I love all the beige-on-beige happening here, plus the navy blue and red accents. A very “fall” outfit, if I do say so myself. Look, I practically blend into the background:
shoe game on fleek
I know everyone got tired of this scarf last year after it popped up on every blog from here to Mongolia, but I’m not a trend snob – new or old, I welcome them all. Just kidding. The reality is that this is still a perfectly nice and cozy scarf, and there is really no reason to give it up … even if it does scream “2014 fashun blogger essential”.
bag action shot!
I wish the lighting in these photos was better (stop me if you’ve heard this refrain before) so you would have a better look at my awesome navy GAP cords. They are so very perfect for this season – warm, soft, and comfortable as heck. I found these at my local consignment store and my question is: how come I can never find anything like this at the actual GAP store? I swear their pants haven’t fit me for the past 3 years, at least not any time I’ve tried them on in store. Very curious. I guess I shouldn’t complain, because I got my pair (looking brand new) for only $20, which probably beats even the sale rack on a good day.
ooh, Blue Steel!
On a completely unrelated note: I’m thinking about possibly bringing back the One Girl, One Closet series (see previous posts here, here, here, here, here, here and here), and I am wondering – any takers, Edmonton peeps? The topic could be a closet cleanout, wardrobe remixing, shopping, or a mixture of any of the above. Shoot me a comment or email to let me know if you’re interested!
Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Canadians! Hope you enjoyed a wonderful weekend with family and loved ones.
In recognition of the fact that a lot of us are still recovering from our turkey comas, a post full of photos and minimal words seemed like a safe bet. So, I hope you’ll enjoy this (mostly visual) recap of my recent thrifting adventures.
Talbots skirt
I had to chance to make an impromptu stop at the Red Deer Value Village, and that’s the kind of chance I don’t pass up. I had all of 10 minutes to spend in there, but I still found a few gems, like this Talbots skirt (and the next two dresses below). I was tempted but ultimately decided to pass – not quite my style.
BB Dakota dress
Ditto with this BB Dakota sweater dress. But how cute would this be for the holidays?
RACHEL Rachel Roy dress
This, on the other hand, was right up my alley – so much so that I have one already hanging in my closet. I hope that, after my visit, some stylish Red Deer resident gave this dress a new home.
Cole Haan pumps
Also from the Red Deer VV, these pumps broke my heart. I’ve been looking for a pair of navy (low) heels forEVAH … too bad these were a size too small. *sob*
Ports International cardigan ($5?)
This vest had all kinds of preppy potential, but I just didn’t see myself wearing it.
H&M tunic/dress ($10)
Funny story: I actually had this dress about 10 years ago, only in a different colorway. Ahh, memories. It was such a weird fit, then and now.
made in Canada dress ($12?)
Cute but (a) not quite my style, and (b) definitely not my size.
Brand I regrettably forget ($18)
This dress was an “almost” for me. It had a really cool back:
back detail
… but it was, sadly, just a tad too big. My last experience with alterations at the tailor ran on the expensive side, so I’m not buying any more things that require significant work.
BCBGeneration dress ($12)
Not my style, but cute. Also fairly reasonably priced, considering that VV lives to jack up its prices on BCBG and BCBGeneration pieces.
Nanette Lepore dress ($12)
Also cute but (a) too “young”, (b) too short, and (c) probably too small.
Pink Tartan skirt ($5)
Pink Tartan is one of the few Canadian designer brands that has stuck around for a while. I’ve worn their pieces before and liked them a lot. Too bad this skirt was too tight.
Jacob dress ($16)
I loved the colour of this hunter green Jacob dress, but the 100% poly killed it for me. Also it was too casual for work, and too dressy for my usual weekend needs. I’m sure it will find a good home, though.
“Jeez, Adina” you’re probably thinking by now, “do you ever actually buy anything in these thrift stores or what?” Well, wouldn’t you know, after a few weeks of busts, I finally did.
Armani Collezioni blazer
An Armani Collezioni blazer for $3.50? How could I not? It’s too big for me but I’m giving it to a friend.
vintage skirt ($3.50)
This home-made/vintage skirt looks pretty Little House On The Prairie right now, but I adore the print, and I think I can handle a simple hem job on my own. For $3.50, it’s a DIY no-brainer.
Vero Moda dress ($14)
I probably didn’t need this Vero Moda dress, but it was cute and fit nicely and it was only $14. The end.
And there you have it – another epic(ally long) thrifting post. I can’t wait to hear about your amazing thrifting scores – hit me up in the comments.
I recently added another (yes) bag to my Marc Jacobs collection, and I thought it might be a good time to do another review. I previously did one for my MbMJ Totally Turnlock bags, so this time it’s the turn of my MJ Classic bags. Readers, meet Blake, Sophia, and Stella:
Left to right: Blake, Stella, Sophia
Generally speaking, I love these bags. All of mine date from around 2004-2006, and are still in amazing condition. The leather is soooo good, you guys – and each bag is lined in contrasting, rich suede, which feels incredibly luxurious. A lot of designer bags these days scrimp on details like that, and it’s too bad considering that retail prices keep going up and up and up. But, enough generalities. Let’s get down to the specifics.
Blake
The Blake is a top handle satchel of medium dimensions. For comparison, it’s about the same size as my LV Speedy 30; however, because of the Blake’s three compartments, it holds a little bit less.
Blake’s 3 compartments
At the same time, the division helps keep things organized, and avoids the “black hole” syndrome (which can have you digging for your keys for hours). Two of the compartments are zippered, and the middle one has a magnetic closure. I will say that the magnet used in both the Blake and the Sophia is quite powerful – that inner pocket doesn’t open fully easily. The back zippered compartment also has an inner pocket. And there are the two small front pockets with push lock closures (too small to be really functional, but I like the aesthetic). Lots of pockets all around.
Blake – cream suede lining
The handles are just long enough to wear on the shoulder, but it’s definitely a very tight fit. Really, it’s a carry-in-your-hand-or-crook-of-arm bag. I know that’s definitely a big downside for a lot of people, but I don’t mind it in a work bag.
In terms of wear, the Blake has held up very well. I bought it secondhand on eBay for $***, and I think that’s a reasonable price for a bag of this quality and condition. There are minor signs of wear on the cream (!) suede lining, and some colour fading on the bottom corners of the bag and the handles; nothing super noticeable, though. The colour is still vibrant, and the leather supple after all these years.
Blake – corner wear
Stella
The Stella is Blake’s tote cousin. This thing is HUGE. I can fit a couple of large binders, or a laptop, with room to spare, in addition to the usual stuff I carry (wallet, make-up bag, etc.). Because of the suede lining and the big hardware on the front pockets, it is not the lightest tote around, but it is very sturdy. This bag’s a workhorse, basically.
Stellllllaaaaa! (sorry, I couldn’t resist)
The colour of my bag is “Stone”, which is a sort of warm taupe – a very good neutral. The lining is my favourite: a deep, rich burgundy. It hides scuffs and pen marks very well, hah.
Stella – burgundy lining
The handles are long enough that you can easily wear the Stella on your shoulder. There are no internal pockets, save for a small, inner zippered one. Did I mention that the bag holds a lot of stuff? Because it does. The bag does have a zipper, but I find that I rarely close it; I like having easy access to my stuff.
This bag came to me in a swap (and I am its third owner, at least), and it wasn’t in as good of a condition as the others, but even with a few extra scuff marks on the handles, it’s still holding up well (no colour transfer, for one thing). Some people shy away from buying lighter coloured bags because they’re afraid that the bags won’t weather wear as well, but I haven’t found that to be the case with Marc Jacobs bags.
Stella – still going strong after all these years (of wear)
Sophia
Finally, the Sophia – Stella’s baby sister. It’s about half the size of the Stella, with three inner compartments, very much like the Blake, which further limit its “volume”. Of the three, it’s definitely the smallest, though still quite functional – and I say that as someone who loves big bags.
Sophia in lovely emeraldSophia – all the inner pockets!
I’ll be honest: although I certainly love its overall looks, I bought my Sophia mostly for the colour. I’ve been wanting a green bag for ages, and this particular shade (“Emerald”) is perfect. (The light green suede lining is also lovely.) My bag is in good condition, with only a bit of wear on the bottom corner edges.
Sophia – corner wear
I’ll be even more honest, and admit I overpaid for it. After shipping and customs (the seller didn’t mark it as a “used” bag, grrr!), it cost me a bit over $220. The exchange rate is killing my eBay mojo, you guys. That price is not terrible, given the quality, and I was happy to pay a little extra for the colour I really wanted but … damn you, weak Canadian dollar!
If you live in the U.S., you should have no problem finding these older MJ bags in good condition for well under $150 on eBay, and I would definitely recommend them. The quality is fantastic (just make sure you get good, clear photos of the bag you’re buying to verify the condition), the style is classic, and they are not bags you will see many other people carrying – probably a big reason why I always get a TON of compliments when I wear mine.
