Archive for February, 2010

Behind the Scenes in the Cathedral with Lindsey Drennan

Friday, February 26th, 2010
When I spoke to Lindsey Drennan while arranging the WxW filming schedule, she indicated that she had envisioned her shoot to take place in a church.
In my mind, I had my reservations. Why? Because the last time I stepped foot in a church, I went to a Catholic high school and was forced to go to mass- what, with the long flowing robes, and the worship, and the wine that only the priest got to savour ‘What gives!? I’m underage and want a taste of the sweet nectar too. Instead I have to settle for this piece of shit cracker. Boo.’ And why did I go to a Catholic high school when I was a big fat non-religious fake? They had a superior Arts program; which as you can see, is doing me a lot of good. Anyhow, for the record I took communion like a champ. Plus I think the church I was looking for was Anglican….
So I lead us to a big downtown church thinking it has to be the right church, because I don’t know many churches, and I think ‘It’s in the area’ so I don’t bother to Google map it cuz I’m known for making gross assumptions like that. Then we walk in and ask the church ladies, who look at us all cockeyed, thinking we must be all high on “the pot” or something, because “there’s no fashion shoots going on here” and they were just about to start a service. Fail. Plus I already put $4.50 in the parking meter which bought us a fancy hour and fifteen minutes at King and Adelaide, when I could have paid $1.50 down the street where I was supposed to be. Epic Fail.
Off to the Little Trinity church where we finally hunt down Lindsey Drennan and her crew for their series is entitled “Golden Graces”.
Found it. Shot it. Love it. Can’t wait to show it.

Producer: Andy Vanderkaay

Stylist: Diana Onu (Plutino Group)

Makeup Artist: Julie Lynas (Plutino Group)

Hair Stylist: Lynzee Corbett

Models: Jenna (Ford Models), Nicole S (Next)

Photo Assistants: Brendan Meadows, GP Testa


Posted in Andy Vanderkaay, Brendan Meadows, Diana Onu, Ford Modelling Agency, GP Testa, Julie Lynas, Lindsey Drennan, Next Modelling Agency | View Comments

Behind the Scenes in Death Valley With Renata Kaveh

Thursday, February 25th, 2010
One of the most ambitious shoots that took place as a part of this season’s WOMEN x WOMEN fashion photography exhibit, was Renata Kaveh’s series entitled, “Deserter”. She and her crew of 5 travelled to Nevada to shoot an impressive series of 12 images which embodied her modern, romantic style.

Renata described her vision for the series: “In ‘Deserter,’ land and life are captured together in a liminal space between paralysis and transformation. Imprinting the charged inky swell of an unconventional and luxuriant feminine figure onto the blankness of a desolate landscape.”

Lucky for us, she also left the cold Canada temps with her Polaroid in tow and snapped some awesome behind the scenes shots.

For more behind the scenes shots and WOMEN x WOMEN news join the Facebook Fan Page

It’s everything you hoped for and more…

Note: Another little tasty tidbit about Renata is that she just joined the ranks of Poor But Sexy Magazine (one of our “new mags to watch”) as a photographer on Volume II. Congrats!









Art Direction & Photography: Renata Kaveh
Stylist: Dwayne Kennedy (Plutino Group)
Hair Stylist: Diana Dagher (Plutino group)
Makeup Artist: Aniya Nandy (Plutino Group)
Model: Sophie (Envy Model Agency)
Cinematographer: Christina Woerns

Posted in Death Valley, Envy Model Agency, LG Fashion Week, Plutino Group, Poor But Sexy Magazine, Renata Kaveh, WOMEN x WOMEN, fashion, polaroid, the advocates | View Comments

WOMEN x WOMEN Behind the Scenes

Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Last week, we set out to assist Director extraordinaire Billie Mintz of ARC (Artists Raising Consciousness), with the seemingly impossible mission to document the 12 WOMEN x WOMEN photographers’ shoots. Our travels brought us from a cathedral in Corktown, to an antiques & vintage shop in the Junction, to a tiny cottage on a lake in rural Quebec- not to mention countless spectacular studios across Toronto and Montreal. I shit you not. 12 shoots in 8 days. Eat that Anna Wintour.
I’m proud to report that I wore the same green cargo pants to every single shoot. I’m not kidding. I don’t know how it happened. Maybe somehow, subconsciously I thought I was going into the WxW playoffs and it was for good luck. Maybe I rationalized that since I was going to be graced with the Canadian fashion industry’s most striking models, that it wasn’t even worth shaking a stick at or whatever the kids are doing these days. Plus, carrying camera equipment up several flights of industrial stairs is a bitch. You try doing it in stilettos. Excuses or not, my sense of fashion fell completely by the wayside that week, and I’m sure I made quite the dazzling impression showing up sans makeup, to a set full of our country’s finest purveyors of glamour. Epic fail.
Back to the point. I had the pleasure of being on the front lines of the action this year, meeting all the insanely talented artists and industry professionals who all come together in some miraculous way to make such beautiful images. Each set told its own story. Each team had their own dynamic. Their own vision and inspiration. It was quite something.
We’ve been editing the footage down for the this year’s photographer vignettes, which will be shown along with the photographers’ high fashion editorials at the WOMEN x WOMEN exhibition as well as displayed online. That’s why it’s been a touch quiet on the blog horn as of late, but not to worry my pretties…
TONS OF VIDEO ACTION COMING YOUR WAY PEOPLE… BRACE YO’SELF.
Here’s some behind the scenes stills to tide you over in the meantime. Enjoy.
NOTE: We would like to extend a MOST SPECIAL thank you to Billie Mintz and ARC for their generous sponsorship of WOMEN x WOMEN. This is their second year of being involved with the event, and we are so appreciative of the support and enthusiasm that they have shown since day 1. Muchas gracias!
Steven Turpin (Folio) at Genevieve Charbonneau’s studio

Lindsey Drennan walks down the aisle

Lily (One part of the Lily & Lilac Photographer duo)

Arline Malakian putting on the final touches

Asha (Ford) on set with Kat Torgashev
The boys are assigned to snow removal duty at Maude Arsenault’s shoot

Jessica Lewis (Elmer Olsen) donning a veil and a gold painted hand at Malina Corpadean’s shoot
FILM STILLS BY: Billie Mintz (Director)

Posted in Arline Malakian, Artists Raising Consciousness, Billie Mintz, Elmer Olsen, Ford Modelling Agency, Jessica Lewis, Lily and Lilac, Lindsey Drennan, WOMEN x WOMEN | View Comments

Bitch! That’s My Jacket: Episode #1

Thursday, February 18th, 2010
I never would have guessed when I got a Canada Goose jacket that I would have to watch over it like the protective mother, that I so clearly am not. Like, when you go to a bar that’s really packed and doesn’t have coat check and everyone just flings their shit everywhere, resigning to some form of communal trust because we are all drunk and “in this thing together man!” Well I don’t buy it. Maybe at The Beaconsfield, but not this time.
Case and point: My first jaunt up to Le Petit Castor. If you have not been there. It is stupidly packed on Thursdays. Packed to the point that you are sardined into the cramped space, and you can’t even move to let the busboy go by. Ah, the eternal question, “Do I give the ass or the crotch as he shoves his way by?” I’d rather not have to make that decision and have my little space bubble violated, but this is the price you pay for going to a bar with overpriced drinks, and all the fabulous people you pretend you don’t see at every other stupid party.
But I digress, so there we are- looking for places to put our coats and there are none. I not-so-cleverly tuck mine in-between two of the booths as we sip our martinis, holding them away from our chests so as not to have them spilled all over us by passing drunkards. We polish them off and agree to bounce. I lean in to grab my jacket and as I stand back up, I see one of the cougars situated in the den *ahem* booth getting all fired up as she announces to her cougar friend loud enough that I can hear, “OH. MY. GOD. That girl is stealing your jacket.”
“Come again?” I say
“I believe that jacket belongs to my friend.” She hisses
“Uh, no, it’s not. It’s mine. But thanks for making that gross assumption.”
“Well, then she has a jacket just like it!”
“Oh, you mean like every other fucking guy that has a black Canada Goose jacket in this place? Like this one and that one and that one and this one? Keen observation.” The place actually was littered with them. It’s a shame they’re so effing trendy, but man, are they warm.
Their whole cougar pack is giving me cut eye at this point. Mind you, you wouldn’t be able to tell from the obscene amount of Botox injected in their leathery faces, thus removing any evidence of expression. It’s gross how women who have plastic surgery and shit don’t look younger, they just look like women who have had plastic surgery. All pulled and stretched and taut like that. Ick.
I bid them goodday and turn to leave in some dramatic, poignant way, only the place is so goddam packed that I hit a wall of people, and am left awkwardly negotiating my way to the door.
When we finally push our way out of the front door, it feels like LPC literally shat us out of its bowels. Fun times had by all. On to the next one!
Stay tuned for Episode #2 in Montreal

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Alexander McQueen Dead: Fashion Designer Commits Suicide At Age 40

Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Fashion designer Alexander McQueen has taken his own life at age 40. His office confirmed his death, saying: ‘It is a tragic loss. We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family.’ He was found at his home in London.

McQueen’s secondary line, McQ, was to be presented TODAY as part of New York Fashion Week. KCD, the PR company handling the show, says the presentation is canceled.

Source: The Huffington Post

This is such a tragic loss as Alexander McQueen was internationally recognized as one of the most innovative and leading fashion designers in the world. His artistry spanned beyond the runway and challenged the fashion industry in many ways. For me personally, when I saw his SS’10 collection, I was truly inspired, and in some weird way, fashion and art and media made sense to me. His creativity has most definitely influenced our mandate of always daring to be different when envisioning projects and he will be truly missed.


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Style in Motion: The Advocates Photo Shoot

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
What’s more fun to do on a Sunday than round up your friends for a jaunt down to Sears Portrait Studio? Gather up your most fabulous friends and associates and head to fashion photographer duo Lily and Lilac’s uber trendy studio off Queen West, with 5 garment bags in tow stuffed with hoards of primo Canadian designer threads, for an afternoon of whimsy and magic.
A million thanks to the amazing crew:
Photographer(s): Lily & Lilac
Stylist: Claudia Da Ponte (The Artist Group Limited)
Hair & Makeup: Cia Saldutto (The Artist Group Limited)
Cameras: Billie Mintz & Jon Pottins
Music: Sweet Disposition (The Temper Trap)

Posted in Alice Keith, Angela Young, Carolyn Quinn, Kate Mullin, LG Fashion Week, Lily and Lilac, Toronto Fashion, Vanessa Morcom, the advocates | View Comments

Style in Motion: What to Wear For a Job Interview

Thursday, February 4th, 2010
*Being a firm believer that moving images are constantly shaping the future of fashion, we felt it essential to include certain video/film aspects to our Advocates blog. Keep your eye our for random vlogs that tell the tales of our exploits and industry adventures.
Most women will agree with me, when I stress that there is nothing sexier than a man in a suit. Being a self-admitted junky for quality tailoring, you can guess that I’m not talking about suits that come from stores with “barn” or “depot” in the title. So ladies, if you can find yourself a man that knows how to and likes to dress like your favorite James Bond man, be it Connery, Moore, or Brosnan- hey whatever floats your boat- you should make an investment in him, the way he’s willing to make an investment in his suits.
It was a random Monday night at the office when composer Igor Vrabac showed up, in desperate need of a suit for his interview for a “real job”. Turning to longtime friend and collaborator, filmmaker Billie Mintz to lend him one, I couldn’t not get the cameras rolling for an impromptu fashion show that turned into something more like monkeys grooming each other.

Posted in Angela Young, Billie Mintz, Canon Rebel T1I, Hugo Boss, Igor Vrabac, Prada, Toronto Fashion, job interview, the advocates | View Comments

How To Wear a Jumper (Correctly) Starring Penny Lane

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
When I call up Penny Lane and ask how dressed up she’s getting for our dinner on College last night, and she replies, “I don’t know, I might just wear a jumper.” I’m not going to lie… I actually cringed a little. Thinking to myself, I don’t know that there’s ever been a time I’ve seen a jumper done right. I immediately envision mental images of Amber Rose, all squeezed into spandex like a tube steak.
Ick. Nonetheless, I opt for my FAVOURITE Le Coq Sportif boots and head on out. I just got a SO WARM Canada Goose jacket, and it will forever be my winter saviour. I don’t care where I’m going, I’m wearing it. Period.
Well of course she shows up and puts my tomboy Monday look to glamour shame, gliding out the door in her beautiful brown Mackage parka (Yes, the one she just featured on her first “Wearing It” article). Also wearing this off white H&M jumper below. I asked Kat what she likes about jumpers and she said, “It’s like getting to wear pajamas out in public. It’s great”. Seconded.
Only Kat would sit down at Vivoli and order a drink that looked like a party in a fishbowl (otherwise known as a white Sangria), while I’m stuck with my boring glass of Valpolicella. Had I known “party in a glass” was on the menu, I would have rsvp’d.
We top it off with gelato next door, yes, we were aware it’s the dead of winter. Instead of eating mine in the shop, I tried an experiment of seeing if I could get my gelato cup home before it melted and got all over my car. Not a total success, but I still enjoyed some of it.


Posted in Angela Young, Canada Goose, College Street, HM, Le Coq Sportif, Mackage, Toronto Fashion, Vivoli, penny lane, the advocates | View Comments

Advocates Adventure #127

Monday, February 1st, 2010

It’s always a little disheartening to get a message from your neighbor that the police are on your doorstep looking for you. I don’t know if “relief” is the right word to describe the feeling of finding out they are only there to tell you your car has been towed from a derelict parking lot in the wrong end of town, after being deemed “abandoned”.
Fuck me. Of course, living in downtown Toronto, my first thought is that my leased car has been stolen, taken for a joy ride, and left for dead on the outskirts of town. Grrrrreeeaaat. So I put on my jacket and ventured out into what had to be one of the coldest nights of the year, to verify that my car, and all its contents (yes, I am one of those people that uses my car as a closet) has in fact, been stolen. But to my confusion, my car was there. And now I was really wondering what the F was going on. Let me fast forward and explain a lengthy phone conversation with the police department like this:
In the monopoly game of life, sometimes you “pass go and collect $200″, sometimes you “go to jail”, and sometimes you pick up one of those damn chance cards from the middle of the board, and find out that the beater car you sort of owned when you were in university and left broken down in your degenerate ex-boyfriends parent’s garage, in Stoney Creek, ends up outside a Coffee Time at Keele and Old Weston Road with your name attached to the registration and the police come banging on your door looking for the charges. Yes, this was definitely one of those bizarre cards. Not quite as bad as the go to jail card, but still, stung nonetheless.
Never one to run from my problems (unlike my younger years), I saddled up my mazda 3 for what was sure to be an interesting afternoon. Finagling my way into the industrial siberia end of town, I ventured upon Toronto’s little known “meatpacking district”. No it was not lined with trendy bars, shopping, and gay sex clubs like the famed district of NYC. It stunk and had trucks piled with carcasses higher than the beds in the back. PUKE!
I pulled into the lot and covered my mouth with my sleeve. Can you still get H1N1 at this time of year? Cuz for damn sure it would be air born up in this bitch. At the time, I still wasn’t sure what the hell I was going to do with the hunk of junk… *ahem* styling 94′ Volkswagon Jetta. I for sure didn’t want it. But every day that it sat there, I had to pay more for them to “store it”. I moseyed up to the counter and inquired as to what my options were as I had no intentions of taking it. The most enticing offer was that I signed a little form and they would “junk” the car, thus turning it into one of those tiny little metal cubes like they do in cartoons. I asked if I could have one last goodbye, and they obliged.
Conclusions: Cost of towing/wrecking fees for a car that you owned with a loser ex, which he surely orchestrated as a last and final “fuck you”…. $200. Cost of achieving closure, oh sweet, wonderful closure from one of the little loose ends of your past…. priceless.

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