Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cuckoo for cuckoo clocks!


I don't usually plan my outfits the night before. Sometimes what I put together in the morning works out ok and sometimes it doesn't. Today, I'm not sure this worked. I built this outfit around the t!ghts, which are a blue/azure and I paired it with periwinkle. It's certainly bright.



Sweater: Value Village
Dress: Smoking Lily (from Love, Me Boutique)
Underskirt: Noa Noa (remixed)
Shoes: Fluevog Fellowship Kathy


This is more of a summer dress but worn with t!ghts and an underskirt to lengthen it a bit, it transitions well into autumn.


The dress has a fun motif screen printed on it. Cuckoo clocks!

My family never had a cuckoo clock when I was a kid but I always thought they were cool.














And I wore them with my blue/mauve Fellowship Kathy Maryjanes. As you can probably tell, I'm also cuckoo for Fluevogs.


Tomorrow I'm having an outpatient procedure to insert a tube into my right ear (and possibly also my left ear). Wish me luck!

Monday, November 28, 2011

New Blouse on Monday

On Saturday I made a trip to the Village des Valeurs aka VV Boutique aka Value Village to see what was new. They were having a "buy one long sleeved blouse get one free" sale so I dug around for quite a while to see what I could find. I ended up getting myself two blouses, a cardigan, a pair of jeans, and a s!ip with a tulle skirt attached for $31.00. Not too bad.

Here's one of the blouses.

Blouse: Banana Republic (thrifted from Value Village)
Belt: All Saints
Skirt: Mac and Jac (thrifted)
Shoes: Fluevog Get Up! | Barkerville

Not a very exciting outfit. This is what I would call a typical bureaucrat's outfit, other than the shoes.








Fluevogs always add a bit of panache to an otherwise dull ensemble.

See how the bows on my shoe laces are nicely aligned? I recently watched this TED video and realized that I'd been tying my shoes in a much less aesthetically pleasing way. This revelation has changed my life! (Well, not really but now my laces sit nicely rather than twisting to be parallel to my feet.)










Here's a picture of a hat that I thrifted a while ago and can't remember from where I bought it. This blog will be a helpful way to record where I buy things so I can figure out where I'm finding the coolest stuff.

How do you keep track of where you're finding the best items and deals?





I love dogs and shopping so I really enjoyed this video and its message at the end. Makes me wish I had a Bergdorf Goodman at which to shop.


Sunday, November 27, 2011

I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

I spent a good part of the day doing laundry, tidying my closet, and searching through the ironing basket looking for a pair of pants. I didn't find them - FAIL! I'm worried that I put them into my "to donate" bag last time I was purging my closet since they were just a smidge too small. They should fit fine now but they are nowhere to be found. So frustrating.

I only went out for about an hour today but I decided to wear something fun rather than my usual weekend jeans.


Doggies and stripes - that's fun for a quick outing to the bookstore.


Sweater: Knit by me (Moch Cardi by Gudrun Johnson)
Dress: Don't know the brand
Tights: ? (does anyone even remember where they buy all their tights?)
Boots: Fluevog Perfect | Splendid

(I'm in desperate need of a cut and colour).





 I saw these boots on the Fluevog website and thought they were pretty cute but when I was in Montreal in October I wasn't enamoured with them so I didn't even try them on. However, I couldn't stop thinking about them so I ordered them earlier this month. I've received more complements on these boots than on any other shoes I've worn. People love stripes.

 The stripes are meant to scuff up and blur over time but I'm hoping to keep mine in good condition for a while.



See the snow in the bottom left of the outfit post?

<------------- On Wednesday, we had a bit of a storm and my backyard looked like this.  Since then it has been above 0C and it's melting rapidly. We've had a very mild Autumn but I think we're kidding ourselves if we think we can avoid winter forever.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Forgotten camera

I've forgotten to bring my camera to work this week and by the time I get home it's too dark to take photos so I'll make up for it with a picture of one of my cats.

This is Dougal being cute in the cupboard.


Please excuse the dirty floor.

Clothing post hopefully tomorrow.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Standin outside on a Friday livin on tha edge

I only lasted a few hours at work on Friday. By noon, I really wasn't feeling well so I ended up calling it a day and going home. I have chronic sinus problems which has led to problems with my ears so I often feel like I'm living underwater. I had a tube put in my left ear in January but it fell out in October so I'm going to be having another tube, possibly 2, inserted later this month.

What kind of freaky 40 year old woman needs EAR TUBES? *points thumbs at self* This GAL! Meanwhile, I spend a lot of time saying "what?" or mishearing what people say. Makes for interesting conversations.

October 18
Sweater: Pretty Things Boutique (local store)
Top: Marc O'Polo (from Frankfurt Germany)
Skirt: Issak Mizrahi for Target via Value Village
Tights: ?
Boots: Fluevog Radios | BBC

I'm facing the other direction today because there were meetings going on in the room behind me and I didn't want to make a spectacle of myself.

You can't really see the pattern on the top but it's grey misshapen circles.

I love these boots and don't wear them often enough. I guess that's what happens when you have more shoes than brains.














Here's today's flair. (I know it's not the requisite 15 pieces but I don't want to get carried away.) My shoe pin and a new pin I got which shows my geek as well has honouring my love of the Earl Grey tea. Especially the Merchie's tea from the West Coast. Yummy.
 I love you Office Space.



Thursday, November 17, 2011

You're wearing PANTS!

You know when your coworker exclaims "You're wearing pants!" that it's an unusual thing. (or you enjoy going pantsless, but that's a whole other blog.)

Blouse: remixed (Club Monaco)
Belt: remixed (Smoking Lily)
Pants: Club Monaco (very old!)
Shoes: Fluevog Begin | Swing (bought from Fluevogger on Ravelry)

Grey pants, grey top, blue shoes, obi belt. Can't go wrong with grey and blue.

We've been lucky with our weather so far this month but it's supposed to turn cold starting tomorrow. When the weather gets colder I do tend wear pants more frequently. Especially around January/February when we can get below -20C.

I like how the colour of these shoes isn't uniform and the right shoe almost looks striped. I think it gives them some character.

These are Fluevogs but not the "fluevogiest" of Fluevog shoes. Still unique and comfortable though.

















Embrace peculiarity! Vive le weirdo!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Brellow

I bought this dress from a store on Etsy a year or more ago. It never fit in the waist so I put it in my storage closet, along with the shirt I wore yesterday. Now it fits!



Dress: Sohomode on Etsy
Belt: H&M
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Fluevog Rivers (can't remember name)

As usual, I wore this with a sweater to cover my tattoos but I decided to take the picture sans cardigan since it's was just a plain brown boring old sweater.

Today seemed to be Brown day at work as many people were wearing shades of beige, taupe and chocolate. I was the only one wearing yellow as an accent.

Today I slept in because I had a meeting at an office near my house. Unfortunately, once I got to work everything seemed to unravel. Fortunately, my super bureaucratic skills swooped in and saved the day.

Luckily I wore flats so I could run around in comfort.


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tuesday TMI

I'm going to share something that I haven't kept secret from many people who I know in real life but it may be TMI - Be warned.

Last April I had a tubal ligation. After spending 20 years on oral contraceptives and knowing that I wasn't going to be having any children, I decided to close that door permanently. I was becoming more and more uncomfortable about the amount of time that I had spent taking synthetic hormones and now that I'm 40, it seemed like the best decision for me.

Since then, I've lost a bit of weight. I have no idea how much since I never weigh myself but my clothes are looser and some clothes that I had grown out of are fitting again.

For example, this red shirt

I bought this shirt 2-3 years ago and it fit for a while but I soon gained weight and it was too snug. I tried it on last night, along with a few other dresses that I've been holding on to and things are starting to fit again.

Shirt: etsy*
Skirt: eShakti
Boots: Cubanas via HauteLook.com

I like the asymmetrical design of this top but that also makes it difficult to style. I paired it with this skirt which is decorated with shoes along the bottom. The boots are a recent purchase and this is the first time I've worn them.
I thought I'd show you my Fall coat. It's by Desigual, a brand that I discovered when I was in Paris last June, and have admired on other fashion blogger's sites (Like Already Pretty and Fashion for Nerds). The back has a subtle flower pattern embroidered on it which doesn't show up on camera.

Luckily the weather here has been quite mild for November so I'm getting lots of wear out of this coat.

These boots are pretty boring other than the faux lace detailing that curves up the side.  Funky? I think so.
















* I've since learned that this seller on etsy may or may not be making knock-offs of another designers clothes. I didn't know this when I bought the shirt. Caveat emptor.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Embrace your inner weirdo

Going back to work the Monday after a long weekend is always hard. Today was particularly hard after a busy weekend, so I slept in and had to rush around this morning.


Sweater: remixed (H&M - yes I wore this yesterday too)
Dress: Vera Wang - Simply Vera (thrifted)
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Fluevog Malibran

I wore this dress to the Duran Duran concert last month only I wore it with boots. It's shorter than I'd normally be comfortable wearing but tights make me feel more covered up.

I didn't want to pair this dress with brown tights because that's a lot of brown to deal with so I grabbed some that are a burgundy/maroon colour and paired them with the trusty Malibrans.




You can see my slip - you're not supposed to though - but without the slip the dreaded "dress creeping up my tights" action happens. Not only annoying, but when your skirt is shorter than you're used to it can be overly revealing.

I tried belting this dress but it just creates a poof above the waist which is not a great look.










I've taken to wearing these kind of pins on a semi-regular basis. My favourite is the Fluevog "No, You're Weird!" pin. I also have one that says "Know You're Weird" but I think it ended up going through the wash. Ooops.

Embrace your inner weirdo.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hal-Con

On Saturday and Sunday, I went to our local Comic/Sci-Fi convention called Hal-Con. I consider myself a bit of a geek but I was definitely out geeked this weekend.

On Saturday I went to see the Q&A session with Nicholas Brendon - Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more recently Kevin on Criminal Minds. Lauren from Zombies at Lauren has a good post about the session, including Nicholas doing the Snoopy Dance. Then I stood in line to have my photo taken with him.
Me and Nicholas Brendon

He's pretty funny and was very gracious to all people who asked him questions that I'm sure he's answered many times before. I've been a huge BtVS fan since 1997 so it was great to meet (for like 30 seconds) a cast member from the show.

As you can see, he got dressed up for the occasion.

Today, we only went for a little while, but we had a nice chat with Erin Grey (Buck Rogers / Silver Spoons).

The majority of people get dressed up in elaborate costumes from anime, manga, sci-fi, horror, gaming, and fantasy genres. I just wore my regular clothes which made me even more conspicuous.

Sweater: remixed (H&M)
Dress: Fresh Baked Goods in Toronto
Shoes: Fluevog Sample Sale 2010
Tights: ?
Bag: Roots

I got a number of complements on my shoes.

It was just warm enough to be able to be outside without a coat. Crazy weather we're having!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Coloured Tights

On November 8th Everybody, Everywhere did a theme of coloured tights. I was a day late and am just now getting around to posting my entry.

November 9


Sweater: Alfred Sung for Zellers (oh how far he has fallen)
Dress: Shabby Apple
Necklace: vintage from Meow in Guelph
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Fluevog Blind Faith Mid Corey

This is another Shabby Apple dress. It's well made but the jersey is a little thin so I have to wear a slip with it.

Red is my favourite colour (hence the red in my hair) so red tights are a no brainer for me. I like how they brighten up an otherwise dull outfit.




I bought this necklace at a vintage/thrift store in Guelph, Ontario called Meow. I go to this store every time I'm in my hometown and I always find something cool. So does my husband who buys stuff for photoshoots.

As an aside, it's so funny to be in a thrift or consignment store and have my husband (B) yell "BETSEY JOHNSON SPIKE HEELS FOR $20!"

He's the one who bought me this badge/button that I'm wearing here. He knows me well.
Here's the shoes. Fluevog Blind Faith Mid | Corey.

I bought these at the Haight Street store in San Francisco in 2009. I like how shiny they are. I don't think these shoes were very popular which is a shame because they are so classic.

I mentioned above about wearing a slip. One blogger that I admire is Amelia - The Vintage Vivant. She doesn't post very often anymore but I love her The Ladies' Society for the Reinstatement of Proper Undergarments. Slips can hide no end of lumps and bumps, not to mention hide your lady bits from being put on display. I've found many slips at Value Village since no one seems to wear them anymore.

I forgot to take my picture on Friday which is terrible since I was wearing a great t-shirt. I'll try to get a picture of it soon. Those who know me will know that it's 100% true.




Everybody, Everywear: Colored Tights

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Houndstooth on the Portside

My house smells like beer. No, not because I've had a gathering or a party but because I knocked a full, unopened beer off the counter. It smashed and spread all over the place. I cleaned it up with my SHAMWOW! getting a sliver of glass stuck in my hand in the process. I live the glamourous life.

Before this happened I was dressed awfully funkily if I do say so myself.

November 8

Dress: Shabby Apple
Belt: Scarf from Value Village
Underskirt: Smart Set
Shoes: Fluevog On Course | Portside


This dress is nice but rather poorly made. The button holes have loose threads and the buttons aren't spaced quite right so it doesn't lay flat. Too bad.












The shoes, on the other hand, are amazing. Both modern and retro the Portside is the coolest Fluevog ever. I got these in Montreal last month and I'm glad I had the opportunity to try them on before buying them. I am either a 7.5 or 8 in Fluevogs and I probably would have ordered these in an 8 but it turns out needed the 7.5. The larger size slipped on my heel too much making for difficult walking. They are quite high but the platform makes them less awkward. They're actually quite comfortable.

The belt is a sequin scarf that I picked up at Value Village for $2.00.

I felt very cute and flouncy today.

Monday, November 7, 2011

I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite

Daylight saving time has rolled around again. Whether we lose an hour or gain an hour, the time change still has a big impact on our inner clocks. Even when we fall back an hour our minds and bodies still need time to adjust.  For example, last night I went to bed at 10, which the day before was 11, but I couldn't get to sleep until after midnight. And today, at 11am I was really hungry because my stomach felt it was lunchtime. And tonight, I fell down on the bus when I was trying to get off.

Why do we still follow this archaic time change each spring and fall? I think that Indiana and Saskatchewan (and other places) have it right. Don't mess with time because it will MESS. YOU. UP.

Enough waxing philosophical, what dd I wear today?

November 7

Necklace: Fireworks (local store)
Sweater: knit by me (pattern Cria by Ysolda Teague)
Blouse: remixed (Club Monaco)
Skirt: Alexander McQueen via eBay
Tights: Joe Fresh
Shoes: remixed (Chie Mihara)


Cute and colourful after the last week's Ode to Black and White.









I knit this sweater. It took me a long time because it wasn't the most exciting knit in the world, but the final product is nice and it has pockets. In this picture the pockets contain tissues.

Yarn: Classic Elite Magnolia
Pattern: Cria by Ysolda Teague

I like the little puffy sleeves.

I added a few quirky badges. (does calling them quirky make me lose street cred?)

The one on the left is a Duran Duran badge (natch) and the other is a Fluevog badge that says "No, You're Weird". Totally things that a Middle Manager in government should be wearing.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Stripes and polka dots

The black and white palate continued through to the end of the week.

November 3







Dress: Etsy
Necklace: Pretty Chic in Guelph Ontario
Tights: Simons in Montreal
Boots: Fluevog Xie Xie

I really like these boots but I've had them in my closet and they got hidden by my long dresses and skirts. I'll have to move them elsewhere so I'll remember to wear them more often.







I also like tights with vertical stripes. When I saw these at Simons department store in Montreal I snapped them up.










November 4

Friday is casual day. I'm not a jeans and t-shirt kind of a gal so I usually wear cropped jeans with a blousey top. I paired this with a polka-dot sweater and some striped trouser socks.

Sweater: remixed (Pretty Things Boutique)
Top: remixed (some store in Paris)
Jeans: remixed (trapperjane.etsy.com)
Belt: H&M
Shoes: remixed (Urban Outfitters in Las Vegas)
Socks: Joe Fresh

I've been thinking about twitter recently. I've been on it for about 2 years and it's a strange thing. I like using it to get news and information from around the world and to keep up with my friends. What I find strange about it is the false belief that you can have a conversation with famous people. For example, if you're following someone you admire who has tens of thousands of followers, any reply you might make to their tweets is likely to get lost in the din of responses they get.

Famous tweeter: I love bananas and am eating them on my pancakes.
Responder 1: I LOVE YOU AND WOULD LOVE TO EAT YOUR BANANA!
Responder 2: Why don't you tour in Australia!? I hate you!
Responder 3: I just had a shower and thogt of you the hole time.
Responder 4: I'm a banana grower. Will you promote my bananas?
Responder 5: Pancakes suck. I can't believ you don't eat waffles. I don't like you anymore.
Responder 6: I'm a dirty gurl. Cum be durty with me.......
Responder 7: Can I get a RT? My mother has lip fungus and I'm raising awareness to the Lip fungus charity.
Me: Do you use maple syrup or fake syrup?

I'm not sure why people try to engage in conversation. Do you follow famous people on twitter? Any luck making a connection?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Black and white

It's easy in the fall to start to fall back on old clothing habits. As the mornings are darker and darker, it's harder to get out of bed. Sleeping in tends to lead to grabbing something easy - that usually means black clothes.

This week started with Hallowe'en when I wore black and white. Tuesday led to...

November 2




Blouse: Club Monaco
Dress/Tunic: Anthropologie, Charlotte NC
Underskirt: Guess by Marciano in Las Vegas
Tights: Simons in Montreal
Shoes: Fluevog


...more black and white. Which led to....













November 3




...black and yellow (a colour!)

I'm not sure about the yellow tights but they matched the shoes.

Necklace: gift
Shirt dress: Reitmans
Belt: from another dress
Tights: ?
Shoes: Kron by Kronkron




So matchy matchy.