While most people are thinking about patios and tanning, at NKPR we’re already looking ahead to fall! Last week, we hosted the NKPR Fall Preview, giving media and guests a sneak peek of upcoming key pieces and products for the season.

We kicked it off with an outdoor enthusiast’s dream curated by MEC. Featuring a full-size Cabin 4 tent, outdoor gear suited to everything from the backcountry to glamping, active lifestyle and running apparel and, one of our favourites, the ice cream ball! Guests and team had a great time getting in the right mood for the Victoria Day long weekend!

While the sun was shining outside, we were ready for chillier weather indoors with Rudsak which featured luxe jackets, parkas, boots and accessories – perfect for the cool rebel spirit.

Scotch & Soda showcased swoon-worthy patterns on patterns on prints! Be ready for some mixing and matching this fall!

For fall, Garcia Jeans played on fun, textural elements with a range of faux furs, soft sweaters, amazing denim and a fringe poncho guests couldn’t get enough of!

Esprit had us looking forward to coat season! Think suede jackets, tweedy peacoats, and tons of colour.

Preview guests stopped by DAVIDsTEA to view the upcoming fall collection inspired by the great outdoors, while sampling limited edition fall blends. A collection featuring flavours like pumpkin, granola, pomegranate and carrot had everyone in the seasonal mood. But don’t forget the chilled drinks that are here just in time for summer!  The innovative new Iced Tea Press was demonstrated with tasty Cotton Candy iced tea, quenching guests’ curiosity and thirst!

The Teeez Cosmetics beauty team provided gorgeous lipstick touch-ups. Inspired by the international fashion runways, the beautifully-packaged Desert Glow, Sugar Rush and La Isla Chic collections were perfectly at home amongst the fashion lines featured at the event!

A fit for every body, Canadian brand Sympli demonstrated that you don’t have to compromise style and comfort. Attendees loved the incredible jersey fabric, creating a perfect, wrinkle-free drape! We were also excited to introduce guests to the first line of coats and the biggest collection of Sympli knits yet. The lovely Olena of the NKPR team modelled Sympli and Links of London pieces for guests.

In the NKPR showroom, Saje Natural Wellness’ display filled the air with the vitality restoring scent of Refresh diffuser blend oil, steaming from their signature nebulizers. Guests enjoyed getting to know the benefits of Saje’s natural healing products like the stress reducing Sleep Well roll on and invigorating Tingle Mint hand soap.

Newly in Canada, men’s premium skincare brand Anthony displayed its top products including The Perfect Shave Kit and a few hero products from Anthony Brands. Definitely products to add to the shopping list for Father’s Day!

Guests got a taste of Italian couture with That’s Italy. Featuring top Italian fashion brands like Moschino, Uel Camilo and Anna Rachele, guests were eager for the opening of the concept store’s newest location at Yonge and Eglinton – coming in June!

It was love at first sight at Links of London where guests previewed the brand’s signature collections including the iconic Sweetie, Friendship, Effervescence and Timeless. Sophisticated statement pieces, charms and bejewelled British bulldog were also featured!

LINE’s fall collection features luxe knits, leathers and wool coats in neutral shades of black, grey, ivory, deep green and dusty rose.

JOHN + JENN fall is full of texture, colour and pattern featuring bold plaids, faux fur statement coats, and faux suede ensembles that give the collection a retro-meets-modern feel.

With a new partnership with pro athlete and MVP Josh Donaldson, Flow Water had guests of the Preview ready to find their Flow. Even more exciting, the eco-friendly, premium water brand will be offering pop-up fitness classes across the city this summer. Be sure to sign up for notifications and news on the Mind, Body & Flow program coming soon!

Guests tried some delicious gluten-free vegan treats from Kupfert & Kim. Perfect energy boosters for a busy morning!

While all of this was happening, we were capturing the fun on the NKPR SnapChat! Here are some highlights:

As part of the NKPR 26 Acts of Kindness initiative, we held a charitable token drive benefitting the Red Door Family Shelter. In total, guests of the Fall Preview donated almost $100 in tokens, going directly to Red Door!

All in all, fall can’t come soon enough (well, maybe not quite yet!)

It was an exceptionally special night at the 3rd annual Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA 2016), held at the Fairmont Royal York on Friday, April 15th. Fashion industry insiders, media and celebrities came out in droves to celebrate Canada’s best and brightest fashion talent. Notable guests included the evening’s host Kim Cattrall,  Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, supermodels Karlie Kloss and Coco Rocha, fashion designer Tanya Taylor, singer Mia Martina & more! From the red carpet gowns, to the George Pimentel portrait studio and eTalk’s celebrity green room, to the beautiful awards and acceptance speeches, CAFA 2016 truly was a night to remember! 

Key highlights from the night included:

– In her opening monologue, host Kim Cattrall highlighted shopping centre Square One as a leader in showcasing Canadian fashion – kudos! 
– Canadian designer Wayne Clark received a standing ovation as he took the stage to accept his Outstanding Achievement Award, presented by Nicholas Mellamphy. A modest and appreciative Clark began his acceptance speech with, “I have spent the better part of this day trying to think of something poignant and appropriate to say…” Clearly his efforts paid off as he left the stage with not a dry eye in the house. A very inspiring moment for one of Canada’s greats!
– Supermodel Karlie Kloss presented the Joe Fresh Fashion Innovation award, garnering laughs and applause with her “I’m an honourary Canadian!” declaration!
– Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau inspired guests with a lovely tribute to Canadian fashion industry and the importance it has on our culture. “I strongly believe that our country is home to world class talent,” Trudeau said. “Fashion can have a profound impact on our community, our culture and our ability to help one another“.
– Global fashion and lifestyle icon Elle Macpherson accepted the Vanguard Award presented by Hudson’s Bay for her incredible career achievements.
– Singer/songwriter Mia Martina and model Kate King presented the Fashion Design Student Award to newcomer Hamish Thwaites, while model Winnie Harlow stopped to snap a selfie on the red carpet! #werkit
– Elle Macpherson and Karlie Kloss were spotted chatting together in the eTalk green room following their red carpet appearance… Swapping model tips perhaps?
– …and many more memorable moments! 

Below is the full list of award winners! Congratulations to all winners and nominees.

2016 Official Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards Winners

The Womenswear Designer of the Year Award
Greta Constantine

The Menswear Designer of the Year Award
Wings + Horns

The Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, Fashion
UNTTLD

The Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, Accessories
Lauren Klassen 

The Accessory Designer of the Year Award
WANT Les Essentiels 

The Joe Fresh Fashion Innovation Award
Frank & Oak 

The Fashion Design Student Award
Hamish Thwaites 

The Image Maker Award
Gabor Jurina 

The International Canadian Designer of the Year Award
Jason Wu 

The Stylist of the Year Award
Annie Horth 

The Model of the Year Award
Herieth Paul 

The Sephora Fresh Face of the Year Award
Adam Butcher 

The Fashion Impact Award
Laura Siegel 

The Fashion Blogger of the Year Award
The Coveteur 

The Vanguard Award Presented by Hudson’s Bay
Elle Macpherson

Outstanding Achievement Award
Wayne Clarke

For photos from Canada’s most fashionable evening, see the gallery below!

The Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) annual awards gala is fast-approaching! With just three days until the event, it’s safe to say the excitement is in the air. The awards were created to celebrate outstanding achievements and emerging talent in the Canadian fashion industry and NKPR is so proud to support the 3rd annual awards show!

In anticipation of Canada’s most fashionable night this Friday, April 15th at the Fairmont Royal York, we chatted with CAFA Jury Member, celebrity stylist and author of Effortless Style: the amazing June Ambrose! From her favourite trends for spring to her favourite Puffy look… read on for our 5 minutes with CAFA Jury Member June Ambrose.

NKPR: What is your first memory of fashion?

JUNE: Digging in my grandmother’s closet and falling in love with her floral and chiffon gowns from the 70s, then later sneaking into her room to cut the hemlines to design Barbie dolls dresses hoping she wouldn’t notice the missing pieces! 

NKPR: As a Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards 2016 jury member, what has this role entailed?

JUNE: Reviewing all the designer portfolios and profiles was quite enlightening and I took my role very seriously. It was not easy as there are so many talented candidates. But I looked for consistency along with creativity. I love a designer that disrupts things and who has a clear point and integrity for their brand. 

NKPR: We’ve heard you’re a big fan of 70s dressing! What are your favourite trends for spring?

JUNE: The return of metallic and florals is quite exciting to me. The hippie-glam and flowy frocks are so fun and dreamy. 

NKPR: If you could re-live a single fashion look throughout your years of styling which would it be?

JUNE: That’s a tough one after 25 years in the game, but I did enjoy designing and putting Puffy in a shiny red suit. 

NKPR: Ok, last question… what are you wearing right now? 

JUNE: Nude patent pumps, skinny, grungy black jeans, short sleeve sweater with a sequinned puppy on the front and my big “missy” superhero frames from my eyewear collection.

A big thanks to June for chatting with us! We’re so excited for the awards on Friday… be sure to follow along on twitter @natashankpr for more behind-the-scenes coverage of the CAFA‘s!

If you recall, on November 26 the entire NKPR team took part in 26 Hours of Kindness, spreading warmth, cheer and random acts of kindness throughout the city for 26 consecutive hours! After much success and a lot of heart-warming fun, we are SO excited to announce that we will be continuing the initiative with the launch of NKPR 26 Acts of Kindness! And what better day to announce then on International Day of Happiness and, coincidentally, the first day of spring!

This time, the initiative will span the entire year! Some of the acts that the NKPR team have planned include the development of an NKPR scholarship program to support and promote education in the public relations field, food drives for Second Harvest, creation of a mentorship program for start-up businesses, surprise and delight activations for Mother’s Day, World Water Day and Global Wellness Day, and #randomactsofkindness on social media. We’ll keep you posted on events as they come up!

Want to get involved with the NKPR 26 Acts of Kindness initiative? We’d love for you to join us! Either with time, services or by donation, please contact Rebecca Kogon at 416.365.3630 x 236 or rebecca@nkpr.net. In the meantime, follow the 26 Acts of Kindness program on social media through the hashtag #NKPR26 and catch us in Bloor Yorkville around 3pm spreading sweet, spring surprises!

Happy Sunday!

Scroll down for some fun photos from the NKPR 26 Hours of Kindness 2015!

Rudsak introduces their brand-new take on the classic leather jacket! Created in collaboration with Emily Haines of Metric, the limited edition Signature Leather Jacket originally debuted on the runway at Rudsak’s Spring Summer 2016 collection during Toronto Fashion Week.

Only 70 of this covetable limited edition leather jacket were produced! And the best part? Each jacket comes with a secret, detachable clutch, perfect for carrying all of your essentials… so fun!

Watch the behind-the-scenes video below featuring Emily Haines and Rudsak’s founder Evik Asatoorian for an inside peek at the making of this incredible collaboration!!

Let’s all celebrate and salute the women who empower us… 

March 8 is International Women’s Day – our chance to celebrate the many achievements and contributions women are making around the world. And there is lots to celebrate, especially in Canada. Each year, women are gaining more ground on the road to equality.

This year, the Canadian theme for International Women’s Day is: Women’s Empowerment Leads to Equality. What is empowerment? For me, it means supporting all the women in my life and helping them achieve their highest potential.

I try to do this every day at my office. Luckily, it’s fairly easy because I work with 30 smart, funny, energetic and hard working women (and two brave men who aren’t afraid of all that estrogen). I am thankful for how well we work together and support each other. Here’s how we strive to empower ourselves and each other. I hope it gives you some ideas to share in your life whether it’s your workplace, home or community.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company 

Keep learning

I’m a great believer in the value of education and lifelong learning. For me, learning is about staying curious about our world and finding new ways to make a positive impact. I think it’s only when we seek out new knowledge and information that we grow. Whether it’s taking night classes or reading as much as you can, there are many opportunities to advance your knowledge and learn new skills. Learning doesn’t just happen at work or school. Volunteering is another great experience to expand your knowledge and skills. You can learn so much from helping organizations and individuals when you give back.

“I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that’s how I operate my life.” Oprah Winfrey

Seek out new challenges, strive for excellence 

Just as we should keep learning, we should keep challenging ourselves. It’s only when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone that we can stretch our skills and confidence. Give 100% of your talent, intellect and hard work with every project or task you undertake. Make your contributions extraordinary so you are valued by your exceptional merit and give people the opportunity to see the real you.

“Figure out who you are separate from your family, and the man or woman you’re in a relationship with. Find who you are in this world and what you need to feel good alone. I think that’s the most important thing in life. Find a sense of self because with that, you can do anything else.” Angelina Jolie, actress

Find your voice and help others find theirs

It can take a long time to get into the rhythm of your life and figure out your voice. Author Todd Henry, in his book Louder than Words: Harness the Power of Your Authentic Voice offers various strategies, exercises and questions to help you figure out your passions and interests and how to express them.

Dr. Stephen Covey, celebrated author of the best-seller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and several other notable titles, defines voice as the overlapping of the four parts of our nature: mind, heart, body and spirit. To figure out your voice, ask yourself these four questions:

– What are you good at? That’s your mind.

– What do you love doing? That’s your heart.

– What need can you serve? That’s your body.

– What gives your life meaning and purpose? That’s your spirit.

They are not easy questions to answer and it requires alot of soul searching and lifelong learning. But if you remain true to your inner voice, you will discover what makes you unique.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” Mother Teresa

Get involved in your community

I’m a great believer in giving back. We all share the responsibility of trying to make our world a better place. I think for anyone who is lucky enough to do what they love to do, they should share their skills and expertise to help those less fortunate.

There are so many causes, not only for women but everyone, that need volunteers, fundraisers and supporters. What are the issues and causes that resonate with you? Target a few and research organizations or charities that might benefit from your skills and passion. I can tell you based on my own experience supporting Artists for Peace and Justice that the experience has been life changing for me. I firmly believe that to feel true joy, it can only happen when you help others. When you give of yourself to try and make other people’s lives better and impart a sense of happiness, then you will feel real joy in return.

“If a country doesn’t recognize minority rights and human rights, including women’s rights, you will not have the kind of stability and prosperity that is possible.” Hillary Clinton, politician

Stand up against injustice

We owe a great deal to the brave women who came before us and weren’t afraid to stand up for their rights: rights that we now, at times take for granted. Canadian suffragettes like Nellie McClung and others (known as The Famous Five) fought hard so women could vote, a federal right granted less than 100 years ago. There are countless other activists over the years who have campaigned tirelessly to advance women’s rights and opportunities in education, healthcare, employment, politics and other fields.

As the women before us did, if you see injustice or an abuse of rights in your community, stand up and make your voice heard. Have the courage to follow your heart and stand up for your values and support the rights of others.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou, poet 

Be open to feedback and learning opportunities

There are two things I know to be true. None of us have all the answers and we should strive to continually improve how we do things and be the best we can be. For me, this means seeking the insight and feedback of others and being open to new learnings and approaches. Surround yourself with good, smart people whose insights you value and trust. And steer yourself from thinking that the way you’ve always done things is the best way. Life should be about continual learning and self-improvement.

“We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.” Beyonce, singer and actress

Don’t underestimate your power or strength

Sometimes I think it’s all to easy to think that we’re not as smart, creative or talented as everyone around us. That negative self-talk can be debilitating. Don’t give in to it. Each one of us has unique strengths and talents and has more of an impact on the people around us than we probably realize. Celebrate your strengths and do the same for the women around you.

Salute the women who inspire and empower you! 

While it’s great to have one day when we celebrate women and how far we’ve come, every day we should support each other and celebrate all the special women (and men) in our lives who empower us to be our best. This International Womens Day tag the women who inspire you using the hashtag #YouAreEmpowerment or tweet me @NatashaNKPR or comment below. Happy International Women’s Day everyone!

Xo, Natasha

Image courtesy of International Women’s Day.

It’s always a busy time at the NKPR office but it feels like January and February flew right by us! What have we relied on to keep our minds and bodies in tip-top shape? But what has really been making a difference is Pure Hazelwood’s range of healing jewelry!

We’ve started our own Wear Wellness movement at the office by wearing the brand’s boho-chic inspired bracelets, necklaces and anklets morning, noon and night! Whether it’s joint and muscle pain from a long plane ride or sitting in an office chair all day, Pure Hazelwood’s natural jewelry contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that heal!

Read on for more information on the incredible history and benefits of hazelwood and the ailments it can help heal, naturally!

Share your own #WearWellness love online by tagging @Pure_Hazelwood! 🙂

It seems that Awards Season is just one big countdown to the biggest show of all, The Academy Awards! The Oscars are the movie world’s biggest night and the NKPR team and I love every minute of it! One of our favourite parts? The amazing red carpet fashion. From off-the-runway haute couture to 1.3 million dollar jewels, we round up our Oscars Best Dressed, below.

Margot Robbie would look good in anything but she is particularly stunning in this shimmering gold Tom Ford. Definitely one of my favourite looks of the entire night!

Olivia Wilde is one of my red carpet favourites. Het fashion choices are always bold and her hair, makeup and accessories are always on point. I just love her in this white Valentino gown!

I first fell for this incredible #nkallblackeverything gown when Kendall Jenner wore it on the Chanel Haute Couture runway. Leave it to the always best-dressed Julianne Moore to rock a custom version of it on the Oscars red carpet. And kudos to her stylist Leslie Fremar for the whole look!

Best actress nominee Saoirse Ronon turned heads when she stepped out in this grown-up Calvin Klein look. From the plunging neckline to her purposely mismatched earrings, Saoirse looks like a winner in my books!

A consistent red carpet style star, Priyanka Chopra looks sexy but elegant in this sheer Zuhair Murad gown!

Jennifer Garner is a true classic Hollywood beauty. Black can sometimes bore on the red carpet, but she looks stunning and elegant in this jaw-dropping Versace gown!

A no-show on the red carpet, Best Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence arrived to the ceremony late. But that didn’t stop her from looking her best in this gorgeous lace Dior number! (Perhaps she was avoiding another red carpet spill?)

Honourable mentions go to Jared Leto in a dapper Gucci suit, Lady Gaga in a creamy white Brandon Maxwell  jumpsuit, Naomi Watts in glittery Armani Prive and Kate Winslet (on the arm of Leo!) in Ralph Lauren.

Who were your Oscars best dressed picks at Sunday night’s awards? Tweet me at @natashankpr!

Photos courtesy of Jason Meritt / Getty.