Furry Punk Rock

 

I simply had to share CDM Bijoux’s oh-so-adorable Mohawki ring collection. Created by the local designer Hélène Gallant-Roberge, each ring is unique, created with a silver band and recycled tufts of fur. Punk rock meets hippie chic! Find them on etsy.

 

The One

L’escargot

 

L’escargot (short hair)

 

My Favourite Colour

Fashionistas worldwide are high-fiving their computer screens, proudly saying “I just knew plum would be a hot trend this fall.” I know, because I’m one of them. We think we are avant-garde, yet we predict the obvious... (SPOILER: I’m telling you NOW, in the fall of 2000-and-a-million, the trend will be... wait for it... jewel tones!) One trend that isn’t so obvious, and that crept up last year after a decade hiatus, is marigold. By far my favourite colour, this golden yellow is a shade to add to your wardrobe, home decor... and even dinner!

 

Images via

What’s your favourite colour?

 

Discoveries

I thought I’d share with you three recent discoveries, starting with Pen & Ink’s Tumblr.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, I have a single tattoo, half an inch high on my left foot. All tattoos, whether small or large, tell a story; depicting a clear moment in time. If you too are interested in these types of personal snippets, do click HERE.

 

Discovery #2

Browsing through Nicolette Masson’s blog, I discovered the prints of Devin McGarth. His art is fun, accessible, affordable and his biography cracks me up! I recommend you check it out my clicking HERE. I ordered a small blue butterfly print this week. I’ll keep you posted as to how if looks on my wall!  

 

 

Discovery #3

Finally, I present to you Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists' Enumerations from the Collections of the Smithsonian Museum, a wonderful book which assembled the to-do lists of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. It’s mind blowing to think how much our lives are dictated by lists (grocery lists, to-do lists, New Year’s Resolutions, little black books, heck, even the Ten Commandments!) Maybe I could start creating intricate lists like this one by Adolf Konrad, from 1962-63? To know more, click HERE.

Have you made any interesting discoveries recently? I’d love to hear about them!

 

Should My Nails Match My Makeup?

Here’s a brand new question posted on PMT’s facebook page: "I just purchased new nail polish by Essie: Merino Cool. Now my question is... does my makeup need to be in similar tones?"

Well, my dear, I’m glad you asked. In short: no. There are no rules! I tend to paint my nails on Sunday afternoon (right smack in the middle of doing chores... “Oh, soooorry... No, I can’t help you fold the laundry... my nails are drying...”  Evil, I know). I chose my nail polish in function of my mood (...and trends). Your everyday makeup should also reflect your mood and improve your complexion. If the shades found in Merino Cool aren’t suitable for your skin tone, don’t force it! Your fingers are nowhere near your face, so you don’t need to worry about them clashing. However, if you feel more comfortable with the uniformity of matching makeup and nails, the easiest colours to pull off are orchid and red (both super hot trends this fall).  Here are two different options for you to rock your new nail polish:

 

 

 

To Match?

1. Kate Von D’s Shade Shifter Eyeshadow in On The Road / 2. Essie’s Merino Cool / 3. Rouge Shine Lipstick no. 43 by Sephora / 4. NARS Illuminator in Copacabana, a glistening pearl shade / 5. Revlon’s lip gloss in Lilac Pastelle

 

Or to Mix?

1. Kate Von D Tattoo Liner / 2. bareMinerals eye shadow duo The Phenomenon, combining Azure Iris and Golden Iris / 3. Creamy Lip Colour by Bobbi Brown in Pink Ballet / 4. MAC’s new Light Dirty Rose Beige / 5. Essie’s Merino Cool

 

Burgundy Lips

Have you been contemplating purchasing deep burgundy lipstick, but are still unsure about this fall trend? I hear ya! It can be scary since dark colours will easily wash you out or look Halloween-y if you don’t do it right.

 

 

A dark lipstick must be chosen wisely. What suits your complexion? Plum, violet, espresso or berry? (I still remember rocking the espresso shade in the nineties – so forgive me if I stay far from this one.)  1. CHANEL’s Baroque Rouge Coco Lipstick is a combination of berry, brown and ruby. As for most dark lipsticks, be sure to add liner for fuller coverage.  2. KATE VON D’s Painted Love in Homegirl is a dark plum. Its matte finish will look good on you fair skinned ladies. Since Miss Von D pretty much embodies vampy baroque, I trust her to make a sexy dark lipstick.  3. MAKE UP FOR EVER #49 is described as a satin blueberry. I must admit that I have a new obsession with MUFO products. They are creamy and highly pigmented.  4. REVLON Colourburst in Plum is a light wine colour. It’s a good starter to test off the trend as its price point is fairly low. Remember to exfoliate your lips before applying your lipstick since darker shades will highlight imperfections and flakes. Be bold & Have fun!

 

 

Currently Craving & No More Party Rocking

 

 

This baby needs to be mine. Tassels, trendy mustard yellow, classic shape: the new Coach satchel has my name all over it. For once, I hope Hubby doesn’t see this post as he’ll roll his eyes a million times, hands to his forehead, saying : “You. Don’t. Need. It.” Honestly, this is poor logic. We don’t need ice cream – but what’s life without it? And seeing how this purse would last much longer than any ice cream cone... one must conclude that it would make an excellent purchase! Who’s with me?

On a completely unrelated topic, I just found out that uncle/nephew duo Redfoo and Sky Blu from LMFAO are breaking up... It’s a sad day for the party world! How will the Zubaz trend survive?

 

Five Trends to Update your Fall Wardrobe

As the cooler weather seems to be settling in, I got together with my girlfriends to discuss the hot trends for the new season. Keep reading to find out which five trends you won't want to live without!

 

JACKET: Rag & Bone Pascal Jacket / CLUTCH: Zara Studded Evening Box Bag / PANTS: Current Elliott, The Ankle Skinny / NECKLACE: Dolce & Gabbana Gold-plated glass pearl necklace / SWEATER: Alexander McQueen Fine-knit wool peplum top / SHOES: Zara High Heel Sandal with Ankle Strap / DRESS: Dolce & Gabbana Cherub and floral-print dress / PURSE: 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli leather tote / NAILS: Stylenomics by Essie

 

 

1. LEATHER: This season, we’re seeing leather incorporated in most pieces of clothing; from classic leather jackets, purses and pants to the detailing on sweaters, skirts and accessories.

 

2: STUDS: Studs and spikes give you an instant edge. For the epitome of rocker-chic, I suggest adding a studded purse or a spiked silk blouse to your wardrobe.

 

3: JEWEL TONES: Ruby, emerald and sapphire have a way of coming back from year to year. Jewel tones work great together, so don’t be shy to play with patterns and colour blocking. Since these shades are timeless, invest is some key pieces such as a forest green coat, navy purse or rich burgundy pants.  

 

4: SERIOUS BLING: Crystals, rhinestones, gold and statement necklaces (like the Collar Trend) are all the rage. You can easily update your wardrobe with a bold cuff or a little bedazzling (so retro – yet so cool!).

 

5: CAMOUFLAGE: Camouflage is to fall what bold floral was to spring. We’ve seen great pieces on the runway, which incorporate all the season’s hottest trends: leather, studs, crystals and jewel tones... the most common of which is the glitter spiked camo jacket.

 

Which trend will you be adding to your shopping list?

 

Permanence, Space 27

On Saturday, I was invited by the wonderful team at Station 16 to visit Permanence, a one-night exhibition held at Montreal's hot new Space 27 Gallery. Showcasing close to a hundred works (both limited edition and original art) by Canadian and international street artists, the exhibition aimed to contrast the ephemeral nature of street art with the permanence of collectible art.

Works by Banksy, Roadsworth, Army of One, Mario Wagner, WIA, Stikki Peaches, Labrona, Omen, Zilon and several others were presented. There was an amazing energy to the evening – and I was lucky to have the chance to meet the artists who shape our urban landscape.

Here are a few pictures from Stikki Peaches & Whatisadam’s instagrams.
(Top: SP, Bottom: WIA)

How to Rock the Collar Trend

The oversized collar has been a rising trend since last fall, appearing on the runway for Emilio Pucci, Mui Mui and Louis Vuitton. While D was guest posting for PMT, she wrote: “Necklaces shaped like fake collars are very trendy these days. Not so sure about that one… I’ll ask Emily to do some research and write a post about it.” This was in late August. Yesterday, D sends me an email titled “...even Willow's doing it.” OK, OK! I got the hint. Here’s your Collar Post, my dear!

A detachable collar updates an outfit without any major expense. (Honestly…WTF will show you that it’s also an easy DIY.) Don’t be shy to experiment with color, print or embellishments! The Peter Pan collar is the sweetest, girliest choice. A hot trend back in the 1960′s, a rounded collar is a fun way to add pizzazz to a simple t-shirt, or make an evening dress more playful. For a crisp, masculine look, follow the footsteps of Cupcakes & Cashmere and opt for a pointed Tuxedo collar.  

You will find some awesome (and affordable!) choices at H&M, Zara and Forever 21.

Tell me: Will you be rocking this trend?

Interior Design With no Surprises

Drawings and Photo Realistic Renderings Show Exactly What Your Designer Has in Mind

A Guest Post by Keren Blankrot, Upstage Montreal

In the world of interior design a picture really is worth a thousand words. A client of mine who failed a solo attempt at redesigning her living room confided, “Keren, we made an effort to do this by ourselves, and I know what I like, but I just can’t seem to visualize it in my own space. This is not working for us and we need your help.”

 
While she put a great deal of thought into the design, and inspiration was not lacking –she has a Pinterest account with plenty of pictures defining her “For the Home” style – she needed a designer to pull it all together, and she benefited greatly from visual aids that allowed her to see the end result beforehand.

Through the wonders of technology, designers can show clients - via perspective drawings, photo realistic renderings, and mood boards - what the end result is meant to look like. These tools are something that I employ regularly. Not only do they establish clarity between the client and the designer in terms of the desired visual aesthetic and goal, they are great for working with clients remotely. For instance, the office drawings pictured below were created for a Manhattan client. All of the items were purchased online, and the installation was carried out with specific direction.

Clients put much trust in their designers and one of the reasons they hire designers is because they covet that designer’s signature aesthetic. As much as a client loves the designer’s taste, however, she is still looking to create a space that reflects her own personal vision and so being able to collaborate with a designer that can show you exactly in what direction they are headed in, with the help of technological tools, is invaluable.

Upstage Montreal works with clients looking to completely update their residential or commercial space, as well as those wishing simply to refresh it. To know more, please visit their website by clicking HERE.

Weekend Snapshots

Don’t Saturday and Sunday feel so far away already? Monday has a mysterious effect, capable of crushing our spirit. (See? That’s the Monday effect. It makes us overly dramatic...) That being said, my weekend was absolutely lovely, filled with great activities such as brunch with MC, a hint of shopping, some blogging, fun dinners with friends, and possibly a little wine.

Here are a few snapshots:

1. New purchases: More stripes, H&M pizzazz & Marie Claire’s September issue (P.S. I’m feeling a little sad about Miley’s new hair-chop...) / 2. Beets! Hubs and I cooked yellow beets for the first time. Delish! / 3. Simple Sunday breakfast / 4. Spring cleaning... A few precious souvenirs were stored under a lovely glass dome / 5. Beets again. But this time as a salad! Seriously: how pretty are they? / 6. Street art at the corner of Rachel and St-Denis.

 

I’d love to hear what you were up to this weekend!

 

Top 10: Fall Edition

Yesterday afternoon, Montreal was hit with torrential downpours. This morning, the city woke up to a beautiful crisp fall morning. Hubby and I will walk downtown to breathe in the change of season... and I’ll be stocking up on a few beauty essentials. You’ve read my “Top 10” beauty posts, but here is September’s updated version:

 

1. FOUNDATION: Cover FX, pressed mineral powder foundation with SPF 10 / 2. LIPSTICK: Orange Flip by Revlon. I often layer mine with Artdeco’s pale pink Lip Brillance #64 / 3. BROW PENCIL: Lancôme's all-in-one essential for natural-looking brows: Le Crayon Poudre / 4. CONCEALER: The miraculous Boi-ing by Benefit / 5. PRIMER: It’s smooth sailing with Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer / 6. EYELINER: I can’t live without eyeliner and Stila’s has proven the test of time / 7. MASCARA: Artdeco All-in-one Mascara. I have it in black and blue, layering both shades / 8. NAIL POLISH: Geranium by Essie is a great “in between seasons” shade / 9. EYE CREAM: Kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocado... now that I’m 30, I’m realizing that eye cream is not a luxury purchase. Pout. / 10. DRY SHAMPOO: The best of the best is Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo.

 

Home Décor: Fall Trends

I won't deny it: I absolutely love when readers send me their requests, comments and questions. Here is the most recent query, posted on our facebook page: “PMT! Do you have any insight on what are the hot colors in home decor for the fall?”

To answer this question, I called my go-to designer, Keren Blankrot from UpStage Montreal, for her valuable input: “I’d say that for fall, the trendy colours are warm hued and rich including pumpkin, gold, cantaloupe, cinnamon, coffee and deep mauve. It’s earthy, spicy and jewel toned hues for the season." Keren adds: "A good way to integrate trends is through accessories and smaller ticket items likes throws and pillows so that you can update your look seasonally. Incorporating these colours will add warmth to her interior space as the mercury drops outside.” 

Images via

Take note of these fun suggestions, guaranteed to spice up your home décor: 1. Tonic Living Samoan Plantation Pillow / 2. Eiffel chair from Zone Maison / 3. Wire trash can from Urban Outfitters / 4. Oh-so-glam Jonathan Adler Gold Lantern vases / 5. Jonathan Adler hexagon tray... I saw these all over Germany. They are so cool! / 6. Zenith Mirror from Pure Home / 7. Hilarious flamingo table lamp from Zone Maison (who said fall needed to be serious?) 

Do you have any questions you’d like answered?

Send them to partymixtape@gmail.com or post them on our facebook page!

Happy Wedding Anniversary Hubs!

 

 

Today, Hubby and I celebrate our second wedding anniversary. We still think of ourselves as newlyweds – although, we’ve been a couple for close to fifteen years. (Hey: even as a teenager, I knew he was a keeper!) Would it be a cliché to say that my wedding day was one of the best days of my life? Yes it would be… but there you go. When you marry the love of your life, are surrounded by fabulous family and friends, dance all night, see your grandmother toasting with a jello shot, jump in and out of a photo booth, eat mini burgers at midnight… well, it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Several times, I’ve hinted that Hubby and I’s wedding had a strict black, white and leopard dress code… here’s proof!

 

Friends and family impressed us with with their creative take of the black, white and leopard dresscode. We saw animal print sunglasses, ties, jewelry, dresses, nails and even tails...

Hubs: Happy Anniversary. I love you! xox

Three weeks

Did you miss me, dear PartyMixTape readers? Oh, I missed you! But since my wonderful friend Dominique took over during my three weeks off, I know you were in good hands. That’s right: I’ve been traveling with my Hubby. We flew in to Amsterdam in early August, jetting off to Bremen for a crazy-fun German wedding, took a train to meet up with one of our good friends in Berlin, headed to Prague and finished in Munich. What a whirlwind trip! Here are a few pics:

 

1. Giving myself an orange pedi while packing (nail polish on your toes is a must!) / 2. View from Prague’s Old Town Hall. Meters below, we saw Prague’s famous Astronomical Clock. In the distance, here is The Church of Our Lady before Tyn, which dates back to the 14th century / 3. Hub’s epic burger at BARROCK / 4. Me, standing in front of the Berlinische Galerie, Berlin’s Modern art museum.

 

 

1. While in Berlin, our friend Isabeau decided to introduce us to the city’s “underground lifestyle.” To this effect, we visited numerous squat houses… my initial reaction was “Hum. Hello? I’m too cute for this!” But the memories of these eccentric graffiti-covered buildings are some of my favourite / 2. To enter the Reichstag building, Berlin’s parliament, you must go through more security than the airport! However, the breathtaking 360-degree view of Berlin’s cityscape is well worth it / 3. The Neuschwanstein Castle, two hours away from Munich / 4. Sausage. I’ve eaten enough for the next ten years. For obvious reasons, this picture is hilarious. Hubby says it would be rude to say why. Let me just say a *muffled haha.* 

 

After three weeks away, it’s good to be back! More posts to come soon!