What makes Elsie Green special is our people. We've got a few former corporate executives, a floral designer, an event producer, a former accountant, and a vintage collector. But we're all shopkeepers at heart, manning the packing table, giving our signature brand of extraordinarily personal service in the shop, traveling the French countryside looking for pretty things, and playing with the merchandise all day.
Meet Sarah, our Retail Operations Manager and Events Coordinator. She can also be found in the shops working on a pretty display. She is a mother of two, avid reader, cat lover, and a longtime EG customer turned beloved team member. In her free time, she loves to travel, write, work in her garden, and she always keeps us laughing in the shop.
Read along to learn more about Sarah and stop by the shop to say hi!
Favorite way to spend your free time?
I love spending time with my family, and we often spend the day hiking or at the beach, or camping in our old Westfalia. I am an avid gardener, and am so happy tending to my garden with my kids, or cooking and baking in my kitchen with my daughter. I also love to do off-loom weavings. We are homebodies and love nothing more than family movie night all snuggled up with our cats.
What are you currently reading?
Brother & Sister by Diane Keaton. I'm engrossed. Such an intimate look into the family dynamics of my favourite actress.
I have so many favorite books that I tend to circle back to for re-reads, they are kind of like old friends at this point. Titles like The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, The Beach by Alex Garland, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington, and the 8 book Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.
What's your favorite movie?
Impossible to pick just one! I tend to go for very moody and cinematically beautiful movies like Rear Window, Little Women, The Royal Tenenbaums, Ladybird, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Jojo Rabbit. I also always want to re-watch movies like When Harry Met Sally, Boyhood, The King of Staten Island, Clueless, A Knight's Tale and Dazed and Confused whenever anyone in my house will put up with it!
What's your favorite travel destination?
Oh la, how to choose! I'll call it a tie between Brugge, Belgium where I spent time with my family on the canal in the most beautiful home that I could have easily moved right into for the rest of my life. What an inspirational place for design and architecture! And Buenos Aires, Argentina, on one of my many adventures with my mom. Excitement and beauty around every corner, and precious memories made that I love to return to in my head when I am missing her.
My all-time favourite city, though, is London. That city just gets me.
What's your dream travel destination?
My family and I had a trip planned to New Zealand in 2020, but we all know what happened to travel plans in 2020! I can't wait to make this trip happen as soon as it is safe to do so! I have also wanted to see Japan during Cherry Blossom season since I was a child. Still need to cross that one off the list! Here's hoping international travel plans can start being a thing again. Let's be honest, though. These days, all I want is to travel home to Canada to see my family.
What's your daily uniform?
9 times out of ten you will find me in an oversized black blazer over a t-shirt with light denim and mules, and the rest of the time I'm in a flowy dress paired with clogs or granny boots.
What's your 2022 resolution?
I have a big one in mind for this coming year: to achieve balance. Both in body/mind as well as life in general.
Sarah's Top 10 Things She Can't Live Without:
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Frame Le Jane Jeans: I am a sucker for great denim, and these Frame Denim Le Jane jeans have been a staple in my closet for years.
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Last Shoes Mules: The vast majority of favourite items in my wardrobe are my shoes (cliche, I know). These mules from Last Shoes in Canada have literally taken me all over the globe over the years, and they get better with age.
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Joni Mitchell's Blue on vinyl: Anyone who knows me knows that I am a HUGE music lover. But no musician gets me better than my hometown gal, Joni Mitchell. My most used vinyl in my collection is her Blue album.
- G. Tox Pore Purifying Cleanser: Skincare. I am wild about it. Nothing has transformed my skin more than this G-Tox cleanser from Goop Beauty.
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Caudalie Beauty Elixir Face Mist: This Caudalie Beauty Elixir Face Mist is such a great refresher during the day. It feels uplifting and luxurious.
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Catbird Oval Moonstone Ring: You will literally never see me without my Catbird moonstone ring on.
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Chloe Eau de Parfum: My signature scent for well over a decade has been Chloe. The most delicate floral scent, and it doesn't hurt that the bottle looks beautiful on my counter.
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Nars Schiap Iconic Lipstick: Nars lipstick in Schiap. This shocking pink lip is great on those no makeup days. It's my staple colour and is perfect for traveling as it can take you from day to night without any fuss.
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Madewell Double Breasted Blazer: My go-to piece in my closet that I reach for almost daily is my over-sized double breasted black blazer from Madewell.
- Hides in Hands Moccasins: I am a homebody at heart, and when I'm home you will always catch me in my Hides in Hand ballet moccasins in cream. Très cute and très comfortable!