A Vintage Inspired Picnic in the Woods - Better Day Linen S25 Lookbook
This story begins with how I met Ilona and Katie.
Instagram friends with shared aesthetics and a love for vintage storytelling, we officially connected in November 2022 when I put out a call on my IG stories for collaborators on a staged shoot.
I knew Katie had an eye for styling and staging. She’s someone who sees beauty and her skill for visual storytelling is unmatched. From vintage looks to mid-century decor pieces, her collection is like a living archive of forgotten charm. She sees a scene before it’s built.
Ilona, whose handmade jewelry line focuses on upcycled and reclaimed materials, is all about honouring cherished pieces and giving them new life. Her work aligns so closely with Better Day’s ethos—slow, thoughtful, rooted in sustainability.
Our first shoot featured an elegant Christmas theme, highlighting elegant and luxurious dresses with beautiful jewelry. That shoot was one of my favourites that I keep going back to, so when it came time to shoot a summer inspired outdoor shoot for Better Day Linen Collection I called upon my trusted duo.
Scene: A Wild Garden Picnic in July
Ilona had offered up her backyard located in the Coastal Halifax region when casually chatting about shooting locations. She described her gardens which sounded stunning, however we didn’t expect was how magical it would feel in person.
Behind Ilona’s home is a sloped woodland, quiet and dappled in sun. The trees—maple, birch, and pine—form a soft green canopy, and the forest floor is thick with moss, wildflowers, and light.
That’s where we set the scene. The gauzy white curtains gave the space a dreamlike quality. On the ground, we layered textured linen throws, pillows, and scattered props—a vintage Polaroid camera, woven picnic baskets, tea cups, and some retro cups.
Everything was styled using what we already owned. Nothing new was purchased. It was important to us that the shoot reflected sustainability: using what you have, collecting with purpose, and curating from memory.
Katie led the staging with help from Ilona, and together they created what felt like a scene from a 1960s vintage lifestyle magazine. There were China glasses, vintage wine cooler, layered fruits and sweets on a wood side table, and a few polaroid cameras—all set the scene for nostalgic, playful, and imperfectly perfect.
The Looks: Sun-Soaked, Breezy, and Effortless
We designed this shoot around natural movement and heat. It was a humid July afternoon, and the sun was high. The styling leaned into that feeling: lightweight linen in white and soft neutrals to reflect the light, boxy tops, shorts, and breezy skirts layered with bikini tops for a beach-to-picnic vibe.
This wasn’t about dressing up—it was about comfort that photographs beautifully. Our clothes were meant to move with the wind, to soak up sunlight, to be lived in.
A Mood, Not Just a Lookbook
What we created together was more than a shoot. It was a summer memory—one of those afternoons you look back on in a few years and reminisce fondly.
And somewhere in between setting up props and clicking the shutter, we remembered why we do this. Why we build things slowly. Why we choose friends over followers. Why we make fashion that’s built to hold stories.
This is what Better Day and Mable & Rose are all about: thoughtful design, shared effort, and beauty that doesn’t rush. We hope you enjoy this shoot as much as we enjoyed setting it up from inception to reality.
Shot on location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Creative Direction & Styling: Katie + Ilona + Sara
Photography: Sara Shabnam through better Day Photography
Clothing: Better Day SS25 Linen Collection
Jewelry: Mable & Rose
Props: All vintage / secondhand / personal collection
