While on an etsy.com shopping spree looking for beach wear for my recent trip to the Bahamas, I stumbled on this beautiful Emilio Pucci vintage Kaftan. As with anything I see online, I Favorited the item and waited a week wishing to the universe that it would still be there when I was ready to purchase it. Realizing the Etsy store was based in Australia and that I didn’t have much time left [at the time, I was leaving for my trip in less than 10 days], I contacted the store owner and gushed about how much I LOVED the piece and asked about shipping to Canada. Cara, the store owner was super nice and assured me that I would receive the piece before I left. After adding a few more items from her store to my favorites, we had a cool conversation about how she got into the vintage collection business. Super shy, yet absolutely awesome, Cara decided to answer some questions for Coco&Cowe!

Enjoy and read on while I go and buy up all my favorites before you all do lolol!

Name: Cara
Age: A lady never tells!
Location: Sydney, Australia
Occupation: Ex-lawyer/attorney, current vintage buyer/dealer/seller/obsessive; owner of Cara Mia Vintage

Collecting vintage for such a long time, I think its safe to call you an expert. What are some of the things that you have found (i.e. quality, stitching, materials used) while collecting vintage items that differ, for example what makes a piece made in the 70s as opposed to a piece made in the 90s?
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Last night the fashion world celebrated the opening of the Prada and Schiaparelli exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  Celebrities and fashion’s brightest usually bring it at this annual event making it one of my favourite nights to gawk the red carpet from the comfort of my own home.

There were so many beautiful dresses to choose from, but here are my top 10 in no particular order (except I saved my best for last)

Sofia Vergara in Marchesa:

Emma Stone in Lanvin:

Rihanna in Tom Ford:

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen:

Donna Karan:

Amy Adams in Giambattista Valli:

Christina Ricci in Thakoon:

Amber Heard in Zac Posen:

Anna Wintour in Prada:

But hands down, my absolute favourite was Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren:

 Who were your favourites?

xo,

pics via jj, styleite, fashionologie

A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend the Lifetime Collective’s Fall/Winter preview at the Drake Hotel in ‘room’ 422. This year marked the 10^th anniversary for the Collective, which was founded in 2002 by Reid Stewart and Trevor Fleming. Though it began in Calgary as a group of friends packing boxes, they expanded the focus to become a collaborative group of friends and artists and subsequently moved the operation to Vancouver.  Clothing is the main focus of this group with Stewart and Fleming helming the men’s and Jude Feller designing the women’s side.

Described as more than a “brand of lifestyle,” Lifetime is “defined by the changes that occur and the creative ways we adapt.” The “drifter in all of us” inspired this collection.

From the men’s collection, I was really drawn to the cable-knit legging. I adored them so much that I asked if women could wear them too because they were too hot to only be worn by men. I was met with agreement and told that they would totally suit a woman’s wardrobe.

Next, I came across this lovely poncho for the women’s winter collection. It looked so cozy, just wanted to jump right in and take a nap.

I also adored these accessories:

xoxo,

sarah

“American heritage through the Japanese eye.” Nick Wooster

Rocky Mountain Featherbead Co.

New Balance

 Parabellum

PROJECT Wooster is a curated collection of some of the best that Japanese menswear designers have to offer.  The craftsmanship and attention to detail is beyond.

Wooster teaches us that camo is king, layering is everything and the magic is the details.

PROJECT Wooster February 2012 Preview from PROJECT on Vimeo.

I so wish there was something like this for girls.  I would have moved in and blogged directly from inside the space for the duration of the show.  Gorgeous

xo,

So I totally know that I’ve been literally bombarding you guys with H&M news (Can’t help it, love the clothes, love the brand!) but I woke up this morning to freakin’ STELLAR news… H&M designer collabs aren’t going anywhere and we’ve already found out that the next collab due in stores March 8th, will be with none other than Italian-label extrodinare MARNI!

Now while Donatella Versace focuses more on a woman’s sex appeal in her clothing, the Marni label prime focus is in colour, design and shape. I don’t think it will have the same mass appeal as Versace did, but I’m sure fashion aficionados everywhere are a tad bit more excited for this launch than the previous, I love Versace to the core, but MARNI?! This is a big one … next is Celine (hopefully, in my dreams, H&M are you reading this?!)

So I won’t bore you anymore with my thoughts, here’s a sneak peek courtesy of Fashionista.com