Realistic Chic

Well, I'm off to Cannon Beach, Oregon for the long weekend! Sure, I have two essays to write, but what better way to write them then camping by the beach with a bucket-load of Palm Bay and a surfboard? Great for the attention-span. I leave you with a journey through the generations of fashion inspired by the surf-culture:


(The last one is Cynthia Crowley for Roxy...check the gorgeous line out here)

I can't believe I'm only seeing these Vanity Fair images now:


WHERE have I been??? To miss such classic glamour and moody style? I must be...mad?

I received a very good question over the weekend about what to do with a blank wall that goes as follows:

"I was wondering if you might help me with something. I have some wall space in my room that's a little boring and I'm terribly indecisive and have a habit of changing my mind so I was wondering if you could recommend any ideas. Thing is, I don't wanna ruin the paint job...I just don't like having to puncture holes in the walls seeing as I change things around quite often. I was looking online at some wall-stickers and thought that might be nice for a while. I'm honestly not doing anything fancy to my room. I just wanna' have it look not so plain. maybe put a few pictures up and stuff. Anything on my walls/accessories in my room I'd like to be Black in colour."

To solve this decorating dilemma, I decided to do a bit of research about the options for such a wall that a) won't leave any marks; 2) is simple but chic; and D) is cheap so that there is no bad feelings if it is changed out eventually. First, here's some of my favourite and most inspiring images of photo walls:

Today's fashion focus is on the newly released Canadian romance between Douglas Coupland and Roots. With quite a lot of backstory about how this came to be (including video interviews with Coupland's artistic style woven into them), the fashion line proves to be entirely based on one concept: the emergence of the electronic era in Canada in the 1950's-mixed with the silhouettes of today's 20-something wearer. Varsity jackets with Radio tower patches, sling bags with dot matrix font, leggings with circuit board prints, and of course, the test pattern that is so iconic of the era throughout:

Here's a sample of the line (mostly just the stuff I want):

Click here to see more. As much as I LOVE him, I admit I expected something a little more innovative from Coupland. Perhaps some of that 3-dimensional interactive design like a wallet that unfolds into a box, or a jacket that comes apart into 4 different pieces for 4 different looks, or something equally crazy and neat. I guess I just didn't want it to be all about the print and not about the working of the fabric. What do you think of it? Like it or no? Why? And are you a fan of his outside these designs?

...these pictures! I have no idea where they're from, but the nautical "Southern France" thing has me totally going lately, and these shots completely speak to that style. Just look at the ruffled tulle in the last one! YUM. Imagine this being your summer:

Buy me a sailboat?

P.S. If you happen to know where these pics are from, let me know so I can tag them accordingly!

We all know how there are deals to be had at IKEA, but can one use their products economically and beautifully enough for a wedding? Recently, I came across an interior design stylist, Lo Bjurulf, who took on a project transforming a space with typical IKEA products into a fabulous look that may just be perfect for a wedding.

Unfortunately, I don't believe it would be entirely cost-efficient to use IKEA decor for a wedding as even the candle holders can be bought for cheaper at the local dollar store, or online at sites like Ebay or Craigslist (where I will be collecting most parts for my centrepieces). So although it's very romantic and stunning to look at, such a wedding is still not as cheap as one on a budget would like. But what do you think of these shots? Like it? Dislike?

Goal accomplished! Woop! Just completed my first commission! After posting about a fun little day spent making a dress for a friend, see here, a very lovely lass contacted me and asked me to design and sew a summer dress for her. She told me her favourite colours, I thought up a few ideas, pitched my design to her in a meeting we had just before heading to Dressew together, et voila! A one-of-a-kind Realistic Chic dress which I've decided to name: "A Date with Polka-Dots."

Here is the croqui:
And the finished garment:
Well, this officially crosses another item off my 101 in 1001 list! Stay tuned for more summer originals by yours truly over the coming weeks!

P.S. I really really need a serger but they're way too expensive new, and they even go for $150 used on Craigslist. Sigh. Bday gift, anyone? I'll be 21 (again) in just a couple weeks...

The colours of citrus fruits are my most favourite of summertime hues:

Here's some yummy pink lemonade I made today that I thought was just so pretty:
Hope you're staying cool out there! REMEMBER YOUR SUNSCREEN. I'm serious.

Admittedly, I must be somewhat obsessive compulsive. About two months ago, I posted some images of my long-weekend trip to Victoria and the cool finds at the local flea market. After a comment about how beautiful the painting of a girl in a yellow dress was, I realized I had been a fool; the painting was stunning and I had overlooked it. It was so lovely and I had merely taken a picture instead of inquiring as to its cost. I hate it when I pass up something like that.
 Anyhow, since my sister lives in Victoria, she's graciously offered to go back there every week in search of said painting and find out the asking price. Many of the works of art at the flea market were $5 or around there, so I had hoped to procure the yellow dress girl for a trifle. Sadly, it hasn't been seen since my visit...

...until now! I used my cunning detective skills (i.e. I googled "girl reading in yellow dress painting") et voila! It is called A Young Girl Reading, by Jean-Honore Fragonard, and was painted in 1776. It's now on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Fragonard was a French painter whose work, funnily enough, I've studied before (I wrote a short comparative essay on this famous painting). His Rococo style is iconic to the era, and I can't believe I didn't remember or recognize that the yellow dress girl belonged to him. One day I'll have a beautiful canvas print of this. Until then, I have good ol' jpg.

Speaking of Parisian bistros and sweet espresso:



Just let me know if you're getting sick of the recent Paris theme. On second thought, don't. I don't really care. Paris is lovely and you're insane if you don't fall in love with its timeless beauty. <3

(All images via This is Glamorous)

Briton stripes! Ack! Am I obsessed? Briton stripes are all I seem to be drawn to recently. So here's a few more inspirational - and stripey - images to keep me sassified!

LOVE.