Outfit of the Day: At the Cafe Again...

Hey Everyone,

So you already know that I tend to spend a lot of time in cafes. It might be less clear why. Well, I am working on my PhD at the moment, and I honestly find cafes among the easiest places in which to do research and write.

I get a lot of quizzical looks when I tell people this, but it really works for me. It gives me a reason to wake up, eat breakfast, shower, and get ready for the day, when if I planned to spend my whole day at home, I'd probably have none of that stuff done by noon. I also see others in a similar situation at the cafe, and I feel a quiet but discernable sense of camraderie with these fellow writers and readers. There's a certain appeal about working amongst others. I know I am not alone, and if I let my eyes wander from my screen or page for too long, I can be sure that one of these kindred spirits will shame me back into focus with their own prying and distracted eyes.

There is also an endless supply of caffeinated beverages just waiting for me to order them, giving me that 3pm boost that I always so desperately need. There is no tv, couch - or worse yet - bed, to draw me into hours of procrastination that will ultimately lead to an all-nighter or a missed deadline. So the cafe is a warm place of solace for readers and writers to gather and work, drink coffee and think. And for that reason it will always be one of my favourite places - either to study, write, or pass a Sunday morning with The New York Times style section. Baristas - you have no idea how appreciated you are!

I tried a new cafe in Toronto, and I absolutely love it, despite the fact that it's almost always absolutely full of patrons (and there are many good reasons why). Peter took these pictures of me at Crema (the Junction location) in Toronto. Such excellent coffee, atmosphere, and the best chocolate almond croissant you've ever had.

I got this amazing (yes - shoulder-padded, deal with it!) dress at Goodwill for $4. The boots are c/o Torrid, the leggings and bracelets are F21+, and the scrabble piece necklace (which spells out LOVE) is from ASOS.

Another couple of fun new things to show you: my "new" (another $4 Goodwill score) bright blue coat, and my closet jewelry organizer. Peter was tired of untangling all my necklaces all the time (I do NOT have the patience for that kind of thing!), so I've been looking for something like this for ages. I found one by Umbra, which was featured in January's Vogue, that was shaped like a little black dress, but it was $25, and didn't have as many pockets as this one that I ended up with. I found it at Wal-Mart in the jewelry section amongst the 50% off stocking stuffers and I was ecstatic. Each one was $7, so I bought two, because I have quite a bit of jewelry! I am so pleased with them. No more tangles, and now I can find everything so easily - no more burrowing through my jewelry box for that matching earring that can't be located anywhere when I'm already running 15 minutes late. It makes it easier to co-ordinate jewelry choices with clothing as well. Big time saver! If you can't tell, I'm really excited about organization, lol. Anyway, just thought I'd share that fun stuff with you!

A Trip to Whole Foods

Hey Everyone!

A Whole Foods just opened up near where I live and I thought I would go and check it out and this is what I wore there. What a beautiful store! I'd love to do all of my groceries there, but man, is it pricey! It has a really nice shopping environment and a great selection of stuff. I bought a bar of rose scented bulk soap and the cashier was so nice! She was a curvier girl too, and she complimented me on my dress! I gave her my card, so if you're reading, comment and say hello! Your compliment made my day! I don't really have much else to add. Make sure you guys buy your tickets for the Big Beautiful Wellness Anniversary Party so you can see me walk on the runway on Saturday! 

Dress, Earrings, and Shoes - Thrifted/Belt - Forever 21+/Necklace - ASOS/Purse - Costa Blanca Accessories

OOTD: Catching up with friends

Hey Everyone,

So last night I met up with a couple of my friends from my MA year in Toronto. I hadn't seen them in ages and ages and a catch-up session was definitely in order. I finally got to see my friend's place (she's been living there since April, I think), and things have just been so busy with school lately that I hadn't gotten a chance. We sat at her place and had a few glasses of cheap jug o'white wine and played scrabble. Pretty awesome! They're doing pretty well and it was really nice to hang out. I made some great friends during my MA year and I am really sad that we don't stay in touch more. I know that life can get in the way sometimes (my exams + whatever everyone else is up to + we're all spread out in different cities now) but I really feel like it's important to make an effort to stay in touch with friends. I always force myself to make time, and I am always glad I do. What about you guys? Do you find it hard to fit socializing into busy work/school schedules? Do you have friends that you wish it was easier to stay in touch with? I think PhD work is necessarily isolating (you stay at home or in your office at school all day, working by yourself), which is why I find it especially important in my case to make time for friends. Some professors I have met in my time as a student have clearly been isolated from society for too long, lol! Some of you know what I'm talking about... 0_o
In any case, I had a great time.

But what's with this weather? Yuck! It's so hot here! I can't deal. I looked cute at the beginning of the night (at least I think so...), but I was a total sweaty Betty by the end of the night! It's probably my own fault for wearing jeans. What was I thinking? I just love jeans so much! It's hard to wait until more appropriate weather to wear them. What do you guys think of this outfit? Am I totally nuts for wearing jeans? Do you wear jeans in the summer?

Top - ASOS (from their straight size line)/Jeans - Swapped at Big, Fat Toronto, Shoes - Target/Clutch , Scarf, and Blue Bangle - Thrifted/Other Bangles - Forever 21/Necklace - Ardene

PS - I am growing my eyebrows in a bit thicker. Can you tell? What do you think? It's killing me not to tweeze them! Also - the 6 take scheduled for the end of the month is going to be epic. I've started taking shots for it, and they're turning out pretty awesome. I'm excited for it. I almost want to post the pictures now!

Happy (Belated) Canada Day!!! And Early 4th of July!

Hey Everyone,

Since yesterday was Canada Day, I wanted to wear red and white to show my pride! I went to visit some friends in Waterloo and we watched a fireworks display. It was awesome! What did you guys do?

This outfit could probably also work for the fourth of July for any Americans reading my blog, since the denim shorts are blue...

I wanted to keep it simple and comfortable since I was spending a lot of the day outside. I think I got a bit too much sun though. Ouch! I forgot to bring sunscreen with me. Oops! I look a little lobster-y today, lol. I can NOT tan. I either look like Snow White or Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, LOL.

Top - Re/Dress NYC (tag says Necessary Objects)/Shorts - Dots/Purse - thrifted  (tag says Banana Republic)/Shoes - Target/Sunglasses - ASOS 

So what did you guys do for Canada Day? Anything good? What'd you wear? 

Advance Screening of Bill Cunningham New York

Hey Everyone!

This past Thursday, I got to go to an advance screening of a fantastic fashion documentary called Bill Cunningham New York, courtesy of Fashion Magazine Canada. I thought I'd just do a quick review before showing you what I wore to the screening!

Bill Cunningham New York is a film about the endurance of the human spirit as much as it is about fashion. It chronicles the life of Bill Cunningham, octogenarian style photographer for the New York Times. We are invited into his life, and what we find there is stunning - both beautifully and tragically. The passion demonstrated by the notoriously un-fashionably dressed Bill Cunningham is an inspiration and most certainly anomolous. It is rare to glimpse the life of someone so determined to find beauty everywhere, in places expected and unexpected. At 80 years of age, we see a determined Bill Cunningham cycling all over the (cyclist unfriendly) streets of New York, determined to capture the perfect moments on film (yes - film - he doesn't use digital), creating a fascinating narrative about the city through his images of its style. His work is even somewhat anthropological in nature, as his office is full of filing cabinets bursting at the seams with photographic negatives that document decades of the street style and culture for which New York has become famous. The film includes interviews with several important people within the fashion world (Anna Wintour says "I've said many times that we all get dressed for Bill") who emphasize Bill's participation in that world (and the massive effect he has on it), but he is not merely interested in high fashion. Many of Bill's photographs are of "regular" people on the street who simply happen to wear something that interests him. He is not interested in "celebrities and their free dresses," he is interested in clothes - no matter who designed them or who's wearing them. His vision of fashion is rather democratizing and insists that fashion is available to all. I love this aspect of the film because it is so in keeping with my project here. Bill and several of the people interviewed in relation to Bill  (especially Patrick McDonald and Shail Upadhya - former UN official to Nepal) are true characters, and exhibit such a determination to be themselves despite what others think that they are incredibly inspiring. Bill entirely eschews worldly goods and refuses to sell out to or for anyone, living an almost-monk-like lifestyle, insisting that he will not accept anything (even a meal at a function he is covering) so that he can maintain artistic integrity and true freedom of expression. This aspect of the film is truly refreshing in our capital-driven times. I strongly recommend that you go see Bill Cunningham New York. Anyone who is interested in fashion will love it, and those who are not interested in fashion, but just interested in humanity, will love it too. My favourite quote from the film was something Bill said: "He who seeks beauty will find it." Well, I have found it. In this film, and definitely in you, Bill. Thank you for dedicating your life to helping us all to see the beauty.

With Michael from Films We Like - The production company for Bill Cunningham New York

Many thanks to Fashion Magazine Canada for the complimentary pass!

Jacket - Forever 21+/Dress - ASOS (their straight size collection - a UK 18 or US 14, this one looked stetchy and big at the hips so I chanced it and ordered it - glad I did)/Leather Look Leggings - Yours Clothing/Shoes - Clockhouse Brand from a department store in Amsterdam called C&A (these need some love from the shoe repair guy as they have a kitten heel, and I wore them in Amsterdam walking on cobblestones and the heel kept getting stuck and the leather is all messed up now)/Purse and Scarf - Costa Blanca/Feather Fascinator/hair clip - Urban Outfitters

Peacock feather fascinator/hair clip

And the man behind all the fashion madness finally consented to me posting a picture of him on here! This is my boyfriend/life partner/significant other/whatever-you-want-to-call-it, Peter. We've been together for over 12 years now, and he's always amazingly supportive with everything I do (which is quite a lot, actually). Thank you sweetheart, for being my photographer, sometimes my assistant self-stylist, a great ear and shoulder, and my best friend. I love you.

When we got home, I realized this detail on the dress had been hidden in a lot of the shots by my scarf, so I decided to take a shot of it because it's one of my favourite parts of the dress!

And zoomed out...

So what do you guys think of the outfit? Have any of you seen Bill Cunningham New York yet? I truly recommend it (no one has paid me/given me anything to say this - it's just my honest opinion). Peter even liked it, and he's not into fashion at all. We even spent this past Sunday perusing the style section of the New York Times (which is where Bill's articles appear) in a coffee shop in Liberty Village because we were so inspired by the film. Go see it!!!