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.

Ah, cottage season!

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

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.

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.

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 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.

And where do you think these folks might be heading? It amazes me that in an age when photography wasn’t an iPhone packed with food porn and a million takes of the same three friends out for drinks, a photographer posed to take this sidecar/canoe shot and here it is, parasol and all

This week’s fab vintage finds:

Vintage red 1970′s dress, 15 GBP at Second Hand Rose Worc

Vintage ’70s coiled silver necklace, $36 at VintageJewelryBox

1970′s vintage sunflower sundress, $28 at Bloomer and Frocks

Gold tone vintage ’60s art deco style cuff bracelet, $20 at MyLadyJanes

Floral vintage 1970′s dress, $65 at Firefly Vintage

Green vintage floral brooch and clip earrings, $23 at Past Splendors

Diary print zip dress,$40 at Wayfaring Magnolia

Vintage gold tone swirl earrings, $12 at Bloomer And Frocks

Vintage 1940′s cotton Hawaiian tropical dress, $36.40 on sale at Li Roy Time

Breaking news: Gwyneth Paltrow is beautiful. Photo via People magazine.

In the world? Really? What do you think? I mean, I’m a huge fan of Gwyneth but the headline of People’s latest issue really did make me laugh. It’s just a bit extreme for me. I chatted with a lady behind me in line at the store about it because she was explaining to her husband how she thought Gwyneth has a friendly and approachable look.

Gorgeous Gwyneth. Photo via People magazine.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s 2nd cookbook: It’s All Good. Photo via Goop.

According to InStyle magazine, you can look like Gwyneth for under $30. Photo via InStyle magazine.

Gwyenth Paltrow. Photo via InStyle magazine.

Okay, fine. She looks great and has a lot of fun projects on the go. But the most beautiful woman in the world? Do people in other countries agree? Just curious.

p.s. I wonder what would happen if Gwyneth took part in Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches or Evolution of Beauty projects.

Photos via People, Goop, InStyle, .

Rescuers this morning remove injured garment workers from the collapsed garment building in Bangladesh that has killed at least 87 people. Photo credit: A.M. Ahad

Wednesday yet another tragedy in the textile industry: in Bangladesh, a garment factory building collapsed and killed at least 230 people and injured 1,000. This story is currently developing.

Read it here.

You’ll want to know that among the businesses there were suppliers to brands Joe Fresh, Mango, Primark, Benetton, The Children’s Place, and Dress Barn. Clothes with Disney, Wal-Mart and other western world labels were found at this factory.

People and rescuers gather after an eight-story building housing several garment factories collapsed in Savar, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 24, 2013. Workers in the building said that because it had developed such severe cracks the day before, it had been reported on local news channels. Photo credit: A.M. Ahad/AP

More images here.

As consumers and especially me, a fashion blogger, there’s heavy complicity in the fast-fashion addiction that supports unsafe and unfair labour practices. This is a big ugly bag of issues including low-wages, unsafe workplaces, underage girls lured and trapped into work agreements, and so much more. In Canada we’re very excited about the idea of quashing bullying, which is an excellent and essential project- but we’re wearing clothes made by people whose fingers might have been amputated as a result of making us a pair of pants. We make no sense because we don’t want to- we know these factory conditions aren’t ok, we know there are horrors there- psychological, physical.

These wouldn’t happen in Canada, in America, in Europe. But we’re doing it anyway. We are complicit in what’s happening in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and China. We let all those people die, and they’re largely all women- girls, actually. Some would say that this is women’s issue; I feel it probably is, but I just want it to be handled as a human one.

Many factories, including the Tazreen garment factory that collapsed this morning, lack emergency exits and of the eight floors, only three were legally built. Surviving employees said gates were locked and managers told them to go back to work after the fire alarm went off this morning. I’ve read this before about managers who run these factories- locking the employees inside is common practice, and it is also how so many of them die when an accident sparks. It’s been barely five months since the last factory fire that killed 112 people in Bangladesh.

While I understand that this is not a simple issue of shutting down textile factories in countries where the notion of fair and safe labour conditions is a distant (and generally impeded) thought – by western companies no less-, there is an opportunity for me and our collective society to support companies that are making an effort to do the right thing- which is… charging us more for clothes so that the factories are safer, wages are higher, employees are treated fairly, etc.

I’m no longer surprised at how much stuff is produced in these dangerous garment factories. I have many pieces that are made in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan. I don’t feel fabulous wearing these clothes any more.

You’ve noticed that I’ve largely switched to endorsing vintage on Fashion in Motion, and I’m purchasing vintage, too. I am looking at garment tags like nutrition labels- made in USA, made in France- that’s what I’m after. Made in the first world, because at least this I can trust- we don’t tolerate these factory conditions over here. I’m also going vintage- it’s wonderful but it also repurposes instead of being landfill.

I am attempting to shift this blog into a more conscious fashion space- it’s been slow and unsteady. I want to keep my relationships with partners in the industry and guide them into making decisions that the right ones- gentle pressure.

As you probably know, it is also incredibly difficult to learn the truth about which companies are progressive, attempting to improve the industry, and which ones are pretending to be good with some slick PR on the front that shows improvements in one factory while concealing regressions elsewhere. Although frankly, many manufacturers just aren’t even pretending and don’t care. If you shop at the mall these days, chances are you’re looking at everything made in these types of garment factories.

Will we pay more for products made more fairly, in safer factories? What’s the real cost of a pair of pants? $19 doesn’t make sense to me. We all know it, we just choose not to deal with it emotionally because it is convenient for us to save here and make ends meet, save for our retirement and our summer vacation, go out for dinner in a new outfit. We have a great life, it’s expensive, so we’re cutting a few corners, too.

My car costs me a fortune, rent is high, food is crazy, I like to go out dancing- I have a really awesome life that can easily be (and still is) subsidized by other people’s suffering. I manage my expenses, I make my ends meet- I used to buy new clothes and treated my niece and nephews with new outfits since the price tag is so low and it’s all I can afford. I don’t do it as much any more, though. I’m choosy, now. But it’s not just about clothes- it’s also the food industry. And it starts to feel incredibly overwhelming when I think about the reach and environmental impact of all these companies catering to our quick-fix desires. And I feel preachy.

I’m learning as I go; I’m doing my best to make better spending decisions.

Johanne

—

Former bonded textile worker Vasandi, at left in blue, with a friend being trained in tailoring by a group called Rights, Education and Development in Satyamangalam. (Photo credit: Stephanie Nolen, The Globe and Mail)

You’ll also want to read Globe and Mail reporter Stephanie Nolen’s series, Breaking Caste, in which she meets workers (young girls) who are in bonded labour conditions working in textile garment factories in India.