2011 Fall Winter Fashion Color Report

How do you get a job at Pantone naming style colours?
Here's Pantone's Fall Winter 2011 color trend report.
For the men's fall winter fashion click here.

owing nothing to paris or anyone else

a rare original technocolor glimpse into London's 1960s hipster scene. Note the first boutique is the famed Granny Takes a Trip. For more inspiration check out one of my favourite films - strictly for glam fashion and design - Dracula AD 72.

Style Inspiration - Bloomer Club Cigars

1890s

6 Top Handle Leather Bags

Many years ago I came across a leather bag in a little boutique in Whistler, BC that was my 'dream' satchel. It was natural leather, unisex, simple, classic and beyond my price range. I had forgotten the name of it until now. The brand is BREE and they're German. Check out their website (not an affiliate).

Filson Leather Field Satchel - Valextra


Mulberry - BREE Elch nature

etsy seller gdirrt - BREE Homme 3

Quote of the Week - William Blake

photo from the collection of stacy reynaud

He who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity's sunrise.

Cheetah vs Leopard

The cheetah has solid black spots and cries black tears because he's likely to become endangered unless his circumstances improve.
The leopard has more complex spots of brown and black that resemble rosettes.
Ava Gardner is wearing leopard.

Design Lover - American Tourister 1966

American Tourister Luggage 1966

Coffee Siphon

Saturday, I had the day to myself and decided to go do something I'd been meaning to get around to for months. After reading - or more like seeing a cool photo - in Oliver Strand's Ristretto column last summer, my mouth has been watering to try Japanese slow-drip coffee. I saw a slow dripper at our local beach hut - yes, we're pretty fancy in Dundarave - but the thought of coffee with my salmon burger was never appealing. However, I'd noticed a new cafe had opened up around the corner a few months back that advertised Japanese slow drip so off I went. Well, it turned out that their slow dripper uses a paper filter and I don't like paper filtered coffee, needless to say, I did see this appealing bong like contraption that I thought I'd give a try. I selected the Guatemalan.

It's a coffee siphon - some call it a vacuum. Watch a short clip below or view it here:

image Stacy Reynaud

If you like coffee, you have to try a siphon. Butter. Just like butter.

Can we have these in our restaurants, please? They're doing it here.

I know its about brand awareness but come on

I'd have to spend an hour picking all the bloomin' labels off of these - they ruin the shoe and make them look cheaper than they already are.

Black Canvas Women's Wedges TOMS Shoes

What to do when a work colleague passes

One of my team members from work passed away last week. I was notified by his daughter. This was a new experience for me as I've only indirectly worked with one other person that died. This situation was different because I was his 'manager' and it was my responsibility to inform his colleagues.

1. emotion is natural and expected. If you feel like you need to cry do so. If you want to try and hold back the tears look up or drink some water - it tends to help.
2. in notifying colleagues say what you truly feel and relay any information the family has requested you pass on. This could be dates of the memorial service, names of charities you may make a donation to in lieu of flowers and in our situation, a final word to his colleagues.
3. if you are the deceased's 'direct report' then you must contact the HR department. They will do all the paperwork for life insurance and notify the other departments. If they do not distribute a notice of memoriam within the work place it is the department's, who the individual worked in, responsibility.
4. express your condolensces to the family. Say what you feel but don't dwell on the details or manner of death. Ask if there is anything you can do at any time to be of service. Nothing more needs to be said.
5. when in lieu of flowers appears on the death notice the family has put it there upon the deceased's request or because they honestly feel the contribution will help them feel comfort knowing some good will come. A cheque is sent to the charity with a note saying, "This donation is sent in loving memory of Mr. X McABC, of 10 Park Place, Mount Vernon." If family members who should receive an acknowledgement did not live with the deceased, mention the name and address to which the acknowledgement should be sent; "Please send the acknowledgement to..." Your address should also appear on the note. The charity then sends an acknowledgement, which lets the donor know the contribution has been received and can also be used as a tax deduction. The charity also sends a notice of contribution to the family of the deceased.
6. gifts of cash should never be sent directly to the family in place of flowers or a charitable contribution. However, a group, club, neighbours or work colleagues may take up a collection for a bereaved person who is in financial difficulty.
7. if the hour and location of the funeral service is made public it is considered unkind not to go to the public funeral of a person with whom you have been closely associated with in business.

The Duffel Bag Mystique

The Gold Rush 1898 duffel bag evolution - Chilkoot Pass Alaska

Even the word duffel bag conjures up images of three day old stubble and mud caked motorcycles all interwoven with vetiver, tobacco, musk and dirt.

Lost treasures from both Kurt Cobain and the Rolling Stones have been found in duffel bags. The duffel bag as Ark of the Rock and Roll Covenant?

Whatever it may be, the duffel bag only gets better with age.

Etsy Ciao Baby Vintage find

Quote of the Week - Herman Hesse

If I know what love is, it is because of you.

image from the collection of Stacy Reynaud

No sale for you

Today I tried to buy three things online. Two wouldn't ship to Canada and one is on back order. I'd go off on a tangent but I won't.

1. Filson zip tote
2. Caswell-Massey Onyx Soap
3. This Smells Like Dirt perfume (I may order a sample of one of these lovelies instead)

Quote of the Week - Francois Fenelon

We can often do more for other men by trying to correct our own faults than by trying to correct theirs.

Vintage Sonia Rykiel

1980