Sweet Pantomime

Love these @ Lanvin 

Androgynous, menswear-inspired pants aren't as challenging to pull off as they are hard to find on a budget. Sure, Lanvin, Burberry Prorsum and  and 3.1 Phillip Lim make perfectly modern, $795 versions, but chain retailers- and even most local higher-end boutiques- just never quite get it right, do they? 

But it's an intriguing and effortlessly glamourous aesthetic when taken to the extreme, and often vintage shops are the spot to go to find these silhouettes- and truly trouser-y trousers. 

New Wu- Jason Wu for SS2011

My vintage cobalt blue merino wool trouser-$2, and vintage houndstooth wool trouser- $14

my very own toonie tuesday?

I'm in mad-die-love with some high-waisted, baggy trousers. Yes, they can work for every body type, trust and prove, people. The key is to try different levels of high-waisted rises, fuller or slimmer leg volumes depending on your preference, harem-esque tight at the ankles, shorter, longer, loose or tight in the hips. I''m enamored with the feeling of these two vintage pairs (above) I bought a while ago. They're a risk, yes- I'm never sure they're fully understood- but with a high patent ankle-boot, white fitted beater or cropped swingy tee and bulky, drapey scarf they work. I wore the cobalt blue pair with lace-up wedge combat boots to meet my dad for a drink and bite at downtown's Rockbottom Brewery one night and he just shook his head. That's a good sign, point for the pants y'all. But, when I told him they were $2- yes, $2, this make him have big big smile. So everyone wins.

I might be contumacious when it comes to fashion boundaries- but, eh, at least I'm financially responsible.
S.

Out with the new, in with vintage

The piece I mentioned I was working on for the Halifax Commoner takes a glance at vintage shopping in Halifax, and comes out tomorrow in print. Read it, and the whole issue, online @ http://thecommoner.kingsjournalism.com/.

S.

Sun pours down like honey

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

And Jesus was a sailor When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

the end!
S.

Let's have a toast to the...

My coffee table. hmm, who can spot the matchers?

...non-neighbourly person responsible for this.
Ahh, apartment living. Just follow along with me as I swear under my breath. Tonight was laundry night- I have had $18 worth of quarters weighing down my purse for the past three days just waiting for the opportune moment to finally get my laundry done. Then tonight came.Wheee, I thought. It's like an arcade! And being that it's Monday, I'll have the laundry room all to myself to put my quarters in as I please, cha-ching, cha-ching.

lulu tops from every doorknob?ok.

Not so. I don't know the exact rules on laundry etiquette, but I'd wager my $18 that removing someone's clothes from the dryer while it's drying to put yours in is NOT acceptable. Concur? So the point of all this- and why all I can do is laugh- is that I now have 78 socks, 13 towels, 34 facecloths, and 54 items of clothing- all soaking wet- strewn across my entire apartment. (Which I had just cleaned.) Look, laugh, appreciate that it didn't happen to you and fingers crossed they dry. Hey, on the bright side- I don't have to fold.

Every raised surface is now home to apparel of all kinds.

S.

The last day of our acquaintance

With B at Rick's Cafe, Negril, Jamaica 

Montego Bay Jamaica- view from our balcony

 May 24th, 2009...This Bob Marley tee I got last month at Rock Candy Boutique on Prince Street reminds me of the last day I spent with my best friend and cousin B when we were in Jamaica.

One Love tee for $29.99 at Rock Candy Boutique

Nothing wrong with reminiscing on a cold January day about feeling so free under the sun, and nothing compares to a little Bob to take me right back to that day.

Blumarine SS2010, cotton cropped sweater $435, blumarine.com

 Louboutin designed these just for drinking  Jamaican rum, perhaps. Christian Louboutins- $865.  

Ms. Jay-Z in a Mr. Marley tank

Listening to this and wearing my one love tee, missing B.
S.

Lovely diversions

Too much work and too little fun? 

Lately I've been working really hard with school, work, writing, etc. Really back on the grind. I mean really, really on the grind- like coffee beans. Like teeth in your sleep. Like ... okay, you get the picture. Really working hard. Sometimes mid-week (or pre-mid-week) I just feel the need for a break, and some wine and girl time. One of my girls "M" has been working hard, too. January is the busiest time in her industry. Come Tuesday, both of us are usually in need of a night of fun. Which is why M and I decided to make Tuesday nights a weekly tradition. This week she's in Toronto for work, so we'll resume next Tuesday in our usual spot, the Hunt Club on Dresden.

Add caption

Three words- Shopping. Wine. Deep fried pickles. That's five words, crap. See- working too hard! Even in down-time, there's always some research involved...recently did a piece on the bar/store for the Halifax Commoner.

Check out http://thecommoner.kingsjournalism.com/?p=5485 for my story.

"So I won't be takin' days off 'til my spaceship takes off." 


S.

My texture, the best fur

            "Yes sir, I'm cut from a different cloth. My texture, is the best fur, of chinchilla"- Jay-Z

Fur the remix- the 2011fur trend alludes to ease, has an edge, and remains laidback. 

Furs are no longer the coat your grandmother tucked away in moth-ball land for 11 months of the year until a formal event came along that called for her finest.

Nope.

Chanel for F/W 2010

From left- Alexander Wang, Derek Lam, and Thakoon do fur for FW 2010 

This season fur is best as the cherry on top of a more casual, edgy look. Think denim, leather, metallics, plus fur. Combine and stir, and don't think too hard about it. It's not your Grandma's heirloom. 

Whether you're a friend or foe of fur -or faux-, everyone can appreciate the warmth of an amazing fur jacket. They are truly the warmest things you can wear- trust me, I live in a damn cold climate. My upper body remains completely toasty in my vintage chinchilla bomber -- seen below. 

A pile of my favourite furs and baubles. Bottom left- white rabbit fur bomber I bought when I was 17, Far Right- my vintage chinchilla bomber, $86 at Lost and Found, Top left- faux-fur cropped shrug, $34.50 at Forever21.com

Now my lower half, on the other hand...leather leggings and 5-inch stilettos aren't so forgiving during frostbite inducing Canadian winters. Brrr

Fur for day a la M.K. and A

Elizabeth Taylor exemplified timeless glamour in a fur stole

"Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze."- Carolyn Gold Heilbrun.


S.

Princess Peach

Vintage crepe dress, $18, Lost and Found

"Just one glance and she stole my heart, the kinda girl you wanna teach, she's a peach"- Prince.

Irresistible

I didn't buy this vintage peach dress-it bought me. ($18). I tried it on once a few months ago but didn't get it- the proportions of it are really crazy-waist/ribcage band is XXS and bust and hips are about a S or M. I was thinking I might have trouble breathing in it, so I left it. When I went back last week, it was still hanging there looking as deliciously feminine as I remembered- I found out I had been the only person who tried it and fit into it. Cinderella's glass slipper it's not, but the prince was hers, and the princess peach dress came home with me before the stroke of midnight. Hmm... I hope I get invited to an outdoor wedding in spring so I can wear it with some camel espadrille wedges and a turquoise ring.

OneVintage, $2,020, netaporter.com

Kate covers Elle in peach lace 

Only a Georgia peach could be as sweet

Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee- Olivia Newton John in Grease

Sometimes you just have to let the clothes pick you,

S.

I've got the golden ticket

"Midas is king and he holds me so tight. And turns me to gold in the sunlight". -Florence and the Machine.

Silence is...

Vintage Versace- $5,500

My new gold off-shoulder cropped shirt, $14, and gold mini-dress, $20.

Greek myth says everything King Midas touched turned golden, but what about the things that were already gold, like this gold lamé off-shoulder loose cropped top and glistening gold 70's long-sleeved, high-neck sheer dress? When I found these recent 24-karat second-hand treasures -- goldmine. 

Michael Kors metallic gold sweater- $100, netaporter.com

Marilyn in gold will never grow old

Gold is intensity, value, rarity, joy...

and when it's under $20 it's a vice that's twice as nice.

I've been searching for a heart of you-know-what,

S.

Hello, cowgirl in the sand

Admittedly I never stopped loving the 60's and 70's. Folk rock, James Taylor, high-waisted denim, wide-leg, turquoise, feathers in the hair loving hippie-at-heart. I love the sun, being laid-back, and sporatically sticking bits of foliage in my hair... if I had to choose one era of clothing to reach into the past and grab, the 60's and 70's would be it. My beautiful mama, why didn't you save those long slinky dresses and diaphanous silk blouses for your one-day-daughter (me) ? I forgive you, if only because I found this hand-made macrame vest a while back, and just the other day, a pair of high waisted vintage levi's denim shorts for $2.

Mix-in hand macramed vest- $9.99,Value village. high-waisted vintage Levi's denim short- $2, lost and found. 

Macrame I?

French Vogue covers cowgirl

Ippolita turquoise drop earrings, $1,095, netaporter.com

Kate Moss for TopShop macrame vest.

Sweet dreams and flying machines;
S.

sail away with me, honey.

My new nautical knit cropped sweater, $16, and $12 shades- at Lost and Found

I was inspired to dip my toes in the nautical waters once again this season- and this red, white and blue cable knit cropped anchor-bearing sweater I found for $16 at Lost and Found (one of my favourite vintage boutiques) is a more-than-viable replacement for the (also adorable) $245 Diane Von Furstenburg one below.

DianeVon Furstenburg knit sweater- $245-netaporter.com

Coco Chanel started the nautical trend in the '20s

Chanel Resort Collection 2010

Carrie's first day in Paris

 Staying afloat upon the sails of the simple pleasure of living life;

S.

"For Health and Vitality"

Fruit is good for you.

From left- Stella McCartney, Wunderkind(x2) and Prada for SS11

Stella McCartney, Wunderkind, and Prada said so.
Whether tart citrus at Stella, sweet cherries at Wunderkind, or b-a-n-a-n-a-s at Prada, I couldn't help myself. I love me some fruit-organic, couture, vintage, whatever. But Miuccia's potassium-laden pieces aren't going to be peeling their way into my budget anytime soon. No big disaster- found this vintage fruity floral shrunken blazer at Lost and Found on Thursday...

Printed shrunken blazer- $18 at Lost and Found

Yum. It's kind of more floral than fruit- but it brings back sweet nostalgia of a pretty lil' dress I had when I was 7. I loved that dress...Here I am wearing it on a cruise in 1993, disregard haircut please. The point is, fruit on fabric truly never goes out of season. 

Me, 7, in my fruit dress

S.