A Kiss for Mike & Chris

I'd like to lay a big wet one on the husband and wife duo of Mike & Chris for making hoodies so chic. Made of super-soft lambskin, distressed leather, fleece and more, the detailed design of their outerwear makes being comfortable and stylish a winning combination that any sweats-aficionado like myself cannot resist.

 

Sure I'm a little bitter that I bought my first leather jacket two months before laying my eyes on their cult hooded version so many celebs adore, but with their spring and summer collections, cotton versions of their cool designs are now within my reach.

I personally went for "lionel," a cotton trench design (obviously with a hood attached), which will keep me snug in cooler spring and summer weather.

Here are my other faves from the spring and summer collections:

 

New Store Alert! Liv By Au Lit

Locals are used to the high retail turnover rate on the Eglinton west strip in midtown Toronto, but I'm crossing my fingers that its newest addition will stay for good.

Owned by a mother-daughter team, LIV by Au Lit is based on the concept of "what we love" and "how we live."

The 10,000 square foot, two-level store is the closest Toronto has to Anthropologie. A mix of fine linens, furniture, dishware, home accessories, candles, soaps, light fixtures and more is blended seamlessly with delicate jewellery and clothes in this exquisite light-filled space.

Displayed elegantly in little vignettes on the first floor, most of the merchandise caters to the shabby-chic and French country aesthetic so many love.

Beautifully-papered walls are home to artwork and ornate mirrors, while chandeliers hang down from the high ceilings.

Overstuffed couches and chairs from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic line sit next to stunning wooden headboards by French company Blanc D'ivoire, while elegant mirrored chests cohabitate with cane benches ($805) and cake stands ($87) in the back.

It's not all traditional patina and gilt, however, as there are  some more contemporary designs available by Canadian manufacturer Lind as seen in this stylish display below.

I love the grey, yellow and white colour combo. The whole set-up is not only stylish- it's very reasonably priced too!

The whole Lind line is quite affordable and can be customized with a variety of fabrics, and finishes.

Nat and I loved this white leather couch that was listed at $1792.

The bottom floor holds even more homewares with a "flea market" where french-country furniture is piled together and stacked for your perusal.

There is also monogramming available for the sumptuous Au Lit Fine Linens, which is what the owner's family business specializes in. Apparently one of the owners read my mind (or at least my name) with this dainty and delicate pillow!

My fave personal picks from LIV by Au Lit are:

Cheho mirror with towel bar and hooks, $665

Teko arm chair, $895

Maine Vanity, $795

Visit the great new store for yourself at 418 Eglinton Avenue West (just west of Avenue).  Happy Shopping!

Oh Canada

What do you think of this year's Olympic apparel from HBC?

Women’s French Terry Full Zip Hoodie, $65

 

It's not horrible but not my fave either...I miss my Roots!

Lean Green Design Machine

House and Home's May 08 issue focused completely on eco-conscious design, but there was one home in particular that really jumped out at me.

Not only is this lakeside Ontario abode environmentally-friendly, but the entire home maintains a spare yet fashionable modern aesthetic that suits the needs of its large family to a tee.

Designed by owner Tina Tymchuk (who doesn't have any formal training), the two-storey house has the smallest footprint possible without compromising the contemporary, yet individual style.

The cushy white couch and the hide (typical me) are so inviting and as Cassandra from Coco + Kelly would say, the coffee table is totally orGLAMic!

The kitchen's dining nook is my favourite part of the house. The dramatic black chandelier juxtaposed against the bright white walls and cushioned banquette seating with additional clear Louis ghost chairs is absolutely fabulous!!

I love the industrial yet spa-like feel of the bathrooms. The teak floor and woven baskets add warmth to the metal shelving and the unique porcelain sinks add even more visual interest.

When you look at this stylish design,  you wouldn't scream "green" (besides the obvious metal exterior of course)... so what makes this house so eco-chic?

Besides the common use of compact fluorescent bulbs, no VOC paints, energy star appliances and low-flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures, the house has these earth-friendly features:

• metal siding and roof that can be recycled
• radiant in-floor heating with a high-efficiency boiler means no need for a gas-burning furnace
• heat recovery ventilation system
• polished concrete floors that retain warmth in winter and stay cool in summer

Good work Tina and great work House and Home for sharing so many inspiring designs that are green and gorgeous!

Playlist #3: Best of Phantom Planet

In honour of last week's kick-ass Phantom Planet show, the playlist I'm offering you is the best of PP (at least, according to yours truly)

After watching them open for Panic at the Disco and then subsequently chatting with lead singer and former obsession Alex Greenwald and bass-player and unbelievably nice newlywed Sam Farrar -- my Phantom Planet kick is completely rekindled and I want nothing else but to share the love.

My Top Ten Phantom Planet Faves You Should Check Out:

1. *The Entire Album "The Guest" (including bonus tracks)
2. What Are You Waiting For
3. Do The Panic
4. By The Bed
5. The Hours
6. Rise The Setting Star
7. Raise The Dead
8. This Heart of Mine
9. Knowitall
10. Dropped

* One of my favourite albums ever -- you must check the whole thing out as picking one or two tracks will not do the band justice.

So instead of staring blankly at my selections please open up your itunes and sample the tracks in the iStore. I'd like to think you find the music as smile-inducing and infectious as I do. If you're too lazy for that, than click here for past music videos or check out their newest music video here.

PS- To embarrass myself, here are some vintage shots of my nerdy seventeen-year-old self at the last PP show I saw in Buffalo in 2002. How priceless is the shot of Alex laying on jor's chest after crowd surfing??