Inspired

Many have stopped using Tumblr since their 15 year old hipster/free soul phase. Many have moved on to Instagram - so have I, for reality's pictures. But sometimes, it feels quite nice to transcend this reality into the world of dreamy editorials, where creativity is boundless and imagination limitless. Curated here are some fashion related pictures.

All pictures from my Tumblr.

Ethereal

Just a pair of high waisted jeans paired up with a rich caramelized coloured silk top. Bold complimentary jewelry come make up for simplicity of the ensemble. I wore this to my friend's birthday dinner with my trusty sherpa crossbody and monk strap creepers, which gave it a neo-boho flair. It also feels great lounging in this. The classic tank and jeans combo will never let me down, it's just all about how it is put together. I like to opt for contrasting textures like the edginess of waxed jeans against with the smoothness of silk. 

Summer is here! Although its full effect still hasn't kicked in yet, I am already thankful for lazy mornings spent in bed literally doing nothing. Like watching Family Guy nothing. One of the most genius shows out there along with Game of Thrones. However, I'm not too crazy about feeling useless either to the point where humanity doesn't need me anymore, so I'm going to amp up my vacay with some serious reading, work and working out, travelling and social events. More specifically, I would also like to write a song and go camping with friends away from any kind of media for a while. What are your plans? 

Photos: Dahye (Shot in her gorgeous and daylight-friendly apartment)
Jeans: American Apparel
Top and Jewelry: Vintage and boutiques

Enjoy!
Katia

Concerti

Between balancing working hard and playing hard, I do manage to squeeze in some time for leisure, mostly related to the arts.

During the last few weeks, I spent one of the days with my music friends living the Plateau life and attending a 3 hour concert: H-mollmässan by J. S. Bach. Actually appreciating classical music, we were mesmerized by its timeless beauty. However, the last hour, all of us really became distracted just like kids. Understandable though. 

Drawing mostly remains within class hours simply because it keeps me awake and helps me concentrate.

But what I wanted to share the most is the concert I attended with Dahye. It's almost been a week and I'm still internally freaking out. 

What happened is that she invited me to go to a hip/low key/indie concert with Hippo Campus and Night Riots opening for The Mowgli's. The main reason we went is that she actually knew the band members of Hippo Campus, having gone to high school with them in Minnesota. I had also heard some catchy tunes from The Mowgli's so hey, why not? When we entered the concert hall, right away I felt its warm and welcoming ambiance. Christmas lights hung on the ceiling and the crowd was ever so cheerful and responsive, especially the front row. Hippo Campus was amazing - they gave it all by playing until they literally were drenched in sweat and blood. Good job guys, you're gonna go real far. 

Then came Night Riots. Okay. I had no clue who they were before, and man was that about to change. Just while they were setting up, Dahye and I were already like something along the lines of: "Who. are. those. hunks.", and "Right? And don't even get me started on their hot attitude and jawlines." Still, I had no idea what to expect from their actual music. When they finally started playing, I was so overwhelmed by their stage presence that I had to stop dancing to the beat and stare at them (ahaha). It hit me, the first impression. All of the members were truly into their music and managed to deliver a heartwarming experience despite the attractively sinister image they projected. At one point, Travis, the lead singer, reached out to the second row and took my hand from the crowd and as he was singing, looked with his piercing green eyes into mine and smiled, as if he was serenading just for me, just for a second that lasted forever. Honestly I melted. And the guitar solos, and the electro, and the beat, and the vibes, and the passion, and the cheers, and the, and the...

Their show ended, but I was thirsty for so much more. Luckily The Mowgli's delivered a spectacular performance full of vibrant energy. Not only was their music catchy, but we got a little taste of their upcoming album that was just released! Dahye and I went to the washrooms, and after some weird selfies and dropping her phone into the sink (and laughing about it for five minutes straight), we came back out to the side of the stage, which came out even closer. We conveniently decided to stay there, and who knew that I was going to be able to give a props to the bassist while he was on stage and a big thumbs up to the drummer, as he responded with a huge enthusiastic smile and beat.  

Here's the thing: I got to meet everyone.  

Not even by chance. Most of them were at the bar, and all you needed was the audacity to approach them. 

It was so great to watch Dahye finally reunite with her childhood friends and catch up. He was really jovial, and apparently I have the same name as his girlfriend back in Minnesota. Wow, one must be patient with long distance relationships on tour. 

I also happened to see the lead singer of The Mowgli's sitting right across from me after the entire show had ended, just catching up on social media. Him. Right next to me. Yeah, I just had the guts to go up to him and to congratulate him. We took each other's hands and he gave me a sincere appreciative look. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures not to ruin the moment. 

Now with Night Riots, we actually first got to meet them right before The Mowgli's' show in the back of the concert hall. Right away I introduced myself the French-Canadian way - with la bise (kisses on the cheek). I didn't want to show how nervous I was, but it ended up dissipating much easier than I expected. Conversation flowed like a river, mostly about poutine, and within minutes we had already exchanged so much. The next time I got to see them was towards the end of the show. I was going to back to grab my coat and noticed that they were there, as well as one of the members of Hippo Campus, and heck, we just ended up dancing to the beat and hugging at the end! I felt so lucky, we talked and talked - because they're actual people too off the stage - until it was time to leave. I'm now hooked to them because they're ~contagious~. 

It's weird, but I've never fangirled this much. Rationally, I think that this show especially stayed with me due to two key facts:

• That the performance was delivered with sincere and visible passion; 
• That every single band member was not only approachable and down-to-earth, but actually chill human beings.

Please don't lose that. 

Hippo Campus

Night Riots

The Mowgli's

Travis Hawley

Enjoy!

Katia

Cold Hearted

Current mood:
Chet Faker - 1998

Just soak in the music, NOTHING else.

Canadian weather strikes again. Instead of unleashing the Goose, why not spend these last snowy days layering as much as possible. Not just a coat over a sweater, but how about a scarf over a coat over a jacket over a top - trust me it'll keep you just as warm.
I combined two major trends in this look: denim dresses and dresses over pants and skirts. As sub-trends of the big 70s wave seen everywhere from streetstyle to runways, it allows you to be stylish without screaming copy-cat. However, I still can't wait to wear this tunic by itself!

Pictures: Dahye my boo
Dress and boots: Zara
Coat: Vintage
Scarf: hand knitted

Enjoy!
Katia Houle

The Stains of Glass and Today

Just having a thought on the word 'basic', here referring to people and actions. I would never classify people myself, but I am able to observe some traits of this behaviour. According to the Urban Dictionary, it is defined as:

"An adjective used to describe any person, place, activity involving obscenely obvious behavior, dress, action."

Basically (no pun intended), I think that basic people follow pop culture and popular trends recurring in social media and consider it as the ideal way to be. It isn't done consciously most the time, as it is incorporated into their Habitus and is reflected in their daily actions. It's obvious because it's cool, and it's cool because it's obvious. Being basic in one context can be completely different in another, but let's say in first world countries, a cup of Starbs and night out selfies are one of the most flagrant examples. However, eating green foods or wearing a fashionable look just because it is trendy can just as well be the case. If there aren't any deeper motivations for an action other than immediate appearance, that is when something becomes basic. If you truly believe in encouraging Starbucks as a company or choose to eat healthy as a lifestyle, then your actions make sense. Being a little basic isn't a bad thing, and I think that we are all guilty, because it is impossible to escape the influences of what is constantly being presented to us. I myself am guilty of many basic things, and I even consider fashion blogging itself as one of them. Just look at the number of fashion blogs out there that are so similar one to the other. Yet this gives us something in common with the people who share this conviction, and allow us to unite, and even reshape this basicness. 

I guess that its modern-day antonym would be hipster, which is around the lines of someone trying to be different and not influenced by society. Nonetheless, hipsters becoming more and more common and following the same type of path, could they also identify as a type of basic? 

It isn't simple. At the end of the day, I think that being basic or hipster / same or different  isn't the question, it's about how you eclectically incorporate surrounding elements into your person and make proper use of it to nurture your personality and entourage. I look up to the people like Neil Degrasse Tyson who isn't afraid use the tools of the modern era to humourously tweet the latest astrophysical discoveries, and whether he's sipping on homemade fair-trade coffee or a Frappuccino.  

Pictures: Dahye
P.S.: This babe just uploaded a new lookbook that I filmed on her YouTube channel, and once again my sassiness is featured in the bloopers.

Shirt and boots: Zara
Clutch: Want les Essentiels de la Vie
Trousers: Dr Azhu Studios

Enjoy!
Katia

Cornered

Posting something rather office appropriate since my March Break simply doesn't exist this year because I am spending it working at an internship for Pfizer. I mean, I'm actually far busier than school days. I'm surrounded by dynamic businessmen in a professional environment, sitting at my own office, with my own laptop, security card and tea doing marketing analysis literally from 8-5. Not to mention two hours of commuting to get there and two more to get back. That aside, it's a wonderful experience, where I get to apply what I have learned in the classrooms my entire life for the first time. 

I've been wearing this coat everywhere. For this outfit, its purpose is to structure the looseness of the unbuttoned white shirt put together with a leather skirt with pleats on the edge. The trendier way to wear it right now is with a colourful turtleneck popping out and/or with flares. But again, probably not at the office where I'm currently working.  

Pictures: Dahye :)
Coat: vintage
Shirt and skirt: Zara
Shoes: Alberta Ferretti

Enjoy!
Katia