NEW BEGINNINGS: NEW LOOK NEW BOOK DAY II SHOOT: BY Labels Or Love

Down to the Wire: R2R team does it again with the Season 2 edition of Reel2Runway coming out we thought it would be cool to document the transformation of my going from short and chic to Long and Lovely. With my custom Hair pieces in hand I am feeling pretty good about what my new look will bring to will now be my new Book.

I hadn't shot in some time after taking almost a year off of modeling to solely focusing on recruiting for Reel2Runway. With the R2R team bigger and stronger than ever, we are shooting our TV premiere pilot episode to be called NEW LOOK... NEW BOOK. A concept that only members.

Down to the Wire: R2R team does it again with the Season 2 edition of Reel2Runway coming out we thought it would be cool to document the transformation of my going from short and chic to Long and Lovely. With my custom Hair Units ready to transform at the flip of a wig, I am feeling pretty good about what my new look will bring to will now be my new Book of the Fashion World would know just by title. But for my non-industry followers and viewers, its their chance to see that behind the the fancy pics is a whole process to reinventing a model's image; introducing a model's transformations to the world.

With The NLNB Project now under way, having assembled a series of great photoshoots and an awesome collection of creative teams, it is now time to get the new book (another word for new portfolio) to match. Starting last week with Erwyn Loewen's Lingerie shoot, we knew that one was a great start to what will be a hot New Book.

BTS FITTING PHOTOS: (top to bottom) Christopher Kane color block dress. Dolce & Gabbana Pink Lace Dress

Shoot number 2 is care of Labels or Love: A high end, designer brands consignment store in the uptown side of Toronto's Avenue Road and Lawrence. Its a beautiful boutique branch that caters to the affluent customers in its area as well as Fashion stylists, the enthusiasts and Fashion lovers who still get a great Retail deal, coming from all over the Greater Toronto Area.

Owned and operated by Meytal Algranti, a well known stylist and fashion curator, Labels or Love has had a great three year run. Now moving with the tides, Meytal has decided that Online Retail is her next big move for this Fashion Haven.

Brigitta Kogut, my super awesome gal pal and photographer, decided to help out by casting me as the new online face of Labels or Love.

Along with the creative contributions of long time friends make up artist Antonio Hines (Bobby Brown Make Up at Holt's), assisted by Brandon Edward and Senior Hair stylist Paul Comrie of Paul Comrie Salon, the look could only be completed with the genius editorial styling

of Meytal and topped off with an amazing frames shot by Brigitta herself. It was a dream team of note.

RUNWAY'S HOT 2 SHOP PICKS from Labels or Love:

(Top to Bottom: Dolce & Gabbana corset dress Black, Jumbo Chanel with silver hardware ROCKS IN MOSCOW EDITION and Belmain High Detail Tank

THE VIEWERS HAVE VOTED: RUNWAYRENEE 2012 NEW LOOK

RunwayRenee Has Crossed over into a whole new Commercial World this year. Highlights of the transformation coming soon....

Yes: the Verdict is in! My readers, BBM followers, Facebook followers have all spoken and Long hair Commercial Model Renee is the new direction I am taking for 2012.

I have been short for so long and I thought "time for a change." And surprisingly its growing on me. So I have tested out my look with a great photographer friend of mine Erwyn Loewen.

We did a lingerie shoot at his beautiful farm house and it was a surprising outcome. I haven't had long hair since I was 16 years old and I have never done lingerie so these were two new experiences for me.

there are many more pics to come so stay tuned for the before and afters and my newest video project with reel2Runway NEW LOOK... NEW BOOK.

BTS pics coming soon...


Runwayrenee & Erwyn Loewen

Reel2Runway Loves Diem Magazine

Reel2Runway supports all its affiliates and team members. And one of Reel2Runway's own, Isabel Lee, team photographer, and her team of creative con padres has put together this wonderful project called Diem Magazine. Its the first Arts and Culture publication of Earl Haig Secondary School that is now launching after a year in progress. This online Magazine is available to purchase for print at $5.00 a pop. It explores the idea of interactive news about art and culture from freelance to well known writer and photographers who want to contribute. Much like social media gives a voice to all who seek it, so does this magazine.

Its so brilliant: It provides a platform for voices young and old to share their art and their news, their current events and things that their communities find important without the misguided information that day-to-day magazines often give with over editing and censorship.

Check it out it out at http://diemmagazine.tumblr.com/

SKIP DAY 4 onto DAY 5 of LGFW: Cydelic By Choryin ALIEN INVASION

Friday, October 22nd, 2011 6PM CLOSING DAY OF LGFW





The last day of fashion week was manic. I skipped Thursday altogether missing Bustle (my apologies to Sean and Ruth) as I was so sick and beyond exhausted. holding a handy cam and running back and forth to cover shows and be in shows is no easy feat.


I needed to be well rested for my Cydelic by Choryin show in the STUDIO Runway Room. This Collection was by far one of the most inspirational as no other designer, I thought, made Couture so Ready-to-Wear.

I was opening and closing the show which again should never be the case when a girl has no agency to even score a gig like that for her. But Choryin and I have been great buddies since we met earlier this year at his soft Launch at C- Lounge. I have always loved how much support his friends gave him and how much he has grown as a young designer now being housed by the biggest Fashion Production House and Factory in Canada, Seven Continents.

This Collection was inspired by Aliens and a hostel takeover of luxury bags that he also debuted in this collection. He opened the show with a fashion video that I had the pleasure of being featured in to demo key pieces of his collection in a Cydelic style that cannot be disputed.

DAY 3: PINK TARTAN and a MOMENT with JAY!

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 8PM



Me backstage getting ready for Pink Tartan in a major Rush

The Pink Tartan Show was definitely a hot ticket this year. With the usual 2 hour wait for guest seating and the media rush to capture a shot of Kimberley Newport-Mimran, the President and Head Designer of Pink Tartan, smooching with her lovely husband and President and Creator of Joe Fresh Joe Mimran, this was a going to definitely be a bigger show than ever.

I wasn't supposed to even do Fashion Week, so when I decided to sniff out the Pink Tartan casting, I was sure it was going to be a long shot for me to get picked. After all, Pink Tartan is not only a hot ticket to watch, its one of the most prestigious shows for a Toronto model to walk in.

I thought, "what the heck, all they can do is say no, right?" as I walked into the head office on Bedford Street, Kim and her Stylist, Jairo Betancur, we sitting their and greeted me and all the models so warmly as we walked for them during the audition. When it came up to my turn, it took them a moment to realise it was even me with the blond hair and all. But of course, with a collection of wigs in hand always, and having worked with both Kim and Jairo for Escada, they knew I came prepared.

We bantered a bit about when I walked for her 5 years ago and how she always loved my walk. coming from Kim herself, this was the most amazing compliment a model can get, especially one like me who funny enough, cant get an agency. LOL! Needless to say, the agency deal was the least of their concern.

By the following week I was shooting video of the fitting and getting wiggy with it in my gorgeous orange number for the show.





After the show I bumped in the fabulous Jay Manuel while he was prepping for his second season of ATTITUDE by Jay Manuel for Sears. He was so crazy running back and forth talking to the L'oreal hair team and taking pictures and even surrounded by supermodels from all corners like: Heather Marks, Yasmin Warsame, and new to the Vlog scene the famous Stacie Mackenzie wearing her fabulous Izzy Camilleri number matching Jay sharply dressed in what I am sure was an Italian suit.









Jay Manuel and Me rapping backstage before his show EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW HERE from Reel2Runway for www.yourkloset.com

The Divas were all around him as he squeezes a moment just for me and Reel2Runway to tell us the inspiration behind his collection this season, followed by "Girl, why were you not at my casting?" We laughed and shared a great New York moment. I missed Ms. June Ambrose and her fashion chic turbans. But Jay looked like he had it all under control.

DAY 2 CONTINUED: MERCEDES BENZ START UP

My first season doing Double duty as not just a model but also as a fashion blogger ( now ready to openly admit it) I was so excited when I was invited to the coveted Mercedes Benz Start Up Competition. Then to get a news release update that the beautiful and sweet faced Canadian Supermodel Jessica Stam would be announcing the winner at this inaugural event.

I decided to do some research about this new segment addition to fashion week and it seemed to be a "can't miss event". After all, I was sitting amongst the veterans of Fashion coverage Derek Chetty of the Toronto Star and Rosey Edah of ET Canada.

Opening the Event was juror Jarrad Clark (the global production director for IMG Fashion; also a judge on Project Runway Australia) saying a few words about the new platform, an ongoing initiative to discover and support up-and-coming Canadian designers.

Finally I thought, someone who can really give Toronto Fashion the push it needs with a great collective effort of talented designers and supporters. But then I thought: how is this different than the shoWs or The New Labels shows? Mercedes Benz Support that's what!!!

After watching one collection grace the runway after the other, I finally could appreciate what it was really all about.

First it was Unttld (Montreal) a collection beautifully based on contrast as the video describes:" its hard, its soft, its rough, its smooth, its shiny, its matte..." and that it was as the models strolled down the runway, these garments were exactly as they were described. Total Contrast in every sense: from dark to light, from street to the gala, they gave silhouettes while keeping loose shapes.

Second Collection down the Runway :Travis Taddeo (Montreal) Streetwear meets luxury (memories of Kanye!) for the cool kids on the street. As the video said, “a girl and a guy walking through a desert looking for fun, in summer.” Great collection of real "Model Gear" super trendy and great for real life of a stylist yet careless rebelrouser.

Third Collection down the Runway was Family Denim Sensation Adam Taubenfligel and his siblings Mark and Ania for Triarchy (Vancouver). This was truly of "Denim etc. that goes from the back of a bike (the core business of the brand is building custom motorcycles) to the party, looking for fictional adventures" where Denim is the core of the outfit and its key that it moves to the curves of the body perfect and imperfect.

CD (Vancouver) by Cassie Dee was next and it was a surprisingly beautiful Western Canadian inspired collection with touches of tailored moments.

However, the final and closing Collection was very sweet. And I am sure even sweeter for winners Danielle Martin and Pao Lim for their collection Martin Lim (Montreal)

I truly experienced " The joyness of traveling, and optimism." when I watched this beautiful pink and periwinkle edged with black micro piping and layers of color-blocking flowed past me. It had signature dresses for day and night. off the shoulder Blouses untraditionally paired with pencil pants and french heels. it was very, LADY.

LGFW DAY 2:MY GIRL MICHI FASHION MANIC

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 2011 3PM

The Michi Show was one of my favourites: Maybe because my Designer is a sister from the Islands just like me. Native Calgerian however a true Jamaican at heart, has shown her love for dance, comfort and flexibility in her own line MICHI.

Before launching MICHI, Michelle Watson designed for some of the world’s most reputable brands such as Donna Karan, Kate Spade and most recently, the luxury high performance athletic line, RLX Ralph Lauren. Michelle holds a degree in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design in New York City, as well as an Honors Business Degree from The University of Western Ontario.




THE SUPERMODEL SHOT TO OPEN THE SHOW.....

Although MICHI is a brand out of New York, Michelle does all her manufacturing and creating right here in Toronto. This season she debuted her collection at LGFW S/S 2012 In the Studio where the Runway is just big enough for models to run a muck.

High Fashion Supermodel days inspired this collection. George Michael and Naomi Campbell where icons and Kate Moss and Tyra Banks were making their marks. It was about show, and lines, and sex. It was about loving every curve, every strand of hair on your head and reapplying lipstick even when you didn't need to because you never know when the cameras will snap a shot.





TOP GIRL: Dani from Sutherlands stomping it out at MICHI

The girls were fierce, and with only 9 girls on rotation, the backstage was insane: Quick changes, arm bands, leg warmers and stilettos flying everywhere.... it was endless sprinting only to come out and shine like we have been dressed for hours.


TOP GIRL: Cassandra from ELMER OLSEN MODELS blowing a kiss

This show had spice, it had beauty and it had old school runway charm. It even had models throwing off wigs from what I hear. LOL! (Embarassed face) And chairwoman of FDCC Robin Kay was there to catch it and all the action. Interactive shows are hard to come by these days.


TOP GIRL: Runwayrenee throwing off my wig into the audience and Ms. Robin Kay caught it without leaving her seat.