Arielle De Pinto

"Canadian designer Arielle de Pinto’s fine hand-crocheted jewelry is both raw and voluptuous, transforming elemental silver and vermeil into intricate weaves. De Pinto’s tactile sensuality combined with attention to pattern, weight, and texture creates pieces that are simple to wear, exuding luster and spontaneity."

- Such a perfect description of her amazing pieces, quote taken from her bio

Flickr

from flickr: first; second; third

Pumps and Platforms

My shoe dream team: Delman Beryl pumps; BCBGirls Tosca oxford pumps; Barneys NY co-op heels; TopShop platforms; MiuMiu bootie; Coccinelle pumps

Herbert

Herbert has asked for fans to help him out by volunteering to sing on his next album. To be considered, he requested an email with "I'LL SING FOR MY DINNER" in the subject line. I hope R. gets chosen!

Blue Bell Bazaar

Just when I'm missing my favourite holiday pass time of browsing antique markets and vintage boutiques, I find an ad link to the wonderfully curated etsy shop, Blue Bell Bazaar, via Bloesem. The selection is lovely, but shopping for antiques online does lack a bit of the fun of hunting through downtown warehouses and browsing shop front displays with rosy red cheeks, holiday latte in-hand, and gift list in-pocket.

Simply Breakfast

Some favourite photos from Simply Breakfast are definitely inspiring and appetizing enough to make me want to take an early morning walk to the bakery. The accompanying book would be a perfect Christmas gift for someone who enjoys the simple things in life.

Gifts for Men

crest necklace; computer bag; Piet Houtenbos grenade oil lamps; Lanvin cardigan; 2K "L'art pour l'art" t shirt

Whitney Port

My guilty tv pleasure is definitely the Hills. While I could really care less about any of the pseudo plot that goes on throughout the episodes, the only thing that keeps me tuned in is the chance to catch the lovable Teen Vogue intern Whitney on screen and to see what kind of cute outfit she's wearing, and ridiculous advice or faces she's making. I would love an MTV-Teen Vogue spin-off starring Whitney and NYC intern, Emily! (photos from lc online)

Design Inc.

Being without HGTV while season 4 of Toronto designer Sarah Richardson's tv series Design Inc. is well under way, I really couldn't help but take sneak peeks of some of the episode photos online. I hope to catch up pvr-style when visiting friends for the holidays because I noticed that Jessica (my favourite co-designer!) is no longer part of the team, and I feel so out of the loop.

Smythe les Vestes

Smythe les Vestes is a Canadian line of perfectly tailored menswear-inspired pieces. The navy blazer and vest combination in the first photo is just killing me right now.. I'm so in love with it.

Chloé by Chloé

I'm intrigued by the new Chloé fragrance that will be released this coming spring. The bottle design is beautiful - an absolutely perfect compliment to the Chloé aesthetic. If that alone is any indication of the scent, it is exciting to think of the possibilities.

Saint Germain

The Saint Germain Collection by Ralph Lauren: "Rustic and refined gracefully intertwined to fashion a chic, picturesque retreat, featuring European provincial furniture, industrial elements and weathered rough-hewn materials."

Ralph Lauren Paint

The first photo is a Ralph Lauren Paint advertisement that was spread across the first two inside pages of the latest Domino magazine, where I fell in love with it instantly.. The RL website provided a wealth of additional photos to fawn over.

Kara Walker

"The artist is best known for exploring the raw intersection of race, gender, and sexuality through her iconic, silhouetted figures. Walker unleashes the traditionally proper Victorian medium of the silhouette directly onto the walls of the gallery, creating a theatrical space in which her unruly cut-paper characters fornicate and inflict violence on one another... When the viewer walks into the installation, his or her body casts a shadow onto the walls where it mingles with Walker’s black-paper figures and landscapes. With one foot in the historical realism of slavery and the other in the fantastical space of the romance novel, Walker’s nightmarish fictions simultaneously seduce and implicate the audience." (Taken from Art21: Kara Walker)

After recently digesting Toni Morrison's masterpiece Beloved, and reading up on Frederick Douglass and Maria Stewart, Kara Walker's installations are momentously inspiring.

Superstore

At a variety of Loblaws Inc. supermarkets across Canada, such as Superstore and Zehrs, grocery shoppers can browse Joe Fresh clothing, a line of smart, affordable clothing designed by Joe Mimram, of Club Monaco fame. The range has recently expanded from its first inception to now include children's clothing, a wonderful fitness section (much more impressive pieces can be found in-store compared to the selection featured online), a brand new hosiery and undergarment line, and a wonderful selection of accessories.

Funny Games

Very much looking forward to Haneke's Hollywood remake of Funny Games that will be released in February 2008. Despite reports of it being an almost verbatim, scene-for-scene replica of the 1997 Austrian original, I'm excited for its American release, where it may be most pertinent, and to see Watts act under Haneke's direction. View trailer here.

Long Bangs

Stockholm girls giving me reason to keep on growing out my bangs. It can get tedious, but the different messy textures you can achieve by pulling your bangs back and pinning them to the side just the right way, or the sleek simplicity of ballerina-style buns can really make it all worth it.

German Gratin

We made an amazing Apple, Potato and Onion Gratin for dinner the other night. The recipe was found at epicurious and was slightly altered according to the recipe reviewers' suggestions of lessening the amounts of butter and salt, and substituting vermouth for white wine, since it's all we had on hand in our kitchen. The caramelized onions, baked apples and potato slices covered with the thyme and butter glaze were so perfectly seasonal and simple. The dish definitely had an old-world Germanic flavour and suited a sprinkling of sauerkraut.. but I'd imagine the flavour combination might not be for everyone.

Parkas

One of my favourite winter wardrobe staples is definitely the parka. Especially when it's left open like the above Sartorialist and Dans Paris street style photos and set atop a heavily layered outfit of tights, a pretty skirt, blouse, cardigan, scarf, and heels or boots. Parka photos above: Via Spiga and Andrew Mark parkas.

Winter Home

Mid-November is when I get antsy for Christmas tree decorating, and egg nog lattes, but without snow on the ground it all feels much too soon. Tricking myself into starting some "winter-inspired decorating" and making the apartment look and feel like a rustic après-ski lodge does wonders to tide me over before December first. (Antlers from Vivre).

Sybarite UK Ltd.

"Sybarite is an architectural and design practice that aims to tease all of the human senses and to sculpt architecture into the living environment in which it exists, whilst retaining complete functionality. The practice draws its passion and inspiration from organic forms in nature as well as technologies transferred from other industries. Striking a balance between actual projects and experimental projects is crucial to enable them to remain at the top of their game."

Continuing with the Marni love, the above photos are of Marni stores designed by Sybarite UK Ltd.

Marni

Marni has always been a favourite, and I am constantly dumbfounded by the way they continue to eclectically enmesh both a feeling of technological futurism, and a naturalistic primitivity in their pieces by using patent leather and pvc alongside feathers and wooden beads. While always completely out of my budget, I'll continue to hope H&M might one day invite Consuela Castiglioni as a featured in-store designer.. I'd definitely be waiting impatiently in a fan-girl frenzied lineup outside the store on opening day.

Textile Panels

Beautiful textile panels by Ruth Singer. The silky gathered fabrics and textured patterns remind me of messy luxury linens on an unkempt bed, details by Marni, or some kind of microcosmic wonderland found during a biology lab. I think theses pieces would look perfect in a softly-lit bedroom.

Augustine

A combination of lovely, simple clothing and perfect props via Augustine.

Grey Homewares

Inspired by the feeling of not knowing the last time I've seen the sun shine.. grey homewares: ornate flatware, a pebble rug, and smokey modern glasses.

Robyn Glaser

Pretty debris. Stylist and Designer Robyn Glaser's portfolio is what daydreams are made of.

Latex and PVC

I do remember my hesitation at my husband's announcement of the advent of the platform burlesque heel becoming a fashion mainstay quite a few years ago.. Now with a few pairs of 5" and higher heels in our shoe closet, and a lot more imagination later, I am fascinated by the s & m influence in fashion right now. PVC and latex leggings have been prominent on the fall runways with Karl Lagerfeld in 2006, with the Olsen twins' label The Row, and more recently on Hussein Chalayan's and Belstaff's Fall 2007 RTW runways (photos above). I was also recently especially impressed by Kingdom of Style's personal, real-life take on the pvc/latex leggings. Affordable interpretations of the trend are available from American Apparel, Kova & T, and a sequined version is available from Alice & Olivia.

Perfect Plaid

This photo from The Sartorialist's blog stood out as an all-time inspirational favourite. I am in love with that hint of plaid, the shiny leather booties, and am dying over that collegiate-style navy blazer.. love it from head to toe.

Natalia Brilli

Natalia Brilli's jewelery pieces are original metal badges, or original pearl necklaces, all enveloped in white, black, and forest green leather making for sumptuously regal accessories that fit right in with this season's military-inspired coats, and private school-esque outfits.

Ilse Crawford

Elle Decor's Ilse Crawford's "modern and emotional" design looks lived-in, smart, and constantly inspiring. The "coming soon" projects listed on her website look like wondrously adventurous and exciting endeavours that I'll anxiously anticipate living vicariously though.

Walter Potter

A selection of 19th century taxidermist Walter Potter's anthropomorphic dioramas from the former Sussex, England museum that was aptly named, "Mr. Potter’s Museum of Curiosities". Perfectly Victorian, these dark, slightly creepy installations radiate a sense of preciousness and morbidity simultaneously. Michelle Henning's article "Anthropomorphic taxidermy and the death of nature: the curious art of Hermann Ploucquet, Walter Potter, and Charles Waterton" in Victorian Literature and Culture (2007) 35, 663-678, sheds some light on the complexities of a contemporary acceptance of taxidermy.

Eyewear

Some optical inspiration in the form of sultry cat-eye frames. The slightly dishevelled hair and preppy embellished styling is pretty cute, but while I'm in the market for new frames, these would probably make even more strangers tell me how much I resemble Lisa Loeb. (photos via Annie Horth fashion and wardrobe styling)