Autochrome Magic

Charles Corbet, Melancolia - 1910

This is really not the kind of thing I imagined would interest me overly. People of the Victorian era don't call to me figuratively (or actually - I'm happy to say!). And yet, on going to this photo archive of three Belgian early colour photo experimenters, I was positively carried away. Never mind that these old pics are in colour - which lends them a modern resonance I couldn't have imagined. But they are beautifully composed. Like next-wave Impressionism.

Thanks to Sally Jane for posting on this topic.

Even if this isn't your thing you should give it 3 minutes. And if you're not sucked in, I'd really like to know about it.

PS: You must enlarge this photo for full satisfaction.

I Need Therapy!

Brad Ford's design blog, which I've recently discovered, absolutely delights me! It's all so elegant, neutral, contemporary, modern, clean deliciousness.

So, whacha think of this tree?

Reactionary

As y'all know, I like to think of this little blog as a politically aware but non-partisan fashion forum :-)

Having said this, it occurs to me that 90% of my lovely readers may be in the dark about Canada's current and most contentious political crisis well, maybe ever. It seems it's not so on the global radar screen - or airwaves or newspapers or anywhere.

It's being called the Coalition Crisis and, in true Canadian spirit, it's fairly polite for um, a crisis.

Here's an informative article to apprise you of the rather complicated situation. It happens to be written by former co-worker and bigtime political blogger, Michael Stickings.

PS: As of 10 minutes ago, the Governor General prorogued Parliament for the next 7 weeks...

New Year's Eve Wear

Most NYEs, we have our great friends Steen and Nicole over for some fondue and debauchery. It's very enjoyable and quite casual. And it obviates the need for a sitter. Which as you know can bankrupt you on New Year's Eve.

Mind you, were I the kind of girl who went to fancy champagne parties, this is most certainly what I'd wear:



The tuxedo top of this dress is silk, the skirt portion (to which it is attached) is wool.

In case you are wondering why I haven't posted some lovely image from the web, well, La Belette called it when she said that Club Monaco represents itself wretchedly online. Truth is, I couldn't find an online photo. I had to go to the actual store, whip out my cell phone, and shoot this for y'all.

Which, btw, they didn't like. As if I cared.

Thing I'm Destined to Love

Just cuz I've been disappointed in the past, doesn't mean I can't move forward with a clean slate. Once I've bitched, of course.

And, in truth, for every bad President's Choice product, I've tasted 15 excellent ones.

Imagine my glee on discovering (thanks to Ms. Espanya) these dark chocolate covered caramels with sea salt! That's salty, caramel, chocolate goodness. Nature's perfect taste combo.

Please forward the cause by visiting Tanya's site and begging her to give away a free box to the most compelling candidate. And if you can't convince her, you may be able to convince me :-)

Thanks, Tanya, for cutting at the last shreds of my healthy holiday lifestyle plan...

Midi

Here are a couple of photos of my fave work lunch spot. It's a bistro, quel surprise. It serves the best quiche in the city - made with crumbly buttery crust and lots of cream (as it should be). And you can choose between a lovely, huge salad on the side or frites - or both. I get the salad so that I can feel virtuous!

Last time I was in, reading a magazine to clear my head of work matters, the proprietor brought me an unexpected chocolat chaud, just because I am sweet (says he)! Talk about a high tip quotient :-) I love the French.

To Tree or Not to Tree?

Growing up, we always had a lovely tree. My mother, then an interior designer, knew how best to find the perfect scale and the perfect spruce, which we would chop down in some excellent smelling tree farm up north and then trim up in the most elegant way. In our home, fluffy needles were styled with white pin lights, popcorn strings, heirloom ornaments, a beautiful skirt which was, let's face it, obscured by the most fantastically and matchingly wrapped gifts.

Contrast this to my husband's childhood memory: articficial tree with ever-blinking rainbow-coloured lights, multicoloured tinsel, garland, cello wrapped candy-canes and terrific, if eclectically wrapped, presents.

I know it sounds like I'm judging. (Secretly, that's cuz I am.) And while I realize this hints at my bratty unwillingness to accept all the many ways to enjoy a Christmas tree, I think we should blame my mother for instilling me with such a strong sense of how things are supposed to look.

Dontcha love how I've managed to ding everyone for my own intransigence?

So, natch, being long-married and tired of fighting, Scott and I have worked out a kind of compromise on the tree front:

• It is fake (to save the trees from needless death) but
• It is bushy and 9 feet tall but
• It may have green lights but
• They will not flicker but
• There is garland but
• No tinsel
• And the presents will be wrapped in complementary paper and ribbon
• Until that runs out whereupon S will use whatever he can find but
• Those equally loved presents will go to the back of the tree behind the matchy ones.

Now you see why we try to go away at Xmas - whereupon there is only harmony in our family.

My question for y'all is, do you have a tree? If yes, how does it work (real, fake, mini, grand)? Is the tree an extension of your fashion philosophy? I'm so intrigued to know...