This winter really feels like it’s taken a toll on me. Trying to stay motivated and positive has often felt like a daunting task when sunshine is limited and the days look grey and dreary, and are cold as all hell (maybe hell is warm?) But I found this 1970s terrycloth romper at one of my favourite vintage stores and it immediately put a smile on my face. It reminds me of summer and Life Savers candy, and just happiness in general. So I thought to myself instead of waiting months to be able to wear it in the warmth, I’d bring the sunshine indoors by pairing it with some other bright accessories that put a smile on my face. And maybe one day I’ll move to a place that doesn’t freeze my toes as soon as I step outside.
Romper & sunglasses: Public Butter
Shoes: thrifted
Tag: Vintage
Styling / Mode Laboratory
A few months back I was given some pieces from Mode Laboratory’s SS ’15 collection to shoot, and since their pieces have a whimsical, surreal feel to them, I thought Gerald would be the perfect photographer to capture them in the best possible light. I wanted to share a few of the final images with you, so here we are!
Photography: Gerald Larocque
Model: Emma Pilon (Anita Norris Models)
Styling: Alex Spence (me!)
Art Direction: Annya Karina
Artist’s Blouse
I’m having a bit of writer’s block this morning. I’ve been non-stop thinking about content I want to shoot for this blog and I presume it is hindering my brain’s ability to think of anything else at the moment. Any creative will tell you that sometimes you are struck with an abundance of inspiration and it can often feel quite overwhelming – too much to hold in your mind, too much to be left for another day, and so you have a desire to do it all once, right now, for fear of losing that feeling to create. That’s how I’m feeling today – that taking this morning at a slow pace is just not going to happen because I’ve got ideas buzzing around my head and I want to make them tangible. I guess it’s fitting that I’m wearing this peachy, ruffly blouse for this post. For some reason I liken it to an artist’s blouse…I’m not really sure why. Maybe I find the connection between an artist and this blouse because of the sleeves. I just imagine these sleeves moving back and forth over a canvas, or bouncing up and down while strumming or becoming an extension of your movement, telling a story of their own. Hands and arms have always been a part of the body that intrigue me…I really try to connect with them when I dance (and maybe it’s why they often find their way to my face in photos), so anything that adds character and a bit of detail to them is something I am quite fond of…even if it is something as simple as ruffles.
Blouse: vintage via Public Butter
Pinafore: ASOS (old)
Socks: H&M
Shoes: thrifted
Belle Vie / 34
1. Last weekend I styled and modeled Act Three’s AW ’15 lookbook, and this was one of the looks. Sarah’s dresses are seriously to die for and I can’t wait to be able to share the whole lookbook with you guys. She is so incredibly talented and I think you guys are really going to love her designs.
2. We shot the lookbook at this amazing loft here in Toronto. How people find spaces like this is beyond me! The tenant has done a ton of work to make the space liveable and it’s really inspiring.
3. A beautiful illustration of me by an instagram follower @jennydiekaiserin – it’s so lovely and flattering when artists are inspired by my photographs. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude when people share their work with me.
4. A super gorgeous watercolour of me by another instagram follower @ina_ritar – again, I feel so lucky that such talented people are inspired by my portraits. (i added the border cause I have a problem with photos not lining up, fyi.)
Beauty / 1940s Pigtail Loop Braids
Today I’m going to share a tutorial on how to do 1940s pigtail loop braids. I will say, I honestly feel this hairstyle works better for hair shorter than mine. I say this because I personally think it looks better when the loop holes aren’t so large (they mostly just get in the way when they are as big as mine) and it’s easier to get them to sit comfortably and closer to your posterior hairline at a shorter length. But, as you can see, I made it work, so this hairstyle works for many lengths. Okay, blahblahblah! The tutorial!
STEP ONE: Start by separating your hair just the way you would to make pigtails and then braid each section of hair. Simple as that. If you can braid your hair, then this is a cake walk. If you have shorter hair, you can set your braids a bit farther back, behind your ear, this way your loops won’t get in the way as much.
Surprise surprise, doing something weird with my braids…this time I made a braided beard.
STEP TWO: Take the end of your braid and fasten it to the base of your head with bobby pins – you can do this either on the inside of your hair, closer to your ear, or the outside, which I have done here because my hair is so heavy and it was nearly impossible to pin on the inside. This step is way easier with shorter, light hair, in my opinion. I needed a ton of pins to hold my braids in place, which doesn’t look very aesthetically pleasing, but oh well. If you choose to do the outside, you can clean the look up a bit by hiding the ends of your hair inside the rest of your hair and fastening it with pins. To finish it off tie a bow around your loops to achieve a more pulled together (and adorable) look.
And bam! Done! Another easy and cute hairstyle for all. If you guys have any hairstyles you’re interested in learning, let me know. I’d be happy to oblige!
okay andie 