Ever sift through your closet and come across a pair of fine Italian leather boots? Boots that were once your go-to’s that still managed to stay in great shape? How about pieces that you so strongly adore but simply are just no longer cohesive with the rest of your wardrobe? Well my dear friends…. it is awfully sad to say, but it is only natural that every so often we go out with the old and in with the new!

Introducing Threadflip, the up and coming online fashion startup! A marketplace for you and all your fashionable friends to buy and sell directly out of each other’s closets.

The Threadflip mission is to shake up the online shopping system in a new and socially interactive way. Once you’ve made an account its a simple matter of uploading images of the pieces you wish to sell. Everything from clothing, shoes, bags, and jewelry, they want it all!

Threadflip makes shopping extremely easy by allowing you to search for whatever it is you’re looking for. How about that pair of Cole Haan penny loafers that sold out to quickly last season? Why not search Threadflip’s endless supply of pre-loved unique pieces… you might just get lucky.
(Creative sample. Pieces comparable to merchandise sold online)
Threadflip’s online shopping for lightly used designer wear is currently only open to citizens of the US, but is looking to expand throughout North America in the coming months! Keep your eyes peeled for the latest pre-loved goods with this incredible new way to shop.

Check it out and get yourself started at: http://www.threadflip.com/home

(Image sources: Polyvore.com)

What good is lounging by the poolside without a sweet pair of shades? While protecting your eyes from the sun’s harsh UV rays you should most certainly be doing it in style. I’ve come across a wide set of sunnies that are more then suitable for the hot weather we’re having!

Here are a few of my top picks.
I’ve been straying away from the standard square framework thats been seen pretty much everywhere for the past few summers. This year I’m on to something a little more fresh and exciting. Although these shapes have been around, I only recently began to love the round look, and who can resist the fiercely versatile cat eye? After you’ve snatched a solid basic pair, the cat eye is a great number 2! A sultry and sassy look reminiscent of the timeless token 1950’s fashion.

Theres a vintage air about these two shapes that are both extremely refreshing and exceptionally bold. From the cheaper makes sold on NastyGal to the high end models like Linda Farrow for The Row, theres really something for everyone at any price range.

There you have it my friends- some fresh inspiration for the great summer ahead.

Happy sunbathing.

Lately I find I’ve been wasting away into the dull black abyss that is my winter wardrobe. Full of dark greys and deep heather shades, I’m really getting to the point where I need a little bright in my life. I’ve recently introduced a few new colours to my wardrobe and thought I would share. As I was trying some of these pieces on I realized it only takes a pop of bright colour to turn your not so exciting summer outfit into a more upbeat and flavourful look. I use to rely on accessories to differentiate my outfits from one another, but now I’m sticking to the basics and introducing more of a fun element. These simple and classic looks are all very similar, but leave it to a bright color and a great cut to switch it up a bit. A bright blazer is definitely a prime investment this season!

Well thank goodness the cold weather is coming to an end. Time to say goodbye to snow suits and sweat fleece and bring on the ripped jeans and light weights.

Being excited for the warmer weather, a friend and I decided to go for a stroll on a sunny day and along the way we thought we might snap a few pics.

Sporting an AA acrylic lined toque. Only discovered my love for these things recently. Very warm and shapes the head so well.

I find that a raw distressed denim and a varsity jacket work so well together. These two pair up nicely for the ultimate tomboy feel.

What would this look be without my oversized bucket bag-I really don’t know. This leather tote works wonders and is by far my favorite in terms of functionality.

Check out Patrick Estebar’s beautiful works along with my feature in his latest post. Fabulous portraits of some pretty great people.

http://p4tricio.wordpress.com/

A fun and furry little getup for some lazing around on a sunny saturday afternoon. We’re not too sure what statements the weathers calling for these days… so we’re mixing it up a little bit.

This past month I hopped on board with the fabulous OHM team styling their most recent promotional photo shoot. After a long day of thrifting through all kinds of vintage pieces and collaborating amongst each others wardrobes, we came up with some pretty eclectic looks. The vision was to give off a sort of street like fashion. Through the use of layering different silhouettes, topping each look off with the appropriate jacket or accessory things really came to life on shooting day to give off that authentic chic but grungy edge. Here are a few of my favourite takes from the day of the shoot.

Photos by Alan Li and Shira Gelkopf
Models: Brenna Llewellyn, Kayla Fenn, Ashley Byers
Styled by Lee-Tal Hatuka, Alana Lowenstein, and Lindsay Hartzman

This past weekend I thought I’d pay a quick visit to Toronto. It’s been terribly ugly over here on the snow belt that is London, so I figured it couldn’t hurt…I thought maybe I’d even have a little time to do a little spring shopping haul.
So there I was just strolling leisurely downtown in my lonesome and who do I bump into other then my fabulous friend Matt.
Every time we run into each other I find myself so amazed with the way he puts himself together. This last snowy saturday morning, Matt rocked a camel coloured peacoat with a fur neckline layered over black denim accessorizing with a bunch of orange, copper and grey hues. I won’t lie-even aside from his jacket looking so warm I really just wanted to trade outfits with him. I think what sets Matt’s look apart from others is his use of adornment. A simple bowler, a sharp pair of spectacles and a few brassy beaded embellishments are a few minor additions that really bring his look to life.
Matt and I spent the day popping in and out of some of our favorite little shops and managed to bump into lots of great people along the way. We met for sushi with Matt’s really great friend Olivia who happens to be an absolute doll. In the evening the three of us decided to hit Tribal Rhythm along Queen which was the last store we visited- and at that point may have been the best yet.
As soon as we walked in we were getting good vibes. Florence was on blast and the shop was all ours. For those who are unaware, placing Matt in a thrift store (let alone a vintage shop in Toronto) is comparable to letting your child run wild at sugar mountain with a thousand dollars at hand. That being said… things did get a little out of hand in regards to Matt’s bank account but Olivia and I were nothing short of entertained.
In all my years of thrifting through second hand pieces I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it done the Matt Beal way. While I was looking for a potential dress for my saturday night out- Matt was trying on pajama robes, pilot uniforms and cruise ship performer costumes. Our conversation went a little something like this:
Lee-Tal: “Where were you planning on wearing that?”
Matt: “I don’t know…. maybe a bar or something.”

I really admire that about Matt. That he can take absolutely anything whether it was made for men or women and turn it into art. He truly makes me believe that there should be not a single rule when it comes to fashion. It really is all about the attitude and energy that you embody that makes what you wear so appealing in the first place.
Anyways… enough about him! I had a goal on this little shopping endeavor, and that was to come home with something to wear to a later birthday party. As I scanned through the posts of clothes I finally came to a rack of vintage skirts, a lot that seemed to be made from old textiles fixed up into more modern cut.
Out of nowhere a golden fabric suddenly caught my eye. I found this beautifully ornate baroque-like piece. I swear I’ve seen the exact material with the identical tapestry used for a Balmain suit I had a look at last season. As I was about to make my twenty nine dollar transaction…I was told that the skirt I was purchasing was remodelled by the stores very own manager! Her name was Hui (pronounced ‘Huay’) a very sweet and talented woman who seems to really know what shes doing.
Somehow I always end up finding exactly what I’m looking for in the last place I expect to look. I really lucked out with this one.

Check out my feature on the OHM fashion show blog

Click here!