Shoppalu

Shoppalu.com, is one of Canada's first online stores, featuring an array of unique, stylish and covetable vintage and new clothes and accessories. Shoppalu acts as not only a shopping destination for one-of-a-kind pieces, but also a platform to purchase items from the next up and coming designers. As a fashion design platform and incubator, we help develop, grow and consult with local and international brands.

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End of Beauty Blunders by kandriko featuring mac cosmetics

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

It’s a ladies only Music Monday, highlighting some amazing female artists this week. English artist Laurel makes a double appearance on the playlist with the Lorde meets Lana-del-Rey tinged ‘To the Hills’ and hand-clapper ‘Fire Breather.’ Also, no explanation needed for the complete legend Neneh Cherry returning with her Robyn-backed track ‘Out of the Black.’ Brit pop contingent is strong with both The Saturdays and Little Mix releasing properly pop-tastic singles in recent weeks. by Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence 1. Laurel – To the Hills

2. Laurel – Fire Breather

3. Neneh Cherry feat. Robyn - Out of the Black

4. The Saturdays – Not Giving Up

5. Little Mix – Word Up!

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

Music Mondays - Oldies Edition Taking a journey back in time this week to the age of the Golden Oldies with some tracks that might bring you back to family road trips when you were young or flipping through your parents/grandparents vinyl collection. So sit back, relax, take a break from the Top 40 and enjoy a little bit of 60’s nostalgia. by Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence Jay & The Americans – Come a Little Bit Closer

Marlena Shaw – California Soul

The Earls – Remember Then

Billie Joe Royal – Down in the Boondocks

Tommy James & The Shondells – Crimson and Clover

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

It’s a return to rock this week. Highly enamoured with the new singles from Albert Hammond Jr. and Arctic Monkeys, not to mention AHJ’s video for the track featuring a pretty neat highspeed tour through the streets (and Metro) of Paris. And let’s be honest, rock never left in the first place :) by Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence Albert Hammond Jr. – Strange Tidings

Arctic Monkeys – Arabella

The Rifles – Under and Over

Alabama Shakes – I A’int the Same

Reputante - Deep Set Eyes

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

Band Spotlight - The Courteeners

This Music Monday we’re shining a particularly bright light on the masterful musical makings of The Courteeners. Here’s a selection of our favourite tracks from their brilliant repertoire. I hear Manchester in their music and it’s the city that lights my soul. p.s. Try not to fall too in love with lead singer Liam Fray. You’ve been warned. by Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence 1. The Courteeners - Are You In Love With a Notion?

2. The Courteeners - That Kiss

3. The Courteeners - The Opener

4. The Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever

5. The Courteeners - What Took You So Long?

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The Celine Trapeze. Disclaimer: I do not own this bag. I borrowed the bag from my very stylish partner-in-crime, The Parsons Reject. She thought it looked better on me since my colour-blocked ensemble couldn't be more primed for a white + black trapeze. I LOVE the look of a lightweight drawstring track pant and heels. Once upon a time I used to say that dress shoes and sweatpants was the biggest style faux pas - now I do it all the time. Then there's Phoebe Philo. The genius designer at Celine has created lust-worthy bags ad infinitum. The trapeze has a beautiful elongated shape, oblong with a token gold clasp. It definitely proves the theory that super luxe accessories can make or break any outfit - even sweats. xo Justine Photograph by Cassandra Lanzino AKA The Parsons Reject See more on my blog: JetsetJustine.com

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

It’s been a mixed bag on the music front this week as this seemingly never ending seasonal limbo has been influencing our listening. Plotting to attempt some sort of weather intervention by way of musical coercion - maybe if we all blast some sunny, summery tunes we’ll get a bit of bloom instead of wintery gloom? It could happen. Hope everyone has a great start to their week! by Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence Conor Oberst – Hundreds of Ways

Jose Gonzalez – Step Out

Torres – Come to Terms

Strange Talk – Climbing Walls

Nina Nesbitt – Selfies

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The Utility Boot: For Fall '13, designers introduced the utility ankle boot - with straps galore. Balenciaga, Chanel and a contemporary brand from London called Miista. Psst I got them at Shoppalu.com. These booties are an embossed leather with chunky straps that I almost always wear undone - especially, when I'm dressing them up. This particular outfit features a slip dress from Nasty Gal collection now available at the Toronto boutique, Sauvage. It's funky enough to dress up with a pair of utility boots - I always like the look of a dress with boots, don't you? It's not the most conventional, but it's a surefire way to show that you have that je ne sais quoi. Will you try the utility boot + slip dress trend? For more inspiration on how to wear this trend go to www.JetsetJustine.com Photography by Alexander Liang.

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Style Saturdays

We're not completely out of the woods yet. Winter is not showing too many signs of letting up so our spring closet is going to have to stay on its hangers just a little bit longer. Layering is still a necessity and our friends, The Sams, are doing just that. Layering what they are wearing with coats and big scarves to keep warm, yet still stylish and trendy is a definite must for them. Giving you two ways to wear a big scarf, a little edgy by Sam P. paired with a leather jacket, and a bit more classic by Sam D. with a pea coat. Take a look at the full post on The Sams Blog, along with both outfit details!

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Go Team Canada! It's fun to wear official Olympic apparel with sporty separates. I kept my palette simple with greys and black. The pop of colour: red mittens! Don't be afraid to wear your Olympic gloves even with the most elegant of outfits - after all, now's the time to wear them. But for heaven's sake when the Olympics are over tuck them away nicely in your closet for, oh, about four years. xo Justine see more of this outfit on jetsetjustine.com Photography by Alexander Liang.

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#WCW Zuzanna Bijoch

Doesn't it make you sad when you find out someone's age and not only are you pleasantly surprised, but you're pretty damn shocked and well...jealous? Well, don't get your knickers in a knot but our #WCW this week is the beautiful Zuzanna Bijoch. Not yet 20, this beautiful chica has already been hand picked as the face of Prada, booked a few Vogue covers here and there, and probably travelled to more places for the catwalk than I'll ever see.

I also haven't made up my mind as to whether models are inherently born with a sense of style or they just look good in absolutely anything when they roll out of bed each day. I'm leaning towards the latter

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

This week's playlist is shiny and new, a mix of recently released or up-and-coming tracks from both established and new acts. Not to play favourites here but, Beck has had a place in my heart (swoon!) since Odelay in my middle-teen days circa 1996. I think you'll agree that with this utterly beautiful new track we're all indeed glad to have him back. *It also has to be mentioned that this man knows how to wear a hat! Happy week everyone! By Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence Angel Olsen – Hi-Five

Beck – Waking Light

Tokyo Police Club – Hot Tonight

The Dead Weather – Open Up (That’s Enough)

Lily Lane – Nothin’ But Trouble

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#WCW Suki Waterhouse

So…we’re obsessed. This blonde bombshell not only has that Brit-Don’t-Care-Swag, but she’s also dating Bradley Cooper, has great locks, model and actress, amazing street style, and she’s into photography!! Can you ask for more?

#WCW worthy? Yup. Think so.

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#TBT Icon

Who remembers Twin Peaks?!?! WE DO!!

We all know the 80s/early 90s was an era that lasted a tad long (in regards to trends), but holy hell is it ever cyclical, right? That hair even feels back in style sometimes. Anyway, this week's throwback is dedicated to the one and only, Lara Flynn Boyle, aka Donna Hayward, aka the lady in the pink ballet outfit at the Golden Globes that had a thing with Jack Nicholson. Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics we dug up and don't forget to revel in that leather skirt and bandana!

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Shoppalu Recommends - Music Mondays

Monday has crept up on us once again, bringing yet another assemblage of tunes to hopefully brighten up the Monday blues. Not being immune to obsessive repeat syndrome, in fact, it's a regularity, the re-vamp of 'Once Upon a Dream' from Disney's 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty for the upcoming film Maleficent is just haunting and has been on perpetual replay. Tall order considering everyone knows that Sleeping Beauty is THE best Disney film ;) By Colleen McDowell @poppiesandpence Lana Del Rey – Once Upon a Dream

Augustines – Cruel City

Real Estate – Talking Backwards

The Drowners – Luv, Hold Me Down

The Growl – Douse the Lamps

[modellove]

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Quote of the Week

“Freedom does not come from a checklist, and a ‘zero inbox’ is not a life aspiration. If liberation is a chore, it’s not really liberation. You can’t contract your way to freedom. You can’t punish your way to joy. You can’t fight your way to inner peace. The journey has to feel the way you want the destination to feel. Let me offer this again, in reverence to your life force: The journey has to feel the way you want the destination to feel. And again, with respect to your potential: The journey has to feel the way you want the destination to feel.” ~Danielle La Porte