Mother Nature's Son

This entire outfit was thrifted in the magnificent secondhand stores of Belleville, Ont. for a mere $13. People way underestimate the quality of thrifted goods in crappy, small towns - it's always better than you think! I like how the skirt actually looks like it was made out of a curtain. The weird length and uneven hem on this thing is golden!!!

I also thrifted an amazing new pair of witch boots for Fall, which is great since my last pair pinched my toes a little too enthusiastically. The grand total? $2.50.

Do you guys remember that silly little video of me awkwardly describing my life's ambition to create a fashion magazine that encourages free thinking rather than conspicuous consumption? A magazine that treats women intelligent women with love and respect while challenging the conventions of the "fashion" industry?

It appears I am a finalist in the contest so if you think that might be a magazine you would be interested in reading, please click here to vote for me!! The voting period lasts until September 16th and you can vote once every day, so please exercise your democratic capabilities and vote for me (or whoever you think has the best idea). I love you all!

Creepy Crawly

Completely exhausted after a long day at the Art Gallery of Ontario with an old friend (Hi Patrick!), but I am now the proud owner of a beautiful pair of black suede creepers!! It's kind of sad that I needed these so badly that they were haunting my dreams and I had to take a Greyhound to the closest big city to get my hands on them but they are MINE ALL MINE NOW.

In other excellent news, I think I've figured out my style direction for Fall! It's all about "schoolgirl skank" aka wearing clunky shoes, awkward school uniform socks and button-down shirts with real sexy pencil skirts. Like that fast kind of girl who brings a change of clothes in her backpack every day so she can dress to impress...

Kool Thing

 Apathy about summer dressing and fashion in general is actually doing something for me. I couldn't be bothered to put on anything more complicated or interesting than this black racerback tank dress, but this is probably my favourite outfit I've worn in a while. I'm all about the weird socks and clunky, thick-soled shoes and things don't need to get much more complicated than that.

My outfit described by miscellaneous objects: evil eyes, Wedgwood china and fruity Mentos.

Also, my reclaimed inspiration could very well have to do with my incessant viewing of the Sonic Youth music video for Kool Thing.

Storm Princess

...and continuing on with the "summer of not giving a shit," I quit my job. It kind of feels good, but would be better if I didn't have to find a new one. I think I want to dye my hair a dark blonde. Would that be weird?? It's something I've never done before so I'm itching to give it a try. Neophilia at its finest.

Also, I'm going crazy thinking of all the wicked outfits I would be putting together IF ONLY I had this pair of creepers. I'm desirous of anything with a thick platform sole, really.

Silent Rager

I've found myself increasingly interested in dressing, well, like an ADULT lately. Sorry fashun blog, but I'm 21, independent, perpetually grumpy and just not in the mood for anything that doesn't involve my partner or my career.

This outfit is kind of channeling the 1950s, a decade I've never been particularly interested. Yet I find myself drawn to the feminine power espoused by tight pencil skirts, high heels and pearls. But of course, I couldn't wear a stuffy, plain string of pearls. This evil eye fake pearl necklace courtesy of China Originality is much more up my alley.

The 1970s platforms are an auspicious shoe. The woman who ran the vintage store I bought them at (Patina Vintage) told me they used to belong to the editor of Chatelaine Magazine back in the day, so I call them my Editor Shoes. They are also really loud, and people can hear me clip-clopping along from metres away. AREN'T THEY BOSS??

Moldy Voldy

 I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on Saturday, and dressed up like a true fan. The lace cape, large frames and eyeliner scar are a weird combination of Bellatrix Lestrange, Sybil Trelawney and Harry himself. Of course, I don't want to ruin the movie for anyone but 2 hours felt too short! Like a true addict, I just cannot get enough Harry Potter. It's so tragic to have grown up with the series, and now experience it coming to an end.

Look at how adorable these kids used to be.

 Now, HOT DAMN!!

Jesus Fever

I'm wearing Birkenstocks again and I'm too lazy to wash my hair so I put it in a messy side braid and it still manages to look ok. Thanks Summer, for setting the bar ridiculously low in terms of the amount of effort I need to put into my appearance. In other news, Jesus Fever by Kurt Vile may in fact be the most perfect song ever recorded, and it's been making me deliriously happy on repeat for days.

I've been spending almost all of my free time devoted to working diligently on my magazine. There's going to be so much good stuff in it, you guys!! Do you think I should start a Kickstarter project for it to raise funds?

Also, I've been experimenting with different ways of recording my outfits, which somehow seem more authentic than a full-body pic.

Check out ellos great range of birkenstocks, visit the site now to see the full range and browse the rest of their amazing affordable fashion lines all available on buy now pay later.

Bills, Bills, Bills

I’ve been in a real style rut these days, not wanting to blog or anything. I can’t afford to buy new clothes, and not that money = style by any means, I just haven’t come up with NEW, FASCINATING outfit ideas in a while.

My feet got really torn up and blistered over the weekend, so all I can wear on my feet are Birkenstocks. I got my first and only pair of Birkenstocks four years ago and they're the only pair of sandals I own. But its not so bad because Birkenstocks are hip now! The proof is in the pudding. Just look at this goddess woman, giving you an icy staredown for ever having thought orthopedic sandals were uncool. Yeah, that's right.

If you are feeling financial strain at the moment, visit ellos where you can buy now and pay installments, ellos has a huge collection of women and mens fashion all at very good prices.

Baby was a black sheep.

 The breezy simplicity of crop tops paired with blue jeans has come to define my summer uniform as of late. It's too hot to put exacting thought into what I wear but the simple combination always seems to work. This outfit puts a certain kind of swagger in my step, I feel super confident and on top of the world in my lace crop top, ripped Levis and vintage brogues.

Just a thought: are high-waisted jeans still considered a 'trend'? I ditched my low-riders years ago, because they reminded me of the glitter bell-bottom flares of my adolescence. I think there's about one pair of low-waisted pants remaining in my wardrobe and I never wear them anymore because they feel weird.

I'm currently engrossed in the book Just Kids by Patti Smith. It was suggested to me by my best friend, and is hands down the best book I've read all year. It's beautifully written and it reads like a novel, except that it's real life! Patti was my absolute favourite back when I was in high school and her life stories are compelling, fascinating and inspiring. Total recommended reading.

Happy Canada Day!

Its Canada Day, hurray! Let's burn down Parliament and start a Canadian riot - Vancouver started the celebrating early! Just kidding, I love Canada! Anyways, sorry I look like a nerdy professor, but I'm preoccupied by pretending that it's 1967 and Canada is celebrating its Centennial rather than its boring old 142nd anniversary. Nobody pays attention to 142! However, Kate and William are in Ottawa for the weekend and I am devastated to be missing out on my slice of the Royal action!!

On a completely unrelated note, my new 90s girlcrush spirit animal woman ins LISA LOEB. Does anyone remember her song? No? Well that's because it sucks. But if you watch the video without sound she is so adorable and bespectacled and her aesthetic defines my life. THE END.

Creed lives by the quarry.

I managed to do some super serious epic thrifting this weekend, and emerged from Value Village unscathed with a few solid gold finds. Also, I apologize to any and all manifestations of summer for my complete and utter inability to wear colour.

1. Navy 'Modrobes' skirt, which is size Large and so huge on me that it makes a tulip shape when I adjust the best buckle waistband. It's a total throwback to 1999, when pretty much every kid in public school owned a pair of crayola-coloured Modrobes hospital pants. I conducted a short lived nostalgic experiment involving a thrifted pair of purple Modrobes in first-year University, but I think this skirt is here to stay.

2. 1990s throwback platform sandals. I've been scouring eBay for a pair of dark brown Kork Ease sandals in my size, but to no avail - not that it would matter with this bloody Canada Post strike. Anyways, these squishy platforms are almost exactly what I've been looking for. I wore them yesterday (with jeans) and they felt like walking on marshmallows, but today they chewed up my feet and spit them out.

3. The ORIGINAL Royal Wedding mug, with Charles and Diana. I was so excited to find this piece of retro Royalty kitsch, until my friend shot me down by saying; "Isabel, that mug is making me sad because they got divorced and now she's dead."

Spill Everywhere

 I finally am in possession of a rad new pair of spectacles, after the tragic demise of my former pair of frames. I am currently busy rejoicing in a state of utter ecstasy over this fact. Having to wear really ugly glasses that I couldn't even see out of properly was brutal!

 I wanted to debut them with the least cat-lady outfit possible, because when I wear them with my usual granny style, lets just say I'm prepared to have legions of feral tabbies clawing at my door in search of affection. So instead I'm wearing them with this really trash bag outfit because its summer and I'm lazy. I probably look like an extra from the cast of This Is England, but the American Apparel mom jeans are the most perfect/awkward pantaloons that have ever graced my body. Crop tops with high-waisted pants are my favourite, even though they pose the (not really problematic) issue of PEEKABOO TATTOO!

 

Deal with it.

Fashion in the Wilderness

When you're living out of a backpack for longer than a month, you start to come up with some pretty crazy combinations for the 6 clothing items you brought with you. All of a sudden, Halloween socks were socially acceptable in the middle of May and it was more than natural to pair them with a thrift store Phoenix sweater and Adidas shorts. I wanted to share some of the photos from my time in British Columbia with you all, not only for the beautiful natural scenery but also for my hilarious getups! I swear that for the rest of my days, I won't be able to wear my Black Flag shirt without remembering backpacking in Valhalla Provincial Park.

I was known for wearing tie-dye...all the time. I was always wearing either my tie-dye shirt or my tie-dye leggings, and everyone kept urging me to wear them together!! The tie-dye suit never materialized (I do have some shreds of dignity still clinging to my ego) but I will henceforth refer to all tie-dye outfits as a "camping tuxedo." Like a Canadian tuxedo but weirder.

The Emancipation of My Former Frames

 

Notice anything different? The crop top, Doc Martens and floral skirt are standard issue - its the glasses that aren't quite right. A few weeks ago, my wonderful glasses had a run-in with an errant foot and came out defeated. My dad patched them up but they were bound to break again and now I'm stuck wearing these awful glasses that not only are a tragic reminder of my high school days, but aren't even the right prescription!

Tragedy strikes!

Picked myself out a pair of subtle cat eyes that I'll be rocking soon enough!