Letterbomb

Where have all the riots gone
As the city's motto gets pulverized?
What's in love is now in debt
On your birth certificate
So strike the fucking match to light this fuse!

It's not over 'till you're underground
It's not over before it's too late
This city's burnin'
It's not my burden
It's not over before it's too late

She said I can't take this place
I'm leaving it behind
Well she said I can't take this town
I'm leaving you tonight.

Jeans by Seductions; tank top by Song; vintage mesh top; boots by Miss Me; earrings, cuffs and bracelets by Ardene; vintage necklaces with skull pendant by Claire's. Lyrics from "Letterbomb" by Green Day, American Idiot, 2004.

If the Tiara Fits

Since it’s grad season (the Canadian version of prom), as well as Disney Princess theme week, what better fashion trend to feature than pretty party dresses fit for princesses?

It’s been five years since I graduated high school (oh GOD I’m old…), and five years since I got all dolled up for the spectacle that is the “Grand March” and our grad dinner and dance. Oddly enough, the dress that I chose to wear for grad is one that I still love today, and that I do wear on occasion. It’s a pretty simple dress: A-line skirt, strapless, and just a little bit of crinoline under the skirt. What makes it so special is the colour. Emerald green is not a normal colour for a prom dress, and this dress isn’t actually a prom dress. I actually bought it over a year before my grad during a clearout sale of Christmas party dresses. But I was determined to get a jewel-tone dress, not a green that’s lime, celery, or heather coloured!

Aina’s grad dress would have been perfect for this photoshoot, but she isn’t feeling the love towards it. In fact, the outfit that she chose to wear instead is almost exactly opposite what she wore for grad. The original was cream, the new one is black; the original was highly detailed (full body ruching), the new is a simple sheath; the original didn’t need much jewelry, the new is all about the bling. But I have to say I rather like the focus on jewelry, since it’s an easy way to be super fancy without spending a fortune on a dress.

I’m not even going to mention what Liz’s original grad dress looked like, and I’m definitely not showing you any photos. Suffice to say that Liz does not approve of it anymore, and I agree. Plus she would probably have my head if I posted any pictures of it. Instead you all get to see the dress that I cajoled her into buying a few years back, just for fun. Not only is the gorgeous amethyst colour better suited to Liz’s skin tone, but the flounces are super cute without being overwhelmingly girly. Don’t forget that historically purple was the colour of royalty!

BTW sorry that this post is so late! It's been a super crazy busy week at work, and I just haven't been in the mood to deal with photoediting and putting stuff together. I could have done it this morning I guess, but I wanted to go shopping :p But it's up now, and it's fabulous, so forgive me <3

Millinery Fascination

Just because I said the other week that I wanted a captain’s hat, and I said this week that I want an Alice mini-hat doesn’t mean that I’m someone who wears hats. I may have a Mad Hatter mini-hat, but I have no actual hats. Not even the eponymously Canadian toque. I’ve stuck by the excuse that “they mess up my hair” to avoid the issue ever since I was a child, and even when skiing with the family (an activity I didn’t do by choice, but was forced to participate in) I refused to wear a hat.

But I like how some hats look (if not on me), and one of my friends happens to be a burgeoning hat collecter, I figured why shouldn’t I do a post on them? My friend, a charmingly witty lass, is actually the younger sister of last week’s retro-fabulous model, and I’ve known her since she was a screaming baby. Apparently fashion does run in families, just in completely different areas!

fancy sun hats are fabulous AND handy during the summer

whyever would you get a plain fedora?
bright turquoise is so much more fun!

very ladys-who-lunch!

this demure-looking little hat is actually quite fabulous;
it's made up of layers and layers and layers of material!

peacock feathers are my favourite addition to any outfit,
and give this jaunty little hat that "extra somthing!"

fascinated by her fascinator :)

loving how retro this 1920s-style hat is!

Silence! Silence? Silence...

This week for my Wishlist Wednesday item we’re going to change it up a little bit. I’m going to talk about an accessory I want in a little bit, but we have more important things to discuss. What I really want this week is for some feedback from my readers. I KNOW you’re all reading, since I’m getting plenty of page views (yay for having a stats panel), so why the heck are you all so silent? In real life (for those of you that I know), you’re a pretty mouthy bunch with plenty of opinions to share, yet for some reason on the interwebs you’re all about the silence. What gives? Are you all not liking the stuff I’m posting about? I’m not abject to some constructive criticism you know! And I totally respect other opinions, so you shouldn’t be afraid to voice them (props to Leah for saying how much she hates yellow nail polish; there will be a sparkly one for you SOON my darling!). Seriously just SAY SOMETHING. Everything I post is meant to be a conversation starter, especially the Tuesday rants (controversy yay), so you should all be talking more! I also wouldn’t mind some ideas for theme weeks. No idea if you have all noticed, but every week since I started doing 6 posts a week has been themed. I have lots of ideas that I’m working on for future weeks, but I can always use more inspiration! So, throw you’re ideas out there, and maybe I will use them. I might even ask you to be in a photoshoot! That about sums it up; I want some opinions from the peanut gallery! Yeah, that’s right, I just referred to you lot out there as the peanut gallery (though a fabulous lot you are as well).

For the actual wishlist item I want to acquire the sister to my Mad Hatter mini-hat headband that I bought from Value Village at Halloween. I could have gotten the Alice hat as well, but I couldn’t justify spending almost $20 on two costume hats when I was pretty close to broke. The Alice hat is adorable, and I’ve always loved it, but the Mad Hatter mini-hat is still my favourite J Thankfully, the internet is awesome in having random awesome stuff available way after it's been released, and you can actually still get the Alice hat from Buy Alice in Wonderland Costumes for a reasonable price!

photo from here

The Hottest New Accessory for Summer

As Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City fame once claimed in her first ever article for Vogue, men are the hot new accessory. Or at least, they can be when they cooperate. BTW this week is accessory week, hence the reference to men as accessories :p

As many of you know I experienced a horrendous breakup this year (still not pleased, but thanks for the concern), but I’m so done with thinking about him and the negativity that he brought into my life. Onto the next chapter of my love life, and the sooner the better, since I’m starting to feel the need for a new piece of man-candy. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my past relationships (if you could even call them that), and the predominant theme is that I end up with guys who want me, but I don’t necessarily want them. I’m starting to feel like I just go along with whatever they want, but that doesn’t really sound much like me, hey? I like what I like, and I’m tired of not getting what I want.

I want a guy who’s cute, but not in the stereotypical way. Someone who’s smile says everything, and who’s eyes I can’t stop looking into. It’s the “hellos” and “goodbyes” and the look in his eyes that says everything he can’t. He’s someone who I can take out in public and not be embarrassed by them; I want to be that “cute couple” that everyone thinks is adorable together.

I want a guy who’s funny, in that witty sort of way I adore. Someone who’s laidback, but can cope with how utterly neurotic I can be, and is able to laugh it off when I get stressed out by the little things. I need someone who’s fluent in sarcasm, if only so they don’t get offended by every word that comes out of my mouth. Someone who understands my interests, but doesn’t try to compete with me, since I’ll win every time.

I want someone who can cope with how random and ridiculous I am. He’s going to need to be able to keep up with me, because I’m not going to stop running wild just for him. I expect him to be able to run wild with me. Someone who can be the strong one. I get so weary of trying to hold up the world on my own.

I want someone who tells me I’m perfect, even though we both know it’s not true. Someone who writes me love letters and serenades me in the moonlight, but knows better than to buy me flowers or jewelry. He’ll treat me like a princess, but he knows I won’t break if he holds me too tight.

And most of all, he’ll want me for everything I am, and not want to change a thing. I won’t be changed for anyone, so good luck trying. Remember: it’s not over ‘til you’re underground (“Letterbomb” ~Green Day).

Ancient History

For the fashion post for retro week I thought it would be fitting to feature some awesome retro clothes from the wardrobe of my longest known BFF. She and I have known each other since before I was born (she’s a year older, and apparently used to talk to my embryo form in my mum’s tummy), so we definitely have a lot of history together. So welcome to a brief, but fabulous, glimpse into her closet, and I hope you enjoy!

this dress really is retro:
it used to belong to her grandmother! 

ladies always wear pearls :)

crafty and cute!

periwinkle is such a fabulous colour

mixed accessories create texture and interest to any outfit

looking into the past or the future?

I love the fabric roses detail
around the neckline of this dress!

galoshes are always awesome
(I made her buy those a long time ago btw)

a messy up-do doesn't detract from the glitter in this dress

rhinestone jewelry adds more fab to this outfit

who doesn't like a poufy little skirt!

Earn Your Stripes

We sure did! Here’s a few helpful tips on how to get a nautical themed outfit going. It’s seriously one of the easiest trends to incorporate into your wardrobe, and many of the pieces can be cross-referenced to other styles!

Step One: Stripes. How can you not love stripes? They’re so cute, and can be worn in a multitude of ways. (Check out my earlier post about pattern mixing if you need some help with this one).

Step Two: Bright reds. Add a dash of red to a neutral outfit and you’ve added some flair to an easy ensemble. Classic red lipstick, red belts, and even chunky red jewelry count!

Step Three: Tall boots. They’re sexy but still practical, especially when exploring on the beach! Though I won’t recommend them once the summer heat sets in…

Step Four: Gold jewelry. Every sea-farer has a handy stash of gold, so why shouldn’t we have ours (not that we would ever give up our accessories, unless we’re getting a good trade!).

Here’s how my best friend Aina and I worked the nautical look when we went beaching! For more photos check out her blog, Aina’s Addiction, or either of our Facebook pages! If you want details on any of the things we’re wearing we’d be happy to share, so just ask <3