Monday, June 28, 2010

Summer Chic


Saturday, June 26, 2010

Life's Surprises


As with the stretch of sidewalk in the picture, you never know where you will find love. Applies nicely to a walk in the neighborhood or browsing through a favorite store.

Wrong Way


Things should get better with age, and most good things usually do. Too bad some clothing companies are heading the other way by cutting back on the quality of their goods.

Examples from my own closet: shoes from a U.S. company where the quality of the leathers used for the soles, uppers and linings have declined, as have the quality of construction, yet the price of their shoes have gone up; and an Italian brand which made changes to their shoes to enable a lower retail price, so shoes once sold at USD 850 are now priced at USD 750, and in my eyes are not even worth USD 500 - the drop in quality being so great.

What is unsettling is that these changes have happened within the past three years, which makes me fearful of what another three years will bring. And the buttons? The left one, made of solid horn, is what you got if you requested horn buttons with your suit from a Canadian manufacturer. That was three years ago. Now you get the one on the right, made of powdered horn mixed with glue, with a surcharge added to your purchase.

Friday, June 25, 2010

The Blues



When it comes to colors, blue is a fairly safe choice. You can get any item in it, and it harmonizes well with other colors. And just because blue is prevalent, it need not be predictable. Instead, a familiar color opens the way to experimenting with different shades and patterns.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Open Auditions


Calling all dads and dads-to-be: bring glory back. Back to clothes. Back to dress. Back to you. Make it a point of honour again to "dress like a dad".

A Take on Street Style


That's "shoes", right?

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Label Bound


Some labels are just worth seeking out. You know them as being the best in cashmeres, silks, leathers, tailoring or what have you. The handkerchief maker in the picture supplies some of the best-regarded French and English houses with their's. And what does one do upon acquiring said mouchoir? Promptly cut off the label, as it shows when the handkerchief is worn.

Made-to-Order


Sandals for Her: A choice of styles and colors encompassing heel heights, and all manner of straps and adornments. Sized and made on premise, the sandals are ready to wear in less than a day, fitting included.

The Edit


I was reminded of the value of having a tight edit of clothes when I was packing for a trip. Limited closet space, never mind a roll-on suitcase, really forces one to consider which items are must-haves. So I made a list of what to bring, making sure each item was versatile and appropriate for the occassion. Needless to say, the hippopotamus did not make it this time around, but there was still plenty of room for a good time.