Our Interview With Souche Magazine

We, at Montreal Fashion Moms, had the amazing opportunity to be interviewed by the lovely Linsay of Souche Magazine. We met downtown at Starbucks on a sunny day, swapped stories, shared opinions, laughed and ate yummy pink cake pops. It was fun and Linsay is such a doll!

Souche Magazine, is a french bimonthly women's publication targeting the modern, professional, stylish ethnic women here in Quebec. They have a goal to appeal to women of all ages, races and backgrounds, whether it be students, young professionals and/or moms. Souche Magazine's mission is to showcase the ethnic entertainment industry here in Quebec and allow the public to get to know them better. They also feature great articles about beauty, fashion & shopping, culture, food and health. Check them out here, you won't regret it :) 

Click here to read the full interview with yours truly! (Sorry it's in French only)

DIY Projects with BurdaStyle and Dismount Creative

Are you a DIY mom? Do you love to sew, be creative and personalize your fashions with a hand-made touch? If so, you should definitely check out Burdastyle.com. Described as “facebook for sewers”, BurdaStyle provides free or cheap sewing patterns, tutorials, and project ideas that will easily help you create unique DIY fashions for you and the entire family.

I can’t say I’m much of a sewer (though I love the idea of being able to design and create my own clothes and accessories) but I did have the pleasure of meeting the lovely ladies of BurdaStyle at the WWDMAGIC fashion trade show in Las Vegas last week. They collaborated with Alicia DiRago, the blogger behind Dismount Creative and set up DIY crafting station where they worked on different DIY projects every day with convention go-ers.

Me (Joanna); BurdaStyle’s sales coordinator, Susan; Alicia from Dismount Creative and
BurdaStyle's managing editor, Lindsey, with BurdaStyle partnership manager, Carol, behind the lens

They started off with leather cord and thread bracelets on the first day. The second day they turned printed fabric into fashionable turban headbands and on the final day (when I attended) we worked on chain and ribbon bracelets.

I had such a great time crafting and enjoying the company of the ladies behind BurdaStyle and Dismount Creative that I stuck around for a while to chat and ended up making four different bracelets.

They were so fun and easy to make. All you need is some industrial strength jewelry chain (or an existing chain bracelet), about 10-12 inches of ribbon, a pair of scissors and a small bottle of Fray Check (or something similar).

Simply weave the ribbon through the chain, leaving a few inches at each end to tie the bracelet, trim the ends of the ribbon and apply the Fray Check to avoid fraying. Et Voila, a fashion forward accessory!

The bracelets I made actually looked pretty fab with the blouse I was wearing

Be sure to check out BurdaStyle and Dismount Creative for even more project ideas perfect for anyone who loves to craft. You can make something in your spare time, work on a project with your kids or invite your friends over for a crafty girl’s night in. It can make for a really fun time!

Photos: Montreal Fashion Moms

Eva Longoria Lends Her Pretty Face For Good

The lovely, Eva Longoria, has lent her voice and pretty face to bring light for the latest edition of the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. For those of us who aren't aware, this amazing toy guide is a free one-of-a-kind resource that is intended to help parents of special needs children, receive a handbook that gives qualified toy recommendations. The guide even allows parents to shop by skill. Whether it be auditory, motor skills, visual or self esteem, parents can feel at ease when looking for the perfect toy for their child.

For Eva this hits close to home, as her own sister Liza was born with developmental disabilities. For that reason she started a nonprofit organization based in San Antonio called Eva’s Heroes. As mentioned on the site, Eva's Heroes "is an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those intellectual special needs by providing an inclusive setting built on four tenets- interact, grow, learn and love."

Eva had this to say about her hero, her sister Liza. “I was extremely fortunate to grow up with an intellectually disabled sister. My mother became a special education teacher because of her and therefore I have been involved with all facets of this disability since I could walk and talk.”

Just one more reason to love her! Click here to read more about the guide.

And the Winner is....

Sorry for the delay! A big congratulations goes out to JESSICA, the winner of our very first Montreal Fashion Moms Giveaway! Our lucky winner has the choice receiving one of two great, educational learning toys from Leap Frog - My Pal Scout, or the Bilingual Counting Maracas.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway. We appreciate you all taking the time to enter. This will surely be the first of many great giveaways to come on Montreal Fashion Moms, so dont give up, and keep checking back for more chance to win fabulous prizes.

Time Flies When You're... a mom

Time flies. I know, we all say it, all the time, but time really is passing by so quickly. I have been super sick this past week, and my little munchkin got his first cold too. We have been spending plenty of mama-baby time (more then usual) in bed trying to recover and I am in awe at how much my little boy has grown. I just got a notice from work asking when I plan on returning (sigh) and I am shocked at how fast this maternity leave is coming to an end. I can't believe my son is almost 8 months old, and is about to start day care this week (tear&sigh). Before I know it my baby won't be a baby anymore and he'll be turning 1. Sigh. Check out this super sweet, touching letter a mom wrote to her baby little boy who just hit that 1 year mark. Obviously it made me cry, lol. Enjoy :)

Beyonce Pregnant!

We recently mentioned that Beyonce and Jay-Z were ready for kids. Well tonight it’s been confirmed that Bey is in fact pregnant! The absolutely glowing singer, 29, posed for photos at tonight’s MTV Video Music Awards in a long orange frock with her hands cradling her belly, saying “I have a surprise!”. Her rep has also confirmed the great news to People Magazine saying “I’m happy to say it’s true.”

This will be the first child for Beyoncé and her husband of three years, rap superstar Jay-Z, 41. What exciting news! As huge fans of reigning king and queen of hip-hop, we could not be more happy for them. Montreal Fashion Moms will definitely be on full on bump watch!

Brooke Burke at MAGIC Convention Las Vegas

Yesterday, hot mom Brooke Burke made an appearance at the Sketchers Zen booth at the MAGIC Fashion Trade Show in Las Vegas. The previous winner and now co-host of Dancing With The Stars recently signed a two-year contract extension to continue as the face of the brand's Fitness products, including its Shape-ups Liv shoe and the Resistance ProSpeed running shoe.

"We're huge Brooke fans and we're delighted that she'll be part of the Skechers family for another two years. As both the career mom who sometimes wants a casual workout and the athletic enthusiast who at other times needs a serious run, she represents multiple Skechers Fitness customers in one complete package." says Sketchers president Michael Greenberg of their collaboration with Burke.

Looking tanned and beautiful as ever after her spending the past few days in St Barts marrying her long-time partner David Charvet, Brooke was quickly back to work in Las Vegas to promote the Skechers shoe brand, as well as her new book The Naked Mom.

The newly wedded Burke took time to meet fans and sign autographs at the Sketchers booth, and luckily enough, I was in town to attend!

Me (Joanna) & Brooke

The mom of 4 was very sweet. She was kind enough to give me two autographs, one for me and one for Yussie, she asked about Montreal Fashion Moms and even posed for a photo with me, even though she wasn’t really supposed to stop for photos with fans.

Be sure to check out her book The Naked Mom, in which Brooke shares the ups and downs of motherhood. She paints an honest picture of motherhood that all women can relate to, insisting that it's not about being right or wrong, it's about being your authentic, naked self. The Naked Mom is available at amazon.ca.

 

Photos: Montreal Fashion Moms 

Funny Multi-Tasking Baby

This is too funny. Talk about multi-tasking! Enjoy :)

OPI Has Muppet Fever

There is a lot of buzz about the upcoming Muppets movie, which is scheduled to be released just in time for the holidays. Well OPI has jumped on the bandwagon and created a whole range of Muppets-inspired nail polish colors, which will hit stores in early November.

Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It!

The collection will include tons of rainbow glittery polishes in red, purple, pink, blue & green. And we can't forget to mention gorgeous metallics and a range of deep and classic red tones.

OPI’s Executive VP and Artistic Director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann had this to say about the line, “OPI is so excited to work with Disney to celebrate this long-awaited movie release. Not only do The Muppets characters inspire fun, bright, and joyful colors, the fashionable Miss Piggy lends her name to three high-shine pink-based hues, ranging from bold red-flecked with silver to a multi-dimensional strawberry shade.”

To add some more fun to the amazing colors, OPI has come up with super cute names! Check them out below. Some of my faves are “Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It!" & "Fresh Frog of Bel Air".

• Animal-istic This wild bright red cannot be tamed!
• Meep-Meep-Meep Missing out on this fuchsia would make you weep, weep, weep!
• Wocka Wocka! The popular deep berry makes everything fun and merry!
• Pepe’s Purple Passion This deep, decadent shade is the best purple ever, okay!
• Designer, de Better! And this light metallic bronze is ready for the runway.
• Warm & Fozzie A feel-good shade of metallic copper.
• Rainbow Connection The rainbow glitter of your dreams.
• Excuse Moi! Ahem! This pink glitter has something to say!
• Gone Gonzo! The aqua-blue glitter is taking over the world!
• Fresh Frog of Bel Air A glitter that prefers the greener things in life.
• Divine Swine The finest, most fabulous magenta glitter ever.
• Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It! Red glittery fun for everyone!

Love it! The limited edition colors will be available beginning November 2011 in salons for around $8.50 and the movie will hit theatres on November 23.

Another Celebrity Announces Her Pregnancy

It's baby mania in Hollywood. The latest actress to confirm a pregnancy is the ever so adorable, Jennifer Garner!! Big sisters Violet & Seraphina must be overjoyed to add another sibling to their family. According to the Associated Press the couple is “thrilled” to be expecting their third child. Congrats!

The lovely family shopping at the farmers market

Was She Fired Because She's Pregnant?

Becoming pregnant is usually a joyous and happy occasion for women and most can't wait to share the news with all their loved ones. One person women usually dread telling however, is their boss. These days career is everything, and letting your boss know your pregnant can be a nerve racking discussion. Pregnancy discrimination is still a very real thing these days and it's sad to hear about women losing their jobs because they're pregnant. You don't hear so much about it in Canada, but I know it happens a lot in the US.

Just days after happily announcing her pregnancy, Hilary Duff was dropped as the lead role of Bonnie in "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde." According to TMZ,  a source claims the split was amicable and it came down to timing. "Hilary won’t be available until next June. If we could wait, we would.” Hmph. Julie Evans Ryans from the Stir pretty much sums up everything I have to say about that statment, "First of all, they could wait if they really wanted to, and plenty of pregnant women have starred in movies and television shows without ruining the story. There are special effects, stand-ins, and all sorts of other ways women can act without their pregnancy "getting in the way." There are options, and pregnancy should never be used as grounds to dismiss someone from a job." Well who knows, maybe it was amicable, maybe Hilary wanted this time off to enjoy her pregnancy. Whatever the case may be, we wish her a safe, happy and relaxed pregnancy and hope she is thankful for the time off, whether she wanted it or not.

Expectant mama Hilary Duff leaving a Pilates class

P.S At least she can look forward to things like this to make her smile if she is feeling a little down, lol.


Image Credit: PacificCoastNews.com

An Exclusive Look Inside Mel B's Baby Nursery

Check out this video for an exclusive peak into former Spice Girl, Melanie Brown’s baby nursery. This mama is due with her third child any day now, and took some time to give AccessHollywood.com’s Laura Saltman a tour of the nursery in her Los Angeles home. The luxurious, neutral baby room was decorated by Little crowns Interior - a favorite among expecting celebs.

“Our celebrity nursery design includes incredibly luxurious items from top companies like Bratt Decor, Angel Song, Oopsy Daisy, I Lite 4 U, Naturalmat and Restoration Hardware Baby & Child as well as a huge amount of custom items designed by Little Crown Interiors, and impeccable workmanship by Lily’s Custom Upholstery & Draper.” Little Crowns Interior said.

My fave part of the nursery is the small, intimate draped off ‘den’ area with a comfy crushed velvet chair, where Melanie can feed her child in peace and privacy. Check it out for yourself!

Rachel Zoe visits Canadian fans at Holt Renfrew

Fab fashion mama and stylist to the stars, Rachel Zoe was in Toronto earlier this week for an in store appearance at Holt Renfrew to launch her new namesake collection.

Looking glam in a sequin top from her resort collection & her new RZ tux pants.

While we’re glad she made it out to Canada for her fans, we were admittedly bummed that she didn’t come to Holts out here in Montreal, like her friend Nicole Richie did last year to promote Winter Kate and her shoe collection for House of Harlow. It would have been amazing to meet her, especially since she so kindly checked out Montreal Fashion Moms and tweeted us just last week.

“@MTLFashionMoms Montreal Fashion Moms, I love it! Thx for the cute coverage of @thezoereport :) http://bit.ly/o8Ssqo" @rzRachelZoe tweeted.

Gotta love when a celeb takes some time to holla at their fans and support what we’re doing too. It was ba-nanas!

While we unfortunately did not have the chance to meet her, she did meet up with ET Canada and had some great things to say about juggling motherhood and her booming fashion career. She said she was “living proof” that while it may not be easy, it is possible to manage both.

”I’ve only spent one night away from him since he’s been born.” Zoe said of her 5 month old son Skyler, who will be joining her for the upcoming fashion weeks in Europe and New York.

The woman, who was previously debating on her reality show The Rachel Zoe Project, if the time was right for her and her husband Roger Berman to have a baby, while her fashion empire was rapidly growing, admits to becoming a “baby pusher”. She advised, “If you’re thinking ‘Should I? Shouldn’t I?,’ you should!”

“It does change your life,” Zoe continued. “It does turn it inside out and upside down, but in the best way possible, and the difference is you don’t care because you’re altering your life for the best reason in the world … He’s everything.”

We can totally relate. Before Montreal Fashion Moms were moms, we were Montreal Fashion Minds. We were working full time in the fashion industry, going to school for fashion event planning and attending as many local fashion events as we could, all while kicking back a cocktail or two. Life has surely changed since then, we’re on maternity leave, changing stinky diapers and wiping spit up off our shirts, yet, it couldn’t be more fabulous! And our blog, Montreal Fashion Moms, is proof that you don’t have to give up one passion for another, the two can coincide harmoniously. 

On dressing her son to the nines, Rachel also adds “I put him in really beautiful clothes, but they’re all soft and comfy. I think he’s going to rebel and just be like, ‘I’m wearing a soccer uniform, I’m wearing Adidas and Nike, Mom. That’s it.’” But Zoe has no problem with that at all! “I’m going to have to deal with it, because kids need to express themselves,” she said. “I don’t want to control him that way. Style is the best way to say who you are without having to open your mouth.” Very well said! We couldn’t agree more.

Check out this clip for more of Rachel Zoe’s interview with ET Canada.

Photos via http://oncelebrity.com/

Fall Fashion Trend Report - Texture

So far this week we’ve discussed fall color trends and patterns, and today we’ll be looking at some luxurious textures perfect for the upcoming season.

When it starts to get cold outside, Fur is often a go-to fabric to add warmth and glamour to any outfit. Fur accents and accessories as pictured below add a feeling of luxury to any plain old outfit. If you want to achieve this glam look, we would suggest going with faux fur since its animal friendly and a hell of a lot cheaper.

Want to put a little edge into your look? Leather skirts are a hot pick for fall. The strong material is a nice contrast to the more feminine piece of clothing. Let the skirt make a statement by pairing it with a simple, casual top.

Velvet also provides a luxe look for fall. Who says red velvet can only look great as the drapes at the theatre. The soft material with a hint of sheen can be super glamorous like the red Ralph Lauren dress pictured. Another fun way to wear velvet is with a structured blazer, this combo is reminiscent of the 70s, another trend trailing in from summer that still going on strong for fall.

Lace is another great look for this season. It’s classic and feminine, but surely made a powerful punch on the runways for fall. The delicate fabric can be worn layered over other dressier fabrics for a classier more conservative look like the DKNY peter-pan collared dress, or play off the sheer/transparency trend with a sexier vibe like the Dolce & Gabbana.  Other fun ways to wear this look are with a pair of lace leggings, a lace covered clutch, or cropped lace gloves.

Hope you’re already picturing your closet filled with all these touch worthy textures! Keep your browser locked to Montreal Fashion Moms for even more fab fall fashion trends all week long.

Collages created by Montreal Fashion Moms - all photos via Style.com

Porsche Designs A.... Stroller?

Dads, finally a baby product that will let you shine while taking your baby for a stroll. Porsche designer extraordinaire, David Dawod has unveiled a new stroller for the luxury automaker. The P'4911 Stroller is uber masculine and sleek.

The stroller is made with carbon fiber, aluminum, leather, and ball-bearing wheels... how fancy. One of it's other major selling points for parents looking for a more luxurious stroller for their fabu lifestyle, is that the P'4911 folds so small that it can fit into the trunk of even the smallest Porsche. Wow... lol. My question is, where is the under carriage and the drink tray? Just 'cause you drive a Porsche doesn't mean you don't have to tote around a baby bag? Or does it. Oye. What do you think of this new, fancy shmancy stoller?

Fall Fashion Trend Report - Patterns

So yesterday we covered color trends for fall, and today we're talking all about pattern! Patterns are a great way to add a little pizazz and interest to your outfit.

This fall, animal prints are on trend (as usual). They definitely make a statement, and can be quite glamorous. Leopard print has also become a classic over the years, so investing in a nice piece with this feisty print can carry you through many more seasons to come.

Tartans and plaids are also fab this fall. As another common go-to fall pattern, they can really give your look an added autumn touch. An easy way to wear this trend is with a casual plaid shirt or patterned scarf.

Polka dots are additionally fun for fall. The pattern in neutral colors can be quite sassy, yet sophisticated, like in the photos below. A colorful polka dot, however can also add a fun youthful touch to your look. Besides a great blouse or skirt, a fun way to wear this trend is with polka dotted tights à la Marc Jacobs below.

Stripes were big in spring, and continue to be a strong trend for fall, but these fall stripes are not alone! Another huge trend in patterns for the upcoming season is mix and matching. Who says you can pair two bold prints in one outfit? Not these designers! As long as the colors in both prints coincide, this trend can definitely work for you this fall.

Already getting excited about your fall wardrobe? Stay tuned all week for more fall trends from Montreal Fashion Moms.

Collages created by Montreal Fashion Moms - all photos via Style.com

Beyonce and Jay-Z Ready for Kids

Beyonce, the September cover star for InStyle magazine revealed in an interview that she and her hubby Jay-Z might be ready for kids!

"I have no regrets because my job kept me focused. When you're young --18 or 19 -- you have the energy and drive. That's the time to work as hard as you can. Now I'm a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage. I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children."

Amazing! Let the bump watch begin! Can’t wait to see Bey’s maternity style and the future heir or heiress to the hip-hop throne. I’m sure when it happens the couple will be positively glowing!

Check out this exclusive behind the scenes video of Beyonce’s InStyle cover shoot. Stunning!

Loungerie For Tiny Tots

Geez, I am not even sure what to say about these images, but words like disgusting and twisted come to mind. While we were busy talking smack about 10 year old Vouge model Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau, French company Jours Après Lunes released their latest collection of "loungerie" for little girls ranging from age 4 to 12. In an time where the sexualization of young girls seems to be a new norm, there is just something overly creepy about these images. I mean who's idea was this?? It's just too much to digest. Check out the pics below and let us know what you think. Are these ads creepy or cute?

Fall Fashion Trend Report - Colors

So lately I’ve been obsessing over fall fashion, since the new season is quickly creeping up on us, and I have to admit I’m totally excited to go shopping for my fall wardrobe. I’m not sure what it is about fall fashion, but I always seem to get extra excited about it.

As much as I don’t want the summer to end, it’s time to get back to reality, and now that the back to school shopping is almost over, it’s time for us fashion mamas to do a little something for ourselves. So, I’ve compiled a bunch of great fall fashion trends that I will be sharing with you throughout the entire week. That way, you can start preparing, because a real fashionista always plans her wardrobe in advance.  It may still be a month before fall officially hits, but the Fall-Winter 2011/2012 fashions have already hit the runways months ago, and now it’s time for us to get on board.

Today, I’m going to start off with color trends, because color is always a super easy way to incorporate a trend into your own personal look. And who says fall is only about greys, blacks and browns anyway? While those are the neutrals of choice every fall/winter season, it doesn’t mean you can’t brighten up your look with great pop of color.

Feeling blue that fall is quickly approaching? Well, this hue might actually brighten your day! As an alternative to all black, grey or brown, I’ve been seeing a lot of head-to-toe blue looks with different shades of the color throughout, much like the Diane von Furstenberg outfit pictured below.

Who doesn’t love a hot punch of pink to amp up an outfit, and make a statement. This color can go from edgy to glamorous, as you can see in the D&G and Gucci picks below. If these looks are a bit too bold for you, a great way to incorporate this color into your wardrobe is with a fab pair of leather gloves.

Lavender is a much softer color that transfers into fall really well. It’s light and feminine, and great for the upcoming season. It also looks really nice with grey like in the Missoni and Moschino Cheap & Chic looks.

Red, red wiiiiine..  This evening drink color is amazing for fall! The burgundy looks really classy, elegant, and rich and is the perfect color to infuse into your wardrobe if brights aren’t your thing.

Orange is also a great color for fall since it matches the color of the changing leaves. I’m loving the House of Holland look with that awesome scarf that reminds me of a knit blanket in the family room by the fireplace. If orange isn’t really for you, but you still want to jump on this trend, try an orange manicure.



Even yellow can be a great color to add a little sunshine to your closet. In every shade from mustard to lemon, yellow will always brighten your day, and your wardrobe.

Don’t forget to stay locked all week for more fall fashion trends from Montreal Fashion Moms.

Collages created by Montreal Fashion Moms - all photos via Style.com