my fair lady

Peter Jensen Fall 2010 RTW
images from style.com

I want to wear these outfits right now.

green with envy

I'm currently hunting for the perfect green army anorak. I've scoured various Korean vintage markets to no avail - what I really need to find is a good army surplus store. For now I will have to settle for admiring the above images (the top two are from this amazing style blog Backyard Bill - I want Dani Griffiths's coat oh-so-much!), and hope that my search ends victoriously sometime soon.

Art of the Trench

Sarah Taylor by The Sartorialist for Art of the Trench

So, Burberry has launched a very pretty social networking site (you know, that project that Scott Schuman had been secretly working on) - all about their iconic trench coats: TheArtoftheTrench.com. It's easy to get carried away clicking from trench to trench (as there's quite a wide variety, and hey, I wouldn't mind some fresh ideas on how to wear my own navy trench - which is sadly, not Burberry). The Kooks are playing in the background and you can browse the bevy of trenches by weather (want to see how they're worn in the rain? in the sun? if it's cloudy?), gender, style (belted/unbelted), and popularity. The idea is that you can comment on your favourites (and 'like' them, a la Facebook), ultimately creating a library of all the looks you love. Hmmm. While I did have fun perusing the site over my morning tea and toast, I have to say that I agree with both Fashionista and Racked NY: although I do admire Burberry trenches I don't think I'll be spending much of my time on a Facebook-analogue that is devoted solely to them. What do you think?

jacket weather

It's jacket weather now in Korea (at least for the time being), and I can't say that I'm mad about it. I love all of these!

happy.halloween #2

Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her.

- Wilhela Cushman (Ladies Home Journal)

this is halloween

Trick or Treat!

Bizarre Bazaar

Check out more of these hauntingly weird and wonderful photos here.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that Halloween is definitely one of my absolute favourite holidays. Not only does it involve copious amounts of chocolate consumption (those costco sized boxes of chocolates never seem to actually make it to any of the kids in my neighbourhood) but it's pretty much a world-wide theme party that almost everyone chooses to participate in. So in all my excitement surrounding big day/weekend I thought it absolutely necessary that I share with you this strange Tim Burton-esq fashion editorial from the October issue Harper's Bazaar. I can't tell whether I'm loving it or completely creeped out - maybe a bit of both - and of course (shock me, shock me) bunny ears make yet another predictable appearance.

The editorial is part Halloween fashion vignette part promo for Burton's upcoming retrospective exhibit at the MOMA. How cool does this sound...

"Following the current of his visual imagination from early childhood drawings through his mature work, the exhibition presents artwork generated during the conception and production of his films, and highlights a number of unrealized projects and never-before-seen pieces"

Come November I'll be wishing I could hop on a plane to NYC faster than you can say Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.

Dinner date?

With too little time to work 9-5 and blog I figure I might as well blog about my work. This week I’m working on the new dining listings, which involves writing up quippy little sentences about the fresh meat (if you will) on the TO dining circuit. Unfortunately no one is sending this unpaid intern/minion out to any of these trendy new restos to sample dishes and take notes on the ambiance – but nevertheless, it’s not a bad assignment. I’ve put together a little list of my personal faves that I’ll be looking to try in the very near future – if anyone’s interested in a dinner date.

Newly opened Buca is giving Terroni and Pizzeria Libretto a run for their money in the battle to become the west end’s premiere thin crust pizza joint. This renovated boiler room in King West boasts beautiful sandblasted brick walls and 30-ft ceilings – giving the interior an industrial chic vibe. If you can find it (the resto is tucked away in an alleyway alongside Cheval) then be sure to sample charcuterie from the onsite meat curing room.

Apparently, dive bars are the new supper clubs (thanks Drew Barrymore) so it wont be long before all the hip young things in the city flock west (oh wait they already do) to loiter outside the newest hot spot along the coveted Queen Street strip, Double Deuce Saloon. The décor lends itself to a dive-bar-chic vibe with neon signs, worn in floorboards and a stuffed boar’s head above the bar. Plenty of interesting beers on tap and a tasty, moderately priced menu of smoked meat sandwiches and chili served with sweet buttermilk cornbread and fresh guacamole. This cool yet casual spot offers a quieter alternative (for now at least) to the crowded hipster hangouts in the area. And if you’re wondering about the origins of the bar’s kitschy name, turns out it was chosen as a result of a Facebook naming contest – the winner received a $1,000 bar tab … I hope to befriend him soon.

And while I rarely find a reason to go out in the Entertainment District, Spice Safar has peaked my curiosity. This self-described boutique/bakery/café/lounge hybrid is an all purpose space done up with wood and velvet, giving the room a luxurious yet mellow vibe. During the day, there’s plenty of artisan coffee and baked goodies to be had while browsing the eclectic products for sale at the on-site boutique. At night, the after work crowds nibble on tapas style fare and sip premium ‘mixology’ martinis (I’m not sure what that means other than “we can charge $15 for these”) made with made-in-house absinthe.

these boots were made for walking

I've got a case of the gimmes for these Chloé shiny leather boots.

decade in style

I love, love, love this spread from Autumn's issue of AnOther: to celebrate this decade in fashion, the magazine has paired the most influential designers with some equally influential ladies (actresses, models, singers, muses) "who inspire us with their sense of style and and the power of their image" (AnOther). The fashion houses granted the magazine access to their beautiful archives, and each icon was carefully (and perfectly!) paired with looks by one designer from the past ten years. Here are some of my favourite pairings:

Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte (Spring/Summer 2009)

Chloe Sevigny in Miu Miu (Spring/Summer 2008, Autumn/Winter 2006)

Natalie Portman in Lanvin (Spring/Summer 2008)

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton (Spring/Summer 2007)

Winona Ryder in Marc Jacobs (Autumn/Winter 2009)

Kate Moss in John Galliano (Spring/Summer 2003)

Leafy skies & homemade pies.

October means thanksgiving feasts, colourful foliage and non-stop plaid ensembles. This past weekend I made the treck to the country to take two of my favourite people apple picking here - where $10 will get you a month's worth of handpicked apples and all the tractor riding the four year old in you could ever dream of. From Macintosh to Mutsu I¹ve managed to pick an assortment of pommes that will warrant a pie or two.

Unfortunately, since I seem to lack Katie's baking talents in the kitchen, I¹ll need some serious help whipping up the perfect pastry to complement my newly acquired bushel of fruit. If anyone out there wants to share their best (and preferably idiot proof) apple pie recipes with me, I promise to play Julie and Julia and blog about how it goes.

sunday faves

this magazine

framed light switches

this (faux) fur A.P.C. handbag

Kate Moss's big 'do

girly bedrooms


the end.

tweedy bird

I love, love, love this tweed suit from Boy by Band of Outsiders (Opening Ceremony, you've done it again!).