Bridges and Balloons

January 29, 2013November 11, 20142 Comments

I think I first started listening to Joanna Newsom when I was 14 years old. I spent a lot of time at the home of a close friend who I took dance lessons with. She had an older sister that, at the time, I thought was the coolest person around. Not to mention I had a secret crush (maybe not so secret) on her boyfriend. I was introduced to a lot of different music at this time because my friend would play me all the music her older sister listened to. Being dancers, we were obsessed with new music. I didn’t quite get Joanna Newsom at first. Her voice sounded odd to me. But with time I couldn’t stop coming back to her. There was a fairy-like quality to her voice, that was so genuine to me. She made playing a harp seem very appealing, and not an instrument that an old eccentric woman would play alone in her boudoir (although, I’d probably find that cool now). As I got older and my fashion sense changed from bullet belts and platform boots and Marilyn Manson to a not-so-harsh vintage feel, I started to also just love her look. The way she dresses is much like the sound of her voice – like a frolicking nymph in a perfect dress, hiding in the depths of a mystical woods, and you’re always trying to catch a glimpse of her to prove that she is actually real (you really need to hear her voice if this doesn’t make sense to you). Her style seems effortless because it pretty much consists of a vintage dress, but some of the most interesting ones I have seen. This appeals to me because I have an affinity to unique vintage dresses, all from different eras, but all carrying a special quality that gives some consistency to my closet.

If you like pretty girls, in pretty dresses with pretty voices, dating super funny guys, then you will adore Joanna Newsom.

Posted by: Alex

Ellen Rogers – Folies à Deux

January 22, 2013November 11, 20141 Comment

Anyone who followed my old blog, Fern & Rolland, has already heard me talk about how much I love Ellen Rogers and her ability to make me feel like I’m seeing a ghost.

I love the idea of things being haunted, and my morbid side is always pretty drawn to things that are eery and old looking for that very reason. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I can’t make myself believe in ghosts. I’m always looking for weird spots in photos and trying to make myself believe that they’re orbs or spirits of some kind (like the time I visited Faulkner’s home in Mississippi a few years back and told everyone that the white spot in all my photos was Faulkner’s ghost!), but it always turns out that my camera lens is just smudged or dirty.

Ellen Rogers‘ photos, though, are haunting, and creepy in the best way possible. They remind me of sneaking into cemeteries and abandoned buildings at night, and of finding old, faded photographs in an attic. I also love that all of her work is analogue.

This particular series, called Folies à Deux, is especially good, to me, because it reminds me of Angela Carter’s novel Wise Children, which has always been one of my favorites. I’ve never been very good at writing a concise summary of a story, so I’ll spare you the pain of watching me try, and leave that to the novel’s Wikipedia entry. What I will say, is that the carnival style costumes, and the way the photos feel like they’re from a different era, evoke the same bitterly nostalgic, sort of mourning-of-the-past tone of Carter’s novel. Not to mention the fact that they play right into my ongoing obsession with old french accordion music, and 1930’s traveling carnivals.

Posted by Meaghan

Camp Book of Deer SS 2013

January 15, 2013November 11, 20142 Comments

“There are plenty of unofficial barometers in life to give us little hints that we’re getting older. One of the saddest is being just a little too old to hightail it off for sleepaway camp. While we won’t be sharing cabins with strangers or sleeping on the bottom bunk anymore, we can still dress the part. Enter: Book of Deer.” – Alison Baitz from Refinery 29

I came across the label Book of Deer when I was wasting time browsing Refinery 29 at work last week.

The label was started by Edinburgh born Ellidh Ho, who grew up in Hong Kong and then went to London to study at Saint-Martin’s College (does that make everyone else think of Pulp, too?). She eventually ended up back in Hong Kong, where this label was born in 2010.

Most of my favorite memories of Summer as a girl involve canoe trips to a place called Spider Island, making tin foil dinners, going to bed with my hair smelling like lake water and firewood, and singing camp songs while I hiked with eight other giggling girls. So, it isn’t any surprise to me, that I’m drawn to their SS13 collection, which is inspired by sleepaway camp (and even includes a dress with a glow-in-the-dark print of fireflies trapped in mason jars).

And, while it’s true that I have consciously been trying to steer my wardrobe away from cutesy as I get older (the label describes itself as having a “distinctive element of cute”), I can’t help it if the lovely printed fabrics -which are all hand drawn, digitally printed, and original to the brand – adorable fabrics and easy to wear pieces caught my eye. Plus, let’s face it, I don’t think I’ll ever stop liking peter-pan collars.

Posted by Meaghan

DIY Wednesday (inspiration): Good Night, Day

January 2, 2013November 11, 20145 Comments

TARA-LYNN WAS SWEET ENOUGH TO OFFER LARKSPUR READERS 10% OFF – JUST ENTER CODE MERCI AT CHECKOUT!

I had planned to get really crafty over the weekend and have something good to post for you guys today, but I got really lazy and spent most of my weekend cleaning, reading and marathon-ing season 3 of Downton Abbey. I did do a bit of knitting though, and it got me thinking that one of my resolutions this year, is to get a lot better at it!

While I don’t have anything of my own to share today, I thought I’d put together a post on a DIY muse of mine, who will serve as inspiration to me to stick to my New Years resolution.

Tara-Lynn Morrison, is the talented mind behind Good Night, Day, a Canadian label of knit goods, which she runs independently, every step of the way. All her (incredibly soft) wools are fair trade and she sources them from Peru, Uruguay and a women’s collective in Argentina. She designs and knits every item herself, and it’s easy to see that she takes serious pride in her product.

I have had the Simcoe braided headband and the extra-chunky Merino wool cowl in my sights for awhile now, and I think I’m going to treat myself very soon. I also intend on buying her booklet of knitting patterns as motivation to get to work on knitting a lot more!

Check out Tara-Lynn’s blog here, her website here & her Big Cartel shop here

Posted by Meaghan

Betina Lou A/W 2012-13

January 1, 2013November 11, 20141 Comment

Betina Lou could be one of my favorite labels to-date. Montreal-based designer, Marie-Eve Emond launched Betina Lou in 2009 and I’m so happy she did. She mixes elements of meanswear with the aesthetic of historic female fashion icons to create perfectly simple, classic and feminine looks. It’s as if she entered my brain and designed everything I would like to own/wear! Thank you Marie-Eve!

The Patsy Dress has been taunting me every time I take a peek in The Future of Frances Watson (a store located in our little Parkdale neighborhood). Each separate piece is a classic staple (in my opinion) on its own and can be mixed and matched perfectly with the entire collection. The styling seems totally effortless in the best way possible. And that little brown beret is probably one of my favorite things!!!

I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year!!! I am currently spending my New Year in Austin, Texas with Matt and can’t wait to share my travels (and food eating) with you!!

Posted by Alex