I’ve always been a sucker for pink and red (I had a lot of Valentine’s Day-themed birthday parties as a kid). Now, pink and orange have a place in my heart too. Add a deep indigo et voila: a colour trio that would look just as b-b-b-bad to the bone on your walls as it would on your neck.
Where: Removable wallpaper in Red/Blue from Chasing Paper
Wear: J.Crew’s Fan Fringe Necklace
I haven’t yet caught up on Mad Men’s latest season. But Banana Republic’s latest Mad Men collection? That I’m up on. It’s the third of its kind and it’s inspired by the look of the new Mrs. Draper (who’s played by a Canadian actress, btw). Earlier this week I stopped by CTV Morning Live to talk all things Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and spring.
But first, a little pre-show war paint (you’ll find my dissertation on what to wear and how to paint your face for television here.)
Let’s talk about these pants for a second. I can’t wait for real sunshine, but in the meantime cropped lemon-yellow trousers will brighten up days filled with spring showers.
And menswear. I’ve always loved it because the silhouettes change subtly each season and the tailoring remains classic, so the focus tends to be on texture and fabric. Two things I adore.
Then there’s this dress. It’s one of my favourite dresses from the Mad Men-inspired collection and it looks an awful lot like one worn by the new Mrs. Draper. The model also bears a striking resemblance to the new Mrs. D., doesn’t she?
And for something a little Mr. Draper-inspired, a skinny tie and slim-fitting textured cardigan. A look that’s as dapper as Draper can be.
Missed the morning segment, sleepyhead? Catch it online here. Thanks for having me, CTV, Banana Republic and Tara Parker Tait PR!
[I’m wearing a JNBY sweater, Joe Fresh tanktop, Topshop jeans and Elizabeth and James shoes.]
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Bright and early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning I’ll be on CTV Morning Live talking spring style for ladies like Coco (above) and gentlemen like Jon Hamm.
Set your PVR, mom!
[Pictured: Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha in Banana Republic’s Mad Men campaign]
The Anthology’s Pinstagram column marries the dream (Pinterest) and the reality (Instagram).
A hand, please. My friend Ashley and I giving ourselves a hand at Heirloom Vegetarian and a model getting a hand (or eight) backstage at Valentino spring 2013.
Read up. Grabbing a seat at Lisa Tant’s spring trend presentation at Holt Renfrew and a coffee table book I’d love to add to my collection.
Blushing. Rose-shaped, raspberry-flavoured meringues at Gastown’s Cadeaux Bakery (a great place to go for tea) and a Max Factor ad from the 1950s.
Mr. Golden Sun. My speedy boy Roy frolicking in the golden sun and Elle Decor‘s spectacular gold kitchen cabinets, which has me tempted to spray paint my cabinets.
Keeping it old school. The Mighty Oak, a tiny general store/cafe tucked away near Cambie (I wrote about it here), and a vintage-inspired swimsuit from Anthropologie.
Reach the peak. The sun was out! (My Vancouver-based self got quite excited about it.) And a sculpture by New York-based artist Norman Mercer.
Go to (Gas)town. A shot I took after closing down the opening of Rennie Collection’s Robert Beck/Robert Buck show, which happens to be just a few blocks from one of my favourite stores Old Faithful Shop in Gastown.
P.S. There are more photos where these came from so follow Kelsey Dundon on Instagram and add The Anthology on Facebook.
Shannon writes:
Love your blog! I never miss a word (or photo!). I was hoping you might have some tips for dressing for TV?
Next Friday a crew is coming to film a very short house tour. Except, here’s the thing: I have no idea what to wear! I want to look stay-at-home-mom fabulous (in other words, casual) except I don’t think I have much that will work (black tees, white tees, loose sweaters and sweatshirts, distressed jeans.). I need to shop!
Good question, Shannon! It’s something I ask myself every single time I do a segment. Herewith, a few of the most helpful tips I’ve been given over the years.
1. Consider the theme. And then dress a notch better than you actually would if you were in that situation. If I’m doing a spring trends segment for Breakfast Television I’ll wear a brightly coloured Banana Republic blouse and skirt (see above). If I’m doing a “Camping on a budget” segment for CTV (which you can watch here) I’ll keep it casual in Joe Fresh cords. If I’m doing a “Dressing for your body type” segment (which you can watch here) I’ll wear a JNBY dress. It’s rocket science, this part.
Since you’re going casual I love the idea of a brightly coloured blouse or sweater (Joe Fresh has tons of these sorts of things) and a pair of smart pants (along the lines of those from J.Crew or Club Monaco). And some cool, comfy flats (I’m always partial to those by Loeffler Randall).
2. Get comfy. Almost as important as how your outfit looks is how it makes you feel. You need to be able to move so you can be relaxed on camera. Can you bend? Can you sit? Can you stand without fidgeting?
3. Dress like a box of crayons. The camera loves colour. ‘Tis smart to avoid wearing all white. Black, on the other hand, can work when you pair it with bold accessories and when you’re shooting on a well-lit set (since you’ll be shooting at home, I’d opt for colour). I was going to wear a dark shirt to host Timmy’s Telethon until I saw how dark the set was behind — bright blue popped more. Prints can work, though they’re a little trickier and you’ll want to avoid small, busy, high-contrast prints like herringbone.
Christine Vu submitted another great tip via Twitter: White is too bright for the camera but if white is what you want, wear light beige. It will appear white.
4. Remember the three S’s: skin, steam, cinch. (I know the third one isn’t technically an S, but if they can cheat with the three R’s…). The camera adds bulk so you don’t want to overly bundle up. Don’t be afraid to show some skin, whether your arms, legs or neck. And consider choosing an outfit that cinches you somewhere, likely your waist. Also, steam your clothes lest you look like Helen Hunt at the Oscars.
5. Get your selfie on. Take photos from every angle. The camera sees things very differently than the mirror does.
6. Get your hair did. Remember how you and your ladyfriends would get a practice updo before prom? Well it’s time to do things high school style. Figure out how you want your hair ahead of time. And no, you don’t have to get it professionally blown out.
7. Paint your face like a tart. A makeup artist once told me if you do your eyes as if you were going out at night, your makeup will read quite naturally on camera. I always feel like a floozy walking around post-shoot, but that’s a small price to pay for looking polished on air. Oooooh, speaking of makeup — become best friends with powder.
Hope this helps, Shannon! Please send a link to the segment when it airs!
P.S. Find answers to your most burning questions like Meg’s How do you start out as a copywriter? Tara’s How do you make your blog look better? Emilie’s How do you gain exposure? And Shona’s How do you do it?
P.P.S. Have a question you’d like a reeeeeally long answer to? Send it to KDundon@TheAnthology.ca
Paris in black and white. Romantic, isn’t it?
Clockwise from the top left: Alexander McQueen, where the looks were positively medieval. Balmain, where the silhouettes made each model look three feet taller than she actually is. Dior, whose runway was filled with the kind of sophisticated pieces Barbie would have worn in the 1950’s. And Balenciaga, where Alexander Wang (who was considered a controversial choice and is now being criticized for playing it too safe) made his debut.
Proof that the city of lights does it right.
[Images from Style.com]
For all the talk about Jessica Chastain’s copper-coloured Armani Prive, Jennifer Lawrence’s sweep-you-off-your-feet Dior Haute Couture and Naomi Watts’ out-of-this-world Giorgio Armani, very little has been said about Alicia Vikander’s Elie Saab. So let’s change that.
I absolutely love it for its understated glamour, its dusty blue colour and its detail (just imagine how beautiful it must be in person). But the piece that, well, ties it all together is that simple yellow belt. With a more complicated accessory in any other colour, it would have gone in a completely different direction, but that golden swish of fabric is just magic.
Fitting that she was in the film that won best costume design, isn’t it?
[Photo from Style.com]
How do you incorporate a little gold deco into your life? Anywhere and everywhere.
To start with, you could put a pin in it; Rodarte’s deco ball hair comb is exactly the kind of stunner you’d expect to see in Baz Luhrmann’s take on The Great Gatsby (a film that keeps getting better and better — it will be scored by Jay-Z and costumes will be designed by Prada).
If you’re in the mood to deco-rate (ha!) then take a seat in these stunning chairs designed by Philippe Bestendheider, seen here at the Martin Margiela-designed Maison des Champs Elysees in Paris. Their price is available upon request. Which likely means they’re worth their weight in gold.
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Her husband’s modelling underwear for H&M, her son’s modelling trench coats for Burberry and she, well, she will always be my favourite Spice Girl. Victoria, Victoria Beckham’s fall/winter 2013 collection is Russian-inspired, Art Deco-decked school-girl attire. And for that I love it.
Jenna, Jenna, Jenna. Your ability to master mixed-and-matched in such an effortless — yet put together — way is sheer brilliance. Perhaps that’s why The New York Times calls you “The woman who dresses America”.
But while Jenna Lyons is at the helm of the J.Crew brand, Tom Mora is the head of women’s design (read more about him in my interview) and his fall/winter 13 looks are eclectic fun. I desperately want the jacket on the right.
Oh my, Ohne Titel. The fall/winter 13 collection is full of looks I’d like in my closet. The dress on the left for a dinner out. The silk pants for just about any day. Paired with the J.Crew jacket perhaps?
[Images from Style.com]
P.S. Want six more looks to love from New York and Stockholm Fashion Weeks? You’ll find them here.
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I don’t buy into It bags, but this bag’s got It going on.
The grabable beauty by M2Malletier is available soon at Owen in New York and online at Net-a-Porter.
Will it fit your laptop? Nope. But we all know the daytime clutch isn’t about being practical.
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