let's try this again

See all the new items and stay tuned for weekly updates here!

I've had the privilege of shooting with wonderfully talented and lovely friend Agnes Thor on multiple occasions these past few weeks. She has been helping The Loved One refine our "online presence" (no more self timer! no more fuzzy faces!) and has done a beautiful job of it. (These photos are pure camera and lighting trickery, I don't know any time that I've looked in the mirror and seen my face look like that. The hairy thighs are, however, an accurate representation.) I am very fortunate to have found myself surrounded by such talented and generous and funny friends (and also cheese dips and onion dips and chocolate cakes).

We're, erm, just a pinch behind on the release of our next collection and have embarrassingly missed the Valentine's rush but it is all for good and lovely things! Our manufacturer has just given birth and my partner has been snuggled up with her own pea these last few months. I have no good excuse for my dropping the ball save for devoting a great deal of time to sneezing, coughing and sleeping off this miserable and lingering winter cold which has rendered me useless in all activities requiring attention to detail (also watching the entire Sherlock series).

All photos by Agnes Thor

(ps Have any of my usa friends tried turntable.fm?)

The Libertine

I realize it's been ages since I made an inspiration post on here. (I think, since starting a Tumblr, this blog has been much more "own content" and erm, me related then it once was, for which I apologize.)

The Libertine is a silly movie from 1968 about an extraordinarily fashionable young widow exploring her sexuality (involves beetles, whips, chains, mud and piggy back rides). Every outfit in this movie is perfection (I had to watch it twice just to make sure the first time I wasn't being erroneously blown away due to a nyquil induced sleep happy state and also to screenshot like crazy) and the lead actress is a total bambi. Let's review! 

This is the first outfit we see her in, it's her funeral attire. In this scene we learn that she's not exactly despondent at her husband's untimely death and is more interested in the funeral food spread. The collar/hat detail made my eyes bulge, too good! The dress was a little babydoll.







In this scene she discovers her husband's secret sex pad. She coincidentally matches sex pad. Usually I'm opposed to headwear resembling a newsboy cap but this hat/cape combo really does it for me.



After learning that her husband was into sexy things (that she was not involved in) she purchases a book on sexual psychology. This is just one of many lounge outfits she has. I too have lounge outfits but am clearly lacking in the hair accessory department. Need to start styling my hair to match my loungewear.



One of the first things she reads about is shoe fetishes, she imagines her tennis partner drinking out of a shoe. (She's wearing a really cute scalloped tennis outfit in this scene that I forgot to capture because I too was distracted by the shoe drinking.)



She invites the (imagined) shoe drinker back to the sexpartment and then takes off her false eyelashes ("What are you doing?" "Undressing") After they do "it" she changes into a glamorous dressing gown with a fur wrap. She then hops into an enormous closet and changes back into her pleated skirt and blouse. This scene moved too fast to screenshot but I did grab this shot of a shoe. Maybe I am the shoe drinker.



I can't remember what happens in this scene but I do know that it ends with her adding a lipstick question mark to the "men" sign. Look at that hat! Those gloves! That yellow. Oh man.



This hairstyle looks like dog ears and I like it. I think he does not.

(The rest after the cut because, boobs)

Snowfall and Siri

Today seems a fitting day to make my second snowy winter update as New York basks in the glory (heh) of the year's first snowfall. I love snow, I love snow in the country best of all but snow in the city is still pretty enchanting, especially the crispy snow that crunches and squeaks (not slushing about) when you walk down the street.

While on holiday we were joined by Siri and her boyfriend Alex for a short visit to ring in the new year and do as many "quintessentially Canadian" things as possible (drives by Parliament "to see the lights", homemade maple candies, cross country skiing, boardgames by the fire, snowpants, lots of snowpants, poutine, unsuccessful trip to the ski hill). I think, I hope, we did ok! Aw Canada, I love you so.

More!

Halcyon Days

We are returned from our Canadian adventure where we were absolutely spoiled with perfect wintery weather, truckloads of chocolate and the very best company. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have my pop's home to run away to. Highlights from our trip included a cross country ski to the grocery (where we spotted a deer! Never in my life have I felt so... Canadian), tobogganing without injury, maple candy cooking, glittering shoes with my aunt; sharing a bed with Landon, Rebecca and a long limbed whippet puppy, lots of cranium, some settlers of catan and fireworks (and fire) on new years eve.

We had a quick visit in Montreal where I was able to satisfy my bagel craving by stuffing my mouth with not one, not two but three (and a half) hot sesame bagels all in a row. I don't know why folks are always on about New York bagels - they're basically regular bread in a circle formation but man alive, Montreal bagels are next level eating. It was especially cold while we were in Montreal (25 below) so we limited our activity to jumping in and out of the car and popping into only a few shops. Of the shops we visited Citizen Vintage was definitely a favourite, super cute and nicely curated. Frustratingly I cannot recall for the life of me the name of the other shop that I really enjoyed. The shopkeeper was delightfully chatty and her prices were just right that if I had any extra dollars to spare they'd have gone straight into her shop (serious knick knack heaven there). I promise should the name come to me to post it right away. On the subject of vintage shops we also had a chance to pay a visit to my favourite (and frankly, the only that I now know of) vintage shop in Ottawa, Ragtime. I have fond memories of renting Twiggy style dresses from them when I was in highschool. Super chatty shopkeeper and just brimming with treasures (lots buried so much digging required - my favourite)! The coat I'm wearing above was a gift from my Pops from Ragtime (Landon & Emma both have ones to match so we can coordinate and look like a disney vacationing family while wearing them).

Oh, and then there was the POUTINE, the excessive kids in the hall watching and falling asleep each night on the sofa with a book in one hand and 1.5 kilograms of chocolate in the other. Perfect, perfect holiday.

You may also click through for a few instagram pictures of our travels :).

2012

2011 was an incredible rollercoaster of a year. A year of many firsts of both the great (opening our store, launching our collection, learning to drive & making wonderful new friendships) and the not so great variety. I'm not one for making resolutions and when I do the usual "avoid my list of foods that irritate my belly" it only lasts a few weeks before I can no longer avoid the inevitable grilled cheese sandwich (sweet sweet gluten and dairy, my enemies how I love you so). This year I'd like to make some though and that is to be more aware; more mindful of the precious present & of those around me. I hope my social interactions will leave my companions feeling warm, loved and heard. I hope that I can keep my tongue tamed and used for words of encouragement & focused on all the wonderful moments & people life has brought.

Here's to the New Year! <3

hairy christmas!

My christmas present came two days early when my terrific brother-in-law, Gavin, mixed up his very own cotton candy pink and slathered my canary yellow locks in it. You can visit him for your own mermaid hued hair do at his salon (owned by his pops) in Phoenix!

Visit Gavin here!

Off to eat mountains of cheese and paint ornaments!

<3 

Sophie and Eloise

Some pictures from back when beautiful Sophie was visiting.

We're off to Arizona tomorrow morning and from there onto Ottawa (a very confusing suitcase this is going to make for). I've still loads of packing, cleaning & eating to do before we head out at the happy 4am hour! Hopefully I'll have a chance to update a few times more before Christmas but just in case, a very merry christmas to all of you! I hope you all have a fantastic time with friends and family this holiday season. <3 Here's a little mix of songs that I listened to on repeat this year: in love.

Gift Guide!

This holiday season I wanted to shine a much deserved spotlight on some of my incredibly gifted friends in hopes that folks will be drawn to seek out handmade (or local) presents for their loved ones.

1. Alexandra Grecco: (no stranger around these parts) Alexandra's whimsical floral crowns and sparkly hair accessories would make for most beauteous present toppers, girlpal gifts or special somethings for the brides-to-be in your life.

2. I am in such awe of Anja Verdugo. This year she has managed to start her own clothing and accessories line while maintaining a popular vintage shop and blog and still finding time to nurse a very promising photography career. Anja can honestly do no wrong right now. Pop over to her shop to find leather kitty head coasters (seriously), phone cases, clutches and more.

3. Fieldguided: Kitty calendars pretty enough to frame! What more can I say? DREAMCATS!

4. This one is near and dear to my heart as I've had the privilege of watching this extraordinarily talented young lady grow into the artist she is today (yay livejournal friends)! You can find both prints and originals of Caitlin Shearer's artwork at her shop (and even request a custom portrait).

5. Another dear friend, Tara-Lynn (also no stranger around here). Tara-Lynn's deliciously soft, incredibly unique, one-of-a-kind knits would make the perfect gift for any northern dweller (she has goodies for warm weather folk too).

6. The candy hued jewels from The Vamoose slay me. I want to eat her website.

More handmade goodies to investigate:

Ambit, for stunningly structured handmade apparel, hats and jewelry.
Frances Baker, for adorable handmade dresses and underthings from down under.
We Never Sleep, for gorgeous handmade jewelry (she'll be selling at the Holiday Sale this Saturday, see flyer after the jump for more details).
Nadinoo, I just want everything for myself!

Vintage Shops to investigate:

Vintage Shoe Love, for an incredible selection of vintage shoes.
Golden Fur Vintage, Emily's sherbet hued collection of vintage dresses and separates.
Kennedy Holmes, for an affordable collection of hand selected goods put together by the beautiful Kennedy.
Heart City Vintage, one of a kind goodies from the 50s up selected by my Philadelphia twin, Hannah!
The Exhausted Etiquette, a sweet selection of vintage attire. (That star blouse, I want it!)
Shop Lawrence, beautifully curated by a beautiful lady.
Fancy Fine Vintage goodies selected by the charismatic Ashley Ording.

Local Shops to investigate:

Catbird, the best gift shop in the neighbourhood! For perfumes, candles, jewelry and much more.
Dalaga, lovely sister owned shop with a beautiful selection of apparel, purses, jewelry, footwear and more (including The Loved One as of last Friday)!
End of Century, for locally made apparel and jewelry along with vintage furniture and monthly artist exhibitions.

More...

Worn Fashion Journal, a fantastic, Canadian run publication that discusses fashion in a way that I've not seen any other fashion magazine do (more on them coming up as I review their latest issue :D).

Vegan Secret Supper, a Brooklyn supper club hosted by the best vegan chef I know!

I'm sure I'm forgetting some pretty spectacular people, feel free to share links to your own small business/handmade creations in the comments!

Please consider supporting your local business owners this holiday season :).