A penchant for ponchos

Ponchos this season: skip the cardi and add this to your jeans outfit. What’s more fun than wearing a cape? Not much. Vintage South American embroidered poncho, $25 at Brown Loves Black

Do you have what some of us might call a penchant for ponchos?

If not, try one. There’s something very spring/cool summer nights about wearing a poncho. Not to mention changing things up from the lame dame cardi. (Hey- even I’m a cardi fan but isn’t it time we switched things up around here?)

Vintage ponchos are the best since they add the legit boho flair that comes with the territory of jeans and casual outfits. Ponchos look best when paired with denim anything- skirts, jeans, long dresses- but you can also do well with any of this season’s skinny ankle-length pants.

And as if you need any convincing, ponchos have fringes, and often pom-poms. Now you really really want one.

Red vintage Ecuador poncho, $47 at Miso Vintage

Vintage ’70s cream fringed poncho, $21 on sale at Old Faithful Vintage

Striped vintage poncho with cinching waist, $54 at Aliya and Lucas

All images courtesy of featured sellers.

Happy Victoria Day long weekend

It’s stripes for me in black fly Ontario on this Victoria Day long weekend.

Ah, cottage season!

Everyone loves a feature

Here I am with my friend Amy at the Carlu’s 10th anniversary gala last Friday in Toronto. Thank you fashionecstasy.com for the photo!

Friends, I went out to Toronto’s most decadent, glamorous and downright scintillating party on a lovely spring Friday with my friend Amy.

And we were snapped on camera and voilà, appearing on sites here and there.

The Carlu celebrated its 10th anniversary and my lovely marketing success friend Amy was invited to toast the night. I was her date, and nothing was spared. Aptly named, Decadent, this party was intense luxury. We’re talking about a red carpet stretching out to our cab’s door when we pulled up. And a million attendants to make sure you have a perfect entrance, and what a ball it was. Cocktails, crystal balls, live music in two of the rooms, beautiful lighting shows and mood, finger foods and a beautiful lit wall of risotto teasers. Grills and fresh delicacies. Bubbly. It was incredible.

And so we pulled out all the stops: Amy wore a fun dancing skirted-50′s style print dress with patent strappy burgundy heels. It was fun! I wore a 70′s hot pink full-length V-shaped dress with matching chiffon cape embroidered in light blue, matching vintage starburst light blue earrings and the brooch tied at the nape. The bracelet was also on duty. It was very fun. I loved wearing the outfit. Staple silver clutch, gold platform sling-backs. Game over.

We had the most spectacularly beautiful evening- it was non-stop dancing, swirls of Lalique fountain drops and joy.

Thank you Amy for a fantastic night!
J

Photoshoot: Kate Upton for Vogue US

Kate Upton graces the cover of Vogue US

The shoot: Vogue US cover and editorial.

The model: Kate upton.

The set: An American countryside estate with sumptuous contemporary chic furnishings.

The stylist: Tonne Goodman.

The photographer: Mario Testino.

The final word: Kate Upton is a model – not an actress. This is an important detail in an industry that has shifted away from booking professional models for covers in preference of film celebrities, pop culture personalities, and socialites. Oh and Michelle O.

Covers are where it’s at. You don’t need to see The September Issue to know that it’s all about the cover (but you should, it’s a great film) and that it better fly off the shelves or else. Real estate on the rack and page being what it is, the star-power of a well-known celebrity combined with a new film’s promotional craze churns out some very well-timed profitable covers.

Which is why when Vogue US books a model for a June 2013 cover – the first model-booked cover since Kate Moss’ September 2011 showing – we sit up and take note: a supermodel is born. Okay, not in the 90′s supermodel sense of the word, but in an era of fierce competition, Kate Upton for the win.

And the gal delivers: pages within continue to treat us to the delights of her curves, her easy American style and that sexy charm channeled by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Guess models. Thankfully for Upton, she’s had a very good past two years landing all sorts of pages, such as covers with GQ, and British and Italian Vogue, and she knows how to work a range of looks. And Americana works damn fine.

More images from the shoot below.

All images courtesy of Vogue.com.

Spring Trend: Black & White Floral

Floral denim has been around for, what, a year now? And the trend just keeps on blooming! (Ha – sorry, I just had to do it.) Floral denim, for example, gained interest last spring and continues to remain on people’s wish lists (the trend didn’t actually go away during the winter months, did it?).

What has particularly caught my eye with all these floral pants floating around is the black and white palette. (Surprised? I’m getting so predictable, aren’t I?)

Stella McCartney Floral Skinny Jeans, $530, via Matches

AG Adriano Goldschmied floral pants, $125.47, via Revolve Clothing

floral denim, $42.60, via Ann Taylor

And here are my stems enjoying the outdoors…

Jordana’s black and white floral denim

Images via Ann Taylor, Matches, Revolve Clothing.

Looking into the past

From the Looking into the past photo series: Union Square, Washington, DC., original photo from the Library of Congress, modern photo by Jason E Powell

This morning I ran across a wonderful photo project known as Looking into the past by photographers around the world.  In the series we see archival photos superimposed on the same urban spaces – today.

Take a look at a few of my faves, and check out more here:

Caption to the original photo:
“Rep. T.S. McMillan of Charleston, S.C. with flappers, Miss Ruth Bennett and Miss Sylvia Clavins, who are doing the Charleston on railing, with U.S. Capitol in background.” HA!! Modern photo by Jason E Powell

Pictured here: Miss Atlantic City, Miss Philadelphia and Miss Washington, DC (Margaret Gorman – the first Miss America) gather in front of Union Station in Washington, DC. Original photo taken in 1921. On location photo by Jason E Powell

This is now the Paca House & Garden.
Original image taken in 1920, courtesy of the Library of Congress. Modern photo by Jason E Powell

No caption provided. Modern photo by Jay Diaz

“Dakin and Sheridan in Lakeview, Chicago. May 29, 2009, some fifty years after the inset photo was taken. Pictured are left-to-right my father, grandfather, and uncle. That corner has housed a pharmacy, a porn shop, a coffee house, and a taqueria, among other things.” Photo by Chris Gansen.

Most likely pointing to the site of the Library-Learning Center (renamed the David A. Cofrin Library in fall 1990). Photo by UWGB Admissions

Mrs. J.R. Band walks her rabbit in Thomas Circle, Washington, DC in 1911.
On location photo by Jason E Powell

Just a beautiful 1945 summer day in Washington. Modern photo by Jason E Powell

“Manly beach, photographed today (13 December 2010) and around 1940. The right hand figure in the small picture is my father, who would have been in his late twenties at the time.” Photo by Laurie Wilson

All images courtesy of the Looking into the past project.

P.S. Jason E Powell’s photos are available for purchase at his Etsy store.

Vintage Scarves

I have been enjoying Johanne’s posts featuring vintage fashion. Like Johanne, I am a fan of vintage and surround myself with vintage treasures in home and fashion. Like many readers and friends I regularly browse and buy from Etsy sellers and hit up garage sales in the summer to search for a piece of vintage clothing or something to add to one of my collections at home. Take a cue from Johanne, today I’m featuring gorgeous vintage scarves.

vintage scarf, via Posh Vintage

vintage silk scarf, via CUSHGoods

vintage scarf, via Plot

vintage scarf, via Digs & Threads

vintage scarf, via Foulard Fantastique

silk scarf, via Luncheonette Vintage

vintage scarf, via Scarf Love NYC

A gorgeous silk scarf (vintage or new) is beautifully paired with a dress or suit (or anything, really), framed as art for your home, or sewn up into a pillow cover or lamp shade.

Emilio Pucci silk scarf, via Nasty Girl

vintage scarf as art, via 6th Street Design School, photo by Ryann Colleen Photography

silk scarf lamp shade, via Apartment Therapy

Images via CUSHGoods, Foulard Fantastique, Luncheonette Vintage, Plot, Scarf Love NYC, 6th Street Design School, Nasty Girl, Posh Vintage, Apartment Therapy.