British Fashion Invasion Hits The Bay!

The British fashion invasion continues with the TopShop and Topman lines being the latest UK fashion exports to land in the Great Canadian North.

Soon Jonathan+Olivia won't be the only store carrying looks from the highly popular retailer because Canada's oldest department store, The Bay has earned the franchise rights to carry both shops within The Bay as well as standalone stores. Famous for their fast-fashion looks and designer collaborations with Kate Moss, their clothing is popular with fashionistas such as Lauren Conrad, Alexa Chung and Rachel Bilson.

If you can't wait to get your hands on some TopShop, you are going to have to wait a little longer because the line won't be available until the Fall. But don't fret, it gives you something to look forward to!

What fashion collections do you wish were available in Canada? What is favourite fashion collection import? Let me know in the comments, Facebook and Twitter!

Enjoy!

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

Come On Girls! Do You Believe in Fashion?: Material Girls comes to The Bay!

Madonna a.k.a. the Queen of Pop has always been a fashion trendsetter from her cone-shaped bras to her ho down chic look of the early 2000's. Making her fashion design debut with her capsule collection for H&M a few years ago, Madge is back onto the design scene with her recently launched clothing line, Material Girl.

After being exclusively sold at Macy's in the States, the line has finally landed on Canadian soil and is now being exclusively sold at The Bay. If you are a daring fashionista who sets the trends, then make sure to scoop up the Spring 2011 collection to add to your spring wardrobe.

Do you like celebrity designed fashion collections? What are some of your favourite celebrity designed looks? Let me know in the comments, Facebook and Twitter!

Enjoy!

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

Mona Lisa Smile: Raiding my Auntie's Closet

My mother and I are visiting my lovely aunt (which I will refer to as Mona Lisa) and doing something I always remember doing, "shopping" in her closet. Today, Mona Lisa is showing some of her latest beautiful clothing finds. A silky red and white polka dot blouse that would look great on any fashionable lady, a white Chanel-inspired handbag and corkscrew wedges. Mona Lisa is very happy to show us her newly renovated closet lined with inspiring fashion looks. My mother and I are also excited because (at the time) we have an exciting trip to New York City coming up and generous Mona Lisa is always very giving. At this shopping trip, I get a beautiful pink floral bracelet and my mother receives the silky red and white polka dot blouse I mentioned. That was a good shopping trip.

I have always loved watching Mona Lisa happily show my mother, my other aunt, my grandmother and myself all her beautiful items, for she would always do it with a smile. Her enthusiasm and knowledge reminded me of one of those ultra stylish saleswomen in Holt Renfrew that you always wish you could be like when you grew up. When I was little, I used to go into Mona Lisa's room and love what was around me. Her dressers were filled with bottles of perfume, cosmetics, beautiful jewellery and sweet mementos, her room always smelt fresh with a whiff of sweet perfume and her collection of clothes was everlasting. (In fact it was so big that she had two!)

Mona Lisa's interest in fashion began when she was a just a little girl, where she would lie on the floor and watch her grandmother, who was a seamstress, sew. Her grandmother's fashion sense passed down onto her and Mona Lisa still has a crotchet jacket and gorgeous Chinese silk jacket (in impeccable condition) that was given to her by her grandmother in the 1960's. It was from a young age that Mona Lisa learned so many of her fashion tips, that still ring true today. Among them were: always buy quality items because it will last forever, if you ever see something you love buy it because you may never see it again and always value style over brand. The last rule Mona Lisa has definitely always stayed true to. She mixed high and low pieces before it was ever in style. Mona Lisa can always find items in Winners, Holt Renfrew, The Bay, vintage stores, Victoria's Secret and even the dollar store! No matter where Mona Lisa has found her items they have all been beautiful, special and glamorous.

Some of my favourite shopping trips to Mona Lisa's closet include when I received a black and white polka-dot halter dress that is very Marilyn Monroe, when I got a black Chanel-inspired handbag (which I love and wear everywhere!) and when I got a rectangular emerald green suede purse. Whenever my mother or other aunt need a new item for any special event they never forget to stop by Mona Lisa's closet and each "shopping" trip is never a disappointment. One time when my mother went, she was able to borrow a black sequined blouse that was to die for!

As I write this I feel so lucky to have such a stylish aunt that I can always gain fashion inspiration from. It is even more inspiring to always see her so enthusiastically talk about her beautiful pieces and never without a Mona Lisa smile.

Do you have an individual in your life that you have found inspired your own fashion choices?

Amanda