This just in..... The Royal Wedding

The Telegraph in the UK are speculating very highly that the designer chosen to create Kate Middleton's dress is....

The amazingly talented Sarah Mower

OMG, I so hope so. As Alexander McQueen's right hand she helped to create some of the most fantastical and beautiful clothing in the last 10 years. So you know Kate's dress will be spectacular (in the chicest, most elegant way) in this woman's hands. Something to really look forward to. Of course, everyone's keeping "mum" on this but fingers crossed !


And yes, I'm dying to know which florist will be given the phenomenal opportunity to create Kate's bouquet.

Loving fashion maverick..... Eudon Choi

Mr. Choi employs masculine cuts and reworks them to fit the female form. I think he has created a beautifully understated, modern collection.

Born in Korea, Mr. Choi  moved to London to study fashion. His clothes are now sold through the Dover Street Market (one of my favest fashion markets) and at DEBUT in NYC. Have a peekaboo.....

Grey......you are my sunshine

Well of course I LOVE the sunshine (sans humidity). That's a given. Waking up to a sunshiney morning with birdsong and the prospect of the entire day ahead of me fills me with joy.

But ya know sometimes a gal likes some broodiness. Perhaps a little coolness and dull atmosphere to face. So rather than making you get up and go, darker days make you consider, reconsider or take time out, go slow (you know the days you just want to cosy up in bed), go for long romantic walks on abandoned beaches, be serene, be contemplative.

And the colour that most speaks to me and gives me that sense of quiet, romance and contemplation is GREY. Pale greys, muddy greys, French greys, gloomy greys, deep, dark black greys. Yummy.

I should also mention I love it as a gorgeous colour/neutral for interiors. Here are some of my favourites........

The inspiration.........

An abandoned train station on the estate of Corrour Shooting Lodge in the highlands of Scotland.

The view over Loch Ossian (Corrour Estate)

The grey background frames this already gorgeous bouquet beautifully.

An antique vase adorned with the loveliest green fruit spilling out and over. Arranged by the fabulous Christian Tortu.

Old champion winner cups showing their age.

Persephone book covers.

Though I believe they no longer publish their books in this pale soft grey and cream (sigh...)

BTW...I loved this story.

Oooh, this is what I love about fall and winter.

The interiors:

I think this is beautifully styled. Suzy Hoodless designed the interior to the Corrour Shooting Lodge.

I would love to have this fire/oven in my kitchen. Wouldn't you ?

Love the shades of grey in both of the above photos. Cool and contemporary.

Elegant contemporary interior...another Suzy Hoodless.

And one of my favourite photographs by Cecil Beaton. Model in a Balmain dress with Gladiolas nearby.

Bring on the autumn Mr.Dries Van Noten

What can I say ? Dries .... understands women. His clothes are chic, sophisticated and wearable. I love him.

It's feminine without the sugar. It's just feminine ! Dries Van Noten's clothes make women feel confident.

I love this camouflage style dress. Very chic.

Just seriously pretty.

O.K. I'm thinking late afternoon lunch with the hubby in this lovely ensemble and a cab ride uptown to the gallery opening of a cherished friend's latest work. I'm going to be honest here. I think people are far too casual these days. I personally would love to see a ban on running shoes and athletic wear in public. Unless you're actually excercising.

What a smart, sexy, daytime outfit.

This is so cool. In fact I think you have to be 40 years plus to carry this off

Lovely wrap coat.

The perfect trench...in khaki green.

Can't wait for FALL....can you ?

Into the Mystic

I've always been a huge Van Morrison fan. Astral Weeks, Moondance, Tupelo Honey and Wavelength were much played albums at my place. Notice I said albums. Yikes ! I'm really starting to feel like a dinosaur. But I digress. Van Morrison is phenomenal. His music and lyrics are pure poetry. Timeless. Original.

I've also been a fan of a fabulous Canadian blues guy called Colin James who just happens to have taken on the near impossible task of singing and NAILING one of Van's classic songs......Into the Mystic.

Wow....have a listen. And it doesn't hurt that he's very easy on the eyes.

Bring on the autumn.....Part 2

I am so happy ..... the TOAST AW 2010 catalogue will be here soon.

In the meantime, the lovely, amazing people at TOAST have put together this gorgeous film giving us a glimpse into the photo shoot and the clothes. I am in TOAST heaven. This year they're off to Venice and the South Tyrol.

I am totally into the slowness of this film. It reminds me that in our high tech instant world that we have lost the ability to just be still and be in the moment. So be assured, it builds. The beginning of the film is spare and feels rather bland. But if you stick with it, the ending is hypnotic and romantic. And I can't wait to see the actual clothes.

Enjoy. It's just beautiful.



Did you love it ? Let's talk.....

Bring on the autumn.....Part 1

I'm afraid I have to admit I'm done with this summer weather. I know I'm gonna eat my words come mid January, but this is just too darn hot and humid for me. It's been relentless here in Toronto. Of course if you're lucky enough to have a lovely little cottage to retreat to....then God bless you. I can't wait for Fall.

And while the cooler weather is a big draw for me I'm also excited about the fabulous line up of clothing I've started to see in the stores and from the fashion shows. A new favourite this year is Isabel Marant. I've admired Ms. Marant's clothes from a distance. I love her extremely cool, rock and roll aesthetic. The look is definitely chic with an edge. But of course her clothes looked best on hip fashionista types.

However her Fall 2010 showed clothes that felt more grown up and I actually saw things I could imagine wearing. Have a look.

Modern with a nod to the 50's.

I love the metallic, dressy vibe of the skirt with this chicly (is that a word ?) military style shirt.

Unfortunately the trousers are a no go for me but the jacket would definitely work.

I love this top with the Japanese style sash. For me it would have to be Katherine Hepburn style palazzo pants or a lovely pair of silky ankle grazing trousers.

You know when I first saw this I simultaneously thought of Anna Wintour and Carine Roitfeld. While their personal dress styles seem so different to me somehow I can imagine both of them wearing a version of this.

Yeah, I just love this. A leetle longer and I am there !

Before I even saw this pic, I saw a dress similar to this in Aritzia (a great Canadian clothing shop) on the weekend and thought, wow! I want this dress. Now that I think of it Aritzia's fall line up seems to be channeling Isabel Marant.

A little 50's waist cinching. Love it.

All photos from www.style.com

Intoxicating scents Part II

Some of you may recall my post last Christmas about purchasing my first ever Diptyque candle, Pomander. It was utterly delicious and lasted quite a long time. I am definitely hooked.

So, I recently picked up another Diptyque candle. This time I bought Baies (berries) and again, it is super, super lovely. Incredibly subtle and sweet, the perfect scent for this time of year.

I also love the look of the candle partcularily the label's design and font. It feels positively luxurious and looks very pretty sitting on our mantle.

Wild thyme philosophy

Keep it simple, keep it imaginative and always keep it sophisticated. Very much like these flowers by Christian Tortu.

When in doubt, opt for one colour and one flower type and do it in abundance. Sixty pure white tulips make a fantastic bouquet and will always impress. This is a particularly successful formula when certain flowers are in season and are very affordable; tulips in March, lilacs in May, peonies in June, hydrangeas in July and dahlias in August.

If the choice is between a $15.00 bunch of inferior flowers or one exquisite bloom that costs $10.00 - go for the latter. The experience will be much more satisfying and luxurious.

Flowers are about the moment. They are not about four days from now. It's all about the moment you received them, the moment you impulsively bought them, the moment you gave them to someone special.

And remember that flowers are your calling card. They say so much about you and your style.

Totally digging the Vogue (US July) cover

Marion Cotillard is the beautiful woman gracing the cover. Now this is a look I understand. I love her hair, her makeup, the dress. It's all so womanly and gorgeous.

Can't wait to pick up this issue. In fact I may take out a subscription to Vogue if it continues in this mode. Love it....

Flower dislikes: "overly coiffed bouquets"

That was how one of our brides' described a look she did not want for her wedding.

A very sassy, stylish young woman she knew precisely the ambiance she wanted to create for her guests.

Our brief: Imagine an elegant, easy going affair with loose, seasonal flowers. The wedding was happening in the city so "please steer clear of that country or just picked from the garden feel". However, she requested that we work with flowers available at this time of year - delphiniums, peonies, sweet peas, wild carrot and astilbe - classic country blooms.

Our plan: To keep the look urban and chic, we opted for curvy glass vases with a slightly retro, feminine vibe to complement our soft flowers. We chose a limited yet sophisticated colour palette - gun metal grey, lavender, purple, very soft greens with hints of the palest shell pinks.

I think we succeeded. Have a look.

Would do you think ?

NYC street style meets sophisticated southern wedding style.........

And it's beautiful. Come and have a look........

This is the chicest wedding I have seen in a while. I love the bride's style and taste. Her dress is a gorgeous, ethereal creation in the softest grey by J Mendel.

Taylor Tomasi Hill, an editor at Marie Claire magazine, lives and works in NYC. However, she is a southern gal and chose to have her wedding back home in Dallas, Texas.

Her style is wonderfully eclectic; a fabulous mixture of bold and daring, classic and elegant.

A very pretty redhead who has a great way with clothes, mashing up her looks, yet always looking chic and pulled together.

Her wedding ? Divine .........

Taylor wanted to infuse a 1920's vibe to her nuptials and successfully combined romantic and modern elements .....my idea of a perfect wedding.

I love her hair....... a finger waved 1920's style, finished in a classic low chignon. The metallic clutch is by Chanel; the running shoes Superga. Taylor is known for running about town in her sneakers.

Her shoes are from Azzedine Alaia.....at the same time modern and vintage, yet totally sexy !

The bouquet: a romantic mix of peonies, freesia, lily of the valley, anemones and other deliciously sweet flowers.

The reception flowers: dreamy, tumbling bouquets of peonies, french tulips and lilacs.

A contemporary garden setting, two extra long and extra wide tables with simple flowers.

Mmmm, I would love to have been a guest at this relaxed, sophisticated celebration.

What a cake....five tiers !

A beautiful bride.

Photo credits: the wedding: martha stewart weddings; street style: refinery 29