CULTURE HACKS: MEMORIAL DA

Sure, it will technically still be spring until late June, but Memorial Day weekend—kicking off this weekend—always feel like the real opening ceremonies to summer, or at least the pre-party. One of the busiest road trip weekends of all the national holidays, this year over 37 million Americans are expected to travel to get their red, white and blue on in 2015– the largest number of travellers in the last 10 years. That means it’ll be a party wherever you happen to be, as long as you’re doing it in the great outdoors (yes, patios count). Here’s where to ring in the start to endless days and relaxed work hours…

1. BEACH BUDDY

There’s no better way to get your tan started a little early than by marking Memorial Day with your first annual beach weekend getaway. From bed and breakfasts in New England to seaside cottages on stilts in North Carolina, to Santa Monica’s famous Shutters on the Beach, America has some of the most beautiful places on earth where land turns to sand on the Pacific and the Atlantic. Linen shorts paired with loose knit sweaters are beach weather-ready, especially for nighttime campfires.

2. BACKYARD BBQ

Kick off weekly summer backyard (or balcony) potlucks by firing up the BBQ and hosting a BYOB. Create your very own Star-Spangled soundtrack of summer jam songs that pay tribute to the USA, from Will Smith’s “Miami” and Tupaq’s “California Love” to Sufjan Steven’s “Chicago” and everything The Beach Boys ever wrote. Ask guests to dress their “most patriotic” – you’ll get endless joy out of what shows up at your door.

3. PARK PICNIC

Dust off the cooler and grab a bag of ice because nothing turns the local park into a VIP experience quite like cold bevvies on a blanket surrounded by your favourite people. Throw in a hibachi, hot dogs, a football, and frisbees and you’ve got yourself the best staycation on a budget.

4. FAM JAM

Whether you’ve got an in-ground pool or just a sprinkler, you can easily host a waterpark-themed brunch for the extended family on your back patio. Bonus points if you can find an old school Wet Banana for ’80s throwback nostalgia, and you’d be surprised how much entertainment a few water guns from the dollar store can bring. Dormcore might be the questionable fashion trend du jour but you can get away with flip flops on your own turf. Fill the freezer with frozen goodies for the afternoon and think Greek salads, fruit kabobs and homemade pastries for a seasonal take on the traditional late breakfast.

5. BLOCK PARTY

Hosting your own block party is a lot easier to plan last minute in the social media era, but you don’t necessarily need a suburban or city street alliance to make an outdoor party out of your surrounding area. Tailgate parties let you bring the show on the road, provided every car has a designated driver. Bring the party to the nearby baseball diamond for an impromptu game of America’s favourite sport. Check local listings for neighbourhood hosted block parties if you’re in the mood to block party hop. Santa Monica’s famous Main Street party gets bumping every year, and there’s something strangely alluring about Tito Jackson’s annual turkey fry block party in Boston. Who knew?

SIDE BY SIDE: ROMAN EMPIRE

Gladiators have invaded the office, the red carpet, cocktail hour and Instagram with blogger babes like @kristengracelam rocking nude high shaft styles on the daily

It’s hard to believe Russell Crowe is partly responsible for the fashion world’s love affair with all things gladiator-inspired, but his Oscar-winning role as a mortal combat fighter at the height of the Roman empire rekindled designers’ love of the ventilated lace-up. If the ‘60s had been the gladiator’s last epic fashion moment due to its popularity with both mods and hippies, Crowe’s 60s-inspired blockbuster brought the Coliseum back into the minds of couture makers. By 2013 Crowe’s Les Miserables costar, the notoriously sophisticated Anne Hathaway, was the one wearing the gladiator boots, this time on the red carpet and with a dominatrix-inspired Tom Ford twist, paired with a black gown.

Look 1 Work-to-Play: No longer for just the boho enthusiast, gladiators have made their way into the tailored wardrobes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Kruger, and Kate Bosworth. Laced all the way to the knee on spring/summer 2015 runways for Chloe, Alexander McQueen, and Ginvenchy, the neutral toned gladiator isn’t as explicitly sexy as black knee-highs, but it’s muted aesthetic creates a sultry peek-a-boo effect that’s – bonus points — also suitable for the office. With a two-inch heel, it’s knee-high length is less intimidating for the more vertically challenged who appreciate the length a heel adds. It’s easy to go from the boardroom to the bar wearing a simple floral dress, which doesn’t get overshadowed by the sandal thanks to the hue.

Look 2 Model Off Duty: If Pretty Woman ruined the idea of wearing knee-high boots with short shirts and dresses for you for most of the 90s, it’s time to enter the 21st century where statement boots aren’t code for what your LinkedIn page can’t say. In fact, you can even opt for knee-highs in the summer on a lazy afternoon on the boardwalk. The Madonna of footwear — quintessential yet cutting edge, retro but risque, timeless yet always transforming—the gladiator is more versatile than it gets credit for. Kendall Jenner just made fashion headlines rocking a sexy black above-the-knee pair courtside at a Lakers game, and Rihanna notoriously wore her nude Tom Fords out on the town in true street style form. Take the same relaxed yet daring approach by pairing neutral glads with patterned short-shorts and a long-sleeve top in a contrasting print.

GENTS CLUB: WHY ESPADRILLES RULE

What mystical alchemy causes a shoe to make the leap from sensible workhorse to fashion icon? Someone needs to write a thinkpiece on this, pronto. When they do, the espadrille could very well be the prototype. From humble origins to wardrobe must, the comfortable slip-on makes a sharp summer statement. Crafted with rich Italian leather and handmade rope bottoms, this espadrille model merges style, form, and function and can handle just about any sartorial assignment. Casual Friday at the office? No problem. Espadrilles can take on relaxed dress pants, stylish denims, chinos, you name it. Add a cuff, lose the socks, throw on a short sleeve linen dress shirt, a fashionably fitted sweater, and you’re golden.

Espadrilles can work a little overtime outside of informal workplace demands too. Consider these shoes for all of your weekend patio needs. Al fresco brunch? Definitely espadrille time. Backyard afternoon cookout? You know what to do. Keep your versatile color options in mind. With jeans, navy espadrilles, worn without socks of course, are naturals. Black keeps it classic, cool, and neutral. Dark brown espadrilles are distingué and look smart with beige, gray, or navy pants. Any way you cut it, these shoes are the ultimate summer complement.

DETAILS DETAILS: IN STITCHES

Fashion trends are always a-changin’, but what tends to remain ever-present is the love of all-things seventies. From fringe to animal skins and playful patchwork prints, the retro game is strong and nowhere is this more apparent than in the profusion of amazing handbags that hit the decade’s mark while being slightly reinterpreted to fit our modern times. Take the slouchy and oversized navy leather carryall. A perfect accessory for our everyday by virtue it will fit everything, but besides its functionality, it remains high on style with its mix of emerald, black and sage patchwork prints. We think it the perfect match for a denim-on-denim look with oversized gold hoops and tangled, wind-blown hair. For Saturday nights out and about, we’ll swap it for a smaller box clutch in a tonal play of mahogany and taupe which works as a nice nod to the fall season’s autumnal shades and our thigh-high boots and knit dresses. Come Sunday, brunch hits next-level status when snakeskin is involved, especially when its embossed on a caramel suede envelope clutch with fringe detail and gold hardware. Ladies, can you dig it? Yes we can!

 

MEET THE CAST: PHOEBE COLLING-JAMES – IRL

Rule of thumb: you’ve made it as a profesh model when your face is in magazines. However, when you’ve been featured in mighty Vogue & you’ve been modeling since you’re thirteen, then you’ve reached like-woah status. And, this is the case for our November campaign star, Phoebe Colling-James. To top it all off, she is also an international artist who not only paints, but also makes legit sculptures & performance pieces. Check out her sweet snaps above & learn more about her and the Luxe Line-Up collection, here.  

FINAL TOUCH: LUG SHOT

Blaze a new trail in a tough-meets-ladylike boot

Along with chocker necklaces, slip dresses and berry-coloured lips, another signature ’90s trend making a comeback this season is the rugged lace-up boot. Although the utilitarian staple has always been a smart winter pick, the trail-blazing city boot is back in a big way, and it couldn’t be a better match the military-inspired must-haves marching their way straight into your wardrobe.

For a fresh take on the trend, try a block-heeled version that’s as cool as it is capable of going the extra mile. Aside from the steady support of a chunky heel and the warmth of a plush lining, a slip-proof lug sole means icy sidewalks are no barrier to your boundary-breaking winter style.

Pair yours with khaki culottes and a cozy sweater before the deep freeze sets in, or distressed denim and a camo-print parka come snow season. Whether your shipping out to work in a double-breasted jacket and tailored trousers, or to your favourite watering hole wearing a mix of autumnal shades with army green, a boot that’s part grunge and part girlie is the perfect choice when it comes to grounding your cadet-chic looks.

INSPIRED BY SHAPE: MEET PHOEBE COLLINGS JAMES

You can tell a lot about a person from their Instagram (yes, we know, file that in at the Department of No Duh). But beyond the selfies and the duck face and what kind of phone case they’re using, you can also find out important things, like what kinds of books they’re reading, what they think is funny, and what they’re really into. To put our theory to the test, we decided to stalk Phoebe Collings James’ Instagram – because she’s rad. If you don’t already know who she is from our campaign, here’s a quick review: She’s been modeling since she was 13 years old for fashion outlets like Purple and British Vogue, but these days her art is at the forefront. A graduate of the prestigious Goldsmiths University in London, this half-Jamaican Brit has exhibited internationally, from Brooklyn to Beirut and beyond. This year alone sees her with shows in London, Singapore, New York, and the Venice Biennale. And her love of form and figure is apparent in even her most casual photographs. Phoebe Collings James is the real deal. So let’s get creepin’!

1- She hangs with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing.

2- She’s funny. (And we must say her iPhone case is on point.)

3- She’s got legs for days and curls to die for… said every girl with straight hair ever.

4- The last books she gram’d about were the front cover of Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, an important work from 1961 about the effects of colonization and the autobiography of Malcolm X. Brains beyond the beauty.

5- She seems like good friend, who asks all of the right questions and even dog sits for her friends.

FANFARE: @THEFASHIONGUITAR

When fashion month rolls in, FOMO strikes & the struggle is real. Obviously,@thefashionguitar’s feed was no exception as she was living the Insta-perfect life on both sides of the pond – oui oui. Needless to say, we were living vicariously through her snaps while she was being photographed by the who’s who of street-style photography. Props to Charlotte G. & her ALDO soles for earning some major street cred in New York and Pareee.

SHOUT OUT: STREET-STYLE STATUS

Goodbye crop tops & hello turtlenecks. Yup, that’s right. Fall (aka the season of guilt-free Netflix & chill) is now upon us and there’s no denying it – unless, you’ve got a one-way ticket to Miami. As much as we will miss shoe bare legs (minus the waxing), nothing brings us joy like rocking a good pair of fall-ready soles. Once again, our influencers take it away with the outfits you’ll want to copy all season long.

SHOUT OUT: 5 REASONS TO LOVE CANADA

Five reasons Canadians love Canada (that have nothing to do with maple syrup).

Even though we all live in igloos and ride moose and wear snowshoes everywhere (since we can’t drive because there’s too much snow) and Tim Horton’s comes out of our taps, us Canadians sure do like it up here. Besides the whole health care thing (nothing to sneeze at) here are five things we love about being Canadian:

We have amazing, spectacular, jaw-dropping nature

From Lake Louise in Alberta to the coast of B.C to the Gaspesie in Quebec to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada is chock-full of sublime natural sites. Which, if you think about it, makes sense since despite being the 2nd largest country in the world, we have a comparatively tiny population.

We have truly multicultural cities

Just as an example, half of all Toronto residents were born in another country. Even ten years ago, Toronto’s Census reported residents from more than 200 distinct ethnic origins.

We’re nice

And it’s something to be proud of. We smile at each other in greeting and we apologize when we slam into you on the street. We could always try whacking everybody across the face instead, but being nice works too. Actually, let’s just keep being nice!

We keep churning out insanely good talent

Given that our population is about the size of California we have a pretty high ratio of talent repping in Hollywood. People like Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling and Ellen Page and Jim Carrey and Seth Rogan and Elisha Cuthbert and Rachel McAdams and Will Arnett and Catherine O’Hara and – OK, we’ll stop.

CARRY ON: PACK MENTALITY JUL

Is there anything more precious than a day off in the summertime? Just thinking of all the ways you can spend those 24 hours of freedom before getting back to the weekday grind is enough to make you pull the duvet over your head and stay put. But before you start binge-watching Orange is the New Black, consider how productive this day could be when you can get all your errands done all while carry everything you need in a spacious statement tote.

Armed with a bright print-clash carry all bag that pairs like a dream with your downtime looks, you can start the day stretched out into downward dog and then stash your yoga mat through the handles at the top. Putting on your arm-party essentials, you glance at your watch and realize it’s way past coffee o’clock. You touch up your makeup and praise yourself for packing a headband* so you don’t have to face that cute barista with a bumpy messy bun. A text from the girls says it’s time for patio brunch, so you throw on your shades and head over to enjoy some eggs benny under the sun. A little afternoon shopping to seize the rest of the day? Sounds like a plan, especially when there’s still room in your bag for a few fab finds!

FINAL TOUCH: CARTE BLANCHE

Classic, sexy, and flattering for all, white keeps us cool under the hot sun and has an easy feel that just reads as effortless.  Talk about a total no-brainer.  But whereas we used to bust out a pair of white jeans and call it a day, this summer we’re jumping on the head-to-toe bandwagon. It’s been on our minds since we saw it on the runways at Isabel Marant, Akris, and Prabal Gurung. And because we’re not the types to just sit around with our jaws agape, loving something from a distance, we’re trying it out ourselves.

So how to do it? As with any monochrome look, texture is key!  Denim paired with a cotton eyelet has just enough contrast to be interesting (other combos that would work well include denim and silk or suede and cotton – the idea is to have a little bit of variation). Let the look shine by keeping accessories to a minimum, though you’ll definitely want to add a fun bag to the mix: we like a mid-sized wristlet adorned with a tribal motif. Finish the look with a pair of cross-strap slides in white, and voila! As fresh and clean as any runway look (now just try to keep it that way!)