Music Monday - Milo Greene

On Saturday I travelled to Montreal with two good friends to check out one of my absolute favourite musical duos and previous Music Monday feature, The Civil Wars. But an extremely pleasant surprise to the entire audience was the opening act, Milo Greene, a band based out of Los Angeles.They had a folky-vibe, with some great harmonies and an impressive ability to switch back and forth between instruments (one song in particular featured the most enthusiastic playing of the jingle bells that I have ever heard - hilariously awesome).





They had a fantastic energy on stage and before long everyone (myself included) was clapping along and interacting with this group - to the point that when they finished their set the crowd was on its feet and sent the members of Milo Greene off with a well-earned standing ovation.






 I'd never seen such an enthusiastic response to an opening in any past concert I'd been to, but these guys totally deserved it - they put on a fabulous show. Most of the audience headed out at the break (before The Civil Wars began their set) to purchase a cd.  I grabbed mine at the end of the night, and have already listened to it a few times since - loving it.

Although The Civil Wars were the major stars of the night for me, Milo Greene will definitely be on my list of new bands to follow. Have a listen and let me know what you think!

Stylish Readers: Audrey Hepburn

If I didn't already love the iconic Audrey Hepburn, I definitely would have after seeing this fabulous shot of her (above right). I stumbled upon it the other day via a hilariously great tumblr, appropriately titled "Awesome People Reading" (Insta-follow? Check). Of course, the librarian in me was smitten with the idea, and I obviously had to do a quick search for more shots of this gorgeous and classically chic lady taking a look in a book.

Not all of us avid readers are perfectly coiffed or laying on a pile of fancy gowns while perusing a favourite book like the lovely Audrey is here, but neither is a bad idea, obviously. Everyone knows that the perfect look is completed not with a fabulous accessory but with a good book (End shameless librarian's plug for reading here)!

LGFW: Sarah Stevenson Spring 2012

As I walked into Sarah Stevenson's presentation last Thursday, I felt very much like I imagine Mary Lennox might have, wandering into her Secret Garden.  After seeing the beautiful prints last season, I was extremely excited to see what colours and textures would come across in her prints this time round, and I have to say  I was not at all disappointed by the breathtakingly lovely floral prints, all of which were personally designed by Ms. Stevenson herself (learn more about her process in this video interview).

A nice touch that I loved was that these same prints were actually on display in frames around the room. I loved this idea! Especially getting to read the accompanying notecards which featured a bit more about the process and thought behind the prints used on the seriously lovely pieces around the room. I almost (okay, totally) wished I could take them home and hang them on my walls.

Overall, the shapes and silhouettes of the garments were simple, yet feminine and flattering, and were a perfect canvas for the exquisite floral prints used throughout.

It may be because lilacs are one of my favourite spring flowers (both the look and smell, divine!) but the above two looks that featured spot-on placement of a lilac inspired print were a couple of my favourites. Particularly the dress, since the x-shaped look of the print would be really flattering on, I think.

Prior to LG Fashion week I had never been to a presentation style show, as at our local fashion week here in Ottawa runway was the only option. A few of the shows I saw in Toronto were presented in this way, and I am glad that Sarah's was one of them - namely because it allowed for a long time to take in the intricacy of the prints, get a good look at the garments from all sides and (my favourite) take lots of photos.

I can genuinely say that this was one of the only collections that I saw during my time in Toronto where I could see myself delightedly wearing every piece (even if such a prospect might be a bit over budget). While in most of the shows and presentations I saw one or two garments that really stood out, in Sarah Stevenson's presentation I wandered around the posing models in their pretty printed dresses again and again just enjoying the lovely colours and patterns.

I took this very simple (and amateur) video of the presentation to give you a feel for what it was like to be there in person, as well as to see the clothes in better detail. I took this using my phone so the quality is less than stellar, but hopefully it gives you a good impression of this lovely collection.



I will say that literally from the moment the presentation started until the models left their posts, I was admiring and snapping photos of each garment and look. Especially following the debacle of the night before, this show was such a pleasure (as was the designer herself, who went out of her way to prevent any such thing happening to me at her show). I can honestly say that even if this had been the only show I'd gotten to see, it would, without a doubt, have been worth the trip to Toronto.

I will be uploading all of the photos I took during this presentation to the Lot 65 FB page, so take a look there this evening to see more!

All photos are my own, please credit and link back if you use them!

Five Weeks of Favourites; Joe Fresh Giveaway

In this week's edition of the Five Weeks of Favourites, I am giving away a Joe Fresh surprise package rather than a gift card, since I'd like to keep it open to everyone instead of just the lucky ladies in Canada (or a select few in NYC or New Jersey). I'll be filling a box with goodies and sending it your way. Some things you might find inside include - accessories, jewelry, beauty products and more! Yup, pretty exciting stuff.

Now the most important part - how to enter?
1. Follow Lot 65 via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' (and give me a heads up in your comment!)
2. Tell me your favourite fall colour
3. Let me know your size preference for a top (S, M, L, XL)

Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if I can't via your blog - email, twitter handle, as long as I can reach you to tell you you've won - it works!

Want an extra chance or two to win? (Who doesn't?) Read on:

Follow @lotsixtyfive on twitter
Give the Lot 65 FB page a like
(and make sure to let me know you've done so in your comments!)

This giveaway will be open until 5:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 1st. Make sure to get your entries in before then!

Good luck!

P.S. Congrats to the lovely Joanna of ModaMama on winning the ShopRuche giveaway!

Music Monday - The Violet Hour

I know that I have posted before about The Civil Wars in a Music Monday post, but this one instrumental song of theirs is so pretty, I just had to share. Add to that my excitement about going to their concert in Montreal this upcoming weekend, and I feel like a second post featuring their tunes is allowed(Especially since the fanmade video is so pretty).

LGFW: Joe Fresh Spring 2012

The focal point of this post has to be - I loved this collection. There were so many pieces that reflected the key trends seen on the major runways for Spring 2012. Sporty, bright colourful pieces, with lots of bright-white dresses and garments walking the runways as well. What always makes me love Joe Fresh even more though, is that these are pieces I'll actually be able to afford when they arrive in stores.

To keep from posting every single look from the collection (even if I did pretty much love them all) - I've broken down a few of my favourite micro-trends from within the pieces that walked the runway.

White, white and more white! I loved these clean, crisp all-white looks, seen on many of the Spring runways from New York to Milan - and now Toronto. As much as I fear wearing white due to my inherently clumsy tendency to spill things on said white clothing, I can't resist the stark brightness of it. So perfect for summer days, especially with pops of colour - the bright orange ribbons or collars, and the pops of yellow on what appear to be super cute loafers (Wishlist? Check).  P.S. Shout-out to the lovely Herieth Paul (third from right) - Ottawa's own top model.

Okay, I admit, this is menswear, but I LOVE these printed blazers! How unfair that they are only for the fellows! The prints and colours are amazing. As soon as I saw these looks on the gents strutting down the runway, I thought to myself - where is my version? Note - none of the ladies on the Joe Fresh runway wore blazers this cool.  No lie, I may purchase from the mens section and have them tailored to fit so I can have these for my very own.

Yellow, lemon, citrine, goldenrod - whatever you want to call it, there were a number of mega-bright yellow pieces in various incarnations strolling down the Joe Fresh runway. I can't think of a more perfect colour for spring and summer than sunshine-y yellow, and I look forward to adding some of these (especially that awesome maxi skirt) to my wardrobe when the weather warms up again.

Another trend spotted on the Joe Fresh runway was the coloured collar. I love a basic white blouse in all its forms, but with a fresh pop of orange teal or black, it adds fun and interest to this classic wardrobe staple. I will be looking for these when they hit stores, I can tell you that.

I'm not sure if Mr. Mimran was wanting to pay homage to our friends in Finland, but the opening look to the show certainly made it seem that way, if you've ever happened to notice what the Finnish flag looks like, that is. In any case, the combination of bright blue and white popped up a number of times on the runway, and since blue is one of my favourite colours, of course I am a fan.

These micro-trends and many more great wearable pieces strolled the Joe Fresh runway, and I definitely loved the show and collection as a whole, even if my experience surrounding the Joe Fresh Show was less than stellar.

If you're ready for a bit of a rant about the events on Wednesday night, read on.

First, I will note that this debacle was the not the fault of the brand itself but rather was the fault the organizers of LG Fashion Week, who were responsible for ticket sales. I was standing in line with easily over a hundred others, and was in a decent spot, not right up front but not near the end either. I knew this would be a popular show so with ticket in hand I got there early.

After waiting and waiting with fellow hopeful show-goers, we noticed that after the Media, Sponsors and VIPs had been seated that the venue was looking particularly full, and wondered if there would be any seats left. Within minutes of the show starting, volunteers came around to tell everyone that after a mere 10 general admission ticket holders were let in, not one single other person in line would be able to see the show. Ten! Paid tickets, no show: seriously unimpressive. I mean, it seems pretty simple - if you sell tickets, and based on sales have an idea of how many potential seats there will need to be, make sure to have enough! Otherwise don't sell the tickets! Not rocket science, organizers, just fyi.

Needless to say, all of us went home disappointed. I wouldn't even have minded if Joe Fresh was a show that was only open to media and invited guests - as most fashion shows in major cities often are. In which  case I would not have bought a ticket and happily would have watched the show via livestream from the comfort of home, or gone to spend time with friends in Toronto rather than wasting a whole evening waiting for a show I didn't get to see.

I have to say, it was a super disappointing end to an otherwise really great day spent at LG Fashion Week. I know no event is perfect, but I think this was a pretty gigantic oversight and faux-pas on the part of organizers, and could easily have been prevented.  Hopefully this kind of thing will not be repeated next time round.

Thankfully, the shows on Thursday were so great  that this disappointing debacle was not the lasting impression I had of LG Fashion week, and rekindled hope in me that it wasn't a total waste of time coming down from Ottawa. Look forward to a post on the Thursday shows coming up soon!

All Photos via the Joe Fresh FB Page

LGFW: (My) First Day at Toronto Fashion Week

On Wednesday morning I headed out bright and early on the train to Toronto to see some shows at LG Fashion Week. I got settled in at the Inn I was staying at, did a wee bit of shopping and then headed to the venue to pick up tickets and see the shows of the day.

I thought I might be a bit too late for the first show I wanted to see, but luckily I was just in the nick of time to see the presentation from Marie St. Pierre, a Montreal based designer showcasing her spring lineup. St. Pierre featured mostly easily flowing dresses with a very relaxed vibe in variations of black and white, with two major pops of colour in (my personal favourite) a floor-length red number as well as an emerald draped dress.  Not too sure if I'll be going for the swim cap look this spring, but there were lots of easy wearable pieces among this collection.

Next up was Klaxon Howl, a menswear line that I was (for obvious reasons) a little less familiar with. Lucky for me I got bumped up to the seats normally set aside for Elle Canada since a number of the reserved media folk didn't make it to this show - but I wasn't complaining! I was able to get a few good shots of the looks as the fellows sauntered past. Mostly very well tailored pieces that I could actually picture some of the guys I know looking quite nice in.

As a last aside on this show - if you follow me on twitter, you'll know that there is one male model who seems to get cast in every runway show featuring men during this and past Toronto Fashion weeks - and I find him so creepy (see what I mean here)! I had to laugh because he was one of the gentlemen walking the runway in this show - you can sort of see him in this picture, he's the fellow with the long flowing hair. Oh dear. To his credit, far less creepy in this show than in others.

Next up was the presentation from Label. These are not actually my photos  (these are from Fashion, below are from the FDCC FB Page), I was unable to get any good ones, namely because the show was set up like a runway show although there was no seating, so people crowded around trying to get a look and so I mostly peeked between heads and over shoulders to glimpse the garments. It wasn't until later when I looked through the lookbook pamphlet they handed us that I was really able to evaluate what I'd seen.

The colour palette was mostly soft - mauves and greys but also incorporated one of my favourites - teal.  I particularly liked the maxi skirts, seen below in sheer and solid versions, although my favourite piece was probably the lone print dress.

 The centre photo above is a strange one, because it combines one of my favourite pieces, the blouse, with one of my least favourites - those pants. Perhaps it is a personal taste thing but I can't imagine many women looking good in those super-skin-tight silver leggings. The collection overall though was very wearable. I thought perhaps that it didn't have the drama needed for a runway show and may have been better suited to a presentation style, but that's just me.

The last show I got to see was, wait for it, a rug show. That's right, floor coverings. I almost didn't go to this one, because I thought it seemed a bit of a strange idea and I'm not that enthusiastic about rugs in general, but I'm glad I went because it was definitely ... interesting.  Essentially what happened was that the rugs produced by Korhani were turned into "wearable" outfits that could actually have runway presence rather than just being presented in a large frame (as some of them were around the venue).

It started off with a theme of travel and different cultures, from the desert to the beach and beyond, but just when we thought the show was over, all of a sudden we were transported to ... wonderland? A major switch to a totally different theme, and models came out in characters from Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen and even Spades - like actual spades (all you could see of the models were spandex-clad legs and red heels).  Quite a shift in mood to say the least, but Korhani certainly kept us on our toes - who knew rugs could be so exciting?

After a quick but enjoyable dinner with the fabulous Isabel of Hipster Musings - the last show of the night that I wanted to see - Joe Fresh, ended up being quite a debacle. You can expect a full post devoted to that collection (which I loved) and the story of a major misstep by organizers coming up very soon.

You can see all of my shots from Wednesday's shows via the Lot 65 FB page. Take a look - I'd love to hear your thoughts on the shows!

Silk Twist

 These hand-dyed twisted silk bracelets have been on my my Etsy favourites list for a while. They are the handiwork of the delightful Danni, who not only has a stellar blog but also makes beautiful scarves and has now delved into bracelets, both of which you can purchase in her shop. Hopefully I will be making a whole "arm party" out of a stack of these bracelets before long.

I actually got to briefly meet this lovely lady while in Toronto for LG Fashion Week, and she is just as gorgeous and sweet in person. I was excited to hear that she's already dyed the custom made silk scarf that I will be giving away to a lucky reader in a couple of weeks, someone is going to be seriously happy, trust me - because her work is fantastic.

I hope I've whet your appetites a little for the last (and most definitely not least) giveaway of the five weeks of favourites - make sure to take a look at Danni's blog and shop, you will not be disappointed.

LGFW: Juma Spring 2012

I am heading to Toronto first thing tomorrow morning to catch a few shows at LG Fashion Week (most excited for Joe Fresh and Sarah Stevenson), but I had to share the amazing technicolour prints that were presented last night by brother and sister design duo Alia and Jamil and their eponymous line, Juma.

Unfortunately I couldn't sacrifice a whole week of work at the library to see all the fashion shows I would have liked to, and this time round I wasn't able to catch Juma live. Luckily for those of us that couldn't be there in person, the FDCC (Fashion Design Council of Canada) posted some fantastic photos of the Juma presentation on their facebook page.

There were some wildly bright and colourful prints that walked the runway in various incarnations, as well as a revival of a print and texture from their Fall collection although this time on a lighter grey background (a little easier for spring wear than fall's black). The easy flowing shapes of many of the garments made me think they would fall easily into the wardrobes of any model-off-duty.

Another look that caught my glasses-wearing eye were the crisp white frames perched on the noses of a few of the models. I have been on the hunt for new glasses and I must say I'm feeling more than a little inspired to try a snow-white pair to change things up.

I have consistently been impressed with the original prints from Juma, and the looks for spring were no exception. Although I have yet to add any Juma pieces to my wardrobe, there are certainly more than a few looks in this spring collection that have made it onto my wishlist.

And perhaps the best part of the Juma presentation? If you are a fan of what you saw, you can already shop the runway (albeit only a select few looks and accessories) via The Peacock Parade.


Photos via FDCC FB Page

Five Weeks of Favourites - ShopRuche.com

Week three of Five Weeks of Favourites has arrived, and I had to include one of my very favourite online shops. I have gotten a number of items from Ruche over the last couple of years and I love every one. So, clearly, I have to share the love with you all!

Up for grabs in this weeks giveaway is a $25 Gift Card for ShopRuche.com. Thing is, like the Lush giveaway was exclusive only to fans of the Lot 65 FB page, this here giveaway is only available to those lovely folk among you who are following @lotsixtyfive on twitter.

Interested? Here's how to enter:

1. Follow @lotsixtyfive on twitter
2. Tweet about it:
"I entered to win a $25 @ShopRuche Gift Card from @lotsixtyfive at http://www.lotsixtyfive.com"
3. Send your tweet before next Monday October 24th at 5:00 pm EST

Good luck!

*Comments are closed on this post so only my favourite twitter-ers can enter. 

Congrats to Julie of Pop Champagne - winner by random draw of the Modcloth $25 Gift Card

Music Monday - Please Read the Letter

I absolutely love the harmony of this pretty duet by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. I discovered it a few months ago while listening to this fabulous playlist featuring songs solely for their sweet harmonies (hence the title), which I also highly recommend listening to, incidentally.

What are you listening to lately?

Nose in a Book

I stumbled upon this old image of Anita from 101 Dalmations via my tumblr feed not too long ago, and it seemed the unlikely inspiration for what turns out to be a perfect (and pretty on trend) fall look. She's got the Gucci Fall 2011-esque hat, the ubiquitous "nerdy" glasses, chic blouse with a tied scarf - although a tie-neck blouse would do nicely too. Overall, she is looking fabulously librarian-chic to start with, and to top it off? Her nose in a book. Love.

Needless to say, this perfect librarian-inspired look (Disney or otherwise) made its way onto my Biblio-style tumblr (Heads up - if you stumble across library or book theemed garments, editorials or other fabulousness, please do feel free to submit it!), and hopefully similarly library-chic items will be finding their way into my wardrobe sooner than later.

Have you entered my giveaway for a $25 gift card to Modcloth yet? If you have, fabulous! If you haven't, hop to it! It's only open until Monday!

Ottawa Style by JB & JB

It isn't all that often that I post editorial images here on the blog, but this is one I have to share. The titular "JB & JB" are, in fact, the talented team (and power couple): Justyna B of Chameleonic and Joel Bedford. They were the Stylist/Art Director and Photographer (respectively) behind these shots.

They are regular contributors to the Ottawa Citizen's Style magazine - and it's easy to see why. These two are seriously talented (not to mention ridiculously nice), and I had the privilege of watching them work first-hand as I helped out on a couple of the shoots (by helping, I mean standing around doing odds and ends meanwhile being majorly impressed at the expertise of the two pros in action around me).

Justyna wrote the feature article for the Ottawa Citizen's Style magazine profiling the top models coming out of Ottawa's gencies, along with developing the accompanying editorial, featuring these same guys and gals in a variety of Ottawa locales. The above shot was taken in a local restaurant, and is from the first of two shoots I was present for. (You may note the lovely Herieth Paul standing out in this bunch - this girl is seriously a pro).

This very last shot was taken on the picturesque terrace of the Chateau Laurier. I must admit I am just a wee bit proud because my contribution to this photo is actually visible! When one too many models arrived to the shoot, an emergency outfit run was needed. I ran home, grabbed my beloved Michael Kors dress, and hurried back where Justyna expertly clipped the model into the dress (tent-sized on the model's teensy frame) and finished her off with a belt. The lovely lady sporting my frock by Mr. Kors is on the far right of the group at left.

It was definitely a great learning experience for me working with these two on this project. We had fabulous models and settings to work with, but I will say that Justyna and Joel seemed to me to be the real stars since they brought it all together to make for a pretty fantastic result. Thanks for having me along you two!

Five Weeks of Favourites - It's a Mod World

The first "favourite" giveaway of a Lush gift card has come and gone via the Lot 65 Facebook page (congrats to Catherine of Sixty Percent Baking on the win!). I am, however, excited to announce the second of the five giveaways - a $25 Gift Certificate to one of my favourite online shops, Modcloth.

Want to enter? The rules are pretty simple.

1. Leave a comment letting me know your favourite thing about fall
2. Make sure to leave me a way to contact you - through your blog, email, twitter or fb

That's it, that's all!

If you want to double the fun, you can give Lot 65 a follow via Bloglovin' or Google Friend Connect, just let me know you've done so in your comment!

You can enter until next Monday, October 17th at 5:00 PM EST when I will choose a winner through random draw.  Open to one and all, so enter away! Tell your friends!

Thankful

It is Thanksgiving weekend (here in Canada at least), and although I often feel thankful for things and people in my life, it is always nice to have the reminder to really consider the blessings that I have. In the example of the above photo, some things I have thought to be thankful for are as follows:

 ♥ Friends to laugh with ♥ A job I genuinely enjoy with wonderful co-workers ♥ A small but cozy space to call my own ♥ Independence ♥ Sweet nieces and nephews ♥ My fabulous family ♥  Living in a peaceful country ♥ Honeycrisp Apples ♥  The ability to enjoy a walk along the Canal on a crisp fall day ♥ Music ♥ Learning experiences ♥ New Friends ♥ Encouragement and inspiration from surprising places ♥ The ability to help & serve others ♥  A good life.

In spite of the fact that I wasn't able to make the trip home to my beloved PEI to spend this holiday with my family, I've had a weekend full of happy times spent with friends. I hope all of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving (and even those of you who aren't) are having a wonderful weekend full of many things to be thankful for.

P.S. The giveaway on the Lot 65 facebook page for a $25.00 gift certificate to Lush is open until Monday! If you want to enter, head on over here and put your name in!

Slip Stitch

I had to share this video because I am so utterly inspired by the craft and time that goes into the gorgeous crocheted pieces from Helen Rödel, a Brazilian designer and artisan. I stumbled upon her designs via a knitting and crochet blog I follow (although I personally cannot crochet or knit) - One Sheepish Girl. I watched this video of Ms. Rödel's designs and was immediately struck and absolutely floored by how beautiful her work is.

When we did the cursory introductions to our fellow cohort members at the beginning of my Masters program, the vast majority of my fellow students noted how much they all seemed to like knitting and crochet. I chuckled then at the fulfillment of the Librarian stereotype - but after seeing the amazing things possible with crochet? I have to wonder if I might just pick up a crochet hook myself and see if I can learn a thing or two. That is, to hold me over till I can get to Brazil and pick up a piece from the  talented Ms. Rödel.