Elin Kling for Marciano

I have often mentioned who my ultimate style icon is. Ranges from ADR to Caroline Issa (whom I saw at the Wolesley a couple weeks ago!). Without a doubt though, my favourite blogger / stylist is Elin Kling. She's from Sweden, owns her own fashion mag, clothing line, been on Dancing with the Stars, was the first blogger to collaborate with H&M, and the list goes on. She just announced her newest collaboration with Guess by Marciano. To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of Guess, nothing in there really stands out to me in either quality or appearance. However, because Elin will be doing a line, I will definitely go in and take a look.

That's the blogger impact.

Hair talk

A few weeks ago I permed my hair. The above photo depicts the result after a full nights sleep with no washing. I wanted a perm essentially for the volume and the messy, French, trying but not trying too hard look. Easy peasy right? I soon realised that perms require a whole lotta work. It dries out your hair like a mother frick fracker, and takes a good couple weeks to stop looking like the quintessential Annie. Today, it's a bit better. Curls have lessened, and an all around messiness ensues. (Are we really still talking about HAIR?!?! Yes, now get over it.)

When I was in my cool teens, I used to grow my hair super duper long...then in one huge arse snip, chop it all off. I've done this probably 3x now? Contemplated doing it again, but then there's a wedding blah blah blah. Instead, maybe I should pull a Nikki Minaj or a Gaga and get a wig?

Celebrity inspiration:

I have a love/hate relationship with all things Kardashian. I follow some of them (no, not Kim, I'm an anti-Kim like every other jealous girl) on Twitter but I do enjoy some of their spreads. Kim was doing a spread for Vogue Italia here.

Blogger inspiration:

Jane Alridge from Sea of Shoes looks frickin' awesome in one. And surprisingly really natural too?!

Okay, so it probably won't happen anytime soon, but nevertheless a great alternative to think about if you're ever in the mood for a change but can't get up the courage* to do it. Hair up there paired with some Zara trousers, Burberry trench, Balenciaga bag, Crockett & Jones men's velvet loafers, Alexander McQueen scarf.

*Like ME! in my 'I'm-so-cool-I'm-a-rocker' phase or 'I-want-to-be-Natalie-Imbruglia' phase.

the puffy vest

ADIDAS vest, FILIPPO CATARZI hat, ZARA blazer, DANIER leather pants, PRADA bag, GAP BOYS sweater, FRATELLI ROSSETTI boots

While away last weekend I really got into the 'country side' mood. It felt fitting with the barn and stable landscape. We stayed at the beautiful Coworth Park Hotel, a prime accommodation spot for Ascot attendees. In a separate building was their very well-lit spa which we spent a lovely afternoon in. I highly recommend it if you need a weekend away from the city.

Anyway, I was reading on fellow bloggers site Karla's Closet about puffy vests and I could not agree more. The poor puffy vest gets such a bad rep, especially in Canada where we all need them on top of our parkas to keep warm in our igloos. I, however, have had this adidas vest since...2006? and I think it was one of the most well-worn purchases I have. That, and I saw Alexander Wang's take on it from NYFW f/w 2011.

Bohmer

FOREVER 21 shirt (stolen from sis), GUESS trousers (my first GUESS item in years and I must admit I was slightly apprehensive about buying them, but for $30 CAD, it was worth the risk), ASOS belt, ELIZABETH AND JAMES booties (unseen), VINTAGE ROLEX and VINTAGE JADE ring (both given to me by my loving mom for graduation and Christmas), SNAKE bracelet (gifted by a best friend), FILIPPO CATARZI hat (best hat ever to travel with; it never creases no matter what position it is held in)

A few weeks ago my exceptionally talented foodie friend, Scott chose a restaurant in Toronto for me to taste while I was back home (well, he chose one, then was overruled by other exceptionally creative friend Ivy, and we ended up at Bohmer).

Bohmer Restaurant was opened by Paul Bohmer (formerly accredited with Rosewater and Scaramouche to name a few) and I think one word sums it up: local. Organic and homegrown, most of the produce comes from our backyard in Ontario. I don't know if Canadian cuisine has a real identity yet, but if it doesn't, Bohmer might just be creating the definition.

Above are some of the pics we flooded the place with while we were there. I especially love the one of us three.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

2011 starts off with a bang!!

....for everyone including ELIN KLING


She is by far, my favorite blogger and stylist. I am in love with her minimalistic pieces mixed with edgy fabrics and material. Her new collaboration with H&M (first blogger to have a fast fashion collabo with them) in out only in Sweden this month. I think I may just take a trip there to pick up a few pieces.

PS. bad blogging habits stop NOW! Tons of photos to sort through - can't wait to show you all!

FOOD(IE)

I'm not a chef, nor a baker, nor any kind of wifely person that cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The downfall to this is that I LOVE food. I probably would have a much greater appreciation for it if I cooked every once in awhile. I've been spoiled by London and the countless restaurant possibilities so throughout my years here, I've slowly dissipated in my daily homemade meals to...well NIL. Thank goodness I already have someone who loves me. (HA).

The World's Top 50 came out in London last week knocking El Bulli off the top spot (HOORAY!) We've been DYING to get reservations there for years now to no avail and when they came out end of last year saying they were closing for 2 years (they're open 6 months of the year because of 'research') to find inspiration, we almost collapsed. That said, this knock off the top spot is a swift kick in their behind for getting so pretentious.



El Bulli's kitchen - apparently it has beautiful grounds not close to any city (which I'm all for). I'm just jealous I haven't been 'chosen' to go.

The good news is last year I went to Tokyo for a little over a week and tried Ryugin (a newcomer to the list) and it was amazing. None of that over-the-top stuff you get with all these other top restos. Simple and delicious. The chef even came out, chatted to us via translator (he's so young, mid-30's) and put us in a cab! These are the simple touches that make a resto good. Middle finger to El Bulli - see below (there goes my jealousy again).


(Two fingers means eff off in the UK - smth about when they used to pull the bow back in their bow and arrows, they use two fingers, thus they are telling you to eff off or else...)


Oh and another thing to my Torontonians: my good friend Scott has a TO eating blog - check it out for some new ways to burn your cash.

Ciao from the Library (been pulling the 14 hr shifts here everyday, hence the lack of outfit/trip posts - look out on Monday!)

ADR

My gf asked me the other day, if you could have one closet, who's would it be?

Anna Dello Russo. Fashion Director and Icon. Above all, I think it's her confidence. I don't think I could wear half the stuff she does; her long lean legs vs my short muscular ones (muscular is said v loosely...). But I wouldn't complain if she gave it to me. The part I love the most is how her closet is organized and well-displayed. If you know me, you know I'm a control freak. So a neat and well-displayed closet is only the half of it...


photo credit: the sartorialist

Check out her blog: http://www.annadellorusso.com/

Ciao ciao!

PS. Apologies for not uploading my pics yet from China. I've been swamped with work.

PPS. As promised by my loving, sweet, boyfriend, this blog is undergoing a transformation...i can't wait to reveal it to you guys.

hoochie mama?

Before I started this blog I phantom stalked a thousand other bloggers. (That's a slight lie, because I still phantom stalk a number of them). I read an article in the Times the other day after the Milanese fashion week finished on how 40% of the fashion show attendees are now bloggers. There's an obvious debate between print and web, but if you can convince the designer's PR rep that your blog will bring in a wide audience, you're in the loop for shows. However, they probably won't pay you - like they do Rihanna, reportedly $100g per appearance to sit front and centre.

Personally, I'm really on the balance for fashion shows. I like them and all, especially because they're the first resource for all the ready to wear we see on the streets, but truthfully, I love the style on the streets so much more. The more original, the better. This is why I phantom stalk so much (admit it, you do it too - you're probably doing it right now ;) ), blogs are such a great way at being inspired.

The other day when I was going through my list of followings, I came across Mayas Agenda whom I've seen before in pictures but didn't find her blog until recently. She's the daughter of Elle Japan editor studying in Paris and she has one of the most inspirational styles I've seen in a long long time. Mind you, she has a great skinny body to compliment all these looks. She loves to pair shorts with tights/stockings. Now, I have never been a fan of that look, especially in London where girls do it so shapelessly, but after flipping through Maya's posts, I decidedly gave it a try.

I wore this outfit last Friday and as I was walking through Shoreditch to meet a few gfs for dinner, I kept getting hoochie calls. I know that Shoreditch isn't the poshiest of neighbourhoods and guys (boys) cat call after a few drinks (esp in Ldn where they start at 3pm), but this was abnormally much. I reckon its the shorts. Does Maya get cat calls? But she looks so effortlessly stunning in them! So my question to you is, how do you wear the tights/shorts look tastefully?




Wearing: Theory elbow patch blazer, t-shirt from Tokyo, AA shorts, random tights, Jonais boots, stolen from bf scarf which he bought in Turkey (yes that's his, not mine)

Ciao, from Shoreditch