Bags | torontolife.com

À la mode: re-purposed food becomes the stuff of fashion

Sweet sartorialism: Fulvio Bonavia's book of delicious photos (Image: Hachette Australia)

We’ve seen and written about plenty of food porn in our day, but this is the first time we’ve seen food as fashion porn. We’re loving this series of photos of handbags, shoes and other accessories made from food—all plucked from A Matter of Taste by Italian photographer Fulvio Bonavia. The book is available on Amazon, but the items themselves can’t be bought. We wish some were, though. We’d feel more badass riding our bike wearing a watermelon helmet (and, conversely, a lot daintier if there were purple flowers glued on it). What better way to cultivate a cat lady persona than by trotting about in a cat magnet like this shimmering sardine belt? And we think Mom would have preferred to receive an elegant silver necklace with linguine strands over the shabbily painted macaroni one we gave her in Grade 2 (though we’re less certain about the parmesan purse).

A Matter of Taste, by Fulvio Bonavia. Hachette Australia.

: Sweet sartorialism: Fulvio Bonavia’s book of photos (Image: Hachette Australia)

The Informer

In Transit

April 23, 2010 | 12:10 pm

• A TTC etiquette campaign the TTC doesn’t know about (with printable posters) [National Post]

National Post to bring manners, litter to TTC

(Image: Steven Murray, National Post)

An idea worth stealing is an idea worth spreading around. Inspired by a similar campaign in New York, some clever folks at the National Post have started making some hilarious printable posters that encourage better manners among passengers on the TTC. So far, there are just three, but they include timeless pet peeves, like “Bags off the seats” and “You smell bad—yes, you.” The Post is encouraging people to send in their suggestions for more posters, and advocating that readers print them and, “do, I don’t know, whatever you want with them! Legal things!” Watch for subways and buses to be completely overtaken by well-meaning messages as people steal even more printer paper from their offices for personal use.

Now, if only someone could kick off a similar program concentrating on the behaviour of TTC staffers.

The Hype

To-Do List

April 21, 2010 | 12:53 pm

4 Comments

The Weekender: The Cake Show, Burlesque’s Most Wanted and seven other weekend events

1. GREEN LIVING SHOW
Demonstrations, workshops and speakers cover everything eco-warriors need to know about greening their lives. And we do mean everything: transportation, fashion, tourism, food, wine, health and education are all covered. April 23 to 25. $12, or free with a piece of “e-waste.” Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., greenlivingonline.com/torontoshow/.

2. THE CAKE SHOW 2010
A must-attend for sweet-toothed Torontonians, this afternoon-long event is hosted by the Bonnie Gordon School and features beautiful creations by past and present students. Check out the exhibit of “cake art,” live decorating challenges and a cake-tasting contest. April 25. $10. Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., 416-440-0333, thecakeshow.com.

3. DANCEWORKS PRESENTS CIE. LA OTRA ORILLA
The Montreal-based flamenco troupe Cie. La Otra Orilla spices things up at Harbourfront this weekend with two performances of EL12, a piece that contemporizes the traditional Andalusian dance and explores the style’s distinctive 12-beat rhythm. April 23 and 24. $28. Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

The Goods

From the Print Edition

April 20, 2010 | 2:02 pm

Super Shopper: our monthly roundup of the city’s best loot

Everyone’s seen the Pantone mugs; the tins, imported from Italy, are new to Toronto this month. $24.50 each. SoHo Art and Custom Framing, 77 Roncesvalles Ave., 416‑531-2047. Elegant (yet biodegradable) paper plates and cups class up a picnic in the park. $15–$18 per pack. Good Egg, 267 Augusta Ave., 416-593-4663. Canadian designer SoYoung Mother makes PVC-free linen coolers and lunch bags. $24. Planet Kid, 87 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-537-9233.

The Dish

Culinary Curiosities

February 5, 2010 | 4:08 pm

2 Comments

Milk in bags: that’s so Canadian

Today’s viral hit is a YouTube video made by Sheryl Ng, a York University student who explains the concept of drinking milk from a bag as opposed to a carton or jug. Western Canada and the entirety of the United States (the video is addressed to the latter) thinks Ontarians are as weird as Maritimers and the Québécois—the only known people who drink bagged milk. There’s a lot to explain, apparently: in the three-minute video, Ng goes into great detail about the size of one’s bag opening, the ideal pouring angle and how to prevent “the fridge smell” from getting into the milk.

The Dish

Read All About It

September 30, 2009 | 8:12 am

Moms encourage kids to eat McDonald’s, the caveman diet, a Canadian-themed bar grows in Brooklyn

Small fry: McDonald's-sanctioned mothers promote fast food eating for children (Photo by Noli Fernan Perez)

• Manhattan was besieged by a group of McMoms last week—a team of pro-McDonald’s matriarchs who were handpicked by corporate bigwigs to crusade in favour of the fast-food giant. In their attempts to convince other parents that the chain provides good food for kids, they offered some words of McWisdom: trade the Coke for a bottle of Dasani, take the salt off fries and swap the cheeseburger for some chicken McNuggets. Unfortunately, they provided no counsel about the ill-effects of selling out to the man. [New York Daily News]

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

September 22, 2009 | 12:11 pm

Sales roundup: 80 per cent off designer eyewear, sample sale at Stylegarage, bridal warehouse sale

EVENTS

BEYOND THE SPA OPENING
Guests will be treated to champagne, wine, nibbles and free treatments (a mini-facial or lime-coconut scrub) at the opening party for Beyond the Spa. Oct. 3. 2–4 p.m. 13 Church St., Ajax, thebestspa.ca.

THE CLOTHING SHOW
The fall version of this Toronto institution runs this weekend, with plenty of fashions (including vintage and locally made) to stock fall wardrobes, plus art exhibits and runway shows. $8–$10. Sept. 25 to 27. Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, 195 Princes Blvd., 416-516-9859.

EYEWEAR SALE
All eyewear (including prescription glasses and sunglasses) at Anders and Flynt Optician’s annual back-to-school sale is 40 to 80 per cent off. Snap up discontinued Tag Heuer sunglasses for $99 or save 50 per cent off prescription lenses. Sept. 25 to 27. 2215 Steeles Ave. W., 416-667-8887.

PORTOBELLO EAST MARKET
The once-monthly fashion market began this summer in the Distillery District, with a $5 admission charge. Starting this Sunday, Portobello East is moving to the Burroughes Building on Queen Street West and dropping the entry fee. Look for Toronto-made jewellery, clothing and handbags. Sept. 27. Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St. W., portobelloeast.com.

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

September 3, 2009 | 1:41 pm

3 Comments

Frugal fashion: Where to rent a designer gown for cheap

Next week, the city will officially be in TIFF mode. There will be a different party every night, and celebs will overrun the city. Hurrah! But keeping up with the luxe life without dropping tons of cash can be a challenge, so we’ve found the best places to rent red carpet–worthy one-of-a-kind dresses and accessories in Toronto.

Renée Zellweger and Catherine Deneuve have both shopped at Divine Decadence (Photo by Carmen Cheung)

Read the rest of this entry »

The Goods

Shop Talk

August 7, 2009 | 1:47 pm

2 Comments

Just opened: Burberry quietly unveils its Yorkdale store today

Yorkdale's newly opened Burberry

Rumours have been circulating this summer about the opening of two Burberry stores in Toronto, and while we managed confirm this, the company wasn’t forthcoming with details about where or when these locations would open.

So trench-coat adoring, plaid-loving Anglophiles can rejoice today as Toronto’s first Burberry boutique quietly opened its doors in Yorkdale mall. (We hear the second will come to Yorkville in October.) Along with Crate and Barrel and Michael Kors, the launch is another victory for the North York shopping centre.

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

July 28, 2009 | 1:56 pm

75 per cent off menswear, 50 per cent off Andy Thê-Anh, 50 per cent off designer denim

FASHION

AUGUSTINA
Tucked away in Toronto’s most chi-chi alleyway, this boutique is offering up to 50 per cent off summer shoes, bags, and, just in time for resumption of ferry services to the island, sundresses. Perfect for Ward’s beach is a Roberta Freymann modern tunic ($75). 5 Old York Lane, 416-922-4248, augustinaboutiques.com.

ANDY THÊ-ANH
Montreal’s clothier to the rich and flawless has slashed the prices of his ready-to-wear line in half. A perfect summer suit for women is now $472. Until early August. 83 Yorkville Ave., 416-921-2639, andytheanh.com.

THE CASHMERE SHOP
Just because it’s summer, it doesn’t mean there’s no place for cashmere—especially when it’s on sale. Thin, seasonally appropriate short-sleeved cardigans are now $199, as are pastel-coloured wraps (down from $299). 24 Bellair St., 416-925-0831.

COP.COPINE
The Parisian label has marked down spring and summer wear by 50 per cent. The “rangun,” a two-piece cotton crinkle top—wash it, crinkle it and wear it—is down to $175. 101 Yorkville Ave., 416-483-0495.

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

July 21, 2009 | 3:00 pm

Sales roundup: 50 per cent off at Hugo Boss, 60 per cent off Fred Perry at Delphic, floor model furniture sale

FASHION

THE CASHMERE SHOP
Just because it’s summer (sort of) doesn’t mean there’s no place for cashmere—especially when it’s on sale. Thin, seasonally appropriate short-sleeved cardigans are now $199, as are pastel-coloured wraps (down from $299). 24 Bellair St., 416-925-0831.

COMRAGS
Make like Sarah Slean and snap up a dress (or two) designed by these Ryerson fashion program alumnae: selected items at the store are discounted 30 to 50 per cent. 654 Queen St. W., 416-360-7249, comrags.com.

DELPHIC
The store is offering discounts of up to 60 per cent off duds by such heavy-hitting designers as Fred Perry, Pringle and Henrik Vibskov. Satisfy the inner Gossip Girl with a short black Fred Perry dress for $135 (originally $225). 706 Queen St. W., 416-603-3334.

DIVINE DECADENCE
The purveyor of fun vintage party frocks is holding a half-price sale on all its dresses. Now’s the time to snag a retro prom dress. (Wedding and art deco gowns exempted.) 28 Cumberland St., 416-324-9759.

The Goods

The Find

July 20, 2009 | 12:11 pm

Mixed bags: Our 10 favourite purses right now

Hoi Bo

Gone are the garish toddler-sized totes. This year’s sexiest purses favour functional, slouchy shapes and supple textures. View the slide show of our top picks after the jump.

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

July 14, 2009 | 2:07 pm

Sales roundup: Designer denim sale, 20 per cent off at Stylegarage, save up to 70 per cent at Preloved

FASHION

BEANSPROUT
Before sending the tykes off to camp, check out this sale at the kiddie outfitter Beansprout. Bathing suits, shoes and socks are marked down by 20 per cent, and seasonal footwear and togs are half price. Sizes available for newborns to 12-year-olds. 565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-932-3727, beansprout.ca.

BUCKLER
Men who like their fashions fresh from the NYC meat-packing district should head to Buckler, where almost everything is 30 per cent off. Hyper-trendy dark-denim drop-crotch jeans are $228, down from $325. Bonus feature: a removable zip-off panel allows them to morph into regular-crotch jeans—perfect for when the fad peters out or the wearer starts to feel self-conscious, whichever comes first. 700 Queen St. W., 416-551-8441, bucklershowroom.com.

CARTE BLANCHE
Just when everyone thought Cheap Mondays couldn’t get any cheaper, jeans at this store are now $55 (down from $69). Everything else is 25 to 50 per cent off, including—for all the Lady Gaga wannabes out there—a black, midriff-baring torpedo-bra corset for $135. 758 Queen St. W., 416-532-0347, shopcarteblanche.ca.

COMRAGS
Make like Sarah Slean and snap up a dress or two designed by these Ryerson fashion program alumnae: selected items at the store are discounted from 30 to 50 per cent. From July 11. 654 Queen St. W., 416-360-7249, comrags.com.

The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

July 7, 2009 | 11:56 am

Sales roundup: Designer sales at Holt Renfrew, Carte Blanche, Delphic and Buckler

FASHION

889 YONGE
The retail portion of this holistic spa-yoga studio is having a “secret sale”: mention those two words at the checkout counter and receive 25 per cent off James Perse and Beyond Yoga apparel. July 6-11. 889 Yonge St., 416-925-7206, 889yonge.com.

BEANSPROUT
Before sending the tykes off to camp, check out this sale at kiddie outfitter Beansprout. Bathing suits, shoes and socks are marked down by 20 per cent while seasonal footwear and togs are half price. Sizes available for newborns to 12-year-olds. 565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-932-3727, beansprout.ca.

BUCKLER
Men who like their fashions fresh from the NYC meatpacking district should head on over to Buckler, where almost everything is 30 per cent off. Hyper trendy dark denim drop-crotch jeans are $228, down from $325. Bonus feature: a removable zip-off panel morphs them into regular-crotch jeans—perfect for when the fad peters out or the wearer starts to feel self-conscious, whichever comes first. 700 Queen St. W., 416-551-8441, bucklershowroom.com.

CARTE BLANCHE
Just when everyone thought Cheap Mondays couldn’t get any cheaper, jeans at this store are now $55 (down from $69). Everything else is 25 to 50 per cent off, including—for all the Lady Gaga wannabes out there—a black, midriff-baring, torpedo-bra corset for $135). 758 Queen St. W., 416-532-0347, shopcarteblanche.ca.