Value Village Victory

We went; we shopped; we conquered.

Today a friend and I shopped VV for a good hour and a half. It was looking grim for a while. Nothing in the jewellery case. Ditto for jeans and dresses. After a troll in the sweaters I knew I was getting desperate; a chunky acrylic bat-wing sweater was actually looking good. I hit a low point in suits, where another acrylic creation of gold and brown had me thinking if I couldn't perhaps stretch the look to Boho....

But we fought the good fight and stuck our shopping ground, my pal finally emerging with a cute suit and picture frame. Still thinking of my short velvet skirt from the day previous (see post below), I didn't have issues with this skirt, $5.99. A thick crepe with white braiding detail, it was obviously a good make (though no tag could be found). I'll wear it tomorrow with black opaque tights, a black turtleneck, my green Simon Chang belt (see Jan 22 post), a bright scarf, and my rock n' roll booties (see Jan 25 post).

We celebrated our victory with beer and nachos after - the perfect end to a Sunday afternoon

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Sexy Boho Chic Outfit Outta Nothing At All

In theory this outfit is wrong on so many levels. Orange and black, a fashion no-no; a super short velvet skirt; a strange orange vintage wool jacket with an even stranger arm length.

But with a sheer black nylons, pewter heels, and a vintage elastic belt, this is a boho-chic outfit with a dash of come-hither thrown in (that'll I'll likely try out at a party next week).

The skirt, TeenFlo, $4.99 at Sally Ann; the jacket was under $10 at some thrift store; the belt $30 or so at the Toronto Film Studios semi-annual sale; and the RALPH by Ralph Lauren sleeveless turtleneck and old staple in my closet.

THRIFT TIPS:

1). Don't automatically disqualify something if it calls to you (orange jacket) or even if it appears to go against every fibre of your fashion being (short velvet skirt). I haven't worn a skirt this short (at least 2 inches above my knee) for years 'cos I have definite knee issues, but I decided to try point number two, which is to ...

2). Play up your assets: I have long legs and often forget all about them. A short tight skirt like this, with sheers and sassy BCBG heels, makes my gams look miles long. An extra high waist on the skirt helps lengthen my legs, and the belt detracts from any little tummy I have by highlighting my waist. An outfit that is technically wrong can blossom into a butterfly if worn with a little attitude (wool and patterned velvet and silver shoes), especially if it's calculated to show you and all your bodily parts at their best. (I like that the length of the jacket balances out the short skirt ... and hey, if the skirt doesn't work out it's going to be the most Boho looking pillow in my place).

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Two Buck Pick-Me-Up

Ok, so the grunge-queen has gone out the last few nights and her posts have not been so sparky - forgive me, fellow grungers.

Thrift stores are havens for tacky brooches and pins. Even at good 'ole Value Village, you can find 'em for a $1.99

I steer clear of the snowmen and go for the simple pins, as a rule - and lately the ones I've been digging are circular. I found this gold-tone leaf pin on my way home tonight at Salvation Army for $1.69 - not in the showcase but in this crappy plastic container near the cash.

Again near the cash at another thrift shop, this silver-tone pin was a mere buck. I wear this one on the lapel of a blazer, and the heavier gold one is coat-worthy.

COMING TOMORROW: Sexy chic boho-chic outfit with a weird orange blazer and a short velvet mini - who would of thought??

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Domino's Dead

I need a happy Spring-like photo, not just because I'm sick of winter. The publishers of Domino magazine just announced the publication will be no more after its March edition. Another decor mag, sadly, has bit the dust.

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What's Your Style?

I'm never sure what to say when people ask me what my style is. If pressed I'd have to say Boho -Baroque best describes my most recent look, with a bit of girlie glam thrown in. I like ....

1). Rich fabrics and textures - velvet, silks & embroidery.
2). Lots of bling - silver, mirrors & glittery picture frames.
3). A few straight lines, but lots of curvy ones.
4). Rich gem hues - green, indigo & purple balanced by pops of orange.

Not sure what your style is? Here's how to start:

1). Keep track of particular things you like - in the stores, in magazines, in friends' places - anywhere. Anytime you see a colour, or a chair, or a painting or a pillow, make note of it or write it down.
2). Any way you can classify your list? Try sorting into subheadings like colour, feeling (funky or romantic?), style (country or modern?) and anything else that occurs to you.
3). It's ok if some categories overlap, and don't obsess over names or categories. I have a touch of country in my look, but my overall look is decidedly not country.
4). Anything in your home that fits into any of those categories? Make that your starting point, the pebble plop from which all your create energies and new design elements will emanate. Build around that piece or pieces, together or in separate vignettes.
5). Don't reject items already in your home that don't appear to fit into your ethic. I have a mix of different styles in my home, and they all work because my look is highly eclectic.
6). Accept that your look can constantly evolve. Style is never static as it can be influenced by everything around you.

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Men and Thrift

I'll never forget one particularly nasty beau calling a coat I picked up at an Ottawa consignment shop my "Obi-Wan Kenobi" coat. It was a Hilary Radley wrap coat - ok yes, it was brownish, and it had a belt, and - well - it had a hood too. I thought it was chic beyond belief, but I let this guy ruin it for me ... every time I went to wear it thereafter, all I could think was that old fart Obi-Wan. Alas, the coat went in the donation pile recently after sitting in my closet unworn for years.

When my ex called a prized (second-hand) head vase (pictured here) Ichabod Crane, I was ok with it - primarily because it come from a place of fun and love. And I love head vases - they're the freakiest things: vases in the shape of heads, with little openings where the brains should be. This head vase was like nothing I'd ever seen - so elegant, not at all kitschy - and it was made in Spain, not exactly the head vase capital of the world. My feisty cat decapitated Ichabod one day when I was at work, but it was a clean cut, thank God, nothing a little mega glue couldn't cure. I smile every time I look at my elegant lady. She can be swishy - and she can still be Ichabod.

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Jewellery for the Queen - of grunge

Five hours at the Dufferin Mall and I have my "Decor Diva" package for charity - I'll put the link up here once the article is published so you can learn what I bought for $100!

Natch, I shopped a wee bit for myself. I normally dig my jewellery up at the thrift store for literally a couple bucks, but I couldn't resist this multi-strand charm neckalce found at Vivah for 40% off. The regal theme is there for sure, but it was those little crowns that did for me (plus I'm still groovin on my rocker chick charm necklace) ....


.... which by the way I have posted another pic of, per Robbie's request to get a better view....

That's a wax mannequin of me - really! Wearing Bongo/Value Village jeans, Dex/thrift store angora top, disco belt given to me by floridagirl, and Giant Tiger jacket found on clearance rack for 5 bucks.

P.S. - grunge-queen also bought something on sale that she's been wanting for sooo long but hasn't been able to find: PURPLE FISHNETS.

Is there anything that's MORE grunge-queen, I ask you??

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