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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Boho brown & last bad hair pic

Last week: 36 weeks, behind the Clinic where I'll be giving birth.

I'm becoming a master in the art of jazzing up mass-bought leggings with second-hand and thrifted goodies.

Last Friday, when we went out to dins with pals, I decided to go slightly upscale. Over my H&M leggings and stretchy C'est Moi tank bought new in Toronto years ago (best tanks EVER), I wore a French-label statement piece blazer I picked up last summer in the consignment shop I frequent in Annecy. This was its first outing. The pattern is comprised of brown, bronze, taupe and silver sparkly threads. You can't see it here as I have no waist, but it has two amazing carved wood buttons. Very 1980s-90s chic. I have a definite thing for statement piece blazers but haven't worn them much since leaving Toronto.

As is usually the case with me, the accessories are second-hand. I bought the vintage 1970s Trifari necklace for way too much money on London's Portobello Road. The 1980s Kelly-style bag was a few pounds in a Beaconsfield, UK charity shop. The oh-so-comfy cork-wedge and suede Ugg sandals are another local consignment shop find.

This is the last you'll see of my mop-like hair for a while, hopefully, as I'm getting it thinned out tonight. I've been torn between growing and chopping of late: I don't want uber short hair like I used to have, but once it gets to this shapeless stage that overpowers my features, I cave, and try yet another local hairdresser. (I have high hopes for tonight's stylist, contender number three for my undying hair loyalty and affection, as he cut a friend's hair and it looks amazing).

This week: 37 weeks.

I fear I'm lapsing into predictability. Another legging shot with another second-hand brown top, boho in style, dug up for a few Euro at the local Sunday market where I chanced upon an actual second-hand dealer a couple months ago. It's not a maternity top per se, but it's the perfect preggo top as it's roomy and hides my upper thighs. :)

The boots were bought new in Canada; the denim was charity shopped, as was the 1970s paua shell necklace. The bracelet was 5 Euros in my local thrift shop, and the Indian bag was an Etsy find for 10 Euros.

I'm taking a break as we walked home with groceries earlier this week. We whipped up a Tex-Mex dinner extravaganza for friends that night, also fellow expats. We often get sick of the French fare here, which consists mainly of potatoes, melted cheese, and sausage, so we indulge in non-local foodie fare with peeps who will enjoy it with us whenever we can (this includes having brunch at a semi-trashy local Chinese buffet and lunch at a Thai resto in a nearby town - ethnic food isn't so easy to find here).

Not such a flattering pic. I feel rather whale-like these days, though I know I shouldn't complain as I've gained under 20 pounds so far. :)

Hope you're all having a great and very spring-like week. It's been so lovely to see those of you in this hemisphere in your spring togs. It seems like it's been a long time coming, non?

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Second-hand dress love affair

Consignment store dress; thrifted carpet bag and Kenneth Cole booties - all found in Toronto;
ring, a gift from Hubby from eastern Europe;
necklace, found in a France thrift shop
(29 weeks)

I have such a love affair with this dress. I bought it in Toronto, Canada a few years ago for about $35 in a consignment shop. It was a bit steep for what it was, I thought, but I loved it so natch, I bought it.

Single gal when I bought it: Sept. 2010, with consignment store shoes, thrifted earrings and lacy tights.

At the time, it was fall 2010, and I was getting ready to fly overseas to the UK to visit my then beau, now my hubby. I bought this dress especially for that trip.

It took me through the courting phase, haha. (EDIT: Had to crop hubby out on request).

During that trip, hubby-to-be took me to the lovely Inn at Whitewell on the edge of the Lake District. Here we are getting smashed at dinner. I wore the dress with black tights and pewter-toned heels. Great memories!

Single gal to wife-to Mom-to-be dress!

I almost got rid of it while doing my closet-cleanout before moving overseas - and I'm so glad I didn't. At this stage in the game, it makes a perfect pregnancy dress. I just tied the removable belt under my boobs for comfort, and to give me the illusion of a waist.

(You can see in the background that I've been reunited with one of my long-lost vintage bags left in Canada - a gorg and great-sized satin-lined carpet bag in boo-tiful colours - that a friend brought over for me - YAY!).

I don't think I'll ever get rid of this dress - it holds too much meaning now. I tend to be like that with clothing.

Do you have many love affairs with clothing or accessories, for sentimental reasons?

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Steampunk, Annie Hall,1990s Grunge, Anne of Green Gables look

Hubby swears he'll never go out with me if I wear this emerald green chenille hat I thrifted for 3 Euros at the dingiest and most depressing of thrift shops in Annecy, a first-time (and last-time) visit on my part (and definitely on his). But I loved the hat; the chenille, and the way I turned it up, reminds me so much of the 1990s and how we used to dress 'way back' then.

Anyone having a (bad?) flashback? I can also wear the bring down for a floppy 1970s crossed with a Great Gatsby look.

I'm channeling my inner Holly Hobby/Pippi Longstocking/Anne of Green Gables/Annie Hall look with today's outfit, but the look is comprised of mostly all 1990s pieces, like the thrifted lace-up boots that have made an appearance many times before on this blog. The dress, a recent Etsy acquisition, is the exact label (All That Jazz) and style I used to wear in the early-to-mid 1990s - in fact I had two dresses in this style, with short sleeves, that I loved and wore the hell out of (why, why did I get rid of them?). You can't see the wooly brown and black mottled stripe-like tights I'm wearing, but they're Pippi to a tee.

It's the perfect preggo dress, what with its tent-like shape and clippy-thing at the back (remember those? Love!), which will also transition seamlessly into a post-pregnancy and eventually an 'I have my body back' frock. I loved this simple style then, and I love it now. The vibrant colours are right up my alley too (whereas the ones I had in the past would be a little too water-coloury for my current taste).

I can even steampunk it out a bit with a cashmere cardi and a vintage carpet and embroidery purse. Thanks to my darling and oh-so-patient hubby for taking these pics.

I accessorized with a fave thrift find, a gold-filled Edwardian-style chain pendant with a pretty piece of fuchsia cut glass. I found it at good 'ole Value Village in Toronto at a 50 percent off sale, for under $10 CAD. I think it kinda adds to the Steampunk look.

Speaking of bling, I actually managed to drag hubbie into several thrift shops this week (and he actually bought a few things!! But that's another post), and in one, I found these brownish-maroon beads for a few Euros. I'm not normally a bead type person - I think they look rather old-fashioned around the neck; either that or just plain cheap, if the beads are cheap, that is - but I loved the colour and the (what appears to be brass) details, and also the way the light hits and reflects off the beads. I can't tell if they're wooden or plastic, or another substance like bakelite, but they struck me as unusual.

I also dug up this this Modernist-Space Age steel pendant with amazing orange centre for 2.50 Euros at the same shop, an even more incredible find considering the costume bling at French thrift shops is generally crap. It doesn't have a stamp but I know a lot of these pieces come from Sheffield in the UK, a steel town.

I became obsessed with pieces such as this after finding this baby in a UK charity shop for a pound. They're all over Etsy and aren't horribly priced at all, but nothing beats a thrift shop find!

Linking to all the stylish chicas at Patti's Visible Monday.

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Green day: dress gifted by Nadia & other goodies from Toronto

In Honour of Earth Day, and thrifting lovelies everywhere, I'm showing you a vintage 1970s dress that used to hang on my gal pal Nadia's wall (it's nylon - don't come near me with a match as I may melt). 

A fellow thrifter and style icon in her own right, Nadia gave this to me when I left Toronto. Je love. Je also miss Nadia.

The bodice is super small - perfect for me! Not a lot of room in this baby now that I've put on some curves, but that's a good thing, I think. I'm wearing the dress with a bone multi-strand necklace and bracelet, gifted to me by a lovely lady in Toronto, Lucy of Boj Decor on Mount Pleasant Blvd. The sandles, which you'll be seeing a lot of as I trashed most of mine when I moved, were a screaming deal, new (25 pounds instead of 100), at a closing sale in St Annes - Lacuzzo high-heeled platform strappies that make you look like a movie star.

I bought these vintage but never-worn sunnies a few years ago - a definite splurge item. The seller, Ratas Optical in Toronto, has a huge stash of never-worn retro and vintage shades - if you're ever around the Danforth and Broadview area in Greektown, check them out. They ended up replacing the faceted lenses for me, for free, as they had a slight magnification to them that made me dizzy. Nice eh? I have thought about selling them if I ever open an Etsy shop as I'm not sure they suit me. They're a definite statement piece item that you don't wear with just any old outfit!

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How to make a granny trench look hip

How can I survive in the UK without an English-made trench coat, especially with the cold drizzly weather that has recently befallen us? When my hubby saw this trench I picked up at the YMCA charity shop in town, he thought it looked like a granny coat. In truth, I kinda thought the same thing when I saw it, but I knew I could funk it out. I love the classic tartan pattern - it just screamed "English." And paired with my fave lace-up thrifted booties, thrifted rolled skinny jeans, leather gloves I found in a charity shop here for a couple pounds, a suede bag given to me by a friend, and a rather expensive cashmere tunic that I admit to buying new years ago (it still looks new, and it's sooo warm), the look is casual chic, don't you think? Perfect for strolling around in the square on Easter weekend, shopping with the hubby, and bracing myself against the bone-chilling sea air.

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My twin sis bought my dress in the local thrift store!

This pic was snapped in January 2010, months before meeting my future hubby and moving to the UK. But when the big move was in progress, I had to get rid of (as I'm sure you can imagine) a pile of stuff. I put aside this Italian-made dress, which I had bought second-hand in a Toronto consignment shop, for my twin sis, but she either didn`t see it or didn`t like it - neither of us can remember as it was such a hectic time. So I donated it to Stretch Thrift, our friendly neighbourhood thrift shop on Pape Ave. in Toronto.
Fast-forward to end of 2011, to after I had I left Toronto and was about to move to the UK. My sis was in said thrift shop, and she saw this dress. She was missing me so much and even though she wasn`t sure if she`d wear it, she had a feeling it was mine ... and so, dear reader: she bought it.
Love it.

You`ve heard me speak of emotional decorating. This is stronger stuff, propelled by emotion. Call it psychic thrift.

Miss ya, love ya, sis. Wear the frock in good health ... and think of me. xo

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Let me indulge in some shameless husband-bragging, because after all, I am feeling slightly like a fish out of water in the UK as I re-learn basic tasks like shopping, crossing the street and performing mundane domestic duties with electronic devices that flabbergast me ... and my new hubby, bless him, has done every thing to make me so welcome in my new home: after sending me a dozen roses for Valentine's Day before I came over, I arrived to our home to find a lovely bouquet of flowers and "New Home" card. Aww, could I love him more? People here put flower bouquets in their windows, btw.

The flowers are apropos as they're every where: Spring has hit this tiny coastal town, and we're not talking mere crocuses: I saw full-grown daffoldils in someone's front yard the other day! I'm amazed at the green here - I suppose that, without the snow we get in Canada, that the grass just doesn't turn brown - period. Then there's the rain here, but then again I'm also surprised on this front as I expected continual torrents of the stuff - not so. The weather, I've quickly learned, changes on a dime, and clouds and rain can blow in one minute and give way the next to blue skies and sunshine.

The sea is lovely - that's an old covered pier behind me. The tide comes in every 12 hours, and when it's low tide people walk with their dogs along the beach. Maybe they even sun tan in the summer, though they don't get the scorchers we get in Canada, alas. In fact I'm already beginning to think I won't be able to wear any of my cute sundresses here - that is, if the woman I spoke to recently is in fact right. According to her, a high of 17 degrees C is all I can hope for, yeeks!

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Day three in the UK

So I can't figure out how to open the lock on the front door, but that will come: it's day three in the UK and I've started my new adventure as an immigrant here, living with my new hubby at last! Yesterday was lovely and warm (13 degrees C) and even sunny, though today was rainy. I haven't done any rummaging yet, but here I am in what could become my new uniform for the early spring: a Canadian thrifted ultrasuede trench (not bad protection from the rain, to be honest), some cute Guess? booties, a vintage Kangool beret, and - to battle that incessant drizzle and coastal damp - a cashmere sweater. The necklace is vintage 1980s Lucite. I'm standing in my new back garden. Doesn't it look so very English??

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I don't normally do bling "sets"

All my bling-bling is packed away in anticipation of my transatlantic move, but I did happen to have a pic of the lovely Danish and pewter pendant (circa 1960s/70s?) given to me as a wedding present from one of the members of the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club. I just love it. I'm so attracted to green these days; I think it's a sign of fresh new beginnings.

I'm not really a matchy-matchy person, but when I saw this used silver and green ring at the TVCJC Sale in November, I picked it up for $20. Even though it's more contemporary, it still goes with the pendant. So now I have a set. Gee, I sure do miss my bling that's all packed away ....

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A new chapter begins, my thrifting friends

Dah-lings, it's been ages. Here I am at a party pour moi, with my dear pal Nadia, wearing my M. Kors booties (look how big my feet are compared to hers!), a 1970s vintage skirt, my vintage fur coat (it's the warmest thing I have), thrifted 1970s shades and vintage beret made in England that I nabbed off Nadia when we had our pop-up shop. Nadia in turn is wearing thrifted booties and I coat I have her, which I had thrifted.

We're celebrating. As you may have guessed from my lack of posts these past few months (and my sincerest apologies for those of you who visit regularly to find nothing new), things have been rather crazy for me. It will be a sad moment, yet for the happiest of occasions, that will see me leaving Toronto tomorrow after starting a wonderful new life here 6.5 years ago: I have left the new dream job I started a few months ago, I have left my apartment, I have gotten rid of all my stuff, and as of tomorrow, I will leave Toronto behind, to marry my dear British man and move to be with him in the UK! (The vintage Danish pewter pendant I am wearing here is a wedding gift from a dear person at the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club).

Here's my gorg Brit mannnie - dear reader, he is truly the most wonderful of men, and I look forward to starting a new life with him, in Jolly Old England!! I am not sure what this blog will turn into, or even if I will keep it up; I'm afraid I won't know until my journey in England begins. I have a feeling there are good vintage deals to be had at the car boot sales! Please check in from time to time. I appreciate your readership over the years. All the best to you in the meantime!!

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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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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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In love with Liberty

Mmm. Not the best pic to showcase my Liberty of London silk scarf collection, but you get the idea. Liberty is famous for its lovely prints, and though I have never found, say, a Liberty dress (my twin sis had one in high school that we lost track of over the years, for shame, as it was gorg), I have always been able to dig up the lovely (hand-rolled, I am quite sure) 100% silk scarves in the thrift shops.

I love the pretty colours and pattern on this one. I can't recall where I found it but it wasn't expensive. When I wore it one day at my former job, a colleague told me she had one just like it that she had acquired in maybe the 1970s, go figure!

The red one that was the first in the lineup was a gift from my sis, and it bears a cloth tag with the Liberty name on it. But more often than not, the ones I have found have the Liberty mark printed right on them - I am not sure if that indicates they are older or more contemporary, but I suspect the latter - anyone know? This one was a gift - in fact it used to belong to dear Minnie, who I have told you about in this little blog.

I found this one, a fave with gorgeous peacocks and flowers all over it - for maybe a buck at a junk store. It's in mint condtion though it lacks the registered copyright symbol - so is it a fake, I wonder? It doesn't have the same hand-rolled look to the edges, which makes me wonder ... but still, I love it.

I haven't washed or pressed this one as it's a recent buy, and it is the most costly Liberty scarf to date - $19.99 - but I loved the colours so much that I couldn't resist. Truly, it's not in the best shape as my others, but I have never seen a Liberty pattern quite like this (except recently, after I bought this one, on a fellow blogger's site, I did see some shorts in the same pattern!). I don't wear my Liberty scarves that often but I can see myself donning this one often as I AM a bit of a purple queen, doncha know ....

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