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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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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Architectural Digest score

We interrupt regularly scheduled programming re: the apartment re-do to bring you this important thrift announcement:

Grunge Queen scored some more inspirational mags yesterday!

There must have been decades worth of Architectural Digest magazine at my local thrift shop.


I could hardly contain myself. I picked up this collector's edition containing pics of Greta Garbo's New York digs. Another had pics of Rita Hayworth's abdode, and Jimmy Stewart's too.

Goldmine.

I took home only five at .49 cents each (they were .99 cents each but the guy gave me a deal).

I also picked up a few from the late 1970s. The stack appeared to start there and go to present day.



Guess what I'm buying on my way home from work every night this week?

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Thrift gift scores for the holidays

I have to finish showing you some of the thrift gifts I gave to family members this holiday season. First there was the Mark Foreman wrap dress for my sis (see post from last week).

Then there was this darling studded BCBG Girls purse for my tweenie niece, thrifted for a few bucks.

The lining has these darling little butterflies all over. I swear, the purse hadn't even been used! I bought this months ago and just put it aside, knowing it wasn't for me and that I'd find the perfect person to give it to.

And she LOVED it! Thrift gift score!!

And who is this? It's my Dad, the man in my life who is so hard to buy for, who rarely gets excited over the socks and CDs I've thrown his way over the years in the form of gifts.

Wait, doesn't he look completely absorbed here? It's Christmas morning and he has his nose in a book?

Enter thrift gift score number two:

A hard cover book on movie musicals with amazing photos of the movie stars who starred in them. The book was $3.99 at my local thrift shop.

Yes, he loved it. And so do I - flipping through it and looking at the pics reminded me of watching all those movies with Dad while I was growing up. He got me hooked on Saturday Night at the Movies on TVO as a teen, and as a family we watched many of the old flics together.

It was a truly successful thrift gift, and I'm so thrilled he liked it.


Meanwhile: the cashmere sweater for my other sis? Not the best fit. I'm keeping it instead and am looking for another thrift gift for her.

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Yesterday's steal: lamp & shade

So I ended up going into work to an empty office yesterday, forgetting it was a Stat holiday.

With nothing better to do, I left work and - what else? - shopped. On my way home, I found this festive red lampshade at my fave lamp and lighting store, Consumers Lighting, on Dufferin St. Then I popped into a Salvation Army Thrift Store on the way home, only to find it was 50 percent off day. I picked up a Ports vest for $1.50 and a sassy green Nygard trench coat for $3.50. I also found a pretty mauve Louben blazer for $3.50 that will be perfect for my Mom, and a pretty silk boho pillow for $1.50.

But this lamp, $12.99 regular price, was the keeper.

I had to fight to get it.

First I waited in line to get to the cash, only to be told it was final sale. When a lightbulb couldn't be found for me to test it, I found an employee in the back room who procured one, tested the lamp, then waited in the line all over again - only to be told the lamp wasn't part of the sale.

The cashier let me have it for 50 off in the end.

I just love it. What a statement piece. What texture. What a steal! The shade and base were made for eachother.

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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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Easy peasy holiday centrepiece

Sorry for the late post tonight. As I sit and do my holiday cards tonight I'm basking in the glow of this grungy-glam makeshift centrepiece.

I found these Williams Sonoma green pear-scented tea lights at my neighborhood dollar store (where I also got the cards). I plopped them on a silver tray I've had for years, picked up at a thrift store (silver trays are always in abundance for super cheap at places like Value Village), and voila, instant centrepiece.

Simple, elegant and all in five minutes - the Grunge Queen way! Now I must finish my cards. This week I'll also show some thrift gifts and a MISTAKE thrift outfit that is rather elf-like in its appearance! Goodnight!

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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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Which hat is thrift? answered

Last week's post about which hat was thrifted generated some fun comments, but Eyeliah of www.theeyeline.ca and www.stylesymmetry.com guessed correctly - this navy Kangol hat was found for a buck at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, while the black one was new and recently gifted to me (cost $45 I happen to know). Great eye, Eyeliah, and thanks to all who guessed or commented!

Speaking of outerwear I found my fave winter gloves, a pair of navy leather with Thinsulate lining, at Stretch Thrift last year for $2.99 or so --- only to lose one, arg.

The other day I found these, though, a pair of bronze-brown leather gloves lined in silk for $1.99.

They're not winter gloves but they'll be perfect for going to holiday parties in - in fact I wore them on the weekend to a Christmas party with a fab thrift outfit I'll show you this week!

I don't imagine these are too old or retro, but the stamp inside on the lining does have a retro vibe to it - the writing, in case you can't see it, says "Pure silk lined Hand cut Washable" and the size (which is 7 and a half, slightly too small for me but I can manage them in a pinch).

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New or thrift? A tale of two berets

I love doing these posts and you dear readers seem to love 'em too, so here we are again:

Which beret is thrift?

One is new; the other was picked up at a thrift shop for a buck. Both are wool.


I've never really done berets before. Last year my look was grungy-glam with a tight beaded toque I have now lost.

But the beret, worn not as a pancake on the head but rather pulled over the head as I'm wearing it here - well, it just seems to say, "I have style oozing out of me, and I may just have heaps of cash too." The latter part is fantasy in my case but hey, if the beret keeps 'em guessing, why not indulge in the falsehood?

Casts your votes for the heck of it. Feel free to tell me which look you like best!

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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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New pillow, thrift outfit

Yesterday's post mentioning pillows was inspired in part by my dream pillow, pictured here with moi at an event I attended last week in the Beach at Jane Hall Design. www.janehalldesign.com

Jane is a creative colour guru and interior designer who works magic with fabric and rooms. This silk pillow, $88, is just the teeniest example of her decorating verve. I love it, but will have to leave it on my Santa wishlist for now. Besides I bagged a wonderful used pillow for $30, as you'll see from a post earlier this week.

Though I'm hating the way my hair looks in this pic (I'm trying to grow it, arg), I got a lot of compliments on my outfit that night, the entire ensemble being thrift.

The statement piece wool jacket made in Toronto by Miranda Lumley was only $3.99 at a 50 percent off sale at Goodwill - the Friday before last my date and I were on our way home from dinner and we saw the sign and ran in 5 minutes before close ... I found this in 2 minutes and I sure think he's a keeper if he can get off on hitting Goodwill after dinner....

The wool turtleneck was $5 or so, the Jones New York lined wool skirt I can't recall how much I paid for, and the chunky retro chain I bought for $15 at Bead Goes On in Toronto (see my Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops below as that store is one of 'em). Even the blue beret and black cashmere cape (not pictured here) were thrift!

PHOTOS COURTESY PARMJIT PARMAR OF MONTANA RIDGE MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL SERVICES http://www.montanaridge.com/

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Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops, Finale!

Ok fellow grungers, so these last two listings aren't thrift shops per se, but they're pretty fab place to pick up some thrifty-type finds, and I haven't really covered the midtown area in Toronto (there are a couple thrift shops here, like Sally Ann and Goodwill on St. Clair Ave. West, but since I've already covered those I'm not writing them up.). Here's 9 and 10:

Midtown:

9). Bead Goes On
256 Soudan Ave. (just off Mt. Pleasant Rd).
416-481-7622

This is one of the teeniest shops I've ever seen but every time I hit Mt. Pleasant I check it out. Owner Cyndi is a blast and her collection of vintage and retro handbags, jewellery and some clothing and accessories is to die for. You can find every style and era from Victorian to Art Deco, everything from vintage croc bags for a couple hundred bucks to Hermes scarves for $150. Natch, I eke out the inexpensive costume jewellery, like the Sarah Coventry ring pictured here, bagged for $15, or the 1970s carpet clutch also pictured here, about $40.

10). Around the Block
1903 Avenue Rd.,
416-546-1760
www.aroundtheblock.com

I hit Avenue Rd.north of Lawrence Ave. West every few months and always find something in this fab decor and accessory consignment shop - the prices have been around the block too! There's everything from original art to Persian carpets and dining room sets, and the bonus is the decorative accessories like vases and lamps are super well-priced. There's also some good costume jewellery with more expensive baubles under glass. You can see a full review I did as a shopping columnist if you go to their website ....

Recent finds: Uber worn Persian style runner rug, in rare blue tones, for $95 (pictured here: can you spot the kitty?). My cats can scratch away on it all they like! Just the other day I found a WONDERFUL boho Victorian pillow here ... that I'm saving to show you in tomorrow's post!

Night night!

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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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Outside comes in

This is how part of my apartment looks from my balcony.

Kinda cozy, yes?

I admit it: I love looking in front living room windows while walking along the street at dusk - not to see people but rather to look at their decor!

But it would seem kinda creepy if one of my apartment neighbors was looking across the way into my pad ... unless of course they happened to be editors of decor mags!

Yesterday's post in which I showed some worn chairs my Mom found in the trash and decorated her patio with has inspired me to bring in my balcony chairs - it's getting colder and the wicker and rattan will get damaged in the rain and snow that will inevitably come, alas....

Outside, these chairs took on a Shabby Chic look, with flowery pillows and such. Inside, though, that frilly dilly look won't go with my decor. Here I created a little nook with empty picture frames and a suede multi-coloured pillow. Cozy wozy.

The faded striped pillow was found used at Goodwill for a couple bucks and the blue wicker chair was from the trash.

With this rattan chair, found at the Sally Ann for $10, all it took was tossing a faux fur rug over top - a look I've seen in decor mags on chrome chairs. The effect is cozy with a modern twist.

I finished off the look with a plush brown pillow found at Value Village for a couple bucks.

Who says you have to store outdoor summer furniture?

For a peep at my balcony with these chairs in the summer, and other outdoor decorating projects, head here.

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