Denim Friday.

Happy Friday Darlings! Is it me....or has it been a loooong week? There is something about Friday's that are just flat out comforting:) having said that...being married to a musician means shows every night on the weekend...deeeeep breath.
I think I can, I think I can...

Now even though I'm self employed, I am well aware of the general office rule that allows employees to "dress down" on Friday's...well, considering it IS Friday...I thought I would show this amazing denim story I found in the May issue of Elle Canada. Beautifully photographed by Leda & St. Jacques, this spread aims to prove that denim can be worn in more ways then just with a boring t-shirt. Well, I for one am convinced. I adore the cute denim dress above....and love the stripes worn with loose fitted light wash jeans...so cute! and the models crazy curly maine makes me want to grow my hair back! hmmmmmm... And to top it all off...the vintage vibe with red lips and the color treatment on the photos... stunning.

Enjoy your weekend:) xo

Color me up & send me out!

So the fine folks at Langton PR sent me a lovely box of beauty products to test out and give my very own Vision City opinion on them...I opened the box and was like "COLOR!!!".... oh yes, what a breath of fresh air! So I of course had to try on the Nicole nail color by OPI right away...yes, both at the same time...hey why not...its summer and now is the time to bring out all things wild and colorful! Just think...hanging on the beach with your girls...the sand...the water...the sun...and the bright nails to match! ab-sol-utely!

For all those of you are wondering...the colors I am wearing are called
"Jade in the shade" (the teal color)
"Its up to you" (the blue color)
(Available at Shoppers, Walmart, Loblaws & Jean Coutu)

For more info...
http://www.nicolebyopi.com

Enjoy!








Photography by Chris Greenwood for Vision City.

Art + Message = Design

So I randomly came across these crazy amazing art pieces and I just had to share them with you all. Now this, my friends is what I call innovation. Taking old school cassette tapes and creating art out of them...and there's such symbolism to the idea as well. The famous Icon faces being formed by tape is genius... and sends the message that music is in constant transformation and it looks and sounds different when each artist creates something new. Art is taken to a new level when it sends a message...then it becomes Design. Enjoy!

Running...

This old No Doubt Video has always inspired me. I guess its because in some ways it really reflects my life...I mean, I'm definitely not an aspiring singer but I'm always the girl who is constantly running with the boys...touring all over the world and working towards this dream that is not only in my husbands heart but its also in mine. We are always in motion, moving forward, dreaming bigger and every once in a while we see a break through. I love how this video captures the story of the bands success.

I love the chorus "Running, running as fast as we can, do you think we'll make it? We're running, keep holding my hand, so we don't get separated..."

The idea of running and trying to catch something that is bigger then yourself can be both inspiring and exhausting. But I've discovered, life is not just about a finish line, but about the journey. Sometimes Chris and I need to just slow down, hold hands and take a walk...

For your own sanity...turn off my playlist music before viewing this video... :)

Chloe girl...

I love these photos for Chloe's fall 2008 campaign. They feel so real and as if you are seeing snap shots from a funny film. Although this is a campaign for a huge fashion line, its as if the clothing takes second place to the feeling and expression in the images. It seems like they are not just selling the designs but also the idea of being free spirited and fun...and that is what really draws people in. I'm not sure of the shooter...but I love the campaign. I think fashion is meant to work within our life style and not for us to adapt to fit fashion of the moment...its about living day to day and enjoying the moments God gives us to live. Here is a selection from the campaign... :)

Hidden Gem...

We wait all year for summer in Toronto, and when it finally arrives, what do we do??? We find a lovely patio of course! My friend Meagan and I caught up yesterday and grabbed lunch on a beautiful patio in Greek Town...followed by wandering down Danforth Ave. in search for all things girlie! We stumbled upon this adorable little shop called "Social Butterfly" and were magnetically drawn inside...what awaited us were adorable dresses, skirts, jewelery, broaches and all kinds of other one of a kind pieces. The place felt kind of vintage but everything was new. There was never more then two of the same thing so it felt like you could be there for a while hunting for that perfect item. The prices were also amazing...with racks in the front showcasing adorable cocktail dresses on sale for like $30...can't go wrong! I do not usually directly endorse stores but I had to show some love and pass this one on to you all. Here are some photos of the place and items that can be found there....enjoy!

The Story Teller...

Good morning Lovelies...now I know I have not posted in a few days but todays post is worth the wait. Annie Leibovitz is definitely one of my favourite photographers of all time and someone I am inspired by. Mind you...her work can definitely be a bit controversial...but having said that, no one can deny that this lady has got an eye to capture the most gorgeous light and emotion. She started her career in the early Seventies working for a little magazine that had just started called "Rolling Stone"... ya you heard me... she is responsible for many of the early rock and roll images that we consider classics today...especially since she was the official tour photographer for the Rolling Stones Tour of the Americas in 1975. She has photographed many very famous faces including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Demi Moore, countless supermodels...and lets not forget, the Queen Mother herself to name a few. Annie eventually evolved into Fashion photography and her work frequently graces the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair. My favourite thing about her work is that she really connects to the people she is photographing to really bring out who they are and capture that in a still image. She is a story teller and her images truly speak. Here are a few of her shots that I love.

Coco Rocha...the influencer.

Coco Rochas is a Toronto born model, (but grew up in BC) who has taken the world by storm. Born as Mikhaila Rocha, Coco began modeling after being scouted at an Irish dance competition. She walked in shows in New York and Paris, but her real break came when she did an opening Irish dance for the Jean Paul Gaultier's Scottish Highlands-inspired show in February 2007. That moment was epic and made a huge impact on her career. She sky rocketed after that and has never looked back.

One thing I truly appreciate about this model is that she is more then a pretty face. Not only does she communicate beautifully to the camera in her photos but off camera she stands for something much bigger. Rocha is one of the few models who has spoken out against the prevalence of eating disorders in the fashion industry. At 5'10 and only 108 pounds, she was told she was too fat to walk in some shows. This really effected her and made her want to make a difference and speak on behalf of all the other models. So Coco, joined with designers Diane Von Furstenberg and Michael Kors at in on at the CFDA model health discussion (June 2008) and actually spoke on behalf of the model community. This was a bold move that could have really had some heavy consequences but she stood her ground and her voice was heard.

Now that is using your fame and your position to actually do something positive. You go Coco!
Here are some of my favourite photos of the doll face:)

Balenciaga drama...

Balenciaga is a brand that is all about the future. I love this spring line because its got such a street edge. These pants are amazing. They remind me of riding pants...and I am all about the high cut feel of the shoes around the ankle. And to top it all off, the hoodie...so great...I would wear all these outfits...Here are some of my favourites from the line...