Countdown to Violence

Check out the more than powerful images from Nom de Guerre's FW10 lookbook. Inspired by the conflicts between several African armies, these styles certainly follow the brand's SS10 looks, similarly inspired by the Algerian war. We all know that I particularly love military details, so this is right up my alley - especially the Sam Browne belt (I still have yet to find one for my own wardrobe). Love!















Song of the day: Big Boi - The Train Pt. 2

Inspiration

Song of the day: La Roux - Bulletproof (Nacey Remix feat. Matt Hemerlein)

I want one

Sam Browne, minus left arm

General of the Armies, John J. Pershing in France, October 1918 wearing the Sam Browne belt.

I'm not sure where to find one or even where to look (minus ebay, but the ones I saw there were pretty expensive/authentic looking), but I want what I have come to find is called a "Sam Browne Belt" - named after a British army officer who served in India during the 19th century. He lost his left arm in battle and found that controlling or drawing his sword out from his belt without the use of his left hand was nearly impossible. So he invented the second strap that went across his shoulder in order to facilitate that movement. Now, to the more modern side of the story - the one that sounds less intellectual and more materialistic. I was on Gilt last night and saw this most amazing beautiful belt in the Vogue March Issue sale (which, incidentally is themed "military"), and I fell in love. I obviously Googled the hell out of "belt that goes over shoulder", "shoulder belt", "military shoulder belt", and "body belt" (this one gave me some fabulous neon light reflecting bicycle belts, by the way) and finally found the name Sam Browne. So, if you know where I can find one, or if you know what the Vogue one is called or who it's by, let me know! :)

Image via Gilt Groupe

Song of the day: Madrid - Iron Ways (Bit Funk Remix)

I WOULD love this

Silvery gray color: perfect

Tight fit with long sleeves & not-too-long, not-too-short: perfect

Shoulder details: priceless.

The dress is H&M and I lurve it mucho. I think I'd wear it with some black tights and some black high-heeled booties - like THESE (I die for those).

Obsessed!

p.s. I'm looking for some tights with a seam up the back that stops mid-hamstring with a big bow. It's like THIS, but not on the side and slightly more classy and also like THIS, but tights, not hold ups. Anyone?

p.p.s. song of the day: "Belong" by Washed Out

Puffy DIY (pt. 1)

The following will be a series of photos by Kevin Colombu (his blog here) of some of the DIY projects I've been working on. They're mostly shoulder oriented, but that's what I'm into right now, so... tough.

Also, yes, I realize how incredibly modest these posts will be.

You may notice that this is from a couple months ago, but originated as military epaulets. Well, I went in a different direction because I realized that the fabric of the H&M dress would be too stretchy to handle the original fringe-and-patch idea - which I really wanted to be straight and solid. So when I found these in what I like to call a "beads-n-stuff" store in NYC's garment district, I thought they would be perfect as a shoulder detail.

Stripe-It-Up

Mom's style from back in the day (1972)

a new DIY project

gap stripes

more gap stripe campaign

Stripes are all the rage. Although that expression never really was my favorite. "Rage", for me, implies a certain anger and viciousness, and my feelings about stripes are far from being described by those two nouns. Stripes have come back into style might be a better way of putting it. The new GAP campaign has clearly incorporated stripes, and these can be found all over their store: vertically, horizontally, in all different widths. I think that stripes are a nice, clean and modest pattern. They remind me of Brittany (in France) and the whole sailor look, which I, for some reason, associate with organization and cleanliness. I found the blue and white striped dress at H&M for about $20 and have decided to amp up the striped look a bit by adding some more military details (although the epaulette may be a bit too large to be called a "detail"). I found the blue patch, satin cream-colored rope and beige fringe at Fabricville in Montreal (for about $14) and will eventually sew them together. I love the plaid look that's been going around as well, but the stripes are an even better way to look casual yet put together at the same time. My great friend Shannon (below) is also a huge fan of the stripes - and we can't say she looks too shabby in them either!

Shannon (wifey!)

Laurent and his striped number