CoCoon Classics: Beach House

I was in Montreal for the last few weeks to mark the passing of a beloved uncle. Although it was nice to be reunited with family and my dearest Montreal peeps... my first day back in the UK was the best homecoming of all, thanks to Beach House {and of course my darling Brit} The Baltimore duo stole my heart this year with their latest gem of an album, Teen Dream {it's been on repeat in our house for ages and I'm still so smitten}, plus who couldn't love these self-confessed thrifters who site second hand-shopping as one of their favourite pastimes together... after making gorgeous music of course. On stage, Victoria Legrand {vocals, organ} and Alex Scally {guitar, keyboard} admitted to spending the day at Snooper's Paradise; Brighton's answer to flea market heaven {and where we took our pal Diamond Rings while he was stopping through town-more on that later!}. Bargain hunting divulgences aside, the show itself was a starry-eyed, smokey, indigo & crimson cocoon; one of those brilliant surprises when a live performance is better than the recordings. You see, somehow, under that giant mass of bouncing curls is the kind of voice that puts a tear in your eye.

It's so nice to be home

xo Ashi

Birthday Love

Happy Birthday to my darling friend Angie!

{If only you knew the trouble we've gotten into together...} 

I'm actually surprised my appendix never burst from our fits of laughter.

Angie's the kind of girl who completely encourages you to let go and be your crazy yourself- with no judgement. She also has sick taste in music & literature.... which probably explains how we use to lock ourselves inside, for days on end, during Montreal's bitter winters with extra strong coffee & those portuguese pastries and never run out of things to say.

Miss those days! Miss you Angie Pants!

xo Ashi

Missing

When Ashi's is gone

My heart sinks to the ground

Please come back soon

So again that warmth can be found.

X The Brit

Restoration Hardwood

It's nice to know you can still add a little spice to your space for a mere £2!

We found these four matching frames at a local charity shop while out thrifting with the Brit's mom {our favourite antique appraiser} Anne. Turns out the silk botanical prints inside are Victorian {oooh lala}, but you have to admit the cheap pine frames are less than regal. Good thing we had some left over chalk-board paint and a lazy Sunday to transform these bland babies into what is now our favourite feature wall. To be honest... it's the only artwork we have up at the moment, but hey, it's a start.

Love Love Love!

Hope your weekend was just as crafty.

xo Ashi

Accessorize This

We've been stocking up the shop with accessories...

 which pretty much means me jumping in front of the camera and dancing my feet around in lovely vintage shoes {all while trying to maintain my balance on a flimsy antique box}. Our fashion shoots are actually quite the comedy show... The Brit having to place me and pick me up from the {soap} box... me complaining that my pants aren't perfectly symmetrical all while dodging The Brit's pokes and nose grabs {that is HIS hand by the way... could you imagine if my hands were that big?! ... cue the Sienfeld jokes}. It's pretty amazing we actually manage to get anything done. I suppose there's a system mixed in somewhere amongst all the chaos... Ah the life of an Etsy shopkeeper! For all you sellers out there, orchestrating your own little circus for the sake of vintage, this post is dedicate to you!

xo Ashi

Wintersleep

It must be my Middle Eastern blood or something, but I don't do too well in the winter. Yes, I know... I grew up in Canada, 'I should be used to frosty air', but the truth is I never really got used to the gusty winds and torrential downpours. I usually spend the winter tucked inside by the heater, sucking on throat lozenges and watching films. If I do have to venture out, I put on as many layers as humanly possible until I resemble a walking pretzel. I'm hardly inspired to look feminine or even fashionable while I keep warm... which is exactly why a few winters ago in Montreal, I got together with my gorgeous & stylish friend Nora {with the talented Patrick Culhane behind the lens} and styled this winter wonderland fashion shoot. We raided Nora's endless, dream vintage wardrobe and the Mile End boutique General 54  in creating layered looks that were toasty, not tacky and picked up a few tips along the way... like Nora's great idea to cut the arms off sweaters that may have seen their day and using them as leg warmers! 

Ta-daaa!

So, as I find myself yet again, hiding under the covers with a packet of Strepsils, I thought I'd dig up some inspiration to help us face the frostier days. 

xo Ashi

P.S Nora has opened up her very own second hand boutique! If you're ever in Montreal stop by Ciao! Edie for a lesson in all things foxy { 2063 St. Denis}

Weekend Love

The English have a great solution for keeping themselves entertained in awful weather... it's called afternoon tea. So naturally when the temperatures dropped to teeth chattering lows the Brit and I tucked ourselves into one of Brighton's most charming tea shops, The Mock Turtle. It was a grilled cheese + tomato and vegetable soup kind of day, paired with their warm homemade bread and baked treats... well that's enough to warm up a shivering girl any day {although it may have been the handsome company}! Next time we're bringing a backgammon board and some knitting gear to fit right in with all the seniors.

Hope you had a lovely and {heart}warming weekend too!

xo Ashi

Fancy That

It's so nice to be back in the swing of things with My CoCoon Vintage! 

The new set is everything we hoped it would be and so we've been busy cranking the tunes and photographing our lovely new finds. I think we can smell the ginger bread and mulled wine in the air because our shop is filing up with fancy pieces, fit for the holidays. Wait until you see the sparkly holiday dresses we're going to be rolling out in the next few weeks! I'll just say, I hope you guys are invited to some lavish parties this year because its all glamour glamour glamour! Even if your dance card is looking a little empty at the moment, you may well have to start party planning once you see our new frocks!

xo Ashi

Birthday Love

Oooh this is a good one. It's my dearest friend Sebastien's birthday today!!!

You know you've done something right in a past life when you've got a guy like Seb as a friend. Although the word 'friend' really doesn't do justice to the amount of time and love we've shared. I think family would be more like it. 

So, to one of the funniest and most generous people I've been lucky enough to know.

Golden inside & out 

{plus he does a mean banana flambe}

Happy Birthday

Love you Gerrard!

xo Ashi & The Brit

Nuit Blanche

What better way to spend Halloween than cruising around Brighton, late-night, checking out  all the installations and special events as part of the Nuit Blanche festival. In true NB fashion, the entire city was turned upside down for an evening where the local galleries and public spaces are transformed into interactive installations; open to the masses. The event has been taking place in various cities around the world since 1997, so I've had the chance to check out the Toronto and Montreal versions. 

Gotta say, Brighton took the cake for spontaneity and creativity. From the random operatic performances breaking out from balconies to the amazing animated films projected onto houses, the city was alive. Our favourite stop, hands down, was the crafty Halloween projections project. We were invited to get artistic and design our very own shadow creation to be projected as part of the spooky vignette. Being the master of disguises, I was quick to draw up a little mustache.... which BTW The Brit looks really good in, no? 

Movember anyone? 

Happy Halloween

xo Ashi