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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Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club

Yesterday I went to the first ever sale by the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewellery Club.

There was heaps of vintage and retro bling there, but my eye caught this 1970s carpet bag the moment I walked in the room, and it was love at first site.

I'm showing it to you here sideways so you can see the texture.

Yes, it matches my couch.

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of one of my fave shops in Toronto, Bead Goes On (see my Top 10 Toronto Thrift Shops below) - funnily enough where I bought my first carpet bag. She and I and her pal went for brunch after and had a great time.

I'm thinking of joining this jewellery club, btw. It's only a $30 annual membership and they have monthly events. I'd like to learn how to value all the signed pieces I find at thrift shops!

They don't have a website but you can always email them at tvcjclub@hotmail.com.

Happy Monday!

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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.
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Olive Oil, I have definitely missed you

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Trifari choker could be worth something

My best friend bought me this lovely, almost pocket size hardcover book for my B-day, Shopping for Vintage: The Definitive Guide to Fashion.

In it there are beautiful colour illustrations of the creations of much coveted and collectible clothing and accessory designers, along with descriptions of their main looks and what to look for when shopping for them.

Needless to say most of the designers are pretty high end, their wares like nothing I'd see in the thrift shops.

But the book helped me realize a necklace I bought last summer for $10 in a junk store outside Morrisburg, Ontario could have way more value than I thought originally.

I knew Trifari jewellery was somewhat collectible, but it wasn't until I read the write up on it that I realized how much.

This pretty silver tone leaf choker is signed "Trifari", a signature which, according to the book's author Funmi Odulate, means the piece was made before 1923.

All Trifari pieces after that date are stamped "TFK", so if you find a bauble stamped "Trifari" or Trifari and Trifari", you'll likely have a more collectible piece.

I haven't figured out what the value is on this necklace but I don't care much: I'm just kinda thrilled to know the Grunge Queen did pick up something somewhat collectible - I loved it on sight so it's still just as meaningful to me.

I always look for signed jewellery pieces when I do the thrift dig, though a signature doesn't mean an item is worth gobs of money. Sarah Coventry jewellery is highly collectible and often signed but I don't think it fetches the big bucks as there were so many pieces made.

Sometimes signatures or stamps change over time, as Trifari's did, and that can help you identify which era the piece was made in and possibly its value.

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Jewellery junkie gets her fix

You know by now my penchant for retro bling.

On my way to do a shopping column yesterday I popped into my friendly neighborhood thrift shop - an absolute must if you want to bag the good stuff.

TIP: GO OFTEN.

Just as I was about to leave one of the employees who's sold me many baubles for a couple bucks or less mentioned a whack of jewellery had jusy come in.

REMEMBER: EMPLOYEES AND OWNERS OF STORES WILL REMEMBER YOU IF YOU GO AND BUY OFTEN - THEN AS THEY GET TO KNOW YOUR TASTES THEY'LL HAUL OUT OR PUT ASIDE STUFF FOR YOU IF THEY'RE REALLY NICE....

My spidy senses tingled.

Out came a plastic bag. I restrained, as she went through the bag.

TIP: DON"T BE GRABBY. WAIT FOR THEM TO PRESENT ITEMS TO YOU.

I ended up walking away with a three-tier a vintage glass bead necklace for $3 (TIP: DON'T ARGUE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK YOU SHOULD PAY MORE)!!

And this totally tubular necklace, a cross between a Tribal and Industrial worm, was also $3. Though it's contemporary I thought it was pretty funky.

I also bagged a huge sterling cocktail ring with a pink stone for $2.

Thrift shops can be havens for both contemporary, retro and vintage jewellery - you just have to know what you like!

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Retro wardrobe ditties for cheap

I'm interrupting my Smart Art series with a very important news bulletin: I visited some of my vintage pal retailers on Mount Pleasant Rd. in Toronto today, and I have all sorts of great updates for all you deal divas out there: great seasonal deals at the best designer vintage consignment shop in Toronto, Act Two at 596 Mt. Pleasant Rd. (you just have to go so no phone nos), where selected vintage fur coats on the deal rack are $20! Owner Inga knows her stuff - she consigns locally but also buys ultra special vintage pieces from France when she can .... the labels are true Euro designer and and the prices are more than decent.

North on Mt. Pleasant at my absolute fave vintage accessory store, The Bead Goes On (256 Soudan Ave), owner Cindy has amassed a hoard of swanky vintage purses and jewellery - the ultra cool thing is she's got items like vintage croc bags for a few hundred bucks and the odd Hermes scarf for under $200, but then you can find the neat fashiony items like I did for under $70.

The boho-chic carpet-tapestry 70s (?) clutch with short chain, above, was $45, and the costume jewellery ring that looks like a cross between a mood ring and a white opal was only $15 - it has something engraved on the inner band but I can't read it .... must invest in a magnifying glass for bauble scoping ....

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