Friday five

Street style has become a global phenomenon thanks to the world wide web. 

With literally hundreds, if not thousands, of blogs dedicated to street style worldwide - including an old friend of mine's, Tommy Ton, who is the talent behind Jak & Jil - it isn't surprising that more and more people are turning to regular people to see what's hot... 

... and what's not.

According to Andy Warhol, "in the future everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes." While he eventually tired of that line and changed it to "in fifteen minutes everybody will be famous," I'll stick with his initial thought and tell y'all about my fifteen (or five) minutes of fame.

The Huffington Post is an online news "aggregator" and blog founded by Arianna Huffington, among others, which has been running a recurring feature called "Styles de rue," or street styles, which highlights stylish Montrealers on the streets of, well, Montreal.

And guess who they papped?

That's right.

Lil ol' me. 

But don't worry. I won't let my 15 minutes get to my head. How could I when these guys are rocking (and socking) true street style?

 

  

The empress has no clothes

I love looking into people's closets and apparently (sigh of relief) I'm not the only one because there is an entire website dedicated to the very concept: The Coveteur. 

Based in Toronto (who knew?) and absolutely addictive, the site provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at celebrity style, and more, through beautifully photographed fashion vignettes and, of course, closets.

After a good friend recommended I watch The Eye has to Travel, a unique, behind-the-scenes look at Diana (pronounced Dee-anna) Vreeland's fascinating ascent to the top of the fashion chain (and fascinating private life) I am even more tempted to go "through the looking glass" and into wonderland.

Fashion wonderland that is.

So, in true coveteur style, welcome to my closet.

"I love nostalgia" are the first words pronounced by Vreeland in this stunning documentary and I couldn't agree more. 

Now if only I'd arranged to be born in Paris.

Calling all fashionistas

This weekend, while it rained, I curled up on the couch to watch In Vogue: The Editor's Eye, a documentary about the many fascinating women who have held the coveted titles of editor-in-chief and fashion editor at (American) Vogue. 

While I watched the film, which included interviews with Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman, I was struck by the many creative, and eccentric, women that have toiled at Vogue to make it "the bible" it now is.

From Diana Vreeland and Polly Melen to Grace Coddington and, of course, Anna Wintour, the film is a literal who's who of the fashion industry past and present.

And it reminded me so much of this scene from one of my favourite movies, Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn, which pretty much set the tone for my fashion sense at the tender age of... 13?

Speaking of Audrey Hepburn...

LOVE!

In addition to being one of my early fashion inspirations, she also had the best apartment - as Holly Golightly.

My love for a certain style (part boho/part bordello!) may have started with Breakfast at Tiffany's but it positively blossomed with SATC and Carrie's New York (not so maxi) pad.  

Vogue!

In closing, from thinking pink to being pretty in it, I absolutely love it when what I watch onscreen somehow sartorially inspires me in real life. 

Like this.

I actually bought a pattern and made a dress after watching Andy doing the same. 

And how much do you love Annie Potts' Chinatown apartment?

Tomorrow... into the closet we go!

Ring of fire

... make fashionable (for those of you arriving here via Facebook, this transition makes perfect sense).

I have always loved jewellery. Maybe it's genetic, since my father actually made silver jewellery back in the day, or maybe it's just part of my obsession with fashion and identity. Either way, every time I step into an accessories store I invariably come out with yet another piece of jewellery. 

And it's usually a ring. Whether it be for one finger, two or even three... it was most definitely made for me! 

It started innocently enough, with the purchase of my first two-finger ring (exhibit a). Featuring a bird in flight and acquired at Forever 21, the ring in question reminded me of rockabilly and I thought it would look cute paired with a red bandana and a pompadour, à la Rosie the Riveter.

exhibit a

Next came a few variations on the aforementioned, with a variety of two-finger, in between the fingers, rings (exhibits b and c). Then it was the knuckle duster, a serious three-finger ring originally intended for combat (exhibit d). Then, the cocktail ring (exhibit e) which conveniently doubles as a disco ball.

 exhibit b

 exhibit c

 exhibit d

 exhibit e

Kidding.

Mid-finger rings (exhibits f and g), worn between the knuckle and the nail as opposed to the knuckle and the palm, weren't far behind and though it took me ages to find them (thank you Editorial Boutique), I really appreciated 'em once I did.

exhibits f and g

Seriously.

Not long ago, I discovered nail rings (exhibit h) thanks to one of my favourite blogs, Cupcakes and Cashmere. After searching for one with the ferocity of a lady lion protecting her cub, I landed upon one at an incongruous store on St. Laurent, in Montreal, whilst on a short visit. When I tried it on the sales lady nearly had a conniption because she had no idea how it was supposed to be worn.

exhibit h

Finally, I have a secret fondness for anything with letters and/or initials so I absolutely loved the ones (exhibits i and j) I got at Urban Outfitters. Not to mention the super cool one-finger, connected by chains beauty I recently picked up (exhibit k).

exhibits i and j (or j and l, ha!)

exhibit k

Perhaps this post would have been more aptly titled "Confessions of a shopaholic?"

Note. This blog post was written standing up, in the style of Ernest Hemingway. It's the first time I've tried it and I like it. A lot.

V is for Victoire

As part of a recent mother and daughter day which included a delicious meal at The Wellington Gastropub, a divine, hour-long massage at Renu Spa and a mouth-watering maple bacon donut (among, ahem, several others), courtesy of Suzy Q, the mum and I stumbled upon what I now consider my favourite boutique in Ottawa: Victoire.  

Located on Wellington Street in the trendy Westboro/Hintonburg area, the shop is a virtual incarnation of the kind of store I would open if I were ever to open another store (R.I.P. one-eleven). Full of unique, one-of-a-kind clothing, jewellery and accessories, the boutique is a vintage lover's dream.

From the incredible, flower-patterned wallpaper to the cozy, old school-house style dressing rooms, the shop is as much a work of art as it is a great place to find an incredible dress, ring or even a bow-tie.

And now, for another donut...