Oh dear

So you know how you say you're going to do something, like organize a big pile of stuff, but then you just don't for a while and then eventually you stop thinking about it? Welcome to my blogging! I'm going to attempt to be more diligent....we'll see how that goes.

Some things I've been into lately:

the new Batik print dresses at Comrags


wedge heels (especially with socks)


this chair

The Essentials

I love the men.style.com '10 Essentials' feature. It gets me thinking about my own. Here they are, in no particular order.

The Pencil Skirt


Camilla and Marc 'Miranda' Skirt from net-a-porter.com

The polished answer to jeans.

Costume Jewellery


Tom Binns 'Neon Bead Necklace' from net-a-porter.com

I'm really into Tom Binns right now - his latest collection of rhinestones with neon pieces is so striking, modern and elegant.

Peppermint Tea



I have to have tea every day - I rarely drink coffee. This is my favourite first thing in the morning, or right before bed.

Andy Warhol



A constant inspiration for my notions of glamour, art and work. And his colour use was just amazing.

Roxy Music's Eponymous Debut Album



I love music; it's hard to just pick one album that encapsulates so much of what I love about it. But this album does the trick - you can dance to it, it's operatic, it's image and sound that can't live without one another.

My Hoibo 'Tuffet' Bag and Aridza Bross Tote


My Hoibo, taken from wardrobe_remix on flickr.com

Often I wish I was one of those women who could manage to put everything in a chic pocketbook, but I'm not and haven't ever really been. It's too bad, because I own a lot of amazing clutches that I insist on cramming a lot of ridiculous things into. But these two bags - one for winter, one for summer - are lovely lifesavers.

Converse Sneakers



I can wear these with anything, and I do.

Sleep



8 hours never seems like enough - I don't see any shame in sleeping a day away, because I love dreaming.

Red


Aquascutum 'Hatia' Coat from net-a-porter.com

I always thought pink was my favourite colour for a long time, but now that I look around my apartment, I realise it's really red that has my heart.

Printed Textiles


Eley Kishimoto, FW 08/09

It would be a very sad world for me if they didn't exist.

YSL LOVE

If you're in the Montreal area before September 28th, I suggest you make a trip to the Musee Des Beaux Arts for the Yves St Laurent 'LOVE' exhibition. A stunning retrospective of his work, you'll be fascinated by his many contributions to fashion (ones you may not even realise he made) and the incredible scope of his work.

The exhibition itself is very well layed out and presented beautifully - the mannequins are posed dramatically to give the viewers a heightened sense of the glamour his clothes brought to the wearer. Sketches of his work are also on display.

This was my favourite look, a wedding dress he designed in the 60s (no photos allowed in the museum):


Humorous, extravagant yet thoroughly charming - the designs of Yves St Laurent were always well-suited to the times yet modern, and exposed his boundless love for women and their wiles.

Information about the exhibition

"Unsexy" and fine by me!

While I usually agree with the delightful sniping of The Fug Girls, this article was a misguided attempt to wax poetic about something they actually don't know anything about - fashion. Sure, anyone can let it rip when it comes to dissecting an outfit and usually hit the nail on the head to some degree. But to go through a range of outfits worn by the fabulous Maggie Gyllenhaal and come up with paltry insults like "knotting a velvet toga" is just weak.

My main complaint, however, lies in the fact that in the first paragraph, they mention two other red carpet "winners" - Gwyneth and Anne - and how their chosen premier garb was perfectly suited to the occasion...BY MAKING THEM LOOK SEXY!!

It's embarrassing to hear two women go on about how Anne's parade of outfits made her look alluring to her ex-boyfriend, and that Gwyneth's minis and long legs keep her "relevant". Is this how far we've come, ladies? Maggie Gyllenhaal seems to have no interest in keeping up with these boring, bullshit spewing starlets (particularly the uninspiring "my life is so simple because I'm rich and have a team of people helping me raise my two children" Paltrow), and her sexiness should have little if nothing to do with her success on the red carpet, or otherwise.

They complain about her "red carpet schziophrenia", lamenting that while her lace "Gaultier" number (which is actually from the divinnnnne Prada F/W 09 collection - yet another example of the fact these two actually don't know what they're talking about) fit her perfectly it was too weird a choice, and her long Zac Posen gown looked too much like a bed jacket. While The Fug Girls try and hold their arguments together, there's really no substance behind them - they simply just don't understand or keep abreast of what's going on with fashion and just go by what they like or dislike. I'm sure if they had their way, Maggie would be wearing a bright, sunny cocktail dress and t-strap pumps (these outfits always seem to get a 'well played' on their popular website, gofugyourself.com).

While they may think the red carpet of a movie premier is about exacting revenge on a boyfriend (because we're all in high school, apparently) or staying relevant by nearly showing the world your crotch several times, it's should be about the actors showcasing what sets them apart from the others; in Maggie's case, it's her fearless interpretation of the current trends mixed in with some classically beautiful pieces. She doesn't have to dress like everyone else, and she doesn't. And that's why she's so amazing.

It's been a while!

So busy with work & life, haven't had much time to devote to urbanwhims. Look for the relaunch on August 1st!

xo

Colour-fall (Wunderkind & Sonia Rykiel)

A Moment To Covet...

I've been really slacking here lately...work is so busy...I will definitely be up and running in the next two weeks! And there will be a lot of street style picks!
In the meantime, let's all enjoy these Marc Jacobs colour blocked pumps, shall we?


photo from net-a-porter.com