Belle Vie / 04 (and behind the scenes)

April 9, 2014November 11, 20141 Comment

1. Meg and I took the dogs to run by the water – my poor little guys have been cooped up for months because of the long and endless winter. I don’t think they even know what to do with themselves outdoors anymore
2. I love living a close walk to the water – when I had quit my job a few years back and was unemployed for 1 month I started my mornings sitting on the rocks by the water, in the east end, sipping a coffee and enjoying the silence
3-7. A little behind the scenes of my April Larkspur Babes lookbook I shot at the Scarborough Bluffs this past weekend – i will be sharing the lookbook tomorrow, and have everything available in the shop on Friday

*all behind the scenes photos by Meaghan

Elizabeth Suzann Spring 2014

April 8, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

I love love love Elizabeth Suzann’s Spring 2014 lookbook. While I know it was shot in St. Augustine, FL. it gives me serious European vibes. I don’t know why, I have never even been to Europe, so the only thing I can go off is movies I’ve seen (Before trilogy anyone?), but it seems very relaxed and beautiful in that sense. The pieces are not really a style you can find me wearing, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wholly appreciate her designs, and quite often find myself awing over women who pull off this style with ease. Don’t get me wrong though, if someone were to hand me a bunch of her garments, they would be dear friends of mine while lazing at home, long days at the beach and sipping a cup of coffee on a porch over looking the ocean (getting a little carried away now…). I am particularly smitten with the linen long sleeve midi dress, and could think of a dozen ways I could style it to suit my more is more frame of mind.

Photography: Anna Tucker
Styling: Rhiannon Leifheit
Model: Madison Bosworth

In defense of selfies

April 7, 2014November 11, 20147 Comments

There are several positive things about the first truly warm day of the season. One, pretty well everyone is in a good mood. Two, bare legs! Three, rediscovering clothes that have been hidden for months. Four, realizing the coat, cardigan and scarf you wore on the walk to get produce is actually making you sweat. Five, bare legs!!! I was in very bright spirits for taking outfit pictures this weekend, not realizing that a HUGE number of people were also in very bright spirits and out walking on the first truly warm day of the year. Which brings me to my negative… my frequented spots for photo taking, the ones that have been void of people for months, are now filled with people. This scenario poses a problem for those of us who take our own photos (I’m assuming I can’t be the only one who feels this way) I avoid choosing locations where I know a lot of people will be when I am taking my own photos with a self-timer and tripod. Having people watch me take photos of myself makes me feel self-conscious, and sort of vain, even though having a personal style blog does not normally make me feel vain in the slightest. Had I had a friend taking these photos, I would not have felt awkward and strange at all. Sometimes I focus too much on what others could be thinking. In reality, I have no idea what they are thinking. My assumption is that it is entirely negative, but if I passed by someone taking photos of themselves would my first thought be negative? Definitely not. But I am entirely biased since I do this weekly. Maybe if I had zero insight into the world of taking, well, pretty much “selfies”, maybe my initial reaction would be different. However, I do not consider the photos I take “selfies”, and have a great disdain for the term. I dislike how that term has turned self-portraits into a negative, and we could deem anyone who takes photographs of themselves as self-obsessed. I enjoy playing around with my camera, choosing different outfits, locations, composition and movements to create a mood, and generally all I have is myself to work with. It’s more to me than simply showcasing myself, but with instagram and the internet, peoples view on the age-old style of photography has become very much skewed. Anyways, all in all, these photos are not what i wanted them to be. I let my mind get the best of me, and never really got into my normal groove.

Shirt: vintage dress worn as top via Common Sort
Skirt: Larkspur
Socks: Target
Shoes: Seychelles – no longer available, but can be found here
Coat: vintage via Gisela and Zoe vintage

Orla Kiely Fall 2014

April 4, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

As always, Orla Kiely has brought us an undeniably adorable vintage-inspired collection. While she never really steps outside the box in terms of designs, it’s a line you can always count on for decidedly retro pieces, covetable by every vintage-wearing gal out there. I think pretty well every piece I wouldn’t mind owning, but I’m quite enamored with the above look. The trousers and swing coat in a monochromatic dusty rose is just the sort of thing I would like to be wearing (i know, right? trousers!?) come the colder temperatures (i know, right? why are we talking about cold weather?!). The whole collection feels very 60s, with a little Cher Horwitz-90s sprinkled throughout. I would also like to mention how great the shoes are in this collection! I love the 40s/70s vibes they are giving off. T-straps will never get old in my eyes, but t-straps with a platform and a big sturdy heel, well by George, i think she’s got it! However, the most noteworthy part of this whole collection…the very best thing ever designed…the Bichon purse! BICHONS! C’mon! That purse was invented for me. That breed is one of the most under-appreciated breeds when it comes to novelty dog breed accessories, and near impossible to find. While the bichon they included in the lookbook is very cute – I think it may be a poodle/bichon mix though, and the final one is definitely a toy poodle – I think we could all agree Gus would have been a better choice. He just got groomed, so his head is even the shape of the purse right now. True rounded bichon head. Anyways, I-NEED-THAT-PURSE.

*you can view the whole presentation here.

Larkspur / Odd Finds General Store

April 3, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

I’ve got some pretty exciting news to share with you today! Starting May, you will be able to find Larkspur at Odd Finds General Store and Tea Shop here in Toronto. I will continue to sell online for my far away customers who are unable to shop in the flesh, but this will be very exciting for the local customers who like trying things on and don’t want to pay shipping. It’s a win win situation. I plan on making a more thorough post on the shop, as it is amazing, and shop owners Stacey and Danielle are some pretty neat gals who deserve a post dedicated to the great things they do. All this being said, the online shop has been fairly quiet since a lot has been happening for Larkspur in non-virtual life. But this weekend I’m shooting my April lookbook with a babely babe and plan to have some new things listed online by the end of next week, so keep an eye out!