After a week of stupendously clement weather, the real autumn chill has finally settled in the air and I'm having mixed feelings. Pros: I love that period that leads up to Thanksgiving and, even better, Christmas! Cons: I loathe being cold. However, it is literally an inevitable fact of life and we just have to make do. Once the more pleasant weather side of fall has gone, it remains a really exciting time to be in New York City. Now it's about the Thanksgiving Day parade, the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, the Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows and some outdoor skating. 'Tis the season! Have a great weekend everyone, enjoy this week's mood board xx
Bags are not my thing. They're just not. I don't really care about having a statement slung over my shoulder, I don't really notice them on other people, I never fall short in my tracks when I spot a purse masterpiece... It really takes a lot for me to covet one. In my eyes, a satchel is far more utilitarian than anything and you'll most likely find me wearing a ratty canvas tote on any given day. I have one evening bag, my trust Bottega Veneta cross-body intrecciato, which has served me quite well over the years. You know exactly which one I'm speaking of, it's in literally in all of my outfit posts.
I'm sad to say that I think the time has come to start looking for a sidekick to BV. Not because I want to replace it, no sir, no ma'am. It's far too perfect and classic to ever put it to the side. But I need to give it a little break because it's showing signs of, um, aging, and I want to slow that down a bit. Getting a new bag to share the burden of wear could be considered as BV's youth serum, you know?
So while it takes a lot for me to actually fall in love with a handbag, I've had much time to think about what I'm looking for and what I want. Below are the contenders. Thoughts?
Greetings, dear readers. Let's get right into it: remember this? That awesome photo shoot I was a part of with my stylist agency, Keaton Row? Well, I finally have a piece of the end result to share. It's always so fun to see the final product of a photo shoot after being involved in a production like this.
I'll spare you more words, as you can read all about this special project in the backstage post I shared with you a couple of months ago. And I'll finish off by giving myself a plug: if you live in the US and are in need of some style advice, holler right here.
A deep, dark and delicious mood board for the mid-november weekend. It's really hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a mere 2 weeks away. Insanity. Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend xx
It should be so fitting that I have a bit of a professor vibe in these photos since they were shot at a very particular location on the NYU campus called the Washington Mews. It's a really unique part of the city -- a cobblestone row -- that actually used to be old stables. How cool is that? New York is filled with these types of little secret gems.
Anyway, while I stole my husband's t-shirt (which happens more than I care to admit) and am wearing loose distressed jeans with a schoolboy blazer, it's always a good call to add a pair of heels to the mix so that people don't confuse you with an actual member of the opposite sex, know what I mean?
We're no stranger to nighttime shoots here on FOR. In fact, I quite like them because the flash is a complexion's best friend. And while this look is far from being evening wear, I have a penchant for going a bit against the grain and dressing down when the sun does the same. Nothing screams more effortless than looking like you don't really care, amiright?
Last week, before this dip in weather occurred, my man and I took a half day off for his birthday and played tourist. I can't stress how fun it is to explore your own city, especially when said city is the Big Apple. It's so easy, and might I say normal, to just get caught up in routines, work and every day life, that we often fully omit taking advantage of what our lieu of residence has to offer. It was the same thing when I lived in Montreal and Paris: I missed out on a lot of these formidable cities' cultural offerings, because once I became a dweller, I took things for granted, as people do.
The very reason for why most tourists flock to metropolitan destinations is often ignored by its population. And that's very sad because big cities encompass so many riches that their denizens could greatly benefit from discovering. While I had many a missed opportunity in my hometown of Montreal, I try to make it a point to not fall into the same pattern here in New York. I've been here for a few years now and I never tire of exploring it, of attending new exhibitions, going to the theatre, shows, restaurants, open mic nights, etc, etc.
So, good on me for actually finding someone to share my life with who actually enjoys doing (most of) these activities. New York City also happens to be an intrinsic part of our love story and it was only fitting that we had a romantic day atop the Rock (that's the summit of Rockefeller Center, for those who are unfamiliar), among other things. And since it was a celebratory day, my trusty vintage sequined vest was out in full force.
Okay, Mother Nature, what's the deal?! Give it up, already. Frankly, you kind of suck. I think I speak for everyone when I say that nobody's digging what you're putting them through. The cold, the snow in a lot of places, the all-around unpleasantries you have us mortals dealing with. Can't you at least wait until December?
One of the things that I am most certain of in life is that I am far from a morning person. It doesn't matter how much sleep I've had, how good my intentions are or how eager I am to get to my coffee -- waking up has been one of the most painful parts of my day for as long as I can remember. I still manage to rise at a decent hour, but it's not without an immense challenge.
On the contrary, I always get a jolt of energy come sundown. No matter how tired I am, it's almost like a chemical reaction once the daylight winds down and transitions into evening. I don't know what it is about my internal clock, but it's this inexplicable quotidian phenomenon that's occurred since I've been old enough to recall.
So golden hour is literally the time of day when I feel the most energized, and it also happens to provide a very small window of time to capture the most alluring photos thanks to the natural glowing light it provides. There's something about big cities that make the sun seem like it shines even brighter when it's low, almost as though at the end of every street lies a pot of gold that caught fire. Even better when those streets are tree-lined and look like a movie set. That's the thing with New York City, I never cease to marvel at all it has to offer, no matter how insignificant.
I hope all my American readers had an amazing Thanksgiving! Mine was really great, spending time with family and eating lots of food is pretty much my idea of heaven. Now try not to go too crazy at all those black friday/cyber monday sales! Have an awesome weekend xx
Everyone has their own list of what they consider to be wardrobe staples, and being the simple gal that I am, most things I consider to be must-haves are pretty basic. Like black and white t-shirts, a great pair of dark wash skinny jeans, black jeans, grey cashmere sweaters, etc. You get the idea: my adventurous sartorial days of yore are far behind me.
I much prefer neutrals and classics, which I personalize with my very own brand of undone nonchalance. Something that's taken years of trials and errors to nail, and that continues to evolve. The goal is not to reach perfection, because that would be the very antithesis of what I am, and how I want to look. I'm just not into that overly manicured look. My hair is always a mess, my nails are never done, I like things loose and casual, but I'm also a high heels and lipstick aficionado. But if you're a regular reader of this blog, you know all of that.
The reason I'm yapping away about all of this is because this outfit comprises some of my fall wardrobe essentials: a versatile pea coat, leather pants, cute sneakers and bright lipstick. Now tell me, what are some of your essentials?
My British readers will want to throw rocks at me (sorry!!) for saying this, but I don't care much for tea. There, I said it. Not that I dislike it per se, but it just doesn't do it for me. Mornings must greet me with a bucket of extra strong drip coffee (no flimsy espresso for this gal) and if I need an afternoon pick-me-up, I will choose the latter. When I'm sick, I enjoy a nice herbal tea, but other than that, I just don't derive much pleasure from imbibing an earl gray or orange pekoe.
That said, the ritual of a coffee (or tea) break is one of those necessary components to the day. It allows your mind to recharge, you can think of something other than work for 15 minutes and, above all, the fact that you're taking time for yourself, if only a teensy bit, is of utmost importance. So whether you like the dark stuff or the leafy liquid, or even just a good ol' fashioned juice, make sure you squeeze in a short amount of selfish time on the daily.
PS this is one of the blouses from the Altuzarra X Target collection. I kinda love it. Did you guys get anything from that collaboration?
Coming at you from Miami, I am here again for the wonderful thing that is Art Basel (see my Basel adventures from last year here, here, here and here). With the Florida sunshine rocking my world right now, this mood board reflects just that - beaches, hotness, color and joyful brights. Here's hoping this warms up your heart just a little bit if you're in a chillier locale. Have an awesome weekend everyone xx
Dear-in-headlights/possessed-by-the-devil look aside, flash pictures look kinda rad. I'm a fan of overexposed photography, especially when it's at nighttime. Not only does it make the subject pop, but it kinda gives a bit of a gritty vibe, which I love.
While it may not be the best way to showcase my multiple shades of black, it still makes for a fun aesthetic, especially with the sassy Brooklyn graffiti in the background. I got this denim jacket from the Gap this season and haven't been able to put it down since it became cool enough to don it. And now that it's gotten even chillier, I layer it with everything.
The Canadian tux is always a solid route to take with jean jackets, but I've had a particular penchant for pairing mine with black. I find the light wash on it to be the perfect yin and yang balance with the deep black. This is an investment you want to make, ladies.
Living in New York City is great and all but sometimes a girl just needs to get away, you know? Gloriously fun weekend attire should be essential for kicking it in the 'burbs, so I slipped into these Bob the Builder overalls for the occasion. There's no better time to do that over a holiday weekend to escape the city's hustle and bustle and spend quality time with family. Ever since I moved to the US a few years ago, I came to wrap my head around the fantastic thing that is American Thanksgiving.
Allow me to elaborate: there is a thanksgiving in Canada, where I hail from, but it falls on the first weekend of October and it's not nearly as celebrated, or should I say amped up, as it is here in the great US of A. Now that I am part of an American family, I can fully understand the grandeur of this wonderful tradition.
Here's why it's so awesome: - it revolves around food - you get to spend time with family (while some people may not see this as a positive, it's something that I particularly cherish) - there's no pressure of buying presents because the only giving you should be thinking about is giving thanks and maybe some wine for your hosts - it bears absolutely no ties to religion and is therefore all inclusive - it celebrates traditions, every family has their own and you can pretty much interpret the holiday however you want, so long as you don't forget to say thank you
With less than two weeks to go until Christmas, my excitement level is at an all-time high. It's also one of the busiest times of the year for me (and for most people, certainly), as I try to scramble to get as much done as I can before the holidays. The goal is to be able to fully unplug for a few days and spend quality time with family and truly enjoy it. We're spending Christmas north of the boarder this year and I can't stress enough how happy that makes me. You see, Christmas is my thing and spending it at home means that I can fully engulf myself in yuletide cheer: decorating, blasting the seasonal tunes, cooking and running errands with my mom, spending time with my brother. You know, all the good stuff.
Ok, enough talk about that, I'm sure my enthusiasm is jumping out from the computer screen and trying to attack you. Enjoy this week's mood board everyone xx
If you follow me on instagram, which you should (click here to do so), you know that I was in Miami last weekend for Art Basel, one of the world's best art fairs. Not only because it's located in a really warm locale and takes place in december, but because it's a congregation of cool kids and art enthusiasts eager to take in an environment where fashion and art collide.
This is my second time at Basel (you can check out last year's fun by clicking here) and I'm so happy I went again. There are always new things to see, great pop-up shops to discover, endless galleries to scope out and, in true Miami form, a bananas nightlife. The streets are just alive with people roaming them at all hours of the day, into the wee morning.
So if you have a mild interest in fashion, which I'm assuming you do since you're visiting this blog, then I presume that art also sparks a little something in you? What's really great about Art Basel is that the art seen here is divided between indoor galleries and outdoor street art, which makes for such a broad spectrum of variety. Not only is there something for everyone, but it's everywhere you look, every place you go. It's literally inescapable.
There's nothing quite like getting off a plane from a cold place and stepping outside to hot air and sunshine. The photo above is from my girl friend Lisa's apartment. Breathing in that salty air and feeling the warm breeze while staring off into the horizon and the aqua blue water is nothing short of the best welcome a girl could want. I invite you to follow along as I roll out the pictures from my Art Basel adventures, which I'm breaking down on a day-to-day basis.
Here's some of what I got up to on day 1 one of my trip.
On day two of Art Basel (see day 1 here), there was more of everything: more sunshine, more ocean views, more art, more gallery hopping, more fun (if that's even possible). We spent the day in South Beach instead of Wynwood to check out some of what the free galleries there had to offer.
While the Wynwood section is all about street art and urban spray paint prodigies, the Miami Beach section is way more of a structured, civilized -- dare I say more bougie -- part of the whole extravaganza. So it was an interesting change from the painted outdoor facades that I've come to know and love from Miami's art scene.
Obviously, I had to take advantage of all the palm trees for endless photo opportunities. I said this in the last post, but it must be reiterated: the fact that there is art everywhere you go, everywhere you look, is just such a treat. I present to you day 2 of how I experienced Art Basel, trying to take in as much as I could during the day, and then nighttime being slightly off the grid, you know how it is.
Quick program interruption to let you know that you can now wear the FOR colors right on your person! Stay warm this winter with a super cute beanie, available in 4 colors: black, charcoal, light grey and white. Look how cute.
If you get your beanie, post it to Instagram and include the hashtags #FORlid #FORgear. And don't forget to tag me @heleneisfor! You just might be featured on my feed... xxxx
It's my ultimate favorite time of year. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't giddy with excitement. To make this even better, I'll be having a white Christmas this year because no later than tonight, we are headed over to the Great White North, where I hail from. Make no mistake, this is the only period where I have any fondness for snow. But you see, I go crazy for the holiday season. I love the tunes, the decorations, the spirit, the smell in the air. I love giving presents, receiving them (but not as much as giving), spending time with family, cooking and baking with my mom, not to mention eating and the abundance of wine. I love movie marathons, snuggling up on the couch with the hubs, the dog and my brothers. I love not getting out of my pajamas all day, drinking hot cocoa and catching up on all the magazines I haven't read since September in front of the fireplace. You get the gist.
As you can imagine, this week's mood board is of the extremely festive persuasion. Because 'tis the season and I want to shout it from the rooftops. I hope you guys all have amazing holidays xx
Our third day at Art Basel was so full and we took so many pictures that I had to split this post in two. The art is so interesting and beautiful that I wanted to make sure I showed as much as possible. One of the highlights of my trip was visiting the Terry O'Neill gallery, a photographer famous for having shot the most interesting people of the 60s. He blew up some of his most famous photos, like the ones of Brigitte, Raquel and Sinatra, among others, and exposed the giant frames in a small industrial space that provided the perfect backdrop to his pieces. Nothing short of amazing.
Another gallery that was particularly interesting, and that happened to be right across the street from the Terry O'Neill space, was named Lulu Laboratorium and boasted some really fun pop art. With that pop art influence comes societal irony by definition, with super interesting pieces denouncing the 1% through a dollar bill selfie, works that poked fun at Yeezy and smokers, for example. Each piece was more fun and interesting than the next.
Those two places were by far some of my favorites of the entire trip. Stay tuned as I roll out the second part of day this week!
