September in Annecy & Vide Greniers

I love Annecy this time of year. The days are warm - warm enough for bikinis on the beach - yet the bulk of the tourists have left, so the old town and lake are blissfully quiet, except on market days or weekends. I plan on coming back to this now-deserted dock now that all the boat renters have left. Maybe drink some vino and watch the sunset with hubby? Ahh sounds dreamy.

North Americans may be used to garage sales in the Spring, but in France, September is the time for Vide Greniers, which are essentially the UK equivalent of car boot sales crossed or North American flea markets but translate into "empty attics."

Basically people rent tables and get rid of their stuff. There was one in the main city square a few weekends ago, so I popped in to have a peep. There was a lot of junk not worth buying in my opin - cheap mass-market clothing etc - but if you dug around you could find quite the deals as many items were 3-4 Euros each.

I spent a grand total of 15 Euros and walked away with a few good finds, including this rock n' roll necklace with a cute Swarovski heart for 5 Euros.

I should have bought the big golden-tone ring in the corner for 2 Euros, and the matching gold-tone bracelet, which could also be worn as a choker. The woman selling the bling bought it in India.

You know my obsession for tapestry bags. Lately I've been haunting Etsy for ethnic bags. I found this fab leather and Ikat purse on Etsy for around 34 Euros if memory serves. I've been looking for more bags of a similar ilk but am too much of a cheapskate ....

... so finding this leather and fabric bucket style bag for 3 Euros at the Vide Grenier was a super treat!

I bought some designer jeans, not pictured here, for 4 Euros, but my absolute finito buy: these leather booties, made in Portugal by Minka Design, for 3 Euros - love! (They'd probably sell for 100+ Euros as I've seen tall boots of the same mark new for 200 Euros).

My French look, with the boots: thrifted 7 For All Mankind Jeans; thrifted Teenflo blazer (how apt that it's a Paris-based label ... but found the blazer and matching skirt in Toronto!) in a glorious brown and neutral velvet; cashmere sweater gifted; new scarf and sunnies; and 'everything bag' purchased on Etsy.

They're just the perfect booties to wear around Annecy: flat so practical for uneven, cobblestone streets, yet also possessing a certain amount of chic (the French here aren't obsessed with heels, and it makes sense!). Thanks to my darling hubby for snapping the above two shots and for making this one artsy, with his shadow in the foreground and the glorious French Alps overlooking Lac Annecy in the background.

I leave you with a photo of a very elderly couple - both with walking canes! - I spied sitting on a bench around the Lake the other day. I thought they were so sweet, and they're not an uncommon sight: there are a lot of old, yet very fit, couples in Annecy and you can often see them out walking together. You tend not to see this type of thing in Canada. The climate, diet and lifestyle is so wonderfully different here that people stay active into their elderly years. I am sure people live longer here (I have read that people on the French Riviera live an average of ten years longer than the average American). I'm staying put!

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1990s looks, thrifted

My eyes are shut here - maybe because I'm dreaming of the perfect thrifted outfit?

Not! That's because I'm wearing it! I thrifted this 1990s-esque (possibly 1980s?) jumper dress last year in Toronto for under 10 bucks. It's a deep navy blue with a wee green and yellow paisley-like pattern on it, and  it reminds me of something Phoebe from the TV show **Friends** would have worn. I'm wearing it with a tee I thrifted for 3 Euros at the thrift shop I told you about last time.

You may notice the bag? That's my distressed SAS handmade in Texas "everything" bag I showed you a while back, purchased on Etsy and found in my mailbox last week - love!! It just so happens to go with my equally distressed (and thrifted) Kenneth Cole boots - yay!

I found the 1970s red-rimmed sunnies in Toronto with the original tag still on the lens. Locket is vintage Avon found in a Toronto vintage shop - it used to have perfume inside!

Shoes and necklace: new and bought in Annecy.

Not the most flattering pic, but flashback! I think I had this exact same dress in the 1990s: long, flowy, slightly shapeless, and with teeny floral patterns - remember? I got rid of all these dresses when more form-fitting and less fussy styling came into being in 2000 or so - major regret! I found this in an Annecy vintage shop for 18 Euros - not the cheap and dirty pricing I'm used to in Canada or the UK but ahh, what's a girl who's groovin' on the 1990s to do? I will wear these dresses with jean jackets, big scarves and booties when the weather cools a bit ... Maybe I'll even splurge for a cropped leather jacket like all the girls in Annecy are wearing ....

See how versatile my 'new' bag is?

The necklace was dug up this weekend at a Vide Grenier - will show you a close up soon as I went home with a good haul and I have to show you all of it!

Have a fab weekend every one.

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News flash: I found a charity shop in Annecy!

Who would have thought? There may not be 15 charity shops scattered in the main shopping area like there was in St Annes in the UK, but there actually IS the equivalent if a HUGE charity shop right here in Annecy, literally a ten-minute walk from me! I found out about it on an Expat Forum.

As the van says, it's called Bazar sans Frontieres. It's a association that provides employment opportunities for socially disadvantaged people, much like the Goodwill that I know and love in Canada. The website has different numbers but the French gent with whom I spoke says the organization employs 24 such people on site.

The place is huge, consisting of several buildings in which you'll find clothing, furniture, and books/bric-a-brac. Those are the French Alps in the background, BTW.

Outside there's stuff like old basins and tubs. I thought this iron day bed was particularly French!

You wouldn't believe the furniture building - two floors of it! The first floor is lined with solid wood armoires starting as low at 150 Euros!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember, from my Toronto apartment, my penchant for green velvet.

Sigh. Retro velvet just doesn't excite me anymore.

But if I could have turned this tapestry chair into a handbag, I would have in a flash.

I can't quite banish velvet from my thoughts though: I hauled hubby back one rainy day last week to look a this brown velvet loveseat. I thought it was quite French looking. He hated it, alas.

You may recall the 20-some lamps I had in Toronto, most of which were thrifted, and then given away when I moved overseas (the ones I couldn't part with are at my Mom's for safe-keeping). Now we are lampless in Annecy. I picked up this green baby for 6 Euros as I liked the shape. I left the shade there as it stank of the smoke of 10,000 cigarettes. Now I need to find a shade. I can never remember what 'lampshade' is in French, so my phrase of choice is when asking shop keepers: "Quelque chose pour mettre sur un lumiere,"  and then some sign language and an air drawing in the shape of a triangle. Oh dear, no wonder I'm not finding one.

I found five paisley boho napkins for 1 Euro total.

They totally complement the paisley tablecloth, pictured underneath, that I found at last month's brocante market in Annecy for 6 Euros!

Here's a quick peep at the table with its new covering. Tres French, n'est ce pas?

So is this wee stool, picked up for 7 Euros, which now reposes at the foot of our bed. Why?

Because my darling 16-year old little stinker loves hanging on the bed, and she has difficulty getting onto it sometimes. Our lovely new Ralph Lauren duvet cover is slowly getting ruined with pick marks as she claws her way to the top, poor wee thing.

The little fart jumped on it right away and slept on it for a total of three days. Now it doesn't exist. Off her radar completely. She looks like the Cat that Ate New York or something here, teehee.

The housewares building was a gold mine of inexpensive ceramics, pottery, bowls etc. Check out this "Made in Annecy" pottery serving plate - boho gorg and only .80 cents! This would be a great place to come and suss out local pottery etc for souvenirs.

My crowning achievement that day: finding these Made in France corkscrews made out of dried grape vines, for 1 Euro each!!!. My bro-in-law has one from France that he loves that broke, so guess what he's getting for his B-day pressie?

In fact, every one I know and love is getting one as they're FAB souvenirs. Most have teeny metal plaques screwed into them identifying the maker and place of origin - this one says Annecy Le Vieux, which is a suburb of Annecy.

I'm so obsessed with these things that I cleaned them out (five in total). Then I went back a few days later and found another for .50 cents. Score!

For now they comprise an 'artful' centrepiece when piled in a French-made bowl (bought new) and sitting atop an April Cornell tablecloth purchased recently on Etsy (I had, like, ten tablecloths in Canada and - surprise surprise - I gave them ALL away, duh).

I have more show and tell but will leave it at that tonight. Have a wonderful weekend every one!

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Secondhand sequels

Everything here except for the ridiculously priced scarf bought in Canada at Anthropologie (I still love it) is thrifted:  black jeans, 2 pounds at a UK charity shop; boots, about 30 CAD at a Toronto, Canada vintage shop; bag, a gift; tee, hoodie and jacket, thrifted in Canada & the UK.

Yeeks! A week and a half ago it was 35 degrees C, but in the last week it's cooled down and has been quite rainy - reminds me of the UK weather I left behind a few months ago! This is me a few days ago, tromping around with the hubby in Annecy. Excuse the bad hair. It's in growth mode and it looks silly when not tucked behind my ears.

Me in the UK in March, wearing the companion jeans to the black ones shown in the first pic: grey skinnies bought for 2 pounds at the Furballs charity shop in St Annes, Lancashire.

OUTFIT DEETS: booties and bag, new (but bag a decade old!); top, UK charity shop; J Crew blazer, thrifted in Canada long ago; scarf, gift; and Avon necklace, Toronto vintage shop.

The above is sorta an outfit prequel, if you will, as the pic was snapped my first month in the UK this spring, and I'm wearing the grey version of the black jeans. Both jeans were found at my fave charity shop in St Annes, the one benefitting the animals. I didn't even try them on - how lucky that they fit!

How I wore this thrifted knit dress a few years ago.

Speaking of outfit sequels, I used to wear this linen-blend knit dress (tag that says "Made in France", fittingly enough), which I thrifted in Canada for $6.99 or so, in the winter-time only, with a cashmere sweater underneath, tights, boots, and a fabulous statement piece necklace.

A bit blurry but I wanted you to see the head-to-toe.

Look at how skinny I was. And I have tights and a semi-bulky sweater underneath!

Current shot of moi wearing the dress as a summer frock, without anything but my thongs and a bra underneath!
ACCESSORIES: Kenneth Cole ballet flats, bought for $2 at the "$2 Sale" in Toronto, Canada, and a thrifted Matt & Nat handbag (maybe 4 CAD?).

I fill out the dress much better here, methinks. The other day (when it was still warm), I decided to give a summer twist to the frock by wearing it on its own, sans turtleneck etc (but keeping the same wondrous statement piece necklace). The French ethic is influencing me these days, as it's all about simplicity and effortless style - so much so that all my fancy vintage frocks (which are a wee bit tight these days, alas) don't seem to fit into my life here - but that's another story.

So a thrift shop addict can't thrift in Annecy. Next best thing? A cheap summer dress from the market - three Euros!
ACCESSORIES: bag, 2 pounds at a UK charity shop; Clarks leather sandals, under 10 pounds at the same; necklace, a gift from Alaska; bracelet, thrifted for a dollar in Canada.

This 3 Euros cotton sundress, bought a few weeks ago at the market under my window when it was stinking hot, can just make it as an outfit sequel as it represents my alternative to thrift shopping, sigh. Thrift/charity shops don't really exist here, you see (but Vide Greniers do, and I'll tell you about them soon!). This dress is another nightie frock and TRES see-through. You can see my legs, my white thong and my derriere. But heck, if women can walk around topless on the beaches here I figured a semi-transparent dress was within the bounds of decency. An old woman practically came onto me in the Monoprix when I was wearing it, LOL - thankfully I couldn't understand what she was saying but she did seem to be very interested in the dress, eeks!

Another nightie dress, this time for 5 Euros.
Bag and sandals: bought NEW years ago!

I bought this white cotton "nightie" sundress from the same vendor for 5 Euros about a month ago. I'm guessing the guy lowered his prices and slashed the 5 Euros dresses to 3 Euros!

Another 5 Euros dress, perfect for the hot Annecy summer weather - which I hope isn't gone for good!

My last 5 Euros dress, worn with a new hat and a fake tan.

Here's hoping I can wear it again soon.

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Handbags: the lost, the replacements, the found again

The thrifted leather doctor's bag I gave away: wah!!

This is a photo of me from a few years ago, pre-hubby. I'm wearing a thrifted 70s coat that I gave away to a pal when I moved. It stank of smoke so I don't miss it much. But I do miss the thrifted leather doctor's bag, pictured here, more than I care to admit - does it sound superficial to say that I regret getting rid of the MASS of thrifted items that I did before I moved overseas? This little number would have been perfect in France - the French ladies do tend to carry handbags such as this over their wrists, just SO - so stylish!

Another thrifted bag I gave away.

This all-leather baby was also thrifted for a couple bucks in Canada. It was given away too (note the passive voice? I can't even handle the guilt). Now, in France, with the cooler weather approaching, I find myself brown-bagless. How could I have given them all away? Was a completely nuts??

The replacement bag: 7 Euros on Etsy.
PHOTO: The Vintage Goody Shop, Etsy.

An obsessive troll on Etsy.com ensued the other night after yearning reveries of my lost bags, in which I tried to track down a worn brown leather bag. I found plenty of options at 40-50 Euros, a price I didn't want to pay to replace two bags that between them cost under 10 CAD. The Vintage Goody Shop came to the rescue with this uber distressed leather bag, on sale for the equivalent of just over 7 Euros! It's Liz Claiborne, not a vintage make or anything, but I've owned them before and the bags are well-made. Plus this one is banged up enough to constitute a Grunge Queen fave, I'm sure.

A second replacement bag, to make up for the ones below that I thought I'd lost.
PHOTO: The Vintage Goody Shop, Etsy.

For that price (so the shopping rationale goes), I could afford to buy another from the same shop, in this case a handmade bag from the good 'ole US of A, by SAS, in a tan distressed leather. It was a little more than 7 Euros but a ways off from 40 Euros, my cut-off point, so I snagged it. It will be my go-to every day bag, I can see it! I can't think of too many bag companies that are still manufacturing in the US, so I'm happy to have this little piece of  history.

Lost, then found again: hiding in my Mom's basement in a box!

The SAS bag was to replace this bag, a thrifted leather beaut I picked up in a Toronto vintage shop for a song last fall, which I thought I had lost forever ....

Remember the box of handbags I thought had gone missing somewhere between Toronto, Ottawa, and the UK, which I was hoping were hiding somewhere in my Mom's basement in Canada?

Another lost but found again leather beaut: hope we'll be reunited soon.
But in the meantime I have my replacement bags!

Turns out they're alive and well: Mom emailed (ironically right after I'd purchased the Etsy bags) to say she'd found the handbag box in the basement!! I made her show me every single one in the box over Skype, a total of 12 missing bags!! Whohoo! I ignored Mom's comment that she hoped I hadn't bought any handbags as I already had enough? (Well, how was I to know? I thought these bags were forever lost. It was only natural that I'd replace them, n'est pas?).

A Goodwill find that is in the bag box.

When I was working in Toronto, I used this 70s clutch as my lunch bag - most stylish lunch bag ever or worst fashion mistake ever?

And who knows when we'll meet again, since there's an ocean and expensive postage separating us? At least I know they're safe and sound at Grandma's, now residing in her cedar chest.

So glad I didn't give this 70s carpet clutch away.

Ditto for this wee patent baby found at Goodwill for a few dollars.

Vintage Missoni-esque carpet bag I will see again soon: can a gal love a handbag any more than I do right now?

It may seem silly to be so attached to my handbags, but I can't help it. They hold life's important baubles, everything from under-eye concealer to I.D. We should revere them, in my humble opin.

I gave away the wonderful patent bag and the plaid clutch behind it, but the wee suede doctor's bag in the front, which I found for .99 cents in a Toronto junk shop, made into the lost-now-found-again-box.
 It's got a red leather interior and is, simply put, utterly glorious.

I may need to ask Mom to ship a few of the lost tribe over to me. The rest can be stowed away in my sis (and her family's) luggage when they come on skiing holiday in the winter.

Isn't it nice to find stuff you thought was forever gone? Sometimes I'll even put things away, so I can experience the rush of finding them again.

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