My new necklace

For today, a new favourite accessory and an old favourite quote. Happy Wednesday. xo

Ma solitude est mon palais. C'est là que j'ai ma chaise, ma table, mon lit, mon vent et mon soleil.

Quand je suis assise ailleurs que dans ma solitude, je suis en exil, je suis en pays trompeur.

- Réjean Ducharme, L'avalée des avalés

A Mustache Tutorial

Silly things you can make out of dollar store sticky velcro...

"Hon hon hon, où est ma baguette?"

The Tramp

"Did you get your tickets?"

"Elementary, my dear Watson"

The John Waters

Blog Rob

For today, a little petty theft from the blog of the lovely Garance Doré, who I always seem to go to when wishing to be inspired.

Picture #1: A portrait of Garance by Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist). Did you know that the word dandelion is a "corruption of the French dent de lion," referring to its coarsely tooth leaves? And did you know that the French word for dandelion is pissenlit because of its diuretic effects? (Thank you, Wikipedia) I approach dandelions the same way I approach birthday candles - make a wish and blow away.

Picture #2: I love that through some pictures, a photographer's presence is so discernible. Here is a model shot smiling, barefoot, simply dressed, cross-legged on the floor. Through this, I feel Garance's ingenuous and whimsical personality. No?

Picture #3: That chainmail ring/bracelet is amazing. Actually, all the rings are amazing, especially worn all together. Jewelry by MANIAMANIA.

White tassels and poetry

An excerpt from Margaret Atwood's "We are hard on each other," from one of my favourite books of poetry Power Politics. Happy Saturday xo

Crochet, shredded and slashed knit

Loving these delicate and whimsical sweaters. Some more white crochet following Wednesday's post and just a touch of grey to match this morning's skies.
Happy Friday xo

NASTY GAL (via Knight Cat)

Lauren Hastings in Helmut Lang by Mark Hunter, i.e. "The Cobra Snake" (via IloveWildfox)

A healthy dose

I never do movie posts, but I thought I'd add a little roller derby fashion to my blog in the form of streaked hair, heavy eyeliner, short skirts and ink. Also, I'm about to re-watch Whip It for a healthy dose of clichés: "girl power," "follow your dreams" and the "coming-of-age-you-might-think-you're-disappointing-your-parents-but-in-the-end-you'll-make-them-proud." Today's lesson in style is...when you genuinely want something, be able to say it unabashedly.

you shall above all things be glad and young
For if you're young,whatever life you wear

it will become you;and if you are glad
whatever's living will yourself become.

- e.e. cummings

(pictures via google image search)

A Convoluted Trend Report

This is going to be interesting. Welcome to a brief tour of my brain. Behind you is the visual cortex, where there is just a bundle of information swimming around. Don't be confused by the plethora of images which include beads, pelts, leather and tassels, all against a soft white backdrop. You may run into a girl here, her long tresses tied into loose braids and adorned with feathers. Don't bother her, though, she's crocheting herself a sweater.

When I think of summer, this is what I see. Flower girl meets Last of the Mohicans. In a white dress. And this is my trend report. All runway looks are from Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

For me, Jordan Bettan's Lost Art accessories reinvigorate the craft of leatherwork in a way I have never seen. Is the belt, with all its pelt and bone, excessive for anyone other than Pocahontas? Maybe. But strap that over a white sundress and wear it with gladiator sandals and maybe your boyfriend's worn-in army shirt (think Alexa Chung at Coachella) and I will fall in love with you.

LF Stores feather & bead hair clip (via Bleach Black)

Feathers and braids at Stolen Girlfriends Club S/S10 (via fashionising.com)

Obviously, I'm still ardently advocating white as choice for summer. I will keep telling you about it until I've exhausted myself. White lace, white crochet, off-white, embroidered white, long flowy white dresses, white ruffles, sheer white and white paired with leather and tassels and all aforementioned accessories.

Crochet tops in Russh (via Caroline's Mode) and by Eternal Sunshine Creations (via shopbop.com)

Sabatini White S/S10 (via Knight Cat)

Ginger & Smart S/S10 (via Fashionising.com)

Flannel SS/10/11 (via Studded Hearts)

Maxed out

I wore a black maxi dress today, so I might as well do a maxi dress post. Of course, I'm happy to share my love of the maxi dress, but I'd also like to convince the boyfriend that not only "religious women" wear such hemlines (I think he just prefers me in short skirts, as most boys probably would, but here is today's lesson all wrapped up in parentheses: always dress for yourself first and foremost, otherwise it's just no fun!).

The maxi dress is nothing new and I'm not breaking ground here...but I just like them. Right now, I love them in simple and loose grey or black jersey, especially when layered with a sweater and leather jacket and worn with big chunky black boots. This makes for an effortless and chic daytime look.

Caroline Blomst of Caroline's Mode in an Alexander Wang maxi dress

Sasha Pivovarova (via Altamira)

Maria from Vanilla Scented in a Monki dress

For warmer weather, you can swap your boots for sandals. I am also currently obsessed with white maxi dresses. Paired with a jean jacket, it's a perfect summer look. Or, wear a t-shirt under it to make it less dressy. Note to self: find the perfect flowy white maxi dress and post about it.

Bassike cotton maxi tank dress (from net-a-porter)

Emma from Em's Edge

from the Zara May 2010 lookbook

Rain and Strangers

Well, it's cold and raining again in Amsterdam, which inspires black and greys and combat boots to re-emerge from my closet. Today I'm wearing clothes that hug me: a cotton maxi dress, a warm hoodie and a big black scarf. These photos were doodled on and edited with picnik.com. Lyrics are from the Kinks song "Strangers."

Grey layers

I mentioned something a little while ago about layers. You can always tell a person has impeccable style if they've mastered the art of layering. Each individual garment may seem simple or plain on its own (in this case, t-shirt, jeans, sweater...), but methodically put together, the look is polished and complete. Carrying a Chanel 2.55 doesn't hurt either.

(from Stockholm Street Style)