Since 1935, Lancôme’s iconic emblem has always been the rose. The rose embodies femininity, colour and light, freshness and sensuality, birth and maturity, innocence and passion, emotion and seduction all in one. To celebrate this majestic flower, Lancôme has asked 20 of Canada’s top beauty, fashion and lifestyle bloggers to share their personal interpretation in the form of a photograph.

The result will be 20 photos presented in a virtual gallery which can only been seen with a smartphone at David Pecaut Square during the festival.  At Lancôme’s installation, Festival goers will be invited to download a free smartphone app (available for iPhone or Android) to view the gallery. Once downloaded, people will be able to view the gallery virtually mounted in David Pecaut Square on their phone through an augmented reality technology, offering a fun and innovative digital experience.

We see the virtual gallery as an opportunity to combine art, with social media and innovative technology, creating truly unique experience for festival goers.
Stuart Leitch, General Manager for Lancôme in Canada.

20 Bloggers for a Rose: The Lancôme Virtual Gallery installation will be presented in June at David Pecaut Square during the Luminato Festival in Toronto (June 14-23). I’ll be going to a special launch event on June 13th and Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy is going to be in attendance. Hope I get a chance to meet her…she’s stunning!

I can’t wait to see the virtual gallery myself – so many wonderful Canadian bloggers (and friends) contributing to it! If you can’t make it downtown for the festival, make sure you follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the real time updates and photos.

I totally have Seal’s Kiss from a Rose in my head right now…

The post Lancôme: 20 Bloggers for a Rose appeared first on Dainty Girl.

Kate’s collection features easy breezy apparel in fresh summer white as well as rose gold jewellery and platform sandals. It’s boho-chic meets the Hamptons for effortless summer style that appeals to women of all ages. When I pulled the Whisper Top out of the box, I thought it looked like a really fancy pillow case at first and to be honest, I was a little concerned about styling it! But ladies – the hanger doesn’t do this blouse any justice – you have to try it on!

Blouse: Ann Taylor, Skirt: M for Mendocino, Shoes: Ann Taylor, Clutch: Tristan, Bracelet: Ann Taylor, Necklace: Shop for Jayu, Watch: Michael Kors, Sunglasses: EDIT by Jeanne Beker

There’s beauty in simplicity.

Made of soft and lightweight fabric, it’s not as sheer as I expected it to be for a white blouse. It drapes beautifully and whispers in the wind with dolman sleeves and an elegant boatneck.

I’ve been thinking about twenties pleats since watching The Great Gatsby last week, so I paired my new blouse with a deep coral pleated mini skirt for a relaxed and swingy layered look. I love how the blouse falls around the skirt and moves with it as though I’m wearing a dress.

I was also thrilled to receive the Shimmer Platform Heels with rose gold leather and cork. Love the metallic trend happening with shoes right now and these sandals are sexy-chic for summer! The platform makes them much more comfortable than they look, but these heels aren’t for beginners! Practice makes perfect and it’s worth it – legs for days!

Rose gold is the perfect complement to crisp summer white so I can see why Kate chose it for the accessories in the collection. To complete my look, I went with ivory statement jewellery, my rose gold watch, cat eye sunnies and a straw box clutch. I love the way it all came together with these gorgeous new pieces from the Kate Hudson for Ann Taylor collection!

Summer white with a pop of colour – perfect for a romantic date night or white sangria cocktails on a patio with the girls! What do you think of my look? You can dress it down by wearing the blouse and platforms with rolled boyfriend jeans if you want – I know I will be!

Stay tuned for more chic styles from Ann Taylor – my next look is a citrusy one!

The post Summer White Style with Ann Taylor appeared first on Dainty Girl.

Nella Bella is a Canadian handbag line that uses beautiful vegan fabrics to create chic, trend setting and quality collections. They have a wide variety of styles, sizes, fabrications and colours at reasonable price points – approx. $100 on average. I know there are cheaper options out there and I have my fair share of those too, but if you’re looking for a durable and versatile bag that looks and feels high-quality without breaking the bank – look no further than Nella Bella.

I have three different  Nella Bella bags at home and they regularly make it into my outfit rotation. I recently acquired the highly coveted and popular London bag in navy from their Summer 2013 collection. I love the supple and durable navy material, sleek hardware and strap options.

It’s actually two bags (handbag and clutch) that can be worn 16 different ways! Yep…16 ways! With three different strap options, detachable clutch/pouch and various clips, this bag is multi-functional and stylish in their luxurious Nu Mars vegan material.

I love that this bag takes me from the office to cocktails with a quick style switch! How can you go wrong when you’re getting so many different looks for just $125 CAD? With dozens of colour, print and fabric choices, it’s no wonder the London bag is a Nella Bella bestseller!

The Nella Bella Summer 2012 collections hits the mark with options for everyone – from over sized totes to compact wristlets and everything in between! Here are some of my faves…

Building a wish list yet? Me too! There are 100′s more styles from previous collections available online and each bag purchase now comes with a free wrapping kit – Nella Bella tissue paper, ribbon and sticker – perfect for gift giving!

I recently attended the Nella Bella Fall Media Preview event and they have some AMAZING goodies coming next season, including a fabulous cold weather accessory collaboration with Toronto-based knitwear brand, Dylanium Knits! Here’s a sneak peek…

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. At a minimum, you must leave me a blog post comment telling me how you’d style the London Bag for spring/summer. You can gain additional entries through social media too! Contest closes on Thursday May 30th at 11:59pm and the winner will be notified the following day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Summer wedding season is upon us and while weddings can be fun to dress for, they can also be nerve-wracking in terms of dress-code, location, modesty, colour, etc. What are your tips?

Dress: Modcloth, Shoes: Nine West, Clutch: Danier, Bracelets: Vintage, Sunglasses: EDIT by Jeanne Beker, Ring: Rebekah Price

When dressing for a summer wedding, try to remember the three C’s…

• COMFORT: There’s a good chance you’ll be outside and the dance floor always gets hot. Stick to lightweight fabrics and relaxed fits so you’re not a hot mess with photographers around!
• CUT: Never wear anything too revealing to a wedding. This is a classy affair so avoid super low cuts and high hemlines for Grandpas sake!
• COLOUR: Don’t wear white unless it’s your wedding. This is the bride’s special day and unless she requests a white party, don’t take the risk! It’s summer so wear something colourful and fun!

For my summer wedding style, I chose a playful blue frock in a lightweight (yet fully lined) fabric with delicate hand stitched rosettes along the V-neckline. It’s super feminine, appropriately flirty and perfect for dancing the night away!

I finished off the look with vintage jewels and bold pops of pink! Adding contrast through accessories is such an easy way to incorporate the colour blocking trend – I love the way this cornflower blue dress looks with hot pink and silver accessories.

From the intimate backyard or beach ceremonies to the grand golf course receptions, summer wedding beauty has to be ready for the heat too…

• Skip the heavy foundation in favour of a lightweight BB cream or tinted moisturizer with SPF protection and seal it with a matte mineral powder that can be re-applied as needed.
• Joyful tears can wreak havoc on your look – try waterproof mascara, lash extensions or a lash tint.
• Don’t waste time reapplying – long-wear lipstick comes in handy.
• Fight the frizz that comes with summer humidity – try John Frieda Frizz Ease products and bring a clip/elastic for a quick updo if the dance floor gets too hot!
• Bring blotting papers in your purse if you’re prone to shiny skin – these are life savers before photo ops!
• If your worried about sweat or worse, sweat stains, try individually wrapped and purse-friendly antiperspirant wipes.

What do you think of my summer wedding style? If you have any questions or tips of your own to share please leave me a comment – I love hearing from you!

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for style ideas all summer long and beyond!

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VAWK has contributed seven limited-edition pieces, including clothing and accessories and I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek with the designer himself last week at The Spoke Club!

I am in LOVE with the Manta Shift Dress! The fabric is thick and luxurious for a figure flattering shape and look at that shoulder detail! For just $119, it’s the only item in the collection that’s over $100 and you can bet I’ll be ordering it this summer! Here’s your exclusive sneak peek at the rest of the VAWK for eBay collection:

These pieces evoke VAWK’s signature luxury and drama for a fraction of the runway price. They’re exclusive to eBay for the duration of the sale which will run from August 12 to September 15, or while supplies last. All items will be sold at fixed Buy It Now! prices, with FREE shipping across Canada.

Building a wishlist yet? Me too! Mark your calendars for August 12th!

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As a BIG thank you for 10 years of support, Fresh Collective is running a contest until May 29th giving one lucky entrant the chance to win a 10-piece wardrobe!

In honour of the Fresh10 contest, I put together my top 10 spring/summer items from Fresh Collective! Check out my faves, including clothing, shoes and jewellery:

With three stores in Toronto, Fresh Collective carries a unique variety of apparel and accessories from local designers who frequently work in-store! I love the selection of one of a kind and few of a kind pieces mixed in with staple Canadian brands like Soia & Kyo and Yoga Jeans. Everything at Fresh Collective is curated for quality and effortless style.

In addition to giving you the chance to win a 10-piece wardrobe in their own Fresh10 contest, my friends at Fresh Collective have offered an amazing prize for one lucky Dainty Girl reader!

WIN one of TEN Fresh Collective In-Store Mini-Makeover – $100 value!
Learn how to mix and match with confidence, get more mileage out of what you buy and the “rules” to use when looking for shapes, necklines and more (1 hour session with pre-interview).

That’s right, I’m giving this awesome prize to TEN lucky readers!

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. At a minimum, you must leave me a blog post comment telling me why you’d like to win a wardrobe makeover session from Fresh Collective. You can gain additional entries through social media too! Contest closes on Tuesday May 28th at 11:59pm and the winners will be notified the following day.

Good luck and cheers to another decade of local fashion at Fresh Collective!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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We presented the Minling Pan Studio MIN collection to a full house at the beautiful Arta Gallery in Toronto’s Distillery District.

I was the first to walk down the runway when the show began and even though I could feel my heart pounding in my throat, I really felt the support of my friends and fellow bloggers in the audience. My shoe almost came off within the first few steps on the runway…shhhhhh

Each blogger presented three looks with a focus on the gorgeous MIN bags. I think we did a great job showing the variety of looks available at Minling Pan Studio and before I knew it, the show was over! Here are some more shots from the runway…

To see more photos from the event, check out the Minling Pan Studio Facebook album or recap posts from my fellow blogger-models, including: Summerxskin, TO Beauty Reviews and Sparks Twins.

CONGRATULATIONS to Minling Pan on a successful event and to my beautiful blogger friends for conquering the runway with me! Special thanks to Valerie of Charming Media and a HUGE THANKS to everyone who came out to cheer us on! We didn’t fall on our faces – YAY!

Photo Credits: Anthony Cheung, Peter Liang, Terry Chik, Ming Siu, Jiacong Huang
Hair: Spellbound Hair Design
Makeup: Blush Pretty

The post Minling Pan Studio: MIN Launch Show appeared first on Dainty Girl.

What’s IKAT? It’s a tribal print style that lends itself well to summer fashion – I always see lots of ikat print on summer bags, hair accessories and maxi dresses, but I decided to go for it with ikat pants! I’m a big fan of lightweight tapered (or elasticized ankle) trousers for spring, so when I saw this harem style at M for Mendocino I just had to try them on.

I usually shy away from harem pants or “drop-crotch” styles because they have a tendency to over emphasize my hips and bum (or garner strange looks at the office), but this particular pair is only slightly loose in the crotch with subtle pleats that make the harem style a little more dressy.

The black and white print makes it easy to style these ikat harem pants with pretty much anything! I chose to wear a sleeveless black hi-low blouse with metal toe-cap pumps, black and gold accessories and a neon yellow handbag for a pop of colour. Chic neon accessories for spring make it easy to add colour to monochromatic looks or play with colour blocking.

Pants: M for Mendocino, Blouse: Jacob, Shoes: Aldo, Purse: Target, Bracelets: Biko Jewellery, Sunglasses: Joe Fresh

What do you think of my ikat print harem pants? CLICK HERE to see how the other StyleList Canada Style Council members styled the trend! How would you wear it?

See more of my Dainty Outfits HERE and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for daily style inspiration!

The post Dainty Outfit: Ikat Print Harem Pants appeared first on Dainty Girl.

I consider myself a bit of a beautyphile and I’ve made some really great discoveries over the years, but the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System is more than just another beauty discovery – it’s revolutionary! Keep reading for your chance to join the sonic revolution!

Specially designed for the sensitive area around the eye, the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System instantly hydrates and firms the skin for younger looking eyes. By gently tapping the skin around the eye at 125 sonic movements per second, the Opal enhances the effectiveness of the products applied to the eye area and maximizes absorption in a way that’s not possible with finger tapping alone. Serums and creams are absorbed more deeply and evenly, enhancing their ability to promote healthy, hydrated and younger-looking skin.

The Clarisonic Anti Aging Sea Serum has been optimized for use with the Opal. I really enjoy this lightweight, paraben-free serum with hydrating and firming marine extracts, but you can layer it with other products too! I still use my favourite day and night eye creams in addition to the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion and I love knowing that they’re being absorbed better than before.

This wonderful little device is gentle enough for daily use, easy to clean and all you need is 30 seconds per eye. There’s even an automatic timer to make it easier for you!

So does it work?
After just one use, the skin around my eyes feels and looks more hydrated and refreshed. After a few weeks, I’ve also noticed an improvement in the texture of the skin around my eyes and less puffiness after late nights. I’m sure this effect would be far more profound if I had more wrinkles, but I can certainly see the firming and tightening effects that lead to the reduction of fine lines. I use mine in addition to my Clarisonic Cleansing Brush and it’s a match made in skin care heaven!

Ready to join the Sonic Revolution?
You can buy the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion Kit directly through Clarisonic online or at Sephora stores nationwide. For $215 CAD (or $185 US), you’ll get the handheld Opal device, Anti Aging Sea Serum, two replacement applicator tips, universal charger and a small travel case. It may feel like a big expense at first, but this product is worth the investment and the applicator tips last for three months (replacement tips are 4 for $17 CAD).

CONTEST!
I love this product so much I’m thrilled to offer you the chance to WIN one! One lucky reader will win the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion Kit shown above – a $215 CAD value!

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. At a minimum, you must leave me a blog post comment telling me why you’d like to try the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion. You can gain additional entries through social media too! Contest closes on Thursday May 23rd at 11:59pm and the winner will be notified the following day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Fredrick Prince is a Toronto-based jewellery line inspired by locally and globally sourced materials and handmade by designer Melissa DeLuca. I love the timeless designs and whimsical elements contrasted by edgy shapes and raw materials.

Last year, I shopped the Fredrick Prince FW’12 collection and I’m still getting lots of wear out of the versatile pieces I picked out. The SS’13 collection is inspired by the California coastline – warm brass chains fused with semi-precious stones in hues of coral, cobalt, blush and smokey grey. Here are some of my favourite pieces:

PROMO CODE!
Like what you see? The lovely Melissa has offered an exclusive promo code for Dainty Girl readers! Simply enter daintygirl at checkout to receive 20% off! This is a fabulous deal so now’s the time to scoop up your faves! Offer expires on May 26, 2013 at 11:59pm – so act soon!

Happy shopping!

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