Accessories – modacarta

Nordstrom Rack Haul

May 21, 2018Posted in shoppingTagged Accessories, clothes, fashion, fashion blogger, nordstrom, nordstrom rack, retail, shopping, summer 2018, the6ix, thehaul, Toronto, white jeansLeave a comment

Nordstrom Rack recently joined Toronto’s retail landscape and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I am huge fan of both Nordstrom and Rack stores. I like the original brands and variety. I’ve been to the Bloor & Yonge St location a couple of times and scored large.

I was looking for a pair of mirrored sunglasses this season and found these Miu Miu in the designer sunglass section. $99 regular $450 for a similar pair on their site. Love how they look.

These grey nubuck sandals are Eileen Fischer. Yes they pinch my toes a little but I’m breaking them in. They have a mid-height heel and they literally go with everything. Especially the Rebecca Minkoff canteen bag I got.

Silver metallic is so great for summer. Fresh and shimmery and goes with everything.

The final piece in this haul outfit is the grey and black striped cold shoulder top. The brand is Philosophy and Rack had a lot of great pieces from them. The white jeans are not from this shopping trip. I got them last year at the Nordstrom 40% off sale. It’s on right now and it’s always a great time to pick stuff up.

TEAL FASHION WEEK

May 5, 2018Posted in Teal Fashion WeekTagged Accessories, blog, conquer cancer, fashion, Fight Cancer with Style, fundraising, moda, ovarian blitzers, ovarian cancer day, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, road hockey, spring fashion, style, teal, thanks1 Comment

STARTS TOMORROW!

An exciting time for me as I launch a fundraising campaign to support the OVARIAN BLITZERS ROAD HOCKEY TO CONQUER CANCER team from the Princess Margaret Cancer Center and also raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer for World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8).

As a survivor of Endo-Ovarian Cancer it is important for me to give back and I do it in style!

All week I will be showing off teal style and supporting the team! This collaboration came about while I was going through cancer treatment under the care of the my doctor and friend Marcus Bernardini. Fashion and Road Hockey – who knew it could work!

See you back here tomorrow for all the details! Ciao!

San Francisco Feeling

March 18, 2018Posted in shoppingTagged Accessories, art, boots, California, dresses, fashion, fashion blogger, jacket, photography, poncho, San Francisco, shopping, spring fashion, spring shoes, spring style, travelLeave a comment

Such a colourful, vibrant city!

I recently spent a week exploring San Francisco and Napa Valley/Sonoma. One popular colour was rose gold – specifically this Rose Gold Light Down jacket from Uniqlo. Everyone was wearing it – including myself. Here I’m riding a vintage tram along Market Street.

Art is huge in San Fran with outdoor murals, galleries and the world renowned San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

Shopping is also a big deal with Union Square being the hub. Here’s my haul.

LUX

I spotted this great accessories shop in the Castro and picked up this cashmere poncho for $50. I layered here over a jean jacket for chilly spring mornings and I know it will work over dresses and blazers as well. I also visited the UGG store in Union Square and the moment I slid my feet into these slides I was sold. The soft leather lining and cushion sole will keep my tired feet comfortable and stylish all day!

POP OF COLOUR

Being surrounded by art, stunning landscapes and coastlines made me want to liven up my Spring wardrobe with colour. I scored this Anthropologie embroidered jacket for $41 from $198. I visited the store while they were having a Friday night Happy Hour. While sampling some great California Rosé I scooped up some great sale stuff for an extra 30% off. Best shopping night ever!

It’s the Little Things

Sometimes cheap little ordinary treats can really take you back to your holiday and remind you of the good times you had. I picked up some buttons from galleries, and tourist shops. I really like them on jean jackets or hats. They are an affordable and stylish holiday memory. Picked up this mermaid pouch at a gallery in Sonoma. The image reminded me of the California coastline with it’s rocks and sea lions. Accessories were on BOGO 50% at Victoria Secret. I love this rose gold wallet – it will work great with my Gucci belt bag because I can attach my keys as well.

ONE DRESS 2 SEASONS

This cream sweater dress was another score from Anthropoligie. I can wear it now, as winter is ending, with OTK boots + leggings and in Spring with my new laser cut Vince Camuto boots (future blog post). I can top this dress with so many of my jackets!

THE BEST

The very best thing about my holiday was spending time with my BFFs from Italy! CIAO!

DIY Accessory

August 7, 2017Posted in TrendsTagged Accessories, DIY, fashion, fashionDIY, guitar strap, handbag, moda, SS2017, style, styleDIY, Summer FashionLeave a comment

I’m not a huge DIY-er but occasionally I come across a project I want to take on like making my own decorative handbag strap.

I first discovered how cool a decorative strap looks last year when Fendi introduced their line. Elaborate and colourful I was intrigued but completely turned off by the price ($1500+). A month ago I saw that Rebecca Minkoff also had a line of “guitar straps” available. The price point was more bearable at around $150 but there had a to be a more affordable way to get the look and YouTube was the answer.

There were several videos showing what was needed and how to do it. I definitely can’t claim credit for inventing DIY.

WHAT YOU NEED

Handbag that you can attach a strap to.
O rings that open and close with a hinge.
Guitar Strap

You can find the O rings at any craft store or bead shop. I got my guitar strap at Steve’s Music on Queen West. You can also find plenty of them (really nice ones) online.

All you do is thread the O ring through the handbag and then the guitar strap at each end. Make sure the strap is not twisted because the O ring does not swivel to untwist like other handbag straps.

Viola – you have a handbag with a really unique strap. If you chose the colour/pattern of your guitar strap with your handbags in mind you can use it with several different bags.

Knit It

January 8, 2017February 4, 2017Posted in TrendsTagged Accessories, design, fashion, italiandesign, italianfashion, knitting, knitwear, moda, pussyhat, scarves, styleLeave a comment

Knitting is a great past time for winter and also a creative way to add original accessories to your wardrobe. I tend to stick to small pieces that I can finish in a short period of time. Scarves, capelets, and cowls are all fun projects that can be completed quickly. I am currently working on a shrug in shades of turquoise. It’s chilly in my office and I thought this was a great way to stay warm without bulky layers.

Commuters

I’ve seen a lot of girls knitting on the train. It’s a great way to pass the time during a long commute. Using circular needles keeps the work close to you and doesn’t jab the person sitting next to you.

Knitwear Kings

My fav knitwear designers are Missoni and Brunello Cucinelli. I love the colour and pattern of Missoni knitwear while Cucinelli cashmere is the ultimate luxury. Both brands are based in Italy which is country known for its’ knitwear industry.

My Mom knit me this extra warm, grey infinity scarf so of course the doll had to have one as well. I used crochet to create the doll’s infinity scarf because I had the yarn and the hook readily available. It took 10 minutes because it was such a small piece.

I just joined the resistance and started knitting a pussy hat.

Mini Bags

October 22, 2016October 22, 2016Posted in TrendsTagged Accessories, design, designers, Fall, Fall Accessories, fall fashion, fashion, handbag, minibag, moda, shopping, styleLeave a comment

Several designers have down-sized their handbag offerings this season. The French fashion houses in particular love the idea of a mini. You may think that a mini bag is decorative but useless. I have changed my thinking after purchasing a beautiful aqua leather mini bag in Como. First, a la francais.

French Design

Louis Vuitton delicate, pretty mini pink and burgandy Capucine can be handheld or worn crossbody. It comes is variety of leathers or skins and many colour combinations. The mini Viv by Roger Vivier is bold and structured in black and white with 2 compartments and pockets inside to organize your small stuff. Finally the Hermes mini Halzan in sapphire. The bag of a thousand forms. When you see how many ways this bag can be worn and how stylish it looks you will want to save your cash for this investment bag!

Italian Design

My mini bag has the width to hold a full size wallet, iphone, keys and lipstick. For social occasions not much else is necessary. My mini bag has 2 handles as well as a detachable cross body strap. When I use my mini bag for work it needs a companion tote. I use my Longchamp tote for all the work week necessities.

Italian Haul

October 12, 2016Posted in Brands, shoppingTagged Accessories, design, Fall, fall fashion, fashion, fashion blogger, handbag, italia, italiandesign, italianfashion, jewellery, madeinitaly, shoes, shopping, style, thehaul, travelLeave a comment

I’ve been back for a couple of weeks from my trip to Italy and as always I was depressed to leave la dolce vita and return to my everyday vita. That being said, my everyday vita allows me to live la dolce vita for short periods of time. On to the fashion and the shopping…

ITALIAN STYLE

Having visited both the North and South on this trip I can say the style language is very different. The North boasts Milan – fashion capitol of the world and mecca for modern art and design. Northern Italian woman love their jeans and even if they are ripped to shreads, they are styled with lovely ballet flats or neat, clean sneakers + a blouse or crisp white shirt. You won’t see a pair of dirty, grungy Converse anywhere. You see neat, tidy Converse or Stan Smiths.

The South is totally different. It was still full summer in Sicily. Women were more bohemian in dresses and frilly tops paired with flat sandals and high heels.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

THE HAUL

Shopping was not the number 1 priority but I did take advantage of every opportunity made available. My primary shopping was done at Foxtown in Mendrisio, Switzerland. It is about a 40 minute drive from Milan and on every Asian Tour of Italy package. It is no Great Lakes or Sawgrass or any other big outlet Mall you can think of, but the quality of high end designer stores is what makes it famous.

I focused my attention on handbags and footwear. Specifically Gucci. I wanted to celebrate the completion of my certificate in Digital Strategy from U of T with a Gucci Bag. I did my research so I knew what styles I liked and I definitely wanted the double GG canvas. I love the rose gold trim and fold over closure on this bag. It holds a ton and also has a cross-body strap. It’s the perfect Forever Gucci bag at less than 1/2 price. This style has been updated for 2016 but the fine straps and hint of pink add a touch of elegance and femininity to this bag.

I scored on ballet flats at Tods. I love Tods shoes. Their driving loafers are famous for comfort and pedal to the metal grip but I’m not a loafer girl – I’m a ballet flat girl. I chose a tri-colour suede and leather combo in royal blue, charcoal and black as well as a deep rose patent leather. These were marked down twice so I basically payed for a regular pair of no-name leather flats but got Tods quality instead.

If you’ve been reading my blog you know I have been searching for a dark green blazer. My favourite Italian brand Benetton came through. This blazer is soft and drapes well. I know it will look great this fall. Especially when I pair it with the chunky stone necklace I bought in a local market.

FASHION DOLL

I couldn’t leave her at home. I had fun shooting the doll in Italy. Thanks to Elena for your patience and help setting up the shots.

Office Supply

July 6, 2016Posted in TrendsTagged Accessories, carry all, fashion, Herschel, Indigo, moda, office, pouch, style, trends1 Comment

A trend around my workplace is the Office Pouch. A pouch is a great way to stash all your necessities when you’re dashing from meeting to meeting.

Carry-All

Security card, phone, reading glasses, pen, lip balm. The list is endless of what women need at any moment and especially during marathon meetings. If you attend meetings with your laptop a pouch will keep your stuff organized and neatly tucked away until you need it.

Here are some chic pouches to carry in style.

This navy pouch with a feather print is oversized and will carry all your necessities. It’s ideal for marathon meetings or all-day conferences. This beautiful floral mini pouch is great if you travel to the US for work. It will keep your receipts and currency separate from your main wallet. It will even hold your ID if you are a Nexus member. Both these pouches are from Indigo which is a great source for trendy accessories at reasonable prices.

This Louis Vuitton bag does double duty as a wristlet organizer and an evening bag if you’re going out after work.

Finally if you review proofs or documents with clients/business partners, you probably carry a lot of pens, highlighters, clips and possibly tape. This Herschel pencil case will carry all that and more with style!

What’s the trend at your workplace? I’d love to know!

Queens Plate 2016

July 3, 2016Posted in EventsTagged Accessories, event, Fascinators, fashion, Hats, moda, paper art, QP2016, Queens Plate, style1 Comment

Cheers to all the fashionistas and their fabulous hats who attended the Queen’s Plate today at Woodbine Racetrack. Everyone looked so stylish in their summer dresses and fascinators. I got some great ideas for next next year’s event. At the Hats and Horseshoes Party, my friends and I sipped refreshing wine slushies from Girls Night Out Wines and tasted the Food Truck offerings.

It was exciting watching a full day of racing ending with the glamour event. For the race fans who may be reading…Sir Dudley Digges won the $1 million purse. Congratulations!

Here’s a close up at the 4 fascinators we wore today. They turned out so great and my friends were really excited to wear them.

I couldn’t resist making a miniature fascinator for the doll.

Event Planning

June 29, 2016Posted in TrendsTagged Accessories, Fascinators, fashion, Hats, Horse Racing, moda, paper art, Queens Plate, style, trendsLeave a comment

This year modacarta has been invited to the Queen’s Plate horse race. The Queen’s Plate is part of the Canadian Triple Crown and is the oldest horse in North America to run consecutively.

An event like this is all about the hats. I decided to challenge myself and make a fascinator. A fascinator is a little hat that gets clipped to the hair and is highly decorative. It’s popular at the Kentucky Derby and Melbourne Cup. At Royal Ascot the dress code was changed in 2012 making it mandatory for female racegoers to wear hats – not fascinators. My full DIY journey was on Instagram and still viewable on my profile @modacarta.

Research

I started doing some research online and found some great ideas as well as some patterns to use for the form. The original pattern I downloaded was too big for my head so I trimmed it down until it fit perfectly.

Design

Corrugate worked best for the base. Some blogs suggested plastic yogurt containers but it was hard to work with and the decorative paper didn’t adhere well.

The best part was decorating the hat. I’m not a milliner and I don’t have a sewing machine so fabric was out. I purchased flowers, feathers, pearls, paillettes and toile because I wasn’t sure how much I would need. It was around this time that my friends asked me to make fascinators for them for the race. YIKES! Time to get working.

My friends send me their outfit colours so I could start designing. I sent them flat representations for them to approve. That stage went really smoothly and I was able to design something unique for all three of them.