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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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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Designer dress thrifted for my sis

Here's my sis in a dress I thrifted for her for Christmas, $9.99 at Value Village!!

Doesn't it look great on her?

I was SO pleased to find this dress. It's made by a Toronto designer Mark Foreman, who makes THE most flattering wrap dresses in wonderful mircrofibre fabric using the coolest patterns.

His label, Bionic Woman, can be found in hip T.O. boutiques like Eight on Danforth Ave. and Over the Rainbow in Yorkville and average $150-$200. Though I have bought one on sale at Eight I've found a few at Value Village in mint condition under $15. http://www.bionicwoman.ca/

My sis loved the dress. We figured it would rock in the summer with sexy strappy shoes and a tan.

I normally bag gifts as I believe in reusing, but this year I used paper - with three young nieces and nephews I didn't want to spoil the fun of tearing off the paper! I like the old-fashioned look of my sis's wrapped gift, pictured here. The matte golden paper with a light green bow I had saved from some press kit looks very eighteenth century, doesn't it? Like it was wrapped haphazardly in some market and parceled home in a carriage or something ....

For some fab tips on thrift gifts, and on eco chic and thrifty wrapping tips, take a peep at the new blog I just discovered called The Thrift Monster (great name!) http://thethriftmonster.blogspot.com/

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My holiday dress: retro Go-Go meets modern chic

I was going to show you the thrift dress I bought for my sis for Christmas, but I still have to figure out how to download pics from my NEW Blackberry to my mom's computer.

This post, btw, is late tonight as I was in transit today, going home for the holidays. Tonight I went out for dinner with Mom and Dad and wore my fave new dress (newer than the one a few posts below!) that I picked up at Goodwill while doing a shopping column there about shopping in January when you're broke.

Don't you just love it? It's a vintage double knit wool dress by Butte Knit, a US company that was a mega clothing manufacturer in the 1960s and 70s. I researched the label and apparently this was from the early 1970s.

It fits me like a glove, and feels so sleek and chic - and yet it's toasty warm and a perfect dress for the cold winter night it is here in ole Ottawa.

It cost me $8.99. The value of buying vintage clothing such as this is that so often the pieces are so well made that they stand the test of time, in more ways than one. With the exception of some wear on the navy velvet stripe on the pocket, the dress looks new. And the style? Retro vibe, yes, but timeless nevertheless.

I'm wearing it here with some simple silver jewellery, navy tights, and my thrifted Kenneth Cole Reaction boots.

It's kinda retro Go-Go meets airline stewardess meets modern chic, yes?

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Elf: Thrifty holiday fashion disaster

Have you ever bought something just because it was well-priced, only to wonder later if you were in some thrift haze when you bought it? I was at a discount shop a few weeks ago and saw this new Esprit courdoroy jumper for $4. I bagged it.

Got it home, tried it on again, and gasped. It's so short I can't even stand in it without revealing part of my bootie. So tight around the bodice I can't sit down. I remember thinking when I bought it that I could wear it as a tunic --- what?

I used to make mistakes like this all the time in my early thrifting days; now I employ an almost steely logic if I start getting a little flighty: will I wear this? With what? Does this fit into my style, my life???

Alas, I think the "new" factor clouded my judgement, momentarily.

I could wear the jumper with this green velvet scarf with black fringe, found at Goodwill for a twoonie a few weeks ago while on a desperate thrift dig. I was in a crappy mood and needed to find salvation, and we all know: when we're mad to find salvation in the thrift store, we always fail.

The scarf is only passable on its own. But with the jumper, it morphs into an outfit I will always try to think about when I'm in some store and considering buying, say, a pair of purple stretch pants. Wearing this outfit I could be a poster child for the thrift-shop-gone-bad, a crazed holiday Elf fashion disaster reminding you all what can happen when you're desperate to buy, but lacking in thrift smarts if only for the moment.

Think of my outfit if you ever waiver, thrifty pals, and I think you'll be O.K. Happy thrifting!

Tomorrow: I gave my sister a wonder thrift holiday gift last night - and she loved it! Pic and story coming!

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Blue silk dress for holiday tea, $9.99

I rarely thrift shop when I'm feeling down. It usually means I'm in search of something to make me feel better, and truth be told it more often than not results in a horrible experience. If your Karma is off, thrift shop Karma just doesn't, well engage.

So yesterday, a very grey icky day, with a seasonal flu and a dash of seasonal stress thrown in, I headed to Value Village on the way home. I hadn't done a VV dig in a long time. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Danforth and Woodbine location (and all other VVs in the city) had had a little refresh - new paint, new signs, new changeroom doors.

Lo and behold, my thrifting Karma kicked in in spite of my blue mood: the very first thing I picked out was a 100 percent silk blue dress by Lauren Moffatt http://www.laurenmoffatt.net/ ... for $9.99!

Moffatt is known for her vintage inspired looks, and this boho chic frock really revved me up ... and fit me perfectly. Mint condition! I was wondering what I would wear to tea at the Windsor Arms Hotel with my beau -- now I have my dress!





















By the way, Value Village was uncharacteristically deadsville last night. I was told biz dies after Halloween and doesn't pick up for the new year - a great opportunity for us deal divas! Speaking of deals I was surpised this dress was $9.99, as 'good' dresses at this VV location tend to be $14.99. I saw a gorgeous wrap dress by Toronto designer Marc Foreman of the 'Bionic' label - it was $9.99 as well, where the Bionic dress I bought several years ago at the same location was $14.99.

Just goes to show the pricing gods aren't consistent even at good 'ole VV. This experience has made me want to shop VV more than I have been in the last 6 mos.

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Party pics and partial outfit peek

On readers' request (see yesterday's post), here are the holiday party pics with a partial peek at my thrifty outfit.

They'll have to do until I can get better pics from another party in a few weeks.

You can't really see the outfit that well, just the strap and lower part of the purse, and the necklace poking out over the dress. I may change the jacket to a winter white brocade next time; we'll see!





This is a bit of a personal postscript as I have some room left, but it's so refreshing and satisfying to be dating a man who dresses really, like really, well. It's not just expensive clothes part; it's also his way of putting pieces together, with a scarf thrown over his shoulder for panache and some fab vintage cufflinks for quirky class. We both love and appreciate that about eachother. And we both have a thing for statement piece jackets - - except mine are from the thrift shop and his are from Neiman Marcus!!

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Silver sparkle for the holidays

Silver is hot this holiday season, and I love the cool elegance of it. For my first Christmas party the other night I put together a thrifty outfit in a jiff. I bought a silver shift dress (Made in Canada, yah!) at a closing out sale on St. Clair Ave. West for $10.

Then I threw on some vintage crystal-esque beads, a three-tier strand, I found at a thrift store for a few bucks.

To add some contrast, on went a black quilted short jacket by Bergdorf Goodman, dug up for a great price at a 50 percent off sale at a resale boutique. Silver shoes picked up for $20 at Winners went on too.

My best find: a silver sequin handbag (by Danier Leather and in mint shape) found for $1.99 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, that very day!!

To add a bit of spice to the winter cool I donned a pair of handpainted stockings by DIM, found at a sample sale in the northern Fashion District last year (six pair for $20 if memory serves).

I'd been saving them for the perfect occasion and I found it. My date sure liked them! The outfit looked so classy and pretty!


My date wore a Neiman Marcus black velvet blazer (not thrift!), a red scarf, plaid vest and white shirt with black pants.

I'd say we look like quite the festive couple and our outfits complemented each other: he had a pop of colour to offset my glittery silver!

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Grunge Queen shares thrifting tips with 20-something.ca

This is an old pic of me taken outside my fave Goodwill in Toronto, wearing the made in Scotland coat I bought there for under $20.

Now I know most of you readers don't need any thrifting tips, but I just have to share a recent interview with a new online resource called 20-something. (I know, I'm not 20-something but thrifting is becoming cool to young hipsters now!).

I share my 'shop-high-on-the-food-chain' philosophy and more!

Please check it out by following the link
http://www.20-something.ca/2009/11/20/thrift-shopping-guide-vintage-clothing/

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Thrift gift: yellow shoes

I found these handmade in Spain Arnold Churgin shoes for $5.99 months and months ago (see prior post on shoes & decor under the Arnold Churgin label to the right).

I loved that they were in mint condition, and that jolt of colour - so 1980s. Alas I knew my tender tootsies would never wear them. They're a very small size 8. So I used them as decor.

Until I learned that my pal and colleague Alexis had a thing for 1980s pumps. I brought them in to work and not only did they fit her perfectly but they also looked fab with her outfit that day!

The shoes are a summer style pump, but Alexis shows us how you can make 'em more season appropriate by pairing them with a thicker cotton stocking.

I love the look Alexis! Wear them in good health.

Speaking of thrift gifts I will be giving a number of them to the women in my family this holiday season. It's the only way I can afford to give them quality designer clothing, and some of the pieces I just wouldn't be able to find new in the stores.

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Ultra feminine look

I have to admit it: sometimes I buy new.

My latest look is girly chic and I love it: a stretch lace top found at a Mendocino outlet for $38. I'm wearing it here under my Theory blazer thrifted for $6.99.

It's a sexy look, yet one I can pull off at work.

I'm wearing the lacy top with another item I bought new by Forest Hill artisan Joan Kreitzer (sorry no webite). Joan makes beautiful necklaces with crystal and semi-precious stones and retails in some Toronto shops like French Connection on Eglinton Ave. West near Avenue Rd.

I love the combo of the lace and the lace-like work of the necklace.

I'm wearing the top with a vest for a romantic dinner, and just happened to dig up a pair of off-white DIM nylons with pretty tone-on-tone flowers over top that go with the top exactly. Believe it or not the look is not lace overkill, just feminine all the way.

It feels good to sometimes buy new things, especially when they're artisan crafted and you know you have an original. And when the piece is a staple - this lace top will see me through holiday functions and can serve as a nice little wardrobe basic - then I don't mind paying more than I normally would.

Happy Saturday! I have to do a shopping column but I may do some thrifting on the way!

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Italian made retro bag for a twoonie

I think the guy at the thrift shop has a crush on me.

Why else would he charge me $2 for this Italian-made retro suede and leather bag I'm pretty sure is handmade?

Ok, maybe he didn't know much about the designer Alfredo Picchi, a Florentine designer who was in his heydey in the 1950s and 60s.

I can't find a ton of info online so I'm making the assumption the company is no longer around.



Picchi was known for using interesting materials like straw, and for his handmade details.

Just look at the detailing on the strap.

All I can find are vintage bags by the same designer online on Ebay.

I have a feeling it's worth way more than a twoonie!

Just below the tag you can see some gold print on the fabric. It's in French, interestingly enough - "Fabrique en Italie" - wonder why?



Maybe some groovy 1970s chick in Paris picked it up at some chic boutique.

It has a tassle hangining out the back but it's a bit overkill so I've tucked it inside.

This bag is my new BFF.

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Ickky thrifty or nifty thrifty?

Reader, were these a mistake?

Blue. Suede. 1980s. Skinny pants. High high waste. $19.99 at Goodwill. Tags still on a week to exchange.

My case: One, love blue suede and velvet (witness new blue suede boots in previous post and countless blue and velvet pieces in my abode).

Two, couldn't afford the Hoss Intropia blue velvet skinny pants I saw at a lush new boutique in Toronto.

So when I saw these on the rack ....


I'm wearing them here with a cashmere sweater and scarf and a thrifted belt, and my amazing leather rider boots I picked up for $40 new at a liquidation store.

The look is sorta horse-y Ralph Lauren rider chick, especially when worn with my brown leather gloves and vintage wool blazer from Holt Renfrew.

I'm leaning towards keeping them. They're uber comfy and I think I can glam them up with high-heeled high boots. Just not so sure of the side angle: they're fitted but are slightly pooky in the tummy when I sit down.

What say you?

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Updates & new thrifted blazer

I have some important Grunge Queen updates:

One, the Oriental Screen in the trash stayed there for a few, very wet and rainy, days and then was hopefully carted off by some brawny person instead of being dumped in the landfill.

Two, remember my Statement Piece Blazer dug up at the Parkdale Sally Ann for $4.99? Knew it was spanky as it was made in France by Canadian-born designer Tara Jarmon. DIDN'T know it was worth so much until I did a shopping column in Midtown Toronto the other day as saw her blouses for $500 and dresses for $600 in a boutique there. My blazer must have retailed for the same if not more, wowsers!

Three, speaking of blazers, I found this Theory blazer at my local thrift shop. Stretch Thrift, for $6.99. It's a fitted brushed cotton style in this olive-brown colour I'm nuts for these days, and it goes perfectly with my thrifted Bongo jeans (Value Village, $14.99) and magenta Dex top I'm wearing underneath (thrifted for a few bucks).

Also goes perfectly with the Statement Piece Pashmina I bought at a 3-for-1 sale in Yorkville in the summer with my shopping pal, Andrea.

Theory sells at places like Holt Renfrew and the blazers appear to run around $400-$600!

While shopping for the blazer I met a kindred thrifting spirit, Pam, who also shops thrift all over the city. Pam told me she's found Gucci and more in the shops. Hope she calls me so we can do a dig together!!

Thanks to my Editor in Chief at the Town Crier newspapers for letting me pose in front of a picture in his office - makes the perfect backdrop. By the way if you want to read my latest Toronto Shopping Column please follow the link!

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Disco belt & Halloween inspiration

When I was in grade 2 in the late 1970s, my Mom made me the most kick butt Halloween costume: and I became Wonder Woman.

She sewed silver tinfoil stars on my shorts, made me a crown of cardboard and tinfoil, and glued a red construction paper star on the front of the head piece. Red rubber boots, a red halter top, and a Christmas tree garland for a lasso completed the look.

Wish I had a pic of that.

Though this belt, which I picked up at a vintage-second hand store in the Junction in Toronto while doing a shopping column there, has a disco-crossed-with-an-Alexis-Carrington-from-Dynasty look to it, it reminded me of that Wonder Woman costume....

I love vintage and retro elasticized belts and am developing a little collection of them. They showcase my small waist and are just a fun way to zoot up an outfit.

Going to a Halloween party next week. Mmm. May be Wonder Woman if I can figure out a way to do it without donning shorts!

Thrift, second-hand and vintage stores are fab places to get ideas and pick up the fixings for Halloween costumes. Has anything you've found in these shops, or even in the back of your closet, inspired you to make and wear a costume this Halloween??

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My thrift tribute to Chanel

The new Coco Chanel flic is out, so here's my thrifty tribute to one of the biggest style icons of all time who still influences fashion today:

It's all thrift.

The pink wool-cashmere sweater with cute pockets is Chanel-ish by virtue of those pockets and the pink. The ruffle is darling too. $5.99 at my local thrift store, Stretch Thrift in the east end of Toronto.

The faux pearls: $10 at Around the Block, a great consignment store in North Toronto.

The skirt: black silky Jacob skirt thrifted for under $10 years ago. The tank is a black stretch Bedo top found for a couple bucks at my local thrift shop.

The shoes and tights are new.
Total for outfit: under 30 bucks.

What would Coco think?

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Family thrift

I'm back from a lovely vacation and it's nice to be the Grunge Queen again.

But who says I wasn't the Grunge Queen back home? My sis and her fam have become dedicated Value Village shoppers in the last few years (I'd like to think I've inspired them), so one day we ALL piled into the car and hit good 'ole VV.

You can find great designer jeans if you look through the racks carefully.

My sis found a pair of Parasuco's for under $10 there, which she is wearing in the above pic, and another member of the fam pictured here is wearing some Bongo jeans she found for super cheap.

I found a pair of Bongo SKINNY jeans (haven't worn skinnies since the 1980s - I won't be posting a pic just yet) with lovely detailing on the back pockets for $14.99.

And my sis found me the pair I'm wearing in these shots - a City of Angels (by Paige denim) pair of jeans from their Rock n' Roll collection - the button is shaped like a guitar pick and there are sooo many nice details. These jeans, if they still made them, would retail at $200 or so. My price? $14.99.

Did I mention they look brand new?

Wish I could take credit for this find but I gotta cede to my sis's supreme designer jean thrift radar. Thanks sis!

TIP: I get ALL my jeans at the thrift stores. Value Village is good but the jeans I find there are pricier, $14.99-$19.99 generally for makes like Parasuco, Guess? etc that are in good shape and in a current style. I tend to get the bulk of my jeans at the thrift shop around the corner from me, where they usually run from $4.99-$6.99.

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Olive Oil boho skirt

When I was in grade 9 I had an outfit I loved: a long thin straight plaid skirt; a white blouse with a yoked neck and a brooch at the neck; and oversize navy cardi; and black granny boots.

My Mom called it my Olive Oil look, in honour of Popeye's stick-thin straight-skirt toting chick. She still talks about that outfit.

That was 20 years ago but I've updated the look to make it more boho. While searching for the cocktail dress I never found, I dug up this fab long black wool skirt - with buttons down the front and pink detailing - after trying on practically every dress at I Miss You Vintage in Toronto. It was under $30.

I paired it here with my Anthropologie scarf; a wool JCrew thrifted blazer (under $10); a cashmere sweater bought for $40 at an end-of-the-line sale, and my new shoe booties.
.
Olive Oil, I have definitely missed you

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East end antique tour

As you may know, I shop - a lot. With 9 shopping columns a month at a local community newspaper, in addition to my own thrifting exploits, I know a lot of what's happening on the streets of Toronto - who's opened, who's closed, and who carries that unique find you won't find anywhere else.

These are hanging Victorian hall lamps made of glass, found in Antique Row in the east end of Toronto in a shop there. They're hard to find and represent the shop owner's entire collection....

This is a shop downstairs from the one featured above, where I bought the velvet blue chair. There are four dealers here, each with their own aesthetic and look, from Shabby Chic to French Country to, well, a bit scruffy (my personal preference!).

This is the outside of yet another shop on the antique block, which sells mostly decorative accessories like old globes, chandeliers and other bibs and bobs.

My pick: crystal chandelier strands (from broken chandeliers), $10 each or 2 for $15 - perfect for a choker necklace or drippy Christmas tree ornaments!

For the full article check it out here

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Weddings on rooftops

Eep. Grunge Queen is feeling a bit fragile this Monday morning.

She went to a fab wedding on the rooftop of the Drake Hotel yesterday.

I was worried about wearing black - but everyone else was in the end. My silk tulip shape skirt by Peter Lam, thrifted at Value Village the week before for a mere $6.99, was perfect for the occasion.

I paired it with a sequin top by Planet I've had for years, some pewter shoes and nude fishnet stockings, a vintage bag and my black cashmere cape.

There were plenty of other stylish ladies there, including this lady who danced in the rain with yet another stylish lady.

I have a feeling her cape wasn't thrifted. She looks very Olympia Dukakis.

In fact the whole afternoon - the wedding, the rooftop, the rain, the champagne, the black - it was all very New York.

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