Moving

MONROE continues and expands at http://helenmonroe.tumblr.com/

Class

          I can't wait until I'm older and get to dress like this woman on the streets of Paris. Pure class.

                                        -Taken by the Sartorialist

Masquerade

        So I finally made it to 21. No more ordering ginger ale at the Gulu Gulu, no more feeling worried about the cops every time I have a few friends over for some drinks, no more awkwardness having a glass of wine when invited over to someone's house for dinner, no more being designated driver for my brother. Thank goodness for that. In order to celebrate this momentous occasion in my life I threw a huge masquerade birthday party with a friend of mine.
        "Come drink ridiculous amounts of wine and wear fabulous clothes to help us celebrate our birthdays! The only rule is that you must wear a mask and you must wear it the entire night (this is in order ensure lots of mistaken identities and forbidden kisses so you better have one!)"       -The tagline for the facebook event
         In going along with the party (which by the way was a huge success) I wanted to have a Masquerade photo-shoot, so I rounded up some of my gorgeous friends and an immensely talented photographer (the lovely Mel Hattie) and we had a blast playing dress up and painting our faces. 

        There is something about the idea of a Masquerade that I find ridiculously appealing. I remember the first one I ever went to was my senior year of high school, a New Year's party at Adams. I wore a royal blue, sequined, Banana's find and made a mask to match. We played spin the bottle and drank champagne. It was the night that my boyfriend at the time first told me he loved me. It's up there on my list of favorite high school memories. 

-A hazy flashback

        Wearing a mask presents the opportunity of being someone else for a night. Masquerades show up so frequently in theatre and literature because the idea of disguise is so perfect for equalizing class distinctions and gender roles. 

        Aphra Behn uses a Masquerade in The Rover to provide her female leads with sexually liberating identities. As gypsies the girls can do whatever, and whomever, they please.

        At a Masquerade, society's rules are forgotten. You can be...

Flirty

Fun

Bold

 Or just plain out of this world.

        I have a couple more photos for you guys and these ones are dedicated especially to my mom. A week a ago a received a huge package in the mail from my parents. On the outside scribbled in my mom's handwriting were the words "Open right away... Why wait?" so of course I obeyed. Inside was a mess of tissue paper, a few little things to make cupcakes, 20$ with a note attached saying "buy some champagne" and at the very bottom, wrapped in paper that read "Some birthdays aren't meant to be practical" was this dress. The epitome of a birthday dress. Vintage, 50's, crinoline and fitting, almost, perfectly. Want to know a secret? I cried, I actually cried when opening this box, not because of the dress, but because sitting right underneath it were a pair of perfectly matching navy blue pumps. I have the best mom in the whole wide world. So here's the dress....

and of course the matching shoes.

Thanks to everyone who made this birthday really something special. From trying new things, to Mum Nappa, from dinner with my brother, to candles and ice cream. Thank you. I'm really excited to be 21.

Peace,

        Helen

Halloweekend

I have a new friend, her name is Hannah and she's from Australia. She hangs out at the nest a lot and she's pretty amazing so we keep her around. Last weekend was Halloween. It turns out Hannah is really good at face paint. I mean really good. Here are some of our costumes and some of her work.....

Its almost birthday time! 21.

Peace,

            Helen

Autumn

       I know. I know I know I know. Its been way too long since my last post. As my sister so lovingly pointed it out to me when I was home for thanksgiving "slacking a bit there Helen". Yes, I have been slacking a bit with Monroe, but all for good reasons. All for fun, creative, challenging reasons. I've started a new semester at Bishops. I moved into a new apartment with two lovely roommates and I've been enjoying the fact that my wardrobe has now, effectively, tripled in size. I coordinated a theatre festival with a fantastic friend and we both fully took advantage of the fact that four nights of hosting theatre meant four nights of different cocktail dresses. I've also started two creative writing classes, a directing, and acting and a costume designing class. Did I mention Cinderella?.... Needless to say its been a busy month and a bit, but now I'm back and ready to share with you a truly beautiful afternoon.  

    

Fall is my favorite time of year for fashion. The colored leaves float around as if begging me to wear red, orange and yellow. Its also a time for plaid, for knee socks and for thick knitted scarfs. Fall is layers and textures and vibrant colors. Fall is thrilling.

Back to school. But sexier.

The Perfect Plaid Dress (12$ at Bananas)

"Oh I wouldn't be so sure. I might be peculiar or something. 

You can never tell"

-Willie. This Property is Condemned. Tennessee Williams.

A boy was over the other day and left his gloves behind. 

I had to make good use of them.

Thanks Simon.

Who ever said florals were just for spring?

Poetry. Nothing More. Nothing Less.

Holding on to our summer tans and golden hair for dear life.

-All of these photographs were styled, composed, modeled and taken by Risa Kastelic, Leigh Crooks and myself. The clothes were all taken directly from our closets. 

Fleet Foxes. Isles. Perfect Autumn.

Peace,

                           Helen

  

The Cottage

          Just got back from a week at my family cabin up in the laurentians. There is something special when it comes to fashion at the cottage. Up by the lake I am free from all the wasted energy of putting together an outfit. The cottage is about too-big shorts and bathing suit tops. Its about comfy, dirty, show-off-your-bronze-shoulders tanks. Its about overalls and sun hats. Its about standing on the edge of the dock on your tippy-toes and letting the wind make your hair look the best it ever has, and ever will. Everyone just looks like summer at the cottage. I'd been needing a little more summer this summer.

1950's Vintage shorts (belonged to my Grandmother). Forever 21 bikini top.

Ice-eyes

Vintage sun dress (Fifi's). Mom's sun hat.

*Summer girl, Family of the Year

                                                                   Peace,
                                                                                 Helen

The HERMES Scarf

          So as you can see I decided to change things up a bit. I hope you like the new layout. It was all inspired by one very special accessory...
          Moving into August means marking the anniversary of an extremely significant date for me. It has been exactly one year since a came back from France. One year ago I sat in a garden, drinking red wine, laughing and eating Rajan's famous chicken. I was surrounded by candles, friends, and a very important family, my family. I remember my last night so clearly. I remember the warm, breezy air, the crazy amount of stars, and the several deliciously french gâteaux. As dinner was winding down, and we all sat stuffed in our chairs, full, tipsy and at peace with the world, my kiddies, Dana, Alex and Elliot came over a gave me my going away present. It came neatly folded in an orange box with that infamous label on front. HERMES. Seriously... after everything this family had done for me, taking me when I had no where else to go, adopting me into their crazy, fun, bizarre world, showering me with so much love and finally, after so many months, making me feel like I had a home in France, after all this and more, they give me an HERMES scarf. Delphine, sitting next to me, leaned over and whispered "I was so excited at the store because not only did they have a purple one, but they had one with dancers on it! Here let me show you how to fold it..."


          I lost it. All the composure I was trying to hold on to. Gone. 


          The scarf is stunning, but what makes it really so exquisite is the story that goes behind it. I know I will keep this scarf for the rest of my life. 
          I've never owned something so beautiful and part of the reason I don't wear it that often is because I'm terrified of it being ruined. Here are a few ways I do manage to include it in my wardrobe.

 the traditional "French" way to tie a gavroche

looped onto a leather purse

chic (no matter how messy my hair is)

           If you've been thinking about investing a little money into a piece that will remain special, in style and classy for years to come, check out the HERMES line of scarves. Wear any of their prints with an LBD and a spritz of Coco Mademoiselle and spend your day feeling undeniably French. Thank you, Rajan, Delphine, Dana, Alex and Elliot for this scarf, and for everything. I miss you with all my heart. 

                                                      Peace, 

                                                                  Helen