Uniform U

"I’m not really into clothes. I wear one outfit like a uniform, and I have for years. Black sweatpants, black baggy shorts over them, a black or white cotton t-shirt, and a black cashmere t-shirt over that. I couldn’t imagine having to change outfits every day or having to change for the gym.  This outfit takes me to the gym, to work in the studio, and then to dinner with a mink coat over it."

"Working out is modern couture. No outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body. Buy less clothing and go to the gym instead."

"I've lived in Paris for six years, and I'm sorry to say that the Ugly American syndrome still exists. Sometimes you just want to say '"Stop destroying the landscape with your outfit."

Hair and shoes say it all. Everything in between is forgivable as long as you keep it simple. Trying to talk with your clothes is passive aggressive."

There's something a little too chatterboxy about color. Right now I want black, for its sharpness and punctuation."

Some snappy snippets of a recent Rick Owens interview.  I am oft-fascinated by the self-fashioning of designers.  The constant presence of various materials, the multitude of choice, the need to be constantly creating the new.  This quest for the best necessitates a uniform.  From Donna Karan's bodysuit, Marc Jacobs' man-skirt, Alber Elbaz's bow-tie, Alexander Wang's threadbare t-shirt, and on and on...I want to write more about this.   Future article.

Back in Black

Back.  Please excuse my tardiness. Fashion Week fatigue.  

Vive La Fete

Today is the day.

Work it Mummy Mein.  

Mamma Mia

Today is a big day for my TLT.  She is 19!  Time for champagne mimosas

Tomorrow is an even bigger day for my Mom.  She is debuting her Fall 2009 collection at Toronto Fashion Week.  Spent yesterday at the final fittings and run through.  It was a fashion pressure cooker.  A feverish, frenetic environment of egos and icons.  Hence, I loved/hated every minute of it. Barely made it out alive.  Must go pull my Lundstrom looks for the week ahead.  I always feel better when I'm dressed in my mom's designs.  Faithful friends that I love, we shall see you in the tents tomorrow!

Poster Day

I know, I know.  I'm a girl--we're programmed to adore Audrey and hail Hepburn. However, today was a very special day. I may be a History of Fine Arts & French Cultural Studies major at a respected university, but this evening I was transported back to the splendid corruption of a middle school science fair.  Boy, did I let my inner (or outer, depending on who you ask) Type A teacher's pet FREAK out with this one.  My group did a project on Haute Couture's interaction with various mediums of pop culture.  This is a topic that I often ponder because I am slightly sick in the head.  Hence, I saw it fit to wear a gigantic ribbon bow on my tete, a vintage petite robe noir, Tiffany XOX belt with Chanel flats and blazer to class.  For once, my sartorial self-fashioning was relevant to the course syllabus.  Lovely.  After 3 hours talking shop to anyone who would listen, I am spent.  My peers seemed interested in my wisdom, if more than a little afraid.  Maybe the part where I claimed Coco whisper's into Karl's ear from the grave was a little much.  Perhaps handing out "Fashion Citation" tickets was a tad abrasive.  I might have tried to spray a peer with L'Interdit even though she's allergic to perfume.  "But it's Audrey's signature scent! " Call me un peu bizarre.  Je comprends.  

Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat

As the title of one of my favourite Dylan songs, Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat is an homage to the wondrously destructive excess that was Edie Sedgewick.  She shares my print preference for exclusively animal and nautical stripes.  It has been cold and rainy for the past couple days, thus during a townhousesitting sojourn last weekend, I snatched my mother's leopard trench.  We call it "the party coat" because if you wear it out, you immediately become the life of the party.  You could be wearing pajamas underneath--no matter--it's still ab fab. Like champagne, it just pops and makes me bubbly.  The Isabel Marant show, a sinewy feline affair, brought out my ferocious desire for cheetah.  I have since worn this number non-stop.  J'adore pairing my leopard print with heather gray.  Try it.  

On a whim

I'd like to present a fashion thought flow chart:

Inspired by Sonia Rykiel pixie hair joaillerie...

got me thinking of whimsy, flimsy frocks

 chunky brooches perfectly pinned in tresses

or just careless dance-rehearsal hair

For everyday, why not meet half-way?

Take That

My little sister, or ThatLittleThief, as I will now refer to her, changed the name of her blog today.  It is now called Stolen From My Sister.  She is using the internet to taunt me from the west coast, where the glamoursly filthy grungester lurks.  Beware.  If you are ever in Vancouver and your clothes/accessories mysteriously go missing, she is the most likely bandit.  Her style is pretty ridiculous--quite different from my own--but I love her originality.  Example above.  While I went ballerina with this banded dress from Lundström, TLT chose a decidedly more bohemian styling.  I like that we're different.  She is a source of constant inspiration (and tempestuous rage), so thanks TLT.  Please find below a picture of her room. I STOLE this picture from her Facebook.  This is why we can't live together. Oy. Veh. 

Oh oh and TLT, if you're reading this, please bring home these studded sexonfire shoes.  Toronto Fashion Week is a time to share.

I will be doing a Paris and Milan recap once the week is through.  I want to let it all sink in. While I can appreciate a lot of the Balmain looks, there were other shows that deserve accolades. Besides, that style is so heavily ripped off...on the wrong soul can look utterly overpricedclubwearchainstore.  One to watch: Haider Ackermann.

Must get ready for a Purim party tonight.  I'm going as a vegas snow leopard.  My friend is going as my trainer.  Roarrrr.  God bless Value Village.  Happy Purim, M.O.T.'s!!  

Mes Amies

Shabbat Shalom, everyone.  Have to rush to the townhouse to cook for my friends tonight. Sesame crusted chicken, blood orange avocado and cucumber salad, maple green beans, quinoa, dufflet for dessert.  And wine.  A lot of kosher wine.  Cheers.

Oh and I can't get enough of Black and Gold right now.  The song is so good I dressed in an ode to it. Never enough.  

An exciting invitation arrived in the mail regarding Toronto fashion week...I need to start pulling outfits STAT.  Mom please help. 

One other note of randomness--please note that I am wearing a PURPLE SKIRT here.  It was this summer and the first time I tried to make this photo happen, I nearly died.  Quite the risk, wearing it again.  Haven't worn it since. Should I pitch it?  Does anyone want it?

Scar Tissue

Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface.  I'm feeling it again.  Perhaps because all things 70's are inspiring me maintenant.  This portrait of Michelle, Jodie and Meg is also alluring in its simplicity.  Love a good Lebovitz.  Just saw The Women, and while the original is much more cunning, I really enjoyed the pairing of Ryan and Benning.  Annette reminded me so much of a well known Canadian fashion editor.  So today I'm tucking my tresses behind my ears and taking my round brush for a whirl in honor of Elvira.  Scarface is not just fodder for wannabe womanizing gangsters who thumb-tack the movie's poster to their bachelor pad walls.  It is a celluloid fashion moment.  Scorsese always incorporates iconic looks into his films...Back to my class discussion on Proustian gender-bending.  I wish more people thought this way.  

Wow.  I started off with Pfeiffer and ended with Proust.  Thank you subconscious.  

Un Petit Peu

Simple, simple pleasures get me through this winter.  

Warm mugs of coffee...shoe-splurge enabling with N....mom's kosher eggs benedict (turkey bacon>pig bacon), Charles Aznavour on the radio...dad's bow-ties with plaid shirts...Icelandic scarves... lunch at Camros with my Zola and De Lacroix readings...racy lacey tights from Paris...Canadian fur blankets...Israeli wine...Sunday Aroma dinners...bbm conversations with Kate in Australia...cashmere pjs...silly hats...knitted toque/fedora combos...old Johnny Depp movies...funny Milanese boys...almond milk...Porter Airlines...Garance Dore...my sweet Korean dry cleaning lady...walking past 60 St.Thomas...spritzing L'Interdit straight out of the shower...home made granola...www.yogatoday.com...my sister's blog...steamy saunas...rediscovering leopard trench coats...Gatsby magazine...autographed ballet slippers...little Marley...

G'Day

I spent sunday at my mother's atelier making colour boards for Spring 2010.  

While sipping our soy honey rooibos tea, we poured over fabrics from toute le monde.  One group we felt particularly strong about features an Australian Outback palette of camouflage colours.  Think kangaroo, swamp, tortoiseshell, quicksand, and melted gold.  Throw in a dash of Indiana Jones, et voilà.  It's will be so beautiful and textured.   Oh I really should fermer ma bouche--this is top secret information mes amies.  I have been feeling this mix in my own wardrobe recently as well.  Above are a few neutral pieces that I really ought to wear more.  I love mixing the different tones and topping it off with my fur vest.  That thing is like Splenda--just can't get enough.  Still on the hunt for the perfect green fatique jacket for spring.  I want slouchy, but not sloppy. Thinking of just altering a vintage one I already own.  Perhaps a sequin embellishment on the lapel like Dries Van Noten did this spring....Back to my paper on depictions of prostitution in realist french art.  Mag--expect a urgent email requesting your expertise on the topic.

when you click on the first 2 photos they get really big.  I don't know why.  It's magic.