My High Street look, a la charity shops

Most of my clothing is still en route to the UK, so when we were invited to a party the other night I found myself with nary a frock to wear - people would be checking out the new wifie, after all, so I figured I best look the part.

Enter one of the many charity shops in the charming seaside town in which I live. I found this second-hand, mass market dress for the equivalent of about $15 Canuck bucks - not cheap by Canadian thrifting standards, but charity shops here aren't the grungy affairs they are in Canada. As I've said before, they're clean, well-organized and not stinky at all. But they stock mostly contemporary mass market/High Street brands as opposed to the retro or vintage wear I'm so accustomed to finding.

Yeeps: I don't think I've worn a dress this short since I was in my 20s. Thankfully I dug up some blue opaque tights to tone down the tart factor - but my thrifted black designer platform shoes, which you have seen before, added a bit of an irreverant zip to the look (or so I'd like to think). The fitted trench, again not vintage, was found for about 12 pounds at another charity shop. So were the fabric and leather gloves (2 pounds). A vintage Danish pewter pendant given to me by a vintage seller and collector extrordinaire in Toronto finished off my party outfit. Verdict: one of our first social outings as a newly married couple was a fashion success (on my part at least, ha ha ... actually my hubby was just as hunky looking as ever). A fun time was had by all.

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Fast fashion-y sweater but I like it

I see the Kenzie label in a lot of smaller boutiques and I don't mind the label, but I find the line too pricey pour moi. Plus I'm not a big Made in China thrift shopper, preferring older makes that were actually made in Canada, or Italy, or France.

But this metallic wool-blend Kenzie cardi, Made in China, was only $8.99 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, and it's just perfect with a cashmere turtleneck and the wool boucle leggings I've been living in now that the cold temps have arrived in Toronto. (P.S.: the wool 1980s-esque scarf was only a couple of bucks at Goodwill and brand spanking new - I had one like it when I was 13!!).

This has been my uniform of sorts this week as the thermometer dips to minis 20 degrees C with the windchill. Ug.

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Canadian designer dress, thrifted

I"ve had this dress for months and have never worn it aside from posing in it on my balcony here (thanks to the lovely sweet photographer who graciously snapped me in my entire wardrobe, practically).

It was thrifted at Goodwill for $6.99. It's a made in Canada dress designed by Canadian designer Linda Lundstrom.

(The Lundstrom label still exists though from what I understand Lundstrom is no longer with the company).

The dress fits me like a glove and I love it; the detailing is just so spot on. The tiered lacy bottom; the fitted bodice; the lace shoulders; and those darling and saucy pockets over the boobs!

Take a look at the back.

Isn't that just the sweetest?

When thrifting for dresses and clothing, I always look for colour (does it look amazing on me, like this deep blue colour?); does it fit me equally well?; what is the fabric and detailing like?; and what's the label? Crappy fast fashion or designer?

All the boxes were ticked on this one, including the price. Now just waiting for the right occasion to wear it!

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Cheapie deapie summer wear

What do you get when you combine fast fashion with thrift?

One uber inexpensive outfit.

It's so hot and humid here in TO I've decided to dedicate this week to dress week.

I live in dresses in the summer, particularly thriffted ones.

This one was just a cheapie Suzy Shier dress for under $10.

I'm wearing it here with a sun hat I got at the dollar store for $3.99. I buy 'em every year and always get compliments on them as the wide brim is so elegant.

Easy peasy cheapie deapie!

Stay cool!

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Who says you can't be trendy & thrifty?

As seasoned thrifters know, thrift shops don't just house rejects from the 1970s and granny pants with elastic waists. The sad/happy paradox is that, with our disposable fashion attitude these days, there's often heaps of on-trend pieces to be had.

The trench has been big for the past few seasons and is still going stoing this spring, especially in fun colours like pastels and electric lime greens.

This Kelly green shade may be a little last year but I still love the trench - I found it at Goodwill for under $10, if memory serves. It's a Nygard poly trench with adorable silver button detailing and stitching.

I'm wearing it here, on a rainy spring day, with a thrifted black hoodie, a Wear White 4 Windfall tee designed by Franco Mirabelli underneath (given to me in a press kit for last year's campaign), and thrifted ripped skinny jeans, the latter of which are still on trend this season.

The scarf was new, bought in a moment of weakness when Anthropologie opened last year at the new Shops at Don Mills.

You can't see it but I'm wearing the skinny jeans with white sneakers (found on Orfus Road for super cheap.). Shades of grade nine circa 1984!!

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Sometimes I wear new

Yup, it happens. Most of my outfits are thrift, but sometimes - rarely - I buy at the mall.

That's 'cos I have a shopping column. Last year when I did a column at Canadian retailer Costa Blanca I walked home with most of this outfit.

The ripped jeans were less than $40, if memory serves, and so was the black boyfriend jacket.

The neon top that makes me have curves I don't have? It came in a goodie bag at the launch of the spring collection of Toronto designer Franco Mirabelli.

The 1970s belt was a gift and the Italian made boots were thrifted.

The amazing piece of 1970s costume jewellery was found at the St. Lawrence Antiques Market in Toronto.

Franco Mirabelli, just so you know, makes gorgeous women's fashions right here in Toronto. He is one of the few major designers I know who is still doing that, and he sources beautiful fabrics from Italy. No problem having ANYTHING new from him as it'll honestly last a lifetime.

I don't generally advocate buying cheap n' cheerful disposable fashion a la Costa Blanca kind, but it is reassuring to know that ripped jeans and boyfriend jackets are still in style almost a year after my buying them.

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