Bonjour, From Montreal!

March 30, 2015March 30, 20157 Comments

Last Friday I made my way to Montreal, and I’ll be here until this coming Friday, spending time with my best friend Kristen and other MTL pals. The reason for my trip wasn’t totally for leisure, however. I have a couple dance shows this week in this lovely city, so I decided to make it an extended trip, ensuring I’d be able to have some fun with my best pal who I hadn’t seen in months, before I get busy this week with rehearsals and performances.

I decided to snap some photos of my new dress I purchased this past weekend in Kristen and Sergio’s flippin’ amazing kitchen. The outfit goes so perfectly with their kitchen and decor, it is like a match made in heaven.

How was your weekend? Let me know, I’d love to hear. Dress: vintage via Empire Exchange
Beret: thrifted
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine

A Dress for Always

March 23, 201510 Comments

I’ve had this pinafore since December, but am only getting around to photographing it now. To be honest, I think I only had only worn it once or twice before this, which is quite unusual for me, since I am notorious for wearing new pieces to death. I think the problem was, in my mind, it seemed way more holiday inspired than it actually is. So once the holiday season was over, I thought this pinafore might be too over the top. But after looking back at the photographs I took, I realized that the navy really pops (especially when paired with navy tights), and sort of cancels out the holiday-esque effect that red and green have together. Instead, it’s quite a striking colour combination, especially when photographed against light, muted tones, such as my lamp, wall hanging and stark white walls. Plus it matches our arm chair (which Beans LOVES, as you can see), so that’s an aesthetically pleasing bonus. Needless to say, this will not be one of my “only appropriate for holidays” dresses.

Do you guys have any pieces you avoid wearing and save for the holidays? Have you ever thought you couldn’t wear a piece because it was reminiscent of colour combinations associated with a specific holiday?

Pinafore: Miss Patina
Blouse: vintage via Public Butter
Hat: gift
Tights: H&M

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!!!

What items can you never say no to? What articles of clothing feel like essentials where you live?

*photos by Ryan
Coat: thrifted vintage
Sweater, hat, purse, tights: H&M
Skirt: Common Sort
Blouse: vintage via Penny Arcade
Shoes & scarf: thrifted

Snow Day

February 9, 2015February 9, 201518 Comments

Lately It’s been cold…real cold, and snowy, which is fairly normal when you live in Toronto, but that doesn’t mean I’ve ever fully gotten used to it or have any desire to spend time embracing it. On the weekend I was supposed to be styling a shoot with Gerald in Brantford, but the morning of the roads were just too dangerous to drive on. I had to admit defeat and accept that styling a shoot was just not worth the possibility of a car accident (I’ve been in several car accidents, which is probably why I have never learned to drive myself…ya, I’m 26 and I can’t drive). I spent the majority of the weekend in doors watching Netflix, eating tasty things and cuddling the dogs. However, Ryan and I did venture out Sunday afternoon to shoot these photos. While the winter may be cold, and I don’t much care for snow, it does make for really pretty pictures, and I thought my new dress would look perfect against an almost all white background. I don’t own many shapeless, drop-waist dresses like this. My person is quite small, so I find really boxy silhouettes to be a bit too much for me – I just sort of drown in them. But I love this dress. It’s so comfortable and it’s the perfect item to wear if you just want to lounge around. I liken it to a nightgown of sorts, which obviously pleases me. And this coat, oh this coat! I love this coat! It’s hard to tell, but the tartan on it is in mustard, white and blush pink, and the inner lining is a beautiful blush satin. It’s a bit oversized for me and thus looks strange buttoned up, but I had to have it just based on the colour scheme. So here we are, stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the shapeless life.