What I brought home

I've shown you quite a few pieces on the Bijou Living page on Facebook that I've left behind on my thrifting adventures. Well, I thought I'd show you what I picked up last weekend when I was out. The stuff I left behind I'll post up on the Facebook page. Stay away from that rocking chair though - I'm going back!

cashmere $8

Louis Féraud $7

silk Alfred Sung $2

70s shrooms $6

Tapered burgundy & black British wool houndstooth (for him) $10

Harris Tweed $6

Big Mucha mirror $20

copper and stone $3

reclaimed pedestal table with marble top $10

Also a pair of mint vintage combat boots ($35) but he's wearing them so I couldn't grab a shot.

Did you know...

According to one biographer* Audrey Hepburn's grandmother tied her neck to the back of her chair at the dinner table so she would not slump over her food, but would rather learn to put only small amounts on her spoon to bring to her mouth.

* info via Emily Post's Etiquette

* image via Stephanie.Posterous

10 Do's and Don'ts for the Beach or the Park

1. don't crowd others - if an individual is enjoying some personal time - alone - leave them alone!
2. keep your kids in reach - which usually means building sandcastles down by the water.
3. pay attention to the social grouping already started at the beach/park and place yourself accordingly.
4. clean up after yourself. Leave the space as clean as or cleaner than you found it. Politely remind an offender that they may have forgotten something if they attempt to leave without picking up their mess.
   
5. confine noise to your own space - that means your guitar Romeo. Although, I think I'd prefer the guitar over the annoying cell phone conversation.
   
6. mind your cigarette smoke, the direction of the wind, and pick up your butts - they're garbage too.
   
7. if you are alone, do notice who is around you for safety's sake. If you're doing a quick jaunt to the washroom don't feel embarrassed to politely ask your neighbour if they'd keep an eye on your blanket (take your valuables) let them know you'll be right back. Of course, do the same when they ask you.
8. don't relieve yourself in the bushes just off the sidewalk. Really.
   
9. if you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie.
   
10. don't feed the sea gulls!
    

* photo part of a generous contribution from Could it be Madness - this?

Design Lover: Gae Aulenti Table with Wheels

designed 1980

Remember, I don't have furniture right now. The Gae Aulenti glass table with wheels—for FortanaArte—would be perfect in my sofaless situation as it's only 25 cm high. It's also perfect for stabbing my shin with its corner as I'm walking by.

The table actually comes in a multitude of sizes - but none taller than 25 cm - all available here.

Tip of the Week - Footwear

Wine bottles make excellent boot trees.

Quote of the Week - Vince Lombardi

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vintage Sonia Rykiel

1980

Heaven on Earth is a Bike and a Warm Day

I was lucky enough to grow up in the country where we could bomb around on dirt bikes and ATVs. Now that I live in the city I'm thinking about finding a vintage bike to bomb around on. There's a guy in the West End that rides around on his Dad's 1970s Honda scooter I'll have to track him down and take a pic. Watch for him - the bike's yellow and he's a good guy that likes to chat.

via Steve's Vintage Bike Site
stacy reynaud

Yes or No?

Argentine label A.Y. Not Dead. They have four boutiques in Argentina and their women's line is available at Selfridges in London. Thoughts or not? I like the turquoise blue sweater. For a more in-depth look at the line check out Man About World or their page on Facebook. A pretty funny review of the label on the Fodor's website of all places.

Did you know...

The Sperry Top-Sider was inspired by a dog named Prince? Paul Sperry was intrigued by his cocker spaniel's ability to run nimbly over ice and snow. Upon turning Prince's paw over Sperry observed hundreds of tiny cracks and cuts in all directions. Sperry, in turn, was anxious to get back 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 were 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.

First Date Do's and Don'ts

Mom & Dad on one of their first dates.

Do

• Go for a midweek lunch - short and sweet. 
• Offer to meet your date at their place of work or pick them up at home. They'll most of the time say they'll just meet you at the location but offer anyway.
• Have a place in mind ahead of time. If you're going on a lunch date, stay clear of the pizza by the slice place and the fancy-schmancy place with three forks. Choose something with good lighting (and that doesn't mean bright), excellent service, a quiet atmosphere and a good wine list. Keep in mind that your date may be veg, so try and pick a place with a few more vegetarian selections on the menu.
• Keep an eye on the time (but not obviously). If your date has to be back to work, respect this. If you control your own lunch break, set a conclusion time in your head. You want to look responsible.
• People love talking about themselves. Use the five Ws - who, what, when, where, why and how for good measure. Travel, hometowns, food, movies, and music are all safe topics.
• A little flattery never hurts.

Don't

• Talk about your ex, sex, money, work, death or disease.
• Go to a place where you may run into an ex or one that brings back memories of an ex.
• Get drunk on a date.
• Be a jerk to the waiter.
• Expect your date to pay. If you did the inviting, you pay. Just because you paid doesn't mean you get a little. A friend of mine actually came across this; 'I paid for dinner. You owe me.' I went and picked her up, and he, in his fur loincloth and club, went back to his cave. Yet another reason we subconsciously get stressed over the dinner date.
• Say you're going to call when you're not. If you want to go out again, ask if you can call later in the week.

Remember, however painstaking the first date is, it's what we'll always remember and yearn for when our relationship starts to fizzle.

Quote of the Week - Steve McQueen

I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.

Vintage Oscar de la Renta 1970

1970

Would this really have been James Dean?

This commercial for a South African investment firm disturbs me. I think it portrays what they would have wanted James Dean to have been. 'My dearest, By the time you read this you will be a grown man. One always hopes their child follows their/my/the expected dreams ...'

Style Inspiration - James Dean

Why can't designers get t-shirts right?

Designers just can't seem to get t-shirts right. I don't know why they don't hire artists to create them.

One of the down falls of being a t-shirt artist is that the selection of wholesale t-shirts is terrible. The cuts are usually off and the fabric is cheap and cardboard like. Back in my t-shirt designing days I did come across a company that did some light weight jersey (and the owner was nice) - Alternative Apparel - but I couldn't afford them. Designers have the cash flow to spend on beautiful jersey for t-shirts but they don't have the right artists working for them. I stumbled upon Red Bubble today. It's a community of artists who put their work up for sale online. There are some great t-shirt prints. Unfortunately, the t-shirts they're printing on are American Apparel and they have a terrible cut. The 'Classic Girl' fits too tight and the fabric makes you sweat and the 'Standard American' has a bad neckline and boxy sleeves. However, the shirts are so reasonably priced and the designs so original I'd take the chance and take my scissors to the neckline and sleeves of the men's Standard American.

There are lots of vibrant colors and designs to choose from. Being a fan of the basic black and white tee I chose these three off the top in a quick search.

Block Capitals

Mad Friends Again

Urban Adaptation

The Striped Shirt

We share a vintage Russian naval shirt in our house. I wear it under a fitted blazer and he layers it with a t-shirt or under his cardigan (à la Kurt Cobain).

Coco Chanel <-> Audrey Hepburn

Bridgette Bardot and Marilyn Monroe

Kurt Cobain and James Dean

Elvis and 30s actor whom I've forgotten his name

a vintage Russian navy uniform <- >The Cure

Duran Duran

Spring 2010 Menswear Trend Number 2

Well, I showed you trend #1 for spring 2010 - the denim shirt - here's trend #2 - the double breasted blazer. It takes a certain type of man to wear a double breasted blazer and it helps if he's tall and slim. This style of blazer adds weight and tends to make one look shorter. Am I a fan? No - they remind me of MC Hammer*, Prince Charles and Rick Astley.

Dries Van Noten - Marc Jacobs - Iceberg

Michael Bastian - Spurr - Trussardi 1911

Etro - Maison Martin Margiela - Dries Van Noten

Victor & Rolf - Feragamo - Raf Simons

Prada - Duckie Brown - Yves Saint Laurent

Rick Astley must have been subconsciously on the mind of more than one designer this season check out the video for Never Going to Give You Up on YouTube to see why.

or watch it here

*Hammer pants NOT Harem pants (view)

Did you know...

Anne Bancroft was only six years older (36) than Dustin Hoffman (30) when she played the role of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate. Personally, I've always preferred Mrs. R. over Miss R.

image Anne Bancroft, The Graduate, 1967, United Artists