Ploc

As a child, I had subscriptions to Highlights, chickaDEE and Owl. I'd like to get Tom a subscription to Ploc when he's older.

Varpuen

Great design and motherhood? Check out Varpuren for some amazing photos if you're interested in both (and want to practice your Finnish). xo I'm so excited about having found this blog after "meeting" this family via Dwell a few months back.

Dwell

The April 2011 edition of Dwell is my favourite to date (Greg's mom kindly gifted me a subscription for Christmas). I'm completely in love with this Finnish home. It offers so much inspiration in thinking about how we'll plan and roll out our family home.

Uppercase

Novel and book design is a fascinating field of work (to me). I adore browsing through bookstores just staring at the glossy and matte covers. I've bought a few books (at least) simply because the cover intrigued me. Though not a book, the cover design of the magazine, Uppercase (and its debut's similarity to Hector) has me entirely hooked, and curious to seek out a few issues.

P.S. Uppercase's blog is pretty sweet too.

P.P.S. I'm about to begin reading Nick Hornby's Slam.

Nest II

Two things: one, Covet Garden is the perfect Canadian(!) online magazine to peruse on a sunny Saturday morning with a cup of orange juice (this morning fits the bill); and, two, Shelley, Brandon and Clover's home is my new favourite nest and I'm imaging 100 Circular looking similar.

P.S. I also love the artwork displays in Greenwood in the first issue of Covet Garden.

Rue

Our magazines have gone virtual. How do you feel about it? Following the cancellation of Domino and Gourmet, a rise in the online 'zine has occurred. I borrowed so many ideas from Nonpareil magazine when planning our wedding. The newest kid on the block? Rue. I'm a fan after issue #1. Image via Rue.

P.S. Rue's about us section is beyond cute.

Who

This Playboy 1961 photo is a fantastic retrospective who's who of modern design. 

George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames & Jens Risom. 

To read the accompanying article click here. Photo via The Selvedge Yard.

Vogue

Before heading to bed last evening, I caught a portion of The Devil Wears Prada on the CBC. Meryl Streep, as Miranda Priestly, has been said to be a caricature of American Vogue's Anna Wintour: the famous, particular, demanding editor-in-chief. In thinking about the magazine world and its stylish trappings, I came across this archive of British Vogue covers today. They holler back to the fashion and beauty ideals of different periods in history. I think these covers from yesteryear are significantly more interesting and artistic than the publication's current commercial spreads. Here are a sampling of my findings:

Vogue began in September 1916 and was introduced by saying: "The time has come, designers to say, 'to talk of many things, of shoes and furs and lingerie, and if one flares or clings, and where the waist-line ought to be, and whether hats have wings.' They have confided in Vogue all the most intimate things about autumn fashions. Really and truly, such amazing things are going to happen to you that you never would believe them, unless you saw them in Vogue."

July 1929 - the year my Grandmother was born. A then bi-monthly publication, this version cited the must wear colour, based on Parisian consensus, to be a dark purplish brown that resembles the colour of dried raisins.

September 1945 - Vogue made a political statement by juxtaposing these two women - one sleekly overstated, the other more obvious - showing that the austerity of war will last into peacetime. The end of the Second World War was no time for ostentatious displays, said the magazine.

August 1957 - the month my mother was born. Interestingly, the cigarette present on this cover was later airbrushed out.

January 1964 - A white patent leather helmet designed by James Wedge, at the time Britain's leading milliner, that perfectly encapsulates modernity.

Millinery

In scanning through a fashion magazine at a drug store recently, I came across a beautiful feather headpiece. I had never seen anything quite like it; the whimsy of the multicoloured feathers immediately caught my eye. Leah C Couture's The Aviary is a collection of beautiful feather hats and hair pieces that combine style with the elegance of birds and butterflies. I've found some similar designs on Etsy from LoBoheme. What a fun way to dress up a tired little black dress! I am sure the British socialites profiled in Hello Magazine would approve.

Goop

I remember reading an 'In Style' magazine article about five years ago that profiled an amazing New York apartment with only three rooms - a tiny bathroom, a kitchen/living room combo and a bedroom. While its layout was enough to make any everyday pack rat panic, the streamlined way its occupants lived made me envious. The condo owners, who also owned a furniture store, had only 1 metal rod to hang clothes upon in their bedroom. Their 'closet' was more display rack in a downtown boutique shop than walk-in wonderland. In the article, the lady of the house described her scientific way of dressing - a formula of black basics and accessories - that seemed very much a necessity when one has limited space AND when all of one's clothes are on display as art.

The lists of the 'ten pieces of clothing every woman should own' that have been promoted and revised by fashionistas and stylists have always intrigued me as well. These lists tend to read something like this: (1) a black or grey neutral suit, (2) a pair of black pumps, (3) a little black dress, (4) a crisp white button down shirt, (5) a colourful scarf, (6) a bathing suit you feel great in, (7) dark wash jeans, (8) a trench coat, (9) sweater set and (10) wide leg black pants. To this list, I would add my personal must-haves - turtlenecks in a variety of colours, striped shirts of all shapes, full A-line skirts in bright colours and patterns, and a chunky necklace.

In scanning the blog world, I've come across Goop: Gwenyth Paltrow's blog. She makes me long to be a mother of two living in London and jet-setting around the globe. While I'm not quite ready to take on her detox regimes, her clothing 'uniform' is delightful. She combines the simplicity of the NYC furniture saleswoman, with the principles of revolving an entire wardrobe around a few key pieces.

Gwenyth recommends starting each day in a pair of black leggings and a grey tank.

She goes on to describe how these basics can be layered to create different looks. Some of her recommendations:

I'd love to try her black and grey scheme with a great red cord coat I purchased last fall. To check out all the photos and read her full newsletter see here.

Simple

If there's one sure fire way to help simplify your life, and gain comfort in the fact that there are people everywhere trying to do the same, it is in the glossy pages of Real Simple. A favourite magazine of mine for the past few years, Greg's mum graciously gave me a subscription for Christmas. The February edition arrived in the post yesterday. Receiving mail always excites me, but this delivery was doubly exciting as the February edition is not yet available in stores. Click on the photo above to check out Real Simple's website (the picture is the January magazine cover). There you'll find countless ways to help organize and plan your own life. For someone who loves 'to do' lists, this magazine is my popular culture 'how to live well' guide.