I’ve owned this faux leather jacket for about 7 years now. I used to wear it religiously, but when my style took a more soft turn, it ended up in the back of my closet (or packed in a box, rather). I’ve never been able to get rid of it though, just the same as I have never been able to get rid of my jean vest that I had cut the sleeves off of and then had my boyfriend at the time draw on the back of. They are both sentimental pieces and the only remaining items from my punk/goth days. I knew that even if I wasn’t really wearing this jacket, I would want to hold onto it. I’m telling you, finding a moto jacket like this was not easy, and it still feels just as relevant as it did back then, so I’m glad it has stayed with me all these years. I can’t say I’ll be pulling it out of my closet a ton this Fall, because it does feel very much like my former self, that of which I don’t really identify with anymore, but it was nice to bring one of my more sentimental pieces out of the darkness and share it with you guys.
Jacket: H&M (old)
Blouse: vintage via Penny Arcade
Skirt: vintage via Odd Finds
Shoes: Sylvie and Shimmy
Bow tie: handmade
Tag: fblogger
Outfit: Sad Girls Club
Back when I realized all the clothes I was purchasing and loving so dearly were vintage, and when I started to make an active effort to seek out vintage dresses for my wardrobe, this dress was exactly the type I wish I owned back then. Unfortunately, finding true vintage pieces similar to the Odile dress by ACT THREE. was no easy feat…that’s until Etsy made it’s mark on the internet world and with a simple type of ‘peter pan collar 60s dress’ you’d find a slew of pieces similar to what you envisioned, but before that, seeking out pieces IRL that actually fit and were in good condition was pretty hard (was that a run-on sentence? who cares.) I slowly found myself becoming familiar with independent labels that made vintage-inspired pieces (that weren’t too rockabilly) and had quite a substantial list of designers I was fond of. A lot of those labels are now defunct or have changed almost entirely in style, so when I was introduced to ACT THREE. I felt like they were filling the void of vintage-inspired pieces that weren’t over the top. The Odile dress is something I wish I was forced to wear in school; it distinctly reminds me of a school uniform – albeit, incredibly stylish – so I of course had to give my most despondent, sad school girl vibes for these photos because this dress feels like the universal uniform for members of the sad girls club.
Tell me about your favourite vintage-inspired independent labels, both from the past and present. I’d love to to hear.
Dress c/o Act Three Apparel
Tights: Target
Shoes: Sylvie and Shimmy
Outfit: Vivienne
I feel like a broken record apologizing for my absence from this space the last few weeks, but with everything going on I’ve decided to cut myself some slack and update when I can and just be fine with that – life will find some form of normalcy in due time.
The weather has cooled down quite a fair bit here in Toronto, so breaking out velvet in the form of the Vivienne dress by ACT THREE. (which you can find in store and online at Victoire) did not feel too premature on this particular day. Velvet and lace are such a rich and romantic combination, unlikely to ever go wrong when paired together, and sure to make for the perfect cool weather outfit.
What are your favourite cool weather pairings?
Dress: ACT THREE.
Blouse & shoes: thrifted
Outfit: Am I A Narcissist?
Someone recently left a comment on my blog, specifically on the post about my relationship ending, essentially saying obviously my relationships fail because it must be so annoying dating a blogger (although left in a much more condescending and shitty way). It was a mean, ill informed comment, obviously, that made me feel a little bad. However, I try not to focus on the negative comments I do get because I get a whole lot more kind and sweet ones that are far more important to me than the few that are mean, but it was an interesting comment, and one I’m sure is not at all uncommon. This is a subject that has come up a few times in my life recently, so I felt like maybe I would say something about it, not because I feel like I need to justify my life to anyone, but because I like talking shit out from time to time and I have this platform to do so, maybe others can relate, maybe some are interested, so why not?
I know myself, so I know the person that I am, and I try to bring as much of that person to my blog as I possibly can, but I know at times maybe I don’t come across as the actual human being that I am. I also make a really huge effort not to document all parts of my life because I don’t want to be the person hanging out with others and asking everyone to take a picture of me, stop what they are doing, or snapping photos of my friends when they don’t want to be photographed, so you miss a whole lot of other parts of my life because I would rather not have my blog bleed that much into my real life. I also am well aware that personal style bloggers come across as narcissistic. I mean, how could we not? Pretty well our entire blogs are made up of our faces, talking about ourselves…for people who don’t really care for that sort of thing, it seems really annoying. So why do I photograph myself? Do I love myself to an unnatural degree? Do I think I’m so important that I need people to pay attention to me? Answering those questions feels totally unnecessary. I will say though, I love what I do. I love photography, I love fashion and I love writing. I love that I have made a space where I can share all those things and a place where I can become better at those things. The opportunities I have had because of this space amaze me and the people I have met has been undeniably the best part of doing this. I think a lot of other bloggers would agree that our blogs are our creative space, and while some may choose themselves as the subject, that shouldn’t diminish the value it has as an art form. It all stems from the idea that showing any sign of liking yourself is a negative thing and those that do should be made to feel bad about it. I love myself, but I love myself the way I love my friends and family, and that should not be the exception but the rule.
I guess the main issue that bothers me most about that statement, or any negative comment directed at someone’s personal choices is the question I always have, which is why does anyone even care? And this goes beyond what I’m talking about here and so much more into any decisions people choose to make in their lives; unless it directly affects your life, why does it bother you? I make an active effort not to judge people, especially when I don’t know them. Everyone, everyday, is just trying to get by. Why not try to make peoples lives easier? Why not treat people exactly how we want to be treated? Trolls are trolls, and maybe that troll doesn’t warrant an entire post, but it is the whole that bothers me rather than the one offhand comment. It’s the idea that one small negative comment could affect a persons entire day when it would be just as easy to say something nice, or heck, just don’t say anything at all. We all have a right to our feelings and opinions, but if something really upsets you, or you feel strongly about the choices someone else is making, maybe walk away from it.
In conclusion, trolls be trolling; what would the internet be without them going hard?
Dress: thrifted Zara
Jacket: vintage via Public Butter
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
Bow tie: handmade
Outfit: Other People’s Clothes
Since I haven’t really been living at home lately (see this post if you don’t understand), I don’t have many of my own clothes to style outfits with. It’s been a whole lot of wearing the same few articles of clothing I have with me or borrowing Meaghan’s clothes (thnx Meg!) because I have been staying at her place while she is visiting our pal Kira in Chicago. With that being the case, this outfit feels very out of the norm for me. It consists of Meaghan’s hat and boots which I think are really great, but pretty unusual for me. The whole thing is a bit western, or like something you could wear hiking (if you don’t mind hiking in a dress), which I like, but again, not my usual cutesy, un-utilitarian styling I normally throw together. I will say, however, it was nice to give the Cybille dress by ACT THREE Apparel a different spin. You guys might remember I styled their first lookbook (and second, but you can’t see that yet!), which was very 60s french new wave, Anna Karina vibes. This seems totally different from that, and I was pretty happy to be able to share a different way to style one of Sarah’s amazing dresses (which you can now find online/in store at Victoire and this particular dress in store at Coal Miner’s Daughter). Please do check out her dresses; I feel so lucky to be able to work closely with such an amazing label.
Dress c/o ACT THREE
okay andie 