I Miss You: "You say, I always hear what I want to..." (Lisa Loeb)

Our story begins innocently enough on a winter’s walk to get some fresh air.  In between shivers, I decided to pop into a few vintage shops as the stretch on Ossington between Dundas and Queen West is dotted with tiny independent boutiques.  Knowing that I was so close to temptation, I threw caution to the below zero wind and entered one of my favourites, I Miss You Vintage (63 Ossington Ave.). 

I Miss You NEVER disappoints with an ever-changing and meticulously curated selection.  To melt your heart, there are soft Italian leather clutches in a rainbow of colours majestic blue to flashy red, a dazzling case of 1950’s brooches, unique cinch waist-belts and vintage designer frocks from Pucci.  Sensory overload!  Lately, I have been giving friends Snakeskin fever, as in I peer pressure gently influence them to take home some python.  I resisted for a minute before settling on a black A-line dress trimmed in bright yellow accented with a rainbow chevron skirt.  It’s so fun and different, it’s guaranteed high ROC.   

Chevron-town. Very chi-chi rugs.

The Chevron pattern is a zig-zag stripe either woven into the fabric or formed by sewing two striped pieces of material intersecting at a sharp angle.  The style has a very vintage feel and is often associated with Missoni, the italian design house that utilizes the pattern as its trademark.  I love chevrons since they remind me of my tweens purchasing little 70’s dresses with this pattern.  I see you have just added chevron to your fashion vocabulary… and perhaps wardrobe? (insert raised eyebrow & gently influencing).

Killing me so cute: Missoni caftan with chevron print. Ba-na-nas!

43E BOHEMIAN WINE

This engraved wine glass shows a hound hunting a unicorn.

H: 15.5 cm

1690

Engraved Glass # 8,

Hans Cohn Collection # 239

Bickerton # 13

Bohemian Wine Glass Unicorn Side

Bohemian Wine Glass with Hound

With all the slow-motion martial art fight sequences and a story involving magical characters and a secret occult society, the latest version of Sherlock seems more inspired by Hollywood than Doyle’s legendary character. But in truth, there have been so many interpretations, that our perceptions may have altered the real Sherlock Holmes.

Snobs love to turn their noses at Hollywood, because it makes them sound oh so sophisticated. Especially, when it comes to classic stories that have been reinterpreted for a modern audience. The latest Sherlock will be no exception. Many critics have already written this movie off as being cartoonish before having seen it.

Well, upon further investigation (aka wikipedia), I discovered that this could be the truest version yet. It turns out the intellectual Sherlock was just as much brawn as he was a brain. Not only was he fond of bare-knuckle fighting but was also educated in martial arts. And while many people remember a more refined and…well…more British Sherlock. Doyle describes his leading man as being “bohemian”, a drug addict and a slob. And as for the presence of “magic” and the occult, this is not so much Hollywood sensationalism as it is a nod to the traditions of gothic literature. So there.

In other words, enjoy Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock. If for no other reason than watching Robert Downey Jr. playing a wonderfully flawed Sherlock. Yes it does mix the cerebral with action-film gusto but isn’t that what makes going to the movies fun?

LOVE it! Hope she doesn’t date anymore douchebags…

idk why but I really like them together. I’m uber annoyed at her for not having proper shoes on though! Otherwise all supercuteness.

This time of year calls for merriment, champagne popping, tunes non-stopping.  Perhaps I shall pursue a new career in rapping? 

My wardrobe has a disproportionate amount of cocktail and party frocks.  It’s an embarrassing 4:1 ratio dresses to pants.  Truth be told, girls at holiday parties always want to be one of the most sparkling and radiant diamonds in the bunch.  It’s social mortification (“Gasp! OMG, she is wearing the same dress as you!”) to show up with the exact same outfit as someone else.  This inevitabley leads to consciously staying by the punch while she is on the dancefloor.  Too much labour!

I would like to share a few thoughts about what makes a striking statement dress that will get you “High ROC’s” (return on compliment) in the Snapbox (a la Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 2).   

Put your hands up in your hair for Alice + Olivia's LBD

• Little Black Dress – Truth:  I am not a big advocate of party dressing in black.  If you really must LBD it, pleasex3 make it interesting and exciting by adding rhinestones, some leather and a heaping serving of tulle.  Subtle does not exist in my fashion dictionnaire.  This version is so fun and flirty, you will be KB-ing with your choice of suitors in no time.  And why not punch up your dress with some flashy stilettos in a cerulean blue or a layered ruffle fuschia?

Robert Rodriguez sequin floral dress

• Colour Me Gorgeous – Bright solids like this cobalt blue chiffon assymetrical mini dress from R-Rod will make a statement.  Colour is one of the easiest ways to flatter your skin tone.  With sequin appliques and an interestingly slouchy dolman sleeve, people will take notice to your attention to details. 

Violet BCBG: Swag me in mauve fabric

• Grecian goddess – BCBG is my go-to for the best cocktail dresses.  Here we have a lovely pale mauve ruched mini dress with one-shoulder and rhinestones appliques.  Super flattering and you don’t need much jewellery because the dress is fairly embellished in a bib necklace style.  Draped chiffon is so pretty in photos, especially in action shots.

DVF Maxi Dress: It's a party on my dress!

• Beach Optic Floral – If you keep up with the resort trends, floral prints will be in bloom for Spring.  Pardon the cheesy pun.  Be the first fashionistah on your block to sport the look in a Pop Art, colour kaleidoscope, graphic maxi, like this version from Diane von Furstenburg.  If you are fortunate enough to spend the holidays away on vacation, this one should be packed in your suitcase.

Afrikaans :  Geseënde Kersfees

Afrikander :  Een Plesierige Kerfees

African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja :  Rehus-Beal-Ledeats

Albanian : Gezur Krislinjden

Arabic :  Milad Majid

Argentine :  Feliz Navidad

Armenian :  Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand

Azeri :  Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun

Bahasa Malaysia :  Selamat Hari Natal

Basque :  Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!

Bengali :  Shuvo Naba Barsha

Bohemian :  Vesele Vanoce

Brazilian :  Feliz Natal

Breton :  Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat

Bulgarian :  Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo

Catalan :  Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!

Chile :  Feliz Navidad

Chinese :  (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun

Chinese :  (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun

Choctaw :  Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito

Columbia :  Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo

Cornish :  Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth

Corsian :  Pace e salute

Crazanian :  Rot Yikji Dol La Roo

Cree :  Mitho Makosi Kesikansi

Croatian :  Sretan Bozic

Czech :  Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok

Danish :  Glædelig Jul

Duri :  Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak

Dutch :  Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast

English :  Merry Christmas

Eskimo :  (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!

Esperanto :  Gajan Kristnaskon

Estonian :  Ruumsaid juulup|hi

Ethiopian :  (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal

Faeroese :  Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!

Farsi :  Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad

Finnish :  Hyvaa joulua

Flemish :  Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar

French :  Joyeux Noel

Frisian :  Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!

Galician :  Bo Nada

Gaelic :  Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!

German :  Fröhliche Weihnachten

Greek :  Kala Christouyenna!

Haiti :  (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri’cho o Rish D’Shato Brichto

Hausa :  Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaiian :  Mele Kalikimaka

Hebrew :  Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova

Hindi :  Shub Naya Baras

Hausa :  Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaian :  Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Hungarian :  Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket

Icelandic :  Gledileg Jol

Indonesian :  Selamat Hari Natal

Iraqi :  Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Irish :  Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat

Iroquois :  Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.

Italian :  Buone Feste Natalizie

Japanese :  Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Jiberish :  Mithag Crithagsigathmithags

Korean :  Sung Tan Chuk Ha

Lao :  souksan van Christmas

Latin :  Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!

Latvian :  Prieci’gus Ziemsve’tkus un Laimi’gu Jauno Gadu!

Lausitzian : Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto

Lettish :  Priecigus Ziemassvetkus

Lithuanian :  Linksmu Kaledu

Low Saxon :  Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar

Macedonian :  Sreken Bozhik

Maltese :  IL-Milied It-tajjeb

Manx :  Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa

Maori :  Meri Kirihimete

Marathi :  Shub Naya Varsh

Navajo :  Merry Keshmish

Norwegian :  God Jul, or Gledelig Jul

Occitan :  Pulit nadal e bona annado

Papiamento :  Bon Pasco

Papua New Guinea :  Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu

Pennsylvania German :  En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!

Peru :  Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo

Philipines :  Maligayan Pasko!

Polish :  Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie

Portuguese : Feliz Natal

Pushto :  Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha

Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua

Rhetian :  Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn

Romanche :  (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!

Rumanian :  Sarbatori vesele or Craciun fericit

Russian :  Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom

Sami :  Buorrit Juovllat

Samoan :  La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou

Sardinian :  Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou

Serbian :  Hristos se rodi

Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce

Sami: Buorrit Juovllat

Samoan :  La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou

Scots Gaelic :  Nollaig chridheil huibh

Serbian: Hristos se rodi.

Singhalese :  Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa

Slovak :  Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok

Slovene :  Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto

Spanish :  Feliz Navidad

Swedish :  God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År

Tagalog : Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon

Tami :  Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal

Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!

Thai :  Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas

Turkish :  Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Ukrainian :  Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM HRYSTOVYM

Urdu :  Naya Saal Mubarak Ho

Vietnamese :  Chuc Mung Giang Sinh

Welsh :  Nadolig Llawen

Yoruba :  E ku odun, e ku iye’dun!

*************************************

The Ultimate High End Bag Lady

Anna Piaggi is an Italian fashion writer and style icon.

Anna Piaggi has written for fashion magazines such as the Italian edition of Vogue and, in the 1980s, the avant-garde magazine Vanity. She is known especially for double page spreads in the Italian Vogue, where her artistic flair has been given free expression in a montage of images and text, with layout by Luca Stoppini. Since 1969, she has used a bright red manual Olivetti typewriter for her work.

Piaggi has a large clothes collection, including 2865 dresses and 265 pairs of shoes, according to a 2006 exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She dresses in an exuberant, unique and eclectic way, never appearing in the same outfit more than once in public. Such is her influence and knowledge in the fashion world, Manolo Blahnik has dubbed her ‘The world’s last great authority on frocks’.

Her associates in the fashion world include the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld (from the 1970s), who has often sketched her, and Manolo Blahnik, who is the designer of many of her shoes. She is the muse of British milliner Stephen Jones. She is also an admirer of British clothes designer Vivienne Westwood and her hats, made by Prudence Millinery. She has lived in New York and has visited London and Italy periodically since the 1950s.

Piaggi was married to the photographer Alfa Castaldi in 1962 in New York. Castaldi died in 1995

via Wikipedia

And back in Malibu, and more importantly! Back to her Boho roots!

I love that she doesn’t wear heels and shit everyday. But this was obviously date day… Love that!

via Here in Malibu

THE MUPPETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Playwright Edgar Oliver just did a bit for The Moth called The Apron Strings of Savannah. He’s my new temporary Personal Savior, making him just Christmassy enough, and very, very Xistlesslistlessnessmassy.

Playlist

Edgar Christmas 1
Alleee 1
Kiki & Herb * Fox in the Snow
Wade Denning * Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Edgar Christmas 2
The Klezmonauts * Good King Wenceslaus
Danger Woman * Sleigh Ride
Edgar Christmas 3
Ken Griffin * Kringle’s Jingle
Les Poppys * September Noir Noel Blanc
Edgar Christmas 4
Melachrino Strings * Jingle Bells
Peter Wood Singers and Orchestra * Hail Christmas
Edgar Christmas 5
Monterey Brass * Mama’s Santa Surprise
Jada With the Vice Squad * Jada’s Christmas Song
Edgar Christmas 6
Royale Concert Orchestra * March of the Toys
Singing Mariners * Holly Holy
Edgar Christmas 7
St. Phillips Boys Choir * Walking in the Air
A Plus D * Give Da Jew Girl Toys
Edgar Christmas 8
Steve Tung * Winter Ride
Big Balls of Holly * Bhangra Jingle Bells
Edgar Christmas 9
The Bob Crewe Generation * Winter Warm
The Leroy Holmes Singers * Be Mine Tonight
Edgar Christmas 10
Vince Guaraldi Trio * Skating
Alleee 2

Download

The Bohemian Soul Rustlers honor of the late Mary Travers in "Greenwich Village Coffee House Tribute" show at the Coffee Gallery in Pasadena, CA, 23 September 2009. Sung by Duane Thorin, with backup vocals by Tonya Smyth, and Duane neighbor Soul Rustler, Michael Arcoangelo. Find them do, White Room, and Sorrento, the other on youtube. The Bohemian Soul Rustlers, if not pass on the stage original music, and revive classic material with new color and energy. Enyoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxxHHdzB5-A&hl=en