Found! Vintage Chairs

For our never ending reno.  When will it be over??? Damn you, reno gods.
Our temporary house, a coach house, was uncomfortable for the first month, charming for a few afterwards (it is a little slice of Hansel and Gretel in the city) and is beginning to get irksome. 

In the long interim, we have been browsing.  We found two gorgeous vintage chairs from Montreal.  What to cover them in?  There is one school of thought that is backing cow hide.  I think it would look gorgeous, but I don't know if I would ever be able to sit on them with bare legs.   Decisions....

Cowboys and Vampires and Couture! Oh my!

I went to a play earlier this week called The Haunted Hillbilly, based on a book written by my friend Derek McCormack.   Derek is the Tom Ford of words - edited perfection.

Live music, talented actors, delicious language and a couturier vampire. Could you ask for anything more?

A description of the play from the production company, Sidemart.ca:

Haunted Hillbilly is a theatre-show-event, a cowboy carnival caper with a big ole dollop of deep country. It's a cautionary tale, about the rise and fall of the Lonely Boy, a guileless bumpkin turned supernova superstar by a meddling, impeccable vampire couturier.

Wallace Simpson and Annie Hall

Wallace Simpson

Diane Keaton as Annie Hall

What do they have in common?

They (in combination with a gorgeous felt hat that I found in a little vintage shop) are my inspiration for Spring Summer 2011.

I love the tailored ease of the 30's and 70's. Maybe it is in response to the heat we are having this summer, but I am longing for feminine dresses that aren't too twee (to quote Emma Thompson on Audrey Hepburn. And, though I love Audrey Hepburn, I really do not like My Fair Lady. If you haven't heard the fuss yet, here is a link to her comments http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/blogs/popculture/2010/08/emma-thompsons-harsh-audrey-hepburn-critique.html)

Le Showroom

Gearing up for Spring/Summer 2011! Designs are underway, fabrics selected and samples being sewn.

House of Groves will be presenting at Montreal Fashion Week for Le Showroom and also in Toronto. Toronto details to follow....

If you are in Montreal on September 30th, it is open to the public on the last day. Drop by and say hi. (Don't worry, I'll update before then!)

montrealfashionweek.ca

Surprise!

I was purusing the Fashionism.ca page (part of Sympatico) and had a surprise - me!

fashionism.ca/fashion/contentposting/storming_the_runway/4c09fde1

Because I am not a huge fan of pictures of myself, I'm posting one of my faves from the runway.

Fall 2010 Trend Report

Fall/Winter 2010 trend reports

Full-skirted Dress
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/fashion-file/slideshowarticle/1372/5/



Criss-cross Tail Dress

70's Flare - Long and Lean
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/fashion-file/slideshowarticle/1372/9/



High-waisted Flared Pant

White
http://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/trends/fall-winter-2010-11-trends-report/a/34637/2



Cashmere and Leather Dress

Lace
www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2010-2011-autumn-winter/100716-romantic-lace.aspx



Lace ruffle blouse



Lace and leather dress

Isabella Blow and Daphne Guinness

Isabella Blow

Daphne Guinness

The first time I saw Isabella Blow was on Fashion Television as a child. I fell in love. She was unique and sincere. Those qualities leapt through the television screen and it was her particular world of fashion that I longed to be a part of.

Daphne Guinness wrote an article in the Financial Times explaining her buy out of Isabella Blow's things from Christie's.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d8045e62-8560-11df-aa2e-00144feabdc0.html