Over the rainbow with 70s dress

I can't believe I didn't buy this 1970s striped polyester cowl neck dress at first. It was $6.99 at my local thrift store, Stretch Thrift, and then it was 50 percent off that! I loved the colours but wasn't sure if I had the guts to pull off, well, a 1970s striped polyester cowl neck dress!But reader, I went back the same day and tried it on. It was a bit loose but I figured I could cinch it in with a belt (as I have here, with a vintage velvet elasticized...

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Crochet & vintage 70s necklace to match

Remember these crochet sweaters? Crochet was big in the 70s, of course, but I remember having a bunch of crochet cardis in the 90s. Well they're back. This glittery turquoise bolero style cardi was sort of granny-anny crossed with a boho vibe, so I picked it up on sale.It goes perfectly with my new bling, a 1970s pendant and necklace.I love the shape, the heavy chain, the colour - its semi rough hewn look. It reminds me a bit of the 70s jewellery...

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Corner nook

I'm showing you the rest of my apartment redo. Like I said a few posts ago, I split the room into chunks and rejigged each area (like this corner) as a little room unto itself - if you're intimidated by the process of redecorating or even refreshing a bit, this strategy can make that process less daunting.  I relocated these huge thrifted glass lamp (with ruby red shade bought for a song at Consumers Lighting in Toronto) to the large teak hutch...

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Thrift style a la spring

More pretty spring-inspired tableaus from my apartment ....Think purple as a unifying colour, and a bit of whimsy in a teddy bear piggy bank.Toss in a lovely hand-painted velvet picture made in England (thrifted for 99 cents), a thrifted flower pot and fresh new purple tulips, and a heavy gold mirror (thrifted for $3.99), propped up on a heavy wooden dresser found in the tra...

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Funny? Psycho? Bunny cake home made by Mom

Ok, he didn't look like much to start. But my Mom had high hopes for the bunny cake. She started off with two circular cake pans. Dad - the engineer - was able to cut the head from one of the circles (Mom and I could never have managed that). The ears, legs and arms were made from the scraps.Here's the boiled icing my mother boiled over the stove for, like, 20 hours. Ok. Maybe not that long. Who has ever heard of boiled icing? Apparently it was the...

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More 'Easter' bling

Picked up for a song at Canadian Thrift. I thought this brass pendant was just so boho!It didn't come with a chain but I just fixed it up on one I had. My philosophy with bling is the same with all my other accessories, including lamps and pillows: just change things up! Alternate chains and pendants as you would lampshades with different lamp bas...

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Don't give me eggs, just rings

Well, the centre of this 1970s style ring does sort of look like an egg, no?This ring is so my style. Actually the round green piece in the middle is shaped like a marble. I love the textured gold-tone detail around the ring. Bought it at the hair cutting place that sells the vintage bli...

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Sexy 70s necklace by Avon

OMG, I still have more pretty spring decorating to show you but I can't go without showing you more bling! I am like a junkie: I need my fix! Just look at the sturdy pendant with turq 'stone' (plastic) on this Avon necklace pendant.Take a peep at the back. I love well-made sturdiness and weight in costume jewellery. It tells me it's old-ish.The coolest feature: you can wear it the semi ho-hum way, with the chain doubled.Or you can sex it up and wear...

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How to do pretty: light & whimsy

Want to do pretty in your pad as spring approaches? Simply do what I did when I re-jigged my apartment this past weekend: change up the accessories. Away went the deep jewel-toned pillows and out came my pretty pillow ditties.They lightened up the dark sofa, as you can see. Blue velvet, you may know, is a bit of a thing for me. And when the months turn warmer I need to inject a bit of light n' bright, just so it doesn't look like some dreary 18th...

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Pretty spring makeover: start with one tableau

Spring has come to my apartment even though there were flurries for most of the day in Toronto, eeps.I haven't posted on decor in so long as, truth be told, I have been uninspired in my space and haven't re-jigged it for months. Then, with a gal pal coming over for dinner last night, I looked around at all the (dust) and Persian carpets on the floor and dark colours and thought, "UG. I simply cannot make dinner until this palce has a fresh new look."A...

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1970s polyester + great styles

The 70s style influences are back in a big way - but sometimes the **originals** are even more stylish than the cheapie contemporary knock-offs in the malls. Take these hyper-flammable wide leg  pants (mix of nylon and polyester) in wild colours. On the rack they may have looked ridiculous but I saw their style potential. Aren't they swish?? Fab with a halter style top and 70s-inspired wedgie sandals.The handkerchief skirt or dress is also back...

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Yellow on steroids

I have been a yellow fiend this past week, donning the hue I rarely wear in an effort to jumpstart Spring in my head and of course in this grey, black-coat ridden place we call Toronto. Some items, like this tight sporty hooded jacket, are new. (But tee and necklace: thrifted).Others were purchased new too, like this more golden-hued stretch turleneck - except as you can see I'm wearing it with my $2 Escada jacket (my fave spring acquisition, and...

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Silver Mexican bracelet: the obsession continues

These days I'm attracted to colours I haven't been attracted to historically - like green. This silver bracelet made in Mexico, with this big square thing in the middle holding all these sparkly green bits, well, it just called out to me. I found it at Creative Cuts in Toronto on Coxwell at Danforth Ave.Owner Petra cuts hair and sells second-hand bling out of her front window. Her prices aren't always thrift, but they're not bad. I thought about...

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'70s sistas

Yesterday's post on the 1970s necklace MY SISTER, not me, thinks is fugly, generated a lot of comments! So in the spirit of the the '70s, fugly, and sisters, here's another old pic of me (left), my twin and older sis in some pretty happening polyester.See, I'm practising poses for my blog way back then! I remember that dress. Liked it. So short, though. Think my twin and I were outgrowing them. And how about that burgundy outfit? Love the mini. The...

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'Fugly'--sentimental 1970s pendant

When I showed this gold-tone mosaic 1970s style pendant to my sis (which I ended up thrifting for 50 percent off), she told me it reminded her of the ugly necklaces and pendants our Mom used to wear in the 1970s when we were growing up.Gee, I always loved those necklaces. And this one does remind me of them, too. I can see why my sis called them/it ugly - they're not beautiful, after all. Perhaps it's just the sentimental nut in me that makes me...

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