Not A Rebel

October 13, 2014November 11, 20142 Comments

My pictures have been a little boring as of late. Now that I have moved, I’m trying to seek out new locations that are a little more close by to take my pictures at. My old haunts are still not that far, but they are no longer walking distance, and I much prefer to walk to a location than to take transit. I scoped out a school near by recently that I would really like to take some fun images at, but the gates were all locked and I’m not much of a rebel these days (when did that happen!?). So here we are with a plain old wall. However, my home is coming together (slowly, but surely) and I’m excited to share it with you, in the form of some much more interesting shoots.

Recently most of my outfits have been in shades similar to this one – brown, mustard, black, burnt orange. My fall wardrobe consists mostly of these colours, and it got me thinking I need to add a few more colours to my palette. But for now, this works just fine – why fight the things you obviously like?! I threw this outfit together before a surprise party I went to over the weekend and quite liked it. Sometimes the outfits we throw together with little thought end up being the best ones. I would say, however, if I had a mustard skirt to match my blouse, this outfit would be better. But I’ve been unable to find one anywhere (let a girl know if you have seen any!) Maybe it’s time I bring out the ol’ sewing machine, and make a skirt just like this one in several colours. You can never go wrong with an a-line button down mini. The 70s knew what they were doing when they made this guy, that’s for sure.

Anyways, It’s Thanksgiving Monday, which means I have the day off, and I’ve got some vintage soaking in the tub that needs to be rinsed and hung to dry before they head to their new homes, so I must be off. To all my Canadian readers, Happy Thanksgiving! Hug your parents for me, because I don’t get to see mine.

Blouse: Common Sort
Shirt: thrifted
Skirt: vintage via Odd Finds General Store
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
Tights: Malabar (old pair of ballet tights)
Lipstick: So Chaud by MAC

Ace & Jig FW 14

October 7, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

While I feel there are a lot of brands out there that I really like, quite a few of them subscribe to a style that is not really that of my own. Ace & Jig is sort of that way for me. Styling is a big part of how labels present their clothing, however, it really is only a presentation and not much more than that. So even if it’s not suited to me, in most cases, I tend to look at pieces as separates rather than a whole (let’s be honest, who can ever afford more than like a few pieces from any one collection anyways). So while it’s pretty blatantly obvious you wouldn’t see me in a head to toe look like this, Ace & Jig FW14 has a lot of pieces I think are absolutely wonderful. All that being said, I actually do adore the styling in this lookbook. It has sort of a vintage-amish-70s vibe, which last Fall, was one of my favourite ways to dress. So maybe some of the silhouettes are not ones I’m used to adorning (a bit too slouchy), I can’t deny my love for pattern mixing, and how it always makes for an interesting outfit…and midi dresses. How one gets through the Fall without wearing a midi dress, I do not know.

Blondie

August 7, 2014November 11, 20142 Comments

There are moments when I miss having blonde hair. I know that may sound totally insane because most people cannot believe that I dyed my ginger hairs at all. And while I have come to truly love my natural red hair, being blonde still remains one of my favourites. There is something I have always liked about a pale girl with blonde, icy white hair. It just feels right to me. And Elle Fanning makes it look so so right – icy white looking in some light, golden in others, creamy pale skin, giant doe eyes, made up in perfect 60s makeup. It’s understandable why I like this editorial for Vogue UK so much. I’ve been a fan of Elle since she was a little squirt. She’s one of those girls that you would always proclaim, “she’s going to be gorgeous when she grows up!”, and boy were we right. I like her look, it goes from a sullen coyness to child-like smiles and silly antics. She’s dreamy, and charming, and she looks like 60s/70s perfection in this editorial, and I’m left wondering if blonde really is more fun.

Photography: Angelo Pennetta
Styling: Francesca Burns
June 2014 Issue, Vogue UK

Big Gulp

May 26, 2014November 11, 2014Leave a comment

So I have been quite ill for 2 weeks without really knowing it for the first week when I started to feel a tremendous amount of pain in my side. And while I feel very lucky to live in a country with free healthcare and receive benefits from my day job that help pay for medications etc, it sometimes makes me skeptical about our healthcare system and the way walk-in clinic doctors treat patients. I’m sure things would have been different had I my own doctor, but I’m sometimes bad at being an adult and never got around to doing that. However, this situation has made me realize the importance of finding my own doctor, as well as really taking care of myself. I like to think of most tough situations in life as a sign, or lesson in something I should consider more often. In this case, I’m working hard at not pushing myself too hard, not stressing myself out so much, and just leading a more relaxed, healthy lifestyle so all other things fall into place. I’m not sure who decided we had to rush through life each and every day, but I am and have been guilty of this for years. Our frame of mind effects more than just our moods, in this specific case, I think my frame of mind was the very reason I became ill. But, despite all this, and once a very kind and wonderful person helped me get the medication and treatment I needed, things started to feel much better, both mentally and physically. Ryan and I spent most of yesterday outside at Trinity Bellwoods Park, drinking Big Gulp (mine was actually just Dr. Pepper), taking pictures, chatting and wearing some new favorite pieces that make me feel perfectly 60s/70s flower power/go-go dancing/school girl/obnoxiously bright vibes. Thing are on the up, for sure, and I’m lucky to have such a handsome dude that makes me smile even when I’d rather be crying from pain.

*photos by Ryan

Blouse & skirt: Common Sort
Sunglasses: UO
Socks: H&M
Shoes: thrifted vintage
Big Gulp: 7/11

Sponsor Spotlight: The Aspen Tree

December 4, 2013December 4, 20131 Comment

Today I’d like to introduce one of my sponsors, the lovely Jessica Niamath of The Aspen Tree. I had the pleasure of getting to know Jess through my old partner Meaghan (old day blogger pals), and she is truly such a kind and beautiful human. Jess’s style is unequivocally feminine and vintage inspired. You can mostly find her in dresses and skirts, with a nod to airy 70’s vibes, 50’s structured silhouettes, and her own twist of modern-day pieces. On top of being a blogger for several years now, she curates her own lovely vintage shop, chalk full of items I would love to get my wee hands on. Hailing from the city that never sleeps, Jess was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.

Tell us a little about yourself and style.

I live in Queens, NY and currently work for a fabric company as well as sell vintage
clothing on Etsy and write a style blog. I have a BA in fine art from Brooklyn College
and an AAS in Fashion Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology. I’m
a total cat lady, but without a cat. I love eating fries and pasta and I’d much rather
stay home and watch a movie or TV than go out. I’ve always loved both history and
fashion, so that is what led me to vintage clothing.

My style has changed so much over the years, but has always been inspired by
vintage. Lately I’ve definitely been gravitating more towards comfortable clothing.
I still like to look put-together but I can’t stand being uncomfortable. Maybe I’m
getting old or something. I’ve been wearing a lot of loose, oversized, 70’s style
dresses so that I can eat more fries.

How long have you been blogging and what inspired you to start?

I’ve been blogging and selling vintage off and on since 2009. I kept stopping because
of school and work, but, it’s always been something I’ve come back to and I know
it’s something that I could never totally stop doing. I started blogging after coming
across Liebemarlene (isn’t that how everyone starts blogging). I found other blogs
through that one and really fell in love with the community. I was so excited to
finally find a group of girls that shared my interests in fashion and vintage and
everyone was just amazingly welcoming and sweet.

If you could live in any era, what would it be?

I would have to say the 70’s. I love the kitschy style (I was really sad when my mom
got rid of the wood paneling in our house). I also feel like people were less uptight at
that time. Of course, I wasn’t there, but from stories I’ve heard it seems
like it was a much freer time. There are definitely some great things about the
50’s and 60’s, but I think the lack of feminism would really piss me off.

Favorite places to shop new & old in NYC?

For vintage I love Beacon’s Closet (they have new and old) in Park Slope and Monk’s
Vintage in Williamsburg. There’s also a pretty nice Goodwill in Brooklyn. Most of
the thrift shops here get really picked over. For new, Cloak & Dagger in the Lower
East Side is a little out of my price range, but it’s adorable and the new Greene
Street Consignment in Soho has a lot of nice things. I know they’re not in NYC, but
Blackbird Attic in Beacon, NY and the Mystery Spot in Phoenicia, NY are wonderful.

Favorite recent vintage find?

I recently found an amazing 60’s red wool cape at a vintage warehouse in
Philadelphia. I haven’t worn it yet, because as soon as I found time to wash it, it
became super cold out! If I wore it out now, I think I would probably die. I really
want it to get a little warmer, even just for a week, so I can wear this cape!

Favorite style Icons?

I definitely love Zooey Deschanel and Alexa Chung (I saw her out side of Fuse the
other day!). I also really love the style of some 60’s and 70’s musicians like Stevie
Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, and Robert Plant. I always look to them for style inspiration.

How long have you lived in NYC and how has it affected your style?

I’ve lived in NYC my entire life (except for two years when I lived in Philadelphia).
I was born and raised here and have so much pride for this city! I think that being
from NYC has really affected my style because it’s allowed me to try out so many
different styles without worrying what people thought. Fashion is always how I’ve
expressed myself. I’ve gone through goth phases, 80’s phases, hippie phases. The
great thing about NYC is that you can try all these things and at least 1,000 other
people are trying it to and no one cares and that’s wonderful.

What can you just never have enough of?

I’m totally a dress girl! I can’t even tell you how many dresses I own right now.
They’re just so easy! A whole outfit in one garment and then add a novelty print to it
and I’m sold! I also can’t get enough denim jackets. I have about 4 right now, which
is way more than any one person should have. They just go with everything, though.

Any exciting outfit picked out for the holidays?

I want to say that I’m going to wear this blue and gold dress that I just got from
Greene Street Consignment and my brown Jeffery Campbell’s, but, let’s not play, I’m
going to be in jeans and a giant sweater because I’m not leaving my house.

What have you been coveting?

I really want a pair of Swedish Hasbeens even though everyone already has them
(I’m a little late to the game). I also really want this red Orla Kiely coat that costs
about a month’s rent.

What will you be wearing 50 years from now?

I hope that I’m one of those fabulous old ladies who still wears heels and, like, a
giant leopard coat or something. Or I’ll just wear sweatpants. Most likely I’ll be