flea market

Two Saturdays ago my boyfriend and I found ourselves at a (rather intimate) flea market.

We were invited by the fellows playing music in the third photo (20th Century Boys - listen here). They are both very sweet, play with great energy, and have cool post-punk fashion.

The flea market itself offered an eclectic assortment of vintage goods (for cheap!) hosted by stylish, young Koreans munching on McDonalds fries. Everyone was very friendly, the sun was shining, and it was a lovely time all around.

I wish I had taken more pictures, however there are lots to look at here.

festival collection

Proving that the best style inspiration comes from the streets (or in this case the field) H&M recently launched the Festival Collection - a co-ed collection inspired by the creative outfits frolicking around super hot summer music festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella. Think flowing bohemian blouses, tribal gladiator sandals, chunky beaded bracelets and plenty of light washed denim. Affordable essentials for any outdoor music lover. The Swedish uber brand is even going so far as to offer leopard print pop-up tents and paisley sleeping bags to accompany the on-trend festival apparel.

This summer collection marks H&M's third Fashion Against Aids campaign with 25% of the sales donated to HIV/AIDS awareness projects. Which means you don't have to feel too guilty about blowing a portion of your paycheck on these trendy but not-so-timeless pieces. Happy shopping!

hongdae vintage

Here are my favourite spots for vintage shopping in Hongdae:

1. Divine Comedy
Divine Comedy has a fantastic selection of purses, silk scarves, and belts. The store is also run by the most stylish, charming boys ever (and, much to my delight, they model the clothes on their website!). Sadly, much of their divine clothing selection is on the small side for both Carlos and I, but we keep returning to visit the lovely staff.


2. Joux Joux, Japan and Italy imported vintage

This store is tiny, always packed, and too cute... how great is that elephant shirt?

3. Gyahaha

This hidden gem is tucked away in a reconverted house (with an amazing, treasure-filled porch) about a block away from Divine Comedy. Much of the merchandise is imported from Thailand and Saudi Arabia (and there is an impressive selection to sort through) - they have highly covetable trench coats, purses, and sunglasses.


4. Salon Yong

This store has thoughtfully chosen pieces and the styling is very inspiring.

5. Finchley Road
I discovered this place recently - it's tucked away in a back alley that I don't normally walk up (the best places in Hongdae usually are). Here I found an amazing peach polka dotted coat and this place has the best selection of knick knacks. Although most of the odds and ends aren't for sale (Jessica, I tried to buy that nurse pug for you, but they wouldn't part with it) everything is very fun to look at.

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some good things

1. Kwang Ho Lee

Carlos and I went to see Korean artist Kwang Ho Lee's Touch exhibit at Kukje Gallery a couple of weeks ago. It was beyond fantastic. Plus, the cafe at Kukje has the best cakes. Seeing hyper-realist paintings of phallic cacti and eating green-tea cake make for a great time.

(see more here)

2. Poketo! Idea Book

We love this simple new notebook! In the box in the center, put down your main idea and goal and the surrounding boxes, write down all the other brainstorming ideas! Idea book - This is just what we all need to realize your ideas into reality! Now go!

YES! (via We Love You So)

3. Ana Kras

I want this coat rack. So much. (via Welcome Home)

4. cutting off the hem

Garance Doré

riviera

On Tuesday I spent the better part of the day standing on a rain soaked golf course administering a putting contest for wealthy newspaper tycoons who kept calling me Katherine. Needless to say it wasn't one of my finer career moments.

While I was enduring arctic temperatures and fleece clad golfers, Karl Lagerfeld debuted his latest collection in the much more temperate (and stylish) locale of St. Tropez. The 2011 Chanel Resort collection featured barefoot and bronzed beauties in gorgeous (if not slightly impractical) beachwear.

Obviously my invite got lost in the mail. Luckily @LisaTant (editor in chief at Flare) and her jealousy inducing tweets from the front row gave us mere mortals an insider perspective on the fashionable fun in the sun.

the f word

It isn't a ground-breaking observation, but hot damn, Beyoncé is FIERCE.

espadrilles

Here's a true (and kind of embarrassing) story. Recently I was reading a rather forgettable novel (Kinsella? Keyes?) in which the young female protagonist kept referring to slipping on her espadrilles. Somehow in my two decades of education and countless years of shoe loving I had never come across the term. Wikipedia quickly resolved that. And now that I've been educated on proper footwear vocab I'm dreaming of adding these preppy espadrille sandals from jcrew to my summer wardrobe. How perfectly sweet would they be with a white eyelet dress on a balmy June eve?

great DJ

The Music Room, New York - The Sartorialist

I like so much of what's happening here.

colourful kicks

I have a very strict rule about wearing running shoes on my feet outside of the gym. It just doesn't happen. However...if I was somehow convinced to cheat it would be with these new Nike Air Royalty sneaks inspired by the tasty shades of Ladurée's best selling treats. The new Macaron series (yes for real) offers mono-chromatic pastel coloured kicks in white, pink, blue and yellow. Unfortunately, just like their dessert counterpart, this feminine footwear collection is currently only available in Paris. Of course.

But it's not all bad. You can still satisfy your cravings for some pastel-hued edibles at any number of pretty patisseries around the city. The photo above is from Nadege, a particularly sweet spot overlooking Trinity Bellwoods park.

Coachella

If wearing peasant dresses with cowboy boots while drinking beer out of plastic cups isn't a good enough reason to wish you were at Coachella this weekend - there was also some seriously good music. Every year I read the lineup and wish that I could coerce someone into flying to California for a three day camping trip. I will make it there one year. Until then, I'll spend the day recreating the festival feeling in my backyard with a DIY Coachella playlist on itunes.

la roux - cover my eyes
vampire weekend - white sky
florence & the machine - rabbit heart (raise it Up)
imogen heap - clear the area
hot chip - over and over
she & him - why do you let me stay here
pheonix - fences
lcd soundsystem - daft punk is playing at my house
the xx - islands
mgmt - time to pretend