Not Even Mortuary Chic - a rant

Don't get me wrong—I love black clothes. It's dressing conservatively in black that kills me.

This is my second week back to work after two months off. My sparkles, velvet, embroidery and leopard print have moved to the back of my closet. My amber resin is sealed; I'm scentless, senseless and back in black. An outsider among my kind, shoved by the man to the sidelines, left to yearn for that which I know, that of which I can now only admire from the sidewalks of East Pender. Hear my cry, eccentric ladies of Chinatown, for it is you that I owe my inspiration (and Mr. Marc Jacobs, never you mind what I speak of).

Three things I ask myself when I shop for my everyday clothes:
Would Kate Moss wear that?
Would a crazy Chinese lady wear that?
Was it made before 1990?

Three things I ask myself when I shop for work clothes:
Is it black?
Would Grace Coddington wear that?
Would Kim Gordon wear that to a funeral?

We have paid our dues and have earned the right to tart ourselves up like circus performers, burlesque queens or pole dancing hoochies (and that's just the men). We have earned our right to wear an electric-blue silk-satin blouson. Simon Doonan on ageing. ELLE Decoration October 2014

So, on this rainy day in September, I'll pull out my vintage, oversized, full-length, purple leather jacket I bought this summer and wear it with basic, boring black knowing damn well I'd rather be wearing it topped with my black felt hat, vintage embroidered Thai blouse, black brocade trousers and Officine Creative boots.

Here's some fabric inspo for you! Now go find some new pants!

Quote of the Week | Clothes and the Man - Edward Spencer

Good clothes look better when they are nearly worn out than very cheap clothes look when they are new.

stacyreynaud

Vintage Chanel

1991

Christy Turlington

The Internet Killed the Luxury Brand

My 1986 Oregon Ducks sweatshirt

At the beginning of January, I was discussing fashion with a colleague at work -  he's Italian and his family is involved with the fashion industry in Milan, so that makes him an expert, right? We have a similar chat every season; however, this time it was different, not because I missed our previous season's discussion, but because my views have changed - you've probably noticed I rarely write about fashion anymore. He asked me who and what I was watching, and I said no one. I'm done with those shows and mass-marketed pseudo-luxury.

You see, back in the olden days before the Internet, fashion bloggers, and phony street style blogs, one of the defining aspects of a luxury item was the exclusivity of the item itself. One never, well, at least in Vancouver, saw a Hermes bag, for example, in real life. I remember going to LA in the early 90s and being awe struck over actually seeing people - in real life - wearing the luxury pieces I'd seen only in magazines - well not so much in awe, but maybe blown away that someone actually spent that much money, after all, it was the grunge era, but you know what I mean. The price, back then, signified high quality - hence luxury. Exclusivity was one of the defining aspects of luxury brands that made them luxury. One rarely, if ever, saw the pieces except for on the pages of magazines.

Now, because of the Internet, we see these luxury brands everywhere. How many times have you seen that bloody Givenchy sweatshirt with the rottweiler on it or the green Kenzo one with the tiger? Do you think a sweatshirt is luxury? I do, but only if it's my thirty-year-old Oregon Ducks, which I borrowed from my buddy in 1986 (and my husband wants to burn).

Today's silly nouveau riche, and their sixteen year old Lamborghini driving children, have turned what were once luxury brands into nothing more than mass marketed, mass consumed, cheaply produced crap. In the music industry, the term is, It's not the band, it's their fans. For Gucci, the term was Victoria Beckham. For the Le Corbusier estate, it was people in general.

To quell this disaster, marketers have had to coin a new term - ultra luxury. Luxury, like the term hang in there - has become meaningless.

So, my colleague and I, at the end of our conversation, could not agree on how low the Prada side part should go, but we did, without debate, agree that Karl Lagerfeld should retire.

stacy reynaud

9 Christmas Gifts for the Intergalactic Traveler

in case they get lost - Galaxy Sweatshirt Bittersweet

to find their way home - gemstone globe

self explanatory - Louis Moinet Astralis

metallic makeup case for those evenings in the stars - Mulberry

To soothe erratic emotions and enhance personal courage - lava, pyrite and blue opal ring

metallic pens for doodling - Athas!

large solid gold Tiffany's flask self explanatory - 1st Dibs

to keep the clothes in - vintage Gucci duffel bag, Stated Style

to ward off night crawlers - bronzed cabled letter opener, Wilson Metal Works

A Retail Lingerie Rant

I only shop at department stores for bras, underwear and tights. 

I don't know why I do this to myself. 

Actually, I do it because I don't wear padded bras, push-up bras or bras with underwire, and that's all you can find in lingerie shops. 

Anyway, how many of you get severely choked in the lingerie section (and now even the men's underwear section) of department stores looking for your size and preferred colour? If you could've only witnessed me at The Bay last weekend! I wanted to purchase one pair of opaque black Spanx Tight End tights, but left empty-handed. Why? Well, because lingerie departments are always a mess. Customers have to rip down all the other sizes from the wall/rack just to try and find theirs. If you're a size extra small or extra large, you can thoroughly relate to this pain because you know exactly where I'm coming from. Your size is always the last one hanging behind ten other sizes, or they just don't have any because I guess only size medium or extra extra large women should wear bras or tights. Another thing is that no one wants to buy those bras or tights that someone, for some reason, has pulled out of their packaging. 

You know what I want? I want a wall that I can go up to, select the image of the Size A black Spanx Tight End Tights, insert my payment and poof they drop down for me. Ba-bye - out I go, a happy customer. Remember L'eggs hosiery vending machines? In goes my change, out drops the egg.

Retailers, this is one of the reasons why we shop online. Your stores are overstocked (because you're not reading your data properly), they're a mess (because you're not reading your data properly), you have no cashiers ever open, there are no customer service people around and you never have an appropriate assortment of sizes (because you're not reading your data properly). It's time you figured out what to do with all the strategic data you've collected because your time is running out.*

Oh, and Spanx, you need to offer free shipping. I would've just bought a pair of tights online (in a transaction clocking in at less than a minute), but it would cost me $12 in shipping for a $28 pair of tights. Come on, Spanx, add free shipping to your cost of doing business deduction.

*I've worked in retail for almost 30 years - my first job was in a boutique when I was fourteen. I've worked in every retail environment imaginable. Everything from department stores, international boutiques, independent retailers, pop-up shops, trade shows and e-commerce. At present, I'm in the process of creating a retail management program for BCIT. I'm also a very critical consumer.

Image via eBay

Vintage Peacock Chair - Emmanuelle Chair

I was probably around twelve when I first saw this image of Marilyn Monroe by Milton H. Greene.

Since then, I've wanted one of those wicker chairs - a peacock chair to be exact - they just look so cool every time I see one in a photo.

Back in the winter of this year, I bought one off Craigslist for $25. Damn right it looks cool, but that's about it. The only type of chair I can think of that is as uncomfortable as this type is those plastic white slatted folding outdoor chairs (like this).

 See blondie there in the white sweater? That just about sums up me sitting on the chair!

At least Flo finds it comfortable.

For the Price of Gold | Put a Bird on It

For close to half an ounce of gold you could buy this Isabel Marant dress.  She did, after all, put a bird on it.

West End Building Sale | Come Say Hi

Well, not the actual building, but the tenants in Rachel's building are having their annual yard/sidewalk sale on Sunday (July 7th). This one I can make it to! Come hang out with the crazies - I mean this in camaraderie, of course. 9:30 - 12:30 (I can't believe I have to be somewhere before 9:30).

Come buy our stuff for super cheap! We're talking cents and small dollars here. I'm also open to trades like Vitamin Water Zero, unsweetened organic almond milk, dark roast coffee, and handmade soap. My tastes are simple.

Location: West End - Alexandra Park - behind the old bandstand.

See ya!

1986 Vintage Gucci Flats

I've been hanging on to this Vogue 1987 vintage Gucci post for a while, and then boom - here they are on eBay. Of course, not in my size. The auction ends today, and they're a size 10. Get them and tell me how cool they look, okay.

Prada | Wes Anderson | Candy

I can never tell if these sorts of flicks are parody or pretension. 

Ah, mais la vie est la parodie, mon cheri. 

Needless to say, I like their suits, and it reminds me of Truffaut's Jules et Jim.

Prada, Roman Coppola and Wes Anderson team up for Candy L'Eau.

Annual Purge Yard Sale | Saturday June 8th

stacy reynaud

Coincidentally, I purged my closet last weekend, and our pal Rachel has decided to have a yard sale this weekend. It's a purge, so everything will be super cheap. I'm selling mainly clothes and some Danish stuff. We'll be set up by the West End Farmer's Market.


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This makes me want to shoot one of me and my bff

It would be pretty hilarious.

Top Summer Colors for Men 2013

The thing about technology is that fashion is becoming faster and faster (note I did not say style). Back in January 2012, I did this post on men's colour trends for Spring | Summer 2013. These were just three of my favourites. View more of what Pantone picked over at their site, which, in fact, is a very resourceful piece of the Interwebs.

Did you pick up anything in these colours? I haven't bought anything for summer yet! Probably because we're only at highs of 14  - brrr.

I'll take the female version of the center outfit (not the shoes) in the last row for myself, hoping that the sweater is a silk-linen blend. Which wouldn't you turn down?

Pantone calls them Monaco Blue, Vibrant Orange and Sunflower

all images © style.com

Vintage Gucci

1970s
Wood Manual Wind Watch
source

The thief in my stolen clothes

A true story circa 1998, Vancouver

I was warned about her and even picked up bad vibes from her. 

She had her believers, her pawns who volunteered at her shop. 

I could see right through her Liberace-cum-Rasputin facade. 

Unfortunately, as all artists know, financial duress can sometimes win over intuition. 

Needless to say, I brought a collection of my designs to her store to sell.

On and on she went, trying to make me believe she was taking my designs out of pity, 

'They really won't sell here. ' But she took them anyway. 

Two weeks later, I dropped in to see if she'd put them out. I hated walking into her Main St. shop with its stained carpet and the stench of cheap incense, mildew and pot - even worse was her cackling about colour and texture to every dahhhhliinnngg single person that walked in. Luckily, she wasn't there, just one of her minions flagrantly gossiping to hang around - hence the whole shop. I approached the counter to ask about my account as my designs weren't on the floor - alas, I stood unnoticed. 

There was an open black binder on the countertop, and coincidentally enough, it lay open to my account, which was marked with a massive slash through it with the number 86 written at the top. If you've never had the joy of working in the food and beverage industry - 86 means sold out, finished, no more.

Panicked, I left the shop. Calling up the minion a few hours later, he told me that my things had sold out and that there would be a cheque for me the following week. 

Onwards to the following week. I went in to pick up my cheque first thing in the morning, wanting to make the whole ordeal as quick and painless as possible. Liberace-cum-Rasputin was cawing on the phone. 

It was just her and me in the shop. She gave me a snide, 'How are yooouuuuu...' thank god she didn't try to touch me. I told her I was there to pick up my cheque. She went to the black binder and looked up my account - not opening the book in its entirety. 

'Oh, didn't we call you last week?' she miffed. 

No, I called you and spoke to a guy who said my cheque would be ready today. 

'Oh, dahhhlliinnng, I'm sooooo sorrrry, but your things were stolen.'

 WTF?

Onward two weeks.

I'd been invited to one of Vancouver's most highly respected vintage clothing collectors' homes for a private sale. His private sales were noted as the end-all be-all, and to be personally invited meant he thought you were worthy to view and shop his private collection. I was nervous about going and almost didn't, but I grabbed hold of my gumption and BFF, and off we went. 

Once we arrived, my jitters passed, and I was in all my glory. Encompassing my thoughts was one thing; how I wanted to roll, naked like a dog in grass, amongst the mountains of vintage silk, velvet, and chiffon that lay strewn around his old Victorian home. 

And then there she was, the Liberace-cum-Rasputin vintage shop owner, carelessly planted like an invasive species on the pink velveteen sofa, cackling, as a not-so-stellar jay-decked head to toe in my 'stolen' 86'd personal designs. Yes, stolen alright - by her.

From the Archives - Did You Know...Sperry Topsiders

Originally published February 3, 2010

Was the Sperry Top-Sider inspired by a dog named Prince? His cocker spaniel's ability to run nimbly over ice and snow intrigued Paul Sperry. Upon turning Prince's paw over, Sperry observed hundreds of tiny cracks and cuts in all directions. In turn, Sperry was anxious to return to his workshop to start his own experiments.

Grabbing a quarter-inch-thick piece of gum rubber, he began cutting a herringbone shape into the material with his pen knife. The first pair of boat shoes was a worn-out pair of sneakers with a quarter-inch piece of herringbone-patterned gum rubber glued to the bottom.

For more information on the involvement of Converse and Abercrombie & Fitch in the growth of the iconic boat shoe, visit Sperry's site.

 
And download Paul Sperry's original story. It's a great read.

8 Best iPad Sleeves | Notebook Cases

vintage Sky Lynx | Marc by Marc Jacobs

Anne Demeulemeester | vintage Les Clodettes

vintage Yvonne Kutz | Comme des Garçons


vintage Paris Madame | Saint Laurent

I have no affiliation with any of these vendors.

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent

1970 Paris
Vogue France

photo: Jeanloup Sieff

model: Charolette Rampling

Merry Vintage 1980s Christmas

from me -  in my Molly Ringwald meets The Cult phase.