what's the point in trying when a 13 year old is always there to put you to shame

oh, tavi! you tiny little thing, so excited by obscure garments, not yet disillusioned. i envy you. with a body 10 years younger than my own yet style and courage beyond your years, you put me to shame.

pop quiz time! above is a photo of Tavi...

a) taken by Autumn DeWilde
b) taken at the Rodarte studio in New York
c) taken the night of the Pop party during Fashion Week

trick question. all of the above. yea. i know.

check out tavi's blog here

advent calendar: caroling

everyone has a classic christmas song they deem their favourite but i tend to prefer new originals or reworked versions of the classics. below are five festive favourites:

my morning jacket - come closer
although this was not originally a christmas song, the band reworked some of the lyrics for a radio session in which 'soldier' is replaced with 'santa' and 'who told you that you left me amazed' with 'you told me that you'd bring me a gift'. a melancholy song, certainly, but with the right amount of bells jingling in the background its been transformed into a winter time favourite of mine.


belle and sebastian - 12 days of christmas
another live session, belle and sebastian play their version of the 12 days of christmas with a joyful bounce and playful sounds in the background.


sufjan stevens - come on! let's boogey to the elf dance!
his religious background only makes it fitting that his christmas songs collection ranges over 5 albums, all containing a mix of christmas classics and his own original songs. come on! let's boogey to the elf dance! is an upbeat charm of a song listing everything associated with christmas, from sleigh bells and elves to jesus and mary.

run dmc - christmas in hollis
the video says it all! pure merriment and mirth!

and my all time favourite is

...
...
...

badly drawn boy - donna and blitzen
i find something so infectious about this song i can't help but listen to it on repeat. it reminds me of all the warmth and happiness one can find in love and how magical it feels to be falling in love, maybe even more so than seeing reindeer fly through the night sky. sublime and romantic, will you be the blitzen to my donna?


ALSO SEE:

• a sadder sufjan, one we are more accustomed with, yes? did i make you cry on christmas (well you deserved it!) is heartbreaking but one of the most relatable christmas songs out there.
• fairytale of new york is a classic christmas tune for the punk rock set brought by the pogues with some unexpected lyrics which surely won't conjure up warm thoughts of christmas for most.
• the raveonettes set the scene of a winter wonderland in the fairytale of a song, simply titled the christmas song
  

advent calendar: decorating with martha

etc.

advent calendar: wish list item three

the museum of modern art (MoMA), in new york, currently has a series of workshops based on the bauhaus, an art movement of the early 20th century founded by architect walter gropius. an all encompassing school of art - the ideology being that all art should be seamlessly integrated with everyday life - it heavily influenced what we now know as industrial design. the schools output can be thought of as almost didactic in nature. the artists', which included mies van der rohe, wassily kandinsky, paul klee, and piet mondrian among others, created output ranging from works of architecture, to furniture, to paintings and beyond.

while reading the list of workshops offered at the MoMA(even though im not in new york, nor plan to be in the near future), i caught sight of the 'bauhaus bags: design your own tote' lab and was immediately intrigued. the idea of painting your own tote design may seem lacklustre, but on further thought one can see the immediate connection with the bauhaus movement. the tote bag itself is a simple design, a square carryall made of simple canvas but that's the very idea behind bauhaus:

take those everyday objects in your life and create art...
make them something above and beyond a stairwell, or a telephone...
create something in which the user can find joy and ease interacting with...

so for these reasons, my wish list item #3 is none other than a personalized tote. i dont think i like anything more than personalized and carefully thought out gifts, made from the heart and id love to find a bauhaus inspired tote bag under the christmas tree this year. what other personalized gift ideas do you have?

check out the MoMA video accompanying the workshops below:

advent calendar: candy cane hot chocolates

a canadian through and through, i wait patiently every year for two very important events: tim hortons rrroll up the rim, and candy cane hot chocolates. while the former generally leaves me cross (two cups of coffee a day for weeks on end and not a single prize won!), the latter never fails to make me smile. whats better, i've recently learned how to make it at home (no need to trek through meter high snow!)

there are many recipes out there - a quick google search will prove it - i like to make mine by adding a peppermint tea bag to a cup of hot cocoa and crushing up little candy canes into that mixture. garnish as you wish but i'd suggest a mound of whipped cream and generously sprinkled with crushed candy canes.

photo credit - ginnerobot

now grab your favourite book or turn on your favourite holiday movie, get the fireplace roaring, cuddle up in that snuggie, and enjoy!

advent calendar: wish list item two

nylon's garcon-célèbre du jour and the rightful holder of all little girls' hearts (take that robert pattinson), zac efron promises to make every day in 2010 a delight. Ring in a very sexy new year with the 2010 ZE calendar. my only complaint? not nearly enough topless snaps!

available at amazon for $12.19! who says love don't come cheap?

advent calendar: wish list item one

gimme gimme gimme!

a little rocker, a tad pricey, all beautiful. the givenchy leather and metal studded headband. a paltry 500 bones.

what gaga aspires to make

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp from Spy Films on Vimeo.

absurd, intense, psychedelic art. enjoy.

first families: gainsbourg & birkin

hollywood is known for its blatent nepotism (see: the entire copolla family including indie stars sophia and jason schwartzman and fading star nicholas cage) however few manage to pull off reproducing strictly cool kin and thrusting them into the spotlight with grace. serge gainsbourg and jane birkin, as shortlived or volatile as their relationship might have been, not only produced some of the best pop culture grand oeuvres of the century (see: je t'aime... moi non plus) but also reproduced one of the coolest 'it girls' of our generation. charlotte acts and sings, but started her it girl career as the muse for some of her father's most controversial work, lemon incest and charlotte forever.

you can also see charlotte work her magic in michel gondry's 'the science of sleep' and the bob dylan biopic 'i'm not there' and showcase her pretty voice on her platinum album 5:55 released in 2006.

jane birkin, although not quite as popular as brigitte bardot in her heyday, has managed to age with grace and dignity and continues to actively participate in the arts community (bardot on the other hand has made quite the name for herself as an animal activist and france's top racist). the maman of chère charlotte herself played the role of muse in her time, a fashion icon forever immortalized in the 'birkin bag' by hermès. The bag is so desirable and popular, birkin suggests the popularity of the bag exceeds her own, telling the new york times "now when my daughter goes to America, they ask her if she is the daughter of the bag."

despite his passing nearly 20 years ago, serge gainsbourg maintains his popularity as both an old-fashioned chanteur as well as a french new wave artist, the musical equivalent of godard or truffaut. a reissue of 'histoire de melody nelson' early in 2009 proves his staying power and influence over popular culture today. the national treasure now passes his legacy on to his daughter who has proven herself to be a talented singer and actress as well as a worthwhile contender as the next national treasure of france; like mother like daughter like father.

grey anatomy

i recently came across a paparazzi photo of sienna miller rocking some silly sexy leopard print pants and toting a beautiful grey bag - love at first sight, see for yourself:

her bag, in case you are wondering (i know you are), is the yves saint laurent besace flap messenger and it goes for a paltry $1,895 US. justifiable, right? great colour, perfect for any season - if you wore it everyday for a year that's only $5.20 a day! (let's forget taxes for arguments sake). forget about feeding an orphan for just the price of a cup of coffee a day, you can have so much more fun with the purse (i kid, i kid - unfortunately people who are shitty enough to believe it DO exist).

let's all bask in its glory one more time before moving on to more reasonable options:

ok, phew, we've got that out of our systems now right? good.

it's the oft ignored middle sibling, losing attention to the sweet baby (white) or the rebellious teenager (black) however, as mentioned earlier, grey really is one of the most versatile colours. It can manage to make any accessory, be it a purse, a scarf, or a killer pair of heels, functional for any season.

asos - the website actually lets you shop by colour! - offers this great grey bag for a fraction of the cost (£40). now if only shipping costs and customs wouldn't cause that price to double.

some other affordable choices from left to right: deux lux - $68 US, deena & ozzy - $58 US; both available at urban outfitters, (i rock the one in the middle in red) zambos & siega - $121 US; available at shopbop.com

it may not have the natural punch of a stark white or a deep black, but paired with bright accessories or garments, grey is a chic and sophisticated option - just remember to have fun with it!

bonus: for being the worst blogger and friend, here's a little interview with the veils to brighten your day. i would love to: know what this was shot with, date this boy Finn Andrews, be this girl Sophia Burn.

obsessed: the brothers bloom

sorry this post is retarded in its delivery - written well over 2 months ago, i haven't been able to find the time to properly write the piece nor search out the appropriate images to accompany it. please take it as it is, and love it for what it is. sincerest apologies - expect more effort going forward.

...
...
...

friday night has quickly turned into date night with my sister. we usually watch one of those horrible tween movies (hannah montana! 17 again! hey! don't knock it 'til you've tried it) but we decided to do something a little different this past friday. don't get me wrong - i think i have pretty good taste in movies - but i find that it's difficult finding quirky indie fare with wide theatrical releases and when you do find a location playing your film of choice, the times are odd and they don't play for very long. our choices came down to the brothers bloom and rudo y cursi. funny enough, both films were about a pair of brothers who don't necessarily see eye to eye. the brothers bloom won out (because it was playing at a later time). point homa for making the decision - i'm going to take all the credit for this one, because when i make the wrong choices (ie: the last kiss) i take all the blame as well.

i loved every aspect of the film - storyline, characters, costumes, soundtrack, locations, props. A job very well done by the production team - they obviously assembled a very fun, smart group of people to work on the film - from costume designers to actors. i was so inspired by everything i had to share - and there's just so much to share, i'm going to break it down into parts.

locations:
the brothers bloom was chock full of beautiful scenery - i'm already planning a vacation to montenegro (not really, just in my dreams) and reminiscing about prague. apparently it was filmed in serbia, montenegro, romania and prague but locations for the purpose of the plot were montenegro, prague, st. petersburg, and mexico.

beautiful montenegro(londonbrad on flickr)

rinko kikuchi who played bang bang in prague - note the amazing glasses and the gloves!

costumes:
new girl crushes: rachel weisz and rinko kikuchi. rachel is so gorgeous and the classically beautiful outfits she donned just let her natural beauty shine through without overwhelming them. rinko kikuchi is so funny she's been described as the harpo marx of the brothers bloom. so cheeky! and her outfits played the part too! the men also sported some old world classics as well - why don't men wear hats or suspenders anymore? didn't sundays used to be the day of leisure, where couples would take promenades in their finest gear? now we all bum around in dirty jeans and baseball hats.

props:
oh my, too much to love. from the montage of penelope's (weisz) many hobbies (she collects them!) to the sea liner and on, there are so many things i want in my life!

circles

palm pictures released the directors label series in 2003, the brain child of michel gondry, chris cunningham, and spike jonze, which showcases the art of the music video. i've only watched an excerpt of the gondry dvd but it was a gem. in this clip, michel incorporates the process of spin art with music in collaboration with the darling genius bjork. the product is stunning - beautiful rings of colour, kinda like ben branagan series of circle drawings above.

canadian author/artist douglas coupland also gets in on the fun with his 'canada house' decor. check out ouno design for more info and pics.

words of wisdom: vonnegut

1. find a subject you care about.
2. do not ramble, though.
3. keep it simple.
4. have the guts to cut.
5. sound like yourself.
6. say what you mean to say.
7. pity the readers.

beauty draws us with a single hair

there's something about vintage that exudes romance. i assume it's the stories passed down with the heirlooms or the mystery of the stories unknown. whatever it is, i'm not ashamed to admit that i really don't care, that i prefer the aesthetics of vintage. the craftsmanship, the style, the materials; they all surpass anything from our times. i'm not one of the fortunate, however, and i can only dream of a vast vintage collection (hopefully my 6/49 ticket turns out a winner tomorrow! fingers crossed!) that doesn't stop me from collecting pictures of vintages, because one day, someday, i will get the chance to purchase my dream items.

these lovely hair accessories - perfect for any bride - are photographed by jennifer carrillo. she takes standard wedding photos, but they are touching none the less. as an added bonus her website features the music of glen hansard and marketa irglova from 'once' which is such a great film, it melts my cold heart.

ebay and etsy are two tried and true sources for lovely vintage finds or homemade crafts. this lovely set here can be purchased on etsy at modishvintage, or you can go all out and get a brush from the mason pearson line. i found out about the brand from mindy kaling's blog (girl crush!!!). so cool, reminds me of titanic!

what is my ideal of vintage romance? it's all about innocence , it's all about the hair - and curls are the epitome of vintage, virginal hair. i love the locks of these two lovely ladies, the first photographed by claudio mancilla and the second for dearcreatures, found at oh joy! and because i'm the worst blogger in the world, i've lost the reference for that final photo, which i think is so lovely - i'm going to take a stab at it and say it was found at oh, hello friend! or oh joy!

now i just have to wait and will for my hair to grow grow grow, so i can have ethereal curls once again.

david hughes - illustrations for adults

i think it's only appropriate to follow my previous post regarding illustrations for children with one for adults. david hughes is as talented as any to follow the likes of antoine de st exupery - his website displays work for a range of publications from the new yorker to esquire, even to children's books by sandy turner!

on a rare night a couple of weeks ago, i went out with some friends and our pre-event shindig was hosted by my good friend guy. his home was so lovely - his mother's an artist and by the looks of her pad, she's also an earthy goddess with great taste. in his kitchen was a wall absolutely covered in amazing magazine tears and other inspiration - among them, an illustration that jumped out.

the sex and the city ladies! wow wow wow! david hughes captured the essence of each of these four women! samantha's resemblance is uncanny - carrie's dress - miranda on her high horse - charlotte's body! everything in this picture is perfect right down to the yellow cab and bridge in the background, the proportions of which perfectly offset the scale of the ladies in the foreground.

what i love about illustrators, which you cannot find in other artists, is their knack for portraying pop culture and the political arena at any moment in time (granted many traditional visual artists capture the political environment of their time, ie: picasso - guernica, it's never with the urgency of a commercial artist).

besides, how could i not love a man who took one of my favourite books, and managed to create an illustration that wasn't stuffy - as jane eyre and other novels of the era are often considered to be - in fact, it's downright quirky!

find other david hughes work here.

youth novels

with the recent (somewhat) release of the trailer for spike jonze's 'where the wild things are' i couldn't help but be reminded of my childhood and the bedtime stories that accompanied it. (and with that last sentence, i couldn't help but be reminded how 'i couldn't help but be reminded/think/wonder/etc' is the very foundation of the carrie bradshaw school of journalism - that is to say it's not very good technically). favourite books, read and reread, are now in tatters - missing covers, missing pages, scribbles all over - many have needed replacing over the years.

'the little prince' is not only my favourite children's story but also my favourite book of all time, and so it too has recently been replaced, after an hour searching high and low in the quirky used book store by my office. Aside from the great story itself, 'the little prince' also contains great illustrations which, face it, as a child are quintessential to an enjoyable reading experience.

antoine de saint exupéry filled the novel with simple little drawings (a snake having eaten an elephant, often mistaken for a hat by the aged eye, or a sweet lamb). however, it is in their simplicity that the reader finds authenticity in the narrator's voice - after all, he is supposed to be someone weary of adulthood.

i couldn't speak about children's stories without mentioning miss madeline - what a great television show this made as well

and of course, how could one speak of cheeky little girls in big cities without mentioning eloise! the smartest five year old i know, she taught me that when getting dressed, the first thing to do is put on my gloves. how posh!

then there are the intricate, detailed, and mesmerizingly beautiful illustrations that can be found in children's books as well.

the above can all be found in stories by marie queen of roumania, often illustrated by edmund dulac or helen stratton. the very first, my favourite, reminds me of klimt with its dark background, flat colours, and the daintiest flowers

needless to say, i'm more than excited for the release of 'where the wild things are', but until then i'll immerse myself in the book and rediscover all the magic i've forgotten since the last time i read it. ah, to be young again.

pet my pussy (too lewd?)

when tax season and exam studying brings me down, i turn to the cute & cuddly. as someone with a cat allergy, i still dare you not to smile after you check out these precious kitties!

(bestweekever)

(mfrost.typepad)

linda serbu is a dreamy lady and michel gondry makes dreams reality, so this video is nothing short of genius.

but a much superior kitty video is this one, maru even has his own blog! what a smart kitty!



by far my least favourite cat is lynsi's (frisky). she's a racist and sexist, and i don't think i can respect such a hateful kitty.

by far my favourite cat is ian's (more (and bigger) pictures please ian)! i've only met max a couple of times, but there is a special bond.

there are so many more pretty pussies, but this post would go on for an eternity if i didn't bring it to a stop now. sweet dreams all!

adieu, jeunesse!

(thobias faldt)

goodbye indecent, excessive, irresponsible behaviour

goodbye late nights and greasy spoons that ensue

goodbye scraped knees and bruised thighs, of which we have no recollection, worn as badges of honour, as a testament to our tolerance

farewell to the scheming, the plotting, the manipulation
the gossip, and incessant trash talk

adieu, jeunesse, adieu!

...
...
...

hello saturday spent at the office, hello sunday spent at the office

hello cheap suits bought while reassuring ourselves that our position is only temporary
with the hope that one day we will be artists,
we will spend our time in charming cafés drinking organic coffee, smoking hand rolled cigarettes

hello boredom, self loathing, and the quarter life crisis that will creep up on us but by no means take us by surprise

Salut

...
...
...

if i sound fatalistic, it's only because i am

white album

it may seem as if this post is inspired by the snowfall today yet nothing could be further from the truth. i'm not exactly sure how the whole "no white after labour day" rule works, but i think it's safe to assume that white is allowable now that it's april. and while it may evoke memories (or current situations) of snow, white also reminds me of spring mornings and the freshness of the air after an overnight rainfall.

elizabeth & james items are so simple yet they still manage to be stand out pieces in an ocean of contemporary designer lines. the above dress is on my spring/summer wishlist (or only-in-my-dreams list, rather); it has the casual elements of boyfriend t-shirts but it manages to be feminine with that darling layering at the bottom.

the spring/summer current/elliot ad campaign makes me want to put on a pair of hunters and jump around on a muddy farm. the collection is made up of many white linen dresses and faded blue jeans that remind me of playful midwest farmers daughters.

sessun's spring/summer 09 collection conjures up the same yearnings for the simple life. featuring allie (that alien-beautiful friend of whitney on mtv's the city), i love the grainy faded effect on this photo - so dreamy!

buy my love

i won't deny that i love receiving gifts, but there's nothing like that deep-down-warm-and-fuzzy feeling i get watching someone else unwrap a gift i've put a lot time and effort into; part of that time and effort always goes into the wrapping. sure, run of the mill wrapping paper does the job, but it doesn't really add anything to the gift so i always like to think of fun, new, creative ways to spruce up those special packages.

tapeswell sells decorative packing tapes in a plethora of patterns - from damask (above) to blue tinsel. japanese masking tapes are also a fun option and can be mixed and matched to your taste (check out the sets at gingko papers or identi-tape)

i may be biased when i say this is my favourite gift wrapping idea (my sisters made this for my birthday a couple of months ago) but who can deny this fun, carefree option. just take an old take-out dinner bag (make sure it's clean) and cover with colourful feathers and gems in a haphazard manner. this is a project that lets you get creative, so if feathers and gems aren't your thing, try stickers, baseball cards, or even painting on your own design.

mail to me is very much like gift giving - i love coming home to it (granted it's not a credit card bill) but i love sending it that much more; that's why i adore the above idea. brown paper is a classic choice for wrapping parcels, and the reason why i once ran around the city looking for the stuff at 10 in the evening. i eventually settled for the paper they used to cover tables at a local restaurant - it did the trick and it was free! vintage stamps and twine take it that extra mile. bugs and fishes created the lovely packaging above.

gift wrapping wisdom:

• when choosing a wrapping scheme, use your gift as inspiration - tying in your wrapping with your gift creates a theme, and themes are magical! they let that special someone on the receiving end know you were thoughtful when it came to the gift.

• take your time - bad execution can make even the most wonderful idea fail.

• make your wrapping work that extra mile - if not torn up, great wrapping can become art, hung up in a frame or on a tack board, or it can be used over and over again (like gift bags)

remember, wrapping gifts is all about being creative and thinking outside the box. you can use these ideas as a jumping off point and once you do, you'll be looking for new reasons to give gifts in the first place!

molly ringwald as andie walsh

i tend to shy away from the 'girly girl' label. this is mostly due to the preconceived notions that any girl who wears pink on wednesdays, cries every time she reads 'the little princess', or can belt out the lyrics to any taylor swift song (or t.swift as she's fondly known between my bff lynsi and myself) must be air headed, prissy, or the meanest of mean girls. those who like to think of themselves as trendy or hip (as i do) know that blacks, olive greens, and mustard yellows rule; there's never room for pink (lest it's of the neon variety). Well, no more friends! I've stumbled upon a plethora of bubblegum pink lately, and it's inspired me to embrace my inner girly girl.

1. i am enamored by the retro capelet on this vivacious & ethereal ASOS frock. The electric pink modernizes the style so cleverly!

2. the colour selection at China Glaze is mind blowing! i love Shocking Pink and wore it throughout the summer - it looks great against a glowing tan.

3. No One Belongs Here More Than you: Stories by Miranda July is a sweet anthology of short stories, bound together by the timeless themes of sexuality and comfort in your own skin. not only is it a great read, it will look so great on any bookshelf!

4. Martha Stewart - gotta love her! learn how to make these darling (and shockingly real looking) paper flowers here.

5. this photo may be pulled from the catalog for Matthew Williamson's line at The Rug Company, but I can't get my eyes off this couch!

6. oh, Christian, you've done it again! these are the kind of shoes you pull off the shelf when you're feeling down - the perfect fuck me pumps!

7. this wallpaper, found at apartment therapy, is gorgeous; the metallic grey updates what could be a boring old floral pattern and creates a rock and roll vibe.

in conclusion, whoever said orange was the new pink truly was seriously disturbed!

lay your head where my heart used to be

maybe it's because i work 6 days a week and rarely have a chance to sleep in, maybe it's because my favourite memories are the ones spent doing so - but i've become obsessed with the idea of wasting a whole weekend away in a cloud of white sheets. more than half the photos i've collected from my favourite decor blogs are of beds; messy & made, small & large, stuffed with pillows & simple and sweet. where i'd ever put all these beds? i dont know, but a girl can dream. so here are a few that elicit those sweet dreams (and the saucy ones alike).

i love the stark white with the pop of red from that darling doily heart (found at littlebrownpen)


jek in the box's bed reminds me of lazy summer days


i dont recall where i found this one, but there's something romantic about the informality of the mismatched sheets

share your love

for the pretty little things in life, and the pretty little feelings they inspire

for the right words, the wrong ones, and the ones made up on the way

for the offensively excessive, and the stunningly simple

for the macarons & the tea cups, the pillows & duvets, the hydrangeas & the earthworms

and for everything in between, i share my love

so come join me!

take out your chinked china and finest vintage dress and join me for some tea and talk over books, art, style, and your neighbour's latest interior design scheme - i love to have company!