In Your Head

March 16, 2015March 16, 201510 Comments

With the snow almost totally melted, more than anything, I’m looking forward to walks/hikes in and around the city. It’s always been important to me to make sure I fill my days with things that help me get outside of my head, because I am serious a over-thinker. I think things to death and often get lost in my thoughts, which can be positive, but it can also be quite negative. So knowing this about myself, I try to do things that help me leave my mind for a bit. This is usually something creative, like dancing, taking pictures, writing…but hiking is also a positive outlet for me. I’ll admit, I don’t like walking that much if it is to get a specific destination, but if I’m walking just for the sake of walking, I love it.

On this particular day, Ryan and I had planned to head to High Park (the best park in Toronto, imo) for a walk in the woods, but it was rainy and muddy and just not the ideal day for a leisurely stroll, so after brunch we headed to Dufferin Grove (a park close to our house) to snap some pictures and at the very least, breathe in fresh air for a little bit. I’m quite looking forward to summer in my new neighbourhood. I’ve never lived this close to a park, so I’m really hoping I’ll take advantage of it’s close proximity come the warmer days.

What about you guys, are you also over-thinkers? What helps you get out of your mind, and live in the present?

*photos by Ryan
Blouse, dress, belt: thrifted vintage
Shoes: Sylvie and Shimmy

Maxin’ relaxin’ all cool

March 9, 20159 Comments

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here in Toronto (actually, so is today). It’s amazing how easily your mood can shift when the sun is shining and you can feel it’s warmth on your skin. It has been ages since I’ve worn a maxi skirt. I’m not really a fan of the bulky look it creates under coats, so I tend to ignore my maxi skirts until the Spring/Summer. But since yesterday was actually mild enough to not really need a coat during the shooting process I thought I’d give one of my maxis some time in the sun.

What about you guys – do you have any articles of clothing that get ignored in the colder months even though they are arguably part of your winter wardrobe?
Dress worn as blouse: vintage
Skirt, belt, tam: vintage
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine

Life Savers

March 4, 20159 Comments

This winter really feels like it’s taken a toll on me. Trying to stay motivated and positive has often felt like a daunting task when sunshine is limited and the days look grey and dreary, and are cold as all hell (maybe hell is warm?) But I found this 1970s terrycloth romper at one of my favourite vintage stores and it immediately put a smile on my face. It reminds me of summer and Life Savers candy, and just happiness in general. So I thought to myself instead of waiting months to be able to wear it in the warmth, I’d bring the sunshine indoors by pairing it with some other bright accessories that put a smile on my face. And maybe one day I’ll move to a place that doesn’t freeze my toes as soon as I step outside.
Romper & sunglasses: Public Butter
Shoes: thrifted

Artist’s Blouse

March 2, 201510 Comments

I’m having a bit of writer’s block this morning. I’ve been non-stop thinking about content I want to shoot for this blog and I presume it is hindering my brain’s ability to think of anything else at the moment. Any creative will tell you that sometimes you are struck with an abundance of inspiration and it can often feel quite overwhelming – too much to hold in your mind, too much to be left for another day, and so you have a desire to do it all once, right now, for fear of losing that feeling to create. That’s how I’m feeling today – that taking this morning at a slow pace is just not going to happen because I’ve got ideas buzzing around my head and I want to make them tangible. I guess it’s fitting that I’m wearing this peachy, ruffly blouse for this post. For some reason I liken it to an artist’s blouse…I’m not really sure why. Maybe I find the connection between an artist and this blouse because of the sleeves. I just imagine these sleeves moving back and forth over a canvas, or bouncing up and down while strumming or becoming an extension of your movement, telling a story of their own. Hands and arms have always been a part of the body that intrigue me…I really try to connect with them when I dance (and maybe it’s why they often find their way to my face in photos), so anything that adds character and a bit of detail to them is something I am quite fond of…even if it is something as simple as ruffles.
Blouse: vintage via Public Butter
Pinafore: ASOS (old)
Socks: H&M
Shoes: thrifted

It’s what’s on the outside…

February 23, 20159 Comments

Until very recently, it felt like I hadn’t been thrifting in ages. I used to thrift at least once a week for my shop, but I’ve sort of put shop updates on the back-burner for a bit while I try to find a better schedule for photographing items and figuring out the overall aesthetic of my shop – do I use a dress form? do I continue modelling the items? should I just hang them?…I digress…all this to say, my thrift store hiatus ended recently because in preparation for a new designers first lookbook I styled and modelled for this past weekend, I headed to a few thrift shops last week to pick up some accessories for the shoot, and of course I found myself getting side tracked and looking for things I’d like to purchase for myself (I’m so bad for this). Sometimes you go thrifting and come away with nothing, and other times it feels like a gold mine. This time around it was a gold mine. I found this vintage houndstooth coat and these shoes (not very weather appropriate, but we weren’t going far and they matched my tights…so sue me) for what felt like mere pennies. It may seem silly to be buying coats this late in the winter game, but I almost never ever say no to a coat if I love it, no matter the season. I truly believe when you live in a climate like this, where it’s cold more often than not, one can never have too many coat options. Since my coat normally covers my outfit, I’d like for my outer layer to speak for itself and reflect my personal style as best it can…and wearing the same thing everyday gets boring, so, coats!!!