Charlotte

I dare you

Watch Bardot's hallway entrance in Gainsbourg Vie Héroïque and not lust after a leopard coat... and maybe some thigh-high go-go boots! and maybe Jane Birkin's lace mini-dress too...

framed absence

I had to cross the Canadian/U.S. border on Friday, and I was surprised to see this sculpture waiting on the other side, visible from the border line-up. It definitely caught my eye and put a smile on my face.

An excerpt from The Globe & Mail:

"
Non-Sign II and other Apertures, installed on the U.S. side of the crossing about a week ago, is a 15-metre-by-9-metre non-billboard; a framed absence.

“We’re using the vehicle of the billboard as a way to reinforce your attention back to the landscape and the atmosphere, the thing that the two nations share in common,” said artist Daniel Mihalyo of Seattle’s Lead Pencil Studio, who co-created the work with Annie Han.
"

scorpio

It's my birth month, and over the past few days I've been interested in horoscopes. A long time ago I vowed to never read my horoscope, because I thought it was unlucky. When reading magazines I quickly flip past the horoscope section, careful not to even catch a word. But, I am fascinated with the general traits of my horoscope sign. It is so me it's remarkable (Not EVERYTHING, but I'd say 90%). What isn't me though, is my moon sign. I'm not even too sure how that works, but from what I've researched online, my moon sign's description it completely NOT ME AT ALL. If you know about these things, let me know! I am curious. If you are a Scorpio, you may be interested in reading the below, compiled from a few websites:

Scorpio:

Scorpios are the most intense, profound, powerful characters in the zodiac. Even when they appear self-controlled and calm there is a seething intensity of emotional energy under the placid exterior. They are like the volcano not far under the surface of a calm sea, it may burst into eruption at any moment. But those of us who are particularly perceptive will be aware of the harnessed aggression, the immense forcefulness, magnetic intensity, and often strangely hypnotic personality under the tranquil, but watchful composure of Scorpio.

In their everyday behavior they give the appearance of being withdrawn from the center of activity, yet those who know them will recognize the watchfulness that is part of their character. They need great self-discipline, because they are able to recognize the qualities in themselves that make them different from other humans, and to know their utterly conventional natures can be used for great good, or great evil. Their tenacity and willpower are immense, their depth of character and passionate conviction overwhelming, yet they are deeply sensitive and easily moved by their emotions. Their sensitivity, together with a propensity for extreme likes and dislikes make them easily hurt, quick to detect insult or injury to themselves (often when none is intended) and easily aroused to ferocious anger. This may express itself in such destructive speech or action that they make lifelong enemies by their outspokenness, for they find it difficult not to be overly critical of anything or anyone to whom they take a dislike.

They are fortunate in that their strong reasoning powers are tempered with imagination and intuition, and these gifts, together with critical perception and analytical capacity, can enable the Scorpions to penetrate to profundities beyond the average. They have a better chance of becoming geniuses than the natives of any other sign.But charismatic "twice-born" characters such as they can sink into the extremes of depravity if they take the wrong path, and the intensity of their nature exaggerates their harmful tendencies into vices far greater than the normal. Brooding resentment, aggressive and sadistic brutality, total arrogance, morbid jealousy, extreme volatility of temperament, these are some of their vices. At the other extreme is the procrastinator, the man or woman who is capable of so much that they do nothing and become indolent and self-indulgent.

Your Scorpio influence provokes you to be bold courageous, creative and scientific. Originality is almost always an outlet for success. You often mind your own business, and expect others to do the same. However, you can also tend to be suspicious, skeptical and critical. There is an intensity in your thinking, and deep inner conviction. As a result, you often cause trouble for others. Few people know what you are thinking. There is a willingness to tough things out, or to tear them down and start over.

Likes:
-truth
-hidden causes
-being involved
-work that is meaningful
-being persuasive

Dislikes:
-being given only surface data
-being taken advantage of
-demeaning jobs
-shallow relationships
-flattery and flattering

Colour: Dark red to maroon (so on trend... gaaaaag!)

Ruling Planet: Pluto (except isn't Pluto now considered a star?)

Starstone: Opal

sheer maxi skirt

YES.
style.com (Phil Oh)

shopping report: Club Monaco

Walking by Club Monaco the other week I spied a olive scarf in the window that got me intrigued. This past weekend I took a look, and boy was that a mistake! There were abundant amounts of stuff I liked. I went back today to assess the situation, and try on a crap load of stuff. I always feel a bit bad when I do this, because sales associates seem to get a bit excited, thinking I'm going on a shopping spree or something. Since Club Monaco's website doesn't provide pictures of everything (hurry up online shopping!) I took my old camera with me to take some fitting room photos. I apologize for the quality. The lighting was not too great, and I didn't want to draw attention to myself using the flash. I almost don't want to post them on my blog because the quality is so poor... oh well.


Oops- I forgot how to turn off the flash on this camera! Correct colours at least...


They had the cutest sleepwear- cami's and little shorts and a onesie. Unfortunately they were not flattering at all. A real shame, because on the hangers they are so cute.




I was hoping this sweater would be more like this sweater, but it just didn't do it for me. $129




I really like this hat. $69




This blouse is good in theory, but there are gathers at the cuff which make rolling the sleeves very difficult. $129


These sweatpants were cute- they even had back pockets which is always more flattering- but $80 for sweatpants I can not do.


These scarves are so cozy, and the colour (horribly represented in this photo) is a perfect olive green. Pricey at $98




Sorry this photo is a bit useless, but they are black shearling fingerless gloves. I kind of love them. Pricey at $98


This silk blouse is a winner- I love pocket blouses. $119

Some other things that caught my eye:




$148-ish I think



Can anyone out there tell me how much these things run in the USA? Our dollar is so good right now, I think a shopping trip to Seattle might be in order.

ana locking

Black, red and nude lace from Ana Locking. Yes. I even love the red panda eyes. More on Kingdom of Style.

pattern

Slub Fiame sweater from Calypso

llot llov

I'm loving these wall hooks from German designers llot llov. There are three different shapes, named Thomas (large black disk), Edison (ash wood), and Alva (white knob). Their shapes were inspired by high voltage insulators.











Thomas 129.00€

Edison 59.00€

Alva 122.00€

You might be familiar with their cozy knitted "Matt" lights? I saw them when I was in Berlin earlier this year- they are really cool! They would be the perfect under-the-covers reading light- they emit no heat.





Matt 280.00€

You can buy the knobs, lights and more on llot llov's website. I would love a set of those hooks for our entryway. I am still trying to figure out what to do with it. I am in love with the Marimekko wallpaper, but it is so expensive :( Maybe keeping the walls white will have to do.

chalk mystery solved

You remember the chalk drawing I shared from my trip to Paris? Well I figured out who did it: Philippe Baudelocque a French artist. "The animals i draw are all symbols, there is no hierarchy among them. They are the ambassadors of Mother Nature"















Found via So Long As It's Black

black closet

Mikael Beckman via a merry mishap

A black closet... seriously... I "OMG"'d in my head- I must do this... though the majority of our clothes might get lost, sucked into the black hole closet!

Update: the paint colour is actually dark green! I might love it more...

zara november

I love the leopard. Correction, I love looking at the leopard. I don't have any... yet. Zara has been so good this fall, it's almost unfair. I reeeeeally want to make a trip to Zara, but I always resist, because I know I won't be able to leave without something.

madame

I forgot I had this madame Air France magazine from our flight back in September. Just a little Isabel Marant article for you:

Parkas

Here in Vancouver it is rumored that this winter will be a cold and snowy one. To clear things up for people who might not know, the west coast of Canada has very mild winters. It rarely snows- we are more likely to have a bit of rain.

So after hearing all these forecasts, and struggling through the European deep-freeze last winter unprepared, I'm after a warm parka and some boots this year. I thought I would do a round-up of parka options.


Maje Alaska Parka


Zadig + Voltaire Kenny Parka


Rag & Bone Waterloo Parka in wool


Rag & Bone Waterloo Parka in cotton


Etoile Isabel Marant cotton Parka with fleece lining


Rachel Comey Snorkel Parka


Etoile Isabel Marant Celso Parka

I love all these parkas, but none are in my budget. I'm going to hunt my local military surplus stores for a parka, which many of these coats' designs are based off: the N3B. I will report back if I find anything good! There are always some on ebay if you don't have a surplus store near you.