Ready, set, shop!

Our mass-market bestie has done it again: Joe Fresh is set to open its latest stand-alone location in North America on October 13th in downtown Toronto (Queen and Portland), and the best news? The 8200 sq ft. fashion headquarters will showcase the largest assortment of runway and ready-to-wear items.

Loved the neoprene shifts, knitwear and fringed minis? All yours for the taking. See you in line, ladies.

Check out the gallery below of our top 4 items we’ll be buying:

(For more information (and to plan your shopping lists in advance), visit: joefresh.com)

Emma Watson Cover girl moment…

Our November issue is about to hit stands. Look for the lovely and charming Emma Watson; discover the fragrance that men can’t resist (ELLE staff attest to its powers)—and find out whether you’re a tweenysomething. Hint: If you believe unicorns are real, you may be a member of what we’re calling the “cupcake culture set.” Plus…. with a nip in the air, it’s time to kick off that annual fall fashion migration to find the perfect coat. (I’ve found mine recently—a gorgeous green cocoon-like jacket from Lida Baday.) Inside the magazine we’ve chosen some of our faves of the season.

A journey into the world of a Maitre-Parfumeur

Eze (in Nice, France)

My travels throughout the South of France have been nothing if not spectacular. The hotels, the pampering, the cuisine and now, as if to complete my oh-so-française experience, the fragrance. I visited the medieval village of Eze (a captivating enclave in Nice that sits on a rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean sea) and discovered the prestigious House of Galimard; a luxury parfumeur that, for 260 years, has celebrated the allure of creating your own fragrance.

With a glass of champagne and a couple of canapes as my starting point, I sit down at my own “organ” (creation station) and embark on a three hour journey into the world of signature scents. Once complete, I will be the owner of a 100ml bottle of Eau de Lara. Here’s how my dream became a reality… Read the rest of this entry

The best way to start a work week? Being introduced to a seriously amazing shopping website: theoutnet.com. Our friends at whowhatwear.com have begun to sing its praises, and even our own features editor Kathryn Hudson has been spotted sporting her most recent Alex Wang finds.

The deals are outrageous: Balmain at 80% off, Jimmy Choo at 65% and Bottega Veneta at 50% off … Where to start? Well, considering it’s my birthday next week I think these platform boots (shown above) will be the only way to ring in my 34th year.

Come visit the H&M and ELLE Canada Style Station this Saturday at The Pacific Centre, 609 Granville St, Vancouver. ELLE Canada stylists will be on hand to help you with your fall wardrobe. Gifts cards will be handed out during the day to a few lucky shoppers! Come get your picture taken, too!

Check out the interactive dressing room and style your perfect fall look!

PLUS …

Don’t miss out on an exclusive contest! You and a guest could win a Feist VIP weekend to see our October cover girl perform in Montreal.
Enter at ellecanada.com/feist for full contest details.

Continuing on my travels through the Cote D’Azur, I have come to realize many things about the French way of life:

Mornings must begin languidly with a croissant and double espresso while taking in the azure waters of the Mediterranean (especially if you have the luxury of seeing the views from Hotel Martinez).

It becomes quickly apparent (after viewing stunning French women at every corner) that owning one Hermès silk scarf is clearly not enough.

Wine should never (ever) be turned down, regardless of day, time or how little you may have slept the night before.

In keeping with these new found philosophies, I visited the island of  Île Saint-Honorat, home to the Cistercian monks of the Abbaye de Lérins to learn the basics of French wine tasting. This tranquil 15th century monastery has been producing its own Pinot Noirs as of late and I had the pleasure of tasting (and tasting) the many varieties of this exceptional grape. Although I consider myself a bit of a connaisseur, I enjoyed a refresher on training my palette to distinguish the varietals of a vin rouges. Read the rest of this entry

Day 10: I Heart a Day at the Spa

1 screening, and 1 party to go…and then 24 hours of much needed sleep; but first, a spurt of rejuvenation to bring my skin back to life for the final festival lap courtesy of The Spa at the Hazelton.

A favourite amongst stargazers, The Hazelton is a celebrity-preferred festival home away from home (not to mention nighttime hangout) where stars including Madonna and Bono stayed this TIFF. Today, it’s where I (like many a celeb before me this festival) turn for a time out and a much needed signature Valmont facial from one of the hotel spa’s expert technicians. And like magic, the Valmont Purifying Pack mask with its Kaolin clay, Pink algae extract and Burdock extract smoothes out my pores while calming my skin before the technician rolls out a cool 100% collagen mask over my face, treating me to a scalp and hand massage while the mask does its work. The result: I no longer need the aid of 5 pounds of concealer to get ready for the evening’s events. Thank you Valmont for bringing this tired festival-goer back to life, or at least making her look alive.

Magic moment of the day: Falling asleep 10 minutes into the facial with tired, zombie-esque skin and waking up less than an hour later refreshed with a bright dewy complexion.

Day 9: I Heart Winnie

Finally, a full 5 hours of sleep seems possible will many of the red carpets rolled up and tucked away as the city is emptied of visiting celebrities. But luckily, there is still one very long red carpet welcoming guests to Roy Thompson Hall where Winne saw its gala world premiere on Friday before a packed theatre.

Director Darrell Roodt and lead actor Terrance Howard, who plays the charismatic Nelson Mandela, were amongst the cast present to introduce the film, the actor taking time to first credit TIFF to be the home of his “cinematic birth,” it being the festival where Paul Haggis first screened Crash. Howard is magnetic on screen as the former South African President silencing and moving the audience with speeches taken directly from history. Playing opposite him in the film’s title role is Jennifer Hudson, as his wife Winne Mandela. Together, the two capture a monumental period in world history, dramatizing events with care and precision, creating a heartfelt picture of Nelson and Winnie Mandela never seen before.

Most Sentimental Moment of the Evening: The closing song of Winnie performed by Jennifer Hudson heard through the sound of sniffles in an otherwise silent theatre.

Miss Day One through Day Eight? Click here for the full report.

I realize how bold I am by stating that I may have discovered the world’s best facial, but as I type this post I’m looking at skin that just came off of a 24-hour travel day looking its 33 years (16 days away from 34, but who’s counting) utterly transformed into a complexion that’s barely scraping past 29.9.

I’m currently visiting the Hotel Martinez on the famous boulevard de La Croisette in Cannes and I gratified my tired, airplane skin with the hotel’s signature facial: Absolute Oxygen Sensation Skin Therapy. At first, I regretted my decision: It’s a gloriously vibrant 80 degrees here (sorry) and the hotel’s private Zplage beachside lounge (with chilled rose at the ready) was calling my name; but an appointment made is an appointment kept, so I stuck with it. My face – and soul – was not disappointed.

The therapy begins with a deliciously cloying mask and exfoliation using Parisienne beauty brand Lancaster, followed by what seems like an eternity of gentle steam cascading over your pores (to oxygenate and rid you of all of your indulged toxins). Then, responding to what your skin needs (mine: hydration) a targeted face massage tones and replenishes your complexion to give you a flushed, radiant glow. Wrinkles seemingly diminish and the texture of my skin was smooth and deeply recharged. Take that, 33.9.

Day 8: I heart Canadian Talent

Music is to cinema what peanut butter is to chocolate — a necessity. It’s no wonder, that only in its second year running, the Festival Music House (FMH) should become the “it” spot for all those looking for an alternative to red carpets and flutes of champagne.

Featuring an impressive musical lineup of Canada’s best over the course of three days, including band of the moment The Sheepdogs (check out their Rolling Stones cover) and homegrown favourite, Sam Roberts Band, FMH makes you feel proud to be a local at TIFF.

With 2 days left to go and FMH packed away till next year, this festival goer — still fatigued from TIFF’s hectic first weekend — plans to play the takeaway FMH CD on repeat to keep her eyes open while walking to and from the last of the festival’s screenings.

Highlight of the festival: Staring out into a crowd of dancing people singing along to Sam Roberts Eileen.