London vintage-esque compass to guide my way

I'm leaving on a jet plane TODAY to see a lovely Brit gent.

He also happens to be a pilot from London, so when I saw this lovely retro-esque bauble at the brand new Haute par Periwinkle store in Eglinton Way, I picked it up - it was under $30!

Periwinkle is a local designer boutique where you kind find tons of handmade bling by local designers.

I loved this piece for so many reasons: one, the compass will help guide me to my lovely mannie, who, as a pilot, is used to navigating the skies. Two, it has "London" at the bottom as you can see, and well, that's where he's from and we may go there if we have time. Three, I loved the little birdie the artist put on top. I will be winging my way to him soon!

Posts may be spotty for the next little while but I hear some of his pals want to show me around to the vintage shops in his town -- so there could be a special British edition of Grunge Queen coming soon!! Stay tuned and have a fab last fling at summer!

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Twiggy-boho outfit

Preppy look, begone: this is an outfit I put together as a result of a second-hand jaunt along Mount Pleasant Rd. in midtown, Toronto.

Love the boho-esque dress I picked up at Act Two boutique at 596 Mount Pleasant for $30.

Owner Inga carries mainly high-end vintage couture, but this isn't a designer label or anything.

I paired it with a pair of Gerard Darel shoes from Paris, practically new, that I found the same weekend just down the street from Act Two, at Second Nature Boutique at 514 Mt. Pleasant.

They were part of the summer clearout sale and were five bucks!

I thought the floral white stockings (that I got at a sample sale last spring) were very Twiggy-like, a la 1960s.

To be sure, the look isn't mod Twiggy, more bohemian inspired.


I rarely wear earrings these days, but I picked these ones up recently at a new antique shop on Keele just at Dundas St. West in the Junction called Mr. Antico.

They're vintage 1970s and I love them - they actually match a pendant I picked up for cheap recently. Not sure if you can see them but they sport a paisley motif with a bird.

This is a different look for me, but it's a pretty girly look and it was nice for a change - I will be bringing it with me when I go on my England trip!

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Swap Meet this weekend

I can't make this one, alas, but if a garage and swap meet appeals to you, check out Swap Sity's annual event in Toronto:

Date: August 28th, Saturday

Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm (Vendors can set up tables at 10:00am)

Location: Walmer Road Baptist Church, Lower Hall, Ground floor, enter from south side
188 Lowther Avenue (Spadina & Bloor)

Garage Sale Admission: $2 (The first 50 garage sale attendees get in for FREE!)

Swap Meet Admission: $5

Garage Sale and Swap Meet Admission: $6

Table Rental: $20 (Please book in advance)

For more info check out

Garage Sale Info: http://www.swapsity.ca/swap_meet

Swap Meet Info: http://www.swapsity.ca/book_swap_meet

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Prep look a la 1980s, with vintage accessories

I'm still groovin' on my fall prep look, and though the boy blazer was bought new and the striped wool/cashmere ballerina top picked up recently at Club Monaco, I'd like to show how you how an oft-ignored vintage piece called THE PIN can make or break an outfit. To the left, you'll see the outfit without the pin.

I was dark wearing skinny jeans (thrifted of course) and pointy silver shoes.

I not only needed a pop of colour; I needed some understated pizazz (a bit of a paradox, I know, but you can't do too much pizazz with prep!) to complete the look.

Check out the outfit with the pin.

I love this vintage 1980s enamel pin (and it can be worn as a pendant as well).

The vertical line motif picks up the stripes of the tee, and the bright blue adds a bit of zip to the ensemble.

I wear a ton of blazers when the cooler weather arrives, and I often accessorize with a vintage pin on the lapel - provided my necklace isn't too much (the understated vintage one here works well with the pin and creates a clean, non-fussy look).

These red 1970s shades pick up on the primary colour scheme of the pin and add another pop of colour to a basic neutral outfit.

Hopefully this post shows how great vintage accessories can make (or break, without them!) an outfit.

So next time you're in the thrift shop take a little dig in the jewellery case, or rummage through that basket of old sunglasses -- there could be a little gem hiding in the rough!

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Fall preview: preppy thrift

This is my new fall look, semi-preppy and inspired by a recent trip to Second Nature Boutique, which this weekend wrapped up its mega summer sale where everything was $10.

This entire look was thrifted, and much was purchased at that sale.

The Parasuco cropped jean jacket: $10. The big Anne Klein embroidered scarf: $10. The red INC stretch top: $10. All in perfect condition.

The Guess jeans I found at Value Village a few years back for under $20.


Even the worn leather belt with the amazing silver-tone belt was thrifted for a couple bucks at my fave local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift.

The darling heart necklace is new, found at my fave costume jewellery boutique in Toronto's Junction area, Lavishy.

I am really digging the prep look this season, which is easy to do thrift: look for stripes, denim, oversize navy blazers a la 1980s with big gold buttons, skinny jeans and a simple cardi.

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New shop in the Junction: Russet & Empire

So I was out in the Junction today and discovered a store that just opened this very day!

Russet & Empire ("Purveyor of Fine Goods from this Great Nation and Abroad", the tagline says - don't you love it?) carries vintage/retro and new decorative accessories, and is run my a design-savvy gal named Micah Lenahan.
















Micah is still setting the store up and the official opening isn't until September 2, so it'll be interesting to see what develops. Clearly, Micah has a love for design, which shows in the carefully curated white-walled space.
















Everything from candle holders to stacking totem pole stacking and bud vases from Sweden preside on the wood shelving built by Micah's husband, a furniture designer who works around the corner at architectural salvage shop and gallery space, Smash.
















As you can see here, Micah carries Mor candles, soaps and lip balm, which she tells me are carried only at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.
















Right now there are quite a few items from Sweden, like mason jars with crown insignia on them for about $15 a pop, darling bulbous bud vases and such.




















Unfortunately this dude isn't for sale, but there's a great story behind it: there was a pair of these at an auction around the corner, and Micah and her Dad bid on them but lost. Turns out her Dad approached the winner in the parking lot and offered to buy 'em ... now one is in Micah's shop, and the other with her Dad. Cute eh?















Prices aren't thrift, but they're good: the bud vase from Sweden that you see here is $19; a pair of ceramic 'twin' head vases, $22.





















I really like the feel of this place; it's gallery-like without being pretentious, and Micah's enthusiasm is infectious.
















There are also new gift cards and a few books. The perfect place to pick up a hostess gift or a little pick-me-up.





















390 Keele St., just north of Keele and Dundas St. West
416-649-0042
www.russetandempire.com

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Cheap n' easy natural beauty 'secrets'

Ok, so we had a couple fellow Vaseline users comment on yesterday's post - good to know I'm not out there alone!

But there are other natural beauty alternatives that are inexpensive.

I buy avocado oil at natural health food stores and use it as a moisterizer. Avocado is good to eat and put on your face - all those Essential Fatty Acids plump up aging skin! Actually my skin has never looked better since I've started using the stuff.

For the odd blemish I get around certain times of the month, I use a dab - a small dab - of tea tree oil. You can get it at the fancy shops but as you see here I bought the Life brand at Shoppers Drug Mart as it's cheaper.

Use sparingly and try a test patch with this oil first as it is quite strong. If I get too vigorous in my application I end up with a red spot. But it is good for drying up zits.

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