Make the World a Prettier Place

Me, Myself and Rome

2012-05-28T16:21:00.002-04:00

Claudia Schiffer in 1994 for Vogue US

I am so excited about my upcoming trip to Italy that I can't think of anything else. Blogging about fashion is the last thing on my mind (sorry!). I decided to entertain you anyway by sharing everything that I have planned for this trip yet.

As many of you already know by now, my sister and I are going on a 2-week trip to Italy in June. The first stop is Rome where we rented a fabulous apartment - with patio(!) - for 10 days. Of course, we are going to visit all the classic monuments such as the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, the Colloseum and the Piazza di Spagna.

Raquel Zimmermann for Vogue Nippon

We also booked fabulous activites:
- We are going to travel to Tuscany for a day to visit vineyards and taste amazing wines.
- We have hired a private driver to drive us along the Amalfi Coast, more precisely to Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi and Ravello. The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline in Southern Italy and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most beautiful and scenic road in the world. It looks so amazing that I am already planning to rent a villa with my boyfriend next year.
- A day in Florence
- A little R & R. I have found the perfect pool in Rome. It is located at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The hotel has 15 acres and an incredible view of Rome.

Elle Ukraine

And there is the food! I have already scouted a couple of restaurants I would like to try. I am dreaming about the gelato of San Crispino, the artichokes alla romana, a real spaghetti carbonara, zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and of course pizza. Yummy! The Sofitel Villa Borghese has an incredible view of Rome and we are going to have our first meal there.

Natasha Poly for Vogue Spain

After 10 days in Rome, we are going to travel to Venice for 4 days. So far we don't have too much planned besides drinking Bellinis, eating cicchettis and hear the San Marco Chamber Orchestra play Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

If you are planning a trip to Italy, make sure to read the blog Ron in Rome. This guy is amazing!
If you want to read about food, Italy and travel in general, check out Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome.

My Lookbook • Under a Tuscan Sun

2012-05-16T09:01:00.000-04:00

DRESS: Asos only $35 (here)

COIN NECKLACE: ? (similar here)

I will be travelling to Italy in less than a month. There is so much planning to do, I am going out of my mind! I have travelled to many places in my short life (see 21 things about me) but this trip is the most intense yet.

Looking back at this outfit, I realize that there was something very Dolce & Gabbana about it - the floral print, the retro cut of the dress and the sexy fishnet hose. The only thing missing was the bowtie pasta earrings! I am not very crafty but Honestly...WTF has a great tutorial on how to make them.

Jesper Høvring • Danish Designer

2012-05-15T21:16:00.002-04:00

Jesper Høvring • Spring 2012 Campaign

Photographer: Katrine Rohrberg

Model: Anne-Sofie List

Via Fashion Gone Rogue

Lucid New York • Handmade Jewelry

2012-05-14T13:40:00.004-04:00

A couple weeks ago, I was contacted by the lovely Anna Sabino, the designer behind the Lucid New York jewelry. She was kindly offering me one of her pieces. I couldn't be happier because her jewelry collection fits my style perfectly. It is delicate and feminine, trendy but classic and not to mention handmade jewelry. It is a unique collection of sterling and 14k gold filled pieces that would look perfect with any outfit.

Not only was Anna offering me a piece, but she also let me choose it. That was a hard choice. I couldn't decided between the Starfish and Seahorse necklace (perfect for summer), the Tiny Circle necklace (such a timeless piece), the Dragonfly necklace that "symbolizes swiftness, activity and new beginnings" or her Signature Piece necklace that was featured in Vogue. I even called my sister to ask her opinion - something I never do - but I needed help!

I finally settled for the Branch necklace that is featured on your right. It is such a unique piece - so delicate and original that you can wear it with pretty much anything. Anna is so sweet that she sent me the matching earrings too.

If you feel like her jewelry would suit you or a friend, she is kindly offering a 20% discount to my readers. CODE: LN20D

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My Purchases Diary • April 2012

2012-05-10T18:53:00.002-04:00

Asos/Motel. Floral Dress. $36. I bought this dress to compensate a disappointing purchase from a year ago. I buy a lot of stuff on Etsy and never had a bad experience until that day. I bought a black floral dress (here) and it had many flaws (a cigarette burn, a stain the size of a golf ball, etc.) that the seller didn't list. When I complained to her about them, I was told that the price of the dress was so low - if I remember well it was $25 - that I shouldn't have expected the dress to be perfect. This is the kind of behavior that makes all the Esty sellers look bad. Anyway, when I saw this Asos/Motel dress on sale for $36 (Reg. $91) I jumped on the occasion. The quality of the material of the dress is not worth $91 but for $36, I am happy with my purchase. And it fits me like a glove.

Le Chateau. Gold hoops earrings. $10. I bought these earrings on my way out of the store. I was in a hurry and I didn't really look at them. It was to replace a pair that I had lost. When I got home, I realized they were tarnished. Because earrings are non-refundable, I am stuck with them. I don't think people will notice it but I am angry because I didn't take the extra minute to take a good look at them...even if they were only $10.

Naturalizer red flats. $89. I have been looking for a while for a cute pair of flats for my upcoming trip to Italy. I don't usually buy Naturalizer shoes but when I saw this pair in the window, it was love at first sight. Cute red patent flats. This is the type of shoes that makes any outfits look special - exactly what I need during a long trip. "These shoes are made for walking...the streets of Rome"
Similar here.

Le Chateau. White shirt. $59. It is a little more than what I usually spend on this kind of item. I had bought a white shirt from Asos a couple months ago (here). I should have sent it back but I loved the Peter Pan collar so much that I overlooked the fact that the quality of the material was not very good. I love this new shirt because it is not made of cotton so it will never get yellowish/grey after too many washes. I like the semi-sheerness too. I am planning to buy something hot pink to wear underneath for the summer (maybe a bandeau?). If you want to see how I styled this shirt, click here.

My Lookbook • Polka Dot & Yellow

2012-05-09T21:34:00.000-04:00

DRESS : Forever 21 (Similar here for $39)

SHIRT: Le Chateau

BLAZER: Forever 21
SHOES: Aldo (Similar here)

NECKLACES: H&M + Forever 21

Dior / Versailles / Depeche Mode = Fabulous

2012-05-07T20:00:00.004-04:00

If you spend as much time on YouTube as I do, you probably have seen this video already. Otherwise, you are in for a treat! Dior is in desperate need of revamping after the Galliano debacle and I see this video as the first step towards the comeback of this timeless fashion house.
This video is so fabulous that I also included the longer version.

Goddess of Nature • Mojeh Magazine

2012-05-04T16:41:00.000-04:00

The head pieces on this shoot are absolutely stunning. They were created by 24-year-old milliner Ashley Lloyd. Her inspiration comes from "the contrast between decoration and decay" that she finds captivating and "conveys that tension in her own work through the use of skin, skulls, insects, and taxidermy entwined or carefully hidden in an assortment of flowers, feathers, ribbons, and other traditionally feminine decorative items."

The model looks like a queen and it is not a coincidence. Ashley Lloyd "discovered how hats communicate ideas and designate status. From kings and generals to popes and religious penitents, headwear throughout history has separated the powerful from the masses"

The editorial really made me yearn for an awesome headpiece. Something not as theatrical as the ones featured but something original. I really like the lace headdress below, so maybe an oversized lace headband? I looked online for something out of the ordinary but I didn't find anything interesting yet.

I will keep you posted.

MOJEH MAGAZINE - MAY/JUNE 2012

Photographer: Paul de Luna

Model: Alisa Frolkina

Via Fashion Gone Rogue

Pretty in Pink (1986) • Fashion in Films

2012-05-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

"This is a really volcanic ensemble you're wearing, it's really marvelous!" - Duckie

I've watched Pretty in Pink so many times when I was a teenager. My best friend Anne and I were obsessed with it. I was still a child when the movie came out. But Anne has an older sister - 7 years older - and we did everything that she did.

Molly Ringwald is so cute in this movie. She wears floral prints, leggings, lace, pastel colors always with a touch of her character's signature pink. Fashion is really an endless circle because this is pretty much what a lot of girls are wearing now!

If you are wondering who Molly Ringwald is, she was named the greatest teen star of all time by Extra and TV.com. She currently plays Anne Juergens in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Doing this post was a real trip down memory lane for me.

Film by Howard Deutch. Stills by me.

Pretty in Pink is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. The film was directed by Howard Deutch and written by John Hughes. It is one of the John Hughes films that is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film. Did you know that Molly Ringwald was 17 year-old when she filmed Pretty in Pink?

The costume designer was Marilyn Vance. She was the costume designer on The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty Woman. She was nominated for 3 Academy Awards and won an Oscar for the movie The Rocketeer.

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Tavi Gevinson • Wren Fall 2012

2012-04-30T16:34:00.000-04:00

Tavi Gevinson sings, plays guitar and wanders in the woods for Wren Fall 2012 film. After watching this video, I wondered: "Is there something that this girl isn't good at?!"

I love Tavi. It is pretty amazing what she did with Rookie Mag.

I think that she is an inspiration to women of any age and proves that everything is possible.

2 Years of Outfits • Retrospective

2012-04-26T12:59:00.000-04:00

As a part of my blog anniversary celebration, I decided to do a retrospective of my favorite outfits of the last two years.

April 25th, 2010: This picture is the very first one I posted on this blog. It was such a beautiful day. Spring was early that year and all the flowers were already in bloom which is very unusual in Canada. I was taking a walk in the old part of town with my boyfriend, taking pictures of flowers and old houses when I saw this cool door. My boyfriend was kind enough to snap this picture of me.

July 7th, 2011: Scuba-diving in Dominican Republic. This picture makes me laugh every time I see it. I look like a little alien with big eyes. I was so impressed by the underwater world that I couldn't open my eyes wide enough - literally! I had a blast and would definitely recommend this experience.

February 5th, 2012: Brrr! It was cold that day. After standing in the freezing wind and cold a couple times to take pictures, I have developped a new respect for models. It really is not as easy as it looks. The perfect weather conditions are rarely there - especially in Canada - so I have to suck it up....for 15 minutes. Models are on 12-hour photo shoots. Did I say new found respect?!

April 2nd, 2012: I am very proud of this picture. I love my outfit, the light and the colors. It also scored very well on Chictopia with 259 votes and 31 favorites - a record for me.

I hope that you liked my retrospective!

My Blog Anniversary • 2 Years

2012-04-25T11:57:00.001-04:00

Let's have a calorie-free virtual cupcake together to celebrate the fact that my blog is 2 years old today!

When I started blogging, I used to tell people that I would do it as long as it was fun. I can't believe that 2 years later it sill is. I am not saying that blogging never brought its share of frustrations. Some days, I look at it and I'm proud of myself. Other days, I want to jump out the window because I can't believe how much my blog sucks. But overall, it is a great pleasure in my life. This blog is my baby!

I would like to thank all of you who read me and who have supported me during these two years. My goal for the next year is to improve the quality of my pictures. I want to experiment more with my camera and step out of my comfort zone as a "model". I am shy and I hate to take pictures of myself but it is the price to pay when you have a fashion blog. Hopefully, you will like the result.

My Closet • Turquoise & Purple

2012-04-24T19:10:00.003-04:00

BLAZER: Forever 21 (similar here)
BLOUSE: Vintage (a very cute pussybow blouse in turquoise here)
SHOES: Aldo (amazing Rachel Roy purple pumps/booties here)
EARRINGS: So old, I forgot where I bought them (similar here)

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Corno • French-Canadian Artist

2012-04-23T16:49:00.000-04:00

Corno is a French-Canadian painter and she is one of my favourite. I love her style and her energy. She is also a very inspirng human being because she left Montreal several years ago - leaving behind her comfort and notoriety - to start over in New York City.

"Corno is internationally celebrated for her colorful paintings that combine bold new expressionist brush strokes with edgy contemporary portraiture. She paints large scale human faces and torsos that reflect the mastery she has gained from a career spanning thirty years." (Source AKA Gallery)

Paintings via AKA Gallery

Marie Antoinette • Fashion in Films (Part 2)

2012-04-22T18:52:00.000-04:00

Film by Sofia Coppola. Stills by me.

If you are jealous that Kirsten Dunst wore 60 period gowns for this movie, raise your hand! And it's not only about the gowns, but the hair, the make-up and the whole attire. It must have been an incredible experience to be dressed like that and walked around Versailles.

If Marie Antoinette and fashion are subjects that you are interested in, may I suggest the book Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette wore to the Revolution. I have read it and it's a great book. It's well-written, fast-paced, easy to read with a wealth of information about history and fashion.

Click here to see the Part 1 of this post.

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Marie Antoinette • Fashion in Films (Part 1)

2012-04-19T21:51:00.002-04:00

Marie Antoinette is the perfect inspiration for spring. Pastel colors are everywhere and no one wore them better than the Queen of France herself in the movie of Sofia Coppola. Some people may argue whether it was a good movie or not but there is no doubt about the fabulous costumes worn by Kirsten Dunst. There were so many that I couldn't narrow them down to just a few. This post is going to be in two parts. Enjoy!

Film by Sofia Coppola. Stills by me.

PLOT: For those of you who don't know it yet, Marie Antoinette is a 2006 historical comedy-drama film directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman and Rose Byrne. The movie is about the life of France’s iconic but doomed queen Marie Antoinette from her marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 up to her fall at 34.

COSTUME DESIGN: The movie won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Milena Canonero was the costume designer on this production and had six assistants. Throughout her career, Canonero has won three Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and been nominated for it eight times. Her first major film work as a costume designer was in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for another film about Marie Antoinette. She was the costume designer for The Affair of the Necklace starring Hilary Swank.

Canonero and her team created the gowns, hats, suits and prop costume pieces while the shoes were made by Manolo Blahnik and the wigs and hair pieces by Rocchetti & Rocchetti.

The luxurious cake and pastry shop Ladurée made the pastries for the film – its famous macarons are featured in many scenes. Make sure to watch Ladurée's delightful promotional video here. If it looks familiar, it's because Carrie Bradshaw paid a visit to this French institution in the last episode of Sex and the City.

Sofia Coppola was granted special permission to film at Palace of Versailles by the French government.

--- > Click here for the Part 2 of this post.

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Hailee Steinfeld • Celebrity Style

2012-04-16T14:50:00.001-04:00

Hailee Steinfeld is a 15-year-old American actress and model who rose to fame after being nominated for an Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress) for the film True Grit. A few months later, Steinfeld was chosen by Miu Miu to be the face of its Fall 2011 Campaign causing controversy because of Steinfeld’s young age (read my related post here).

Steinfeld reminds me of a young Brooke Shields because of her wholesome image, early rise to fame and controversy over a fashion campaign. I love how the young actress manages to dress her age, with taste and modesty which is refreshing considering the hypersexualization of teenagers in today’s society. Let’s hope that Hollywood will not get the best of her like so many promising young actresses before her.

Fashion Pop • Gaultier for Diet Coke

2012-04-13T15:28:00.001-04:00

How fun! Jean Paul Gaultier is the creative director of these limited-edition Diet Coke bottles featuring his signature style - nautical stripes and corset silhouettes. The bottles are available in Europe starting this month. If you want to read more about Gaultier, check out the retrospective I wrote about his career (here).

Photographer: Stephane Sednaoui

Via Fashion Gone Rogue

My Closet • Baby Blue Tights

2012-04-12T19:58:00.003-04:00

TRENCH: Thrifted (but I am absolutely in love with this trench)

SHOES: Forever 21 (Similar here)

SCARF: Le Chateau - I bought it yesterday on sale $10. I love its floral/botanical print and mint color.

TIGHTS: American Apparel. It was before I took this pledge.

My Closet • Neon Pink

2012-04-10T13:53:00.000-04:00

SWEATER: Le Chateau (a similar here from F21, only $23)

SANDALS: Aldo (I really like these affordable Michael Kors nude sandals here)

BLAZER: Mexx

I've had this sweater for several years - I guess it's 10 years. The first nine years I had it, I didn't wear it more than twice. Neon Pink was not really a trend when I bought it but I liked its vibrant color. I wore it once and felt like I was glowing in the dark. I wore it a second time trying to convince myself that it was a good purchase but it was still too bright. I didn't give it away but I kept it. Fashion is a cycle and I knew its time would come. Better late than never! I've wore it a couple times in the last months. I love to pair it with neutrals.

Kaleidoscope • Flare April 2012

2012-04-09T10:52:00.003-04:00

If you are looking for amazing prints, you came to the right place!

FLARE - APRIL 2012

Photographer: Chris Nicholls

Models: Wei & DJ

Via Fashion Gone Rogue

REALITY BITES (Winona Ryder) • Fashion in Films

2012-04-08T11:44:00.000-04:00

Film by Ben Stiller. Stills by me.

This post is for all the people who were teenagers in the 90's - like I was. Every girl I knew wanted to have Winona's haircut and cool vintage clothes. I have been very nostalgic of the 90's lately and Reality Bites represents it perfectly. Enjoy!

Reality Bites is a 1994 romantic comedy-drama directed by Ben Stiller - his directorial debut - and starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller. The supporting roles were played by Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn. The plot is centered around Lelaina (Ryder), an aspiring videographer working on a documentary about the lives of her friends and roommates (Hawke, Garofalo, and Zahn). It focuses on life after college, about the career and lifestyle choices of Generation X.

After completing several period pieces, Winona Ryder was drawn to Reality Bites because she was looking "for something a little more contemporary because I really wanted to wear blue jeans for a change." Janeane Garofalo said that Parker Posey, Anne Heche and Gwyneth Paltrow were all up for the role of Vickie. The studio loved and wanted Paltrow - an unknown actress at the time - but Ryder liked Garofalo after making a connection with her.

The costume designer on this movie was Eugenie Bafaloukos. Unfortunately, I didn't find any interesting facts about Bafaloukos. On the other hand, her assistant Nancy Steiner has worked on many other movies celebrated for their sense of style. To name just a few, there were The Virgin Suicides, Shopgirl and Lost in Translation. Fun fact, she was the voice of Lydia Harris in Lost in Translation.
(Source: Wikipedia and IMDb)

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My Anti-American Apparel Pledge

2012-04-06T13:10:00.001-04:00

American Apparel sleazy ads have been around for years and today I just had enough. I decided that it was time for me to take a stand by declaring that I, Marie Trepanier, will never buy anything from American Apparel again.

I am a French-Canadian - ironically the American Apparel founder was born in Montreal. I consider myself liberal. I don't have a problem with nudity or sex. My problem with the American Apparel ads is they are of poor taste and sexist. One of their ad featured a girl with her legs open for a newly opened store. They are no words to describe how inappropriate, gratuitous and just plain wrong it is.
My other concern is that the ads are everywhere and are not restricted to a certain audience. Children see these ads. What kind of message does it send? American Apparel prides themselves on the fact that they are "Made in the USA - Sweatshop Free", but they present young women in an exploitative way. Isn't it hypocritical?

Looking at the ads, it is obvious that American Apparel perceives their female customers as s3x slaves trapped in a basement, doing amateur p0rn and wearing their beloved American Apparel clothes no matter what. Until they advertise a more positive image of women, I am going on boycott mode.

My Closet • Purple, Red & Zig Zag

2012-04-02T19:44:00.004-04:00

SKIRT: Asos (similar here)

JACKET: Jacob (Canadian retailer)

BOOTS: Aldo (similar here)

SCARF: Forever 21 (similar here)

Etro • Spring/Summer 2012

2012-04-01T23:20:00.001-04:00

Veronica Etro revisits the Jazz Age by creating dresses that would make a flapper proud.

She successfully combines the retro look of the 20's with very modern graphic prints.

Photos via Style.com