Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Layer up week fashion challenge: Cropped over long


Today's challenge is to wear something cropped over something long. This is a little hard to see since it's all black so I played around with the photo contrast.


Necklace: Forever 21 in San Francisco
Jacket: Le Chateau
Shirt: Lilith in NYC
Skirt: Secret Lentil
Shoes: Devastee from Founders and Followers

This looks a little rumpled. Ok, a lot rumpled. This top is very cool but it's difficult to wear properly.






The front isn't very interesting but the back is pretty cool. The shirt has extra fabric and ties which create a bustle at the back.
































I took the jacket off here so you can see it a little better.

It might be a good idea for me to take this to the tailor and have them fit it to me a little better. It was kind of expensive so it would be worth it to make it look better.

I was very layered today - jacket, long blouse, skirt, underskirt/slip - I felt nice and flouncy all day!

















I ordered these shoes off the internet last year and have worn them to work a few times. My boss still doesn't realize that the design on them is skulls and thorns - she thinks they are snowflakes. Ha!

Devastee is a fashion line by two Parisians and they use a lot of skulls, tombstones and ghosts in their clothes and shoes.

I took these to Paris last June since they're cute and comfortable and a strange thing happened. I was in a shoe store (buying the shoes in this post) and the woman working in the store wasn't very friendly and spent most of the time on the phone while I was browsing.

When I decided to buy the shoes she became a little more talkative so we chatted a bit. When I turned to leave the store she said "Hey, are those shoes Devastee? I went to fashion design school with the Devastee designers!"


She wanted to know where I got them so I told her from an online store in NYC but that she should tell the designers that their shoes are living a nice life in Atlantic Canada.


Monday, January 30, 2012

Layer up week Fashion Challenge: Short sleeve over long sleeve


Today is day 1 of the Layer up week challenge which proposes different ways to layer clothing and be re-inspired by pieces in our wardrobe. This is a good challenge for winter in Canada since layers are the best way to keep warm.

I had a completely different outfit planned but after putting it on it looked terrible. As usual, I was running late so I pulled this together before running out to catch my bus.

I think this turned out rather well.

T-shirt: Joe Fresh
Long sleeve shirt: Club Monaco
Skirt (really a cape): Smoking Lily (bought in Vancouver)
Shoes: Miz Mooz via Beyondtherack.com
Necklace: belonged to my grandmother

I might have picked different shoes but these were the first pair I saw of a blueish hue.

This skirt is actually a cape from Smoking Lily. It's wool so it's extra wam and it's lined with a satiny fabric so seeing the inside of the longer piece adds a pop of contrast.



There's a keyhole in the back of this t-shirt so the colour of the long sleeved shirt shows not only in the sleeves but also a little bit at the neck.

Though I probably would have picked a different pair of shoes if I'd had more time to pull this together, ultimately it ended up being a good day to wear flats. I spent a lot of time running around between my office and our other office located 4 floors above our main space. I was in a lot of meetings and didn't get much actual work done. Here's hoping tomorrow is more productive.




Thursday, January 26, 2012

Did you get the memo, Momo?

This was a last minute wardrobe change this morning and it worked out well. I was going to wear this blouse with some high waisted trousers but it didn't end up looking how I imagined so I threw this dress instead. Was a happy surprise!






Blouse: Modcloth
Dress: Anthropologie
Shoes: Fluevog Mini | Momo

I was considering getting rid of this dress but I think it has redeemed itself and it goes so well with this blouse.




I'm glad I was happy with how I looked on the outside because today was a challenging day to be a bureaucrat. At least I felt confident with my exterior which does wonders for how I feel inside.

It has little buttons on the back which adds some interest. I think this dress makes me look slimmer from the back.


And what can I say about these shoes? They were named after an employee of the LA store, Momo, and only sold in the LA store or on the US Fluevog site. A lovely knitter received shipment of these shoes for me and sent them northward. So happy about that.

I had a kid in the mall tell me these were the ugliest shoes he'd ever seen. good thing I don't listen to douchie teenage boys for fashion advice.



Did you remember to submit your TPS reports?


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

11 things about me...

If you also read Megan Mae's Daily blog, you may recognize these tights.



Jacket: thrifted
Dress: etsy
Tights: Anna Sui from Sock Dreams
Shoes: Fluevog Rivers

When I saw that Megan had worn her Anna Sui tights, it reminded me that I hadn't worn mine yet. I kind of emulated her outfit but instead of greys I wore browns.

I threw on this jacket as a last minute addition but I don't think it really works. It looks better without it.

I got this jacket a few years ago and have tried with little success to fit it into outfits. I think it might be time to let it go. I'll see if my husband wants it for his photo studio wardrobe.



Can I tell you a secret? I'm wearing this dress backwards! I didn't realize until half way through the day so I didn't bother turning it around.

Since I told you that, I'll also tell you 11 random things about me.




























  1. I have one bad habit. I pick at the skin on my right thumb. You may have noticed that I often have a bandaid on my thumb. That's to get me to stop messing with it.
  2. My left ear has been pierced 3 times and my right ear twice. I had the second piercings done when I started university (in 1990!) and the 3rd in my left ear when I finished my BA.
  3. I got my first tattoo when I was 35.
  4. I enjoy reading books about medical procedures, viruses, and infectious diseases.
  5. My favourite movie is Rear Window - Jimmy Stewart! Grace Kelly!
  6. I'm addicted to Coke Zero (ok, I guess I have 2 bad habits)
  7. I have 3 stars in all available levels of Angry Birds games.
  8. I will watch any sports event on TV other than baseball or basketball. If there's nothing on TV, I will turn on TSN and watch sports news.
  9. Despite my love of shoes, which I've had for as long as I can remember, I wanted to get married barefoot. My mother talked me out of it.
  10. I watch a lot of television and am a pop culture junky.
  11. I am a terrible housekeeper. Terrible.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Flappery


On Friday we had a snowstorm. On Monday it was quite cold. Today it was +9C. It's getting difficult and confusing to decide what to wear everyday. Today I wore this sweater and was extremely warm in my office.




Sweater: knit by me!
Necklace: etsy
Skirt: Noa Noa from eBay
Shoes: Peter Fox from Etsy








I knit this sweater a few years ago and the yarn is an alpaca and wool blend making it very warm.

There's a cord around the sweater at hip level that you can't really see which was leftover from my wedding dress (from 1997).

This skirt is now quite large so I can only wear it with longer shirts and sweaters.




These shoes are from Peter Fox who was John Fluevog's business partner in 1970. In 1980, he moved to New York and started his only shoe line. Today he makes a lot of shoes for weddings.

I found these on etsy about 2 years ago. I hate to admit it but today was the first time I've worn them.



I also got this necklace from a seller on etsy. You may recognize the mouse knitting the sock since I had it tattooed on my arm in 2008.

That's it for today. I'm currently sitting on my chesterfield surrounded by cats. Cuddly cuddly cats.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Give me the green light and watch me move it

Today is Monday and there's a new moon tonight so....


...AND A FIRE DANCE THROUGH THE NIGHTTTTTT!

Sorry, it had to be done. That taken care of, what did I wear today you ask?

Sweater: Smart Set (remixed)
Blouse: Dept (from Renaissance - local store)
Skirt: Boden
Shoes: Fluevog Get Up! | Eureka

This sweater is on it's last few wearings. It is getting a little faded and is pilling. I think when I replace it I need to find a darker green sweater. That would go much better with this skirt.

I don't have a lot in my closet that matches this skirt. I really should find something that works better than this.






I got these shoes for free from Fluevog after I finished my stint as the Vogunteer for the Everyday Fluevog month of May 2010. Free shoes? Don't mind if I do. They're not my favourite Fluevogs but they are cute and comfortable.



Thought the sweater doesn't really match this outfit very well, this necklace does.

Necklace: was my grandmother's
Earrings: from local store Lou Lou
Pin: etsy

And Duran Duran goes well with everything.

Friday, January 20, 2012

The world spins so fast that I might fly off

I've had this top for a few years and I don't wear it very often. I find it a little frustrating because the ties on the back are super long and you have to wrap them around your waist so you don't end up with the ties trailing behind you. By wrapping them around the waist you add bulk to an otherwise quite slimming style.



Top: Anthropologie
Pants: Trapperjane.etsy.com
Boots: Fly London Vegas boots (IF shoes)

I think I might put this top in my donate pile since it gives me so much angst.

I was in a big hurry this morning (as I am most mornings) and I could only find one boot from the pair I really wanted to wear so I just grabbed these instead and ran out the door.  I think it was probably a good choice - and a better choice than the pair I originally wanted.











I've only worn these once before - aptly when I was in Las Vegas. They're cuter than I remembered.

So glad that it's the end of the day. It started snowing at about noon and  it took over 90 minutes to do a drive that usually takes 10 minutes. Too many people driving stupid! You'd think in Canada we'd have this driving in snow thing mastered by now.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Put it on. And don't say a word. Put it on. The one that I prefer.

I bought this dress in green two years ago when I was in Vancouver and I loved it so much that tracked down the designer and asked her to make me another one. A few weeks later I received this one in this bright blue.


I didn't realize until I saw these photos how I seem to have mimicked a blue gradient from light to dark.


Sweater: Club Monaco
Dress: Sweet Soul from Vancouver (no longer in business)
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Urban Outfitters in Las Vegas

What I like about the dress is the big pouch pocket in the front. Perfect for holding my ID card and electronic door pass. 


Aren't these tights crazy? I kind of think they look like ocean waves. I don't have a lot of clothes with which I can wear these. Luckily this dress is a good match.





I got this pin from Inkwell Boutique which is a store that sells handmade letter press paper products. Nothing like an ampersand in a good font. I thought it was pretty.







When I got home today there was a package containing a dress I ordered from Etsy. Such a fun dress that I can't wait to wear! Probably not tomorrow though - I have to wait for a warmer day.




Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Like my hooters?

After all the grey and black and neutrals, I went a little overboard with the colour today.  My husband bought me this tunic for Christmas. He said he did it so he could say to me "I like your hooters". I'm sure he was kidding. =)


Tunic: Gift from my husband
Skirt: Smoking Lily
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Fluevog Bass Minstrel Marian

Strangely, I had two people ask me if they were the ghosts from Pac-man. I guess I can see that now looking at this picture since you can't see the owl's feet.

Today started at 9C and tonight it's going to be -9C. This winter's weather has been crazy and all over the place.





I also have these shoes in red. Every person should have a pair of red shoes - or a few pairs.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Lady Ice slips into her soul Lady Ice leaves a house so cold

I bought this dress for full price off the Anthropologie website, against my better judgement. I usually only purchase things from their sale section because I find their clothing is often overpriced but this dress was receiving such rave reviews that I was sure it would sell out before being reduced. Today I wore it for the first time and I think this is one of my better purchases this year.

Sweater: Joe Fresh (remixed)
Necklace: Had it for ages
Dress: Anthropologie Layered Column Dress
Shoes: Fluevog Rococo | Lady Ophelia

Wow...I think this is quite a flattering dress. (If I can say that without sounding conceited.)  It's very form fitting and I was a little worried that it wouldn't be appropriate for work but looking at the photos I don't see any problem with it.

Some reviewers on the site commented on the fact that the edges of each panel are unfinished and felt that this took away from it's quality. I think that hemming each panel would add unnecessary bulk to each section to I understand why they left them raw.
















I wasn't planning on wearing these shoes today - I had taken another pair of red shoes - but these were under my desk so I thought "what the hell".










It was chilly in my office today so I ended up wrapping myself in this shawl that I knit out of some qiviet yarn. It doesn't look like much (and was a very easy knit) but it's extremely warm.

Today I was thankful for keeping a spare pair of tights in my desk.





Monday, January 16, 2012

Blow, grey lady blow your ships back home

It was another cold day today. Approximately -20C with the wind chill. I had to bundle up really well but luckily I don't spend a lot of time outside. I can see the bus from my front door so I can just run outside when it's coming down the hill. Then I only have to walk about 2 blocks to my office once I get off the bus. Even so, you don't want to be outside without a hat and mittens for long.


Sweater: prive.com
Dress: Shabby Apple
Tights: Hue
Boots: Fluevog Presence | Intuit


Today was another grey kind of day. Well, I really just wanted to wear these boots that I got last week in Toronto but I also wanted to be comfortable and warmish.

I wore this dress with this sweater before last summer. These tights and boots make it more winter appropriate. I do think I need a necklace or something else to make it more interesting. This is a little bland.







I did wear some funky tights though. Grey and pink and mauve geometric patterned tights. Maybe I'll keep my eyes open for a purple necklace that would complete this outfit.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Indigo, violet and blue Can we meet where the edges blur?

I got home from Toronto late last night. I could go into a very long diatribe about my feelings about Air Canada but I'm going to spare you from being exposed to such harsh and colourful language.

I was in Toronto for a big Federal-Provincial-Territorial meeting, accompanying Senior Management from my office. There were a lot of black and grey suits present worn by both men and women. I don't actually own a business suit so here's what I wore.

It's a bit blurry - I had to do this quickly before I got caught by anyone other than the hotel staff.



Dress: Tracy Reese Plenty (gilt.com)
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Fluevog Miracle | Meera

I'd bought the shoes the night before shortly after we landed. Our plane was delayed so I was concerned that I wouldn't make it before we had to meet some of our colleagues for dinner but due to the miracle of technology and text messaging, we got everything coordinated.

I had to get these in a size 7. Most of my Fluevogs are 7.5 with an occasional 8 (like in the Wherever family). I wore them for about 7 hours and they weren't terribly uncomfortable.







My colleague from another Province was wearing this awesome tie. No one really noticed the pointed messages. I love this guy and I love this tie. I might need to get one of these for myself for special events.


Here's a closer look (with my cat Jetta). These are an homage to the Fluevog design from when he was in collaboration with Peter Fox


I took these at the Fox, Fluevog and Friends exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver in 2010. I wish I could find a pair of these. So fabulous.
















Fluevog Presence | Intuit


I got a pair of boots in the Fluevog sale. I thought these might also look good with the grey Tracy Reese dress I wore above.

The leather is very soft and will likely be quite moldable once they warm up from my body heat.

After I wear them a few times I'm going to have to get some rubber put on the soles to make them less slippery. Better safe than sorry in Canada.




One thing that made my trip was I was the "Guest of the Day" at the hotel in Toronto which meant I was upgraded to a suite. Pretty cool but it was a bit of a waste since I barely spent any time in the hotel room. Made me feel nice though. =)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Wash away the rusty disease of your brown town days in our silver sea

Today was kind of a boring outfit day but I wanted to wear these boots that I scored off of eBay.


Dress: eShakti
Blouse: Club Monaco
Tights: H&M
Boots: Fluevog (eBay)

When I first received this dress it was a bit snug. Now it's verging on too big. It's a nice dress for the winter though, plus it has awesome pockets. Monday's dress didn't have any place for me to clip my office swipey-card on but today I had nice pockets in which to hide it.








I found these Fluevog boots on eBay. They were posted by the Seattle Goodwill and they're never been worn. I don't recognize them at all. I'm hoping someone here or on Flickr or Ravelry will help me identify them. If not, I'll email Fluevog and see if they can help.

I'm enamoured with the heel and the seaming on the toe.





I confirmed that I'll be going to Toronto on Thursday for about 24 hours. It's for work so I'll only have Thursday night to par-teh! Whoot!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Put a stripe on the union; and a star on the jack.

I went to H&M on the weekend looking for a pair of striped pants that were on their website. Apparently, H&M stores don't necessarily stock things that appear on their website but you can't order online from Canada. I find this confusing.

But it got me to go to the store where I saw this dress in the sale section for $15.00.





Dress: H&M ($15.00!)
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Jump from beyondtherack.com (remixed)


I liked the jewel tones in the stripes combined with the softer salmon and the neutral brown and black.  My coworker said "That's a bold dress for a Monday". Gotta wake up some how.
























I did struggle with the bodice all day though. I'll have to find a pin to keep it from gaping when I'm sitting down. Quite frustrating.


I thought these burgundy tights and blue shoes with the wood, stripey heels were a good match.  Matchy matchy!

Looks like I'm going to be in Toronto on Friday, just for the day. I hope to make it to the Fluevog store at some point!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Winterizing a summer dress

I saw a photo of someone wearing this dress in wardrobe remix and thought it was fabulous. It was originally priced at over $200 but with shipping I paid just less than $40.00 for it.




Necklace: inherited from my Grandmother
Sweater: Club Monaco (remixed)
Dress: Free People (on mega sale!)
Boots: Fluevog Fellowship | Heather


It's a summer dress but I winterized it with wooly tights and my blue Fluevog boots.

This dress has some short sleeves which is good if I want to cover-up my tattoos when it's too warm for a sweater.

My blue Fluevog boots seemed like a good match to help make this summer dress more "wintery". Unfortunately it snowed today so I slipped and slid down the hill from my office to my bus stop.  Thankfully I made it home without whipping out.

I have the day off tomorrow which make me happy.


I tried to express this by jumping for joy. Just made a big blur!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Flowers and bunnies (or foxes?)

I bought this dress about a year ago but it never really fit properly. And then when I recently lost some weight, it was just hanging on me like a shapeless thing with no shape. I thought it was too pretty to give up on so I took it to a tailor to have it altered. I bought it from eShakti so it didn't cost much so it seemed like it was worth the money to have it taken in.



Necklace: gift from my sister from Pretty Chic
Dress: eShakti
Shoes: Atelier Mardini

It was a nice dress to wear today since it was -19C. Long sleeves are the best thing on a cold day.

I'd like this dress even more if the design was also on the back of the dress. It's a little strange that it isn't embroidered all the way around.


Channeling my inner ballerina. I think I need to invest in a crinoline that can be worn underneath this big circle skirt. I bet I can find one at Pretty Things Boutique.

Along with having this dress taken it, I also had the cross front on bodice tacked down. When you're small of chest this style of dress doesn't always fit like it should. Much better now.




I had lots of options for shoes to wear with this dress.  (Ok, ok....I have a lot of shoes period). Just about any colour goes well with it but I thought I'd wear these unique flats that I bought in Paris last June. They're handmade, one of a kind - quite a lucky find.

I think that they look like (evil) rabbits but maybe they're supposed to be foxes?  Either way, they aren't out of place in a garden of flowers.