Quote of the Week - Winston Churchill

However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.

Q&A

Thank you Prêt à Porter P for giving me, Stacy Reynaud, the 'I Love Your Blog Award'. What an honour!

The rules of the prize are:
- Do an entry with the prize.
- Answer the questions.
- Give the prize to 10 blogs.

1. Why did you create the blog?I had made the decision to 'burn out rather than fade away' when I shipped off the last order of my clothing brand. After a year of terrible lows I found a day job that was, let's just say, not my cup of tea. I left that job after a night of ciders and listening to Taylor James sing the blues at the Comox bar. The next day I put on my faux fur, biker boots and leather leggings and got back to what I love - fashion and writing.

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?I follow mainly independent fashion blogs but my cat Flo follows animal blogs.

3. Favorite makeup brand?I really only wear mascara and under eye concealer. My usual Maybelline brand was discontinued so now I'm on to my second tube of YSL Noir Radical. I'm a long time user of YSL Touche éclat
4. Favorite clothing brand?I've just started adding brands to my wardrobe within the last six months. I've always worn classic vintage pieces of no particular brand. I seem to be picking up a lot of IsabeleMarant, Filippa K and Acne lately. I look for quality, classic pieces.

5. Your indispensable makeup product:Wedderspoon Manuka Kiss lip balm, spf 30 - whatever is the most natural and on sale, Touche Eclat 2, Avalon Organics moisturizer (although I think I'm due for a change - my skin is too used to it now).
6. Your favorite color:Black
7. Your perfume:Essential oil mash up of patchouli and ylang ylang. I love the earthy, blackberry, tobacco, leathery scents Tom Ford has been rolling out but get bad headaches from processed scents. There's a scent on the sea walk by my place I'd love to capture - it's peppery, oceany and earthy. My husband, a horticulturist, says it's Russian Sage, wet earth, Red Cedar and the final remnants of the season's California Lilac.
8. Your favorite film:The Haunting, 1963
9. What country would you like to visit and why?Turkey - kilms, jewelry, cuisine and sun/heat. The Czech Republic and Slovakia - male bone structure. Norway - the 'old country' - to get in touch with my roots - and Scandinavian design.

10. Make the last question and answer yourself:
If you could be reincarnated what would you be?
A bird - so I could live amongst the trees, hardly eat and finally be able to sing like Edith Piaf instead of Courtney Love.
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I'm supposed to pass it on to 10 others. Yeah, so... I will pass it on to:
Beauty 101, Harbourmaster, It's My Darlin', Violet Boutique

Tip of the Week - Great Hair

Dull, chlorinated - or even worse for us blonds - green blue hair from old copper pipes? An aspirin hair treatment will get that chlorine out.

1. make a paste by crushing eight to ten aspirin tablets with filtered water.
   
2. massage the solution into your hair - the ends in particular.
3. leave on for ten minutes.
4. rinse.
5. shampoo as usual.
6. deep condition to help restore the moisture.
   

Dior: I Could Write a Book about Black

stacy reynaud

it's my favourite color

shoes - vintage Charles Patou snake skin
tights - gift from Mom
sterling bracelet - gift from Dawn
rhinestone bracelet - vintage
top - Stephan Schneider
cat hair - Flo and Tilley

Quote of the Week - A Sign in a Park in NYC

Let no one say, and say it to your shame, that all was beauty here, until you came.
Fort Tryon Park, NYC (spotted in Cat People 1942)

eyebrow pencil

Why will you not fear me human? from stacy reynaud on Vimeo.

I could not resist this guy's eyebrow.

The Problem with Men's Dress Pants

Something had really been bothering me about men's dress pants lately. I couldn't figure it out until we went to our biweekly after work hang out and people watched. It's the pockets. The pockets on some flat front pants are cut on an angle. If the pants don't fit properly they bulge out at the crotch and the pockets puff out - moving the eye horizontally across the midsection - and not in a good way.

Solution - look for pants that have pockets that are cut vertically.

A Hole Lot of Men's Sweaters

Johnny Rotten

Pringle of Scotland Cashmere Ladder Hole online

Diet Butcher

MIHARAYASUHIRO - Destroy @ Luisaviaroma

Horace @ Oak

Edun @ Oak

How to Shop for Vintage Clothing Pick the Best Vintage Coat

A good coat will have a layer of chamois leather sewn in the lining from the shoulders to the waist. This thin piece of hide adds a little protection from the bite of the cold winter wind. They may not even make them like this anymore. The coat in the photo is a late 60s mohair and alpaca.

BTW I picked up a vintage 100% camel hair coat last weekend - pics after I get it cleaned.

The BC Binning House - Pacific Northwest Modern - West Vancouver

For more of my images please view my BC Binning set on Flickr.

This past summer I had the pleasure of touring an iconic example of early West Coast Modern architecture - the West Vancouver home of artist Bertram Charles Binning - otherwise known as the B.C. Binning Home.

The home, designed in 1941, is a perfect size at just over 1400 s.f.

Binning's wife, Jesse, continued to live in the home until her death in 2007 at the age of 101. The home is currently owned by the nonprofit organization The Land Conservancy - whom could really use your help maintaining it.

For a story in the Vancouver Sun from 2007 see here.

It's Past Labour Day and It's OK

Spotted @ the Gravity Pope Tailored Goods Event - 'Hey, clients that spend lots of money, come get drunk and spend lots more!'
10.28.10

Quote of the Week - Christian Dior

After a certain age it is better for you to concentrate on an elegant look rather than a young look.

Vintage Keds

circa 1967
(I'll take that centre outfit please)

How Does Your Sweater Fit?

DOLCE & GABBANA - Alpaca Mix Sweater with free shipping

He likes his sweaters a certain way:

1. the bottom can't have ribbing - it makes the sweater bunch and ride up
2. the length should be about one or two inches below the hip bone - anything shorter is too boxy and 80s looking
3. it should be slightly tapered
4. if it's a crew neck, it can't be too high or too tight
5. the knit should be light enough to layer a variety of different style shirts under

12 Steps to Have Great Skin

1. keep it clean
2. water in the morning
3. cleanser at night
4. lotion instead of cream - cream clogs your pores as it's heavier.
5. shower spray is good for the face - stand close and enjoy.
6. suntan lotion everyday - spf 30
7. face massage - try a Japanese face massage or do one on yourself.
8. face acupuncture - I've done this a few times. If I was rich I'd go all the time - it feels that good.
9. keep ear, nose and unruly eyebrow hair under control. Read Sarah's tips on easy eyebrow grooming - good for men and women.
10. eat plenty of orange colored fruits and vegetables - they contain Vitamin A - one of the skin's most important rejuvinators. For others see here.
11. keep coffee, alcohol, late nights, and pharmaceuticals to a minimum - they either dehydrate or puff up the face.
12. drink two litres of water a day.

Vintage Cerruti 1881

Nino Cerruti

1980

Quote of the Week - William Butler Yeats

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.

Tip of the Week - Bad Breath

Brush the very back of your tongue - as far as you can - this is where our large taste buds live. There is more space for bacteria to hang out in the grooves between these guys. See image here.

Style Inspiration

Let's say we're in an imaginary world and I'm offering you a glimpse into the inspiration for my next collection. The music is what did it - and Jim Kerr's trousers. Watch the video - even if it's simply for the amusement of 1:37.

Simple Minds 1981 view it here as well