I stumbled and I liked it

Photo courtesy of www.stylesightings.com

I discovered an incredibly addictive web tool this week: Stumble Upon. I highly recommend this web crack for all the Internet junkies out there. The way it works is you build an account, customize your settings (I took the fashion, design and travel route), and then click the "Stumble" button. Before you know it, you'll be surfing through the World Wide Web's top-rated sites for the subject matter of your choice. I've been on it for a week and already have 20 favourite sites. Here's my top list for fashion:

www.stylesightings.com - There's a special on Paris right now. *swoon*

www.thefashionpolice.net - Take part in their many polls. So much fun!

www.polyvore.com - One-stop shopping to mix and match from a whole pile of boutiques

www.krftd.com - Check here for a review of fashionable umbrellas

www.howtofoldashirt.net - Learn how to fold a shirt in two very complicated and practically impossible steps

www.fieggen.com - While you're at it, might as well brush up on your shoe lacing techniques, right?

www.dirtyflaws.com - For those who like to mix a little S&M with their couture...

I'll keep you updated as my web travels continue. I've also got a Stumble Upon Addicts support group on the backburner, if need be. Don't be shy to share your fave links!

Asha

I spotted Asha at a recent event at Canteen and knew immediately that she had to be a Youth League street style candidate.

What I love about her look: the simplicity. She's got a killer accessory that is the standout element of her ensemble. By pairing it with a hot black top and well-tailored pants, it doesn't compete -- it reigns.

Let's do this

I've kept you waiting far too long for the rest of the Paris diaries. Let's get right to it.

Everywhere I went in this city, I was hard-pressed to not find the nearest Internet cafe, print out my resume, and apply to work forever in the coolest boutique I'd ever seen. But then, I walk a little further down the street and want to work at this store too. And that one just down the block. I found myself rationalizing half days here and half days there to give all the lovely shops a fair chance. 

But once I got over my fashion lust, I found three steady long-term fashion loves. They are, in no particular order:

The Kooples - www.thekooples.com

Three words to describe The Kooples: Sexy, ubiquitous and inexpensive. Bonus word: quality.

The Kooples is a new label that has taken France by storm. In less than two years, the company has opened 14 boutiques in the city alone, not to mention another nine shops in Province. The clothes are high-quality hipster style pieces: slightly androgynous, and well-worn in all the right places.

I had the pleasure of being served by the handsome part-time Koople Nicolas at the Rue Boissy D'Anglas location, and I promptly parted with a warm glow and a black lace mini dress.

While you're in this hood, be sure to check out the many other nearby boutiques and bistros. This area is a hot spot for good food and fashion. But really, let's be honest. Isn't everywhere in Paris?

Isabel Marant - www.isabelmarant.tm.fr

Isabel Marant's boutique was a close walk from my hotel, and no matter what time of day I passed by (or how many times in one day), I'd stop, stare and catch my breath. These are the kind of clothes you'd wear to the most special occasions in your life. We're talking high-quality investment pieces. Conversation starter pieces. Envy-inducing pieces. 

JC de Castelbajac - www.jc-de-castelbajac.com

JC de Castelbajac is the most original designer I have ever encountered. A walk inside his boutique is like stepping into imagination of a free-spirited toddler hopped up on Skittles. This season, Castelbajac has taken his inspiration from one of pop culture's most powerful media: cartoons. Spring/Summer 2009 is strongly influenced by Disney, with dresses, shirts and home decor covered in brightly coloured Mickey Mouse ears and cloud motifs. 

You might recall seeing one of Castelbajac's most famous pieces--a coat made of teddy bears, modeled by Madonna. That was about 20 years ago, and the designer is now being copied by younger upstarts trying to get in on the action. 

Trend watch

I left Paris with a renewed sense of purpose when it comes to fashion. People here get it. From the adorable well-behaved children to the businessmen in custom-cut suits, the people of Paris take pride in their appearance in a way that we don't often see in North America. The Parisiens reinforce a very important guideline when it comes to fashion: good grooming is not about carrying the latest "It Bag" or dressing head-to-toe in couture. It's about investing in quality pieces that flatter your physique, suit the occasion, and make you feel confident. 

That being said, there a few trends on the streets of Paris these days, most of which we'll see in about two years unless you beat the fashion wave to the punch. 

Natural make-up and hair

This season, the women of Paris are sporting long hair, generally parted in the middle. Colours are natural--leaning from sun-kissed blonde to deep browns.

Make-up is natural as well, with bronzer, mascara and lip gloss being the prominent tools in Paris make-up bags. I saw the occasional coral or red lipstick for evening, and it looked fabulous.

The Spring Chloe ads are the perfect example of this natural make-up look.

The Harem pant

What a strange trend these harem pants are. They're not the most flattering legwear we've seen in recent years, but they're the hottest thing in Paris these days. I picked up a pair and have been wearing them around Ottawa over the last few weeks, to mostly complimentary reviews. They're incredibly comfortable, that's a for sure. American Apparel has some funky patterned versions on display right now, so if you want to get a taste for what they'll do for your backside (my buns aren't too impressed, I gotta admit), give a pair a try.

The Boyfriend Jean

Katie Holmes' influence has made it all the way across the ocean. Who would have thought? But in typical French fashion, the Parisiens have taken the Boyfriend Jean and made it their own. In fact, The Kooples has beautiful pair on the racks for Spring/Summer.


Stay tuned for one last Paris post where I give you a list of all the great fashion museums to check out.

xoxo

Book of the Month: Kate Moss Style

This month's Book of the Month comes to you straight from la Rue de Furstemberg in Paris. While wandering around Rive Gauche on my last day, I stumbled upon pretty much the coolest home decore/bookstore ever: Arty Dandy (www.artydandy.com). It was the strangest thing -- out of five days in the city, my visit to this boutique was the first time I was addressed in English. And it wasn't like I'd even said anything. Apparently the girl in the store could tell I was North American entirely by my fashion sense -- my black flats, leather leggings, white blouse and faded jean jacket were like a beacon screaming Not From Here. Busted!

Anyway, back to the book. Kate Moss Style: Inside the World's Most Famous Wardrobe, is the kind of book you can pick up and not put down until you've hit the last page. I read this book cover to cover on my flight home, and not even a high-altitude hangover could stop me from devouring chapter after chapter.

The book chronicles Kate's style from her pre-modeling high school days through to her relationships with Johnny Depp, Pete Doherty and beyond. We learn that Kate is quite possibly the world's most learned vintage shopper, with hook-ups in practically every major city. 

Through an in-depth photo gallery, we see how she epitomizes the "high versus low" fashion mentality, mixing thrift store finds with Vivienne Westwood couture. Every garment, shoe or accessory she wears turns to both critical and commercial gold, and through interviews with her chums and mentors in the fashion elite, we learn just what makes Kate the fashion muse she is.  A quick teaser: it has something to do with a whole lot of confidence, rock & roll, and indifference. 

I challenge you to read this book and not feel inspired. 

Published by Century (part of Random House Group)

$34.95

The Uniform Project

Photo courtesy of The Uniform Project

Ever look in your closet and feel like you have nothing to wear? If you're anything like me, you probably have too much to wear and might be in need of a reality check. If so, look no further than Sheena Matheiken and The Uniform Project. 

Matheiken has committed to wearing the same cotton black dress for 365 days (well, sorta... She actually has seven replicas of the same dress), in an effort to raise money for Indian school children living in slums. 

Matheiken's got a philanthropic challenge on her hands, of course, but she also has a fashion one too. How do you wear the same black cotton dress 365 different ways? By the looks of things , Matheiken is most certainly up to the task, with a vintage eco-friendly twist just to make this project that much sweeter.

To learn how to donate or gaze in awe at Matheiken's supreme accessorizing skills, check out the links below.

www.theuniformproject.com

Interview with Sheena Matheiken on Daily Candy

Thanks to the lovely Miss Jes for giving me the scoop on this project. xoxo