If You've Got It, Flaunt It

Live music, delicious hot bites, cool desserts and pretty li'l cupcakes on top of an endless array of soft and beautiful fabric all over the store -- Kania's Annual Garden Party is Twenty York Street's top favourite fashion events in Ottawa!

Ashley of Love Ashelle, Juliana of MIIKALI, ML and Rodney from Banana Republic.

Attended by the city's most fashionable and highly talked about in the press, Stacey, Kania's always radiant designer surely knows how throw a fete worthy of an entire weekend afternoon. Some events, you drop by, mingle a little and say adieu. The team at Kania Couture not only ensures that you are fully satiated with incredible selection of dresses, jumpers, skirts, coats in gorgeous bold colours but they also provide such warm hospitality - a lively and fun atmosphere that you feel like you're walking in into your best friend's home and just linger over a glass of wine.

Kania - Be Radiant.

So, what else is in store for Kania you asked? Stacey Bafi-Yeboa actually just presented a magnificent show at the Ottawa Fashion Week that swept the crowd to its feet in a rousing standing ovation! I think I should leave it at that for now as amazing performances like that deserves its own dedicated blog post.

Today, let me tell you about this:

Flaunt.

Best-seller: The Snuggie.
 

Kania gets approval from fellow Designer Juliana.

Photos and artistic rendition by J of 20YS/YOUGOTSQUARED.

A one night to escape to indulgence!

FLAUNT is the ultimate shopping experience, a sexy twist to the old school and boring trade shows. FLAUNT Ottawa is a way to promote independent design and high fashion in a chic space and dancing in the glamorous Trillium Ballroom of the Ottawa Convention Centre.

Early bird tickets will be on sale until November 6th for $40 and the first 200 tickets will receive free parking and valet service courtesy of Mercedes Benz and Responsible choice!

FLAUNT Tickets now on sale at www.flauntottawa.com and at Kania boutique 145 York Street
Ottawa, Ontario.

Flagship store at 145 York Street in Ottawa.

TWENTY YORK STREET proudly supports Flaunt as its not only an event to have fun, shop, groove and mingle BUT it is also an opportunity to give back and spread the love. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to Ovarian Cancer Canada.


Ovarian Cancer Canada is dedicated to overcoming this disease, which takes the lives of Canadian Women every day and is the only Canadian charity to focus solely on Ovarian Cancer.

The infamous @20YS Profile Pic: The Dolly.

Featured as a dress on this post: THE COMEBACK.

The always gorgeous and vivacious Kania Designer:

Stacey Bafi-Yeboa.

The second edition of this annual event will be held in the spectacularly glamorous Trillium Ballroom of the new Convention Centre, Ottawa’s most magnificent and breathtaking venue! Shop the most fabulous independent Canadian designer fashions & accessories, savour the most delectable sweets and of course, be pampered by THANN Skincare (the world's leading brand in body and skincare) from head to toe, groove to the beat of the hottest DJ's and dance the night away!

Indulge. Escape. Flaunt.

Get your tickets now at www.flauntottawa.ca!!!

Twenty York Street - As Seen On BHBB Ottawa

September 2011 Issue of BHBBO.

Bottom photo : ML with Mr. Fadi Ghaby, Owner, THANN Skincare

I know I said on my last post that I shall, one day, share with you some of Twenty York Street's glory moments. Well, that one day is apparently today! I think we already established the fact that patience is not exactly my virtue. Trust me, there's many times when I wish I had the patience to sit things through, like you know, waiting for the price to drop on my most coveted leather boots before panicking and buying them faster than a speeding bullet only to realize the next day, I could have bought it cheaper online!

Now back to the glory moments...

Twenty York Street has been out and about and making the media and press rounds lately! Can you believe that?

On October 5th, the 20YS team has been kindly invited to the very exciting website launch of our friend, Sarah Hoy's Be Healthy Be Beautiful Ottawa! Originally an e-publication sent out to subscribers, BHBB is now a website with a monthly epublication, which houses the best news and information about Fashion, Health, Beauty, Fitness, Lifestyle and local businesses in Ottawa!

 

In celebration of its hugely successful launch, THANN Canada has partnered up with BHBB Ottawa to give its readers a chance to WIN $100 Gift Certificate to spend at the world-renowned Skincare brand!

 

I don't want you guys to miss out on this so go and visit BHBB Ottawa right now and I guarantee, it will quickly become your go-to site for everything nice and informative!

 

To be in with a chance of winning just tell BHBB one THANN product that you would love to purchase and why.

Email your entry to win@bhbbottawa.ca

If you're in Ottawa, visit THANN's Flagship store at:

829 Bank Street
613-667-0540

Or visit them online at:
http://www.thann.ca/

Contest closes November 5, 2011. For contest rules, visit the BHBB website.

Bonne chance mes amis! If there's anything I am absolutely 100% sure about (yes, I'm that confident about it!), you will fall in love with THANN.



I Thank You, You and You!

"Most Fashionable Female Award" - Rip the Fab Lane

Dupioni Silk strapless mini-dress from MIIKALI by Juliana Giraldo.



Life, I gotta say, have taken on such an interesting twist recently. It has always been fast-paced in the last few years but lately, it has taken a pace as fast as a speeding Formula 1 car. It's been a ridiculously exciting roller coaster ride that I have to say 2011 is definitely a year to reckon with.

Have you ever heard or know of the concept called the "Tipping Point?" An entire book by Malcolm Gladwell was written about this topic in 2000. It's not an entirely novel concept anymore but it's one that is remains prevalent in our everyday lives, whether we are aware of it nor not.

Essentially, it dissects the process and mechanism by which some trends/products/celebrities/etc. achieve an exponential amount of popularity while others barely get a second of screen time and simply fade into oblivion. The common notion that this secret is long thought to be mysterious and resistant to analysis was dispelled by Gladwell who said there are actually patterns and three key factors that determine whether a particular trend will "tip" into massive popularity. The concepts of the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context are the three rules of epidemics  which interdependently catapults an idea into a phenomenal success.

Why is this such a relevant topic for us today? Well, like many of you, Twenty York Street, started out as a fashion blog that showcases personal style, a dairy of sartorial choices and aspirations. At the same time, it is also a platform for brilliant up and coming talents, be it fashion designers, dancers, bloggers and other artists. From covering the city's biggest fashion and lifestyle events like the Ottawa Fashion Week to up close and personal interviews with established Canadian designers - lately, @20YS has taken on a very exciting direction that we are at a crossroad of deciding where we want to be and how to move forward.

I'm not saying Twenty York Street has taken on its tipping point to a level of massive recognition but it did, precisely that, tipped at some point. The exact point when - I cannot tell you. Were the three rules of epidemics at play? I cannot tell you. But it has tipped. From a fashion blog perspective, somewhere along the way, it took a brilliant turn that it's neither Bryan Boy or The Man Repeller or other famous fashion blogs out there, but it certainly has garnered decent attention. Decent enough for people to stop and notice, talk, connect and most importantly, inspire.

We've had a share of success and achievements in the short time since we've launch and if you will indulge me, one day, I will tell you all about it.

For now, what you need to know is this...

I thank you.

 



This Is It: THE IMMORTAL MJ

June 25th, 2009 was one fateful day that I still clearly remember, one of my best friends sent me a text message saying, Michael Jackson apparently, at 50 years old, passed away. Thinking it could most likely be an Internet hoax or a predictable attempt to increase the buzz for his upcoming and most anticipated world tour - This Is It, it was best to wait for the truth.

Alas, a hoax it was not. A very sad, sad day, it was. The world did lose someone so special, a brilliant talent (though to some, a lost soul) - a musical genius that has undoubtedly left his mark in history. His dance moves were so iconic they have been re-created over and over again in concerts, films and countless dance halls all over the world. His fashion and costume choices made significant choices, people not only stopped and noticed but copied throughout the years.  And his vocals and words so moving and thoroughly thoughtful -- they helped heal the world.  

While Michael Jackson is gone, this time, his message and his songs live on. Through the theatrical and acrobatic language of the globally renowned and Canadian-born Cirque du Soleil, his legacy comes alive in a magical performance of visuals, dance, music and fantasy. I was so unfortunate to be invited to witness the immortal Michael Jackson comes back to life once again, if only through 3D depictions of himself as a little boy, his hauntingly beautiful voice and all too familiar songs. 

The entire night, which opened with a lovable mime who awakened all the bronzed statues in the front of the gilded gates of Neverland, was a superb show of one number after another with the industry's most talented dancers, acrobats, contortionists, musicians and artists.



I was incredibly impressed by the world-class calibre of performance and the jaw-dropping level of atheleticism some of the dancers displyed. I was completely mesmerized during the "Dangerous" performance of a perfectly lean acrobat on what seems like a hundred-foot stripper pole, I swear I wish I was a stripper for one brief moment.

Colourful and vibrant tribal costumes, whimsical tutus, dapper suits, larger than life afros and everything sequin kept me on my on my high-heeled toes! The high powered group of musicians - drums, bass guitar, percussion, saxophone, etc. with the very fierce and Avatar-looking trumpet and cello players rocked the Scotiabank Centre like nobody's business. The stage was intricately decorated and the re-creations of Michael Jackson's best hits was, no doubt, nostalgic and moving. This was a night that offered a unique view into Michael Jackson's spirit, passion and heart.



Without having to reveal too much of this once-in-a-lifetime electrifying production that combined Michael Jackson's best-selling music and famous dance moves with the choreography and creativity of Cirque du Soleil, I have been moved one too many times during the night. Though if I have to highlight my winning choices, the following performances went straight to my heart and touched me deeply: Smooth Criminal,  I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Gone Too Soon, They Don't Care About Us, Heal the World, Will You Be There, Black or White...

And of course, THRILLER:

All photos via Cirque du Soleil.

I gasped, I had goosebumps, I clapped, I cheered, I was speechless and yes, I cried...

If you have a chance to see Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson - The IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR, I urge you to go and see this one absolutely phenomenal show. For now my friends, I would love to leave you with words that must be etched within our hearts:

“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe. ”

― Michael Jackson

Special thank you to Ms. Stephanie Kersey and Ms. Kita Szpak

Knock on Wood PR, Ottawa.



OFW D1: Thursday Glows with Jewels and Style

Rising star Herieth Paul of Angie's Models & Talents International glitters on the runway. 

Ever since I was child, I always knew I love all things gold and shiny! So, you can imagine my utmost delight when I knew Micalla was up on the first day of Ottawa Fashion Week! If statement is what you want to make with your jewelleries, Micalla provides you with a multitude of exclamation marks as the entire collection is just that exactly - jaw dropping!

Last week the city has been all up in frenzy as they prepare for almost a week long celebration of talents, style and fashion!

And was the frenzy all worth the closet over-hauls, the last minute shopping all over the city and the constant trips to the beauty salon?

I dare say - Absolutely!

Rich royal blue provides a perfect setting for Micalla's extraordinary pieces.

Intricate, thoughtful and out of this world - Micalla is simply captivating!

As hundreds of sky-high stilettos clucked their way into the magnificent Ottawa Convention Centre, which boasts the best view of Ottawa's spectacular skyline inside an ultra-modern piece of architecture, 21 designers from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and abroad mesmerized Fashionistas from all walks of life. The Ottawa Fashion Week has proven, amongst other things, that style, in its very fundamental state, is individual.

Was all the shows worthy of a standing ovation? Perhaps not. But there was one thing that was evident.. there were lots of expressions of individual creativity and style and that alone is worthy of a celebration. Day 1 of OFW brought on stage Canadian designers Birds of North America, Valerie Dumaine, Micalla, Anomal, Rud by Rudsak - notably all from Montreal and Ottawa's own, the beautiful Amber Watkins.

Dressed in Lipsy from the UK, Accessories by BCBG, Banana Republic and Dad's necklace, leather pumps by Guess. Also seen in photo, Ottawa Designer Amber Watkins. 

If Anomal's mission statement in this world is indeed to inspire by creation, then they can add one more feather on their pretty hats as the collection have indeed captured the imagination of the entire audience as it presente pieces that screamed audacious, luxurious and most of all, bold.

On the front row is the darling Bruno Racine,

OFW's Creative Director and owner of Le Spa and The Loft.

Aptly named, "Et tombent les fleurs", the rich earth colours compliments the brilliant choices of fabrics and subtle details that was apparent in each of Anomal's creation. All carefully handcrafted by the designer, each piece was raw and daring - all intended to sensually enhance a woman's curve by ensuring the cut accentuates the body's silhouette. 

Helena (AMTI) - commandingly regal in Anomal.

Noelly of the burgeoning Miss Sly Blog-zine, Judy Torborg of Love Xpress Mag and Ottawa's Fashion Royal Family - Angie and Lou of AMTI with the ever chic Grace.

The stunning Annaise of MIM Models International.

 If edgy, colourful and flamboyant is what you want - you can be sure UK-based Swedish Simon Ekrelius definitely delivered. His was a mix of pieces so fluid the colours, patterns and solid just flows together as they skim the body. All of Simon's Spring and Summer Collection 2012 drapes beautifully that you just want to wish summer is right around the corner.   

Fluid and vibrant, Simon Ekrelius lit up the runway at OFW.

Fashion model and blogger - Erica Wark.

Maybe it's not Haute Couture, it's not groundbreaking nor shocking. But RUD Styled by RUDSAK brought to the runway the stylish sensibility that Canadian men and women has. In this frozen tundra that is Ottawa, where the city is enveloped in a serene blanket of snow, there is that harsh reality that cold but cramps someone style.

Certainly not with RUD pieces.

With exposed zippers, piped belts and interesting buttons, there perfectly fitted trench coats and jackets provide for the ultimate chic yet warm outerwear that would take you from the cold streets of Canada all the way to your indoor destination of choice. Were there RUDSAK pieces that I fell in love with?

Let's say about five!

What can I say, I'm a finicky lover!

Scenes from the OFW Sidelines:

Shot by his Hotness - Pino of www.YOUGOTSQUARED.com.

Thanks to THANN Skincare, the highly in-demand Hair Mask

more than makes up for my no sense of hairstyle. Just wash and go!

The infamous "J" & his biceps of YOUGOTSQUARED / 20YS.

Bringing the poise and fierce on the front row..with Lee of Moose Photograph/Twenty York Street.

I wish we were able to capture all the beautiful people who came and attended DAY 1 of this year's fashion highlight! With a very effective team of OFW Organizers together with over hundreds of volunteers that came together to make all this happen for Ottawa, we are very thankful for being part of this momentous occasion.

Day 2 and 3 are a different story my Fashion Lovers! This time TWENTY YORK STREET came prepared, we got not one, not two, not three but a whole lot of photographers capturing the vivid images that is OTTAWA FASHION WEEK.

Stay tuned for more!

OFW's The MARKET PLACE.