Pop-up shop success

Well, it was a pop-up shop success. Here's my pal Nadia at the beginning of the day, yesterday, with all our vintage goodies for sale.

The traffic ebbed and flowed, but we met so many great peeps in the hood, and I had the chance to connect with a dedicated reader, Darlene, who made the trek to meet me and take a gander. Wish I had snapped a pic of her!

Daina from Continuum Moderin Vintage popped by too, and bagged two glorious purses, one a vintage Coach and the other a vintage clutch.

Dear readers, I tried not to shop, but I did walk away with this vintage Kangol beret made in England, and this fab carpet bag. J'adore!

Ok, by day's end I also had these designer jeans (tight!). I'm wearing the silk scarf as the sun was burning my ears.

This is how I will look when I'm 80, like some Babushka with her head scarf, hopefully still sipping some vino!

It was such a fine day - thanks to all who came out and Tweeted about the event. There will be more - I have piles more of goodies to get rid of - so stay tuned!

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Babushka, Babushka

Don't you love her? My sister had a Babushka, a set of Russian nesting dolls, when we were growing up in the 1970s. I always loved them.

I have a gal pal, a close friend and reader of this blog, who I call "Babushka" - not because she's an old Russian lady, the meaning of the word! It's def a term of endearment. When I saw these in (you know where!) I knew she had to have them!

OMG, bottom tag says USSR, pretty wild eh? There's a piece of history for ya.

My pal loves them, as I knew she would. Who says you can't find a meaningful gift in the thrift shop? Heck, can you even find these things new these days? Certainly not with the USSR tag!

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The Dress, Veronica Slater, et moi: bloggers bond

Remember this dress? Fellow blogger Veronica of Veronica Slater Presents found the same style of Pucci-esque print silk dress in a thrift shop that I also thrifted. Doesn't she look fabulous in it? I love the chunky necklace accessory.

Veronica and I met yesterday, in the flesh, for the first time, after commenting on and following eachother's respective blogs for months and months. Not surprisingly, we got along like old friends. Look, we even look like kindred spirits here, with out short dos, oversize sunglasses and bracelets!

I love this photo of us. I hope I didn't freak Veronica out too much as I found myself opening up to her about all kinds of things going on in my life. Just goes to show that if you bond in the blogosphere, chances are you'll bond in 'real' life. I find thrift bloggers are of a certain ilk, to be sure - but Veronica, just so you know, doesn't just blog about her FAB vintage purse collection.

As you'll see from her blog and website Veronica Slater Presents, Veronica blogs about living better (in three languages to boot), and all the wonderful stuff that comes along with that. She shares her ideas for gifting, giving and living better weekly on the Boreal Express, a CBC Radio-Canada chaine premiere show. Here she is sporting a spunky jumpsuit and a wonderful belt from the 1990s. Quelle style!

Veronica was kind enough to snap a pic of me wearing a Franco Mirabelli dress I thrifted for about ten bucks, made of this gorg fabric which is the Toronto designer's signature.

Here's Veronica again in her lovely thrifted dress. Veronica, I had such a great time with you. I sure hope we hang out again (and maybe do some thifting too?)!

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Thrifted frock that changed my life inspired another thrift stylista!!

I've shown you this thrifted silk dress with an Italian label before, but I'm featuring it again as it was exactly one year ago that I wore it, and met my dream man in it. The dress, apparently, influenced the way he thought about me - let's just put it that way!! This is me at a recent party, in THE DRESS.

This was me a year ago, with faux tan, just before jetting off to the place where I happened to meet my gorg Brit mannie.

A spin-off of an already great story about a thrifted dress is this: there's a reader of this blog, a lovely lady whose equally lovely blog, Veronica Slater Presents, I also follow. The story goes that Veronica saw this dress on Grunge Queen and loved it so well, and the story behind it, that she searched high and low in the thrift shops before finding her own dress, exactly like this one!

Love it! Veronica, you will have to think about sharing a photo of you in your frock!

I dedicate this post to Veronica, and to my lovely man - both of whom know quality when they see it, tee hee!!

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Thrifted regrets & looks you hated from 2010

Regrets. I've had a few. But not that many in the thrifted department! When you start thrifting you want to buy literally EVERYTHING because it's so cheap. That, dear reader, can lead to the odd mistake. Then, as time goes by, you refine your eye and pick only quality goods.

Here are some of my thrift regrets, some of my thrift looks I wasn't sure about - and a couple items readers hated.

WRONG IN SO MANY WAYS. Not sure what planet I was on when I bought this belt - perhaps in the land of Flash Gordon or Chronicles of Narnia? Oops.

FUGLY PHASE. I bought these shoes around the same time I bought the belt. Coincidence? Maybe I was possessed by evil thrifting spirits that took control of my normally savvy thrift style.

SHE HATED THEM? I loved these vintage Made in Italy shades I bought at a local vintage shop. But a reader begged to differ, leaving a comment that the shades didn't suit my face at all.

TRUE, I'M CONFLICTED ABOUT THRIFTED FUR. But I can't help loving this vintage 1970s suede coat with fur collar - chic and it keeps me so warm! One reader expressed disappointment over my choice.

CAN YOU SAY PINK? Of course I thought I looked grand in this thrifted dress, scarf and coat when I wore it last winter. Now, well, I guess my style has evolved. I still like the big scarf though.

HELLO, BARNEY. I DO like the colour of this thrifted coat, really, but it's a bit Barney and I think the proportions are a bit off - and the look, combined with the thrifted plastic (plastic?? oh dear) boots is more than a bit clunky.

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Diane & Veronica's Excellent Thrifting Adventure at my fave shops!

They went. They thrifted. They conquered.

It was a tale of epic proportions: Diane (left), a Grunge Queen reader, and her best pal, Veronica. Both dedicated thrifters. The former, in search of a fun day she could treat her best pal to, but unsure of where to go. The latter, a gal from-out-of-town, entrusting her best pal to organize An Excellent Adventure.

That's where the Grunge Queen came in. Enlisted by Diane to suggest a number of thrift shops in Toronto's east end along with a spot to lunch, so Diane could treat Roni to a day of thrifting in the big city, the Grunge Queen put on her thinking cap, made her list and checked it twice, and sent it off to Diane.

Would it measure up? Would the girls, so accustomed to adventure, be bored? Would GQ's thrifty picks be worthy? What if the shops were horrid, and they found nothing?

First stop: Stretch Thrift on Pape Avenue - the GQ's ultimate fave shop where she buys most of her wardrobe. The GQ knew this was the first stop beforehand as Diane sent her the itinerary (which Roni is reading, above) of their "Excellent Adventure, # 32."

Gulp. Adventure # 32? Would these thrifting picks make the grade? Surely, we were dealing with no common adventurers here. The GQ had to wonder: what were the 31 adventures that came before? Only Diane and Veronica know.

Diane's first find: a double-breasted brown wool coat. Cost $7.

Next: Roni finds a Spongebob Squarepants costume, a major victory.

Diane's second find: a turtleneck for five bucks. The scarf was picked up later at St. John's Thrift shop on Danforth Ave. near Woodbine ( another GQ fave), for $4. Matches the turtleneck perfectly, as she rightly observed.

Somewhere in between St. John's Thrift and Value Village next door (where the GQ had found many designer dud), it looks like there was some lighthearted thrifting fun to be had. 'Cos if you can't have fun thrifting, really, what are you doing thrifting in the first place?

Roni scoured VV for work clothes but ended up finding heaps of play clothes for her kiddies. Diane picked up a tie and a Sandicast bull terrier for her son's Don Cherry Halloween costume (pictured with him in it here) - she even made the suit and the doggie's tam, how fab is that??

A possible gem Diane picked up: a drawing that could be worth something. Stay tuned.

These wild and crazy gals end up partying at the Drake Hotel with their hubbies later, and since no pics were provided for that particular event,  let's leave them having lunch at Relish tapas resto near VV on the Danforth, toasting the Grunge Queen, the sweeties.

Ladies, all humour aside, thank you for sharing your Excellent Thrifting Adventure! It sounds like you truly had a blast and you've made me think what a wonderful thing it would be to actually make A DAY out of thrifting as you did!

All photos courtesy of Diane & Veronica's Excellent Thrifting Adventure.

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Can a bohemian clutter bug live with a streamlined contemporary?

I've spent most of the weekend relaxing and tidying my apartment - no energy to do a full-on re-org, alas, but sometimes you can get the FEEL of a re-org by just rejigging the elements on a console, as I have here.

The urge to de-clutter and purge myself of all my STUFF is still going strong, helped along by life's little events - falling in love with someone overseas - and that fact that said beau is a contemporary style kinda dude: minimal clutter and an uber streamlined look is his design dealio.

So I dedicate this pared down little twilight tableau (consisting of a vanity/console I traded with an ex; flowers given to me by someone I wrote about in the Town Crier newspapers; a brass/glass box with all my little tchotckas in it; a brass lamp bought for $5 at Consumers Lighting in Toronto; a lamp shade from a garage sale; and a thrifted hardcover book you will be hearing about very soon!) to my darling N, who, like many of you lovely readers, checks in every day to read this wee blog -- because, well, he loves me.

I'd say a bohemian clutter bug and a streamlined contemporary can most definitely live with eachother! It will certainly make life interesting!!

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Forgive me readers; here's what's coming

Dear readers, it has been a crazy busy emotional time for me, so please please forgive me for not posting every day; for not yet responding to your comments and thanking lovely new followers! That will come in a day or two, but at the moment I'm just so so bagged. This pic has nothing to do with this post, btw, other than to say it was taken yesterday while doing a shopping column - that and I'm wearing a thrifted wool sweater from Paris and thrifted Paige jeans. The sunglasses are vintage too.

SO: LOTS of exciting stuff coming up! Here are the highlights:

1). A Grunge Queen reader follows GQ's advice on where to thrift shop in Toronto, treating her best pal to a day thrifting in the city. Hear about their finds and see exclusive photos!

2). Vintage 1970s shoes my Brit beau bought me at my fave vintage shop that's celebrating a year anniversary this month. See pics of the shop, and see a wonderful pair of vintage shoes that have NEVER been worn - with a different maker's stamp on each shoe to boot!

3). A fun pop-up shop discovered in Toronto's east-end: my finds; what he bought me.

4). Ebay: who knew there was a green arm? A local designer previews her collection there.

5). A great designer consignment shop in Toronto's west end: 1970s bling found there!

So you can see I have all sorts of nifty thrifty ideas brewing in my head - and they are coming to you next week!! Please stay tuned and thanks for your patience .... Love Kelly

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Movie star moment & thrifty scarves on St. Clair West

So I had a Grunge Queen Movie Star Moment yesterday when doing a shopping column along St. Clair Ave. West (pictured here, what used to be my headshot for this blog, my lovely logo, if you will, designed by my lovely artist sis).

There I was, sauntering along (in a thrifted outfit), when I hear "Kelly!." I look and see a lady I don't know. She tells me I don't know her. Then she introduces herself as, well let's just say "M." M and I have corresponded via email about our thrifty chic designer finds. She's a closet thrifter and visits good 'ole Grunge Queen almost every day, she says.

Well, I couldn't have been more proud or flattered, or more delighted to meet a reader. Sometimes blogging feels lonely as I post so faithfully and often don't get comments and don't always interact with readers - then I hear through friends, family, and even strangers that they check in every day. So M, thank you, you gave me a reality check, and it was truly great to meet you!!

Back to the thrifty news. When I shop St. Clair West in Toronto, I always hit the Goodwill there, which totally rocks (the Sally Ann nearby,  not so great). But I heard there's a new thrift shop just a few doors over from Goodwill called Advantage Thrift. So natch I checked it out after my column.

Pickings: not so great: I always shop high on the food chain when I thrift and look for leather, cashmere, wool, good designer labels etc, and there wasn't much of that there. This large mohair wool scarf, though, was only $2.99. I've always wanted one. In fact when I was in Ottawa for Thanksgiving I saw a purple scarf like this at the Third World Bazaar for $40, too steep for my purse at the time. This one looks brand new and not a stain on it.

I also found this oblong brownish scarf for a mere $1.99. I'm really into brown these days so I bagged it. It's a soft wool and I liked the flecks of reddish orange.

Even better, the label says Farhat Hosiery. Now I thought the name sounded kind of exotic, like it was Egyptian or something. Well a quick question to the Google Gods reveals that Farhat Hoisery is in Bolton, Lancashire, England - and I have been there! When I went to England in September my man and I went to a place I've written about called Bygone Times. Well, that's in Bolton - go figure huh? And my Brit mannie just happens to have flown in yesterday, so I think it's pretty serendipitous that I find a thrifted scarf from a place so close to where he lives in the UK! I call that thrift Karma!

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Thank you lovely followers

Just like to post a quick hello and thanks to all you lovely readers and followers who check in with the 'ole Grunge Queen and make her part of you day. Today we've hit the 100 follower mark, a modest number by some blogging standards, perhaps, but a thrilling number for me! But I also know, through the emails I receive, that there are many who pop in who aren't official followers. So thanks to one and all, followers of every kind - it truly does make my day to know you like reading this here little blog!!

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Reorg and divesting urge

I feel a reorg coming on.

I haven't done much in my place for months, and I am getting sick of the mess and how things look.

I also feel the need to cut back on large portions of my stuff. That could eventually manifest itself in a major Grunge Queen stuff sale.

If you're in or around Toronto and are interested in possibly coming to a sale where I divest myself of large amounts of my stuff, please email me at grungequeen@yahoo.com and I will start a shortlist of peeps to email when I am finally ready.

It may take a few months, but it is coming, dear readers.

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Grunge Queen reader stories

Isn't this a beautiful brooch?

Doreen, a Grunge Queen reader who has become a friend, made it for me.

Doreen and I met a few months ago after corresponding via email, and we discovered we were fellow writers, thrifters, and general kindred spirits - and we share the same B-day to boot!

Last weekend we met for lunch and a thrift dig, and she presented me with the brooch and another wonderful pressie she made ....

A Grunge Queen ring!

I just love it. And the crown is so perfect.

Doreen is the kind of person who will bump into Gordon Lightfoot and respectfully ask for an interview, which she got. Check out her Brazen Heroine website for that interview and for her professional racy writings!

Doreen and I checked out Stretch Thrift and did a little dig - for two hours!

I didn't think she was going to find anything, but she walked away with these fab shoes for $4.99 in the end. I picked up some Peter Pan Getaway boots (that's what we used to call them in the 80s) for the same price that I will try to show you soon.

Doreen and her hubby, btw, read GQ regularly - Doreen tells me if her husband doesn't get a chance to check in he will ask her 'what Kelly found today?' - I am so flattered and thrilled; just get the warm fuzzies thinking about that!

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