Vintage Spot - Ugly Luggage

This vintage store in Brooklyn has amazing finds at very reasonable prices. Walking through it brings you back to a simpler time when things were made with passion and quality. I instantly fell in love with this little shop. They have everything you're looking for - from beautiful vintage furniture to old typewriters. Go check it out if you're ever walking around on Bedford avenue in Williamsburg, NY.

Give Away - The First Issue of The Fashion Press

We're giving away the first issue of The Fashion Press to 10 of our readers. Email our editor LeeJones@thefashionpress.org with the names of your favourite mags to enter. Open to Canadian residents only.

Event - Hand Down Your Pants Friday Dec. 17th

Something exciting is happening this coming friday night in Ottawa: Hand Down Your Pants is having their 5th sale at Babylon Nightclub from 8 to 11 pm (with no cover charge). There's going to be a ton of stuff up for grabs at prices that suit a party kid's lifestyle! There are men's jackets, ladies shoes, sweaters, accessories and much more. I recommend you to go as early as you can, because all the good stuff will sell quickly, and I say this from experience. After 11 pm, the December edition of Mindgames is also kicking off at Babylon, so make sure you don't leave too early!

The models are wearing clothes that will be on sale this friday at Babylon. The photos were taken by Walker Tamblyn with his film camera and the styling was done by Jessica D'Angelo. To see more of the photo-shoot and the selection of clothing that will be available, click here to check out their blog.

Remember to bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank, because you will receive a discount on your purchase. So come on over to Babylon on friday, and get ready to shop & party!

Blogger Spotlight - Ania B.

Ania from Calgary has modeled in Paris, Tokyo, and New York and has wicked style to boot. Her fashion blog features quips from her daily life and beautiful photos. When asked about how her blog began she states " We started doing a lot of creatives with my friend and photographer extrodinare Jason Eng. Unfortunately Calgary is very conservative and there are not a lot of places that are easy to submit, with ongoing frustrations as to what we should do with all our work I created my blog www.aniab.net. I was fascinated with the possibility of laying everything out (like in a magazine) myself and being in total control of the content. It started off mainly focusing on my inspirations from daily living but it evolved into being mainly about fashion. " The pictures within her blog look right out of a magazine and are full of inspiration.

Her style is very fashionable yet she can go from trendy to casual and still look amazing. When asked about her style Ania states "I am so very all over the place. I love black, I feel most comfortable in it but I also love dressing up. I don't think I have a set style as you would call girly or hipster... maybe trendy? I love following trends and try to stay on top of what's going on in magazines and on the runways. I know a lot of bloggers try to say they have individual style but really, looking around a lot of people take inspirations from each other and i'm not saying that's bad. I'm actually a big fan of it, it's easier to spot like minded people this way. It's amazing to know that in a city with so few fashion conscious people that there is a whole world of ones who get it. "

Calgary isn't exactly fashion central yet Ania and others are trying to change that. "I think there is amazing talent in Canada and there are a lot of people who really love and do fashion well. That said there is probably more of those people that really don't have a clue. It really sucks going to places like Amsterdam or London and seeing the city burst with style, but the good news is that even in places like that there are people who don't get it, so, if they, surrounded by fashion 24/7 don't know, we are not so bad off. I can speak from experience of being in Calgary, that the city's priorities are as far from fashion as can be. I get recognition everywhere else but here, it's quite disappointing, but blogs like calgaryfashion.ca are really trying to bridge that gap. I trully hope we can all collectively succeed together. "

Her favourite trend for this season is the oversized sweater. "I wait impatiently every year to get to wear those beautiful things (and then of course the winter is endless) but this year I got really into platform shoes. I never used to wear high heels until I started my blog, I always bought lots of them because of modelling and the occasional time when i'd use them for shoots. But those platform wedge shoes that became so popular this season are so comfortable I don't ever want them to go away (keep your fingers crossed)." To see more of Ania's awesome style click here.

Taylor Mali on Language

Another good video on language today.

Blogger Spotlight - Spencer of ProprPostur

Spencer, a student in Fashion Marketing from Ottawa, has an eclectic and vintage style. The name ProprPostur comes from his definition of posture. Posture defined as: A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behaviour; an overall attitude as well as a characteristic way of bearing one's body. When asked to describe his style Spencer states "I would describe my style as very open. I always like to experiment and try new things. As well as mix and match different styles and looks together and try and add my own personal flare to it. I tend not to limit myself".

In Ottawa, his favourite places to shop are the thrift stores and the boutiques through the Byward Market, a chic part of town. When asked about Canadian fashion Spencer states "Canadian fashion is great especially out in Montreal. Montreal stands out to me mainly because there is such a vibrant culture throughout the city. Which seems to be what many Canadian cities lack. Designers should never be afraid to be different and to experiment , never close yourself within a box or the norm". Spencer is a big fan of layers, combat boots, and overall military chic, and it suits him well. To see more of his awesome style click here.

Jeannie Phan Give Away!

Jeannie Phan is one of our new favourite artists. Recently I got her mini-zine Roleplay in the mail and it's kinda fantastic. Her artwork is definitely cute and cool, playing up the roles we take. We're giving one away to our readers, just email leejones@thefashionpress.org with the name of one of your favourite artists to enter. To see more of Jeannie's work click here. Contest is open to only Canadian residents. - Contest Now Closed

Mark March 30th on your calendars, in our next issue of The Fashion Press we'll be featuring an interview with cool cat Jeannie.

Art Sale at Gallery 115

The Gallery 115 of the University of Ottawa has organized its 2nd annual art sale! It's happening monday and tuesday (6th & 7th of december) from 11 to 7 p.m. It's a fundraiser, so 40% goes back for renovations and improvements of the Gallery and 60% goes back to the artists. It's a good way to support the artistic community, the university's Gallery and do some christmas shopping at the same time! The Gallery 115 is located in the Visual Arts building at 100 Laurier Ave. East (corner of Laurier and Cumberland). For more information, click here to see a link to the event.

So much amazing art pieces have been dropped off this weekend. It was quite the work to set it up, but now it looks fantastic and it's all ready for the opening day tomorrow. Hope to see you there!

Stephen Fry on Language

A very interesting take on language today.

Ottawa Fashion Week 2010

I got the opportunity to check out Ottawa Fashion Week at the end of october and it was definitely worth it. I caught the shows: Sugarbum Designs, Yola Couture, Soltys & Snajdr and Adrian Wu. It was super fun. Unfortunately, all the photos I took came out blurry (a photographer's nightmare) because of my stubbornness against using digital. But, I'm lucky to have a good friend who let me post his amazing photos. Andrew Szeto has a sweet website.Check it out by clicking here.

All the shows were impressive, but the one that really caught my attention was Adrian Wu on sunday night. It was poetic, timeless and romantic. The lights were dimmed down, it gave a dreamy atmosphere to the runway. The music in the background was also surreal and absolutely perfect for the show. Here is the video of the song. And check out the designer's website by clicking here.

Fashion Spotlight: Alexa Chung

This girl as been seen everywhere for the past few years. From blogs to the fashion world, everyone agrees that her effortless style is always on the dot. The fashion news director for Teen Vogue has even stated that Alexa Chung is becoming the new Kate Moss of this generation.

One of my favorite aspect of Alexa Chung is that she dresses for herself. For her MTV show, she never required a stylist. She would come to work wearing a mix of her own vintage items, like high-waist Levi’s denim shorts, Chanel booties, an old T-shirt or a baggy sweater.To the amazement of any vintage lover (like me), Alexa Chung has come up with a new show called "Thrift America". She'll be going through the country's consignment shops, garage sales and flea markets to look for the best finds in clothing, accessories, furniture and other potential treasures. The show is set to start showing next summer. This is really exciting. Here is a video that features Alexa at a photoshoot for Madewell Fall 2010:

Fashion Press Giveaway! Cabin and Woods

Cabin & Woods by Coley Brown and Cristiano Guerri
It tells about the wild and the unknown with shots from the forests of Scandinavia, Colorado, upstate New York, Germany, Italy. The Fashion Press is giving one away to a lucky winner. Email us (leejones@thefashionpress.org) the name your favourite artist for a chance to win. This contest is only available to Canadian residents. To see more of 0-100 Editions click here! - contest now closed

Blogger Spotlight - Sarah of The Stylish Heart

Sarah, a trainee accountant from Norwich, has the cutest style I've ever seen. Her fashion blog The Stylish Heart features her daily style which resembles the look of an adult Madeline. When asked to describe her look she states "I'd say it's quite British, I have a love for macs and loafers. It's girly with a bit of masculinity - lots of dresses with chunky boots." She's also been rocking a fringe for the past five years. One cannot get much cooler.

When asked about the influences of her style she states "other bloggers, Alexa Chung, and as I live in England.. the weather!" She started her blog because other bloggers looked like they were having so much fun. This goes well with her style which appears fun and fancy free. And where does she see herself in the future? "I really have no idea, and that's just fine! As long as I'm happy and healthy, I'm okay with not knowing right now." To see more of Sarah's awesome style click here.

Blogger Spotlight - Maddison

Maddison, a 17 year old photography student from San Diego, is the author of the blog Fiction Living. Within her blog, she reports on her daily fashions and events while living in Britain. When asked about the start of her blogging experience she states "I have always been interested in fashion and photography and wanted to make a site to showcase my love for both, and hopefully inspire others." Her fashion style is rather eclectic and, though she picks rather neutral colours, she loves to experiment with textures and shapes.

Maddison uses her Canon Rebel XS to take beautiful photographs. In her free time she likes to take walks and photograph the people and places she comes across. Her sister, a fashion student, is one of her greatest style influences and tends to be a feature of many of her photos. To check out more of Maddison's style and work click here.

Photographer Spotlight - Alex Prager

I stumbled upon the group exhibition New Photography 2010 at the MOMA in New York and the one artist that caught my attention was Alex Prager. I was instantly fascinated by her style and focus. This L.A based artist was born in 1979. Inspired by William Eggleston, she started photography at the age of 20. Without any education in the art field, she has still managed to contribute to a number of publications such as Vanity Fair, New York Times, Tank and Nylon. Meanwhile, she continues to show her work in various galleries worldwide.

Her large format photographs are often reminiscent of the cinematic conventions of Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch. The retro vibe is present throughout her work. Bright colors and an unusual composition result in compelling images where there is a sense of mystery that remains unresolved. The scenes suggests old movie stills, where we are left to imagine for ourselves the missing passages. I had a hard time selecting photos that were representative of her work, so I highly recommend a visit to her fabulous website by clicking here.

Prager also directed the short movie Despair (2010) which is part of her exhibition at the MOMA.

Artistic Spotlight - Jen Mann

Jen Mann, an artist from Mississauga, Ontario, makes beautiful paintings. She graduated with a BFA in Printmaking from the Ontario School of Art and Design (OCAD) in 2009. When asked about her experience at OCAD she states "OCAD for me was amazing and terrible at the same time. The first year is too basic for most of the students who really know what they want to be doing and have already "found their wings" so to speak. So we will call year one "a cage". The cage can make you go a little crazy, and I found it a little boring but I knew I was in the right place. OCAD was a great environment. It’s the people you are in with that shape you more than anything else. I chose based on previous experimentations to do my next three years at OCAD in Printmaking: which was amazing but again... terrible. The program is small filled with a bubbling creativity and small class sizes great for one on one time with faculty. Printmaking was great - I was able to learn a lot, and experiment and have fun... but by the end I was sick of the labor-intensive process of printing. I think like anything OCAD had its highs and lows for me. Overall its a fond memory. But I'm glad it's over with degree in hand. I never took a painting class at OCAD but when I graduated and no longer had printmaking facilities available to me, painting just seemed like the logical option, and it was a relief from making multiples. I have been painting ever since. "

Mann's talents spread over a variety of mediums. "I like the freedom and immediacy of drawing with a pencil, the forgiving and endlessly imaginative qualities of painting in oil, and the nice crisp lines of micron pens. Oil paint is what I've been up to lately, I love the color, the toxicity... it makes it real you know... the fact that its not good for you to be around, it makes you feel like a rebel when you are in a room all day and you're all like "I shouldn’t be breathing this stuff in for so long" and the other part of you is like "damn right I shouldn’t ... but I’m going to anyways cuz I’m bad ass" ... I’ve had my love affair with both relief printing and etching, but I’m not sure when I will be taking on that mountain again." Her works carry a lot of animal themes. As she states of her work "I am fascinated by the natural world. Our animal instincts, nature, behavior and how our actions as a society affect the wellbeing of ourselves as animals. I am consumed by two ideas, in all the facets of the way I live. One of the ideas is social psychology and consumer behavior, and the other is existentialism. The first explains the ways in which society has shaped us to understand relate, and act in the world and live our lives according to their systems, and the second looks at the effects of the first on us as individuals, how it affects us spiritually and how to find inner peace amid the madness."

The responses to her work so far have been positive. Americans seem to be more receptive to her work in terms of shows and sales. To her that has become an advantage because of the travel and the ability to meet new people. When asked about the art industry she's somewhat ambivalent. "I find that it is a lot about who you know and who you meet. The art industry is more of an "invite only party" if you aren’t in the circle - you sort of hover around outside the party until finally by coincidence or hard work someone notices you and invites you to the party. I like to believe that hard work and talent do pay off in the end. " And where does Mann see herself in the future? "The big dream... just living' off the art I love to create... I think that has been my dream since I was a child - that’s cliché though I know, but I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist." To see more of her work click here.

Blogger Spotlight - Justyna of Chichichic

Justyna, owner of the soon-to-be-launched online shop ChicShop.ca, has very classic style. When asked to describe her look she states "I like pieces from every decade. Generally, I prefer vintage to new, I suppose the running thread in my style is lady like sensibility? Anything with a vintage touch, romantic edge, sometimes less is more. Never trendy though. I'm pretty sure I'm quite off base when it comes to trends." Her favourite places to shop in Ottawa are The Ottawa Antique Market and the White Monkey for home decor. And where does she see herself in the future? "Lots and lots of travel. I'm about to embark on a new chapter, (new business, upcoming marriage), both me and my fiance are self employed, and we're hoping to spend our lives venturing around the world... who knows what the future will bring." To see more of Justyna's style click here.