Pink Hearts at Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Mom and me. We shared matching scarves and meandered the streets of the city eliciting odd looks and the occasional “aww I love your scarves”. 

We shared Christmas together this year. Miss you!

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I found a New Tail

Me wearing a fox trimmed poncho. My new Black Fox tail in the upper right image.

Last Saturday I was in Toronto. I love Toronto. I spent my Saturday morning in Toronto catching up with friends and their lovely baby at the Easy Restaurant in Little Italy. It was a delicious breakfast, if you happen to be in Little Italy in Toronto you must stop here. I had the Breakfast burrito. I’m drooling thinking about it.

After breakfast, full of burrito fuel, I headed to the Queen and Spadina area. It was cold outside as I walked. I sought a small reprieve from the cold. Spying a fur in a shop window, I darted into Alex Furs on Spadina. When I stepped inside I was greeted by a friendly “hello”. It was clear this business was a family affair with 3 generations sitting and standing near the cash register. Family spending time together watching rugby between customers. I was welcomed and politely left to peruse the supple furs. I couldn’t help it, I tried on some as well.

Nick, the store’s manager, helped me try on a few furs. Mostly fox fur. I love fox fur. The picture below is one of myself wearing a fox trimmed poncho made of cashmere. So warm and so beautifully made. Nick was quick to point out that they help their clients with custom designs and understand the desire for their clientele to have something unique.

While I was in the store an existing client came in to pick up their jacket (a lady in her 20’s who had taken a vintage find to Alex Furs for cleaning and some gentle repairs). It was clear to me in watching  the team at Alex Furs take care of this younger client that their customers are family. The service they provided was warm and friendly, the type of real customer service that you don’t see often anymore. I got the sense that if I bought something from Alex Furs that I would be remembered and that I would actually share in something. Share in a passion for fine clothing, clothing that if taken care of will last a lifetime, garments created with care and purpose.

Once the younger customer left, happily carrying a revived vintage fur, I chatted with Nick about fur and their business. Alex Furs has quite the legacy, manufacturing fur garments and accessories since 1969. Located in the Fur district on Spadina Avenue they specialize in custom design, repairs, recycling cleaning and cold storage of furs. They love their work and it shows. It was hard not to nab a new fox collar for my wool coat. Instead I snagged a black fox tail for my purse.

But… I have plans ohhh yes I have plans for a custom cashmere jacket. Something suitable for a dress in the winter with a fox trimmed hood. Think Little Red Ridding hood with an edge.

 

Why I won’t ever miss the Ottawa Vintage Show again!

Last Saturday I attended the Ottawa Vintage Show held this year at the Ottawa Convention center. I scoured the halls of with hundreds of other fashionable men and women hoping to find a new treasured item in amongst the stalls.

Take a look at the new additions to my wardrobe:

My new fox fur headband. I named him Oscar.


Bling Bling. I’m planning on wearing these puppies for New Year’s. I think they will look divine when paired elegantly with Champagne.

New silk scarves. The Top one is a Museum of Modern Art scarf. The bottom one is an Yves St. Laurent scarf.

The event was so fun. It was hard not to snatch up everything that caught my fancy. I was almost tempted to buy this….

A Mink jacket. Wearing it felt like being in a Ton-ton – or I guess what I would imagine that was like for Luke.

I will not miss the Ottawa vintage show next year!

Hey Kitty Kat

Meow. Meow.

I got inspired to be a cat by watching this MrsJennMarie’s video on cat make-up on You Tube.

We spent thus past Friday night at the Great Pumpkin Ball. What could be better than dancing with 750 other costumed crazies. Prrr.

If you live in the Ottawa area I recommend attending next year. There was a band on one level and a DJ on the other. Dancing and outfit adoration abounded.

Happy Halloween!
K

Ninja bunny attacks

Ninja bunny rocks. I found Ninja bunny at Victoire in Ottawa. It was love. Ninja bunny exclaimed “I’m cute and furry but tough”. I responded by taking Ninja Bunny home.

Anyone who knows me knows I normally detest patterns. This dislike of patterns includes caricatures, logos, funny tee shirt sayings etc., essentially anything too busy. I like to keep it simple and play up an outfit with accessories. So this purchase shocked even me. A few things overwhelmed my normal disgust at all things patterned/ logo’d:
1. The cotton is amazingly soft.
2. Did I mention how cute yet lethal Ninja Bunny is? Looks aren’t always as they appear. (Insert ninja chop).
3. The cuteness of Ninja bunny is contradicted by the dark grey color and the scoop neck. This ain’t no frou frou animal tank.
4. I was feeling like….. a Ninja Bunny.

Top: Ninja Bunny. by Cry Wolf Clothing. Shirt: Top Shop. Sweater: Reitmans. Necklaces: vintage and Forever 21.

Slouchy sweater

Jeans: Gap | Sweater and necklace: H&M | Shoes: Minelli

I finally found a comfy slouchy sweater at H&M. It was harder to find one than I thought. I saw them all over the web but I wasn’t keen about spending 80+ dollars for something that is so reliant on fit. I knew that if the weight was too thick I’d look a bit plump, or I wouldn’t get the drape I was looking for. But Voila I finally found my slouchy sweater at H&M for just 19.98 woot!

This outfit reminds me of my Grams. It’s the shoes mostly. The shoes make my 6.5 size feet look even smaller (similar to my Grammie’s size 5 feet). I think the style is very classically french, basic, effortless, uncomplicated in the design.

Bon Soir mes amies.
K

Wine and Raine

I’ve been dying to have an occasion to wear this dress. This weekend was that occasion.

Dress = Susy Shier, Jacket = Urban Behaviour, Necklace = vintage, Sandals = Sam Edelman, Bag = Longchamp

We took the opportunity to get away this weekend to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Just a short getaway, to drink wine, eat delicious food and listen to amazing music. We got tickets to dinner and a concert at the Jackson-Triggs Winery. The weather was beautiful and the wine did a great job of cooling the summer heat.

Dinner was in the Jackson-Triggs wine cellar. It was a delicious dinner, 5 courses which were all expertly paired with Jackson-Triggs wines. Dinner guests were seated at trestle or round tables with about 8-12 people per table, so we got the opportunity to meet some great people while enjoying our dinner.

After dinner we headed out to the Amphitheater that is on the property where we got to listen to Raine Maida play. I loved the experience, the venue was amazing, really intimate, it accommodates somewhere around 200 people so everyone had great seats. This is a trip I’d love to take again. It was just so magical – Wine, Music and Moonlight.

(Side-note: I love this dress but it was a lot of work. I sewed loose crochet knots for a 1/2 an hour before I even wore it once and when I took it off last night I spotted two more places that will need a quick fix before I wear this again.)

Backstories

Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending “Backstories from the rectory art studio” an art exhibition curated by my fabulous friend Jaenine. You can read about the event in Guerrilla magazine.

In honor of the shows title I pulled out a little “backstory” of my own.

cough – forgot to cut off shirt tag eeps.

top: H&M, pants: Dynamite, bag: Channel, shoes: Coach

Happy Thursday!!
K

High waisted

Purse, Longchamps “le Pliage”; shoes, Franco Sarto.

Toured St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts this weekend. My talented girlfriend is the arts director! The Church is  deconsecrated now and is an amazing spot for live events and social gatherings.

The weather was beautiful so decided tofinally try out my new high-waisted shots. I’ve been admiring high waisted shorts and pants since last year when I was in NYC for my B-day and spotted more than a few ladies rocking the look. Since then it’s been nearly impossible for me to find a pair of jeans or shorts that were high waisted, but I lucked out this weekend at Forever 21. I swear that place kills me. 99% of everything I try on looks horrible on me, wrong fabric, wrong lining, horrible drape…. but then I find that one thing that I love (and for 12.98 no less) that makes all the fruitless hunting worthwhile. The top was a previous find as well for 17.98, sheesh 🙂

If I was to wear this again I’d make the style a little more pin-up for a night out. Heels instead of wedges, curls instead of straight hair but keep the red lip.

Sunnies, Michael Kors; top, Forever 21; Cross necklace, Peoples; Star Necklace, custom.

To all those who love maple syrup!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Short post because I have to get back to the festivities 🙂

I had to dress the part for our Nation’s B-day. I also watched lots of baby beaver videos on YouTube to get me immersed in Canadiana this am. I’m in love with those furry little guys.

I think my BF is starting to like the power he holds as my photographer. The poses below are the result of his art direction. My favorite line while he was posing me “your supposed to be uncomfortable then the shot will look good”. Ha.

*Dress H&M, shoes Aldo. Dress is a true red in natural light.