Hello Summer!
(Queen Victoria on her 66th birthday in 1885)
Victoria Day Hours
Monday May 21st 12-5
Sneak peek: United Bamboo Bamboo Bye
This season we fell so in love with all things United Bamboo.
The Main collection, the Le Bac collection and Bamboo Bye are three different takes on a perspectives of clothing that is so in line with what Lark stands for so we got all of them!
Bamboo Bye United Bamboo
Bamboo By was launched in the spring of 2011, and was inspired the the birth of Miho Aoki’s first child. This “room wear” collection uses certified organic cottons linens and hemp. Each piece is machine washable and will become softer and more beautiful with wear. We love the Japanese aesthetic of Bamboo Bye, each piece has a simplicity and ease about it that we are confident you will love.
Here are some images from the Spring/Summer Bamboo Bye look book. Come by Lark on Wednesday to see it in person!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Take a moment today to thank your mother for caring for you when you need it. Thank her for all of the bandaids she carefully applied to banged up knees, for teaching the things that you need to know in this world, for whatever she gave you that no one else could.
xo Lark
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Pyrrha necklace draw for Mum
Get one of our beautiful pieces from Pyrrha for your mother and you’ll be entered into our draw to win the “mum” pendant.
Shop online in or in-store to be entered into the draw. As always we offer complimentary gift wrapping.
You know we love Pyrrha, and we know your mother will love it too. For those of you that are new fathers or about to become a father we recommend you treat your lady to something special tomorrow. Make it a Pyrrha necklace and you could be treating her twice!
Mother’s get 10% off until the end of day tomorrow!
Mother’s Day Draws & Deals
Mother’s day is fast approaching and we are ready to help you make your mother, and the mother of your children feel special. As always we provide complimentary gift wrapping if you would like it.
hint: If you have a pregnant lady in your life treat her special on Mother’s Day, it will mean a lot to her
Purchase any Pyrrha piece at lark and you will be automatically be entered into a draw to win the Pyrrha “mum” necklace. The winner will be announced on May 13th at the end of the day.
We will also have a draw that anyone can enter for a beautiful bouquet of flowers from The Flower Factory. Come by the shop and enter your name into the draw!
All Mother’s get 10% off at Lark until Sunday May 13th
Treat yourself, lord knows that if you are raising children you deserve it!
Questions? Get in touch: shop@lark.me
New at Lark: Acne Paper
We finally got the spring summer 2012 Acne Paper!
If you can’t come by go to the Lark online shop for your copy of Acne Paper
Isabella Rossellini in her natural habitat
Leonardo Da Vinci, genius, scientist and gravedigger.
Irving Penn, brilliant.
Reading Acne Paper wont make you more cool, but it will round out your already brilliant mind.
Now Online: John Smedley for Men + Women
John Smedley is one of my personal favourite brands in the whole world. Their true dedication to provenance, quality, and innovation is not for trend, but what they have done for more than 225 years.
A John Smedley is not just an investment piece, it’s your favourite sweater waiting to come home with you
Each sweater takes around seven weeks to make with more than 3 miles of fine yarn, and around 1.2 million stitches. Between each step of construction the knits are pressed so that when you’ve laundered your sweater the seams stay in place never twisting. With proper care Smedley sweaters will remain vibrant in colour.
John Smedley for Men
John Smedley Esben Polo ($285)
John Smedley Ives Polo ($285) pumice
John Smedley Louie Cardigan ($318)
John Smedley Neville Cardigan ($258) dark ash
John Smedley Milo Polo ($218) flag red, also available in peacock blue and pea green.
John Smedley Hayden Pocket Tee ($228) indigo, also available in bleu celeste.
John Smedley for Women
John Smedley Dakota Knit Top ($218)
John Smedly Island Knit Top ($218)
John Smedley Diane Blouse ($258)
John Smedley Belsize Cardigan ($258) comes in three amazing colours to bring freshness to any wardrobe.
John Smedley Carina Cardigan ($268) is long loose fit and a perfect layer to keep cool spring breezes and nights at bay.
John Smedley Sea Island Cotton
A (Brief) History: Sunspel part. III
A (Brief) History: Sunspel part. I
A (Brief) History: Sunspel part. II
The Cold War
By 1960 The British Cold War office was looking to Sunspel for ‘Drawers, Aircrew, Cotton, Short’ for those on the frontline’s of the cold war. In addition Major GH Errington MC c/o the Cavalry Club, Piccadilly requested one dozen one dozen Q14 ‘Sea Island Cotton elastic- waisted trunks’ as a matter of urgency. Comfortable underwear is indeed a matter of urgency.
The innovation of Sunspel’s legendary Q14 ‘Long Staple Pima Cotton in Unique Warp Knit Construction’ was in the works during the 1950′s. The English lacemaking industry was on the decline, but the traditional techniques used by this skilled workforce became the foundation for Q14. In 1958 the fabric was woven on lace machines, eventually sturdier machines were designed specifically for the making of Q14 fabric.
(Q14 Cellular Vest $50 availuable in-store)
The founder of Sunspel came from a lace making background and two generations later it is the technique of lacemaking which is the foundation of an innovative technical fabric by his heirs.
Family Divided
When John finally returned to the family business in the 1960′s he and Peter fell out and in the 1970′s they split the family business into Sunspel Boxer and Sunspel Menswear. The brothers successfully ran the divided family business for decades right across the street from on another before the company was reunited as one. Sadly this was done after the death of John Hill.
The 1980′s
In 1985 the Sunspel girl hit the media donned in nothing more than a pair of Sunspel Boxer Shorts.
(Ladies I recommend that get yourself a pair, I call them my sleep shorts)
In the same year that the Sunspel girl hit the imaginations of England’s young lads Nick Kamen stripped down to a pair of White Sunspel Boxer Shorts in an add for Levi’s (see here …seriously, you’ll be glad you did). This lead to several British companies making the boxer short saturating the market which hit Sunspel Boxer.
When John passed in the 1990′s Peter Hill bought the company from John’s son, and the family business was re-united under one company and one name, Sunspel.
Peter Hill ran Sunspel until six years ago when it was purchased by Nicholas Brooke and Dom Hazlehurt. It was important to Peter Hill that the next owner of the company not be someone who would offshore it in an effort to maximize profit at the cost of quality. Although some boxer shorts are made in Turkey and Portugal when their own factory can not keep up with the demand, all of the t-shirts are made in their factory in Long Eaton along with the majority of the collection.
Nicholas came into the business by way of family; his wife’s aunt was Peter Hill’s companion. Rumour has it that the Sunspel girl may have been an influence in his decision.
…Next we will talk about the here and the now, the most exciting part.
Lark + Gentlemen’s Reserve
Hey everyone Lark is going to be in Gastown for 2 days with Gentlemen’s Reserve. We are bringing Universal Works with us to share with a community we’ve always loved, and to spend the weekend with people we admire.
Darian is one of those rare types of people that really just wants to do things and to connect without ego or posturing. When he asked us to be involved we were so pleased to have the opportunity to take part, and to spend a whole weekend in The Old Faithful Shop which we love love love.
Lark will of course, will be open so once you’ve done Gastown head up the hill and visit us at our home base.
Lark Colour Study: Blues
Note: Inspiration
Blue is a colour that is is so vast and contains so many moods. You can go into soft neutral blue or green greys, or vibrant indigo tones. I loved blue so much in high school that I dyed my hair peacock blue. I’m not entirely sure how I got away with it, being raised in a pretty strict immigrant household, but somehow my parents gave me a pass.
There is no shortage of inspiration when one is contemplating the many shades and moods that blue hues offer.
The film Days of Heaven was shot entirely at magic hour so practically each shot morphs from golden tones to blue tones. Days of Heaven is an absolute work of cinematic art and if you haven’t seen it you really should make the effort. I remember the first time I saw it that it made me realize that light is colour.
The Czech film Larks on a String uses blues in a neutral soft way to convey the lack of vibrancy during the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia. The greens and greys are very close to the blues and throughout the entire film there are few contrasting colours if any. This is a great film about people searching for, and finding, happiness in the small things in life although they are stripped of their freedoms of choice.
Monet is a master of colour, the depth of these blues shows how rich it can be. I love how the red boat just pops right out of the painting. Blue can be a cheerful colour which this painting embodies. This sort of mood is so easy to translate into clothing, wear blue and a pop of red and voila, you have a nautical theme.
Degas’ Ballerinas are often donned in a soft Robin’s egg blue. This colour can come dangerously close to being too sweet, but when balanced with warm tones it becomes whimsical and fresh.
I’m not going to lie to you, as a Canadian it is almost impossible to talk about blue with out relating to the Group of Seven. It’s an art movement that one cannot escape learning about from grade school all the way into high school. It’s clearly the only art movement which the Canadian education system thinks has ever happened in Canada, so you just can’t get away with out the influence of Lake and Mountains from 1928 by Lawren S. Harris.
Blues for Women
S.N.S Herning Limbo Blouse ($264) for ladies is a fantastic stripe with marine blue and cream. It is made with 100% merino wool and is so soft on the skin that unless you are legitimately allergic to wool you wont feel itchy.
The By Malene Birger Nimmi Coat ($575) is made with 100% linen. Linen takes colour so beautifully as you can see from the rich indigo of this piece. The cream coloured buttons pop so nicely in contrast to the deep blue fabric. I would wear this shade of blue with softer more neutral colours.
Blues for Men
The Universal Works Angler Waistcoat ($145) is made from 100% cotton chambray. It is a great neutral blue that will look great with a variety of shirts and pants. This is one of my favourite pieces for men because it’s such an easy way to bring an outfit together and make it look just a notch above without trying too hard.
The Universal Works Simple Shirt ($148) is a great cobalt blue. This bold colour will bring out blue eyes that break hearts and shows confidence in the man wearing this shirt. The contrast buttons are cross stitched and the fabric is really lightweight. The simple shirt will be great in any hot environment and help keep you cool as a crisp cucumber.
be bold, be neutral, wear blue
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