Francoise Hardy

Going through a minor obsession with Francoise Hardy: currently sporting stripes and heavy liquid eyeliner. However, successfully becoming a fashion icon and Parisian singer might be a little difficult...

Francoise Hardy - Mon Amie La Rose

Classic vs Contempoary...Vintage vs. Modern

Yesterday I spent the day with a few friends at the newly opened building at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and was blown away with how the museum converted this old church into a space filled with Canadian art. What fascinated me the most was the juxtaposition between the old architecture combined with the ultra modern architecture through texture, line, and color. Furthermore, they incorporate aspects from the modern part of the building into the areas of the old church in the front, which is shown in the picture down below where the windows replicate that of the glass walls in the back. I was not allowed to take pictures inside the museum (due to it being a new section of the museum...security is ridiculously strict/annoying), but this combination of classic and contemporary does continue into the interior space of the museum. I love how they not only made a clear distinction between classic and contemporary, but they also discreetly and sporadically combined the two together. This was shown in the interior as well where one floor would primarily showcase classical Canadian art, but in the midst of all of this art there would unexpectedly be one contemporary piece; same goes for a classical piece of art in a primarily contemporary filled space.

Is it obvious I studied Art History in University? Clearly I could go on and on about this new addition to the museum, because it's really just THAT amazing, but what I'm trying to get at is that while I was strolling the rooms and hallways of the building I started thinking of how this translates into fashion (obviously).

Subsequently, I came up with comparing and contrasting vintage garments with modern garments. I myself own a few vintage pieces including a sequined top from the 1920's that I bought in Paris, some old bags, and a LOT of jewelry both from flea markets and my Opa, who was a jeweler back in the day. I absolute adore it when people wear one or two vintage pieces to accent an overall contemporary outfit. I did some research to find a few special vintage pieces online and I found AMAZING online vintage shopping sites where you can BUY everything I added down below. I found so many beautifully intricate pieces starting from the turn-of-the-century that are so wearable and inexpensive I could not believe it!!

Even though I shouldn't be spending any money, I really have my eye out for that Victorian collar and 1920's Blouse...early Christmas gift perhaps?!

Everything shown above are from the following sites (and keep in mind every piece is available for purchase!!):

Vintage Vixen

Posh Girl Vintage

NET-A-PORTER

New In: OLD Oh Land!

Why is it that I, the huge music freak/lover, have just 'discovered' Oh Land's debut album called Fauna?!?! Why didn't anyone tell me?! I'm assuming most of you know of Oh Land, the ultra-talented Danish singer-songwriter whose name is actually Nanna Øland Fabricius, because of her latest hit album called Oh Land (ya same as the name of the band). Some of her most popular tracks include Wolf & I, Perfection, and Sun of a Gun, but you HAVE GOT to take a listen to her debut album from 2008 called Fauna. Even though I love the album Oh Land...this one is like on a whole other level.

I've included down below Numb, Koo Koo, and I Found You...seriously amazing. I find she's one of the most interesting, talented, stylish, and gorgeous artists out there!

Ps. this would be extremely embarrassing if you all were thinking "This girl is SO behind on her music..", if so I'm sorry!!


Numb

Koo Koo

I Found You

As well, I am including a short interview between Oh Land and Nowness.com:

Your mother is an opera singer and your father a theater organist. How did they shape your musical sensibility?

I create music much more than I listen to it. That’s how I was raised with my mum and dad. They were at home making music, rehearsing songs––it wasn’t something you put on as a CD or an LP, and [we definitely didn’t listen to it on the radio]. So in that way I haven’t grown up with popular music. That sets me free in some sense. Pop music is new to me.

You were invited to Pharrell’s studio for a recording session. What was that like?

He has that ability to step into another person’s universe, and not be afraid of anything. I felt like we were two little kids. At one point we were rapping at each other. I’ve never really rapped, but I was rapping!

There is a whimsical element to your lyrics. Would you say you're whimsical?

I’m definitely a daydreamer. I’ve always had a slight problem with reality. It can have a negative side sometimes, like when you’re 25 and you still believe there are trolls under the bed.

You relocated to New York to record your new album. How has the city affected your creative process?

New York has had a very direct influence on me. I often find that I get inspired and feel relaxed when I’m in the middle of big chaos—the eye of the storm.

The Perfect Lazy Sunday

The absolute ideal Sunday for me would be to hang out in the most beautiful part of Montreal (the city I live in), drink amazing coffee and have a scone from Olive & Gourmando, read my favorite book by Leonard Cohen (who is from Montreal), and walk my dog Charlie (I put a picture of him in the collage).

Oh, I would also ideally be wearing this amazing outfit.....*sigh* a girl can dream! All of the items shown above I got from one of the best websites: La Garconne; they have an incredible urban/modern selection of everything from coats to accessories!

While walking with my dog down the cobble stoned street of the Old Port looking through the windows of dozens of high-end art galleries on Rue Saint-Paul I would be listening to this song by ZAZ (I saw her live while working at a concert venue in New York City this past summer):

ZAZ - Je veux by user6364568

The London Look

This Fall one of the most prominent trends stems from a strong, quintessential, classic British style that makes you want to skip on the cobble stoned streets of London listening to the crunch of leaves under the soles of your Topshop Oxfords. It's a classic, preppy look with a touch of grunge and artistic flare. It's a look my mother wore in the late 1970's (unfortunately she threw out her suede skinny pants, lace-up boots, and cable-knit sweaters). It makes me want to live in the world that takes place in An Education starring Carey Mulligan and sip on Butterfly Jasmine tea while listening to the tunes of "Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly". Welcome to the new-age British prep; a warm, cozy, classic, yet alternative way of Fall living....now go open up that old hardcover edition of Pride & Prejudice at the local cafe down the street that makes those amazing homemade biscuits.

Here are a pair of lace-up boots my mother just bought me from her trip to London last week. They definitely fall under "The London Look".

Might I just add what my mother noticed young girls wearing in London: Almost all of them wore lace-up, ankle booties like the ones she got me, stockings (in opaque and crazy designs), and lots and lots of scarves. I personally love layering scarves....yes putting more than one scarf around my neck at the same time. It sounds suffocating, but it's actually a beautiful look. For example I'll put two black scarves on; a thick wool one and the other a thin, delicate one. It gives a strong textured and unique look, setting you apart from all of the other scarf wearing girls.

Look Of The Day 102111

Olympe Tiara by Shourouk

Dannijo

DANNIJO jewelry has punk rock style mixed with a timeless, extravagant flare. Almost all of the pieces are used with Swarovski crystals and even though the styles are at times very trendy, the details on the finish of the metals and the cuts of the crystals give it a somewhat vintage and unique feel. Some of the pieces tend to lean on the pricier side, but they make for great gift ideas!

Here are a few of my favorite pieces from their most recent collection in necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings!