The Shops-Parts & Labour is the latest hipster hangout to enter the Toronto night scene on West Queen West. A refurbished old mechanic shop, P&L is a hybrid restaurant nightclub. The space has two levels, a top floor restaurant, and a lower level dance floor. The venue is open concept, filled with long dining hall style tables, modern decor, and great food. It is no surprise that the great minds behind The Social, Castor Design and Oddfellows have created such a beautiful space.

Another bonus- the prices of the dishes are amazingly affordable, ranging from $6 salads to $35 entrees (if you so desire)! P&L is the perfect in-between restaurant for maturing social twenty-somethings that are outgrowing the traditional ‘clubbing’ spots. The venue is classy enough to attend all dressed up, and cool enough to show up in jeans and a tee. It doesn’t matter. Parts & Labour is aimed toward the fashion-forward, rock-and-roll, supper club crowd. The ambiance is laid-back, edgy, and oh so scene. See you all at The Shops!

Suspenders are back. I know, I know, you haven’t worn a pair since your second grade class picture but I assure you, suspenders are hip again. We’re are not talking about Gordon Gekko sized two inch think multiple striped braces but a nice simple classic pair of thin ones. I suggest the pair of Fred Perry suspenders pictured above (which also come with some neat packaging) or American Apparel’s unisex set.

Every spring it becomes my personal mission to find the perfect trench. While I don’t consider myself to be overly picky when it comes to this wardrobe staple, I do have a few requirements:

1. It musn’t be too warm
2. It must be able to handle spring’s fickle weather
3. It must be pretty

For those with a similar wish list, your prayers have been answered: FURI’s first-ever women’s outerwear collection has just what you’re looking for. This Montreal-based design duo incorporates the perfect combination of colour, and detail to create a tailored, lightweight and weather-friendly trench.

If trenches aren’t your thing, don’t fret. FURI’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection also includes cropped jackets with high collars and hip-length coats avec hood.

All designs are stain-resistant and water-repellent which means your coat is safe on Mother Nature’s nastier days. As if that weren’t enough, every coat is made with noise-free nylon. I always did hate when my coat talked back to me…

For a full look at the collection visit www.furidesign.com.

Croatian-born designer Damir Doma made his mark on the fashion world in 2006. Known largely for his menswear collection, Doma has attracted a celebrity-studded following – Lenny Kravitz, Bruce Springsteen and R. Patz are among his loyal fans. It’s no surprise then that his first-ever WMNS collection, which recently debuted at Paris Fashion Week, was largely inspired by masculine silhouettes.

Asymmetrical jackets, oversized hoods and draped fabrics make up the mostly black and grey collection. No doubt this line screams Fall/Winter – who wouldn’t want to snuggle up in one of those warm, woolly, oversized sweaters? Doma makes dressing like a boy look both cozy and sexy and that’s enough to make me his newest fan!

Check out some snaps from his WMNS show.

> images courtesy of DamirDoma.com

Dynamite Dynamite Dynamite. You’ve done it with your accessible wears. While my personal tastes have spanned across ruffles, braided-anythings, and continual overdosing on chained necklaces, I have to admit that a spring collective that embodies everything that I would predictably wear is more than appealing. Check out their new spring goods below – the prices are more than enough to tip you over and have you in chains and plastics.

> images courtesy of rev!

Spring is here (indulge me, will you?) and so is Aritzia’s 2010 spring/summer collection. The usual suspects (read: Wilfred, Talula Babaton and TNA) have packed their collections with patterns (stripes, spots, florals!), edgy knit sweaters and, of course, the classic trench.

Above? Some of my fave picks for sunshine season.

My love for denim knows no bounds – when I happened upon the new GAP 1969 collection, it really couldn’t have had more uncanny timing. I was instantly compelled by the Washed Chambray Light Denim Shirt and it’s casual comfort ways. My only qualm? Having to stick to the no-denim-on-denim rule (aka don’t wear jeans with a denim top. It’s wrong in too many ways to describe).

The offerings of GAP 1969 span from blazers to patched jeans (pictured above). The only piece I would admittedly not be overly keen about would be the return of the denim skirt (long). Careful also of fit for this collection – I’m finding that one size off could be cause for boxy-silhouettes, and oversized isn’t quite oversized in a flattering way (just imagine the quizzical looks that I received when I asked for XL in tops).

Would you wear it?

> images from gap.com

Matte matte matte – it’s literally everywhere, lending itself to so many different types of make up. Knock Out cosmetics produces a line of matte nail polishes that are available at point of purchase in a certain Canadian retailer. I admittedly let my impulsive tendency to buy useless things get the best of me (ack, hey, first step is to address it) and I went home with this as an add on to grabbing a slopping slouchy crop shirt (side note…sorry, I digress). The concept behind these matte polishes is that they’re brush and go – no top coat or anything else necessary. While the packaging is slick (well, matte and perfect to be specific), the product itself isn’t strong. Let’s say it’s…”chipper”. It chips. Easily, and a lot. And it makes me think my nails have become a chalkboard (forget nails on a chalkboard, this is more agitating).

Also a bad time for their website to go down (www.koknockout.com). It’s got some great promise, just didn’t quite deliver at over $20+ a bottle.

> images from koknockout.com

For those looking for an easy way to glam up a dull winter wardrobe (ahem…points to self), look no further than Brave Beltworks new Metallic Candy Belts. These beauts, from their Fall/Holiday 2009 collection, are available in the shine-y and stud-ly variety – perfect for aspiring fashionistas and rockstars alike.

If belts aren’t your thing, Brave’s metallic studded leather cuffs are a great way to add some drama to your ensemble.

With belts starting at $49 and cuffs at $55, it’s worth the splurge. After all, there’s no better way to spice up your outfit than with a simple cinch at the waist or a sparkle of the wrist!

> Braveleather.com for more

I walked through the MAC store at Yorkdale this weekend, and was taken aback—there’s all black everything (Jay’s been peppering my speech a little bit everyday as of late… you’ll have to forgive me).

The MAC Style Black collection has arrived and it is BAD!!! (ALL CAPS and 4 exclamation points BAD!!!). I have a thing for black makeup; although I wouldn’t wear some of it—like black lips, maybe not—but I wanted to just try on and play with everything.

You have to respect someone who can do it though, don’t you? Someone who can walk around with black gloss and just make it work. Who wants to be “simply beyond”, and completely dramatic, eccentric, and noticed. Just like a bald head—some can do it, others won’t.

This looks to be one of the many trends of F/W ‘09. Remember Alexander McQueen’s show earlier this year? Ugly. Beautiful.

There are the year-round staples like Nocturnelle nail lacquer, and eye liners, but the Style Black collection features complementary mineralized eye shadows, the Greasepaint Stick (a long wearing liner), and lip colours in a cream, matte, or gloss. You may also partake in a volcanic ash exfoliator with sugar crystals from Vanuatu or a volcanic thermal mask if you so desire.

As usual, the collection is only here for a limited time, so hurry to your nearest outlet MAC lovers. You know what to do: www.maccosmetics.ca