Red Ribbon

We Love: Truck Furniture

2012-03-04T11:53:00.001-08:00

Truck Furniture is a Japanese furniture company founded by designers Tokuhiko Kise and Hiromi Karatsu. The design team offer beautiful wood furniture that combines a retro feel with sustainable design and a minimalist aesthetic. The website (though primarily in Japanese) is beautiful to look at and the furniture is enough to make you dream of furniture buying trips to Japan.

Check out their website here.

Tuesday Single

2012-02-28T20:49:00.001-08:00

Download it here!

Rowdy Sprout

2012-02-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

Rowdy Sprout t-shirts are now in store. These tiny band tees are made sweatshop free in the United States and are a bound to put a smile on the face of your young ones.

Have a good long weekend!

2012-02-17T15:58:00.000-08:00

Darling

2012-02-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

We're exciting to be carrying Darling this spring. We've just received our first shipment of great tops and dresses. Check them out in store now!

Tuesday Single: Young Galaxy - We Have Everything

2012-02-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

Download it here!

TOMS ballet flats!

2012-02-11T11:46:00.001-08:00

Now in store.

The Vestiary

2012-02-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to last week's Pechu Kucha 12 held at the Garneau Theatre. The first presentation was from Erin Monaghan, street fashion blogger and founder of The Vestiary, a local street fashion blog. Erin defended Edmonton's fashion and talked about some of the great seasonal styles she has seen since starting her blog.

Have a look at her site here and you might stumble across some familiar faces. I was happy to find this cute photo of Red Ribbon staff member, Mugsie.

Spring 2012!

2012-02-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

There may still be snow on the ground but great items from some of our favourite lines are already arriving in store. Get the jump on spring with great pieces from Free People, Odd Molly and heaps of others.

Friday Single: The Good Natured - Wolves

2012-02-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

Download it here and have a great weekend!

New Online

2012-02-02T23:20:00.000-08:00

Check out the new items in our web store including this great Left on Houston blazer and the Visionaire Jean from Joe's Jeans. There are lots of new great items in our web store. Check out redribbon.ca and have a look. And feel free to contact us if you have any questions about sizing!

Avoca soups

2012-01-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

It's soup season and Avoca has a great recipe book to get you started.
Have a sneak peak inside Avoca soups and pick it up in store.

We Love: Uncrate - The Best Gear for Guys

2012-01-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

I was recently introduced to Uncrate.com and have been addicted ever since. The site features posts about clothing, technology, games, accessories, sports, culture....pretty much anything I guy could be interested in.

Check out this recent post for slick looking wooden iPhone backs.

And for all sorts of other guy gear (including bacon frosting) check out Uncrate.

J Shoes

2012-01-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

A great fur lining and a rubber sole make these J Shoes perfect for this time of year. They are great with denim or with wool tights (or wool socks, perhaps). My friend just picked up a pair and insisted that I post about them on the blog because they haven't left her feet!

2012-01-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Dunderdon

2012-01-21T11:28:00.000-08:00

Beat the January cold with Dunderdon. This grandpa chic sweater is one of my favourites.

Wednesday Single

2012-01-18T21:30:00.000-08:00

Download it here

Alex Prager and Lara Stone

2012-01-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Mercedes Benz has just released a short film directed by American artist Alex Prager and starring dutch super model Lara Stone. The film casts Stone as a sort of modern day Dorothy who gets whisked away by desert storm. Catch the video on Nowness and for more of Alex Prager's work, check out her website.

Winter Coat Sale

2012-01-12T22:35:00.000-08:00

Now that our unseasonably warm December is over, all men's winter coats are now 40% off. Come in and grab yours before the real cold hits.

Erin Templeton

2012-01-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

There is an interview with Erin Templteon in the most recent issue of 01 magazine with photographs by the lovely Jennilee Marigomen. Check it out here and come in store for an assortment of Erin Templeton bags.

Sunday Single

2012-01-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

Download it here.

Online Exclusives

2012-01-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Check out our webstore for great times available only online!

Music Video: Gotye - Somebody that I used to Know

2012-01-05T21:58:00.000-08:00

It's a New Year with Happy Socks

2012-01-03T21:26:00.000-08:00

It's the New Year and even though winter isn't over it might be time to start bringing some colour back into your wardrobe. One of the easiest places to start is your feet!

If your stockings were stuffed with tube socks this year, pick up some Happy Socks and add a smile to your ankles.
We have Happy Socks in store or check out our web store for select styles. Get them while you can!

We Love: Margaret Durow

2012-01-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

Margaret Durow is a young photographer from Madison, Wisconsin, who has garnered a mass of followers and admirers since opening her flickr account in 2007.

Her dreamy world is one we love falling into.

For more, check out Margaret's website and her flickr.

Tuesday Single

2011-12-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Download it here!

Merry Christmas! See you on Boxing Day.

2011-12-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Story From David Sedaris

2011-12-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

A little Christmas comedy for you from David Sedaris. Originally published in 2002.

I've never been much for guidebooks, so when trying to get my bearings in a strange American city, I normally start by asking the cabdriver or hotel clerk some silly question regarding the latest census figures. I say silly because I don't really care how many people live in Olympia, Washington, or Columbus, Ohio. They're nice enough places, but the numbers mean nothing to me. My second question might have to do with average annual rainfall, which, again, doesn't tell me anything about the people who have chosen to call this place home.

What really interests me are the local gun laws. Can I carry a concealed weapon, and if so, under what circumstances? What's the waiting period for a tommy gun? Could I buy a Glock 17 if I were recently divorced or fired from my job? I've learned from experience that it's best to lead into this subject as delicately as possible, especially if you and the local citizen are alone and enclosed in a relatively small space. Bide your time, though, and you can walk away with some excellent stories. I've heard, for example, that the blind can legally hunt in both Texas and Michigan. They must be accompanied by a sighted companion, but still, it seems a bit risky. You wouldn't want a blind person driving a car or piloting a plane, so why hand him a rifle? What sense does that make? I ask about guns not because I want one of my own but because the answers vary so widely from state to state. In a country that's become so homogenous, I'm reassured by these last touches of regionalism.

Guns aren't really an issue in Europe, so when I'm traveling abroad, my first question usually relates to barnyard animals. "What do your roosters say?" is a good icebreaker, as every country has its own unique interpretation. In Germany, where dogs bark "vow vow" and both the frog and the duck say "quack," the rooster greets the dawn with a hearty "kik-a-ricki." Greek roosters crow "kiri-a-kee," and in France they scream "coco-rico," which sounds like one of those horrible premixed cocktails with a pirate on the label. When told that an American rooster says "cock-a-doodle-doo," my hosts look at me with disbelief and pity.

"When do you open your Christmas presents?" is another good conversation starter, as it explains a lot about national character. People who traditionally open gifts on Christmas Eve seem a bit more pious and family oriented than those who wait until Christmas morning. They go to mass, open presents, eat a late meal, return to church the following morning, and devote the rest of the day to eating another big meal. Gifts are generally reserved for children, and the parents tend not to go overboard. It's nothing I'd want for myself, but I suppose it's fine for those who prefer food and family to things of real value.

In France and Germany, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, while in Holland the children receive presents on December 5, in celebration of Saint Nicholas Day. It sounded sort of quaint until I spoke to a man named Oscar, who filled me in on a few of the details as we walked from my hotel to the Amsterdam train station.

Unlike the jolly, obese American Santa, Saint Nicholas is painfully thin and dresses not unlike the pope, topping his robes with a tall hat resembling an embroidered tea cozy. The outfit, I was told, is a carryover from his former career, when he served as a bishop in Turkey.

One doesn't want to be too much of a cultural chauvinist, but this seemed completely wrong to me. For starters, Santa didn't use to do anything. He's not retired, and, more important, he has nothing to do with Turkey. The climate's all wrong, and people wouldn't appreciate him. When asked how he got from Turkey to the North Pole, Oscar told me with complete conviction that Saint Nicholas currently resides in Spain, which again is simply not true. While he could probably live wherever he wanted, Santa chose the North Pole specifically because it is harsh and isolated. No one can spy on him, and he doesn't have to worry about people coming to the door. Anyone can come to the door in Spain, and in that outfit, he'd most certainly be recognized. On top of that, aside from a few pleasantries, Santa doesn't speak Spanish. He knows enough to get by, but he's not fluent, and he certainly doesn't eat tapas.

While our Santa flies on a sled, Saint Nicholas arrives by boat and then transfers to a white horse. The event is televised, and great crowds gather at the waterfront to greet him. I'm not sure if there's a set date, but he generally docks in late November and spends a few weeks hanging out and asking people what they want.

"Is it just him alone?" I asked. "Or does he come with some backup?"
Oscar's English was close to perfect, but he seemed thrown by a term normally reserved for police reinforcement.

"Helpers," I said. "Does he have any elves?"
Maybe I'm just overly sensitive, but I couldn't help but feel personally insulted when Oscar denounced the very idea as grotesque and unrealistic. "Elves," he said. "They're just so silly."
The words silly and unrealistic were redefined when I learned that Saint Nicholas travels with what was consistently described as "six to eight black men." I asked several Dutch people to narrow it down, but none of them could give me an exact number. It was always "six to eight," which seems strange, seeing as they've had hundreds of years to get a decent count.
The six to eight black men were characterized as personal slaves until the mid-fifties, when the political climate changed and it was decided that instead of being slaves they were just good friends. I think history has proven that something usually comes between slavery and friendship, a period of time marked not by cookies and quiet times beside the fire but by bloodshed and mutual hostility. They have such violence in Holland, but rather than duking it out among themselves, Santa and his former slaves decided to take it out on the public. In the early years, if a child was naughty, Saint Nicholas and the six to eight black men would beat him with what Oscar described as "the small branch of a tree."
"A switch?"
"Yes," he said. "That's it. They'd kick him and beat him with a switch. Then, if the youngster was really bad, they'd put him in a sack and take him back to Spain."
"Saint Nicholas would kick you?"
"Well, not anymore," Oscar said. "Now he just pretends to kick you."
"And the six to eight black men?"
"Them, too."
He considered this to be progressive, but in a way I think it's almost more perverse than the original punishment. "I'm going to hurt you, but not really." How many times have we fallen for that line? The fake slap invariably makes contact, adding the elements of shock and betrayal to what had previously been plain, old-fashioned fear. What kind of Santa spends his time pretending to kick people before stuffing them into a canvas sack? Then, of course, you've got the six to eight former slaves who could potentially go off at any moment. This, I think, is the greatest difference between us and the Dutch. While a certain segment of our population might be perfectly happy with the arrangement, if you told the average white American that six to eight nameless black men would be sneaking into his house in the middle of the night, he would barricade the doors and arm himself with whatever he could get his hands on.

"Six to eight, did you say?"

In the years before central heating, Dutch children would leave their shoes by the fireplace, the promise being that unless they planned to beat you, kick you, or stuff you into a sack, Saint Nicholas and the six to eight black men would fill your clogs with presents. Aside from the threats of violence and kidnapping, it's not much different from hanging your stockings from the mantel. Now that so few people have a working fireplace, Dutch children are instructed to leave their shoes beside the radiator, furnace, or space heater. Saint Nicholas and the six to eight black men arrive on horses, which jump from the yard onto the roof. At this point, I guess, they either jump back down and use the door, or they stay put and vaporize through the pipes and electrical wires. Oscar wasn't too clear about the particulars, but, really, who can blame him? We have the same problem with our Santa. He's supposed to use the chimney, but if you don't have one, he still manages to come through. It's best not to think about it too hard.

While eight flying reindeer are a hard pill to swallow, our Christmas story remains relatively simple. Santa lives with his wife in a remote polar village and spends one night a year traveling around the world. If you're bad, he leaves you coal. If you're good and live in America, he'll give you just about anything you want. We tell our children to be good and send them off to bed, where they lie awake, anticipating their great bounty. A Dutch parent has a decidedly hairier story to relate, telling his children, "Listen, you might want to pack a few of your things together before you go to bed. The former bishop from Turkey will be coming along with six to eight black men. They might put some candy in your shoes, they might stuff you in a sack and take you to Spain, or they might just pretend to kick you. We don't know for sure, but we want you to be prepared."
This is the reward for living in Holland. As a child you get to hear this story, and as an adult you get to turn around and repeat it. As an added bonus, the government has thrown in legalized drugs and prostitution — so what's not to love about being Dutch?

Oscar finished his story just as we arrived at the station. He was a polite and interesting guy — very good company — but when he offered to wait until my train arrived, I begged off, saying I had some calls to make. Sitting alone in the vast terminal, surrounded by other polite, seemingly interesting Dutch people, I couldn't help but feel second-rate. Yes, it was a small country, but it had six to eight black men and a really good bedtime story. Being a fairly competitive person, I felt jealous, then bitter, and was edging toward hostile when I remembered the blind hunter tramping off into the Michigan forest. He might bag a deer, or he might happily shoot his sighted companion in the stomach. He may find his way back to the car, or he may wander around for a week or two before stumbling through your front door. We don't know for sure, but in pinning that license to his chest, he inspires the sort of narrative that ultimately makes me proud to be an American.

For this and other David Sedaris stories head over to Esquire.com.

We Love: Letters of Note

2011-12-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

I've spent the past couple of days devouring the webiste Letters of Note. As the name suggests, the site publishes letters, postcards, memos and other forms of correspondence that may be of interest.

Below is the copy of a letter written by Prince at age 26 to a young fan. Check out the post here.

The site is full of wonderful artifacts. Visit www.lettersofnote.com and read on.

Aunts & Uncles Bags

2011-12-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

We just got great new Aunts & Uncles bags in store.

If you're looking for a last minute Christmas Gift (or a little holiday treat for yourself) one of these bags could be just the thing you're looking for.

Men's Scotch & Soda Button Up Shirts

2011-12-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

The only person who will love it more than you is the person who got it for you.

Sunday Single - December 18, 2011

2011-12-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

Download it here

Music Video: Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

2011-12-14T21:04:00.001-08:00

Check it out on our Tumblr!
http://wrappedinredribbon.tumblr.com/

Avoca

2011-12-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

Red Ribbon is excited to be carrying Avoca!
Avoca is an Irish family-run business that makes all sorts of colourful and beautiful products including all natural soaps, tea pots and cookbooks (and don't forget about the cutest hot water bottle you can find). Check out our online store for more Avoca.
And check out Natural Life lip balm while you're at it!

Here's a peak at just a few of the items we have in store. Perfect for you or for under the tree this Christmas!

Jasper In Style

2011-12-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

I was in Jasper a couple of weeks back and my friends and I decided to go snowshoeing from Lake Edith to Jasper Park Lodge. Lucky for me they happened to be decked out in Levis and Scotch and Soda from Red Ribbon.

Made for some pretty fashionable Snowshoeing.

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

2011-12-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

This video should probably be called "How to get a job at Red Ribbon" because Red Ribbon is sort of scarf central. I know I've been wearing my Autumn Cashmere scarf pretty much every day since it snowed.

Check out 25 ways to wear a scarf in 4.5 minutes from Wendy Nguyen who run's Wendy's Lookbook and then come and test out your favourites in store.

'Tis The Season

2011-12-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

So it's December and if you're like me you probably haven't started your Christmas shopping yet. We'll have some great gift ideas coming to you right up until Christmas day for anyone on your Christmas list.

To start with, some great stocking stuffer ideas.....stockings! No seriously, we have an awesome assortment of stockings in store from brands like Hansel from Basel and Look from London. They make a simple gift, are an easy fit and are a great pairing with winter skirts and dresses.

Stay tuned for more great gift ideas leading right up to Christmas (which is just around the corner)!

We Love: Like Crazy - The Soundtrack

2011-11-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

Like Crazy is the new film starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones. The film tells the story of Jacob and Anna, a young couple who become separated by borders after Anna, a British exchange student, is denied reentry into the United States after she overstays her visa.

The film, which was shot on a Canon EOS 7D, cost only $250, 000 to make and according to its stars, was highly improvised.

The soundtrack features artsits like Stars, M83 and Paul Simon and it captures the joy, the pain and the bittersweet romance that the movie delivers.

Check out two of our favourite songs below and pick up the album on iTunes.

Shopping Parties

2011-11-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you can throw your own private shopping party at Red Ribbon?
You can book your own fully staffed in-store after-hours shopping party. All purchases made during a shopping party are 20% off.

If you are looking for a fun party idea for the holidays, give us a call to book your shopping party at 780-454-4336 (minimum of 8 to maximum of 20 guests).

Music Video: Feist - How Come You Never Go There

2011-11-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

Check out the video for How Come You Never Go There, the first single from Feist's most recent album, Metals.

http://www.listentofeist.com/

We Love: Paul Jasmin

2011-11-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

American photographer Paul Jasmin photographs a world of dreamers. His work often focuses on Los Angeles and the glamorous ideals that grow there. Jasmin has published three books, Hollywood Cowboy, Lost Angeles and most recently California Dreaming.

Jasmin's ability to capture and create California with his camera evokes a world that is both real and fantasy and it's just one of the reasons we love Paul Jasmin.

Thanks!

2011-11-21T20:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who made it down to the All is Bright sale event this past weekend. You all helped make it a huge success. Hope to see you for more holiday action as the Christmas countdown begins!

Brunch at Elm Cafe

2011-11-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

I have a hard time remembering what I used to do on Saturday mornings before there was Elm Cafe.

The little cafe (conveniently located about eight blocks east of Red Ribbon) makes some of the best coffee and sandwiches in town and has quickly gained a loyal following of food and coffee lovers alike.

Every day Elm is serving up Forty-Ninth Parallel Coffee and a selection of hot and cold sandwiches (a different selection for breakfast and for lunch) along with scrumptious muffins and a selection of other goodies.

The menu is tweeted daily via their twitter feed.

Owner Nate Box and his friendly and stylish staff were kind enough to let me come down and take some photos this past Saturday morning.

If you are in the neighbourhood or are coming down to Red Ribbon, take the time to stop at Elm Cafe. You won't regret it.

Elm Cafe is located at #100, 10140 – 117 Street Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.elmcafe.ca/

In the Land of TOMS

2011-11-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

Rychelle was recently invited to visit the TOMS headquarters in Los Angeles because Red Ribbon is one of the top TOMS small boutique retailers in North America (that's right, North America!!).

She got a tour of TOMS HQ and got to spend the day learning about everything TOMS has accomplished. She even got to paint her own pair of TOMS (also known as styling your sole).

Be sure to check out the All is Bright event on High Street for some more Sole Styling from November 17th to November 20th.

Thanks TOMS!

Suspenders

2011-11-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

If you've been down to the store lately you've probably noticed the dashing male mannequin in the front window adorned with some of the great suspenders we have in store from brands like Selected and Scotch & Soda.

I picked up a pair a few weeks ago and find that they're a great addition to a casual outfit.

First Listen: The Black Keys - Lonely Boy

2011-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

This guy has it right. Just try and sit still listening to this!

Lonely Boy is the first single from The Black Keys' forthcoming album, El Camino, due out December 6th.

Music Video: Lana Del Rey

2011-11-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

Lana Del Rey-Video Games

Brand Love: Levis

2011-11-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

I was going through my closet the other day and found an old pair of Levis that I picked up in Montreal about seven years ago. They were pretty much my favourite jeans for more than half a decade and in spite of a few well placed wrips, are still some of the best fitting, most comfortable jeans I've ever owned. On top of that, they didn't cost me an arm and leg.

Red Ribbon has been carrying Levis for men and women for a few years now and find that they're popular both for how they look and how affordable they are. And in my opinion, they wear in like no other brand of jean.

But you don't have to take my word for it.
Check out this article from New York Magazine that tested the strength and durability of three popular denim brands. Levis come out on top!

RR Mix Vol. 1

2011-11-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Download our First Red Ribbon Mix!

The Bad In Each Other          Feist
Live In Dreams                      Wild Nothing
The Beast         Angus & Julia Stone
Vagabond        Beirut
In Every Direction          Junip
Jacksonville Skyline   Whiskeytown
I'm On Fire        Bruce Springsteen
Master's Hand     Charlotte Gainsbourg
Youth Knows No Pain         Lykke Li
Bedroom Eyes     Dum Dum Girls
Used to Be       Beach House
French Exit    The Antlers
Forget That You're Young      The Raveonettes
The Energy Story                              College
On Battleship Hill       PJ Harvey
Bridge Over Troubled Water      Aretha Franklin

Tumbl With Us

2011-11-03T17:11:00.001-07:00

Be Sure to Follow Us on Tumblr!

http://wrappedinredribbon.tumblr.com/

On The Wall

2011-11-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

Rychelle and I were talking about our love for great wallpaper the other day and we thought we would share some of our favourite patterns with you.

Rychelle recently picked up some wallpaper from Louise Body for her home.


Nina Campbell


David Palmer and ROLLOUT


Fiona Wall Design


Louise Body


Louise Body

Wallpaper gets a pretty bad reputation but contemporary wallpaper can be an awesome alternative to a simple coat of paint.

And if you have a flair for the artistic, a number of websites will allow you to create your own wallpaper from artwork that you've made or that someone else has made for you. Check out rollout.ca for more info.

Scotch & Soda

2011-10-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

We've got lots of great items from Scotch & Soda this fall including these great men's sweaters.

Cocktail Hour

2011-10-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

My good friend in Toronto has started a Cocktail Catering business and she gave me this recipe for a great cocktail for the season.

It's the perfect drink for after work or for Sunday dinner. My friend served it with Thanksgiving dinner this year.

I decided to prepare it in one of my favorite tea mugs, which I picked up from Call the Kettle Black, our neighbour on High Street.

Hot Apple-Ginger Toddy
makes one drink
a cup or so of apple cider
1 to 2 ounces of dark liquor (I used rum, but bourbon or calvadose would be good too)
a drizzle of honey or maple syrup
a squeeze of lemon
peeled fresh gingerroot, coarsely chopped (about a thumb sized amount)
mulling spices (cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice, nutmeg - whatever you like I put some anise in mine)
Optional garnishes: cinnamon stick stirrer, lemon slice, apple slice, ginger slice
Add the ginger and mulling spices to the cider and simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat for at least 5 minutes (or a full 15 or more if you want full flavor). Drizzle some honey or maple syrup into a mug and add the liquor, hot cider, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Stir.

Autumn Beginnings

2011-10-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Autumn isn't usually associated with new beginnings but we felt that autumn was a great time to start something fresh. Welcome to our new blog. And what better way to start than with sweaters.

Autumn is my favourite season to get dressed in because it means the return of scarves and sweaters and layers. All things that we love at Red Ribbon. Here's a peak at some of the women's sweaters that we have in store this fall courtesy of Free People and Autumn Cashmere.