My fall style obsessions

Second-hand granny boots: Ebay
90s dress: thrifted in Annecy, France
Vintage Bergdorf Goodman brocade jacket: 50% off sale at Toronto vintage shop
Bag: handmade in Montreal, Canada
Scarf: new and purchased years ago
Second-hand Ray Ban shades: Annecy brocante market
Second-hand Scooter Paris necklace: Annecy vide grenier
Vintage mood ring: Ebay.

Great vintage costume jewellery. Anything that's vintage tapestry, be it a handbag or a coat. A good pair (or five, LOL) of vintage boots. Some things will always be style obsessions.

But, in truth, my wardrobe wants lately aren't radically different from the pieces that have appealed to me in the last year or so, just perhaps more refined. In general, I love the 90s, semi-steampunk vibe of this outfit. Specifically, I'm grooving majorly on granny boots these days, especially the Victorian-esque look of these. (Yes, I could have worn black boots to match this outfit, but these babies arrived at my door the other day and I was too excited not to wear them. I think it's refreshing to forgo the matchy-matchy thing).

Having recently purchased three used pair of granny boots from Ebay, I can't deny that my penchant for lace-up booties has taken a rather strong hold of late. They're comfy (even these three-inch brown leather/fabric ones as the heel is chunky) and go with literally everything. And of course, I just love the granny boot look. I had a pair in the mid-1980s when I was a teen. Funny how the style options we gravitate towards are often ones we've worn and loved in the past, isn't it?

1990s? Capezio black granny boots: Ebay
Second-hand bubble-gum pink leather Alfani jacket: 50% off thrift sale in Toronto
Anthropologie scarf: new and crazily $$$ when I bought it a few years ago
Levis jeans: new and also crazily $$$ (and the only jeans that look good on my post-baby bod).

I'm wearing these black low-heel vintage granny boots by Capezio ALL the time. They're the most comfy boots I've ever owned. I have one more pair of higher-heeled Etienne Aigner boots coming in the post very soon. Then I stop buying boots, promise!

Outfit deets, repeats of above, except for gifted sweater and ...
Scarf: quilted Sonia Rykiel animal-print found at Annecy thrift shop for a song!

I've even been cuffing my new jeans to show them off.

Other fall style obsessions (this one derives from my tapestry love):

Oversize second-hand woven sweater jacket by Sugar Street Weavers: Ebay
(company still exists and according to the website this Angel of Love model is discontinued).
Vintage leather bag: Toronto vintage shop.

Tapestry-inspired woven sweater jackets like this one found on Etsy. It's really huge on me and made by Sugar Street Weavers in the U.S., which appears to cater to a larger client. Their sweaters don't appear to be made for hipsters by any stretch, but this one was was borderline ugly-cool and made my heart wump.

Because it's so big, I have to style it perfectly with skinnies and, natch, booties. Better pic coming soon.

Vintage scarf: gift
Sweater: gift
Second-hand cord jacket: a euro at an Annecy vide grenier
Second-hand skinny jeans: Toronto thrift shop
Vintage leather purse: Toronto vintage shop.

As always, great scarves, like this silk French-inspired one given to me for my B-day. I'm also a sucker for a good blazer. Normally I go for statement-piece blazers with great fabrics and patterns. This frayed navy-blue cord one is a slight deviation on the theme.

Vintage mood rings: Etsy and gifted.

I've always loved 1970s mood rings, but for some reason lately I've gone on a bender researching and buying them on Ebay and Etsy. I look for ones that seem to have a good weight as there are a lot of cheapie lightweight ones out there. It's hard to know buying online what the weight and stone colour will be like, but so far, I've fared well. I'm still looking for the PERFECT mood ring to replace one I gave to an undeserving (ex) friend years ago. I found it at the Sally Ann for $3.99 CAD. Still kicking myself for giving it away, sigh.

Galeries Layfayatte label sweater: Annecy vide grenier
Rest of outfit found at Annecy thrift shop.

Of course, I'm shopping at the vide greniers more for the wee one than I am for myself, and, since the well-heeled femmes of Annecy dress their kiddies in sweaters that cost 70 euros new, I've been rather committed, shall we say?, to obtaining some stylish used duds for Adam before the vide grenier season dissipates. I've bought a hoard of much-needed fall and winter stuff for 1-2 euros a piece!

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My fave thrifty decor creations

Now that I'm married to a contemporary streamlined decor kind of guy, I've had to make some major style concessions in our new home together - and indeed, most of what you see in these photos are no longer in my possession, sigh. Not to say that our newly painted living room (pics coming soon) won't have a wee bit of boho injected into it, but let's just say, compromises have been made - on both sides. This post will honour a couple of looks I created in my old Toronto apartment, using salvaged curbside pieces and thrifty decor finds.

TRASH: An ex brought me this wooden dining room table with flip up table extentions - so cool. He found it in the trash. Though it had heaps of shiny paint and varnish on it, I still liked it. The white vinyl chair - covered in a dollar store faux fur rug and velvet pillow - was another garbage find; so too was the curved chrome chair at the front.

THRIFT SHOP FINDS: The silver chair in the back was part of a set of four salvaged at the Salvation Army in Ottawa years ago, spraypainted silver by moi and then covered with a silver tablecloth from the dollar store - tres grunge chic. Ditto for the painting, wall lamp, and handpainted bowl. The lamp was a junk shop find.

BOUGHT NEW BUT INEXPENSIVELY: The curtains were on sale in a fabric shop, tied with ribbon from a gift. I found the heavy crystal Art Deco style vase at a dollar store, if you can believe it. The large black and white photo was a gift, and the two smaller ones are old photos of me that I framed with inexpensive white mattes and frames.
INSPIRATION FOR VIGNETTE: I love the droopy tulips. I had a dinner party the evening before and someone brought them to me after walking through minus 30 degrees temperatures - so they wilted, rather artfully I think. I started with the vase and tulips on the table and went from there.

INSPIRATION FOR VIGNETTE: I really, really loved this creation - I call it my boho corner. The fun thing about this look was that it was created in the dining room space of my one bedroom apartment - but I said, what the hell, let's put the living room in the dining room - something my best friend and I did when we were 20 and living in our first apartment together.

TRASH: The loveseat, a Barrymore made in Canada gem (covered with an inexpensive slipcover from Zellers, a Canadian store) that a beau from years ago hauled out of a dumpster (actually, there were two, and I go them both).  Blue velvet chair: a curbside find in Toronto, as was the amazing wooden console dresser.

THRIFT FINDS: The Chinese style lamp was a Value Village find and the blue shade was also from the thrift shop; the Indian carpet was found at a junk store along with the head vase on the large console; the large mirror and painting balanced on it were both thrift store finds and so were the wooden oval, silver wrought iron and glass/brass tables.

BOUGHT NEW: The boho cushion on the chair was found in Saskatchewan about a decade ago, and the striped silk pillow on the sofa was part of a pair, also purchased new and splurge items if memory serves. The rest of the pillows were thrifted.

LOVE: The green Star Trek decanter on the console (see pic one up) - a gift from my best friend. It belonged to her folks and came with eight teeny shot glasses that matched.
Sadly, though I managed to sell/donate a lot of the smaller items, most of the larger furniture pieces were left curbside in Toronto when I moved. I tried to to donate the furniture to charity shops but they are so under-resourced they could not pick them up. Hopefully some like-minded folk picked up my stash left in front of my apartment.

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Thrifted Tara Jarmon blazer with cashmere

I'm recycling a piece I showed you years ago, but it's still a fave, and hey, if the Grunge Queen can't recycle a look, who can? The steal: Tara Jarmon patterned corduroy jacket unearthed at a Parkdale-area Salvation Army in Toronto for $6.99. Tara Jarmon is a Canadian-born designer who is based in Paris. A quick peep on her website shows that summer blazers are going for 230 pounds/almost $400, though a winter weight such as this would cost more.

I'm wearing it with a super, super thick cashmere sweater in the most gorg indigo blue, which I bought at a consignment store before I left Canada for a mere ten dollars - it's perfect for these chilly English spring days! The locket is vintage 1970s Avon, picked up at a vintage shop in Toronto. The gloves, blue leather, found at a charity shop in St Annes. Same bag, jeans and booties as yesterday's post, both second-hand and preloved. My hubby bought me the shades, new.

Speaking of, on the fashion advice of my lovely husband, I decided to wear the skinny jeans unrolled and over my fave thrifted booties - a better look that makes my legs look longer than when I roll the cuffs, he assures me. I love the richness of this outfit - the deep inky blues, the velvety pattern on the jacket. Very Baroque-boho.

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A look at a nook

I still have to snap a pic of the vintage jewellery piece I bought in Notting Hill, but until then I'll show you a bit of the apartment re-org I did before I left on holidays.

I love this little corner nook that I refreshed by adding pops of orange: the paisley pillow found at a massive church sale for a buck; the Made in Canada retro glass vase on the top of the bookshelf (thrifted for about $10 if memory serves); the not so thrifty Anthropologie lampshade that I fell in love with when the store first opened in Toronto.

I found the beautiful framed mini picture hanging over the chair - handpainted flowers on black velvet - for 99 cents at a thrift shop. On the back there's a label that reads, "Mrs. D. M. Gowing, 77 Stubbington Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire" and then a postal code and phone number. Isn't it just wonderful that this little treasure made its way from England and across the pond to me and my grungy little home?

The silver glass lamp was $5 at a lamp sale; and the wrought iron chair was part of a set I thrifted at Sally Ann years ago, one of my first major thrift purchases in fact. I spray-painted them silver and covered the seats with a tablecloth I cut up, bought at the dollar store. There's grungy style for ya.

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Pretty spring makeover: start with one tableau

Spring has come to my apartment even though there were flurries for most of the day in Toronto, eeps.

I haven't posted on decor in so long as, truth be told, I have been uninspired in my space and haven't re-jigged it for months. Then, with a gal pal coming over for dinner last night, I looked around at all the (dust) and Persian carpets on the floor and dark colours and thought, "UG. I simply cannot make dinner until this palce has a fresh new look."

A whirlwindish afternoon of vacuuming and cleaning and tweaking set in. The final look is pretty. My inspiration: I tossed this piece of Ralph Lauren fabric that I've had (and meant to do something with) for years over the table and voila, there was my new spring tablecloth!

Then I added pretty bric-a-brac like a white cornucopia vase, a crystal tealight holder (both thrifted), a bamboo vase with bamboo in it (a gift) and a lovely chintz jug by  Lord Nelson Ware of England (given to me when my best friend's mother moved out of her home to an apartment).

Of course, tossing some of my fave flowers, orangy roses (that smell: do you know most roses these days don't?) into a thrifted silver vase was the ultimate way to create a pretty springtime look.

I kept the lamp base (which I thrifted at Sally Ann for under $10) the same but changed up the shade (thrifted for a few dollars and in mint condition) to a deep blue one, for contrast. The dark wood lacquer mirror was relocated from my desk and also provided a bit of grounded-ness to this pretty vignette.

This dark floral cushion, thrifted for $3.99 and actually from an old and now defunct Toronto store, is pretty yet provides important contrast too against the distressed silver wrought iron chair (found as a set of four for $20 years ago in a thrift shop and spray painted silver, by moi, years ago as well - like how the silver is getting that chipped beat-up look now).

This older tableau was fine for the winter, but I'm loving my new spring look.

This table area was actually the inspiration for re-jigging the rest of my apartment into a prettier look more akin to lighter spring weather. This week I'll show you how I did it!

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Marilyn Munroe look a la thrift & vintage

This is my Marilyn Munroe look, tee hee.

Yesterday was a windy windy day in the afternoon, so when I left work I found that the thrifted dress I bought last summer (for about $6.99, cotton, French label) was blowing all over the place.

Here I am holding it down. My pal Chris took the pic.

I'm wearing the dress with a second-hand belt bought at a consignment shop.

Notice the vintage 1980s sunglasses? Take a read back a couple weeks and you'll see them again.

I live in thrift shop dresses in the summer. At my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, they can be had for $5.99-$6.99 on average, and the price is the same at Sally Ann. A really nice dress is often $14.99-$19.99 at Value Village, and I'll normally only go that 'high' if the dress is a nice designer label (ie: no Old Navy or Gap for that price).

Come to think of it, I won't go over $20 for very many items at the thrift shop, unless it's a piece of furniture. Do you have a threshold you won't cross when it comes to dollars spent?

Have a great day!!

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Seeing red

My most heartfelt thanks for the many kind comments from dearly beloved readers and followers on yesterday's post. I salute you all!

Speaking of hearts, I'm still seeing red over my V-day breakup.

Seeing a trend here? I decided to group all my red elements in one area, to pack a real wallop.

There is something to be said for having a certain amount of drama in one's adode. I'm a frenetic mass of energy - mostly productive - at the moment so why not have that reflected in my digs? It inspires me to tackle multiple projects with ferocity.

Offset that red with bright punches of primary green and orange and we're off to the decorating races.

When I'm feeling more calm, more serene, I'll evenly distribute the red throughout my space, to spread out its raunchier effects.

For now I'm content to revel in the red. This is truly what I call emotional decorating: having your digs reflect your state of mind, or mirror a desired state of mind.

A postscript to yesterday's post: this reorg wasn't really the redo of the century in terms of moving furniture around, but you can see if you've been following GQ for a while how changing up the accessories can create a wholly new look in your pad.

The Grunge part: of course you know everything here was either thrifted or found in the trash, don't you?

Big floral print: $4.99 at thrift shop

Green Krohler loveseat, $50 at garage sale

Floral lamp with chunky base: $6.99 less 50 percent at Sally Ann (red shade was new but on mega sale)

Every single pillow you see here: thrift, consignment or junk shop, various prices but nothing under $10 each

Orange April Cornell blanket found for under $10 at Value Village

Chrome chair and big wood dresser: trash finds

Orange blown glass vase, Made in Canada, thrifted for $9.99, and retro green decanter, a gift from my best pal

Painting of lady: $9.99 in framing shop that was closing down

Oh, and the console that has all the coloured glass on it? Got it from the same jerk who gave me the bowl I broke yesterday. Thrift and love, it happens.

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Breakup Reorgs

Keep your eye on the yellow kidney-shaped dish on the rad; there's a story here.

But let me begin with this:

Ah, breakup reorgs.

I'm inclined to redo my digs whenever I'm bored, avoiding something, or in need of some therapy.

Add a recent breakup (on Valentine's, of all days) and you have a rather manic recipe for the reorg of the century.

I'm divulging highly personal details, yes, just keep your eye on that yellow dish. Doesn't it look pretty in the sunlight?

It was part of the reorg, having previously occupied the dining room table. I moved it to the rad and perched it atop some inspiring papers and design booklets.

I should also mention it was part of the fallout from a relationship that ended five years ago. The guy was a twit but when I left him he gave me this Canadiana bowl that we thrifted together at the Sally Ann for $17. Romantic soul, he was.

Tonight, that bowl just slid off the rad and crashed to the floor.

Now Dag, my cat, was nearby, but I'm taking the bowl's demise as a sign from the universe - a sign that I made the right choice, a sign to accept something as final, and - yes - a sign that I'm whole, with my integrity intact, even though what I thought was a relationship has been shattered beyond repair.

So. Time to thrive. I'll pick up the pieces, doncha worry.

Tomorrow: less personal philosophizing and more reorg pics!!

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A tale of two (yellow) coats

It's minus 15 degrees C in T.O. and the skies are still super grey.....

Definitely time for some colour to jazz the world up a wee bit.

Alas, it's too cold to wear either of these coats, both thrifted.

But this one I can wear if it warms up a few notches.

It's a 1980s Bill Blass swing coat with big brass-like buttons. If memory serves it was $12.99 at Stretch Thrift, my fave shop in my 'hood!



Alas it looks kinda chunky on my body form (wish I had my own personal photographer who could take pics of me in my thrifty get ups every morning), but suffice it to say it really does look quite swish on.

I can even wear it with jeans.

Since yellow actually looks like crap on me I've spruced it up with a colour that looks fab on me - blue - and added a darling vintage pin I thrifted for $1.99.





Normally I say DO NOT thrift items whose colours look icky on you, but sometimes a gal's gotta trust her gut and break the rules. I get heaps of compliments on this coat.

And the tip of the day is you can mix in a complementary colour to really get a bang out of the colour - so long as one of the colours looks good on you AND the colour that does look good on you is close to your face.

Here's the spring counterpart to the Bill Blass, a yellow trench I found at Sally Ann last year for $6.99.

I added this darling scarf bought new in Ottawa but made of recycled fabric bits.

I just had to throw in that pop of teal again, so I tried the look with this teal bag by Winnipeg label emk.

It looks pretty springtime fabulous doesn't it?

Alas, I won't be wearing this ensemble for a while but let it serve as a happy reminder that spring will be here one day.

And let it serve as a reminder to me as I get dressed this cold, cold morning that colour actually can change your mood! I AM rather sick of the sea of black I see on the subway every morning. Mmm, what shall I wear to zoot things up a bit today????

Do you have any fun fashion tips to get through winter, or if you're in a warmer clime do you have any fashiony tips for cooling down?

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