looking very futuristic-chic.  Jeanne Beker, noted fashion journalist, was the Emcee for the night.  She looked classy and exuded confidence as she struck poses in front of the media wall while carrying a lust-worthy Chanel reissue.

During the show, Coco and other models took the stage in Todd Lynn's creations - the collection shown at London Fashion Week Fall 2010 this past February.  The entire collection was cohesive with Fur covered shoulders and full-body leather as the overall theme. After great hors d'œuvres and a fantastic runway show, there was the performance by Dragonette.   What was Coco like? She is exactly what you would imagine her to be: Stunning, Dynamic, and Fun! It's always great to see star power used for important causes. 










xo,

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Chasing the Sun

Silence + Noise Romper, Deena & Ozzy hat, Marc by Marc Jacobs Sunglasses, Bebe vest, Steve Madden sandals, Michael Kors bag

Hello Cannes Toronto! I never thought I would say this about a Metropolitan city like TO, but my experience so far can rival South of France. The crisp blue water and blazing sun takes you to a warm and tropical place.  Well, only until you turn around to see the soaring CN Tower and his little brothers in the financial district, reminding you that we're in Toronto - Canada's economic capital. We spent a beautiful day by the harbour.  The Victoria Day long weekend brought festivals, shows, and plenty of people to the lakefront hotspot.  Who knew I'd be getting a tan here instead of in San Diego!

The last picture is from the Arts at the Heart artisan market at Yonge-Dundas Square, where vendors display their unique hand crafted items every weekend from May-Oct. The jewelery stand is filled with Bijoux's unique designs. I bought a pair of May's one-of-a-kind earrings for a friend's birthday coming up (R, if you're reading this. hint hint). There's so much of the city we've yet to explore, so off I go, will update shortly ;)







xo,

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PS. I can't thank you all enough for your visits and comments. More photos of my apartment will be coming up, I promise :) For now, there's always a glimpse into my Closet and Dining area.

Angel, I stole your wings

Asos Feather Cape, Hero Crane dress, House of Harlow rings, Miu Miu ballet flats

There's a certain luxury associated with feathers. It's hard to deny their beauty and I simply couldn't resist the soft shade these came in. Despite the duties I had to pay to have this shipped (which cost nearly as much as the cape), I'm more than happy with this purchase and can't wait to wear it for a special event.

The Hero Crane free form nude number was an amazing score from the Aritzia Warehouse sale last month. The Miu Miu flats were a birthday present to myself/taking advantage of a sale. Running the promotion on my birthday was a great move by the store, not so great for my wallet! A friend recently told me that whenever there's a bow involved in a shoe, there's always at least one person at a factory who's on "bow" duty - to measure, cut, tie, and repeat. What I love about the bows on these Miu Miu's is that they're not perfect. The back side of the leather is exposed and the two bows are shaped differently, yet they still look perfect in the most organic way. Gotta appreciate that kind of craftsmanship!







xo,

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From San Diego with Love

F21 top and ring, Michael Kors crossbody bag, Seven jean shorts,

Home sweet home! I spent the week in San Diego - A few days of work and a few more to shop, visit the zoo, and hang with my Honorary-Canadian/LA-fashionista friend Annette from The VersaStyle.  We spent the day shopping at the Fashion Valley, but shocked ourselves by leaving the place with absolutely nothing! Determined to do better, we made up for it by finding a few things on 5th Ave before having dinner at a quiant little Italian place.  The San Diego Zoo was a must, especially to see the Pandas! I'm just a little obsessed.... and I was pleasantly surprised by how active they were.  Zhen Zhen, a two-year-old girl and a little acrobat, did not stop running and climbing for the entire 20 mins I was there.  I'm sure Cirque du Soleil would love to have her! 









xo,

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Little Miss Homemaker

BCBG dress, Apron by Elisharon

They say strangers are friends you have yet to meet. Well, that couldn't be more true. Ever find certain bloggers particularly sweet? And if it weren't for the geographical location, you know she/he would make a great friend? I say hallelujah to the internet and to fashion, for bringing people from all over the world together.



I received this beautiful package from the very sweet Sharon of Elisharon recently and was delighted to find delicious Hawaiian treats and a handmade apron! I was really touched by the lace details and her thoughtfulness. Although wearing a pretty apron doesn't instantly make me a good cook, I'm inspired to have another go at cooking! Thank again Sharon :)

---> Vancouver Style & Shopping -Read my article in Issue #7 of the Style Sample Magazine - Pg 16!


xo,

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