MONKEYBAR MAFIA

www.artofthetrench.com

I think this site is effin genius. I love Scott Schuman’s sartorialist photo blog, because you are able to see clothes in-situation and how an individual’s creativity translates into their own personal style.

I’ve always thought there was a major appeal to seeing clothes presented in situation, and have often wondered why designers don’t choose to photograph their collections in this way versus the staged, stylized and unrelatable images we most often see. I am never inspired by a look book, I’m always inspired by a personality.

Then low and behold, I stumble upon Burberry’s “the art of trench” social networking website. It features image after beautiful image of  how people wear their own Burberry trench coats (in collaboration with Scott Schuman himself!) and you can even submit a photo of yourself wearing a Burberry trench to be featured on the site. There’s also a section that takes you through a historical gallery of Burberry’s trenches from inception in the 1910’s to present day.

This site is a win for me. Well played Burberry! Well played.

Here’s something to look forward to for my fellow Canadians - the launch of Urban Outfitter’s Leifsdottir. Its a vintage inspired line that will be available at Holt’s next spring! What’s great is that it doesn’t alienate most consumers because its at an affordable price point (think, low to mid $200’s).

I like the white poofy blouse but I couldn’t wear it. I am already broad shouldered, so this would look more like a football jersey on me. That’s a nono.

Delicious. The great grandsons of Guccio Gucci, (Alessandro and another Guccio) are launching their own line of handbags - To be a G. Is anyone else hearing the lyrics to Tupac’s  “life goes on” in your head? Anyway, I would love to know what its like to be a G, if it means I get to carry around one of these sacks.

The handbags are expected to retail at 550 to 900 euros, or $821 to $1,343USD. If you want it in croc, you’ll have to put down 3,000 to 6,000 euros, or $4,479 and $8,958USD.

I’m going to print these pics out life size and carry them around, and let you know what its like to live the life of a G.

Trust me, I love Alicia Keys. The piano/ballad combo gets me every time. And she has that energy that makes you want to join hands with other women and burn your bras. But I don’t know how I feel about her new jewelry collection.

Its called, “The Barber’s Daughter” and was founded with jewelry designer, Gisèle Theriault. (shout out cause she’s from Cape Breton, Canada!) The line goes on sale next Monday at a temporary shop at Collette Blanchard Gallery at 26 Clinton Street in Lower Manhattan.

The collection is made of sterling silver, gemstones, and inscribed with poetry and prayers of Masaru Emoto, the author of “The Hidden Messages in Water.” I mean, I like the sentiment - wear inspirational words on your body to remind you of your strength and beauty and all that ish. Totally makes sense with Alicia, but what is going on with the construction of these pieces and the dangly wooden Buddha thing?! I mean, this reminds me of a high-school metal work and jewelry class I took, where we cut sheets of silver into rectangles and then welded other things to them and the end result was basically like macaroni glued to construction paper.

Are you buying??

Zac Posen launched a sportswear line called “Z Spoke” set to launch at Saks. The price ranges from $78 for a t-shirt to $675 for a knit dress. Me likey the grey dress. But me most likely to afford the t-shirt only. At least it costs nothing to stalk and pine.

So apparently, Hollywood’s hottest couple, Brad and Angelina have launched their own jewlery designs with Asprey. They’re serpent themed and the line is called, “The Protector” because apparently Angie got a snake ring when she was preggers with Shiloh and since then she associates the snake with protection. The silver spoon is actually a baby feeding spoon. C’est creepy, non?

I personally, do not like snakes. I grew up in a Christian household, so to me they’re all kinds of sin and the reason I’m going to suffer excruciating pain when I eventually give birth to mini-mes. My grandmother also has nightmares about them - I’ve heard her shriek in her sleep in an otherwise silent night. She’d wake up in the sweats and scream for me to get the snakes off her.  So there is definitely no association with protection in the Yew family. But hey, to each her own.

I have had my fair share of purchases from Value Village, the Salvation Army, and Goodwill during a brief but intense, ‘buy nothing but vintage’ phase. I remember rifling through racks of clothes with visible stains on them, still smelling of moth balls, and t-shirts stretched into trapezoids. But you live for the thrill of finding the diamond in the rough - for me that was a $5 cowboy belt, a pair of bright purple glittery pumps, and kids’ old camp t-shirts.

Vintage has evolved. There have been storefronts popping up along Queen West that sell an array of reconstructed vintage goods (such as PreLoved, I Miss You, the Urban Renewal Line at Urban Outfitters) and now, I’ve discovered reconstructed vintage couture! These dresses above are designed and reconstructed by Shrimpton Couture (shrimptoncouture.com). Look at that attention to detail! Its art! On your body! And I’m yelling!

I  listen to my ipod mostly when I run, so i have these little ear phones that suction into my ear cavities and block out all traffic/sirens/ambient noise. I have this weird pet peeve while I run - I don’t like to hear myself breathe. So all respiratory noises are blocked as well. There is a logic - when I run, I sound so haggard that I end up thinking I’m more tired than I really am and I’m already arguing with myself to keep running the whole 7km (or whatever distance I’ve chosen out of spite that day) instead of just stopping and walking into a Starbucks.

Anyway, I am really loving these WESC Bongo Karolin headphones. I would totally wear them on the street car while sitting, or while standing, or while walking. Any occasion I don’t have to worry about them slipping off my head mid stride. They are banoodles! sickity sickity sick. (that’s for you MPeezy!)

Hello Kitty celebrated her 35th Birthday a few days ago on November 1. To celebrate, Sanrio partnered with Dr. Romanelli to create this “Anatomy Vintage” figurine. As you can see, Hello Kitty isn’t full of your regular organs. Upon closer inspection, she indeed has a heart but looks to have swallowed two baby hello kitties, a white oven mitt and a sad green balloon that are used to make animals, swords, and hats at children’s birthday parties. Oh Kitty, you’re so silly!

My mother has kept a pair of my doc martens in her hall closet for the past 13 years because she couldn’t bear to throw them away, given she had paid almost $200 on them. I remember, during our “Back to School” shopping trip pre-sophomore year, I HAD to have them. Like a burning desire, where nothing else mattered and that their presence or absence from my wardrobe basically dictated the fate of my confidence in 1996-1997.

I wore them for a year, give or take a few months. And they were glorious. Sometimes, when I’m home visiting the rents, I’ll pull them out and reminisce about the days of wearing dickies and thinking I had a place in grunge.

The ones I ended up buying are fantastic. I had the sense to get these dark eggplant/maroon coloured ones that I have yet to see in stock again. And guess what, I’ve brought them to Toronto with me and have been wearing them out in public again.

Except, now they’re paired with thick tights and dresses, versus saggy corduroys and white tank tops. And they are still glorious.

Here’s to my mom and her frugal ways. xoxo

(pic referenced from: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/10229Dallas6263Web.jpg)