Latest greatest second-hand accessory

Thrifted Thierry Mugler blazer: four euros, Annecy thrift shop
Bally bag: 25 euros, consignment shop
Turtleneck: thrifted in Canada
Levis: new/retail (of so worth it).

Nope. It's not my Baby Bjorn carrier for Adam. I love buying the little guy used clothing, but I tend towards new stuff for the big-ticket baby items.

Spotlight today is on my (slightly fuzzy) used leather and brocade bag by Bally, acquired at my local consignment shop for a mere 25 euros.

EVERYTHING SECOND-HAND except for brolly:
1990s Capezio granny boots: Ebay
Distressed jeans: Annecy second-hand depot
Wool sweater: a euro, Annecy vide grenier
J. Crew wool blazer: thrifted in Canada
Huge crepe and chenille Anne Klein scarf: 10 buck sale in Canada.

As you may know, in the midst of my post-pregnancy style crises, I've been consigning half of my wardrobe at my local shop. What this means: when I go into the shop to drop off another stash and pick up my cheque, I sometimes, but not always, walk out with something. I've gotten rid of many a vintage bag via this method, which no longer suit my life, so I didn't feel the least bit guilty snapping up a bag that does.

Vintage Etienne Aigner granny boots: Ebay
Turtlenck: new/retail bought years ago
1970s velvet patchwork blazer: thrifted in Canada
Levis: new/retail.

The bag ticks all the boxes, satisfying my need for space with my ongoing obsession for fabric and brocade. Plus I like that I can indulge in a bit of pattern mixing when I wear it. Of course, Bally, a Swiss maker, does lovely high-quality bags that aren't cheap. Since all my outfits are looking the same these days, I'm putting special emphasis on quality accessories that I love.

I'm wearing my "new" vintage Etienne Aigner granny booties found on Ebay, which, judging by the square toe (I can't believe I'm doing a square toe!), must be 1990s, what do you think? These days I'm groovin' on the Victorian-steampunk look and the blazer and booties sort of fit the bill.

Lanvin necklace, 10 euro at Annecy brocante market
Ray Ban shades: Annecy brocante market.

I've had this 1970s velvet patchwork blazer for years and don't think I've ever featured it here. I found it for a few bucks at a Canadian thrift shop, and I just love it. Now that I've put on a few pounds, I fill it out much better than I used to when I was a skinny-Minny. Just look at those mammoth buttons!

How much do I love it? So much so that when I recently found the matching long a-line skirt on Ebay (maker: Marks and Spencer - mine doesn't have a tag), I almost bought it - wouldn't I have looked crazy with the entire ensemble on? But the 27-inch waist, my pre-preggo waist size, deterred me. Sigh. I ended up consoling myself with a vintage velvet Laura Ashley skirt, with a more realistic waist size, which will rock with the Etienne Aigner granny boots and jibe with my growing Victorian-esque style aesthetic.

Adam, meanwhile, continues to rock the second-hand orange look.

Hairbrushes are so fascinating.:)

Linking up, after a long absence, to the stylish gals over at Patti's Visible Monday.

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How I Wear My: Greens (mostly thrifted, of course!)

Olive green: jazz up a conservatively-cut Windsmoor coat (thrifted) with thrifted MEXX booties,
bright blue accessories, a patchwork bag, and a cheapie ethnic scarf from the market.

Many thanks to Adrienne over at The Rich Life (on a budget), who, in partnership with Jill over at Everything Just So, is hosting How I Wear My: Green today. I'm really grooving on green these days - all different kinds, in fact. So I thought I'd show you how I've been wearing my greens these days.

Yesterday: Olive green leather booties, thrifted in France.

I bought these olive green booties this week at the thrift shop. The dress is thrifted, the necklace was a buck at a vintage jewellery club meeting in Toronto, and the cashmere was a gift.

The great thing about this kind of green, as you see in these pics, is that it doesn't have to really "match anything" - it can work as a neutral.

Emerald green hat, thrifted in France for 3 Euros.
Antique carpet bag, about 40 pounds at a UK auction.

Or, as you see above and below, green - from emerald to forest to mint - can stand on its own as an accessory with a bit of zing.

Vintage mint green angora beret: gift; forest green Bally purse, thifted in France for under 10 Euros.

I bought this ring new before I moved to the UK, but it was 50 percent off.

I love this emerald green stone and silver filigre ring so much that I wear it whenever the hell I want, with whatever the hell I want.

Thrifted Ellen Tracy silk blouse; new Hermes scarf.

Or you can go full on with green, matching colours and fabrication for a real style whammy.

Vintage forest green jacket by Thierry Mugler, 4 Euros.

And as I recently discovered, dark green rocks with black - who would have thought?

Pre-pregnancy green: vintage dress, gifted.

I can't resist throwing in some miscellaneous pre-preggo green shots, when my stomach was reasonably flat and my thighs thinner.

Thrifted emerald green hoodie with matching (new) turtleneck.
(Rest of outfit: all thrifted except the pendant, which matches the ring).

Newborn jacket in emerald and mint greens: thrifted today for 2 Euros.

And, in a few short months, someone else will be wearing green too! :) :)

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Thierry Mugler for 4 Euros, I kid you not

I'm throwing my style cap into the ring with the chic chickas over at Patti's Visible Monday as I can hardly contain my excitement over my latest thrift find. The Grunge Queen is baaack! The story is like so many others: I was browsing the rack at the same thrift store I found the faux fur from last post, not expecting to unearth anything, and voila, a lush green velour-like fabric popped out at me like a spring flower peeping through the crappy brown snow. Took a gander (and a whiff) and discovered an amazingly constructed, non-smelly jacket. Tried it on and it fit beautifully.* The best part? It was 50 percent off 8 Euros, yip yip!

*Ok, I can't do up the bottom button of this Thierry Mugler jacket, but who cares? I will in the future, and for now, I'm happy to wear it open, as you see here.

Just look at the buttons! I have no idea how much something like this would cost resale. I've seen vintage Thierry Mugler online for a couple hundred up to a thousand bucks.

I can also do it up military style. I'm thinking the jacket is 1980s, possibly 90s. The shoulders look slightly puffed as someone has cut out the shoulder pads, but I think the poufiness adds to the dramatic effect. Aside from two slits in the exquisite green lining, which can be easily sewn (by someone else), this jacket is in pristine condition.

More (adjustable) button detailing at the back, for when I have a waist again.

I used to be the thrifty statement-piece blazer queen, often wearing them with tight skinny jeans, cashmere turtlenecks and high-heeled booties (alas, the days of tight skinny jeans and high-heeled booties are gone). My other great French designer blazer find was a Tara Jarmon for $4.99 (I know, this post from almost a year ago says $6.99, but I looked back into the archives at the original post and see that I actually paid $4.99 CAD ... too bad the pics aren't viewable)!

I find it funny that the same thrift shop that's selling real fur coats for 50-150 Euros, which look like they morphed from granny's closet with a few mothballs attached, would let an iconic French designer's piece go for 4 Euros. But as we all know, this lack of designer knowledge often works to the scavenger's benefit!

This outfit is 100 percent thrifted, save for the rings and earrings: Thyme maternity skirt thrifted in Toronto before I was married (let's say I had a hunch); Italian boots thrifted in Annecy; ribbed turtleneck thrifted in Toronto; Italian-made doctor's bag, Etsy.

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