Left on Houston

Left on Houston sweater from the spring 2012 collection. Cute!

I'm finally getting around to sorting out my over-abundance of clothes and there's this gray sweater I wear a lot with shiny silver dots on the front and bubbly sleeves. It's 10% cashmere and 90% cotton. Its simplicity and elegance drew me to buy it. I bought it at Danielle's Consignment on 17th ave in Calgary for cheap and I don't regret the purchase at all. I don't really look at labels when I buy. If I like it and it looks/fits good, I'll usually get it.  But when I was sorting out clothes today, I took a closer look at its label. It read "Left on Houston". Curiosity took over and I googled it to find really comfortable, loose-fitting and neutral-toned garments from the US-based clothing company. Their spring 2012 collection looks great! The kind of style I like in my clothes: minimalist, elegance, looseness, sheerness.

Glad I looked it up! If I were a buyer, Left on Houston would certainly be on the list.


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List of independent stores in Calgary, AB that carry Left on Houston:
Anthropologie also carries the brand.

1.01

CRABAPPLE COTTAGE

3526 GARRISON GATE SW

CALGARY

AB

T2T 6N1

CA

Get Directions

4036863661

2

1.41

AZUL COUTURE

914 - 15TH AVE. S.W.

CALGARY

AB

T2R 0S3

CA

Get Directions

403 695 1320

3

1.85

SPLASH OF FASHION

200 - 1211 KENSINGTON ROAD NW

CALGARY

AB

T2N 3P6

CA

Get Directions

4032833353

4

1.94

QUEEN BOUTIQUE

1109 A KENSINGTON ROAD

CALGARY

AB

T2N 3P2

CA

Get Directions

403 283 2227

5

1.94

MEALAN

1518 4TH ST. S.W.

CALGARY

AB

T2R 0Y4

CA

Get Directions

403 457 4020

6

5.13

SOMETHING 2 WEAR

118-236 ASPEN GLEN LANDING SW

CALGARY

AB

T3H 0N5

CA

Get Directions

403-457-1182

cheap Ikea finds

Ironically, ever since I've been done journalism school, I've been wanting to undertake something completely different: interior design (but for now, I'm highly thinking of turning Hipster in a Tub in a feature-length design blog starting in September).

I've been reading design magazines – Dwell, Canada's Style at Home and Anthology (found in Cathedral Village in Regina, SK) – and been looking up design ideas and design blogs. Anything design will hype me up which makes me think it could be the passion I've been looking for for a very long long time!
Even the trip to Ikea today was nothing unusual but always fun for cheap finds such as scented candles, clocks, and pillows.

Boyfriend's been wanting me to "spice up his place" so here's what we brought home with us today.

Olunda picture frame. Motif created by Jane Ormes, $14.99

Skor wall clock, glass $12.99

Gislev rug in red, $29.99 

Klabb table lamp in pink, $29.99

Eivor Fagel cushion in red, $7.99

West 49 photoshoot

Photography: EYMERIC WIDLING

Wearing: WEST 49
Location: Fishcreek, Calgary AB

It's spring time and I got mee-self some fresh new garbs from WEST 49. Thanks to my good friend Widling & thanks to WEST 49, we were able to get a good photo shoot going giving it a skate-girl vibe. I was able to create four different outfits with one cami, one pair of denim shorts, dark denim skinny jeans, and a slouchy sweater. Hope it inspires.

Enjoy!

- Claire

First Outfit: Flower cami & flowered cut-off denim shorts, West 49; earrings are vintage; sunglasses, H&M; bracelet was brought back from my cousin's trip to Ethiopia; pink and white comfy socks, Aerie; shoes, Macbeth; and skateboard, The Source. 

close-up of shorts. Nicely ripped-up. Amen.

Favourite photo! See above for description.

Second Outfit: Jeans and slouchy sweater, West 49; deer brass ring, Buddha by Night; sunglasses, bracelet and earrings, see above; shoes, USED House of Vintage. 

Third Outfit: Sittin' on the rocks. Slouchy sweater and shorts, West 49. See above photos for all other accessories. 

close-up! 

Fourth outfit: Chillin' in the sun with ma eyes closed! (haha) See above for description.

Yoga Schedule and Back to Life.

It's been a good two months I haven't done any yoga and I need it like a coffee addict needs its coffee. It's been a good month I haven't done anything productive it feels like. I sit on my ass a lot wondering how to get it together and which direction I want to take with life and this blog. I finally graduated from journalism and ever since my last exam, I have been extremely lazy, sleepy and unmotivated. It's been getting better and sharing this yoga schedule will help me get back on track! My goal isn't to go to yoga everyday. Once a week for the first and second week, then going back to twice a week for the third, fourth and fifth week, then by the sixth week three times a week. 

As for my blog, I'm seriously thinking of getting some sweet freelance interior stories done on a regular basis comes September. 

I got quite down thinking I wasn't able to see things clearly but, in all honesty, I think sitting down and doing nothing helped me see clearly. It's been a good month of watching movies, eating out, going out, drinking with friends and not getting anything done and now I feel finally ready to get back on track and achieving some of my biggest goals. 

I do yoga at Pro Bodies in Marda Loop. 

Here's when I could go to yoga:

MONDAY - Yoga from the Heart 5:30 pm

TUESDAY - Yoga from the Heart 9:30 am 

WEDNESDAY - Structural Yoga 7 pm

THURSDAY - Yoga from the Heart 9:30 am 

FRIDAY - Yoga from the Heart 9:30 am

SATURDAY - Yoga from the Heart 10:00 am 

SUNDAY - Yoga 9:30 am 

Some benefits yoga provides me with:
-calmness
-coolness
-collectedness
-happiness
-disappearance of moodiness
-flexibility
-disappearance of anxiety
-confidence
-self-awareness

Boots I Dig: Marie Boot in Black

Nice boots eh?

I want this bed!

I usually like my bed off the ground but I'm falling in love with this concept of a bed embedded in the floor. This is so neat! It makes me think of the "dug in the ground" trend that was going on with trampolines! Why bother with buying a bed frame? Let the floor do the framing instead...! 

This photo comes from OFF Magazine. If you're interested in anything a little quirky and, well, "off", check 'em out!! - Claire 

Let's go live in a tree house

A tree house, a free house,

A secret you and me house,

A high up in the leafy branches

Cozy as can be house.

A street house, a neat house,

Be sure and wipe your feet house

Is not my kind of house at all

Let's go live in a tree house.

Shel Silverstein

Walking in the rain towards my little tree house, up high in the sky.... 

Designer Dimanche: Adrian Wu

Toronto-based fashion designer Adrian Wu

Adrian Wu was recently voted by iVillage.ca as one of the ten Canadian designers to watch for in 2012. His spring/summer 2012 collection created buzz like no other. Wu is unpredictable, daring and created one of the most peculiarly fascinating collection at fashion week.  Wu’s collection called “Creatures of the Photons” is said to have been inspired by the ambitious topic of quantom physics, and apparently, the models represented “evolution” of some sort.

"My theme was quantum physics, but at the same time, it was this conceptual idea of taking the modern silhouette and modernizing it, the whole idea of Parisian dress making,” he revealed backstage during an interview conducted by Daniela Codreanu.

"Creatures of the Photons" - Adrian Wu S/S 2012 at LGFW

At age 18, Wu taught himself how to sew and then shortly after, he started his own design company. He already has seven collections under his belt at now age 21. According to oy. & co – Wu’s marketing agency – “Wu is known for his layering in fabric and eccentric pieces such as French Couture styled gowns with focus on authentic 18th Century siecle des Lumieres craftmanship, fabrics and silhouettes.”

The runway was covered in what looked like circle-shape place mats of assorting colours and a live string quartet positioned at the centre of the runway accompanied slow-strutting models (due to their towering platforms). 
Wu told us he used the colours blue, green, and red for his dresses: “It was inspired by the orbs that circle the electron,” he said.

A male model opened the show in white platforms and a lace white shift dress. The show continued with a mix of male and female models wearing swelled up haute couture dresses. Few dresses were made for everyday wear, only perhaps Lady Gaga would give it a go at this point in time. Most models wore head pieces that looked like orbiting wires covering the front of their face like veils. Their mysterious significance was revealed by Wu after the show: “They were actually representation of black holes,” he said.

The three-dimensional aspect of each dress was a pure delight to look at as each were overwhelmingly covered in fabric, fabric and more fabric. A favourite of mine was the gorgeous blood-red ball gown with protruding baby-blue balls coming out the front at waist height. Such a bizarre of a design but what a beautifully crafted dress. See for yourself, and let yourself be mesmorized by Adrian Wu’s designs and the amount of time he must be putting into such amazing creations.


Please watch Adrian Wu's Fashion TV profile. It's amazing and gives you a great insight into the kind of designer Wu is. He considers himself more of an artist than a designer, talks about his boredom of life and how he defies social dress conventions: "Why can't men wear dresses?," he says. Wu is pure genius. 

– Claire Miglionico with interviews by Daniela Codreanu

Click on the photos for direct sources. Thank you. 

My room has orange walls

Ideally, I'd live in a tree house (dead serious) but I am more than content with my little orange square of an office (previously my bedroom. I now zzz in the basement where it's permanently the north pole).

For the new year, I wanted to get rid of a lot of books, objects, clothes I had no interest in anymore. For the longest time, I kept everything – and I mean everything – tucked away in various little corners of my room to the point where it was perma-chaotic just to look for something. I had piles of receipts from previous purchases, books and class notes from grade 9, and clothes and books I simply didn't wear or didn't read (or never wore, never read). I used to want to keep everything just in case or "just 'cuz" but I finally grew tired of this growing clutter.

Today, I finished ripping apart a bag full of old receipts, made room on my trestled desk , found posters and old paintings I've been wanting to frame for a good while and most importantly, I got rid of a lot of shit (all in big garbage bags ready for consignment stores, Fair's Fair, and Value Village).

I have never felt so clutter-free in my entire life so I felt the urge to take a bunch of photos in a Design Sponge kind of way.

And yet, you shall see that my room still looks filled with stuff '... Do enjoy!

Photography: Claire Miglionico

I finally nailed my white pendulum clock to the wall, next to Jason, Andy, suited men (not a big fan of Ok Go but liked 'em suits!) and right beneath "dream". On my lil' brown couch: I found this art therapy painting I had done last year. It's really odd but I like it for some reason.  I'm thinking of framing it. I also found a map of Versailles from my 2007 France travels – also something I'd like to frame. Right above my lil' brown couch is a newspaper cut out from the Reflector of a layout of peeps sporting 'stashes for Movember. I dig 'em moustaches thus why it had to go on my wall. On the right is my closet and above my closet sits a fake-vintage Portobello Road sign from my travels to London, UK in 2008. Underneath my desk are boxes full of newspapers and such. 

A little close up of my wall: everything is always crooked, never straight, but I'm OK with that. The postcards are from Toronto fashion week. They were in fashion designer Baby Steinberg's gift bags. I liked the postcards hence why they are now on my walls.

This is my work area, where I wrote most of my reviews for Calgary Fashion and where I do most of my projects and write most of my essays. The blue corduroy backpack that's hanging from the chair is from Urban Outfitters (hehe)...it's quite sturdy. 

Ceramic lizard I brought back from Guadeloupe. 

This bookcase holds all of my travel books. On top are two buckets filled with toques and scarves. The mickey mouse box holds childhood photos of friends, shared moments etc and the brown envelope next to it has old Hollywood photos given to me by my grandpa who owned a photography shop back in the days. My good friend Jessica gave me the frame with photos of both of us. The first photo was taken at a journalism reunion in September 2009 and the second one St.Patricks Day 2009 at the good ol' Liberty Lounge. 

I actually found the big New York book in a London bookstore. I didn't buy it there because it was too heavy to bring home. I ordered it online in Calgary. Not the greatest photo book ever. I think I mainly liked the idea of where I had originally found this book. I have yet to go to Vienna. 

These are my cork boards. They are kind of inspiration boards. I just pin random stuff on there. I have postcards from friends, a thank you letter from a student I used to tutor, a letter from The New York Times' Senior Editor Sheila Rule wishing me all the best (I applied for a summer internship at The New York Times a couple of years ago. I knew I wouldn't get it, but it was quite cool to receive that letter,  a keepsake really!). My latest addition to the boards is a calendar of all fashion weeks around the world given to me by Margy MacMillan – MRU's sweetest librarian. 

I found the rooster alarm clock in the basement in a plastic box of things of the past. It was my first clock. I must of been five-years-old. Next to it is my lomo camera I love dearly. I haven't used it in awhile but thinking I will soon. My yellow one-eyed piggy has a lot of pennies I need to roll...It was given to me by a friend in high school. 

The Diana camera is ceramic-inspired. The photo frame is of my cat Toupi when he was a year old. I took the photo at our old place in Montreal. 

Books and mags. Love 'em. I love reading on interior design, art and fashion. Film.ol.o.gy is a compilation of 365 movies to see (not all Academy Award nominess or winners, thank god) and Treehouses of the world showcases the coolest tree houses around the world.

December Day with : Binzento Vincente

Vincent Law is a 28-year-old science geek from Calgary, AB with an undeniable flair for fashion. Law leads a contrasting double life : in the daytime, he does medical research at a lab, at night, he becomes the ultimate fashion butterfly: he blogs for Binzento Vincente – his personal fashion blog, can be spotted at most, if not all, fashion soirees around the city, and is a TV personality for Fairchild TV's The Alberta Report. As of recent, Law has also added "staff writer" at Calgary Fashion to his well-rounded resume. 

Law's eclectic sense of style stands out the most in our fairly conservative city. At events, most people dress to impress but fall short of ingenuity. Long wavy hair, mini dresses, and towering platforms grow old but Law's style grows to intrigue: it's always exciting to see what he will be sporting next. Will it be a whimsical Hello Kitty necklace, a pillowy neck warmer or a tuxedo vest paired with golden shoes and floppy dress pants? For the record, Law has never failed to impress me with his quirky sense of dress, hence why a photo shoot was in order! 

For this photoshoot, Law and I made our way to Prince's Island Park. It's December 2nd and it's an ideal sunny winter morning. A touch of snow is apparent on the ground making for the perfect contrast with Law's black leg warmers and zipped-up cape. Among many more, Law loves Japanese designers, and here, he is sporting a deep blue Issey Miyake button shirt. Morever, Law wears a cape from Indu Homme – a clothing company from Singapore –, Levi's floppy jeans, white sneakers from Zara, leg warmers by Vblack and a neck warmer from K2 Factory. 

- Claire

In brief:
Name: Vincent Law

Age: 28

Occupation(s): 

medical researcher

TV host 

Calgary Fashion staff writer 

fashion blogger at Binzento Vincente

Vincent wears:

Shoes: Zara
Cape: Indu Homme
Shirt: Issey Miyake
Pants/Jeans: Levi's
Neck warmer: K2 Factory
Leg warmers: Vblak

Photoshoot location:
Prince's Island Park - Calgary, AB





About this post: 
Author & photographer: Claire Miglionico
Occupation(s): 
journalism student at MRU
Calgary Fashion editor
personal blogger at Hipster in a Tub
fashion columnist at The Reflector
Contact info: 
claire@calgaryfashion.ca
Twitter: @clairemig