Mon French Look

I may not be posting much in the next week or two as packing and moving are currently overwhelming my life! But I had to show you my French-inspired outfit a la charity shops.

In a word: linen.

Crisp linen blouse: found at a local charity shop. Designer linen scarf, found at Oxfam in Beaconsfield. Pink linen-blend pants by Planet - they`re my latest charity shop acquisition that I`m thrilled about, and only 5 pounds! (No, they are not lopsided, it`s just that I was leaning into my hip).

The leather cut-out sandals with real cork wedge: made in Spain and only a few pounds at a local charity shop.

I think the success of this outfit is largely in the details. The scarf, which I have tried to drape as artlessly as I could to imitate what I perceive as the French **deshabille** way of dressing, carelessly but oh so stylishly.

The pink leather messenger bag (made in France, aptly enough), picked up by my twin sis pour moi in France when she went last year.

The Olsen necklace pendant thrifted for a pound. I love the Robin`s Egg blue tone.

The Bibi belt cuff in the same blue hue, dug up at a fab pop-up shop & closing sale - love!!

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Easter hats in the window, for only a pound

I love this: a local shop selling contemporary clothing has been having its retirement sale for weeks now, and the owner is hauling out all her old, unused and unsold stock and samples, along with her own personal vintage collection, as the sale winds down. Spotted in the window last week: a collection of hats worthy of an Easter Parade!

And most of them were a pound. Crazy eh? Alas, I had no plans for church or a fancy tea event, so most of the styles didn't really suit my life.

And the one I really wanted - the forest green wide-brimmed hat in the back, with the studs on it for three pounds - looked like a sombrero on me. Too bad. I did find one blue one (not pictured) that's sort of 70s-esque. If I ever wear it with an outfit I'll show you.

I really admired this beaded and fringed Art Deco purse in the window. These babies aren't cheap online or at vintage markets. It was in great condition and I really liked the faded Easter-like colours. Do you think I bought it?

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Sondra Roberts bags, thrifted vs. sample sale

When I saw this bag at the thrift shop, I fell in love. The hardware, the leather, the ruching down the front: divine. Especially when the price tag was under 5 bucks. The bag is by Sondra Roberts
New York, an affordable luxury brand - which seems like a bit of a paradox to me, but that's what the website says and hey, I'll buy that - even better when thrifted!.

SR bags range in price from $100 or so (USD) to $500, depending on what they're made of. I'm guessing this one, being leather, would have retailed for $400+.
 
The olive greenish colour makes it a neutral in my books, and game for pairing with just about anything. I just have to figure out how to clean the black dirt off the strap. I'm assuming a leather cream cleaner will do the trick.

After my thrift buy, I realized that I had another SR bag, under the SR Squared label, which I bought last summer at a sample sale for 50% off (about $60). It's a reversible thick (weather-proofed?) canvas tote. Note the amazing hardware, just like my thrifted bag. This is my go-everywhere-summer-bag. The other borders on all-season.

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the thrifting and the not-quite-retail worlds intersect!

P.S.: These bags rock. I don't want this to sound like an ad, but I've had the blue one for over a year and it hasn't worn A WHIT. Quality matters to a thrifting grunger like me!

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Thrifted shoes from Spain

I hope you can see these shoes well enough; they're brown faux croc square-toe shoes with a nice big chunky heel. I thrifted them last year and wear them in the fall.

I almost didn't get them as I thought they weren't current enough - they reminded me of a pair of black shoes I had in the late 1990s. Then I realized they're actually a pretty timeless, classic shoe.

It also helped that they were $6.99 at my fave local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift.

They're made in Spain, something I associate with quality, perhaps mistakenly. But they look brand new and haven't been worn at all, a definite prerequisite for my buying thrifted shoes. You may not believe it but I've found some fab shoes and boots thrifted at great prices and in good condition, including Kenneth Cole, Nice West, Italian suede boots and more.

Generally I look for minimal wear and classic as opposed to trendy styles. Well-crafted shoes with great soles is another no-brainer. I stay away from the stinky worn ones that look like thay have no support.

Now I realize there are some style issues with slightly clunky shoes such as these - that's why I opted for some sexy fishnet tights I snagged at a sample sale last year - NOTE: tone on tone (in this case brown fishnets with brown shoes) is the best way to go for a stylish look EXCEPT I would definitely say to never, ever do that with black fishnets. In fact trash the black ones altogether unless yo are dressing up for Halloween.

With the exception of the handmade scarf and the handcrafted purse, this whole outfit was thrifted, btw. The velvet TeenFlo brown skirt was part of a suit I found for $10!! Thrift victory!!

PHOTOS COURTESY my good pal Parmjit and the best PR gal in Toronto, Montana Ridge

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Goodwill dig

Today was 50 percent off at Goodwill Just so you know, I never do the 50-off sales. I can't stand the pushy peeps and the lineups and fighting over stuff; I'm more of an unobtrusive thrifter who  prefers taking her time and doing a careful, thoughtful dig.

So I I did a Goodwill dig two days before the sale and found some great gems. You can't really see it but this black fitted cropped vest with fab buttons and manderin collar was only $2.99 (the Nine West booties were thrifted at Value Village years ago and I just keep fixing them up every year at the shoe makers, and the Jones New York wool lined skirt was also thrifted years ago. The glittery tights: spring sample sale, DIM, 5 pair for $20).

I also found this wool-silk blend blazer that I've already worn two days in a row, with a skirt here but also with jeans. Price: $7.49. I'm a pretty happy camper. and I think most Goodwills are open til 9 p.m. tonight, so if you want to get in on the action and don't mind a bit of frenzy, pop into the nearest one near you and tell me what you get!

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Gay Isber sample sale Friday, May 21 in Toronto

Ahh, bling.

A gal's best friend.

One of my fave local jewellery designers, Gay Isber, is having a major clear-out sale - tomorrow only! If you live in Toronto it's so worth stopping by.

Gay uses vintage chains and beads, Swarovski crystal and new elements to create big, bold and beautiful neck pieces, bracelets and earrings.

For the sale, items start at $8 and many average $20-35.

Gay sells on the Shopping Channel, at the Royal Ontario Museum, and more. This is the sale of the century!

This earrings are only $15 each.

Sigh.

Wish I still wore earrings.

Funnily enough, the pieces I'm showing you here, though I love 'em, aren't really for me.

I love pretty, but I need my pretty mixed with rock n' roll.

So I spent hours there while Gay and her colleague Jess helped me find just the right pieces.




There's a whole room of samples and last year's stock for $20 a pop - I kid you not. Chunky necklaces that were selling for $100+ last summer at the ROM are now 20 smackeroos.

I loved this purple Swarovski crystal and silver tone piece. But silver is just too pale for pale moi.

I did find a huge multi-tier gold necklace made of vintage chains from the 1950s to 80s.

It was originally $100, but I snagged it for $20.

Other pieces are $30 and $35, with earrings for $5 and $15.

I can't believe I didn't buy this to go with my gold chain, for $20.

As you may know, I love that combo of rock n' roll with feminine.

It still may be there tomorrow if you drop by!

I think I may go back and get some gifts.

Gay does everything from over-the-top to more classic, refined pieces she sells on the shopping channel.




DETAILS:

Friday, May 21 from 11 a.m to 10 p.m.

55 Charles Street West
Buzz 101, Apt 1903
phone:416-515-1885

Oh, they have Interac!

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Bling like candy - Rita Tesolin sampe sale

By now you know my addiction to bling, mostly vintage.

I also meet a lot of local artists in my line of work, and working in the design district and all, I know some of Toronto's best designers.

When I received an email yesterday that jewellery designer Rita Tesolin had extended her sample sale, I broke down and popped in.

Rita designs and handmakes uber wonderful statement piece necklaces. They're big, bold, and often heavy, and they're all over the fashion mags. Rita started designing when she was 12 and supplied Sears with her creations when she was a teen. After working as a lawyer for years she picked up the design trade again and now, seven years in, she supplies places like Holt Renfrew.

They're not Grunge Queen prices - $300-$500 or so regular price - so a sample sale was right up my alley. Many pieces have been 'slashed' and ones that were selling for several hundred bucks are marked down to as low as $95.

Some of the pieces, as you can see here, have a retro vibe to them.

Some are more classic in tone - like a multi-strand of pearls - but they all have a funk factor.





If you want to check it out the sale ends tomorrow, Friday.

Her studio is at

63 Wingold Ave., suite 110 on the main floor 416-784-1221 www.ritatesolin.com

I couldn't really afford even a $100 necklace, but I did see a piece for $50 that drew my eye ....







This gold chain is a vintage 1970s Nina Ricci chain, and Rita has fastened these darling stone hearts to it.

The chain is amazing. So heavy. I love the rock n' roll vibe the chain puts out combined with the sweetie-pie hearts. Cool paradox.

I was going to wear it to the LG Innovators' Ball tonight, but once I mentioned it to Rita she loaned me a gorgeous piece with matching ring from her Fall 2010 collection (not pictured here as it's not on sale)!

I feel like such a diva!


Maybe I'll try to snap of pic of me wearing it tonight - the one I'm wearing was apparently donned by artist Jully Black in a recent video!

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