lion heart vintage

mountains & water.

2012-02-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

coat: thrifted, vintage
turtleneck: vintage from Front & Co.
pants: AA
backpack: vintage from Annex Vintage in Montreal
shoes: thrifted, vintage
headband: The Bay

Ah, this park is one of my favorites in Vancouver, it has such an incredibly photogenic mixture of mountains, water, industrial factories and a bridge. It's also an off-leash dog park and we all know how much I love dogs. If you live around Vancouver definitely check it out.

This past little while has been all about Mom Style circa 1994. High-waisted pants, preppy turtlenecks, headbands, comfy shoes, huge bags that can fit band-aids, wet-wipes, moisturizer, make up, day planner and giant cell phone... you know what I'm talkin about. My mom was definitely rocking this kind of stuff in the 90s, as well as a few teachers from elementary school... sometimes memories are the best source of fashion inspiration.

I'm finally on Spring break this week! It feels so glorious to have some time off... and time for the bloggy. Hopefully there will be a couple extra posts this week! Also thanks for the great comments on my last two posts, I really appreciated what you all had to say. ^_^

xoxo.

inspiration: That Thing You Do.

2012-02-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

Mmm I absolutely love the fashion in this film. And Liv Tyler's hair! It's honestly a constant inspiration to me. The barrettes, the headbands, the beehive, the simple ponytails! Epic. I also love her tailored pants and adorable sweaters. She rocks a few gorgeous vintage dresses, but overall it's that casual 50's style I just adore.

HOWEVER in terms of the content of the film, I find her character to be super problematic. She pretty much follows the band around for the entire film, performing the merely decorative and limiting role of the "supportive girlfriend". Not once are any of her passions, aspirations or interests articulated. After finally realizing how it much of a waste of time the whole thing was, rather than gaining some valuable self-knowledge and independence, she's swept up and "rescued" by yet another man. Ugh. Then in the "where are they now"-type epilogue her character's career isn't even mentioned, only that she got married! :S Whereas all the guys are either musicians, soldiers, businessmen... I mean come on Tom Hanks. She would have been growing up during the freaking Women's Lib Movement! Throw me a bone here. So aside from some questionable gender roles, this film is worth a watch if only for the amazing fashion and insanely catchy music.

Hopefully I'll be getting some outfit posts up on the blog soon! School has begun to take over again... yay for Spring Break next week!

xoxo.

inspired.

2012-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

dress: Ark on Main St.
sweater: Vintage from Hereafter Vintage on Etsy
shoes: Swedish Hasbeen Penny Loafers
tote: Fieldguided (I seriously wear this thing everywhere)
glasses: Front & Company on Main St.
watch: AA

Well hello beautiful people!

This outfit was totally inspired by Liz's latest "What I've Been Wearing" instagram series. I love how she so effortlessly pairs sweaters with dresses. For some reason I have a hard time with that - I just tend to see the dress as this one big piece of fabric that CANNOT BE CHANGED by anything. Weird right? But this is the kind of simple yet annoying fashion conundrums that I find are constantly being solved by reading style blogs.

...You know, I would so much rather go through my blog list or tumblr-feed and see amazingly rad individuals, rocking out their personal style and being DIVERSE AND UN-PHOTOSHOPPED HUMAN BEINGS who aren't wearing impractical/extremely expensive garments draped over themselves or being posed in a way that subtly (or overtly) caters to a decidedly straight male gaze, and perpetuates passive female stereotypes and unrealistic beauty norms. So yay for indie style bloggers, who are in control of their images and style! I am constantly inspired by the ability of my fellow bloggers to be subversive and creative, all while promoting a sense of community and sharing. Seriously. Mad love.

Thanks for listening to my little rave, hope you're having a lovely week! ^_^

xoxo.

rumpus room.

2012-01-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

Today Jb and I took a little trip down to a sweet little neighbourhood joint called the Rumpus Room. Picture your parent's rec-room circa 1978, complete with board games, patterned couches and clashing lamp shades. We really loved this place's kitschy-cool vibes and yummy veggie burgers. Also I loved that I won at snakes and ladders. Ha!

coat: Vintage from Used
cowl scarf: Knitted by my best buddy Tamlin! (Also doubles as a sweet babooshka)
shoes: Vintage from Used
silk blouse: Vintage, thrifted
glasses: Used
tote: Fieldguided (definitely the most worn item in my wardrobe!)

Ohhh I'm still high from my win... ^_^
What's your favorite board game?

xoxo.

bday times.

2012-01-20T23:55:00.000-08:00

bday dress: vintage from Burcu's Angels on 16th
penguin sweater*: knitted by my beloved Grandma
leggings: AA
turtleneck: AA

These are a few shots from yesterday, which was my 25th bday (yipee!) and today, which was my hangover day (yipee?). Yesterday's bday party was amazing, despite the fact that Jb had to miss it because of a work trip. It ended up being an evening filled with delicious food care of my bosom buddy Amanda (the lady wearing the incredible sweater/glasses combo), new friends (care of the lovely Lydia and her roomie Katie), excellent chats about gender/race politics (epic moments), adorable presents (mobiles! embroidery!) and finally a good ol' indie rock show (care of Mercy Years, the band I sometimes play keys in).

Today was actually quite rad as well. Despite nursing the worst hangover of the year (that's right, I'm calling it already), I managed to have a rad lady-breakfast, celebrate some friends' coffee shop opening, buy some fabric and make a few throw pillow covers. I'd say year 25 is off to an excellent start!

*Funny story about this sweater: I wore it for a class skit in which I was playing a granny, and afterwards everyone in the class was supposed to write these anonymous "feedback cards" that the skit peeps could read. No joke: about 10 of them were solely about this sweater. One actually just said "PENGUINS!!"

Stay swell everyone!

xoxo.

off the beaten track.

2012-01-14T23:23:00.000-08:00

coat: vintage from Used
cardigan: vintage & thrifted
skirt: vintage & thrifted
necklace: Grandma's ring, chain was a gift
shoes: Frye Carson oxford from Gravity Pope
watch: AA

Mmm I love how those cold, clear days can just shock all the blues out of you.

Bright sun, crisp air and partially melted snow... it was a great day to go on a thrifting adventure. Jb took me out for an early bday outting last night (I'll be turning 25 on the 19th) and we were pretty beat this morning as a result, so a nice light thrift was the best medicine. Oh, these are my new birthday oxfords! As well as a birthday gold chain. Wow, this post is a little disjointed. I'm obviously still beat from the bday fun.

Off to bed for me! Happy Saturday everyone, make sure to enjoy that crisp sun.

xoxo.

1970s school attire.

2012-01-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

vest: vintage
turtleneck: AA
jeans: AA
hat: vintage & thrifted
boots: vintage from Front & Co.
backpack: Duluth Pack from Old Faithful Shop

Just a little school outfit from the other day. As I mentioned previously, I'm really getting into turtlenecks lately. I love how their mixture of nerdy, put together and retro. This one was an early bday gift from Jb and it's super soft. This vest has spiced up a number of outfits before - here is another way I styled it, way back when.

I'm really excited to show you all a few additions to my wardrobe... I recently won a giveaway Ashley from Fancy Fine did for Bohemian Bisoux (exciting!), and I used some of my winnings to get an amazing 1930s dress... as well I finally invested in some shoes for work (and play) - I settled on some Frye oxfords that are pretty rad. Stay tuned!

xoxo.

forest solace.

2012-01-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

These are a few snapshots from a hike Jb and I went on the other day. Living close to nature is so incredibly important to me, and nothing speaks to me more than West Coast forests. The clear air, the crisp moisture, the soft moss... It's also nice to dress in my scrubbies and go exploring with my partner in crime. Ahh c'est la vie.

backpack: Duluth Pack from the Old Faithful Shop
acid wash jeans: UO
vest: Joe Fresh
hoodie: AA
hiking boots: thrifted from Sally Ann

xoxo.

personal style ramblings.

2012-01-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

Keeping a personal style blog sometimes offers very interesting insight into the influencing factors of one's style. Obviously most fashion-lovers are influenced by passing trends (I definitely admit that I often am!) however I've noticed over the years that seasons, stress levels, and my personal living environment seem to be my top three influencing factors. I've found that as the weather gets colder, my clothing choices are more influenced by fabric and texture. This winter I have fallen in love with cozy turtlenecks, sweaters and wool or velvet skirts. Also, as my stress levels go up my my outfits get simpler and more focused around one or two pieces (some would call this "boring fashion" but I'll go with "classic" ^_^ ). And similarly, now that I'm living in a very comfortable apartment and somewhat quiet neighbourhood I've found that my style is much more laid back. I also find that as I immerse myself more and more into my studies (right now I'm studying Gender & Women's Studies and Anthropology which I find extremely challenging/fascinating), and as I find more purpose and fulfillment in that endeavor, my style has become (for lack of a better word) more "mature". I suppose I feel less pressured to try out those difficult (and often expensive) trends and I just stick to what I love best.

This outfit is pretty much my go-to during school time: warm tights, comfy oxfords, cozy textures and my lovely new Duluth bag (care of my buds at the Old Faithful Shop!). It was also the perfect outfit for a little afternoon tea. Delish!

backpack: Duluth Pack from Old Faithful Shop
skirt: vintage & thrifted from VV
turtleneck: vintage & thrifted from Sally Ann
glasses: Front & Co
oxfords: vintage from Front & Co.
coat: vintage from Used on Granville

What influences your personal style the most?

xoxo.

happy new years!

2012-01-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

For all of those who feel like crap today (like me) here is some goofiness to brighten your mood. Here are LHV's Best Bloopers of 2011:

Buying a pipe second-hand: bad idea

Epic veggie dog nom

Acting like a 5 year old

Loss of control of limbs?

Outside Beefy Beef Noodle looking classy

Soooo buff... O_O

Mid photo-session wig-out

Mayo mouth

Posing fail

This is what it looks like when you force your partner to take a Christmas portrait

...My personal favorite is #2. Nobody can wolf down a veggie dog like I can.

Happy New Years everyone!

xoxo.

favorite ensembles of 2011.

2011-12-30T23:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Almost New Years everyone! I thought I would do a few year-in-review posts filled with my some of my faves. So in honor of 2011 almost being over, here are 11 of my favorite ensembles. Let's go back in time:

Winter

This winter has been full of velvet, lace, loafers and tote bags. Some highlights have included: winning Swedish Hasbeens Unisex contest, Jb & I exploring the creepiest hotel ever, and finding the best secret photo spot. My bangs are almost grown out (finally!) and I've enjoyed working at the lovely Old Faithful Shop over the holidays.

Autumn

During autumn I rediscovered my love for pants (mostly due to the fact that I was riding my new bike a whole lot); also silky blouses, oxfords and nerdy glasses. I began another crazy yet rewarding semester of school and I also started to wear my hair in its natural curly state a lot more (mostly out of sheer laziness/loss of free time).

Summer

Summer might be my favorite time of the year, fashion-wise. Although I love dressing up and layering, I feel most comfortable in simple and casual vintage ensembles. This past summer I pretty much lived in high-waisted jean shorts, straw hats and slouchy backpacks. Highlights included: our trip to Montreal and getting a new tattoo in honor of my Granny.

Spring

Spring was a time of comfy midi skirts and awkward bangs. I found it challenging to dress for the chilly Vancouver weather, but midi skirts and tights helped a lot. Spring was a difficult time for me as I lost my lovely Granny in April, but I found it very healing to look through old photos and channel her classic vintage style (the above dress was one of hers!).

Hope you've enjoyed this past year of LHV! It has truly been a beautiful one. I've loved meeting new readers and bloggers, as well as growing as a blogger myself. I'm so excited for what 2012 has in store!

More 2011 review posts to come...

xoxo.

over the holidays...

2011-12-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

This was Jb and my first Christmas spent together - usually he goes back home to Ontario for the holidays. I'm so thankful for our time together... can you tell by my huge grins in these pictures?? ^_^ These outfit pictures go out to my buddy Amanda, who shares my love for turtlenecks. Ya! Turtle that neck!

Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season... For New Years I'm thinking of compiling a few "review" posts of the past year. Any requests?

skirt: vintage & thrifted
turtleneck: vintage & thrifted
shoes: vintage from Rebel Rebel in Victoria
knitted headband: Hendrik Lou from Nouvelle Nouvelle
scarf: American Apparel
mittens: knitted by my Momma
coat: vintage & thrifted

Happy Holidays everyone!

xoxo.

the empress hotel.

2011-12-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

Old hotels are some of the most hauntingly beautiful buildings. As Jb and I wandered the hallways of Victoria's Empress Hotel we pondered the question: how can a place that holds so much seem so empty?

crushed velvet dress: vintage from Heart's Content Vintage in Victoria, B.C.
oxfords: vintage from Front & Co.
hat: vintage from Hunter Gatherer in Victoria, B.C.
coat: vintage
locket: vintage from Sally Ann

xoxo.

guest posting at a fine day for sailing!

2011-12-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

Today I'm guest posting over at Islabell at A Fine Day for Sailing while she's away, so feel free to check out the post for christmas-y goodness, outfit details and lots of gushing about velvet dresses. Yipee!

Also I recommend browsing through Islabell's recent posts, she is definitely one of my favorite bloggers as of late! Always such a fantastic mixture of casual charm, boyish pieces and cute vintage dresses - I get a lot of inspiration from her.

Hope your holidays are going swell!

xoxo.

yuletide light.

2011-12-19T20:40:00.000-08:00

The other night Jb and I decided we wanted to capture the creepiness and the magic of Christmas lights. There are a lot of houses in our neighbourhood that are decked out and every time I walk by them at night I feel this deep sense of excitement lingering from my childhood. Like the glow of Christmas lights might just make something unexpected happen. Waking up early and walking into a room lit my Christmas lights gives me that same magical, nervous anticipation.

Do you have any touchstones of holiday inspiration?

xoxo.

peach lace.

2011-12-16T12:37:00.000-08:00

Hey there every-buddy!

Here is a dress I've been excited to show you all. I found it over a year ago in a discount bin at one of my favorite local vintage shops, Burcu's Angels. The material just jumped out at me: it's a very thick and sturdy peach lace. How amazing is that? But the dress needed a lot of work - the neckline was very unflattering (a high circular disaster that made my chest look unflatteringly huge) and the hemline was also pretty awkward. That was probably what landed it in the discount bin to begin with. But with a lower price I could justify doing a bunch of work on it. I took it to my local seamstress and she adjusted the hem and necklines... only she made the neckline too wide! Unless I wanted to show off some serious bra-strap, the dress was unwearable. I was pretty bummed. BUT... the other day I tried my hand at adjusting the neckline and covering the fold with some old leather buttons I had collected on my travels in South Africa. Voila!

These shoes have also been lifesavers on numerous occasions. I definitely recommend that every vintage-lover has at least one pair of comfortable, black t-strap heels. These little buddies are actually dancer's shoes so they're extra comfy - and the strap has a snap button so it's super easy to remove! That'll be handy when I get older and arthritic... hope these beauties last that long. ^_^

dress: Burcu's Angels on 16th & Main
t-strap heels: Annex Vintage
purse: vintage, thrifted
fleece-lined stockings: Vincent Park on Main (such a useful winter purchase!)
velvet bow: dollar store

Do you have some reliable vintage staples in your wardrobe? Or items that you've cherished for years?

xoxo.

good night, day.

2011-12-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the "support your indie/local artists" idea for Christmas, I thought I'd suggest one of my faves to you all. Tara-lynn (the little lady in the last picture) from good night, day is one fantastic lady. She knits all these fantastic goods HERSELF. Epic. If you're looking for a great, hand-made gift for someone special - check her out. I really love the styling in these shots as well - definitely some outfit inspiration happening. I am seriously hoping I get the meaford lambswool cowl in my stocking...

I'll be posting some outfit shots soon! I'm trying my darndest to switch up my wardrobe a little but I can't help wearing my Swedish Hasbeens every chance I get... are you really surprised? ^_^

xoxo.

lion heart on twitter.

2011-12-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update to say that Lion Heart finally has finally joined the twitter train!
Check it out: @lhvintage

Feel free to follow! ^_^

xoxo.

holiday musing.

2011-12-10T17:25:00.001-08:00

In an attempt to lessen our involvement in corporate profit, Jb and I have chosen to do our holiday shopping at local shops, craft fairs and/or buying second hand. Unfortunately neither of us are crafty enough to make our own gifts... unless macaroni portraits or finger paintings make good presents? No? Well in any case, it's actually made holiday shopping a lot more enjoyable. Getting the opportunity to check out some of our favorite local shops along Main Street (like Barefoot Contessa, Front & Co. and The Hach) was so much better than braving the malls or big box stores. However most of them were still packed with shoppers! It was also nice to have some quality time with our neighbourhood trees. They're so big and beautiful.

Oh, we also happened to find THE MOST ULTIMATE PHOTO SPOT EVER. No big deal, just a beautiful brick wall, perfect soft lighting and a random Christmas tree. It almost looks like a studio, but don't be fooled, it's a sketchy back alley. Yay!

my outfit details:
- Pearly blue sweater from Aberdeen Mall... sorry I forget the store!
- Surprise! Wearing the thrifted black velvet skirt again... ^_^
- Swedish Hasbeen High Penny Loafers
- Fieldguided tote
- Thrifted vintage wool coat
- Thrifted vintage knit beret

jb was wearing levi jeans and his zeha boots.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo.

it's a hasbeens miracle!

2011-12-06T23:08:00.001-08:00

I would like to begin this post by saying THANK-YOU to every-buddy who voted for Jb and I in the Swedish Hasbeens contest! We were very close to getting second place but facebook friends and fellow bloggers kept throwing the call out there, and in the end we won by about 60 votes! Definitely a Christmas Miracle. I snagged these lovely Penny Loafers and Jb chose the Chelsea boots (pics to come!). Man oh man they are beautiful. So well made and sturdy. I love the thick heel! Also I have been living in this black velvet skirt. There's something about velvet... it just goes hand in hand with the holiday season.

outfit details:
- Swedish Hasbeen Penny Loafers
- Thrifted black velvet skirt from Steveston Thrift Store
- Second hand green cardigan from Front & Co.
- Fieldguided tote

Thanks again everyone. I can't wait to take more outfit photos with these beauties!

PS As you can see, my Christmas Fever is beginning to take over... be prepared for more red/green/tinsel/plastic ornaments.

xoxo.

fancy winter.

2011-11-23T13:48:00.001-08:00

Don't you just love when the sun streams through your window at precisely the right moment? This outfit was the spoils of another fantastic thrifting excursion to Steveston. I have to say, I'm very happy that my Mom now lives in that neck of the woods. Steveston Thrift Store is the bomb. This velvet skirt is the perfect shape, and check out the epic collar on that blouse! I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, but I think it works well as part of a fancier outfit. This amazing chest that I'm sitting on was my Grandma's hope chest. It contains her beautiful lace and satin wedding dress, which I will hopefully restore and do a post about one day.

School is almost wrapping up for the semester! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! And that means winter has just begun, which in turn means CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE. If you remember from last year, I am a bit of a Christmas nut. Some say this is unexpected of me - I'm generally anti-materialism/capitalism/establishment. But what can I say? I grew up with some epic Christmas experiences and thus, happy associations. I definitely don't think Christmas should overshadow the other winter holidays (which many Judeo-Christian holidays tend to do), and I also am disturbed by how much waste and corporate profit is produced during that time of year. But I take it as a time to excuse my love of tinsel and magic and Sufjan Stevens Christmas music. It's past shopping and Santa and religious affiliations, it has almost become mythical to me... alright, I'll save all this for when it's ACTUALLY DECEMBER.

outfit details:
- Thrifted black velvet skirt
- Thrifted lace blouse
- Vintage t-strap heels from Annex Vintage in Montreal
- Vintage, thrifted leather purse
- Vintage fascinator from Cottagefarm on etsy.com

~~PS Jb and I are in first place for the Swedish Hasbeens contest, so fingers crossed!! Thank you for all your votes! (Contest actually ends this Friday the 25th, not the 21st.)~~

***EDIT: Yipee, JB & I won the Swedish Hasbeens contest!! So many thanks to all of you who voted for us! I'll be sure to post some pictures of our spoils (I picked the Penny Loafers and JB picked the Chelsea boots)!

xoxo.

swedish hasbeens contest, almost over!

2011-11-20T21:41:00.001-08:00

Vote for us

I hate to spam you all again, but we are neck-and-neck for 1st place in the Swedish Hasbeens contest, and we would love your votes! Today is the last day! Just click the link and hit the "I heart this" button to vote for us.

Many many thanks (x 1000)!

xoxoxoxo...

dinner haiku's.

2011-11-14T20:33:00.001-08:00

Warm steam fills the air
What better time for photos?
Delicious food/love

outfit details:
- Lovely Girl top with gold buttons from Front & Co.
- Vintage tweed skirt from Temple of the Modern Girl Boutique
- Vintage shoes from Value Village (they're totally immitation Ferragamo's!)
- Vintage leather purse from Value Village

xoxo.

autumn on main street.

2011-11-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Holy picture-heavy post, Batwoman! Jb and I had so much fun walking around our neighbourhood the other day. Jb has been needing some boots for so long so we finally took the plunge and got him so Zeha's from Umeboshi. Ohhh man are they beautiful.* We also stopped for some tea and snacks. It was one of those days that really made me appreciate my neighbourhood. I'm lucky... I have a lot of those days.

Also, for those that may not have heard, Jb and I entered the Swedish Hasbeens contest and we would love it if you VOTED FOR US! At the moment we're neck and neck for first place! O_O

outfit details:
- Thrifted plaid skirt
- Blouse from Front & Co.
- Zeha oxfords

jb outfit details:
- J.crew military jacket
- UO chambray button up
- Levi jeans
- Vintage oxfords from Citizen Vintage in Montreal

*I want to say, as a disclaimer, that Zeha's are kind of ridiculously high-priced. This was one of those purchases that literally required some intense financial planning for us. But in the long run, Zeha's are one of those products that hearkens back to the old days of hand-crafted, quality shoes and they could last Jb 8-10 years (if he takes care of them). I mention this because the last thing I would want to do on this blog is promote an unattainable and materialistic upper class model of shopping. With that said, I do believe that in this case quality mattered over quantity.

Off to do some more ~~horrid~~ super-awesome-fun homework!

xoxo.

pumpkin love.

2011-11-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

Who says a vegetable can't also be an accessory? Ha. I had fun bummin around my neighbourhood in this cozy & casual outfit. I felt like I should have been walking an Australian Shephard or something. OR MAYBE THAT WAS JUST IN MY DREAMS. Holy crap I wanna dog so bad. Also check out that little mushie I found! There are so many of those fairy tale-like mushrooms all around our neighbourhood. Unfortunately lots of people have started to squash them, but this little guy stood strong.

outfit details:
- AA pants
- Joe Fresh vest
- Army & Navy toque
- Grandma's handknitted sweater

Well, back to reality...

xoxo.

happy halloween!

2011-10-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Jb and I went as a 1940's couple (also sometime through the night I found a fake gun and became Bonnie the jail robber). The absolutely lovely Tammy from The Fair gave me this beautiful vintage hat, which fit perfectly with our era! And surprisingly it fits my big noggin perfectly so I'm sure I'll be wearing it loads. Thanks Tammy!

my outfit details:
- amazing 1940's wool suit from my Grandma
- thrifted pheasant scarf
- thrifted oxfords
- vintage hat from The Fair

jb's outfit details:
- vintage Harris tweed jacket from Value Village
- dress pants from H&M
- thrifted vintage oxfords
- thrifted vintage hat
- vintage bow tie from Burcu's Angels on e.12th and Main

Hope you have a spooooooooky day!

xoxo.

swedish hasbeens contest!

2011-10-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

vote for us here!

Hello there!

These are some pictures from our submission for the Swedish Hasbeens contest! Check it out for a chance to win some sweet boots.

Also, if you have a minute, please VOTE FOR US! I would really appreciate it (and so would Jb!)

*EDIT: A friend of mine just brought this amazing photographer to my attention: it looks like we copied her idea without knowing it! Please check out sincerely hana for other gender-bending couples doin their thing.

Lots of xoxo's.

chestnuts.

2011-10-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

As autumn comes around and the leaves fall and turn into sweet-smelling mulch, I'm reminded of my childhood years spent in North Vancouver. I only lived there for four years, but they were very formative and I spent most of them in our backyard woods. Fall will forever remind me of those woods; collecting chestnuts, going on Brownie outings, star gazing and snail hunting. As an homage, I decided to create a grown-up Brownie outfit, and instead of star gazing I got some evening reading done. ^_^

outfit details:
- Horse print dress from Archetype on Main Street
- Thrifted brown velvet blazer
- Vintage oxfords from Nouvelle Nouvelle in Gastown
- Fieldguided tote

Do you have any beloved fall memories?

xoxo.

blogger date.

2011-10-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

awesome blogger pal + vintage style diner + cheap veggie burger + crisp fall day = happy zoë.

I loved hanging with Lydia from Style is Style yesterday! We found some sweet deals along Main Street and ate some yummy food at Lucy's Diner. It was a welcome break from school-related stuff and we managed to get some lovely strolling in before the rain came back (today!). What a great way to spend an afternoon. We chatted about

my outfit details:
- AA pants
- thrifted lace top
- thrifted red knit vest
- boots from Front & Co.

lydia's outfit details will be here shortly!

Must run off and do some more reading... keep it real!

xoxo.

new bike!

2011-10-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

WELL it seems I'm a blogger again! Who knew! Ha. I'm back for a bit, as promised, to show you some pictures of my lovely new bike! Her name is Stella and she's a dream. A classic Apollo road bike. Nice big frame to fit my tall bod and 12 gears to get me up those hills. A little work to be done on her still but we're doing well so far.

And hey! I just wanted to express my joy at finding two pairs of AA pants for $25 at Front & Company (a great consignment store on Main Street). Also a lovely employee named Alicia recognized me from the blog. Weird! But great. Thanks for reminding me that people still read this thing, Alicia. ^_^

outfit details:
- AA high waisted pants found at Front & Co. on Main Street
- Nine West silk blouse also from Front & Co.
- Vintage backpack
- Vintage acid wash jacket
- Thrifted scarf

PS for proof that I was actually wearing a helmet, see here!

xoxo.

montreal pining.

2011-10-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Ohhhh peeps! I wish I had more time for this ol' blog. But for some reason I'm having a real tough go at the whole "time management" thing this term. For now I'll have to leave you with these images from beautiful Montreal spots we visited this summer. I'm definitely pining for some good old fashioned exploring lately... too many afternoons spent cooped up in our apartment with textbooks. Ah, c'est la vie. For now, expanding the mind will have to substitute for expanding geographically.

Even though I have no photographic proof, I've been really enjoying menswear lately. Literally, I've been raiding the BF's closet almost every day. It's great when you're pretty much the same size as your partner. Double closet! Score!

Photo locations:
- Citizen Vintage
- Annex Vintage
- An adorable cafe on Sainte Viateur... sorry I forget the name!

Well, autumn is well on its way now, so hopefully I'll have some lovely layered/scarfy outfits to show you all soon...

xoxo.

found in rust.

2011-09-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

this is a photo series i've been working on for a while. i hope it translates how i'd like it to. feel free to check out more on my flickr.

i apologize for being so absent from the ol' blog lately! school has been taking its toll. but having the time to edit some old photos has been therapeutic... hopefully i'll have time this week to do some outfit related posts!

come back again soon...

xoxo.

acid wash.

2011-09-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

sometimes a girl's just gotta wear some acid wash. ain't nothing wrong with that.

i've been thoroughly enjoying wearing PANTS as of late. i think this is central to me wearing biking-friendly garb so that i can show of my new bike (pictures to come)! i've been bragging a good deal about it to anyone that will listen so i'll try to keep a lid on it. it's just exactly what i was looking for and i got a great deal on it so HOORAY! that is all.

outfit details:
- UO jeans.
- thrifted acid wash jacket
- thrifted boots
- Fieldguided tote

xoxo.

care package swap.

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

why am i so happy, you might ask? where did i get that adorable blouse you may be wondering? (also, why is my mirror so dirty?! eek...) well i'll tell you! the lovely and adorable annalise from hummingbird girls contacted me this summer and asked if i might want to do a care package swap. of course i said yes! the package arrived this morning, and i couldn't be more giddy about its contents...

little swan buddy's new home...

thanks so much to annalise for all the goodies! if any of you out there are interested in swap-ing some care packages i would also be interested, however now that i'm back at school it might have to wait until the winter break. but it's worth a try anyway! yay for goodies! (PS annalise thrifted all the goodies from her local sally ann).

xoxo.

everything's peachy.

2011-09-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

well, back to school has officially been marked by my first homework-induced meltdown! hooray! haha. this term my number one goal is to develop my stress-management skills a little. because nobody likes tense shoulders and acid reflux, right? i much prefer a cup of tea and some classical music to go with my gallons of reading, thank you very much.

in keeping with the classic neutral theme (it's very calming you know!), i found this lovely silk blouse at Joe and have been waiting for the weather to cool a bit to wear it (nothing worse than sticky silk).

and if the tea doesn't help, take pictures of flowers!

outfit details:
- H&M khaki's
- Thrifted gold belt
- Vintage oxfords from Mintage on Commercial Dr.
- Joe Fresh silk blouse
- Fieldguided tote

xoxo.

last days of summer.

2011-09-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

vancouver has been soaked in light and warmth for the last few weeks. sprinklers have been kept on, outdoor pools are open, patios are filled. i can tell the city is trying to soak up these last few days of summer, and i'm no exception. i wanted to get a few snapshots up on the blog before the blusters set in. i must admit though, i'm starting to get excited to wear my wool sweaters and fuzzy tights again.

ah, seasonal transitions. what are autumnal activities are you looking forward to?

xoxo.

summer market at Old Faithful.

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

last sunday i helped out at the Old Faithful summer market in gastown. i can't praise Old Faithful enough; Walter and Savannah run a tight ship full of beautifully crafted and sourced household wares, plants, accessories, etc. add in a bunch of beautiful local food and that's one smooth operation. honestly, it was a pleasure to just STAND NEAR such an arrangement of food let alone be able to TAKE SOME HOME afterwards! yum.

if you're in vancouver don't miss the next market - there's no telling when it'll happen so check out the Old Faithful facebook page for updates.

my outfit details:
- vintage Ralph Lauren silk blouse from Erin Templeton
- vintage silk skirt also from Erin Templeton
- vintage oxford booties from Mintage

images 1-3 courtesy of Marché St. George and the rest courtesy of Scout Magazine.

xoxo.

last escape of the summer.

2011-09-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

jb and i went in search of solace this weekend and boy, did we find it. we went to my favorite place and camped overnight under a canopy of leaves with no one around for miles. i must say, i had to get over my city girl fear of silence. as soon as night set in and the dog-walkers headed home all we could hear was crickets. and rather than peace, serenity or solace... my first response was uneasiness! i suppose that's what i love most about being in nature: where there is deep peace there is also a sense of total vulnerability. needless to say, it was the perfect end to my summer vacation.

it seems like this blog is being filled with camping photos! but don't worry, some more "urban" pictures will come soon. ^_^

xoxo.

neutrals.

2011-08-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

today's outfit was all about neutrals: a simple beige colour palate with minimal details and little to no make up. i've been really enjoying these paired down looks lately, they give me of a more cool and detached, parisian feeling. i've also been embracing my natural hair colour for a while now: and that means showing off my grey streak at the front! i always say embrace those greys - they are every bit as natural as the wisdom that comes with age! after tinkering around with my camera this morning i was off to visit momma in richmond and go for a walk on the river. my favorite kind of day.

outfit details:
- Thrifted silk top
- Thrifted granny pants - see how I styled them here.
- Thrifted gold belt
- Nouvelle Nouvelle tote

xoxo.

sunflowers & kitties.

2011-08-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

today was such a lovely day. although i had a bunch of errands to run, the bike riding and the kitty snuggles and the yummy dinner made the whole day just wonderful. i guess it didn't hurt that the weather was beautiful and i had jb to come home to... ^_^

this is the yummy dinner i made! vegan artichoke dip with grilled tomatoes and a date salad. sorry but i have to brag a little bit about this one. ever since our EPIC european breakfast we had at a B&B we stayed at recently i've been inspired to put more effort into my summer meals. i've never been the most confident chef but with a delicious baguette and some balsamic vinaigrette almost anyone can make something delicious!

here's the ingredients i used for the artichoke dip (i just added everything to taste):
- marinated artichoke hearts (chopped)
- faux mayonnaise
- faux cream cheese
- green onion (chopped)
- cilantro (chopped)
- garlic (minced)
- lemon juice
- sea salt & pepper
... i dipped the baguette slices in oil and balsamic vinegar then put the dip on top and baked it for a little while. yum!

outfit details:
- A.P.C. skirt
- vintage blouse from Fancy Fine Vintage
- Old Navy sandals
- vintage leather saddle bag
- vintage thrifted hat

thanks for stopping by! i'm going to go find that kitty to pet again... ^_^

xoxo.

camping stories.

2011-08-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

so we picked a pretty crazy time to go up to sleepy squamish camping territory for some sweet nature solace. turns out the "live at squamish" music festival was on the same weekend, which brought thousands of loud and raucous partyers to the quiet woods :( not that i'm against a good party, don't get me wrong. but in our naive little minds we had planned this weekend as a getaway from the craziness of city life. maybe a few campfire drinking games and woodsy hangovers but nothing too bonkers. what we got was an overnight (13 hour long) rave happening a few campsites away from us complete with a GIANT SOUND SYSTEM and MULTIPLE AIR HORNS. the next morning the lakeside was packed to the brim with party-goers. needless to say, we ended up packing our stuff and heading to a bed & breakfast down the road - which ended up being lovely. they had two cuddly cats! so no harm done.

all the mayhem really made me pine even more for that quiet camping experience we missed out on... anyone know of great (secluded) camping spots around vancouver?

note to self: next time do more pre-camping research!
xoxo.

summer woods.

2011-08-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

oh summer! please don't leave us yet. the woods still need your light and so do i! we all felt like this camping trip was our last chance to bask in summer's glory... and we were right. the rain is back today in vancouver. but i've decided i'll have to try to love the rainy months a little more... because it doesn't seem like i'm moving anytime soon. and as much as i beg summer to stay, there's no use arguing with the seasons, right?

more camping snapshots to come... it was glorious.

xoxo.

blogger meet up!

2011-08-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

i had such a lovely time meeting up with lydia from style is style yesterday, i thought i'd post a couple pictures of it (just to prove it happened IRL!). lydia was an absolute pleasure to meet. we talked about how strange (and wonderful) the fashion blogging world is: how it breaks molds, rules and boundaries and is empowering numerous fashion lovers, local designer, vintage sellers and stylists out there. we also had a serious vancouver love-fest! we gushed about our pride for this city and how we hoped to stay here a long time - perhaps even long enough to see the independent fashion scene really take off...?

it was so great to take an internet relationship into REAL LIFE and have face-to-face connections! plus some lovely tea and bread at my new favorite spot, nelson the seagull. lydia is a constant fashion inspiration to me (and many others), and i believe a kindred spirit in the making! thanks for the lovely chill time, lydia!

lydia's outfit details:
- thrifted vest & yellow scarf
- vintage blouse from True Value Vintage
- Old Navy skirt
- socks from Richmond Night Market

my outfit details:
- thrifted rose blouse
- reworked vintage skirt from front & co. on main street
- UO sandals
- vintage locket

i'm off to go camping until sunday! can't wait for some serious nature time. MANY pictures to come...

xoxo.

the last few days.

2011-08-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

... a few shots from the last few days. bike rides, cafes (Nelson the Seagull on Carrall Street), pond outings and dog-sitting. summer lovin' to the max.

outfit details:
- Thrifted sandals
- Vintage, thrifted shorts
- Thrifted peasant blouse
- Chinatown hat
- Bag from Annex Vintage in Montreal

Keep up the summer lovin' till the rain comes back!

xoxo.

picnic with momma.

2011-08-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

had a lovely time in the park with my dear momma the other day. we had been planning a picnic ever since mother's day and we finally made it happen (on one of the most gorgeous days of the year, i might add). i believe it is immensely important for every woman to find older female mentors and invest in her relationship with them. i'm so lucky that my mother is a strong, inspiring and supportive lady. and also super adorable! check out that cute purple tank!

outfit details:
- Modcloth floral tank (used to be a romper)
- A.P.C. skirt
- Vintage, thrifted jelly sandals from VV
- Straw hat from Chinatown (Montreal)
- Vintage bag from Annex Vintage (Montreal)

hope you're all enjoying your summer!

xoxo.

beach days.

2011-07-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

...This weekend I realized that all I want is a life full of beach days. You all probably know what I mean. Sigh...

outfit details:
- Vintage Lee shorts from F as in Frank on Main Street
- Vintage, thrifted blouse
- Vintage sandals from a vintage store in Montreal (can't remember the name, but it was on Rue Bernard...)
- Modcloth bathing suit

xoxo.

lion heart + art.

2011-07-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

When we took a trip down to Buffalo, NY for more family visits we were definitely not expecting to see some of the most famous art in the world. But all of a sudden I was standing beside a sculpture by one of my favorite feminist artists Niki de Saint Phalle... then a Jackson Pollock (no big deal)... then a bit of Warhol and Lichtenstein (just for kicks). Needless to say, it was pretty epic. Next time I'll have to wear a fancier outfit when I meet such big celebrities. ^_^

outfit details:
- H&M stripey dress
- UO sandals
- Vintage, thrifted jean jacket
- UO mini backpack

xoxo.

Kennebunkport, Maine.

2011-07-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Antique hunting, ice cream, colonial architecture, seafood and beaches: this pretty much sums up our time in the little coastal town of Kennebunkport, Maine. Plus visiting Jb's awesome Grandma and enjoying her amazing, home-cooked meals! I was pleasantly surprised by all the old buildings in and around Maine, as well as the epic antique selections. It really made me realize how much we scrounge for antiques over here on the west coast. At one point I happened upon a lady with a chest full of the most beautiful vintage baby's clothes - I was tempted to buy them all and hoard them until I have a babe of my own... but it felt a little too creepy. Plus I'm pretty sure Jb would have been a teensy bit freaked out... O_O

can you spot the banana?

Mmmm crab sandwiches.

outfit details:
- K. Brower floral shorts from Dream Apparel in Gastown
- Thrifted blue button up
- Minnetonka shoes

jb's outfit:
- Thrifted striped tee
- H&M cord shorts (DIY)
- Converse shoes

More to come!

xoxo.

Montreal Post #2: Parc du Mont Royal.

2011-07-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hullo all!

So here are ~~a few~~ a bunch of our Montreal pictures - we have so many more, but I'm trying to limit myself from posting them all in one go... ^_^ A large-ish post on our favorite shopping and eating spots in Montreal will be coming soon! We couldn't help but take a monolithic amount of pictures, we just kept finding the most adorable places. Obviously we fell in love with Montreal, as many people do.

These are from our trip to Mont Royal, which is a little mountain located in central Montreal. It was nice to get out of the concrete and into the woods for a short time (although we got extremely lost and sweaty and missed out on seeing the epic castle). But we did see a hilarious interaction between this little buddy-raccoon and a tourist eating a sandwich! So it wasn't a total failure. ^_^

Outfit details:
- Vintage brown floral dress from Citizen Vintage in Montreal (more info coming!)
- Minnetonka deck shoes/moccasins
- Vintage backpack from Annex Vintage in Montreal
- Straw hat from Chinatown

We're currently camped out with family in Toronto, our final destination will be Buffalo and then back to Vancouver! It's been an amazing trip so far. Can't wait to keep sharing photos with y'all!

Keep it real,

xoxo.

first impressions of Montreal.

2011-07-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

...just a few snapshots from our trip to Montreal. I'm sad to say that we're leaving today :( We have absolutely loved spending the last few days exploring just a few nooks and crannies of this beautiful city. Jb's favorite moments were eating delicious bagels from the St. Viateur Bagel Shop and being awe-struck by the Notre Dame cathedral. My favorites were finding a few amazing vintage shops (or "Friperies") and cafés in Mile End (the adorable neighbourhood we stayed in) and also the Notre Dame cathedral. Soon I'll be posting some pictures and info about the great little places we happened upon! Can't wait to share more with you all!

Now we're off to Kennebunkport, Maine to visit family, eat some delicious seafood and get some beach time in!

xoxo.

guest post.

2011-07-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hullo all!

Make sure to check out the guest post I did for Emily over at Ruby Slipper Journeys.

And have a lovely Sunday!

xoxo.

lights in the alley.

2011-06-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

As much as I adore daytime in all its splendor, there is something so peaceful and settling about nighttime strolls. Especially during that time when there is still remnants of daylight in the sky but the street lights have already turned on... and you happen to have some sparklers in your pocket. ^_^

outfit details:
- floral dress from the Lip Lounge on Main Street
- vintage mustard grandpa sweater
- fieldguided tote
- leather boots from Blim Market (on Car Free Day!)

Oh man, this last week has been so crazy (but excellent). My best buddy's wedding is in t-minus 2 days and Montreal is in 4! Needless to say, this might be my last post before we leave, so I'll say adieu and bonne journeé now - and many more pictures to come!

xoxo.

venturing into sponsored land.

2011-06-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation, I've decided to offer a few sponsorship spots on Lion Heart! For anyone that's interested in sponsoring, feel free to contact me at zoeandcandy@gmail.com. For my readers, be assured that I'll make a concerted effort to only include sponsors whose aesthetic I truly value and appreciate. I would also love to hear feedback from readers on this decision, if you have any! ^_^

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo.

car free day.

2011-06-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

so sunday was car free day in vancouver, thus our neighbourhood was shut down completely and temporarily inhabited by the tables and booths of local artists, restaurants and businesses. what a glorious event to come home to! i ran into some of my favorite people wandering around and got my hands on some delicious pad thai. jb found a shirt with a bike on it and i snagged a cute summer dress. BEST START TO THE SUMMER EVER.

who's that little bud?! hehe.

i guess i've forgotten to mention that the next few weeks will be a little crazy. first of all, i'm a bridesmaid in my best buddy's wedding on july 2nd, so many festivities will be occurring over the next two weeks. furthermore, jb and i have planned a trip to MONTREAL (and various places surrounding it) on july 4th!! i could not be more excited. i've always felt a yearning within me to see the "paris of canada" and i cannot wait to explore and expand. plus jb and i have not been on a cross-country trip together yet, so this is exciting territory. lots of pictures will be taken (obvs) but my posts may be a little sparse! >.<

outfit details:
- thrifted vintage granny pants from Senior Centre Thrift Store downtown
- vintage acid wash jean jacket (jb's)
- thrifted vintage Ralph Lauren cropped blouse
- granny shoes from Zellers
- sunglasses from Bang On

thanks again for visiting!

xoxo.

summer biking & new ink.

2011-06-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

well hullo everyone!

there's nothing i enjoy more than a lovely summer bike ride and a new tattoo! ^_^ i'm really happy with how my latest tattoo turned out. it made me realize that i haven't done a "tattoo post" yet, so i'll be doing one soon. this one i got in memory of my lovely grandma.

these pictures were taken near our old neighbourhood near commercial drive. i seriously miss that hood. for those of you who are familiar with vancouver we now live in mount pleasant, which is a lot more safe, quiet and homey but also more "tame". the drive was full of super eccentric, colourful and totally random people. everything from buskers to war vets to uber hipsters. lots of amazing co-ops and cheap veggie stands... so needless to say it was nice to be back on the drive to celebrate the sunshine. i wish i took more pictures of the hood but we ran out of time! do any of you have a favorite neighbourhood in your hometown?

outfit details:
- vintage Levi jean shorts
- vintage floral tank
- UO backpack
- vintage leather loafers
- H&M sunglasses

happy monday!

xoxo.

PS i was totally wearing a helmet but it's quite ugly so we decided to take the pictures without... safety first!

neighbourhood stroll.

2011-06-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

well hullo everyone!

the other day jb and i went for a stroll through our neighbourhood while the hockey game was playing (for those of you who don't follow hockey, the vancouver canucks are in the stanley cup playoffs). it felt like we were the last people on earth - the streets were so quiet! we got some quick shots then hurried home for the third period... i have to say, i'm definitely a band wagon fan of hockey. i could usually care less about sports but it's fun to join the city in cheering on the home team.

outfit details:
- skirt - vintage daniel hechter from Front & Co.
- stripey shirt/tunic - The Fair
- deck shoes/moccasins - Minnetonka
- mini backpack - UO
- acid wash jean jacket - jb's, thrifted from VV

we've finally got some sun here in van, can't wait for some beach time tomorrow! ^_^

xoxo.

picnic with my bud.

2011-06-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

sometimes despite the weather forcast you just gotta have a picnic. they are fast becoming my favorite form of hang out time, especially when there's cute ducks and a portable tape player involved. and who better to share delicious food and nice convo's with than my awesome bud matina? i knooow she's super cute, but sorry she doesn't have a blog (yet)! ^_^

blanket dents on our feetsies! as soon as we started throwing food to the birds we regretted it. a HUGE
flock congregated around our blanket and almost went hitchcock on us!

outfit details:
- stripey top - Retro Rock Vintage, downtown
- jeans - UO
- army jacket - Used Vintage on Granville
- knit sweater - thrifted from Steveston Thrift Store
- moccasins/deck shoes - Minnetonka

PS this is me in grungy casual wear aka how i usually dress at work. in terms of style, there's nothing i value more than a bit of diversity - i've touched on this before, but i truly believe it is everyone's right to dress however we want, regardless of other people's definitions of what is "masculine", "feminine", girly or grungy, etc. i try to feel like just as much of a woman in my grunge wear than i do in a vintage dress, you know?

anyhoo, thanks again for dropping by!

xoxo.

flowers and lace.

2011-05-31T19:22:00.000-07:00

today i took a trip out to ladner (a suburb of vancouver) to attend my best friend's wedding dress fitting! it was absolutely beautiful and i can't wait for the day to come... with weddings in mind i decided to wear some lace and buy a hanging basket and some cut flowers. carnations and baby's breath - simply lovely.

outfit details:
- 90's lace top - thrifted from VV
- floral skirt - Grandma's vintage
- woven flats - thrifted from Sally Ann
- necklace with pink stone - thrifted from Sally Ann
- tote - nouvelle nouvelle
- vintage hat - thrifted from ??

i definitely recommend finding some wild flowers or purchasing a bouquet and adorning your home... ^_^

have a lovely tuesday!

xoxo.

dog sitting is for me.

2011-05-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

oh man. today is our last day with little chase and i haven't even begun to post all the cute pictures! here's just a few (or a lot) from our walk this afternoon...

isn't he rad?! so curious and excited about life. jb and i have LOVED having him around.

my outfit details:
- oversized mustard yellow sweater - Joe Fresh (from Superstore a few years back)
- vintage lee jean shorts
- vintage, thrifted windbreaker
- vintage, thrifted brown hat
- vintage loafers - from Front & Co. on Main Street
- H&M sunglasses
- UO mini backpack

jb's outfit details:
- jean shorts - DIY old pair of jeans
- UO green deck shoes
- vintage, thrifted brown Cosby sweater
- Bang On sunglasses

do any of you have pets you're in love with?

xoxo.

cream & grey.

2011-05-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

today our new little doggy friend was dropped off by my brother and sister-in-law! we'll be dog-sitting for the next 3 days so expect a picture-heavy post featuring little chase and me hangin out. it's supposed to POUR rain for the next few days so there won't be a heck of a lot else to do... O_O

this outfit was totally inspired by kennedy from kennedy holmes. i am constantly getting the girly flutters from her amazing looks (referring to her style and her babelyness). if you haven't already, i definitely recommend that you check out her blog and adorable etsy shop.

these are some random new additions to the household decor. we just can't help ourselves, we love nicknacks! the vintage photos on the mantle are some of my favorites. the far left and second from the right is my mom. she is SUCH a babe. the far right is my dad and older brother. the middle three are randoms from the flea market.

outfit details:
- high waisted grey pants - AA
- cream silk top - vintage ralph lauren from a vintage sale
- loafers - thrifted from VV
- mini backpack - UO
- tote - nouvelle nouvelle (free with purchase! or apparently if you serve the sales clerk cappuccino's every day)

thanks for stopping in everyone, more doggy pictures to come!

xoxo.

weekend hunt.

2011-05-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

this weekend we were on the hunt for drape material (but we managed to get in a little thrifting as well OF COURSE). it was quite the adventure! a crazy lady backed into our car TWICE, i tried on the sickest pair of rainbow high-tops in existence, we found the loveliest sewing initiative (where we will be taking sewing classes this summer) plus a magical pond full of adorable ducklings. not bad for a sunday afternoon? oh, and we got some drape material.

these are the materials we settled on! a beautiful lace with a scalloped hem as a first layer and a lovely minty cotton with a floral, birdy pattern as the functioning drape. the second one turned out to look a little more green than we hoped, but luckily we have a patchwork quilt on our bed so there's a lot of colours to match it with.

outfit details:
- floral dress - Final Touch, bought in Maui (can't remember the name of the store but they had great dresses!) :(
- vintage jean jacket - thrifted from VV
- vintage brown loafers - Front and Company on Main Street
- fieldguided tote
- UO mini backpack

hope you all had beautiful and adventurous weekends!

xoxo.

a porch day.

2011-05-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

hi there!

so jb and i are in the process of fixing up our little back porch, i apologize for its somewhat bare appearance. for the majority of our time at our current place, the porch has functioned as The Keeper of the BBQ, The Collector of Algae and Other Rot-like Juices and The Protector of Rusty Lawn Chairs. these are not good titles. i would like to be able to practice ballet on the porch (that is, when i finally start taking ballet classes...), to sit and sip alcoholic beverages (that are preferably devoid of algae), and to take lovely sunset outfit photos under our neighbour's fire escape stairs... so it's not the most romantic porch, but i would love for it to have some more romantic titles. hopefully with a planter or two and some good old fashion scrubbing we can get it up to par in time for the really warm weather! do any of you have a favorite backyard spot to relax in?

outfit details:
- silk midi skirt - vintage from Erin Templeton in Chinatown (i love how scandalous it looks when backlit! hehe!)
- knit tank - thrifted from VV
- woven flats - thrifted from VV
- backpack - UO
- gold necklace with peach stone - thrifted

off to go pick some more flowers for the apartment...

adieu!

xoxo.

vancouver spring ('bout time!)

2011-05-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

hey there all you lovelies!

well it has finally arrived: SPRING has sprung in vancouver. today it was chilly but sunny and it's supposed to make it up to 21 degrees on friday! that's room temperature, people! i don't have to tell you that's quite a miracle for vancouverites. huzzah!

check out the turt getting some sun!

sausage toes...

i had the day off today so i decided to walk to front & company to drop off some consignment, then up to my favorite local park for a picnic and some animal watching. although i had to brave through some muddy patches, the birds were out with fervor and i managed to get some excellent sun-time (don't worry momma, a hat was worn!). at one point a blue heron landed a mere 10 feet from me in the pond and she kept me company for an hour or so! how do you san fransiscans or californians get anything done? truly, i could loll about on lawns and in parks, bird watching and journalling endlessly if the weather held up. maybe that's why i was born up here in the rainforest, so i could lead a somewhat productive life... O_O

outfit details:
- grandma's vintage skirt
- vintage/thrifted white sling-back woven flats
- vintage/thrifted blue knit top
- vintage/thrifted black wool floppy hat
- vintage/thrifted saddle bag

well thank you again for stopping by! wow, this was a pretty picture-heavy post. i love having time to be creative again! yipee! (**sun-induced insanity beginning...)

xoxo.

maui mountain wear.

2011-05-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

well here's the last of my maui pictures! i seriously cannot wait to go back - since our trip ended sooner than we thought my wonderful momma is thinking of going back next year (and taking her 3 mooching adult children with, hopefully)! there was so much more that we wanted to do.

this was the big trip we did up Haleakala Mountain, which at one point was a volcano and hence was covered in amazing volcanic soil and sediment. if you look closely you can see patches of green amongst the red earth...

these were some incredible native cacti that only grow in this specific region of maui - they were at one point endangered but now are a protected species. (i'm such a nerd for cool looking plants.)

momma and bro. check out his wicked shades and peck-flexing stance! hehe! ^_^

this was just one of the many rad things we had planned for the trip. luckily we also have time to go snorkeling but it unfortunately ended in me barfing everywhere! note to self: never get on a boat again.

outfit details:
- tank - vintage, thrifted from F as in Frank on Main
- shorts - vintage Lee, thrifted from F as in Frank
- loafers - vintage from Front & Co. on Main
- hoodie - AA
- mini backpack - UO
- hat - vintage "Kaye Lynn" from Sally Ann

hope your weekends have been lovely!

xoxo.

boyish charm.

2011-05-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

hullo all!

so i totally forgot to post these pictures from a while back when jb & i took a trip to nuba cafe off main street. nuba is one of our favorite vancouver chains and the main st location is a lovely mixture of bright colours, soft sunlight, clean lines and beautiful appetizers. on that note, i was going for a similarly simple and classic outfit with a dash of boyish charm. i've gotten some serious wear out of these oxfords - they go great with rolled up pants, skirts and dresses - and i definitely recommend a similar shoe to anyone looking for a new comfortable staple. vintage or new, there's lots of options out there. (try looking in the men's department at vintage stores, that's where i found these buddies!).

man, this is back when i was rocking the bangs. i constantly swing back and forth between wanting them and not, but i know that committing to the growing out process will be worth it! ugh. y'all former-bang ladies know what i'm talking about.

outfit details:
- plaid button-up - jb's from j.crew
- knit sweater - thrifted vintage
- black skinny jeans - UO
- army jacket - vintage from Used on Granville
- oxfords - vintage David Gordon from Front & Co. (men's department)
- fieldguided tote

have a lovely week!

xoxo.

***EDIT: Blogger was effed up for a while and lost this post and its comments! But thank you very much to those to commented on the original post, I appreciate it!

spring beach day.

2011-05-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

that's right folks: up here in cloudy vancouver it is definitely still spring with a dash of WINTER. cloudy, cold, hail storms... sigh. i can't wait to bust out the bare legs and summer hats, dammit! i'm so eager for simplicity and warmth. this was one of the rare sunny days we've had in the last little while so we had to b-line it to the beach.

outfit details on me:
- rust windbreaker - vintage deadstock Vuarnet from a thriftstore in Burnaby
- turquoise midi skirt - from Front & Co.
- ballet flats - Rocket Dog
- tote bag - fieldguided
- sunglasses - Bang On

outfit details on jb:
- striped shirt - vintage, from a thriftstore in Burnaby
- fake raybans - ??
- jeans - Levi
- white tennis shoes - UO

here's hoping there's more sunshine!

xoxo.

mothers & grandmothers.

2011-05-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

happy mother's day everyone!

well, here we have the magnanimous ruth cutforth: full of vibrant joy and exuberant laughter, always wore at least 3 sparkling rings on meticulously manicured fingers, a sensible yet fashionable frock, a giant purse full of goodies for her grandchildren (and maybe a few for herself) and constantly sported an impeccable perm. my grandma was a total fashion inspiration for me growing up. although i believed her clothes to be outdated when i was a kid (FOLLY!), i was always in awe of her classic choices and attention to detail. (seriously, i don't think i ever saw her with a broken or unfiled nail in my life.) i was lucky enough to be given a few of her frocks, which i altered to fit me and will forever cherish! love you my wonderful gammy!

for my amazing momma (who can be seen looking adorable in the 2nd and 5th pictures on the far right): a picnic basket with red pepper jelly and cheese knife from old faithful, as well as some camembert, brie and dark chocolate. eventually she will need someone to help her eat them, at which point my schedule will be clear i'm sure.

outfit details:
- stripey graphic dress: vintage from my grandma
- red belt: thrifted from ??
- tooled leather purse: thrifted from an antique store in fort langley
- white dance shoes: vintage, thrifted from ??

thanks again for continuing to drop by and for all your comments!

xoxo.

hawaii randoms.

2011-05-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

well, it's raining again in vancouver! saw that one coming. i thought i'd post a few more hawaii pictures to offset the grey bummer we're living in up here. also, HELLO canadian federal election today! it's such a bummer that the conservatives are still in power, but at least the NDP is the official opposition, woot! ^_^ anyway, please enjoy these beach paradise photos as i pine for sunny days...

xoxo.

hawaii romper.

2011-04-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

hi all!
the sun is shining bright today, despite all weather forecasts of rain. i was so encouraged by it that i thought i'd post some hawaii pictures.

this is a romper i found a while back at some thrift store... perhaps in Steveston? gee, i just can't keep track anymore. i adore the flower print and peter pan collar. although our trip was cut short, we had a decent amount of time outside and it was just glorious to be able to wear simple outfits again - no layers, scarves, tights and jackets... just a dress. a hat. perhaps a tote bag. i'm definitely most comfortable in simple, summer wear.

right now i'm working on a slideshow for my grandma's memorial service. what i love most about the process is looking through the many, MANY pictures of grandma laughing. she was known for her loud, joyous laughter and her great sense of humour. she loved to tease people, especially her grand-kids. this picture is really blurry because james took it on his cell phone - but she's in the process of telling him off for holding my hand. priceless!

outfit details:
- floral romper - thrifted
- red hat - thrifted (can't remember where i got these things!)
- backpack - UO
- vintage hawaii tote bag - Steveston Thrift Store

thank you again for all your kind words, and for continually dropping by the blog despite my absence!

xoxo.

PS please note the very long pit hair in that 2nd last photo - hehe, i've been growing it just like the parisians! ^_^

finding peace.

2011-04-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

first of all, i want to thank all of you for your kind words and condolences about my grandma. i was so very encouraged by all of them. bless you all for taking the time to write them!

i'm now gradually going through the process of coming to terms with her death, remembering her amazing life and cherishing all the good memories i have of her. one of the things that always helps me put this crazy world in perspective is to be in nature - surrounded by all things alive and woodsy and growing, yet temporal. so james and i took a trip out to a park that my family and i went to a lot when i was young and just walked around the woods. it was a lovely and encouraging afternoon.

outfit details:
- mint knitted sweater: made and worn by my Grandma
- gold locket: has my Grandma's initials on it and pictures of my great grandparents inside... a true family treasure!
- high-waisted jean shorts: vintage Lee from F as in Frank on Main Street
- striped shirt: from Daiso in Richmond
- loafers: vintage, from Front & Co.

thank you again for the lovely words! an epic grandma post will be coming soon with lots of amazing old pictures. also, my pictures from our hawaii trip will be coming soon too, although it was cut short by my grandma's sudden illness so there aren't as many as i hoped. PS this is my hair with its natural curl, i'm trying to let it be for a while...

stay well dear ones,
xoxo.

RIP grandma.

2011-04-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

hi everyone. sadly, we had to say goodbye to our beloved grandma, mother and friend yesterday at 12:02pm. she died peacefully, surrounded by her family. i can't describe how much of an inspiration my grandma has been to me over my lifetime, and especially this past 9 years she spent living close to us. i will always be thankful for her wisdom, her loving touch and her amazing, joyous laugh.

needless to say, i'll likely be absent for the next few days, but i truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers (and comments). thank you friends for your support and for providing an accepting place for me to express my grief, joy and love.

xoxo.

maui forever...

2011-04-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

well, i'm off to write my final exam and then i'll be taking off bright and early tomorrow morning for MAUI for a week with my fam! these are some thrifting purchases i found yesterday for the trip. i can't tell you all how excited i am to finally have a true vacation - but i also understand how incredibly lucky i am to be able to go. so a big shout out to momma for footing the bill!

i'll be sure to come back with lots of pictures...

adieu!
xoxo.

spring pink.

2011-04-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

oooo exams are in full-tilt now so this post has got to be a speedy one! i wore this simple and comfy outfit to my last women's studies class of the term... *tear* one day i'll compose a succinct and passionate post about my adoration of women's studies and belief that truly everyone (men and women) should take at least one class in their lifetime. but for now all of my passion and energy is being poured into cramming and paper-writing!

i realized that i forgot to mention that i will be leaving for MAUI THIS FRIDAY with my mom and younger bro! this trip was very last minute so i think i'm still in disbelief that i will actually be somewhere tropical (sunscreen will be essential). while i'm gone i just may try to get jb to do a few guest posts, so stay tuned!

outfit details
- pink textured skirt: vintage daniel hechter from Front & Co.
- lace tee: AA
- booties: Spank Shoes
- mini backpack: UO sale rack

hopefully i'll be posting once or twice more before i leave. until then!

xoxo.

peaches & jean.

2011-04-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

get it? instead of peaches and cream?! ohh my wit is abounding lately..... :l everything in my soul is screaming SUMMER right now, and i can't wait to break out my vintage lee jean shorts and 90's tanks... i wore this blouse last summer, with some vintage shorts.

this was another comfy cozy outfit i wore around the house and to go jean shopping. which was an utter failure. is it really this hard to find a pair of dark-wash, high-waisted skinny jeans for under $100? but truly, it's almost spring and i have this here pair of medium wash jeans that can last me through the season. things are not dire. i must stay strong.

...with that said, sometimes it does seem like such a trial to avoid rampant materialism. i find that my shopping "needs" go through the roof when i'm stressed - which is probably true for many people out there. and i know that blogs such as this one tend to perpetuate the feeling that we absolutely "need" those new jeffrey campbell boots or we "must have" that adorable designer bag we saw our favorite blogger wearing. i hope that i can at least promote a somewhat thrifty lifestyle and the beauty and inspiration one can find in nature and every day occurrences and surroundings - not just the rush of a fresh purchase. although sometimes i do get caught up in trying to find those hidden treasures!

outfit details:
- stretchy high-waisted jeans that are totally fine for now: Urban Outfitters ^_^
- peach blouse: thrifted from VV
- kate bush tote: fieldguided (as you can see this tote has become my constant companion)
- boots: second hand from Front & Co.
- army jacket: vintage from Used

thanks again for stopping by everyone, and i truly appreciate your comments and "follows"!

xoxo.

3 years mine, and many more.

2011-04-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

today marks the 3 year milestone for jb & i. at the risk of gushing for pages on end, i will just say this: i am a lucky, lucky lady.

the infamous new morrissey haircut (please excuse the ugly lounging slippers).

we've made it through some hard times, long distances and bad moustaches. our photography skills have thankfully improved, our fashion sense matured (phew), and most importantly our love and respect for each other has grown immensely.

jb's outfit details (in first 3 images):
- jeans: Levi
- shirt: thrifted from Used on Granville
- ugly slippers: Shoppers Drug Mart ^_^

thanks for sharing this special day with us, and continuing to enjoy our pictures and stories!

xoxo.

aquarium times.

2011-04-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

nothing beats a new haircut and a sunday afternoon aquarium trip (jb got the haircut, more pics to come later). the aquarium was a total gong show, probably just because of the family time slot, but i attributed it to the popularity of jb's new haircut and his resemblance to a young, fresh-faced morrissey. so excellent!

so i have to talk about this epic animal-human moment we shared with a dolphin. he came right up to the glass and stared at us for about 2 minutes (apparently just because of the light on jb's camera, but i attributed it to my dolphin-whispering skillz). i wanted to steal him right outta that false habitat and cuddle him a bunch then set him free. sigh. anyway, this was the lil' outfit i wore.

outfit details:
- thrifted skirt (DIY hem job came undone... i really need a sewing machine!)
- loafers - from Front & Co. on Main Street
- thrifted mint wind-breaker
- gold old-man sweater - F as in Frank on Main Street
- thrited cream floral cardigan

it was truly lovely to hang with jb and the fishes and pretend i don't have finals creeping up on me. yay for the home stretch!

hope you all had a lovely weekend ^_^

xoxo.

fun with maxi's.

2011-03-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

i got this skirt at a lovely clothing swap, which was timely because my wardrobe felt seriously floral-lacking. the weather in vancouver is still quite rainy and overcast, but it's gradually getting warmer and i'm very anxious to stop wearing bulky rain gear and dark colours. i also love the texture of this grocery bag i got. it will be used as a beach bag this summer for sure.

for some reason this skirt made me want to act like a 5 year old.

outfit details:
- maxi skirt: thrifted and swapped
- black boots: Spank Shoes on W.4th
- sweater: AA
- beach bag: Natural Bags from a health food store in Richmond... can't remember the name!

i'm going to go admire some crocuses. thanks for dropping by!

xoxo.

leopards and pines.

2011-03-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

hullo there! it's been a few days, glad to see you all again. i wore this little number to an art history presentation last week. the pictures were a bit rushed and out of focus as i was a tad nervous ^_^ but the presentation went well and i felt confident in my leopard print and mustard yellow.

mm, i love dusk. there's something about the overlying shadows and fleeting light... it can create otherworldly portrait of everyday things. although nowadays dusk seems to get later and later (whoopee!) so i kind of cheated with some of these photos and turned my exposure way down. i also love the abundance of pines and evergreens we have up on the west coast. their needles tend to soak up light rather than reflect it, which can seem gloomy but its a lovely contrast to other types of plants, and makes for great creepy photos. i've also been experimenting with my style a little, so things with great texture but that stay STILL are currently my favorite subjects ^.^

outfit details:
- skirt: A.P.C. from Eugene Choo
- leopard blouse: thrifted
- crocheted cardi: thrifted
- loafers: from Front & Co.

happy monday to all!

xoxo.

tea time.

2011-03-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

today is another homework day. something that really motivates me when i know i have an entire day of paper-writing ahead of me is performing some little rituals. namely, tea time and some photo-taking. i love knowing that i will have a delicious lunch, some warm (caffeinated) liquid and a creative outlet to break up the study time. just taking the time to find joy in the small activities helps me to feel like less of a victim to the Homework Slave Master. what are some of your little rituals?

outfit details:
- polka dot blouse: thrifted
- high-waisted jeans: UO (man these things are beat up)
- cardigan: thrifted
- grey lumber jack socks: superstore
- granny shoes: zellers

lunch details:
- sandwich: hummus, soy cream "cheese", tomatoes, sprouts and fresh ground pepper
- salad: romaine lettuce, apple, raisins, almonds, carrots, raspberry vinaigrette and fresh ground pepper
- tea: organic assam with rice milk

i truly adore this spring weather... can't wait to go outside!

xoxo.

give them bows.

2011-03-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

hi there! so i haven't really allowed myself to dress in a "cutesie" outfit for a while - opting for more casual and/or boyish looks. but it's nice to mix it up. who can say no to a little plum in their lives? and a cute romper? definitely not me. and bows? not the worst thing in the world. wow, double negatives all over the place! never never!

fake pet...

i find that anything with a mid-thigh length and that cinches at the waist is my best friend. probably true for many ladies. all of these hipster jeans, hipster panties, bathing suits that cut off your circulation at the hips - nonsense. at the very least i can't understand who they would be comfortable for. even ladies who do not have a lot of girth at the hips. they really are more designed for boys, who want things relatively loose around the junk area. i think this speaks to a lot of the clothing out there. hey! we are not adolescent girls anymore! many of us have ample hips, dammit, as well as other lovely curves and rolls! we need support in our bras and bathing tops, and room around the middle! can i get a whut?

outfit details:
- polka-dottie romper: lovely girl, from front & co. on main street
- plum granny sweater: thrifted
- velvet bow hairclip: from dollar store
- leather purse: thrifted from VV in Richmond
- vintage ferragamo shosies: from amandelOe on etsy - warning: ferragamo's are notoriously thin - i'm gonna have to get mine stretched big timez!

thanks for dropping in everyone, and thank you very much for your lovely and engaging comments, i truly appreciate them!

xoxo.

red'n'gold.

2011-03-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

hullo everyone! today i'm majorly feeling the time change and am quite grumpy. in honor of my grumpiness, i'd like to talk about something that has caused many whiney moments over the past few months: The Pet Situation. i must let out my frustrations.

we live in a lovely home. thankfully the rent is not too high, our neighbours are not too crazy and we have an awesome fireplace. but there's one major bummer about our place: the No Pet Policy. for two huge animal lovers (actually one animal lover and one animal OBSESSED individual) this policy is more than a bummer. it's getting in the way of our fulfillment! our ability to express love, snuggles and squeeliness towards our fellow creatures! a fish just doesn't cut it anymore, dammit! i've started to fill our home with animal figurines, piggy banks, porcelain, artwork... i've even tattooed a permanent little buddy on my arm to fill my animal void! sigh. if we could only have pets here it would be the perfect place to live. how does everyone feel about signing a "let zoë have a pet" petition and mailing it to my landlord? ^_^

but really, it's probably a good thing that we wait to get pets - we want to have the time and energy to devote to training, exercise and general snuggles that pets need (especially dogs). but in the mean time, do any of you have some cute pet stories that you can share with me, to fill my pet void? O_O

outfit details:
- red skirt: Urban Outfitters (it fits very strangely though, i had to pin the back)
- goldy cream sweater: American Apparel
- granny shoes: Zellers
- purse: thrifted

thanks for listening to me whine! have a lovely tuesday...

xoxo.

last days of winter.

2011-03-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

hullo all! i hope your friday's are off to a great start. these pictures mark another day of procrastination passing. it seems that despite already needing an extension on this paper i'm "writing" i still can't manage to finish the damn thing. the process of school (deadlines, expectations, completion of tasks) really can be a fascinating exercise in psychology.... or exasperating depending on how you look at it. i always seem to put off starting a paper because i convince myself i will do a terrible job. but by the time it's finished i end up doing just fine... yet somehow i never learn anything from this process because it starts all over again on the next assignment! all you students out there know what i mean, right?! perhaps this time i can break the cycle.

i thought i'd wear this red winter coat once more before spring is officially in bloom. i think my favorite part of the weather getting warmer is not having to worry about coats. no coats 4 lyf!

outfit details:
- big red coat: vintage from Solid Threads on Main St. (now closed)
- stripey sweater: thrifted from Sally Anne on 12th
- brown skirt & brown belt: thrifted
- tote: fieldguided
- oxfords: vintage David Gordon from Front & Co on Main St.

women's day and comfy sweaters.

2011-03-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

happy international women's day everyone! in honor of this glorious day i got in my coziest sweater, ate some delicious food, relaxed with some tea and attempted to spread some girl love. (PS nice camera reflection in that first shot, eh? ha...)

cute salt'n'pep shakers from old faithful (link in the "shops" section to your right).

as my beautiful and intelligent ladyfriend mikael put it: "To my mom, my grandmothers, my sisters, my aunts, my girl cousins and my gal pals; to the the suffragettes and the bra burners; to the women whose past efforts have made it so that I can vote, own property and be educated; to all the women still fighting for women's equality and to all the men doing the same, I wish you a very Happy 100th International Women's Day!"

a little woman's day suggestion to all you amazing ladies: try to compliment a fellow woman this week on something other than her appearance (since this is oh-so-permeable and not at all defining of the entire woman!).

for a great article on why international women's day matters, see here.

outfit details:
- cream oxfords: zeha berlin from Lark on Main
- cream tights: from Welk's on Main
- mustard skirt: a.p.c. from Eugene Choo on Main
- cozy sweater: thrifted

xoxo!

robin red breast.

2011-03-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

i'm happy that the weather today has decided to match the spring-like feel of my new tattoo, care of the lovely valerie graham! this is ink #2 and i'm real happy with it. we'll be doing a little more shading but it's pretty much done. yay for my new little bud!

these pictures were taken in my very overgrown backyard before jb and i biked down to the library. man, what a weird place the vancouver public library is. so many strange men playing online poker and role-playing games. there also seemed to be someone on my floor who liked to sneeze very loudly. and not just the regular "a-choo" - it was more like a karate chop or tennis player yell. then there was a lady three desks down from me that kept giggling hysterically to herself. never a dull moment, let me tell you.

outfit details:
- chambray romper: thrifted from a thrift store in the Okanagan (full of granny clothes!)
- black cardigan: H&M
- peach scarf: thrifted from VV in Richmond
- leather messenger bag: boyfriend's
- oxfords: vintage David Gordon from Front & Co.

thanks for dropping in!

xoxo.

thunder in our hearts.

2011-03-04T10:16:00.000-08:00

my new tote is here from fieldguided! get ready for some serious gushing...

i absolutely adore fieldguided's aesthetic (as does the majority of the vintage blogging sphere out there). the simple cotton and the awesome kate bush lyric makes for a wonderful tote that goes with pretty much everything. huge fan of anabela's products and her wonderful blog that features her truly inspiring photography (gush gush gush).

well here i am in plain ol' high-waisted jeans again! ha. totally living in them lately and loving it. these ones are also from UO like my black ones. they are a good alternative to expensive jeans but i'll warn you: get up to 2 sizes smaller than usual. they stretch like a mofo.

outfit details:
- new tote: fieldguided
- jeans: UO
- oxfords: vintage David Gordon, via Front & Co. on Main St
- peach gingham blouse: thrifted from VV in Richmond
- beige cardigan: old suzy shier (from when i worked there in high school... ugh)

well, off to class! have a wonderful friday,

xoxo.

ultimate granny outfit.

2011-02-28T10:39:00.000-08:00

i love finally having a working tripod! hooray!

after re-watching a bunch of six feet under episodes this weekend i was inspired to put together an ultimate granny outfit ala ruth fisher (played by frances conroy who is amazing). i'm very much into longer skirt lengths right now and just having more fun with my outfits, not worrying so much about if they "flatter my form" or make me look old or something. i just hope i don't want to dress like a 13 year old when i'm 60 to make up for lost time... nah, i have a feeling i'll be enjoying my muumuu's and orthopedic clogs immensely. ^_^

this is where i dropped the camera remote by accident. can you spot it?

this adorable acorn necklace was a gift to my granny from my mom. apparently there was a place near our house that coated thing in gold! so my mom got an acorn done. it's probably the most darling and beloved piece of jewelry i have. do you have any beloved family jewels of your own?

outfit details:
- granny skirt - vintage, from Front & Co. on Main Street
- granny sweater - thrifted from Sally Ann on 12th
- leather moccasins/loafers - also vintage and from Front & Co.
- leather saddle bag - thrifted from VV in Richmond

have a lovely day, and call your grannies!

xoxo.

candy stripes & minty lace.

2011-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

so along the lines of dressing for the awkward in-between season and my desire to live in high-waisted jeans and granny sweaters, i thought i'd do a post on alternatives to "boring" outfits (that are essentially still "boring" outfits but with a little more pizazz...).

keep in mind that i'm using the word "boring" in the most quotation mark-y way because any outfit with some creativity and effort is never boring and girls should most definitely not be made to feel that their ensemble is "boring" just because it does not include a skirt, a dress, high-heels or other traditionally "feminine" fashion constructions. wow, quotation marks are out of control today.

if i'm in the mood for fairly simple, comfortable articles of clothing i like to play with texture as a way to add that elusive pizazz (i'm trying to bring this word back from our mothers' era if you haven't noticed... it's fantastic!). stripes are such an amazing thing. they look so great with strong textures - wool, tweed, lace or velvet... i would definitely recommend snatching up any stripey items from your local thrift store - they'll be worth their weight in PIZAZZ! ha ha!

really gotta work on my high kick.

outfit details:
- black high-waisted jeans: UO
- black suede/leather boots: Marc O'Polo from Front & Co. on Main Street
- mint lace top: thrifted?
- stripey grandma vest: Value Village in Richmond
- locket: thrifted?

thanks for stopping by, and don't be afraid to be "boring"!

^_^

xoxo.

kitchen day.

2011-02-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

now that we've finally painted our cabinets i'm happy to stay in the kitchen. just don't ask me to make you a sandwich, HAR HAR. before this lovely mint colour, the cabinets were SHINY and BLACK. honestly, i have no idea what our landlord was thinking, but i suspect it went something like, "black won't look dirty and shiny things are fancy".

*warning: this post (and outfit) is somewhat uneventful as today was my study/clean/drink tea/be comfy day. i'm trying to find more peace and joy in my common surroundings lately. taking time to bask in sunlight. making our bed just how i like it. organizing things into sets of threes so they look complete and adorable. listening to birds. looking out of windows more often. lifting up my head/chest/heart. it's so easy to get lost in routine and anxiety and let ourselves slump, tense, furrow, constrict.

along the same lines of simplicity and peace, my outfits have become more and more simplistic lately. maybe i'm just unable to bridge the awkward gap between winter and this pseudo-spring we've been having, but i'm enjoying relaxing into high-waisted jeans and granny sweaters.

outfit details:
- high-waisted jeans: UO
- peach tank: thrifted
- beige granny sweater: thrifted
- cream floral sweater: thrifted
- pink slippers: made by my Granny

hope you have peaceful days!

xoxo.