What I’m wearing:

• Top by Stella McCartney (last seen here)
• Straw hat from Koh Samui, Thailand
• Sunglasses by MARNI (last seen here)
• Flip-flops by Versace Sport
• Linen shorts by Marciano

Check out this HottHe of the Week feature of me on Fashion by He.

What I’m wearing:

• Hoodie by Splendid (last seen here)
• Linen skirt bought in Korea
• Tank top from H&M
• Nude platform by Marciano (last seen here)
• Large leather bag by Plinio Visona (last seen here)

Prada: dropped-waist, wide belts slung low over big-buttoned sheer shifts

Prada: the sixties dolly bird, big-buttoned dresses

Prada: sequins are back!

Miu Miu: bold-shouldered jackets and bare legs

Marni: long, clean lines elongated further by platform shoes

Dolce & Gabbana: lace motifs

Dolce & Gabbana: corset dresses and musical-note prints

Dolce & Gabbana: billowy floor-length numbers and stars

Dolce & Gabbana: sequins on sequins

Dolce & Gabbana: sheerness

Chloe: python print

Giambattista Valli: tulip print, and puffy sleeves

Giambattista Valli: monochrome black and white

Giambattista Valli: hot pink and yellow

Giambattista Valli: statement red

Balenciaga: faux leather patches

Chanel: fuchsia suits

Chanel: detail and shadowy veils

Chanel: more lace

Lanvin: long leather gloves and silk

Lanvin: sensual drapes

Lanvin: roses




Lanvin, Lanvin, Lanvin…sigh

Stella McCartney: curvy black dresses

Stella McCartney: stretchy, transparent point d’esprit

Stella McCartney: polka dots, embroidered onto ivory tulle

Antonio Berardi: motorcycle collars

Antonio Berardi: fat, folded and stacked pleats on miniskirts

Dior: flowy maxi dresses

Dior: eye-opening colors

Pucci: corseted hourglass dresses

Pucci: velvet embellished fabrics

Gucci: long, cutting draped gowns in chiffon

Gucci: transparent long sleeves
The End

What I’m wearing:

• Military inspired jacket by Stella McCartney (last seen in Dec. 14’09)
• Suede heels by 6267 (last seen in Jan. 10’10)
• Cashmere dress by Iisli
• Silver multi-strand bracelet (last seen in Aug. 18’10)
• Gold chain bracelet
• Leather bag by BERGE (as seen in Sept. 10’20)

Jean-Pierre Braganza (dress) – Locations: Santana Row, San Jose

Denis Gagnon (dress) – Locations: Santana Row, San Jose

Zero Maria Cornejo (dress) – Location: Toronto (my b-day)

Alexander McQueen (dress) – Location: Toronto

Antonio Berardi (jacket) – Location: Toronto

Miu Miu (skirt) – Location: Toronto

Miu Miu (top) – Location: Toronto

Tibi (dress) – Location: Toronto

Proenza Schouler (jacket) – Location: Toronto

MARNI (skirt) – Location: Toronto

MARNI (necklace) – Location: Toronto

MARNI (dress) – Location: Cleveland (law school open-house)

MARNI (dress) – Location: Toronto (opera)

Derercuny (blouse and jacket) – Location: Toronto

Stella McCartney (dress) – Location: Toronto

Chris Benz (dress) – Location: San Francisco (law school open-house)

Zac Posen (blouse) – Location: Toronto

Temperley London (dress) – Location: Toronto (launch party)

Marc Jacobs (dress) – Location: Moscow

Marc Jacobs (purse) – Location: Toronto

Oktober (dress) – Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

Gucci (dress) – Location: Montreal

Missoni (dress) – Location: New York

Vera Wang Lavender Label (top) – Location: Toronto (theatre)

Prada (dress) – Location: Toronto

Prada (hat) – Location: Toronto

Jeremy Lain (skirt) – Location: Toronto

Carlos Miele (dress) – Location: Montreal (Valentine’s Day)

Bottega Veneta (dress) – Location: Toronto (theatre)

* Look at this pancake breakfast my mom made me on my first day back – talk about a sweet welcome home! Actually it was more of a collaboration because my dad made the latte. Making gourmet coffee drinks is yet another one of my dad’s hobbies (or obsessions) and he is definitely reaching the stage of perfection with this one. He gets so into roasting beans and brewing that he looks like a mad scientist with a coffee grinder. (Lol) It’s like a coffee shop at my parents’ house.

Tell us a little about yourself, your blog and where you’re from…

I was born in Moldova and moved to Canada with my family when I was 12. I’ve always loved to dress up, take pictures, and talk about fashion, so creating a blog like Fashionista Talk seemed like a natural development.

What are you studying and hope to get into later in life?

In September, I’m starting Law School in California where I hope to practice it in the future.

When did you first realize your flair for fashion?

I think that moment of realization came to me sometime in my early childhood. Growing up in Moldova, in the years of perestroika, there was a significant shortage of options in clothing (or pretty much anything for that matter). And I think that for some, these limitations sort of imposed a heightened sense of creativity because if you had a vision for an outfit you had to make it yourself. This is one of the areas in which I watched my mom and aunt really apply themselves. When everyone was wearing minis, because that’s what was available, they were in gypsy maxis. I watched them and I waited…for my turn.

How would you describe your personal fashion sense and how has it changed over the years, if at all?

I love to experiment and play, but on the whole I tend to gravitate towards the feminine. My fashion sense experienced most instability in my high-school years. I went from sexy, to preppy, to somewhere in between. By the time I hit University (or it hit me) my current style was probably in the last stages of manifestation. And by the time I graduated, I began to gain appreciation for high-fashion, couture stuff.

Any specific style icons?

One of my biggest style icons is Evelina Khromchenko, who is the Editor-in-Chief of L’Officiel Russia. She is the strongest voice of Russian fashion right now, and let me tell you, that voice is “pretty.”

Where is the one place in the world that you would love to spend the rest of your days and why?

For me, that’s a pretty difficult question to answer because there are a lot more cities I’d like to see before I commit. Out of all the places I’ve visited so far, I can definitely see myself living in San Francisco or Manhattan. I just know that the city would have to be big, diverse, and dynamic.

What is the one thing in your closet you couldn’t live without?

I couldn’t live without my Inhabit cashmere cardigan. It’s by far one of the most useful items in my closet and we’ve been through a lot together.

What are your favorite designers and places to shop?

Some of my favorite designers are: Consuelo Castiglioni (MARNI), Stella McCartney, Alberta Ferretti, Pierre Hardy, Giambattista Valli, Lanvin, Miu Miu, and Guillaume Hinfray. I shop anywhere that makes affording these brands possible to a student.

How do you decide when to splurge and when to save on certain items?

Considering that I hardly ever truly ‘need’ a piece of clothing or accessory, I go by the value principle. I almost never pay full price for anything, but if I come across a vintage Prada dress that fits me well and is somewhat reasonably priced, I’ll splurge.

What advice would you give to someone looking to define their style?

Experiment and stay conscious of how your choices make you feel. When you begin to feel comfortable with your own style, you will exude a certain confidence that will intensify its effect on others. The way you carry yourself frames people’s perception of your outfit, so wear what makes you feel good and with time your style will define itself.

Next item you MUST purchase.

A pair of those black nerdy frames for my next prescription glasses. I plan to hit law school in style.

In your opinion, what makes the world go round?

I left this answer for last because it’s a serious toughie. To answer “money” would be too pessimistic and “love” too naive. So I’ll go with the sun’s gravitational pull.

You’re stuck in an elevator with your favorite Beatle, who is it and what do you ask him?

Paul McCartney.

Realistically speaking I’d probably be too shy or nervous, or both, to ask anything of substance.

On a serious side note, tell us, whose style have you been eyeing on Weardrobe lately and why?

I really like Rachel’s looks (Studio Swag). She always looks so well put together and her pictures are interesting and dynamic.

When I was growing up in Moldova, we had very few choices when it came to clothes and fashion. Most people had so few clothes that I could remember them by their token garments. For example, there were some girls in my class who would literally wear the same skirt or dress everyday, so seeing that floral burgundy dress in motion from a distance meant that Mila was coming. This might sound crazy but it was just the norm. Anyway, despite obvious shortages in the clothing department, people had pretty strong opinions about how clothes should be paired and what colour combinations are no-nos. When I was a kid, this list seemed so extensive that the idea of combining colour became almost scary. But a few things were clear though: red/black, blue/white, pink/pink where considered untouchable so that’s mostly what you saw. How contrived is that?

Needless to say, there are no limits whatsoever when it comes to colour. If you think the tones work together, then pair them. Enjoy that postmodernist fruit – it’s sweet and juicy.

What I’m wearing:

• Silk dress by “Stella McCartney”
• 2 barbed wire, large bangle by “Luc Kieffer”
• Mirror long necklace by “Marc by Marc Jacobs” (last seen in Mar. 29’10)
• Satin heels by “Pierre Hardy”

There is something else though. As I was looking over her spring “oevre,”  I couldn’t help but notice how many of the garments called for exposure of the models’ breasts. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with a little haute nudity here and there, but I feel that it should serve some aesthetic purpose. In Stella’s designs it often looks more like a wardrobe malfunction. I understand if there is a delicate sheer blouse involved, but I feel that if a blazer lets it all hang out it’s not made well. This might make me a little old-school, but I still believe that unnecessary exposure is just another gimmick on the part of the designer that makes both the wearer and the viewer cringe inside.

Aside from these two observations, I feel that Stella’s work is sensational. I especially love her Resort 201o collection (balloon pics). I would literally wear its every piece with intense enjoyment; it’s sheer perfection.

What I’m wearing:

• Zipper pants by “Stella McCartney” (last seen in Apr. 11’10)
• Chiffon blouse by “YA-YA Aflalo” (last seen in Nov. 16’09)
• Leather pumps by “Guillaume Hinfray” (last seen in Apr. 24’10)
• Reversible cloth bag by “Xpat” (last seen in Beach Clothes)
• Handmade necklace with clay gingerbread men looking things (bought in Cuba) (last seen in Dec. 30’09)

This is basically where Stella gives things over to Amber. I accessorized these garments with a chunky amber necklace that my mom and I made from a number of my grandmother’s small amber strands. But I wore it rather unconventionally today because instead of using the hook and wearing it as a triple-strand, I hung it vertically over my neck. It ended up looking like a super long necklace with one strand of amber on top and two at the bottom. If you watch the Gloves video this might become clearer.

What I’m wearing:

• Pants by “Stella McCartney” (as seen in Dec. 30’09)
• Cotton organza blouse by “Stella McCartney” (as seen in Mar. 16’10)
• Leather pumps by “Guillaume Hinfray” (as seen in Apr. 1’10)
• Amber necklace (made with my mom) (as seen in Feb. 1’10, Gloves)
• Amber ring (made it myself) (as seen in Feb. 1’10)
• Large leather bag by “NICOLI” (as seen in Gloves)
• Leather belt by “Fullum & Holt” (as seen in Feb. 1’10)

The amber necklace and the bag were featured in my video on Gloves. Here it if for those who haven’t seen in it:

Click here to view the embedded video.