My new home: Toronto

Hello fashionable friends,

I relocated to Toronto last week. It's a bittersweet move: I'm opening the door to all sorts of exciting new adventures, but at the same time closing the Ottawa chapter in my life. I had an amazing time building my fashion chops in Ottawa, and I have my loyal readers to thank for that. Thank you!

All shapes, All sizes

Photo by Erin Molly Fitzpatrick

For the latest issue of Guerilla Magazine, local photographer Erin Molly Fitzpatrick and I teamed up to feature two beautiful, size 14 models in a fashion editorial tribute to Helmut Newton.

You can check out all the photos and read my accompanying column at www.getguerilla.ca.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos shot by Angelina McCormick to entice you into wanting to see more...

Thank you to our incredible team: Rebecca Fernando and Genevieve Menard, our amazing co-host Janet Buchan, and local boutiques Victoire, Road Trip and Chapeau de Madeleine.

The Swank Bank

Photo care of The Swank Bank

While out for a leisurely stroll this afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah, a new blogger behind Ottawa's lastest street style blog The Swank Bank. I've pretty much dropped the ball on street style in Ottawa, and it's nice to see new bloggers filling that void. You can check out the site at theswankbank.blogspot.com.

Guerilla 23

The latest issue of Guerilla Magazine is on newstands now. If you can't find it at a local Bridgehead, Mags & Fags or various other quaint little spots in the city, be sure to check it out online for my latest installment of ConFashionals.

This time I get down and dirty into the evil side of fashion -- the side I had somehow managed to turn a blind eye to for most of my career. It was a heavy piece to write, and it led me to almost quit the biz for good. But then I realized that if people within the industry aren't willing to challenge the norms from the inside, who else is going to do it? So, now I'm back on track with a new mission: showing all you loyal readers what it's like to turn fashion standards on their head. First stop: a shoot with a plus sized model. Stay tuned for my next column (coming out in June) for all the details.

STL Spring 2010

I'm so so so excited to unveil the Spring ad campaign for St. Laurent Centre, which you can see on billboards throughout Ottawa, all over the mall, in ads in the Ottawa Citizen and all sorts of other cool places I have yet to discover. I joined some of my fave local talent for this shoot, and we had a blast. Shout out to the team:

Concept and execution: McMillan

Photog: Daniel Weinand

Photography assistant: Rebecca Leach

Styling: Tracie LeBlanc

Styling assitant: Hilda Cowie

Hair styling: Anne Marie Rooney

Make-up: Sommer Mbonu

Models: Bianca (Barrett Palmer), Betsy (Barrett Palmer), Penelope (MIM)

Wardrobe was kindly provided by various retailers at St. Laurent Centre, and many pieces are now up for grabs via the mall's blog. To take part in their contest, check out this link: www.stlaurent-centre.com/blog/

Ottawa Magazine

Photo by Lucyna Danuta Bakowska

My lovely friend and colleague Samantha Pitman, owner of local modeling agency Barrett Palmer, graces the City Select page of the lastest issue of Ottawa Magazine. I had the great pleasure of interviewing and styling her for the piece. She gamely snuggled into a pair of faux leather leggings and faked a sunshiny Spring look in the dead of winter. Gotta love those models turned entrepreneurs.

Get your copy at Mags & Fags on Elgin.

Swap it like it's Hot

Let's combine our fashion powers for the force of good this Spring! Follow these four simple steps:
1. Collect all your gently used clothes, shoes and accessories
2. Bring them to my place
3. Donate $20 to the Canadian Cancer Society (I'll be collecting)
4. Let the swapping begin! Leave with a whole new Spring look.

Event details:
When: Saturday, May 8th from 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: My place. Ottawa, Ontario. Please message me at andthespies@gmail.com for my address.

You can view my event webpage via the Canadian Cancer Society at the following link:

Canadian Cancer Society - Girls Night In

My fundraising goal is $500. Even if you can't make it, please feel free to donate online.