my empty closet

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:01:00 +0000

it's official

i've made the move to wordpress folks! come and find me here

hope to see y'all there!

until then...

xo

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:42:00 +0000

the trip

so here it is folks, my trip in a nut shell. i came, i saw, i swam (i even --sort of-- tanned!)

inspiration was everywhere, and there for the taking, if you're into beautiful sunsets, deserted beaches and stuff like that...

it's hard to describe what it feels like to wake up to the sound of monkeys screeching every morning and oddly, they sound more like lions! ..all trips should be as easy and as fun as this one was. filled with great new connections and gorgeous surroundings, i couldn't have asked for more...except, perhaps, a couple more days in that little paradise. but like i said, there was inspiration everywhere you looked, so i haven't come home empty handed! all the gorgeous plant life got me seriously excited for spring to stop toying with us here in montreal, and just settle in already. while i didn't really spend any time shopping, i returned home with visions of sunset pastels and floral patterns swimming in my mind. like i mentioned, i've also gotten really excited about casual wear again...i've always dressed more casually than others, but casual surfer style is a whole different spectrum of street style and my eyes were completely bombarded by all the individuality and so much color!! i had a mini-culture shock when i got back. upon stepping on a city bus i found myself in a sea of head to toe black outfits...

i know, i know...costa rica is the most touristy part of central america...i've heard the whole schpiel and yes, overdevelopment could certainly ruin the gorgeous country...but while initially i wasn't sure about travelling there, having gone once, i know it's not the last time i'll step foot in that country. from a fashion standpoint it's an untapped source. obvious as it might sound, the general laid back mentality of the place lends to quite an interesting mix of takes on personal style. surfing culture is huge there but most people live in San Jose, a bustling city not so different from any other urban center. next trip out there, i'll have to spend more time in the city and grab some good street shots..

and a huge thank you to mh!! i was to lazy to pic up a camera, but she captured it all so perfectly i didn't need to!

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:10:00 +0000

eyes wide shut

i'm back!! it might not look it, but i am actually tanned. ok, more 'sunkissed' then tan, but blame it on the irish blood.

yes the vaca was awesome, and i absolutely had to watch blue crush (forgot how cheese it was..) when i got home because i fell completely in love with surfing while i was there, despite purple knees and a new scar. i also seem to have rediscovered the tomboy in me. after spending a week in soccer shorts and sneakers i just can't seem to kick the casual.

case in point: yesterday was iranian new year and a few of my friends and i went out for breakfast to this local spot. poppy bread, iranian omelets and homemade jam. yes please.

oh, and thanks to the lady and the sweatshop (the lovely brunette pictured above) for the pics!

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:45:00 +0000

on the run

i'm officially off for the next 11 days so you'll have to excuse me as run off to surf and bask in the sun on the costa rican coast.

this ever so strategically planned vaca was kind of a last minute thing. while i new i'd want time off after the mediastorm that was the olympics, i'd originally planned to go visit a few friends in old paree. unfortunately, for the second time my plans to (finally) get myself to the fashion capitol of the world failed. alas, i'll just have to make due jungle fauna, white sandy beaches and the hot hot sun sprinkling my skin with freckles. yea, i know, you're shedding some serious tears for me. ok, i'll stop.

but don't expect me to come back empty handed. it might not be the meca of fashion, but there are surely finds to be had and inspiration to be gleened.

stay tuned!

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:55:00 +0000

birthdays

you can be sure your friends and family know you well when they drown you in magazines and candy on your birthday. what more could a girl ask for? ...perhaps a new camera? i'm not going to lie, i had been talking about it for a long time, but without the help of the 'rents it would never have made it's way into my hands so soon. i can't even begin to express how excited i am. without getting to technical, i will say this wonderful slr camera shoots high definition video (!!!) and while it's not one of the big guns that the lovely garance and co. trapes around with, it is a wonderful first 'techy' camera.

***

i was really ill throughout my birthday weekend, so no big evening or big outfits... i did make it out for dinner and a few drinks before totally loosing my voice though. the pictures aren't great, but it's probably for the best. nobody wants to see a sicky-face.

the cherry on top - or i should say raspberry actually... a home-made birthday cake care of my papa, who's (wonderfully) just recently been bitten by the baking bug. raspberry-almond cake with vanilla icing. so yums.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:52:00 +0000

fashion month

i get really excited about fashion month. i mean, REALLY excited. in the lead up to the non-stop shows i look over all the old trends and try and dream up how things might take an exciting new turn. yep, i'm that kind of fashion obsessive. those who come to the blog often know that i don't do show rundowns or attempt to synthesize all the twists and turns of every fashion week and that's because i'd rather leave it to the pros who do it best. but with the end of ny fashion week there has been so much talk of how dissapointing it was...that nothing new came of it and to all the grippers i say: you say this every year. honestly, everyone gets hyped by the glitz of new york and forgets that more often than not (read always,) it's paris that sets the true tone for the way things are gonna go. there are rarely any big precedent setting shows in nyc and london always gets the 'young industry' stamp while so many other fashion weeks get not much more than a nod by the media...and i'm done ranting now. (for the record, precedent setting or not, i still love nyfashion week, and think london is seriously underated) lesson: paris is where it'll happen folks. keep your eyes peeled.

in the meantime, i've mentioned big picture before but most recently the wonderful alan taylor compiled some great shots from all the fashion weeks to date - here are some of my favorites.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:32:00 +0000

c.u.t.e

so apparently tavi wasn't the youngest one at the alexander wang show. i couldn't help but post this. i could eat him, seriously.

[thecobrasnake]

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:24:00 +0000

haze

as much as i've been loving all the color popping up on a crop of feb covers (abbey lee, i'm looking at you!), i can't help but continue to obsess over shades of beige, or 'camel tones' as i've seen them refered to in a few articles... gotta keep it fresh right? ha..

i held off on posting my little moodboard because i wanted to have something a little more substantial to say about these shades than 'i love them.' the truth of the matter is, it's a coup de coeur and there's not much more to it than that! well, ok... it's also not black or neon and beige kind of breeds a more put together look...

bregje heinen models a similar pallette for i.d and i love it just as much. visualy speaking, i can't get over how the softness of the editorial so perfectly complements the styling. and whoever thought that those mcqueen* claw heels could look etheral? (see the full editorial here)

*...a bright star that went out before his time.... iconic, tragic, it just feels to soon... r.i.p

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:17:00 +0000

weekend d.i.y

in a complete roundabout from my obsession with tailoring and 'putogetherness', this past saturday i spent the afternoon on a mad search for the perfect shade of ribbon to match a pair of dusty pink socks that my partner in crime (pictured above) spotted for me as we attempted to window shop. four shops and a few shopping bags later, we found ourselves at the quaintest little fabric store with a brilliant plan (care of my ever so creative counterpart - whose other creations can be found here)

(taken on my phone - sorry for crap quality!)

the plan? sewing pompoms and ribbons onto the backs of our little patterned socks. i don't approach my own style in a very loud way, but i love the idea of little accents, or little hints (as i've referred to them before here & here). while i live in a world of flats, where little grey bows accent my skimmers and baby blue pompoms peek out over the borders of my ankle boots, modeled below are our confections in all their heeled glory.

this might be the easiest d.i.y project ever - a clear no-fail kind of thing, as long as you know how to thread a needle and don't spend 20 minutes like we did, trying at precision folds and strategic pinning to (not) accomplish a perfect bow. the good old double bunny ears tuck-and-pull method ended up doing the trick in the end. obviously.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:23:00 +0000

under the inlfuence

my new brogues! love them... i've been really into the idea of brogues for a while now but hadn't ever come across a pair that looked substantial enough. there are so many thin and dainty skimmer-like version in shop windows, but i really like the idea of masculin looking shoe in this case.

men's fashion has been an increasing inspiration for me lately. as i was making my usual post-work pit stop at the magazine store i picked up the italian gq fashion supplement and was flored by what i found. it's the first time i've ever felt compelled to buy a men's fashion magazine, but i can't say that i regret the decision. i really loved the editorials, which is the motivation behind my first ever video post on this blog - nothing too complicated, just a simple flip through the magazine - after all, sharing is caring! enjoy!

forgot to credit art tatum for the music in the vid... all the suits put me in a serious mood for some jazz/piano sounds..

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:21:00 +0000

regret

...i can't even begin to tell you how silly i feel to have hesitated when i came across a similar look the other day. i spotted it from across the room and made a b-line to the rack it was so beautifully hanging on.

my curiosity was first peeked by the high sholder pads, so i walked over. i should tell you that shoulder pads kind of confuse me. i love the new shape, but because of the old shoulder pads (think 80's) i feel like i shouldn't (maybe it's because of all the shoulder pads i remember ripping out of my mom's jackets for her...) and i'm also on the fence about how long this new play on volume will be around for. it's not that i only buy classics. i just hate feeling like i've been dupped by a flash in the pan trend, as if i got swept up in the excitment without really considering how i felt about it. i know that i'm not as hot for balmain as i was this time last year, but as i fingered the material (it was so soft) and contemplated the color, (it was grey. love) i kind of fell in love with the idea of the statement shoulders. so, i took it off the rack, held it up and then, i second guessed myself. major fail. i decided that the shoulder pads were maybe just a little too paddy...and that is where it all went wrong. ladies, gentlemen, never second guess yourselves. i (stupidly) put the item back on the rack and walked away. i walked away! and then i went back. of course i'd go back... and as you may have guessed, it was gone. ugh. heartbreak.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:26:00 +0000

hues

i can't stop looking at these images from a dazed & confused. i'm completely obsessed with the hues and love the creepiness of the editorial. it's a weird kind of creepy though, almost inviting. which brings me to ranya mordanova one of my new favorite models. i took a look at some of her test shots and she seemed pretty average, but here she's completely transformed.

the twisted fabrics, the tattered looking bits, the washed out feel that looks like both the model and her clothes have quite litteraly been put through the ringer...it's all got me completely mesmerized. so far the lighter colors i'd been seeing had been paired with a very put together kind of look, so seeing this much more imaginative reflection of the spring palette is refreshing.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:36:00 +0000

train of thought

my style icons include people who live in their clothes, who wear things over and over, but never look drab or like they put on the same pair of pants for the 4th day in a row. part of the reason i adore mk and ashley (yes, olsen) is because they’ve been wearing the same balenciaga booties for about 8 seasons at this point, but every time they put them on the context behind them (person and booties) shifts.

i’ve always loved those fashion icons who really use clothes to say something about what their feeling, or who they are. In fact the wonderful susie of style bubble engaged the blogosphere at large in a very interesting conversation about a given style and what it does and doesn’t say about those peddling it a few weeks ago.

and then this post on not just a label about masculin fashion trends. it's not so much the discussion of said trends that peeked my interest but rather the following statement that made me understand my own conception of dressing a little bit better: "I do believe that women should dress for themselves and nobody else. of course this is a lie – we do dress to impress, to feel magnificent, but we also dress to send out our own code. "

i have always felt like i missed the boat when it came to dressing with 'purpouse' or sending some kind of message via my chosen style on any given day. (i don't really ascribe to one in particular.) i love all the weird/funny/offbeat runway shows and editorials and draw my inspiration from them. and i'll admit that i dress more 'casual' than most would deem appropriate at my age/in my profession but i don't really care, (except for the days that i do.)

the idea of codes shines an entirely different light on these ideas. my green ring is a perfect example - a code that my coworker couldn't comprehend, but that others saw meaning in. i actually wore that ring today and got two 'smile-and-nods' ... the codes we send, i think, are simply little hints about ourselves, which suits me much better than laying it all out at once...

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:31:00 +0000

balsamic on a white shirt. classic.

it was one of those days today. one filled with all the bad day clichés, including getting a just-big-enough-to-notice sized splash of balsamic vinegar on my perfectly worn-yet crisp, tailored for a woman men's shirt. ugh.

saw this today on the cut. it was just the ticket to ply my brow out of its furrowed state. i haven't had a chance to take a good look at the images yet, but i'm excited. right off the bat i can say that the color choices intrigued me and the tailoring has got me hankering to get my hands on some of the mens peices, even if miz miucca produced both a men's and women's version of some of the looks. of course i'll have to take a better look at it all, but as much as i dress like a tomboy for the most part, i will always have a soft spot for the prep.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:05:00 +0000

"déyè mòn, gen mòn..."

it’s not easy working in a newsroom when a castastrophe hits. especailly such an all encompassing one as the earthquake in haiti. i’ve been told that i’m too sensitive before, that news is like this. i’d rather be sensitive than completely crass.

strange too, looking at fashion blogs after having spent my day wading through footage of total chaos, people crying out for lost relatives, and politicians trying to get it right.

for a second it seems so superfluous to me, and i suppose it is, but the allure of fashion remains one of fantasy and possibility in my mind – two places i feel i need to cultivate if i’m going to manage to breath through life’s harsher moments.

about helping out haiti: some useful links here, here and here.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:34:00 +0000

m is for modest

that up there was made by yours truly. that's right, i baked actual bread. in a decidedly non-fashion post, i thought i might share another obsession i have with you. after a recent change of heart, i decided to put my kitchen to good use: instead turning a blind eye to the closet/office my kitchen has been mascarading as i called its bluff (or maybe my own...) and dusted off my bakeware. kind of wish these internets could convey smell, because my apt has the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through it and it's mmmawesome.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:57:00 +0000

done and done

i've been remarkably busy lately, no thanks to that 'little project' i took on right before the holidays...looking at the above pic, no one would guess that i was heading to the dark side, but needless to say that (not so)little project just ballooned, and ballooned some more, leaving me half brain dead and floundering around in my go-to 'slob' garb: mickey mouse pyjama pants and a an old oversized bright orange t-shirt, complete with a lopsided mussy bun and a maniacle look in my eyes. and yes i will spare you all an outfit post of that. thank goodness for tea and chocolate. back to fun fashion things tomorrow.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:15:00 +0000

as i chuckle to myself...

sometimes i forget that not everyone is into the whole idea of fashion, personal style and clothing as design. personal style is well, quite personal, so i often attribute people's wardrobe choices to a concious decision made on their part to attire themselves that way...and then there are days where i'm reminded that not only are some people not into the idea of fashion or style but that some people make a concerted effort to ignore fashion all together while others just don't get what all the excitment is about...today was one of those days.

mid-way through what a chat with a co-worker, their gaze dropped from my face to my gesturing hand, and remained there long after it had stopped moving. as we spoke his eyes kept going from my face to my hand and back again. i knew right away that my light green ring was what was causing him to be distracted. it wasn't so much that it was green but that it was made of chunky plastic and happened to be shaped like a heart...

i had to keep myself from chuckling out loud, but the bewilderment at my having adorned my hand with such a thing was priceless. it's the kind of thing that one doesn't really think about. i put on the ring because it made me happy, and i thought it contrasted nicely with my otherwise sleek outift (black skinny jeans, dark brown ridding boots, tweed bf jacket, tavi's t-shirt and a massive scarf the same shade as the ring.) as gawdy as it might be, i love the way it feels on my hand, and the faded turquoise is quite a lovely shade in real life.

it's really just a ring, and not a huge deal, but that's the point. the shock and dissbelief that registered on my co-workers face over a simple plastic accessory got me thinking about how much of a fashion bubble i occupy sometimes. i'll ramble on about designers that friends have never heard of and tend toward a bit of a quirkier more influenced approach to dressing than some without really thinking about how others might not be actively approaching fashion at all. though with so many bloggers taking part in the conversation at this point, it's easy to forget..

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:00:00 +0000

ooh, sparkly

...so apparently i'm really into making collages lately... but paillettes make me happy, what can i say? as much as pale shades are so appealing to me lately (if my gushing over some of tom scott's creations is any indication...) the sparkle of a shiny sequin will always draw my gaze. while the days are finally getting longer again, the deepest of the dark, cold winter months are only just about to hit and the incling to burrow deep within the confines of my cozy apartment as i swim in xl sweaters and sip on something hot is all too appealing. the promise of a little dazzle come summer might just do the trick especially if it happens to be in the form of a thom browne paillette coat or maybe some of the glittery accessories natasha poly is sporting in this months v...

an oldie, but a goodie...

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:28:00 +0000

home is where the heart is

tom scott seems to have read my mind. i first noticed his designs thanks to the lovely ruffled grey sweater in his s/s 10 collection. hello grey knit, i love you. in an interview he did with dazed & confused he further won me over thanks to his take on design vs practicality. interestingly though, he doesn't think of clothing as art and doesn't attribute any intelectual value to fashion. on that point, i can't really agree, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating his pleated, and draped trousers (...alas a style i must admire from afar...) or the sheer, and what look like weightless shirts he's created. the pale hues are so appealing right now, and remind me of summer shadows but i just can't shake the thought of that frilly grey top. i think i see a d.i.y project on the horizon...

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:12:00 +0000

welcome to the next decade of your life

i hope everyone's holidays were good! i am officially back to work and real life, both of which i ignored for most of the holidays (what can i say? everyone needs a little vaca sometimes, if only from themselves.) happy new year and let's get started!

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:57:00 +0000

girl crush

erin heatherton (shot by guy aroch)...gorgeous.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:19:00 +0000

patterns

for some reason when floral patterns happen to be reproduced on any kind of shiny material or juxtaposed with a shiny accessory (say a model wearing a beautiful blue velvet dress with a black leather bustier ...) i think of christmas. wierd i know. and thanks to my strange ability to associate the most random things together, i couldn't help but feel holiday giddy when i saw this vogue china editorial.

(adore this last image...)

i would venture that my 'shiny + patterns = christmas' association comes from an obsession i had with festive wrapping paper as a child. yep, i was totally one of the 'slowly unpeal the tape before carefully removing the paper' kind of kids for a while there. the editorial is gorgeous for more than just the wallpaper of course. i'm noticing a lot of exposed shoulder which i find SO attractive on every type of girl - young, old, big, small... plus floral patterned booties, feathers/fur trim, and the balance shown, even when extremes are played with - something i've been talking about alot on the blog lately, and an interesting trend (i guess there is room for both more and less,) all things that make it so hard to remember that this is the season to buy for others hah.

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:48:00 +0000

snow day

the elle italia december 09 editorial featuring six wide eyed fur and puffer vested models i spotted on the lovely fashion copious's blog are just so fitting for todays massive snow storm i just had to re-post. the editorial kind of reads like an ad for united colors of benetton, but i shouldn't be so surprised considering how many of the stores were scattered about italy last time i was there.

the inspiration for the shoot might not have been among the most revolutionary but considering how winters can seem to just drag on and on once the magic of the holidays has passed, it's nice to come across a charmingly simple editorial like this one, where all that's served up are fun alternatives to the usual drab winterwear that seems to plague us all come january. today happened to be the first official major snowfall in montreal, and as i've mentioned to the point of exhaustion, i'm a bit of a snow bunny...but even i succumb to winter blues when the dead of winter veeres it's icy head. it's images like these that get me to snap out of my mid-winter trance and actually make an effort instead of succumbing the whole "shlep" vibe (the worst kind of vibe there is.)

i forgot to mention how hyped i am about the burst of color that has been creeping into editorials lately. yay for that! (and ignore that the last image i post happens to be all black...) another black winter might have put me over the edge, as fierce as last years winter trends were. there are a couple of images i left out, to see them head over here

noreply@blogger.com (my empty closet) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:51:00 +0000

twin

the magic words here are creative director at lula. that would be the previous creative director at lula, rebecca smith, who has gone to start her own magazine: twin. not really a glossy, but not really a book, this first issue came out in hardcover based around the idea of strong content (always a plus in my books,) geered to fashion and art lovers. the pages are said be thick, and glossy (yum) and from the looks of it, the editorials aren't too shabby either.