Troop Beverly Hills East Van

"Troop Beverly Hills" was one of my favorite movies as a child. I remember renting it countless times at the local Video Stop and being overjoyed when it was the Saturday afternoon movie on tv. I've probably literally seen this movie a hundred times.

Maybe that's why everytime I wear these boots I think of Shelley Long leading her troop of misfits through the wild? Even though, there is no khaki to
be seen on me.

Whatever the reason, I am glad to walk down the street humming the music and thinking of those rich girls who just wanted to be included.

(i know i need to learn how to take better pics of myself! be patient as i hone my blogging skills.)







sweater: Gap, t-shirt: Bangkok market, scarf: vintage, jeans: Urban Outfitters, Shoes: Beautiful Shoes Cambodia

my proudest knitting moment so far

A cowichan-style sweater- jacket i made myself

last year. i haven't had much of a chance to

wear it, but here's hoping i will!

Cute. Allison Wonderland Cute.

     I feel cute today. Allison Wonderland cute!

     If you aren't familiar with local Vancouver designer Allison Smith and her Allison Wonderland label, then today's the day to discover it.
    
     I recently bought this pair of high-waisted shorts in grey (which also come in black and bright red) and I basically feel like a model whenever I wear them with my red wedges (by Crocs). It's obvious from this picture that I don't look like a model in them, but that's far from the point. I feel summery and retro, but still modern, like I walked out of a great '60s movie and people are looking at me wondering where I came from.

     Probably not true, but I think great clothes are all about how you feel in them and Allison's clothes make me feel put together, comfortable, and fashionable. Plus, all her clothing is designed and manufactured locally, so that's something to feel good about.

Click here to find a store near you.

True North Strong and Free . . . ?

On this day of Canada, I unfortunately feel little of the usual pride I would associate with the holiday. For one, it is cold out. 14 degrees in July is just depressing.

Secondly, Gordon Campbell's government has wowed me again with their blatant disregard for what the people of British Columbia actually want. This guy is all about big business, not so much about the people who suffer from constant cuts to health care and education. Today Mr. Campbell brought in the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) against the wishes of 700,000 voters who signed a petition opposing it. Way to be a voice of the people, Gordo! I was really excited about the Fight HST campaign. I truly thought this would be a successful act of democracy, that the "Liberal" (the quotes for the irony of the party name) Government would put their agenda aside and listen to the citizens. I feel like an optimistic fool.

I feel so frustrated sometimes by the details of life that I cannot control. Government (Federal and Provincial), the rising costs of living without rising salaries, the severe acts of injustice committed daily around the world. It can all be so defeating.

Apologies for the ranting.
The next post will return to happier, more fashion'y topics.

One more . . .

This one is dear to my heart, as the strips are cut from a bandanna I 

tie-dyed at camp when I was 12.

good times.

More Wovens

Another woven t-shirt. Not sure why it's wrinkling like that...? I think this would be especially cute with some high-waisted shorts for the summer. Once the Vancouver weather decides to co-operate with the season.

Fashion and Destruction

I've decided to make more woven shirts even though none have sold yet. This one is inspired by the army colours out right now and the Balmain shirt Daria wore on the runway.

Apparently, Bikini = $$$$

Today, I bought my first decent bikini after years of slummin' it with Old Navy and H&M styles. HOLY CRAP! When did bathing suits get to be so expensive?!!? I'm pretty sure my heart stopped after just looking at the price tag. Especially after realizing that the top and bottoms were priced separately.

Now, I'll admit that I'm a bit stingy, especially in this age of disposable fashion, but do all bikinis cost over $100? Do woman pay this price every summer to look and feel good by the seashore? And that's why I decided to fork over the cash. I feel good in this suit and I can't remember the last time I've had that feeling. Dreading going in the water for one more summer seems ridiculous to me, especially since it's one of my favorite things to do.

So maybe feeling good about doing your favorite thing is worth paying a little extra for.

Socks with Sandals

I've noticed in most of the summer magazines I've been reading, that many-a-model has been styled wearing socks with strappy heels and wedges.

I think this looks awesome in editorials and am tempted to try it myself, but is this one of those styles that looks great on the runway and not so great on the sidewalk?

     I would hate to look like this.

     Any tips would be welcomed.








* image borrowed from http://besenretail.wordpress.com

T-Shirt Weaving

After showing my boss my 'fun, quick projects', she was especially interested to see more of the fabric weaving one (that I originally did in coral and black). So here they are, as per Wendy's request! 

(I'm pretty happy with them, myself.) :o)

Fringe Necklaces!

This is not an excellent picture, I realize, but hopefully you can get the idea until I can take a better picture.

It's a suede and leather fringe necklace on a silver chain.

Now available at Dream - 311 W. Cordova St. and Little Dream in the Net Loft at Granville Island.

1992 returns

Honestly, am I in elementary school again? Is it 1992 already? 

I have been walking through stores shaking my head, open-mouthed, hardly believing that these trends I wore in grade 2 could be making a come-back. 

I cannot bring myself to wear clogs, overalls, light-denim shirts, or mixed pastels, which I'm pretty sure I wore all at the same time at one time in my life. I don't want to wear items for fashion's sake that make me feel like a gawky 8-year old. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved 1992. I have fond memories of the music I listened to and even the clothing I wore, I just don't think I can do it again.

I'll have to see if I can get over my awkward fashion flashbacks before these trends are over.

I love me some Gin Rickey

 On the way to a wedding on the weekend, we were a bit early and serendipitously passed a row of outlet stores. So, while my husband read a book at Starbucks, I did some power shopping and ended up with these lovelies. They are called "Gin Rickey" by A2 by Aerosoles. Why the fancy name, I don't know. . .

But, I love myself some new pretty shoes!

New On-line Haunt

I hate to admit it, but I like playing games on-line. Especially ones to do with fashion or dress-up. Maybe because it takes me back to being a kid when the majority of my time could be spent playing as opposed to being an adult and having responsibilities.

Now I get my daily dose of fashion play at roi world. You can play dress-up with the latest designer frocks, runway trends, and garments featured on "Project Runway." You can also create your very own avatar and shop for clothes for it. Mine is seen to the left - they have no curly-haired option, but that's the only real complaint I have. This site is good, fashionable fun!

Fun, Quick Projects Now available at Dream - 311 W Cordova

Slashing and weaving. 

The tags that my Father-in-Law gave me for Christmas.
Now available at Dream - 311 W Cordova
$34

fun, quick projects continue . . .

Here I am going for 'destructive, yet pretty'. 

I was inspired by an idea from "Generation T", but am not much of a cut-out

heart kind of gal. So I made a house instead. And just in case you can't tell

that it's a house, I embroidered "Home" on the bottom.

fun, quick projects

I've been playing with old t-shirts this week, attempting to give them new life. 

The pictures aren't great for showing texture, but you can get a broad idea of the styles.

Veruca Salt Revelation

I took a trip down memory lane yesterday.
I listened to some Veruca Salt after hearing an old song of theirs in a movie the night before. They were one of my favorite bands in Grade 7. I even went downtown to see them and the Muffs play at the Vogue Theatre, un-accompanied by parents, no less. They symbolised freedom and girl power to me before the Spice Girls even came up with the phrase.
But i was rattled listening to them again. The music was loud and angry. I don't remember it being so loud. Maybe I'm old now because it totally gave me a headache.
And the anger! It got me thinking, 'was I an angry child?'
no, i don't think so. I was probably just angst-ridden, like every other 13 year old.Or just listening to it because my friends and our older siblings listened to it.
No matter what I think of it now, this music evokes a whole period of my life - wearing plaid shirts, light-wash, baggy denim and listening to Hole, Nirvana, Green Day, Veruca Salt, Pearl Jam etc. I remember watching Lollapalooza on MuchMusic and thinking it looked so cool. I thought moshing in the rain and the band throwing dirt clods into the crowd and swearing at you looked cool. And no one was telling them to act that way, not like the micro-managed acts today. No one had to design a clothing label and be on a television show and have their own perfume scent to be taken seriously as musicians. They just played their instruments to death and rocked out!

The Olympics are coming, the Olympics are coming. . .

Apparently, this long-talked about event is finally upon us. Already, in the last few weeks, there have been more people coming into the city - more people wearing Olympic gear, more people with blue jackets and Olympic i.d. tags on Olympic lanyards, more people cramming into buses and sky trains.

Vancouver 2010 has been talked about for so long that I hardly believe it is really going to happen (or is most likely already beginning to happen behind heavily secured doors). Like that family trip your parents talk about planning when your 6 and are still planning 20 years later - it feels like something other people do and you just talk about.

What does it look like for 250,000 people to come into a city anyway? Where do they all stay? Where do they all come from? I just can't imagine the sheer volume of it! I guess I shall begin to find out this weekend. I'm both nervous and excited. I'm nervited or excivous. Not as good as smad, but I tried.

"Let Your Freak Flag Fly"

My sister-in-law has informed me that the Boba Fett ski mask I made and posted on Etsy last year has been put on the Club Jade blog. This is a blog for and by female Star Wars and Sci-fi fans.

This is quite amusing to me since I am only a mild Star Wars fan (i liked the ewoks) and only by sheer coincidence ended up knitting 2 Star Wars themed toques last winter. The other was an R2D2 hat (seen below on my husband).

What a small, funny world we live in!

Northern House

The Olympics bring, along with many inconveniences to my daily travels, many cultural gemstones that we are lucky to have access to.

Among them is Northern House, and exhibition of the life of The Northwest Territories, The Yukon, and Nunavut. Overlook the tourism and marketing spin and enjoy a free art gallery of Inuit works.

There are beautiful soap stone carvings (apparently all lent from 1 man's collection!), embroidery using parts of moose hide as thread, beading, moccassins, and paintings. All making me marvel at the beauty that can come from simply using and being creative with what is available in the environment around you.

Northern House is located on Hastings St. (at Seymour) and is open and free to the public through the end of March.

Cover your Bum, PLEASE!

Here's something I've been wanting to get off my chest.

LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS!

I'm sure others have already stated this, like, a year ago, but apparently more emphasis is needed.
Seriously, I love myself a legging, but they are not a replacement for jeans. This whole trend of young (and not so young) girls wearing a t-shirt, jean jacket, black leggings, and boots is not flattering. It is basically what happens when a trend goes out to the masses - we get comfortable with it and take it too far. It's not long before we're back to Peg Bundy or thinking black leggings and black dress pants are the same thing. You know who you are. The first step is admitting it.