laptop case that can double as an oversized

Laptop case that can double as an oversized clutch? Yes, please!

ASOS leopard print laptop case, $23 (was $33!) , asos.com

maria francesca pepes line for urban outfitters

Maria Francesca Pepe’s line for Urban Outfitters brings nautical chic to the next level.

spotted this amazing limited edition balenciaga

Spotted this amazing limited edition Balenciaga + Grace Coddington cat print tote on our very own Fashion Director Anne Christensen. Only 100 bags produced! -Maria Dueñas Jacobs

Versace Resort 2012

Versace Resort 2012 collection

The propos-ness of a resort collection has now been discussed in fashion editors' corridors more times than the number of outfits Lady Gaga struts on a Paris sidewalk on any given night.

Because no one buys resort wear for that distinct purpose and because resort collections are actually just pre-spring spring, we won't get into that debate right here right now.

Instead, let us feast on Versace's idea of footwear for the world-circumventing yacht crowd of ridiculously rich ladies who supposedly buy resort collections.

Versace Resort 2012 collection

Versace Resort 2012 collection

Images courtesy of Versace.

mariaduenasjacobs gold rush jennifer fisher

mariaduenasjacobs:

Gold Rush!

Jennifer Fisher bracelets and cuffs

Tied with a bow

The plaid tie by Hitsman is cheerful, versatile and just so well styled in this image that we're positively drooling. Plaid tie, $95 at Hitsman

It's no secret that we've had an eye on neck wear for women and men a few seasons now and, despite the influx of dandyism and hipsterism in urban centres, we're still wanting more fancy play around the jugular.

We happily stumbled upon Hitsman, a New York City company in its third generation of articulating the gentleman's taste du jour. Ties are hand tailored using the utmost quality fabrics in prints and colour combinations that range from grandpa's dresser to the finely suited Wall Street shark.

We can't help the reference, and so: occupy this.

The Hitsman vintage corduroy bow tie in olive, $80 at LyonsgateHitsman look book featuring silk tie, $95

Forest plaid tie, $95 at Hitsman

Images courtesy of Hitsman, available at Lyonsgate among others.

Converse conversations

Feeling the easy vibe at Converse with Chuck Taylors in fun colours

The ubiquitous summer shoe is having a bit of fun for this upcoming season of wear.

We were treated to the royal Converse treatment at the label's media preview last month and we couldn't help but get excited about the fun collaborations with cool musicians like The Gorillaz and fun print fabric designers at Marimekko, in addition to the fun colours and lightweight fabrics.

Here's the best of what we experienced:

The mullet of All Stars: neatly white at the front with graffiti-inspired super hero at the back in a partnership with Marvel- nice depth of colours to an otherwise straight-up high top

For very cool kids

The Gorillaz scribbles have a real ink on the shoe, in-the-moment feel

The nice folks at Converse were obviously dressed for the occasion. I love the purple on men- safe but so fun

The summer collection of women's shoes includes open-toe takes on the tradish, mesh fabric, slender toe shapes, and unfinished edges for a more relaxed look

Marimekko prints are bold and simple, adding contrasting colours inside and out

Converse also cooked up the shoe lip in a flurry of colours for fold-down custom appeal

Camo & sketches vision by The Gorillaz

Oh yeah, and did I mention that we got our nails did? In lace-up nail art by the talented gals at Wow Nails in Toronto. Super fun!

Seeing all of these was just so fab- I love fashion events!!

Images courtesy of Fashion in Motion.

Mobile jewels

Beetlemania that we just didn't see coming - somehow

No, this post is not about blinged-out smart phones.

We begin with some reminiscing: it's been a couple of years since we were on Mexico's lovely shores basking in the Mayan sunlight and thinking about nothing much, really. And if we had been lying down sunning our white meat on the beach, surely we would have caught sight of a jewel-encrusted beetle sashaying our way- we can only imagine how those cut crystals reflect light.

Today we explore an interesting moment of a jewelry (?) trend Mexico: 'wearing' a bedazzled live beetle. Apparently this kind of beetle-dazzling has been going on for more than a century and while a revival brought back the look in the '90s, we're now again seeing many a Maquech Broach. The thing is back worst than an infestation.

Aside from the creeping crawly factor and PETA spokesperson Jaime Zalac stating that "Beetles may not be as cute and cuddly as puppies and kittens, but they have the same capacity to feel pain and suffer," - well, we just don't know what to make of this one.

Not that we're really surprised by such an odd fashion statement- this is, after all, the country of curled-up boots:

And while we're here, it seems like a good excuse as any to bring out an '80s gem (below).

In these crazy, bizarre modern times when the ol' BeDazzler is tricking out everything from acid wash denim jackets to your colleague's nether region (amazing what people will post online), we readily admit to getting stud-y back in the day. And why not.

just hit shelves rag bones floral pilot bag is

Just hit shelves: Rag & Bone’s floral Pilot bag is equal parts girly and rugged.

Small Pilot - Navy Floral, $755, rag-bone.com

new walter steiger heelz via mduenasjacobs

"New Walter Steiger heelz”

via @MDuenasJacobs instagram

Recent acquisition

Thoughts in my head:

"What will I post today? Oh yeah I could feature those killer mules I just bought."

"Okay great idea. I've already taken the pics, but not with me wearing them. Well, that's okay. Stills will have to do."

"Okay- "Add New Post". Click. Yes. Title- obviously 'Recent acquisition'."

.

.

"Oh dear. Haven't I been posting "Recent acquisition" wayyyy too often these days? Have I been developing a shopping problem."

"Do I *have* a shopping problem?"

"Hm, well maybe I can rename it. Or maybe just not feature the shoes today."

"Sigh.............................................. Never mind. We're doing it."

Now, I know what you're thinking- no big deal. It's just shoes. But actually, yes big deal. I don't buy myself a lot of footwear and it's a pleasure I give myself on few occasions throughout the year mostly because I figure that it's a way to cut costs around here.

But these shoes are so ridiculously awesome, they lured me into Rudsak last week as I was just walking on by, not looking for anything for myself or for a reward for completing my income tax return on time.

Now, I wouldn't call myself the type of gal who walks into the store and gets the animal print pants and the snakeskin bag, but here it is, I went totally weak in the knees for snakeskin leather shoes. And really, how this all happened is really not that complicated.

See, two weeks ago I dropped into the Guess? party celebrating "30 Sexy Years" and I was confronted with more animal prints and bare mid-riffs than I remembered, probably because I was three years old and bare mid-riffs were cute on toddlers. But oh-so Guess? they are.

You could wander into this party after being in a coma for 30 years and really not have missed a thing

The special Guess? anniversary collection includes animal prints, trousers and bustiers

So there I am, having a bubbly and eyeing the stretchy-tight trousers and thought, what the hell, it's for a good cause (10% of the evening's sales went to Save The Children foundation).

So I tried on a few things and guess what- I fell madly in love with these pants:

Totally unexpectedly, I tried on these purrfect pants and thought I want these right meow! But I didn't get them

That's right- I didn't get them. And instead of getting the damn pants I'm writing about them lustfully on my blog.

And instead of just buying the pants, I was primed for animal prints and bought the Rudsak snakeskin shoes. And I'm still thinking about those pants-!

(I like this shot here above, and the one below is pretty bad-ass too.)

So I guess the lesson here is, if you're still thinking about the pants after the fact, go buy them IMMEDIATELY, otherwise you'll blow your budget completely because you'll *have* to buy the pants later anyway because you're now totally nuts and buying other things that the pants primed you to buy.

On the other hand, this entire experience reminds me of what I refer to as The Lipstick Incident, when I "accidentally" came home with a $50 Chanel lipstick this winter. So, as a post-script to that, I'd like to say that I've been wearing the lipstick every time I walk out the door and I've had compliments on it. And so it will be with these shoes.

Images and thoughts by me.

the prettiest pink shoe by charlotte olympia

The prettiest pink shoe by Charlotte Olympia

- Maria Dueñas Jacobs

Sac du jour

Colour coordinating with the TIFF red carpet? Guilty as charged, but we're also adding healthy dose of shine for one envy of a glam pack. $120 from SPARKS by Jeanne Lottie at Capezio Shoes

This week our fair city rolls out the carpet for the launch of the Toronto International Film Festival and its warm welcome of a sizzling list of celebs who have packed their shiniest shoes and are ready to walk the red.

Today's Sac du jour is a glitzy crown-closured clutch from SPARKS by Jeanne Lottie, and at $120 Capezio Shoes, it's a fun go-to number that will sing in spring as easily as during the New Year's eve countdown.

But more than that, today's Sac feature is an homage of sorts to the glam factor of the red carpet. As a gal who will readily walk the extra mile to sashay on those plush vermilion fibres, I'll have you know that if the opportunity to walk a red one comes along, you'll feel that gravitational pull.

It's not so much that I am a diva inside and hide in my sweatsido all day waiting to get invited to fancy events to burst out my true fabulous self- but more like I delight in the significantly improved walking experience of a long stretch of regally red carpet guiding me to the entrance, like a cocktail before appetizers. Do I feel like a celeb? Do I feel the wind in my hair? Sometimes.

Here I am loving the red carpet at LG Fashion Week a few seasons ago. Photo credit by the equally red carpet-loving Jordana

I assure you the power of red carpeting is universal and I hope your turn comes this week at TIFF. Happy festival my friends.

Image courtesy of Capezio Shoes. And in case you were wondering, it costs this much to send a celebrity down a red carpet.

hime gyaru wrist bands

Hime Gyaru Wrist bands

new walter steiger heelz via mduenasjacobs

"New Walter Steiger heelz”

via @MDuenasJacobs instagram