Getting Back to My Roots

There must be something in the air - and I really hope it's not fall because we haven't had our summer yet. Lots o' ladies are getting on this skinny jogger bandwagon. Just check out Frances' preferred version.

I bought mine at Roots, that Canadian institution. They've recently rebranded and I think it's going to work well for them. Of course, I'd have preferred it if the huge sale they've got going on right now hadn't started 2 days after I bought these:

 

Roots Cozy Sweatpant

(No, they wouldn't offer a price adjustment after the fact (I asked).)

 

This is the only item I can think of that my daughter and I both wear. In the same size, weirdly. But I got the khaki and she got the black.

What I love about this item of clothing is the mind-altering comfort. How often do you hear me wax rhapsodic about that?? And they are sort of chic. I mean, I'm not going to dinner at Canoe in them, but for a Saturday out and about, they are fantastic. And warm, Canadians.

 

On a vaguely related note...

Given my new "fitness lifestyle" I've had numerous opportunities to find online vendors that sell delicious, chic fitness-to-comfort-wear. Of course, it all seems to come from Europe (and you know that shit is expensive when they automatically ship free to Canada) so you can't have everything.

Mind you, if you live in the UK - or your're rich and spendy - please buy some stuff from Wellicious  and tell us what you think.

Zing Bra I could totally see this as my new lounge bra... If only the sizing weren't a complete unknown.

Drapey Top - Yeah, I know I could make it myself, but look how adorable! And already constructed!

3/4 Pants - This style is nothing new for me, but I do love it... And the colour is CUTE.

Cool Off Pants

Dontcha want these??

 

PS: I do find it funny that a UK company refers to so many of its yoga bottoms as "pants". Does that seem weird to y'all who live there?

Back to School Hair

M just got her back to school 'do:


Notice the indigo stripe on the left side?

Update: Photo is now lightened.

Jonathan + Olivia = Discourse on Urban Refinement

A while back, though for the life of me I can't remember how, I learned about this shop going in on lower Ossington (the new happening zone in TO, now that every other place is too expensive). Lower Ossington manages to be both hip and gritty. We bobo Torontonians go for that. Pls. note, I'm more bo than bo :-)

At any rate, today I walked by and noticed it is now open and it really is a trip. Like to all the places in the world with great designers. (You know, it's sort of a subscription feed to Europe.)

Georgina, the manager, advised that the store is actually named for the neice and nephew of the owner, a Vancouverite who's originally from TO. The buying philosophy is simple: Get cool -read: minimal - stuff from respected diffusion and small design lines. There's some beautiful Alexander Wang leather, Vanessa Bruno knits. It's a veritable mecca of Acne denim.

When I asked to take some photos, at first I was politely rebuffed. They have a "no photo" policy. Happily, that changed after Georgina vetted my blog. On the spot. Not joking. So if you go in there cuz you read this post, please let her know.

I have high hopes for this boutique. I think it's going to raise the profile of (and add a new pricepoint in) an area that supports some fantastic local artistry (modern fashion, painting, installation art, vintage, cabinetry and carpentry). Lower Ossington is the last bastien of industry-meets-residential working class in the west-end of downtown. It is vibrant and complex. But it could use a little shot of minimal upscale to support the upmarket hipster restaurants and galleries everyone with a tasteful nose ring is hanging at these days.

No doubt, a whole raft of people will disagree - esp. those benefiting from the heretofore reasonable rents. It'll wreck the grubby sublime, they say: Roach infestations next to light industry meeting chic after-hours bars and galleries. To which I respond, whatevs. Time marches on and things change. The only recourse is to work to change them in the most attractive, read: suitable and holistic way. And what's more suitable than gorgeous fash, I say? (But maybe that's the bo in me.) You decide.

Hey Moms...

There are some great deals out there for your kiddies this week.

Specifically, H&M is having this 20% off sale (when you spend more than $50.00). Have you ever gone back to school shopping and not spent $50.00?? And they've got really sweet "lounge wear" i.e. yoga pants for kids and hip/happening track suits.

Payless, a truly awful, if affordable environment, is having a strange sale I can't exactly understand. The upshot is that I bought 2 pairs of runners for M and I saved 30% on each pair.

Gap Kids has some good sale items - like on backpacks and lunch boxes.

I was shocked by how much money I saved by getting into the fray a mere 5 minutes before the deadline of tomorrow's back to school. I'm usually so organized and I save bupkis. I say, power to the harried moms!