Hidilly ho neighbourino

S'up yo?! How's it goin? once again I'm tardy! Let's do this!

August 8

Dress: Thrifted (last worn here)
Booties: Fluevog Bellevues | Ida Clark (last worn here)

I wasn't entirely sure about this shoe choice but they were quite popular at work so I guess they were ok.

This dress is really more of a winter dress since it has velvety fabric but I've kind of been in a black mood.
































July 9

On Friday I went a little casual. More casual than I usually do.

Top and skirt: Melissa Bolduc from Fresh Collective (last worn here)
Shoes: Hush Puppies

Maybe I should have worn the stripey booties with this?

I had been wearing my bronze Fluevogs but I changed into these just before I remembered to take my picture. Whoops.


























August 12

And today was another blackish day.

Dress: americanretro (last worn here)
Shoes: Fluevog Half Truths | Tanya

New shoooooes! On Friday I stopped at Fluevog on my way home intending to just pet the new velvety boots (the blue, so gorgeous) and of course I ended up trying on a few pairs. Surprisingly, I loved these the most.

I've said this before but I'm a sucker for straps and buckles.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I liked these so much. They are my dream shoe from the 1980s that I never would have been allowed to have. Pointy toe? check. Straps? check. Buckles? check. Gothy? check check.

I'm not usually a kitten heel fan but these are delightful!

and boom! New post. I'm outta here.

Monday night excitement!

So here's what I wore to work yesterday. La la la la la.

Dress: from Fresh Collective a few years ago (then called Fresh Baked Goods) (last worn here)
Tights: American Apparel
Shoes: Fluevog Big Presence | Desmond (last worn here)

La la la. Here's the back.

Someone at work asked me how I found tights the exact same colour as my shoes. Just luck!
































After work, I walked home and though I perfectly intended to wear this out at night to a MOST EXCITING EVENT but I ended up having a wardrobe crisis and I changed because I had been invited to a party. At the Fluevog store. In the Distillery District.

WHERE THIS HAPPENED!!!!!!

Yeah, that's John Fluevog and me. Whateves.  Just a normal everyday thing.

Except it WASN'T! It was so very exciting! I was so nervous and I may have been a little star struck. That's strange isn't it? The manager, Andrew, was so sweet in coming with me to get my photo taken and then John signed my shoes.

My crazy vintage purple pointy toed Fluevogs that I got in ebay a few years ago. I'm so glad I changed and wore these because I learned that these were from a shoe line in the 1990s.

Really, he was very gracious and lovely. I'm glad I finally got to meet him. My only regret? I forgot to tell him that we share a birthday!  I think he was in Toronto for the Air Canada announcement since Fluevog will be providing the shoes for the new flight attendant uniforms.

I hope his staff don't think I'm totally crazy. I didn't stay very long since there was a big crowd and I'm not good in crowds. I'm very happy that I was invited to this event.

And here's what I wore today. Blah blah blah.

Cardigan: my purple one I wear all the time
Dress: Dorothy Perkins (last worn here)
Tights: Pretty Polly from Peek Brooklyn
Shoes: Fluevog Bellevues | Laura Evans (last worn here)

When I bought these shoes I had no idea how perfectly they would match this dress but they do. It's the pink buckle that really pulls it together. You're a genius John Fluevog!

A few months ago I won a $100 gift code from Peek Brooklyn these are one of the pairs of tights I purchased. Pretty Polly tights are great quality. I've worn these about 4 times and they look as perfect as when I opened the package.

So very cheeky!

Anyway, that's my story!

Catching up

Sorry for the radio silence. I've been enjoying living in the city and spending more time outside of my apartment than inside. This is probably a good thing since my apartment is in a basement so it's not exactly bright. It's great for sleeping but not so great for the Vitamin D acquisition.

Although this was a short week, it was a busy one. Not just with work but with the socialization which is good since I tend to be a hermit if I'm not forced to interact with people.

Here's Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday's outfits. I skipped Thursday since I was totally uncomfortable all day.

May 21

Cardigan: Club Monaco (last worn here)
T-shirt: Joe Fresh (worn a lot)
Skirt: Smoking Lily (last worn here)
Shoes: Fluevog Mini | Gorgeous (last worn here)

Pretty nondescript and totally serviceable. Jersey t-shirt, jersey skirt,

I feel a little bit guilty about wearing Joe Fresh ever since the Bangladesh clothing factory collapse. Such a terrible tragedy where so many people died in the aid of making cheap clothing for those of us in North  America. I haven't shopped at Joe Fresh or any of the other companies that were linked to that terrible event in quite a while. Now that I'm in Toronto I've been trying to shop at store that sell locally made items. They might cost more but I know I'm supporting my community.

Some people asked to see a close up of the necklace that I mentioned here.

I love it! My sister really knows me. :)






























May 22

On Wednesday, I wore this. <Chandler Bing> Could I BE any more stripey?</Chandler Bing>

Jacket: The Gap (hangs head in shame)
Shirt: Melissa Bolduc from Fresh Collective (last worn here)
Skirt: Melissa Bolduc from Fresh Collective
Shoes: Vivienne Westwood for Melissa (last worn here)


I wore these shoes because it was supposed to rain. It did a little bit but not much when I was outside.

Maybe I should recreate this with some similarly stripey shoes?

Look! There's a stripey underskirt! Yes, I'm so matchy matchy!

I've bought a few things from Fresh Collective since I moved to Toronto.  I walk past it's Queen Street store twice a day so it's quite enticing to just pop in. I must put blinders on!


























May 24

Dress: Bitter Root Vintage on etsy (last worn here)
Boots: Fluevog Hope | Desire (last worn here)

Today I had to brief my new Deputy Minister on some stuff and then we had a lunch to say goodbye to a coworker and then cake for a coworker birthday. Lots of socializing. That can be too much for a "highly sensitive person". 

I'm very used to briefing senior officials so I wasn't too worried about that. However I ended up on quite the sugar high after the birthday cake.  WHOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I like that I work with more people in my new job than I did in my old job. Everyone is pretty awesome too. It's really helping me leave my hermit lifestyle behind.

I'm currently watching the Ottawa-Pittsburgh hockey game. I'm conflicted because I kinda want Ottawa to win so a Canadian team will still be in the playoffs but I like Pittsburgh because Sidney Crosby is from Nova Scotia. Realistically I should say "Go Pittsburgh" but in my heart I want Ottawa to win.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Sunday in the city

So yesterday I went to the Bazaar of the Bizarre. I didn't take any pictures because I wasn't there very long. It was good, and I like the stuff the vendors had on offer, but there weren't very many of them so it was a pretty quick visit. I did, however, ride the subway and the streetcar so I can say that I'm learning the transit system.

Today I decided to take the streetcar even further west down Queen Street into Parkdale. When looking for a place to live people didn't seem to think Parkdale was a good option but there's a lot of funky vintage stores up there so I thought I'd see what's what.

I ended up buying two dresses and a jacket, having lunch, buying some groceries and then taking the streetcar back to the Trinity Bellwoods area.

Here's one of the dresses I bought.

Dress: Pi Organic bought at Chartreuse Style  
Necklace: Curious Oddities bought at Fresh Collective
Hosiery: Wolford (last worn here)
Shoe: Shoe the Bear  (specifically these ones) bought at Heel Boy

First, yes you can buy flats at a store called "Heel Boy". I bought these to walk to work. I just can't bring myself to wear sneakers. I don't even own sneakers other than my sequined ones and I can't wear them every day. I've worn the heck out of these since I bought them. And the brand, "Shoe the Bear"? Such a cute name and logo!

I didn't mean to buy this dress. I tried on another one first which fit me perfectly so I knew I was going to buy it but this periwinkle one also caught my eye.  The last time I wore periwinkle was when I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding. I've always thought that it didn't do much for my pale complexion but I kinda fell in love with the back of this. I like how it blouses out at the top.

And comfortable as heck! It's mostly bamboo so it should be comfortable in the muggy Toronto summer. I tend to be a sweater so anything breathable is thumbs up in my book.

Here's a closer look at my necklace. What a harlot! Snogging with a man with her leg slung over the oar. It spoke to me.

Here's the jacket I bought at some vintage store. I'm not sure the name of it - oh well.

Anyway the tag says "Pant man. Made in Canada". I love the colours and look how perfectly the Zig-zag patter matches up at the button edges. Amazing!

I'll have to have this dry cleaned before wearing it since it has that musty vintage store smell to it. The pockets are still sewn up so I think it might be deadstock.

This next dress is one I bought and I can't wait until I actually wear it out to show it to you.

I'm going to call this my "Merlin dress" since the cat reminds me of my sweet black cat Merlin.

It's by Volt Design and I bought it at Brava on Queen Street.

ERMAGHERD this designer has such cute and creative designs. How would ever think to put a cat on a dress bodice, right between a woman's boobular region?

And then again on her bum-ular area? When I saw this I was all "bhbhbhbhbhbh...must have crazy cat dress."  I already have two crazy cat lady dresses but this one takes crazy to a whole new level.

Not sure if I can get away with this at work. I've got to wear it soon though since it's fabulousness should not be allowed to languish in my closet.

























 In closing, here are a couple of things from around my temporary apartment.

Happy Ending

I didn't get to blogging last night because I met up with someone for dinner and drinks. Didn't get home until after 1:00am. Ugh! I can't remember the last time I did that. That's way to late for this old girl.

I had a question in my comments about the designer of the Rad to the Bone dress from ModCloth, I'm guessing since it's sold out. It's from Folter clothing.  I don't see it on their website though. Maybe it's a ModCloth exclusive?

So I live very close to a funky shopping area - West Queen West (which is different from Queen Street West as it is more....westerly?) I've been walking to work and it takes about 40 minutes to get to work but coming home takes about 1.5 hours since I keep going in and out of stores. On Friday I wore a few new things that I bought from stores selling locally or Canadian designed and made pieces.

Top: Melow par Melissa Bolduc from Fresh Collective
Skirt: Ziliotto
Leather cuff: from Ziliotto but made by Susana Grazo (I can't find anything on the internet about her)
Tights: Peek Brooklyn (last worn here)
Boots: Fluevog Presence | Intuit (last worn here)

Love, love, love this skirt. I wore it all day, then when I went out last night and I'm wearing it right now. Whoooo!





















The top is made by the same company as my skants!  It is a wee bit awkward and I kept futzing with it all day to try and get it arranged how I wanted it but I think I finally wrestled it into submission.

So I just got back from signing my lease on my new place! After my terrible shoebox apartment experience I was starting to think I had made a horrible error in moving here. On Wednesday I was feeling quite despondent. Then at about 3:30 I got an email from a person I had contacted on Craigslist a few weeks ago and had never heard from. She asked me if I was still interested in seeing the apartment.

So I called her and got the details. It was for a place that is extremely close to where I'm staying right now and in a house as opposed to a building. 900sq/feet, walk in closet, small but useable kitchen, laundry on site, all utilities included for less than $1000 a month.

What's the catch? It's in a basement. I haven't lived in a basement apartment since 1995 right after I finished university. I went to look at it anyway.

The owners are so nice, the area is exactly where I want to be, the house is on a quiet street, the price was right so I've chosen to take a risk and go for it! I'm hoping to not spend a whole lot of time in it anyway - I'm hoping to be much more social now that I'll be living in the big city with lots of things to do.

For example, today I'm going to mosey up to the Bazaar of the Bizarre on Bathurst Street. Ruby Nite (Nicole) told me about it in a comment on my last post. It's a short walk from here to the subway and then I can take the subway just a quick ride to Bathurst. Should be quite an adventure. I'll take my camera and hopefully take a few pictures. Maybe I should wear my skeleton dress?