closet Archives - Page 7 of 10

Autumn Has Arrived with Canadian Fashion | Smythe

I always know when it is officially Autumn as our wedding anniversary is September 21st {Happy Anniversary, babe!}. While the actual Autumn equinox happens in and around this date {sometimes sooner, sometimes later}, for me it marks the change of seasons in a very meaningful way. It marks my change of season from single to married; from temporary love to unconditional love; from dreaming on my own to dreaming together. Crisp air, sunshine, beautiful smells, cozy sweaters, walks in the falling leaves, snuggles by the fire reading books, hearty meals and abundant harvest. This is the backdrop for our celebration. The sights, sounds, textures and tastes are rich and soul-satisfying, just like our love. I’m a grateful girl.

I must admit, I also love this season for the change in wardrobe. I’m often the last to put away my flip-flops in exchange for leather and laces, but the cozy textures of wool, cashmere and soft mohair blankets make it an inviting change of pace. Add to that a fire crackling in the hearth and a gorgeous french oven full of Beef Bourgignon slowly cooking in the kitchen and I’m grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I’ll try to make that dish soon and share the recipe with you {it’s one from my English Great Aunt, a Cordon Bleu trained chef, and it’s such elegant comfort food!}.

As I’m looking into this season’s closet, here are a few pieces that have caught my eye and made it onto my wish list:

I am actually head-over-heels in LOVE with the shapes and tailoring, textiles and details from the sartorial Canadian design team at Smythe. The contemporary, flawlessly-tailored jackets and coats feature nostalgic colors, textures and prints that are distinct in their traditional menswear tailoring details while decidedly feminine in silhouette. All of their pieces are made right here in Canada {just in case you needed an excuse to love them more}.

For outer layers, these two beautiful yet very different pieces have my number.

I love the faux-fur-lined hood and collar on this Donegal Tweed Bedouin Wrap {above} – perfect for more casual outfits and ideal for layering over those gorgeous tailored blazers.

Check out the military detail on the shoulders of this elegant yet fashion-forward Maxi Coat! Perfect over dresses to keep the gams warm while sporting something sexy underneath.

What are your favourite things about this new season? Would love to know what’s on your wish list and your bucket list as we all dive head-first into Fall. More inspiration to come in the days ahead!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|September 21st, 2012|2 Comments

An Ode To The Summer Picnic

Remember my recent ramblings about how a sweet and simple dress fanned into flame the spark of an idea? I don’t know about you, but I don’t choose fashion for the label or the status of it. I choose fashion because it feels like a reflection of my personality, my interests, my quirks and expressive ways, my style and quite simply myself. I choose it because it fits and reflects my life.

My closet is diverse, reflecting the need to express different moods at different times, but this dress fit like a glove in every way. A vintage silhouette with a whimsical flair, tailored yet easy, lovely but not too serious. And so it is most befitting that this feminine frock also led to the creation of this video, paying homage to the last few days of summer and one of my favourite ways to spend them – picnicking with friends, surrounded by nature, savouring gourmet flavours, together.

An Ode to the Summer Picnic from The Curated House on Vimeo.

You can find recipes for the lovely food featured in the video here. The beautiful plates were provided by Anthropologie {also the source of this inspirational dress}. And the visual beauty is all thanks to the creative genius of the delightful Phil Lindsay.

Summer doesn’t officially succumb to Fall’s embrace for at least a couple of weeks yet, so I say ask her to dance. Feel the warmth of her sun on your skin, the breeze of her breath in your hair, the softness of her green blades of grassy attire beneath your bare feet as you sway to her soft rhythm. Squeeze out every last drop of goodness you can from the fruit of her season and savour each sip with the ones you love. It’s the stuff memories are made of.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|September 7th, 2012|3 Comments

Balzac’s | The Lost Art of The Daily Ritual

Any good design excursion requires fuel. The process of gathering together fresh ideas, new materials and exciting products can spend energy faster than you realize, all swept up in the moment of inspiration. But when the realization hits, it is imperative to have a well-mapped layout of the city’s best coffee shops on hand for immediate action. There is no underestimating the urgency of this situation when it hits, and the need for REALLY good coffee at a moment like this is a serious matter. One of my favourite “suppliers,” nestled in the heart of the Distillery District, is the artisinal coffee roaster and neighbourhood café Balzac’s.

If, like me, you believe that daily rituals can be art, then Balzac’s is the place for you. With their exposed brick walls, vintage signage everywhere and industrial lighting mixed with antique chandeliers, the environment is the perfect backdrop for great conversation and great ideas. Not to mention that they present their lattés as coffee art {one of my favourite touches}.

Named after the French 19th century novelist whose prolific satirical works were said to be fuelled by endless cups of strong, black coffee, Balzac’s coffee culture is steeped in history while meeting the needs of the modern day joe-junkie.

It almost seems a shame to drink it at first! But it would be even more shameful to waste that slow-roasted goodness. And getting to the bottom of each cup {for me} is a ritual of seeing how my coffee art unravels with every sip. I try to have at least the tip of the milk-foam leaf left at the bottom of the cup as testament to where we began {just for fun, of course}. And then – fear not – I drink that, too.

An empty cup and a filled tank, ready for more adventures. Where do you get your fuel fix? Tell me about your favourite and inspired coffee shops and local eateries {and how you turn some of your daily rituals into art}. I’ll add your favourites to my ever-expanding “emergency map.”

xo
s.

All photographs by the lovely Gabriela Hansen

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|August 31st, 2012|5 Comments