Friday Link Love #2

Happy Friday! Here's the second edition of Link Love:

• I got lost in the website Collector's Weekly last week - especially their articles on Culture. I must have read for hours. Here are some of my favourites:

                - Can't Buy Me Love: How Romance Wrecked Traditional Marriage 

                - Retail Therapy: What Mannequins Say About Us

                - From World War II Parachute to the Worlds Most Romantic Wedding Dress

                - 'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong

                - Should You Feel Guilty About Wearing Vintage Fur?

                - Good Girls and Bad Boys: How to Achieve that Cool 50's Rockabilly Look

• I know this is a Christmas related post and Christmas is over for this year, but I can't stop checking out the decor in this house. These photos are giving me the itch to tackle some more projects around my own house.
• This Christmas outfit over at Atomic Redhead. Amazing!! That dress...awesome. 

• This photo over at Freelancer's Fashionblog. I want to live in that picture. 

• Pin up shoot on The Rockabilly Socialite. Hot! 

• These booties on The Man Repeller. Optical illusion goodness. At first I thought they were socks worn in mary janes. I love them…it's fetishwear meets good-girl.

• I've been dying to cover up the blue fairy between my shoulder blades with an amazing old school style back piece tattoo. It'll be a while until it actually happens, but I can browse for inspiration until then. 

sources from top left: sleeve, chest piece, back piece, back piece. 

That's all for this week! 

Lisa.xo

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013

unsourced via Pintrest

I hope you were all nice this year and got what you wanted from Santa! I was naughty, as usual, so I'm hoping for the best! haha!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lisa.xo

Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coats: A Bit of History

Since not all of you who read my blog are Canadian, I thought it would be interesting to share some of the history behind my Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coat I showed you yesterday.

Hudson's Bay Point Blanket. source

Intro
A Hudson's Bay Point Blanket is a wool blanket. In the 18th and 19th century The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) - the oldest commercial corporation in North America, in continuous operation for over 340 year - typically traded the blankets to Native Americans in exchange for beaver pelts and other trade goods.
In the late 18th century Hudson's Bay evolved to include mercantile sales as well as fur trading. Point blankets were sold in the stores as well as traded at this time in the companies history.
Point blankets are still being sold by Hudson's Bay department stores today.

source

Point System
They are called point blankets because each blanket has one or more fine lines woven into the wool of the fabric on one edge. These lines refer to the size of the blanket - fewer lines for a smaller blanket, more lines for a larger blanket. "The "point" system had been invented by French weavers in the mid 18th c. as a means of indicating the finished overall size (area) of a blanket, since then, as now, blankets were shrunk or felted as part of the manufacturing process. The word point derives from the French empointer meaning 'to make threaded stitches on cloth'." Placing the lines on the side edge of the blanket meant that traders could identify a blanket quickly and easily and didn't have to unfold them to determine size.
For a little more info on the point system go here.

source

Colours
"The earliest blankets were solid colours but in 1798 an order for a white blanket with stripes of red, blue, green, and yellow were placed with the English manufacturer, resulting in the identifiable Hudson’s Bay Company classic pattern blanket"  Blankets were also sold in solid indigo, green, scarlet and light blue. Classic multi-stripe blankets were often referred to as "chief's blankets".
"Pastel toned" blankets were introduced in the 20's and "Deep toned" and "Imperial Toned" blankets in the 30's.
Hudson's Bay also produced a number of special coloured point blankets to commemorate certain events - such as the Coronation Blue blanket issued for the coronation of King George VI in 1937, the Imperial Purple blanket to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 and more recently, a Brown Multistripe to commemorate the new millennium in 2000.
The classic Multistipe blanket has a white background with 4 stripes or headers on either end in green, scarlet, indigo (often mistaken for black) and yellow.

a small selection of the colours that have been available over the years. source

Coat Origins
Because they were easier to sew than bison or deer skins and their ability to hold heat even when wet, the wool blankets became very popular with the Native Americans and French Canadians. They were worn draped over the shoulders or made into hooded coats (or capotes) to wear in the cold winter months.

example of a capote coat. source

source

Point Blankets as Coats
Hudson's Bay were not the originators of point blankets as outerwear. As stated previously, the Native American people were wearing them in place of buffalo robes and French Canadians were fashioning them into wrap coats (capotes) for years before a blanket was actually manufactured into a tailored coat by HBC.

"Pioneer at Fort Garry 1861", oil on canvas by Adam Sherriff Scott assisted by E.T. Adney, 1925. Detail from mural installed in the Winnipeg Hudson's Bay Company store depicting aboriginals, Métis and settlers wearing blankets and engaged in trade. source

It was in War of 1812 when Captain Charles Roberts couldn't secure warm winter coats for his troops stationed near Sault St Marie. A supply of 3.5 point blankets was requisitioned and Captain Roberts commissioned a group of Native women to sew the blankets into short coats, now known as the Mackinaw after the Michigan fort Robert and his troops occupied the following year.

mid-century vintage men's Mackinaw style Point Blanket Coat. source 

Over the years the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) expanded it's company from its humble origins as deep woods fur trading posts of the 18th century to full fledged urban department stores.
In 1922 point blanket coats were being manufactured and sold in HBC stores. They were double breasted, mid-thigh length and offered only in solid colours - grey, dark green, khaki, navy, blue, red or white and featured blanket points under the left armpit.

1922 advertisement. source

By the end of the 20's Hudson's Bay was offering a full line of outerwear for the entire family. Wool was woven in England and shipped to Winnipeg (!) for manufacturing. Coats were manufactured in Winnipeg until 2000.

1930's. source

By the 80's popularity of the point blanket coat was in decline. "In 1981 HBC commissioned five Canadian designers to create updated versions of blanket coats. Alfred Sung, Pat McDonagh, Leo Chevalier, John Warden and Jean-Claude Poitras each came up with a design; only 19 copies were manufactured and sold of each style. The manufacture of HBC classic coat designs ceased in 2000 but in 2009 ‘The Bay’ (as it is now known) introduced a new product line based on the traditional multi-stripe blanket pattern. To promote the collection, ten Canadian fashion designers were invited to create one-of-a-kind coats from Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blankets. The ten designs from Comrags, Erdem Moralioglu, Harricana par Mariouche, Jeremy Laing, Klaxon Howl, Krane, Lida Baday, Pink Tartan, Smythe and Todd Lynn were displayed in Toronto and Vancouver and a special order of 100 jackets of the Smythe design were sold during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver for $695."
Click here for a look at the 2009 designs.

2009 Hudson Bay Coat designed by Smythe. source

Styles have varied over the years, but the multistripe was the most popular colourway, thus becoming known as the "Hudson Bay Coat" - an unmistakable symbol of Canada and our cold winters.

Hudson's Bay may have stopped production on their classic coats, but they still keep a serious nostalgic hold on Canadians. The re-imagined Smythe coat pictured above is very covetable and I would guess with continue to rise in price on the secondary market when the first round of owners are ready to let them go.

Vintage and Antique Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coats are still highly visible on Canadian streets and are readily available second hand on local Kijiji/Craigslist sites as well as Ebay and Etsy. They do, however, demand a pretty serious dollar depending on what style and size you are looking for.


Additional Images

British Colombia. source

source

1973 Calgary Stampede. unsourced via Pintrest

Piapot - Cree - cira 1880. unsourced via Pintrest

Team Canada at the 1968 Winter Games in Grenoble. source

Princess Grace. source

20's/30's. source

1940's advertisement. source

 tan Mackinaw available on Kijiji Alberta. source

Royal Canadian Mounted Police - 1918. source

1970's. source

1920 - capote style. source

Sources 
HBC Heritage: The Hudson's Bay Point Blanket: History
HBC Heritage: The Hudson's Bay Company Point Blanket: From Mackinaw to Outerwear
The Point Blanket Site
Wikipedia: Hudson's Bay Point Blanket
Wikipedia: Hudson's Bay Company
Canadian Fashion Connection - The HBC Coat; A Blanket Statement
CBC Radio Interview Digital Archive: Uncovering the History of the HBC Point Blanket
Vintage Haberdashers: Hudson's Bay Blanket Coats
I Want - I Got: The Blanket Statement by The Hudson's Bay Company
Trove General Store: The Skinny on The Hudson's Bay Fur Traders
The Fedora Lounge: Guide to Blanket Mackinaws



See my Point Blanket Coat here!



Lisa.xo

Outfits: Vintage Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coat

In what seems like a million years ago - the internet has a funny way of stretching out, or conversely, compacting time doesn't it? - I posted a Wishlist post about wanting a Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Coat. I wrote that post 2 years ago now, but I'd been on the hunt for one of these coats for much longer.
Sometimes I would actively search and other times I would forget and it would fall off my radar. Either way, I've been on the hunt for about 5 years total.

By no means are these coats rare, but it seems that most of the coats I've found for sale are mens, or I find a ladies coat and it's miles too big on me, or moth eaten. Or, it's just too damn much money and I can't afford it. All of these factors have kept me from buying one over the years.

Well two short weeks ago I finally found my coat! Strangely enough a friend of mine had it. He randomly texted me and asked me how much they sell for and I was dumbstruck!! We texted back and forth for a bit, he sent me some pictures and I made him a very reasonable offer. We met, I tried on the coat and it fit!! We made the exchange and I've been in coat loving heaven ever since!! (Is that enough exclamation points for you?!! Can you tell how stoked I am to have this coat?!?!)
I won't tell you this coat was a bargain, but he got a good deal and I paid less than internet retail. Win, win.

There is just something purely Canadian about a Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Coat. It's iconic, instantly recognizable. They are true collectors items, which are deeply tied to the fur trade in Canada's history. Coats made from Hudson's Bay Point Blankets have been handmade or manufactured since the 1800's. Hudson's Bay doesn't even sell these coats in the classic style with any regularity anymore. There have been a few special production runs, collaborations with designers and revamped coats with new looks, but the classic coat with that true heavy blanket wool has not been sold by the company since 2000.

Mine is from the 60's. I had originally been looking for a peacoat, but I love the hood and belt detail on this coat. It's much more feminine.

The coat is a perfect fit. And I just can't get enough of wearing it with my vintage racoon fur hat. I feel like a fur trader in it. And that's really what I love about fashion: that clothes have the power to transform us, let us assume different identities.

Vintage Raccoon Fur Hat: Gift Shop at The Canadian Costume Museum

White Knit Scarf: Ricki's

60's Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coat: bought from a friend

Black Leather Mittens: Danier Leather

Black Skinny Jean: Forever 21

Black Leather Riding Boots: thrifted, Salvation Army

Green Purse: Claudia Firenze

Lisa.xo

Friday Link Love #1

I've always loved link roundups on other blogs. It's an amazing way to see where other creative people draw their inspiration from. It's also a great way to find new blogs and websites.

I've finally taken the plunge and am going to try and post a link roundup twice a month. 

Here's what's inspiring me right now:

• Vintage Paper Moon Photos

source

source

source

• And further to that: How to make a Paper Moon Photo Booth
• How to Get Perfect Red Lips from Keiko Lynn
• This outfit from Atlantic-Pacific. Classic, chic and a touch of retro with the fur and cape. Love.

• This girl's blog: Through the Looking Glass. I love her retro meets goth style. Her photos are always beautiful.

• Dividing Moments tribute to Dior's New Look bar suit. Part 1 & Part 2.

• Two outfits from Polka Polish:

Butterick 7461: Dream Housecoat she made this beauty!! 

This trouser outfit. It had me at hello…I'm thinking about replicating it I like it so much. 

• The Avacado Theory on Man Repeller. Seriously funny…if you are a 30-something woman, heck if you are a woman period, go read that…they posted it a few weeks ago and I'm still sending it to people. 
• Wrapping with Scraps on Vixage. Look at how pretty this present is!!

• Splurge vs. Save: Where Are you Putting Your Energy this December over on Kyla Roma. I went to university with Kyla and I love, love, love her blog. It's well written and always motivates me to do good - for myself and others. 
• And finally, this look from Tea with the Vintage Baroness. 

Lisa.xo

Personality Style Challenge for Brilliant Earth

Last week I was contacted by the folks at Brilliant Earth - makers of ethical origin fine jewelry - and asked to take part in their blogger Personality Style Challenge.

If you know me well, you are aware that I'm a bit of a magpie ("bit of a" might also be a HUGE understatement!!) and I cannot resist anything that sparkles. And if you've read this blog for a long time you know that I am not in the habit of partnering with companies, so you know this one had to speak to me.

Before I get to the style challenge, let me introduce you to this fantastic company:

Brilliant Earth is a jewelry company with a cause. They are committed to offering quality diamonds and fine jewelry which are ethically sourced. At the same time offering great service as well as contributing to the jewellery industry - donating 5% of their profits to benefit communities affected by the blood diamond trade and the jewellery industry.

I know that can all seem pretty heavy for a little lifestyle/fashion blog, but diamonds are fashion and I think most people forget that lives can be on the line in the diamond trade. If you purchase your wedding ring/engagement ring/diamond earrings from a company like Brilliant Earth you can rest assured that you are part of the solution and not the problem. I like that. Fashion with a conscious. This is part of the reason I like to shop second hand - it reduces waste and reuses perfectly good - and sometimes stunningly beautiful - clothing that might otherwise be unused.

And more to that note, I was also quite excited to learn that Brilliant Earth offers a curated selection of antique jewelry, engagement and wedding rings. Please click the links and prepare to swoon (Christmas is only 8 days away people! haha!)


So now that you've had a proper introduction, onto the style challenge! I was sent a list of personalities with corresponding jewellery from Brilliant Earth and was asked to make a style board to compliment the jewelry and personality of my choice. It wasn't a tough decision. I had to pick the vintage girl - who loves vintage dresses and thrift store shopping (sound like anyone you know?!?!).
I've called her "Vintage Loving Gal"

1. The Promenade Earrings - Brilliant Earth

2. Black 30's Tilt Slouch Hat with Rhinestones - Etsy

3. Polka Dot Blouse with Removable Flower - Jacob

4. Cream Leather Motorcycle Jacket - Danier Leather

5. Black 30's Hand Embroidered Evening Clutch - Etsy

6. White Gold Hudson Ring - Brilliant Earth

7. Eternity Diamond Ring - Brilliant Earth

8. High Waisted Keynote Address Pants in Teal - Modcloth

9. 40's Kelly Green Leather Platform Peep Toe Pumps - Etsy

10. Ruby Woo Lipstick - MAC

Choosing Brilliant Earth's antique and vintage inspired jewelry was a no-brainer for me…I mean, The Promenade Earrings…they've got me seriously swooning. Please, click on the link above or enlarge my collage to see them clearer…you won't be disappointed.
I also love their choice of rings for the vintage loving gal - the Hudson Ring and the Tiara Eternity Diamond ring - both in white gold. They are both beautiful and classic with just enough vintage style without being garish. I would wear them on the same hand or stack them on one finger for maximum bling.

I've paired the jewelry with an outfit I would wear in a heartbeat any day of the week, chosen from my favourite modern retailers and peppered with vintage accessories from Etsy. I think I could even manage to wear this outfit to work with flats!

As usual, it's all about the mix. I love the bling, not only from Brilliant Earth's jewelry, but also in rhinestones on the vintage hat paired with a tough, but chic leather motorcycle jacket from Danier Leather. For me, no outfit is complete without a fabric flower - here on the polka dot blouse. Which I hope would poke out above the collar on the jacket.

More feminine detailing in the delicate 1930's clutch - a nice counter balance to the graphic print on the blouse.

The high waisted teal pants are not only a nod to vintage fashion, but also right on trend both in colour and fit - the best of both worlds, in my opinion. And I couldn't help but pair them with a beautiful pair of vintage 40's platform pumps in a similar colour.

And no vintage loving gal's outfit is complete without some lipstick. What better shade than MAC's bold Ruby Woo?


I had a lot of fun taking part in this challenge (Brilliant Earth will pick 3 winners to be featured on their Pintrest page this Friday!) and frankly, I think my credit card is in danger right now - I am seriously debating buying myself that outfit. Or at least the hat and the clutch! haha! And I've also let The Boy know about Brilliant Earth…you know, in case he finds he needs to do some jewellery shopping for me…*hint hint*.

What do you think of my style board? Anything you would add? Subtract? 

Lisa.xo

Disclaimer: This post is part of Brilliant Earth's blogger Personality Style Challenge. 

All opinions are my own.

Colour Need Not Apply

I am practicing what I preach this winter. I keep posting inspiration posts with all black outfits and I have barely worn any colour at all since before the snow melted! I'm hooked!
I've been mixing it up with some white and grey, but colour has definitely taken a backseat in this winters wardrobe.

Here are some of my favourites:

* top - Joe Fresh * belt - thrifted * dress - thrifted, from Buffalo * pumps - vintage *

* sweater - thrifted, Club Monaco * bird brooch - vintage * skinny jeans - Forever 21 * belt - Jacob * riding boots - thrifted *

* cardigan - thrifted, Joe Fresh * tee - thrifted * flower brooch - Ricki's * skirt - Debbie's Vintage * pumps - Forever 21 *

* sweater - thrifted, Issac Mizrahi for Target * necklace - Le Chateau * skinny jeans - Forever 21 * belt - Jacob * boots - Le Chateau * 

Do you snuggle up in dark colours for the winter months? Or do you combat the cold with bright hues?

Lisa.xo