SUMMER SILKS

I'm wearing my clothing loose and minimal this Summer - a perfect excuse to use up some of the luxurious silk prints I've been hoarding in my collection. Two styles I'll be shipping off to Victoire this morning include the 'Molly' dress, a totally reversible style in 100% silk, and the 'Maggie' tank a semi-sheer silk/cotton blend with a metallic all-over print. I'm slowly building up my Summer uniform.

SPRING DEALS

I know, I know, it's just getting ridiculous how much time I'm letting elapse between posts these days. It feels as though I haven't visited this old friend in ages, poor little blog.

I've been busy, working away in the studio but also finding a lot of pleasure in working on myself. I've been taking pilates classes twice a week and trying to take more time to spend with friends. I feel like I've pretty much managed my stress situation and am beginning to enjoy making things again, which I wasn't for awhile. Life feels like it's coming together in a really positive way. Of course, knowing that Spring is on it's way helps a lot too!

I guess the big news is that three weeks ago I moved my studio out of my home and into a space in Mile End. I'm sharing with a group of fantastically talented ladies and am absolutely loving being out of the house every day (even if I usually have some significant trouble getting there before noon). I've been intentionally leaving my computer at home, and I don't have a cell phone so I'm breaking some of the bad habits I got into working from a room in my house (I'm looking at you, Law & Order.) I also just booked a short trip to Mexico where I've never been and am so keen to explore. I'm craving sunshine and colour and delicious food and simply seeing something new.

Of course moving & traveling means *Spring Cleaning* is essential and so I'm clearing out the little remaining stock I have from the F/W collection - mostly at half-price. Here's what I have left (I promise, this is the last time you will see these same photos again on this blog!):

Green Saturn Dress, last two available in S & L. Was $240 now $140.

Mauve Saturn Dress, last one (!!) available in M. Was $240 now $140.

Cream Victorine Blouse, last one (!!) available in S. Was $180 now $90.

Black Victorine Blouse, last two available in M & L. Was $180 now $90.

Green Eshe Blouse, last one (!!) available in L. Was $140 now $70.

Black Eshe Blouse, various sizes. Was $140 now $70.

Mauve Eshe Blouse, various sizes. Was $140 now $70.

I also have two little Easter-hued cubist clutches which I never added to the shop but am doing so now, one in a supple, soft, banana lambskin and one in a vibrant mint. Check out the SHOP or email me if you're interested.

GOODNIGHT DAY, HELLO LEGGINGS

Beautiful Tara-Lynn of Goodnight, Day looking casual and chic in her Ursa Minor leather leggings. Check out more photos of her eclectic style over at Boots & Pine, Arden Wray's fantastic photographic love letter to Toronto's creative contributors.

DARK HORSES

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be participating in the inaugural edition of DARK HORSES, a fantastic sale/event happening in Old Montreal this Friday. Organized by friends and fellow designers Genevieve Savard and Agathe Bodineau (of Lalayeah), DARK HORSES gathers together some of Montreal's most exciting emerging designers for a one-day designer's sale that will be open to the public. Following the sale is a DJ event & dance party with bar service - woo-hoo. 

I think this event has a fantastic line up and I love the work of all the designers that are participating. I am honestly worried that I will just end up shopping myself. If you're nearby in Ottawa, Toronto or Quebec and have been looking for an excuse to come to Montreal, this is a good one. 

Please come out and support some emerging talent, we'd all love to see you there. 

MORE STYLES! MORE STYLES!

{Saturn Dress in Slate Green}

I've FINALLY had a chance to take photos of the Saturn Dress, Eshe Top and Victorine Blouse in other colourways with the help of my beautiful friend Yana who agreed to model for me this week. As of today these items will all be uploaded to the shop, both *big cartel* & *etsy*, but quantities are limited and once these styles are gone I will not be making more this season.

Thanks so much to Yana - I couldn't have done it without her. Make sure to check out her insanely cute clothing for kiddies and ladies *here* too - her line Supayana is adorable and so is she.

{Eshe Top in Black}

{Victorine Blouse in Cream}

{Eshe Top in Slate Green}

{Victorine Blouse in Black}

{Saturn Dress in Mauve Smoke}

{Bamboo Jersey Tabard in Black}

And coming soon to the shop, because you asked for it, more diamond clutches with an attached wrist-strap. 

BOUTIQUE UNICORN

Spied on my way to dinner with a friend last night: Ursa Minor 'Saturn' dress in mauve-smoke featured in this lovely window display at Boutique Unicorn. Other styles available at their Montreal shop include the Eshe Top in black, mauve-smoke and slate-green, and the Victorine blouse in both black & grey.

NEW TO THE SHOP

{Eshe Blouse in smoky mauve}

{Saturn Dress in Black}

The Eshe Blouse and Saturn Dress have officially been added to both the *shop* and *etsy*. In addition to being sold online, these styles are now available at Victoire in Ottawa, Robber in Toronto and Unicorn Boutique here in Montreal, with more shops to follow.

The fabric is a 55% Silk / 45% linen blend with a unique ribbed texture which wears beautifully. The Eshe blouse features vintage brass buttons while the Saturn dress is fully lined and has a sheer silk georgette panel at back bodice.

I will also be adding additional colours of these styles next week (just as soon as my model gets home from her trip to NY!) 

Questions? Send me an email!

COMING NEXT WEEK...

New Eshe Blouses and Saturn Dresses will be hitting the online shop next week. Both pieces are made of a gorgeous ribbed silk/linen blend of which I am much enamoured. The fabric has an amazing lightness/crispness/flow. Check back Tuesday for details and, in the meantime, enjoy your (Canadian) Thanksgiving this weekend!

VICTORINE WILL BE OURS

My favourite oxford with a twist, the Victorine Blouse will be available in both online shops starting tomorrow. Pictured here in a soft dove grey (though also available in black and cream), this top is made from a nubbly raw silk - lovely and breathable but naturally warm for the coming winter. Look for it tomorrow in the shop and on etsy....

SAMPLE PARTY

I'm going to be selling a ton of samples at Puces Pop this weekend. Most of these are one-offs, many I no longer have patterns for - that means if you see something you like you should snap it up. Sorry for the crummy photos - I am incapable of photographing dark clothing it turns out.

I made this linen dress for my trip to Paris with my sister a couple years ago. I think I wore it once, the day we went shopping at Printemps, and it's been sitting on my sample shelf since.




Aysmmetrical draped top in silk habotai.


Hand-dyed crinkle linen scarf.

Another sample dress I made for myself, intended to rework, and rediscovered two years later.

Come visit this weekend!

Puces Pop
September 22nd-23rd, 2012
at St-Michel Church, 105 Saint-Viateur West
Opening Hours: 11am-6pm 

PREPARATIONS

Getting all my goods together for Puces Pop this weekend, including oodles of new diamond clutches in various colours.

Come by and say 'hello'!

Puces Pop
September 22nd-23rd, 2012
at St-Michel Church, 105 Saint-Viateur West
Opening Hours: 11am-6pm

HOP ON

I contributed some pieces (including leather leggings, skirt and scarves) to stylist Maude Bourcier a number of months ago. She's just unveiled the finished results and I'm loving the dark equestrian vibe.

Photography - Alexandre Hupperertz
Stylist - Maude Bourcier
Makeup - Isabelle Forget
Hair - Stefanie Barrette
Models - Kelly and Allison from Specs Models

ENDOR SKIRT

I've just added the 'Endor' Skirt to both *the shop* and *etsy*. New for Fall, this skirt is a curve-hugging mini made of organic cotton stretch twill, leather & suede. Personally I love this piece as at a glance it's such an easy basic, but deceptively complex on closer inspection. The fact that it has some stretch is nice too. I see myself wearing it a lot this winter with wool tights and just a white tee-shirt and black crew-neck sweater thrown on over top. Edgy, preppy, sexy, comfy - done.

Check it out online for more info. 

All photos by Francesca Tallone, www.patternclash.com

SETTING THE SCENE

I've been working with photographer Francesca Tallone for my past two collections (my only two collections, ha!) after meeting her at a party early into my time in Montreal. Right off the bat she suggested we collaborate on some shoots and, after viewing the ethereal, often ghostly photos on her website, I agreed that we'd be a very good fit. Francesca shoots all in film which seems almost a novelty as our lives become more and more digital. Her photos embrace a comfortable loneliness, private moments captured behind a blur of light and fog enhancing the intimate world of her subject.

Her ambiguous photography helps intensify the dualities I seek to create in my own work - a collection of garments for a multi-faceted woman, one who holds strength & vulnerability, darkness & light, boldness & modesty all in equal esteem.

These are the photos she took of the new Fall collection and I am incredibly pleased with them and how they frame the garments within. Thanks so much, Francesca, and thank you again to Vanessa who was the most perfect model for this project.
 


















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