Showing posts with label Louis Vuitton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Louis Vuitton. Show all posts

Friday, February 7, 2020

Colour Story: Montreal



Tweed skirt, old JCrew, Hermes scarf.
 We'll be heading to Union Station in Toronto next week to hop on a train to Montreal.  It's a girls trip with my best girlfriends The Lauras and all of our daughters.  We'll be doing some shopping, hitting restaurants and pubs... and maybe even a night club for the younger set.

It will most certainly be cold.  Do you know that song 'Montreal' by Raine Maida?  The chorus goes something like "the cold winds of Montreal... the cold winds of Montreal", which bears repeating because this is the thing I remember best about Montreal in the middle of winter: damn but the winds are cold.

I'll be bringing out my best cold weather armour, the things I wear if it's -20 and I need to take Scout for a long walk.  Those things are layers, of course, and more specifically layers of tweed and wool and fur.
 It's true that I stopped consuming meat entirely almost three years ago, not for any particular health reason but because I love pigs and logically not eating other animals follows that line of thinking.  I do however wear recycled fur.

My mother-in-law, who I loved dearly and miss very much, left me her dark brown mink coat.  I stared at it for a couple of years trying to figure out what to do with it and finally I decided to have it reworked so I could wear it during our coldest months.  I had it made into a reversible coat, with the fur on the inside and a dark brown water and windproof taffeta fabric on the outside.  Though it is reversible I never, ever wear it with the fur on the outside, it's not as warm for one, but it's also too much of a fur look.  I prefer the taffeta exterior with the fur trim, and of course the warmth.
 I'll be bringing my trusty LV dark brown bag and a recycled brown mink fur hat.

Train travel can be a bit challenging for me with the hauling of luggage up and down the stairs.  I'll be bringing my Dubarry of Ireland brown duffle bag, which isn't particularly large by any means.  My colour story will need to be fairly streamlined.
Travel gear.
 I'll bring my two J.Crew tweed skirt suits from 2006.  Does this qualify as vintage?  I'm not sure but what I do know is that these outfits are my favourite things to wear in the winter.  They fit beautifully, are so warm with just a silk camisole, tights and boots, and because of their neat fit they slide under the slightly oversized fur coat without issue.  The combination of wool and fur is like trapping myself inside a furnace.
These tweed skirt suits are the base of the story, one in green and one in red.
 I always add a scarf to the neck of these suits to warm up and cover the neck.
Dark brown boots will be worn with every outfit.
 To get a more casual look out of these suits I'll bring my Bosie of Scotland fair isle sweaters, a pink one for the green skirt of course:
 My red suit is a real favourite, in part because I pair it with my Hermes Metamorphosis scarf:
 I'll bring a third tweed skirt which doesn't have a jacket pairing, but which does pair well with the yellow Bosie fair isle and my yellow-toned scarf.
Third tweed skirt.
Old JCrew, 2005.
I've worn this yellow fair isle so much this winter, it's lovely warm and surprisingly versatile, really bringing out the warm tones in the red tweed.
 This was a favourite look around Christmas this year:
Other additions to the duffle will be some warm pyjamas and a bathing suit for the hotel pool.  I'll just bring the one pair of boots but lots of tights and some warm socks to layer as well.

  I'm so looking forward to spending this time with my girlfriends and all of our girls- who grew up together and are now amazing and fun young adult women.
I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and hopefully return with some good restaurant recommendations.
Have you been to Montreal?
xoxDani

Thursday, January 11, 2018

The Best Laid Plans

 I'm a bit late off the mark, but this week I finally organized my planner for 2018.
As you can see I have a planner from Louis Vuitton, and it is extra special not just for the classic look of it and the perfect size, but because it was a gift from my dear friend Tabs!
I've been using it for about three or four years, and even though I have an iPhone with apps etc I just don't feel organized unless I plan things out on paper.
It's not just me who feels this way, you can read a NYT article about the case for a paper planner right here.

It is possible to acquire the new year inserts from the Louis Vuitton store, which I have done once.  They are quite special with a yearly theme and attractive stickers, but the inserts from Filofax also fit in this planner just perfectly.  I order the "personal" size from their website.

This is next week starting to take shape.
 I prefer to open my planner and see one week at a time.  I fill it in with appointments and social events, but I also note down any illness in the family as it happens, just so that I have a record of it.

I also make note of things like my migraine attacks, one of which I had yesterday.
It's interesting (if frustrating) to look back on a year and take in the frequency and severity of something like migraine attacks: all other plans for that day and likely the next will be scrawled out.

The best laid plans!
I also buy the inserts to make lists and notes.
I'm a great one for list-making.


Ironically enough the novel I'm reading right now (for my Fun Book Club) is indeed titled The Best Laid Plans.  By about 7:30 last night my migraine had calmed to the point of exhaustion and I was able to lie down and read for a bit before I fell asleep ridiculously early.
I'm so enjoying this book, it is hilarious and the characters are not only well-drawn, they ring true.  You can read about Terry Fallis and his books here.

I hope your plans for today go off just as you hope!
xoxDani