Live the Language: A lesson in Typography

Most of my beloved friends are associated with the world of advertising in some shape or form. A number are design creatives and then there are those who are gifted with words. It is because of their leanings and my own sense of curiosity that I’ve developed a fascination with fonts. Much like a model centered in an editorial, I truly believe that a serif can make or break an image or the thought one is trying to present. The following videos below prove just that!
I stumbled upon these  EF International Language Center adverts by pure chance, and what beautiful and simplistic gems they happen to be! While I do admire Gustav Johansson‘s direction, the real champion here is Albin Holqvist and his genius use of typography. What a great example of taking a simple brief and truly creating something memorable.

Missoni F/W 2011

Like most fashion fans I do make it a point to follow the shows and events that take place twice a year internationally.
And I used to continually report on my favourite shows with such zeal. As of late I do find it harder and harder to babble on about which ever designer has my fancy.  Information is so easy to access now, anyone can take a peek at the shows and formulate their own opinion.

But if a show does happen to peak my interest for a more bizarre reason, then I will ramble!
For instance, let’s take Missoni‘s fall and winter offering.
I’m getting a total 90′s My Little Pony vibe and I am DIG IT MAYJAH.
Sherbet sweaters over pastel maxi skirts, slip dresses, so much velvet and of course a plethora of cotton candy colours. The whimsical printed detail on a few pieces continue to feed my lust for all things girly, while the plaid and tweed mix add a sprinkle of grunge. I mean really it’s a mash up of grade eight all over again!
Let’s just pretend the pageboy kangol-esque caps don’t exist okay?

Spring dreaming

I have this theory,
that if I dress in pretty and painterly floral prints,
the warmth of Spring will rear it’s head,
and kiss my skin.

Blouse: Zara
Watch: Michael Kors
Aligator ring: Kenneth Jay Lane
Turquoise ring:  no idea at all, but I can’t seem to separate myself from it.
Shoes: Deena and Ozzy via Urban Outfitters

Spread the Awesome

Well worth a listen for this cold Monday morning.
And a sign, almost like a little blessing in disguise.



 

Friday Playlist #2

Finally home.

last friday afternoon

Clearly Mother Nature is taking the piss with this freaking weather. Why just last Friday we’d been blessed by such gorgeous spring like day. Le Sigh. In an attempt to hone my photography skills I dragged about the camera, and well anyway here are some pictures I took on my walk about the city.

Democracy in Fashion: A Ramble

I have had over a hundred conversations with many friends and colleagues over the sudden “bastardization” of fashion on the web.  A few oppose, a great number are for it all, while some believe that our generation has seen nothing yet. As part of the ‘pro-internet’ movement I happily embrace all things digital media.  There is a freshness and excitement that I can’t quite put my finger on.  Maybe it’s because this sudden flooding of information feeds my A.D.D. tendencies? As of late I find myself getting caught up in certain social media circles discussing the democratization of fashion.  What is luxury? In the battle of Retail versus E-tail who will surface as champion? What the hell is and Edvertorial? And will it truly threaten the clout of a great glossy? And what of crowdsourcing (a great example being Imran Ahmed of BoF and his collaboration with Bill Amberg)? If I as a consumer can demand a certain item or design, then why do I need trend forecasting? Or better yet what will become of the ‘Top Ten Things You Must Have But Can’t Afford This Season’ list?

So yes, the playing field is open. Democratic? Perhaps. Well certainly now more than ever before. There are debates, hits, loves and likes. You can click your appreciation or rant about it on your personal web page like I am doing now. You can forward it to friends, tweet clues and gossip creating mass hysteria and giggles.  Thanks to the Internet my beloved obsession has now become a three dimensional environment that I can touch and participate in. If this is the future then hell I am all for it!

The fear that glossies will die, I think, is a little premature. As someone that is constantly battling financial woes, in school and currently unemployed I will still purchase my mags. Mind you my taste is refined! But the love of the medium is still there. As I think with most in the business, the love for a beautiful still image will forever exist. I for one need more than just a scan.  The creation of niche magazines is obviously a plus. Highly covetable bi-annuals printed few and far between create a buzz and further it as a must-have. One only has to look at the general shit show that is the music industry to realize that the interwebs is going nowhere fast. Fashion insiders, some of you sit and bitch about bloggers that line the front row, or for knowing little or nothing at all. And yet we drive your business! So instead of all the whining, why not embrace us? Feed our insatiable appetites of knowing everything now! The power you hold in your hands is dizzying!

I love that fashion has evolved from two seasons to a daily creative occurrence. By developing an informative and creative strategies magazines can create a vibrant community both online and in the real world.  All this and build loyalty while constantly developing a genuine interest and culture. Market the covetable, feed my lust for the finer things in life but educate me as well. From behind the scenes to historical what have yous. I’m famished!

Charles Anastase F/W 2011

I don’t think I could ever tire of the Charles Anastase girl.  A lean and lithe female perched between permanent girldom and womanhood. Perhaps it’s my liking of all things Lolita-esque that keeps bringing me back to this man and his muses season after season. This time round frizzy 70′s party hair, his typique love of lean a line, french drop waists and floor length gowns in satin. Add towering wedges that induce vertigo and coats cut ever so expertly and you’ve got this girl falling about dizzy.
Now if only some one in Toronto would carry his pieces. BAH!

Click below for a better look at the collection. For some reason the LFW site refuses to let me embed properly.

http://www.t5m.com/v/01z13yvmx2qxuv
To watch more, visit designer_profile.aspx?DesignerID=985

above video courtesy of MatchesFashion

Zero 7 – Somersault

to my love. happy birthday. miss you.

magenta packages

I’ve been very lucky as of late to meet some fantastic people and over at my old place of work, there are a few that are no exception. Although my time there was short, I managed to click and bond with a bunch of the funniest, sweetest, kindest group of people whom I am honoured to call my friends. It is not often one comes in to work excited, but it was these people that made my day-to-day so very joyful. And even though things didn’t really work out in my favour, I consider my self incredibly lucky to have met them. It certainly was meant to be!

My loves, thank you for this wonderful gift. I am truly touched and miss you all very much! This was the very best surprise. xoxox

 

House of Harlow 1960 ring. A peacock to add to my growing menagerie!

Suno F/W 2011

I’ve developed a deep and pure love for Suno over the last few seasons, and this fall collection is certainly no exception.  Design duo Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty continue to produce fantastically bold pieces with their signature quirk but have lead the designs in a more sophisticated direction.  Hemlines have been dropped and earth tones introduced to the usual hodge-podge of hyper bright colors. The outerwear is the clear stand out of the collection (a current NYFW trend, i’m thinking?) as every single piece I would rock down these icy Toronto streets. I think what I love most about Suno is how truly batty their prints are. Wallpaper brights so whimsical that one can’t help but smile while trudging through a North-American blizzard.  I could certainly use some of their brilliant charm in my wardrobe, seeing as I am beginning to resemble a Berlin goth with every passing season.

Jeremy Laing F/W 2011

Be still my melancholy heart!

I’ve known Jeremy Laing for about a year now, and I am incredibly honored to call him friend. So I would like to think that he designed his latest F/W collection with this girl in mind.  Perfectly dark and elegant, with floor licking sensual pieces and prints by fellow Canadian and contemporary artist Scott Treleven makes my heart hum. I’ve always been superstitious and have had a penchant for the dark arts so the use of talisman is just perfection. Laing’s signature geometric draping is brought back this season, along with gorgeously tailored wide legged pants hung low at the waist, over sized blouses and printed knits paired with delicately sheer maxi skirts. Overall the pieces come together creating an almost loved and lived in aesthetic. Seemingly effortless and oozing a calm cool that I hope to one day be able to pull off.

But in all seriousness let’s take a moment and gawp at the moon dress. IT’S STRAIGHT UP MOON CRATERS BITCHES! TOTALLY FUCKING ACE!

Friday Playlist #1

The ridiculously eclectic sounds of my weekend. Spring is in the air, and all this new music is thrilling me! Birthdays and a massive rave are in the works and I’m hoping to come through alive on Sunday.

Robitussin blues

The apartment has turned in to a little sick bay over the last week.  The siblings and I have all been trying to fight this agressive cold that seems determined to wring us dry of what little patience we have left. As I am lucky enough to spend most mornings at home working, I’ve been able to rest up and indulge a little more.



I don’t know what it is about warm muesli in the morning, but my God does it do wonders. I’ve been on a bit of a “cleanse” lately and figured I might as well add an actual meal to breakfast…you know aside from just the Venti bold.

I can’t wait to break in my new Dieppa Restrepo boots. Purchased about two weeks ago from Chasee Garde I couldn’t help but wear them right out of the store. But since our weather has been such shit as of late, I’ve haven’t been able to strut about in them. I smell spring, so soon I can dance in my hand woven beauties!





This vintage Eddie Bauer flannel shirt is my security blanket when I’ve fallen ill.  It’s oversized and so worn in, soft and there is nothing at all like it in my closet. Paired with my grey alpaca wool socks I will cocoon, until I emerge from my room looking nothing at all like a butterfly (more Eeyore-esque).

With reading week around the corner I am tempted to slack with the school work. At my age it’s becoming increasing difficult to focus on ones’ second degree, but since I am ill, I will take this time to catch up on the glossies. Picked up the lastest issue of Industrie and a Simone de Beauvoir’s The Mandarins. This is the sort of reading I can really get behind. Mind you anything would be better than fucking stats homework.

David Koma x TopShop

Last night saw the launch of the much anticipated David Koma capsule collection for retail giant Topshop. The 5 pieces are a a fantastic diluted image of Koma’s earlier mainlines that have already graced the bodies of a number of pop starlets. So I wont’ be surprised if this limited collection flies out the doors in a matter of seconds. If I could choose I would be all over the black tube belt and the bodycon black dress. So sexy it makes my heart hurt!

Koma will be showing at this years London Fashion Week, and I for one cannot wait to see what this NEWGEN prize winner will come up with next.

simple bare necessities

I’ve always been a bit of voyeur, trying to slip, slide and sneak a peek.  I suppose that is why I’ve always a been a fan of blogs, a source of creative connections and the idea that at some point we all share an idea, thought or thing in common.

As this space of late has been nothing but my delirious midnight ramblings, I thought I’d share a few of my very favourite things. Well more or less what I can’t live with out!

1. My beloved Moleskine planner. Despite all other devices, this little book is my totem. Without it I’d have no clue whether I was coming or going. Google-calendar can bite me.


2. Mah Keys. Kind of a obvs I know. But I wanted to show of my boot key chain courtesy of the little sister sibling from her recent trip to El Salvador. It’s even got my name engraved in to it! Other key chains are Marc Jacobs from my last trip to NYC.


3. The waterproof Chanel Inimitable mascara in black is my current obsession. Because I have such a poor understanding of make-up once I find something that works I tend to stick with it. This magic wand certainly does the trick.


4. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps nourishing cream. Hands down the best hand cream for this retarded weather. Nothing says ghetto like ashy hands! And while it is a little rich at first, it sinks in well and keeps my hands hydrated. Love that it’s sample size, not happy that I need to buy more.


5. My iPhone 4 is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I fucking love the shit out of this machine! All you Blackberry peeps can BITE ME. I originally owned the 3G, but I had fallen “asleep” in the back of a cab and I left it there. This upgrade was a bit of a tortured wait, but SO worth it. Thinking of cracking it.


6. Altoids, kind of a given I think. I usually carry a packet of gum too. But it’s the packaging I love. Really feeds my font lust, while keeping me fresh.


7. I’m a recent convert to Smith’s Rosebud Salve. After using Vaseline for years, I decided to give this little blue tin a shot and I’m very glad I did. It hydrates and nourishes my lips for far longer than it’s counterpart. And again in this weather you need all the help you can get.


8. This MAC Select Cover-Up is a recent gift from the bestie and perfect for the mega bags under my eyes due to my insomnia or late nights out on the run.


9. Lastly, it’s my baby. I bought myself this Fujifilm Instant Camera when I was let go from my job for not quite “fitting in” (what ever the hell that means).  This little gadget has brought me much joy and I can’t wait to show you all a few snaps once I find a scanner.

And that is it! My wallet is clearly missing because it is heinous and makes me very upset every single time I pull it out. I need suggestions for a good strudy & sexy (yes! sexy!) wallet. Any ideas? Drop me a thought.

Till next time,
peace lust love and all that gooshy stuff.

self-portrait

or something like it.

Three a.m. this morning.
Insomnia still eating away at me.
So I played about with my latest obsession the ivory white Fuji film Instamax.
A little gift to myself, despite my financial strains.
Sometimes a girl needs to be spoiled a wee bit.

Still tweaking away at the blog,
keeping swing back and forth as to where my beloved should be headed.
But my focus is clearer now than it has been in months, so that means many many good things.

To a new year, a new beginning and a fabulous new life!
and thank you all for joining and supporting my ridiculous ride.