fashion forward...

Here's a date that you're going to want to book into your calendar: Fashion Forward, an Uptown Affair will be an exciting, glam evening of shopping with a toast to fashion. There'll be a goodie bags for the first 100 shoppers to meet up at Brunswick Square's Centre Court on the main floor, a toast to the evening with Normand Hector (director of NWH Modelling and Fashion Council Saint John's president), a map to guide you through the evening, and even an after-party at the Canterbury Lounge!

Sponsored by Uptown Saint John, the evening of October 6 will involve a large number of uptown shops staying open late and offering deals, demonstrations, or just something special for their customers! For example, I know that Silver Daisy Designs on King Street is offering something special for their first costumers that evening, hosting a live model (a fashion blogger you may all know!), crackle nail polish demos, and for every $50 you spend in-store that night, you will get a ticket towards the draw for a fabulous Marc Jacobs purse!

So get ready to wear your fall fashion's best and save your spending for Thursday, October 6. I'll be sure to update you as I hear more of what the shops of Uptown have in store for you!


Here's an up-to-date list of other events you're also going to want to mark in your calendar:

• Wed, Sept 28: Brunswick Square's Fall Fashion Show (3rd level of Brunswick Square, 7pm)
• Tues, Oct 4: FCSJ's second meeting (The Canterbury Lounge, 7pm)
• Thurs, Oct 6: Fashion Forward (kickoff at Brunswick Square, 6pm)
• Fri, Oct 7: New Brunswick Fashion Week's Gala (Trade & Convention Centre, more TBA)
• Wed, Oct 12: For The Love of Shoes: Blogger Meet-Up (The Urban Shoe Myth, 6:30pm)
• Fri, Oct 14: Silver Daisy Designs' Sex & The City Soiree (Lily Lake Pavillion, 7pm)

fashion events..

After a week and a bit of a hiatus, I'm back to blogging! Not that I ever wanted to take a break...but sometimes a busy streak in life can cause any of us to go MIA once in a while...but with so many local fashion events coming up, there is so much material to cover!

Such an example would be Silver Daisy Design's upcoming Sex and the City Soiree on Friday, the first annual fundraiser fashion show to be held in memory of Dr. Anthony Lordon. The event will be hosted at the Lily Lake Pavillon on Friday, October 14.

Last week, some local fashion bloggers were invited to the shop after hours to. We've been invited to participate in a fun side project related to the fashion show!

Post-meeting Kate, Candice, Barb, and I found the perfect spot for shooting outfit photos- it was a lot more fun to shoot photos with pals than doing it by yourself! (Thanks to Kate for taking my outfit photos.)

The Outfit: Dress: BB Dakota- Piperlime (ordered online, Sept '11) | Boots: Aldo (gifted, Dec '09)

Necklace & Bracelet: Aldo Accessories (Moncton, Aug '11)

Silver Daisy's fashion show isn't the only fashion-related event on the horizon in the next month. Have you already purchased your tickets for Brunswick Square Annual Fall Fashion Show next Wednesday, Sept 28? Last year's event was sold out, so be sure to stop by a participating store to pick up your ticket!

Be sure to also book off the evening of October 6 on your calendar! Next post (to be up either later today or tomorrow at the latest), I'll let you know more about Saint John's shop hop version of Fashion Night's Out: Fashion Forward.

Fashion Council Saint John...

One of my favourite colours for fall would have to be burnt orange. It's a hue that works on a variety of skin tones. With it, I threw on this modern take on your grandfather's plaid vest. The outfit in this post I wore to the first meeting of Fashion Council Saint John (FCSJ).

FCSJ is a not-for-profit organization that will work towards supporting the fashion businesses in Saint John. An open invite was extended via the FCSJ Facebook page mid last month with the first meeting held Aug 30 at the Canterbury Lounge. Initial interest was a collective of retailer owners, bloggers, models, stylist, designer, and fashion enthausiasts.  

Normand Hector (NWH Modelling), the man behind the idea, was invited to chat on CBC radio regarding what FCSJ is and what this council will bring to Saint John. Click here to listen to Normand's interview.  

The Outfit: Vest- H&M (Moncton, Aug '11) | Bracelet- Esquared, Silver Daisy Designs (SJ, June '11) 

Jeans- 7 for Mankind, Envy (SJ, May '11) | Necklace- H&M (Moncton, Aug '11)

Shoes- Steve Madden, The Urban Shoe Myth (SJ, June '11) | Blouse- Joe Fresh (SJ, Aug '11)

If you're interested in getting involved with FCSJ, please check out the Facebook page and get in touch with Normand. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 4.

In other event news, we're hosting a blogger meet-up next month here in Saint John! Be sure to check out my post from earlier this morning for more details! 

Blogger Meet-Up!

It's always more fun when a party has a theme! Next month's blogger meet-up will be paired with a girl's other best friend: shoes. The Urban Shoe Myth will be hosting Saint John's first blogger meet-up on Wednesday, October 12, from 6:30 to 8:30pm!

This event is open to all style, beauty, and photography bloggers in and around the Saint John area- and anyone from out of town that can make it, we'd love to see you too! Basically, if you blog with an interest in fashion- come join us for drinks, finger foods, and shoe shopping on the 12th- the store will be open outside their usual hours for our party! Guys, you are welcome to come too. They may not sell men's shoes but food can help make up for it!

Not only will we have the opportunity to meet and greet, but we'll also be sharing tips and chatting about how to better our blogs. Outfit bloggers, we'll be meeting up 1/2 hour before the event to take outfit photos together!

So I can ensure I don't miss anyone, please email me at maritime.shopaholic@gmail.com for your personal invitation!

stylish bride...

Essentially, that's one of the many wishes any girl has for her wedding day: to find the perfect wedding dress that's just her style. Then add a beautiful venue, tasteful invitations (with about a million stamps), the best tasting cake, a talented photographer and dresses that flatter all your bridesmaids...and you've got one hefty "to do" list.

With just having celebrated my own wedding in June, I completely understand how it's a delicate balance between planning the perfect day and remembering you have a budget! Fashion and personal style are very relevant factors when it comes to the biggest task: choosing the right dress.

If you're recently engaged or wedding bells are in your near future, nothing is more efficient than finding all your wedding  vendors under one roof. That's exactly what's happening on the evening of Friday, September 23: you'll find over 40 vendors and businesses setting up booths at the Trade and Convention Centre.

And the best part? (Well, in my opinion!) A fashion show, of course. Heavenly Gowns will be featuring over 70 wedding dresses in a runway show put on by NWH Modelling and Fashion Shows and hosted by Normand Hector (this will be his 10th show with Heavenly Gowns). We all know how important finding the dress is...so here's the best way to get a preview of what you may and may not love...without trying on a million dresses.

Photo Credit: Alfred Angelo

I chatted with both Sheri Israel, owner of Saint John's Heavenly Gowns, and Normand of NWH Modelling, on what's popular and on trend for bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses this year:

• "fit and flair" 
• trumpet and mermaid styles 
• strapless
• lace-up, corset-style backs
• the always classic, Cinderella style dress
• Alfred Angelo's Disney Collection 

Detailing such as lace and flowers continue to be popular and going back to traditional white seems to be a growing trend. When it comes to popular colour palettes for bridesmaid dresses, it's been all over the map this year. In that case, I'd recommend choosing a favourite colour that will be flattering with your bridemaids' skin tones.  

Tickets can be purchased at Heavenly Gowns (230 Thorne Avenue) prior to the event for only $10 or if you're a last minute type of gal, you can still grab a ticket at the door for $15. The bar will be open, so here's a great excuse to invite your girl friends for a post-work drink to say hello to the weekend, all while scoping out choices for your upcoming wedding. Finding them all under one roof is so much easier than searching for them individually, plus there will be many prizes to be given out...including one girl's choice of a wedding dress from Heavenly Gowns!

Date: Friday, September 23

Time: 4:30-10:00pm

Location: Trade & Convention Centre, Saint John

What you'll find:

Caterers | Photographers | Dress Shops | Wedding Venues

Event Planners | Make-up & Hair | Beauty Services | Gift Registries | Decorators

Plus, Heavenly Gowns' Fashion Show

featuring 70 bridal gowns & bridesmaid dresses

Will you be attending?

*This post has been sponsored by Trademark Show Productions. From experience, I know how important it is to a bride-to-be to find her perfect dress that she can look amazing and feel comfortable in. It's likely the most important dress you'll shop for. In my experience, events like these really make the planning process so much easier!