Around the house, mostly thrifted

New tablecloth, made in Jodhpur.

Yesterday was the annual street market in Annecy, which was full of over-priced tat: I can't tell you how many 5-Euros-scarf booths I saw. Though I snapped up two scarves at last year's market, this year, especially considering the 10-Euros-cashmere-sweaters I've found at similar such markets throughout the year that have since turned to rags, the thrill over such dubious bargains has turned rather stale.

There's nothing exciting about cheaply-made goods. All the French markets I've experienced (except brocantes) are like this, and they puzzle me as they completely contradict what I know about France's love for high quality, locally-produced goods. Perhaps these markets are the French's version of Big Box shopping, their form of retail junk???

Lamp: Annecy vide grenier
Bowl and candelabra: Annecy thrift shop.

The long and short of it: the exception to the dirth of uninspiring scarves, sweaters, slippers and kitchen knives, was this amazing hand-printed tablecloth bought at a stall by a man selling textiles from India. Ethnic anything is not so easy to find in this part of France (and the gal next door who sells gorg Moroccan pieces is closing up shop in the New Year and moving to Marrakesh!), so when I discovered this gent, who wholesales across France and has two retail shops in a nearby town, I was thrilled beyond belief.

Hubs and I were talking about the beauty and wisdom (and the sad slaughter of African variety) of these wonderful creatures only the night before, so it was fortuitous that we found a tablecloth with elephants on it. There are peacocks in the middle too.

Though they're different styles entirely, I think the cloth goes really well with this bowl I thrifted at my local shop. Forget the tourist shops if you want to find nice French pottery and such in Annecy. The thrift store is piled high with bowls, plates, dishes, cups - you name it - and all from a few centimes to a few Euros each.

A tale of two candelabras, both second-hand ....

Like everything in my old Canadian pad, many of our decorative accessories are second-hand. I've been on a candelabra bender of late. I've always wanted one but have never found one to suit my budget or style - and the really ornate, Gothic-type styles leave me cold. Then all of a sudden, I find two simple styles back-to-back! The elegant silver-tone beauty was 30 Euros at my local consignment shop (I had money on my account so I count this as a "trade" item).

Then the next day, I was in the thrift shop and there was this heavy rustic pewter candelabra (behind) made by French company Etains du Manoir. For 5 Euros!

Second-hand textiles: Granny's old shawl...

I have a thing for vintage textiles - the more beat up, the better, in some cases. This wool shawl has stains, a few holes and is criss-crossed with hand-sewn stitches from over the years, but I love it. I found it in a junk shop in Toronto, which apparently came in a box marked "Granny's shawl". I knew the shop owner and bet he bought the box for that very reason - and of course, when he shared the story with me, I had to have the shawl.

 ... wool scarf ...

I found this wool men's scarf at a skanky French thrift shop and use it on my photo table as a runner.

... and French scarf.

Meanwhile this second-hand French scarf creates a pretty border on a table showcasing my and my hubby's wooden box collections.

Btw, hubby made me the flower out of an old foil wrapper. So talented. I love this kind of stuff: beauty from trash.

Back in Toronto, I was Queen of the Pillows. I gave away or sold most of the pack when I moved overseas (along with most of my apartment, in the biggest decluttering exercise of my life), though I couldn't let go of them all. I've had the pink and green embroidered throw (back) since I was 21, bought as a birthday gift in an ethnic-y shop in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Kilim one in front was a recent Etsy find.

This oversize one was dug up at a Toronto consignment shop specializing in decor. Apparently it's a custom-made pillow made out of antique fabric. Green velvet anything really rocks my boat, as did this pretty pattern, so it stayed on the "keep" list.

Can't not include the little guy. I've found a few knit patchwork blankets at the thrift shop this past year, and this mini one was very boy-like and will eventually go on Adam's bed. For now, it's the 'safe zone' part of his play area, which you can see he's way out of now that he's starting to roll around!

One of the many looks I created using all garbage and
thrift shop finds in my old Toronto apartment.

I wish I had more than tableaus to show you decor wise, but, living in a semi-furnished apartment that we're planning on moving out of soon, I haven't spent a lot of time stamping my individual style on the place. Perhaps having a husband with his own individual style is another reason! I'm really looking forward to creating a home, and putting together a cute boy's room out of thrifty goodies, once we have a new, larger place. I used to feature a lot more thrifty decorating on this blog, and I miss it. Hopefully the New Year will bring us a new space I can tinker with.

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All the way from Texas

Sante Fe style denim and tapestry jacket, made by MoonFeather USA, Etsy.

It's finally starting to chill off in Annecy, which means I get to haul out my extensive coat collection, yay!

This Sante Fe-esque one is a recent addition, bought on mega sale on Etsy (it was actually made in Dallas, Texas, so not quite New Mexico). Not sure I would have paid "full" second-hand price for it, but again, that's the joy of finding used togs for a steal: you get to experiment with looks you may not have even considered possible for yourself.

Vintage 1980s wool-blend dress: Annecy thrift shop
Boots: Ebay
Italian suede purse: Canadian thrift shop
Scooter necklace: Annecy vide grenier.

I love the way my first outfit with the coat turned out. I found this wool-blend Italian-made 1980s sweater dress at my local thrift shop for a few Euros. It's simple enough to not compete with the coat.

Accessories? Surprise, surprise, these vintage brown leather and fabric granny booties dug up on Ebay have resurfaced yet again - they go with every thing. The brown Italian-made suede purse (with tassel, which I've hidden - I think it was too much with the tassels on the coat) was found years ago at a Toronto thrift shop.

Thanks to my friend Fayda for snapping these pics of me.

The necklace is Scooter of Paris, found at a vide grenier for 4 Euros. Scooter Paris is a contemporary costume jewellery brand. Not sure how much my necklace pendant would be worth, but I have seen used pieces by the same make for sale online for upwards of 100 Euros.

Second-hand bling found in Annecy.

Now that I've sorta figured out how to use Picasa's collage function, I'm going to start showcasing my rather extensive collection of costume jewellery, which I often wear with my outfits but don't hone in on for a better view.

You can see the Scooter necklace at the bottom left. The remaining bling, two sun pins picked up at the thrift shop this week for a few centimes each, had such a 1990s vibe to them that I'd probably have snatched them up even for a couple Euros, haha. Remember the whole sun and moon craze in jewellery in the '90s? I worked in a jewellery shop in the early part of the decade and the motif was all the rage.

On the home front, the little guy is growing in leaps and bounds, is healthy and happy. He's got his first cold, thanks to Mommie, so we're feeling pretty icky. Like most new parents, Daddie and Mommie and struggling to find quality time together, let alone a few moments to ourselves to cultivate interests. I'm sleep-deprived, bitchy and stressed. Certain things are up in the air, and there's a pervasive feeling of limbo in the house. But, life is good, and I have no cause to complain - this too shall pass. When change comes, it will be welcome, and we can move forward.

I'm always late these days - in fact this post has literally taken me all day to put up (which may explain the degenerating tone of this post)! - so I'm linking up with the lovelies at Patti's Visible Monday just under the wire.

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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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Thrifty little guy

Six days old: wee little man

I've read every one of your lovely comments and I thank you so much for your kind words and congratulations. It's so heart-warming to hear from longtime readers across the globe, from the UK to Australia to Toronto, Canada - some of whom have never commented before. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your well-wishes, and I welcome some new followers who have come into the fold of late. I hope you are all happy and enjoying your summer!

Six days old, wearing gifted Ottawa Sens hockey bib - from a Canadian friend, EH!

Our little man turned five weeks old this week. I'm already feeling sentimental about his time as a newborn as he was so wee and has sadly outgrown some fave (thrifted) outfits. But Adam continues to fill our days with endless wonder and joy. We are truly blessed.

I'll return to regular thrifty style programming just as soon as I can stop snapping pics of my son long enough to direct the camera lens towards me, so please indulge me a while longer as I inundate you with baby pics. Besides, wouldn't I be remiss if I didn't show you some thrifty duds we've picked out for the little guy? He's worn this second-hand red and white outfit for weeks now and is growing into it well. I picked it up in a consignment shop in a nearby village.

He's already mastered hi-low dressing: shorts, new and gifted.
Alligator body suit: gift, found in a UK charity shop

Friends who visited the UK a while back returned with this adorable alligator bodysuit that they charity shopped. He looks like a little body-builder in it and it's saved the day many times in the past two weeks as it's been so warm weather-wise in Annecy.

Four weeks old

We found this overall and tee set in my local thrift shop. Oh yes, Adam has made a grand total of two visits to my local thrift shop already. Mommy and Daddy took introduced him to the concept in his second week of life. We breezed in and power shopped like never before, picking up 15 pieces for a grand total of 15 Euros!

Twelve days old and he's already in the thrift shop. 

Here's the photo to prove it.

Playing dress-up in a hat that came all the way from Canada

That's not to say he's against wearing new outfits from time to time. Grandma came for a nice long visit (she left yesterday; Adam and I are so sad) sporting almost an entire suitcase of clothes given by friends of the family from back home.

We found him some newborn sunglasses so he doesn't have to steal Daddy's pair

Sometimes the dress-up game can go too far. :)

Bath-time is perfect  for  trying out new and adorable facial expressions

Sometimes he just likes to hang out **sans** clothing.

Shot of Mommy a week after birth wearing a vintage chiffon blouse found in the local Annecy thrift shop;
a vintage Lanvin necklace, 10 Euro at Annecy antique market;
vintage 1980s tapestry bag, Etsy.

All right, here's a shot of me post-baby, just to let you know that I'm trying to be as stylish as possible even though I have a wee belly and I don't recognize my thighs anymore. So far I can fit only into my maternity jeans and my "fat" skinny jeans, sigh.

I found this handmade 1970s dress at the local weekly market and paired it with a UK charity-shopped Kelly bag and used Ugg wedgies found at my local consignment shop. Snapped while on our way to lunch in a local village a few weeks ago.

Ikat dress, Birthday pressie and found in Aix Les Bains last week

I turned 43 last week and bought this dress with some Bday money as breastfeeding and a bit of pregnancy weight has rendered all my wee summer frocks slightly tight on me. This empire-waisted, A-line style is a fave of mine and universally flattering - also good for hiding a slight pooch of a tummy.

Wanna count em?

I found this used frock at the market too and wear it only around the house as it's a bit too revealing up top.

Alas, hubby was away for my Bday but a gorg bouquet of long-stemmed red roses (with a wondrous smell) arrived at the door right around the time I was born so many years ago. What an absolute romantic sweetie pie. And the number of roses match my age - was torn between being impressed and horrified at the size of the bouquet!

One last look at the little guy. All is well. We have an all-terrain stroller and take him out every day. He falls asleep as we rattle him over the cobblestones.

Hope this super long post will suffice for a while as life is pretty busy now and it's taken me two days to get this up. :) When I can catch my breath I look forward to catching up with all of you. xo

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Matchy-matchy double-sided Gemini

I match the lake!

Quelle week: hubby's been away so I've tasked myself with various administrative to-dos, along with washing and organizing all the baby clothes we've been lucky enough to have given to us; buy the remaining baby stuff we needed; organize some clothing for the local consignment shop; socialize a little; and generally do all the running around I won't feel like in the weeks to come! I feel good, but tired. Thankfully I've had some good friends helping me.

I love this outfit - you can see I'm still groovin' on the tribal theme. I found this microfibre ruffle skirt in the old town new and fell in love with the pattern. Remember this style of skirt? I wore them as a teen in the early 80s.

33 Weeks!

The skirt just happens to go remarkably well with the tribal-esque scarf I bought at a December market in Annecy, also new. I threw in a Guatamalan bag I found for 5 Euros in Geneva. The sweater is new and accommodates my growing belly. Only the boots, ring and necklace are second-hand.

Ignore the bad hair and focus on the sparkly gem-like pendant (matched up with a vintage chain found in my box), found for a few Euro at the monthly brocante market here in Annecy. Normally the vintage bling pickings are slim at this market, but I happened upon a vendor this time with a few nifty pieces (one that I'll show you another time).

Check it out: it's two-sided, perfect for the Gemini in me!

Now, who would have thought that, before I even found this necklace, I went back and bought the same skirt as the one above, except in red hues? And who would have ever imagined that I also bought the red version of the above scarf because I loved the blue one so well?

Scarves and skirts, all matchy-matchy

Normally I don't plan things this well, nor am I really the person to buy TWO of one thing in different colours (I thought only men did that!). But these pieces and outfits they comprise seem to have been fated by the Style Gods. Not that I'm into matchy-matchy, as a rule, but I like the way everything has come together, and how the necklace, bought after the scarves and the skirts, just happens to complement their colour schemes! Yes, little things such as this excite me.

You can see I'm experimenting with collaging my finds. Anyone know a free program that doesn't have its name on the photos? I'm all for attribution, but in a caption. :)

The ring, part of the outfit, was found in the thrift shop for a Euro. I love the dome-like structure and green glass.

Thrifted at the same shop: huge handmade (and signed, but can't make it out) brass pendant with figure on it. I need to find a cord or chain worthy of it.

I replace my beat up wallets every season or so, and they're always thrifted, like this cute fabric David Jones one. And I couldn't resist the pink rhinestone brooch. It has such an Art Deco or Nouveau feel to it. It'll look cool on a jean jacket.

Speaking of cool, don't you just love the onsie our good friends, who've just had their baby, customized for us? It's perfect, considering I've found some great baby clothing at the thrift shop. No doubt, the thrift shop will be a place where the little guy will grow up!

Linking up, in advance, to the gorgeous gals over at Patti's Visible Monday.

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Thrifted goodies I wouldn't have bought new (partial part deux of vide grenier haul)

Leather jacket: 2 Euros, Annecy vide grenier.
Worn with gifted maternity top, cheapie leggings, new patchwork purse;
Handmade and hand-dyed fringed shawl made from vintage fabric (not by me);
Vintage elasticized velvet and rhinestone belt.

I'm showing off my two-Euros leather jacket, a buttery soft European-label found at the vide grenier from a few weeks ago. Along with a statement-piece shawl and handbag, it jazzes up an otherwise boring black outfit.

Vintage 1990s booties found in Toronto, Canada.
Bracelet snagged for 5 Euros at Annecy thrift shop.
(31 weeks).

It's burgundy, not a colour I'm hugely attracted to and in truth I wouldn't have bought it it were any more than a few Euros. But that's the amazing thing about thrifting: because it can be so inexpensive, it gives you freedom to experiment with new colours and styles that you typically wouldn't if you were to pay full price.

Flashback to 2010, to another thrifted leather jacket find
(to when I had thighs).

Ditto for this slightly sheeny bubble-gum pink cropped leather I found in Toronto in 2010 at a half-off thrift sale. If it were 20-plus bucks, I very likely would have turned my nose up at it. But for about $10 (if memory serves), I snatched it up. The jacket spruces up denim, black or a relatively neutral outfit. And the wacky pink makes me smile. :)

Wearing the same vintage booties, along with a vintage leather bag, thrifted sweater, designer jeans
and purple Coach sunnies.
(Scarf bought new and worth every penny of the exorbitant price I paid for it at Anthropologie).

I kept most of the pieces comprising this outfit when I moved overseas, save for the designer Angel jeans found for a few bucks in a Toronto thrift shop. I was super super teeny back then, as a single girl. Marriage and general happiness (and not eating crackers and cheese for dinner) automatically put a couple pounds on me. But sadly, that meant I had to part ways with these, my favourite, jeans.

A look I've long admired in jewellery but wouldn't necessarily have paid retail for.

I'll quit moaning now. My new and expanding body is a blessing, even though I do sometimes mourn my former uber-svelte self. On another note, check out this bracelet I found at the thrift shop the same day as the vide grenier for 5 Euros. I've always loved this look but never wanted to pay full-price for it. It's got a slightly '90s vibe crossed with a tribal feel. I've been wearing it endlessly.

Does thrifting allow you to try on new or different looks, or acquire pieces you'd never buy new?

Linking up with the lovely ladies at Pattie's Visible Monday - the 90th installment! Thanks to Patti for continuing to host this fun linkup!

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Second-hand dress love affair

Consignment store dress; thrifted carpet bag and Kenneth Cole booties - all found in Toronto;
ring, a gift from Hubby from eastern Europe;
necklace, found in a France thrift shop
(29 weeks)

I have such a love affair with this dress. I bought it in Toronto, Canada a few years ago for about $35 in a consignment shop. It was a bit steep for what it was, I thought, but I loved it so natch, I bought it.

Single gal when I bought it: Sept. 2010, with consignment store shoes, thrifted earrings and lacy tights.

At the time, it was fall 2010, and I was getting ready to fly overseas to the UK to visit my then beau, now my hubby. I bought this dress especially for that trip.

It took me through the courting phase, haha. (EDIT: Had to crop hubby out on request).

During that trip, hubby-to-be took me to the lovely Inn at Whitewell on the edge of the Lake District. Here we are getting smashed at dinner. I wore the dress with black tights and pewter-toned heels. Great memories!

Single gal to wife-to Mom-to-be dress!

I almost got rid of it while doing my closet-cleanout before moving overseas - and I'm so glad I didn't. At this stage in the game, it makes a perfect pregnancy dress. I just tied the removable belt under my boobs for comfort, and to give me the illusion of a waist.

(You can see in the background that I've been reunited with one of my long-lost vintage bags left in Canada - a gorg and great-sized satin-lined carpet bag in boo-tiful colours - that a friend brought over for me - YAY!).

I don't think I'll ever get rid of this dress - it holds too much meaning now. I tend to be like that with clothing.

Do you have many love affairs with clothing or accessories, for sentimental reasons?

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