City Sophisticate: Fashion

The Perfect Fall and Winter Coats- No Need to Abandon Style Because of Frigid Temperatures

November 14th, 2014

Let's face it, winter is fast approaching. Those negative temperatures are inevitable. Don't get caught garbed in a shapeless sack to keep warm and abandon all things fashionable. The winter months can be made far less depressing with a few key outerwear pieces. There are a plethora of stylish choices for coats and jackets this season. Below are a few of my favourites.

Vince Camuto

Funnel Neck Rabbit Fur Coat

$590

Belted Faux Fur Front

$305

BCBG

Savanna Fur Hooded Jacket

$922

Johnna Long Motto Jacket

$616

Victoria Fur Collar Wool Jacket

$691

Club Monaco

Everett Coat

$595

Rowan Coat

$595

Add

Down Parka

$661

Down Long Coat With Fur Border

$772

Guess

Long-Sleeve Faux Fur-Trimmed Coat

$238

Long-Sleeved Faux Fur-Trimmed Hooded Anorak Jacket

$238

H&M

Duffle Coat

$70

Boucle Coat

$129

Get winter ready and stay fabulous,
Jessica Ashley

Friday Feature- Shane Vitaly Foran, founder and designer of Vitaly Design, talks inspiration and future direction of the Vitaly brand.

November 7th, 2014

It was from the remarkable beauty and serene setting of Ubud, Bali that the inspiration for Vitaly Design was born. Founder and chief designer, Shane Vitaly Foran continues to draw on the inspiration from his time spent in Indonesia, which is of great benefit to Vitaly clientele seeing as the quality, craftsmanship and beauty of the Vitaly brand are consistently celestial.

www.vitalydesign.com

'Vitaly was given its first breath of life in Central Bali, Indonesia. Legend has it that founder Shane Vitaly Foran, a Toronto, Canada native, had decided to put his corporate job on hold in order to combat a growing sense of apathy and burn-out. During six weeks of unplanned pilgrimage, Shane found Ubud, a small haven for artists and other wanderers. He spent three weeks there amongst the pale straw huts and towering bluffs in a state of introverted reflection. Entranced by the the town's natural beauty, Shane began dreaming of hand-crafted jewelry that would fit the many faces of everyday fashion.'

And from this dream Shane did not waiver. The Vitaly brand has flourished over the recent years and continues to expand its reaches by appealing to both men and women due to the unisex nature of the skillfully-made pieces. A clothing and apparel line has also become a new venture for Vitaly Design. The garments, mostly tees and tanks, are simple, stylish and of obvious exceptional quality.

www.vitalydesign.com

Vitaly Design is set to release its latest collection today named Interchangeables. I'm beyond honoured that Shane Vitaly Foran, himself, joined me in answering a few questions about the line, his inspiration and about his hopes for the future of Vitaly:

City Shophisticate: Your brand has taken off in the past couple of years and has an intriguing back story. Your pieces are beautiful and bold yet understated and clean. Are all pieces inspired by your time in Indonesia and the Indonesian culture?

Shane Vitaly Foran: My first collection, the ‘Bali Collection’ which was about three and a half years back, was largely inspired by my time in Bali, though admittedly that was more from a materials standpoint. Being that I started designing in Bali and that’s where our manufacturing was originally done, I looked to their craftsman’s work to see what they were capable of and what materials they specialized in. Since then, however, my collections are largely inspired by street wear, architecture and watches.

www.vitalydesign.com

City Sophisticate: What three words would you use to describe Vitaly jewelry?

Vitaly Foran: Yikes… this is an incredibly difficult question. Perhaps… Clean, Unisex and Lifestyle

City Sophisticate: How would you describe your clothing and apparel line?

Vitaly Foran: Vitaly’s clothing line is still in its very early stages. We were always a little nervous about jumping into that world as we felt we were stepping outside of what we do well. That said, while you’ll currently only find tank tops and t-shirts, I suppose the descriptions of both our jewelry line and our clothing line would be similar.

City Sophisticate: Who do you design your clothes and jewelry to suit most?

Vitaly Foran: Our motto is ‘Designed with our friends in mind’ That has always been my approach. I’m very fortunate in that I have a huge circle of friends and it’s made up of all kinds of interesting and unique people. With that variety comes many different styles and therefore many different inspirations. I really like to think that there’s at least one Vitaly piece for everyone.

'Designed with our friends in mind'

City Sophisticate: Can we expect that in the future for Vitaly we will see more pieces that are geared towards women?

Vitaly Foran: When I first started designing, I was designing for men, but women seemed to really like it as well so I started introducing smaller sizes. While I remained convinced for the first three years that Vitaly was largely a men’s brand that some women were into, after looking at the numbers and after seeing the responses to our pop-up shops, I’ve come to realize that it’s a very even split and is even starting to lean more towards women. All that said, while I’m apprehensive to explicitly say that I’m designing pieces that are ‘geared’ towards women, I guess you could probably say that! I’m a big believer in slashing those kinds of gender lines, and so I do hope I’ll see both sexes wearing the designs regardless. There are some pieces in our newest collection, “Interchangeables”, which we’re launching this Friday November 7th, for example, that may be considered more ‘feminine’.

www.vitalydesign.com

City Sophisticate: I know, seeing as there are so many remarkable pieces to choose from, that this may be tough to respond to, but what piece in your current collection are you most proud of?

Vitaly Foran: I think I’ll probably always be most proud of our ‘Sua’ ring / pendant combo. It’s become somewhat iconic for us, and it’s the piece that I constantly see when I go for a walk downtown Toronto… It’s a pretty amazing feeling to walk by multiple people you’ve never met all of whom are wearing something you’ve designed – more often than not, that piece is a Sua.

www.vitalydesign.com

City Sophisticate: The founding story of Vitaly is extremely inspirational. What words of wisdom would you give to anyone that is considering chasing a dream in design and/or fashion?

Vitaly Foran: The same thing I tell everyone- it’s okay to dream – I’m absolutely a dreamer… but unless you’re also a doer and passionate about what you’re doing, you may want to look elsewhere. This industry, much like many others of course, is not for the faint of heart. You will likely have to stretch yourself to points you’ve never thought imaginable before you have any idea if your dream will be a success. If you REALLY love what you’re doing though, you’ll make it work.

Pictured above: Founder and designer at Vitaly Design, Shane Vitaly Foran

www.vitalydesign.com

Here's a bit of a sneak peek at the new 'Interchangeables' collection by Vitaly Design

Interchangeables

Diamonds

Polished

Cheetah

Eel

Matte

Zebra

The 'Interchangeables' collection is incredibly appealing to both men and women. I've definitely got my eye on the zebra and cheetah selections!

City Sophisticate would like thank the talented, and dare I say extremely handsome, Shane Vitaly Foran for sharing the above words of wisdom and giving us a bit of insight into the world of the genuine and creative genius behind Vitaly Design. Thank you to the entire Vitaly team for your creative additions. Much continued success to the Vitaly brand!

Visit http://www.vitalydesign.com/ for information about current collections.

Stay Fabulous!
Jessica Ashley

November 2nd, 2014

Welcome to my Fall/Winter 2014 installment of The Shoe Diaries. I find that the cooler months often result in a depressingly dark and dreary choice of footwear. Not so this fall and winter season! Designers have toyed with pops of colours and sleek, sexy shapes in their collections for the dreaded winter months. Quirky patterns and chunky heels intermingle and sit side-by-side slender yet equally as playful heeled creations. Check out a few of my favourite pieces from what I consider the sexiest and most original Fall/ Winter 2014 collections.

Giannico

http://giannicoshoes.com/

Valentino

http://www.valentino.com/en/home/

Miu Miu

http://www.miumiu.com/en

Dolce and Gabbana

http://www.dolcegabbana.com/woman/collection/accessories/

Christian Laboutin

http://us.christianlouboutin.com/ca_en

Emilio Pucci

http://www.emiliopucci.com/

Betsey Johnson

http://www.betseyjohnson.com/

Stay Feet Fabulous!

Jessica Ashley

October 27th, 2014

A fresh week means time for a fresh new look. Or perhaps an old-made- new-again look. Find your perfect retro apparel by visiting one of the hot spots on my list of best vintage shops in Toronto.

House of Vintage

This mecca of specialized and rare finds houses one of a kind pieces from notable designers. This shop is not only a hot locale for yesterday's trends, it's artfully decorated and titillating to the sense of sight in every way. All pieces take a customer back to another time yet are still wearable and trendy by today's standards. Looking for a bit of bling? A western look? Rock 'n roll gear? House of Vintage has all of the above and then some. http://houseofvintage-toronto.blogspot.ca/

Magwood

The definition of luxe vintage, Magwood showcases original and elegant pieces that are in pristine condition. Sarah Magwood's boutique on Queen West has a beautiful display of designer apparel and extravagant jewellery, some pieces dating as far back as the 1920's. The quality is definitely worth the higher prices for Magwood's show-stopper looks and designs.http://magwood.ca/

Print Vintage

Print has been open for nearly thirteen years in the Ossington/College area. From basics to statement pieces, Print will have something for any bargain hunter looking for a little retro flare to add to his/her wardrobe. The space is small but what's within its walls truly makes a throw-it-back splash. Polyester, sequins and 50's dresses among platforms from the disco days, make this a vintage-lover's paradise. Prices range upwards of $80 per item, but for the thrifty, Print offers a $10 rack for your perusal.http://beforelastcall.ca/place/print-fine-vintage-toronto

Boutique Monique

I have to admit, I have a bit of a personal attachment to this addition seeing as I pop in a bit more often than to the others. I can't help myself! It's right down the road from my work and there are always racks of reasonably priced must-haves. Trendy meets classic in this inviting and modest space. Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Marilyn Brooks and the list goes on. Drop in for a high-waisted trouser or a sequined clutch. Whatever is on your list of must-haves, you won't leave empty handed. http://boutiquemonique.com/

V by 69

Now just steps away from Trinity Bellwoods, this haven for all things vintage and beautiful will draw you in with its curb appeal and keep you there with all of the designer and edgy apparel. Footwear options galore, 1960's evening wear, chic leather skirts and lavish furs just in time for the cold Canadian winter in our midst will have you wondering why you've never crossed such a splendid threshold before. Well priced garments will be gentle on your bank account as well. http://69vintage.com/

Stay Fabulous!
Jessica Ashley

October 25th, 2014
World Mastercard Fashion Week Wrap up! The Final day and a look back at the best looks and the fabulous designers who brought them to our concrete jungle.

Mackage! A brand I have fallen in love with for its fierce and bold pieces. Not my typical idea of spring and summer attire but ferociously awesome.

Mackage