Sophie Davidson

Talented and beautiful Sophie Davidson popped over to Brooklyn one Sunday afternoon and followed me around the neighbourhood (and into my friend's house where she offered helpful tips to keeping my Sim awake). I'm so inspired by this incredibly talented young woman and am especially taken with her portraits of the seemingly endless amount of pretty young men she has about her.

Follow Sophie's blog here and view her website here.

The very lucky (so jealous) winner of the Greatest Friend giveaway is rather fittingly another incredibly talented overseas photographer, Elkie Vanstiphout! Congrats Elkie!

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Petra, Julia, Tavi, Pippin & Bobo

During fashion week I had the unexpected pleasure to host a trio of beautiful (and extraordinarily talented) young ladies as they turned my livingroom into a teen dream of plastic and pink (specifically my teen dream, heh). They were working on a video tutorial for Rookie Magazine, which if you haven't already heard, is pretty much the best thing to happen to teenaged interneters since livejournal and makeoutclub? I sometimes feel really weird that I (a grandma) find more identifiable and inspiring content on there than any other space on the internet. I am so in awe of this group of young folk who are unashamedly exploring their opinions and beliefs in such a public space, something I've never been able to do outside the safety of the friends only lock on livejournal. 

Take a gander at their project here!

Petra's photos for Rookie here.

Tavi's stories for Rookie here.

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a tour of our abode (from somebody else)

A few months ago a crew from founders & followers popped over to our home to shoot their spring lookbook. I especially enjoy the last picture where you can see my homespun birthday present to Landon which was drawings of all of his favourite things/things that remind me of him/things that I wish I could have given him for real scattered around the house. It's neat to see your own space from a fresh perspective. Beautiful Kristina and those dreamy outfits fit in rather nicely around here O_O.

Photography - Dan McMahon (seriously inspiring fellow)
Model - Kristina at Basic Model Management
Stylist — Lilli Millhiser
Hair — Bethany Brill
Makeup — Chifumi Nambashi
Stylist Assistant — Chelsea Rizzo

Marcel Dyf

The last painting has hung on our wall for the past three years and shamefully I only just recently discovered who was responsible for this favored flea market find (thanks Tumblr), Marcel Dyf. His paintings have such a perfect gracefulness that I find incredibly inspiring and I can't help but want to emulate the bouffant hairstyles of his model (wife, Claudine). Dreamy.

A new 8tracks mix for you :).

FW Part 4: Leith Clark

Leith Clark by Frederic Aranda

Leith Clark (stylist and editor-in-chief of Lula) has been a long time girl crush of mine and I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not the only one who has entertained daydreams of parading through London in shamelessly girly outfits arm in arm with this talented young lady. After years of internet correspondence and me leaving (possibly creepy?) "i like u" style comments on various social networking sites we finally met in person for an Orla Kiely video shoot she was styling. I promise you internet, she is every bit as lovely and charming as the magazine she is responsible for. She is Lula personified!

1. What was your first fashion-related creation?

I made clothes with my mom when I was little. She did the actual making. I did the imagining. Around the same time my dress up box was vital for play time and many plays/music videos/short films were made with pretty... special costume design.

At 19 shot by Jennifer Sargent

2. What or who inspires you?

Right now especially Jeanne Lanvin and Armand Albert Rateau, Julia Margaret Cameron, Sarah Moon... I adore Gloria Steinem, Coco Chanel. I'm staring at the original poster for 'Bonnie & Clyde' (a Valentine's Day present!!). I'm listening to the new Marianne Faithfull album (especially song 2).

Photo by Yelena Yemchuk

3. Biggest sartorial blunder?

Oh lots. I couldn't choose just one. But mistakes are great. Mistakes make the girl! Looking back I think i have dressed the worst when I've been unhappy or... not felt like myself.

4. What job/project would you consider "a dream come true"?

There have been so many already! Lula is still happy after 6 years and that's dreamy.

5. Any advice to those wishing to follow in your footsteps?

Love what you do. Learn balance. Take rests. Trust your instincts.

Leith's Magazine Lula


In Review: Elvia / Nicole / Tara-Lynn / Kathryn / Alexandra / Kelsey / Victoire / Wray

FW Part 3: Wray Serna

This next interview is with a friend near and dear to me, Wray Serna. Wray and I met on this magical place (where I meet all my favourite people) called LiveJournal many years ago. She and her partner Amber Jimenez founded their company Ambit just last year and are already working on putting out their second collection, available soon for pre-sale. Their beautiful streamlined collection is handmade locally with as much love as there is attention to detail (those buttons!). Yay Wray (sorry, the temptation to cheer and rhyme was too strong for me to resist)!

1. What was your first fashion-related creation?
My first Fashion-related creation would have to be a dress that I made out of a 1950's lady cotton swimmingsuit fabric. I was 16 and an avid flea market goer. I had no idea how to sew and as a result, lots of fitting pieces of fabric to myself and pinning ensued. After a while the pieces of fabric slowly morphed into a dresslike item. I don't know that I would proudly display my creation, but I do still have it (and wear it) !

2. What or who inspires you?
I am greatly inspired by both photographers and designers. I have always been a fan of Stephen Shore and William Eggleston for their clean lines, composition, and beautiful colors. I also greatly admire Dries Van Noten, Comme Des Garcon, Mason Martin Margiela, and Maria Cornejo.

3. Biggest sartorial blunder?
Oooo there are quite a few. My biggest sartorial blunder (and continues to be) would have to be my 1970's print floral dress which is cut so short I sometimes wonder if it is meant to be a top. I will start off by stating that I am a shapely women (derrier in specific). The dress looks fine and proper in the front. However, be there ever so slight a breeze or movement in the back and people get an eyeful. There have been so so so many instances where people will walk right up to me and tell me they can see my backside. I am pretty sure I have walked 10 plus blocks, ridden 3 subways, had lunch, and traveled home, all with an exposed behind. Despite its treachery, the dress is cut so lovely and nice that I cant get rid of it ever.

4. What job/project would you consider "a dream come true"?
I can honestly say that the job I have now is a "Dream Come True" and working with my partner Amber helps (A Lot). I get to think about fabrics, colors, photography, growth, and the fashion world of New York City every day. I honestly can say that I dont think I could survive without having a job that involves a large amount of creation. Individuals need creation, society needs it, I love it.

5. Any advice to those wishing to follow in your footsteps?
My personal advice I would give to someone following in my footsteps would be to develop a strong identity for yourself, organize your goals and how to obtain them, understand that everything is a learning process, always treat the people you work with, with respect, and most importantly smile, you are your own boss!

Wray's blog.
Ambit's website.
Ambit's blog.

Keep your eyes on their website as they are planning a pre-sale for their latest collection shortly!

All photos courtesy of Ambit by Landon Metz (and yep that's Emily)!

In Review: Elvia / Nicole / Tara-Lynn / Kathryn / Alexandra / Kelsey / Victoire

FW Part 2: Victoire

Today's interview is with Regine and Katie, the lovely ladies behind Victoire, an adorable boutique in my hometown Ottawa. Victoire is exactly what Ottawa was missing while I lived there (was so tempted to say "during my youth" but that sounds decidedly grandpa-ish). Their beautifully curated shop caries a host of Canadian talent including previous interviewee Tara-Lynn! I'm enthralled to have had the opportunity to meet these two and to watch their business grow. I want to thank them for giving me a place to shop when visiting (their neighbour) my pops in Ottawa!

1. What was your first fashion-related creation?
In 2002 we participated in a Ladyfest craftsale selling glued on lyrics on cut-up sweatshirts, wallpaper and spray paint on 80's purses. It kind of makes us cringe now and was definitely 'crappy crafty' but we just soooo wanted to be a part of this craft sale/DIY movement that was bubbling up at the time.

Though we now sell beautifully made pieces by other much more talented people, this time in our lives got us into this part of the fashion industry that has nothing to do with capital F "fashion". It's about appreciating beautiful things and getting excited about things made by your neighbour, or your friends, or someone just like you. Being a part of a creative independent community as a consumer is just as fun and rewarding as producing things! So even though we spend a lot more time now selling and promoting the works of other designers and not as much time making our own things anymore, it's still really rewarding and we love being part of an independent economy of sorts.

2. What or who inspires you?
You do Hannah! Not only are you adorable and nice but we love your entrepreneurial spirit and your work ethic. (oh gosh :D)

We also love love love Oprah's wisdom, Dolly Parton's sense of humor, In God We Trust's perfection and inspiring merchandising, and Dace's longevity in the business.

Complexgeometries, Audrey Cantwell and Norwegian Wood inspire us to be more adventurous. Our feminine cutie-pie look comes more naturally but we admire the risks these designers encourage us to take. It ensure we live in a rock'n'roll tea party duality.

3. Biggest sartorial blunder?
Trying to be Electro-clash in the early 2000's in a small Canadian city. We were having fun but boy we must have looked silly. Stage get ups looked awesome on Le Tigre and Karen O but never quite worked in the school cafeteria.

We are thankful we took these fashion risks and played with different looks, but we wish there weren't any pictures!

4. What job/project would you consider "a dream come true"?
Though we love to sell new Canadian designers, we have an out of control passion for vintage dresses. We host 2 vintage dress parties a year but it is not enough to satiate our hording impulses. We would really like to start an etsy store this year. Any words of wisdom, and lessons learned from selling on etsy would be most welcomed.

We would also love to see Victoire beat the odds and stick around for a very long time. Doing what we do right now is a dream come true, and doing it for many years to come would make our hearts very happy.

5. Any advice to those wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Just do it! Ask anyone and everyone for their advice and never forget that it's a good thing to find people who can do things better than you. That way you can learn and improve. Every day you meet people who can teach you something. Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice, even people who may intimidate you. People like helping others!

Victoire's Blog
Victoire's Online Shop

Visit them in Ottawa at:
246 Dalhousie St (closest intersection is St-Patrick)
(613) 321-1590
&
1282 B Wellington Street (near Holland)
(613) 421-0089

All photos courtesy of Victoire by Arden Wray.

In Review: Elvia / Nicole / Tara-Lynn / Kathryn / Alexandra / Kelsey

FW Part 1: Kelsey Genna

As nyfw draws to an end I thought I would share with you a few interviews with inspiring women working in the fashion industry.

First up is Kelsey Genna, a young woman based in New Zealand. Kelsey's handmade dresses are deliciously dreamed up with generous floral references, pastels and sheer fabrics (all of which are presently my weakness)! Very much looking forward to seeing her collection, erm, blossom O_O.

1. What was your first fashion-related creation?
When I was fourteen I started getting into sewing. The first thing I ever made was a pair of pyjamas; I was a little more ambitious on my second project and decided to make a prom dress. At this time I truly knew nothing about pattern making or sewing. I didn’t even know rules about grain lines etc. so I just placed all the pattern pieces on the fabric wherever I wished. You certainly do learn from your mistakes!

2. What or who inspires you?
I find inspiration in many places. Photography / Film / Art / Nature. I am very interested and influenced by fashion history particularly trends from the 50s / 60s… but then again who isn’t, it was such a wonderful and exciting time in fashion. For my final project at university I worked around flowers, one of my great loves. I studied some of my favourite flowers and translated the colours, shapes and textures into each dress.

3. Biggest sartorial blunder?
Gosh, I’ve made many mistakes over the years… which I don’t think is too much of a bad thing, it is good to experiment while your young! The memories that make me cringe the most are from homemade videos my friends and I use to create. There was a time through my earliest years in high school where all we did was make fashion videos. I can remember wearing blonde frizzy wigs and dresses out of crochet blankets, pillow cases and bubble wrap. I would share photos but I think my friends would kill me!


4. What job/project would you consider "a dream come true"?
I am so lucky to be doing what I have always dreamt of doing. Everything is very exciting for me right now; I have finally finished studying and getting to work on Kelsey Genna properly. I could honestly say, what I am doing is ‘a dream come true’. Of course there are so many exciting projects and plans I have for the near and distant future. I would really love to travel and create pop up stores… even more so after seeing photos from The Loved One’s pop up store!!

5. Any advice to those wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Follow your dreams and never give up on them.

All photos courtesy of Kelsey Genna. Visit Kelsey here!

In Review: Elvia / Nicole / Tara-Lynn / Kathryn / Alexandra

La Bohème

Lillian Gish was an actress most popular in the 1910s and 20s (though her career continued up until the late 1980s when she starred in the Whales of August the trailer for which ran after the "little hershey's kisses" ad on The Princess Bride VHS). I was reminded of Miss Gish when I found an old disc of pictures that my brother had put together for me featuring a bunch of hilarious webcam pictures, drawings and videos from my high-school years (more on that another time) and I came across a drawing I had made of her. I remember falling absolutely head-over-heals for her adorable little face when I was researching silent films for a silent movie project I was working on in drama class (I wish I could find that video for you as it is mind blowingly silly and now far away enough from my present self that I'm no longer embarrassed by it but instead delighted). Her hair is pretty much my dream hair right now and fortunately, given my frizzy head of hair, quite achievable (must try that gorgeous up-do)!

Read more about Lillian here, here, and here.

I've never been in style, so I can never go out of style. - Lillian Gish

I've been slacking on the mixes, sorry! September was a crazy busy month but things have settled down for a bit and I'm spending this rainy night indoors with Landon, paint brushes and movies. Here is a mix I made a few weeks ago but have yet to post!

Man, you guys, I'm no good at writing these days, sorry (unless it's business emails, I'm brilliant at business emails. Maybe I will just start writing super formal business posts).