Q. You have over 15,000 followers on instagram and multiple blog posts per week – you’re a very busy woman… How do you unwind?

A. I try to dedicate a day in the week where I need to be off work mode and either spend time with my family and my boyfriend. Also, I always make sure to find some time for myself, moments of relaxation where I can seek inspiration and hit refresh.

Q. Lapiz of Luxury is all about mixing affordable and high-end fashion/beauty products. What’s your #1 tip for achieving the perfect balance?

A. Very simple, to never shop in the same store for your whole outfit and to always be very aware of the sales.

Q. What are your go-to brands for an amazing hi/lo look? Any Montreal born and bred brands on your must-have list?

A. I am the type of girl that will invest in a handbag and key pieces and really search for the extra fashion piece but always at an affordable price. I always mix from Zara, Aritzia, H&M and mostly some online shopping

Q. You say that luxury is confidence. What one item in your wardrobe or beauty bag gives you the ultimate confidence boost?

A. It’s sounds so silly but mascara and a Caribbean tan! I feel the most confident when I am fresh off of a vacay in the sun. Also, I feel like you don’t necessarily need an item to feel confident, you just need to trust your judgment and your taste and just own it. Nobody is dressing your body but yourself, so you need to dress it accordingly and be comfy.

Q. What are your favourite Montreal hangouts and why?

A. I just finished my Masters and I use to always be in the coffee shops studying and writing my memoire. Today, I can finally enjoy a nice cup of coffee without having to be on my laptop and Montreal is all about amazing coffee shops; Café Parvis, Café Paquebot, Café Sfouf, only to name a few. But my favourite thing is to discover new spots with my boyfriend on the weekends and go on little adventures

The post Lapiz of Luxury on Beauty & Style appeared first on Suite 203.

Our Montreal PR strategy of inviting writers, editors and bloggers in individual time slots gave the media the opportunity to hear the Karen Millen story and philosophy in an intimate setting and at their own pace (while enjoying a glass of Moët & Chandon and a delectable treat from Léché Desserts!)

Karen Millen is all about beautiful clothes and the woman who wears them. Whether it’s a coat, a dress, a shoe or a bag; everything is designed for the Karen Millen woman. Each piece starts and finishes in the London atelier. Imagined, designed, cut, pinned, tweaked, adjusted, obsessed over, nipped, tucked and painstakingly finished. Quality is everything. Every piece is designed to make the woman who wears it feel confident and beautiful, everyday.

But even without the brand story, the moment they entered the boutique, guests were welcomed by intricate details, hand sewn embellishments and quality craftsmanship. Not to mention impeccable fits to flatter all body types. The fitting rooms were full of bloggers trying on Karen Millen’s infamous dresses. And they all looked amazing – it was a sea of beautiful silhouettes!

Catherine Forest & Lolitta Dandoy

Lolitta from Fashion is Everywhere

Isabelle Havassy & Lolitta Dandoy

Suite 203 garnered Montreal PR clippings for Karen Millen that will make every woman want to shop at the boutique or online. Here are some of the warm welcomes that the boutique received:

Photos by Ella Photography

The post Suite 203 Launches Karen Millen Montreal PR Campaign appeared first on Suite 203.

Q:  What are the essential holiday pieces every women needs to have in her closet this season?

A: A little long sleeve black dress is always at the top of my list!  A great classic pair of black d’orsay pumps make the perfect counterpart, and (faux) leather skinnies will dress up everything you already own in your wardrobe.

Q: Where are the best places to shop for them?

A: Whether you’re shopping for high pieces or low, there are a great number of stops you can try to find both a great deal and perfect fit.  My favorite check-ins include Holt Renfrew, Forever 21, Denis Gagnon, and Club Monaco.

Q: What do you carry in your purse during party/holiday season?

A: I never have a rich shade of red lipstick far, and love keeping sweet little treats close by for eggnog latte coffee pairing encounters!

Q: What are your plans for New Years Eve?

A: They say what you do on New Years Eve will directly reflect the rest of that year for you.  Call me superstitious, but ever since I heard that line I’ve made sure I’m with the people I love, eating a beautiful meal somewhere quiet and intimate, just enjoying home life by their side.

Q: Have you picked an outfit yet? If so, what is it?

A: I have!  A super comfy, longsleeve little black dress (I practice what I preach).

The post Fashionista 514’s New Years Eve Outfit Ideas appeared first on Suite 203.

Target takes pride in creating a unique shopping experience for its customers. What differentiates Target from any other department store is its focus on design. In the past five years, the store has created exclusive collaborations with exceptional designers such as Alexander McQueen, Missoni, Jason Wu, Liberty of London and most recently, Neiman Marcus and Phillip Lim. In essence, everything we need to know about shopping at Target is right there in the slogan: Expect More, Pay Less. The Montreal and Quebec community have welcomed Target with open arms and are anxious to find out who the next design partner will be!

Us gals at Suite 203 have always been Target fans, with many trips taken across the border to Plattsburgh to shop our favourite discount brands (and enjoy a Friendly’s Fribble!) While the super store’s Canadian prices may not be as super as they are in the States, we still managed to fill our red shopping carts with a plethora of items. All in all  we are definitely looking forward to not having to cross the border to hit the target!

Here are a few favourite finds:

The post Montreal: The newest of the Target Canada Locations appeared first on Suite 203.

1. Leather

While this trend debuted last spring, we couldn’t bare to wear it in 30-degree weather. We plan to rock it this fall instead. Whether it’s a leather top, leather pants, or a shirt with leather embellishments, this is a versatile look. We prefer pieces that mix lady-like style with some edge (like a pencil skirt) than the full-on rocker look.

2.  Peplum

Photo courtesy of The Fashion Section

Peplum dresses still hold our hearts as they look good on any woman. This style will accentuate the skinniest part of your waist and add curves to your hips. Moreover, a combination of a peplum top and a pencil skirt is great for the office. No need to suck in your stomach all day.

3. Velvet

Photo courtesy of Vogue

We couldn’t believe it when we saw it on the runways either! The trick for those who cannot pull off a velvet dresses is to add small doses to your outfit in the form of a hat or heels.

4. Plaid

Photo courtesy of The Fashion Spot

 This fall, plaid with a modern twist is in. Seen on Tommy Hilfiger and Yves St-Laurent runways, it looks edgy when worn with a pair of booties.

5. Loose Silhouettes

Photo courtesy of The Fashion Spot

These free-flowing looks are elegant on all body types but can look sloppy if you go too big. Pair loose shapes with more form fitted pieces and body accentuating accessories to keep the look polished.

6. Cinched Outerwear/ Supersize Coats

Photo courtesy of The Fashion Spot

Supersized coats whether structured, baggy, draped or with boxy shoulders are the highlight of this fall season. The king of cinched outerwear is our very own Jean Charles de Castelbajac, main designer at Festival Mode & Design.

7. Cut-outs

Photo courtesy of Asos

Show a little skin! Spotted on the Alexander Wang and Versace runways, shoulder and back slits is not going anywhere. Look for intense colors like emerald, royal blue and magenta.

8. Embellishments 

Photo courtesy of Cool Spotters

From encrusted necklines, metallic accents and sequined details, this trend is a perfect excuse to show off and go over the top. Just ask Balmain.

9. Thigh High Slits

Photo courtesy of The Fashion Spotters

We are all for showing a little leg! Add some sex-appeal to a knee-length skirt, as it will take you from desk to date in a flash. Pair with dark hosiery to cover up in a more corporate setting.

10. Knuckle Rings

Photo courtesy Curves & Chaos

Double, triple and quadruple these thin bands for a new way to wear rings. Just make sure you don’t knock anyone out with these.

The post Top 10 Fashion Trends for Fall 2013 appeared first on Suite 203.

The Revitive LV, an Actegy Health product, helps relieve tired feet and heavy legs. Don’t be fooled! This is not your ordinary massage machine. Quite the contrary, the Revitive LV  sends electrical pulsations to your muscles at varying intensities. This product was designed with women in mind, for those who wear high heels or are standing up for long periods of time. The Revitive LV helps to decrease the tired sensation in your legs and feet by helping to increase the blood circulation. The circular pink and white device was awarded the Red Dot Design Award for its sleek and compact design.

Event guests were comprised mainly of bloggers, radio host personalities and fashionistas, all active women in need of some pampering. The guests were invited to try out the new Revitive LV so that they could experience the benefits this product has to offer. To make sure that they got the full spa experience, the ladies were also treated to manicures from Rouge Nail Bar.

The event’s atmosphere was intimate, friendly, and relaxed though DJ Killa-Jewel kept the party energized by playing good beats, ranging from classics like Lauren Hill to today’s hits like Katy Perry. To complement it all, the guests were served mouth-watering appetizers as well as Beatrice’s refreshing pink-hued cocktails. The icing on the cake? The guests each received a gift bag that included a Revitive LV unit and a Longchamp inspired handbag.

Here are just a few testimonials about the Revitive LV from our media guests:

« I was able to run 10k three days in a row, not 4 as planned, but normally there’s no way in Hell I’d even be able to do two days in a row due to severe soreness. Which proves my point; the device does wonders when it comes to recuperation time!” – Christine Laprade, Vigilant Fashionista

“There’s no denying that sitting for 30 minutes and enjoying the gentle zapping makes getting back on our feet oh-so-enjoyable.”  – Christine Laroche, Vitamin Daily MTL

“I could actually feel the current doing its thing!  It had an awesome tingling sensation and I knew my feet would be thanking me post-treatment.” – Lisa Kisber, LKISStyle for Virgin Radio

The post Beat the heat and swollen feet! appeared first on Suite 203.

As the good people of Pantone explain, “Emerald, a vivid verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight as well as promoting balance and harmony.

Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.”

While green is typically a difficult colour to pull off on the fashion front, this energizing jewel tone looks surprisingly stunning on most skin tones. It is also a lavish yet cheerful colour to inject into your living space. For these reasons, we are excited to say that it is easy being green. Here are a few of the Emerald items we are coveting for home and fashion.

Emerald City: Style

Emerald City: Home 

The post Go (Pantone) Green or Go Home appeared first on Suite 203.

Rachel Sin’s Fall 2013 collection Geek Girl Gone Chic, showcased smart, stylish, form-fitting clothing for the modern brainiac (with glasses to boot.) Impeccably cut staples like tuxedo jackets and skinny pants sashayed down the runway with fun polka dot tie blouses, caped tops, peplums and an unexpected sprinkle of sequins. True to the collection’s inspiration of “the high school nerd has grown up and she is chic, knows what she wants and wants to do-it-all,” the Rachel Sin woman is sleek and smart and transitions seamlessly from desk to date. Take a look….this is how the girls from The Big Bang Theory should be dressing.

The post Rachel Sin: Sensation Mode MFW FW13 appeared first on Suite 203.