What’s with all the furry feat? A pair of alpaca slippers like the ones I bought at the Buck Brook Farm in the Catskills, peut être –– but mink lined sandals, mais non. Holts has dedicated a whole window to the trend; five pairs from five major designers. I’d rather see a window of velvet shoes. Paul Andrew slippers, Aquazzura pumps, Prada mules –– yes, that’s a trend I can step into.
I’ve admired the work of Hope and Lily Stockman for some time now. The California-based sisters run a textile company called Block Shop that creates stunning fabrics while providing gainful employment to a community of printers, dyers, carvers and weavers in Rajasthan. The designs are theirs –– they draw inspiration from life in both Los Angeles and Jaipur –– and everything is made by hand in India. Bock Shop donates five per cent of its profits to community healthcare initiatives. I like these bold prints a lot, and I think most meals would look better on a dolly runner. Have a look at the images in their gallery –– it’s all very inspiring.
I love weddings; I love seeing how a couple’s style is reflected in their choice of outfits, music and cake. This summer, culinary artist, Leila Gohar married her magazine publisher love, Omar Sosa in the magical region of Andalusia. There were many dresses, including a dreamy Simone Rocha, a magnificent donkey ride, (complete with red fan and white lace parasol) fig tart (in place of wedding cake) and a beautiful dinner in a bull ring. One for the books. Olé!
Swimming pool, Cypress trees, yellow stripes — sign me up. I’ve never been to the famous Il Pellicano, but this scene looks pretty divine. All she’s missing is an audaciously big sun hat and a glass of Campari.
In terms of jewellery design, few things are as timeless as a pair of yellow gold hoops. These here are from 6th Century Greece, but they’re no less modern than the hoops we see today. My daughter (with freshly pierced ears) is determined to wear hoops. Something tiny and delicate from Catbird is as close as she’s going to get. She has a lifetime of hoops ahead, let’s start small.
I bought a terrific bathing suit from Shan today that makes me look like I’ve stepped off the pages of a 1930s Brighton beach catalogue. It’s a red and white stripe, like the beach tents, with a retro style derrière that’s both flattering and comfy. It’s the ultimate cozzie. Now, I just need a beach party to go to.
Every now and then I come across a line that I could wear in its entirety. Dosa is one such label. From effortless silk pants to romantic gauzy tops to charming alpaca cardis, there isn’t a single item I don’t like. Just look at the puffed sleeves on this top; don’t they look like macaron! And this cashmere shawl goes everywhere, and with everything. It was my Mum who sent me the line earlier this week. She knows me well.
I’ve walked and danced and jogged in French Sole ballerinas since my late teens, but these days, my body is asking for greater support than a flat-as-a-pancake shoe. Is it time for Belgian Shoes? I know they’re a bit mumsy (I picture chic middle aged European women wearing them to the supermarché) but I’m kind of in love with the midinette tri colour in flamingo pink. “Please advise type of stockings you intend to wear (light, heavy, none, etc.). You may also include an out-line of your bare foot. Be sure to be standing and hold the pencil straight upright when tracing your foot.” Now, that’s a level a detail I appreciate. Hopefully, my back will, too.
Of all my friend’s wardrobes, it’s Stephanie’s that I most enjoy delving into. Our styles are similar — we both love vibrant colour and bold prints — and we’re not afraid of mixing things up. Over the years, (we’ve been the best of friends since our mid-teens) I’ve taken many a style cue from her. I’ve also borrowed some of the most gorgeous things from her closet: a Schiaparelli pink vintage silk jacket, extravagant hats, and last week, a beautiful silk dress covered in red blossoms. As she’s in New York and I’m in Toronto, we decided it would be fun to send each other an item of clothing from our wardrobes every few months that we love but rarely wear. I sent her a Dries Van Noten halter top in a gorgeous print that she wore out with black and white silk pants and neon floral flats. I love this little clothing swap of ours — it’s so exciting, and reminds me of our teen years when we scoured vintage shops and markets together and swapped frocks and tops all the time. Plus, who doesn’t love recieving surprise packages on a Tuesday afternoon?
As much I enjoy frills and bold prints, I prefer my swimwear to be ultra simple and athletic. It’s why I appreciate brands like Eres. Matteau is another brand I like. The suits are made in Australia and designed for comfort, ease and flexibility. This season is a fairly neutral, earthy palette and there’s a style, shape for every body. I like the square crop top with matching brief in the beautiful marigold, and the cross back maillot in terracotta would travel well between downtown pools and the lakes of Muskoka.
All rights reserved © La Parachute · Theme by Blogmilk + Coded by Brandi Bernoskie