This was my New Year’s Eve/Birthday outfit.

• Sequin tank – Christmas gift from Chad’s Mom, Winners
• Skirt – H&M, Winter 2008
• Belt -Winners
• Med Fishnet stockings, Click Clack
• Platform Mary Janes aka favourite shoes ever, Demonia (got them on ebay for $25)
• Crystal bracelets, Le Chateau, circa 2002
• Crystal earrings, gift from my best friend Raija

I wanted to do something a little different for makeup so I went online to check out Kandee the Makeup Artist’s site for a tutorial, and based it on her New Years Glam Look. She is cute as a button and I recommend checking our her tutorials.

Some fun news to share.  A project that I have been working with Nicole Arbour on has just launched it’s newly redesigned website in time for the holidays, Shkank.com.  If you haven’t been to the Shkank store on Yonge St you have to get down there.  The dresses and designs make you feel like a kid in a candy store.  They will work with you to create a custom dress or you can choose from one of their many “one-of-a-kind” pieces.  The designers, Rod Philpott, Phi and Trevor are very talented and creative guys who can whip up the most insane outfits in a matter of hours.

They have dressed Nicole for years, for photo shoots, her 2009 calendar, awards shows, hosting gigs and appearances and she always looks fabulous and I am dying to have them dress me for my next big event.

Check out their completely redesigned site, done by The Digital Beach and make sure you if you are in Toronto you take a trip to the store to check it out, you will not be disappointed.  Make sure you tell them Carly sent you

“Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.”

I am so excited!  Chad and I are off to do the last of our shopping and then all I need to do is bake and finish wrapping.  This might be the first year that I’m not scrambling on Christmas Eve day to finish up. Fingers crossed.

Do you have left to do before Christmas?

Meowers in his Christmas Sweater

I love PinUp Girl Clothing.  They have been one of my favourite online window shopping destinations for about five years.  Everytime I get a newsletter, or blog update from them I spend hours oogling the goreous clothing, shoes and of course the models.  I’ve filled up my shopping cart and emptied it so many times.  A few months ago they introduced a makeup line “I Am Trouble” by Masuimi Max.  I have a serious girl-crush on her.  She is so hot and her tattoos make her even hotter.

Masuimi Max for PinUp Girl Clothing - Photo by Laura Bynes

Masuimi Max - Photo by Mitzi

I desperately wanted to buy this dress, a pair of hot mary jane platforms (that I actually found on ebay for $20, in a previous What I Wore post) and the I Am Trouble matte lipstick and high pigment eye shadows.  I even saved up to purchase it.  I did my shopping, went to check out and was shocked by the shipping and customs fees.  It would cost me a minimum of $42 to ship to Canada and I might incur customs fees on top.  So alas, no dress or I Am Trouble makeup for me.

I want these shoes!

I really want these shoes.  I have a thing for super high heels and platforms.

Back to the story, which does have a happy ending.  Seeing all this amazing clothing and reading the story behind the PinUpGirl line, made me really want to learn how to sew so I could make my own clothes.  My goal is to figure out how to make a dress that looks like this and have my body looking as hot as hers (minus the curves, that I just won’t get naturally).  I’d also love to have my own PinUp Girl Clothing store in Canada.

So far I’ve come a long way towards accomplishing those goals.  I’ve been working out three days a week at the gym (which I will post about soon!) and I’ve sewn quite a few articles of clothing.  I’m working my way up to completing a dress like this, in the stretch sateen fabric, and I’m confident that I’ll be able to make it by the end of the year.

I still really want this dress though.  And the shoes.  This would definitely be the outfit to wear to the You Might As Well Live premiere….. more on that to come.

I attended the 10th Annual Toronto Fashion week March 16-20 and had an amazing/exhausting time. Working a full day, then trying to sort out an outfit, get ready and jumping in a cab to get to the tents by 5:45 was a challenge and left little time to do anything else. There was no time to eat between shows and I, along with most of the attendees, survived on the “Champagne and Kit Kat diet”.

(Dagmara and I)

This was my first season to have my own Industry pass, and we hooked up with a friend (Shayna) who got us into the very exclusive upper VIP area reserved for sponsors only, and was able to sit with the L’Oreal for all the shows and even got front row for the Comrags show, which was pretty exciting. The following evening I saw myself on Fashion Television in the front row and it was the coolest thing I’ve been on TV for so far.

(Lucian Matis)

My LGFW experience was shared with my friend Julie, who I went to all the shows with, and we were joined by Shayna Dagmara and Sarah Shell. Sarah is the owner/designer 442 McAdam handbags that were actually in the buyers lounge and used in Evan Biddell’s show. She is based in Calgary and you can check our her line at www.442mcadam.com. I believe she’ll be at the “One of a Kind Show in Toronto in April, so check her out!

(bag by 442 McAdams)

My favourite shows were Even Biddell, Lucian Matis, Andy The-Ahn and believe it or not Joe Fresh. The Heart Truth show was also stunning, with creations from top Canadian designers and Canadian Celebrities walking the runway. I loved the woodsy-ness of Lucian Matis, his adornments/accessories were very creative, and I believe they were done by Dandi Maestre. Evan Biddell’s collection was hot and I would wear almost everything that came down the runway. Andy The-Ahn never disappoints. His collection was gorgeous, though there were some pieces I could do without. And then onto Joe Fresh, who’s entire collection was well thought out and his models were fabulous! I can see why his line has become so popular. I have a red pea coat from his winter 2007 collection and it is a my favourite jacket I own, very well constructed, warm and inexpensive.

(Tara Spencer-Nairn wearing Damzels in This Dress at the Heart Truth Fashion Show)

I was not impressed with the Comrags show was meh, the dresses just hung on the models, who were ridiculously think. Most of the girls were too thin and I was surprised at this. They all look very pale and sickly this season and I was told by a friend of mine (who is a model) that the height I really could not believe the amount of fur and leather that most designers chose to use. It actually made me sick to see the how much fur and was used for Bustle, Lundstrom and Pink Tartan. I really thought that Canada was much further ahead in the Animal Cruetly movement, but I guess it does not extend to the fashion industry. I myself will not (and have never) worn fur. I am guilty of wearing/using leather products though. I’m sure I have a pair of leather shoes, and I do have a leather saddle and bridle from my former life as a farm kid.

All in all it was a great experience and I can’t wait for the Spring/Summer 10 shows in October.