All Posts By

Kelsey Dundon

Style | Sartorial Soul Mates: A Vintage Skirt and a Clashing Vintage Belt

I find fashion rules tedious — so many don’ts! But there’s one I always abide by: replace the belt a piece comes with. Swapping out the waist-cincher that’s included with your dress/coat/shorts/slacks/whatever lends a personal touch. Besides, the belt a piece comes with isn’t always of the highest quality.

So what do you do with the original belt after you’ve unbuckled it? Keep it!

The pink and black belt in the first few shots came with the vintage secretary dress above. When I reworked the dress as part of The Anthology’s Before and Afters, I cinched it with a vintage Yves Saint Laurent belt and stowed the original.

Until now. With its wonky graphic print, this black-and-white skirt called out for a zig-zag print belt in a bright hue. Just because they weren’t made for each other doesn’t mean they weren’t meant to be together!

[T-shirt c/o Simons. Braided sandals by Elizabeth and James. Coach briefcase. Vintage skirt, belt and necklace.]

July 17, 2012 by

Style | Behind the Scenes of the Sterling Shoes FW/12 Campaign Shoot

Is there anything more fun than creative directing a fashion campaign? I’m going to go out on a limb (or should I say…out on a window sill?) and say no. Sterling Shoes has been one of my clients since I started Northill a year ago (love working with you guys!) and we just shot our fall/winter campaign a few weeks back.

Above, one of the models chills at photographer Evaan Kheraj’s studio before we went to the location.

In the spring we shot at Vancouver’s Waldorf Hotel — take a look at the behind-the-scenes shots and the finished products — so for this campaign we headed outside…

…to railroad tracks, which, we found out when a train came barrelling through, are still operational.

Then, to get some of that big-sky feel we trekked to wide-open fields in White Rock, which is 45 minutes outside of Vancouver. While a hang glider tried to get off the ground (above left), I was operating a leaf blower/wind machine. To blow a breeze through the model’s dress, that is, not to help the hang glider take flight.

Evaan Kheraj — that’s him in the tree — shot the campaign and Luisa Rino styled it (in the above shot she put the models in a sweater by Kersh, poncho by Press, toques by Lifetime Collective, scarf by Cecile Benac. In the second shot from the top, they’re both wearing sweaters by Press). Negar, who was our makeup and hair artist, created a custom-blended lip colour that was part plum, part blush and all stunning.

I just spent the day going through the photos so I’ll share the in-front-of-the-scenes shots as soon as I can. Man, I love projects that are this much fun to work on.

P.S. I tweet while I’m on location so follow @TheAnthology on Twitter.

July 16, 2012 by

Trippin’ | The Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic

I have to give props to my pops.

My dad has done the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic a few years in a row. It’s a two-day event where thousands of hardcore cyclists peddle more than 200 miles (325 km) from the Emerald City to the City of Roses (he once rode the bike in the photo). There’s a camp at the mid-way point where they crash for a night. Except this year, my dad’s tent wasn’t at the campsite when he arrived so he kept going all the way to Portland. He completed the entire thing in one day — started the ride at 5:15 in the morning and finished it at 10:00 that night.

Did I mention he’s 65 years old?

The man has been making me look like a lazy bum my whole life, but I have to give him kudos.

July 16, 2012 by

Workspace | Kumiko Ide of Tribal DDB

The Anthology’s Workspace column takes us inside the creative spaces of some very creative people.

Kumiko Ide holds two distinguished titles: 1) Digital Strategist at Tribal DDB and 2) My First Virtual Friend. The former means she comes up with webtastic ideas for clients like the Canadian Tourism Commission, the latter means I met her through Twitter.

In her own words, Kumiko takes us through her workspace — sunsets, sentimentality and all…

1. Part of my job is to stay on top of emerging trends in the digital space. I try to do most of my reading electronically, but somehow there’s always a stack of new research and reports on my desk at any given time.

2. There’s a great little flower stand on West Pender – they had these beautiful pink peonies the other day, and I couldn’t resist. I also love Queensberry Flower Company, which is located in the Granville Skytrain Station; they make the most charming little arrangements and I never leave empty-handed.


3. Even before I worked at an advertising agency, I enjoyed going through typography and design books. Because DDB’s a full-service agency, I now have access to a large library of creative resources – not just digital. Kid. Candy Store.


4. On those crazy busy days when we don’t get a chance to eat lunch or have to stay late, it helps to have snacks around to tie us over. Also, I’m on a crazy mandarin orange kick right now.


5. I usually have at least one Moleskine on hand for sketching out ideas and jotting down notes in meetings. The red one here is my day planner (I’ve kept a day planner since I was in my early teens – I’m resisting the transition to an electronic calendar because I am an old lady and I am set in my ways).


6. I’m not a hugely sentimental person, but I love having this one framed photo on my desk. My boyfriend’s mum had just given me some waterskiing pointers, and I’d managed to stay up for more than two seconds (hence, my massive grin. Little did I know that my entire body would ache the following day).


7. I am the worst about sunset photos. I need to learn how to better enjoy the moment – instead of whipping out my iPhone. But when that’s my view at the office, can you blame me?

P.S. Whip out your iPhone and follow Kumiko on Twitter, Tumblr and probably some other social network you haven’t heard of yet.

P.P.S. Check out the first post in the Workspace column and find out how Niki Blasina of A Haute Mess smells when she blogs. And click through the second post to find out where Anya Georgijevic of I’m the It Girl started her footwear obsession.

July 11, 2012 by

Art & Design | Marlowe by Cindy Hughes

Cat pictures, people. They make the world wide web go round.

This one of shelter kitty Marlowe is part of a project that captures the beautiful, quirky faces of animals in need of homes. When they’re willing to sit for the camera, that is. “We have a lot of photos of cats running away from us,” said Lisa Brideau, the volunteer who started the project. Her hope? That potential adopters will fall in love with the photogenic faces.

If you’re a photographer who wants to get involved, contact Lisa. And if you want to adopt one of the featured animals, contact the shelters. Who wouldn’t want to wake up every morning to a face like this?

[Photo by Cindy Hughes]

July 11, 2012 by

Before | The Purple Colour-blocked Shirt

Hilary Banks would have loved this shirt. She probably would have worn it with pearls, a long-strap bag, pleated pants and some sort of sassy hat. It would have been one of her more conservative looks, but she would have rocked it.

I am not Hilary Banks.

Though I do find it interesting to see how different decades interpret the colour-blocked trend. I’m not convinced the ’90s did it very well.

I’m going to get this blouse altered in the hopes that I can actually wear it in this millenium. Stay tuned for the “after” shots!

P.S. Like The Anthology on Facebook and you’ll be the first to see the transformation.

P.P.S. Take a trip down The Anthology’s memory lane with these Before and Afters.

July 9, 2012 by

Trippin’ | Overnight Picnicking on the Oregon Coast

I camped a lot as a kid. Every summer my parents would pile us all into the minivan (my brother, sister and I had to sit side by side with our German Shepherd on our laps) and trek across North America. It’s how I did most of my early traveling — I saw two Provinces and countless States that way, ate a lot of hotdogs, drank a lot of hot cocoa and slurped back a lot of instant oatmeal. I loved it and to this day the smell of campfire instantly relaxes me.

I hadn’t been camping in 10 years so I figured it was about time I made my triumphant return to the tent. Turns out things have changed. We now needed to figure out how to charge a cell phone while in the middle of nowhere (I didn’t — I own my own business so I was in desperate need of a little unplugged time).

Figure out how to chop firewood (not my forte).

And re-learn how to build a campfire in crazy winds.

We stayed in Oregon’s Nehalem Bay State Park in a campground that itself is unremarkable — aside from the fact that you can rent horses — but whose beach is out of this world. White sand stretches for miles and there are very few people on it.

We went with friends who are real foodies so we treated this camping trip like a sleepover picnic. Instead of hitting up Fred Meyer for Ball Park Franks, we stocked up on farm-fresh groceries at the Portland State University Farmers Market (if you go, get the smoked salmon!) and made porcini and sage linguini with quinoa salad.

And spritzers in travel mugs.

That we took to the beach.

Which is also where we made ‘smores. Because some things should never change.

P.S. There ‘smore fun on Facebook so like The Anthology.

July 5, 2012 by

Pinstagram | The lion, the loft and the location

Pinstagram is a mashup of Kelsey Dundon’s Pinterest and Instagram feeds. In other words, the dream and the reality.

Sand on sand on sand & my trip to the beach in White Rock, just outside Vancouver (I was location scouting, which technically makes this work).

Smizing with Melissa Knight and Alicia Quan at the London Drugs Fall Beauty Preview + beautiful, beautiful nail polish polka dots.

A stunning all-white loft & lovely letters at Gastown’s new L’Atelier Home (which I wrote about right here).

My friend Nadia’s garden decor (these things really need to make a comeback) & a colourful little planter box.

The king of the jungle & the queen of my house, who just discovered my desk drawers.

A geometric terrarium at Old Faithful Shop & the coolest way to house an air plant.

P.S. Follow Kelsey Dundon on Pinterest and Instagram.

July 4, 2012 by

Workspace | Anya Georgijevic of I’m the It Girl

Workspace takes us inside the creative spaces of some very creative people.

Daphne Guinness quoted her in her book(!). Still, Anya Georgijevic maintains she is not an It Girl. She does, however, maintain the blog I’m the It Girl, plus, she’s western editor of FLARE, a fellow editor at Vitamin Daily, and has a dog with lopsided ears (the best kind).

Here, my favourite It Girl takes us through her workspace in her own words…

1. My glossy cream desk is by a Minneapolis-based design firm, Blu Dot. I love its minimal, crisp design, although most of time, it’s in a state of complete mess. Next to my laptop is whatever I’m working on at the moment. Today it’s FLARE, but often it’s a slew of beauty products waiting to be reviewed.

2. My monogrammed Castelli notebook was a gift from my Vitamin Daily publishers, and I jot down all my notes in it, exclusively with my trusty Muji pen, which I stock up on whenever I go to New York or Hong Kong.

3. I can’t work without music or some type of background noise (sometimes I play stylish films for inspiration — see the “Screen Style” posts on my blog) and sound doesn’t get better or chicer than with Harman Kardon speakers. Whenever I get stressed, I indulge in some aroma therapy. Currently on the menu: Laduree. My dog Bun is my office mate, so he demanded that his picture be included.

4. Above my desk is where I keep my essential literature. Whenever I feel uninspired, books are my place to go.

5. This frame is the girliest thing I own and holds a picture from my wedding.

6. The two ceramic figures are from my two grandmothers. I loved this silly-looking dog as a kid and I always used to play with the little Turkish shoe (sometimes to my grandma’s annoyance). Now I’m a dog person that owns a lot of shoes, so…thanks.

[Photo of Anya by Sherry Lu.]

P.S. Click your way over to Anya’s blog I’m the It Girl, where if you’re lucky she’s writing about Cher’s Clueless style.

P.P.S. Check out the first post in the Workspace column, Niki Blasina of A Haute Mess, and find out how she smells when she works.

June 29, 2012 by

Bookmark | Cinemagraphs

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web.

They’re a little creepy, like the portraits in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion that follow you with their eyes. But they’re also the coolest things ever.

Part picture, part video and all .gif, Cinemagraphs are the brain child of New York-based visual artist Kevin Burg and photographer Jamie Beck.

Their concept spread like wildfire: there’s now a Cinemagr.am app, which, if I wanted to become even more addicted to my iPhone, I would download, and it seems everyone on Tumblr has attempted a version of their own. Still, nobody is doing it as well.

Their fashion editorial portfolio is endlessly inspiring so bookmark Cinemagraphs already. And bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

[Images — can I call them that? — from Cinemagraphs, obviously.]

June 28, 2012 by