Going back to school can be terrifying. Especially if it has been a while!
Walking down the hallway to your class, heart pounding, finding your seat and getting comfortable.  One thing that should be on point, is your personal presentation.


Walking into class and having funky B.O and or bad breath shouldn't hold you back. My personal favorite formula for keeping my underarms soft, smooth and odor free is my Baxter of California deodorant. I enjoy the gentle citrus and herbal musk blend, it's also not overpowering. It doesn't leave color or stains on my clothing and I feel fresh all day. For  the fantastic breath, I brush and swish with my Marvis toothpaste and mouthwash. I even own the matching all black toothbrush *cue eye roll.* 
As far as notebooks I like to go all out! I find something from Dollaramma and bling it out! On the inside, I write down three major goals and a few extra things I want to do. Whether it be for the class or personal and finally I tape a TTC token to the inside. You never know when you could need it. 

Pocket Square - Brooks Brothers Shirt - Wordsmiths Pants- Betty Barclay Shoes - Joe Fresh

photo's by Deanna Flinn

x- the Collector

Use {CollectionCode} at the checkout and receive $5 off your purchase(s)!

Jeffery Rüdes' new focus is outerwear; jackets to be precise. Rüde is attentive to detail, constantly perfecting his jackets. This season the upper LA crowed meets the east end of Italy in beautiful double-breasted suits with peaked-lapels. Shall-collar dinner jackets and your casual stripped blazer for the office.

"The lapel has to be perfect" Rude tells Vogue. "...and the way the shirt collar fits, you want to feel like James Bond. Its all about feeling."

Every man needs a boutique that allows for easy shopping and a relaxing atmosphere. Jeffery Rüde recently opened a flagship location, a 5700 square foot soho shop. The most decadent landscape was in mind for the showcasing of his ravishing collections. Fitted double-breasted camel hair pea coats, zipped lambskin suede jackets, classic t-shirts, and flat rib round-neck sweaters. This brand is best suited for gents who love cutting-edge luxury.

Its been a while since you've been in my closet, I'm so sorry.

There are always new things happening in my life. I've opened a new Instagram account for HisCollectionsTO, and now I've been getting ready for the new year, and trying to get in three square meals a day. Where does the time go?

I've decided to change things up, I've been wearing vibrant floral's, crazy patterns and frumpy jackets, but I've decided to tighten things up. For a while now, I've been wanting to reinvent my style, make things more exciting and carefree. I need to have versatility in my wardrobe and be able to easily dress myself without flustering over "how much colour is too much!"

Toronto is a crazy city and some people will take your "vibrancy" as cockiness, sometimes it is, other times it's simply an expression of ones mood. Whatever your reasoning, find inspiration from what makes you happiest.

skirt - River Island sweater - TSOQ

- photo by Free Admition

x - the Collector

Standing on shaky ground

I was coming home from grabbing chips and beer and the Temptations' horn crawled its way through my headphones and soon I found myself dancing, beer in hand around my house. I don't know if you know, but I recently began taking classes at the local fashion school and wow! It's been a while since I've been in a class, it brings back memories! I was given a task, and that was to come up with some ideas for a final project, I've compiled a list, I'll share it with you when I'm ready. Until then, here are some photo's that I've taken, hopefully you haven't seen them already!

Copious FAT14

Do you still shave? So why not get the best shave every time?


So, I use what is called a Double Edge Safety Razor, for many of you, you've never heard of this, some of you, your grandparents, or even parents have used one of these, and believe me when I say this but the shave is astronomically better than those Shick, Gillette crap things.

Lets begin with WHY they're so great.

Because you can have different types of handles, different lengths, widths, shapes and weights.


Cost

What do you spend average a month on blades, $20, $40 or maybe more? Does that not seem ridiculous? Average cost of razor blades is $1.50 for a pack of 5! So you save $18.50, a month.

"Hold up Erica, this is sounding WAY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!"

Well, it is, a little, but only a little. The cost of the razor itself will start you off at anywhere from $20-$100 for a good one, but when you think you maybe able to pass it down a generation, is $20 really going to make you cringe.

Next, lets talk about the crap in the can I know you're using! Or if you're a cheap skate you may even purchase yours from the dollar store, for Pete sake, DON'T! Reason one, read the ingredients list, reason two, why put something on your skin that cost less than a dollar and expect to have good results! Think about it!

Shave cream can run you anywhere from $4, to $300. so for the sake of most of my readers, lets begin with something around the $20 mark. I say shave CREAM, instead of SOAP, for this reason; easy to lather and quicker. If you would like to spend a few extra minutes, buy a soap and a brush and lather on the puck, but for times sake, and sanity, just buy a cream.

Last but certainly not least, expensive, aftershave. Believe it or not, but this is life or death for shaving and getting the smoothest results! Aftershave is the perfect way to close pours, clean cuts, and protect your skin without drying it. Find something that contains Witch Hazel if you'd like, alcohol based aftershaves are good as well. Don't use an obscene amount, there is no reason.

Stop shaving your beautiful legs, armpits, and lady bits with butane and bad razors. Stop, ingrown hairs, razor burn, irritation and discomfort. Even when your hair begins to grow back, its even softer, smoother and the shave *whispers* lasts longer!

Take it from ME

For shave creams click HERE, HERE and HERE
For razor blades click HERE
For double-edge safety razor click HERE
Aftershave HERE


x- the Collector

To be honest, I had no idea what I was going to see. After the lights dimmed and the graceful tunes began my camera was up and ready and this was the scene through my viewfinder.

x









Thank you so much, Anu Raina, for the invite, the show was fantastic.

x - the *AR* Collector

This evening my girl Tomi and I headed for  fashion, food and festivities.

First we headed down to Little Italy to see Jose Duran at the Peach Gallery. First off the gallery is beautiful, The Greek art as a backdrop for this seasons collection was a wonderful idea. Beginning his label in 2008 Duran has been at the peak of composition and moxie since his first collection. The Dominican designer equips himself with fascinating materials and unleashes artistic innovation.

For Fall 2014, the look is inspired by Jose Duran's idea of the 1920's school boy. Rugged but feminine pieces styled with thick military boots, gives a graceful juxtaposition of young and old. With the greek statue pairings as foreground the entire showcase was marvellous.