This Past weekend, Katlyn and I headed out in the cold for an antiquing adventure!  She was looking for props for her photography business, I was looking for pretty things that make me smile.  We both found what we were looking for and then some!  These are some of our pictures of that day.

Katlyn’s ready with her starbucks and her basket.  In the first few minutes she found a cool old tin bucket.

Coffee is very very important for this activity.  I found this little blue velvet hat from the 40′s and couldn’t resist: totally bought it.

This hat was hung on the wall and loked like a boob.  We thought that was awesome.

One of the prettiest booths there, I love the little party light “fire” happening in the fireplace surround.  Katlyn had to go in and check everything out.

I thought this Mickey Mouse top hat was the cools.  I didn’t notice at the time that I matched the chairs though.

A few of the things I think about lately when I’m supposed to be working.

This is a black coral necklace I just bought from etsy.  When I went to Cuba a few years ago, I brought back some black coral jewelry and wore it allllll the time.  Then one day, I lost all my best jewelry while travelling.  So sad   I’ve basically replaced most of it, except for this.  I’m going to wear this necklace with girly floral dresses and soft blouses to offset the feminine vibe with something hard and black, but still natural: black coral.  So excited!!!

These are Miz Mooz Solis boots.  I bought these the other day.  I was looking for Caramel-coloured boots (an obsession of mine for years), but found these instead.  I love the lace-ups (not real), the heel, and the Edwardian vibe.  These will be good with pants and a cape and thicker skirts and dresses, especially on days where I have to stand or walk a lot because they’re heaven inside.

Confession time: I’m short, but have big hands and feet.  Not big compared to NBA players, but big for my stature.  I don’t think about my feet too much (except when I wish I could fit into tiny adorable vintage shoes, sigh!), but my hands make me self-conscious.  They’re nicely shaped, but…large.  It occured to me recently that what nude heels do for my leg length, nude nail colour could do for my hands.  So I asked my nail tech to get some nude gel, and by my next appointment she should have it.  In the meantime, I’ve painted my mid-length rounded-pointy nails with a nude polish and am LOVING it.  Also, they go with everything!

I love going to Europe and seeing so many people on bikes.  The cool thing is, women don’t dress sporty there so it’s dresses or chic pants and even heels: on bicycles!  I love it, it’s so inspiring for my own aesthetic.  The following are some of my pictures from my trip to Italy.  You can find as much inspiration in the bicycles themselves as the people who ride them.

Black and caramel coloured; a classic colour combination for clothes as well as a bike!  This one was chained up next to a club.

Me with an adorable pink bike chained to a street sign.  I love that objects there are beautiful even when they’re rusty, old and used.

This mint green is so delicious…and the seat really lends to the shabby look

Florence, Italy: picking up the kids from school.  Note her nude heels and the boys’ uniforms.

Fact #1: I live in a cold climate.

Fact #2: It’s difficult to look elegant when it’s snowy freezing outside.

Given these things, I have struggled for the past couple of years that I’ve been here to work out a cold weather style solution for my everyday activities.  Work, for example, is tough because I do outside sales.  So I have to be ready to move and go see customers all day, but also look good when I’m in having an indoor meeting.   I think I’ve finally found a workable solution though, and here it is:

***Ignore the kitchen renos, please!  We’re almost done

I start with a solid coloured shift dress, add a colourful belt, tights and a cardigan.  I can wear boots (stilletto is fine, I’m not traipsing through fields or anything), a nice necklace (this black bead necklace is from the antique mall), and my soft black and grey leopard coat.  It’s quilted inside and the warmest thing I own.  Cute, too!  I will also be wearing leather gloves today and can add a black pashmina as needed.  Voila!  Warm and toasty, cute and stylish.  Bring on the -20!

(not really though.  If you’re reading this, Edmonton weather, save the -20 for after I’ve moved.)

Now that Thanksgiving and Halloween are over, my thoughts have turned to Christmas parties.  My brain works like that: the year is broken down into events where fantastic outfits are required.  What I wear to a given event is a combination of a little planning and a lot of of the moment inspirations from the books I’m reading (right now it’s I <3 your style), what I’m watching (a lot of period and stylized movied like Miss Petigrew Lives for a Day, DeLovely, and Penelope), and what I’m seeing around me in stores and on people.  I had a hair appointment last night, and my salon is right next to Anthropologie…oh boy.  I went in for a peek not really expecting to find anything (that’s when I find something, every time), and spotted the most amazing and lovely shrug.  Now Anthropologie is not the cheapest store, so I left it and went and got my hair done.  I spent the almost 3 hour hair appointment thinking about the shrug and mentally pairing it with work essentials and party wear.  By the time my hair was done, I knew I had to have it!  Since a lot of my dresses and other pieces cost $20 or less, I thought it made total sense to get a pricier piece to pair with those things.  I still do, actually.  So here’s the shrug, and some outfits I think I’ll be pairing it with this season.  Happy work bonus to ME!

Christmas Party Dazzler:

 This bolero…

 on top of this perfect satin Audrey Hepburn dress

 finished with THE most glorious pair of 40′s shoes!

Or for work:

  The magic bolero…

topping off a simple yet perfect work look.  Bring some style to the office!

And finally, for the weekend:

 Our friendly bolero…

 paired with basic jeans (skinny don’t work on me, I need a flare) and t-shirt or sweater.  Laid-back chic perfect for shopping, brunching, or anything cool and laid back not at the home depot.