Inspired by Paris Fashion Week - Shopping Vancouver's Vintage Market

Last week was men's fashion week in Paris. Claire at Harbourmaster (Melbourne), Dana at It's my Darlin' (Seattle) and myself (Vancouver) decided to do a last minute what's going on in our city during Paris fashion week post. Go check out Claire's post for an Australian perspective and Dana's for an American.

Sure, I'm not living in Paris but I do find inspiration in a few places in Vancouver.


I like to pop by the Vancouver Flea Market from time to time to see what's going on. My one complaint is that it's really dirty there. Most of the vendors do a good job with their merchandising and product presentation but those that don't - eck. Bring hand wipes. There's a good selection of 70s kitsch to be found - bring cash and barter.

The flea market is only open on Saturday and Sunday and don't park in the field across the street you'll get towed - like I did.


The best selection of vintage furniture is not in Vancouver, it's in New Westminster - about a 20 minute drive from downtown. There's a block of little shops down on Front St. that are a design hunter's dream. Jenny Cashin's shop, mid-century modern home has the best service, quality, selection, and inspiring staging of mid century I've experienced in my travels. I'm not a full on mid century fanatic, I simply appreciate good design and good grains and Jenny's not a design elitist, she'll gladly share her knowledge. You will not find a better selection in the Lower Mainland than at mid century modern home (609 Front St. New Westminster, 604.515.1865).


To be honest - I find my fashion inspiration in my head at Third Beach - not actually on the beach but in the grassy knoll above it. I've spent 100s possibly 1000s of hours there in the last decade visualizing inspiration for my vintage shows, creating the blueprint for a men's wear label, and simply thinking about the history of fashion and design. It's a magical space with a powerful energy and a scent all of its own.

I went there today in the rain and was inspired to find new inspiration by what is already in my closet. I went home, emptied the clothes out (what's left of them) and put them on my dress form. It felt good - I hadn't played dress up in awhile.

Moral of the story - when you're stuck for inspiration look inside yourself and see what wants to come out.

Nothing smells better than this.

How to Decorate a 1970s Room

My favourite? Probably the chrome lighting, slate wall, stainless steel table - and yes, the green shag carpeting (although I would prefer a deep as deep can be area rug).

Tip of the Week - Footwear

Don't wear the same shoes two days in a row. We lose a 1/2 pint of water through our feet daily. Leather needs at least 24 hrs. to dry out.

Vintage Léonard

1982

Quote of the Week - Goethe

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.

photo a wonderful gift from Could it be Madness-this?

4 Stylish Reasons to Go to Paris Tomorrow

As if you'd need a reason at all.

Talk about four days of style spotting. To which address was my ticket sent?



Paris Déco...Off January 21 - 25
Parisian showrooms of top interior design companies will be open to visitors for the first time.




Paris Men's Fashion Week January 21 - 24
Click here to view the full schedule at Bijou Living on Facebook
via MIL on Facebook


Les Puces de Paris - Saint-Ouen
The Paris Flea Market



Madeleine Vionnet, Puriste de la mode
The last ten days of the Vionnet exhibit at Les Art Décoratifs.


While you're there why not make, 'We'll always have Paris' really mean something to you.

Architectural Salvage - Marble

You may remember me speaking of a slab of marble in the comment section of Top 5 Design Pieces I'm Extremely Bored of back in October. Well, yesterday I decided that if it was still there I was going to buy it (Craigslist was good to me last weekend). Yipeekiyay it was still there - but alas it had a sold sticker on it. Apparently, someone purchased it in November but hasn't picked it up yet as they've 'lost' their receipt. Sounds a little fishy to me. I offered to buy it and take it right then. No go. There was a new guy working there and things had suddenly become extremely expensive. Which would explain why they were overstocked.

One of my pet peeves is when you're at a second hand place or demolition sale and they say, 'Well, that sells for X amount new so...'.

The one that got away.
approx. 8' x 3' $250

They also had this piece which I thought would be good for a shelf up against my back wall.

$240

I wanted to put the slab on top of some, preferably old, saw horses. My Dad had a great pair with paint splatters, nails and gouges on them that would have been perfect.

Check out my new page - Bijou Living Space.

Style Inspiration - James Coburn

in the sidecar
via motozania

Defamation of Character - Cashmere

Think about this, it takes the cashmere of three to six goats to make a single women's sweater.

A conversation with Daniel rekindled an issue I had been getting worked up about years ago - cashmere and its lowered image in the marketplace. A few autumns back I was caught unexpectedly downtown without a jacket. Needless to say I went straight to a specialty 'cashmere' boutique nearby as I wanted the thinnest yet warmest sweater I could find. Let's say I'm familiar with cashmere but not an expert. I also have a few vintage Scotish cashmere pieces that are at least forty years old and are still like new. Considering cashmere as an investment piece, I confidently forked out over $300 for my new pullover sweater - by the end of the evening it was completely pilled on each side. Furious? Yes.

Please understand this and pass it on -> REAL/PURE cashmere rarely pills and if it does it definitely doesn't happen in four hours. I went back to the shop first thing in the morning with my $300 rag. Guess what? No returns, no exchanges and no credit notes. Basically it was, 'That's your piece of crap now, enjoy.' One of my qualities I have to work on is keeping my cool.

Back to my opening thought - if it takes three to six goats to make a single women's sweater why are they $49.99 at 'select' retailers?

Don't support this abomination. Be an educated consumer and don't get ripped off - for the sake of the goats.

To educate yourself please read these FAQs from the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers' Institute and pass it on.

Quote of the Week - Albert Camus

But what is happiness except the simple harmony of a man and the life he leads?

PSA

Bragging --> Bijou Living got a wicked review on Dana Landon's It's My Darlin - Seattle Street Style.

Go and dig around on It's My Darlin and get inspired. I love Seattle particularly Capitol Hill. There is some serious fashion inspiration there. Dana has an eye for what Seattle truly is - and no it's not all grunge.

Get your butt to the Pacific Northwest will ya!

Oh, and if you hung out with us on Facebook you'd already know this - yet another reason to get on board. www.facebook.com/bijouliving

Paint It Black

I wanna see it painted black, painted black
Black as night, black as coal

...but I don't think I'd get my damage deposit back.

Best Summer Suits for Men

Don't use the heat as an excuse to look like a schlump
remember the words of Hardy Amies,
'Never wear shorts except at water's edge.'

There are many options available for summer business formal wear that won't leave you looking like Mr. Roarke—although he did look wonderfully marvellous, didn't he?

Color:

• A monochromatic look not only makes you look slimmer visually it makes you cooler mentally.
• Don't think you can pull off a solid white or cream-colored suit without feeling like Colonel Sanders? Try light gray—everyone looks good in gray.
• Feel like you're on safari in a tan suit? Stick with black in a light weight fabric.
• Seersucker, too, Barber Shop Quartet? Try a Pin Stripe, Herringbone, Houndstooth or Prince of Wales Check.

Tie:

• For a change, try a light color tie on a light color shirt.
• If you can go without a tie in the summer, keep your shirt collar in your jacket. A spread collar is very 70s and not in a good way.

Shoes:

• Loafers are shown all over for S/S 2010. For a refresher, check my post on loafers.
• Suede and buck are the perfect alternative between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
• Keep those handmade Italian leather sandals in your bag for the ride home, not the office.

Suitable Summer Suit Fabrics:

Poplin - a sturdy fabric that was originally made from silk, poplin can know be found in cotton, wool, silk, or rayon. Burberry uses a lot of poplin (think of the feel of their trench coat).

Linen - stay away from low grade low ounce linen. You'll look like you slept in your suit by the time you get out of your car. 11-13 ounce linen will drape better and not be as wrinkly.

Wool crepe - a crepe under 11 ounces is pretty much approachable nine months of the year. Every time I see my seamstress she says to me, in her heavy Eastern European accent, 'Listen to me, get 99% wool, 1% lycra. I do this for 40 years I know what I'm talking about.' The word lycra, like the word spandex, creeps me out but I better listen to her or else.

Seersucker - Personally, I'm not a fan of the seersucker suit as it reminds me of a candy striper uniform. A seersucker sport coat paired with some high grade linen trousers or seersucker trousers paired with a linen shirt sits a little better with me.

Try a tone-on-tone shirt and tie for a change. 

Casual day? Leave the tie at home.

Don't think you can pull off a solid white or cream suit? Try gray - everyone looks good in gray. Of course, you'll have your shirt buttoned up during working hours.

Don't fear patterns. Glen Check/Prince of Wales Check is a great print for summer.

Vintage Lanvin

Jeanne Lanvin
1933

The Curse of Casual Friday

This is the post where your jaw drops and you call me 'old fashioned'.

I don't like casual days. I find them unprofessional. However, I'm also the one that doesn't like bare legs in the workplace.

At my first middle management job I came face to face with the curse of casual day. I was able to avoid the first few by playing dumb but my charade wouldn't last for long - my team was on to me. So, being the 'approachable' boss, I gave in. What was the problem? Well, you see, I have two wardrobes - my corporate costume and my real wardrobe. Let's just say the real wardrobe consists of lots of vintage and lots of black.

Ever have an unexpected emergency meeting pop up on casual day? Sure, I was wearing black denim, a silk t-shirt and a black blazer but I felt like a tool sitting down with the big wigs in their suits. Lesson learned.

Casual day attire for men in my books:
no tie

For women:
---


* Mr. Louisiana photo a fabulous gift from Could it be Madness-this?

6 Mens Boots

Wings and Horns (by Dayton)

Fiorentini + Baker

Frye

John Varvatos

Frye

Fiorentini + Baker

and his own boots are Kodiak

I had a brief two hour rendezvous this weekend and I'm not about wasting time. Many who know me are smirking as they read this - I know how to shop - I'm out as fast as I'm in. Needless to say, he and I got down to business lickity split. Shopping is too often a big waste of time unless you know exactly what you're looking for and where to find it. We went straight to Gravity Pope on 4th - which has the top selection of cool men's and women's boots in Vancouver - as well as the coolest women's clothes (along with Misch). Their one downfall - they run out of sizes quickly. Make a friend there.

You ask, 'Stacy, with such a big selection why did he only try these brands?' Because they were right in front of me when we walked in and he liked them (and I didn't want to get busted taking pictures in the shop). I could've spent our whole two hours there but after all it was a rendezvous and I did want some 'quality time'. I also recommend you try the NDC, MOMA, trippen, cydwoq, Adams and Gravity Pope, their in house label. The winner? John Varvatos side zip boot.

Dancing at the Cafe - Bande à Part aka Band of Outsiders

How to Tie a Scarf

wrap long end around twice and on the second wrap push the end through the top knot and pull down - like you're knotting a tie.
Voila - a knot that slides. For an ascot type look pull the knot tight and tuck it in.
via Esquire 1969.

Quote of the Week - Christian Dior

Simplicity, good taste and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing and these do not cost money. Christian Dior

Design Lover: Harry Bertoia Spray Sculpture

Leave it to Antiques Roadshow to install this beauty into the gallery of my mind. How many designers can bankroll their careers off the royalties made on one of their first commercially available designs? Harry Bertoia did. In 1950, Bertoia began collaborating with furniture makers and marketers Florence and Hans Knoll. Bertoia's first piece he designed for Knoll was the chromium 'Model 420 Diamond' chair. The royalties made from the 'Model 420' enabled Bertoia to further pursue his love of metalwork and sculpture - which was put on hold during WWII due to metal shortages.

Bertoia seldom named his sculptures, and some are unsigned. Nevertheless, most of his sculptures are now known by the identification given to them by the Allentown Art Museum's 1975 catalogue accompanying a Bertoia exhibit (he passed away in 1978).

'Sprays' are bunches of stainless steel wires that sway when touched or are moved by air currents. They always have a twist where they are connected to their concrete base. Sizes vary from 12 to 50 inches.

You can buy one here.

How to Get a Runway Look for Under $200

Those of you that are friends of Bijou Living on Facebook will remember that I spent Boxing Day shopping on Etsy. I poked around a bit more and put together a Fendi Spring Summer 2010 inspired look for under $200 for you. For this look, wear your hair in a loose bun - see The Return of the Bun.

Fendi S/S 2010

heels $50 linen dress $28

vintage bed jacket $68 vintage lizard bag $28

Shopping online can be fun and save you a fortune but remember caveat emptor. Ask lots of questions, check feedback, ask about return policies, and get insurance for your package. In my 12 years of shopping and selling vintage online I've only had one bad experience. Remember, 99.9% of people are honest.

Men's Classic Look

If by some strange reason you get caught up in an unknown vortex that deposits you in another time, place and reality know you'll be ready to confront what awaits you if you're timeless in your dress and sensibilities.

On the other hand, if you've decided to consign all your old clothes and start fresh - buy the timeless pieces first (see above).