Yes, fashion & the dollar store can be in same sentence!

My face is blown out in this shot but I did that on purpose, ha ha: I wanted you to focus on the scarf.

Designer? Vintage? Mega bucks?

Nah.

Found at the best dollar store ever in the basement of Empress Walk shopping centre (located just outside the North York Centre subway stop).

It was a couple bucks.

Generally I don't go looking for style in the dollar store, but lesson number one when you're a deal diva is to have an open mind.

It's summer weight but I used it to jazz up a pair of riding pants and a chunky sweater by west-coast designer Talula Babaton (the latter thrifted for a song at Goodwill).

Other apparel items I buy at the dollar store?

White sports socks. Can't beat the price.

And sometimes, blush, you can find really decent undies and thongs for a buck. Hey, why pay more at the department store?

Do you have any dollar store fashion secrets?

P.S. Thanks to Antonella for snapping the pic!

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And the winner is ...

Thank you to everyone who commented on the giveaway post - the post was a great way to connect with regular readers and followers, bring some quiet readers out of the woodwork, and introduce some new readers and followers to this here little bloggie.

And the winner of the Domino book is ....

Thrifted Treasure!

I couldn't believe it when I drew her name. Not only did we start our blogs the same week; we're also dedicated followers of one another ... and I stole the idea of the book giveaway and the rules from her as well!

Congrats Thrifted Treasure, I'll get your details and this book will soon be winging its way to Aussie Land!

The winner of the crystal-esque vintage necklace ....

Vintage Girl!

Congrats Vintage Girl, and thanks to everyone for participating. I think I'll look at doing giveaways and other fun interactive stuff more regularly - it's fun!

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Antitote to greyness

It's been nothing but grey skies in Toronto this January.

I've been stuffing clementines in my face - for the energy, for the vitamins, for the pop of colour.

Walking by my fave thrift shop window the other day, I spotted this torquoise pedestal bowl in the window - a bowl in which my clementines are now nestling.

The bottom revealed a "Made in Japan" stamp, and a $3.99 pricetag.

I've always wanted a bowl with a pedestal, and pottery and glass pieces Made in Japan always appeal to me for some reason - I think its their simplicity of design.

Natch I bagged the bowl. I love the contrasting jolts of colour, and the way the bowl pops against the black tablecloth. It helps ease the grey feelings.

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5 buck pick-me-up with G-Q reader pal

Happy Grunge Queen story: I met Doreen, a reader who found this blog and contacted me after the Toronto Star article Rita Zekas wrote on me and my pad came out in November.

Doreen and I have become friends, and recently we took a stroll along Mount Pleasant Rd., where there's a bunch of antique and decor shops.

At one shop specializing in refurbished lighting, we found bins of chandelier pieces selling for $3 to $6.

This big red piece, about 2 inches long, called out to me. The owner let me have it for $5 - luckily exactly what I had in my purse! It'll make a striking pendant necklace with a velvet or silky ribbon.

Doreen says all I have to do is buy a clasp at a bead shop to go through the hole on top. If I'm feeling really lazy and grunge-queenish, I can just string a ribbon through it.

Anyway I love it. It satisfies my constant need for bling, and will turn out to be a nifty statement piece necklace once I'm done with it.

The gent at the shop tells me red chandeliers were quite rare so these pieces aren't easy to come by. I thought the shape was really different too.

If you're ever on the Mount Pleasant strip in T.O. check it out; the shop has unique chandeliers and some very cool Art Deco wall sconces with icicle-like chandelier pieces dripping from them:



Akladios Antiques
558 Mount Pleasant Rd.,
416-544-1960 www.akladiosantiques.com

How do you get your bling bang on? Any creative ways you've found or put together inexpensive jewellery?

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Raise a glass ... or two, or three

I have some cheap IKEA wine glasses at home for when the gals and I slosh back the vino; they're cheap, and though unattractive, they're replaceable.

For more special occasions, I found these retro faceted multi-coloured glasses, in two sizes, at my local thrift shop for .99 cents each.

Aren't they nifty looking? I've never seen anything like 'em.

There are three big and three small - I'm guessing the weeny ones are for liqueurs, which I don't drink, but they were so pretty I had to nab the whole set.

Think it's time to donate the IKEA ones back to the thrift shop.

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Audrey Hepburn from the 1960s

Thanks to all who responded to my anniversary post, and welcome to new followers! I will be drawing for the book and necklace Friday and will make the announcement then!

Don't wear these shades when you have a hangover - I have a feeling the blue won't match a green face.

I don't have a hangover here; I'm just groovin' in my retro 1960s blue shades made in Italy, picked up at my fave vintage accessory store in Toronto, The Bead Goes On just off Mount Pleasant Rd.

They were $35.

This style of sunglasses always reminds me of Audrey Hepburn from the 1960s, when she had short hair that was a little poufy on top, and clad herself in swish pantuits and humongeous shades like these.

So many people see Audrey style as her Givenchy or Breakfast at Tiffany's look; but her mod look was just as fab, and my fave.

Here's me wearing my new shades yesterday while brunching with the man at the King Edward hotel in Toronto.

The shades exactly match my thrifted Butte Knit dress (found at Sally Ann for under $10). Though the style of the boots - Kenneth Cole Reaction thrifted at Value Village for $49! - may be inspired more by the 1970s, I think the whole ensemble is still pretty swish.

Maybe I look a wee bit Audrey from the '60s, yes?

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One Year Anniversary Giveaway!!!

"Da da da da da da da: They say it's Grunge Queen's blogs Birthday ... Happy Birthday to her!"

One year this week! I feel like a proud mommie. Love this blog; love that all you lovely readers follow and comment and encourage and compliment the way along.

Here's prize number one (yes there are two!):

Are you a decor junkie? Love glam, but not sure how to get it? Did you cry your heart out when you learned that one of your fave inspirational mags, Domino, went the way of the do-do bird last year?

This boo-tiful 250 page book, Domino, the Book of Decorating: a room by room guide to creating a home that makes you happy is very Grunge Queen in a way. It's not about thrift per se, though it may feature some rooms with thrifty items in them.

But it is about creativity, creating a happy space that reflects the essential YOU, and sharing helpful tips and ideas ... all Grunge Queen mantras.

I am frequently inspired to do thrifty little dcor re-dos by the likes of Elle Decor, Domino, and the recently funked up Canadian House and Home magazines.

I hope this book does the same for the lucky winner - this will go to the first name I draw!

How to enter in a sec. Here's second prize:

Ok, so you're not a decor nut. But you are a fashion freak, in the most glam of senses.

This vintage/retro 'crystal' necklace is a piece I thrifted while doing this blog, and I love it.

It's so simple, there's a totally retro clasp (that you have to make sure you close correctly) - and it's so old you can even see that the beads were strung with string!!

This will be yours if you are the second name I draw!!

How to Enter:

1). Leave a comment on this post = 1 entry.

2). If you are a follower or become a follower (by clicking "follow" button - you can create an Anonymous profile by the way), leave a comment and tell me = 1 entry (your second if you do above).

3). If you shout out this giveaway to other thrifty decor and fashion junkies (on your blog, on Twitter, on someone else's blog as a comment in the case you don't have a blog), and then post a comment here to tell me = 1 entry (your third if you do 1 and 2).

Three chances to win a prize, and two prizes to win ... and if you were born with a horseshoe and I draw your name twice you could actually win two prizes! I will ship the prizes to the winners!

I will do the draw and make an announcement next Friday January 22. The winners will have to email me back with their contact details.

Good luck and thank you for reading Grunge Queen, where chic is indeed cheap.
And thanks to Thrifted Treasure 'cos I copied the rules from her ....

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