Holly Jolly

December 22, 20148 Comments

I thought since Christmas is right around the corner I’d put together a little holiday-inspired outfit. I feel like Mrs. Claus or a little elf, which is fun and fitting for the season. I likely won’t be wearing this outfit for the holidays, though. I don’t normally wear something that feels over the top Christmasy (red and white is just so obvious). Last year I had a lovely white chiffon dress and the year before it was a velvet emerald green shift dress. I’ve got, I think, the most perfect dress for the holidays this year, although I’ve had this dress since last February so I’ve become a little less enamored by it. I’ve got some Christmas shopping to do this evening, so I’m sure you’ll find me in one of my favorite vintage shops in between present-buying to see if I can find something I love. Vintage shops are the best place to find holiday dresses…you never know what you will come across and it’s usually bloody amazing.

Blouse: H&M
Beaded shirt c/o Ellen Face Vintage
Skirt: thirfted
Belt: thrifted
Tights: UO
Beret: vintage
Shoes: Seychelles

Shop Update

December 18, 2014Leave a comment

1960s Purple Plaid Pinafore/Jumper (S/M)

It has been a good while since I have done a shop update. I’m still working out the kinks in my new apartment for shop photos (lighting, location), but that will come with time. It started out nice and bright, and then some really weird shadows started happening nearing the end. I’ve just got to find the perfect hour when the sun is flowing through the windows and my body isn’t making weird Peter Pan shadows on the wall.

Anyways, the shop update! I’ve got three – quite lovely – pinafores/jumpers (whatever you would like to call them) listed. They are excellent layering pieces and the type of item that’s fun to have in your closet because they are so versatile. I’ve got quite a few of my own, as you probably already know. There is a sweet mini skirt as well, that if it fit me, I would have kept it. And the blouse I paired it with is also for sale…I think they go quite nicely together, to be honest. The black slinky dress is such a fun one, but hard to photograph (I hate photographing black). It’s hard to see, but it has a weaved waffle detailing on the bust and sleeves – upping the little black dress game. And last but not least, the camel wool skirt. Now that I look at it, I should have steamed it (eep!), but regardless of the odd crease, it’s an excellent piece for the cold months, and not to toot my own horn, but I like the way it makes my bod look from behind – shapes the bum quite splendidly and I only point that out because I am not that curvy of a woman, so this skirt is like a magic bum enhancing skirt.

1960s Pumpkin Corduroy Pinafore (S/M)

1990s Grey Plaid Jumper/Pinafore (S/M)

1990s Striped High Waisted Mini Skirt (M) AND 1960s Chocolate Brown Floral Button Up

1970s Black and Chocolate Slinky Dress (S/M)

1950s Camel High Waisted Wool Skirt (S)

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

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