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Model Citizens Photo of the Day

Cuties Sandy and Ian rock a classic look while havin' a time. Sandy's classic vintage polkadot dress and Coach trenchcoat and Ian's denim cowboy are just too sweet.

His and Hers- Valentines Day at Model Citizens and Our Humble Abode!

Spring Trends: 1960's Swing and Structure

Spring is coming...I promise!

So, here at MC we love seeing what vintage is inspiring today's fashion and every season, we see new trends that reflect yesterdays style. This Spring (2012) there is so much 1960's mod happening and we like it! From Valentino's more reserved boho/60's girlish vibe (middle photos) to Victoria Beckham's full on Mod swingin'(top header), there is lots to love this season. Marc Jacobs (2nd in on the bottom left) keeps the colour blocking going with minimalistic cuts and Alice and Olivia (bottom right) go full on vintage in pastel collection. 

If you are going for this look, take the cues from what is going on- this isn't Austin Powers. Be careful not to make it look too costume-like and keep accessories to a minim. I like that Valentino kept the hair and makeup fresh and youthful. Big and high buns in your hair are sticking around and beachy, wind blown waves (au natural).  When doing the cat eye, use a really high quality liquid liner to get the precise wing and keep the lips nude and skin peachy and youthful.

Valentines Day Gift Idea: Heart Shaped Umbrellas!

Mamma Yamma and Joel Plaskett: Best. Thing. Ever!

We are jacked to see this duet between everyone's favourite maritime minstrel and CBC yam! Check out Joel Plaskett and Mamma Yamma in Fashionable People!

Model Citizens Top 5: Golden Globes Men's Edition!

The Golden Globes have kicked off award season and if there can be one thing learned from this year's red carpet its that men's formalwear looks best sleek, simple and next to a beautiful woman. The majority of men this year stuck to the classic black suit or tuxedo so here's 5 men who kept it basic but still managed to catch the eye.

Gerard Butler

It would seem that, since playing Leonidas, Gerard Butler loves to expose his abdomen. This time he's showing off a well fitting, low slung vest. Butler nailed the perfect mixture of casual and formal, juxtaposing a classic tuxedo with scruff and long, wild hair. It worked out.

Brad Pitt

The first thing you'll probably notice about this picture is that Angelina Jolie has an stunning dress. This is definitely true but upon closer examination you'll notice a few things her hubby. First off, he's got a cane and as far as I'm concerned men need to use more canes. I mean when else can a man get away with walking down the road jauntily spinning a cane? It's the Golden Globes! Aside from that particular  accessory, Pitt looks excellent with a differently textured jacket and vest combo as well as long hair. Pitt's always been one to rock the long locks and he's still keeping it up, 15 years later.

Kevin McHale

I'm going to be honest, I have no idea who Kevin McHale is nor if he's actually 14 like this picture would suggest. One thing I do know is that I love a good velvet jacket and this Kevin McHale character is making it look good. Bonus points to Kevdog for the polka dot bow tie which works with his slightly more casual choice of attire. The great thing about wearing a velvet jacket is that you can get away with slightly more playful accessories, as opposed to the much more rigid and traditional black tuxedos. 

Adam Levine

Adam Levine loves big things! Actually this is merely conjecture but his getup at the Golden Globes was definitely oversize. From the bow tie to the lapels to the slightly frosted tips, Adam Levine woke up in the morning and decided that regular sizes just weren't going to do it for him. You know what? It works. He was in danger of looking goofy with a bow tie that sort of looks like Eeyore's ears and lapels as wide as a serving platter but he somehow pulled it off. I think it's the facial structure.

Zachary Levi

Zachary Levi, who coincidentally was also awarded the "Did that usher stumble onto the red carpet?" prize actually injected some well needed colour unto the red carpet. His bluish/charcoal tuxedo was a breath of fresh air in a sea of black. Hats off (and a 5$ tip) to Levi for showing everyone that although black is a sure bet, there are other colors that can look debonair without pushing the limit.

Model Citizens Top 5: Golden Globes! It's Awards Season!

Golden Globes Best Dressed List

The award for best dressed goes to........

Charlize Theron! The Young Adult looked youthful, natural and daring all at once in this Dior dress. This was my absolute favourite of the night. She always looks good but this dress was so different from a lot of the repetition on the red carpet and so beautiful and soft that she stood out from everyone.

The close runner up to Charlize is the stunning Diane Aragon from Glee. I gotta say, I dislike Glee but I love this dress.  Designer Giles created a beautiful, intricate dress and I believe the design is achieved by laser cutting the swan pattern. She looks stunning from head to toe and really stole the show from a lot of the old faithfuls on the red carpet.

Jessica Biel looks stunning is this romantic gown. I couldn't find the designer, but it deserves a spot on this list. Lace, lace and more lace, this is a stunner. I love when actresses feel confident and sexy enough to rock a long sleeve. This was breezy and serious all at once and she just looked beautifula nd ethereal.

The exact opposite to Jessica Biel is Lea Michelle's Marchesa number. Holy shitballs! What a stunning dress with incredible craftsmanship. Reminiscent of Halle Berry's famous frock the year she won for Monsterball, it was amped up by the metallic rock and roll vibe. I don't like Lea Michelle, I think she is a pain but her stylist deserves huge props for the last few awards shows.

Another opposing design is the 90's simplicity and metallic dress that Nicole Richie wore. Despite her alien hair, this dress rocked. It was simple yet a stunner. Nice to see a totally different shape on the carpet that flattered her petite frame.


Honorable Mentions:

Everyone is going to have Angelina Jolie on their best dressed list but it didn't make me crazy, really. Maybe I was turned off when Ryan Seacrest (who is amazing, by the way- the shit that guy puts up with) asked her if she was nervous about the US premier of her film, In the Land of Milk and Honey,
and she responded something to the effect of "I am nervous about the rape and starvation in Bosnia.... what a ridiculous response! Jesus. That knocked her from the top 5, for shizzle.

Reese Witherspoon: I am so glad she went away from cute, 50's vibe for this one. What a hot dress and showed that she can rock it with the best of them. I don't love the whole trumpet gown in general, but she rocked this Zac Posen number.

Shailene Woodley: I have no idea what she does or even how old she is, but her dress is dynamite

Kelly Osbourne: her hair ruined this awesome dress for me. Why!>!?!

Laura Dern: She won the GG and she won on the red carpet! This dress is a stunner. She would have been in the top 5 if she had done more hair-wise to amp it up.

Sneak Peek at Our Humble Abode's New Books (JUST ARRIVED!))

Model Citizens Photo of the Day: Valentines Balloons

Nicole Fiander looks positively adorable in this vintage 80's lace dress! Cute, short and punky, this dress just rocks!

Valentines Day is just around the corner and we are pumped! Valentines is one of my favourite holidays- it is easy to be cynical about the man made holiday, but I can't help but love the idea of celebrating the people you love and telling them so! 

How to Wear a Wool Printed Vintage Blazer: Pendleton Brand

Model: Ariel Gardner

Photographer: Adam Penney

So, I love vintage Pendleton blazers. They are fitted, designed to fit beautifully and are always fantastic plaids. If you have been following Anthropologie lately, Pendleton has made resurgence in a big way. Their blazers, capes, oversized sweaters and jackets are something to behold and it is hard to believe that it is all still made in Oregon. They have focused on the Navajo prints rather than the plaids but it is so good to see a true american company come back in such a fantastic way. It is expensive new, this cape retails for approximately 400.00. Our vintage pendleton blazers retail for 40.00-65.00

That being said, Pendleton is fairly sought after in the vintage world, as the quality is head and shoulders above a lot of the vintage wools of similar eras. At Model Citizens, we have always gone out of our way to supply our customers with Pendleton button up shirts, jackets and of course, blazers.

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Model Citizens Photo of the Day!

The beautiful Katie Noel in vintage YSL!

Photographer: Adam Penney

Luxury Fibre Feature: Cashmere

Cashmere is my favourite. Hands-down worth every cent. Not only is it the softest feeling fabric, it is durable and luxurious to look at and to touch. At Model Citizens, we have almost eliminated our merino wool sweaters by replacing them with cashmere exclusively.  My obsession has lead to MC carrying some of the best brands and varied selection (not to mention a fraction of the price) that St. John's has to offer. I even have PJs that are cashmere. We carry it all year round and I wear my cashmere in every season. In honour of the coveted cashmere, we have decided to dedicate a blog post to explain the who, what and why of cashmere and how to look after your very own cashmere goodies! 

Characteristics

Cashmere is characterized by its fine, soft fibers. It provides a natural light-weight insulation without bulk. The original undyed or natural colors of cashmere wool are various shades of grey, brown and white.

Why is cashmere coveted? Run your hand across a fine merino wool sweater. Now, try it with cashmere. There's no comparison. Cashmere is softer, and its featherweight fiber is warmer than wool without adding bulk. The supply of imported cashmere to the U.S. ballooned almost 500% from 1997 to 2005, to 14.7 million pieces, as demand also soared. Prices remain relatively high, starting at about $100 for a good sweater. But in the world of luxury gifts, it's hard to beat cashmere's delight-per-dollar value.

Is the number of plies in a cashmere garment like a thread count -- the more the better? The yarn in a two-ply sweater is two strands twisted together to compensate for uneven or weak spots in the individual strands, resulting in a stronger sweater. Additional plies add weight and warmth, but they aren't really a measure of quality. Generally, single-ply cashmere won't be as durable. But high-end makers pull off lightweight, one-ply pieces with high-quality yarn and good construction.

Source of the fiber

Cashmere wool fiber for clothing and other textile articles is obtained from the neck region of Cashmere and other goats. Cashmere goats produce a double fleece that consists of a fine, soft undercoat or underdown of hair mingled with a straighter and much coarser outer coating of hair called guard hair. For the fine underdown to be sold and processed further, it must be de-haired. De-hairing is a mechanical process that separates the coarse hairs from the fine hair. After de-hairing, the resulting "cashmere" is ready to be dyed and converted into yarn, fabrics and garments.

Care instructions

Cashmere is a natural product. Air out your cashmere garment after wearing it, resting it for one or two days between uses. Cashmere can be machine-washed on a cold cycle using a suitable liquid detergent. Lay your cashmere garment flat and allow it to dry naturally. Pilling is a normal occurrence on cashmere and is caused by the cashmere fibres rubbing together during wear. Bobbles can be removed easily using a pilling comb.

Best Cashmere Brands: Malo, TSE, Neiman Marcus, JCREW, Pringle, Loro Piana, Lord and Taylor, Akris, Ralph Lauren 

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