New year, new look, new apartment?

I'm a poster child for change when it comes to the spaces in which I live.

Not two weeks after completing my full-on apartment re-do, I'm contemplating moving - to smaller digs!

I live in the equivalent of social purgatory now - apartment land, basically - and I long for life on the busy Toronto shopping strip where I used to live.

That's exactly where this apartment is.

It's just been renovated, and the deal breaker for me are these gorgeous windows with south-eastern exposure, overlooking a church across the street with shops and restos in sight to the left - ideal!

I have first dibs if I want ... and if the numbers in my cheque book (and the stars) align!

The big thing: I'd have to get rid of a ton of stuff as the space is about a full room smaller than what I'm in now.



As hard as it is to think of this, divesting myself of all my STUFF sounds appealing. A simpler life. Could I do it???

I would consider doing it if it meant the windows in this apartment, and the hipper location.


Any thoughts out there on moving into smaller digs or downsizing??

P.S. It would mean moving slightly away from my fave thrift shop - which could mean I'd accumulate less stuff to refill my new pad!

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Light my Fire

I'm not telling you how many lamps I have in my apartment. I love ambient lighting; it creates a wonderful mood.

This blue lantern was $4.99 at my local thrift store. For now it's sitting on my window sill and hangs out with my new blue sheer curtains, which I picked up at Fabricland in the discount bin.

These wicker lampshades are lined in satin and in fab condition. They were $5 for the pair, again at Stretch Thrift.

Again, I'm loving the symmetrical lamp look. It just adds a touch of class.

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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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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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Retro bling x 3 for under 2 bucks!

I woke up the other morning with this phrase in my head: wonderful pillows are to couches as great jewellery is to an outfit.

In other words, I can't afford a new couch or a new outfit, but I sure can jazz things up with a new pillow (ok, used, see post from two days ago) and new (used) bling.

So, after unloading a bunch of necklaces at my Grunge Queen Stuff Sale a few weeks ago, I stocked up on retro costume jewellery the other day at my no. 1 neighborhood thrift store, Stretch Thrift (see Top 10 Toronto Thrift Stores posts from last week).

How could I leave this retro silver tone choker necklace by Coro that Mary in the shop let me have ... for .50 cents??

Or this gold-tone retro choker by Monet, again for .50 cents?

The segments look like little fishies, don't they?

I love the weight of this piece - a trait I always look for when buying retro bling. The more substantial, the older, I find, and more expensive looking.

Mary upped the ante when she told me she wanted .69 cents for this three-tier gold tone strand necklace by D'Orlan.

But I took a deep breath and decided to go for it.

Three fab pieces to make countless outfits even better, all for $1.69!

Maybe one or two will be holiday gifts ....

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Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops, part 3

Sorry I missed yesterday; here's part 3 of my Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops, starting with number 5 ....

East/Central:

5). Value Village
2119 Danforth Avenue
416-698-0621
www.valuevillage.ca

It’s more expensive than Stretch Thrift or Sally Ann, but the selection is there and let’s put it this way: VV is a for-profit enterprise and it’s its job to get you good stuff. Still, I'd shop carefully ... Bongo Jeans can be close to $20 here where I’ve found them for $5.99 at other places.

Best deals: I always raid the jewellery cases as I’ve found some gorgeous retro and even vintage pins for a couple bucks – these tend to be underpriced compared to the sterling stuff (though the pin pictured above IS sterling and was bagged for a few bucks at VV). Often – and like many other thrift shops – the pricing gods at VV will underprice a well-made designer piece as they don’t know its value – meanwhile the mass market stuff is overpriced.

Best finds: 1970s boho velvet & paisley blazer, $7.99; scads of fab, mostly retro costume jewellery for $5-10 each; two Oriental style lamps for $24.99 each; Nine West booties in mint condition for about $14.99. Bonus: donate a substantial bag of stuff and you get 20 percent off.

6).Neat Things
1126 Queen St. East,
416-778-9453

This shop is jammed packed with furniture, decorative accessories, art, and other baubles. Leave the kids at home as there's too much bric-a-brac precariously balanced, and make sure you call first as owner Ellen's hours aren't always stringent. I love this place, though, and have spent good quality time rooting through everything. The prices are really reasonable, and there's no telling what you could find. My best finds: Liberty of London scarf - beautiful - for a couple bucks; retro Italian suede bag with red leather interior, for about a fiver if memory serves. P.S. There's a string of antique shops along this block with heaps of furniture and decorative accessories...

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Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops, part 2

Yesterday I started my Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops; here are my second and thrift picks:



East/Central:



2). Pegasus Thrift Store

931 Kingston Rd., 416-422-0999

www.pegasusproject.ca



This shop is part of the Pegasus Community Project, a registered charity that helps developmentally challenged adults by giving them community-based day care opportunities and employment.



The hours are a bit wacky (call before you go), but I love this thrift shop, especially since it's moved into its new home. It has more of a boutique vibe and there are tons of treasures to be found, mostly in the accessories, book, and knick-knac categories.



I found this suede made in Canada purse with saucy buckle for $9.99. The blue lamp from a few posts ago was also found here.





3). Goodwill

60 Overlea Blvd., 416-422-0998

www.goodwill.on.ca



This is the best Goodwill in Toronto in my opinion. It's a huge store and always packed with heaps of clothing, shoes, furniture, books, art and fab bric-a-brac. Whether I go for a full-on dig or pop in for a few minutes I always leave with a steal. Prices not marked unless they're higher end; there are price caps on end of racks with general price range (blazers, $7.99 and up, etc), which I sometimes find frustrating: how am I to know if it's "and up"? The pricing seems to be at the whim of the cashier - still, deals are too good to complain about and Goodwill helps people in your community find and train for jobs.



Some fab finds recently: jackets galore! A DKNY blue silk jacket for $9.99; a 1980s cropped boil wool blazer made in Toronto by Miranda Lumley ($3.99 as it was 50 percent off day!); a TeenFlo little black dress for $6.99.

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Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops, part 1

I've had some requests for my top 10 thrift shops in Toronto, so I'm starting with my absolute fave today and will be wrapping up by week's end. Here ya go!



Central/East



1). Stretch Thrift, 974 Pape Ave., 416-425-0024



I buy most of my wardrobe at this place, along with the majority of the art on my walls and some furniture too.The prices can’t be beat and rival Sally Ann: jeans starting at $4.99; jewellery for a buck or two; leather belts for a buck. The store relies on donations – and donates a portion of its profits to the East York General Hospital – so items are arriving on a constant basis. I go regularly and always find something. They know me now so when an item isn't priced I get a good deal.



Some of my best finds: blue suede Italian boots in great shape, $14.99; Theory blazer in perfect condition for $6.99; retro brown suede Alfredo Picchi bag handmade in Italy for a twoonie! Also found a German crystal lamp for $29.99 and a huge solid wood dining table for the same price. Oh, can’t forget the Bill Blass yellow 1980s swing coat, $14.99 and the green velvet and faux fur jacket made in Canada by Irving Posluns for the same price!



FORGIVE THE PICTURE! MY LATEST STRETCH THRIFT FIND, AN IRVING POSLUNS JACKET FOR $14.99!



Check out the Stretch Thrift label to the right to see the rest of my finds from this store.

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Super thrift outfit

Happy Halloween!

Here's what I'm wearing at work today for my costume, which is a generic Super Girl Hero type ditty. My pal and colleague Jill is Superman, or Superman's gal, depending how you look at it.

One of these outfits is thrift and the other isn't - can you guess which?

Natch, most of my outfit is thrift, and most items I wear in my every day life when I'n NOT super.

The red cashmere cape was $24.99 at Value Village, the short blue skirt was dug up at Goodwill yesterday for $5.99, the tights and top I had, and the funky disco belt was found at True Blue Vintage in the Junction (2919 Dundas St. West, no website yet) for $15 - thought it was pretty special.

The real deals were the blue suede boots made in Italy, bagged for $14.99 at Stretch Thrift on Pape Ave. in Toronto.

But I didn't win the contest, alas; Jill came in second.

Still I think thrift is pretty super. Maybe I should have called myself Shopping Girl?

Was your Halloween costume thrift or used?

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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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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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Coat a la thrift

I'm not just a chair addict: I also have a thing for retro, well-made coats.

And since it's 12 degrees C this morning it's the perfect time to show you the ad FAB coat I picked up at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift, for $12.99 - yes, $12.99!

There's more: it's in mint shape, not a hole, hanging thread or pill to be found.

The tag says Heatona, Leeds and London and it says it's made in Scotland with pure new wool cloth, and it actually has a trademark symbol on it for the Scottish Woolen Association.

Just look at the detail on this coat! The buttons, the collar, the pattern - even the lining hasn't a rip in it.

This baby is going to look incredibly stylish with everything from skirts and boots to jeans and chunky sweaters - I can hardly wait to wear it!

I always look for well-worn (ie: not worn) wool that doesn't stink of mothballs. Lately I have been looking for wool with tags from Scotland as they seem to wear better and appear to be of a higher quality than most I see. Generally these makes tend to be more classic in style as opposed to trendy, meaning their styles are applicable today and highly wearable!

Tomorrow I'll show you another goodie I found at Value Village ....

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Indie greeting card for dumpster divers?

I love this card - in case you can't see the print it reads "Antiques Road Kill" under a bunch of junky second-hand relics riding in a car.

It's by Cara Scissoria cards out of LA and I found it on Danforth Ave. in Toronto in Drysdale and Co.

Natch it's published on recyled paper.

Owner Susan Drysdale has expanded her greeting card collection as a result of a nearby shop closing last year, and I must say I had trouble picking out a B-day card for a pal as there was so many funny cool ones to choose from.

I picked up this one for me. There's a fab collection of indie cards, jewellery, handbags and other accessories at Drysdale's shop.

Located at 107 Danforth Ave., just east of Broadview; 416-484-8592.

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My latest thrifty haul

Ever slept with a new thrift find by your bed?

Ok, kinda sad but I just felt like a kid when I found this retro placticized fabric clutch at the Common Sort 50 percent of sale yesterday.

I love the hardware, and inside the silky lining is in perfect condition - no stinky moth ball smell! - and there's even a mirror with the maker's name (Madison Creation) inside a tiny side pouch. So ladylike!

It was $10.50 with the discount, and yes, I slept with it on the floor by my bed last night.

I had to restrain myself from buying too many summer ditties since I try to look forward to the next season when I thrift shop - I have too many summer dresses in my closet, let's put it that way - so this super sassy rocker elasticized belt will be just perfect with anything from jeans to a suit. It was $9 with the discount.

This past year I've really gone to town on belts. I have a small waist and I figure I may as well accentuate the positive.

This vintage velvet elasticized belt with funky gold-tone hardware was a real find. I have one that's somewhat similar (see my tan post below - it's the one I wore higher up on my body with my $4.99 dress), but that one was $30 at the Toronto Film Studios fall sale, pricey for me but these belts are relatively hard to find.

This one was only $8 with the discount.

Nicole Babin owns Common Sort and has these sales a few times a year to clear out her stock. She also buys, sells or trades items that she sells in store, so she may take your castoffs if they suit her style ethic.

And once you're a customer you'll go on her email list and be notified of the 50 percent off sales! Last year I found a vintage Bergdorf Goodman quilted jacket at the sale. It's brilliant.

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