Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Designer Spotlight: MEILING

Lamania is proud to present Meiling's collection in-store! Meiling is an established designer based in the Caribbean, Trinidad and throughout South America. She is well-known for designing and dressing celebrities in the region such as Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam, and international celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. 

Meiling Esau Photo 2013.JPGMEILING Resort 12-4.jpg

Meiling gives her own edgy, but feminine takes on her innovative, yet modern designs. Her bold, contemporary style fits perfectly with Lamania's pieces. We know that you'll love them just as much as we do. 

Lamania is featuring a number of Meiling's  pieces, such as her black blouses lined with checkered prints, and her bold collared button-up shirts. These pieces have clean silhouettes and are very versatile to wear. They provide the perfect backdrop for accessorizing. Each piece is made of 97% cotton and is wearable for any type of season!

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https://www.dropbox.com/s/o2u2yyau8wewv1h/LiM-instore-images-May2016-YT3.m4v?dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/s/57zbzoxf1snm58f/Haute%20Carib-Meiling%20%2B%20Trinidad.mp4?dl=0

Meiling: Berlin 2014


Visit Lamania and check out Meiling's collection today!
Or visit Meiling online:

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- Austine Ortencio
Lamania Boutique

Monday, June 20, 2016

Pop-up Event: Sadé James' Madeoneofakind


On Friday June 17th, Sadé James, a 30 year old jewelry designer from Pickering, Ontario showcased her collection, "Madeoneofakind" at Lamania Boutique. After taking a closer look at her work, it's clear that each piece is indeed, one of a kind. As a designer, she makes sure that each piece is of high quality and hand-crafted. In fact, one of her favourite materials to work with is natural stone. She often uses aloid chain glass beads, marble earth stones, agate stones, and peiwa pearls, just to name a few. 

The Dagger: $35.00 - Material: Quality earth stones and goldtone spikes 





How long have you been making jewelry for?

I've been making jewelry since I was around 10. It was definitely not as good as it is now... It was just a hobby of mine back then. In 2013, I decided to turn it into an actual business because I was bored with my full time job and I wanted something to look forward to doing everyday. So that's why I really started.  

Why did you choose the name "Madeoneofakind"?

That's an interesting question. My social media name is "isoneofakind". I like to set myself apart from everyone else, I don't like to be a part of the masses, I like to be different. So, it was only natural to actually name my business "Madeoneofakind" because the jewelry is made by me, and they're made by hand. 

What types of materials do you use to make your jewelry?

I use natural stones, sterling silver... But I really like natural stones because they're from the earth and look so stunning.

Name the factors/inspirations that drove you to start making your own jewelry

I've always been into fashion. I went to school for fashion merchandising and management. I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was younger. I used to make little designs here and there. But I actually went and worked for a Canadian fashion designer as a co-op student. After working with that designer, I kind of saw a different side to being a fashion designer and it actually made me not want to be a fashion designer anymore. I kind of wanted to be a part of the business side of fashion but hey, my life didn't take me down that course. It took me to designing jewelry. 

When creating a piece of jewelry, what are the inspirations you look to while making it?

When I'm on my shopping hunts to make jewelry, it's honestly whatever I'm attracted to. It could be the stone... and I'll buy it but at the time I might not know what I want to use it for. Then one day, I just might see a pattern on TV, or get inspiration from architecture. Then I just visualize something in my mind and I just put it together. Inspiration comes from everywhere. 

What sets you apart from other Toronto jewelry designers?

Everything I make is handmade by me, and I do custom designs. I use a lot of natural stones and whatnot. I think that's what sets me apart. 

What were some of the major challenges you had to overcome throughout your journey in making jewelry?

I think the biggest obstacle/challenge I had was starting my business, and letting everybody know that this is what I'm doing. When I started out, it was difficult promoting it on social media and not being afraid to do it. It takes a lot of guts to do it and you don't know exactly how people are going to react to it. However, after I started doing it, I didn't care anymore. This is what I want to do and it's either: I'm going to do it, or I'm not going to do it. They're either going to like it or they're not. They say that your friends are the hardest ones to convince because they know you for who you are and not what you want to be. So yeah, I just went ahead and did it. 

Where do you see Madeoneofakind in 10 years?

I'm hoping that I have my own store. A nice Madeoneofakind by Sadé store, featuring all kinds of handmade jewelry by myself and maybe other jewelry designers from Toronto. 

Do you have any advice for those who are aspiring to be jewelry makers? 

Just do it! Like Nike, just do it. 

And that concludes the interview! We would like to thank Sadé James for graciously putting in the time and effort to have her jewelry on display at Lamania Boutique, as well as everyone who came by and supported this pop-up shop! 

In case you missed the pop-up event, don't worry! You can check out more of Sadé's work on Madeoneofakind's website, and social media! 


- Austine Ortencio
Lamania Boutique

Friday, May 27, 2016

What's In: Long-sleeve Floral Dresses

Here's a common question for all of you ladies living in Toronto... Have you ever stared into your closet in confusion wondering what clothes would be appropriate for the never-ending changing weather? One day it's warm and sunny, then the next day it's -2 degrees and raining. Frustrating, right? Now that we're transitioning into warmer weather (hopefully!), it's the perfect time to bust out the dresses! 

But wait.. with Toronto's weather being so unpredictable, what type of dresses are most suitable? At this point, it may be a bit too chilly to wear strapless tops and dresses, but also too warm to wear sweaters. This is where long-sleeve dresses come in! They give the right amount of skin exposure suited for both warm and cool weather. But not just any long-sleeve dress will do for this season... get ready for floral prints to make yet, another comeback! Floral printed long-sleeve dresses are fun, flirty, and flatters any body type. 


And for all of you Toronto ladies out there, complete the outfit with a cardigan or jacket to stay in-sync with the weather! 



Stop by our store to check out our latest floral printed long-sleeve dresses! Various types of floral prints are available to suit anyone's individual style. 

- Austine Ortencio
Xoxo Lamania

Friday, May 20, 2016

Floral Dress For Any Occassion

It is finally that time of the year when you pull your favorite summer dress out of the closet or if still haven’t found your favorite dress yet, then come in to Lamania boutique and pick it up because it’s waiting for you. Those very feminine dresses with floral print will embellish your wardrobe. Floral print is classic, but it is also attention-getting, so you will not be left unnoticed.



This pretty dress is the best outfit for casual walks around the city with your friends or for a hot date at a nice restaurant. You can’t just go wrong with it, especially if you enhance the look with some accessories and shoes that will compliment it. Wear it with wedges, t-straps or sandal flats and pair with a nice clutch or purse.

Midi is the prefect size for anyone, it is not too short and not too long, which makes it appropriate for almost any occasion. The super lightweight and soft material will make you feel free and comfortable.

If you are all about being effortlessly stylish, then this dress is a must-have for you. 



Match it with:





Evgenya Grigoryeva
- Lamania Boutique



Friday, May 6, 2016

Summer Trend: Lightweight Linens

With Summer around the corner, beat the humidity and sweat with breathable and washable linens, now available at Lamania Boutique.



To go with our linen pants, we now have matching shirts, as well as dresses that come in 2 different colors: white and navy.

Why are these the perfect pieces for summer? Not only are the fibers of linen are absorbent, they are lightweight and highly valued for their coolness for extreme hot weather. Say goodbye to tight clothing that make you feel restricted, and say hello to these lightweight linen pieces that make you feel free.  

They're simple, fresh, comfy, trendy, and durable. The perfect combination just in time for Summer! 

Are you ready for Summer?

xoxo Lamania

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Mad about Midis

Gone are the days of the thigh constraining, hip suffocating miniskirt. It’s not that they aren’t cute, in theory. It’s just that not everybody has a Kate Moss/Pinterest/curve-less body. So, miniskirt, we’re taking a break. It’s not me, it’s you. Ta-ta for now. Now, to fill that void made by the absence of your beloved miniskirt, let us introduce the new trend that the fashion world, on runways and off, is going bonkers about: the midi skirt. These beautiful creations both cinch in your waist area, and give plenty of room for your legs to breathe so that you don’t look like a walking fish out of water. Practicality, ladies. What’s more, seeing as they cinch in the waist, midi skirts give any body the effect of an hourglass figure. To put it more simply: the midi skirt illusion= great looking ass, skinny looking legs. Like magic, I know. So without further ado, let us get to the aim of this post, which is to show you midi skirt looks from runways, and some of our own photos to show you how to style them in real life:

The Runway Inspiration: Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2016



The Real Life Look: Lamania Spring 2016, Look 1 




In this look, we paired our gorgeous floral midi skirt with a chunky black knit and nude sandal heels for an adorable (work or play!) spring day look. Light but pretty accessories such as our gold link bracelet, and intricate gold ring add a beautiful touch without interrupting or taking away from the skirt. Our black evening bag, that can be used as a clutch or a purse, adds a sleek touch and makes the perfect accessory to carry your necessities (phone, lipgloss, emergency cookie stash…).

The Real Life Look: Lamania Spring 2016, Look 2




In look two, we added a light-coloured sweater with a twist. The cream colour of the shirt makes the colours in the skirt more vibrant, while the simple detailing of the black lines ensures that the contrast between top and bottom isn’t too drastic. Since the top has a slight pattern in this look, we went even simpler with the jewellery by taking away bracelets and adding one cocktail ring. Also, since the top is cream coloured, we traded the black purse for a quilted baby-pink clutch to keep the colours flowing and avoid too harsh of a contrast.

The Real Life Look: Lamania Spring 2016, Look 3



Go from daytime cutie to nighttime va-va-voom vixen by adding a skin hugging black long-sleeved shirt. Throw a leather jacket over your shoulders to incorporate a badass touch, and also accentuate your waist, making it appear smaller.

 The Real Life Look: Lamania Spring 2016, Look 1








Here we paired our midi skirt with a plain white button up to channel a classy yet oh-so-effortless Audrey Hepburn style look. For arm candy, we used our colourblock evening clutch. The baby blue and grey of the clutch matches the colours in the skirt and flows perfectly with the look.

The Real Life Look: Lamania Spring 2016, Look 2




For the last look, we simply added a chunky grey knit over the white button up for a more preppy, colder-weather that will make your inner Blair Waldorf do a little happy dance.

Now that you’ve seen the enchanting possibilities of a midi skirt, I can just feel your inner fashion blogger turning the gears of your mind with anticipation of potential midi skirt clad Instagram posts; enter super cliché caption: “live life colourfully'', just make sure you have one of these skirts in your life.

Tina Marcelli
-Lamania Boutique



Wednesday, February 17, 2016

La Tease 2016


On Tuesday, February 9th Lamania teamed up with Diva Girl Fashion, a fabulous community dedicated to making women feel empowered, fit, and stylish. La Tease is all about fashion and local businesses dedicated to women.
One, that caught our attention was Bee23, it started when the super cute, confident, and bubbly founder Michelle Hamer started getting migraines and realizing they were being caused by her favourite perfume. After educating herself on what is actually inside the products we use on a day-to-day basis, she got a little angry and a lot more inspired. She set out to find a moisturizer on the market without all the added chemical sludge, and, after this endeavour was proven unsuccessful, she took matters into her own hands. This is how Bee 23 and all of its products came to fruition- and from personal experience after buying some products from Michelle, our skin is all the much better for it. 



Michelle did miss a beat and seemed extremely knowledgeable about her products, as well as what goes into the products that we use daily, and the horrible effects that it can have on our faces. After talking to her and being totally fascinated and educated for about an hour, I bought a super delicious smelling soap bar from her for an amazing $5, and I love it! I now use it everyday, twice a day, and my skin has never felt so squeaky-clean. Needless to say I endorse the hell out of her brand. Also, watch out for Bee 23's hottest product: they're hotty balm moisturizer! It had already picked up a huge fan base in Toronto, with many ladies saying that it can even be used as a primer that is beneficial rather than damaging to your skin. Having your cake and eating it too never smelt or felt so fresh and clean.  

Here is the sneak peak from Lamania fashion show.




More about Diva Girl:

Lamania would like to thank Caryn Parchment (Diva Girl Fashion) for being such amazing host, and Jamie Espinoza (@captivecamera) for those great photographs. 

Tina Marcelli
-Lamania Boutique