Tag Archives: vintage

Rock Fashion Muse

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I think that for the most part, any big music lover’s life features the dream, or at least the curious interest in, someday becoming a rock star themselves. This dream doesn’t require any sort of musical talent or even an ounce of stage confidence; trust me, I have only a little of the former (I can hit a note, I suppose) and although I consider myself fairly outgoing, I surprisingly have next-to-none of the latter. Put me on a stage in the dark with only two audience members, and I could figure it out. Otherwise, I don’t really have the ingredients to be what one would call a rock star.

So, I settle for a lot of performing in my underwear. Often I’m home alone, inconspicuously hopping atop my bed to songs like ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, ‘Monster Hospital’ or ‘Almost Crimes’, until someone knocks at my door and the music zips to a halt like an awkward party scene from a teen movie. When you can’t headline a festival or play guitar with your teeth, sometimes this is the only alternative. And, anyone who tries to say they’ve never indulged in this behaviour has pants that are currently on fire.

Since I’m not a rock star, I just love to live vicariously through those brave females who are. Those wicked, sweeter-than-pie but ruthlessly talented young gals that know how to rip a riff on their guitar and pick a bone with the microphone. I can’t get enough. And, if they can pull all of that on-stage sweating, speaking and creative-thinking off while looking classically beautiful – then even more power to them. A notable rock fashion icon for me, is undoubtedly Ms. Annie Clark – the songstress under the American indie-pop moniker St. Vincent. Aside from being a well-respected artistic mastermind who’s played alongside The National, Bon Iver and Tom Waits – Annie is also an absolute knock-out whose trendy looks match her stylish vocals. Clark mimics classic 40s-feminine flair, easily incorporating the forward-thinking era fashion into her contemporary vintage look. She is effortlessly gorgeous in her tiny sprite-like figure, so much so that you would expect sparkling pixie-dust to toss from her guitar strings every time she plucks under the spotlight.

Here are some of Annie’s most wonderful fashion moments:

                                        Classic and romantic 40s-esque look:

Casually cool and simple, vintage-inspired chic:

Funky sunglasses collection, necessary for any rocker gal:

Understated make-up for a fresh-faced fairy:

 

 

…Want to hear this little pixie belt it out? Here is her lovely calming cover of Jackson Browne’s “These Days” as well as the newest St. Vincent track, the funky and atmospheric ”Surgeon“. She can really do it all, in a nutshell.

Precious Piles

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Puzzled.

There’s a limit to how many blazers, jeans or T-shirts every wardrobe needs. If you’ve got the right fits and styles, your collection can last you over several seasons.  But if I were writing an essay that called for a thesis, I would argue that you can never have too many accessories. There’s no cap to the number of bangles, studs, rings or pendants one needs; from vintage finds to family gems and even that costume jewelry that gets you by, I truly believe that no one is ever completely satisfied with their collection. I’d probably cite Rachel Zoe, Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivia Palermo as my sources here.

For us apartment-jumping, city-moving, traveling, never style-compromising ladies, it can be very challenging to keep our jewels in order. Even those drawer-organizers that we were so proud to purchase are now cluttered, dirty and basically serving no purpose at all. Here comes that essay-writing again, I bring you, my solution: accessories as decor. If we’re willing to use these items to adorn our bodies, then why not have them serve a double purpose as home furnishings?

Not only will you be able show off your latest finds, but keeping your jewels in sight will force you to keep them somewhat in order. Here are some easy steps to accessory organization, with the help of my very own possessions and those small things that help me keep them presentable.

1. De-clutter:

Detangle necklaces / Group bangles

2. Hang:

Hooks from Urban Outfitters are cute and functional

Necklaces organized into: Gold / Silver / Color

3. Reinvent:

An Eiffel tower-shaped vase becomes the perfect site for stacked bangles

Vintage finds and other keepsakes make for eye-catching jewelry stands

4. Do the obvious:

A jewelry box does its job efficiently: find the perfect size and look, and it won't disappoint!

All in all, it should be second nature to keep some of our most precious pieces in safe and orderly spots, but we’re not all perfect, and we don’t always keep these things high on our priority list. If you’ve got a free afternoon, spend some time sifting through your accessories; you may just find something hidden under the dust and the lone earrings, that you never knew you had. In conclusion (final essay component), there’s nothing better than adding a bit of organization to your daily routine, and I would suspect that your styling habits will grow as a result!

If you liked this post, you’ll like this one about the girls’ jewelry boxes too. Can you tell I have a thing for accessories?  I definitely absolutely guess I do.

Posted in Home Decor, Lifestyle | Tagged bangles, bracelets, earrings, home decoration, hooks, jewellery, jewelry, jewelry box, necklaces, organization, rings, studs, urban outfitters, | 4 Replies

Cassette Comeback

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You might not find a brand new car with a tape deck installed and maybe your fluorescent green Walkman who was both a friend and comrade during long family car rides won’t be trendy again – but don’t necessarily write off your old stack of dusty cassettes just yet. These babies might be back in town.

The resurgence of all things vintage and antique could have had something to do with the returning popularity of these tiny plastic squares; maybe it can be attributed to the aesthetic “cool” that’s part of the indie and hipster trend nowadays, where teenagers and young adults alike seem hell-bent on the look of “throw-back” items. Sure, it could be for show – but maybe, for those who also toil away at their record players each night, they’ll understand the appreciation of that crisp analog sound and nostalgic experience. The whirr of the cassette tape rolling, the comfort blanky of knowing your music isn’t “scratched”, the petty laborious task of throwing it on, fast-forwarding to your favourite song, and changing from side-A to side-B. I still have my old tape deck, and when I go to a garage sale – I generally skip the box of (probably) damaged CD’s, and take a look at what classic cassettes are on hand.

From a musician’s point of view – production of a tape is cheap. After accepting that the trend might stay underground (and consequently, so might your tunes), local musicians as of late have been seen pounding the pavement of their respective neighbourhoods – handing out the plastic bits by the dozen. The hilarity of tapes and the confusion of how they even work might be a huge drawing point for musicians – enough for people to go home, dig out the old piece of machinery and curiously press play. It’s a niche market of people willing to listen, but the point is, there are still people listening.

Pros of the Ol’ Tape:
1)      Cassette recordings often aren’t over-produced like CDs, meaning there aren’t a lot of fancy effects – what you hear is what you get.
2)      They make great decorations. Have some extra space on your living room shelf? Stagger-stack your colourful old tapes – they’re guaranteed to draw visitors over to check out the band names.
3)      Go green! Keep recycling and trading these vintage sounds around, so that perfectly classic tunes don’t end up wasted in a landfill.

Cons of the Ol’ Tape:
1)      iTunes…
2)      YouTube…

In light of the cassette revival, I asked the nuts to share with me their favourite tape tunes from their Walkman-wearing, scrunchy-sporting, fanny-pack days. No judgement allowed.

Meghan:  Ace of Base – The Sign
Can’t we just picture it? Little Meg – ponytail so tight, pants so high, shirt so tucked in… so curious to hear whether or not the protagonist in “All That She Wants” was going to have another infant.


Catherine: MuchMusic Dance Mix ’95
Gone are the days of sweet, seven year-old Catherine putting on innocent dance recitals in the living room to “Macarena” and “Saturday Night”. Years later, her dance crew crumps (impressively) for audiences while wearing a prison suit, handcuffs and a backwards hat that reads “Gangster”.

 

Kate: Alanis Morrisette – Jagged Little Pill
A true Saudi delinquent, apparently. Living in Saudi Arabia for six years, Kate connected with the heartbroken hardships of Alanis on “You Oughtta Know”, scowling at any potential toddler Saudi suitors who approached her on the compound.

Jess:  No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom
My aspirations to be blonde and mildly tough (failed) obviously began at a young age. Watching a platinum, Gavin Rossdale-linked Gwen Stefani pounce around stage to “Spiderwebs” also spurred aspirations of having a six-pack – something which wasn’t achievable at the age of eight and realistically still isn’t today.

 

Kaylee: Read the comment section of this article, she tells us from Vegas all about her tapetastic upbringing!

Put A Ring On It

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It’s amazing how tireless women can be when going after something they want. This statement is applicable in personal situations, the working world, and in this specific case (as most of us nuts know) – this is unbelievably true when it comes to having an item or possession that you can’t get out of your mind. Whether it’s that little black dress (that you feel should be easy to find), that specific pair of shoes you’ve created in your brain, or that piece of jewelry of which you’ve seen variations on other people – you can close out the shopping mall on a desperate hunt for what you’ve convinced yourself exists. This might sound a little silly; I mean, it’s just a possession, it’s just a decoration. But I think this goes further back than that. As we grow older and start migrating away from the weekly purchases of $8 accessories that sparkle for about an hour, I feel like we think back to when we were little girls, envious of our Mother’s sparkling jewels. Most of the time we were most in awe of the pieces that dazzled even after 20 plus years of wear. We might even start to think that it’s time that we put some cash or thought into a few decent staples that fit us like a glove, and that we’ll have forever.

I began this kind of thought process and search about a year ago, when I became determined to find the perfect ring. Something reasonable, pretty, and something that in five years I’m going to have to pry off my hand. Why was I so adamant on finding this? For one, I work in Communications, meaning I’m always meeting with someone and talking to somebody – and therefore am also usually flailing my hands around to add emphasis to what I’m saying. The paws have to look semi-decent in the workplace. Another reason, and a more basic one at that – is that the rings I notice on my friends are the ones that they hardly switch up, regardless of the outfit. I don’t ever get a chance to notice the practically disposable ones which are tossed into the depths of a jewelry bowl, never to be seen again after one wear. And so began the avid search. I looked at:

Flea markets and vintage sales:

Pro – There are SO many funky things at these sales, and you can trust that whatever you pick up has a fantastic story behind it. You’ll find many unique pieces, gemstones and concepts that are most likely one in a million.
Con – Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly the materials in the ring, and therefore whether or not it will turn colour, last without breaking, or wear away. Unless an educated jeweler is selling the ring, even they might not know exactly what you’re working with.

Accessible Upscale Chain Stores (eg: Banana Republic, Coach, BCBG):

Pro –  These stores are unbelievably on target with current fashion trends, while still staying timeless and classic. This means you’re very likely to find a piece of jewelry that appeals to you, is sparkly, unique and sturdy in make.
Con –  You’d be surprised how few of their pieces (despite clocking in at anywhere from $35 to $150) are actually made with sterling silver or gold plate. Although beautiful in appearance, even some of the most expensive pieces admittedly are made with nickel or gold tone – and might turn the band that icky green after a few wears. If you’re OK with that – go for it, because the pieces are still extremely fashionable!

Online Jewelry Retailers:

Pro – As we all know, the internet is our oyster – type in what you want and you will find someone who’s selling it. So, if you search “gold-plated Turquoise ring”, you’ll be pulled towards amazingly resourceful retailers like Beso or ShopStyle.com who will have a number of options and designers for you to browse through.
Con – I don’t know about you, but like shoes, rings are something I would like to try on before I hand over my credit card number. I never know how the tone of the ring will look in the light of day on my finger, compared to how it looked on a computer screen. So, if you’re anything like me, you might want to try that $100 puppy on first.

In conclusion, the hunt is over. Where did I find my precious baby ring? Well, I found it with the power of traipsing around…wait for it…on foot. I jaunted all over the city in the heat, the snow, and the rain – for what’s felt like a lifetime, and I found it a lovely Ottawa store called True Bijoux, which is less than four blocks from my work (secretly sighing about that). During the ring search, I started exploring jewelry companies that might seem like they only market one thing (necklace, bracelet, etc.), but actually have all sorts of different lines. I looked at the Pandora bracelets ages ago, and then figured I would browse through their rings – and that’s where I found what clicked. It fits like a glove, sparkles with little diamonds, and didn’t break the bank. The line is also sold at Magpie, which has three Ottawa locations. Moral of the story, after stopping buying $10 pieces of jewelry every four minutes, you’d be surprised what you can save up for – and what you’ll inevitably enjoy for years to come.

 So, check out the ring bling each of us nuts sport! In a nutshell, these things really are a girl’s best friend.

 Jess wears: 1. Pandora “Kerry” diamond ring with beaded Sterling Silver 2. A vintage 1970s Gold zig-zag ring that was passed on by Mom.

Kaylee wears (from top left) 1. Banana Republic 2. Maison Martin Margiela from SSENSE. 3. Gift from grandparents when they were in Italy. 4. David Yurman graduation gift

Meg wears: Sterling silver staple from Magpie jewelers – she couldn’t get this baby off if she tried!

Kate wears: Vintage 1960s opal and gold ring from Australia, also passed on by Mom.

Cat wears: a vintage hand-me-down from Mother goose.