Amazing Gaga Piano Cover

Everyone needs to take a minute and listen to this. Composer and Pianist Yoonha Hwang is a remarkable talent from South Korea and he is using YouTube and other Web 2.0 mediums to catapult his career. He covers a variety of popular songs, check out links for other songs here.

This performance is sensational. The song 'Telephone' is one of Lady Gaga's newest off her Fame Monster album. It has already became one of my favourite dance songs of all time but this version proves to be more powerful than just a hot song at the clubs. The drama and emotion it evokes seems well-fitted for a dramatic period movie trailer or something. That's where my mind goes...Gemma Arterton.....Ed Westwick...in Wuthering Heights.

All I Want For Christmas

I am a very lucky person. I have a wonderful boyfriend, good friends and lovely family members. You could say I'm so fulfilled in my life that I don't need anything for Christmas. But for some reason that does not seem to be the case. New products arrive and the desire of freedom from want is overridden by the desire of wanting something pretty and sparkly. Here is my list to Santa and Jesus:

PVC Pencil Skirt
I know I know, I am a total Lady Gaga copy cat .....and I don't care. I've enjoyed the look of glossy PVC from afar for too long. I have stayed away because of the level of discomfort associated with PVC. Being a early advocate of ballet flats, I usually try to look fashionable while being comfortable. Although I can no longer resist my need for PVC. How fascinating is it to take a sex store fabric and turn it into something fashion forward.

Hot Rollers
Curly hair is in! I am not one to spend more than 15 minutes on my hair, but I miss curls. It's time for a return to glamour.

Couture Hat
The Paris hat from Lilliput Hats -Couture Collection is divine.

Movie Tickets
'Tis the season for the release of Oscar worthy films. I cannot wait to see A Single Man, I Love You New York & Nine, and I'm curious for Up in the Air, The Lovely Bones and Avatar.

The Book of Negroes
After the news broke about a Brampton parent complaining to remove To Kill A Mockingbird off the required reading list at his/her child's school, I was disappointed. But then enlightened by someone suggesting it is a chance for schools across Canada to use books with a different point of view to teach young adults about racism. The Book of Negroes is hailed the most important book about Canadian black history and it about the black experience instead of what white people think about the black experience.
Why The Book of Negroes matters,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/article312208.ece

Happy Holidays!

Image of Lady Gaga: www.osoblog.tv.com

Let it snow, let it snow

I am in a artsy mood today. Maybe it's because the lightest snow in history is falling in Toronto. Maybe it's because I scanned them into jpegs, so I might as well do something with them.
Here are a few of sketches out of my portfolio:

Break out the Winter fashion

After a long hiatus, Toronto Hearts Fashion is back with a new trend report. The weather has been beautiful until now. The chill of Fall and Winter is upon Toronto which means balancing fashion with warmth and versatility.

Fur
Sorry Peta, fur has been embraced this season by such designers as Oscar de la Renta, Balenciaga and Miu Miu. From trapper hats to fur arms and gauntlets to vests to trim on heels, fur is everywhere.

Camel wool coat, blazer and suits
Vogue Mexico was all over Camel coloured wool coats and I am too. The trench coat has been a staple and top Spring trend for a while now. The Camel coat seems to be the winter response to this trend due to its effortless elegance. It's definitely a investment piece that will pay off, not in dividends but in timeless quality.
In addition, blazers and suits are still a staple for the wardrobe. I'm sticking with my classic black sports coat-style blazer, however styles range from Band/Military glam ala Michael Jackson to 80's style with structured shoulders.

Red and Purple
I very much enjoyed the way Oscar de la Renta used both Red and Purple silks together in one look. Although it might not work for everyone these colours are big this season, particularly Red. Bold, sexy and a return to glamour.

Wrap skirt
Everyone is in love with Alexander Wang and what's not to love? His slinky, parted-in-the-middle wrap skirt is a masterpiece of draped fabric. Expect to see them in all the fast fashion stores.

Prints
Everything from unique abstract prints (Balenciaga) to houndstooth (Alexander McQueen) to strips and classic leopard have been out on the scene causing a stir.

What's on top of your head?
Women's hairstyles have been big, bold and curly throughout the pages of magazines this season, matching the retro trends on the runway. Besides volume and teased hair, I like the idea of hair accessories working their magic and taking your style to the next level.
Such as: Pom Poms!!! (as seen in Teen Vogue )
Headbands
Feathers clips
Cocktail hats (Try Lilliput Hats on College Street )
Bejeweled Bows

Alas! What's on your feet?
Booties aren't going anywhere and the same goes for tights. Yet the latest booties are more ornamental with studs, swarovski crystals, fur, bows and sometimes all of the above. There is also an abundance of suede.
Over-the-knee leather boots are high in demand and add instant sex appeal to even casual looks, while wedge boots are gaining momentum due to their versatility and comfort.

Can khaki become a trend again?

The last time khakis were cool was in the mid-to-late 90's when cargo pants were all the rage. The military look of khaki drawstring cargo pants paired with a camouflage tank was the last gasp from the grunge era -- defined by it's "anti-fashion" fashion statements.
The Gap is hoping to change the way we view khaki and their store with the unveiling of their 3rd consecutive collection of Gap Design editions. The collection features classics (in 2007 they took on the classic white shirt campaign) designed by CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners. This year Alexander Wang, Albertus Swanepoel, Vena Cava designers, Lisa Mayock and Sopie Buhai, are the participates reviving the casual threads with jackets, dresses and hats. I'd usually stay away from khaki, but the prospect of a khaki motorcycle jacket designed by Alexander Wang for under $100 intrigues me and "Beige is the new Black".
The collection is available across Canada and can be found in the following Gap stores in Toronto: Eaton Centre, Yorkdale Shopping Centre and 60 Bloor Street.

What does a fashion icon want for his birthday?

Other than cake.....

Men's fashion is a bit of a mystery to me. Simplicity and neutral colours is all it takes to look attractive. Most men are happy with the lack of options and uniform appeal. Yet I have a feeling some men are a little jealous of the fashion world’s devotion to women.

Fortunately for those style savvy men there is Kanye West and his sneakers. West always looks sharp and definitely keeps his fingers on the pulse of what’s hot in fashion. His latest endeavor is the exclusive Nike Air Yeezy sneakers. So other than $300 sneakers, what does it take to be fresh to death ala West? View his 10 essential items on Style.com:

http://men.style.com/fashion/10_essentials/060309


Image: Secret Society NYC

2009 Met Costume Institute Ball

This year's Met Costume Institute Ball could be described in one word- inspiring. Unlike the sea of black or cookie cutter gowns with mermaid trains seen at award shows like the oscars, this ball brings out the fashion elite with the balls to wear something risky. I disagree with every best/worst dress list because for this one event there should be no rules. Almost all the celebrities in attendance embraced their role as a platform for their accompanying designer's creations and wore their garments with charm and grace.



Here are some favourites:

(Left to Right: Molly Sims in D&G, Alek Wek and Cindy Crawford in Versace)




(Left to right: Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson and Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs with Kate Moss, who hosted the Met Ball with Anna Wintour and Justin Timberlake)




Images: www.style.com