On this horribly gloomy, dismal day, I decided it was time to start tackling the insanity that is my bedroom, in preparation for it being turned into the bicyclette studio. This seems like the perfect opportunity to get rid of as much as possible, so I’m trying to be selective when I edit my possessions. We’re moving our bedroom into the smaller room in the apartment (which was previously occupied by my brother), and the larger room with the huge front window is being turned into the studio and work area. Tres exciting! I currently have five bags of clothes to get rid of and my bed is covered with winter clothes to be packed away, which to me is progress. I figure that like any big overhaul, the whole apartment will get more chaotic before it gets organized.
Anyways, today I stumbled across a new interior blog that I will be adding to my list of dailies, Made By Girl, and it was as if the universe knew I needed inspiration, because one of the posts I came across was photos of her home office renovation. For some reason I’ve had difficulty finding images for reference, so this was perfect, right along the lines of what I needed, at the right time.
I love the white, the bright infusions of colour, the graphic wallpaper, the storage systems, the quirky decorating accents, the inspiration board … gives me some great ideas for designing my own space.
If anyone has any other sources of studio/office space inspiration, or some neat project and ideas they think I might be able to incorporate, feel free to pass them along to me! It’s about that time, and I’d love the input …
Yesterday I tweeted and facebooked a snapshot of a new Bicyclette floral dress that I just couldn’t wait to wear, and as promised, here’s the full outfit post. Unfortunately the weather has been lacking in sun and summer, but it was the perfect way to brighten up the day with the bright floral print, structured bustier top and flowy skirt. I decided to add a little bit of edge (and warmth!) by layering a striped knit over top (no need to be scared of mismatched prints) and my over-the-knee boots, and accessorized with the usual pile of bangles, a studded belt and silver feather earrings.
The dress, among many others, will be available in the shop soon! Updates on the store launch date soon, as I have a phone meeting with my web developer tomorrow. Exciting times approaching, that’s for sure!
White washed walls. Streaming sunlight. Accents of colour. A vintage aesthetic and carefully constructed vignettes. This is what my dreams are made of. White is often thought to be sterile and lacking in personality, but I find it to be quite the opposite, a blank canvas and an opportunity to play with texture and details.
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I love the rustic details, the imperfections in the chipping paint and the coziness that is exuded. There’s a story here, and the vignettes of found objects and various trinkets communicate this.
I can’t wait to start putting together the bicyclette studio (more on this soon!), drawing inspiration from interior’s such as these. The hard part will be incorporating functional workspace into the mix.
The good news: yesterday at Magic I bought a lot of great pieces that you should be really excited about…
- Florals: on oversized tanks, exposed-zipper dresses, and deep-v tees, both multi-coloured and black and white
- Lace: as insets, full backs and decorative detailing
- Subtle Studs: on oversized breezy tops, necklines of dresses, and embellishment on cardis
- Bright Colours and Soft Neutrals: think turquoise and hot pink in perfect dresses, tunics and silky fabrics
- Sheer Layers: breezy tops in light fabrics that are perfect for creating that perfect layered look
- Leopard Print: the most perfect oversized, bat wing, light grey melange sweater with an abstract print
I’m really excited.
The bad news is, there is a very strict no picture taking rule, which means that I was unable to document my purchases and share them with you. Hence the words-only description and lack of visuals. Disappointing, I know.
I did, however, manage to get some shots of displays that had been put together with samples from the show, highlighting themes from upcoming seasons.
I’m back from Vancouver. Back from the Enterprize competition, empty-handed, unfortunately. The winnings went to three different start-ups, all tech-based, and all from UBC, which I guess makes sense seeing as they hosted the conference and competition. It was a matter of criteria, the fact that I was pitching a retail concept (not an entirely revolutionary concept, I suppose), and not inventing a product or system that is patentable and has the potential to dominate the market. I received great feedback, support for the idea and encouragement that failing to place in this particular competition had nothing to do with the viability of the idea or the belief that it could be a successful venture, but instead it was a matter of not meeting the specific criteria set out. Fair enough, disappointing, yes.
But without further ado, we are back to our regular programming, sans crazy business plan prep, which means that I am able to focus more on the blog once again.
I’ve discussed my love and adoration for accessories before, and we all know how much my eye is drawn towards embellishment and luxe detailing, so when I came across Angel Jackson, accessory label extraordinaire, my heart melted a little. These are pieces that stand alone, pieces that demand attention and catch your eye, pieces that draw you in and encourage you to get up close and personal. Angel Jackson was launched in 2005 by sisters Katie and Millie Smith and the line can now be found in prestigious boutiques around the world.
They were adamant that it would be possible to create an international fashion label with ethically sourced products and good working conditions for its staff, whilst being recognised for well designed, stylish and glamourous accessories… Stylish, super chic and with a twist of underground edgy-luxe, there is no wonder why Angel Jackson is a closely guarded secret by fashionistas…
Images: Angel Jackson / Collages: bicyclette
How fantastic are the feather pieces? I can’t get over the colours and textures, they’re just asking to be showcased and adored. And the oversized relaxed shapes. I’d attempt a DIY if I wasn’t so afraid of working with that many feathers. I think it would be asking for disaster.
Thoughts? Too much extravagance?
I think one of the reasons I’m so drawn to these pieces right now is that recently any purchases I’ve made have been focused on finding luxe basics that are versatile and simple, encouraging more layering and creativity within outfits. Accessories such as these from Angel Jackson, especially the purses, are the perfect addition to these outfits, adding a surge of colour and texture and creating that focal point that every outfit needs. Voila!
I enjoy doors. One of the first thing you see and touch as you enter a new space, and the last thing as you leave. Granting you access. Letting you in or keeping you out. I’m not sure what exactly it is.
On my walk to school there’s a little house with a bright red door, and it always makes me smile and wonder. Why red? Why does that house deserve such a statement-making colour? Is there a story?
For something that we take for granted and encounter so often, the majority of doors have a tendency to be exceptionally boring and bland. Why, when there are so many ways to add personality to a door?
In conclusion? Expect to see a bright painted door welcoming you into bicyclette. Hopefully vintage, with some sort of detailing. And I love the look of peeling paint. Beauty in imperfection.
My style icon today is not a real person. It’s an editorial character from a magazine spread, but I’ve fallen in love with the character, and as such have deemed it fair game for this post. Since I’ve been blogging I’ve made sure to note where I find images, but unfortunately, for my collection of photos from my pre-blog days, I sometimes forget the source. That being said, if you recognize this shoot, I would love to know where it originally came from and be able to give credit where it’s due. It feels very Lula magazine to me, but I’m not sure …
I absolutely love the styling in this shoot. Every outfit looks like it might have been sourced from a forgotten wardrobe of vintage treasures, with a hint of fairytale, nerd, and ladylike quirkiness. It just works. The bold colours and richly textured fabrics, and the almost over-the-top details. It has an element of “grandma chic” to it, but modernized and made applicable to today’s styles. Granted, you may not leave the house decked out to quite this degree, but there are definitely elements to take inspiration from. I also find that the use of full colour photos contrasted with black and white is used extremely effectively in this case. It balances everything out and keeps the shoot from appearing too overdone. This is one of my favourite ways to present a series of photos, keeping an unexpected quality to it and mixing it up. To me, this shoot and the styling is very much aligned with how I imagine bicyclette, not just in terms of merchandise offered, but in the overall style of the store.
I’m curious what you think of this styling and if you can see it translating into a store environment? What are the elements you like and what would draw you in? Is it too kitschy for your taste?
I sometimes wonder if I have a tendency to get caught up in my over-stylized fairytale imaginations …
I’ve always been interested in photography, but had never heard about the Holga camera until the boy moved in and unpacked his about a year ago. It essentially looks like a toy camera. And, well… it is, really.
The beauty of this camera is in the imperfections: the photos possess an other-worldly quality, with soft-focus tones, misty colors, and streaming light leaks. The inability to control exactly how each photograph will turn out makes the experience that much more enjoyable: there’s always an element of surprise to the end product.
We took the Holga up to the cottage this past summer with a roll of black and white film, and here are some of the shots we got. I really want to pick up some colour film and play around with it as well, my only hesitation is the cost of developing the film, as it’s not cheap! Perhaps I’ll save up until spring, when the colours will be more vibrant anyways.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Holga, I found this website extremely interesting, with lots of information and examples.
Happy snapping!
I watched Down with Love today as I was making some last minute Christmas gifts, which is where the inspiration for today’s interior inspiration post comes from.
Not sure if anyone remembers it, I don’t think it got the best reception, but there’s something I love about this movie. Perhaps not exactly cinematic genius, but it’s quirky and silly and just plain fun and quite honestly, I think it’s primarily the styling, art direction and set design that has me singing its’ praises. The costumes are fantastic (hello, 60s!) and the sets are amazing. The colours, the patterns, the spaces … perfection, so pretty! They did an excellent job juxtaposing “his” and “her” apartments, and everything is executed down to the last detail.
That huge window and balcony in her apartment make me wish that that was a realistic apartment feature, not to mention the winding, floating staircase and the sunken living room. And the pink chairs? Ah, love. They’re welcome on the floor of bicyclette anytime. Reminds me of this fiberglass rocking chair, which I would also gladly accept:
The other highlight of my day was when I wandered down Queen St. West, to get myself out of the house and see if anything sparked inspiration, and came across a tiny little shop selling vintage home wares and a small collection of clothing. Turns out the woman only planned to open for a month (it’s been three weeks thus far), as a way to sell off pieces from her own collection, but it’s been going so well for her and she’s had such a good response that she’s decided to stay open for longer. She has some amazing items: vintage pyrex, glassware, boardgames, linens, jewelry, furniture, and the list goes on. And the prices are very reasonable, not overpriced like I find many of those shops to be. Here’s what I walked away with: a set of eight glasses with the prettiest pattern on them and an elongated, slim shape that is perfect. It just so happened that I had been looking for new glasses, as my random dollar store collection doesn’t quite cut it anymore.
Back to the movie talk, and on an ending note, I would love to hear what your favourite films are in terms of costume and set design? I know there are some good ones out there, and they’re a great source of inspiration …
Oh, Monday, how I dread your arrival. I guess the bright side is that I’m so close to my Holiday break that it’s better to just keep plugging away at this point.
For this Interior Inspiration installment, I’m focusing on the details. The following photos are all from my ever-growing collection of photos that I’ve been adding to for awhile now. I’ve mentioned it before, but one of the key focuses of bicyclette will be on visual merchandising and the creation of a comfortable and creative environment. I believe that merchandise should be integrated with the displays, and instead of having a sterile environment, it should be inviting and encourage customers to interact and be inspired. I feel as though this collection of photos represents that, even though they are home interiors and not necessarily retail. There’s a lot of room for cross-over though, and like I said, in this case, I’m inspired by the details.
Wallpaper as tapestry. There's something about a bold print that instantly jazzes up a space
Flea market feel. Maybe a little on the over-cluttered side, but I like the idea...
Mismatched vintage furniture, wooden floor and the gorgeous fireplace/mirror combination
Collection of random frames (empty and not) as wall decoration. Perhaps hanging jewelry within?
This velvet covered couch is perfection. I need to find a similar version. And I love the array of patterned pillows and throws
Again with the frames, though perhaps a little too hectic. Also love the simple couch with punches of colour
Whitewashed walls and floors create a calm environment, and the bedframe is beautiful
The romantic, vintage vibe that the mannequin and hanging clothes gives off creates an intimate environment
This whole set-up creates a perfect display
The details, accessories and vibrant accents of colour
I’m curious what decorating tips and tricks people use, and what they are drawn to?
My taste tends to gravitate towards the more vintage-inspired and eclectic, as evident in the above photos.
Also, where do you get your interior inspiration from?
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