fall fashion – modacarta

Hat Season

December 3, 2018Posted in shopping, TrendsTagged fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, fashion cancer, fashion design, Fight Cancer with Style, Hats, winter styleLeave a comment

Late fall and early winter is hat season for me. I love to wear hats because they give me a unique and eclectic style. I like to layer them with different scarves – I find matching sets boring and uninteresting. This tweed cap I’ve had 4ever and I’ve added floral embellishments to make it more feminine. It was my first DIY hat project.

My collection has a bit of everything from cloches to caps and pom-poms.

An alternative to hats is earmuffs. They keep your ears warm and sometimes that’s all you need depending on the temperature. These are from Kate Spade and are so fun. They also help you ignore people on the subway or in an elevator 😉 if you need to.

My newest hat was a feel good purchase. At a recent appointment at Princess Margaret Cancer Center their shop was having a hat sale. I picked up this beauty for $17 knowing some of the money is going towards helping women with image issues associated with cancer treatment. Win-Win.

AFTER – 25 days 25 looks

November 28, 2017Posted in 25 Days 25 LooksTagged 25 Days 25 Looks, after the cancer, barre, Brave, conquer cancer, Courage, fall fashion, fashion, Fight Cancer with Style, moda, red, styleLeave a comment

It seems like so long ago when I started my treatment journey for endometrial ovarian cancer and the 25 Days 25 Looks awareness campaign. It’s not something that is top of mind although somewhere in my brain lives the reality that I am a cancer survivor.

I recently returned to the Princess Margaret Cancer Center for my 6 month follow-up visit. I decided to wear red because it is vibrant and alive –like me! It is not one of my favourite colours but lately I like how it makes me feel when I wear it. This top is from Zara and I love the ruffle detail and lightweight fabric. Since the surgery has put me straight into menopause I need lighter layers that I can add and remove according to my body temperature.

Blogging about my treatment journey really kept my focus on the work and not on the radiation that was killing any lurking microscopic cancer cells. I connected with so many people online that were also sharing their journeys. One young women wore high heels to all her chemo and radiation appointments and shared her story on instagram when her result finally came back clear of ovarian cancer. In RL I met so many great radiation therapists and students at Princess Margaret and of course my surgeon/oncologist Dr. Marcus Bernardini who I would call a friend. He’s the Head of Gynaecology/Oncology but you wouldn’t suspect he holds such an important position from his caring and simpatico demeanor. Did I mention brilliant and stylish? I secretly call him The Dapper Doc. Right after my surgery we shared a moment about our Italian heritage and abbiamo fatto due chiachiere. (Italian for had a little chat) Can I say BFFs? Sure I can – it’s my blog!

After the cancer I feel I have been given a second chance to live the best possible healthy life that I can. I watch what I eat and try to make healthy choices at every meal – Nutella is sort of healthy right? I also discovered Barre and love how Classic Ballet makes me feel and look. My legs and butt have never been so toned. I’ve been going to Barre Beautiful since August which is dedication for me since I tend to get bored with my workout routine.

I’m excited to share that my 6 month follow-up appointment was all clear so the holidays will be that much more blessed for me. I look forward to new adventures and possibilities in 2018.

Click here to read more about my awareness campaign 25 Days 25 Looks or check out my guest blog on the Princess Margaret website.

If I am on your Christmas List please give generously to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation because I have everything I could ever need.

Black Friday Wrap-up

November 26, 2017Posted in shoppingTagged blackfriday, eaton centre, fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, moda, sales, shopping, style, style blogger, the6ix, trends, women's apparel, women’s wearLeave a comment

Another Black Friday passes but the deals live on as fabulous additions to my wardrobe. The CF Eaton Centre provided some good deals but the deep discounts were on previously reduced apparel.

Best Score

These Blondi boots I got at Nordstrom and they were an additional 25% off the Fall Sale price. They are leather, water proof and felt lined. They will be my go-to boot before the snow flies. I love this cognac colour because I can wear it with black skinny trousers or tights. A darker brown would have limited my looks.

Sweater Season

A picked up a great sweater from Zara. It has built in accessories with the pearl embellished neckline. It has short sleeves which helps keep me cool when the office is warm and dry. I love this classic look when combined with a camel cardigan.

Artsy

Uniqlo’s recent contribution to Art meets Fashion is a collab with contemporary artist KAWS. KAWS is well known for his work using iconic figures like Snoopy and Pinocchio. It was mayhem at the Uniqlo store for this collection. I am not a huge Snoopy fan but I do like the idea of wearable art and have a few pieces from previous Uniqlo collections so I tried on this hoodie and liked the fit.

Creepers

October 31, 2017Posted in shoppingTagged creepers, fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, footwear, italia, italian fashion, moda, shoes, style, style blogger, trends, women's apparel, women’s wearLeave a comment

Top on my shopping list for Italy was bordeau creepers. I really wanted a pair of these 80s throwbacks. I found them at Geox. I really didn’t want such a pedantic brand but this was the only pair I could find that met all the criteria.

Ridged, uniform sole
Patent leather
Bordeau
Loafer detailing

With a list like that I’m surprised I found them at all 😉

These creepers are super comfortable and give me some height which is great. The colour and black sole are giving me some challenges when putting looks together but they are too unique not to wear!

Tweed the Season

October 25, 2017Posted in Brands, TrendsTagged coats, fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, italia, italian fashion, moda, style, style blogger, trends, tweed, women's apparel, women’s wearLeave a comment

Coats are a “must-have” in Canada and multiple coats are a necessity in Toronto. Fall can bring rain, wind, cold, damp –you get the picture. As the cooler weather sets in it’s good to have various choices for outerwear. That’s why I added this Sisley Tweed Coat to my outerwear wardrobe.

I picked this coat up at the outlet just outside Udine for 47 euros ($70 CAD). STEAL!!!! The colour and retro shape of this coat are what attracted me to it. Burgandy has been a hot colour for Fall for the past 2 seasons and it works well with my skin tone and hair colour. This tweed also has grey and pink in it so the possibilities for looks are endless. The high collar of this coat provides protection against wind and cold. I can tuck in a silk scarf that peaks out of the collar or wrap a long scarf around the outside. The bracelet length sleeve shows off my leather gloves.

Italian Fashion Series – Leather

October 21, 2017Posted in TrendsTagged backpack, fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, italia, italian fashion, leather, moda, style, style blogger, trends, women's apparel, women’s wearLeave a comment

Italy is known for it’s leather production. I love the way Italian leather feels, looks, and smells. Footwear or a bag will last and only get better over time as a patina develops and enriches the original colour.

I bought this small back pack in Gallipoli. This artisan shop had tons of handmade bags – it was hard to chose. I liked the way this bag opened up and then folded to close. It can be worn as a back pack or on one shoulder. I love this cognac colour and I know it will only get better over time,

I also bought this red leather bracelet on the beach near Gallipoli. Red is such a hot colour for fall so it’s nice to have an accessory that reminds me of my trip.

I’m wearing a cashmere sweater from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for this post. I love the length and off-the-shoulder style. For a hint of allure I’m showing off my Intimissimi bralette that I got in Udine. I love the antique rose colour against my skin. It acts like a cami without the added the layer. Intimissimi is a popular lingerie store in Italy and if you can find an outlet you can get great deals.

Summer Sizzle – Winter Chic

October 15, 2017Posted in shoppingTagged dresses, fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, italia, italian fashion, moda, style, style blogger, trends, women's apparel, women’s wearLeave a comment

I was lucky to find 2 original pieces that are almost exactly the same except one is for summer and one is for winter.

On this trip to Italy I traveled down south to Puglia – the heel of Italy. Summer was still full on with temps in the low 30s and beautiful sunshine everyday I was there. The fabric of summer in Italy is linen and designers tend to use 100% linen opposed to blends. I found this navy blue dress in a little shop in Otranto. I loved that it is a column of pure linen and hangs so beautifully on my body. The scoop in the back adds drama and allure.

At the other end of country, in the north, in Udine, I found this great sweater dress – also navy blue. It’s from Stefanel. One of several companies in Northern Italy’s hotbed of casual wear. This dress is a heavy cotton blend and is a little more body conscious. It has a plunging V in the front so layering is a must.

Fashion Motives (IFS)

October 12, 2017Posted in Brands, shoppingTagged fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, italia, italian fashion, moda, slogan tops, style, style blogger, trends, women's apparel, women’s wear1 Comment

Motivi (Motives) is a clothing brand that is part of a larger apparel group from the 1930s. So many of Italy’s brands started in the early 20th century as family businesses which either grew into bigger groups by acquiring labels or becoming luxury brands like Prada, and Bruno Cucinelli.

Motivi is a casual/work wear brand for women. The clothes are elegant with great detailing. I purchased 2 tops from Motivi because I couldn’t decide between them and they had a BOGO promotion going on.

CREATIVITY HAS NO BORDERS

I love this saying. I live by this saying because I don’t allow my creativity to get fenced in.

I styled 2 monochrome looks for these slogan tops.

The black sweat top has cold shoulders with lace detailing. I love the ultra feminine lace with the slouchy, athletic top. Black leggings and high lace-up moto boots complete the look.

The burgundy tee also had lace cutouts and frills to finish the shoulder. My cousin Sabry preferred this top because of the colour and way it fit me. I paired this top with bordeaux jeans and my rose gold Superga sneakers. I love the way the sunlight hits these sneakers.

Italian Fashion Series (IFS)

October 9, 2017October 12, 2017Posted in Brands, TrendsTagged fall 2017, fall clothes, fall fashion, fall style, fashion, fashion blogger, italia, italian fashion, moda, style, style blogger, superga, travel, trends, women's apparel, women’s wear1 Comment

I’m dedicating my blog to my recent trip to Italy via the purchases I made.

I shopped some great brands in Northern Italy’s hotbed of casual wear. Then selected some beautiful artisan pieces in the heel of Italy – Puglia.

1st Stop – Citta Fiera, Udine

This shopping mall is the biggest in the area. It had some great stores like OVS, Benetton, Zara, Motivi – to name a few. The food court had a great bar that served gelato. If you’re a follower of modacarta you know from reading 25 Days 25 Looks I recently went through radiation treatment for Endometrial Ovarian Cancer and it caused some changes in my body. The main one is a sensitivity to dairy. Very sad news when you’re in Italy and surrounded by gelato. Lucky for me I rediscovered my love of lemon gelato.

1st Purchase

The very first thing I bought was Rose Gold Superga sneakers. Superga is an Italian sneaker brand that recently went through a resurgence through collabs with The Row and other fashion brands. Rose coloured and embellished sneakers is a huge trend for fall 2017 and these were a steal at 44 euros or $62CAD. The fabric is canvas with a rose gold varnish which makes them water resistant.

DIY Project

I wanted these sneakers to be more on trend so I decided to add satin ribbon laces. It’s super easy!

Buy some satin ribbon in a colour that matches the sneakers. Measure the ribbon to the laces and add about an extra inch. Tape the ends of the ribbon to make it easier to thread. Remove the tape once the ribbon is threaded and dip the end into some clear glue. This will seal the end and keep it from fraying.

Here’s how they turned out. I love them!

Up next – Motivi

The Italy Series

September 4, 2017Posted in 25 Days 25 LooksTagged 25 Days, 25 Days 25 Looks, dolcevita, fall fashion, fashion, FW2017, italia, Italy, moda, style, travelLeave a comment

I’m leaving for Italy in a couple of days for vacation. I am so thankful to so many people that I can make this trip. I feel blessed that my health is better than ever and I’ve resumed my life after treatment for Endometrial Ovarian Cancer.

My 25 Days 25 Looks initiative is well behind me but I remember fondly the people I met at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the excellent care I received. I’ll be back there after my trip for follow-up visits with my healthcare team and I will of course dress to impress in fabulous fall looks.

Italy 2017

First stop is visiting family in Friuli. Friuli is located in the north-east part of Italy and it is a beautiful region of mountains, sea and history. I’ll be staying and traveling with my cousin Elena. We will be heading way down south to Puglia. The heel of Italy. I’m looking forward to sun, heat, sea and exploring the towns of the Salento. Also enjoying Negro Amaro which is the region’s wine.

I’m not planning to blog but you can experience my adventures on instagram:

@modacarta – for Italy looks, shopping and trends.

@latonizzo – for scenery, food and la dolcevita.

The doll is also ready to go!