If I gave out the awards...

It's time to Monday evening quarterback the Oscars red carpet fashions!

Most Wearable goes to Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent  for sure.  Doesn't this look super comfy?  I'd wear this with a slightly higher neckline in a heartbeat.  It veers pretty close to sexy housedress territory and I think that may be why I love it so much.  Nothing is better than a sexy housedress.  I'd want to rock this with feather mules.  I'm only half kidding.

Most Elegant to the always on point Cate Blanchett in a Maison Margiela Couture dress and Tiffany Blue Book Collection jewelry.  She just gets it.  The cut, the fit, the pop of colour? POW!

Dress that should have been worn by Jane Fonda goes to Scarlett Johansson in Atelier Versace   For real.  Wouldn't this have looked so much better on Jane Fonda?  To be fair, there's not much that wouldn't look better on Fonda, but this looks like it was MADE for her.

The ohmygodiamsoboredwithyoursartorialchoices Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Jennifer Aniston in Atelier Versace.  So beige all the time, Jen.  Why so beige?  She looks as if she's been perpetually put through the Rise filter on Instagram.  

Best way to tart it up and still look kind of classy goes to Chrissy Teigen in Zuhair Murad Couture.  I love the colour and her fierce lip.  She's killing it.

The dress I want, give it to me now goes to Oprah for her Vera Wang.  I am normally not a fan of the blush trend, but this just works so well on her.  I love how it appears flowy and structured at the same time and let's just be blunt, my boobs would look fantastic in this dress.

Love you Oprah.  You deserve this.

A Calling.

When I started this blog in 2003, I was still performing stand up comedy at least 3 times a week and hosting my own open mic show at a west end bar.  What I realized a few years later was that although I wasn't the worst, I wasn't the best either and I didn't have the passion necessary to keep doing the work.  Joan Rivers had nothing but passion for the work and was still doing it until the very end.  For her it was a calling.  This clip from Louie reminds me of why, even though it wasn't my calling, I'd still rather hang out at the comic's table then just about anywhere else.

I admired Joan because of her grit and determination.  I am inspired by her entrepreneurship, sense of style and her ability to be crassy and classy all in the same breath.  She was a truth teller, and that is something that I strive to be, in my work and my life.  It's almost never easy to do but she made it feel somehow like it was the only option.

And now, so many years after I gave up standing up in bars and night clubs trying to make people laugh, I'm inspired by her as the mother of an only child, a daughter.  Joan was a good mother, that much seems clear, and what a great legacy that is.  But more than that, she was a good mother who did more.  She was always doing more.  We can always do more.

I have written about Joan before on this blog. In case you missed it, my homage to her button front cape, that I plan on wearing every chance I get this Fall.  Thanks for everything, Joan.  You will be so missed!

Brilliant Earth on the Red Carpet!

They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but in the 21st century, we know better.  We know that ethically sourced diamonds are a girl's best friend.  Enter Brilliant Earth, an innovative jewellery company specializing in ethically sourced diamonds.

Brilliant Earth has jewellery to fit women of every persona from the no nonsense minimalist to the glam girl. When the lovely Jaimie from Brilliant Earth (who has been reading my Fashion Friday features) got in touch and asked if I'd like to participate in a style challenge by incorporating their "style personas" into some custom looks, I couldn't resist.  Lenny and I have been playing dress up a lot lately so let's just say, I'm in the right frame of mind.  Also, it's award season and that means red carpet looks galore to enjoy!

Let's imagine what it would have looked like if some of my favourite looks from the Golden Globes red carpet this past weekend were styled in Brilliant Earth jewels instead of Lorraine Shwartz and Fred Leighton.

Click on the images below to enlarge and see the sparkly jewels in all their glory.

Emma Watson is our cutting edge girl.

Lupito Nyong'o is our minimalist girl.

Tina Fey is our floral and fern loving girl and Amy Poehler is our glam girl.

In reality, when I watch award shows I'm in my infamous yoga pants with greasy popcorn fingers, but in my imagination, I'm a vintage loving girl, wearing a dressing gown and these two pieces from Brilliant Earth.

Tell me, what kind of Brilliant Earth jewels are your favourite?  What look would you like to sport on the red carpet?

Shine On Saturdays!

This post is sponsored by GapKids. Check out all the fun Shine On activities at your nearest Gap store. For event dates and locations, visit Gap’s Facebook page and join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #ShineOn.
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One of Lenny's favourite things to do is picking out what clothes she wants to wear in the morning.  I think she might have a future naming fashion designs - she's dubbed a beach coverup of mine with a Pucci inspired print my "happy bubble shirt" and she is the proud owner of several "pocket dresses".  The toddler's sudden and rabid interest in fashion has inspired me to try and step up my fashion game too.  Having a new baby threw me deep into yoga pant mode, but now that she has opinions about these things, even after this debacle, I've been, if not always on my A-game, pinning like I am.

That's why, when I was invited to attend the Gap Kids Shine On Saturday event here in Toronto I was excited. It promises to combine the fun of fashion and shopping with all of the crafty goodness I look at online but very rarely actually do in real life.  I think Lenny and I are in for a treat!

Merrilee Liddiard, the super-inspiring Designer behind the beautiful blog Mer Mag has created arts and craft projects for tots and their grown-ups to create in store!  We're looking forward to unleashing our inner artists with the projects that Merrilee created inspired by the GapKids and babyGap fall collection, including the best new 1969 denim - Jewel Box Skinnies for girls (the new skinny jean updated in bright stretchy denim) and Action Stretch Denim for boys (designed for play all day- it’s denim that’s made to move).  From creating geometric masterpieces on canvas using paint and tape and colourful, custom journals that older kids can use when they go back-to-school it sounds like more creativity is going to be expressed and on display than at your average trip to the mall!  How cool is that?

This month, select GapKids stores in stores in North America will host Shine On Saturdays events.  The Toronto events are happening on the following dates at the following locations:

Saturday, August 11th - 10am - 1pm
GapKids at The Eaton Centre
260 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario 

Saturday, August 18th - 10am - 1pm
GapKids at Yorkdale 
3401 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario

Saturday, August 25th - 10am - 1pm
GapKids at Square One 
100 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, Ontario

I'd love to hear from anyone who made it out in our city (and of course see your creations)!

And now, to brighten your day (it is so gloomy in the Tdot today!) take a look at these AMAZING kids in action.  



I'll report back with all the details of the event for you guys, including our completed art projects.  I feel like a regular Elsa Klensch!  

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I am the State.

When Lenny met our pal Carly (who you should just go ahead and "like" on Facebook already) it was the first time I've ever witnessed her come down with what appeared to be an instant case of hero worship. She watched her every move. If Carly leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, suddenly, there was Lenny, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, carefully watching Carly to make sure she got it just right.  Then, when she played "this little piggy" with her Lenny's head blew clear off with the sheer joy of it.  A couple of days later we were playing with Lego on the floor and the TV was on in the background.  Lenny starts fa-reaking out "Car-leeeeee!"  It was this commercial, where Carly does indeed appear as a "young mom".

As you can see, she's not on screen that long which means two things:

1) My child is a genius (duh).

2) Carly has some kind insane kavorka over said genius-child (may she only use it for good and not evil).

What's happened since then is that I think Lenny has come to believe that all of her favourite people are on TV.  The other day a car commercial caught her eye and next thing you know she's pointing at the pretty smiling lady with the straight blonde hair and saying "Ah-net! Ah-net!" 

Dig the adorable toddler arm pointing at her friend on TV.

Ah-net!

As you can see, it's not a bad likeness to her actual Ciocia Annette, pictured below with some douche bag who thinks hamming it up for the camera while at a fancy restaurant is a good idea.  Will she never learn?!?!

So imagine my excitement when watching CBS Sunday Morning yesterday, Lenny starts pointing at the TV and saying "Mommy!"

Yes, CBS Sunday Morning.  Judge me if you must, but sometimes, on the weekends, I like my knowledge useless and my humour gentle.

They say daughters all think that their mothers are beautiful, especially when they are young.  I was ready for a little ego boost.  And then...this:

My daughter thinks I look like Louis XIII.  Despite the initial shock, I  have to say, this outfit is pretty snazzy.  He's got really shapely calves.  Also? I could totally pull off that hat.  

So. What do you guys think I should call my fashion blog?

Fashion Week

How fabulous is she?!

It's Fashion Week in Toronto and the big tent where all the shows happen is located right across the street from my office.  I've seen my share of fashion victims heading to the shows (hint: if you can't walk the heels are too high) and also my fare share of fabulousness.  Fashion Week really brings the people watching in this town to another level.  I love this time of year, when Spring is almost here because I know it means dresses and sandals and giant straw bags are just around the corner.  For me, nothing beats that easy kind of dressing.  I've been collecting some of my favourite looks on Pinterest over the last couple of weeks just for inspiration.  I am so ready to shed the winter coat and boots!  What are you looking forward to the most, wardrobe-wise, as the weather warms up?