My ideal New Year's dress would look something like this....

I'm totally feeling sequin mini dresses for this holiday season.  And while my budget doesn't quite cover any new sparkling duds for the festivities, a girl can always dream...

Wishing you all a wonderful and glittery New Year!

xo

Nicole

Betsy Johnson Spring 2010

Ever since I started watching Fashion Television with Jennie Becker I remember seeing Betsy Johnson there. I remember going shopping when I was younger in the states and thought how cool it was when I came across a Betsy Johnson store. I always thought to myself, I want to own something from there and now I do, since she has become way more accessible to the masses (I own a heart shaped belt that I'm sure will make an appearance on this here blog). But, enough about me, this is about her. There is something about her that I have always gravitated towards. She doesn't take shit too seriously, she seems the type of gal who will always show you a good time and maybe most importantly her clothes reek with FUN. A girl who wears Betsy is a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kinda girl. Completely the opposite of a Type A personality. I guess you could say a girl like yours truly.  I know she's not breaking down barriers with her shows, she is not revolutionizing fashion, she's being herself. Something she has never lost in all her years doing what she does best.

 

 

all pictures from style.com 

need fashion advice...well look no further.

This past weekend we had a Christmas party.

But not just any old party...an Ugly Christmas Sweater/ 80's throwback Christmas party. and by the looks of things it was pretty successful...

and embarrassing.

(I call this one: Christmas with an attitude)

I don't know what it is, but to me its not a party if it doesn't have a theme.

A fact my friends are slowly coming to realize and embrace.
(they might hate me for it too...Im not sure)

Its times like these that I am grateful I live across the street from a vintage store.

OVERSIZED

Im not the skinniest girl in the world. In fact, Im what they might consider overweight by today's fashion standards. Thats why it is ever so important for me to flatter my good bits and keep my not-so-good bits underwraps. Hence the oversized sweaters. Though they might do the opposite effect by making me look bulky up top, they do wonders for hiding my badonkadonk. if you catch what Im throwing at you.

Being Canadian and constantly freezing, I need these sweaters at my disposal.

I want to thank hubby for getting this particular oversized sweater a while back at a vintage store in Toronto.

And just let it happen...all over your body.

Dear Santa...

All I want for Christmas is any pair of these... Please take your pic Santa. I'm not greedy.

I have a major crush on ankle boots. I think they are ridiculously sexy in a way that plain ol' stilettos are

not and I'm not sure exactly why, but I like it and I want it.
I'm sure you'll agree they are perfect for winter.
For those times when a pair of knee high boots just won't go and if you wear a pair of stilettos you fear frost bite, try ankle boots.

Let me put it this way, I wouldn't throw any one of these pairs out of my bed. ever.

I think you get my point.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

I feel like I've seen this somewhere before...(about 1:00 minute in)









 



Ah yes....Of course.

I've seen it here...




and though Shakira is awesome, no one can wear onesies like she can.

I'm just sayin'

The forgiving accessory

Sorry for the lack of blogs as of late, I have lacked in both inspiration and time so here's a quicky... 

The other day we were heading out to meet some good friends, and I seriously had F*** all to wear. Then I saw this fedora sitting on my hubby's dresser, and I said "why not".  The hat is very forgiving with an otherwise pretty boring outfit.

Which brings me to my Tuesday afternoon inspirational quote (that I just thought of)....

" A good hat comes in handy when your closet is lacking in...everything. "

And that just happened...all over your face.

Cheers,

Mara

500 Days of ....Fashion

So I know the movie came out a while ago, but I just had the chance to watch (500) Days of Summer, staring Zooey Deschael and that kid from 3rd Rock From the Sun.  Its actually a pretty cute movie about a failed romance between a greeting card writer, who is totally hung up on a romanticized version of love, and Summer, the office temp who has an extremely practical and modern view on love. While I quite enjoyed the traditional role reversal presented the movie's plot, what caught my attention the most was the fabulous wardrobe donned by the vintage-looking Summer.

Here's a little something I threw together based on all of the beautiful clothes I saw in this movie.

Let this inspiration happen all over your body.

Nicole

If I were a man.

...I'd buy these Ben Sherman boots.

You know why?

'Cause they look awfully like something the Beatles would wear.

And the Beatles rule.

That is all.

Cheers,

Mara

The headband saga continues....

and its a happy ending...

phew!

I could have opted for a more classy look but I thought against it when I saw this one.

I love that it matches nothing and everything at the same time.

I "matched" it with a boyfriend blazer found at value village for $12 and a gray/silver sequenced long shirt from H & M for $24, finished it off with some skinnies and a pair of black flats and VOILA!

 

(not the most flattering picture, but its all I had) 

Oh yeah, the best part is that the headpiece only cost me $5.80 from forever 21, which in my humble opinion is the place to get fun accessories of all types without spending boatloads.

that just happened...all over your face.

Cheers,

Mara

Black Friday

Im all about the bar-goon (as my father in law says it). I really get off on finding something of quality and paying next to nothing for it. I don't like cheap shit, I like shit cheap... I just wanted to clarify.  I did not have a chance to go over the boarder to do some shopping this black Friday because 1. I find it masochistic to wait hours on end just to get allowed back into your own country and 2. because I don't need anything that badly and 3. because you can find ridiculous deals if you just take the time to look right here in your local mall.  

I found this navy blue bubble skirt on the clearance rack at one of my favourite stores Joe Fresh:

For $10!! Now I realize the bubble skirts might be a thing of the past, but I figure if you like it and it looks presentable who cares what the rules are, right?

I paired it a white shirt,  another cheap find  from Anne Taylor (which from this picture looks way to baggy on me, but you get the idea) from my trip to Florida last year which was like $11 US and a gold necklace my sis bought me for my birthday last year = FREE

What I love about the skirt most is the colour, as I don't have many things in blue and the pockets.  Pockets are fantastic. This outfit makes going to work a little more fun and a little less work-y. which makes me happy. 

I did have a chance to venture across the boarder a couple of weeks ago when an opportunity presented itself. At first I found it challenging to find anything of quality and then I saw this:

A perfect work dress that is both comfortable and flattering. and guess what? there are pockets! I bought it at off the 5th (i think that is what its called). Originally priced at $200 and change I got it for $50. Awesome. 

and there you have it folks cheap quality finds. what I live for when I shop. 

Cheers,
Mara


 

Lady McQueen

This morning started out like any other. Got up, went for a workout in our out-dated workout room. Flipped the communal TV to MuchMoreMusic's Juice, playing all today's hits, mixed in with some uber-annoying videos that make me want to stick forks in my eyes...but I digress. Anywho, as I'm about to leave the workout room Lady Gaga's new video (at least I think its new, dont really keep up with music videos these days) Bad Romance hits my retinas and I am faced-f**ked with intense fashion choices sported by the one and only Lady G. Once the video finishes and I am able to blink once again I utter the words "Unbelievable". And it was...nothing like I have ever seen before, until it comes to my attention that its the one and only Alexander McQueen's designs that has gotten me all hot and bothered. I've put it in an equation for you to understand: Lady Gaga + Alexander McQueen = Fashions Future Trajectory.

I know, right!

This shit is out there! And the only one that can pull off this fantastically futuristic look from the abyss is the Lady. We love her and there will be plenty more of her where that came from.

 Click the link to check out the video of which I reference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACm9yECwSso

and just let it happen....all over your body.

Cheers,

Mara

Please allow me to introduce myself...

Working in the financial industry can sometimes mean that fashion takes a back seat, its not the top priority in my work world I guess you can say. So, it was becoming increasingly more apparent that I was in dire need of a creative outlet. So that's what this is. A way to express my love for all things fashion focusing on my love for being thrifty...or as my friends would call it...being cheap. I know, they're mean right?

My life dream was to become a fashion designer but lets face it...I was too chicken shit to go through with it. So I guess you can say this blog is my alternative. If I can't be in the fashion industry I'm going to write about it along with other topics that I might find interesting at the moment.

I don't claim to be a fashion guru in any way, but I truly believe together with my bestie Nicole we can write about what inspires us and hopefully inspire you in turn.

So lets see what happens and while your at it, just let this blog happen...

Cheers,
Mara

Hey Friends,

Just wanted to introduce myself. I've lived in Korea and I've been to Bonnaroo, just in case you were wondering. I moved to Toronto a little over a year ago, and I am constantly inspired by the fashion I see all over the city. This is just a way for me to share some of the conversations or ideas about fashion and the such, that I would share with my friends. So sit back, relax, and just let this blog happen...

hugs and kisses,

Nicole

A love affair: Headbands and awkward hair stage.

Growing out my hair is turning out to be quite the challenge. Its completely unappealing to the masses, its frizzy and heavy and out of shape.
With all that being said, I needed a quick fix...Then I remembered.

The headband.

But not just any headband, this kind of headband. Reserved only for the hip and happening. And though I don't yet own one, I will. However, being the self proclaimed cheapo I will try to make it myself.

Stay tuned.

Here is an adorable photo of my hubby wearing an extremely cute headpiece that our friend Sarah found at what I think is a truck show for fashion... like I said reserved for only the hip and happening. and Jonny of course.

That just happened...all over your face.