Finally! It’s the full Roots/Scott & Tessa story. It’s official. The whole world is in love with Scott & Tessa and we are too. Dance ice dancers, dance!
Archive for May, 2010
Roots Photo Shoot With Scott Moir & Tessa Virtue- Full Version
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010Ceci N’est Pas Paris
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010Around the time of 1928, Rene Magritte painted this image called “The Treachery of Images”, wherein a pipe was painted and below it written, “Ceci n’est pas une pipe”. The image brought into question thoughts of representation, reproduction and authenticity. Although we often identify an image by a replication of that which it is, it most certainly is not “the real thing.”
Case and point, our recent Advocates excursion to Paris.
So there we were, going to shoot fashion films in the fashion capital of the world, with none other than famed photographer Renata Kaveh, and her team of top industry talent. Having grown up with shows like Sex and The City, the romantic notion of Paris had been practically calling me from across the pond for years.
Despite the obvious language barrier, I was determined to enjoy every moment of Paris, so i summoned up all my Grade 12 French and set out to experience all the fashion, culture, dining, and nightlife that Paris had to offer. And of course, I brought all my most fabulous garments that were just special enough for Parisian nightlife.
To my dismay, Paris was not the walking runway I had dreamt it up to be since my days as a budding fashion enthusiast. Not even close. Girls were wearing flats with jeans and tshirts. Whaaa?? No 6 inch stilettos for a jaunt to the local cafe? No shimmery silk dresses to cocktail hour? Balls.
The worst part of it all, was that I brought some 14 dresses for 9 days (hey! you have to switch from day to night!) and I, nay Billie, had to cart them in a garment bag, slung around his neck. Fun times had by all.
Conclusions: The romantic version of Paris you envision, is a marketing vehicle created by the media and tourism industry to sell Paris vacations. Paris is probably one of the most casual towns in the world despite (or because?) of it’s fashion accolades. Therefore, if you are heading for Paris, opt for uber casual and leave your fancy rags at home.
And if you’re wondering when those fashion films will be popping up… stay tuned.
There’s that pimped Roots leather jacket again, which ultimately became the staple item of my Paris wardrobe.
Roots Photo Shoot With Scott Moir & Tessa Virtue
Monday, May 17th, 2010Recently, The Advocates joined Roots at a photo shoot with Cylla Von Tiedemann as she captured Olympic Gold Medalists Scott Moir & Tessa virtue in action on the ice at the Forest Hill Arena. Now, I’ve been to more than a few photo shoots in my day, but this was frickin awesome. Watching them skate around and do that sexy pseudo lovers thing that they do (all for show by the way- they are not an item!) was H-O-T and we got it all on camera. Here are some behind the scenes pics as well as a teaser to the full video to be released shortly. Thank me later! xo
Man with camera= Billie Mintz! Wonderful shooting along with Sean McBride.
Tessa Virtue rocking a Roots zip hoodie. Werk it… Werk IT!!!!
And who do we see other than HMU artist Anna from FORD at the shoot? Always nice to see a familiar face!
Michael Budman, Roots Co Founder with Olympic Gold Medalist David Pelletier.
Me in my new PIMPED grey leather Roots jacket trying not to freeze my ass off. I quit figure skating when I was 6 because it made my feet too cold. That and I sucked.
Sunday Sunday
Monday, May 17th, 2010Ah yes, once again, the season is upon us. Another fancy afternoon at Casa Kate + Angela + our favourite soon-to-be summertime beverage, Fresita- and that’s what I call a party folks.
We first tasted the sweet nectar that is Fresita at WxW and soon discovered that it was even more fabulous with a healthy dose of Grey Goose with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. And at $13.75, for a bottle of sparkling wine infused with hand picked strawberries, you can’t go wrong. That’s right… “hand picked” people. No messing around over here.
So when I moved into this joint last September, we had a brief fleeting time where we could enjoy the wonder that was the backyard oasis before the cold started to set in. Well, I have since, planted a little garden, hung some candle holders from the tree branches, and re-borrowed the fabulous little mattress from the man-of-our-hearts Nathan Gauld so that we can set up our own version of paradise right here in parkdale.
Our house is conveniently located a mere stones throw from the Brock St LCBO which makes for interesting encounters when the bums save up enough for a can or two of Lakeport and decide to go drink them in the parking lot immediately next to our house. Thankfully our fence offers up some semblance of privacy although when they start talking to themselves it makes for solid entertainment.
When asking who wanted a blanket or pillow, Kat demanded… “Do you have any fur?” Well pardon me, while I go find whatever dead carcass I may have laying around inside. As Kat is dead set on only draping herself in the finest, I found the fur collar to a BEBE jacket from like 10 years ago that I couldn’t bring myself to throw away, and apparently, it sufficed.
Conclusions: 1) I’ve decided in advance that this summer will kill all other summers as things shape up nicely with The Advocates and the weather is going to be maaahhhvelous. 2) Whenever you get a bunch of London Ontario expats together and start bumping some dirrrty south hip hop, the party is gonna be “off the chain”. Cuz don’t ya know, London is home to some of the most straight up gangsta girls around…. Just ask my sister. Werd.
Wearing It by Penny Lane: Menswear: Reinvented and Reinterpreted
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Menswear has been one of my favorite trends year after year and I was thrilled to see it come it back with a bang onto runways and into stores this spring. I’ve always loved androgyny in the fashion world and while it never seems to go out of style, it finds intricate ways of reinventing itself within familiar form season after season. Menswear inspired fashion has lined every runway this season from Lanvin and YSL to Roland Mouret and Marios Shwab. There’s something so effortless about menswear, once considered rebellious and dangerous dressing, there’s an undeniable sexual connotation in dressing like a member of the opposite gender. It’s fun and effortless. It changes your entire attitude, like playing a role.
Androgyny is often referred to as gender-role transcendence and described as a state of mind (lifestyle, dress, etc) that is somewhere between male and female. Androgynous clothing usually referrs to menswear incorporated into women’s wear. The first peek at male-inspired trends was in the 1920’s when jazz-era flappers began cutting their hair ultra short and taping down their breasts to mimic the silhouete of a boy, hence the look becoming known as “le garconne”. This signified freedom from conventional gender roles, and matched the reckless lifestyles adapted by these women.
The fashion world largely began to see the menswear trend unraveling in 1940’s as a result of the need for practical dressing during wartime and led to women bravely opting for menswear inspired trousers and slacks, often in a heavy wool or tweed fabric. Marlene Dietrich became infamous for wearing slacks on the Hollywood screen and dressing herself head to toe in menswear on and off the movie set. The 40’s were also the launch of the original jumpsuit, called a utility siren suit, with a structured military inspired top and bottom.
Rock stars have adapted androgynous fashion sense as a part of their lifestyle decades ago. David Bowie has been a great influence on my personal style. His androgynous sense of fashion has no doubt influenced many of his fans and followers. His slender, long frame and the chic tailored clothing he’s worn since the 1970’s have been a vision to remember. He always looks flawless.
Agyness Deyn, fashion’s it girl and model extraordinaire is famous for her boyish fashion sense, but always manages to look feminine while dressing masculine. This is of course a large part of her charm.
Exquisite designers that favor menswear inspired looks include Alexander Wang, who is always effortlessly chic in perfectly structured unisex styles; Thakoon, whose simple, constructed pieces always look perfect and uncluttered and Comme des Garcons, who this season especially present unique pieces with a classic, bold attitude. Coco Chanel’s classic women’s suits have stayed timeless and have been a favorite menswear inspired piece in fashion history for nearly a century.
Alexander Wang, SS’10
Thakoon, SS’10
Top 5 Favorite Menswear Inspired Trends (that never go out of fashion)
1) The button down: This is an obvious choice. Button downs have been a staple in any smart woman’s wardrobe forever. They’re effortless, chic and go with nearly everything from a simple trouser to a tulle ballet skirt. This season’s button downs are more relaxed with a wider waist, often called “boyfriend shirts” due to the look being that you grabbed it right out of your boyfriend’s closet. Chambray or denim button downs have exploded in retail this spring, but the classic white or striped oxford remains a popular staple. You can get these anywhere. New or vintage, high or low end, your dad’s closet. Oversized menswear shirts look fantastic belted right at the waist and can be worn like this as a dress in summer months. Keep the bottom half skinny with well fitted pants, leggings or a mini. A loose fit all over isn’t very flattering.
2) The trouser pant: Unisex trousers are another classic staple that has been revived by labels worldwide. American Apparel has some great basic options with muted colors and higher waists. Beware the higher waist/tapered leg combo if you’re very curvy, it tends to highlight the hip to waist ratio. Neutral colors work best in this style; taupe, gray and brown are great choices. I’m not a fan of the boyfriend jean or denim short. I think this look is a little sloppy. The beauty in a tailored pant is that even if it’s not body hugging throughout, the waist and cuff of the pant fits in a way that’s still flattered to the body (male or female). Denim largely relies on overall fit rather than tailoring hence it’s trickier for it to be flattering if it’s a looser style.
3) The tailored vest: Tailored vests are a great accessory because they’re never out of style, are usually very affordable and transform any basic top or tank. Structured pinstripes add a touch of schoolboy style to any plain tee and pair of jeans and you can even throw one over a dress to bring it into casual mode. Invest in a cut that follows your body shape well, whether worn open or closed, if the fit or tailoring is off, it will show. Club Monaco is excellent for tailored menswear inspired women’s vests that fit beautifully.
4) The boyfriend blazer: The new generation of blazers, named for their looser, more relaxed masculine fit, are not restricting or prim, they’re casual and roomy and go well with nearly everything. If you’re small, like myself, and feel you’re drowning in this style, roll up the sleeves to the elbow; this will automatically balance out the more spacious bodice of the jacket. Every label is doing these now, but make sure the tailoring is well made. This is an investment piece.
5) The aviator: Ray Ban introduced their classic American wear aviator sunglasses, also known as pilot shades in the 1960’s and they’ve been revived every year in a myriad of colors and styles. This unisex piece toughens up any look with military appeal. Courage My Love in Toronto’s own Kensington market sells vintage pairs in great condition for less than half the retail price.
WOMEN x WOMEN 2010 Event Highlights
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Greetings my darlings! Here is the highlight reel from this season’s WOMEN x WOMEN at FW 2010 LG Fashion Week. Did we catch you on camera?
The Anatomy of Cool by The Cool Hunter
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010“The headline implies that there is a “body” whose anatomy you cananalyze. The whole point of cool is that it does not have a bodyavailable for analysis. It’s like a ghost instead of a corpse. That’swhy it is cool.
Just like all comments on cool, our analysis is completely individual and ever-changing. Cool is whatever you like and want. Cool issubjective. It is an opinion. But that does not mean that we — asindividuals, brands, media — are not interested in or influenced byothers’ views of what cool is.
In this sense cool is a bit like fashion. You decide and choose foryourself what you feel is fashionable within your peer group, yourculture, your age group, at your financial level. But someone somewherehas given you the initial clue. Marketers and media have brought outthe type of sneaker, the kind of jeans, the brand of handbag that younow like and want. In addition, someone you admire is most likely alsowearing it. You follow fashion.
But cool is also definitely NOT like fashion. Cool is more about whatthe norm is NOT. Cool is elusive, indefinable, covetable. It isoriginal, desirable, and not accessible to everybody. If everyone hasit, if the brand becomes saturated, it stops being cool.
Occasionally, a brand manages to remain cool and covetable, and becomesa classic. Of the world-wide brands, examples of this include Apple,Absolut and Mini. Many niche brands have also achieved classic statusin their relatively small circle. The defining characteristic of thesecool classics is that they keep innovating constantly.
Visual & instant
Cool is visual and instant. When you see it, you like it instantly. Ifit takes a lot of work to figure out, it is not cool. This does notmean that only simple or simplified things or ideas can be cool. Whatit does mean is that you need to be able to see it.
This is one reason why cool and coolhunting and trend forecastingbecame so important to marketers as soon as the internet gave everyoneinstant access to images. Magazines, TV or advertisers could no longercontrol what cool looked like. Marketers who were used to being theones who decided what the next trend or the next fashion was going tobe, suddenly had to face this uncontrollable deluge of messages,opinions and information that consumers were passing on to each other.Viral marketing, as opposed to just word-of-mouth, emerged, and itscared traditional marketers.
Today’s consumers are sick of mass marketing and the sameness ofbrands. They want to be delighted, surprised and wowed by somethingthat is authentic, different and off the mainstream. One of the reasonswww.thecoolhunter.net has become so popular and influential is that wedo not sell, market or create cool. We just give it an audience.
We process an enormous amount of information and identify what’s hot,exceptional, interesting, covetable. It must have an instantly obviousx-factor. Detecting it is always intuitive. There’s no formula, norules, no parameters. We do find patterns, parallels and trends, but wedo not become stuck in them and start looking for similar things. Theintuitive reaction, the ability to observe the world, and the skill toprocess massive quantities of unrelated information is what we are goodat.”
- Bill Tikos
http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/1717/the-anatomy-of-cool
http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/1717/the-anatomy-of-cool