New charity shop, a cardi & a carpet bag, and a friend

Welcome to my new carpet and tapestry handbag obsession. I normally stalk these babies on Etsy, but since hubby's instructions to mind what I spend, I have had to back off from Etsy (but if he wants to buy me the 30-pound, plus almost that in shipping, leather and tapestry bag I am currently lusting after there as an early B-day pressie, I suppose I shall have to deal with it). But I digress: yesterday when I checked out a thrift shop in a nearby town that I've never been to, a church charity shop, I found this 1990s-esque tapestry bag with the tags still on ... for three pounds! Isn't it a beaut?

There's more to this tale. In said church charity shop, I met Shoo, a lady who lives in the same town in which I do and shares my passion for charity shops. Shoo kindly invited me to dinner at her place after discovering I'm new to town, haven't made a lot of friends and am often on my own. What a sweetheart. So I went to dinner and donned my "new" bag in honour of the occasion, along with an oversize purple wool cardi in perfect condition that I also bought at the shop for three pounds (note: church charity shops have waaay better prices than the corporate charity shops here, where these items would sell for double or more).

Under the cardi I wore a thrifted Teenflo little black dress, a vintage velvet elastic belt, new Guess? booties and crochet tights, and a thrifted statement piece necklace. Dinner was a blast and I know I'll soon be charity shopping and experiencing other adventures with Shoo!

I was pretty pleased that I was able to somewhat glam up a slouchy cardi for my dinner outfit, but I wanted to show you a more casual look showing the same pieces I bought yesterday: under the cardi I'm wearing a new turtleneck bought on sale at Danier Leather in Canada; a gorg scarf gifted to me by the owner of my fave thrift shop in Toronto, Canadian Thrift (now called Ontario Thrift); and riding pants gifted to me by my pal Nadia (of the green dress, see two posts below). I made the look more casual by wearing my new purse cross-body.

P.S. I have a few more vintage carpet bags to show you. Coming soon!

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Bling that makes me think Brit

Well, maybe that's a bit misleading. I bought this ring with my English man in Canadian Thrift the day he flew home in September after a lovely visit. It was only a few bucks and has this foil under the facets that appears to shift in colour depending how you angle the ring. Now it reminds me of him! (Though he's in no way shifty).

Remember this? Another Brit bling connection. It's the 1970s Avon pendant and chain I saw in Portobello Market in London but didn't buy as I got my mega statement piece Trifari instead. Well I found this baby at my new fave vintage bling shop, Used House of Vintage on Queen - and let's say it was waaaay less pricier than its London counterpart! Anyway, I call that vintage synery, don't you? It's a bit anachronistic but now it reminds me of my trip to England this past summer!!

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Saturday afternoon outfit

Ahh, gorgeous fall days spent wandering in Toronto's Greektown, having coffee, visiting with a dear gal pal and generally having all sorts of adventures that a Gemini and a Sag can get into!! 

I threw this Saturday afternoon outfit together in a hurry but I like the look: everything but the statement piece Anthropologie scarf (which a man even commented on yesterday!) is thrifted. 

Angel jeans, $5.99; sweater, thrifted but I've had for years; bag and boots from CTS and Coach shades from Canadian Thrift, both in Toronto. And the major score: Alfani pink sheeny leather crop jacket in mint condition - a mere $6.50 at a recent Stretch Thrift 50 percent off sale.

Love it how thrifting can allow you to experiment with looks you never would if you had to buy the pieces for full price. I never would have purchased this jacket for the retail, even the sale retail, price.

BTW, I am wearing my thrifted booties with everything from dresses to jeans - did a quick cuff roll on the fly yesterday and thought it looked pretty cool!

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Big bling

Here's a recent find from Canadian Thrift - I just love it. It was only $2.99.

The pendant part is pretty big, but that's my bling bent this days: big statement pieces (cheap helps too).

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My 1990s Phoebe from "Friends" look

I can't believe I like this outfit - but I really do! The look, 100 % thrifted, is tres 1990s a la Phoebe from the sitcom "Friends" (the character would wear this type of dress, which was big in the 1990s). Key to the look is the drop-waist jumper-style dress (made in Canada) that I thrifted for less than four bucks (Stretch Thrift).

I'm wearing it with a thrifted white crop tee - again, so retro 1980s and 90s! (Stretch Thrift), a thrifted jean jacket (a few bucks at Canadian Thrift), and a thrifted costume jewellery pendant (by Miracle, an England maker) found at Goodwill last summer for six bucks.

Is it creepy I am so digging a look that I typically hate? I'm not a big fan of 1990s tent-dress style. But I felt good in this garb, and it was so - gasp - COMFY. Jeepers this is a sign I'm getting old! But I don't care - a colleague gave me such a compliment the day I wore it (you're so stylish, she said) that it can't be a complete fashion disaster!

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Pretty mystery pendant

Here I am sporting my new summer do - I've decided to go shorter again as it's so hot and besides, I think it looks better on me. Hopefully my beau doesn't think I look like an alien (that's what the cheeky-pants said when he saw a pic of me from a few years ago with quite short hair). Anyway that's not the subject of this post: this thrifted silver-tone pendant and chain is!

I thought it was so pretty, almost like a medal, but with a feminine twist. The chain has three tiny chains entwined, to give it extra girl-power oomph. Not surprisingly, I found it at my friendly neighbourhood thrift shop where I dig up a lot of my jewellery, Canadian Thrift.

It's stamped "NR" on the back, which would be so fab if it stood for Nina Ricci. But my guess is it's an Avon piece. Apparently some such pieces were stamped "NR" to signal one of the manufacturers that produced for the company. Whatever it is, I love the piece and as usual I got it for a steal!

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Sometimes it pays to go back

I tried this ethnic-esque pendany necklace on at Canadian Thrift last week, and left it there as I didn't think it was my style.

But then I couldn't stop thinking about it. Jeepers, it was only 6 bucks and I left it there!

I went back a couple days later and dug around, but couldn't find it. Two days later, I went back again, not expecting it to be there. But it was! Someone had put it on hold and never returned, so back to the case it went!

I'd like to think this episode was a prime example of what I call my Thrifting Karma, but perhaps it demonstrates only that I'm tenacious to the max when it comes to bling! And I'm pretty sure the piece is vintage - just look at how well the chain is constructed. I really love it, and I hope it forgives me for abandoning it on first sight!

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Call me crazy

Well here we are still in the middle of a heat wave in Toronto, and I'm buying myself a wool blanket.

It's on the end of my bed as we speak, and I've actually pulled it up over myself the last few nights when the sheet I've been using as a blanket isn't quite enough against the fan that has been constantly blowing on me.

It was only $4.99 at my local thrift shop, Canadian Thrift, and it's not stained, smelly or moth-eaten. These blankets are are to find in good shape, and Lord knows I'll need it when the icebox temps come our way in the winter, sigh.

The blanket (which happens to match the underside of my duvet, also thrifted) was made for Eaton's, a now defunct Canadian department store. I love that I have a bit of Canadian retail history on my bed!

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Am I going tribal?

Yeeks, I think today's outfit matched the pillow from yesterday's post!

It's the end of the day, I'm on my balcony, and it's been a real stinker today - about 50 degrees C with the Humidex - so I'm looking a bit wilted, granted. My soul is a wee bit wilted too, as I have just returned from an industry event full of 20 and 30-somethings in chic downtown garb. I felt like a semi-frumpish aging boho hipster. But hey, I gotta be me, right?

I guess when I think of it, it's rather apt I donned a tribal-esque frock today, given the gruesomely oven-like temps in the Big Smoke. I don't often do looks of this sort, but the dress, which you can't see in its entirety here alas, is long and straight, with a darling empire waist and these cute ruched cap sleeves. The pattern isn't something I'd typically wear, but hey - it's ORANGE and therefore fitting into my aesthetic of late.

Plus it was a whopping $5.99 at my local thrift shop, Canadian thrift!!

There's a great thrifting lesson behind the ethnic-looking pendant I just thrifted at the same shop, too. Will take better pics of it and reveal the deets very soon.

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Boho bling, not yet worn

I'm supposed to be hanging around the Blackpool Tower today, but alas, the Holiday Gods want to give me more nesting time with my Brit mannie, who has not only been looking after me and my broken foot, but is as of this morning flaked out on the couch after an emergency tooth-pulling episode.

Aren't we a pair of sad sacks.

So, in honour of the Glastonbury Festival that just wrapped up in England (which is the new millennium version of Woodstock, I'm gathering) I'm showing you a fab piece of boho-inspired bling I bought the day I left Canada for England (which I haven't had a chance to wear here yet as I've been living in yoga pants).

I loved it on sight when I plucked it out of the case at my fave neighbourhood thrift shop, Canadian Thrift in Toronto, as the chunky, rough-hewn chain reminds me of the 1970s pendant necklaces designed by Raphael. The large disc pendant also has a distinctly boho vibe to it, and you know my penchant for bohemian chic. Not sure if it's vintage - what do you think?

It's quite large, which could be a style challenge as all I'm seeing in my mind's eye is some Woodstock hippie dude from the 1960s wearing it with super wide leg jeans ... and nothing else --- but perhaps it's the painkillers.

On that note, back to the couch.

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More 1970s bling

I found another one of these 1970s mosiac-inspired pendant necklaces at the thrift shop the other day. I liked it way better than the plain oval one I found a while back, so I bought this one and sold the other one at my recent garage sale.

I can't make out what the design is but it reminds me of Native Canadian art.

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Colour my world, bigtime

Today I saw the world through orange-coloured sunnies, literally. Quite the experience. Don't try this if you have a headache as I bet it will hurt. Aren't these 1970s shades super funky? I found 'em for $1.99 at my favourite local thrift shop, Canadian Thrift.

I wish I could show you the sassy outfit I wore them with, but alas, I have no dedicated camera person to snap my looks. But you can see I matched the shades with my purse, a thrifted Matt & Natt beaut that's just perfect for the summer that we are now finally enjoying!

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BCBG dress 20 years old, $5.99

Notice: hips in this picture appear larger than they actually are.

Joke. Well, the pattern does make one look bigger. But I do love the mosaic print of this cute BCBG dress, found for $5.99 at Canadian Thrift. I wore it with a hot pink knit bolero and sassy strappy heels.

The neat thing: I work in Toronto's design district on Wingold Ave., where all the fashion brands wholesale to retailers. I walked into a cafe for lunch today and a woman said, "That's BCBG. I sold that dress to stores in 1992."

Who would have thought? The dress is in such great shape, and so stylishly applicable, that I thought it was somewhat current. Wonder if the BCBG brand is so timeless and as good a quality today?

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Like, groovy shades, man

Peace, fellow groovy hipsters. I'm here with my $1.99 thrifted 1960s (70s?) shades to spread the word of harmony and happiness through thrifting. It, like, saves the world, man - I mean woman! I'm an equal opportunity thrifter! And I've been working all weekend so I'm in a bit of a silly mood - can you tell? And what do you think of my shades, btw?

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Ugliest, most perplexing thrift shop find to date

It may not be the most disturbing of thrift shop finds - creepy porcelain clown figurines, a raccoon head fur hat, underwear, and retro electronic sex devices beat this one out by far in the ICK department - but I must say that this plastic stool, replete with faux plastic roses and unexplainable plastic overlay, sure ranks number one for the ugliest of decor pieces I've spotted in a thrift shop to date. It was $6.99 - a deal! - at Canadian Thrift.

It got worse, if you can believe it: there was a little switch on the bottom. Yup, if you plugged the stool in, parts of it (behind the roses, perhaps?) lit up - who knows? Perhaps it vibrated too. A love stool? 

What was disturbing, though, was strolling along Queen St West this past weekend and finding the exact same stool in a moth-ball smelling junk shop.

I pride myself on being a style diplomatico, but I have to wonder: who, in his or her right mind, would have made something like this? Worse still, who would have bought and actually proudly displayed this in a living room? I'm not sure I want to picture that living room, go there in my head.

What's the freakiest, ugliest or most disturbing item you've seen while thrifting?

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1980s necklace that will present a fun challenge!

I've admitted that I find 1980s plastic bib style necklaces oddly attractive, and that even though I am drawn to them I have mixed feelings about wearing them. Ditto for this 1980s necklace with painted blue, yellow, peach and gold detail, $4.99 at Canadian Thrift.

Not sure what I'll do with it but I'll try to snap a pic when I figure it out!

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More 'Easter' bling

Picked up for a song at Canadian Thrift. I thought this brass pendant was just so boho!

It didn't come with a chain but I just fixed it up on one I had. My philosophy with bling is the same with all my other accessories, including lamps and pillows: just change things up! Alternate chains and pendants as you would lampshades with different lamp bases!

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Cheapest bling yet!!

This is the cheapest piece of costume bling I've thrifted yet. It was 99 cents at Canadian Thrift - but wait! It was 50 percent off! I have NEVER thrifted ANYTHING for 49.5 cents! Did I buy it because it was so cheap? Well, yes. But I kind liked the ethnic feel crossed with a Rubik's Cube primary colour plastic square thing. Incongruity and paradox, as you know, is something I'm really attracted to.

And it's reversible! How cool is that??

This pretty boho silver tone bracelt? A $1.99 - make that 99.5 cents with the discount.

Total haul: $1.49. Plus taxes. Ahem. When great deals go on mega sale, the thrifting Karma, it kicks in!

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Vintage Irving Posluns jacket, thrifted

Finally, it's been warm enough to shed the winter coat and now I can show you a thrifted coat I've been dying to show you! A Made in Canada leather swing coat by Irving Posluns - $19.99 at Canadian Thrift!!

Isn't it darling? Suede with faux fur trim and an A-line shape, it looks great with skinny jeans. I have a def thing for Irving Posluns jackets - the coat designer was hot in Toronto in the 1960s. I've seen some of his stuff for sale online and coats can be upwards of $300. I prefer to find mine thrift!

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Thrift shop for boys, but girls like it too!

So who are these guys and what do they have to do with the Grunge Queen?

Everything.

If you like the items I've been posting from a shop called Canadian Thrift, meet the owners, pictured here wearing the hockey jerseys they sell, new and used, in store.

The uber neat thing about this thrift shop is that, unlike most, it caters to men.

Hockey jerseys, lumberjack shirts, leather jackets, electronics — everything to appeal to a man. I tell you, it's an odd walking into a thrift shop and see more men than chicks! But natch, there's tons of chicky stuff here too, as you can tell from the items under my label, Canadian Thrift!!

Take a gander at an article I wrote last month for the Town Crier newspapers in Toronto called
Two-Men and a Thrift Shop.

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