Winter attire & 5-Euros-and-under finds

YET ANOTHER PAIR OF LACE-UP BOOTS?
(is she off her rocker?)
Second-hand Michael Kors suede lace-up wedge booties with rubber sole: Etsy.

I haven't quite gotten around to snapping what I wear under my winter togs - not surprisingly, most of my blog pics these days are snapped on the run (though I'm still dreaming of a lakeside photo shoot before the snow flies) - so I thought I'd just show you what I wore today on a jaunt to the thrift shop with a friend, followed by lunch and a play date (never in a million years did I ever think I'd be uttering the term, "play date," but here I am uttering it, happily so. :)

The Michael Kors booties were a stellar and not expensive Etsy find and so casz-chic - the lifestyle I'm aspiring to at the mo. Does the girl have a problem with lace-up booties? Hell yah. But when I find such great deals online, how can I help it? Plus, all the booties look the same in Annecy - slouchy and bling-encrusted - and, like every thing here, they're not inexpensive.

Hooded coat: retail, a few years ago
Vintage fur gloves: Ebay
Leather 1990s bucket bag: Annecy thrift shop
Fur hat: Annecy thrift shop
Vintage scarf: Etsy
Fur-lined skirt peeing out: Annecy consignment shop.

You'll recognize the fur hat from last year - my jaw-dropping 1 Euro thrift shop find. I occasionally wore vintage fur in Toronto, and I must admit to having mixed feelings about it. I have no desire to enter into a political discussion on the merits and downfalls of vintage fur, but I do find it interesting that, in a place where fur is everywhere (and most emphatically NOT vintage; I have seen many women in their 50s and 60s wearing full-length contemporary fur coats), it can sometimes be an easier decision to wear it - especially when it costs a Euro and it keeps my head really, really warm in the not-so-cold but damp winters here. Ditto for the vintage Dents England fur gloves I'm wearing here, found on Ebay.

Vintage hammered brass and coloured cab necklace found at my local thrift shop - for under 5 Euros!

On another front, I routinely ooh and ahh over my thrifty vintage blogging buddies' finds in the UK, Canada and Australia. Such raging deals they find: a few pence; a few bucks. I heave a huge sigh of self-pity over the fact that I rarely dig up such inexpensive items in my local thrift shop (Annecy is land of the affluent, and the higher costs even trickle down to second-hand goods), and I often find myself dreaming of the day when I can go crazy in some grimy Toronto thrift shop. (When I visit, I am SO bringing an empty suitcase!).

So I'm going to feature a few recent 5-Euros-and-under thrift shop finds, like the necklace, above (4.50). I liked its arty groove: tribal boho. Of course, about 80 percent of Adam's wardrobe, comprised of 1-3 Euro deals, could be included in this entry but I think you'll get more excited about bling and handbags.

Don't let the crappy pic fool you: this bag is humongous. Found for 5 Euros at my local thrift shop.

How about this utterly huge leather handbag with amazing buckle, 10 Euros but mysteriously marked down to 5 (is it possessed? Only time will tell)? The detail here does not do it justice; I will show it to you accessorized some day soon so you can see it in all its glory. A true French-style handbag, it doesn't really fit into my life (how does a French woman with a stroller hold the bloody thing? I must observe better), but let's just say that wild horses couldn't have stopped me from taking this baby home. Great shape (as in structural: I love the odd scuff and dent); great hardware; great price. It ticked all the boxes.

Whoohee I'm on a roll: 4 Euros!

Today's find: a luscious burgundy suede and leather handbag, with unknown logo and amazing hardware on the side (not pictured). One of the grommets on the side was missing but who cares? For 4 Euros, it's my new bag-crush.

It's so lovely to read all your comments. I do visit your blogs, believe me, but I don't often leave comments these days. Forgive me, but it's a simpler pleasure for me lately to read a handful of posts in my down time. Hope you understand. I always intend to return and comment but then time slips me by. Trust that I am with you on your style and life journeys! xoxo

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What I'm wearing: second-hand Annecy style

Comptoir des Cotonniers dress: Annecy consignment shop
1990s? grannt booties: Ebay
1980s? necklace: Annecy consignment shop
Ray Ban sunnies: Annecy brocante market
1990s leather bucket bag: Annecy thrift shop
Tights: bought new (but they last forever!).

I've been meaning to post outfits for over a week now with no luck, so rather than backlog my outfits for future posts I figure I'll give them to you en masse. I am still ever so slowly redefining my style and gradually getting to a place where I'm starting to feel comfortable. We're not there yet, but do we ever really stop when it comes to style evolution?

Meanwhile: The mass exodus of clothing to my local consignment shop continues, and so far I haven't brought any more new, used stuff home.

Hoping you can see the necklace better in this pic?

This entire outfit was cobbled together using second-hand Annecy finds. I bought this wool frock by Comptoir des Cotonniers at a consignment shop in Annecy last year when I was pregnant. It's of the finest wool and is ever so sheer, and I may be really cheeky wearing sexy crochet tights on underneath, but does it really matter? I can haul out the flannel when my butt is sagging down to my knees.

MEXX boots: local consignment shop
Old worn cord blazer: a euro at a vide grenier
Levis jeans: new and bought in Annecy
Turtleneck: new, bought in Toronto
Vintage Laura Ashley scarf: Etsy.

My latest second-hand and vintage crushes: this (mostly) leather 1990s bucket bag I found for 8 Euros at my local thrift shop. It's so big, and I have been rather hankering after a bucket bag style.

I've also been stalking vintage Laura Ashley riding coats on Ebay, but since don't want to shell out the typical $200+ asking price, I've consoled myself with this vintage floral Laura Ashley scarf in a navy blue that I found on Etsy. I just love it. It's a feminine and refreshing alternative to black. And it goes with the navy blazer and boots perfectly. After all, I'm living in France, ie: Land of the Scarves, which is perfect for me as I don't think a gal can have too many. BTW do you know the history of Laura Ashley as a designer? It's kind of interesting. I had no idea that she met such a tragic end.

1980s Brooks Brothers wool coat: Etsy
Skinnies: thrifted in Canada
Granny boots: Ebay
Tahari cashmere sweater/tunic: new and $$$$.
Charm necklace, gifted from a Toronto designer
Vintage Indian carpet bag: Etsy
Brolly: new and I'm hanging onto it - they steal umbrellas here!

A few weeks ago it was rainy and cool, perfect weather to jaunt out in my vintage wool paisley Brooks Brothers coat that I turned up on Etsy. Brooks Brothers coats sell for hundreds of dollars new and this baby is so well made. The style is quite conservative but I funked it out with second-hand skinnies and the most expensive anything I have ever bought in my life (but such a wardrobe staple) - a lovely deep blue cashmere tunic/sweater dress by Elie Tahari (over $400 CAD new and bought years ago).

Brocade coat, contemporary style yet bought second-hand: Annecy consignment shop
Nougat of London skirt: $10 CAD in Toronto consignment shop
Granny boots: guess?
Vintage tapestry bag: Toronto vintage shop
Vintage Dauplaise necklace: Ebay
Sweater: thrifted in Toronto.

Here's a slightly fuzzy pic of me wearing an Italian brocade coat I bought at my local consignment shop when I was pregnant. I'm wearing it with a dreamy skirt I've never worn before, a pink silk slip style with a brown chiffony overlay by Nougat of London, which I bought at a $10-sale at a Toronto consignment shop years ago. I think the granny boots and granny purse work with it? This looked better in the mirror than it does here, methinks. It's a challenging skirt to work with as it's so ... diaphanous.

Saving the best until last: The little guy's outfit is comprised of second-hand French duds as well. (In fact, the jacket would sell for about 70 Euros new in the swanky kids' shops here).

As you can see, it's all about second-hand orange, in this case orange jackets found at the local thrift shop or the fall vide greniers for a couple Euros apiece.

Now I need to find him booties and a winter hat before the winter descends, which will happen soon enough. Meanwhile, it's gorg here. Hearts out to UK folk affected by the storm.

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Second-hand Kenzo & Tom Ford

OUTFIT ENTIRELY THRIFTED/SECOND-HAND (Ok, tights were new):
Kenzo skirt: a euro at an Annecy vide grenier
Etienne Aigner boots: Ebay
Bally bag: consignment shop swap
J. Crew wool blazer: thrifted in Canada
Black sweater: thrifted in Canada
Vintage scarf: gift
Vintage Cadoro necklaces: bought online
Tom Ford sunglasses: consignment shop swap.

I don't really think of myself as a label slut - ie: I don't buy items for the sake of their being "by" someone - and I quite abhor the idea of picking up a lower-tier collection of a designer at a mass market retailer like H&M or Target - though if that's other people's bag, go for it. But that's not to say that I don't appreciate good quality labels, and labels with a neat history or story. And having lived in France for over a year, I've found many a French designer to love.

I've been a Kenzo fan ever since my twis sis thrifted a gorg red floral velvet jacket in Toronto a few years ago. Vintage Kenzo pieces have great colour and texture. Take this lined, wool a-line mustard yellow Kenzo skirt I found at a summer vide grenier for A EURO. LOVE! I never thought the yellow and black bumblebee look would work, but I'm groovin on this outfit (snapped outside the grocery store - yes, us ladies of leisure live exciting lives!).

Then last week, when I took more bling to my consignment shop, I spied these Tom Ford sunglasses. I know Tom Ford more for the fab flick he directed, A Single Man, than for his fashions and famed business sense. But I loved the way these looked on me. They were rather beat up - scratched on the lenses and the frames - so the owner knocked 20 euros off. Since I had sold a few items in her shop recently, I essentially got them for free rather than pocketing the cash I made.

I've mentioned Cadoro jewellery before, but haven't explained my obsession with it. Cadoro was a high-end jewellery company founded in the 1950s in Manhattan. It's known for its handmade haute hippie pieces made out of unusual materials. The jewellery is quite collectible now as the company ceased to exist in the 1980s. Cadoro pieces are so arty that some can be found in New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art.

I'm now a happy Cadoro addict (some of their tassel necklaces rock). I found these two yellow corded necklaces with sliding gold bits online. They're really more summer pieces but as you can see I've managed to work them into my fall look. I have many more Cadoro pieces to share with you! I've stopped buying them but have a nice little collection - my first really meaningful vintage jewellery collection (which explains why there's been a mass exodus of my lower tier vintage costume jewellery to the consignment shop). Guess that means I'm a grown-up now!

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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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Lakeside romps and letting go - almost! - of nylon

There aren't heaps of lakeside restos or bars on Lac Annecy, so discovering the precious few - which inevitably are outside of Annecy proper - is like unearthing a mountain of precious gemstones, especially if the places are relatively unoccupied by tourists, as was the case with this charming restaurant on the south-west side of the lake that we had the pleasure of dining at a few weeks ago. Family has been visiting pretty much non-stop since Adam was born, so we've been busy doing a combo of day trips and just hanging out at various points along the lake.

Hubby and I found this lakeside beach bum hangout last weekend on the other side of the lake. It's populated by local hippie 20-somethings mostly, but we had no probs infiltrating it with our little guy. A great afternoon was spent lapping up rose and chilling. It was a mini vacay of sorts and it reminded us that we need to spend at least one day not running around doing the endless amount of errands that seem to crop up with a little one. After the hustle and bustle of the last few months, we really needed it.

At three months, our little guy continues to grow and amaze. He apparently has some kind of gene that makes him cuter and cuter every day, LOL - I know, I'm the dazed-in-love Mommie!

Style-wise, I've been living in a selection of pretty boho sundresses, some second-hand, some new. Comfort, ease-of-wear (read: no ironing) and a breezy style have been my major criteria for summer togs these days. Here's me with Adam in a fave, a blue and white Ikat sundress found in an import shop in the old town.

Here's an over-exposed shot of me in it, at the annual Fete du Lac event we attended with my sis and her fam. Best fireworks display ever.

Most of my style shots, you won't be surprised to learn, are with Adam. I need to do a separate post on this, but let me say that I've been jazzing up basic summer dresses (like this cotton nightie-inspired sundress found at the market last summer for three euro) with awesome vintage jewellery found online.

France is not the place to find vintage bling, and most of the labels I'm looking for are from the States, so Etsy and Ebay have become close friends of late. I've become quite the collector, eking out certain makers, which means that, eventually, I'll have to thin out my tickle trunk of vintage costume baubles that I've dug up in Canadian thrift shops over the years.

Aside from bling and a decent handbag (the ethnic one pictured here was found at a vide grenier last fall for 3 euro), baby Adam has proved to be the best accessory. No, I dare not hold him on my hip as I strut around wearing four-inch spike heels (she looks great, but how does Victoria Beckham manage it?). On the lap or in the pram is just fine for public appearances.

I have, however, managed to channel my inner Victoria Beckham with these second-hand Rayban sunnies found at the local brocante market. Oddly enough, I recently consigned three pair of huge vintage oversize shades to my local shop. And here I go again, buying the same style. My only defense is they seem to suit my pixie face. Now I just need to manage the Beckham look by sucking in my cheeks and not smiling.

Oops, a wee smile escaped in spite of myself. I should be grinning ear to ear as I'm pictured here wearing pre-preggo jeans, yay! So what if they're super stretchy? I'm going with it. Everything but the purse and shoes are second-hand. I just love the Juicy Couture super soft cotton tie-dye tank I thrifted in Canada (even if my belly hangs out a little in it).

Here's one of the few full-length shots I've managed to request, snapped last week on the way to the beach bum bar. Easy peasy sundress: check. Shades: check. Vintage bling: check (more on this haute hippie maker, Cadoro, at another time). Golden espadrille wedgies and cross-body purse: check and check. Now bring on the vino!

On another wardrobe note, I've consigned the majority of my vintage 1960s-70s frocks, mostly because they're the size that would fit a Barbie Doll, and I doubt my 27-inch waist will return. Also because, well, loud patterns and nylon just don't fit my life anymore, just as those vintage oversize sunglasses don't seem to fit. That funky retro chick that started this blog four-plus years ago has changed. It's ok, I've mourned it and moved on, as leaving behind my retro style has coincided with amazing changes in my life (but please note, I may still do the goodbye post that features all the dresses, which has been in my Drafts folder for ages). I've held onto this black floral number, though, as I love it and it makes my post-preggo bod look ok.

I'll leave you with a shot of the wee one snapped at the beachy bar last weekend, wearing gifted items from overseas pals and fam. Hope you're all having a fab summer!

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Bionic woman & Danskin memories

Last week: 38 weeks

Thanks for all your comments last post re: The Reader Changeover - I think I've managed to change everything that needs to be changed. You can find me on Google + and Bloglovin. Assuming the techno dumb-bunny in me hasn't hopelessley muddled things, it looks as though I've managed to successfully transfer all the blogs I follow to Bloglovin ... but if it looks like I've neglected to follow you there or on Google +, give me a little nudge, ok? Any omissions on my part are not deliberate but rather the product of confusion!

As you can see, da bump is really coming along. I'm getting increasingly tired and uncomfortable, but natch, I'm happy to see baby growing the way he should be. Needless to say, we're getting really jazzed about meeting him!

It's also somewhat gratifying to know that one of my pre-preggo dresses left over from my Skinny Toronto Days serviced me well last week.

The label is Bionic, made by Mark Foreman of Toronto, and his wrap dresses remind me a wee bit of the Karina Dresses that so many of us admire and wear in the blogosphere as they're made with amazing microfibre fabrics in beautiful patterns. Though I've bought Bionic new, on sale (they range from $150-200 CAD if memory serves), I found this wrap during a Toronto Goodwill rummage for about $6.99 CAD.

I decided to jazz mine up with my H&M leggings worn the way I used to wear leggings when I was dancing - over my feet, with the ballet slippers overtop. It was a little trick of elongating the leg even more. :) My gams, which have puffed out the last few weeks with water, need all the elongating they can get!

Excuse the overexposed shot but I had to brighten it up a little. Plus bump looks pretty good when shown against the dark of the piano! I'm wearing Kenneth Cole Reaction ballet flats, found at the Two Dollar Sale in Toronto.

Here's a close-up of the makeshift vintage necklace I'm wearing, which I love but don't wear much. I attached the vintage Coro pendant I found in a thrift shop to a set of fake pearls I thrifted way back in university days - in fact they may have been the first costume bling I ever bought second-hand. That's the extent of my handy-dandyness, I'm afraid.

Me in my skinny Toronto days a few years back, sporting the same dress with a 1970s gold belt, vintage bling, and 1980s shades with thrifted white heels and a fake tan. I was a working girl back then and a shopping columnist to boot so I always dressed up to go to work. Funny how radically things change, eh? Glad I could adapt this dress for a more casual look that suits my lifestyle. Hopefully I'll one day be able to tie the belt all the way around to the front, as I did here, instead of tying it at the back as I now do!

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Vintage accessory-obsessed

38 weeks

Maybe it's because I'm living in the same pair of black maternity leggings and a small selection of tops that cover my expanding butt and thighs, but I'm particularly obsessed with the details of outfits these days. And I've found some real vintage gems of late to help me jazz up my maternity uniform.

This 1980s? tapestry handbag, found on Etsy, is a fave. Normally I wear it cross-body as the strap is long and not adjustable. It's large enough to house the array of necessary stuff that accumulates in my daily bag of choice, plus I should be able to squish in some baby essentials like diapers and wipes in the coming months. The bonus to boot: it goes with practically everything.

I stalked this Sarah Coventry "Cleopatra" cuff bracelet with purply stone-like ovals for a while before finding one that was a screaming deal, also on Etsy. It's not an easy-to-find cuff and most were more than I wanted to pay, but I dug and dug and entered different search terms and up popped this one for a song. Love!

I'm particularly proud of this navy and multi-hued cotton Italian-made mega scarf by Rodier, snapped up at my local thrift shop for 1.50 Euros. I adore large scarves - so dramatic. Well, I love scarves, period, and I don't believe that you should give up wearing them in the summer. There are heaps of summer-weight options out there! This baby can double as a shawl and even a boob-cover when breast-feeding.

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I am like the lilacs

My take on Spring: thrifted over-dyed '90s grunge dress accessorized with deep lilac and plummy tones
Entirely thrifted outfit (except for tights)
(End of 37 weeks).

A 20-minute power shop in the local thrift shop before our OB appointment Friday yielded this amazing 1990s dress that I practically lunged at when I saw its deep purply hues.

Not only does it remind me of the over-dyed dresses I used to buy in the 1990s, but it is also the perfect complement to the deep-coloured lilacs that have sprouted all over Annecy.

Bought at the market today and now reposing in front of our huge living room windows.

I am sentimentally attached to lilacs. Some may find their smell cloying, but their sweet scent reminds me of growing up in the country, where two huge lilac bushes decorated our front and back yards. My sis and I would cut a bunch of branches and place the biggest bouquet possible in an oversize rose bowl right in front of an open window. The breeze would blow in, and the room would fill with the most heady of perfumes.

A welcome respite from my black leggings, this dress is perfect in so many ways, and not just because of the wonderful colours and simple style. The corset drawstring detail in the back, a popular '90s motif, means I can wear the dress now and then cinch it tighter post-baby (presumably when my 27-inch waist will return). :)

With the exception of the tights, the outfit is entirely thrifted:

Dress, 5 Euros at Annecy thrift shop
Chiffon made-in-Italy scarf, 1.50 Euros and found during the same power shop as the dress
Gap Limited Edition denim jacket, found at a UK charity shop a year ago
Plummy-blue Italian-made suede boots, $14.99 CAD in Toronto 
Deep pink straw purse, thrifted long ago in Toronto for a few bucks
Gold-plated Edwardian style necklace with pink glass, 50% off in a Toronto Value Village
Art deco style ring with pink glass, 5 Euros at Annecy brocante market.

The ring and pendant kinda match the lovely tree we took a pic of yesterday along the canal.

I love it when nature inspires an outfit, don't you?

I don't think this picture does justice to the reality I saw on the cobblestone streets after the market today. All those little bits you see between the mossy crevices are multi-hued sparkles that someone must have sprinkled there while partying the night before.

On that note, I'm linking up to all the sparkly style gems at Patti's Visible Monday.

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