I'm a budding social media marketer, super-stylist, blogger and fashion nerd. I <3 disposable cameras, cupcakes, obscure Swedish bands, LND town and the taste of sea salt in the air. A hopeless romantic, with big hair, a bigger heart with Drum'n'Bass ripping through my veins.
Early last month I was offered to take part and style a special set of videos for The Hudson Bay Company‘s online magazine B-insider. Seeing as I hadn’t played my hand in styling in much too long I immediately jumped at the chance. The concept seemed simple enough: bring in the cities top creatives and have them chat freely about their love of the fall/winter season, Canada and the power of social media. It was a two day video shoot with roughly fifty-five people and some gorgeous faces of friends stopping by to take part and racks of clothing for me to play with. The idea here was to have the participants dress in what they loved from the current collections housed at The Bay. It was a hectic couple of days, but I couldn’t be more proud and grateful for working with such talented, fun and creative group of individuals.
The first of the three part series focuses on our love of the fall. It’s colour and comfort, despite the terror of minus degree weather looming not too far away. For more on the story and great images click here.
All behind the scenes photos by the darling David Pike.
Director and Producer Francisco Garcia. Director of Photography Wendell Collier. Executive Producer Christopher Sherman. Associate Producers Kate Corbett + Colleen Henman. Stylist Kiwi Mohamed. Hair and Makeup Natalie Blouin of Plutino Group. Production Assistant Jean Lee.
*Was hoping to have this posted a week or so ago, but due to dashboard errors I wasn’t able to. Rest in Peace, Monsieur Mehdi.
It was 2007.
My sister and I had hopped on the Go Train escaping the bitter Hamilton weather for a weekend in Toronto. It was her birthday and as luck would have it we had managed to pick up tickets to a massive Ed Banger show at the Mod Club that same evening. Justice. Busy P. DJ Mehdi. SebAstian. On the bill.
Spotted So-Me weaving through the crowd taking snaps of an incredibly electric Toronto crowd. Perhaps this was pre the ‘Screw Face City’ monicker. There we stood thick in the middle of it. Sweaty and thrilled. My sister and I. My darling Tiyana and my soon to be bestie Metzti. It was unlike any dance party I had been to before, and mild compared to the antics we got up to six months later.
It was at that very moment, when a neon cross lit and blazed across what seemed like a thousand screens and “Water of Nazereth” ripped through the speakers that I had been converted. I wanted to dance forever.
DJ Mehdi and the Ed banger crew have pretty much been the soundtrack to my first few years in the big city. Then came CiRCA and Randomland. About a billion more Justice shows and smoking with Kavinsky. Creeping through back doors and interviewing The Clipse. Running head first in to Thomas Bangalter and staring gobsmacked at one half of a super group that I was obsessed with in my teens. Meeting Simian Mobile Disco and drinking green tea with So-Me, as we watched his first Toronto art show come together.
I was a proud fluorescent adolescent! Dressed in sparkles, leather, lace and neon. Dancing in to the wee hours of the morning, ending up at after hour loft parties and wondering how the hell I wound up there in the first place. In those moments I had made some of the best friends a girl could ask for. Together we’d gather. A pile of young people and in a messy, yet joyful huddle we kicked through the slush and mud of winter right through to the sweaty grime that was summer, and always made it home in one happy heap. Piecing fragments of vibrant memories with bass beats still skipping through our veins.
We were young, and I look back now, we were fearless.
We danced like no one was watching, we danced because everyone did.
So thank you Ed banger for creating our bubble, of pure musical joy.
My besties and I, salute you.
Rest In Peace DJ Mehdi.
It was lovely to have met you,
and I am still sorry for running off with your Finlandia bottle.
I’ve finally managed to flick through Opening Ceremony‘s latest collaboration with ethereal the Mulleavy wunder-siblings of Rodarte. As expected the Fall/Winter collection has been shot by photographer Autumn de Wilde – a favourite of the duo -
and features models/pixies Stephan Haurholm and twins Donna and Gwen Loos. You can smell the end of summer in the air, I’m actually excited to pull out my old well loved knits for another season. I especially love the simplicity of this collection and I really want to give the cream and mustard color palette a try.
‘The collection itself was inspired by the Nordic romance of Scandinavia and mixes billowy silk dresses with touches of ruffle, lambskin stripped leather skirts, printed shirting and Fair Isle-patterned knits. A soft palette of tones like mint, blush and ochre dominates both the men’s and women’s looks.’
This two hour mix has provided me nothing but copious amounts of entertainment. A perfect way to kick off the week, non?
Featuring tracks by Wily, Radiohead, Orbital and tons more groovy, bounce soul brothers and funky flex sisters.
So listen and dance with me.
There is something about Julia Sarr Jamois’ off beat and quirky style that splits my head in two and captures my heart. The Wonderland magazine fashion editor has this impeccable knack of mixing print and colour that I certainly can not help but envy. Be it breton stripe t-shirt with kaleidoscopic Christopher Kane print skirt or pairing a velvet blazer with ripped boyfriend jeans, Jamois makes it look so very cool and effortless. Usually papped with barely any accessories and a cigarette in hand, it is her uncanny ability to mix chic Parisian ease with typically English eccentricity that I find to be the most beguiling. With fashion month just around the corner I can’t wait to see what visual treats JSJ will whip up for us next.
For the latest Hermes bracelet campaign the super luxe French fashion house have come up with a clever little concept.
They’ve incorporated the pretty little baubles in some of the greatest works by French painters Gauguin, Ingres and Courbet.
The result, total perfection in my opinion. Simply divine.
The Horrors – Still Life
A total gem of a record! You must listen to the album – the Skying- if you haven’t already.
Grimes – Vanessa
Rumour has it she’ll be rocking our fair city some day soon. I’ve got my ear to the ground for delicious clues.
SBTRKT – Wildfire ft Little Dragon.
Watched him and Sampha preform live as part of Best Birthday of Life. Then Drake showed up and I thought Wrongbar was going to explode with sweat and joy.
Fucked Up – Queens of Heart.
‘David Comes to Life’ is easily the best record FU have produced to date. I can’t imagine where this will take the Toronto troupe.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Body
Summer steeped with nostalgia. This video sums it up pretty nicely.
Emeli Sande – Heaven
I cannot express my love for UK garage, as it’s beats per second have pretty much shaped my youth. I am so happy that the genre is making a proper come back, and this track is certainly one of the best this summer. Guaranteed it’ll rip through Europe like a storm.
Possibly the smartest campaign video I’ve seen in quite sometime, Markus Lupfer gathers a few of his most favourite ladies for this science documentary farce directed by Tabitha Denholm. Big model names include my favourite Canadian cool kid Irina Lazareanu, current Louis Vuitton face Mary Charteris and super songbird Florence Welch as possessed little minions in Dr.Lupfer’s laboratory.
Check out the video below!
And you can shop for a few sweet Markus Lupfer pieces here.
…these are a few of my (current) favourite things.
I was on a bit of a Zara shopping binge while visiting the folks in Abu Dhabi.
The little island scattered with too many malls went on sale far before it’s Canadian counterparts,
and seeing as the buys seem to be a little more tailored to the European market, I decided to take advantage of our strong dollar.
The knit sweater and bright green skirt are my two favourites of the haul.
I love the way the skirt pops on my dark skin,
and the sweater is so very Isabel Marant with out the ridiculous price tag.
The Topshop flat-form wedge I managed to get at a steal!
And so stupid easy to walk in, I wear them about the house just because.
I bought ‘Just Kids’ while wandering about Schiphol Shithole Airport.
Loved it so much, I read it twice. But then I’ve always been a sucker for raw romance.
I’ve been back a week now,
and I do apologize for the lack of posts.
Since I’ve landed,
I’ve embraced Toronto in the tightest of hugs.
Have barely been home since.
Pride and Canada Day celebrations have made it nearly impossible.
But I am certainly not complaining!
It’s been one incredibly sun drunk few weeks,
and I am so very blessed.
Here is to more adventure in the near future.
Till then promise to be back with more
random ditherings,
wants/needs,
mega music playlists
and general what have yous.
xo
ps: please do follow me on twitter! I’m only four followers away from 400!
