Guilty

 jacket and bag- Winners, pants - GAP, blouse you can't really see- Moon from by The Bay,

 scarf - C'est Moi from Bamboo Ballroom, boots - Spring, rings - H & M, bracelet - Jacob (I think)

Photos by D. 

I admit it. I am guilty of wearing red mixed with black and white way too much this year. (See here, here, here and here.) It's my favorite color combo but I realize I need to get some different colors into my wardrobe or else I'm going to bore you guys to death with these outfit posts! I wore this repeater Friday night when I met my girlfriends for dinner at Tres Carnales. It's a Mexican restaurant downtown that has the most delicious guacamole I've ever tasted. I swear if I had to eat nothing but their tostada chips and guacamole every day I'd be a happy camper. A malnourished happy camper but a happy camper nonetheless ; ).

This weekend I also met with the finalists from the West Edmonton Mall Spring Makeover who I'll be working with, Brenda and Landon. You can read all about them here. As a member of the Fashion to Love Style Team I get to go shopping with them for a whole new wardrobe and pick out a "Reveal Outfit" that they'll wear on Breakfast Television this Friday to show off their new and improved self! It's been really exciting so far. I'll keep you updated on their progress throughout the week! 

David's Bridal and a Giveaway Winner

White by Vera Wang

Galina

 White by Vera Wang

 David's Bridal Collection

 Vera Wang. Recognize this bridesmaid's dress from Gossip Girl, anyone??

More Vera

Yesterday I was invited to take a private tour of the new David's Bridal store that just opened in South Edmonton Common. It's the first store to open in Western Canada after receiving an overwhelming positive response from stores previously opened in Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg and of course hundreds across the US. I was in bridal heaven as I walked through the store, "ooohing" and "ahhhing" over wedding gowns, bridesmaid and prom dresses, jewelry and shoes fit for a princess! I'm not gonna lie, I had my eye on a few dresses (2 Vera Wang, one Oleg Cassini!)  I'd like to try on once I get engaged ; ). Georgina, the head of PR asked if I wanted to slip into them then and there but I politely declined and told her I consider it's bad luck to try on wedding gowns before your significant other puts a ring on it!

What I love about David's Bridal is that all of the dresses are affordable. Bridal gowns range in price from $299 to $1600 and carry gowns from size 0 to 26. There's a very good chance a bride-to-be could find her dream wedding dress at David's Bridal, try it on and take it home that same day.

To celebrate the Grand Opening of the South Edmonton Common store, (10185 13th Avenue NW) David's Bridal invites you to a night of entertainment, gifts, hors d'oeurves and a fashion show highlighting the best trends of 2012 this Thursday April 26th from 6-9 p.m. *Please RSVP to Edmonton@dbi.com* And now until April 30th customers can take advantage of a special introductory savings of $50-200 off all bridal gowns (certain exclusions apply) with an additional 10% off any headpiece, bra, veil or slip and $20 off all bridesmaid, party and prom dresses. Also, the first 300 customers who enter the store will get a $50 gift card towards a $299 minimum purchase that can also be used on White by Vera Wang styles. Such great deals!

Thank you to Georgina and David's Bridal for the tour! I'll becoming back, hopefully sooner rather than later ;).

Annnnd, the winner of the Blue Vanilla Giveaway is Sarah from Haus of Sarah Rachel! Congrats! Blue Vanilla will be getting in touch with you shortly! Thank you to all who entered. Stay tuned for another giveaway coming up shortly!

Simple Camo

blouse - ONLY from Etzio, trousers - Cassis, army jacket + rings - H & M, shoes - Spring

photos by D.

LOOK - NO SNOW!!! I think spring has finally arrived. And it best not be going anywhere! This past weekend I was able to stuff my winter jacket into the back of the spare room closet and pull out my spring/fall army coat. It's my favorite jacket because it's so versatile - I can dress it up or down and it will never go out of style. Kind of like cake. And who doesn't like cake? Exactly. I hope you all had a nice weekend!

Beauty & Brains: Styling Steph Del Alba

bodysuit - American Apparel

tank - American Apparel, cuff - mine from Banana Republic, jeans - H & M

tank - H & M, jean shorts - American Apparel, bracelet - mine, from H & m

dress - American Apparel, heels - model's own, feet - the photographer's

photographer: Harvey Miedreich

assistant: Yves St. Bass

stylist: me

model: Steph w/ Mode Models

clothing provided by American Apparel 

I loved styling Steph. Not only is she a drop-dead gorgeous model but she has a wicked sense of humor and brains, too! (She's studying neuroscience at the U of A.) 

Have a great weekend!

Mercedes Benz Start-Up Semi-Finals with IMG Fashion

Last night I was invited to attend the Mercedes Benz Start-Up Semi Finals at David Morris Fine Cars. The Mercedes Benz Start-Up is a national program that seeks to discover and mentor young, talented fashion designers across Canada. Produced by IMG Fashion (only the biggest fashion agency in the WORLD!) and the Fashion Design Council of Canada, they put on a high-calibre, top notch event showcasing Western Canada's Top 5 finalists. First up was one of my local faves, Malorie Urbanovitch.

A gorgeous dress (that I want to purchase!) from Malorie's F/W 2012 Collection

For my review on Malorie's complete F/W collection, which I was lucky to catch during Western Canada Fashion Week, click here.

The second designer to showcase their talent was Lauren Bagliore from Calgary

I'm not sure why I never heard of Laura before last night! Her designs are amazing!
 I'll be keeping my eye on her ;).

Here are some beautifully-crafted pieces from Calgary's Rebecca King

I loved this coat!

Nicole Campre, who won the Emerging Designer competition at Western Canada Fashion Week last month and graduated from Marvel College not too long ago has such a bright future ahead of her. She already designs for Loft 82 and Oak + Fort! I love the neutral color palette  and the soft fabrics she chose for her showcase.

Another delicate and heavenly Nicole Campre creation

Last in the line up was Eliza Faulkner from Vancouver Island

I adored her unique, flirty and fun dresses which are perfect for spring and summer!

AND THE WINNER IS.....

Edmontonian Malorie Urbanovitch! Congratulations! Malorie will be heading to Toronto in October to show her line at World Master Card  Fashion Week and compete in the finals! The winner will receive mentorship from industry experts for a year, their own solo show the following season and will have their designs featured in an editorial spread in FASHION magazine. Not bad, not bad at all!

Here are some few snaps from the after-party last night:

clockwise from top left: The Edmonton Journal's Amanda Ash and Vickie Laliotis, Vickie's yummy treats (and her gorgeous YSL ring), photographer Harvey Miedreich and FASHION magazine's Caroline Gault, Kurtis and Alyssa from The Ordinary Peoples.

Me and Janis

Kyla Kaziel and Stacey Boruk, owners of Bamboo Ballroom and The Common, Maggie from Loft 82.

Style Guy Jared, Julianna Damer, Brittany Gora and Vanessa Reis

What a night this was! It was so exciting for everyone involved, including the audience. To have local talent showcased on such a grand scale with IMG and the FDCC's involvement was UNREAL! And I'm so happy for Malorie and what lies ahead for her in the next year! I also want to congratulate all the other designers who made the Top 10 and Top 5, you should all be so proud!

Special thanks to Andrew Serrano from IMG for inviting me to be a part of such an amazing event! Come back soon, please. We loved having you all here!

KUT

photos by D.

top - KUT, from Black & Bold, tank - Target, jeans - Joe, from Bamboo Ballroom, 

boots - Winners, bag - Jessica from Sears, bracelet - Material Girl from The Bay, rings - H & M

I'm not going to talk about how we still have snow on the ground in April or how frizzy my hair on the one side is in these photos (it's really irritating me), instead I'm going to tell you about my new favorite top! I bought it at Black & Bold Saturday night at my friend Janis's shopping party. It's so comfortable and the material is extremely soft, it looks like denim but it's not. I love that I can wear it all year round, too and it's a classic closet staple I'll keep forever. Yeah, I'm smitten like a kitten; ).

Did you all have a good weekend? I went shopping with a client on Saturday and had a blast helping her pick out a whole new wardrobe! During our shopping trip we came across a flash mob in the middle of the mall. I've watched them on Youtube but never in person so it was pretty cool to see. And I'm not gonna lie, I totally wanted to join in. Or, plan something like this.

Have a good week! We're closer to the weekend than we were yesterday ; ).

My Life, Lately

all via instagram @ mariealamode

L-R, top to bottom: Earrings c/o Stella & Dot, my mug in the local newspaper!

Makeup on set, from a commercial I acted in for Global TV a couple of weeks ago

My Western Canada Fashion Week pass, me and Janis

Malorie Urbanovitch's show at Fashion Week, Fashion Week goodies courtesy of Davines

It snowed in April, and then the snow melted. Really fast.

Easter eggs, drinks with my girlfriends at The Next Act

Just a little collage to show you what I've been up to lately! Also, I'm currently deep in the throws of a little bet. On Monday D. told me he would give me $100 if I stayed away from celebrity gossip for a week. Always up for a challenge, I shook on it. See, I have a little confession to make.  Just a sec, this deserves its own paragraph.

I'm the type of person that reads TMZ and People online 5 or 6 times a day and who goes through issues of US Magazine like rolls of toilet paper, the 1 ply kind. I can't help it, celeb gossip is my guilty pleasure! I also watch Access Hollywood, TMZ (the tv show) and sometimes Ellen, maybe a little bit of Entertainment Tonight both the US and Canadian versions, when I get home from work, if I have time. Yeah, I have a bit of a problem, I know. D. doesn't understand my fascination with famous people's personal lives and thinks I should be more involved in catching up on current events, the local and world news, watching movies instead of reality shows or better yet - reading books - so for one week I can't click on or watch anything that has to do with celebs. It's gonna be hard because I'd much rather read about which actress was arrested for DUI  (and more importantly, what was she wearing when it happened?!) than the government cutting local food-safety inspectors in my city but it's been over 36 hours and so far I haven't slipped! D. said to me, "There are so many more interesting things out in the world for you to pay attention to." Which is absolutely true! Wish me luck! I'll report back in a few days. I have 5 more to go.

Also, my friend Janis is hosting a shopping party at Black & Bold this Saturday night. There will be some great deals! I hope to make it down there myself. For more details click here!

Annnnnd I have a little giveaway going on right now with Blue Vanilla Jewelry. Click here to enter!

CONTEST CLOSED Blue Vanilla Giveaway!

 

Well, now you know where I live! Just kidding.

blouse - Moon from The Bay, jeans - Anthropologie, shoes - Target, clutch + bracelets + turquoise ring - H & M, 

over-sized ring - F21, necklace - c/o Blue Vanilla

photos by Harvey Miedreich

Ever since Blue Vanilla gifted me with this gorgeous Sugar & Spice gold necklace I can't stop wearing it! It's become my favorite piece of jewelry in my collection. Maybe because I've received so many compliments on it? ; ) Blue Vanilla has such beautiful pieces at extremely affordable prices, which is why I'm very happy to be teaming up with them for a giveaway for you, my readers! One lucky Marie a la Mode follower will win a piece of jewelry from Blue Vanilla's online boutique!  This giveaway is open internationally.

Here's how to enter:

  -Visit Blue Vanilla's online store here and let me know in the comment section below which piece of jewelry you would choose if you won (mandatory entry)

For extra entries:

-Follow Blue Vanilla on Twitter (+1 extra entry)

-Follow Blue Vanilla on Facebook (+1 extra entry)

-Follow Marie a la Mode on Twitter (+1 extra entry)

-'Like' me on Facebook (+1 extra entry)
-Follow Marie a la Mode via Google Friend Connect and/or Bloglovin' (+1 extra entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway, with a link to this post (+2 extra entries)

Please let me know how many entries you qualify for in the comment section and please leave your email address if you don't have a blog I can reach you at if you win.

Winner will be announced in 2 weeks! In the meantime, enjoy a 15% discount on everything in Blue Vanilla's store until April 20th! Just enter MARIE as the coupon code!