The Gladiator

If you missed out on the gladiator sandal last summer, don't sweat it, they're back and they are sizzlin'! Balenciaga took them to new heights with the funky knee-high gladiator boots seen across runways, which, by the way, is a look I would never don out in public (but thats just me!). Sticking to ankle lenth gladiators is a much more classic look and wearable for everyday.

I had been looking for the perfect pair for a little while and came across a pair by JC Jeffrey Campell for a great price. They are all leather and I scored them for $60! Many of the other pairs I had been eyeing were well over $150.

I was in a lounging-casual mood so today my look consisted of:

My new gladiators- $60

Habitual jeans from Winners- $80

AA tee- $21

TNA jacket - $99 (courtesy of le BF 2 christmas' ago and I love it to death!)

Bag from Winners- $50 (all leather and suede..got it on sale)

Scarf from Winners- $14

Peacock earrings- thrifted -$3

Sunglasses- Burberry

Double Duty

The famous American Apparel lame bodysuit has made its appearance today! If you are going to wear something as bold as this...why not go all out?! Paired with it is the lame ruched tube top (to avoid any indecent exposure!) and the perfect thrifted highwaisted skirt. Wrapped at the waist is a black sequined scarf that I used as a belt and the patent bag is from Lululemon.
The shoes are new and they are from Aldo (also gold and very blinged out!).
Who knows what got into me today!- I think I just wanted to pack in a little extra "sizzle" into my wardrobe/look.
Whats great about the bodysuit is that it can double up as a bathing suit meaning..less for me to pack on my next vacay! Believe it or not, i'm actually not a heavy packer...

tip for you if you wear this as a bathing suit: DO NOT wear it in chlorine water because it will get very "cracked out" and lose its lustre and shine (the reason I bought it in the first place!)

In love with the "Trash"

This is an extremely "on the verge of trash look" but I LOVE IT TO DEATH. This mini in the lame black is at the top of my list and for $40 it won't break the bank account! I will most likely be using this as a long tube rather than an actual mini...we will see how it will be incorporated into my wardrobe. I am hoping to purchase it next week (an early bday gift to myself!.......)

photo cred: http://www.americanapparel.net/

Finally! Some warm weather....I can wear dresses!!

It is officially the first sunny and warm day that I can actually wear a tank! Its 23 degrees Celcius (finally!) and I can now put my little vintage prairie dress to good use! This dress is a very free and flowing style that fits all body types. It is extremely stretchy all around and fits from a size xs (my size) to a large I would say. Its the perfect maxi length for me and dosn't drag on the floor much (a problem I usually have). The dress also looks good without the belt however it does look a little to simple for my likings so I would say it would need a heck of a lot of jewelry to give it a little "bite".

Dress: Vintage thrifted linen dress

Belt: thrifted

Sunglasses: Burberry aviator style

Mellow Yellow

So this flowey top of yellow perfection is actually from Marciano and I came across it when I was browsing their online shop. Its about $100 which I don't really know if I want to spend that on such a simple top. My next hunt may be: find a simple flare sleeved top from a thrift shop (thats getting picky though and I find that I never find what I set out to look for). Maybe eBay will be a better option! If anyone has any suggestions let me know!

I will be back on track next week with my posts. It was my 6 year anniversary with le BF yesterday so I was busy preparing for that.

I painted a portrait of us on canvas (it came out really cartoon-y looking! but the important thing is he loved it!)

Photo cred: http://www.shoparciano.ca/

Velvet and Lace

So can you tell i'm on serious painkillers for my tooth in this picture? Or that this dress is so tight I can barely breathe?? Oh the sacrifices we make to look beautiful...It was a little tight around the waist area but I could not resist this dress. The lacey redness was calling to me in the old attic (of the antique shop...it was stashed with so many neat little treasures!). It had an old metal zipper and was made of the most delicate fabric (I dont know what kind but it rips all too easily). It was purchased at an antique shop and was originally $60 and I snagged it for $20 because it had a few rips (you can barely notice them because of the pleating). It looks like it was made in the 40s/50s just because of the zippers and detailing.

Away (from my computer) for the long weekend...

I will not be doing any posting for a couple of days. First off I am very sick with a bad toothache (i need to have a root canal done after im finished my antibiotics prescription). I was supposed to be off to Niagara fall or the long weekend however I don't think thats going to work out :(
I missed the day of work because my head/body was throbbing because of this nasty tooth. I look pale as a ghost (hmm that might be attractive for some Dita Von Teese inspired looks! haha). Hopefully I will back up, running and functional by monday...when the antibiotics kick in....! Have a great long weekend to those of you Canadians :)

Its almost Party Time....

So, my mother and I now have a tradition which includes inviting the women in our lives over for a breakfast party. There is a catch..you HAVE to wear a costume (showgirl theme, arabian nights, it gets switched up). I can't wait because its always so much fun. Its especially fun to see my grandmother for example in spandex, feathers, and a wig! The party will not be for a while (when the weather is nicer...I know I keep mentioning weather in all my postings!). I will be posting pictures of it when the grand event arrives :)

In the meantime i'll give you guys a sneak peak at one of the costumes...again I did a Barbie posting yesterday and its funny because today I actually LOOK like Birthday Barbie!!

This dress was snagged at Value Villiage for $9.99 and will become a part of the "party chest" (my mom started it and its FILLED with costume pieces, dresses etc)

p.s. there is one special vintage showgirl dress (crystals and all!!) that I will be posting when the party date is here (this is the one I picked specifically for ME).........

If only I had Barbie's closet

So I found this old book called "Splendid book for Girls" which does not have a date on it but by the looks of it im guessing its from the 40s/50s. It was a steal at $5 even just for the cover art! It has a lot of neat little stories and reminds me of my childhood (I had a lot of hand me down books from when my mother was growing up). I was then reminded of my Barbie collection which I still take pride in to this day (I have a collection of dolls from the 60s/70s which include dolls such as Twiggy....). The little outfits made for Barbie in those decades were of very high quality and the styles were anything but boring! If I had a little machine that could blow up these miniature clothes into life size (my own size) well.....then I wouldn't have to go thrifting and vintage shopping much. Ok, theres no fun in that I guess. But it is nice to dream and too much fun to look at these mini clothing styles made for Barbie. I guess I will always be a kid at heart :)

Skirt: Vintage
Shoes: Thrifted Vintage
Shirt: American Apparel Deep V

Photo creds: http://www.pinkponytail.com/Product_Images/New_2006/J4260_9993_main.jpg
http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/modhfairs.jpg

Vintage Valentino and Manolo Blahnik-----how much?? $12

This is not a recent purchase however, I simply forgot about this great shirt I had purchased a while back at a thrift shop. It was upon my encounter yesterday with my new 70s knit purse I was reminded of it. This whole outfit from head to toe is thrifted and were all purchsed at different times (yes, I do take all this time to search the racks on an almost daily basis!!). The skirt is a high-waisted custom skirt that I had purchased for $4 and luckily it fit me like a glove! The fabric is a very durable cotton blend. I didn't wear highwaited style skirts (I was in highschool and not into highwaisted styles yet). Two years later I try it on with a blouse tucked in and thats when the romance began. I will definately be donning this style to work!

The shoes were found again... on a bottom rack (I guess people just don't like to stretch and put in that extra little bit of effort!) and they were priced at $7 which for me was a steal considering the retail value of these purchased new.

The tips were pretty mangled but nothing my trusty shoes repair man could not fix. I had both tips replaced so those should last me a couple years! The tip replacement almost cost as much as my whole outfit!


The necklace im wearing is my fave of the moment (its a little clock necklace..does not actually work but its just too cute to ever throw away. Its funny because I actually dont wear a watch! or at least one that works....) There will be many more outfits to come which will include this broken "ticker"

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (thrifted) $7
Shirt: Valentino (vintage/thrifted) $5
Skirt: Thrifted (custom made) $4
Necklace: thrifted $9.99
Purse: Thrifted $2.99

Florals.....for Spring??

Yes, florals for spring...not original...at all, not a "groundbreaking" idea as Miranda had said in "The Devil Wears Prada" (which is another of my faves...love her sarcasm!!). You know what though? It gets me in the mood and makes me feel prepped for the wonderful weather to come, or so I keep hoping! Sunny days and yummy flowers on the front porch, this is why floral get an A+ in my book this spring. Whether they be feminine and flirty or structured and strong (think Balenciaga spring 2008) they are popping up all over the runways...if you follow the trends and like to thrift..great!! You should have NO problem having encounters with vintage and thrifted peices. I found my treasure for spring!!



Dress: Vintage-thrifted
Purse: Vintage
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman (not thrifted unfortunately!)
Leggings: American Apparel in Poppy
Sunglasses: Thrifted

These Boots are not for Ranching...

I don't live on a farm and the last time I rode a horse I was eight. However, I do have an appreciation for a great cowboy boot and the different styles of womens western boots. These are ankle style black leather fashion boots (which I found thrifted...boy am I lucky...but thats probably just because I score the thrift shops all too often!).

Cowboy boots are just one of those items that I don't think will ever make it to a "fashion DON'T" list (not that I would care much because I prefer style to fashion....maybe a mixture of both). Now I just have to practice mastering the art of putting on a cowboy hat like a REAL cowboy/girl......(there actually IS a proper way to put on a hat!)

next hunt...........find a hat that actually LOOKS good on me!

Boots: Thrifted

Top: American Apparel deep V

Purse: Vintage Chanel (thrifted)

Sunglasses: thrifted wayfarers

Jeans: Winners (on sale for $16)

To be born in the sixties........the Twiggy phenomenon!

Twiggy was a fashion icon of the sixties and still to this day remembered for her bold look which included her long eyelashes, skinny knees and child-like look. Hence the name Twiggy! The fabrics she and many donned were bright, pattered and....short! The 60's was the era that gave birth to the mini and the skinny jean which have both become staples in my wardrobe! Twiggy had also helped to popularize the short boy cut (maybe part of my inspiration to cut my own hair a bit shorter!). What's not to love about this girl!? Maybe I will get lucky and come across a pair of beautiful boots such as the suede ones she is wearing in the picture. That will be my next hunt (knee high suede boots...).

Photo cred: woosternet.org/blogs/marthab/2008/01/

I've only dreamed of Vintage Hermes.......

Well....dream come true...I saw it hanging amongst a sea of cheap polyester scarves and boy did it STAND OUT. Im surprised it was still there when I had arrived since a couple of tweens that looked like mini olsen twins had been sifting through them just before.


Hermes is known worldwide for their clean cut leather bags (crazily priced which I could never afford to buy new!..) and wonderful scarves that all have their own "story".

Tips for spotting out an authentic Hermes scarf:
- Hand rolled edges
- silk
- Hermes printed with backwards accent
- Scarves each have a title and artist
- Tag will never be just english, either french or both


These tips are very simplified but I guess useful if you are lucky to come across one of these magnificant creations from the House of Hermes =)

This one is a size small which is the most common size to find in vintage hermes....the large size is very rare (I saw one selling one eBay for $800)

Acid wash denim (that I swore I would NEVER wear!)

Well I remmeber making fun of my mom as a kid about her splotchy acid wash shorts that were "all the rage" which then made it onto the list of the fashion "banned". Well, I will eat my words because after coming across this skirt and chuckling as I was trying it on in the changeroom....it was the beginning of my love/hate relationship. Im still on the fence but the more I stare at the skirt the more and more I fall in love. Lesson of the day when out vintage shopping: Keep an open mind and give different styles a chance because you just might surprise yourself...and others (in my case, my mother!).

I feel like candy today

After work I decided to make my almost daily pitstop at one of the many vintage/thrift shops I frequent AND IT JUST MADE THE REST OF MY DAY! I rarely score the kids sections however, I have heard many people find awesome cute little dresses in the little girls section (lucky me, I still fit into kids....I dont know if thats really a great thing!). I came across this cute mod canary yellow lace dress which just MADE the rest of my day. The best is yet to come, I scored this for $5!! Paired with my vintage orange purse and red Ferragamos, I was just as content prancing around my room getting my little brother to "happily/not so happily" take some pics. I feel like gummy bears with the splashes of color I put together today (and its making me hungry!!) maybe i'll eBay it when I get tired of it. Thats what I end up doing with a lot of my clothes.. Then I usually end up buying loads of new stuff to fill my closet with :)

Its a vicious cycle........................................

The little mod chair in the background was a garage sale score which I was selling last year at my OWN garage sale (and then decided to keep for my room even after my mom has BEGGED me to get rid of it). I can't seem to part with it!

My thrift find cowboy boots and belt

My new and hopefully bolder look (I've had long hair since I was 10 years old) was crying for a pair of mean cowboy boots. I got lucky and came across a vintage pair in a downtown market place for $8!! These would have cost over $100 new or at a more upscale vintage store but my keen little eye spotted them out quickly amongst a whole bunch of pairs of ratty converse on the bottom shelf.

No hesitation there, I scored the rest of the store (nothing that caught my eye other then some old rock Ts which I have waaay too many of to wear anyways) and then headed to the cash. I think I may have been beaming a little too much with excitement because the pleasantly snooty cashier gave me an odd "wow youre extra happy roll of the eyes" kind of look. OH WELL!! I have the boots, they're mine now, and they're MY size :)

Boots: thrift shop $8

Belt: goodwill $2.99

Dress: American Apparel (two tone dress in white and black): $36

Sunglasses: $1.99 thrift shop

Im feeling '80s today......forget the florals!!

This spring is about florals, tribal prints, mixing, sheer fabrics, bright colors, and color blocking,.....and for me, I'm bringing 80s back ..or at least for today! It was very random, I got my American apparel order in the mail and right away ripped open the orchid colored candy leggings that I have been searching for my whole life (ok exaggeration.....but i do LOVEEEE them!!). They do make my legs look plastic-y but not in a trashy kind of way. My advice...BUY THEM, try them for yourself and if you want to play it safe, stick to black (basic but nonetheless very hot and you won't need to worry about matching).

Top: Blondie (H&M)

Skirt: Forever21

Tights: American Apparel

T shirt: American Apparel

Shoes: Vintage by Loren Sander

Sunglasses: Wayfarers- thrift shop