Deep Dive

I am finding with extra time at home I am becoming more of a shopping sleuth. I have shopped on Amazon forever, but never really for 'fashion'.  I decided to do a deep dive and see what I could find in the way of a few fall updates. The thing I am liking about this exercise is I feel like I am on a treasure hunt. Or poking around a flea market. I like the art of the search. I'll be sharing my finds here from time to time. 

First up is this sweatshirt from The Drop. These items come and go so if you like it, go for it. I like it so much I am going to snag a black one before they are gone. It also comes in a dusty pink. 

 sweatshirt 

IN THE INTEREST OF SEEKING BEAUTY

Gifts for Valentines Day. A day of love. Lets celebrate that.

As you know by now if you receive this blog from time to time in your inbox that I get inspired to write a little something when India Hicks launches a new collection. This one is fresh and fly. Just like the lady on the motorbike. 

The Duke

Spring 17 brings some wonderful new jewelry pieces, fabulous bags, a few new and lovely faces in the catalog, and some favorites that are worth mentioning. All in all something for everyone at every price point.  Everything is linked below to my IH Ambassador site for easy shopping. 

The Royal Navy Duchess (shown with the Good Luck Beetle Indi Pendant / ring sold separately)

The Solitaire Taupe / The Big Zipper Taupe  / In the Loop necklace

Clockwise from top left:
The Crown Jewels jewelry case and Shuffle and Deal wallet / Leticia bracelet, ring, Pyramid Stud earrings / Pomander Ball necklace  / The Crown Jewels jewelry case with Casino Cuff and Baccarat Earrings / Hexagon House necklace / Double Shot bracelet and Gypsy Dancer Earrings / Pomander Ball necklace

Clockwise from Left: Pomander Ball  / Komboloi beads / Double O necklace and Heritage scarf

And look at these sweet gifts below, complete with hearts and big fat red ribbons just for Valentines Day.

Clockwise from left: Mamacita Indi Token  / Serious Affair Gift Box / English Rose Eau de Parfum  and Double Decker Red Insider and Heritage Scarf / Serious Affair Gift Box

Make yourself a wish list and send this post to your Valentine. Buy yourself something sweet. Give a gift to someone you love. Love wins. 

PLEASE NOTE SHIPPING DATES:

order dates are as follows, all before 2pm EST: 

Feb 2nd: Standard Shipping

Feb 5th : 5 day Expedited Shipping 

Feb. 10th: 2 Day Shipping

HAPPY (NORDSTROM) ANNIVERSARY

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale comes to a close August 2.  I must admit when the sale starts in July and I am firmly planted in summer, it takes a while for my gears to shift to fall. But once they shift they are in high gear. I cannot wait for fall.

Take advantage of these last few days of the sale. My advice? Go for the bigger ticket items. A coat. Or a favorite pair of boots. Or a new pair of jeans.

Here are my Nordstrom sale picks to get the most bang for your buck:

Picture any of these items mixed with each other and they all work. put the plaid coat with the leather jeans and ankle bootie.  Put the leather jacket with the boyfriend jeans and wedge booties.  And so on and so on... 

Its how I roll. I can promise you it makes life a lot easier in the morning. 

SHOP COATS:

Smythe faux fur coat  |  Kenneth Cole plaid coat  |  Trouve leather coat

SHOP JEANS: 

AG 'the Stilt' jeans  |  Blank NYC faux leather jeans   |  Rag & Bone boyfriend jeans

SHOP BOOTS:

Stuart Weitzman wedge bootie  |  Frye tall boot   |  Paul Green ankle bootie

10 THINGS

Lately I've been imagining what my answer would be if someone asked me the age old magazine question: "what 10 things can't you live without?"

Its fun to think about. What are your signatures that if not in your world you would be lost without?  I mean not really lost but you know, you would miss a lot.  

Take a white sofa for example. From my early days starting out  in LA with no money I have had a white sofa. I bought a cheap sofa somewhere on a street corner on La Cienega and a bolt of white denim fabric and had slipcovers made. I've used painters drop sheets, sheets, I've done it all. How fitting then, a store named Canvas Interiors filled with white sofas should be a part of my life now. 

Here are my '10 things'.  Some are big, some are small.  But they all tug on my heartstrings and hold a special place in my world. Yes, my car tugs on my heartstrings.  Call me crazy but she has a name.

Find these 10 things here: 

One by Pink Stitch dress

White slipcovered sofa (from Canvas Interiors of course)

TOMS navy classics

Clinique Long Last Lip Gloss

The perfect light wash boyfriend jean

The perfect white tee

Panama straw hat

photography on my walls

My car. Her name is Pearl. I love her. 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

TODAY ITS GREY

Its all about grey for me when it comes to feeling cozy and warm.  Here are some current loves:

FIND IT:

cozy coat  (on sale!) //  the perfect polish  //  just the right layer   (25% off thru Oct 31st!)  //  Hunter Boots  //  delicious tote

UH-OH: SHOPBOP SALE

It is no secret that I love Shopbop. It really is my first stop when looking for the things I have been obsessing about in my last few posts.  This happens to me twice a year (slight obsession with a few key pieces), once in Spring and once in Fall. A few little wardrobe tweaks, an investment or two (last years Stuart Weitzman 50/50's  being my all time fav) and I'm ready for a new season.

Its a good time to check out the things I've been blogging about...take a peek! Click the image to get shopping.



Or start with a few of my recent picks here:

BACK TO SCHOOL

In high school the words 'back to school' were not that exciting in the fashion department for me. Those words meant getting new black Oxford shoes and making sure my kilt didn't still have staples in the hem from the year prior when I was trying to make it shorter. Did my hunter green knee socks still have enough elastic in them to get me through another year? Where was that damn plaid tie anyways?  

So today I decided to dress my adult self for 'back to school' as if I had all the choice in the world. Here is what I would have worn to school today if it was my first day back. 

I would start with a basic skinny jean and the ever classic Frye boot.

Add an army jacket, cheeky tee (because it is my grown up self going back to school after all) and a fab tote. The best part of your adult self indulging back to school shopping urges? No homework. 

shop:  boots  || jeans  ||  army jacket  ||  tee  ||  tote 

STRIPES

Well, it happened. The first fashion 'Fall preview' email has hit my in-box. While I love fall clothes and boots and such, I am still basking in the delights of summer dressing.  The furthest I will go into fall thinking right now is a style staple of mine... the Breton Tee. I got my first one in Toronto in high school at "Tom Tailor" and have had one in rotation ever since. 

I will have one or two freshies on hand for those surprisingly cool fall days but other than that... fall... you can wait. I have a few new floaty summer maxi dresses I still haven't worn yet. 

Chunky or thin stripes, blue on white, black and white, I love them all.  My ideal? Not too thick, super soft and a bit long in the tail.  

Here are my favorite picks for you, from the ever-classic LL Bean to my all time favorite St. James for J. Crew.

 L to R:  LL Bean // Edith A. Miller // Petite Bateau

 L to R:  St. James for J. Crew // Aritzia // Splendid

lifestyle images: tumblr-land

VARIOUS AND SUNDRY

I have had a slight obsession with the Sundry clothing since I blogged about them last summer.  I adore, love, covet their pieces. I have one summer staple that is about to shred... a little white dress skirt coverup that I reach for before all other beachy items...sadly I can't find it in this summer's collection. So I treat it nicely, wash it gently and hope to get through this summer with it.

 a rare appearance by me on my blog, image L: Babs Langdon // image R: John Washburn while we were on a '3 hour tour'

I love the look and feel of this brand, the sunny carefree attitude of the styles. Companies like this inspire me to create a pure, unfiltered presentation of our 'Canvas' brand. The blog and the store all have the same philosophy. Keep it simple, be true to yourself and your style.  If you start with a simple canvas, you can create a life of style. Sundry pieces work into that equation for me. 

Here are some of my favorite Sundry pieces:

L to R:  palm trees tank  // jumper  // striped tank  // sunset tank

L to R:  heart tank  //  La Vie tee  // hibiscus tee  //  Embroidery shirt

Happy, casual, carefree. Works for me. 

Sundry clothing co.

HARBOUR ISLAND: CHAPTER 2 THE SUGAR MILL AND TALENTED FRIENDS

My favorite stop when we arrive to Harbour Island is The Sugar Mill. Of all the places on the island I savor this place the most. India Hicks and Linda Griffin own and curate this treasure chest of a store. 

There is always a new mix of merchandise, never a dull moment visually. It is a happy place, made more so by the sweet staff and cheeky accessories. Delicate India Hicks jewelry rests beside skull and crossbones towels. It all just works. Their eye for merchandising never disappoints, in fact, always entertains. An eclectic mix, a clean cool edit. Elegant and island-perfect clothing hangs next to India's new bedding line - makes you want to put on a floaty caftan and recline in bed on cool sheets.

I always say the same thing when I write about The Sugar Mill. It inspires me and makes me stop and look at every little thing. There is spirit of creativity and inspiration that runs through the threads of our time on this island. It then becomes more than just a vacation, it becomes part of our journey.

In that spirit I am also sharing photography (lifestyle images above) by Brittan Goetz who has shot India and her family numerous times. Brittan's work is lovely and captures the The Sugar Mill perfectly. Her visual sensibility is simple and clean. I must thank India for putting us together and knowing we would get each other's visual language. Please take a moment to look at Brittan's site it is lovely.

The most special moment of the trip was the beautiful 90 year old woman sitting in a chair under the shade of a tree who spoke to Mr. K and Small K. She handed them a water bottle filled with pink sand and said "take this home and tell your friends about Harbour Island".

So there you have it friends. I did what the beautiful lady asked. The beauty of this island fills my heart.  

lifestyle images: Brittan Goetz
product images: indiahicks.com
the sugar mill facebook page
read more about The Sugar Mill in this canvasstyle interview with Linda Griffin

ps: there is a sale going on now at indiahicks.com

HI-LOW

Ok confession time. I had two credits burning a hole in my wallet. One for H & M and one for Forever 21.  I pop in to each store from time to time and if they 'speak to me' I listen. Most often I leave empty handed and swing back through another time. Yesterday both stores 'spoke to me'.  

Here is what I picked up:

From H & M

l to r: maxi dress   //  knee length black dress

From Forever 21:

cargo pant // necklace // striped maxi

I was pressed for time which is never ideal in either of these stores. You kind of have to Zen out and be ready to browse.  There are a few more things that caught my eye that will more than likely make their way into my closet soon. Mix and match with your 'high' pieces for a look that is your own. 

SLIGHTLY OBESSED: LEMLEM

I have been watching lemlem since its inception in 2007. Today it is a full blown brand with a clear vision and I think I could perhaps live in lemlem pieces all summer long. Which is a long time where I live. 

Handmade in Ethiopia from natural cotton, these pieces not only look effortlessly cool but are preserving the local art of weaving and bringing economic stability to Liya's native country. You can read more about the vision and achievements of the company here.

images: lemlem

Here are a few of my favs...

l to r - jumpsuit // scarf // patio dress (my all time fav)

INSPIRE // DESIRE: THE COAT

Pendulum swing from the warm sun of Harbour Island. Lets talk about coats. 

images found: top // bottom l to r 1 /2 /3/ 4

For someone who prefers living in a warm climate and is freezing when the temps drop below 70, I have a slight obsession with coats.  I grew up in Toronto, where the freezing cold winter was a way of life and coats were the comfort, the staple. But they had to be cool. Big requirement by the time I got to high school.

This image above took me back to the winters when I borrowed a tweed car coat of my Dads and wore to school every day with my uniform (kilt, tie the whole shebang), black oxfords and felt very 80's new wave cool. The coat came down well below my knees and engulfed me and I loved it. Walking through the streets of downtown Toronto going out for coffee with my friends after school in cool downtown coffee shops (The Fiesta cafe anyone?) that coat was my favorite.

Here are some images to

INSPIRE

DESIRE:

CYBER MONDAY

If I were shopping today here is where I would go...

1. Emerson Fry

2. Club Monaco

3. Anthropologie

A little something for everyone on your list (including you perhaps?)

Here is a head start for you... 

a few things from each of these stores 

I have my eye on that EF silver skirt and at 20% off its a great addition to my holiday look - skirt and cozy sweater and boots. Although the Gatsby Anthro dress just might convince me to put a dress on. 

BLACK FRIDAY SALES

I put a little wish list together... for me. Yup. My wish list. It sort of turned into this as I was thinking about where you might like to shop today and I realized, this is of course also where I would like to shop...so then I really dialed in on the things I've had my eye on. I hope you find a few things to add to your wish list.  

If you are shopping for others (I commend you) you can also find more shopping lists to the right in my sidebar.

clockwise from top left: 

(all these retailers are having major black friday sales... just dive in and don't forget to use the codes!)

I am kind of over the whole fancy party dress thing.  I like this one with tights and an a wedge ankle boot or a little sassy pair of heels.

I am slightly obsessed with these Karen Walker sunnies. 

Bien. Good.  Life is good. A little reminder to be thankful for the good stuff. 

I thought I was done with ankle boots but this one with its $261  $151.99 price is calling my name. The aptly named Need Supply Co. is one of my favorites. 

I have ordered, tried on, sent back, searched hard for an over the knee boot that is perfect.  Lots of tries later I am reporting back that really, this one is the only one that makes the cut in my book.

I am a collector of sweaters exactly like this one. Slouchy, cashmere, light but warm. Throw it on with skinnies and your new over the knee boots... insta-comfy.

Happy shopping!

HIP'TIQUE

This summer I joined the dynamic Firestone sisters on their first retreat.  I met a wonderful group of talented, ambitious, smart, kind and funny women. One of whom is Christine Berardi, owner of hip'tique in Santa Monica. It was a pleasure getting to know her and I am inspired by her creativity and drive.  

Her new idea? Add a men's boutique to the hip'tique mix. She has fabulous taste, loves to get her hands dirty and build stuff, and had a party this past weekend to celebrate the opening of the Man Cave. Wish I could have been there!  The store looks amazing and I love this idea.  

Check out the hip'tique site - its shopable and a very well curated shopping list!

CHELSEA BOOTS

I've done Moto, high heeled bootie, and flat bootie.  The last look required for my closet this fall is actually the most obvious for my style... the Chelsea.  I have a pair from forever ago that are so worn in the heels that I can't dust them off this season. I've tried to have them fixed and the shoe guy in SF told me not to bother - that it would be too expensive and I might as well buy a new pair.  Oh, ok no problem.  Thanks shoe guy for justifying my need for just... one... more.. pair... of... boots.

image found: here

to the point

I am loving pointy toe flats. Dainty with a little edge all at the same time. While the ballet flat is soft and demure and has its place, put on a pointy toe flat and it gives just the right amount of edge.  It is a look I will be throwing on with jeans on a daily basis.  Add an ankle strap and I'm sold.

...and of course if you really want to splurge, Jenni Kayne is the way to go but I must say Chinese Laundry got it right with #3.

1. black cap toe  //  2. in my closet, road tested and love  // 3.  in my closet, road tested and love 

4.  d'Orsay splurge version  //  5. ankle strap flats

Happy Monday and happy shopping! 

the apartment Copenhagen

Copenhagen is one of my favorite cities.  Each time we are there (Mr. K family roots) I walk for hours looking at the beauty that is this city.  I wish I could transport myself there immediately to check this store out.  The Apartment is housed in an 18th century apartment in the heart of Copenhagen and staged with antique rugs, a well curated art collection, vintage furniture and other treasures.

I have had this idea tucked in the back of my mind for Canvas Interiors. In my minds eye I see a lovely beach house/store somewhere fabulous (Malibu? Santa Barbara? Bahamas?) It is inspiring ( I use that word a lot don't I?) to see it done so beautifully and so well curated. 

Dream big I say. 

Read more about the Apartment and its founder Tina Seidenfaden Busck

here

the Apartment website here

all images: the Apartment