jessica apres Coco avant Chanel

I finally saw it last night. And even though I knew not to get my hopes up too high (this is of course Coco BEFORE Chanel) I knew I could count on this francophone film to deliver some fabulous tidbits for me to sink my fashion hungry teeth into. The costumes are, of course, gorgeous – thanks to costume designer Catherine Leterrier, who had Karl Lagerfeld on hand to give his thoughts on her initial sketches.

So what did I learn from this cinematic tale of my fave legendary designer …

Adrogyny can be sexy, especially paired with a glass of champagne.

It is possible to look glamorous while napping

A string of pearls, even if they’re faux, class up even the plainest of outfits.You don’t have to ride a horse to own it in equestrian.

I don’t care if they’re not flattering, Nautical stripes are a wardrobe staple (I'm wearing them right now in fact).

1,000 Awesome Things

Everyone (especially Katie and I) loves a good blogging turned book deal success story. That’s why I was super pleased to learn that one of my favourite blogs, 1000 Awesome Things (my go to pick me up out of my weekly I’m unpaid & living in my parents’ house pity party) has recently been blessed by the publishing gods. Following in the footsteps of fellow Toronto blogger Christian Lander (of Stuff White People Like fame) Neil Pasricha’s unapologetically optimistic countdown of all of life’s mundane wonders will be printed, bound and probably on my coffee table within the coming months.

1,000 Awesome Things, which Pasricha started in June 2008, has been counting down silly and smile inducing things every day for over a year now. The blog has only reached #650 so far – meaning that there are still hundreds of everyday bits of happiness to celebrate.

Here are some of my personal favourites…

#670 When a stranger walks by and offers to take a photo of you and the person you’re with

#717 Sleeping with one leg under the covers and one leg out

#720 The final seconds of untangling a really big knot

#756 Getting the booth side of a restaurant table

#858 The other side of the pillow

sunday faves

this magazine

framed light switches

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

Kate Moss's big 'do

girly bedrooms


the end.

bonne fête

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you.

Katie darling turns twenty-five today, and since she made such a lovely birthday list pour moi I thought it only polite that I return the favour. Without further ado, my top 10 reasons why Miss Merch is worth celebrating …

1. She understands just how much love (and work) goes into producing dense cappuccino foam.
2. She knows how to bust a move during a 4am electro (or occasionally, a Britney Spears) dance party
3. The woman can pour a real glass of wine
4. She always gives in to my Hamilton nostalgia whenever I (used to) pay her a visit – you’d think there would only be so many times one would put up with window shopping at Pure followed by bean bar pesto – but Katie’s happy to indulge.
5. She’s managed to land herself one heck of a man…anyone who wakes me up with a non-fat latte and a blueberry white chocolate scone after an impromptu sleepover is a keeper in my books
6. She loves books…good ones…and she’s always happy to recommend/let you borrow her inspired literary choices (the same goes for movies, music, fashion – the woman is a pop culture savant)
7. She leaves hysterical and completely unintelligible voice mails that have me howling with laughter every time
8. She totally supports the universal truth that leggings > pants
9. A total class act in the kitchen, Katers has culinary skills that put the rest of us to shame – she has come such a long way since her signature dish from university days: frozen chicken fingers
10. She’s full of adventure, from her covetable wardrobe to her latest move off to Korea she never ceases to amaze me, if not make me a wee bit jealous.

And while I miss her dearly I know that she will have an absolutely wonderful celebration today. So raise a glass of champagne for me my dear, and toast your fantastic self. Happy 25th!

katie likes

1. Tinted Sugar! I'm so happy.

2. Slouchy hats and coats

3. Jade nails for fall (thanks, WWWD!)

4. I normally don't love fiction, but these short stories had me laughing, crying, and wishing Neil Smith would hurry up with another book.

5. Kate Spade and an approaching birthday

Happy First Day of Fall

Ten Things to look forward to this Season

10. The return of the girls from The City and The Hills and all of our other favourite guilty pleasure reality TV indulgences.

9. Pumpkin Spice, it makes everything nice.

8. Saying see ya to sweating it out in the humidity and hello to wrapping ourselves up in cozy knits in the crisp Autumn air.

7. Donning our most creative costumery and heading out for a ghoulish Halloween style night on the town. Let's just hope we're not getting too old for this.

6. Tights....because unless you have legs like these, we could all use a nice opaque black stocking to help out a little. I'm loving that embellished legs are in for fall - can't wait to dress up office attire with some of these bedazzled numbers.

5. Apple picking - plaid shirts, hay rides, McIntosh apples and the delicious pies that follow.

4. The premier of Coco Avant Chanel, a film about the early life and loves of my favourite fashion icon.

3. That free all night contemporary art thing (aka: Nuit Blanche) lights up Toronto for the city's art lovers from sunset to sunrise October 3rd.

2. Little Miss Katie's birthday is just around the corner. I know we wont be together to celebrate, but she knows i'll be having an 'Autumnal' themed cupcake in her honour.

1. What am I looking forward to the most this season? Lazy Sunday afternoons (that I'm sure I will have a newfound appreciation for once I start working full-time) ... and potentially spending one of them re-enacting the magical fall scene in the photo above.

these are a few of my favourite things...

1. white rooms filled with frames

2. sequined blazers

3. books, books, and more books

4. long hair and carefree days

5. chanel no. 5

6. girls in round glasses

7. annie hall

Happy birthday, dear Jessica...

I know this post is a little early, but I'm 13 hours ahead over here in SoKo - which means it's already a special someone's birthday! So without further ado...here are 10 reasons why I am celebrating the birth of Miss. Napier:

10. She's a brunch enthusiast. And who doesn't love someone that appreciates a good brunch.

9. Not only is she a blossoming fashion photographer and blog writer, Humanitarian Napes is on the planning committee for The Amazing Race Against Time, in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

8. She knows that goat cheese, roasted red pepper, pesto, and sundried tomatoes are what really constitute a good meal (not to mention she can whip up an impromptu breakfast like a pro when her guest is feeling a little... under the weather).

7. She is an incredible party planner: from a nautical themed birthday bash to rainbow bright pride soirees, this girl really knows how to throw it down.


6. She's somewhat of a globe trotter. Luckily Jessica takes some pretty fantastic photos, which make it easier to live vicariously through her many travels.

5. She can dress with the best of them - and doesn't mind spending the day scouring vintage shops in T.O to find some hidden gems.

4. She is absolutely hilarious and can come up with a quick pop cultural reference faster than you can say Chuck Bass wears purple suits.


3. She's an avid reader - and I've got love for anyone who shares my interest in reading the satirical memoirs of gay men.

2. She loves white wine and multi-grain tostitos more than I do... or maybe the same as I do... or maybe almost as much as I do.

1. She knows that: La minita, cinnamon buns, mixed cds, the Koreans, pastel man, glasses to-town, team (not so) hella-tight, snooty combo platters, long beads, Locke Street, quotable cards, the bean eater, second floor mills, bean bar pesto, orders to comply....are the foundations of a beautiful friendship.

Happy Birthday, Napes!!! Love, Katers xoxoxo