Calling All Brides!: LOULOU+BCBGMAXARIA= Shopping Event!

With Valentine's Day just a week away, love is in the snow-filled air and with that in mind be sure to save the date this Thursday at 5:30pm to join LOULOU and BCBGMAXARIA for the launch of LOULOU's special wedding issue!

Hosted by LOULOU Style Editor Claude Laframboise, race to BCBG at 50 Bloor St. W. to join in on the shopping, schmoozing, champagne and makeup touch-ups by Bourjois Paris. As a bonus, receive a goodie bag filled with stylish goodies with purchase and get $100 off purchases of $300 or more. Talk about a Valentine's treat!

If you are looking to find some fashion-forward bridesmaid dresses or if you would just like to get a sexy little number for your Valentine's Day celebration, then I insist that you do not miss out on this event.

R.S.V.P. at Loulou.Toronto@bcbg.com by Wednesday February 9.

Will you be at BCBG this Thursday? Let me know in the comments, Facebook and Twitter!

Enjoy!

Amanda
amandasfashionspot@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/AFSpot

What is Your Guilty Pleasure?: TFI Combines Fashion and Food for a Sinful Shopping Experience

We all have a little something sinful that we cannot resist but indulging in. For some people, it is watching reality television, reading gossip sites and eating ice cream out of the box but on Saturday, February 5th it is time for a change. It is time for a new guilty pleasure that we help benefit others. It is time for none other than the Toronto Fashion Incubator's Guilty Pleasures Sale at The Drake Hotel!

This one day event takes place from 9am to 4pm and will fill two floors with fashion, food and a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefitting community programming offered by the TFI's non-profit organization. 

Get out and indulge in your compulsive desire to go shopping and help support local designers such as, Andy Hall, Melissa Clemente Designs and Leah Bazian. 

For information, click here and don't forget to give in to this new guilty pleasure.

Enjoy!

Amanda
amandasfashionspot@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/AFSpot

It's a Pop-Up Shop!

Don't you just love when shopping opportunities come out of nowhere?

Well you are in luck! Today and tomorrow the online consignment shop My Ex-Closet is having a pop-up shop at 498 Queen Street West in Toronto between 10am and 9pm. If you are a lover of their online selection, then you will be sure to enjoy their pop-up shop. So get out there and go shopping!

Amanda amandasfashionspot@gmail.com https://twitter.com/AFSpot

Fashion Plus Charity = TNT's Four Day Family Charity Sale Event

Staring today and ending on Sunday, May 30th, 2010, the fashionable TNT stores will be having a four day family charity event!

If you visit the store this weekend and donate a minimum of $10 you will receive 25% off all merchandise and receive a chance to win a $500 gift certificate! What better way to shop with a purpose? Not only will you be gaining new additions to your wardrobe but you will also be helping out those in need.

What is the charity you ask? None other than the Ve'ahavta's First Breakfast Program which is aligned with TNT's commitment to giving children the right start to their morning. Even better, 100% of all the donations made at TNT go to the Ve'ahavta's First Breakfast Program, so be sure to stop by your nearest TNT and shop with a cause.

For more information click here.

Enjoy!

Amanda

Fall Inspirations: Flare Magazine + HM = Happy Shopping!

Don't you love all the fun shopping events going on lately? If so, you are in luck because here comes another one!

Exactly one week from today at 6pm, Flare Magazine will be hosting a special fashion event at Bloor street's H&M location. You will be able to sip on sparkling beverages, dine on delicious hors d'oeuvres and shop! (which I highly suggest because you will receive a 20% discount!)

This event will also include a special fashion presentation and a free gift item with purchase, for the first two hundred fashionable shoppers. Does it get much better than this?

To attend, you must RSVP here. 

Happy shopping!

Amanda

Sale! Sale! Sale!: H&M

If you are around a H&M store between today and September 13th make sure to grab a coupon from one of the stylish sales associates.

Why? You ask. Well, if you use that coupon you will be able to purchase any two items and receive 20% off the highest priced item. Isn't that great? A nice added perk to your fall shopping.

I highly suggest you take advantage of this, as there are tons of really great things there right now. I recommend a grey animal print beret (tres cute and oh so, Parisienne), cobalt blue faux suede boots (because why not plus they are under $60) and embellished blouses galore!

Get there soon and happy shopping! 

Amanda

Fall Inspirations: Aritzia Debuts its Fall '09 Preview

The chicest season of all is right around the corner and I am sure all of you are already planning that fall wardrobe of yours. 

Vancouver-born clothing store, Aritzia has posted their 2009 fall preview collection. Check it and enjoy, http://www.aritzia.com/lookbook.

Amanda

Sale! Sale! Sale!: Doesn't everyone love a sale?

If you are looking for a good end of summer sale to brighten up that warbrobe and pick up some transitional pieces for fall, check out the Mendocino Outlet in the Beaches area near Queen Street East. 

Sale items are an additional 40% off and they already have a few trendy pieces that are perfect for fall. I tried a grey and black damask printed dress by Kensie Girl that would work great with tights, boots and some gold chains, as well as a fitted denim bondage skirt that is tres urban chic. Check out the Mendocino Outlet in the beautiful Beaches area and grab some pieces while you still can!

If you haven't already check out the Portobello East Market that I mentioned a few weeks back, http://amandasfashionspot.blogspot.com/search/label/Portobello%20East, make sure to check it out on Sunday, August 30th, 2009 and take advantage of their amazing sales! 

The Portobello East Market sells locally made products ranging from clothing to accessories to home items and they are currently available for up to 40% off. Some of my favourite items are bike and light switch plates by VintageLove. These plates are stainless steel and use decoupage images with a high gloss polyurethane finish to give the plates are a glossy look. Check them out at http://www.vintagelove.ca.  Another good one is Sui Generis, a clothing line that offers high-waist dresses, bubble dresses and rompers. Their pieces are an excellent choice for the end of summer and great to layer in the fall. Check out their online lookbook here, www.suigenerisclothing.net. 

If you are free on Sundays, don't forget to check out Portobello East in the Distillery Dictrict. For more information click here, www.portobelloeast.com. 

Happy bargain-hunting! Don't forget to come back here and share what you find. 

Amanda

Psychology, Sociology and Anthropologie: Yorkville's Latest Lifestyle

Ahhh I am in love! I just love a lifestyle a store. I love being able to find so many wonderful items all under one well-decorated roof, so you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the American lifestyle store, Anthropologie.

I first discovered the eclectic, home-y, vintage store on a trip to New York City and I fell in love. Filled with books, beautiful clothes and lovely scented candles I knew that a store like this needed to be in Canada and now it is. Smack dab in the middle of swanky Yorkville, welcome Anthropologie.

As you first walk in, you are welcomed by the sweet scents of its many candles, perfumes and soaps. They also sell kitchenware (think colourful printed plates and mugs) , crystal doorknobs and books such as, The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Chrisitian Dior.

Most importantly, Anthropologie sells clothes, lots and lots of beautiful clothes. The type of clothes that you can picture yourself wearing in a beautiful garden or sipping coffee at Starbucks. It was prints galore with colourful silk and jersey dresses. Thin and thick knit sweaters had me imagining my fall wardrobe along with the pleated high waisted skirts.

I absolutely love this store for it is so inspiring. There is something new and exciting everywhere you turn and it is the perfect place to get lost and shop on a rainy day. In need of a few new things? Head over to 80 Yorkville and start exploring.

Amanda

New York, New York It's a Helluva Town! Part Deux

What is a trip to New York City without a little shopping? Well, in my case a lot shopping. NYC is filled with oodles and oodles of places to shop 'til you drop. Uptown, Downtown, East Side, West Side, clothes are everywhere and I love it!

Some memorable places include a small store called, Taroo located in Murray Hill. The small white boutique has tons of colourful bohemian inspired pieces and exotic jewellery. Some items that I picked up there include, a bright pink peasant top with colourful embroidery and a silvery blue lightweight ruffled dress. Perfect for a summer afternoon catching a Broadway show or a lunch date.

A store that must be visited when in Manhattan has to be the Marc by Marc Jacobs Accessories store located on 385 Bleecker Street. The store that is no stranger to long line ups, bright colours and stylish sales associates is filled with affordable accessories all by Marc Jacobs. Last summer I got a purple quilted clutch and a gun metal quilted bag that was only $64. This year they had a colourful python clutch with a chain link handle that was ah-mazing for $74. It would great for a night on the town in a black blazer, hot heels and a mini skirt.

My favourite store to visit would have to be Nolita's Project 234. Carrying designers and brands such as, Yumi Kim and Plastic Island I felt welcomed by this small boutique through the warm inviting smell of pomegranate citrus and its surrounding positive energy. I was instantly taken away by the gorgeous prints of the beautiful Yumi Kim dresses. A piece that caught my eye was a purple floral silk t-shirt dress. It works perfect for day with a pair of jewelled gladiator sandals and delicate gold jewellery. It is lightweight, very comfortable and made me feel so pretty as I wore out of the store and down Bleecker Street. Another standout piece was a silk chiffon floral ruffled button-up. Worn by the store's friendly manager, this Yumi Kim design looks great with tailored shorts for a casual summer day or crisp white linen pants for work. I loved these pieces and the entire store. The music including No Doubt, Justin Timberlake and AHA's, Take on Me puts you in a relaxed, happy mood. The clothes are great for any fashionista who loves colour, print and a dash of sophistication. Project 234 located at 234 Mulberry Street is definitely a hot shopping spot to visit while in New York City!

Last but not least would have to be good 'ole H&M. I know, I know. Why go all the way to New York to shop at a store that is right here in Toronto? Well I have got to tell ya, the prices there are about $5 to $10 less than they are here and they have many different styles that are not available in Toronto. I snatched up a Chanel-inspired chain link scarf, white skinny jeans, a lightweight grey t-shirt, a red and white gingham button-up shirt (perfect for Canada Day) and studded sandals.

All in all New York City shopping was a great success. I came with a brand new summer wardrobe and a shot of some New York style!

Amanda

Rant of the Day: Local Designers

What I love about NYC are the endless shops. Not matter where you are in that city you able to stumble upon a cute boutique filled with designer duds. Another thing I have always admired about New York is the support of their local designers. From my experience it seems so easy to by a peice by your favourite designer who is born and bred in New York, in Toronto not so much. Hopefully that is something that will change because I have been dying to pick up endless by some of my favourite designers.

Amanda