2014 MTV VMA Show - Best and Worst Dressed

Well, the MTV VMAs were back at it last night! As usual, the red carpet was peppered with some successful and some not-so-successful fashion risks. There was certainly no lack of exposed flesh on display with some of the highest slits I've ever seen and some "J-Lo worthy" plunging necklines. While there was almost too much nudity for my liking, a few gems did pop out of the crowd. I gravitated towards the separates partially because the majority of the gowns were underwhelming.

MY FAVES

In a sea of revealing gowns and mini dresses, Gwen Stefani rocked it in this hot pink and black ensemble. I absolutely loved this look, especially with the hot pink lips and punky Lorraine Schwartz rings. Win.

Ingrid Nilsen, of Youtube beauty fame, is making me swoon over these Christian Siriano separates. You can kind of sense a trend here that I am a major fan of hot pink. Her simple pulled-back hair and those shoes (!!) tied the whole look together for a cute, enviable look.

Beyoncé in Niciolas Jebran, because she is the Queen.

Some people love it, some people elevator hate it. I'm on the love side of Solange Knowles' red carpet look. She is rocking an H&M design over-sized jacket and cigarette pant. Can you believe this suit only cost $150? She ties the whole look together with ankle-strapped Stuart Weitzman Hells and awesome brushed out curls.

Off all the Kardashians, Kendall Jenner definitely stood out above the rest. Her Alon Livne outfit looked perfect with her sleek hair and simple accessories. 

MY LEAST FAVES

I love Ariana Grande. I'm typically a huge supporter of her girly style and I am extremely envious of her hair (WHO IS HER HAIR DRESSER?). I am just not in love with this Moschino number. I don't like the blatant name-dropping and find it a bit edgy/punky for her style.

Ummm... no comment on Amber Rose's outfit selection.

I understand Taylor Swift wanting to make some waves and move away from her typical pretty and safe red carpet style. I commend her for that. However, this looks like she is wearing a cirque-du-soleil leotard. I would love this look more if the bottom was longer and more of a romper-type piece. 

I LOVE that Katy Perry took a jab at Brit Brit and Justin's matching denim red carpet look from the early 2000s. I find it hilarious and love a good flashback every now and again. However, the denim dress and denim suit with corn rows should have been retired when Brit and Justin shook the world and ended their union. No body needs to see that ever again. I need therapy.

At least Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke didn't shake their money makers around stage this time around. I actually thought this was a very successful event and I thoroughly enjoyed Yoncé ending the night with a 20 minute performance of pure fierceness. I give this year's VMAs a solid B (for Beyoncé).

Bathe in Style: A Swimsuit Style Guide

Now that the warm weather is finally here, it is time to head to the beaches and cottages for some fun in the sun. With a never-ending sea of bikinis, monokinis, speedos and surf shorts out there, it can be a daunting task to find the perfect stylish and functional piece. Fear not, as we at fave magazine have done you the favor and hand-picked some fantastic pieces that will look amazing on any body. But first:

For the ladies, there are two essential swimsuit styles that everyone should have in their dresser. First, a fun and  flirty bikini,and secondly, a stylish one-piece. Bonus points if they are reversible!

Bikini

Modern Ego Beach Bunny Bikini - $34.00

This bikini from Modern Ego is the epitome of girly and fun. The mix of floral and nautical prints kicks the look up a couple notches AND it is reversible! Perfect to take on vacation.

Salinas Isabella Bikini -Top, $29.00 & Bottom, $29.00 instyleswimwear.com

To continue with the blue theme, this bikini is classic but with a little bit of a girly touch to it to keep it interesting. The back of this is the kicker with the cheeky bow. Did I mention it is currently on sale?!

Clover Canyon Lotus Temple Bathing Suit, $151.0, clovercanyon.com

For a little bit of color, this preppy and graphic bikini is the perfect candidate. It matches with countless things and would look super cute for lounging on the beach with a floppy hat or for a casual game of beach volleyball.

One-Piece/Monokini

L-Space Sunsetter, $158.00, www.instyleswimwear.com

In my opinion, everyone should own a black monokini. This particular one by L-Space is simply, practical, and a little bit sexy with the deep halter plunge. This look flatters any and every shape and size and the frills add just a bit of a girly touch (but not too much).

Stella McCartney Cutout Printed Swimsuit, $665.00, shopstyle.com

This asymmetrical piece just screams Gwyneth Paltrow. The lines are uber-chic and the mix of patterns is quite fun. This look can work everywhere, on the beach or by the pool and again, with a floppy hat.

Miu Miu Swimsuit, $215.00 Miu Miu NYC

212.334.5156

You can't go wrong with a retro one-piece and this one hits the nail right on the head. The deep V cut paired with the white band accentuate killer curves for a sexy look that's bound to turn heads.

FOR THE MEN

Like the ladies, there are two essential styles that one should have in their dresser. The traditional trunk, for casual and functional wear, and the more European/sporty styles to stand out in the crowd.

Trunks

Loro Piana Swim Trunks, $345.00 www.loropiana.com

The modern board short is short, but not tight. Traditional surf shorts haven't disappeared, they've just been updated a little bit. This washed out blue shade keeps the look casual and versatile.

J. Crew 7" board shorts with anchor print,$48.65, jcrew.com

Very appropriate with the nautical anchor motif and in the perfect length. These would work great with boat shoes and a white tee for off-beach events.

Cadet Vintage Surf Short, $128.00, www.cadetusa.com

I am in love with these trunks. The vintage look is a classic look that will never be out of style. Perfect for hanging ten.

European/Sport Trunks

Orlebar Brown Pup II, $165.00 orlebarbrown.com

If you're feeling daring, and spent the winter in the gym, these shorts are the ones for you. Be prepared to turn heads, though.

American Apparel Swimsuit, $28.00, americanapparel.com

If you are a little bit on the conservative side for the sporty/European look, these trunks are the perfect gateway into this style. The burgundy color pairs well with the cut, making for a classic short that will last season after season.

Sauvage Classic Square Cut - Side Stripe, $42.00, sauvagewear.com

Sauvage is one of my new favorite swimwear designers. They really have the men's classics down, adding a little bit of modern edge. This blue square cut brings us back to the 70s in California and everyone should own a pair!

Designer Spotlight: Aria Frances

A couple weeks ago I had the honor of attending Marcelle Benedicte's annual charitable event. This year, the theme was "Stripes & Pins" - sending us into a  mobster casino venue at the St Brigid's Centre for the Arts. Alongside the delicious food and great entertainment, local designers showcased their latest looks. One designer that really stood out to me was Aria Frances. Their looks were stunning. Great detail, fantastic materials and pieces that I would die to have the chance to wear. They really to a fantastic job at blending punk rock with feminine details seamlessly. 

Here are my favorite looks of the night:

This caged top is so fun and versatile - the possibilities are endless.
Photo by Marc Dumontier

I am in love with his dainty top. It could also go so well with so many things.
Photo by Marc Dumontier

The purple and black combination is beautiful. This dress has such an elegant flow to it when the model walks.
Photo by Marc Dumontier

The lineup
Photo by Marc Dumontier

I definitely cannot wait to see what's in store next!

Aria Frances

http://www.ariafrances.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ariafranceselements

http://ariafrances.tumblr.com/

In for Spring - Makeup Edition

Now that spring weather is finally here in Ottawa (hallelujah), I can finally stow away my dull winter hues and dust off some fresh new colors for Spring. Being the makeup junkie that I am, I've perused the S/S2014 catwalks for some inspiring new trends to rock this season. Consistent theme here - brights and pastels done in such a way as to not look like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show.

Bright Lips

The bright orange lip trend has resurfaced and I couldn't be more excited! The bold hue brings a much needed pop to the in-trend sporty look that everybody will be rocking. I find that Yves Saint Laurent makes the best lipstick for bold colors like this. Their Rouge Volupté line comes on sheer, so you can control how bold you want to be. On the lower end of the spectrum, Rimmel just came out with a line of lipsticks by Kate Moss which includes an awesome orange hue.

Graphic Eyeliner

Sharpen your pencils, ladies. This is a trend I've already started to see people rocking. It is such a fun way to add some je ne sais quoi to your look. It will take some practice (for me at least) but you can really play up your eyes here with the addition of some strategic lines. I would recommend a felt tip liner for the most precise application. Try the one from Marc Jacobs' new line, the Magic Marc'er Precision Pen. It is my new favorite thing in the world.

Blue Eyes

The Spring/Summer catwalk definitely had the blues - models for almost every designer rocked a blue hue on their lids. This is great news for us brown-eyed girls. Blue naturally brings out brown tones, making your peepers really pop. The key to avoiding the dreaded Mimi look is to keep the rest of the face rather subdued, and to really blend the shadow properly. The cult favorite Naked Palette from Urban Decay features a set of lovely blues that works with virtually any skin tone.

Bold Brows

Probably the most important of them all - bold brows are an absolute MUST this season. Thicker, more defined brows really work wonders by framing your eyes and lifting your cheekbones. Gone are the days of the pencil-thin brows that MTV started in the early '00s. I love the Brow Zings kit from Benefit. It comes with all the tools needed for perfectly groomed strong brows, and the right hues to avoid looking like you have a couple caterpillars sleeping on your forehead.

Tune in later for a recap on the hot hairstyles featured on the runways for spring. What I'm most excited about are the low-key, loose styles that are going to be on-trend. I am not very skilled in the hair department so the simpler the better for me!

Mens style staple : The light blue shirt

Gentleman, the light blue shirt is your best friend.  In a world where fashion comes and goes, the stylish light blue shirt is always on trend. I want to show you how versatile a light blue shirt is with three different styles and why it is a staple to have in your wardrobe. The three styles I present to you are ; casual, smart/casual and smart/preppy. I hope that at least one of the three styles will take your fancy or inspire you to raid your wardrobe , creating outfits with your own fashion stash.

I apologise that the quality of the photos isn't the best as I was using a digital camera and a wooden chair to take these snaps. Nevertheless, I enjoyed taking them.

casual and playful

Although a shirt looks great buttoned up, they can also look more casual when they are unbuttoned. A light blue shirt can be worn over T-shirts to create a more playful and fun look. Though a shirt is seen more formal, I have softened it's image with a bold print T-shirt ( a cookie monster print , of course)! The white T-shirt that I'm wearing also has hints of light blue on the print to which ties the clothing combination together nicely. This is a look I would wear in the daytime with a pair of dark jeans.

Outfit menu 

Jeans - Primark

'cookie monster' print T-shirt - Primark

Light blue shirt - River island

Smart / casual

The light blue shirt is most commonly known for looking smart, so I had to give it credit and show how I would achieve this. I am wearing the light blue shirt with navy chino's. Yes, it sounds like a blue-on-blue catastrophe but the shades really work together. I have then accented the outfit with a brown leather belt and brown leather boots. A tie could be added to make the outfit more smart, but be careful not to throw a bright or neon colour and make the colours clash. This outfit goes to show how the light blue shirt can go from play to work mode just by changing the trousers and adding a belt.

Outfit menu 

Navy chinos- New look

Brown belt - Burtons menswear

Brown boots - Sports direct

Smart/ preppy 

This outfit follows on from the previous smart look. This style is more preppy and better for those colder days. The outfit consists of the same navy chinos and light blue shirt as before but I've kept myself cosy by throwing a heavy knitted cream jumper on top. The jumper allows only accents of the shirt to be seen but your eyes are really drawn to the upper half of the torso as the shirt has formed construction around the neck. For gentleman , this makes the shoulders appear broad. In the photos seen here I have matched the preppy look by carrying my work books in a brown leather Ted baker satchel bag. To emphasise the preppy look, loafers or brogue shoes could also be worn.

Outfit menu 

Navy chinos- New look

Brown bag - Ted baker

Cream knitted jumper - New look

Light blue shirt  - River island

Here are some places where you can purchase a light blue shirt of your own. Mine is from River island, but if you just click the links below you can view other stockists of the simple yet classic light blue shirt

Topman

River Island

Tesco ( Florence and Fred)

Matalan

Burtons

New look

I hope you have enjoyed this post and the reasons why the light blue shirt is a style staple due to it's versatility and style status. Please feel free to leave a comment as I'd love to hear from you or any styles guides you would like next.

Harry

@themintapple

@favemagazine

The Digital Age: How Cyber-Fashion is Changing the Way We Dress

Ladies, hide your wallets. Your dream of owning a Cher Horowitz digital closet may soon be a reality. With the super-charged constant evolution of modern-day technology it is only due time that the infamous Clueless virtual wardrobe stylists hits the shelves. Not only that, but multiple new innovative ways to shop and style are emerging from behind your computer screens as we speak. From virtual closets to monthly style subscriptions, there are now countless ways to hone in on your style skills.

Swivel

Gone are the days of slinking out of those skinny jeans, fumbling over the removal of your lace-up boots and messing your hair just to see how something fits. Currently available in select retail stores, Swivel lets you try things on virtually- no change room required! For now, the intended use is for retail stores, but you will soon be able to get your own system installed at home. Even farther, you will be able to let friends give you suggestions on clothing and accessories via social media. They've even integrated beauty and hair, so you can try on the latest runway makeup trends without breaking the bank.

LE TOTE

LE TOTE is a monthly clothing rental service that lets you borrow and return clothes at a monthly fee of $49. They're like the Netflix of fashion. Users fill out an online profile to hone in on their personal style. Then, LE TOTE's stylists create a profile that plays off your likes and dislikes and sends you a tote bag with 3 items of clothing and 2 accessories for you to keep as long as you want. When you're done, simply pop the items back in the tote bag and pop it in the mail. You'll then receive a new tote bag with entirely different outfits! These totes are claimed to contain over $1000 worth of goodies. As of now, they are not available in Canada but I hope so soon because SIGN ME UP!

STYLEBOOK

As a closet and wardrobe fashion app that lets you curate your inventory so that you can look effortless and chic on the daily, STYLEBOOK is definitely worth a download. Take pictures of your stuff, upload them to the app, and match away! Not only can you create and organize outfits, but you can also create packing lists and track how long ago you've worn an item so you can decide whether to donate or keep it. I myself am constantly updating my closet - removing those items I haven't worn in over a year, and adding in-style items I'm lacking. This is the perfect fashion accessory for my situation.The app does cost ($3.99), but you'd definitely end up saving money in the long run by getting more use out of your investments.

Go Try It On

When putting together an outfit, I often find myself wondering "does this make me look stylish or a hot mess"? The Go Try It On app solves this common dilemma. Upload photos of you wearing said outfit, and fellow GTIOers will vote whether you should wear it or forget it. I like to think I'm stylish, but sometimes one needs a second (or third or fourth) opinion on your outfit choice.

With this new cyberfashion movement, brick and mortar retail stores will really have to set up their game to keep up with the competition. E-commerce has become a definite need for stores to boost their client base and sales volume over the past 5 years, and now virtual closets and change rooms will soon be standard for our large-scale retail stores.

5 Top Trends from Paris Fashion Week

If the Chanel supermarket spectacle taught us anything, the Fall/Winter looks from this year's Paris Fashion Week are definitely ones to remember. The runways were adorned with pastels, knits and sporty looks abound. I'm sure the last thing you want to think about right now is next winter, but here are the top 5 trends to take note when building your wardrobe for the next Polar Vortex. I would definitely advise rocking these trends now to tie you over until spring.

1) Pastels

Designers transitioned the pastels from Spring/Summer effortlessly into fall on the runways. This dress from Dior matched with a blazer or leather jacket would be a perfect look for early fall.

Christian Dior, F/W2014

2) Head-to-Toe Knits

Knits in all colors and patterns are a go, especially when done in a complete ensemble a la Chanel.

Chanel, F/W 2014

3) Sporty

Quite a few designers had thrown in some sporty designs into the mix which I was absolutely thrilled about. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for a killer varsity jacket come fall.

Miu Miu, F/W 2014

4) Mod

The retro looks were super fun and each designer played the Mod theme with wonderful modern touches.

Valentino F/W 2014

5) Dramatic Blacks

Alexander Mcqueen had some showstopping head-to-toe black looks. Those were a bit more theatrical than practical, but beautiful none the less. Elie Saab showed us how to rock the dramatic looks for every day wear and I want to buy it all.

Elie Saab F/W 2014