In Living Monochrome Color

Restyle 2014 l Day 15: Monochrome

mickey mouse sweatshirt / hand me downs

pastel blue jeans / h&m / thrifted

diamond floral necklace / joe fresh

In an attempt to get out of the blue jeans mold, I have been putting colored bottoms on my thrift list. Yes, this h&m jeans is still blue but it's pastel blue so that's ok. I also liked that it had a higher rise (though I'd prefer it to be a true high-waisted jean). Again, I'm digging into my son's drawers and am wearing a hand me down mickey mouse sweatshirt (which little Luu loved). I quite like it so it may stay in my closet for a bit =P. 

xo,

K

The 1 Minute Scarf Dress

Restyle 2014 l Day 14: DIY

Today's prompt is DIY which is always fun! Well, I was able to put this one together in one minute and tomorrow I'll post the tutorial so stay tuned.

floral silk scarf / thriftedoatmeal duster vest / kersh

Girls + Boys

Restyle 2014 l Day 12: Tomboy

 fake "chanel" tank/ diy

 high waisted skinny jeans / diesel

 plaid fleece hoodie / borrowed

 diamond drop earrings / joe fresh 

 suspenders / thrifted

 heather grey sneakers / sears

I love mixing boy style with a little girly glam. I don't usually buy clothes from the opposite sex when thrifting unless I'm shopping for my son so it was a bit hard to find something but I remembered I picked up this pair of suspenders for him. LOL...the plaid fleece hoodie is also his. As he gets older, he's going to have to stop me from raiding his closet for "boyfriend" style clothes.

xo,
K

p.s.-Here's the Girls + Boys music video from Blur. Enjoy!

No Dots, No Glory

Restyle 2014 l Day 10: Spots + Dots

 green + blue dotted dress / karin stevens petite / thrifted

 oatmeal linen cardigan / no label / from milan

 gold metal belt / thrifted

I love this green + blue dotted vintage 1980's Karin Stevens dress. I was a bit apprehensive when I picked it up because the colors and pattern was bold. I thought it was borderline ugly...which meant it's perfect in my books =P. It's a bit big for me so I'll have to do some modification. I was tempted to hack the top to be a cropped style but I'm resisting because even though it's trendy now, I don't know how I'll feel about crop tops next year…but I do know that I love this pattern and want to wear it forever. So today I had cut off the sleeves and in the future will take in the sides. Simple but classic! I did save the sleeves and am thinking of making a super sexy bustier...what'd ya think about that?

xo,

K

For The Sheer Delight Of It

Restyle 2014 l Day 9: Sheer

 chiffon dressing robe / thrifted

 ribbed tank dress / press
skinny metal belt / thrifted

 leopard shoes / f21 

This vintage chiffon dressing robe is in a barely there lilac shade and has lace applique on the shoulders and cuffs. At first, I wore it open with a tank dress under but I thought it looked too much like a dressing robe (as it should because it is!). So then I decided to wrap it and belt it to wear as a dress which looks very 1940's. Pretty, eh?

xo,

K

Wearing the dressing robe open

Bizarre Love Triangle Cutouts

Restyle 2014 l Day 8: Cut-Outs

Taking a little break from photos today and recycling an older outfit post's photo. 

cutout shorts / bcbgeneration /thrifted

The Pastel Way Of Life

TPFF Restyle 2014 l Day 5: Pastel

soft pastel pants / thrifted
gold metal belt / thrifted

Tie Me Up! Button Me Down!

TPFF Restyle 2014 l Day 4: Button Down

white button down shirt / diane von furstenberg / thrifted

silk scarf / thrifted

Today I'm paying homage to Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar and the first film of his that I saw called "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down" starring Antonio Banderas. I watched this film when I was in my teen...which was eons ago. You could imagine my amazement to see a film with all that grown up nudity that wasn't a porno...and it was funny! It was only a few years ago that I've started to watch more of his films and I haven't been disappointed since. Below photo is inspired by the movie poster (...I know, it could be better in photoshop but it's the best I can do on my phone).

xo,

K

The Collar Of Magic

TPFF Restyle 2014 l Day 3: Collar

 peach pleated blouse / simon chang / thrifted

 white zipper jacket / zara

 gold sequin shorts / stylestalker / thrifted

 leopard heels / f21

I am posting two outfits today because I realized that I looked a day behind due to the difference in time zone in Australia. Looking thru the photos, I could tell that I was so done playing dress up...it was hot and my lips didn't want to smile anymore.

Anyways, this lovely peach pleated blouse is by Canadian designer Simon Chang (who is from Vancouver...yeah!). Unfortunately, it is a dated style from the 80's/90's so the sleeves are very puffy and it's a bit too big for me hence why I've got the white jacket to hide all that from sight. The top has been sitting in my "to-alter" pile for a long time (and at the rate that I'm fixing clothes, it may be there for a while longer).

xo,

K

I've Told You A Hundred Dimes

TPFF Restyle 2014 l Day 2: Less Than $10

 vintage 80's co-ordinate (skirt) / dorothy perkins

 silk and lace slip / victoria's secret

 gold sandals / dolce vita

 silk scarf

 leather clutch

* all thrifted*

Last week, I just picked up this vintage 1980's Dorothy Perkins two-piece co-ordinate. I'm familiar with the label from shopping in London but I didn't realize that the company is over 90 years old. Wow, I can't even imagine how big their archive of styles must be.

Instead of wearing the matching top, I decided to pair it solo with a peach lingere slip. I love the colors together and it makes it feel fresher for summer. I'm planning on chopping a few inches off the skirt so it'll be below my knee. I kinda like how it looks as is...looks like culottes in the photo (a trend I'm loving right now). 

I tied a silk scarf into a bow on my head just for fun. Here's a tip I discovered to keep the bow from flipping and flopping...I used bobby pins (just two) on the inside of the bow.

Each item worn was thrifted for under $10. Actually, most of my thrifted finds are usually under $10 as I like to take advantage of 50% sale days.  I'm wondering if I could do a whole outfit (head to toe) for under $10? Now that's tough! Anyone done that?

xo,

K

Bye Bye Birdie

birdie print onesie/ urban outfitters

sweater blazer / kersh

gold sandals/  dolce vita / thrifted

I like the print on this onesie a lot however I'm not in love with the silhouette. Ofcourse, I liked it when I bought it but now I just find that it doesn't suit me anymore.  It has a blouson top and the waist sits a bit too low for my body. I was playing around and pinning it at the back to make it more fitted and look like a vintage playsuit so I'm going to be throwing this in my "to-alter-to-something-fricking-awesome" pile.

The cream sweater blazer is from my days at Kersh. Don't you like the artwork on the inside of the blazer? Please say yes because I'd be sad if you didn't...creating art takes a lot of sweat, blood and tears.

xo,
K

lil' miss M + I

Summertime Sadness

blue floral vintage 90's dress/ sheri martin / thrifted

red folio / thrifted

strappy heels /  michael kors / thrifted

The rain is back =(. If that's not a reason to be sad, then how about the sudden realization that you've shrunk your new favorite thrift purchase because of your defiance against following care label instructions? 

I knew that I was taking a risk by throwing this beautiful 90's floral RAYON dress in the wash but I was too lazy at the time to hand wash it and too cheap to take it to the drycleaners. I was betting that I could get away with throwing it in the wash like I have many times previously with other garments. Well...when I pulled it out to inspect, it had shrunk about 4" in length and 2" in width and it felt crinkly and crunchy. Oh dear…

Luckily, I remembered a  pin on Pinterest that mentioned a method of unshrinking your clothes. It's really simple! All you'll need is a bucket of water and 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo or conditioner (I used conditioner). I also did some online searches specific to rayon since the fabric is very unstable when wet. You'll need to take extra caution when working with it. To get rid of the crunchy texture, iron it after and it'll get back it's nice smooth drape.

Below is a few links with further instructions and photos:

• www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com
• www.ehow.com
• http://carsonandlindsaybay.blogspot.ca

Hope this will help you in your time of need!

Xo,

K

It's Not Summer Without You

vintage crochet dress / nipa hut / thrifted

vintage leather purse / no label / thrifted

beige platform heels / prediction [payless shoes]

It's not summer without you -- my darling crochet dress. I'm wearing a vintage 70's crochet dress from the label Nipa Hut. If you google nipa hut, you'll see images of stilt houses iconic of Filipino rural life. It makes sense that the label is called Nipa Hut since the dress was made in the Philippines.

I find the waist a bit low for me so I may adjust the waist tie a few inches higher for future wear. What I noticed about the dress is the crochet has a nice thickness, a good sign of quality and workmanship. It's not flimsy like today's wear one summer and throw away crochet dresses. I also like the finishing touch of the embroidered hem.

xo,

K

Ps- Oh, and I was super excited to take this shoot outside and not in the vicinity of my home.

  

Too Legit To Quit!

 too legit to quit graphic tee / aritzia

white leather skirt / chia / thrifted

leopard heels / f21 

Gosh, this fashion blogging thing is work...fun work. In the beginning, I was taking photos with my iphone which makes the process easy (snap/ upload/ filter/ comment) but sometimes, I have to resort to a tripod. Anyone who does this knows the running back and forth you have to do to make sure you're in the frame, composed and in focus. I have to shift thru a gazillion photos to find a few good gems. Also, I like shooting in raw and editing after in DPP or photoshop so that alone can be time consuming. Sometimes, I go a little crazy in photoshop and I find that I end up not looking like myself anymore (ie: plastic barbie face)...those end up in the "no" or "just for laughs" pile. Big props to all you fashion girls that do this for a living!

With the nice weather now, I'd love to try to take more photos outside and in cooler locations. That'll be depend on how well I manage dragging the 3 kiddos with me. I'm still trying to get used to striking a pose in public. It doesn't make for good photos when you're uncomfortable. Your face and body language shows it. I definitely like the power of being behind the lens.

Xo,

K

p.s. - I know you wanted to hear it =P

Lemonade & Lace

I love lace tops and couldn't pass up this simple one I found thrifting last month. I actually own the dress version from f21.

lace top / f21 / thrifted

cutout shorts / bcbgeneration /thrifted 

Love the cutout detail on the pockets!

O Italia!

vintage striped blouse / errenuo / thrifted

cardigan / thrifted

high-waisted jeans / BDG (urban outfitters)

tan t-strap maryjanes / primark

 






This beautiful vintage red and green striped silk top reminds me of the iconic Gucci stripes (which wasn't why I bought it). I found the stripe color combo striking and I like the way they change directions on the yoke and especially on the cuffs...oh and it's silk! I have a hard time resisting silk when thrifting. I just noticed though one side looks slightly faded (particularly on the shoulder) like it had been exposed to the light while hanging in my closet waiting for me to wear it. A warning to all to take care when storing silks!

xo,
K

Bohemian Patriot

Yesterday was Canada Day and of course I wanted to wear red to show how proud I am to be Canadian! I don't own too many red items so I had to do some digging into bags of clothes that  I had packed away (in the sell/donate pile) where I found this red embroidered beauty. I had forgotten about her and then started to wonder why I would pack her away...she's so easy to wear in the summer.

red embroidered dress / Akualani / thrifted 

gold filigree earrings

faux leather sandals / Joe Fresh 

Welcome Back / Mega Outfit Post

I haven't been blogging for a while because I've been quite busy. This is the second time this blogging thing has come to a halt...maybe it's just not for me?

Anyways, I recently switched from an old blackberry curve to an iphone 4 and I can't believe I lived without an iphone for so long! I love it to death! No lie...I sometimes enjoy spending time with it more than with the kiddos. Hello Pinterest! Hello Instagram! Hello Craigslist! Because of the new phone, it's made it easier to become more active again with on-line activities, especially with my outfit posts. Oh, if you're wondering who my awesome photographer is? Well, for most shots, it's been my 9 year old son. He usually grumbles when I ask him to help me but when I tell him how many people liked his photo, he gets excited that it's appreciated...so keep 'em coming! =). 

I probably won't be posting outfits daily. I'm aiming for at least one outfit post per week. I'm planning on eventually clearing my overstuffed closet (ahem..closets) so my goal is to take some fun photos for good memories. To me, they're not just clothes. They're like my babies. Some have even been ripped apart, mended and refashioned  with my own hands.

So without further adieu...here's the mega outfit post...

mustard short sleeve trench / purchased on a trip to Seoul, Korea

neon yellow tunic tank / silence + noise / thrifted

leopard shoes / f21

vintage leather clutch / thrifted  

denim legging / target

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I usually wear this dress buttoned up but I'm loving it as a cardigan. While playing around with it, I found a few more fun ways to style it but you'll have to wait for another post on that. 

purple floral chiffon dress / masone / thrifted 

super soft modal tee / press

high waisted shorts / si sono

beige suede pumps / pour la victoire / thrifted 

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This green sweater knit dress was thrifted at my local VV boutique. I'm not sure if this was originally a school uniform or cheerleader outfit or maybe neither??? I just loved the girlishness of it.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This beautiful batik shift dress is one of my favorite go-to everyday items. It's so easy to wear. Hides my mummy tummy. I can let it loose or belt it. The print and color is uplifting. I know the photo doesn't show the style but you'll probably see it again soon.

batik shift dress / thrifted

white leather sandals / dolce vita

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I had been freelancing at Three Stones Clothing this past spring and had been eyeing several of their coats. This actually wasn't my first choice as I usually shy away from contrasting panels on coats but when I tried it on to reference fit for a tech package, I was pleasantly surprised! 

"wanderer" two-tone hooded coat / three stones clothing 

honeycomb knit sweater / dressbarn / thrifted

peach slip / victoria's secret / thrifted

denim legging / target

lace rain boots / joe fresh

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I love scouring the sleepwear section at thrift stores. This is where I scored this beautiful floral vintage dressing gown. I was in love with the print and lace details but it had these big outdated puffy sleeves so I reworked this dress to have pretty flutter lace sleeves.

floral vintage dress / linton of northhampton / thrifted + refashioned

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

floral cotton silk dress / (ethic)

beige cardigan / urban behavior

cream leather heels / corso como collection

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This is my easy to wear but fashionable "mom-on-duty" look. The tribal skirt is high waisted so it feels right at home for me. I also love the calf length for running around the playground with the kids. 

vintage tribal skirt / thrifted

90210 graphic tee 
canvas ballet flats / joe fresh

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This caftan looked slightly different when I first got it. There were elasticized waistbands on the inside that pulled the dress in and it just didn't look so flattering on me so I removed them. Easily one of my favorite summertime beach cover-up items.

soft pink lace caftan / fleurwood 

sunglasses / joe fresh

Wow, you made it thru! Now, breathe...

Thanks again for dropping by! 

xo,
K