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 

Style Crush: Maja Wyh

All hail to the queen of oversize and layers! Last night I discovered the most amazing style blogger I've seen in a long time.  This girl has serious game! Her name is Maja Wyh. 

Maja has been heating up the fashion blogger's circle for more than a year. I know...where have I been?  She manages to put combinations of clothes together that makes me go "oh? Oh!". My heart skips beats going thru her outfit posts. Haha, I almost feel like I have a case of single white female syndrome =P. And it's not that I would wear every one of her looks because some just don't suit me but I find her style so refreshing and inspirational. SHE IS FASHION.

Well, I won't keep  going on and on about her...you can see for yourself. Below are some of my favorite looks. Go check out her blog for more.

All images via majawhy.com

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

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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 

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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floral cotton silk dress / (ethic)

beige cardigan / urban behavior

cream leather heels / corso como collection

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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

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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

Golden Globes Red Carpet

Kicking off the 2014 red carpet award season is the 71st Golden Globe Awards! 

My top 3 picks:

Michelle Dockery in Oscar de la Renta (I love the shape of the dress, the color and the hi-low hem)

Yes for "No"!

No

If you're interested in political films then I highly recommend "No" by  Pablo Larrain. I found out about this film while looking at other films that Gael Garcia Bernal was in. I just love him! He hasn't disappoint me in the three movies I've seen him in thus far (Y Tu Mamá También, The Motorcycle Diaries,  Mammoth). 

Here's the synopsis: "Military dictator Augusto Pinochet calls for a referendum to decide his permanence in power in 1988, the leaders of the opposition persuade a young daring advertising executive - René Saavedra - to head their campaign. With limited resources and under the constant scrutiny of the despot's watchmen, Saavedra and his team conceive of a bold plan to win the election and free their country from oppression." - IMDB

I didn't know anything about Chilean politics so it was a good history lesson. The film was actually shot in betamax which gives it an authentic 80's look, almost documentary-like feel. As well, there were real life images and video clips which seamlessly integrated with the filmed shots. Some people may not like it and think it's low budget compared to today's visual standard however I really appreciated it. Maybe it's just the vintage lover in me? I felt like I had jumped in a time machine to a world that wasn't really all that long ago.

What's also great is the subject of the film. Democracy, hope and the power of the people are all still very relevant in today's world. Is that a good thing? I mean...it's sad that we still have so many people living in oppression. I hope to one day live in a world where everyone is free. Ok, I'll leave this post on that sappy note.

xo,
K

ps - Happy New Years!