Category: shopping

Asian make-up trends are coming, coming, and now here…do we want them?

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

Japan, Korea and Taiwan have been making some super cute, funky, and pretty make-up for the last while.  I’ve noticed that here in North America and especially Canada, we are just starting to see the brands.  Asian make-up packaging are a bit different, so are the scents and formulations.  And then there are the trends: BB creams to compliment fair complexions, and false lashes to make eyes look doe-like…etc.   There is definitely a market for these kinds of aesthetics over seas but what about here?  Does Toronto’s westernized/multicultural demographic make Canada the next big market for Asian make-up companies?

Typical examples of Japanese and Korean cosmetics...I want all of these...they are just too cute!
Typical examples of Japanese and Korean cosmetics…I want all of these…they are just too cute!

It seems like we are fair game to international corporations that need to expand to survive in this global market.  Already Face Shops have sprung up everywhere, not just in the Asian malls north of Toronto, but are now in almost every mainstream mall, and just the other month, another Korean make-up heavy weight Holika Holika set up a boutique on Queen Street west.  I have yet to see really the public response, but throwing Asian make-up brands at the mainstream market without any introduction doesn’t seem very intelligent.  Face Shop for example had to buy out Canadian company Fruits and Passion here in order to set up shop.  Already they are not starting off with the most clean image as some Canadian consumers see the pop up stores as an invasion rather than them “sharing the goods” with us!  Even myself, with my Asian heritage and knowledge of cosmetics, I still find it difficult to just adopt everything the Koreans are making, just for the sake of trend or readiness.

This brand is HOT in overseas markets. Now they have popped up here, on funky Queen West. If only their customer service was better... :(
This brand is HOT in overseas markets. Now they have popped up here, on funky Queen West. If only their customer service was better… 😦

On the other hand, I guess we should be happy now that we have easier access to what is on trend at the moment, the only problem is that Face Shop make-up gives my skin allergic reactions.  My skin is sensitive, so I can’t slather on things with 10 different chemical names on it!  Perhaps these big make-up companies can stop working on gaining capitol on trends for a second, and work on better quality and formulations of their make up and skin care?  It is not too much to ask…and consumers in any part of the world’s market can relate to this need and we deserve it too.

Spring floral prints are in…

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

I hear a lot about prints these days in fashion.  Whether it is on the runway, or on the street, everyone knows that wearing them instantly make a statement about who you are.  Leopard prints, cat prints, polka dot and graphic prints…it’s exciting, that’s for sure.  But I’ve always had a soft spot for floral prints.  Floral clothing are feminine, without being “sissy” or overly girly.  Easy and pretty, being funky without trying too hard.  And they imbue a certain youthful vibe about them.  Certainly wearing a tasteful floral printed dress screams spring, and with that season fast approaching (thank goodness winter is on it’s way out), there is no excuse to not sport one item of clothing in this print.  Let’s celebrate nature, the return of the sun, in the most obvious way…a flowery tribute to the pagan earth gods that allowed this return!

Even if you’re not a pagan, it seems these days, a lot of stores are peddling florals.  From jackets, to skirts, leggings to dresses, purses and wallets, everything has some pop of petals and colour.  I wanted to highlight a few items that are in my wardrobe, that happen to be floral and show some of the ways I wear this busy and in demand print.

After a whole winter of bundling up and wearing thick boyish pants, it’s so nice to shed it all off and reveal a more girly side.  So in comes my sweet skater dress!  (pictured below) The print is a bit different than other florals, because the flowers are big and cool tones of purple and blue green.  A little twist from pink or red florals.  I call this cut of style a “skater dress”…I don’t know, but I read on another site about how certain dresses make you feel like an figure skater.  This one with it’s fit and flare, and high collar does that for me!

This dress is a "skater" dress. High collar with an open back and flow-y short skirt!
This dress is a “skater” dress. High collar with an open back and flow-y short skirt!

Now to go from an athletic open back dress, to a romantic and nostalgic long skirt.  I got this really long skirt from Forever 21 (below).  Long skirts are very in right now, but this one caught my eye because of the cut, (billowy and frilly), and also the floral panel insert that gives it an extra feminine and vintage vibe.  This is a great way to wear florals, because if this print was the whole skirt, it would be garden-y over kill!  I was almost too short for this floor touching length, but I pulled it off.  Pair the skirt with cute chunky heels, the length will be perfect.  This is the only way to wear long dresses or skirts during this trend.  It has to be very long, almost to the floor!

bohemian feel and frills keeps this long skirt from looking too matronly!
a bohemian feel and frills keeps this long skirt from looking too matronly!

What are your favourite ways to wear floral prints?  What spring trends have caught your eye this year?

Why is winter fashion so gloomy, especially on Valentines?

~ Emmie Reve ~ Leave a comment

I have not been clothing shopping lately.  Mostly because…well, I am trying to save and also, I spent a lot recently on a super cool vacation with my kid.  But sometimes, you can’t avoid shopping…I have to say that as a girl, not to look too shallow, but it is just expected for us to be on top of trends and have something new to wear, especially on Valentines day.  So recently, I justified using my dusty visa card in search of something romantic, fun, and uplifting for this upcoming couple’s holiday.  The only problem was that there was so little out there to buy.  Everywhere I looked was gloomy…clothes were all black, grey, and brown.  Prints were unflattering.  There was nothing with lace or crochet, and nothing sweet with sparkle, or a vintage quirkiness. What’s wrong with TO during winter?  What’s wrong with Queen Street West…which is supposed to be the pinnacle of fashion in this city?

Ahh, Toronto's equivalent to New York's Soho
Ahh, Toronto’s equivalent to New York’s Soho

I went to H&M, Aritzia, some cute korean boutique, Mendocino…etc.  And nothing was catching my eye.  I finally gave in and went to Urban Outfitters, which I was trying to avoid, because I shop too much there.  But I was able to find this really cute salmon pink cable knit crop sweater.  I’m thrilled!  Finally a little colour to brighten up my mood during this crazy winter.  And come on, it’s Valentines day.  Doesn’t anybody dress up all cute in hearts, red and pink anymore?  Even the most jaded, unenthusiastic Torontonian and muster up some cheer for this once a year sweety-pie love fest, no?  Retail fashion, you need to zone in on that…

I’m in cute/sweet sweater mode this Valentines.  The weather is cold, so why not put on a comfy sweater…it is possible to be romantic in this bulky winter clothing staple.  I think the key is in colour.  This is the sweater that I got at Urban Outfitters yesterday:

The colour is a bit bright for my taste, but it is cutely cropped and made of breathable cotton cable knit!
The colour is a bit bright for my taste, but it is cutely cropped and made of breathable cotton cable knit!

Pair it with a pencil/tube skirt and go a more feminine route.  In this photo I paired it with some printed leggings for a more fun look.

My next photo is a wool sweater I scored a couple of weeks ago at Black Market.  I think it fits Valentines because it’s a muted baby pink, with some pretty stitch detailing on the neckline.  Very sweet and demure.  Also cropped, so it works with high waist-ed skirts…

This sweater has a vintage vibe, because it is vintage. I actually used scissors to crop the sweater! No hemming necessary because the wool doesn't fray. Sweet DIY.
This sweater has a vintage vibe, because it is vintage. I actually used scissors to crop the sweater! No hemming necessary because the wool doesn’t fray. Sweet DIY.

What do you think of my choices of wardrobe Valentines?  It doesn’t scream sexy, but it’s pretty fun and low-key.  And believe it or not, they were actually hard to find in a fashion forward city like Toronto…