Taylor Warren

So I lied. I didn't update my blog during Spring break. I was chilling on an island with my family and there is no internet/phone reception/people under the age of 45 there. I read some fashion magazines though and that was great. It made me feel a little bit more interested in this blog again.  Anyways. One of my guilty pleasure is America's Next Top Model. It's just so addicting and I don't know why! Honestly models are kind of fascinating to me. They live in the fashion industry and they must experience so much. My favorite model is Taylor Warren ( she's not on America's Next Model ) . I just think she looks so unique and her eyes are so beautiful.

Her eyes are so blue! And I like her style.

She's from New York and is 23 years old. The photos of her are not just pretty but they are interesting to look at. She is beautiful in a unique way.

Christian Louboutin Bianca Shoes and Spring/Summer 2011

I have a little bit of a thing for shoes. My favorite shoe designer is Christian Louboutin. My friend Caitlin and I have an intense love for these shoes (and Chanel 2.55 bags and cinnamon. That's a pretty unbreakable bond if you ask me). Especially the red soles. What is it about the red soles? I guess, it's kind of like the interlocking c's of Chanel. It just adds to the (already magical) magic. Not to mention that Louboutins are the shoes of choice for Sex and the City's fashion girl, Carrie Bradshaw. They used to be Manolo Blahniks, but maybe the designer's ungrateful and bitchy attitude towards the popular HBO show turned costume designer Patricia Field off.  The man actually said "If people talk to me about 'Sex and the City' I get sick ... It becomes too much and I don't feel comfortable."- Manolo Blahnik. Oh my god, where is my violin? I guess he got tired of being Carrie Bradshaw's Gepetto? You poor, successful, bloody ungrateful thing.That's not to say that Manolo Blahnik didn't create a lot of his own success, however, Sex and the City brought the designer a lot of attention. In fact, before the first Sex and the City movie, the company wasn't doing so well. Luckily the blue satin shoes with the little crystal buckle from the movie saved the day.

 You know, the ones that Carrie put in the closet when she moved in with Big so that she would feel like she is at home. If you haven't seen the movies, you should, they are great. Anyway, it's a cute thing in the first movie. But Mr. Blahnik, maybe because of his passion for shoes and feet, decided to put his foot in his mouth again. "We had a very good year last year, thanks to those stupid satin shoes. That shoe saved our company," Well, for the second movie, Miss Bradshaw switched her allegiance to Louboutins. An excellent choice. I guess no one taught Blahnik to never bite the hand that feeds him. Anyway, my favour has always been with Christian Louboutin.

Christian Louboutin "Bianca" pumps in red. I think they might have been made in Heaven. The ruby colour is so beautiful, they look like Dorothy's ruby slippers, only much, much better. I wish they were mine.

Christian Louboutin Spring/Summer 2011

These are some shoes from Christian Louboutin Sping/Summer 2011. I don't love everything. The star spangled, fourth of July style pumps belong on a game show girl. Still, I like the white lacy one at the top and the blue suede bootie. The former being feminine and lovely and the latter being edgy and a little unconventional. The measuring tape stilletos at the bottom are kinda cool too, I have to say. They are definitely interesting. This collection was pretty eclectic, but I am a firm believer in people going crazy with shoes. I just love Louboutin to be honest.

My Rules

I haven't been updating my blog quite as regularly as I normally do and the reason for this is graduation fever. Symptoms include spaztic outbursts, tearful breakdowns involving digging through the trash looking for the scrap of paper that you wrote your university number on only to discover that you had already written it in your planner back when you were a normal, stable person, and the defining symptom general insanity.  So I have not gotten around to my blog. But I have gotten around to reading " Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination" by Helen Fielding, the same author, by the way who wrote the Bridget Jones books. I think it is sad that at seventeen years old I feel as though I can relate to Bridget Jones. Not the lifestyle but the cynicism (not always, sometimes I am just a regular ray of sunshine). Anyway, Olivia Joules is a freelance journalist with an " Overactive Imagination" ( no shit) and she goes to Miami on business and becomes convinced that the creator of a face cream is a terrorist when he advises her not to go on a boat the day before it blows up. And because she doesn't buy his french accent. I get this chick. My mind is a mile a minute; when I was fourteen I was convinced that this random guy in a restaurant with me was a criminal and that he was staring at me and was going to hunt me down and kill me. Which is a little bit over the top. I have mellowed out quite a bit since then but I still have my moments of irrational paranoia. She's an awesome heroine because she is quirky and scattered but she is also resourceful and independant. She keeps with her a survival tin and a few spy "essentials", such as a bug tracker disguised as a calculator and an invisible ink pen (the usual). She also has a set of life rules, which, by the way, happen to be very good rules. I need to start following rule number one. I especially like rule number 2,10,11 and 15.

1. Never panic. Stop, breathe, think.
2. No one is thinking about you. They're thinking about themselves, just like you.
3. Never change haircut or color before an important event.
4. Nothing is either as bad or as good as it seems.
5. Do as you would be done by, e.g. thou shalt not kill.
6. It is better to buy one expensive thing that you really like than several cheap ones that you only quite like.
7. Hardly anything matters: if you get upset, ask yourself, "Does it really matter?"
8. The key to success lies in how you pick yourself up from failure.
9. Be honest and kind.
10. Only buy clothes that make you feel like doing a small dance.
11. Trust your instincts, not your overactive imagination.
12. Wehn overwhelmed by disaster, check if it's really a disaster by doing the following: (a) think, "oh, F*&% it," (b) look on the bright side and, if that doesn't work, look on the funny side.
If neither of the above works then maybe it is a disaster so turn to items 1 and 4.
13. Don't expect the world to be safe or life to be fair.
14. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
15. Don't regret anything. Remember that wasn't anything else that could have happened, given who you were and the state of the world at the moment. The only thing you can change is the present, so learn from the past.
16. If you start regretting something and thinking, "I should have done..." always add, "but then I might have been run over by a lorry or blown up by a Japanese-manned torpedo."
So, I thought about what my set of life fashion rules would be. I really like a lot of different styles but there are a few rules that I do have and that I do live by.

1) Keep it classy. I do not need to see anyone's ass or boobs. I am sorry, I don't care how proud you are of your goodies. Leave something to the imagination. Thongs above the jeans is the worst. I remember when people were doing that. The point of a thong is so that it doesn't look like you are wearing underwear. No one needs to see you flossing.

Excuse me, your thong is showing. Oh you knew that. Did you also know that you look like a skank?

2) If you ignore rule number one and still decide to dress like a tart then have the goods to back it up. Dress for your body and wear something flattering. Don't wear jeans that are too ridiculously tight. Not only do I not want to see your muffin top but I don't want to revive you when you pass out from lack of circulation.
3)Do your bag and shoes some justice. If you dress like a scrub (we all do it sometimes. Sweats and yoga pants are just comfier) then do not wear heels or an extremely flashy bag. It grinds my gears when people show up with stategically messy hair, sweats, an old shirt and then a gorgeous bag. Do not embarass the bag.
4) Head to toe knockoffs. You aren't fooling anybody. I have zero problems with knockoffs. I like knockoffs. I own a few actually. However one only needs a touch of flashy faux labels. If you keep it to one it looks much more elegant and believable. If you wear them head to toe you look cheesy and ridiculous. Like those rapper wannabes with the giant clock necklaces and rhinestone encrusted bling. I will come off my high horse and admit, I have done this before. I carried a fake Coach bag and a fake Prada bag at the same time when I was going on a trip and I looked ridiculous, as my mom kindly pointed out to me. It's just cheesy and makes one look like they are trying way to hard.
5) Coloured animal prints. Excuse me while I go vomit. This is without a doubt, the easiest way to look cheap. Just saying coloured animal prints paints a picture of a peroxide blonde, oompa loompa orange, fake tanned, big boobed chick with Dolly Parton hair and over the top plastic claws. It looks tacky. I am not a fan of animal prints anyway, but I think they can work sometimes ( shoes, sometimes bags and I saw a leopard print cardigan once that wasn't repulsive).  But if it's coloured it looks ridiculous. The same rule applies to camoflague. Are you hiding in a hot pink jungle? No? Than what are you doing. Although I don't like camoflague either way.

Ew.

6) If you are sexy on top, be modest on the bottom. If you are sexy on the bottom, keep it modest on top. If you have a lot of cleavage than wear jeans or keep the skirt below the knee. If your skirt is really short cover up the boobs. Don't give away the farm.

Dace Moore's clothes are always flirty without being overt.

7)Tights are not pants.

Looks trashy to me.

8) Socks with sandals, socks with flats, socks with heels. Don't wear socks with shoes that shouldn't have socks.
9)Dress age appropriate. If you are a grown woman don't wear your fourteen year old daughter's Hello Kitty t-shirt. If you are fourteen don't dream big and wear something to mature for you.
10) Neon coloured pants of any kind. I just think it's really unflattering. A neon coloured bum is not cute.

How to dress like a Canadian..Whatever that means.

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything I am about to say, however, as a sidenote, I just realized that I have been studying french for nine years and I know little more than "bonjour" and "j'adore  vos chaussures". What can you do? I mean, I have been studying french since the fourth grade and I still don't know how to use my "le conditionell".  I went to france in the spring and it was amazing. A lot of cute french boys who really know how to dress. They could teach canadian boys a thing or two. I am a proud canadian girl, born and raised on the west coast. British Columbia is a great place to grow up, a great place to have fun, surrounded by both mountains and the pacific ocean. It is a great place to find some excellent designers, both established and up and coming. I love where I live and I love being canadian but there are times when I ask myself, what is canadian style anyway? How would one define canadian style? By touques and moccasins? Yeah, that doesn't cut it. At the 2010 Olympics I remember checking everyone out to see if there was a pattern, any distinct canadian style, or any style that foreign people at least thought was canadian. I got nothing. Unless one would consider clothing plastered with Quatchi and Mika, characters that look a lot more like asian anime characters than anything else , to be canadian style. I have yet to have found a real answer to my questions, but my theory is that it's because Canada is such a mix of different cultures. Canada has a little bit of everything so I guess canadian style can't really be defined because it's a melting pot of so many other countries. Which is great, just a little confusing.
 But to make it clearer to myself I decided to do my research and check out some cool canadian designers, both under and on the radar. There are definitely many more, these are a few, although I'm working on it. It's my kind of homework.
                                                               Dace Moore

Dace Moore is so awesome! She is one of my absolute favorites. Sometimes I see a questionable garment that I want to like (but can't) because it's by a designer that I love (ie. Chanel icecube flap bag. It's made out of resin and it costs a couple grand. Paris Hilton wore it. I don't understand) but with Dace that never happens because it's just so easy to love everything she designs. Her clothes are so gorgeous and with a lot of attention to fit and detail. Did I mention how much I love her clothes? A lot. The clothes are pretty relaxed and chill, and canadians are supposed to be relaxed and chill ( I can't say that I am). Above are a few looks from her Spring 2011 collection.

(I'm sorry. I love Chanel but this, personally, I'm not fond of.)

                                                    C'est Joli- Alison Dawson
Alison Dawson, creater of jewellery line "C'est Joli", is from Vancouver. Her jewellery is completely unique, for example, her Loop Metallic Necklace is a slightly tangled, beautiful mess of cream coloured cords with tiny little golden beads.

Loop Metallic Necklace (love. I love "messy" jewellery like this)

This is the Scribble necklace in black (also comes in cream). It looks exactly like a scribble. 

This would definitely get some looks on the street but it's interesting and it's a great statement piece. I keep picturing it with a white or grey t-shirt dress. Something simple so that this crazy piece can take centre stage. Love it.

This is the Corrugate Necklace in navy. It's pretty.

This is the Colour Block necklace. It's so exotic for summer.

Her jewellery is gorgeous and it's special. It's whimsical and eclectic art. Alison Dawson's jewellery is inspiring and so is her drive. C'est Joli had only existed for three months when she lined up at Henri Bendel at 5:30 in the morning for the spring 2010 open see ( designers show their stuff to potential buyers). Only four hours in a buyer offered her a trunk show. Now, in Toronto, she is busy making her sweet, eccentric jewellery.The pieces above are from her Spring 2011 collection.

Dsquared21

Dsquared2 is a fashion label by Dean and Dan Caten, identical twin brothers from Toronto, Ontario. Before launching their own label they worked for Versace and later on for Diesel who funded them and helped them start their own line. Their designs are always punchy, sexy and full of energy. Above are a few looks from their Spring 2011 collection.

There are a lot of Canadian designers and I am going to do my best to find as many as I can so that I can have even more to write and obsess about.

Blast from the past..The seventies are apparently back

While I was nursing myself back to health yesterday with lemon tea and The Godfather one and two, I recieved my Elle magazine from my monthly subscription. That was a sunny spot in my delusional haze of advil and gangster movies. Anyway, apparently 70's inspired fashion is all over the place, not just according to Elle, but according to designers like Marc Jacobs and Rodarte. Marc Jacobs (one of my favorites) Spring 2011 collection was sexy and very reminiscent of clothing from the "groovy" and promiscuous 70's. The clothes were damn gorgeous and if the 70's are coming back then I am glad they are coming back in this way.  As I was leafing through the different designer's collections I started to make peace with this trend. Although, I hope to god the hairstyles won't come back because I will never, never buy into the whole feathered hair thing. Even though Farrah Fawcett still looked gorgeous with it (she was beautiful period).

As conflicted as I felt yesterday about this trend ( I was quite medicated, that could have been the reason for my confusion) I am pretty excited about it now. I have always felt like I had a classic style and my style is pretty modern. However,  fashion is supposed to be fun and exciting and although I used to look at the seventies as being way to eccentric for me (hello, bellbottoms? No.) that is the fun of it! I am ready to switch things up. I don't think I am the only one who feels that current times are a little boring. Everything is just so easy, so easy that it is boring. Everything is easy and technology makes everything inpersonal. I text people more than I talk to them and it makes me wish that we all would go back to sending eachother handwritten notes and letters. It's so personal and romantic. Except, I would get over that really quickly, so nevermind. Sometimes, I don't feel like people are going to look back to the 2000's and 2010's in a few decades and be particularly inspired. What is really new fashion wise? Styles come in and out and in again but in slightly different ways. I guess that's what's great about fashion. So bring the seventies on. I'm ready for the one piece pantsuits, peasant tops, and disco, art deco clothing. I won't do bell bottoms or floods though, you can't make me.

Mischa Barton wearing a 70's inspired, embroidered peasant top, before she started dressing like she's on acid. I used to love this girl's style.

A few looks from Rodarte Spring 2011

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Style.com

Dace Moore aka one of my favorite designers ever.. my top 5 favorite pieces

I just want to say that I am personally obsessed with Canadian designer Dace Moore's clothing. My favorite type of clothing is the kind that you can just kind of throw on and look good. This is one of the reasons that summer and fall are my favorite seasons to get dressed. Easy, breezy dresses in the summer and layering and scarves in the fall. Maybe it's because I am constantly in a rush. I don't even know why I just always am. But I just love that kind of effortless, windswept look. Really beautiful, relaxed, unique pieces. The kind of clothing that is all about fit and detail. I love eccentric, showy fashion as much as the next person, but there is something about these clothes that just makes me (and lots of other people) fall in love. They are interesting, eyecatching and completely unique. These clothes are gorgeous and flattering and they allow the person's figure to look it's best and take centre stage. What is not to love about these clothes? These are just five of my personal favorites..

This is the Bobbi Dress. I feel like grey is seriously one of the best colours ever. It's just easy and chill and it goes with everything. I am a huge fan of grey anything which sounds really lame and boring but this dress shows how awesome grey can be. This dress says to me "I just woke up ,threw this on and left the house and I still look incredible". It looks so comfy and relaxed but still very stylish and sexy in a non-overt way. The fabric is 70% tencel and 30% wool. It goes from size extra small to large and it comes in grey and black.

These are the Carel Shorts. They are just really, really cute. And also unique;they aren't just any other pair of shorts. I like the pleats and the waistband. They are a little eclectic and a lot adorable. I don't know why they remind me of Alice and Wonderland. They are made of 100% cotton and the run in sizes 2- 10 and they come in black and chambray.

This might just be my favorite. The fabric is beautiful, it looks so light and airy. This is the Caressa Dress. I really love the shape! It's so romantic and pretty. This dress pretty much is the reason summer is my favorite season to get dressed. The dress is made of 100% cotton and it runs in sizes extra small to large.

There are many different ideas about what is sexy blah blah blah. I think that a dress that is stylish, a little bit edgy and classy is a lot sexier than a,lets be frank, hoochie dress.Class, confidence and style are what makes someone stand out ( in a good, elegant way, not in an embarassing, desperate, wardrobe malfunction way). This dress has all of that. The lace around the neck is pretty and romantic and a little bit edgy and sultry. The sleeves are long but the length is short. It's a good balance. It'd be awesome for a party! It's 100% silk and it comes in black. It runs from size extra small to large.

This is the Butler Rain Jacket. I love it because it is practical and it's something that would get worn a lot but it's also cute. Again, it feels like something that would be thrown on two seconds before leaving the house. I love clothes like that, I only ever just throw on my favorite clothes because those clothes are the ones that I know will look good always and with everything. This jacket would definitely be one of my favorites and it would look good with everything pretty much. It's made of 56 % linen and 44% cotton with water repellent coating. It comes in khaki and olive and runs from size extra small to large.
There are tons of other clothes by Dace Moore that I love ;(all of them, not even exaggerating) but these are my top five. Here's the website http://www.dace.ca/ .
                                                                                            Marie