Shocked & Excited

NOT ONLY HAS GOOGLE MANAGED TO FIX THE LITTLE TIFF IT HAS HAD WITH MY COMPUTER, I FOUND A STORE IN TORONTO WHO WILL BE CARRYING GARETH PUGH COME SPRING!!! WHAT KIND OF STOCK THEY'LL HAVE I DON'T KNOW, NOR WILL I BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT REALLY, BUT HAVING IT IN STOCK MEANS IT'S THERE AND IF IT'S THERE ALL SPRING THAT MEANS THAT COME SUMMER IT WILL BE ON SALE AND WHEN ITS ON SALE I'LL BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT SANS GUILT.

SUH-WEET.

In The Middle Of The Night

The benefits of hiding a credit card is that groggy, middle of the night purchase, like these, are easily avoided.

in order from top left:  Jeffrey Campbell heels; UO, JDauphin bracelet; La Garconne, Mary Meyer spine dress; Oak, Grey Goose leather jacket; La Garconne, WHYRED dress, Joy Division shirt; Oak, Candy Pyramid Rings; Made Her Think, Talon ring, Made Her Think, Acrylic diamond ring, .byAMT; Supermarket, Anzevino & Florence top.

As The Debt Dent Deepens

I've been thinking (for the past month actually) about getting these or something like them to attach to a pair of nylon winter boots I bought.

There is a bead & supply store near the store I work at that may sell something like this.  Seeing as it is a bola my chances of finding two for a reasonable price that doesn't include shipping are fairly high.  If not a supply shop I'll find some at a vintage store.

I really hate the boots.  I only bought them because they were a) nylon b) warm and c) on sale and therefore cheaper than other winter boots I've seen.  They've since let in water and I had to buy another pair of boots (insert eye twitch).  This is the only idea I've come up with to make myself less unhappy/angry at the $50 I basically threw under the salter.

Strong As A Twig

I tried on a vest today that is $300 out of my price range and now I can't remember who the designer was.  I don't feel like I can go back to the store, because if I do I'll buy it (I know myself too well - I have very little self-control), which may not be a bad thing (you see?).

It was a shirt actually.  This beautifully draped, pinned and tucked in at the waist so it looked like it had pockets but doesn't actually let you hide your hands in it.  Apparently the salesladies had never seen it worn as a vest, and were so impressed they called the owner over to show her how I had ingeniously twisted the top of the back and worn it open creating a vest-style out of a quasi-grecian shirt.

And it was black (so I could wear it to work and look really cool).

It was a little oversized.  But not too much.  And it was fitted, yet bubbly.  And part of me thinks that it'll still be en vogue a year from now, but part of me thinks that the oversized thing may not last past spring.  

And the rest of me is still thinking about this shirtvest, wishing that I had bothered to look at the label.  I think it was whyred but am fairly sure that the reason I think that is because I tried on a (beautifully fitted) blazer by them.  Because at least then, I could find it online, download the picture, put it up here, and then forget about it (or get my sewing-savy friend to maybe make it for me).

I also went to Fawn; a very awesome store in Toronto (They sell Posso Spats. They hold the keys to the "Materialism" department in my heart).  I found a beautiful, red, sale-priced Imitation dress (that I may go back for because it won't go out of style and isn't $300 away) and this vintage military pin.

It has satiated me for some time.  The last piece I bought was the hat, so if I'm weak enough (and am still thinking about it on Tuesday) I may go back for the dress.

Or I'll grow a backbone and stay at home.

The Trick To Hunting Is Letting IT Come To YOU.

I bought a fedora years before it became cool, and because I was never one of "them kids" who reveled in the fact that they were somehow different from "the pack", I hardly wore it and my mom ended up donating it to Goodwill.

Luckily I kept the little red feather that was once attached to this fedora.

Lately (and by lately I mean, the day after I found out the hat was in the big bag that was now in a big bin somewhere) I have tried to find a new one.  I didn't want something patterned or something that had ribbons or bows or other trimmings on it.  Most vintage hats were either too big or too rigid (or too soft) but never "just right".

And where did I end up finding the "just right" hat?  At Forever 21.  When I was looking for a cheap wallet so I could stop using my change purse for everything.  It has a brim that isn't too too wide, it's the right size and cost me less that $10.  AND it is solid black.  No trimmings or frills or trendy baubles, it's just a black hat that I can wear over my face or on the back of my head, and am free to pin however many hat pins/feather/removable baubles as I wish.

It just goes to show that sometimes you just have to sit back and let certain unimportant things come to you.

At this rate, I may go back and buy another just so I can copy this hat I saw at Lilliput (Toronto milliner) last summer.  That is, after I do the YSL sweater project, the "good copy" of the YSL t-shirt, and spray paint my shoes.............

Divided From Joy

via oaknyc

I've never seen one like this, dammit why'd it have to be sold out?

Joy Division (to put this into context, somewhat) is one of the remaining bands from my quasi-wannabe-punk phase.  Such a depressing band (with possibly the most upsetting name origin) but when pushed and pulled into larger than life expressions of themselves, the songs become really uplifting pieces of emotion.

Sorry it's really early and I can't sleep.  Basically, a) I want that shirt b) it is sold out c) I want it because I have an emotional attachment to Joy Division.

And before I forget (because if anything this blog should serve as a record of ideas, even the ones I may not go through with) - I think I'm going to spray paint a pair of shoes.  I need black shoes for work and I figure if I find a nice, glossy and/or shiny black paint I can just convert and old pair into a seemingly new pair.  I also want something to dress up the ultra-winter boots I got.  What can I say, I seem to be on a DIY kick.

Outfit from a past day to follow tomorrow, I have a few questions.

"Word" To The Finding Gods

I found a find today.  A biggie.  

After an interview for a job (yes! step one!) I went to a vintage by-the-pound near my house to just pass the time and look at clothes that I wouldn't buy.  In addition to the following I also found a yellow and white striped, super-wide leg terry pantsuit.

It actually screamed " 1977, L.A, A POOL IN THE HILLS + YOU, ME, A DRINK, AND A FLOPPY WIDE BRIM HAT BABY", which kinda freaked me out/made me want it so bad (in related news, disco can save lives).

What I did find was this dress:

I can't seem to get a picture that does it justice in the teeny basement that is my apartment, however, the original price of this dress (which is in perfect condition save the single hook + eye that is on a loose thread) was $140 at 69 Vintage.  I have photographic evidence of the original tag.

But at their amazing, lovely, fantabulous, ridick, ridonk, awesome, brilliant, e.t.c By-Th-Pound it cost $10.50, including the belt and scarf I got with it.

um yeah.  Pretty much.

I suppose I had a bit of a 50's-y, vintage-y day seeing as I also wore this very comfortable (faux) fur wrap:

Me likey.  Found at after cleaning out my closet-y.  It keeps me warmy in the October fall.  Y.

Later:  I put the dress away and discovered it had pockets.  !!! pockets!

Isadora & Guillaume

Yo I'm back.  With full-force and semi-okay humour.  

On the first day that I was allowed out of my bed, it was actually kind of nice outside so I went to 69 Vintage's By The Pound store that is conveniently (and dangerously) close to my house, and managed to find a lovely (but too long) 20's-y inspired dress.  Sort of Virginia Woolf-y and Isadora Duncan-esque and Me-ish, and so-effing-comfortable-y.  I had it hemmed by the lovely lady who worked there (over a rousing conversation about stupid ways people have died) and now can either be worn as a) a very short wooly dress or b) a very long wooly sweater.

Or c) with a skirt.

Not gonna lie, I'm loving the 20s thing.  The part of my brain that governs influence has a weird preoccupation with lines, and it's totally having a field day.  Especially with the pleating (is it still pleating if it's on a scarf) on the attached scarf there.

I'm Against The Colour Pink

and yet it appears on the bottles of the perfumes I decided were very "me".

According to my mother every proper young lady needs a "scent" so she sent me to the Bay with a wee bit o' cashola to get one.  I narrowed it down to these two and then down to Ma Dame which has a very nice, smooth, mellow scent, but makes me feel like I am merely a pawn in the current preoccupation with Agyness Dean.

I wonder why we do this.  Like, how far down does this go? When I am old will I be the androgynous grandmother who has finally cut her hair into a spikey pixie cut?  Or will I be wearing oversized, cut up shirts and black skinny jeans a la Erin Wasson and the Wangs? Is the susceptibility of a person related to how cool they think they are or how cool they think they ought to be?  One does not have to read No Logo or have a degree in marketing/business/advertising/journalism/psychology/related to see that we of the now are the highly desired group.  The ones that everyone wants to gain their loyalty and trust for the few months we can turn our attention spans to them.  But how does it happen?

I want to know whether the Agyness comes before the Blogs or vice-versa.  Would Wang be Wang without Rumi et all?  I would also like to know (for future reference) whether or not these fascinations and inspirations will be replaced with newer, shinier versions of the above or whether I really will be the androgynous grandmother wearing oversized shirts and black skinny jeans.

VSquared

I want a new hat.  I've been looking at hats and pictures with hats and I kind of want a new hat.  There's nothing wrong with my go-to soulmate hat I just kinda want a new one....for variety.

Instead I'll revel in the fact that I can take 3 weeks off of my winter shopping with these chocolate booties:

            

Time I can now devote to more noteworthy projects such as contemplating the post-modern view of the world and how it fits into the current post-terrorism psyche before transitioning into trying to figure out why no modern philosophy texts address the issue that modern beliefs have changed since an entire generation came of age trying desperately to be as apathetic as we could toward the war that began around the same time as we were entering our teens.

Or layering.

Re: DecoPunk

Deco Pantyhose from American Apparel.
In the store, the packaging says "Art Deco Opaque Pantyhose"

Kind of tempting. But I know that the detailed little pattern will be lost on those not holding a magnifying glass to my legs.

Also, is it just me, or are these a little too Harley Quinn to wear everyday? I dunno, I think they scream "I'm in love with The Joker" a little more loudly than "I'm hip and cool"

Sunglasses

garance dore

A sunglasses store opened up near my work. I went in and after drooling all over their selection (and not hearing the 3 salespeople through my headphones) I found out that they can arrange prescription glasses.

That's when the little materialistic voice at the back of my head said: "a pair of prescription Lanvin sunglasses would be a great investment".

Save me.

My Wallet Ran Away

She said something about abuse......I don't know. She started crying and said she was going to stay with her mother for a few days after I came home with these:












It was the heel. Okay, maybe the cushioned toe too.

Also, I found another one:
Lookbook.nu
This one seems different from the others somehow. It's pretty self-explanatory, a lookbook. I'd have to sign up to really examine it further, but there looks to be a vintage website in addition to the main, and judging from the long list on the right hand column, they have separate websites based on your outfit category (?)
The site is also invite only.....interesting. I wonder why. Perhaps closer examination will reveal a reason.

Wallet's Remorse.

I spent a lot of money today.

(Hi, how are you all, sorry for not updating in the past few days frankly I just felt I had nothing/very little to say. I took a few new headshots yesterday, they turned out quite nice. I also wore a few outfits and since it rained I had to take them inside and because I live in a basement they're kind of dark. The pictures I mean, pictures of the outfits, not the actual outfits themselves. Well I did have to take them inside, because they'd have gotten wet, right? And one of them was pretty dark. But I was talking about the pictures, and I'll put them up anyhow, I'd like to see what the internet thinks. Or doesn't think. whatever. Anyhow, I was saying, I spent a lot of money.......)

A LOT.

I also happen to plan on spending a nice chunk of my finances on a pair of shoes tomorrow.
But only a nice chunk, my wallet remorse is mostly for today's spending on the following:

A black skirt from Aritzia

I do like the way it looks. A high waist that is just about knee-high. It has pockets and is what is called a "tulip skirt". I have nothing like it right now, it's a thicker linen, feels nice, and I'm going to stop trying to justify a $90 skirt, because no matter how many times I tell myself that I'll wear it all the time at work, my cheap ass won't let me.













And a white shirt. A crisp, clean white shirt that won't last a week before it becomes a wrinkled mess (even though I will try to keep it nice. Fingers crossed)

Yes. I know what you're not thinking.
It is part of the 3.1 Phillip Lim collection for the Gap. And because I know you're not interested; it was on sale because that isn't Gap's big selling gimmick anymore. Will I probably go back in two weeks to get the remaining, even-more-marked-down pieces? Most likely.

At first I thought these two would work well together (black skirt, white shirt, classic clean combination or something) but because of the shapes....they really don't.
I mean, maybe on someone else.......actually no. Not even on someone else. The shirt is one that should really be tucked in or cinched at the waist or something because of all the volume at the top (created, I'm assuming, by the pleating thing). The skirt does something similar: volume up top while more fitted down low. Also probably because of the pleating (or the "tulip" shape?). So you get the effect of parachute-esque fabrics wrapped around you. One could always really try to wrap something around up top thereby loosing the beautiful detailing in the shirt. Or try to control the tulip bloom of the skirt, thereby ruining the point of the tulip skirt (I'm milking this, can you tell?).

Or, once could not wear these two pieces together and instead find a fitted top/bottom in order to provide some kind of contrast in what one is wearing as opposed to trying to inflate oneself to microvave-popcorn proportions.

I'm a Spendah.

Ugh.
I tried to write this earlier but couldn't so I went off and took a nap and had my worst nightmare.
It's one where I walk into a rehearsal with a group of my favourite actors and I'm naked and whenever I try to put on clothes they disappear, and the actors give me clothes to put on and then get mad at me when the pants and sweaters they give me disappear.

Worst. Nightmare. Possible.

These, however, not so much.
I didn't end up going back to the clothing show this year, but there's always the fall for me to try and bankrupt myself in a weekend.

I'll go in chronological order. Seeing as that's how we do things in the real world.

I saw these about a minute after I walked in on a table with a big red "$10-$15" sign. They were the last in my size. You'll be happy to know that they have not been off my feet since I took these (which is why they're a little dirty. Blue Suede-esque material + rainy May night = not so great for aethetics)

I think they look a lot better on my feet:

I spent the next little bit trying to not spend big. So I spent a lot of little on some jewelry:

Close up on each piece:
Chinese silk - covered button.
I forgot to get the woman's card (dammit) but there were a variety of patterns and silks, not a single one was the same as the other. A soft, turtle-shell (right?) button, the kind that covered your backpack in high school.
but classy.




silver knot
I definitely didn't try this on until I got home and was worried that it wouldn't fit.
It does (barely).
If I ever get around to it, I'll put a longer chain on it.





Flower pin
From a booth called "English ______". The woman doesn't have a store she just does these shows so I'll actually have to wait until September to go back. She had a wonderful selection of this brass jewelry that she collects and makes herself.
I love the petals and how wild the blossom is. The little pearl in the middle suits it perfectly, it holds the almost-wilting petals together.



monk pendant
This was some random kitschy pendant I found in the middle of other random kitschy pieces at one booth. I didn't think it would be but it's my favourite piece. It's heavy, made from marble or stone it looks like. And solid.
Something to hold on to.
I'm still trying to figure out who/what he is.




And finally:
A Dagg and Stacey vest. I don't even mind not going back as much because they're one of the reasons why I went.
I love the clasps and the crochet lining. The satin blue back speaks for itself.

I found I was drawn to more girly and vintage items. I used to go for the jeans, the t-shirt, and maybe a simple necklace to go with it. But I saw a few frilly, lacey pieces that I would absolutely go for. Is that change coming just because I'm putting more effort into my wardrobe? Is this the kind of thing that happens when you make a sort of image overhaul? Dresses and skirts were never my thing (they still aren't in a way), and at places/events like this one I'd always try to find clothes that fit what I was into - pants and shirts in the most basic way possible. It probably comes with the territory - once you open your eyes you see a lot more - but texture, fit and stitching are all of a sudden a lot more obvious to me, and I judge them more than I used to.

I have more criteria to fill. And that criteria is more specific than it used to be.

Dammit I just remembered a pair of pants that I was planning on going back for. I guess I'll try my luck in the fall. It might be interesting to see what else changes by then.

*ahem* A Po-em.

INTERNET SHOP
Jane sits at home and glues her eyes
To the screen when she decides
That she's off to the internet shop.

She navigates her mouse
and leaves her house
Without ever getting up from her chair.
(but leaving Jack in utter despair)

She'll stay and spend without an end
Exclaiming "free shipping!"
but not once quitting
until she claims her prize

For weeks on end Jane sits and waits,
bidding and winning (and gaining some weight)
Until her packages start to arrive.
"oh boy" she says, and off she hops
Back to her chair and the internet shops.

La Garconne for her "petit francophone",
then net-a-porter for Jaqueline Dey.
Some Esty for Betsy
Ebay for Faye,
and a special order (from favourite fodder)
For Janey it's done in a day.

She'd addicted you see,
in every which way,
And we cannot forsee the end.
Jane, we're afraid, will fall once again,
a victim of the internet shop.
--------------------------------

The end.

unless I did something wrong, the images should link back to their sources

The Persephone

I've always wanted to play the Theremin, but this takes years to master and I'm sure that anyone who has one won't let my grubby hands anywhere near it.
It's impossible to control the pitch seeing as all you're really doing is waving your hands in front of a metal antennae to create sound (which is exactly why I want one sooooo freakin' bad)

And then while perusing wikipedia I found the Persephone:
A similar instrument (it still is an electric type synthesizing instrument) that is easier to control and probably a lot easier to wrap my head around. The technicalities are still a little fuzzy (not unlike most, when someone starts talking/writing about voltage I tune out) but as far as I can tell, it works as an midi controller, it tweaks sound, and has a 10 octave range, which can produce a variety of tones and pitches.

Now all I need is the 900 Euros it costs.........and whatever that is in Canadian dollars might probably be good too.

This renewed interest in synthesizing musical instruments comes because my friend's cousin pulled out the coolest toy-that-is-in-no-way-a-toy. A Korg Kaossilator

Which works as a hand-held, keyboardless synthesizer. It has the essentially the same features as a regular synth (drum sounds, special effects, blah blah blah) and also allows for loop recording (record something, loop it, record something else overtop) and various drum/beat patters. and control for those things. Through playing with it I figured out that the four sections of the touch pad produce four different tones and using the knob you can tune it to different pitches and subsequently change the sound effect completely. Also, since the four tones vary in pitch themselves, you end up with the ability to play two at once, as if you had been playing a chord on a keyboard, however since it's not a keyboard at all, the sound is really malleable and you can create slide-type effects or just random bursts of sound. It's also easier to hear what you're doing, I find.

That is my extremely un-technical description of two technical/musical instruments that I really want. For no real reason, I just really want them.
If I really need a reason, I'll say it's because I am part of the iGeneration and all we want is to spend our money, party, and be as materialistic as possible.

If My Bag Could Talk

Today on the subway someone asked me if I knew someone named Sarah Cullen.
Of course, I said no (because I'd be lying if I said I did and that's the kind of question you usually don't want to lie about), and she informed me that she was the designer of my bag.
My trusty tote bag that I've had for almost a year, which has endured so much abuse. I've dropped it in water, gotten it caught in many a car door, and stuffed it to its breaking point so often that it really should be in tattered pieces by now and yet, it's still a-ok.
Notice the lovely water and salt stains, the various pen stains and a mysterious orange thing at the bottom. All this and the print hasn't even worn off yet.

Anyhow, up until now I thought it was a mysterious line called "Hands Talking" which doesn't come up no matter how many times I google it. Now that I'm finally paying attention to the name behind it I see that one can find other canvas bags of hers at Art Metropole. And I suspect that those will also take as much abuse as you can throw at them.

There's also the t-shirt with the same little design as is on my bag.

Spat At It

Oh my lordy I want these so bad:
They are by Posso The Spat called The Pupil .

Not only is the name amazing considering the shoe....accessory, they're just brilliant. Because I have shoes (lots of shoes) that are relatively flat with little embellishment and this doesn't propel you into a seizure yet fancies them up all the same.

Something like The Subject would be awesome as well:

I would seriously consider breaking out the plastic for something as frivolous (and yet still eternally functional) as these.

Valuable.

I went Value Villaging the other day.

I spent an hour there, knowing that I wouldn't find much (if anything) because I usually don't at that particular store, but I needed a distraction and Value Village is far cheaper than any other material distraction I know of.

So I ended up spending about $5. I could've spent 30, but the bike I saw (Raleigh, great working condition) disappeared because I was dumb enough to leave it unattended for longer than a minute. No matter, I walked away with these:

Happy. They go quite well with my many many pairs of black jeans. And yes, some of the tiles from the necklace are long gone, but it looks intentional. In fact I don't think I'd like it as much if it were perfect.

And the shoes fit like a freakin' glove on my duck feet.