Magenta Monday

Happy New Year to you, and a most heartfelt thanks for all your kind wishes, comments and emails about our happy news. Today I thought I'd show you yet another purple coat I thrifted in Toronto (scroll a few posts down if you missed my purple chenille vintage coat), and decided to hang onto when I moved overseas. The label says ZIM and I don't know the fibre content for sure as it's in Chinese, methinks, but the coat is definitely a wool-cashmere blend, very soft and plushy and showing no signs of wear. It has a belt but I prefer to keep it open - the weather's warm enough in Annecy to stroll around like this!

Aside from the sassy crochet tights, which are uber comfy on the leg but which my expanding waist won't be able to handle much longer, this outfit is entirely thrifted. The Teenflo skirt is a pre-preggo skirt I don't think I'll be able to squish into anymore. It was loose when I bought it and I used to wear it low-slung on my hips. Now it's around my waist to accommodate my belly.

Outfit deets:
Magenta ZIM wool-cashmere coat, thrifted in Toronto for under $20
Teenflo brown velvet skirt with tie-dye pattern, thrifted as part of a suit in Toronto
Wool turtleneck, made in Paris, thrifted for about $4 CAD at Stretch Thrift, Toronto
FAVE (now beat up) wedgie leather Kenneth Cole Reaction boots, $49.99 at Value Village in Canada (worth the splurge)
Distressed leather bag, handmade by SAS in the United States, Etsy, $40 US
Vintage 1970s "Rafael" brass/glass pendant chain, FREE (worth maybe $200 CAD?), from a friend - designed and made by Canadian Modernist jewellery designer (and engineer) Rafael Alfandary
Brown leather gloves, thrifted somewhere for next-to-nothing.

You may remember the maching blazer to the skirt, which I showed you in the fall. I never wear the two together as I think it's too much, but on their own they make fab separates to mix and match according to my whim. They can keep each other company for the next 8-12 months as they slumber away in my closet, unworn, in the hopes of being reborn when I get my figure back.

I'll leave you with a view of the mountains shot overlooking the canal that leads to Lac Annecy, taken at dusk the other night. Thoughts and prayers are going out to Sarah today in Australia, hoping for the best with the wildfires that are raging there.

Linking up to Patti's Visible Monday.

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Grunge-y Dresses; $10 Jackets

I so regret getting rid of a sumptuous deep blue patterned velvet 1990s dress, long and with a drop waist, that I had back in the day, that when I saw this short 90s velvet dress on mega sale on Etsy, I just had to snap it up. Not sure why I'm so grooving on the 90s now, but I'm not micro-analyzing it. It's such a sweet little frock, and it will be cute for the holidays too.

I'm sporting it with a new haircut (from a month ago); a huge Anne Klein scarf that I picked up on mega sale at a consignment shop in Toronto (it's a thick black crepe but has this red velvety squiggle pattern throughout); a fabulous vintage jacket by James Bay, a Canadian maker about which I can find very little, thrifted for a glorious $10 in my fave neighborhood thrift shop in Toronto, Stretch Thrift; and stretchy cloth and leather gloves thrifted in the UK, I think. The bag was handmade in Montreal, bought new, as were the Guess? booties.

I'm wearing the same scarf, pre-hair cut and with a slightly blurry face, with this grungy little dress/tunic I picked up with a gal pal in a consignment shop in a little village not far from here. I never thought I'd ever wear something like this, but it appealed to me at the time and still does. It was quite a but warmer when this pic was snapped, so I'm wearing a Parasuco cropped denim jacket, found at the same $10 sale as the consignment shop scarf. The lace-up booties are a fave pair, and oh so 90s, picked up at a downtown vintage shop just a few months before I left Toronto for about $35. Not a Grunge Queen thrifty price but I loved them too much to leave them there, and I've worn them so much I've already had to replace the soles.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Pink post-script & UK carpet bag update

Eww. Today is another grim, rainy day so the hubby and I will stay indoors and play house. To follow up on the pink thread, I wanted to show you another pink dream I thrifted in Canada - it's a pink leather crop jacket by Alfani and it was a mere 6 bucks at a 50 percent off sale last summer at Stretch Thrift in Toronto (TIP: When every one else is scouring the racks for sun dresses, hit the winter jacket aisle). I'm wearing it with a ludicrously expensive uber long scarf I bought new at Anthrolopogie.

Hubby calls it the bubble gum jacket. It has this sheen to it, and I must admit that I never would have cast a second glance at it if it were full-priced. But that's the neat thing about thrift and charity shopping: you can experiment with looks you never would have because the monetary risk is low. If it works, great; if not, you can donate it back. Would you say your thrift shopping allows you to play more with your style?

I had to show you another look with the same jacket and scarf, worn about six months ago when my thighs were small enough to fit into these jeans: thrifted boho sweater; thrifted Angel jeans and thrifted leather booties and bag - now that I see that bag I realize it's another bag that's gone missing in my move, along with my treasured carpet bags - WAH.

Photo courtesy KeepitRetro, Etsy.

Speaking of carpet bags, I have an update re: the Etsy-bought carpet bag, above, by UK company Carpet Bags. I emailed the company after I did the post last week and heard back from Alex, who told me this bag (as I had guessed) was from the 1980s, mid-80s, to be exact. It was one of three sizes made that were sold through a full-page spread in Country Living magazine (which, aside from Elle Decor, is one of my decor mag faves). The style is "Gladstone" and the tapestry is called "Forest." Isn't that cool? I'm so excited to have some info on my "new" vintage bag!!!

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Saturday togs & fave thrifted sweater

Happy Saturday! The hubby's home and life is good, good good ... so I hope you'll understand if I keep this short, short short! When I'm scragging around home, I tend to live in leggings and my suede booties. This wool-blend tunic is a major thrifty fave - picked out by my gal pal Nadia in at Stretch Thrift in Toronto's Pape Village (where I used t live). Man, I miss that shop, and the people who work there. Anyway, I love the Nordic pattern and the semi-circle pockets - so cute! It's chilly today so it's the perfect sweater to snuggle up in with hubby ... on that note, I've got to go - have a great day!

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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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Turtle love

Aren't they cute? Wee turtles kissing (or hugging?) eachother, wrapped around this 1970s bracelet.

I've been meaning to show you this for some time - my dear gal pal Nadia bought it for me at Stretch Thrift as she knew I loved it. What a sweeatheart. I do love it.

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Saturday afternoon outfit

Ahh, gorgeous fall days spent wandering in Toronto's Greektown, having coffee, visiting with a dear gal pal and generally having all sorts of adventures that a Gemini and a Sag can get into!! 

I threw this Saturday afternoon outfit together in a hurry but I like the look: everything but the statement piece Anthropologie scarf (which a man even commented on yesterday!) is thrifted. 

Angel jeans, $5.99; sweater, thrifted but I've had for years; bag and boots from CTS and Coach shades from Canadian Thrift, both in Toronto. And the major score: Alfani pink sheeny leather crop jacket in mint condition - a mere $6.50 at a recent Stretch Thrift 50 percent off sale.

Love it how thrifting can allow you to experiment with looks you never would if you had to buy the pieces for full price. I never would have purchased this jacket for the retail, even the sale retail, price.

BTW, I am wearing my thrifted booties with everything from dresses to jeans - did a quick cuff roll on the fly yesterday and thought it looked pretty cool!

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Sunday morning and a new cuppa

I love Japanese stoneware - its simplicity yet elegance of design. Recently I found a trio of retro Mikasa cups, plus creamer, at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, for 99 cents each. Way nicer than the cheap dollar store mugs I have that are now going in the 'donate' pile.

They complement the bronze ironstone cups by Primastone that I thrifted a few years ago - similar in shape and the colours work. Now I'll just have to have a cappuccino party!

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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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Thrifting adventures this week

It's been super busy, so here are some highlights from this past week's thrifting adventures!

Here's my gal pal and fellow thrift/vintage style maven, Nadia, at the 50 percent off Stretch Thrift sale yesterday (sale continues today). Nadia struck an oh-so-chic pose in this crazy hat with basket to match! We laughed so hard ... Nadia and I always seem to go crazy in that store. I think we provide comic relief to the customers!

I picked up this little guy - a lama "piggy" bank, of all things, for 99 cents at the sale. Every time I look at it, I smile. What personality! I saw it a week ago and had a pal hid it under piles of stuff so no one would buy it and also so I could get it at the 50-off sale.

It wasn't that I didn't want to pay full price for it - I'm thrifty, not a cheapskate! - but I was in the shop with Nadia, and we were in such a silly mood that we thought it'd be a hoot to hide the little guy and come back for it later. I think our partner in crime, the person who did the hiding (who shall not be named) had fun too, so the shenanigan was def worth a good chuckle.

Last night after snapping the pic of Nadia and picking up the lama, we left the shop and saw this across the street - a retro 1970s car (I'm a chick, so don't ask me what make), replete with faux wood paneling and semi-grotesque 1970s colour! Love it!!

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1980s High Fashion

I just love the shape of this bag I dug up for under five bucks at Stretch Thrift. It's a 1980s or 90s shape for sure, made in Canada by Toronto company High Fashion, which I'm pretty sure is still around and still has annual sales, so I've heard.

You know I'm a fan of neat hardware on bags. Just look at the clasp in this baby!

Love the triangle motif attached to each zipper!

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Sondra Roberts bags, thrifted vs. sample sale

When I saw this bag at the thrift shop, I fell in love. The hardware, the leather, the ruching down the front: divine. Especially when the price tag was under 5 bucks. The bag is by Sondra Roberts
New York, an affordable luxury brand - which seems like a bit of a paradox to me, but that's what the website says and hey, I'll buy that - even better when thrifted!.

SR bags range in price from $100 or so (USD) to $500, depending on what they're made of. I'm guessing this one, being leather, would have retailed for $400+.
 
The olive greenish colour makes it a neutral in my books, and game for pairing with just about anything. I just have to figure out how to clean the black dirt off the strap. I'm assuming a leather cream cleaner will do the trick.

After my thrift buy, I realized that I had another SR bag, under the SR Squared label, which I bought last summer at a sample sale for 50% off (about $60). It's a reversible thick (weather-proofed?) canvas tote. Note the amazing hardware, just like my thrifted bag. This is my go-everywhere-summer-bag. The other borders on all-season.

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the thrifting and the not-quite-retail worlds intersect!

P.S.: These bags rock. I don't want this to sound like an ad, but I've had the blue one for over a year and it hasn't worn A WHIT. Quality matters to a thrifting grunger like me!

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My thrifty balcony

It's the long-weekend in Canada so today's post is going to be about thrifty leisure spaces - namely my wee patio. You know my penchant for orange these days. I found this gorg linen tablecloth (plus nappies) for $5.99 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift.

The big handpainted, slightly cracked pot that's holding the lavender was found curbside, while the white pot was thrifted for a few bucks. The English jug was a gift from my best pal, and the wee glass tea light holder was also a present, from a family friend. The rose glass tea light holder was thrifted for $1.99.

I found the retro wrought iron patio set for $40 at a garage sale a few years ago; ditto for the seat cushions. I've had the stripy pillows for years, bought new at The Bay department store when I worked there eons ago.

The flower box was a gift (found by an ex in the trash - nice to know I inspire this kind of gifting!), as was the lovely cut-out ball (given to me by a friend - it used to be a lamp but it wasn't functioning so I cut off the cord - I could put a tea light in this if I wanted to but the piece can stand on its own). The stool is pretty ugly - I thrifted it for a few bucks and always meant to jazz it up - but one of my kitties loves sitting on it while outside, so I leave it like that for her.

Happy weekend!

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Orange, thrifted

I'm really into orange these days (see my post from last week, "A Look at a nook"). I bought this sundress (new, but only $20) before my holidays and never wore it as it was so cold in England, alas.

It's been so fab weather-wise in Toronto that I wore the dress today with these Espadrilles I thrifted for $7.99 this past weekend. They're by Nine West, they're satin and they're in mint condition!

You know, normally I don't go for the whole matchy-matchy thing, but I liked the orange on orange look of my outfit today. And, with a painful broken foot of late, the shoes cover my vulnerable toes so they don't get crunched as I bustle about my day. Plus, they're surprisingly comfy.

Orange. It's happy. If you want to wear a particular colour and it doesn't look all that hot on you, you can still get your colour groove on by experimenting with accessories, or wearing the hue on the lower half of your body so it's not too close to your face.

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Very special vintage coat, for a very special occasion

I haven't worn this vintage coat for years - as you can see, it's pretty special: a 1930s style (wool) with these gorg embroidered sleeves. I bought it when I was 19 (over 20 years ago!) for just under $200. I remember I had to borrow the cash from my sis, who always saved her bucks (no big surprise I was always shopping, eh?).

I had the opportunity to wear it this past weekend, to a party given in honour of a lovely lady who recently passed away, who I was lucky enough to meet and write about the month before she died. She was 104 years old and had lots of pluck and a great story - and I think she would have appreciated this vintage coat.

I've accessorized the coat with a vintage bag I found at Value Village for $5.99, and some thrifted Nine West slingbacks in excellent shape found for around $8.99 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift. The scarf is vintage silk Liberty of London, a couple bucks at a junk shop.

The day wasn't about me, but I wanted my outfit to do justice to a wonderful lady who led a great life. It felt good to be pulling out all of my really special items that I never wear, for one day - some vintage pieces are for just that, and in this case, the occasion certainly warranted it.

Here's to Minnie. Rest in peace.

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I wanna be a cowgirl

Well, you always see me tired, at the end of the day, with circles under my eyes, but I had to show you the cowgirl  earrings I bought for $2 on the way home - yeehaw!

I never wear earrings anymore, really. Perhaps it was because I recently interviewed a gal who is part of a Cowgirl Choir in Toronto - but hipster cowgirl style has been on my mind of late.

They're silver and super light - see? A horseshoe, horse head and saddle dangling from - you guessed it! - a cowgirl hat to boot!

I have no idea what era they're from but I'm guessing 1990s - just seems to fit, in my opin.

Have you ever thrifted something that made you rethink a style choice (in my case, earrings) that you thought was long past?

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Over the rainbow with 70s dress

I can't believe I didn't buy this 1970s striped polyester cowl neck dress at first. It was $6.99 at my local thrift store, Stretch Thrift, and then it was 50 percent off that! I loved the colours but wasn't sure if I had the guts to pull off, well, a 1970s striped polyester cowl neck dress!

But reader, I went back the same day and tried it on. It was a bit loose but I figured I could cinch it in with a belt (as I have here, with a vintage velvet elasticized belt I found for about $10 in a vintage shop). So I bagged it for $3.49!

I'm wearing it here with a pair of Stuart Weitzman platforms I thrifted in mint condition for under $10 at Goodwill.

Cost of total outfit: under $20! Chic can, indeed, be cheap!

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Hi-low dressing, but mostly lo

Grunge Queen has been known to splurge on occasion. Two years ago when Anthropologie opened at Toronto's outdoor mall, Shops at Don Mills, I indulged and bought this long, lovely floral scarf. I've blocked out how much it was but it wasn't a Grunge Queen price.

I don it on cool spring days this time of year when you still need a little something around your neck. Every time I wear it, I get compliments galore - so definitely worth the splurge.

Good thing the rest of the outfit is thrift. My most recent thrifty buy: this boho robin's egg blue knit by Antoine Coelenbier, Kokomarina collection. I found it at ENDS at 1930 Queen St. E in the Beach (end-of-line and discount retailer extrordinaire), this sweater retailed for close to $300 but was marked down, then down again, then down again until it found its way to the sidewalk $9.99 rack, where this deal hunter found it. Perfect for coolish early spring days!

The jeans were a few bucks at my lcoal thrift shop; the white tee was a couple bucks at Goodwill; the Nine West metallic booties (which you can't see) were picked up at Value Village, and the jewellery was another proud find picked up at Stretch Thrift's 50 percent off sale (which are frequent).

They're two long necklace strands, new, that have been in the store for months and months. I thought they looked pretty ick until I wound two strands around my neck several times. One on its own looks blah, but pair two together and they look really boho cool. Price $2.99 each less 50 percent!

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Mohair in the mirror

I didn't have my entourage following me today (tee hee), so here I am doing the blogger pose in the mirror wearing my snuggly 'new' oversize mohair sweater (with golden flecks) made in Italy, found during a late-night Value Village dig yesterday for $5.99 (mean reds, as Holly GoLightly calls 'em, require retail therapy - except I don't need Tiffany's; good ole VV will do!).  Normally I wear quite fitted sweaters but I liked the look of this one.

Excuse the semi-ghastly yellow hue. Just trying to get the rest of my outfit in the mirror. I snagged the Daniel Marcus lined leather brown skirt, made in Canada, for a song at my local Stretch Thrift ($5.99 if memory serves, maybe less). The boots, which you can't quite see here, were also found at Stretch Thrift for $5.99. The necklace, as you may recall, was a buck at my latest vintage costume jewellery club meeting. The thick cotton tights were new but $3.99 at my local Dollar Store!

Entire outfit: just over 20 bucks! And the mirror, in case you're wondering: $3.99 - and it's suuuuper heavy.

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I am addicted to costume bling

So I admit it: I'm a costume jewellery addict. I can't stop picking up the odd piece at the thrift shop. Invariably they're super inexpensive (under $5) and supremely interesting. Here I am wearing my latest, a sturdily constructed necklace pendant that I am guessing is from the 1980s, perhaps the 1990s - hard to tell.

I bought it at Stretch Thrift in my 'hood for $3.99. I'm a real fan of the flat snake chain look that was popular in the 1980s. This necklace has exceptional detailing - I'm a big details gal if you haven't noticed! - and I also liked the style.

Let's zoom in for a closer peep. Just look at the intricate carve-out design on the pendant  part.
 

This is a view from the back. As you can see, the dual chain goes through two separate fixtures at the back, separated by a sturdy hinge. I get really jazzed when I see well-made jewellery like this. Much of the costume bling these days just isn't made that way.

Even at the clasp, you can see there's this cute carve-out motif on either end, and this darling little medallion piece suspended from the clasp chain, again with the carve-out detail. So sweet.

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