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...

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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...

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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:...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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Cheap beauty secrets - or cheap n' nasty?

Supermodels and movie stars swear by it: Vaseline as a facial moisterizer.I typically use it as a lip moisterizer before bed, but the other night I tried it on my face. And reader, after a few days of using it, my face looks and feels like a baby's bum.I bought two more mini tubs at the Dollar Store last night for $1.29 each. They even market it on the packages as the "No. 1 Skin Protection" and "The Ultimate Moisturizer."Sure, it's 100% petroleum...

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Prince Edward County wine tour

We interrupt regular Grunge Queen programming so I can tell you about the wine tour I went on yesterday hosted by the LCBO!(Hey, it was for media so it was free, tee hee).The goal: learn about Ontario wines.We started having an informative tour at Norman Hardie winery - beautiful country, lovely wine and friendly host - and the lunch, made with veggies from the garden on site: amazing!I highly recommend the County Chardonnay, unfiltered 2008 that...

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Monday morning no brainer

It's a simple thing, but sometimes it's the simplest of things that can bring the most satisfaction.A shopkeeper gave me this rose as I was doing a shopping column last week. I didn't have a bud vase to put it in, so I plopped it in this glass when I got home.As the rose got older I kept cutting down the stem, so that it eventually fell below the lip of the glass.I love the way the rose looks like a living artifact, behind glass yet with life not...

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Four buck pick-me-up

If you're broke (like me) this weekend and trolling around for a cheap & fun activity, here's something you can do with a loved one ('cos don't you notice that you never go into a photo booth with anyone but someone you really care about?)I only go into these things once every 5-10 years, again with peeps like my best friend, my twin sis and bro in law, and my hunny, as you see here.I think they're $4 or so now. I remember their being $2 in the...

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Thrifty past; thrifty news

This pic was taken of me three years ago by Town Crier newspaper photographer Francis Crescia, just when I was getting in vintage bling.I look so different now. Let's just say I would NEVER wear an outfit like that now, even though that one was 100% thrift.Speaking of bling, I have some little gems of information to dispense today: thrifter's news let's call it!COMMON SORT 50% off sale TODAYIf you're a Torontontonian, get thee thrifty butt over to...

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Vintage can be politically incorrect

Ever have a vintage piece you love, but just can't wear as you're scared of sending the wrong message?Sometimes I really hate the politically correct world we live in in the western world.But, while I love this vintage hand-rolled silk scarf by Vera that I've had for years, I just haven't been able to wear it for years.Why? Because I loathe bull fighting.Didn't think of that when I bought it in my early 20s.I think it's quite vintage. It has the...

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Stuff I've thrifted but will never wear

Ever thrift stuff you know you'll never use?I do it rarely, but if the piece is special, I go for it.These were a couple bucks if that at my local thrift shop.Pierre Cardin men's shades made in France. The arms bend out to almost 180 degrees.I just thought they were so 1970s (1980s?) cool. Maybe I'll find someone to wear th...

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Vintage belts & waists gone by

So it's been a reorg behind the scenes as I slog through drawers and closets in an effort to weed out and pair down.I found this belt, which looks as though it was attached to a size 8 dress, in my Junk Drawer (more on the Junk Drawer another time).It's not attached to the vintage wool dress in my closet because, well, I can't wear the belt anymore.What freaks me out about vintage sizing is that peeps were so much smaller then. True, this was a size...

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Reorg and divesting urge

I feel a reorg coming on.I haven't done much in my place for months, and I am getting sick of the mess and how things look.I also feel the need to cut back on large portions of my stuff. That could eventually manifest itself in a major Grunge Queen stuff sale.If you're in or around Toronto and are interested in possibly coming to a sale where I divest myself of large amounts of my stuff, please email me at grungequeen@yahoo.com and I will start a...

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Dollar store dress

I can't believe I found this dress in a dollar store on Danforth Ave. in Toronto.It's 100 percent tie-dyed rayon, made in Thailand, and $25 to boot.I love dresses like this; I'm a former dancer and the cut is very 'dance-y' and flattering for a body type like mine.It's so easy peasy breezy for this grotesquely hot and humid weather we've been having; all I have to do is steam it, throw it over my head and voila!Thanks to pal Chris for snapping this...

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My apt, back in time

Alas, I've been doing very little in the way or re-jigging or decorating my apartment these days, so I thought I'd show you some pretty and hopefully inspiring vignettes from last year.I know, I'm a bad blogger, recycling content - but hey it's very Grunge Queen!!I love the colours here and the drama of the black and the purple .....The black head sculpture was a fave find at Value Village. The black tablecloth: fab dollar store find.One of my fave...

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Thrifty yet not so effective idea

I have a dear little kitty who's starting to pee outside the box.She still goes into the litter box, but her wee butt hangs over the edge, so a lot of pee ends up on the floor.I've been using newspapers and buying expensive dog trainer pads to put under the box and soak up the urine, but the other day as I was cleaning out masses of papers, I hit upon an idea: instead of shredding my old resumes and bills, why not use 'em to soak up the pee?It's...

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