Scout & Catalogue

I've been eyeing the bags on this etsy store for a while now, and I feel I may crack soon because they're too beautiful to resist. Scout & Catalogue's collection of scarves and leather bags are made by Toronto-based designer Breanna Musgrove, and are largely influenced by her sojourn in Mexico in 2009/10. If I had the cash money, I'd order up a nesting doll of bags: the cream lace pouch nestled inside the purple clutch, which in turn would be nesting perfectly in the blue tie-dye tote.

the libro plum leather clutch

scavenger pouch in pink stripe (up-cycled fabric)

scavenger pouch in pastel navajo (up-cycled fabric)

la dama cream lace and leather pouch

the traveler tote in constellation

Check out Scout & Catalogue's blog here for news and updates (and in particular this post to see the limited-edition bags that are making me hesitate to order anything should she get more material like this and re-introduce this style). 

190 Bowery, NYC

This cozy little kitchen with the cobalt-blue pressed tin wall has plenty of character and loads of charm. Shocking that it's actually one of 72 rooms in this downtown mansion in New York City's Lower East Side. According to this article in the New York Magazine, most real estate experts had pegged the building as abandoned. In reality it is occupied by a family of three - photographer Jay Maisel, his wife, and daughter - who bought it for just over $100,000 in 1966. Maisel uses the first two floors as gallery space, and has kept the architectural features intact - it was once a bank. Quite a spacious family home with its six floors, roof top patio and garden, and apparently rooms still being discovered...

all images via new york magazine: "the 72-room bohemian dream house"

Spring Into Summer With A Flourish

These looks from Steven Alan and Club Monaco's Spring/Summer 2011 lookbooks have a bit of everything I like for summer: lots of stripes, pleats, drapy fabrics, and a dash of sparkle. Throw on some canvas slip-ons, a leather saddle bag and I am more than ready for warm weather. And sun. Another week of this rain isn't doing the general morale any good.

Steven Alan (source)

Club Monaco (source)

Crazy For Scalloped Edges

"Show frills and femininity this season" - so said an advertisement from 1940 for a dress ("frock") pattern with scalloped details at the shoulder. It seems as though anything goes this season, but there is a definite trend towards a more ladylike silhouette with lots of feminine details.

1. chloe scalloped trim oversized sunglasses 2. coral crop top 3. bright floral tee 4. petite mustard crop tee 5. suede clutch (all by topshop) 6. see by chloe poya leather satchel 7. blue scalloped hem shorts by topshop 8. chloe scalloped ballet flat in cream

image sources: costumes from here and the Pittsburg Press, March 11, 1930, chloe sevigny, lauren santo domingo, camilla belle, polyvore

Crazy For Mint Green

Mint, pastel, spring, pea -- I'm seeing these greens everywhere, especially after I bought (and then returned) a beautiful (and 2 sizes too big) silk blouse in this hue that was marked way down and I thought I could make work since it was the only size left.

macarons source

Green on the street:

Caroline Issa in a pleated skirt of her own design (source)

Mary Kate Olsen with balenciaga bag (source)

pastel blazer from storets via the blonde salad

mint green vintage hermes 3000 typewriter (source)

Bleak

This was yesterday's weather forecast for the week. On top of last night's election results, there was many a gloomy face at work today. 

Not-so-bleak:

Thank goodness for the MET ball. Three of my favourite looks from last night:

 

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu, Maggie Gyllenhaal in Stella McCartney, Michelle Willams in Miu Miu
all images via vogue.com 

Spring Greens With Sunday Dinner

With the warmer weather that we've been having lately, I've been craving lighter fares like these salads with herbs, watercress and spring greens. So simple, so perfect with Sunday night dinner (or any night of the week).

images from la tartine gourmande 

I normally use a lemon-based vinaigrette, but I found this incredibly tasty and creamy dressing on not without salt's blog that I intend to make many times in the coming months. 

Vinaigrette

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp creme fraiche

1 tbsp vinegar (I used rice vinegar)

1 minced shallot

1/2 tsp honey

2 tsp dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

For the salad I used a package of mixed greens with herbs and added a handful of shredded mint and cilantro, 3 thinly sliced radishes, and a large handful of sliced purple seedless grapes. 

image from not without salt

image from la buena vida