Maritime Locust

The curious case of... sundress shopping

2011-04-15T17:28:00.008-03:00

I'm really unsure how I got stuck here. I'm usually fancy-free when it comes to picking up new spring and summer staples (it's kind of my thing), but here I am, trumped by my need-it-now-or-god-help-the-citizens-of-Halifax desire for a white sundress. I don't know exactly when I threw florals, prints and easy shades of summer to the wayside. But screw the trends, I want it in white. Maybe because it's so simple and timeless and will illuminate my golden hue (work in progress). Maybe because it'll match any of my spring and summer footwear selections. Or maybe because I'm just asking to spill something on it.

Not only must it be white, it also must have the fit. I'm not quite sure what fit I'm looking for, but it'll be like Cinderella's shoe when I find it. I want a billow'er, but fitted, cleave-enhancing but demure. Cotton, linen, polyester, lace, bring it all on.

My online voyeurism has brought me these hue-less hotties...

(left to right: Lace Mini Maxi dress, $39.95; Pintuck Mini Maxi dress, $39.95; both American Eagle)

(left to right: Abercrombie & Fitch Kylie dress, $88; H&M Conscious Collection dress, $24.95; Old Navy Tie-Shoulder dress, $20)

(left to right: Crochet Eyelet dress, $29.80; Eyelet Woven dress, $27.80; both Forever 21)

(left to right: The Beach dress, $29.50, Crochet-top dress, $98; both from Victoria's Secret)

Tough decision, but I'm leaning towards the VS Beach dress, and the Eyelet Woven F21 dress. Both are a steal at under 30 bucks a pop (pre-shipping). Tropical beach, fruity drink, and studly cabana boy not included..

[Old Navy Canada ships to Canadian addresses for $8, or free on orders over $50. You cannot purchase H&M online in Canada... yet. Abercrombie & Fitch charge $15-$40 for shipping, depending on how much you spend and how quickly you want it. American Eagle Canada's shipping is $15, unless you spend $100 or more - then it's free! Victoria's Secret ships to Canadian addresses for a charge of $13.99-$25.99, depending on purchase total (it's unclear, but assuming that is USD).]

Spring fever = Aldo + rain

2011-04-14T17:38:00.011-03:00

My inbox has been bombarded with promos and new lines and style tips from every fashion site you can imagine. They are each a little bloom of happiness, a ray of sunlight at the end of this long, blustery, enclosed-shoe-required tunnel of not-yet-summer weather. As much as I appreciate a Spring shower (or galeforce Nor'Easter), and know that in the end it'll contribute to lush green grass and dandelions, I also appreciate the little gem emails I've been receiving from ALDO. God bless those marketing folks. This makes me want a wedge in every height and a gladiator in every colour. Bring. On. Summer.

Unfashion'd: a budget.. the epic conclusion

2011-04-13T20:01:00.008-03:00

image: eHow.co.uk

In my last post, I presented myself with the challenge of not spending a copper penny during the month of March on anything that wasn't a fixed payment (rent, insurance, groceries, transportation). And all my apologies for not updating along the way, but I was just so dedicated and swept up by my frugalness that I barely had to time to enjoy my weekly successes. There was no real motivation behind the idea of stashing every possible cent, other than having a stockpile in my savings account. It was more for the self-gratification that I could stick to something so vigorous. I hadn't been so dedicated to a cause since my fundraising stint in seventh grade selling oranges and grapefruit for my class's end of year trip (I clearly dominated as top seller, earning myself a cd walkman. It was 1996, gimme a break).

I think I fared pretty friggin' good. And there was a lot of spin-off from my thrifty efforts. Not only did I save money, but I made money - putting furniture & home deco wares on Kijiji.ca which I did not use and would certainly find a better home elsewhere, and hauling a bin to Elsie's Consignment clothing store on Queen Street, bringing in a few extra dollar bills. I turned off lights and unplugged dormant appliances & electronics like there was a power shortage. My monthly consumption was $26, my lowest monthly usage bill yet. No take-out food, no eating out. I cashed in some Air Miles for Sobeys gift certificates totalling $100 worth of free grub. With some careful grocery-shopping consideration, I was able to make that $100 stretch 4 weeks, meaning I didn't pay a thing to eat in the month of March.

Now, there was one thing I overlooked, which I am somewhat disappointed in myself with. In all of my prepping and planning, I forgot about my monthly $8 subscription to Netflix, which I use several times a week. Since I do not have cable, and do not rent from the local vid store (usually borrow or feed my entertainment craving with online episodes), I have accepted this error in judgement and decided I was due for a splurge of some sort this month. Umm.. right?

My savings for the month totalled $561. I had a pretty good laugh when I saw how much I could be saving - if I had NO LIFE. No, really. I only went out to the pubs if we were sure to get there before cover was charged. I didn't drink a lick of booze - unless it was purchased or graciously offered (out of pity, perhaps). I found it easy to not spend anything on clothes or unnecessary housewares if I avoided the shopping districts of the city (though my inbox had me tempted with Steve Madden specials and new arrivals at shopbop.com).

With blinders on and my eye on the prize, I had a successful month. It would be beyond easy to shove that saved cash into the hands of those adorable Biscuit staffers, but then I'd start the vicious spending cycle again. I don't need anything for my closets or my living room shelves. Plus I've got school to worry about now. Hurrah for tuition - again!

But if I were to up and spend my little stockpile of dedication, a little vacation would be a fabulous investment, don't you think?

image: BeachHomesRent.com

Un-Fashion'd: a budget. I said, pardon?

2011-02-12T09:48:00.006-04:00

(photo credit: www.freefoto.com)

I stumbled across the "Money. Priorities. Decisions. 30 Days." blog post on Owlhaven today (via Chocolate on my Cranium), and was struck with inspiration. Mainly because it's a challange I know I will succeed at, since my home has been living the frugal dream for a few months already. But it's always an ego-boost when you set a goal and are able to check it off your list. God, I love checking things off lists.

The premise is to spend/buy nothing but the absolute essentials for a month. 30 days of milk, bread, and toilet paper (ah ha! Scratch that.. I bought some last week which will last me more than a month, so I'm ahead of the game!). I am also a month into being cable-free, which is definitely a non-essential, in my honest opinion. Not when you can easily find your television vice on their network's website. Having the internet is an essential; no need to explain that. I have only turned the heat on in my apartment twice since I moved in 17 months ago. Believe it. I have apartment units on either side of me, and above & below, and they seem to be keeping my place cozy with their heated walls and ceilings. If it does dip below 21°C, I reach for a sweater, and the duvet is always folded at the foot of the bed.

I turn the comp on only when I need it. I'm a candle hoarder, and am more likely to light one up than flick on the lights. I use a toaster oven instead of my range, and almost always have everything but the fridge unplugged at any given time. I've also been known to unplug small appliances in other people's homes when not in use... My stingy energy usage results in a monthly $30 power bill.

I've whittled my smartphone bill down to less than $60 for unlimited airtime, data, and messaging. Tenure, and asking the right questions, can give you a lot of bargaining power.

Living between two grocery stores has it's perks, too. Price-comparing happens a lot on my desktop, and I have no qualms with going to multiple stores to get the most out of a buck. Superstore just had a BOGO sale, which I took advantage of (bread! pasta!), but Sobeys had frozen fruit at a lower price. It's not like I didn't need the bonus exercise, too! A little planning and prepping means I can budget about $60 for groceries. For the month. That would only take some people to Thursday. I've got plenty of good food, frozen meat, and root vegetables to keep me nutritionally content for 4 weeks. And because even Jennifer Hudson can cave to a "cheat" every now and then (c'mon, you know she did), I've got a small stash of Coca Cola to keep me emptionally & mentally happy.

Other than those daily essentials (utilities, grub, a connection to the outside world), everything else will be sanded down to a fine finish. No clothes. No shoes. No booze (but you're more than welcome to buy me a bottle of Jost Marechal Foch!). No afterhours drivethru binge on a Sunday night. Unless it's for a Coke. And unless someone else buys the fries and I just share them. No bus to work - which also means no snooze button.

What's going to make this rather difficult is the plethora of Barney's, Cartier, and Shopbop emails that (happily) flood my inbox daily. Not like I was able to afford those goods before, but it's just an extra kick to the box of my inner-fashionista. Even the Aldo end-of-season sales and Bath & Body Works deals are going to have to pass me by. This. Hurts. But it's all wants and not needs.

So bring on March. And let me borrow your latest People magazine, that new bottle of nail polish, and a tin of your David's Tea for a couple weeks...

What I Wore.. to the Moose for some Lamb

2011-01-29T11:52:00.008-04:00

Woke up to an eclectic playlist this morning: Holy Diver (Dio), Dani California (RHCP), and Lay Down Sally (Eric Clapton). How the hell did that happen? As messed up as it was, the mix was exactly what I needed and precisely how I felt at 5:30am. Have a 15 hour day of work ahead, but it's being capped off with a Girl's Night Out in downtown Halifax tonight with the sister-friends. That is the one thing getting me through this unbelievably long day! And it gives me the opportunity to test out the fabulous party dress my beautiful sister gave me for Christmas! I love her and her impeccable taste for fashion and shoes. We share some marvelous genes! I plan to wear it with my snakeskins flats, pyramid stud earrings, and tote my also-new-from-sissy Mulberry for Target patent leather handbag. It'll be a rock and roll look, fit for a rack o' Paul Lamb with some sassy kitties.

Dress - ELLE; Shoes - "Devin", ShoeDazzle; earrings - Foreign Affair; handbag - Mulberry for Target

Tsk, tsk.. don't make me photograph you this year..

2011-01-03T13:43:00.014-04:00

25 posts this year. How sad. If I could translate my lack of blog updating into an outfit, it would be baggy navy sweatpants, neon green crocs, and an ugly Christmas sweater (with giant knock-off Chanel logo earrings, a velvet choker, and a banana hair clip, because even the most faux-pas' need to accessorize!). I'd apologize, but I'm not sorry. My dwindled number of posts this year clearly reflects how friggin busy and happy I've been for the last 12 months! And cheers to that! I do feel as though I owe all of you's, at the very least, a NYE note of love, fug, and fashionable lust. So here it be..

Find something and love it with everything you've got. Who says material things can't bring you joy? And who says it has to be something material? Love a memory: a place (with views for miles), a smell that reminds you of a very unperfect moment, a taste (of something shared, or burnt, or cooked over a campfire). Love those jeans that make your ass look absolutely amazing. Love Monday mornings when you have no where to go and nothing to do but stay in bed and talk, or cozy up, or watch bad comedy specials. Love the first day of the month because the new Shoedazzle picks are in your showroom (by the way, made my first purchase again in AGES - look at these things! Delicious)! Love the salesgirl at the local boutique who knocked an extra 10% off because you told her you loved her Steve Madden boots. Start the year with some lovin'. It couldn't hurt.

In contrast to my rant of joyous adoration of all good things and smells, I do have an obligation to scar you for at least a little while with some piece of disgust. I had to travel quite a ways to find this beaut, but my God, it was well worth it. And so glad to see FPQT post a similar look from always-fug-reliable Jess Simpson. Bless you, LA & Ally! All the way from Fredericton, a bundle of NYDay joy...

I'm not even going to touch on the boots, I'm just too overwhelmed by the leggings. It was dark in there, and I had originally thought that the print was white and black. But I was still offended and documented it. It wasn't until I checked the photo after the fact, that I learned of it's technicolour truth. They were NEON. They were kind of Nordic looking in the black and white darkness of the pub, and I was almost willing to defend my own diss of them. But I have no choice but to 100% reject these. And not only because of their colour-fug, but also because she was wearing them as pants. GASP! Double whammy.

So there you have it, folks. Starting the year on a good, positive, lovingly fug note. Here's to health and wealth and good style, and if I ever catch any of you wearing leggings or pajamas as pants, Halifax will know. My god, please don't. Cheers!

FALL = end of vacay + back to "work"

2010-09-27T12:58:00.011-03:00

My dad loathes those Staples commercial, but it really truly is the most wonderful (fashionable) time of the year.

I love Fall. No, really, literally, would marry Fall if it were physically possible. Or I could find a handsome, successful man named Fall and marry him... I dug out every last pair of jeans and denim (19 pairs, all of which are now in constant rotation), J.Crew khakis, wool sweaters and long-sleeved tunics. I never really packed away my boots, since my love affair with those are a 365-days-a-year thing.

Went shopping with Mom on their last trip down (how convenient, during Hurricane Earl, keeping me away from Peggy's), and picked up a short-sleeved brown cable knit sweater and a brown floral-print tunic - for less than our Starbucks Pumpkin Spice lattes (with soy, natch). With impeccable timing, the temperature dropped in half the next day - after a week of roughly +42°C heat - and I was more than ready for the plethora of jeggings and booties on the streets of the HRM.

I've also spent the last 4 days playing tailor to some pretty brutal distressed denim, bringing them back from the brink. I love jeans. I love wool. I love Fall. Ya, repetitive, I know. But since I have a lot of love to give, Fall is gettin' it all!

But this wouldn't be a MaritimeLocust post if I didn't share some juicy imagery. Just because it's Fall, doesn't mean everyone's on the same side of the fashionable sidewalk...

But I did capture my favorite look of the summer, on a humid August day.. the silk romper (hey, just because it was my fav look, didn't mean I could pull it off myself. That's what separates the fashionable women from the trendy girls - we know what works)! I loved this lady in floral green:

Ahh, it feels good to be back in a writing routine. And I'm anxious to see just how wrong Haligonians can get Fall fashion...

omg, a Friday full of Halifax SALES & FUN

2010-07-16T11:12:00.007-03:00

via online...

Forever 21 - Summer Deals 21% off til July 18th

Aldo Shoes - extra 25% off a ll women's clearance san dals (online only) + free s h i pping on all orders over $75

via Twitter & FB...

FABoutique (Foreign Affair) - 50% OFF ALL SPRING/SUMMER CLOTHING AT BOTH FOREIGN AFFAIR LOCATIONS!!!!!

Black Market - sidewalk sale includes $22 bikinis. I need these.

Pretty Things Boutique - All cats eye glasses (except for pink leopard prints ones), cinch belts, and crinolines in stock :)

Biscuit General Store - Big Summer Sale is ON. Buy one item/Get one for $5 bucks! Yep - that's right. Sale applies to all clothing, shoes and bags

Unfashion'd: Slanguage and tinfoiled bacon

2010-07-10T21:35:00.010-03:00

(**Caution/disclaimer: there is very little to no reference to fashion, fug, or shopping here. This is purely a post on good summer livin')

Took a spur-of-the-moment vacation this week, and it was gooder than better. Even including the sunburns and swarms of mo-squit's, I'd do it all over again in a New York minute. Or a lazy Seafoam afternoon. Keeping some fascinating company, we ventured into some old & new territory, which I intend on keeping on the low-down so that you won't all rush out and over-populate my new paradise. Just honesty.

Dropped in on a winery, cruised the coast, took a dip among the sandbars, and stopped only for every side-road/ice cream joint/exotic coffee shop. Almost woke up to cows, but chose the rooster instead. Rescued sea-life from imminent misfortune. Discovered the true value of childhood summers, and the truer value of making a list. Realized that I have an allergy to something outdoors, and that it feels way too good to scratch bug bites. Added to my seashell collection, camping-only-clothes collection (mmm, bacon grease), and cheesy one-liner collection. I laughed til my gut ached, sang great songs terribly in the car, and put together a hibachi grill in record time. I learned that who you're with is far more interesting than where you go or what you do, the journey is most definitely better than the destination, and there's a silver lining to every negative (as in, tending to sunburns is just as much quality bonding time as when you earned your sunburn).

Looking forward to the next roadtrip. Tentitive rule: should only decide the day of, where to go and what to do. And if the weather is anything like this past week, clothes will have to be completely optional. Sweet chili heat, it was gorgeous out there.

HOT/MESS Monday: Summer Smorgasbord

2010-07-10T20:32:00.013-03:00

(*tardy, I know, but the best lesson I learned from my father was, "Better late than never". That, and "Take all you want, but eat all you take". Such wise wisdom!)

After this ah-mazing weather we've been having, I thought I'd burst your humid bubble (with some assistance from Environment Canada, the rain, and local WTF?!) with the weekly FUG love (I love that I referred to this as weekly.. as if I've been successful in posting a HOT/MESS Monday every week. Sorry, some life got in the way..). I've gathered up some local Haligoni images since my last post, which I'm certain you'll delight in - a duo of leggings-as-pants (seeing FPQT simultaneously cringe), unflattering faded skinny jeans, some serious VBS, a cornucopia of awesomeness, and swimwear exposé.

(leggings-as-pants example #1. She's got a great rearend, no doubt, but still...)

(leggings-as-pants example #2. With ankle boots. She should've stayed in bed)

(came across this beaut on Saturday. Hot, muggy, and rolled up at the ankles. This is proof that having a great seamstress on your side will save your soul. And your image from being plastered on MaritimeLocust.com. I'm not even going to touch the skinny, ankle-embracing, TERRIBLE fade job on these puppies - you can dissect it's fugliness on your own..)

(a little VBS - visible bra strap - to sweeten your day. It's a friggin one-shoulder dress. CHOOSE APPROPRIATE UNDERGARMENTS.)

(Speaking of which, this is not an appropriate undergarment, especially for her age. Even if she was a lifeguard, you'd expect the decency to change before presenting yourself in public)

(A potluck of smorgasbord goodness. Horizontal stripes to make you look wider, red checkers to disguise you as a lumberjack, and ripped leggings, to remind us all that you're young and believe that you're invisible to the world. You ain't.)

(This doozy is an import, generously donated by Miss Eddy of Fredericton. Keep your eyes peeled, folks. I take FUG-image donations. It doesn't even matter what's on her top-half. Haute couture couldn't save her now.)

RANT DAY = FIFA overdose + Coach + Justin's Failure

2010-07-02T13:04:00.013-03:00

After 22 days of World Cup action, I've established the fact that I could never date a soccer player. They are bred purely for their whining skills and bad acting. And bad hair. Those traits far out-weigh their athletic bodies. Besides that, go Dutch!

Today's dare on Joe Fresh | 100 Days of Summer (Day 51): It's time to... find your celeb lookalike and dress like them for a day. I've decided to twist this shallange, dressing like a specific celeb in order to look like them. Shallow, I know, but somehow deeply satisfying. Today, I'm Katie Holmes, minus the dirtbag she's married to, and without gorgeous child in tow. Easy-peasy and more socially acceptable than Bjork. And I already had all these pieces in my closet anyways. I didn't have time this morning to pluck a swan, be-head it, then turn it into red-carpet ready "haute couture". No, I just couldn't squeeze it into my schedule. Sorry, folks. Nor do I have any wildly huge hostas growing on my patio, therefore I was also unable to create an enviro-friendly cover-up for any jaunts to Sobey's. Maybe my schedule next week will be a bit more forgiving.

Halifax is welcoming another shop to it's list of labels.. Coach at Halifax Shopping Centre (wish it was located between Banana Republic and Birks.. wouldn't that be nice?) I'm all for HRM expanding it's label-lust beyond The Mills' Michael Kors (really?) & Foreign Affair's DVF collections, but I am genuinely concerned for the possibility of a "C" logo-print epidemic. Bags, wallets, flats, rubber boots, scarves. I understand it's new and exciting to Haligonians, but think twice before cheaping out and purchasing the Coach all-over print in sateen or canvas. Spend the extra effort eyeing their leather products. It's what they've built their reputation on, and it will still be on trend and in style years & decades from now. The fabric will only get better with age. Some of the canvas and leather versions of the same bag are the same price; one just holds it's value more in the long run. The Kristin Graphic OP ART Large Hobo & Kristin Leather Large Hobo are both $398 pre-tax. If you're going to invest $398 on a bag, make sure it's timeless.

I'm in a terrible mood. I've missed 2 weeks of The Bachelorette (even the re-runs!), busy with work and play. Many many thanks to Couchtime With Jill for keeping me in the loop. It hurts to read of Ali's heartbreak online rather than watching it in all it's glory, but I'm forever thankful for staying up to date with the horrors of someone else's catastrophic lovelife.

omg, TOMS Wedges & waterfront lovin'

2010-06-11T20:28:00.010-03:00

I have a confession to make. I didn't buy shoes from ShoeDazzle this month (though I did find one heckuva pair in my showroom which I certainly swooned over, and hummed and haw'd over before deciding to skip the month...). And ya know what? Skipping the month gave me the extra few dollars to splurge on the new Toms Espadrille Wedges which I fell in love with in the June/July StyleWatch issue (my other monthly guilty pleasure - page 36, top left-hand corner). I've been a big fan of Toms and what they do for children in need for awhile now, and I've seen many a fashionable hipster sport them around town lately.

I knew that if they were new and fashionably hot, it wouldn't take long for them to arrive in Halifax (Halifashionable? Halifabulous? Hali-for-TOMS? Ya, that was a stretch..). I had inquired with fellow Haligoni blogger & TOMS adorer Ally whether KAS had received their shipment ("on the way"), so I believed I had many days to wait, and many phone calls to make, harassing the KAS staff whether they arrived or not.

Side-story: Biscuit General Store on Argyle was having a sidewalk sale yesterday and today - shiny jewelry and marked-down clothes were on display in the sunshine outside the store. Couldn't make it down yesterday, so was there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at noon today. Also had a play date on the Boardwalk with a gf to get caught up on some serious gossip and handsome waiters.. [ok, that's a hugely off-topic side-story. I apologize. But if you're at the patio at the Lower Deck, ask for Eddie - he's FANTASTIC. Honestly.] Now where was I... Biscuit. So since I still had some time to burn before my date, I sauntered in to see what else was in stock. Lots of stuff, actually. And saw those gosh darn wedges. I'm pretty certain I took the stairs two at a time. They had the red stripe, green sorbet, and black in stock, received them this past Wednesday, and are expecting more very soon. I will be back after payday, hoping they're getting in the yellow version. They also have some flats in stock.
Since this afternoon's victory, I have worn my TOMS to do dishes, paint my nails, swiffer the floor, update Twitter, make supper, text a boy, and check the mail. It has turned the mundane tasks in the most fashionable feats of the day! (Ha, feats/feets.. my dad would appreciate that..)

Meanwhile... some other waterfront and general Hali images from the afternoon...

(HRM Metro Transit ferry.. one of the few things I actually enjoy about city transit)

(terrible BB photo, but the waterfront was crawling with tourists and uniforms today.. love a man in uniform. Lots of fleetl action happening)

(patio season is in full-tilt. C'mon Canada Day and patio parties! No, really though, hurry up. I need another reason to wear my nautical striped wedges at the waterfront this summer)

Dear H&M Canada, thanks for this petit cadeau..

2010-05-19T20:12:00.010-03:00

H&M Canada tweeted today "50% off selected shorts and pants in our ladies, mens, teens and kids departments. Offer valid until June 2nd" (phew, after payday!)

Get on it, folks. Great time to stock up on summer staples on a seriously strict budget. Khakis, linen, cotton & plaids. Take inspiration from Banana Republic, shopbop.com, Les Nouvelles, LouLou magazine, Esprit, Forever 21, and your other favorites... and then scour the racks at an obscene pace. Do it. Do it now. (I have some budgeting to do!)

(l to r: Jenni Kayne Collection, $995; Banana Republic, $69.50 USD; Balmain runways F/W10; Forever 21 Canada, $10.99)

omg, Gladiator Sandals. Again

2010-05-16T14:10:00.012-03:00

Definitely not a new thing, but I'll give it street credit for it's staying power. I'm a fan, I'm not gonna lie (don't worry, I'm sure I'll find something to complain about...). Very comfortable (please, please try on every pair, don't just buy them in "your size"), can be dressed up or down, and because they've been around for ever, there's a plethora of styles and price-points to choose from. One caveat: they give you terrible tan lines; don't forget your feet when you're sunscreening.

Featured on TheZoeReport.com. They're Giuseppe Zanotti, and their price tag reads $1095. Without decimals. So if a month & a half of rent doesn't matter to you, but glamizon gladiators do, then knock your socks off.

So I have to give a serious plug to Aldo. I'm a firm believer than they offer some of the best shoes and sandals and boots for your buck. Their sizes fit (me, at least), you get great value, and they're always a step ahead with trends and styles (I'm sorry, that was a terrible pun. My dad would appreciate it!) At these prices, you can stock up, even if some looks are only worthy of the current season. My fav is the Gorrill - I want one in every colour. Maybe 2.

And if I have a few extra dollars just laying around (!), Town Shoes has some fancy footwear in stock. BCBGeneration, Birkinstocks, Kate & Mel, Steve Madden... They're all a bit flashy for me, not really staples that I'll be digging out of my closet this time 5 years from now. Hard to say. I thought shredded jeans were a one-hit-wonder, & I have unfortunately been mistaken. But solid investments for the summer.

Any given sunny day, you'll find me in my white or brown glads. Unless, of course, it's a grubby day, and I can't be bothered to do up a single buckle (I don't do the zippered kind). Then it's a fabulous flipflop (possible oxymoron, I know).

One man's fetish is another woman's fashion must-have

2010-05-16T13:01:00.008-03:00

Editor's Note: After eating at the Chickenburger for the 4th time in 8 days, and watching one of the finest concert DVD's I've seen in ages, my missions today had included making the most kick-arse smoothie (overdosed on strawberries and blueberries), and creating an Eagles Power Ballad playlist. And put together a post. I've procrastinating since the NHL playoffs are on. If I had any bit of common-sense-smartness, I would have posted yesterday when there were no games happening. But there was the Chickenburger and the Eagles. There are two games on this aft/evening, but I'm a sucker for pressing deadlines, so I'm posting anyways. What a rebel I am.

Now considered a four season staple. When wasn't it a year-round look? I've been modeling my leather bikini for ages, & the best weather for leather pants is mid-day August heat. The stickier the better, right?

Peeling your legs off leather upholstery while getting out of a car? Yes, I wonder who was inspired by that and thought, "Let's run with this". I'm sort of not really complaining (ha!), since summers on the coast here can be breezy and not necessarily balmy. But even after seeing some of the clothing examples on The Zoe Report and WhoWhatWear.com, I've decided to personally leave this look to accessories, shoes, and bags (except for my leather "groupie" pants, which of course, are polyester. Of course.)

(Céline dress, $1550. YIKES. tzr.com)

(WhoWhatWear.com style board)

I will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for offenders of this look this summer on Halifax's street. And back alleys.

Awesomeness = Less + Less (...and other things)

2010-05-07T18:23:00.009-03:00

So supposedly, amongst all the other (& more fugly) trends and styles and ideas on fashion floating around out there, the old adage that "Less Is More" is back in full swing. But I'm going with Less is Less, since "more" is so totally uncool in these days of frugality and minimalization. Still with me? No? FREE CLOTHES. With me now? Good. (and yes, if you scroll to the bottom, there's a link to JoeFreshStyle for a print-off coupon, good for $10 off when you spend $50. Glad you payed attention?)

FASHION Magazine (which I typically love mainly because it's a la Canadian), has reported that this young thing is the picture-perfect example of the Less Is Less/Minimalist wave this season. I beg to differ (of course I do). I hate it. I don't even know where to start. I suppose she's endorsing khakis, neutral-shade shoes, simple clutch, black blazer-ish sorta jacket, grey tee... but none of it fits her properly. The pants are cuffed too low (& I guarantee there's a pleat in there somewhere), her feet look like they're trying to escape, the coat is a crossbreed of a ski jacket/painters smock/corporate monkeysuit, the clutch is too vintage-y for the rest of the ensemble, and her Ray Bans freakishly remind me of Joaquin Pheonix on Letterman. She's not even really smiling; more like squeamishly smirking. Each of these pieces might just be great on their own (clearly I'm referring only to the tee and sunglasses), but put 'em together, and you're well on your way to Juliette Lewis-dom. Honestly. Really, approximately 2 bad outfits away from this (fashion isn't nearly as forgiving as 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon)...

(image credit: gofugyourself.com)

This frustrates me, because I am probably the second biggest supporter of this look (obviously not this Lewis look.. the Less Is Less look). But I'm disappointed that someone found a way to ruin the minimalist uniform khakis (also periodical changed out for denim), a grey tee, heels, Ray Bans, and a black blazer. Thanks, lady. Thanks.

Ugh, feels good to get that off my chest. Although, I secretly love JulLewis, primarily for her never ending offering of material for stuff like this. Priceless. And so to end things on a cheery, lovely, budget-friendly note...

Print and present the coupon at Joe Fresh Style® locations to save $10 when you spend a minimum of $50 on Joe Fresh Style® apparel

I recommend throwing these Joe Fresh Style white jeans in your cart when you're out saving your fashion sense and pocket-change... so versatile. And minimalist! And $19! Pair them with a grey tee, black blazer, neutral-coloured heels, vintage clutch and Ray Bans...
...I know, I know - let it go...

omg, Good & Fugly Summer Trends (yes, SUMMER!)

2010-05-03T12:01:00.009-03:00

I'm seeing some re-occurring themes with what's being predicted for summer styles and trends. I don't like them all (let's be honest, I think some of these are just terribly wrong and offensive altogether), but I can't argue with others. Let's see how opinionated I get here...

Knee-Length Skirts & Dresses
I like this one. I will embrace this look, along with my peasant skirts and maxi dresses. Hanging up the minis 'til I get my thigh-confidence restored.
1. Calvin Klein at The Bay, $139 CAD (sizes 0 to 12; 1-800-521-2364; www.hbc.com)
2. Juicy Couture Print Smocked Dress, $228 USD (sizes P - XL; www.shopbop.com)
3. Gap Chambray Western Shirt Dress, $79.50 CAD (sizes 00-16; www.gap.com)

Sailor Stripes in RED
I like this one, too. A nice change-up from the usual navy-stripe. Marine styles are perennial, we can't escape them each Spring. Which is ok; it's a pretty basic look that is easily accessorized. With a boat.
1. XXI Button-up Cardigan, $29.90 CAD (sizes S to L; 1-888-494-EVER; www.xxiforever.com)
2. Zara 3/4-Sleeve Tunic, $39.90 CAD (sizes XS to L; 514-868-1516; www.zara.ca)
3. American Apparel Jersey T, $36 CAD (sizes XS-XL; 902-422-5038; www.americanapparel.net)

Nudes (I chose to zero-in on dresses.. how couldn't I? Look at 'em!)
Yep, like this one too. Makes me feel girly and flirty and delicate. Welcome change! It's as though I could roll around in a field of pansies and throw away all my worries, wearing these frocks. That's my goal in life.
1. Free People Merrie Gossamer Slip, $89.62 CAD (sizes XS - L; www.freepeople.com)
2. Vero Moda, $55 CAD (sizes XS to L; 1-866-338-4392; www.veromoda.com)
3. Onze Boutique Bee's Knees Dress, $144.99 CAD (sizes S/M and M/L; 1-877-560-ONZE; www.boutiqueonze.ca)

Bra as a top & golf cleats as shoes
We have reached the point of the blog where I rip a strip off whoever thought these were spectacular fashion decisions. Who's fault is this? Surely we can't blame Pixie Geldof (gosh, I usually love her), Rachel Bilson, or Jessica Lowndes.. they are all just puppets of the designer world, wearing what they're paid to wear. But believe me, there's not enough Yen in the world to have me wear either (I say this now, but if ever offered the dough, I may have to back up on my personal morals and values.. times are tough). And you know what's funny? I was about to say "underwear is not fit for public exposure", but I'll be more specific and say "bra's are not fit for public exposure outside of the Chestnut, which, thankfully, is closed foreva". 'Cause I know I'd never hear the end of it from Fahie and SP. And don't get me started on the shoes. One of those featured pair is actually a golf shoe.. which one? I don't see the fashion or common-sense value of this trend. It's not like you can mow your lawn in them or anything.
(celeb photos: gofugyourself.com)

SALES PLUG: Foreign Affair (both locations)

2010-05-03T11:34:00.005-03:00

FOREIGN AFFAIR (Barrington Street & Spring Garden Road locations)

Both stores have selected denim marked down 20% - 50% (though I have found that the Barrington store has a better selection, and fabulous staff! Couldn't hurt to scour both, though)

And @ the Barrington location only: some serious End of Season sales (can you believe it's end of season?! Means summer is so, so close!)

omg, I OVERHAULED (not my closet, don't worry)

2010-04-24T23:53:00.005-03:00

Good day, folks..

Just wanted to share the re-vamped MARITIMELOCUST.COM blog with you!

Between my all my philanthropy work, watching playoff hockey, and making good-for-the-soul Green Goddess salad dressing (you MUST try it. Really. And not only because if I can make it, anyone can. It really is good!), I did a bit of overhauling, editing, and creative manipulating to create the new layout and visual appearance of the site. I've also added a new link to my "Highly Recommended Blogs" list - O My Heart! It's lovely and girly and highly fabulous (and also Maritime)! One of my favorite features is the Song Of The Week.. I've loved every tune so far, & each week I have to re-sync my iPod! Add O My Heart! to your blogroll!

And let me know what you think of the new layout and colour-scheme. I think it represents my new grown-up view of the world around me.. although the content will probably contradict that opinion ;)

Photoshoot : Grafton Street (high hemlines & poor lighting)

2010-04-24T20:55:00.014-03:00

Cheers/Grafton Street, Halifax (April 23rd '10)

(how to instantly add 15 lbs to the part of your body you least want it.. or "the perfect Done Exams party dress because I can hide a 2L Tropikiwi cooler bottle under it" smock)

(piles of polka dots.. in a wide variety of black/white & white/black options.. but what I really want to know is what happened to the other 3/4 of that large black dot? it's not a seam.. )

(and just to be clear, last night's weather forecast was a high of 4°C with a chance of showers.. she was really playing the odds..)

(I really hate when the old addage that "horizontal striping makes everyone look wide" doesn't apply to everyone.. and she did well with the tights)

There's no place like home..

2010-04-15T00:11:00.024-03:00

.. and "home" is my new blog website (bookmark it!)! Everything is now all linked up, & you'll continue to be exposed to all the goodness and not-so-goodness you've come to expect and admire here!

MARITIMELOCUST.COM

So then, I must celebrate this new corner of the web with my lovely images from the METRIC/ARKELLS show on Wednesday night @ the Cunard Centre. Show was blow-me-away awesome. The locals.. well, they are always willing to give up some self-worth for a post or two. God love 'em. I'll leave you to your own devices in judging these pretties...

(a little local and national history enroute to the show..)

(a LOT of Chuck's on location. Kicked myself for not wearing mine and looking like everyone else..)

(if "indie" had a standard uniform, this would be it)

(there was a plethora of coloured tights running around the Cunard. I missed the memo.)

(Sequins, grapes, and a new meaning to the term "asshole")

(bleached and beaten jeans, & do people really still dye their hair like this? Missed that memo, too..)

(love that they're Toms. Hate that they look like a red "Tensor" bandage. Reminds me of intramurals.)

(I always wondered what lumberjacks wore off-duty. Wish I didn't find out.)

(and I loved her saffron yellow & floral combo. Minus the poor posture. My mother would cringe)

(Miss Haines was all Joan Jett-fierce, sparkly and leathery and singin' her little heart out. As did I.)

(and I certainly have to indulge my fiery little crush on James Shaw. Work that tremolo, sir..)

Dear Mr. Cottontail, sir...

2010-04-02T23:09:00.006-03:00

... along with Lindt golden chocolate bunnies and Jelly Belly jellybeans, can you please bring these ladies some style for Easter? Am I asking too much? Maybe some comfortable strappy flat glads in the proper size? Something other than a metallic snakeskin mini-skirt, knee-high stripper boots and fur-lined bomber jacket, worn at 2 in the afternoon on a Monday at the local mall?

That's all. Thank you.

(should've expected size-too-small gladiator heels at Pizza Corner.. it just goes together like pepperoni and donair sauce. It's natural. No big deal.)

(at H&M at MMMall.. I truly hope she bought something, anything, and changed in the bathroom. The image was clear thru the lense, just pretty sure the camera gave up at this point)

HOT/MESS Monday : In Broad Daylight

2010-03-29T13:35:00.009-03:00

I really, truly, honestly can't wait to see Hot Tub Time Machine this week. John Cusack, an inevitably fantastic soundtrack, and the epitome of 80's new wave fashion - how can you possibly screw that up? I even considered dressing for the occassion...

... but she beat me to it. Purple-belted, shoulder-padded leather. Most certainly walking to her DeLorean (which completely reminds me of those Diet Pepsi ads - the specific one I'm thinking of is completely un-findable online...). I giggled at first, then was overcome with jealousy. That would be the most fabulous jacket to wear to the movies Friday night. Or Boomers. Any night.

I'm voting this one "HOT". But only as an obvious costume attempt.

Retro, Vintage, Secondhand find... Levi's BF's

2010-03-24T22:24:00.005-03:00

My mom was in town for the Brier last weekend, but was more excited to hit up the neighbourhood Thrift Store with me (not entirely true, she's a lover of all things curling, especially Vic Router..). Can you blame her? I am truly the 'magnet' to fab vintage 'steel'.

Case in point: my summer jeans (don't tell me new CoH jeans.. they will be in steady rotation too, of course). I have never seen a pair of Levi's like this before. Just proves that love will find you when you least expect it.. or not looking for it.. or at 3am on Pizza Corner...

But that's beside the point.

The fade and bleach lines are like nothing I've ever dared to DIY before.. and the slash pockets are oh-so me. Even the beltloops are off-kelter. Rolled up, with leather flipflops or white gladiators - ideal. And for $4.99, really... I'd be the last of the red hot fools if I didn't.

HOT/MESS: not either, nor or.. but rather both, with class.

2010-03-16T21:49:00.005-03:00

There's a reason why I love this town.

The most delicious little old lady sat behind us the other day at the corner pub, having her lunch, perusing the escort ads (not really, but that would be oh-so delightful of her!), and downing probably her 4th beer. She got up to play the VLT's, giving us the opp to check her out.. the most fantastic thick black wig and was owning the fedora atop the piece. She walked a bit slow and uneven, but I could sense a bit of a swagger. We decided she lived in a heritage house somewhere in the downtown core, with multiple closets of Dior and vintage Chanel, and probably 5 cats. I'm certain her costume jewelry collection was immense, and even more certain is was the real deal, pearls and diamonds and emeralds, oh my! Married three times to filthy rich men, each more wealthy than the one before, and draining them of ever last penny in the divorce settlements. She was confident and independent and fierce in her own vintage-little-woman way. I envied her, and she gave me hope for my glamorous geritol days.

I also learned my lesson to ALWAYS KEEP MY CAMERA ON HAND. Because as descriptive as I'm trying to make this post, it'll never do her justice. I'm going to take my chances and happen by the same pub again on same day this week, and see if my luck is still pired (clearly, if something isn't expired, it's pired. Right?). Seems as though my luck has been running on fumes lately, so we'll see.

ALL APOLOGIES (for having life-altering experiences...)

2010-02-22T12:41:00.008-04:00

Well, not life or death experiences, but still pretty hectic and exciting. New jobs, old jobs, perfect-fit jobs... I'd go on, but really, I'm kinda getting stressed. And that is so not my comfort zone. I love new opportunities and an income, but me and stress are like Chris and that elderly guy with the whistle-y voice - total dismissal and awkward rejection. And a bit dirty-feeling. Those who deal with me on a daily basis (and I really am a joy to be around! Seriously, that was not sarcastic at all!) know that I might even be too laid back. I believe I was put on earth to test every hammock on the south Pacific and fall asleep each night with a pina colada in my hand, curled up with my physically fit, emotionally strong, ambitious, sense-of-humourous, and equally-as-laid-back lover. Employment in general just doesn't suit my fancy. At least currently. And stressful employment? It has no place in my heart and soul.

Well, that feels better.

So right here in darling Halifax, the lovely little "Foreign Affair" stores (Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road) have ALL of their Fall denim (Citizen's, J Brand, 7's, Hudson's, R&R, True Religion...) on sale, up to 70% off... meaning I bought my Citizens jeans for $171 less than ticket price (c'mon, it's not what you spend, it's what you SAVE). Gf Amanda got her Hudson's for a STEAL. Such a spur of the moment dash into the shop when we drove by a girl carrying a pink & green bag (which is rare to see, so we knew there was some sort of hectic savings going on..), and so rewarding. Jeans are on sale til they're gone, get yer bums in there ASAP! They're also getting in a new shipment of House of Harlow in mid-March, FYI.

(delight in these jeans. Mom hates them. "why pay for something already torn up?" ahh, moms.. why did YOU pay for polyester bellbottoms??)

AND a little bit of vintage-ness, too.. because the jeans weren't the only loves of the day. So then Amanda stuffed me into the smallest of small vintage clothing stores in the city... and I found my second-skin COWBOY BOOTS! Check out this post dedicated to my undying love of my new cowhide...

Retro, Vintage, Second-hand find... Cowboy Boots!

2010-02-12T15:10:00.004-04:00

Dressed In Time
5670 Spring Garden Road
Halifax

... sold me the most perfect, fabulous, form-fitting, sexy as HECK cowboy boots. They feel like a dream. They smell like the Prairies. They make me look like Bon Jovi from the ankle down. It took me 6 months removed from the Rockies and Badlands (and Cowboys Bar and the Stampede and ranches and ranch-hands and cowboys and stetsons...) to adopt my own little piece of Alberta pride.

The address says Spring Garden, but it's really sort of on Brenton Street, just off Spring Garden. Lower level of Scotiabank building, the entrance is down the driveway on the left-hand side, and past the fire-hazard window display of the store. Can't miss it. Or the eerie mannequin dressed up outside. They have a zillion pairs, and I'd vote it the place to go for broken-in cowboy boots.

Forty five bucks! Priceless, I'd say. And I have a real reason to dress like a rock star.

(a true Maritimer always kicks their boots up with a lobster trap..)

Upcycle style = XXL T + scissors

2010-01-20T18:07:00.003-04:00

(image: www.dorknob.com)

My eco-conscious must share these 2 links with you folks. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a fetish with messing up my XL tees into something it wasn't originally meant to be. Pubbing shirts are my specialty, but cushions and pop-art are faves, too. Nothin is a stress-buster quite like ripping 100% cotton into shreds! And typically these ideas are for shirts collecting dust in your (or the bf's) closet, but I make that extra effort and hit up SA & VV to find inappropriate and sarcastic shirts in super huge sizes to destroy. I mean recycle.

My daily vice, apartmenttherapy.com, offered up the first link on 5 New Uses for Old T-Shirts. And that article linked me to dornob.com's 5 Ways to Upcycle Old Clothing. The site is a bit of a mess to navigate thru, but the intention is there. I highly recommend bookmarking apartmenttherapy.com if you live in a small space, a rented space, or really just any space at all. It is a bottomless pit of valuable information (like how to wash a down comforter - LIFE SAVER), and a great way to kill about 6 hours at work. Not that I condone that kind of activity. Do as I say, not as I do.

Retro, Vintage, Second-hand find... polyester smocks!

2010-01-20T17:24:00.005-04:00

I didn't even have to rifle through every rack to find these two beauts (although I obviously did anyways) - they were tucked tightly in the over-packed rack right next to each other. Fate, I'd say. These pretty pieces were from my first S.A. voyage of the New Year. A good sign of the great things to come the next 11 months! I love 'em, and will don them when Spring decides to finally roll around.

omg, SHOEDAZZLE is bang on.

2010-01-18T21:34:00.005-04:00

I've skipped the last few months of Shoedazzle due to unforeseen financial circumstances (bachelorette living does have a con or two!). So I was pleased as punch to see these lovely things in my choices this month. After some frugal budget re-calculating (read: buying the cheap wine instead), I made room for the boots in my bank account. They were exactly what I needed. Freedom from my wear-to-work flats, and a little extra height to teeter over the little boys who talk too much (I heart Mr.Big). I wore them out to the local dive with the ladies last weekend, loved them, but will remember not to wear them barefoot next time.

"Harley"

These boots were made for rocking.

omg, twenty ten has been FORGIVING

2010-01-08T22:09:00.004-04:00

Well I've already trashed one of my resolutions.. can you guess what it is? I've failed it by 8 days. And it has absolutely nothing to do with fitness, weights, running, training, the gym, or pilates. Though I blew that one, too. Sooo, it's obvious I've missed a whole ton of fabulous clothes, shoes, bags, trends, and tons more FUG over the last 2 months, but I suppose you could say I've been doing a bit of rebuilding. Not to my fashionable side, don't worry. I couldn't make that any better if I tried (ha, more unabashed confidence is another resolution). Just life in general. And I think I did a pretty bang-up job. I don't know why I didn't make these ch-ch-changes sooner; I suppose I needed a dumb situation to make me smarter. And more gorgeous (unabashed confidence² ). And more appreciative of male cougars.

First step to getting this "REMEMBER MY BLOG AND POST TO IT" resolution is to POST SOMETHING SPECTACULAR. Ok, so another resolution is to harness my obvious sarcasm. Because if we wanted to see something spectacular, we'd be at the Vogue website. Or TMZ.com, hah. You're here probably because you love me and my witty comments. And the erratic fugness and possible style boards and pics. Probably.

* * * * *

Today I found a real GEM on Mumford Road. I had to go to the DMV to finally get my licence changed over, and today was the one day it was closed. Due to poor air quality or something outrageous. So I figured my luck non-existent. But then I cast my eyes on HER. IT. THEM. I so wish I would have be better prepared with an actual cam and not just my BB. Because you are all truly missing out on the millions of sequins adorning her hot pants which she is wearing over leopard-print tights, black socks and white chuck taylors. It was a sight to behold. Then I knew it really was my lucky day. We'll see if the night pans out as well.

Photoshoot :: Amsterdam Window Shopping!

2009-11-30T14:12:00.008-04:00

Amy, a most fabulous friend of mine, just returned from Amsterdam (umm, yes, very jealous!), and was so marvelous to take these window shots for me - which I'm sure she didn't mind, (you shopaholic, you!) Thank you, thank you!

It's like a mini-vacay for our eyes.. as I live vicariously thru her rock-star lifestyle ;)

I love the cat in the background.. all the feline companionship without the commitment! Like a boyfriend, but better.

I LOVE how utilitarian this is. Like something straight out of Pink Floyd's the Wall. I'm partial to the vest.

I'll take one of each. A floral skirt will always save the day.

I thoroughly enjoy a good "sale corner". And that blue. Holy moly jewel-tone! Fab!

I so wouldn't wear leggings with these. Hel-lo, great gams!

There's so much to look at, I'd surely hold up the pedestrian traffic.. I love Fall and colour.

Supposedly don't try the nachos? But I might have to say this is the most original-looking piece of shopping property I have laid eyes on. Shucks, our Canadian malls don't look like this..

omg vs. Retro/Vintage/Second-hand Find... SEQUINS

2009-11-20T16:31:00.010-04:00

Now if I didn't know any better, I'd say there's a prominent trend happening right now...

Piperlime

(left to right: Juicy Couture sequined sunburst scarf, $128; Nanette Lapore sequin wool cardi, $298; Parker silver sequin racerback tank, $198; Juicy Couture sequined sunburst dress, $348. All USD, and does not ship to Canada - yet. Purely for inspiration, I guess!))

TownShoes

Forever 21

(left to right: ritzy sequin top, $35.80, holiday pump, $27.80, boat neck top, $35.80, sequined 3Q jacket, $39.80, floral metallic sequin pant, $35.80; all CAD)

Even the Forever 21 prices are pushing my budget's limits, although I know they'd all be pieces I'd don all holiday season long. And also again for those hot summer clubbin' nights. So I set out on a mission, and found this tank at Winners for $9.99, and black party dress (with crinolin!) for $3.99 at Frenchy's in HRM! Yea, I found it in the Halloween section several weeks ago, but really, that never stops me:

Babe = 1. Budget = 0.

omg, Recruited!

2009-11-19T22:19:00.003-04:00

It's true and it's official. I've made the plunge to represent The SWAP Team in Halifax, and have gotten the ball rolling to organize a fabulous SWAP in the New Year! Needless to say, I'll be hunting down volunteers and swappers alike, to make this event huge and fantastic! I am so excited to be a part of this organization, doing what we can to keep less out of the landfills, and making the most of what we've got! What recession??

If you're interested and want to learn more, please drop me a line! woodstu@hotmail.com

Be sure to check out their website! theswapteam.org

What I Wore.. bundled up to the Corn Maze

2009-11-06T12:29:00.003-04:00

October 31, 2009
Wow, I look like I have attitude in the photo.. don't know how that happened.

(American Apparel long tank, Vero Moda grey sweater tunic, LoveHate black leather zippered belt, AE jeans, Roots boots. Good thing I threw those suckers on, the mud was overwhelming.)

omg, I'm slacking. But here's some visual merchendise for you

2009-11-06T10:25:00.008-04:00

A little this and that to tempt your palette. It's all over the place, but that's just me. A pretty decent reflection on my character! Some call it ADHD, I call it day-to-day.

My October Shoedazzle.com picks! Comfortable and fabulous, no less. (Skipped November due to budgetary, umm, issues)

I have absolutely no idea what the story is behind this. But glad I documented it. This is at the pub on a Saturday night in downtown Halifax. Davine.

Loved the neon orange polish against the dominatrix shoe. And besides that, it's at the Port O' Wines Festival. The black sheep of the event.

Also an attendee of the Wine Festival. He's my favorite. Not many can pull off the kilt. But then again, we're in Halifax.. they'll try anyways.

At the same pub, on the same night as the pantless wonder, above. Not leaving a whole lot to the male imagination isn't the look for Fall. Cover up, dear; you'll catch your death.

Decopage'd my closet door, making it my inspiration board. A lot of Katie Holmes (menswear-inspired), Nicole Richie (hippie- inspired), and 80's references. A great reason to wake up in the AM!

What I Wore.. Hallowe'en Day (pre-costume)

2009-10-31T12:55:00.004-03:00

black Vero Moda (thrifted!) blazer, olive jersey American Apparel scoopneck tee, zip-ankle Chelsea Joe's Jeans denim, thrifted Nine West cowboy boots, H&M bib necklace

close-up of my Nine West thrifted treasures - $4.99!

On my way out to the door to the second-hand shop across the street.. although I'm sure it'll be packed with last-minute costume shoppers. Why doesn't everyone plan their outfits months in advance? It's the most fabulous time of the year!

Headed out to a haunted corn maze later tonight.. will post some fug looks which I guarantee there will be there.

What I Wore.. to 2 Hours Traffic @ HPX

2009-10-23T18:43:00.004-03:00

So here's the real-life look from my H&M experience. Will be rocking it to see 2 Hours Traffic, playing at the Halifax Pop Explosion. Rock and roll, y'all.

(Beret, H&M, $7.99; plaid button-up, Razzle Dazzle, $19.99; faux-leather leggings, Le Classe Couture, $19.99; 3inch cowboy boot heels, Nine West, $4.99 [thrifted!])

The Curious Case of... being MIA

2009-10-22T14:31:00.005-03:00

   





Where have I been?!? Well, life is just so full of unimaginable surprises, some of which are
not so fabulous! So I've been dedicating the last 2 weeks to everything ME! That means you
guys have been given the shaft, but not for long. Because part of my rehab includes
Fug-Hunting and fabulous thrifting finds, shoesbootsflatsheels, and all things fantastic! Life
is good again!

Got some H&M in the inbox, and threw together a little fab-for-every-occassion (except a
court appearance or wedding - neither of which I've been to lately. Hah! j/k) So now I'm
rooting through my suddenly twice-as-big closet to pull this outfit together and post the
real-life photo shoot. Check out their Lookbook and try the look creator for yourself.
Guarenteed to kill at least 5 minutes at work.

I love Fall.

Dear ShoeDazzle.com, it hurts to choose!

2009-10-13T16:25:00.007-03:00

I picked one. Finally. Really, this was painful. It's October 13th, and I've only now chosen my shoe for the month from ShoeDazzle.com. 13 days to decide. When they send 5 absolutely fabulous pairs, I cry a little. Both with excitement and angst, because I will have to leave some behind. So I chose the snakeskin flats ("Devin") this month, and that kind of makes me feel ill. I mean, they are so hot, I lust for them, but these are the first flats I've bought anywhere in probably 2 years. And certainly from the site. Am I feeling ok? Is my 4-inch heel fetish fading like a flower? Have I been secretly checked into stiletto rehab and been fed subliminal messaging in my sleep? Wow, I took that too far. But it is rather strange. I guess practicality is my newest take on Fall fashion. This month anyways. Hopefully I can snap out of it in time for November 1st and my next emailed batch of goodies.

* * * * *

And weee! for my friend Amy who finally signed up and chose her first pair. That deserves a cocktail! Can't wait to see her strut in these beaut's!

("Francesca")

omg, 100 posts!

2009-10-13T16:01:00.010-03:00

And you're all still reading! That's so fabulous!

And since it's a monumental one, this post will be a smorgasbord of some juicy tidbits from the last little while, which I've shamelessly hid from you all for too long. Consider them Thanksgiving leftovers. Maybe not as hot as straight-outta-the-oven, but nonetheless good for you!

OTTAWA leftovers

(Workshop, Ottawa)

(Milk Boutique, Ottawa)

(Heart and Crown pub, Ottawa)

(the By Ward Market, Ottawa)

(Quebec pride!)

(outside Trustfund, Ottawa)

(the paper bag princess look. the jury is out on this one..)

(Kaliyana, Ottawa)

(the Croc store, Ottawa.. I should have received an award for braving this store. Or an oxygen mask, since the smell of plastic was so wretched and overwhelming. So glad no one recognized me here. This is an atrocity, a whole shop dedicated to these pitiful excuses for footwear - unless you're a 63 year-old gardener or a 2 year-old on the beach, as before mentioned)

(Look, they even tried to establish a market for rubber heels! Now I've seen it all. The inhumanity!)

What I Wore... to push my luck

2009-10-04T12:00:00.004-03:00

Halifax, Nova Scotia

My first voyage to Casino Nova Scotia, with my lovely lady friend, Jenn, wasn't a monetary success. But it was a walk on the wild side! The look really came together literally a half hour before heading out, after I had discovered this vintage leopard-print skirt at the thrift store across the street from my apartment. Paired it with a wide red belt with gold buckle, which I stripped off a vintage red dress I had also purchased at the same store. Added a black Old Navy button up oxford, a string of pearls, and a metallic pair of BCBG pumps, and I was strutting the runways all the way to the Waterfront (read: Barrington Street).

PhotoShoot :: a new party dress?

2009-10-04T11:43:00.005-03:00

Envy, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Loooved the grey and black cut-out dress. Tricky with the bra situation, though. The pink dress was really a hot shade of cherry red. Rather unhappy the colour didn't come through in the photo. It had a tulip hem, making sitting down an opportunity to pull a BritBrit. Didn't love the coverage - or lack thereof. Come payday, I'll return for the first frock. Both were less than $30!

Retro, Vintage, Second-hand find... Lanvin!

2009-10-02T13:35:00.004-03:00

Persistence pays off!

Lately, my constant trips to the vintage/consignment/thrift stores had me tired and hopeless. Until my luck turned, and I was living off the adrenaline of some fabulous pieces! There will be a few of these posts the next couple of days, showcasing (read: bragging) my latest and greatest.

Vintage Lanvin striped shirtdress. Polyester, no less.

Anxious to wrap a white rope belt around it with white gladiators for the summer! (only nine short months to go!)

omg, October ShoeDazzle.com picks!

2009-10-01T08:32:00.007-03:00

ShoeDazzle.com, ladies.. a better start to your month than a mortgage/rent payment!

(left to right, top to bottom: Devin, Domino, Fortune, Isis, Stephanie)

So I hate when this happens.. I mean, I love it. Most definitely.. shoes via email, and then MAGICALLY in your mailbox 2 weeks later! That's just long enough for me to kinda forget about them, have a downer day, and be jolted back to fabulousness with a trip to the post-office. The part I hate is when I swoon over more than one pair. I certainly have the option of purchasing more than my chosen style each month, technically. But my budget is quietly pulling the strings. My heart strings :( I would have no issue with giving all of these shoes a new home.

The pink pair is in support of breast cancer research, and proceeds from sales go to "Susan G. Komen for the Cure".

Ok, no I really need to get down to business here and make a choice. I do have a similiar pair to all the black heels the offered. But they are still so sexy! And I have been complaining that I need a good pair of stylish flats (imagine the possibilities with tights!), and these have some sass.

I'm going to have to call in backup. Advice??

HOT/MESS Monday : City Night Life

2009-09-27T15:49:00.009-03:00

Halifax, Nova Scotia

It ain't all scenic here in the Maritimes...

...unfortunately, we were treated to some serious inappropriateness our last outing this past Friday night. Great night out with great company (and photog of the night), until BAM - people forgot to to put on their pants left, right, and centre! Or, neglected to try on their outfit when they purchased it, assuming they are still that same size they were the first month of university before the Freshman Fifteen compounded interest over the last 6 years. Glad some folks have a positive self-image; however, it is a wee bit altered from the truth. And we all pay the price.

So cheers to the Pantsless Princesses and Bondage-dress-miraculously-holding-it-all-together Queens of the world. And please, everyone.. have a friend check you out before you leave the house. Or you'll end up here (not a threat, merely a promise).

Dear 50 Hats shop, please clean up your act...

2009-09-21T15:37:00.005-03:00

... so that I can find a pair of these, too!

I love when friends find fabulous treasures in the biggest messes of shops and boutiques. Well earned. My friend Fahie scored these from the crazy woman who owns 50 Hats in Halifax's South End. Go visit her if you dare, odds are you won't be able to move once inside the door. These probably fell from a tall bookcase and she caught them, or something along those lines. Fahie's lucky like that.

omg, Shoes in the Mail!

2009-09-21T15:33:00.003-03:00

Thanks shoedazzle.com. Again. Because these are so spectacular, I'm going to wear them doing dishes, laundry, ironing, doing groceries, checking the mail (maybe they accidentally sent me 2 pairs??) and dancing wildly in the living room to the Stones "Shattered". Yep, gimme two minutes, I'm almost done my struttin..

Ok, here's my pair of gold 'Lyric' shoes for September! Will be worn to the wedding festivities I'm attending this weekend. Wow, hope folks notice the bride, too...

What I Wore... to his cousin's wedding

2009-09-16T16:25:00.005-03:00

Moncton, New Brunswick

Didn't really know the folks, but they were very, very nice. The food was delish - how can you go wrong with bbq chicken? - music was pumpin', and the fashions were.. fun. (Sorry this is three weeks tardy!)

What I wore..

Holt Renfrew silk headband, sterling silver key pendant (from Victoire, Ottawa), and heck-of-a-steal grey jersey Grecian maxi from Winners.

(fabulous high-fashion backdrop, courtesy of Colonnial Inn - great rate, clean room, bar fridge.. couldn't complain)

Dear Boots... you are my bff's from now til April

2009-09-11T13:43:00.008-03:00

... and we'll see about renewing that title come April.

I am so very happy about this change of seasons. And so very happy I moved when I did. Calgary isn't necessarily known for it's fall foliage and fine daytime temps/frosty nighttime degrees. It's more of a Winter/Summer/Summer/Winter kinda town. So imagine my excitedness to feel the winds change here in Halifax and be able to dig out the sweaters and boots and layers that were packed away while I was out West. Seriously, living in the Foothills meant shorts and tees to parkas and mukluks (except when there was a Chinook, and then you dug out your shorts and tees again). Looking forward to a field trip out to the Valley here in a few weeks to shoot some film and take in the colours and smells. And Joe's poutines. But that's a different story.

And inevitably, every brand and shop is pushing their collection of boots. Heck, I'm not complaining. Every trip down to the waterfront has myself and company steaming the windows of the shoe store, fingerprints galore, drooling over the new Frye boot display. Delish!

Love my selection of motorcycle-inspired styles, buckles and doo-dads, tall TALL shapes, and itty booties... click on any of the pics for a much larger image.

Steve Madden's got a smorgasbord of boot options, and relatively well-priced for the selection. Loved their moto, buckle, and high cut options... tack on an extra $24.95 US for each item (within an order!) shipped to Canada - eeek!

ALDO is also pushing their Fall Boot Preview, and it looks promising! Heels for the daring, short and tall moto-style clunkers, and the most fab Western-esque booties! Shipping is an extra $5, or free if your order is over $100, weee!

Piperlime.com are jerks and don't ship to Canada, but that doesn't mean you can't still drool over their selection, from Frye to Naughty Monkey to Joie.

And shopbop.com is getting in on the lovin', and are swooning heavily on the over-the-knee-trend. Their shipping is FRRRREEEEE to Canada! God Bless those guys...

My dad hates that they play that Christmas song in the Staples commercials.. but, really - this is the most wonderful time of the year!

omg, ShoeDazzle September picks!

2009-09-09T19:57:00.009-03:00

It took two rounds of shoes this time. An email to the professionals. Ten pairs of shoes. Not that I'm picky, but c'mon, they're FABULOUS SHOES! Had to find the pair that that just reached out and grabbed my fashionism with both heels!

My second set of picks....

(left to right, top to bottom... Francesca, Keila, Lyric, Tribute, Alia. All ShoeDazzle!)

I chose the gold Lyric heels. And I know exactly what they are going to be worn with the moment I get them!

Retro, Vintage, Second-Hand find.... Coach!

2009-09-09T19:26:00.010-03:00

Vintage leather Coach purses

Here's the brown leather Coach purse my mom found for $5.95 at a second-hand clothing store... she called me in the middle of day a few weeks back, while I was still in Calgary (which made me immediately think something was wrong - it was before 6pm, so long distance charges were pending!). She was in a huff, and told me about this bag, asking if she should get it. Well, I've since given my mother a crash-course in brand-name treasure hunting, and I am more confident on her label-hunting-on-a-budget skills without my presence!

Oh, how lovely is family!

And I'm not the only lucky one.. I love that one of my gf's, Fahie, knew immediately about the bag.. she found one secondhand, too! We are fierce bargain-hunters! Cheers to what the fab future holds...

HOT/MESS Monday : from the travels

2009-09-07T16:24:00.009-03:00

Toronto/Ottawa, Ontario

Happy Labour Day, y'all. Hope none of you are working today, and if you are, stop for 15 and paruse these fab and fug photos from my trek from Calgary to Halifax. Most are from the extra days we spent in Toronto and Ottawa.. plus one doozy from Wasaga Beach. No one should have to see this on a fabulous white-sand beach But because I had to see it, you do, too...

Now that I'm sure I've ruined your holiday, here's the good stuff - the good and bad fashionisms. Not in typical HOT/MESS form, but just as juicy. Enjoy the rest of the day, folks! (Click the pics for larger images)

FAB...

.. and FUG

#1 is wearing this to a Jays game. That's why I'm dismissing it. At least try to have your under-garments match your top, if they must me exposed. There is no reason for your undies to shown off to the world. At least #5 isn't sharing crack. And #7 re-inforces my disapproval of Crocs*.

*unless you are a child running on a beach or a senior female gardening.

PhotoShoot : Purr - Part Deux

2009-09-06T12:22:00.007-03:00

Purr, Kensington, Calgary, AB (August 6th '09)

Top to bottom (all pieces Vero Moda): dip-dyed tunic dress (in background), $39.99; striped sweater, $29.99; sheer button short-sleeve sweater, $39.99; cream menswear cardigan, $29.99 (bought this one, passed on the others. Vero Moda is really hit or miss with sizing and cut.. rather inconsistent)

And my ankle boots, a bit dirty. I love the wing-tip detail. Reminiscent of men's tuxedo shoes...

Ottawa Shopping = Fab Vintage + Accessories, Accessories, Accessories!

2009-09-03T20:18:00.009-03:00

During my travels, I spent an afternoon roaming the streets of the ByWard market, and Dalhousie Street in Ottawa - after a hearty pigout at Cora's. Finally got in to shop Milk and Victoire! It's like waiting impatiently for Santa or a trip to Disney World. Really. I was that excited.

The stores were much smaller than I was expecting, but still delivered the goods. Victoire was certainly my kind of shop, with items hanging and displayed in every possible nook and cranny of the store. Display upon display of jewelry, headbands, trinkets and fancy little bits. Some really great clothes, and I adore the fact it's 100% Canadian content. The shoes are fabulous, with many being retro pairs making their resurgance into society again, and some new pairs of glads and flats. My piece de resistence was a sterling silver key pendant and chain - very Tiffany's, minus the price tag (it was only $39!) It will be worn stacked with my pewter anchor on many, many occassions.

Milk was more clothing than accessories (though their jewelry wall was so entertaining to stare at - my A.D.D. was in check with so much going on for my eyes to take in!). They had a severe 50% off summerwear sale happening, but of course, only xs and xl sizes were left. Us average gals always get the sale-rack shaft, eh. I picked up a very s&m black zipper belt, that is better seen than described.

omg, We 'ome!

2009-09-03T12:18:00.006-03:00

We're here, finally! I've never unpacked a moving van so fast in all my years of getting shipped around. Everything arrived unscathed (including the bunbuns), and we're in the middle of half- unpacked boxes and piles of clothes with no hangers.

I shipped every article of clothing, my to my bf & parent's dismay.. since they were the ones lifting, carrying, loading and unloading those boxes. I'm about to make my fourth trip to the store to buy hangers. Funny how there never seems to be enough!

Had some old-school girlfriends over for drinks the other night, and made our way to the waterfront pub for tunes and some serious catching up. So happy to be 'home'. They even recognized my vintage plain-jane Coach purse (which momsie picked up for an absolute steal at a second-hand shop in New Brunswick.. also found a pair of Rich & Skinny jeans for a friend, and both items were less than $6 each. I love treasure hunting), so now I know I was meant to be in the Maritimes! I'll post some pics of the bag shortly.

Also came home to find my August ShoeDazzle lovelies! Chose the Paloma shoe - so very comfortable! And very anxious to wear them with tights in about a months time.

omg, that hot-pink Holt bag!

2009-08-25T10:28:00.003-03:00

Our last night in Calgary was spent with friends - as it should be! - but also because we had nothing left to sleep on in our apartment! After our walk thru with the landlord, the place was spotless. So God bless friends with spare bedrooms! A big house party was in order.. for us going away and friends moving into a new place in the basement suite. It was really great having all our close crew together one last time before we hit the opne road (they all were sad to see us go, but we know that secretly they are very jealous and want to go back East, too :P)

Besides the envelop of cash to pay our gas along the way, I also received the most gorgeous olive-coloured silk headband from my extremely stylish and professional vintage shopper, Dunia. Her taste is impeccable! We were supposed to have a Holt Renfrew date a few weeks back, but because of budgeting for this trip and various boycotting reasons, we decided to ransack Value Village instead and discovered some fantastic pieces of fabulouosness (posted about it in PhotoShoot : Value Village). I loved that date night, but secretly was disappointed about the no-Holt.. however I knew I`d have a few opportunities to hit up the Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal stores on the way home. When she pulled out the bright fuschia giftbag, my little heart went pitterpatter! I knew it would be seriously marvelous, and was so right! I`ll be wearing it with a heather grey maxi dress to a cousin`s wedding the end of the month, and I`ll post the outfit photos in a few weeks..

Dear Montreal.. your streets are complicated but pretty.

2009-08-25T10:24:00.003-03:00

Up at the crack of dawn (gorgeous!), and on the road by 7am (exhausted!) is not my idea of what Sunday is all about. I haven't slept in for nearly 2 weeks, and my body is telling me that's not acceptable. As much as this trip has been phenomenal and a very rewarding experience (I'd totally do it again.. without a packed to the gills car and the bunny), I'm very ready to be home in my childhood bed, with Ma serving me OJ in the AM and doing yardsales with Pa on Saturday morning.

The last long haul of the drive: Ottawa to New Brunswick. Rather looking forward to the trek thru Montreal (strategically planned so that we'd cruise thru it on a Sunday morning instead of a weekday rush-hour). We'll be staying at Mike's parents' place tonight, and meeting up with the fam tomorrow - so, so excited! Finally back on the coast.

For the final stuck-in-a-car-for-8-hours stint, I was 'sponsored' by American Apparel...black leggings, black long tank, and fuscia sash (as a scarf) all from AA, floral ring and sunnies from Forever 21, plaid vintage button-up from VV (Simon Chang). As comfortable and somewhat-fashionable my wardrobe has been this last week, I am really looking forward to cracking open those suitcases and moving boxes, and being reunited with my full closet again!

My next several posts won't be for a few days, as I sort out apartment contents and moving arrangments (and quality family-bonding time), but they will be worth the wait... all the fabulous - and hideous! - people watching shots from the mountains to the sea. I can't wait to share these photos with you guys!

Dear Toronto, I appreciated the valet parking and "individuality". Thanks.

2009-08-22T12:31:00.005-03:00

Very muggy and sticky day in Toronto on Thursday.. thought running through the fountains at the corner of Dundas and Yonge would be refreshing. Didn't think it through, and walked around even more sticky and muggy in damp denim. It was a good idea at the time! Walked the Eaton Centre, then found our way to Front Street for a few drinks and people-watching. Headed to the Rogers Centre for another Jays loss, and hopped the subway back to the hotel. Must have been 38C all day. Huge storms ripped thru the area while we were in the 'Dome, and the rain had just stopped before we filed out to the streets. Tornados just outside the city! Just another whirlwind day (ahhh, pun!).

Dear Toronto, Thanks for baseball and beaches

2009-08-20T14:06:00.006-03:00

Finally, a metropolis! Lots and lots of stylish folks! And some not so much. But I'll post on that one when I get settled in Hali later on.

Stopped at Wasaga Beach (just outside Barrie, Ontario) for a dip in the lake and catch some rays, then booked it to Toronto to catch the Jays/BoSox game. Bit of a whirlwind, and very glad today is dedicated to touristing around, taking photos and maybe popping into a shop or 6... another Jays game tonight!

wore my old-school Jays tee from VV, H&M black cardi, Forever 21 sunnies (Mike isn't so photogenic.. lol)

Dear Sault Sainte Marie... you're even prettier than Thunder Bay

2009-08-18T21:16:00.006-03:00

Almost halfway there.. more than halfway across the country (have a few extra days in T.O. and Ott for shopping - shhh, don't tell my bf - a few Jays games, and people watching). The drive from Thunder Bay to the Soo was gorgeous, highly recommend it. Thousands of lakes, millions of tacky motels, and one fabulous beach in the middle of nowhere (fabulous as in haven't seen one in three years).

Not to be outdone by the giant Canada Goose in Wawa, Ontario, I wore a grey/black plaid Roxy blouse, AE cutoffs (sorry for repeating clothes, but it's supposed to be very, very humid in Toronto tomorrow, so I'm saving my fancy summer bits for there! Plus, I have no idea where my other clothes are, and if I did, I wouldn't be able to pry them out of their hiding place in the car), American Apparel sash as a belt, and mismatched sandals (same deal as my other clothes.. where are the matches, God only knows).

Dear Thunder Bay, you are prettier than Winnipeg

2009-08-18T00:38:00.005-03:00

Leg Two: Winnepeg, Manitoba to Thunder Bay, Ont... made it alive! Had to change hotel rooms due to a half-arsed attempt by the housekeeper to clean the place. Besides that, the city has been a-1. We'll head to the marina in the AM to see the sights, have some breaky, and take photos. What to wear?! Kenora, Ontario was gorgeous.. lakes everywhere, and trees for miles... knew we weren't in the Praries anymore!

Here's the driving outfit today.. nothing spectacular, just comfortable and not sweats! Really surprised I had a decent hair-day, too, after using the poor-excuse-for-shampoo hotel brand (ok, so which bag did I pack the good stuff in??) The first photo I posted was terrible. Was rushed this morning by the mister to clear out the hotel room and hit the road early. Like, really, have some respect for a girl's primping time. C'mon. So this is my second effort. Further, but touristy. Fab!

pink tank from H&M, blue tank from Old Navy, DIY cut-off denim shorts from AE, anchor pewter necklace from N.B. auction

Dear Swift Current, be more aesthetically pleasing.

2009-08-17T11:45:00.004-03:00

We made it to Winnipeg, Manitoba!

Today we hit the road again to Thunder Bay, Ontario... and pretty excited to see some big water! I've been having body-of-water withdrawels!

The drive yesterday was really good. Took shifts driving, and saw some interesting things. Not a whole lot of fashionable stuff, since we had a pretty good clip going on the highway, and it rained most of the trip, but some advice: don't stop in Swift Current, Alberta if you don't have to! Only worth the Tim Horton's we stopped at! But we're off here again very soon, so here's yesterday's outfit for driving 1300 km's...

black shirt from Smart Set, straight-legged jeans from AE, Jordache denim vest was a VV treasure, my favorite necklace.. pewter anchor from a New Brunswick estate auction, and my fancy & fabulous new silk headband (love you, Dunia!) from Holt Renfrew! I'll blog and brag about that piece when I finally get home :D

Dear everyone, don't take it personally.

2009-08-15T01:13:00.005-03:00

Oh gosh, I'm overwhelmed and under-prepared for this EPIC move! Thought our most imp possessions would all fit in the car, but after 3 trips to Greyhound (and one more tomorrow, I'm sure!) to haul 2 hockeybags, 2 flatscreen telly's, 2 huge suitcases, 5 rubbermaids, and 2 dufflebags, we're still unsure the leftover bits will still fit in the car. UGH. But it's been a great test of patience and unconditional love!

So, honestly, I'd apologize for not posting since Monday, but I'm too exhausted. I'll try to do up a little ditty tomorrow before the laptop gets settled into it's temp home in the Civic. But please don't hold it against me if that doesn't happen. Fabulous fashionable folks don't hold grudges. Well, obviously that's a blatent lie, but it sounds optimisitic, doesn't it?

Night, y'all.. tonight's goin to be a long one on this end...

HOT/MESS Monday : Virgin Festival and not a Jonas brother in sight...

2009-08-10T22:22:00.019-03:00

(Ok, totally have to give all cred to Ed Vedd for that line.. he's such a tease.)

Virgin Festival 2009, Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, AB

More importantly, it's HOT/MESS Monday time, and I've def got some doozies and floozies for your entertainment. Subjects today include the usual, denim, accessories, foot apparel and such. Enjoy!

Choice of Footwear
Ewwww...

People, you are at an OUTDOOR FESTIVAL THAT IS 9 HOURS LONG x 2 DAYS. It is rocky. It is dirty. And it is situated on a SKI HILL. It's not wet nor flat. So don't wear your friggin gummies or wedges. You will be mad in the morning when your good shoes are FUGGED UP.

Much nicer..

Flats! So smart! Besides the fact that it was about 28°C, and boots don't usually ventilate very well, they are probably likely to be more comfy than the above mention heels. And there's straps. So you don't lose them while rocking in a crowd of 14,000 to "It's Evolution, Baby".

It wouldn't be an Alberta post without DENIM
Ick. Ick. Ick.

I know, only 2 victims, but the first represented A LOT of offenders. It seriously was sweltering hot, so why did people think it would make sense to wear full-length JEANS? Just imagine how sweaty they'd be. The walk up the hill post-concert definitely gave those folks chaffing. Sticky. Ok, and the second little lady hear clearly has a defined outline of a male body part, thanks to her contrast stitching. Be careful when choosing jeans with this feature.

Yes, so appropriate...

Comfortable. Short. Ventilated. Appropriate. Very music festival-y.

Not Really Tops (I'm sorry this is a category. Too good to pass up.)
Do your mothers know you left the house dressed this way?!?

I have no comments for this. Next...

So needless to say, there were no fabulous 'bras' or bikini tops hangin out at the Festival. Hah, don't even pardon the pun.

Accessories, yo.
The bad.

Don't bring your $385 Coach purse to an outdoor festival. Dust. Dirt. People throwing beer. You'll immediately regret it. Don't wear a torn tshirt as a belt. It doesn't make sense to anyone. An orange tan matches NOTHING. A piece of green ribbon doesn't automatically make me think of 'headband'. It shouldn't for you, either. And although it was probably very handy at times, the fanny pack should make it's return to Value Village (I say this, although I proudly wore my black & neon pink one to No Doubt the other night. I never said I follow my own advice all the time. I'm a hypocrite, it's true!)

Dresses

If fug wore a dress to a dusty, dirty outdoor concert, this would be it. If this were a post from a wedding reception, totally diff story. But it isn't. So besides the boots (see the "shoe" post above), and the really odd chunk of red fabric billowing out of the bottom of the clean-for-now white dress - which oomphs the wrongness of this thing, it's wrong wrong wrong.

Straight A Students!

Summer! Festival! Dresses!

Just all around crap vs. Concert pro-goers
(this would be the crap)

A mid-thirty-something in a jumper, a shirt that could tattle on you, totally wrong lbd's for such a laid-back event, unmatching green-ness (shoulda not even tried!), whoa trampstamp framed in a black lycra onesie, and friends obviously feuding over style tastes (or lack thereof). A lot to digest.

And the Pros, yo

Besides the people watching, Pearl Jam was phenomenal. Died and went to Binaural heaven!

Photoshoot :: Virgin Festival 2009

2009-08-09T15:59:00.009-03:00

Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, AB

I wore my D&G bikini, black tube top from Garage, AE diy cutoff shorts, F21 sunnies, a 'throw-away' pair of flipflops (definitely in terrible condition by the end of the night!), and an American Apparel sash for a headwrap. The lineup of Joshua's Habit, K-os, Wintersleep, Thunderheist and Pearl Jam was rather fierce! Fab, fab show. Bonus: lineups for bevvies, food and bathrooms were extemely short, amazingly enough.. that never happens!

Stay tuned for the HOT/MESS Monday post tomorrow, featuring some real doozies. And floozies.

Dear Halifax, start rifling through your closets. The SWAP Team is coming to Town!

2009-08-08T00:17:00.004-03:00

The SWAP Team, based out of Montreal, is responsible for throwing the best and most successful clothing swaps. Including DJ's/music, new threads by local designers, armys of volunteers, and piles & piles of great clothes, it truly is an event to behold. They also offer clothing pick-ups several weeks in advance (so those bags don't pile up in your closet!)

And the best part? They are taking over Halifax in the near future! After conquering Montreal & Toronto, they are sauntering East to cater to the fabulously fashionable Haligonians - care of yours truly! I've been in communication with the founder of the agency, and I will get straight to work organizing the fete as soon as I land on the coast. Keep your eyes peeled for the "Take Off Your Clothes" swap event emails and notifications I'll be shipping everyone's way!

If any fellow clothes-hoarding Hali locals are interested in volunteering, don't hesitate to get in touch!

Read the article here about the team in Montreal's The Gazette last month.

PhotoShoot :: VV Shopping Shannanigans

2009-08-05T00:53:00.007-03:00

Sadly, this was my last trek to Calgary's ValVil mecca (really, it's huge-mongeous)! There's none of this massivity in Halifax! So, teaming up with an equally shopping-savvy acquaintance (who has impeccable taste in vintage, might I add), we scoured the 2 football field's-worth of clothes for the hottest (modifiable) Fall trends, most fab shoes and accessories, incredibly wonky styles, and the financially attainable. So glad 80's glam is IN for Fall!

The treasures...

God bless Value Village!

Dear Bonton Vintage, Thank you for loving all things retro!

2009-08-03T14:10:00.006-03:00

In my recent online travels in search of fun and fabulous one-of-a-kinder's, I stumbled upon the Bonton Vintage shop at etsy.com (didn't accidentally stumble.. honestly, I'm on the site every other day, and usually choosing the 'shop local' option). If you haven't hit up the etsy.com scene, you're missing out on all the best vintage and hand-crafted bits out there! It's where I found my previously-blogged-about Scrabble-tile necklace and wool coffeecup sleeve (from East Coast Kitsch).

Today's special (eek, so excited!) was the most perfect black 80's vintage party dress and gold spirograph pendant. I'm so anxious to wear this to our Hali housewarming! I'm going to wear it with gold heels.. channeling Dynasty! The Bonton Vintage store carries a handful of clothing pieces, as well as accessories and clothing patterns from back in the day. It's based out of Calgary!

omg, Shoedazzle.com August picks...

2009-08-03T13:59:00.009-03:00

Yummy! What a delicious line-up for the last month of summer! My, how hard it is to choose... a good problem to have! But I must remember to update my profile so that my shoes find me back East!

Take a gander...

(left to right, top to bottom: Alma, Cairo, Darla, Paloma, Shivani)

P.S... I chose Paloma, the brown strappy platform sandals! Will be fab in Fall with tights, too! And remember to check out the ShoeDazzle.com site, it'll be worth your while!

Photoshoot :: Purr, Kensington

2009-07-31T01:19:00.005-03:00

Purr (Kensington), Calgary, AB

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon (such as today, for example) than bunkering down in the change room of a fab shop!

(plaid tunic, Vero Moda, 34.99)

(faux-leather bomber jacket, Vero Moda, 119.99)

(grey halter ruffle dress, Vero Moda, 29.99; mustard yellow cropped jacket, Tulle, 119.00)

What Not To Wear... Camping (not to be confused with going to the cottage..)

2009-07-28T19:51:00.005-03:00

This is officially our last camping endeavor to the Rocky mountains (unless we return after retirement). Leaving our usual campsite on Sunday will be bittersweet: it offered spectacular scenery, crystal clear glacial water (just don't fall out of the dingy), perfectly cool evenings for campfires, and the best trees for peachbasket basketball. However, those cool nights always turn bitterly cold (snow in June!), the sun dips behind the mountains by 4pm, and the wildlife comes a little too close for comfort. I'm very anxious to go camping on the ocean's shore back home. The only wildlife to fear are the jellyfish!

Now, to my point: There are many opportunities for one to go astray with horrid style while camping. Yea, I understand you can't always be dressed to the 9's when 'roughing' it. But there is a fine line between casual camping couture and just plain laziness. Runways are everywhere! If I come across any exhibits of these species, you'll be the first to know!

What Not To Wear... to a summer wedding

2009-07-23T20:04:00.002-03:00

Well, we're not going to the actual wedding, because we'll be camping in the mountains. We will, however, be taking full advantage of the food, bar & DJ at the reception later on. So that relieves me from making small talk with the people I don't know in my row, or stealing the spotlight from the bride! I was going to reference the old adage "don't wear white", but, really, if we were going to the ceremony, I would have worn white. Called 'stickin' it to the man'!

Since we've responded to only crash the party and not the wedding, I'm pulling out all the stops. Big hair. Hot pink dress. Mixed-metal necklace. Cut-out bondage heels. Yep, all the groomsmen will be buying me mojitos!

And you can bet I'm making a life-or-death effort for the bouquet! (*cough* right, Mike?)

Dear Gravity Pope, Thanks for the Imports!

2009-07-22T23:04:00.007-03:00

Gravity Pope (524 17th AV SW, Calgary) has imported a fabulous London brand... T&F Slack! Tim and Fiona Slack started in the shoemaking business in the 70's, and their style is so timeless and post-modern! My fav bit is the sunshine-bright yellow sole.. move over lou v.! Although the price tag is still a bit outside my budget, it's free to browse, right?!

(top to bottom: Avanz Square Toe, $445; Disco Suede Square Toe Cut, $645; Albani Suede Round Toe Hi, $425)

omg, Shopbop.com sale!

2009-07-22T22:59:00.004-03:00

Shopbop.com has knocked an extra 20% off all it's merch already on sale, for the next 2 days! AND they ship to Canada! Look and see! Ends tomorrow at midnight! (SALE20 at checkout)

Photo Shoot :: love festival vendors!

2009-07-20T23:14:00.004-03:00

A pretty quiet post, besides sharing my 2 fav & flashy vendors from the Sun & Salsa Fest... bargains to be had (just not by me!...) It was like a yardsale of sundresses!

omg, Sun & Salsa Fest was hot, hot, hot!

2009-07-19T23:16:00.006-03:00

What an unbelievably fun and fab day! All the hard work and tomato-stained cuticles yesterday was well worth the compliments serving up the goods today! The sun was out, the salsa was flowing and there were people EVERYWHERE! Here's the hi-lite reel from the afternoon: lots of sundresses, gladiators & the cutest DIY girly-ruffle jean skirt - it's totally on my list of things to do!

(click the pic for a life-sized view)

Of course, it couldn't be all pretty (I wouldn't post if it was!). My batteries died, but not before capturing commando-gone-awry (hello, nips! look closely!), and a cougar really, totally not dressed age-appropriate. There seems to be a lot of that happening in Calgary lately. She was honestly at least 45 years old.

omg, Salsa for Miles! (actually 1.2 kms..)

2009-07-18T22:24:00.008-03:00

This Sunday is the Sun & Salsa Fest in Kensington (if you're local, go!). It almost rivals Christmas, Hallowe'en, my birthday, Boxing Day sales, New Year's, Labour Day, the NHL season opener, May Long, Easter, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day and Black Friday as the most-anticipated celebration on my calendar.

Booth after booth of salsa. Mango salsa, corn salsa, pineapple salsa, green salsa, jalapeno salsa, HOT salsa. This is truly my heaven. And I'm very mad at myself for not previously attending until this year.. meaning I have to make up for that tomorrow! I'll be volunteering, with my significant other, serving my salsa. The secret recipe will be representing my agency. Spent 5 hours mixing it up with the co-workers this afternoon (onion crying, knife cuts, sweltering heat & burning jalapeno hands)! And I could literally eat buckets of it (it's all natural!), which will be very bad if I'm manning the station. My co-volunteers will need to restrain me.

But besides all the delish grub, there'll be tons of music and fashionable folks. The camera will be ready to catch the good and bad, the hot and not, the fab and fug. So very looking forward to it! You'll see the results posted right here post-salsa!

Dear ShoeDazzle, thanks for another spectac pair!

2009-07-16T19:29:00.009-03:00

Yess! They are here! (I actually received them this past Monday, quicker than last month!) And I knew exactly what I was going to pair them with when I chose them online.

Wednesday night's No Doubt concert reinforced my b&w choix du jour; Mrs. Rossdale rocked the colour combo with three diff looks. Check out my tire-tread trend-ola & polka dotters look.

(tunic, Forever 21; shoes, "Minerva" ShoeDazzle.com)

omg, Gwen is HOT, no doubt.

2009-07-16T19:00:00.007-03:00

OMG, whatta show. She couldn'tve really had two kids with those abs! Well, with all the dancing and jumping she did on stage, I suppose I can believe it.. plus her hubby is Gavin ;) YUM.

Played all the retro favs.. Sunday Morning, Just A Girl, Underneath It All, Rock Steady, Hella Good, Hey Baby, Spiderwebs. Gave me flashbacks to junior high soc-hops and campus res dance parties (during exam week, of course).

I wore a black American Apparel racer-back tank, Vero Moda boyfriend blazer, American Eagle slashed Boyfriend jeans, silver F21 headband, East Coast Kitsch necklace and my LAMB sneakers (also rocked the LAMB fragerance!)...

... which faded in comparison to Gwen's outfits. Flaunting 3 diff styles, she stuck to the black and white regime, with a few flashes of sequins round yonder. Gave me the oomf I was searching for to wear my new ShoeDazzle shoes/Forever 21 b&w ensemble. Fab-u-lous.

HOT/MESS Bonus : Worst Male Get-Up Ever x 2

2009-07-13T21:25:00.003-03:00

Stampede Grounds, Calgary, AB (July 3-12, 2009)

Sorry, people. I have to share this with you; you need to see it to believe it. Don't say I didn't warn you of its offensiveness.

Yes, those two in the middle. Men. Both of them. OhmygawIhavetoruntothebathroomsorry...

HOT/MESS Monday : Extreme Stampede FAB

2009-07-13T21:04:00.006-03:00

Stampede Grounds, Calgary, AB (July 3-12, 2009)

This collage-post is significantly larger than the FUG post. Thank God. Because that means that there were more fabulously fashioned folks at the Stampede this year than fuggers. Which may or may not be true (all depends which day you attended, or if you left the Nashville North tent at all), but still significant.

I understand it's not the usual HOT/MESS post layout, but I was overwhelmed and under deadline. You can dare to compare boots, denim & plaid of both this Fab post and the Fug post, if you wish. Or just soak up all this rootin' tootin' hotness. Maybe I do kinda look forward to the next big Outdoor Show. And Coke Stage beer garden.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Loved the vintage boots and metallic glads, matching bright sandals & pedi & tank, retro leather (DIY rope-belt, not so much), Chloe Sevigny-esque floral dresses, neon boots and bags, a touch of colourblock (though ick to the leggings and bra-strap showage), and the look for late summer/fall: the boyfriend shirt. Jeans and plaid and skin, oh my!

And before you feel all wam and fuzzy over the fashion do-gooders of the Calgary Stampede, please indulge in the nastiness that did exist these past 10 days. You'll love me forever.

HOT/MESS Monday : Extreme Stampede FUG

2009-07-13T20:17:00.007-03:00

Stampede Grounds, Calgary, AB (July 3-12, 2009)

This story was so intriguing and saucy, I had to split it in two. Then add a third post for the man audience (no one escapes the bitching)! You better be sitting. Some of this is not recommended for young virgin eyes.

(click the photo to enlarge)

I'm really quite happy to have Stampede over and done with for another year. I won't have to see these people or this crap ever again! From DIY beaters, lacey no-no's, bum-eating shorts or no shorts at all, to leggings in 28°C heat, leggings over leggings in 28°C heat, obviously fake extensions and eye makeups from hell, very very non-age-appropriate anything, shirts too short and shirts too long, and Hallowe'en costumes.. it was a breeding ground for FUGS. Homework for next July, folks: buy an issue of InStyle or LouLou or Vogue or Fashion or Glamour. Or even Hello! Canada. It won't kill you. But if you don't, it might kill me. Happy Trails.

If you are now depressed over the state of the Stampede's Fashion Crisis (SFC, clearly), head over to my post on the Hot Hotties of the week. They are saviours to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

omg, Chuckwagons & Bif

2009-07-11T18:03:00.004-03:00

Headin'er out to the Stampede grounds for a day of rodeo, rockin, & wraunch grub (deep-fried Oreo, anyone?). Glad this outfit comfortable enough to sleep in, because odds are that's exactly what's going to happen.

Cheers!

Top: ecoté at Urban Outfitters
Shorts: Garage
Bikini: D&G
Boots: Fornarina

omg, Fug Girls do Paris F'09

2009-07-10T02:50:00.004-03:00

I love, love, love the ladies at Gofugyourself.com, and this post on Paris' Fall '09 shows (featured on the New York Fashion site) is priceless!

READ IT & WATCH THE SLIDESHOW HERE!

The Curious Case of ... Stampede Footwear

2009-07-09T19:47:00.005-03:00

It's Day 7, and here's some fancy Stampede'n footwork so far..

There are four major shoe groups to the Stampede: Sandals (guaranteed to give you the filthiest dirt lines for days; however, comfortable as hell for all that walking, dancing, and beer-tenting), sneakers (both Seinfeld-esque and neon hi-tops.. generally reserved for the high school and parental set only), the ubiquitous Cowboy boot (which is omnipresent EVERYWHERE in Calgary, almost all year-round, but also typically results in blisters, corns, and swelling - who said they had to be comfortable AND stylin'?!), and boots of other fashion ( ie., the Ugg - in 26°C heat, no less; the fringed number - playing the Native card of Stampede; leather boots of non-western styling; suede slouchy heels, knee-high stilettos.. the last I would not condone or endorse really anywhere, however. Doesn't mean people don't try it. *shakin my head*

FREE SHIPPING = Shopbop.com + Canada

2009-07-07T22:34:00.009-03:00

FYI, Ladies...

SHOPBOP.com (gathering grounds to the likes of Siwy Denim, Elizabeth & James, Thakoon, Charlotte Ronson, McQ.. etc, etc..) is having a The Big Deal sale, with tons of clothes, shoes and accessories marked up to HALF-OFF. And the best part... (eek!!) FREE SHIPPING TO CANADA until midnight on July 31st! America, this is better than the wraunchy celeb gossip you usually satisfy us with. Until the end of July. Then we will love that trash, more, again.

HOT/MESS Monday : Stampede Edition

2009-07-05T19:36:00.010-03:00

Ranchman's, Calgary, AB

First outing for Stampede, and found some real treasures! There was the obvious denim/plaid combo's (though not all were pretty), and some fab & fun takes on the whole western, rodeo & cowboy theme.
Left to right (do-si-do?)...

I was giddy when I saw this Michael Kors cow-print satchel ahead of me in line. Sooo appropriate, without the tack-factor. Thanks for making my night, Ms. MK-bag lady!
A bit more ghetto than giddy-up, but thought it was still rather flashy.. maybe draws on the 'shoot'em up' theme?
The classic Calgary White Hat. Though the straw version won majority this night, this real deal kept the bar classy - even if just for a split-second!

And for the HOT/MESSES of the night.. HOT was outweighed 3 to 1 by MESS. Eek. (click on the photo to enlarge these ladies in all their glory)

#1.. Sorry, thanks for at least trying a hat. Get it right next time. You have 9 more days to redeem yourself.
#2.. Annd how is this Stampede-related? There are 51 other weeks of the year to get dolled up for the bar. But definitely not this bar. Again, semi- effort for at least coming out to party!
#3.. Took the cake. I've never caught anyone in the moment quite like this. Besides the fact that this girl is OFFENDING HERSELF, she got the hat right, and the plaid/denim combo. But clearly a MESS. A little discreetness next time, perhaps?
#4.. No chapeau, but that would have been overkill, and I'm glad she knew it. Saucy white cowboy boots, belted plaid tunic, and Daisy Dukes (which she can obviously pull off with the tan and tonedness!) earned her my HOT nod for the week!

omg, What's Up With This, AA?

2009-07-04T02:25:00.004-03:00

ohhh, don't know what to think about this..

http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/government-charges-american-apparel-with-employing-illegal-workers-2199181?src=rss/retail/20090701

"Label of the Year: American Apparel

The Guardian
November 30, 2008... 'Oh, the future is definitely very bright for American Apparel.' " (www.americanapparel.net)

I love these guys.. but this cuts like a knife. But really, unless you literally purchase your best fancy bits from the lady 2 floors down in unit 6B, you really don't know who's makin' your duds. Pretty. Frustrating. Makes ya think, eh...

Dear ShoeDazzle, Fab Tire Tread Platform Heels!

2009-07-03T19:07:00.007-03:00

So after quite a bit of suffering (clearly, being unable to choose a pair of shoedazzle.com shoes due to too much choice is suffering. Clearly.), the Gods of Fashion were looking down upon me, and granted my freedom from the pain. Clearly. Two new pairs were added to the pile, including this b&w beaut on the left, below (same as the red & black version in my last post; I couldn't reason with myself as to what I would wear with the red.. just not a rouge kinda gal). I was sucked into the trance via the tire-tread sole. So Fall '09.

Think it's whack? Take a gander at the other little pretties below, which walked the FW09 runway... I kinda also think my choice is more recession-friendly, and will look positively fab with my b&w F21 polkadot tunic now, plus leggings in the Fall!

(l to r: Black & White "Minerva" ($55 CAD), shoedazzle.com; Black patent & gold tread Yves Saint Laurent "Trooper" ($313 USD), neimanmarcus.com; Croc-embossed Donna Karen sandal ($590 USD), bergdorfgoodman.com)

omg, July Shoe picks from ShoeDazzle.com!

2009-07-01T14:53:00.008-03:00

Being the first of the month, it was like Christmas this morning, rushing to the laptop to see what goodies ShoeDazzle.com sent to my inbox. And I was sooo not disappointed!

So now I have a HUGE problem.. which do I choose? I know, I could purchase more than one, but my bank account is saying otherwise.. Budget, remember?! And my bf unsurprising chose the red & tan pairs as his favs. But I love the flat black gladiator one. And the sexed-up flipflop. And his choices. UGH. This really is stressful work!

(all from ShoeDazzle.com... Top to bottom, l to r: Dillon, Sonora, Sunida, Minerva, Simone)

Canada Day = Fashionistas Get The Gifts!

2009-07-01T14:30:00.008-03:00

Yay, Canada Day! A great excuse to wear some lame-o red & white tourist-like duds, light fireworks, BBQ with friends and frenemies alike, drink Canadian beer, and be hungover at work tomorrow. One of my fav holidays! And kind of happy it fell on a Wednesday, makes the work-week seem to jet on by!

And FOREVER 2 1 (Canada site) decided to give us fabulous, fashionable folks a gift on behalf of our dear old nation. Their "Bottoms Up" sale is offering free shipping on any order that includes the purchase of any bottoms (shorts, leggings, pants, etc..) This sale is TODAY ONLY, so jump on it! Enter code CADAY09 at checkout.

And my fav south of the border shop SHOPBOP.com has slashed an extra 25% off ALL SALE ITEMS, until July 2nd. So you can shop away while hurting at work tomorrow. Guaranteed to make you feel better (plus a Tylenol and bottle of vitamin water). Enter code EXTRA25 at checkout! They've carry everything from DVF to Elizabeth & James, to their own marvelous in-house line. Something for everyone, every time you check the site out!

NOW GO CELEBRATE!
(and if yer a yankee.. celebrate anyways! I'll promise to do the same on Saturday!)

omg, What a Fab Weekend!

2009-06-28T22:40:00.003-03:00

Had a marvelous time at Lake Koocanusa this past weekend.. bonfires, beersbee, boating (and bad sunburns)! Thanks for the hospitality, Ro! Lots of stylin' bodies!

What Not To Wear.. to the lake

2009-06-25T20:02:00.020-03:00

Heading to the cottage for the weekend with folks is def something to look forward to. But there's usually one who ends up the style offender. Odds are, there's probably no one else around other than your crew, but that doesn't give permission to let yourself go. There will be photos taken. Don't be that person!

Some NO's to keep in mind...

NO jeans. Unless it's cutoffs or a short skirt. It's hot out.
~~~~~
NO cutoffs or short skirts. Unless you can pull it off.

~~~~~

NO dark lumberjack plaid. Choose madras, or a neon shade.

~~~~~

NO sneakers, crocs, or boots. C'mon, it's officially summer, and you're not clam digging in PEI. Unless you're clam digging in PEI, then it's acceptable. Otherwise, FLIPFLOPS please. But not the $3 ones. Make a bit of an effort.

~~~~~

NO fancy-schmancy floppy hats or fedoras. You're not trying to impress anyone. You're boyfriend's baseball cap is your best friend. But the spousal wardrobe-borrow ends there...

~~~~~

...NO taking his XL shirts & sweaters. Bring your own. Be responsible. Pack something that actually belongs to you, is feminine, and looks like you want to be there, but not trying to hard (thin line, I know).

~~~~~

NO somewhere-between-second-skin-and-skin swimsuits. You are in the company of other people, and you at least owe them the courtesy. Don't go in the water if your suit is crochet or white or droopy in the rear. Just don't wear crochet at all.

~~~~~

NO forgetting your bug spray, sunscreen spray, bear spray, and big, big sunnies. And cold bevs. Lots of em. There may be some long, lazy days!

Be sun safe! And take lots of pictures.. some great memories to be had. Cheers!

Dear Dad... Happy 'Belated' Father's Day (of course it's late!)

2009-06-22T23:55:00.003-03:00

Thanks for loving me when I had big freak-outs & breakouts as a teen, and even bigger issues with math, ugh. (Why didn't I get your accounting genes?!) Thanks for looking the other way when I bought more Tigerbeat magazines. More clothes. More hockey sticks. Thanks for going to the end of the Earth to put tacos and lasagna on the table. And thanks for not being too disappointed when I didn't do too hot right off the bat at STU. Thanks for paying for every sport I played in high school, and making me go to practice (any practice!) even when I didn't feel like it. And thank you for persuading me to go to church (almost) every Sunday. The Tim Horton's afterwards helped. Thanks for saying all the right things at all the right times, and knowing when to say nothing at all. Thanks for letting me take the car to work, to the Titan games, to Fredericton. And especially thanks for being my dad. Love you, daddio! Keep on drummin'...

Dear Whitney Port, how did you haul all your clothes East??

2009-06-22T19:51:00.011-03:00

Sunny Summer, y'all!

Time for new iPod playlists (Yellow Brick Road is my summer anthem!), old friends (roadtrip!), and a wardrobe of only the essentials (and maybe some re-invented pieces).

Because of this East Coast move, I'll have less to work with for a little stretch. I will really have to be choosy with what will stay here, while the rest will be shipped - soon! And I really can't buy anything new (can't doesn't equal won't; I need wiggle room!). I'm sticking to the summer necessities, and by using current bits a little bit differently, maybe I'll fool myself into thinking I've finagled some fab new outfits!

1. Bright basic tee's. Lots of 'em. In every shade. (American Apparel unisex sheer jersey short sleeve v-neck, $26)
2. Wedge heels in natural materials & colours. Nature loves style. (ALDO "Brozek" wedge, $80)
3. Summer-white shorts. And keep'em short, please. Makes yer tan glow, yo! (Forever 21 H81 Coloured Denim Short, $18.90)
4. It isn't summer 2009 without something worn out, destroyed, or ripped! (AE Destroyed Denim Mini, $34.95)
5. I have this and love this and wear this all the time. And I have used it on my kitchen table. Multi-use, fab! (Forever 21 Multi-Coloured Plaid Scarf, $9.80)
6. I have this and love this and wear this all the time,too. Dress up those casual looks, lady! (Forever 21 Flower Petal Ring, $5.80)
7. Some simple bling for a lazy, hazy day of absolutely nothing. Easy-peasy. (AE Rhinestone Disc Necklace, $19.95)
8. This ring precisely represents the nautical-ness of picking shells at the cottage and regattas at the wharf. (Aldo Accessories Numana ring, $8)
9. My summer splurge. Available at Holt Renfrew (you're right, I just wanted the pink bag!) (House of Harlow 1960 Red Silver Triangle Necklace, $150)

Moving East = Stressing Out + Looking Good While Stressing Out!

2009-06-22T18:57:00.004-03:00

So in the last 2 weeks, we decided we're pulling up roots in Calgary (they weren't that deep anyways!). We're going home! Well, close. Moving to Halifax, N.S. for work & school. Closer to the ocean, closer to friends, and most importantly, closer to fam!

Yes sir, it will be a shock to the system. We're giving up camping in the mountains, stellar shopping, and NHL hockey (although it's just the Flames, nothing to write home about). I know we will find great camping locations by the shore, and we'll also be closer to Toronto for hockey (solely for my spouse's sake!), but I will miss terribly the stores, vintage shops and one-off boutiques this city has to offer (Holt Renfrew, Purr, Kismit, Pink Sugar, all of 17th AVE...). As well as the fab stores at the WEM (anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, XXI... ). And the wave pool. Definitely miss the wave pool.

I am coming to terms with the amount of online shopping I will now be relying on. Not that Halifax is completely ostracized by the fashion world - I'm sure I'll hunt down some wonderful one-of-a-kind shops on Barrington and Spring Garden (I've got my eye on Peepshow Girly Boutique! thx, jov!). And - BEST PART - it's a day-drive to Boston and NYC! Hello, multiple field trips!

And besides my where-to-shop conundrum, I have to figure out how to get everything I currently own in my closets across the country. I thought about purging and ebay'ing some fancy bits, but I didn't entertain that notion for very long. Since we are driving our hotwheels the 3000km's east (and transporting a bunny!), I have to consider shipping via air. And that means I have to plan my August outfits a month in advance, so I can send everything else!

But, I know that in the end, all this stress will be worth it, when I'll get to share all my fashionista fabulousness with the Maritimes! (and my sister!)

omg, JIMMY CHOO for H&M

2009-06-19T15:27:00.006-03:00

H&M's first shoe designer collaboration!

Mark it in your daytimers, ladies... NOVEMBER 14th! Not only will the NEW collection include the unparallel glamour of Jimmy Choo shoes, handbags and accessories, but they are also including a collection of women's clothing (men, don't get yourselves down. There will also be a line of men's shoes, accessories and bags available, as well)!

My first run-in with Jimmy Choo was in the Bad Boys 2 movie... that catchy P.Diddy song with my husband, Pharrell... "Show Me Your Soul". Pharrell had a line in it, "Staring at my chain I kicked off your Jimmy Choos". Piqued my interest and did my research. And fell in love! I mean, they make shoes. Of course I fell in love! I also adore the fact that their founder and president, Tamara Mellon, is the daughter of a former Chanel model (Ann Davis), was the accessories editor for British Vogue, married into and (especially!) divorced out of the Mellon dynasty (but kept their name, nice touch!), and had the femme fatalability to create an empire on what women truly love! Shoes & handbags & accessories, oh my!

Affordable, accessible, and holy high fashion! Like I can hardly wait for this one to come around! Five short months to save my loonies and toonies away!

Football Season = tailgating + cheapseats

2009-06-16T19:52:00.005-03:00

Preseason'er tonight versus the Lions! The first of many this season (well, as many as I can squeeze in before the big haul East). And I get to don my Red, White & Black (it's ok to wear red & white as long as black gets involved and it's football). Pulling my Stampeders jersey out of the closet, I'm pairing it with my straight-leg jeans and if it were sunny, my white gladiator flats. However, since it's pouring and generally shabby outside, and the game is a go rain or shine, I'm relying on my plain-jane AE rubber flipflops to keep me grounded in the lightening. Nothing fancy here, folks.

GO BURRIS!

omg, my June ShoeDazzle shoes!

2009-06-16T19:36:00.010-03:00

I got my first pair of shoes from ShoeDazzle yesterday! They are 99x more fab than they looked online! It took about 2 long, strenuous weeks, waiting for the mailman.. and it was sooo worth it! I got the "Casilda" shoe this month. 3 1/2" heel, brown leather, with gold zipper accents on each strap. So saucy, but completely wearable. I tottered around my apartment all night last night in them, breaking them in! I guess one pro about waiting 2 weeks for the shoe to arrive is that I'm only 2 weeks away from receiving my next 5 shoe-picks email from the company!

The cost of membership with ShoeDazzle is $39 USD, plus international shipping to Canada. It works out to be about $55 CAD. Still quite budget-friendly! And odds are you will be the only one rocking the styles within your circle of friends! Our secret! And if you don't like any of the 5 choices the 'experts' choose for you, they can choose 5 new ones, or you can opt to skip a month, without penelty! This site is such a fab idea!

Thank you, Miss Kardashian!