Double Take's Second Annual Designer Dare, Benefiting Toronto's Yonge Street Mission

Hey All!

Awhile back, I was contacted by Julia (blog|twitter), a follower of the blog, and she invited me to a wonderful event at Double Take, a great second hand store in Toronto, the proceeds of which benefit Toronto's Yonge Street Mission. The event involved a fantastic group of up-and-coming Toronto based indie designers, who were each given a $50 gift certificate to Double Take with which to purchase items that they were then to repurpose into new and trendy designs. It was a really interesting premise that encourages us to do a number of good things - purchase and repurpose second hand items in order to support those in need and decrease our carbon footprint, support local businesses and independent designers, and donate items from our wardrobe that we are no longer using. It was a fabulous event that supported a very worthwhile cause, and I was so pleased to have been invited and in attendance. Those of you who are budding Toronto designers should consider entering next year... =D

Check out Double Take on your next thrifting adventure or consider donating your gently used clothing/accessories/furniture. According to Julia, they are definitely in need of more plus size items.

Blazer - Addition Elle (MXM)/Camisole, Leggings and Peacock Feather Headband/- Forever 21+/Skirt - Thrifted/Boots - Courtesy of Torrid/Purse - CBX (the houndstooth clutch I am holding was from Double Take... I bought it...)

Check out the video (above) of the fashion show of the different looks created by the designers. To find out more about how you can help, visit http://www.ysm.ca/. You can also follow them on twitter.

So many updates, so little time! 4 Outfits of the Days...!

Hey everyone,

You know how time can just get away from you sometimes? Well that's totally what's going on with me at the moment! I have several outfit posts in the works, along with coverage of some amazing events (I attended a meet and greet at Addition Elle Square One, met and chatted with Jay Manuel, met Karyn Johnson, amazing Canadian plus size model and winner of the wellies giveaway, visited Gussied Up and met with its owner Victoria, went to The Clothing Show in Toronto, and received several new items that I am really excited to tell you about... So much to tell you, where to begin?!

I think this post is just going to focus on some outfits I've worn to teach class in. I can't take pictures outside anymore because it's still dark outside in the morning when I am leaving to go in. :( That's one way you can tell that Winter is rapidly descending upon us.

The first outfit I think I actually wore out for dinner with my in-laws last weekend. It's pretty simple, but I like the small details. I got the print top from a thrift store, and it's a size small. It just goes to show that you needn't always look at the size on the tag to see if something fits. When I'm thrifting, I typically just pull stuff of the rack that stands out to me, and then I eyeball it to see if I think it will fit my body. A size small is different in the 80s and early 90s (when really oversized tops were totally cool) than a size small now. Just use your judgment. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable!

Top - Thrifted/Cami - Forever 21+/Jeans - Swapped at Big, Fat Toronto/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Hair Bow - Ardene/Necklace - Was attached to a top I got at Forever 21/Earrings - A gift from my sister/Purse - CBX

This next outfit is one I actually did wear to teach in. It's nothing special, really, but I definitely think career wear is important. And it's not totally boring... The hat adds a bit of uniqueness.

Cardigan and Necklace - Courtesy of Penningtons/ Top - Ricki's/Skirt - Giant Tiger/Purse - CBX/Hat - Thrifted

I also wore this one to teach in, but it was a Friday, so that explains the jeans. I wanted to do something a little different with my hair so I did a big bun right at the front of my head. What do you guys think?

Top and Bracelet- Forever 21+/Jeans - Swapped at Big Fat Toronto/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Necklace - Courtesy of Penningtons/Purse - CBX

This is yet another teaching outfit. I was talking about feminism, and since a large part of our current understanding about feminism comes from French cultural theorist, I thought I would pay homage to them by wearing something a bit inspired by French style.

Jacket and Skirt - Thrifted/Tights - Legs Beautiful/Shoes - Redress NYC (originally from Target)/Purse - CBX/Necklace - Courtesy of Penningtons/Earrings - Courtesy of Pixics/Hat - Le Beau Chapeau

Make sure you keep checking this page for coverage of all of the events I've gone to and the products I've worked with. There is a giveaway coming up very soon! So which outfit was your favourite?

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!

The Back-Up Outfit...

Hey Everyone,

I've been crazy busy as of late since I have an oral exam for my PhD coming up on Wednesday. Basically I already wrote and passed the written component of the exam, and now I have to defend my answers to a panel of experts in my field. Anxiety inducing, much? I only found out about the date of the exam on Thursday, so having less than a week to prepare has made things pretty hectic this past week. I have been studying non-stop. So tired. That being said, I must confess that this is a back-up outfit. If you're also a blogger, you probably know what I'm talking about. It's photos of an outfit that you keep for occasions like this, when you don't really have time to put together a nice look and photograph it... I usually have a couple of these in my back pocket in case things get unpredictably busy - like now. That being said, I cannot, for the life of me, remember where I wore this outfit. I think it might have been to the library or to a cafe to study (I know, I am a big nerd for getting dressed up for the library - and for always being studying...). At least wearing something nice makes me feel better about spending my weekends at the library, lol. Anyways, here's a few pictures I've been saving for a while...

Dress - Target/Cardigan - Swapped at Big, Fat Toronto/Tights and Necklace - Forever 21/Purse and Earrings - Thrifted/Shoes - Redress NYC by way of Target/Sunglasses - Gifted from Kmart

So Much to Share! Where to Begin?

Hey Guys!

Wow, I have so much to share with you all. It's been quite the weekend!!! I've had a few outfits stored up on my camera for days, so I'll post those here now, at last!

I was also privileged enough to attend this weekend's Big Fat Toronto event, including both a clothing swap and a discussion. The event was a great success and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the organizers. It was truly amazing to meet up with all of you wonderful, confident, and inspiring women to exchange clothing, war stories, and loads of laughs. I can't wait to do it again!

Today, I went to the park with Peter and went thrifting. Lots of fun! I don't think I've ever been so exhausted after a weekend. But it's good exhausted, so it's okay!

So first, the pictures from Big Fat Toronto. I decided to wear this purple polka dot blazer that I got from a Salvation Army near me for $5! Everyone was admiring it so much, so I was really glad I decided to grab it! One girl even said she wanted it so much that she felt like biting me! LOL! I really love the colour of it, as well as the cut. What do you guys think?

Browsing at the swap...

If I ever talk about my Herculean calves, this is what I mean. Check 'em out. I can lift around 800 lbs on the leg press, and I'm proud of it! It comes from many years of ballet. Unfortunately, it makes it super hard to find cute boots in the winter that come up above the ankle...

Outfit Details: Jacket - Thrifted/Camisole and earrings - Forever 21+/Shoes - Torrid/Skirt - Suzy Shier/Purse - Aldo/Cameo - Vintage jewellery sale in the UK

My Argyle Nails! I used OPI by Nicole Nail Apps. They're just like stickers. So easy to apply! They wear off too quickly, though.

The girl who said she wanted to bite me. 

Group shot of a bunch of us. Such lovely ladies!!!

Faith from 'Faith'fully Yours...

I met lots of fantastic women!

And you guys remember Alison, whose closet I visited? She was there too, looking fabulous!!!

I really love the colour of it my new jacket, as well as the cut. What do you guys think? I thought it would be a good idea too if I did a haul video so you guys could see all the great stuff I got at the swap! I promise I will keep you guys apprised of any upcoming Big Fat Toronto events in the future so you can plan to come! So here's the haul video!:

Like I said earlier, I've also been saving up a lot of outfits that I just didn't get a chance to post yet, so here they are. This is what I've been wearing for the past few days!

Outfit 1 - I wore this a while ago for a nice walk along the beach near the Toronto skyline. It was a beautiful day! The dress is thrifted, and is actually a wrap-around skirt that I just wore high-up and cinched with a belt. The belt is from Forever 21+, the sandals are from Spring, the jewellery is crafted/from Dollarama, and the cardigan is from Penningtons. Madison Plus has chosen me to be their Style Correspondent for Toronto, which I'm super excited about, and you can see more of these photos as well as a few words about them at the Madison Plus blog, here.

Outfit 2 - This outfit was also for a walk on the waterfront, but these were taken just today! It was so gorgeous out, we just had to get out of the house and enjoy the sun! My hair is messy because of the hat, sorry! The dress is from Dots, the hat is from Le Beau Chapeau (Niagara-on-the-Lake), the shoes are from Target, and the bag is from Costa Blanca.

Outfit 3 - I think I wore this one to go see a movie with Peter. We went to go see Bridesmaids. Don't get me started on the representation of fat women in the film, but trying to look beyond that, other parts were pretty funny. The denim jacket is from Dots, the dress, tights, and shoes are from Target, the necklace is from Ardene, the earrings are from Bonjour Button (an Etsy store), the purse is from Costa Blanca, and the buttons are from various sources (the ones of Hildegard Von Bingen and Anne Boleyn are from Tartx Designs, and the piggy one I got from a upcycling fair in Kitchener called Bloomin' Earth). 

Outfit 4 - Not sure if this is my favourite, which I guess is one reason why I didn't post it right away. I can't even remember what I wore this to... The top is from Forever 21+, the purse is from Costa Blanca, the skirt is thrifted, the shoes are from Target, the ring was a hand-me-down from my sister, and I can't remember where I got the earrings. I think it was a store in Square One (if you're familiar) called Panache.

Outfit 5 - Nothing special. I only took this one shot of the outfit because I planned on only posting it to tumblr since it's so casual, and I wasn't sure if it was blog-worthy. But since this post is a sort of grab-bag of so many different things, I thought I would throw it in! Why not? I don't normally wear shorts. Usually I prefer skirts or jeans, but it was really hot, and I like the fit of these, so I decided to go for it. I think they're a good length too. The top and shorts are from Dots, the purse is from Costa Blanca, the shoes are from Target, and the necklace is thrown together from the stuff in the beading section of the craft department at walmart (it's amazing what you can find in there). 

Phew! That was a long one! Sorry for the somewhat compendious nature of this post. I was holding out on you guys, I guess! I just waited too long in between post and built up a lot of OOTDs! Hope you liked it! You know what else? I snagged a vintage CHRISTIAN DIOR suit from Goodwill today. IN MY SIZE. $10! Stay tuned to see me style it... I better watch out for that girl who was gonna bite me yesterday, lol! I've been really lucky in the thrift stores lately :D

So what's new with all of you fine people? Did you enter my contest yet? Do it!