Ode to Annie Hall

I've been watching a lot of movies lately late at night before I go to bed. I need to stop this habit as it's making me feel like shit when I wake up at 6 in the morning. But after a hard day's work and then an intense workout at the gym I need to wind down, and a movie makes me relax like no man can (hee!)

Although my mom is angry at me for spending all my money on DVDs, she can't help but like my choices: Annie Hall, Manhattan and Manhattan Murder Mystery (all Woody Allen films) have made their way from my room into hers.

Thankfully, I'm able to watch them before she slips into my room and grabs them.

As a result, I'm in a New York state of mind and in love with Diane Keaton and her sartorial choices. Her clothes are iconic. For those of you who think that Avril Lavigne started the tie trend you are dead wrong. It was Annie Hall. Who could forget that masculine style that at once said "take me seriously but I don't give a shit whether you like me."

The buttoned up to the neck shirt, the little vest, the boyfriend pants and that tie; together they started a revolution in women's wear. And the style is particularly in fashion now as women (such as myself) are clamororing for "boyfriend" style clothes: long, loose jackets and blazers, wide-legged pants, buttoned-up loose shirts and men's ties. It's not always in fashion but it always reincarnates every decade.

I really think that Diane Keaton's clothes shaped the way women dress; gone was the need to wear dresses to be sexy. Her clothes made women feel powerful and emancipated from traditional women's clothing. But they still made a woman feel sexy and desirable.

And it's partially because of my love for that movie that has made me buy two vintage boyfriend blazers (see this post.)

Are there any movies that influence your style?

(Kate Moss is a huge fan of this style)

Royal fashion

Lately I've been obsessed with the Tudor and French Revolution eras and have been holing myself up in my room reading biographies of Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette.

I recommend this book if you want to know more about Queen Anne and this book about the Queen of France.

These two periods of time excite not only because of the fascinating history of the Kings and Queens of Europe, but also because of the way people dressed. The style (and I'm referring to what the royals and nobility wore) from the Tudor period (1485-1603 in England) was very different from the time of Marie Antoinette (late 1700s) in France; but both periods were obsessed with luxury including lavishly detailed gowns for the ladies and plenty of jewelry.

But it was the French court that was envied by everyone, including England. France has always been known for its style and it really began with Louis XIV and then Marie Antoinette; both knew that clothes were a symbol of power and wealth. And ultimately, it was their love for luxury that brought the French court literally to their knees with the French Revolution.

Marie Antoinette

Last week I came across this article about a clothing exhibition at the palace of Versailles in France. The exhibition is called "Court pomp and royal ceremonies: court dress in Europe 1650-1800" which attempts to recreate the clothes from the 17th and 18th century in France.
The article mentions that "ironically, nothing remains of the garments worn by the French sovereigns."

Here's why:

This was not just due to the destruction wreaked by the Revolution, but because of the habit of the French royals of handing down their clothes as they went out of fashion to their ladies and gentlemen in waiting, who transformed them or sold them on, many eventually ending up in rag shops in Paris.

Some more snippets:

But special ceremonies aside, Louis XIV is credited with simplifying male dress by authorising courtiers to adopt the long jacket and fitted breeches which they wore to go hunting as everyday wear, the ancestor of the modern suit, says Pascale Gorguet-Ballesteros, deputy curator of the exhibition.

Nevertheless it still cost a fortune to cut a fine figure at Versailles.

No woman could appear at court until she had been formally presented, and a presentation outfit could cost up to 3,000 livres -- the currency of the time -- "for the total look", says Gorguet-Ballesteros. "A weaver with a wife and two children in Paris could live on 340 livres a year."

The account books kept by Marie Antoinette's favourite supplier Rose Bertin bear witness to the astronomical sums aristocrats owed -- and often never settled -- for their finery. A canny businesswoman, Bertin circulated dolls dressed in the latest Versailles fashions for clients to place orders, long before models and catwalk shows.

Marie Antoinette

I then came across these shoes:




I can't decide whether the Louboutins are atrocious are awesome. What do you think?
It would take a special kind of woman to wear these; either she is super confident and wants to have fun with them or she's going to a halloween party. I don't know. Kind of kitsch?

They are a limited edition, inspired by Marie Antoinette. Here is an invite to preview the collection:

I think it's the gigantic head that turns me off. It's a bit morbid knowing that the Queen's head was cut off and now it's stuck on an overpriced shoe. But it makes me giggle too. Vive La Reine!



And just for kicks here's my favourite picture of Kristen Dunst as Marie Antoinette in the movie.

For more royal fashion readings check out:

Dressed to rule: Royal and Court Costume from Louis XIV to Elizabeth II

Queen Of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution

Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the Eighteenth Century

Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century Fashion in Detail

The Tudor Tailor: Reconstructing 16th-Century Dress

Want it. Need it. Can't have it.

Kate Moss for TopShop Wing Jacket


Top Shop launched its first store in the States today; another good excuse for me to visit NYC. Pun, you listening? I'm going with you when you're apartment hunting!

But anyway- the jacket. I have a thing for fairies so for me, this is the holy grail of all jackets. I love the 3/4-sleeves and the short length of it. And it's leather! Perfect to wear to work and for a night on the town. Please, oh, please TopShop come to Canada!

Here are some more views:



It's hard to tell from the photos but the wings have beading on them which gives it a bit of sparkle. I'll be trolling about ebay for this one.

Buy a piece of Zoe

If you've been a follower of this blog than you know that I am a huge fan of Rachel Zoe and her show The Rachel Zoe Project which I am happy to say is renewed for a second season.
If you watched the show you would remember that Zoe said she thinking about starting her own line of clothes and accessories. This was more than a year ago and I never heard a whisper about this actually coming to fruition. Until now!
People magazine has confirmed with Zoe that she is working on her own affordable fashion line which includes clothes, jewelry, bags and fragrances. Details about the line is still secret but I really hope that it reflects her style: glamorous and fun. Her motto is all about dressing up everyday even if you're just going to work or to a casual lunch; it's all about having a red carpet moment.
I really hope she does shoes because her taste in footwear is amazing; always super high heels (at least 5 inches) that really stand out.
For clothes I hope she does a mix of fun Cali wear like flirty dresses but also tailored suits that you can wear to work or to a party.

But my question to you is: Would you buy from the Rachel Zoe fashion line?

There are a lot of people who don't like her style specifically the bug sunnies, the leggings, the platforms and the flowy shirts; but Rachel understands that women have all kinds of body shapes and she doesn't dress her clients in just one style.

So I'm excited to see what she comes up with.

In other Zoe news, she is selling off a ton of her own jewelry on ebay and on the Decades Two website; so if you saw a cuff or huge ring you loved on the show it might be up for grabs. Check out the auction here. This could be your only chance to own a piece of Zoe!

Here are some of my favourite pieces up for auction:


Beaded cuff

Glass blue cuff

Chandelier necklace


Fringe choker necklace
Pearl cuff

Resin cuff
Snake cuff

My dream coats

Every Winter I always dream about coats. It's that time of the year when I have to pack away my lightweight trenches and bust out the wool. Over the years I've collected a few coats; I usually get a new one every year. Last year it was a white wool long coat with buttons down to the navel. I liked how it floated to my side whenever I walked in the wind. This year I bought a fur coat on a whim but there are many other coats that beg to be bought and worn this winter.

I had a conversation with my co-workers today about the value of getting a quality coat. Sure they may be expensive, but in the long run it's better to have one quality coat then a dozen shitty ones, right?

Enter Smythe, a Canadian label that specializes in beautiful coats and jackets. This past summer I interviewed the co-founders and designers of the label when I was lusting after their stunning blazers. Now I'm crazy about their coats.

Here are my favourites:

Boyfriend Blazer
Ok it's not a coat but it would look great in the office or with a sparkly dress, non?

Equestrian Jacket
The patchwork elbows are what make the jacket. I can picture myself hunting in England in this jacket. If I were into hunting.

Equestrian Herringbone Jacket
Again; the patches.

Leather Bomber Jacket
I have just started obsessing over leather jackets. This one is so classic but sexy and a bit rock n rock.

Peacoat in blue
I really like the cut of this jacket, especially at the neck. But really it's that gorgeous tiffany blue that makes it stand out. And I love those big buttons. Just add a dark scarf and you're good to brave the winter.

Peacoat in jade
How many people do you see wearing a coat in jade? Or any clothes in jade for that matter? Such a beautiful colour.

Pinafore Coat
Everyone needs a black, long wool coat in Canada. This one is perfect because it's warm, stylish and comes with a detachable collar.

Waist Coat in teal
Another beautiful colour. I love the cinched waist and the little collar.

Good reading: Kate Moss Style

I just finished reading Kate Moss Style today and I have to say that I now realize what a huge influence Kate has been on the fashion world. The read itself is kind of boring; it's like a really long article with interviews with Kate's friends, stylists and vintage dealers. They keep repeating that Kate has great style and how she is a style icon. The real treat is the photos of all of Kate's looks from when she was a teenager, to her days with Johnny and Pete to today as a TopShop business queen. Her transformation is amazing to watch. It's so much fun to see the vintage clothes she picks out; from a goth Victorian ruffled cape to a Swarovski crystal beaded flapper dress. Her choices are always unconventional, forward-looking and un-trendy.
It's amazing to see how her choices, whether it be skinny jeans, moccasin boots and fur jackets, have become popular trends as soon as she is photographer wearing them.
I love her rock-chic I-don't-give-a-shit attitude.

Here are pics of some great Kate Moss moments:


Leave it to Kate to dress the complete opposite of everyone else. While all the other actresses at the Cannes Film Festival were dressed in flouncy ballgowns; Kate went with a simple grey dress and stood out. This woman really takes chances. I miss the Johnny Depp days...

Leopard on leopard. Love it.





Probably my favourite Kate Moss dress is this customized Swarovski flapper dress. And I love how she paired it with Mary Janes.

Editors who inspire me

Normally I look at the runways and fashion bloggers like Susie Bubble and Fashion Toast, to name a few, for fashion inspiration. However recently I have been noticing the people who bring fashion to the masses- editors. I find photos of them on the Fashion Spot, The Sartorialist and Style in the City, among other blogs, and have come to appreciate their sense of style.

These are just a few of the editors who make me wish I had them as personal stylists.

Evelina Khromchenko - Editor-in-Chief, L`Officiel Russia
First of all I LOVE her haircut. If I could carry off bleach blond hair this is how I would do it. I think it's great that she doesn't have one uniform look- she plays around with punk rock vamp, red-carpet diva and flirty suit businesswoman. And her legs are to die for.


Kate Lanphear - Style Director, US Elle

Ahhh Kate. Everyone loves her. Yet another head of hair that I wish I could carry off. Kate usually rotates between greys and blacks and never strays to bright colours. She has a mix of Yves Saint Laurent-like men's suits, simple striped tees and killer shoes. It's effortless and beautiful.

Miroslava Mikheeva-Duma - Fashion Editor, Harper's Bazaar Russia
Miroslava first caught my attention with her gorgeous YSL Muse 2 bag but when I looked at the rest of her ensemble I fell in love with her style. Her look is very grown-up: slim dresses, pleated floral skirts, tweed blazers and designer bags. Somehow her colours look coordinated without being so, and they always look good on her. And she has incredible bangs.


Claire Dhelens - Fashion & Accessories Editor, Vogue Paris

Parisians remind me a lot of New Yorkers; they love wearing super-tight, black clothes and Claire is no exception. Her silhouette is very slim, with simple, classic lines. Nothing too flashy except for odd moments of bright colour.