Listening to Records

Stevie

The other night I couldn't sleep and Karl was in the living room playing video games, so I came out and wrapped up in a quilt and listened to some records and it occurred to me that none of my favorite singers would make it past the auditions on American Idol.  I miss quirky voices.

Joni

Grace

Janis

Nico

Be still my heart...

New favorite bowties!

 Above, made from vintage silk scarves.

Below, made from vintage embroidered cotton.

If you recognize the wreath, yes, it's recycled from last year!  Last year it was green, this year it's red.  Nature provides!

Kate Moss by Mario Testino for Vogue Spain

Kate Moss just keeps on looking great, doesn't she?  She's not like one of those supermodels who disappears for a while, coming back after five years for a celebrated comeback.  She's consistently working, despite her personal ups and downs, and still makes it look easy.  This editorial is nothing ground-breaking, but it's really well done and beautiful.  I like the styling - it reminds me of Vogue couture shoots back in the days when I used to buy magazines; these would have been tear-outs for sure.

Silliness

Bacon and eggs, baby Jesus: the crazies come out at Christmas!  I guess if you're going to get a custom-made bowtie, you might as well get something that people are going to notice.  I do have some more of these fabrics, so get 'em while they're hot!

Good News

As in, NEW BOW TIES!  Let's just move on to Spring, okay?  We went shopping for fabrics a couple of weeks ago, and it felt much more cheerful to head into a new season, so we stocked up on summer shades, and these new samples will be hitting the road in the new year.  

I did a fun Christmas custom order today though: baby Jesus in the manger fabric, being watched over by Mary and Joseph and an angel.  Truly one of a kind.  Oooh, and I'll have to take a photo of the new one I made for Karl to wear to his work Christmas party.

Holy Motors

Question: What do all these images have in common?

Answer:  Amazingly, they are all from the same movie.  After a recommendation from a trusted friend, I went to see Holy Motors this week.  It was crazy.  It's a totally surreal French movie and everything from the cast to the "plot" is bizarre and puzzling and mesmerizing.  Definitely worth watching, but I walked out feeling like I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.  One of those movies where either I'm way too dense to "get it", or it's not about "getting".  It was an experience, that's for sure, and worth every penny and every minute of confusion.

Josephine van Delden for Gala Germany

I feel like I've lost my blogging mojo lately.  It's been a long, strange week, and it's hard to get inspired by anything when my mind is miles away.  I'm sure that this mood will pass, and it's probably also the change of the seasons.  We had such a brilliant late summer and early fall that it's a real drag to be getting these dark, cold, rainy days, though really, this is Vancouver; it's our normal.  Anyway, maybe I'll get a big burst of holiday cheer next month and that will shake things up. 

And this should be a good weekend - my good friend is visiting for a few days.  Usually when he's here he's just touring with his band, and he comes and goes in less than a day, but this time he'll be here a little longer and we'll have time for more of a visit than usual.  Another thing to look forward to: one of my best friends will be popping out baby number three in the next couple of weeks (I bet before the end of the month) and I can't wait to see him!

Vintage Beauty

Some magical day I will find a dress like this in a thrift store, and I can retire from thrift-shopping.  I spent a bunch of time this weekend purging multiple closets and trying to find better storage options than cardboard boxes over-flowing with clothes I don't wear.  It's hard to get rid of certain pieces and as long as they are stored tidily and out of the way I don't feel too bad about having some sentimental favorites.

Awww...

I'm reluctant to add to the already deafening chatter surrounding the American election tomorrow, especially since it's not my election and I don't think I've ever even mentioned Canadian politics here on my mostly-fashion blog.

That said, how cute is this picture?  I hadn't seen it before I came across it on Rackk and Ruin today, which is worth a visit if you'll be voting tomorrow and are one of those "undecided voters" I keep hearing about, and I couldn't resist posing it.

Summer of Love

Seems like months ago.  It was months ago - where does the time go?  It was a beautiful wedding, and I'm so glad that the photographer got such a good picture of all the ladies.  All my best friends!  We just got back from a weekend of cabin-on-the-beach fun, all seven of us plus a baby and two buns in ovens.  It was fantastic, and although the weather was pretty much the opposite of what you see above, that never seems to dampen spirits; it's just a good reason to stay inside and gossip over plates of cheese and bowls of soup!

Couture and Romance in Elle Ukraine

From sexy secretaries to romantic gowns and drama - these are my two fashion alter egos I think.  Love the styling and make-up and the deep purples, and the model kind of reminds me of 1990's super model Nadja Auermann.

Sexy Secretaries in Self Service Magazine

Speaking of bras....  I know we can't have a secretary editorial spread without some lingerie, but it wasn't the undies that caught my eye here.  I love the blouses and skirts, and every once and I while see styling like this and it reminds me that this is what I want to wear every day in my dream life.  I like to imagine that if I had a job that didn't require me to be on my feet most of the day, I could totally pull this off.  Right?

1970's Lingerie

Retro-undie time!  In the last couple of years I have just decided that I'm over new-school bras with the underwires and padding and formed-foam cups.  I would come home from work and the first thing I did was take off my bra!  It felt like everything rubbed and dug in and the shape looked fake.  I guess that the totally round shape is supposed to look like the shape of a fake boob, not a real one.  

So I started buying bras from the thrift store.  Ones that are in good shape, not ratty or anything, but old-school cotton bras and thin lace bras and ones that are kind of a sports-bra-hybrid.  I've bought some amazing ones, and now I'm scared that my favorite-ever bra from Value Village will wear out and I'll never be able to find another one!  Though recently a friend gave me a new lace bra from Aritzia for my birthday and it's lovely and along the lines of the less structured bras, so maybe that will come back into style.

It's kind of a 1970's shape that I like.  I think that the silhouette looks good and the bras are pretty and they are so much more comfortable than the pokey ones I used to wear.  I'll just keep scouring the thrift stores until what I like comes back into style.  Actually, seeing as the ones at the thrift store cost around three dollars, never mind!

This does make me think that I'll pick up an old lingerie pattern next time I see one at the thrift store!  I wonder if I could make something comfortable...  Maybe when my favorite one falls apart I'll try to make a pattern from it.

 I just had to include this photo!  How cool are these girls, hanging out at the Daytona 500 in their swimsuits?
And carrying their leather clutches?!?!