This is 30

Skirt? Vintage, vintage Shirt? Denim, Gap Shoes? Ralph Lauren Necklace and clutch? Thrifted

This half painted wall has served me well for outfit pictures in the past. It had just started to rain and in an attempt to get pictures done before the inevitable downpour, we ended up there again. Our camera seems to be giving up the ghost and continually jams, so I should just be happy we got some pictures because I really wanted to share this rather fabulous skirt.
I can't help but think that this skirt deserves more though... I'll just say it. The movement of this skirt and the amazing floral appliqué deserve to be captured by a street style photographer. Preferably as I am rushing into a Paris fashion show, talking on my phone (busted... no one talks on a phone any more) and being important.
While obviously this skirt (or I, myself) did not make the Paris fashion show cut, this is the skirt I wore during the day of my 30th birthday yesterday. And yes, as much as I want to pretend turning 30 is not a big deal, it still kinda feels like it any ways.

I have lots of thoughts on turning 30 but it's Canadian Thanksgiving today and there is family to see and food to eat. I will say that I had a few moments yesterday where I was verklempt with gratefulness. I think as I get older, I realize more and more that being a human being is hard. That life in general is complicated and messy and happy and sad and crazy and boring and every adjective out there really. But I am so blessed with my family and my friends; I am so blessed in general. Yeah, maybe my camera isn't working so well (in the grand scheme, not a major thing but an annoyance) but there is often a guy behind that camera who, despite the fact that he cares little for photos or for fashion, takes the time to snap a few shots for me... And there is a friend who listens when I ramble on about dreams or when I then, in turn, ramble on about my fears in realizing those dreams. And there is a mother, who gives me the best hugs, and who can still laugh even when it's not funny.
My skirt is great but my people are even greater;)

No Skirt, Long Jacket

Jacket? Vintage, thrifted Jeans? h&m, thrifted Pumps? Ralph Lauren 

Necklace? Thrifted Bag? Thrifted

I found this mint vintage jacket for $4 at the thrift store. Based on the prices on all the other jackets on the same rack, I would assume that it was either priced wrong or someone thought it was so ugly that only a $4 price would get it out of the store. That happens sometimes when good vintage gets priced absurdly low because it's not Gap or American Eagle and is therefore weird and unworthy. And when that happens it's actually a beautiful thing...

I've only had the jacket for a few days and I have already worn it all buttoned up as a dress and now again casually with some beat-up denim. I am quite happy with this purchase.

And based on the fact that I slung the jacket over a rack at a vintage store the other day (big mistake, don't do this...) and someone else admired it and tried it on without me even noticing, I would say I have at least two people who agree that this jacket is a beauty. The other person is my mom. She told me that she doesn't always love all of my fashion choices but this one was a good one. Mother approved. Bam.

(The vintage store I was at was Netty Vintage in Brantford, it is my favourite vintage place... Sadly, Netty is closing its doors on Oct. 31st so you should go soon to get some amazing (really) deals and to say hey to Jacqueline, who is a top notch lady!) 

Teen Spirit

 

Plaid shirt? Thrifted (similar here) Jeans? Rich and Skinny, thrifted (here) Tee? Old Navy (here)

Beanie? Asos (here in differentt colour) Boots? Aldo (similar, pretty and kinda pricey) Necklace? Thrifted

My oft worn denim oversized shirt is out of commission. I broke a few buttons on it and though fixing it has been at the top of my to-do list, it seems Facebook creeping is more important than putting pretty new wooden buttons on my favourite shirt. Happily, I have this new plaid shirt to tide me over.

The grungy plaid shirt trend is one of the first trends to come back that I can remember living through the first time they were in. I was in elementary school watching the cool older kids in high school smoking cigarettes by the buses in their plaid shirts. I even had some plaid shirts myself... but no cigarettes.

And so it begins. Because fashion is cyclical, I am going to spend the rest of my life telling teenagers that 'I remember wearing that the first time it was in style'. And maybe if they seem to be interested (or are just polite), they will then allow me to regale them for hours with stories from high school. And stories about cats...


P.S. And the fun pics are from my friend Paul of Photo280... Just wait til later in the week because he had me in a cold waterfall in a silk maxi dress.

Bloom(s)

Jacket? Bloom (here) Skirt? Thrifted Boots? Joe Fresh (similar leather and faux)  Purse? Thrifted 

Necklace? Clyde's Rebirth (apparently she only has materials to make a few more of these so get 'em while you can!)

I think this jacket was meant as a lesson in patience. When Kendi first ordered the jacket for her store Bloom back in February, she told me about it because... well, it's a blazer and it has beading and any good friend knows those are a few of my favourite things (along with brown paper packages tied up in string...;)). What she didn't tell me was that she was ordering it for the fall, so I then had to wait at least 6 months for the jacket to come in for fall deliveries. Patience is not my virtue. I marked off every day on my calendar with a sad face sticker until the jacket arrived. 

Apparently truth telling is not my virtue either.

And since we are speaking of Bloom(s), I got that cheerful bunch of mums for a grand total of $3 from the best little floral shop on Ottawa St. They were so cheap, I had to get my Mama some too... I call that a win, fresh flowers for my house and another step up in the family ranking. Hey, when you have four siblings you do what you need to do....