Around the house, mostly thrifted

New tablecloth, made in Jodhpur.

Yesterday was the annual street market in Annecy, which was full of over-priced tat: I can't tell you how many 5-Euros-scarf booths I saw. Though I snapped up two scarves at last year's market, this year, especially considering the 10-Euros-cashmere-sweaters I've found at similar such markets throughout the year that have since turned to rags, the thrill over such dubious bargains has turned rather stale.

There's nothing exciting about cheaply-made goods. All the French markets I've experienced (except brocantes) are like this, and they puzzle me as they completely contradict what I know about France's love for high quality, locally-produced goods. Perhaps these markets are the French's version of Big Box shopping, their form of retail junk???

Lamp: Annecy vide grenier
Bowl and candelabra: Annecy thrift shop.

The long and short of it: the exception to the dirth of uninspiring scarves, sweaters, slippers and kitchen knives, was this amazing hand-printed tablecloth bought at a stall by a man selling textiles from India. Ethnic anything is not so easy to find in this part of France (and the gal next door who sells gorg Moroccan pieces is closing up shop in the New Year and moving to Marrakesh!), so when I discovered this gent, who wholesales across France and has two retail shops in a nearby town, I was thrilled beyond belief.

Hubs and I were talking about the beauty and wisdom (and the sad slaughter of African variety) of these wonderful creatures only the night before, so it was fortuitous that we found a tablecloth with elephants on it. There are peacocks in the middle too.

Though they're different styles entirely, I think the cloth goes really well with this bowl I thrifted at my local shop. Forget the tourist shops if you want to find nice French pottery and such in Annecy. The thrift store is piled high with bowls, plates, dishes, cups - you name it - and all from a few centimes to a few Euros each.

A tale of two candelabras, both second-hand ....

Like everything in my old Canadian pad, many of our decorative accessories are second-hand. I've been on a candelabra bender of late. I've always wanted one but have never found one to suit my budget or style - and the really ornate, Gothic-type styles leave me cold. Then all of a sudden, I find two simple styles back-to-back! The elegant silver-tone beauty was 30 Euros at my local consignment shop (I had money on my account so I count this as a "trade" item).

Then the next day, I was in the thrift shop and there was this heavy rustic pewter candelabra (behind) made by French company Etains du Manoir. For 5 Euros!

Second-hand textiles: Granny's old shawl...

I have a thing for vintage textiles - the more beat up, the better, in some cases. This wool shawl has stains, a few holes and is criss-crossed with hand-sewn stitches from over the years, but I love it. I found it in a junk shop in Toronto, which apparently came in a box marked "Granny's shawl". I knew the shop owner and bet he bought the box for that very reason - and of course, when he shared the story with me, I had to have the shawl.

 ... wool scarf ...

I found this wool men's scarf at a skanky French thrift shop and use it on my photo table as a runner.

... and French scarf.

Meanwhile this second-hand French scarf creates a pretty border on a table showcasing my and my hubby's wooden box collections.

Btw, hubby made me the flower out of an old foil wrapper. So talented. I love this kind of stuff: beauty from trash.

Back in Toronto, I was Queen of the Pillows. I gave away or sold most of the pack when I moved overseas (along with most of my apartment, in the biggest decluttering exercise of my life), though I couldn't let go of them all. I've had the pink and green embroidered throw (back) since I was 21, bought as a birthday gift in an ethnic-y shop in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Kilim one in front was a recent Etsy find.

This oversize one was dug up at a Toronto consignment shop specializing in decor. Apparently it's a custom-made pillow made out of antique fabric. Green velvet anything really rocks my boat, as did this pretty pattern, so it stayed on the "keep" list.

Can't not include the little guy. I've found a few knit patchwork blankets at the thrift shop this past year, and this mini one was very boy-like and will eventually go on Adam's bed. For now, it's the 'safe zone' part of his play area, which you can see he's way out of now that he's starting to roll around!

One of the many looks I created using all garbage and
thrift shop finds in my old Toronto apartment.

I wish I had more than tableaus to show you decor wise, but, living in a semi-furnished apartment that we're planning on moving out of soon, I haven't spent a lot of time stamping my individual style on the place. Perhaps having a husband with his own individual style is another reason! I'm really looking forward to creating a home, and putting together a cute boy's room out of thrifty goodies, once we have a new, larger place. I used to feature a lot more thrifty decorating on this blog, and I miss it. Hopefully the New Year will bring us a new space I can tinker with.

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Yvoire, Evian & 70s coat

1970s coat: Etsy
Second-hand granny boots: Etsy
Vintage French Lancel handbag: Annecy thrift shop
Fuzzy wool beret: Annecy consignment shop
Vintage fur mitts: Etsy
Sweater underneath: thrifted in Canada
Levis: new.

I'm wearing my latest and greatest vintage coat endlessly these days, having christened it on last week's trip to the small medieval town of Yvoire, and the nearby spa town of Evian. It's made of super thick wool and has this darling faux fur effect and shawl collar, the latter of which I've wrapped around my neck in this pic.

Yvoire, on Lake Leman. The ferry booth was closed when we were there at 5 p.m. but it runs often and connects all of the towns, on the French and Swiss sides, on the lake.

A 14th century medieval town, Yvoire is one of the most beautiful places on the French side of Lake Leman (much prettier than its neighbouring Evian, in my opin). The old town comprises the village proper, which is surrounded entirely by the old medieval walls.

I was here in the summertime and the patios and quaint shops were packed. Last week, and for the entire off-season, the place was shut up pretty tightly, with only a few shops open and one or two deserted restos.

The stillness added to the place's charm even more. Living in Annecy, I know how tiring and oppressive the summer tourist crowds can be.

Evian looking out to Lake Leman and the Swiss side.

We also popped into Evian further along the lake, which was rather ghost-townish too. We were lucky enough to find a restaurant open near the lake for lunch, thankfully. After lunch, we strolled along the lake and soaked up the sun.

Like the few spa towns I've visited, Evian's local population seems to be made up of a lot of old people. Nothing against old people, but having a kid does make you appreicate demographics all the more. France, and much of Europe, I suspect, has a high birth rate. In places like Annecy, you can't spit without seeing a  pregnant woman or a woman with a stroller.

Mr. Happy Pants.

That's boded well for us, living where we do. I've recently joined an Annecy Moms and Tots meetup group and am wondering why I didn't do it before. The group meets often and is made up of women much like myself, whose husbands work during the day and who may be struggling to fit in with a new culture and language.

There are a few French women in the group, which is great, but there are also people from Denmark, Spain, Czechoslovakia, the UK, the US, and even my native Canada. We all speak English, which doesn't help my French skills any, but let me tell you, it's so nice to chat with other expats who share similar feelings and experiences.

Last look at Yvoire.

It also allows Adam to interact with babies his age and older, and gives us a nice little support group of ladies and their tots. It's kind of ironic how a group of foreigners can make you feel more at home than ever before, but that's what this group is doing for me.

Hope you're all well and happy. And to those of you who commented on my new blog header, yes, those pics were of my apartment in Toronto. I sold/gave away most of the decorative items when I moved, but rest assured, the old brass bed is in my parent's basement, and the antique Persian rug is with us here in France.

Lining up with Patti and her brood of stylish gals at Visible Monday.

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What I'm wearing: second-hand Annecy style

Comptoir des Cotonniers dress: Annecy consignment shop
1990s? grannt booties: Ebay
1980s? necklace: Annecy consignment shop
Ray Ban sunnies: Annecy brocante market
1990s leather bucket bag: Annecy thrift shop
Tights: bought new (but they last forever!).

I've been meaning to post outfits for over a week now with no luck, so rather than backlog my outfits for future posts I figure I'll give them to you en masse. I am still ever so slowly redefining my style and gradually getting to a place where I'm starting to feel comfortable. We're not there yet, but do we ever really stop when it comes to style evolution?

Meanwhile: The mass exodus of clothing to my local consignment shop continues, and so far I haven't brought any more new, used stuff home.

Hoping you can see the necklace better in this pic?

This entire outfit was cobbled together using second-hand Annecy finds. I bought this wool frock by Comptoir des Cotonniers at a consignment shop in Annecy last year when I was pregnant. It's of the finest wool and is ever so sheer, and I may be really cheeky wearing sexy crochet tights on underneath, but does it really matter? I can haul out the flannel when my butt is sagging down to my knees.

MEXX boots: local consignment shop
Old worn cord blazer: a euro at a vide grenier
Levis jeans: new and bought in Annecy
Turtleneck: new, bought in Toronto
Vintage Laura Ashley scarf: Etsy.

My latest second-hand and vintage crushes: this (mostly) leather 1990s bucket bag I found for 8 Euros at my local thrift shop. It's so big, and I have been rather hankering after a bucket bag style.

I've also been stalking vintage Laura Ashley riding coats on Ebay, but since don't want to shell out the typical $200+ asking price, I've consoled myself with this vintage floral Laura Ashley scarf in a navy blue that I found on Etsy. I just love it. It's a feminine and refreshing alternative to black. And it goes with the navy blazer and boots perfectly. After all, I'm living in France, ie: Land of the Scarves, which is perfect for me as I don't think a gal can have too many. BTW do you know the history of Laura Ashley as a designer? It's kind of interesting. I had no idea that she met such a tragic end.

1980s Brooks Brothers wool coat: Etsy
Skinnies: thrifted in Canada
Granny boots: Ebay
Tahari cashmere sweater/tunic: new and $$$$.
Charm necklace, gifted from a Toronto designer
Vintage Indian carpet bag: Etsy
Brolly: new and I'm hanging onto it - they steal umbrellas here!

A few weeks ago it was rainy and cool, perfect weather to jaunt out in my vintage wool paisley Brooks Brothers coat that I turned up on Etsy. Brooks Brothers coats sell for hundreds of dollars new and this baby is so well made. The style is quite conservative but I funked it out with second-hand skinnies and the most expensive anything I have ever bought in my life (but such a wardrobe staple) - a lovely deep blue cashmere tunic/sweater dress by Elie Tahari (over $400 CAD new and bought years ago).

Brocade coat, contemporary style yet bought second-hand: Annecy consignment shop
Nougat of London skirt: $10 CAD in Toronto consignment shop
Granny boots: guess?
Vintage tapestry bag: Toronto vintage shop
Vintage Dauplaise necklace: Ebay
Sweater: thrifted in Toronto.

Here's a slightly fuzzy pic of me wearing an Italian brocade coat I bought at my local consignment shop when I was pregnant. I'm wearing it with a dreamy skirt I've never worn before, a pink silk slip style with a brown chiffony overlay by Nougat of London, which I bought at a $10-sale at a Toronto consignment shop years ago. I think the granny boots and granny purse work with it? This looked better in the mirror than it does here, methinks. It's a challenging skirt to work with as it's so ... diaphanous.

Saving the best until last: The little guy's outfit is comprised of second-hand French duds as well. (In fact, the jacket would sell for about 70 Euros new in the swanky kids' shops here).

As you can see, it's all about second-hand orange, in this case orange jackets found at the local thrift shop or the fall vide greniers for a couple Euros apiece.

Now I need to find him booties and a winter hat before the winter descends, which will happen soon enough. Meanwhile, it's gorg here. Hearts out to UK folk affected by the storm.

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Second-hand Kenzo & Tom Ford

OUTFIT ENTIRELY THRIFTED/SECOND-HAND (Ok, tights were new):
Kenzo skirt: a euro at an Annecy vide grenier
Etienne Aigner boots: Ebay
Bally bag: consignment shop swap
J. Crew wool blazer: thrifted in Canada
Black sweater: thrifted in Canada
Vintage scarf: gift
Vintage Cadoro necklaces: bought online
Tom Ford sunglasses: consignment shop swap.

I don't really think of myself as a label slut - ie: I don't buy items for the sake of their being "by" someone - and I quite abhor the idea of picking up a lower-tier collection of a designer at a mass market retailer like H&M or Target - though if that's other people's bag, go for it. But that's not to say that I don't appreciate good quality labels, and labels with a neat history or story. And having lived in France for over a year, I've found many a French designer to love.

I've been a Kenzo fan ever since my twis sis thrifted a gorg red floral velvet jacket in Toronto a few years ago. Vintage Kenzo pieces have great colour and texture. Take this lined, wool a-line mustard yellow Kenzo skirt I found at a summer vide grenier for A EURO. LOVE! I never thought the yellow and black bumblebee look would work, but I'm groovin on this outfit (snapped outside the grocery store - yes, us ladies of leisure live exciting lives!).

Then last week, when I took more bling to my consignment shop, I spied these Tom Ford sunglasses. I know Tom Ford more for the fab flick he directed, A Single Man, than for his fashions and famed business sense. But I loved the way these looked on me. They were rather beat up - scratched on the lenses and the frames - so the owner knocked 20 euros off. Since I had sold a few items in her shop recently, I essentially got them for free rather than pocketing the cash I made.

I've mentioned Cadoro jewellery before, but haven't explained my obsession with it. Cadoro was a high-end jewellery company founded in the 1950s in Manhattan. It's known for its handmade haute hippie pieces made out of unusual materials. The jewellery is quite collectible now as the company ceased to exist in the 1980s. Cadoro pieces are so arty that some can be found in New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art.

I'm now a happy Cadoro addict (some of their tassel necklaces rock). I found these two yellow corded necklaces with sliding gold bits online. They're really more summer pieces but as you can see I've managed to work them into my fall look. I have many more Cadoro pieces to share with you! I've stopped buying them but have a nice little collection - my first really meaningful vintage jewellery collection (which explains why there's been a mass exodus of my lower tier vintage costume jewellery to the consignment shop). Guess that means I'm a grown-up now!

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Farewell, 1970s frocks; we had a good ride

I've had this post in my drafts folder since April, LOL. Long-time readers may remember my wearing some of my fave thrifted 1970s goodies. This post is dedicated to saying a final goodbye to the items that I have outgrown emotionally, not to mention physically!

Kinda hard to believe I was this wee. Boy, did I love this psychedelic wide-leg nylon pants. This pic was snapped by my hubby-to-be in 2010, on his first trip to see me in Canada after we met in the United States a few weeks before. This was in Niagara Falls, Canadian side.

I consigned these pants at my local shop this summer. The owner recently told me that an 80-year old woman bought them. Rock on, lady!

A friend, who isn't a friend any more, gave me this nylon dress when I left Toronto two years ago to move to the UK. I wasn't that emotional about getting rid of it. It also sold at my local shop.

But I did hang onto the wacky 1970s faceted shades.

I thrifted this pretty prom-like frock in Canada years ago and never wore it, save for this UK back yard photo shoot before I moved to France. Off it went to the consignment shop, where it also found a new home. Vintage is scarce in Annecy so my pieces have sold well.

Again, never wore this slinky 1970s dress I bought off Etsy when I first moved to the UK. My life and style was already in transition then, and I didn't even know it. Bye bye, baby. Oh, the thrifted 1970s necklace went too. And the thrifted Nat and Matt handbag. I kept the amazing vintage bracelet.

I also said goodbye to this fun striped cowl-neck number. I kept the vintage belt and thrifted Stuart Weitzman shoes.

I just dropped off a swack of fall items at the shop, and discovered, to my surprise, that this 1970s scarf dress, and contemporary shoes that are so high I'd surely topple wearing them in Annecy's cobblestone streets, are the only two items from my hoard that didn't sell.

The seller told me the waist was too small. Ok, now I believe it didn't sell. It's pretty small.

I may never wear this again, but I'm glad I still have it. I wore this in Niagara Falls that wonderful weekend with hubby-to-be, so it's drenched in sexy memories.

This is one vintage frock I couldn't consign, though I have little hope of fitting into it again.

Hubby bought it for me in West Palm Beach, the place where we met, a year or so after initially hooking up there. I jetted in to meet him for a weekend when he was on layover, and we found this dress in a wonderful vintage shop. Ah, the romance. I bought the vintage Trifari necklace at the Portobello Road market with him the year before I married him. Natch, I've kept that one too. I'm wearing both here at a goodbye party thrown in my honour when I left the newspaper I used to work for in TO.

I'm not sad to say goodbye to my once-beloved outfits. They served me well when I was a skinny, single big-city shopping columnist and editor. Now it's time to move on to a new style. I think the reason I love to shop continually is that my style is always evolving. Now, sans job, and with a new baby, my look is changing by the day - and hopefully refining itself. We'll see where it ends up. Oh, and I'm still bringing stuff to the consignment shop!

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Lakeside romps and letting go - almost! - of nylon

There aren't heaps of lakeside restos or bars on Lac Annecy, so discovering the precious few - which inevitably are outside of Annecy proper - is like unearthing a mountain of precious gemstones, especially if the places are relatively unoccupied by tourists, as was the case with this charming restaurant on the south-west side of the lake that we had the pleasure of dining at a few weeks ago. Family has been visiting pretty much non-stop since Adam was born, so we've been busy doing a combo of day trips and just hanging out at various points along the lake.

Hubby and I found this lakeside beach bum hangout last weekend on the other side of the lake. It's populated by local hippie 20-somethings mostly, but we had no probs infiltrating it with our little guy. A great afternoon was spent lapping up rose and chilling. It was a mini vacay of sorts and it reminded us that we need to spend at least one day not running around doing the endless amount of errands that seem to crop up with a little one. After the hustle and bustle of the last few months, we really needed it.

At three months, our little guy continues to grow and amaze. He apparently has some kind of gene that makes him cuter and cuter every day, LOL - I know, I'm the dazed-in-love Mommie!

Style-wise, I've been living in a selection of pretty boho sundresses, some second-hand, some new. Comfort, ease-of-wear (read: no ironing) and a breezy style have been my major criteria for summer togs these days. Here's me with Adam in a fave, a blue and white Ikat sundress found in an import shop in the old town.

Here's an over-exposed shot of me in it, at the annual Fete du Lac event we attended with my sis and her fam. Best fireworks display ever.

Most of my style shots, you won't be surprised to learn, are with Adam. I need to do a separate post on this, but let me say that I've been jazzing up basic summer dresses (like this cotton nightie-inspired sundress found at the market last summer for three euro) with awesome vintage jewellery found online.

France is not the place to find vintage bling, and most of the labels I'm looking for are from the States, so Etsy and Ebay have become close friends of late. I've become quite the collector, eking out certain makers, which means that, eventually, I'll have to thin out my tickle trunk of vintage costume baubles that I've dug up in Canadian thrift shops over the years.

Aside from bling and a decent handbag (the ethnic one pictured here was found at a vide grenier last fall for 3 euro), baby Adam has proved to be the best accessory. No, I dare not hold him on my hip as I strut around wearing four-inch spike heels (she looks great, but how does Victoria Beckham manage it?). On the lap or in the pram is just fine for public appearances.

I have, however, managed to channel my inner Victoria Beckham with these second-hand Rayban sunnies found at the local brocante market. Oddly enough, I recently consigned three pair of huge vintage oversize shades to my local shop. And here I go again, buying the same style. My only defense is they seem to suit my pixie face. Now I just need to manage the Beckham look by sucking in my cheeks and not smiling.

Oops, a wee smile escaped in spite of myself. I should be grinning ear to ear as I'm pictured here wearing pre-preggo jeans, yay! So what if they're super stretchy? I'm going with it. Everything but the purse and shoes are second-hand. I just love the Juicy Couture super soft cotton tie-dye tank I thrifted in Canada (even if my belly hangs out a little in it).

Here's one of the few full-length shots I've managed to request, snapped last week on the way to the beach bum bar. Easy peasy sundress: check. Shades: check. Vintage bling: check (more on this haute hippie maker, Cadoro, at another time). Golden espadrille wedgies and cross-body purse: check and check. Now bring on the vino!

On another wardrobe note, I've consigned the majority of my vintage 1960s-70s frocks, mostly because they're the size that would fit a Barbie Doll, and I doubt my 27-inch waist will return. Also because, well, loud patterns and nylon just don't fit my life anymore, just as those vintage oversize sunglasses don't seem to fit. That funky retro chick that started this blog four-plus years ago has changed. It's ok, I've mourned it and moved on, as leaving behind my retro style has coincided with amazing changes in my life (but please note, I may still do the goodbye post that features all the dresses, which has been in my Drafts folder for ages). I've held onto this black floral number, though, as I love it and it makes my post-preggo bod look ok.

I'll leave you with a shot of the wee one snapped at the beachy bar last weekend, wearing gifted items from overseas pals and fam. Hope you're all having a fab summer!

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