I had the honour to interview Whitney Linen, a Canadian fashion duo, who is taking this country’s fashion world by storm! Debuting their Couture Collection during Toronto Fashion Week, Whitney Westwood and Franciska Veress are the creative/design team that take linen literally to another level! Who would have ever thought that linen could be such a luxurious material, that could be transformed into elegant day/evening wear designs?  Check out what they had to say!

TSM: What inspires your designs?

WL: Whitney: Our entire collection is influenced by travels throughout Europe and the Caribbean. I’m always inspired by the colors of the flax fields of the Baltics, the Cote D`Azur, the Chic Italian and French Lifestyle.

TSM: I noticed you spent much time in Europe, whereabouts? And what is your favourite place there & why?

WL: Whitney: I went to school in the South of France and my parents have a villa  in the region. I also modeled for Elite Model Management for close to 10 to 15years and worked mostly in Milan, Rome, Hamburg, Berlin and Paris . My favorite place is the Cote D’Azur. The turquoise Mediterranean waters have a calming effect on me, and in fact the colors we selected for our couture collection were in many ways inspired by that region of France.

TSM: Where did the name Whitney Linen come from?

WL: Whitney: It’s my name! When I first created this line it was my dream to create versatile, wearable linen pieces for women, and I’m committed to the fabric. I want people to know right away that with our line you’re getting 100% linen, which means it’s eco friendly, made without petrochemicals, and always chic and cool.

TSM: I saw you got to work with 2 sexy men! What was it like to work with P.Diddy & Lenny Kravitz?

WL: Whitney: It was incredible. These men are music legends and they’ve done so much to push men’s fashion forward. It was an honor to work with them. But my favorite sexy man in my life is my boyfriend Roger who will be modeling the Whitney for Men line when it is released.

TSM: Any particular stores sell your collections? If so, what ones.

WL: Franciska: Yes! You can find Whitney Linen at G.H. Johnson, Joelle’s in Burlington, Shop.ca, and our showroom in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto. You can also shop online at whitneylinen.com.

TSM: Your home collection, is it as popular as your clothing line?

WL: Franciska: We’ve had great response about our home linen line. Just like our garments, our tablecloths, napkins and placemats are all made from 100% linen. You can also have a lot of fun with colors setting your table, as the pieces are available in 9 different lovely hues, and we are constantly adding new colors to our collection.

TSM: What is your top beauty & style advice for women?

WL: Whitney: the women I admire who have great style are icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Jane Berkin they have a look that looks effortless but so elegant and chic because they’ve just pulled one or two great pieces together and it works. It doesn’t always have to be a designer outfit from head to toe I have mixed and matched vintage Hermes scarves with a pair of Levis and a Gucci blazer and it looks great! The Whitney Linen woman represents to me an effortlessly chic style.

TSM: What encouraged you to be come a designer?

WL: Franciska: I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue fashion design, and when I moved to Toronto from Hungary in 2001, I immersed myself in the industry as much as possible. I designed a line of fur accessories under my own label, Veress Couture, and they were a huge hit at galas like Catwalk Cure and Bell Celebrity Gala. Teaming up with Whitney for the Whitney Linen couture collection was great—we have a lot of creative synergy together.

Whitney: I grew up in fashion, so to speak. My parents brought the first Hermès store to Toronto and ran it for 15 years, and I’ve worked in modeling and fashion PR, so designing my own collection was just a natural progression for me.

TSM: Top 3 things on your bucket list? Have you accomplished any?

WL: Franciska : I know it sounds incredible, but one of them was to walk down the runway of a major fashion show as a designer. Well that was accomplished when Whitney and I walked down the runway of World Mastercard Fashion Week 3 weeks ago after our Couture Collection debuted. It was definitely a dream come true for me! The second one for me is to have my name amongst the biggest designers such as Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, that might take some more time to do…Third one is to go parasailing, I haven`t quite worked up the courage for that yet.

TSM: Favourite thing to do other than designing and why?

WL: Franciska : I am interested in a variety of different activities, I believe that life is to be lived at the fullest! So I love going to operas, horseback riding, snowboarding, walking my dogs, but at the end of the day I love creating new things, so whenever I have my quiet time I am constantly thinking of new styles, new details, new artwork that hasn`t been done yet. I love being different and cutting edge, and when clothes and art are the things that you think about before going to sleep, you just know that you were born for that.

I had a great time interviewing Whitney & Franciska and I can’t wait to see more of their collections in the near future!  To see more of Whitney Linen or to purchase the collections be sure to visit here! ~Love CTina XO

*Photo Credits George Pimentel 

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Recently I had a contest to feature my 2nd blogger of the month, but this time there was a slight twist! All of the entries I was receiving were AMAZING and I couldn’t choose – so instead I made the viewers and fans vote on who they felt was the best! Our winner this month was Maria Tkachenko, blogger of My Fashion Wishlist.  I hope you love her as much as I do!

1. When did you start blogging & why?
I started blogging very recently, this August as a way to deal with lack of wardrobe space and constant desire to shop. Now that I have My Fashion Wish List I go through the same process as I did when shopping, but at the end select things not to purchase but to post on my blog. I never thought it would take off and people would be interested in seeing items that are on my wish list, but I now absolutely love sharing my finds with my readers!

2. How did you come up with the name My Fashion Wish List?
My blog is all about those fashionable things I would buy if I had bottomless wardrobe and wallet hence the name My Fashion Wish List.

3. Tell us a bit about your blog.
My blog is very item oriented – I concentrate on fashionable pieces I would love to own, some of which I do end up buying. They can be both designer and high street and they are always inspired by fashion trends, outfits worn around town or by celebrities. It is all about a fashionable discovery – something I found online or in stores and want to share with my readers. I sometimes give styling tips, but do not post pictures of myself – yet might do it soon as a holiday special to allow my readers to get to know me and my style more.

4. Who is your personal style icon & why?
I am a style chameleon – I can one day be inspired by Audrey Hepburn and next day by Rihanna. I dress to suit my mood and I am different every day, I love experimenting with fashion!

5. 3 things that are a MUST to carry daily?
Three things which I do not leave the house without: 1. My phone as I feel like I loose connection to the world without constantly getting email updates and being able to browse the web or take a picture of the items I discover while out and about. 2. My organiser – not only does it contain lists of things to do but it is a great way to keep track of my ideas. Whenever I think of something to blog about I can quickly jot the ideas down. I will never swap pen and paper for computerised organiser! 3. Make up – girls best friend that allows you to change your look without changing you outfit. If I need to take my look from day to evening I pile on more eyeliner or add bright lipstick.

6. One place in the world you would live and why.
I love living in London but if I had to move, I would move to LA. I absolutely love the climate! Plus being able to live a city life yet go to the beach or lounge by the pool is something a Londoner only dreams about! And after having to learn English when I moved to UK as a child from Russia I love that I would not have to learn a different language to live there. Maybe just learn to say pants instead of trousers and french fries instead of chips.

7. Favorite Food?
I love Japanese cuisine and can live off sushi! Also I have to sometimes treat myself to my beloved junk food – like crisps and chocolate.

8. Who is the best person to go shopping with?
I love going shopping on my own – you can take as much time as you want and no one will rush you if you try the same dress 3 times before making a decision!

9.What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?
My bucket list is filled with places I need to visit. I believe that personality is built through experiences and the most interesting experiences come about through traveling. Now on top of my lists are discovery trips of China and Brazil!

10.  Favorite item in your wardrobe?
My favourite item in my wardrobe is a leather jacket – I have a few different ones and wear them all the time. At the moment I love my new Versace for H&M leather jacket. It is covered in studs and creates it is very easy to create an outfit around it!

11. Best style & beauty advice?
Best style advise is be yourself. Don’t hide behind fashion, use it to show who you are, adapt the latest trends to suit you! And beauty advice – never go to bed wearing your make up and always, always moisturise, even better if your moisturiser has sunblock!

12. Favorite designer and why?
My favourite designer is Alexander McQueen. He was brilliantly crazy and always experimenting. And I loved his shows – always more of a theatrical performance. After watching those no one can say that fashion is not an art form!

And something more about me: I have undergraduate degree in Economics and Politics and currently doing Masters in Marketing. I always loved fashion but it is quite recently that I have decided to take it to the next level – I took summer fashion courses in London College of Fashion this year.

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MARLU truly caught my eye when I first stumbled upon their pieces browsing the net.  Simple and clean lines, yet there is something edge that stands out in all of their pieces! I had the chance to get a sneak peek at their S/S 2012 collection – if you think their F/W 2011 is to die for wait until you see S/S 2012! Read below to find out what they had to say about their collections and to find out a little bit more about the very talented sisters!

1. What inspired you ladies to become jewellery designers?

Monika: I have always buried myself in fashion and lifestyle magazines. To this day it’s my favourite way to pass time and be inspired. I have a bit of an entrepreneurial streak so I think it was a natural transition for me to figure out how I could make a career out of something I really enjoyed.

Marta: I had a really hard time finding jewellery that I liked and the stuff I loved was out of my price range. I also found it difficult to commit to investing in one great piece. So I started to make my own jewellery.  Monika approached me about putting my skills into a business for us and so MARLU was born.

2. Tell us a bit about the collections from Marlu Jewellery.

We create go-to statement jewellery for everyday and special occasions using metals and natural materials. Our pieces are strong, sleek, and classic with an edge.

*You will have a chance to enter to win these earrings designed and crafted by MARLU! Click here to find out how to enter!

3. Where do your inspirations behind your designs come from?

We travel and read a great deal and keep finding new things that spark our interest and imagination. In the design process you have to keep an open mind for that next thing that will catch your eye. However, most of the time we are inspired by women with a unique fearless sense of style like Carine Roitfeld, Giovanna Battaglia and Olivia Palermo.

4. Who is your personal style icon?

Monika: Carine Roitfeld has the perfect balance of feminine and rock and roll style. She was a muse to Tom Ford and she famously said “I dress for women, I undress for men”…what more can I say.

Marta: Kate Moss has unapologetically wicked style.  She is fashion royalty in my mind.

5. How is it working together as sisters?

We love working together! We have the same vision of what we want MARLU to be and where we’d like to see it in the future.  Although I’m more involved in the practical side of the business and Marta deals with the creative, we both are deeply involved in the design and production of all MARLU pieces.  Every piece passes the Marta and Monika inspection!

6. One place in the world you would live and why.

Monika: Anywhere in Italy. The people, the food, the culture all inspire me to look better and feel better. And all that sunshine doesn’t hurt.

Marta: Capri, for the spectacular scenery, the sun, the sea, the gorgeous people and the fact that the whole island smells like Limoncello.

7. Favorite Food?

Monika: I love risotto. It’s like a decadent comfort food warm, and creamy and all the time you have to put into making it correctly makes it extra special.

Marta: Spicy tuna tempura rolls. There never seems to be enough of them.

8. Where can you buy Marlu Jewellery?

MARLU is available on our website www.marlujewelry.com, as well as Ukamaku, Saffron Road in London Ontario, and the Velvet Room Boutique in Vancouver.

9. What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

1. Make MARLU an internationally recognized brand.
2. See our pieces in an editorial in Vogue.
3. Take a trip on the Orient Express

10. Best style & beauty advice?

Monika: The right pair of jeans can take you from day to evening so invest the time and money into finding the right fit for you. And indulge in manicures as often as you can! I’m very expressive with my hands so people are always looking at them.

Marta: I’m a big fan of jackets and blazers. With a figure-flattering blazer you can be instantly chic and pull off almost any outfit combination. As for beauty, the right shade of bright lipstick is really the icing on the cake. It can brighten up your complexion and expresses confidence in your personal style.

12. Favorite designer and why?

Too many to name! Any designer that pushes the envelope while still maintaining the look of their house is tops on our list, for example, the late Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Marc Jacobs. Some of the creations by Mary Katrantzou render us speechless.

13. What can buyers expect to see in the near future?

We’re continuing to build on the MARLU signature look of metal and natural materials, but we’re adding more colour and texture and really bringing out the feminine aspect of jewellery. We’re also working  on making our jewelry accessible internationally.

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In August, I attended the MODE Accessories show in Toronto! I was able to network and meet some very interesting accessories designers. One of my most favorite was Monica Graves, the designer for glamjulz!  glamjulz was founded in 2000 and is based in Burlington, Ontario.  What caught my eye about glamjulz, was the uniqueness of each piece! Monica uses semi-precious stones, crystals and high quality glass, to make sure each necklace, bracelet, ring and earring are very exclusive and individual!  glamjulz has been worn by the hottest celebrities in Hollywood, Elisha Cuthbert, Lily Allen, Fergie, Jay Manuel, Nelly Furtado, Paris Hilton, Vanessa Millano, Tori Spelling and many more!

1. What made you become a designer? And when did you start?
My first taste of “designing” was in 1985, at the age of 16 I started my own business hand-painting pop-culture icons on T-shirts!  Later that progressed into murals. 

 In the early  90′s a friend took me into a bead store in Toronto and I fell in love with jewelry design! It came easily to me and my creations seemed endless. I never picked up a paint brush again, I found my true love.

2. Tell us a bit about your collections?
All of our pieces are handmade at our Burlington studio, the beads we use are semi precious, crystal, and glass.   Every season the colour palette changes, we love to co-ordinate the julz with the colour trends that are happening in fashion.  We also add  new styles each season and a huge part of our business is that we offer CUSTOM, all of our designs can be made to match ANY outfit!

3. Who is your personal style icon?
Gwen Stefani

4. Where do your inspirations behind your designs come from?
All the best parts of 70s and 80s pop culture.
The movie Xanadu, The Archies,  Charlies Angels, Three’s Company, The Love Boat…….the list goes on!

5. One place in the world you would live and why.
I would LOVE to live in California part time.  It embodies all of my influences.  Including the beach, the sand, the ocean, perfect weather. Everything is vibrant and colourful there and although it may also be known for it’s superficial side there is so much natural beauty to it.  That’s what I truly love.

6. Favorite Food?
Seafood is always a treat! I LOVE sushi, lobster, oysters, scallops….I could live on it!

7. Where can you buy your pieces?
100 independently owned boutiques across Canada and the US (list of stores on our website) We have a studio for appointments, and you can also order directly from our website

8. What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

- Meet Daryl Hall (long time crush since 1981)
- Shop in Manhattan with a Stylist
- Travel wherever I want, whenever I want with my husband and friends.

 9. Favorite item in your wardrobe?
My 1984 Duran Duran concert T-shirt! Still in mint condition!

10. Best style & beauty advice?
Be yourself, appreciate your own inner beauty. NEVER compare yourself to others! Confidence is the sexiest form of both style and beauty!

11. Favorite designer and why?
Gwen Stefani, I LOVE listening to her being interviewed about both music and her clothing line.  I appreciate her honesty and how she never claims to have original ideas, she embraces the fact that she has been influenced by people like Vivian Westwood, Jean Paul Gauthier, Madonna etc….. I think it’s so humble of her and it also really puts things in perspective.  I think there is so much pressure out there to be original and always fresh! My motto has always been, show me a design you love and if I can design the glamjulz version of it I will! 

12. Favorite celebrity to wear one of your accessories?
Olivia Newton John

13. What can buyers expect to see in the near future?
That glamjulz will continue to do what we’ve always done best…. fun and colourful julz to make you look your best every season!

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I am proud to announce my first ‘Fresh ‘n’ New’ model, who is from one of my favorite countries Portugal! Portugal is full of beautiful & exotic women, and I had the chance to catch up with one of their up and coming models, Mafalda Correia.  Mafalda, who ran for Miss World Portugal, is also a huge animal lover and in her spare time volunteers at a shelter!

1. Quais são as tuas cores preferidas para o outono?
Preto e azul, embora goste de muitas.

2. O que é que vestes quando queres parecer mais sexy?
Roupa justa e preta. Acho o preto, uma cor muito sensual.

3. Qual é a tua cidade preferida?
New York

4. Qual foi a razão pela qual começas-te a desfilar?
Nunca fiz, nada assim muito profissional apenas desfile de concursos de beleza. A minha carreira é como modelo fotográfico, acho mais interessante.

5. Quantos anos tinhas quando fizeste a tua primeiro sessão fotográfico?
Quando fiz a minha primeira sessão fotográfica deveria ter uns 19/20 anos, comecei tarde porque foi muito por brincadeira. Mas depois começaram a surgir os contactos atravès dos concursos de beleza, um deles “Miss Mundo Portugal” e pronto, estou na fotografia até hoje.

6. Qual e o teu passatempo preferido?
O meu passatempo preferido para além de estar com os amigos é ajudar animais, pois sou voluntária num canil e amo o que faço.

7. Quem é a tua pessoa preferida para levares contigo as compras?
O meu namorado. Ele adora ir ás comigo é sempre uma festa.

8. Qual e a tua comida favorita?
Ui…comida favorita…não tenho, eu gosto de quase tudo, não consigo dizer uma em especial embora seja amante de ”pasta”.

9. Tendência de moda favorita?
Não tenho uma tendência de moda favorita, apenas acho que a mulher deve vestir-se como mulher e realçar o corpo feminino que é das coisas mais bonitas que existe. Temos que nos saber valorizar….e podemos começar pela roupa, nada mais fácil.

10. Se pudesses conhecer uma celebridade quem seria e porque?
Victoria Beckham, sem dúvida que é um ícone de moda.

*Mafalda’s contact
*To see more photos from her photographers Hugo Macedo & Nuno Boavida

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Recently I had a blog contest and the blog Opposite of Reality won! Natalie & Erika you ladies have impeccable taste and style! I just think you girls are amazing and I know my viewers would too! Congrats!

As the winners of the blog contest, Natalie & Erika answered some fun-loving, juicy questions!

1. When did you start blogging & why?
We started blogging early this year, for a couple of reasons.  The main agenda behind our blog was to have an outlet to express our strong passion for style and fashion.  We thought it would be the easiest way to be able to reach out to those that enjoy the same things that we do and connect closer with the fashion industry.  Blogging was to give us more of a reason to be completely submerged in what we love, and that is exactly what it has done.  Secondly, people are always coming up to us and asking us where we shop, how we shop, how they don’t think that they can put together the outfits we wear, and so I wanted to have one central location where they can go to get all of these answers.  If I can’t have the time to physically be there and help people shop and feel good about shopping, maybe our blog can help inspire them to feel the confidence that we do in our personal style.  And then most importantly, because Erika is still in college, four, long hours away from me, so this is the best way to make sure that we have no choice but to talk on a daily basis!

2. Who is your personal style icon?
There are a few people that I think we would have to consider as our personal style icons, and coincidently two of them happen to be sisters as well.  1.  Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, and their “dumpster chic” looks.  2.  And then, Kate Moss.  She has been a huge influence as to what we enjoy for day to day styling, as well as how we choose to express who we are through what we wear.  To the both of us, she was a significant role model during the years when we were first discovering what personal style meant to us.

3. Three things that are a MUST to carry daily?
Nars, “Orgasm” blush, because everyone always needs a little to look alive again half-way through the day.  Plus, this color looks good on everyone, so you are prepared to help a friend in need as well.  A cell phone, because naturally we all need to be accessible at all times.  And a great piece of jewelry, incase my girlfriends call me for a last minute happy hour or dinner date. Trust me, a statement necklace can work wonders to a day-time outfit.

4.  One place in the world you would live and why.
We feel we haven’t traveled enough to make this decision, but preferably somewhere near large bodies of water, where they appreciate good wine.

5. Favorite Food?
Okay so Erika didn’t have to think about this for a second, the girl eats Chipotle about 3 times a week, and we are not exaggerating.  And for myself, I would say potatoes.  They come in so many different forms, fried, baked, I love them all.

6.  Who is the best person to go shopping with, other than each other?
Obviously, we would have said each other, there would be no question.  But since we’re taking that off the table, we would say our mom.  She will always, and I mean always, tell us when she doesn’t like something and sometimes that’s exactly the kind of shopping partner you need, an honest one.

7. What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?
Go to Paris Fashion Week, with our grandma, so that she can show us the ropes.  Have large families so that our kids can grow up having lots of aunts and uncles and cousins, just like we did.  And to open a no-kill, dog shelter in Virginia.

8.  Favorite item in your wardrobe?
Erika:  Her studded Sam Edelman ankle boots, she won’t even wear them she cherishes them so much. Me: My circa 1990’s, Victoria’s Secret, completely unlined demi bra.  It’s so comfortable and perfect for all of my thin, sheer shirts. I can’t stand bra lines showing, so I end up wearing it almost every day.

9. Best style & beauty advice?
The best advice we can give, is to be confident.  Shopping can be intimidating, but don’t be scared of new things so go ahead and try on things that you normally wouldn’t.  Don’t always wear things exactly how they are meant to be worn.  People will appreciate you for being different.

10.  Favorite designer and why?
Of all time, Valentino because of the femininity in his designs and because they are timeless; but more recently, Balenciaga, for their translation of avant-garde into ready-to-wear fashion.

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