Recently

A list of various things I've been enjoying recently:

-The Leechblock add-on
I stopped kidding myself that I would have the self-control of stopping browsing time-wasting websites, or lifestyle sites I read but that fill me with self-doubt instead of providing me with *helpful tips*. I have been spending enormous amounts of time on my computer this semester, and I'd rather force myself to procrastinate constructively if I procrastinate at all.

-Collector's Weekly
Don't be fooled by the click-bait titles: most articles are in fact interviews with autodidact experts on a variety of subject matters, reunited by their love of collecting. Favourites include this article about early 20th century folk and blues record collectors, and this article about the thoughts behind Vintage Black Glamour.

-The Vault
Slate's American History blog.

-99 Percent Invisible Podcast
I discovered a number of new podcasts through Stevie's list, which prompted me to look around for even more. 99 PI is a design podcast with a focus on everyday objects and historical remnants in the modern world. Favourite episodes include Palm Reading, which is about palm trees, and Under the Moolight, which discusses Moonlight Towers and the beginnings of public electrical lighting.

-Milan Kundera's The Joke
A novel inspired by a newspaper article about a girl who stole flowers from cemetaries to give them to her lover.

- Vintage button-front suede mini skirts
As soon as the perfect one pops up on ebay, you can be sure I'll be sporting one. Now, they only appear to have been made in one size too big and one size too small, but I'll be patient.

-Breaking Away

I've been meaning to do a full post about this movie; here's the trailer in the meantime.

-Koloman Moser's Landscapes

-Traveling to England
I'm very pleased to tell you that my #oldootd/#EHCC participation, even though sometimes fleeting, has paid off. I'll be visiting Oxford, Brighton, and London in May, with the possibility of an extra day trip should the occasion arise. And by "should the occasion arise" I mean that if any of you has any recommendations, or would like to meet up for coffee or a drink at some point, I would be very happy to hear from you - just send me an email.

Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man

Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man, by Jonas Mekas.

“A motion picture composed of brief diaristic scenes not used in completed films from the years 1960-2000; and self-referential video footage taped during the editing. Brief glimpses of family, friends, girl-friends, the City, seasons of the year, travels. Occasionally I talk, reminisce, or play music I taped during those earlier years, plus more recent piano improvisations by Auguste Varkalis. It’s a kind of autobiographical, diaristic poem, celebration of happiness and life. I consider myself a happy man.” –Jonas Mekas

I would love to see this in full.

Style bits and bobs

Why hello there. I'm just popping in quickly to show you this AMAZING jacket from Valentino's Men's FW15 collection (photo by the Sartorialist), plus two links a friend shared earlier today, excited at the possible return of this defining fad of his youth: flares for men. This is thrilling news if you ask me, and whether they really come back is of little importance. I will be out there with my newly found, perfect 70s flares on, proud to have an excuse to wear them - since, you know, Men's fashion says so.

Travel > sweaters

The extent of the situation. The only thing missing is the big box of sweaters that lives under my bed during the warmer months and my entire vintage stock which is off-limits, but definitely not an excuse.

I've done a lot of talking over the past few months, but not a lot of doing. I've flirted with the idea of documenting all my purchases here and shaming myself into frugality, but gave up before even starting because I thought it would be too much work. Why not just become frugal? Isn't the idea of being careful sufficient? As I'm still writing about it, well, no, it isn't for me. I needed to find a way to keep my good habits up, but also support from peers: there's no fun in getting rid of a habit that brings you some kind of pleasure if there is no challenge or new pleasure to replace it with. This idea of a challenge is very motivating to me, and when Stevie posted this, it was all I needed to really start acting towards my goal.

You see, I really, truly want to visit the UK next Spring. I received some traveling money from my parents for my graduation, and I'd like to built up on that fund especially as I've had to take a bit from it to pay for mundane things. I felt very guilty doing so, and I really want to push myself to keep my eyes on my great shiny traveling goal. Traveling, and the knowledge I can be resolute enough to save up to do so will be much more gratifying than any new sweater, no matter how fluffy or soft (here, I'm picturing an actual sweater from work I've been coveting, oh dear).

I put together a few rules to keep myself in check especially as shopping is part of my job. I do some buying for both the vintage shops where I work and the online vintage shop I own, and not mixing shopping and professional buying will probably be the most challenging aspect of keeping to my new resolution. There's a few things that, should they appear, I won't pass up (the perfect grey cardigan and a pair of dressy pants come to mind - my finickiness regarding both is enough to maintain my integrity towards my goals), but I won't actively seek out or buy anything online as I tend to do. High street stores are not a danger with me, but the low price vintage shops where I work can be incredibly tempting and I will have to prepare a lovely mental slideshow of various UK locations to keep me afloat on the bad days. Or maybe I should make myself a travel tip jar, in which could I tip myself on days when I feel like I need to be rewarded? Stevie talked about star charts in her great *motivational* post about her frugal goals, and I plan to start one for myself - total Camille-bait.
But before all else, I need to be honest with you, or I'll feel like an impostor: I sorely need a few pairs of black tights and will not refrain from procuring them, travel tip jar or not.

It felt very good to check today as a successful day in my diary, and I think the experience will provide me with an undeniable proof to a theory I've been harboring for quite some time: that I'm actually always wearing a variation of the same thing.

Stevie and I have already started documenting our (one) daily outfit(s) on instagram under the tag #oldootd, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Fiona comes up with. You're very welcome to join us - there's nothing like company to keep (my) motivation up!

So good.

Goodness gracious.
Valentino, Spring 2015, by The Sartorialist.

Mood, June 2014

Mood - June 2014.

Over the past 5 years, the summer jobs I held were all in freezing, over-air-conditioned spaces, if not real fridges. Therefore, I haven't had to truly dress for summer full-time since 2009. But this summer, things are different. I have a new job - more on that soon - and the new sartorial opportunities it offers are particularly exciting to me. Suddenly, everything sleeveless gets worn, I've gotten enough wear out of that silk tank from Boxing Day 2008 for it to finally redeem itself as a judicious purchase, 5+ years later. Above are a number of images including elements that have been appealing to me lately: soft and muted colours, grey-blues, moss greens, and sunset tangerines; mixes of workwear and flowy fabrics; soft, very worn t-shirts; good, messy, too-clean hair; sheer beige socks (Cheap Date was right all along); and embracing glasses, trying to anyway.

Sources: Chantal Anderson, Andy Grellman, Tali by Styleclicker, Greta Villiger by Maya Villiger, Ultramarine Vintage, Elise Mesner, Margaret Howell 2012 (?) ad.

Fried Rice Connoisseur

Hello! Just a quick note to let you know that Joy's interview with me is up on her blog Fried Rice Connoisseur. On the menu: uniforms, vintage and the democratisation of fashion, and Montréal tips. Thank you Joy, it was great to have you over!

I'm slowly getting used to the beat of not having hundreds of pages to compose, and you should see some frequent-ish posting here very soon.

P.S. If I may say, Oulipo the cat simply does not take well to being picked up or photographed, ever, but fortunately was not as distressed as he may appear.