Solace

December 15, 20148 Comments

I apologize for being sort of absent last week – I had such a nutty, busy week. I can’t complain though, often times I feel really lucky to be so busy doing all the things I love most. Our dance production, Choices, took up most of my time this past week, and thank goodness for that because I don’t think our two performances would have been as wonderful as they were without everyones hard work and time. I don’t talk about dance much on here – it’s just a thing you guys know I do – but dance is a huge part of who I am. It’s hard to explain without it sounding so cheesy and non-sensical, but my solo in the show entitled Solace, was a piece that was very personal to Shameka (the choreographer) and me. It was a story about her and at the same time, it felt like a story about me. So many people said such wonderful things about my piece – about the way I danced it, about how captivating it was – such kind words that all I could really muster was simple thank yous, which feels so insincere, but really there were no words for how grateful I was feeling during this time. When you are really able to just let go of your inhibitions and just be who you are on stage, well it is unlike any feeling I can articulate. And having people feel with you, even though they are sitting in seats many feet away, unable to really understand the inner workings of your mind at that very moment, it is again a feeling I will never be able to articulate. But it is special, and will always be special to me. That’s all I want to do as a dancer and as an artist – I want to feel with intention and I want others to feel with me. I came away from this show realizing that our bodies and our minds can be painfully connected, sometimes they fight each other when we are not at ease, but when we allow ourselves to just be, the two can work so harmoniously together, if only for a moment, we can find solace.

Coat: vintage via Tabula Rasa
Blouse: vintage
Skirt: Club Monaco via Common Sort
Cardigan: thrifted
Shoes: Topshop
Scarf: H&M
Beret: vintage
Tights: old paid of ballet tights
Bow tie: handmade

Sur Ma Tête / The Dottie

December 11, 2014December 11, 2014Leave a comment

Dottie is the most recent piece added to my collection. I had been scouring etsy for a long time trying to find a vintage bow headband, and thanks to Victory Mills, I found this darling dear. She’s a layered bow headband made of velvet and silk – the loveliest of lovely fabrics, in my opinion. I’ve decided she’s like my party hat – if any outfit needs a little dressing up, she’s your girl. For some reason bows always feel like the ultimate girly accessory, so I really enjoy how feminine she makes me feel when I put her on.

Name: Dottie
Age: 60-65yrs (1950s)
Talents: she’s the sugar in your tea, her soft exterior makes it near impossible to take your hands off her, she’s like the star on your Christmas tree…the cake topper – the thing that just pulls it all together

The Wind Rises

December 9, 20141 Comment

I’m so excited to be able to share with you the final images from our editorial published in the most recent issue of Bricks Magazine. Getting to work with Audrey was such a dream and she was the perfect model for this concept piece. I can’t get over how beautiful she looks (always) and what an amazing job Gerald and the whole team did on this one. If you’re interested in getting a copy of the magazine you can find it here.

The Wind Rises for Bricks Magazine
Photography: Gerald Larocque
Model: Audrey Kitching
MUA: Lisa Arsenault of Pinch Cosmetics
Styling: Alexandra Spence (me!)
Clothing: Larkspur Vintage, my personal wardrobe and Rosehound Apparel

Busy Beaver

December 8, 20148 Comments

I’m in the midst of a very busy month (who isn’t?!) – I have two dance shows this month, so I’m at rehearsals every evening for the next little while, on top of work and trying to get my act together for Christmas – so I am especially excited when I get out of the house to just do something because I want to. On Saturday Meaghan picked me up and our plan was to head to the Distillery District Holiday Market, however, we clearly didn’t have our thinking caps on because it was very busy. The kind of busy where you could drive around the neighbourhood forever trying to find a parking spot to no avail. We ended up giving up on that idea and just heading to cherry beach to snap some photos and enjoy the sort of mild weather. It was a short excursion, but excursion none the less, and one I desperately needed, because I find during my very little down time I am just marathoning Buffy and being as lazy as possible, which is fine, but doesn’t really make for a social and productive human being.

I’ll have to cut this short today because I’m in a bit of a rush. But I hope you all had a lovely weekend and aren’t feeling too stressed about this holiday season.

*photos by Meaghan

Dress: vintage via 69 Vintage
Blouse: thrifted
Coat: vintage via Toronto Vintage Clothing Show
Toque: H&M
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
Bow tie: handmade

Sur Ma Tête / The Winnie

December 5, 20146 Comments

So Winnie isn’t truly vintage (parts of her are), but she is handmade (I figure this series doesn’t have to be limited to vintage, if it’s sur ma tête at any point, then it deserves a wee mention) I did however get her at a vintage/antique shop called Ransack the Universe, here in Toronto. She is made from a vintage men’s tie, and crafted into this exquisite headband, which has a fascinator feel to it and likely the reason I was drawn to it. It’s such a fun piece, although, I often have a terrible time finding an outfit to pair it with. It may be that I don’t own anything that seems to really go with it, color wise. If I want to wear it, I find I end up styling the outfit around the piece, instead of the other way around – all my other hats just go with most things in my closet, but not this demanding baby, no no, she likes to be the star of the show.

Name: Winnie
Age: it’s hard to say, she was reincarnated, so she could be like really old…
Talents: she makes you feel like Blair Waldorf, which is to say you feel ultra gorgeous, dangerously seductive, too rich for your own good, kind of snobby, the most stylish girl in school/life and everyone hates you for it, but you’ll prove you are actually a decent person one day cause you are just a product of your environment and don’t know any better – so Winnie can turn you into a tv show character, the ultimate talent.