It's in the Bag

Oh those 'what's in your bag?' posts...

They fascinate me because it feels like you are getting a little peak into someone's private life. Growing up my mom's purse was jam packed with what was needed to run our household. It was also completely fascinating and... strictly off limits. So getting a look into what people carry around always feels like I am doing something sneaky.
But every time I look at a purse post, I always wonder... where is the junk? And why is everything in your purse perfect and new? Doesn't that stuff get beat up?
So I gathered a few of my day-to-day purses (yes, I switch them up a lot), emptied them all on my bed and tried to put together a fair representation of what I carry in my bag. I always have my wallet, at least one lipgloss and my iPhone with me but the other stuff is not always a guarantee.
Of course, if I really need something, it's probably in another purse...

To be fair, looking at this post, my purse content seems a little lacklustre. I think my purse could use a sparkly notepad or fancy mints to jazz it up... For real.

1. My Jess Rizzuti purse (c/o here). Other purses in the rotation include my Roots bag and this thrifted bag.

2. Sunglasses. Two pairs (Moschino and Betsey Johnson). Not because I need options, though it's not a bad idea, but because there is usually a pair lost in an inside pocket somewhere for an indefinite amount of time.

3. My iPhone with an Iconemisis (c/o here) cover. I love the cover but it's super slippery, so I can't use it if I am drinking wine.

4. Vintage tooled leather wallet. I believe this was stolen from Kendi's donate pile when I was there two years ago. I've used it since and if definitely has wear. I guess that as much as I am constantly switching purses, I'm the opposite about ever switching up wallets. I like to wait until stuff starts falling out...

5. My Roots toque. Because roots (for my naturally (?) blonde hair) and cold ears need to be covered.

6. A smattering of lip products. I always have a Bath and Body Works lipgloss on me and probably a nearly empty tube of it lying around too. And then a bunch of lipsticks that naturally accumulate in the deep pockets of my purse. 

7. Tylenol. Because sometimes my head hurts.

8. Anti-bacterial gel. This kinda just hangs out in my purse. The only time I really use it is after I go thrifting...

9. Gum. It might be full, it might be empty. 

10. Tampons or pads. Though, like I said, when I actually need these products they are undoubtedly in another purse. 

11. JUNK. This is the part that I feel gets left out of every purse post. Unless I am the only one with crap in their purse. In this case, my junk pile includes a stub of a Winners gift card (long gone sadly), a couple Shopper's Drugmart receipts, a pay stub... you know, the usual suspects. Sometimes I'm a little embarrassed at how long random crap stays in my purse. Sometimes I'm a little embarrassed that the pile of randomness is actually much bigger than what is shown here.

But most of the time, I know that letting my purse serve as a junk collector is perfectly normal... 

 

Fancy Huh?

Dress? Vintage, consigned at Modify Your Closet Boots? Holt's Last Call (similar in faux, suede and leather)

Clutch? Gucci, thrifted Cuffs? Vintage, auction

This fantastic vintage (freaking handmade!) dress was originally intended as my 'no matter what, I am wearing this' New Year's Eve dress. And then, despite the no matter what, I ended up wearing yoga pants that night. 

Instead I wore it this last weekend for a family dinner at a nice restaurant. It's a pretty special dress but this restaurant is so fancy that the water in your glass never gets below 2 cm. from the edge and I knew it would be the right occasion. I just wish these pictures did the details of this dress more justice. The bow across the front, the bow across an open back but especially the sparkly fabric... We found a door to match the dress and the Gucci clutch (I make this a habit here and here) but it was hard to capture the shine.

I present to you a slightly awkward selfie that shows the sparkle a bit better under the interior light.

This fabric is just something else. Contrary to what might be your initial assumption, it is not a sequin dress. Instead it's like the whole dress was painted in shiny puffy paint and then someone took a pizza knife to it in a grid pattern. Are you feeling me?

You probably need to see the dress in person. The pictures and now the words (pizza cutters?) are coming up short...

Fringe Factor

Boots? c/o Aldo (here) Jacket? Costa Blanca Fringe vest? Thrifted Shirt? Thrifted Beanie? Joe Fresh 

Jeans? Citizens Bag? Roots (same colour, new collection, big or small. )

I left a suede fringe jacket behind at the thrift store this week. I convinced myself I didn't need it and besides, it wasn't 50% off day. 

Foolish really... Everyone needs a fringe jacket.

I felt regret when I got home; such regret that I tweeted about missing it. Regret is not real until it is acknowledged on social media. 

And then I remembered that I had thrifted a fringe poncho years ago and in a moment of inspiration, I just crossed my fingers and cut that poncho into a vest. You won't be shocked to know that a fringe vest  is far easier to wear than a fringe poncho. You also won't be shocked to see me wearing this vest/jacket combo all the time from the point forward. All the cool points I lost growing up (bowl cut, pink glasses, a rented TV to watch the Olympics (long story) , 9:30 curfews (another long story) and this list could go on...), I have officially made up for with this fringe. 

I hope.

When Thrift Meets D.I.Y.

I'm impressed. I did a DIY, took pictures of the process and it all even came out quite nicely. 

I am stepping up my blogger game!

The best part is that I used items I already had kicking around (What? You don't stock gold spray paint in your house?), so I didn't spend any money either. This makes me happy because I've done projects before that were meant to be all thrifty and DIY but just ended up being a huge money drain...

And while I know people like to call polka dots a trend, it feels more like a classic. I'm hoping I'll use this clutch long after the word oxblood is a distant memory of 2012.

Below are the steps for my mind-blasting DIY...

1. I thrifted this leather envelope clutch for $4 recently. I would usually be pretty reserved about spray painting a perfectly good classic leather clutch, but I have a few of these burgundy clutches. They seem to be an easy find at the thrift store.

2. The back of the clutch was taped off and then I used Gum Arabic to block off a polka dot pattern. I used the eraser side of a pencil to blot out dots and a clear ruler to measure out the spacing. Then I had to wait very patiently for the Gum Arabic to dry. This part was difficult. In hindsight this could have been so much easier if I used Glue Dots because there would be no drying time and the dots would be pre-shaped but I didn't think of that until the end. Besides I've had that Arabic Gum since my first year university art classes so I might as well bring it out again... about a decade later.

3. This post wouldn't be possible without Kyle's close supervision. Not only is he adorable and fluffy, he is also shockingly good when I am working on stuff. He likes to be nearby so he can see every detail but he doesn't touch; just watches intently from an inch away. Thank you Kyle for your contribution.

4. I spray painted the front of the clutch using some regular gold spray paint. It helps to test a little area inside the clutch to make sure the spray paint binds and sticks to the leather. When the paint dried, I carefully peeled and chipped the dried Arabic Gum away to reveal a perfectly adorable polka dot pattern. 

This post offically makes me a DIY blogger*. Get ready world.

*or not. Sounds like work.

Full disclosure: I re-painted only my thumb nail for these pictures.