Matching, Clashing, and Fashion

Please meet our stylish contestants for the 1970s version of...

Fashion Your Room!

These wonderful ladies each have a distinct personality. It's up to us (by us I mean me) to find the perfect room decor to suit their style. And then Photoshop them into place. And then it's your job to mouse over the image and be amazed.

I admit, the 1970s were kind of extreme (and often ugly), which is why it's all so fascinating to me. High necklines, prints, medieval sleeves, bellbottoms; everything so brutal, garish, outrageous... no wonder the 80s were so bonkers. They had to find a way to top the previous decade.

Even the trends in interior decor involved overwhelming colours of wall paint, rugs, ephemera, assembled to really make an impact. Like a mallet to your brain. To be clear, I could never live in such a place, and I don't condone it. But it's so much fun to look at!
 

And now, on to our lovely ladies.

            
   Shelly

  Age: 28

  Profession: Interpretive Dance Instructor

  Hobbies: Geometry and Lamp collecting

  Favourite Drink: Cherry Cola

  Guilty Pleasure: Swinging on the weekends

Unveiling, the perfect room to match Shelly! Mouse over to see her in it.

         

   Margo

  Age: 21

  Profession: Veterinarian

  Hobbies: Parasailing and Making jewelry

  Favourite Hangout: In a tree

  Guilty Pleasure: Wearing sunglasses inside

Here is the room for Margo! Mouse over to see her in it.

         

  Linda

  Age: 25

  Profession: Opera Singer

  Hobbies: Space Invaders and Gardening

  Favourite Food: Strawberry sauce fondue

  Guilty Pleasure: Blackjack

Check out Linda in her killer living room!

         

  Rita

  Age: 29

  Profession: Carpenter

  Hobbies: Winemaking and jousting

  Favourite Music: Organ music

  Guilty Pleasure: She never feels guilty

Here's Rita, in her serious serious chamber:

       

  Terry and Mary

  

  Age: 24

  Profession: Nurses

  Hobbies: Checkers and Double dates

  Favourite Nightspot: The Disco

  Guilty Pleasure: Knitting each other vests!



Since Terry and Mary are inseparable pals, here's the perfect pad for the pair:

This was essentially a one-player game, but thanks for coming along for the ride. The women were sourced from my 1972 Joan Fisher's Guide to Needlecraft, and the decor was taken from something like Interior Decorating on a Budget (1970s).

I have a small amount of OCD. Like many people. And I love matching things up, because it makes me feel complete in some way. Steady. 

However, my clothes never match. I was actually having a conversation about this with my very fashionable friend Victoria. She basically said, "It's funny how some people think that wearing everything in their closet in a random arrangement means they're on the cutting edge of high fashion." (Visit some hipster fashion blogs and you'll know what we mean). 

 I completely agree with her. But don't get me wrong. Mismatching is totally legit. Check this: I've been mismatching my clothes since I was 6, and it's because I wear what feels flattering and exciting, and if the colours do it for me. Even someone as lazy as I am can put together a completely clashing outfit. And I'm pretty sure I don't deserve a pat on the back for that. 

But I'll take an iced tea, if you've got it.

The 1960s: Now with less logic

This has been very 60s month. And while yes, I do feel like I'm getting all senior citizen-y (see: needlepoint), I'm actually referring to the visual research we've been doing at the studio. My eyes have only been grazing on all that is Mod, Parisian, and Optical Art.

I've been loving that era since I was in the womb. Honestly, I was born with my hair in a beehive. My tolerance for the wackiness of the 60s is pretty high. High as a hippy.

Sure, everything from the 60s is ridiculous in a way; Men's turtlenecks, paper dresses, and a love of polyester/plastic. While I've been scouring for inspiration and references, once in a while something truly ridiculous made its way to me. 

Such as this beautiful hat:

For those sunny summer days, when you don't need a real hat because your arm is willing to do the work for you.

And there's this lovely ensemble:

Next time, I'm not going to stop after three squares of chocolate. I'm going to eat the whole damn bar, and then put on this dress. 'Yes ma'am, I believe I do have a perfect figure. Well, one leg is more than enough for me.'

And these delightful sunglasses:

I know what you're thinking. But Lady Gaga was born in 1986, she didn't invent this style. It's all registered trademark of the 60s!

And I'd like one of these swim caps for my birthday, please (just in time for beach season):

Nobody will even try to pinch my butt or make fun of my cellulite, because it looks like I'm always watching. (Or sleeping, or meowing, or just... you know, sticking my tongue out).

Now this is a tricky picture:

I feel like.... it's breastnotizing me. But the lack of nipple is jarring.

There, I fixed it. It's a whole new you! You're welcome.

I feel so... alive. I've postmodernized pop art, and the adrenaline rush is unbelievable. I just can't stop.

And on that note, I'll leave you with the delightful game of Orgy:

Vintage Ad from Playboy

Fantasy-Horror of Thrift Shopping

It sounds like a miracle, a wonderful thrift magic time. Shopping at different Value Village, Goodwill, and Salvation Army stores, many many evenings in a row. A treasure hunt paradise...

Except when I absolutely cannot find what I'm looking for. A simple, common item that shouldn't be this hard to find. All I'm asking for is a Grandma coat. A beige, shoulder-padded, shapeless coat for a main character in the short film I'm collaborating on (with Sofia Bohdanowicz), called 'Dundas Street'.

She needs to fade into the background. A forgettable woman. I'm sure you've seen this kind of woman many times before on the mean streets of Toronto. They walk to the grocery store in small steps; they sit at the front of the bus with their loafers and lady purses. They're nice and quiet (and probably have a whole circus going on in their heads but they hide it well).

And one would think that thrift stores would be filled with coats these ladies would wear. Wool, trench, cotton; Easy pickings, am I right? Like shooting fish in a barrel of monkeys (or something).

I'm so wrong. It's been extremely difficult. We have a wardrobe fitting in 2 days. I've been dragging myself all over the city, and not even stellar vintage finds have been able to console me.

So here was my latest mission: Venture out to the sweet spot in the Junction, where there is a Value Village, Salvation Army, and other little thrift stores all within walking distance of each other. And I solemnly swore to relish the opportunities presented before me; Embrace the outrageous, the hideous, the fantastically horrific. Here are the best finds of my super thrift adventure:

Why yes, this teddy bear is in fact glued to the frame.

Super glamourous garden party hat.

The best effin Christmas vest I've ever laid eyes on (yes I bought it).

Psychedelic needlepoint (bought this too).

Hard to believe this is real. Must download 'Sammy' from iTunes.

Fruit giftbag*. With tape all over the corner.

*Note: When I lived with my friend Gwen, we collected photographic fruit decor. I miss our old place, it looked like a supermarket from the 80s.

And as for that Grandma coat?

Right here. Plain as a vanilla wallflower. I think it'll be perfect for the woman in our short film, 'Dundas Street'.

Puppets In 3D

These posed photo fairy tale books totally take me back to a time when puppets weren't meant to be ironic; when plush kittens in gingham dresses sharing a danish, with bulging green eyeballs didn't seem all that creepy. The 1960–70s were glory days for Froebel-Kan & Rose Art Studios, makers of these '3D' fairy tale books from Japan. Amazing lighting, with colours so vivid it's like pixie stix for your eyeballs. I was lucky enough to come across a 1970 copy of Three Little Kittens at Value Village for just $1 (the V.Village on Lansdowne is usually pretty picked through, but this gem had somehow fallen behind the videotapes... I spied and snagged it. Like the ninja I am).

Three Little Kittens

The attention to detail in these books is incredible... I can imagine some people may find them super strange, but I just think they're mindblowing! Check out some of these other brilliant covers and spreads from the book series: 

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty

Hansel and Gretel

It's so stunning and ridiculous, and we should do more of this: telling stories with puppets and figurines!

Hmmm getting a bit too excited here. In 'Real Life', I really don't think I have room to start collecting tiny teapot figurines and little fake trees. My mansion (aka basement apartment) will hate me if start a new collection of stuff. And trust me, seeing a shelving unit cry tears is truly disturbing. 

How about this: We should continue to find ways to tell stories that endear and intrigue others, create worlds that are somehow fantastic and sincere (rather than the alienating and artificial feel of bad computer generated work). I guess that hand-making is a timesuck... but this makes me treasure it more. And I'll take any opportunity to use the word timesuck.